The Peru Gazette

Source: Syracuse University coronavirus uptick continues ‘troubling trend’ – syracuse.com

Source: New York extends special uninsured enrollment through 2020 – syracuse.com

Volunteers are needed for both the Peru Zoning and Planning Boards. It’s important for the future of our community. Please consider volunteering. Call the Peru Town Hall Code Enforcement Office at 518-643-2745 x3 for more information.

Source: Report: Canada-US border closure will be extended to Oct. 21

Pete on his morning walk this past April

Maryann and Peter

Speaking at VFW Veterans Day Ceremonies

Presiding in Peru Town Court

A light conversation with his longtime fellow Justice of the Peace John Lawliss

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Peter Keenan is undoubtedly one of Peru’s best-known residents. Born in March 1930, Keenan has met many people over the past 90 years. To describe Keenan as active is an understatement. He was first known as a sports star at Peru High School, then as a player-manager for Adirondack League baseball teams, a baseball umpire, a 20-year Peru Central School bus driver, Knights of Columbus officer, hall/dinner/BBQ chairman, an active member of St. Augustine Church, Honor Flight participant, Justice of the Peace and Clinton County Legislator. Wintertime Champlain Centre shoppers recognize him on his 2.5-mile walks and Peru hamlet residents see him on his 1.5-mile vigorous walks.

A conversation with Peter Keenan is a lesson in local history and personalities.  He spent the first seven years of his life living in the Town of Schuyler Falls, World War II intervened. In 1937 the U.S. Army conducted maneuvers on Joseph and Gerald Keenan’s land in Shingle Street forcing them to move to Plattsburgh and then Peru.  At high school in Peru, Peter played five sports – soccer, baseball, basketball, track, and 6–man football. He was a baseball all-star four times, but today he says his best sport was basketball. Ironically, World War II impacted him a second time when he and other students picked apples after school. He recalled, “In 1944 we didn’t have any fall sports. There wasn’t anyone left to pick apples. Help was scarce.” Keenan relishes his memories of playing with or against outstanding athletes like Roy McGee, Bob Bruno, Bob Garrow and Urgil Votraw. Tony Papero was his coach during the last two years of high school.  In 2015, Peter joined some of his heroes when he was inducted into the Peru Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Following high school, Keenan got a job with Agway Petroleum. He recalled, “Donald Covel Sr. put in a good word for me.” A year later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. where he served for two years specializing in cryptology. Discharged in 1953, he returned to Agway Petroleum for several months before becoming a Correction Officer at Clinton Prison. He worked at the Dannemora prison for the next 26 years retiring in 1980. Keenan has good memories of being a Corrections Officers saying, “It was a good job. I worked with good people as a whole.”

In 1954 Keenan began his first “side-job” umpiring high school, college and Champlain Valley League baseball. He stated, “I enjoyed being able to stay in the game and doing what I could to further the sport.”  As an umpire, Keenan partnered with personalities like Wayne Labarge, Bobby Parker, Walt Vanderhoff, Roger Wright and Bernie Steuart. In 1987, he and several other umpires traveled to England with the Peru and AuSable Valley baseball teams on a month-long exhibition tour of England.  Peter’s umpiring career spanned 45 years.

Umpiring baseball led to the most significant event in Peter Keenan’s life, his marriage to Maryann King of Chazy Lake. After umpiring a game at the Dannemora playground, Peter and a few friends stopped at Tings Restaurant for a little libation. Maryann was working at Tings. The rest is history. The couple married in 1956 and enjoyed 54 years of happiness together. Maryann passed away in 2010. Anyone who knows Peter Keenan is well-aware of the mutual love and respect Maryann and Peter enjoyed. Asked what he considered to be his greatest accomplishment, Peter responded, “My wife’s accomplishments. Going through nursing school with four kids and a husband at home. It was a big accomplishment.” The couple’s four children Phillip, Phyllis, Paula and Peter all graduated from Peru High School. Today their father looks forward to their regular visits and help when he needs it. 

Along with baseball, Pete Keenan has another longtime interest – politics. He said, “I’ve always been interested in politics and I’ve always been a Democrat. I thought it would be nice if Peru could have a two-party system.” He ran for the Peru Town Council only to be defeated in what was a one-party Republican town. Nevertheless, he remained active in party politics. In 1986, when there was an open spot on the ticket, he decided to run for town justice. He not only won but was elected to six terms of office, retiring in 2010. He commented, “I was the only elected Democrat in the Town of Peru for 18 of those 24 years.”

In 2011, at age 80, Keenan ran for the Clinton County Legislature. Being elected didn’t come easily. Legislative Area Five takes one Peru district and all of the Town of Schuyler Falls. Keenan visited every residence often driven by his close friend former Clinton County District Attorney Joseph Kelley.  He was elected in 1981, reelected in 2015, and retired at the end of 2019 at age 89. He especially enjoyed working on the airport committee during the airport’s significant expansion and helping with funding for the North Country Honor Flight.

Peru Town Supervisor and Democratic Party Chairman Brandy McDonald said Pete and Maryann Keenan helped him get started in politics. He commented, “Pete’s a man of his word. If he says he’s going to do something he will do it.  He’s committed to the Democratic Party, but he even more committed to the people he serves.”

Former County Legislator Mark Dame, a Republican and solid fiscal conservative, commented, “Pete and I went into the Legislature in 1982. I didn’t know him real well. I’ve been exposed to a lot of people in my political career. Pete’s rock-solid. He has common sense. He’s not a grandstander. He doesn’t speak until he needs to speak. When he does, people listen, plus he’s a very nice man! I’ve never met anyone I respect more.” Former Clinton County Legislature Chairman Jimmy Langley, also a dedicated Republican, stated, “Pete’s a public servant through and through. He got into politics for the right reasons. He likes to stay busy. He’s not a sit around type of guy.”

Langley couldn’t be more correct. Pete Keenan is still active in the community and maintains his almost three-acre lawn. A few days ago, he used a chain saw to cut his ever-expanding sumac trees. He did get a little frustrated having to take a break after using the chainsaw for an hour. His most enjoyable activity is playing golf once a week with his longtime friend Gary Long. Pete says, “Gary spoils me. He even loads my bag into the car.”

Asked for the secret of his longevity, Keenan responded, “Good health, my wife Maryann, quitting smoking 60 years ago and staying active.” How does he want to be remembered?  He responded, “As I am now. I think people are very good.” 

4th Degree Knight of Columbus, devoted to patriotism

Barking a loud “YOU’RE OUT!”

Applefest Parade with Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald

Golfing for charity with Bernie Steuart, Gary Long, and Wayne Lebarge

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

Source: 1814 Commemoration Inc. | Home

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today said that state tax receipts are $3.2 billion lower than last year, as he released the State Cash Report for August. DiNapoli noted state tax receipts of $4.3 billion in August were $309.3 million above the latest projections by the state Division of Budget (DOB), but $219.1 million below collections in August 2019.

“Tax revenues continue to fall short of levels needed to fund education, health care and other vital services in this year’s budget,” DiNapoli said. “The revenue hole the pandemic created is getting deeper. Unless Washington acts to provide further fiscal relief for New York, painful budget decisions lie ahead.”

Other key numbers in the report:

• Personal income tax (PIT) collections totaled $2.7 billion in August, $157 million higher than anticipated, but $185.5 million, or 6.4 percent, lower than last year. Year to date collections were $1.6 billion, or 6.7 percent, lower than last year.
• Sales tax receipts totaled $5.1 billion through August, $1.3 billion, or 20.2 percent, lower than last year. August sales tax receipts were $97.2 million, or 7.8 percent, below those a year earlier.
• All Funds spending through August totaled $64.3 billion, down $2.5 billion, or 3.8 percent, from the previous year. Spending was $2.1 billion below the latest projections, primarily in local assistance grants ($1.4 billion below projections and $1.9 billion below last year). State operations spending was $369 million below projections through August.
• The General Fund ended the month with a balance of $13.5 billion, $972.7 million higher than projected and $6.6 billion higher than August 2019. This is partly due to $4.5 billion in short-term borrowing proceeds and delays in certain payments to local governments and other entities.

August Cash Report

Source: Scott Vetoes Global Warming Solutions Act; Lawmakers Vow Override | Off Message

Source: NY relaxes nursing home visitation rules so most facilities can reopen their doors – syracuse.com

Source: Should your kids go trick-or-treating in CNY during the coronavirus pandemic? – syracuse.com

Source: Belfry Mountain – Beyond the Fire Tower – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Five active COVID cases current in Essex Co. | Sun Community News 104 people recovered, out of isolation

“For months on end, nursing home residents, their families, and staff have made immense sacrifices to keep their facilities, and the community at large, safe. While safety remains our number one priority, the impact of being unable to reunite families due to the nearly unattainable guidelines set forth by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) perpetuated mounting frustration among family members and nursing home staff, while simultaneously impacting the overall well-being of residents,” said Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake). “Today’s announcement by Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker to have a facility COVID-19 free for 14 days, modified from 28 days, is welcomed news for the thousands of North Country residents who have been longing to safely visit their loved ones and unable to do so based on this guideline. I have been advocating with families and facilities that we can reunite residents with their loved ones safely, and I am relieved that our voices were heard.”

Source: Get your flu shot now, health officials say; you don’t want both flu and Covid-19 – VTDigger

“Reinstating the 10 percent tariff on Canadian aluminum right in the middle of a pandemic was an ill-advised course of action. As the Co-Chair of the Canada-U.S. Committee on the Council of State Government’s East, I introduced a resolution that was unanimously passed to rescind this decision which we knew would have detrimental effects not only on our regional economy but on our overall economic relationship with Canada,” said Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) The United States’ decision to reverse course on these imposed tariffs is most certainly welcomed news as the North Country regional economy relies greatly on our relationship with Canada. I welcome the continued progress that the North Country Chamber of Commerce has made in bringing in new businesses to the manufacturing cluster, here in the North Country, and I am hopeful this decision will only further their efforts.”

Source: Gov. Cuomo says he will not ban trick-or-treating in New York despite coronavirus pandemic

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

The regular meeting of the Peru Town Board was held on Monday, August 24, 2020, at the Peru Town Hall.  Those present were Mr. Brandy McDonald, Supervisor; Mr. Richard Barber, Councilman; Mr. Kregg Bruno, Councilman; Mr. James Douglass, Councilman; Mr. Mel Irwin, Councilman; Mrs. Dianne Miller, Town Clerk.  Also present Ms. Pamela Barber, Secretary to the Board; Mr. Courtney Tetrault, Water/Sewer Superintendent; Mr. Michael Farrell, Highway Superintendent; Mr. Dave Drollette, Dog Control Officer and Mr. John Flynn; Youth Director.

The meeting was called to order at 6:08 PM by Mr. McDonald, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion by Mr. Irwin seconded by Mr. Bruno to accept the minutes from the August 10, 2020 Regular Meeting.

Ayes 5 Nays 0                                                                                                 Motion Carried

Motion by Mr. Barber seconded by Mr. Douglass to add 4A to agenda-Community Input

Ayes 5 Nays 0                                                                                                Motion Carried

Community Input

Mr. Ryan asked the difference of grants versus loans- Mr. McDonald stated many factors were involved. The main factor is income level for each community. The process of obtaining grants is not clean cut.

Mr. Ryan also asked for a Washington Street update. Mr. Guynup stated the situation is in the hands of Mr. Sawyer (developer) as a full build-out addition needs to be done for the retention basin. Read more »