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“…seasonal activity and other outdoor leisure activities will require adaptation to withstand warming Northeast winters.”

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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds Expected to Increase Over Winter Months

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A pair of siblings have been arraigned on a sealed indictment for allegedly stealing $90,000 in Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds to which they were not entitled, New York Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced today.

As part of the scheme, the defendants completed and filed an application containing false information with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to fraudulently obtain funding through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

Denesh Melwani, 58, of Woodstock, and Shaleen Mahtani, 56, of Paramus, N.J., were arraigned in front of the Honorable Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court on an indictment charging them with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, and Money Laundering in the Second Degree.

“Mahtani and Melwani allegedly tried to scam a program out of money meant to help New Yorkers in need of housing assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic,” DiNapoli said. “My thanks to D.A. Kindlon and the New York State Police for their partnership in holding Mahtani and Melwani accountable for their actions.”

“These defendants lied and defrauded a program that was in place to help citizens who were struggling financially during the COVID-19 crisis,” Kindlon said. “I’m proud of the work of my Financial Crimes Unit, the Comptroller’s Office and the New York State Police to uncover this misuse of taxpayer money, which ultimately belongs to the public.” Read more »

Over $28 Million in Unused Gift Cards Recovered by DiNapoli’s Office in 2025

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to spend and register the gift cards they receive during the holidays to avoid losing track of their money. After five years of inactivity, retailers are required by law to turn unused gift card balances over to the State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF), where the money can always be claimed. In 2025, DiNapoli’s office recovered more than $28 million in unused gift cards that New Yorkers can claim.

“Spend those gift cards you get this holiday season, so they don’t become unclaimed funds,” DiNapoli said. “Also consider taking the extra step of registering the gift card so if you do forget about it, it’s easier to return those funds to you. No one wants to lose money, and we want to make sure if you do, you know you can always claim it by going to our website. Funds sent to our office never expire and are free to claim.”

Registering a gift card helps retailers connect unused balances to a person’s name, making it easier for DiNapoli’s office to reunite New Yorkers with their money if a card is lost or goes unused.

Retailers can provide OUF with a name if the person registers the gift card online, if they have been issued a refund, or if the card was purchased with an existing store account. If the owner’s information is not known to a New York retailer, it will report the card details, such as card number and balance, which can be used by the recipient to claim the balance.

Unclaimed funds can be claimed at any time online, by phone at 800-221-9311 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, by mail, or at in-person events, which are held throughout the year across the state. Claims are always free to file, and funds never expire.

DiNapoli reminds gift card recipients to read the fine print on the card for details about any fees and expiration dates.

In 2025, OUF returned more than $580 million to their rightful owners.

Video of State Comptroller DiNapoli Discussing Gift Cards

Click here to view Mr. DiNapoli’s Video 

Jesse Murnane, RN (left) proudly displays her DAISY Award certificate with Patricia Johnson, MSN, RN, OCN. Johnson nominated Murnane for the care she provided her adult son, who was terrified of getting an IV before a scheduled procedure. “She understood his barriers and limitations and did not rush him. She helped him to relax and focus, and that made all the difference,” Johnson says.

The Interventional Radiology team at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital celebrates the DAISY Award presented to colleague Jesse Murnane, RN during a surprise ceremony.

Nurse Jesse Murnane honored for helping patient overcome fear before procedures 

 CVPH News Release of Jan. 12, 2026, Plattsburgh, NY – For Patricia Johnson’s son, it started with a simple fear – one many people can relate to. The sight of an IV needle was enough to trigger overwhelming anxiety for him.

Years of medical interventions meant an IV wasn’t just a step in a medical process. It was a source of fear. When he arrived for a procedure at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Jesse Murnane, RN, understood building trust would be critical.

Going Beyond Clinical Care

“They hit it off immediately,” Johnson recalls. “She advocated for him to receive some oral medication to calm him before starting an IV. It worked wonders!”

That first encounter left a lasting impression. Later, fate brought Murnane back into their lives when Johnson’s son needed another procedure. Murnane’s familiar face and sense of humor helped ease his fears all over again.

“She made sure the oral medication was ordered and stayed with him to be sure he was relaxed enough to get his IV,” Johnson says. “The pre-op experience was stress-free for him.”

Giving the Patient Time

For Johnson, who has fought for compassionate, patient-centered care for her son for 37 years, Murnane’s approach was extraordinary. She didn’t rush. She didn’t push. Instead, she gave him time to find the right words and acclimate to everything happening around him.

“My son wasn’t treated like a procedure to be expedited,” she shares. “He was treated like a human being who mattered. Thank you, Jesse!”

Recognizing Extraordinary Nurses

For her commitment to dignity and personalized care, Murnane was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses during a surprise ceremony with her Interventional Radiology colleagues. During the award presentation, she received a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse. Murnane, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin.

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2018 to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and online at UVMHealth.org. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues.  A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org.

Georgian, Adirondack leaders use Rotary programs to exchange small-scale farming and food security ideas

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A commemoration of the 1980 Olympics “Miracle On Ice” will be held in Lake Placid with players from the game in attendance

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story

Owner Melissa Desautels cited a downward spiral in sales at the boutique, the result of downtown’s ongoing public safety problems and dwindling customer traffic.

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Meatloaf 

Potatoes 

Vegetables 

Bread  

Dessert 

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972. 

All are invited and welcome!

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First manufactured home park in New York state to exercise ‘Right of First Refusal’ to prevent sale to private equity firm

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Peru  – Pancakes Plus Breakfast, Sunday, January 11, 2026 served by the St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus, St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. $10 for adults, $5 children 5 to 11, Children under 5 are Free. Take-outs are $10. 

The menu includes Pancakes,Waffles, Strawberry Sauce, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Home Fries, Real Maple Syrup, and much more. 

The February breakfast will be on February 8. 

Many Deer Hunting Violators Arrested 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement enforces the 71 chapters of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 101,169 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 35,575 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 15,673 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

Illegal Deer Hunt – Schoharie County
On November 20, ECOs responded to reports of a hunter shooting a deer from his vehicle in the Town of Conesville and then getting stuck on the side of the road. Officers arrived and interviewed the subject, who claimed he was hunting nearby that morning, left the woods at approximately 4:30 p.m., and was traveling along the roadway when he spotted a buck in fields off Wood Drive. The subject stated he then pulled off the road, exited his vehicle, loaded his rifle, and shot a 10-point buck. ECOs ticketed the hunter for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and the illegal take of a protected animal. They also confiscated the deer as evidence. The charges are pending in Conesville Town Court.

Illegal Deer Take – Otsego County
On November 30, ECO Fetterman observed evidence that suggested a deer was taken illegally from a roadway at Basswood State Forest in Otsego County. Officer Fetterman discovered blood and drag marks from a wood line to the road and a fresh gut pile approximately 30 yards into the woods. He continued to canvass the area and observed a pickup truck driving slowly down the road as he searched for evidence. ECO Fetterman and Lieutenant Grogan, who also responded to the location, approached the vehicle on foot and observed the driver fumbling with a rifle on his lap while unloading it. The Officers instructed the driver and other occupants of the pickup truck to exit the vehicle while they secured the rifle and began interviewing the driver.

During the interview, the Officers observed blood and gloves in the bed of the truck. The driver initially claimed he shot a deer in a separate county in Central New York the previous day, but eventually admitted to illegally taking a deer near Basswood State Forest, as suspected, and led the Officers to the deer carcass at his hunting camp approximately 5 miles away.

The subject received tickets for possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle, the illegal take of protected wildlife, and the improper tagging of deer. ECOs confiscated the deer as evidence. Charges are pending in the Town of Brookfield Court.

Illegal Deer Take – Jefferson County
On December 5, ECO Seabury received a complaint regarding a hunter believed to have shot more than the legal limit of bucks in the Town of Wilna, Jefferson County, during the deer hunting season, including a 10-point buck actively watched and sought after by hunters in the area. ECO Seabury began his investigation by checking with local deer processing stations and discovered three bucks and three does were dropped off at one station by the accused poacher. The 10-point buck was dropped off at a different deer processor, properly tagged and reported as required by law in New York State.

On December 12, ECO Seabury and Investigator Jackson interviewed the subject at his residence in the Hamlet of Natural Bridge. He admitted to taking two three-point bucks, a seven-point buck, the closely watched 10-point buck, and three does during the regular rifle season. Hunters are only allowed one antlered deer during the regular season.

The subject received 11 tickets, including six misdemeanor charges, for the illegal take of big game, taking over the limit of deer, and several deer tagging-related offenses. ECOs confiscated the antlers of the four bucks as evidence. The charges are pending in the Town of Wilna Court.

ECO Seabury with deer antlers confiscated as evidence in Jefferson County

Illegal Deer Hunt – Wyoming County
On December 9, ECO Koepf received a call from a concerned hunter regarding a large antlered deer he found deceased on December 6 on property he hunts in the Town of Arcade. The hunter contacted ECOs after hearing rumors that the individual who shot the deer did not have a hunting license.

ECO Koepf investigated and confirmed that the subject in question did not have a valid New York State hunting license when he shot the buck and had previously had his license revoked for a deer poaching conviction six years earlier. That revocation period ended, but the subject failed to complete the required hunter education course following the revocation to purchase a current hunting license.

ECO Koepf interviewed the subject, who denied any involvement in the incident and claimed he did not hunt all season. However, Officer Koepf confronted him with the evidence against him, including a photo he obtained of the subject posing with the buck. The subject eventually admitted to illegally harvesting the deer and received tickets for the illegal take of big game and hunting deer without a license. Charges are pending in Arcade Town Court. ECO Muchow assisted with the investigation.

Trophy Deer Poached at Night – Tioga County
Three hunters from Cortland County recently pleaded guilty and received penalties for illegally taking a massive deer in Tioga County.

On the night of November 7, the trio drove through fields in the Town of Richford, Tioga County, spotlighting for deer. They eventually shot an 11-point buck from their vehicle as it stood in their spotlight. A resident saw the spotlight, heard the shot, and contacted ECO Krueger from Tompkins County, who responded immediately to try and catch the poachers in the act, but the hunters had already fled the area by the time he arrived.

The next day, ECO Wilson responded to the area where the deer was shot, and the landowner found the deer still alive but not moving. The Officer determined the deer was shot with a medium-caliber rifle and then humanely euthanized the deer. The landowner took to social media to spread the word, and feedback from the public led ECOs to Cortland County, where they interviewed the individuals who admitted to illegally taking the buck. The driver, who was also the shooter, received five tickets for the illegal take of deer, taking deer from a motor vehicle, taking deer from a public highway, hunting deer with an artificial light, and possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. The two other subjects received four tickets each for the illegal take of deer, taking deer from a motor vehicle, taking deer from a public highway, and hunting deer with an artificial light. Under New York State’s ECL, accessories are just as guilty as principals.

All three defendants pleaded guilty in the Town of Richford Court. The driver was fined $3,000 and his two hunting partners were each fined $2,000. Additionally, the individuals were ordered to surrender the firearm used in the crime.

The large deer was later given an unofficial antler score (measurement) of approximately 163 inches. The score is unofficial because the deer was taken unlawfully.

Eleven-point buck taken illegally in Tioga County

Training and Education – Oswego County
On December 11, DEC Region 1 ECOs Anderson and Francis received formal training to become first aid instructors at the DEC Training Academy in Pulaski. The Officers became proficient in basic lifesaving techniques, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) usage, and the critical actions required when someone is choking. The course is certified by the American Heart Association and allows ECOs to educate others about the importance of first aid in saving lives and the correct ways to utilize those lifesaving methods.

To contact an ECO to report an environmental crime or incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS for 24-hour dispatch.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for portions of the Adirondacks & central/south VT, 5 pm today to 10 am Sun. A mix of snow/sleet/freezing rain moves into the region this eve & continues overnight. Travel will likely become hazardous tonight into Sunday.

Annual gathering returns February 26 at The Wild Center

News Release of Jan. 10, 2026, Tupper Lake, NY – The Adirondack Food System Network (AFSN) is pleased to announce that the 2026 Adirondack Food Justice Summit will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, New York. Registration is now open.

The Summit’s 2026 theme, “Community as Nourishment: Sowing the Seeds of Interdependence,” invites participants to explore how relationships, shared responsibility, and collective action sustain regional food systems just as deeply as the food itself. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, the Summit will examine how communities across the Adirondack region are building more just, resilient, and connected food systems.

Since 2018, the Adirondack Food Justice Summit has convened farmers, food access advocates, policymakers, educators, healthcare partners, nonprofit leaders, and community members from across the region. The annual gathering serves as a space to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and elevate solutions rooted in local experience.

“Food systems are built on relationships,” said Josh Stephani, Director of the Adirondack Food System Network. “This year’s theme, Community as Nourishment, is a reminder that connection, care, and shared responsibility are just as essential as the food itself. The Summit brings people together to learn from one another and strengthen the ties that make our region more resilient.”

The 2026 Summit will feature a keynote address from Ken Meter, a nationally recognized food systems analyst, author, and President of Crossroads Resource Center. Read more »

#1 Video – Peru Tractor Parade

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Total Views – 8,277

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Contemporary paganism is on the rise nationwide — and Vermont’s witches say it’s taken root here as well.

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1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION/DISCUSSION: To Accept Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports, JCEO);

5. MOTION: Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of December 29, 2025.

6. Community Input. 

7. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Clinton Co. Health Dept./Casella Presentation on Food Waste Collection.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval for Engineering Ventures to Put Lyons Road Culvert Project Out to Bid.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: To Make a One-Time Payout of Benefit Time to Employee.

10. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of Murnane Building Contractors Pay App. #6 for Peru WWTP Project. 

11. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of John W. Danforth Company Pay App. #6 for Peru WWTP Project. 

12. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of Triangle Electrical System Pay App. #6 for Peru WWTP Project.

13. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Acceptance of Resignation from Youth Commission Member.

14. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Change Directive GC-CD.05 by Murnane Bldg. Contractors.

15. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  AES Northeast Peru Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Update Report. 

16. DISCUSSION/MOTION. Barton & Loguidice Peru Water Treatment Plant Project Update Report

17. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Town Board

18. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Dept. Heads

19. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

20. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Pay December 2025 Bills.

21. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Pay January 2026 Bills.

22. MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.

23. MOTION: Return from Executive Session. 

24. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2026 Salaries for Elected Positions:

5. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of 2026 Appointees.

6. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2026 Appointee Salaries and Frequency of Payments

7. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of Town Department Liaisons.

8. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2026 Regular Town Board Meeting Dates and Times.

9. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of 2026 Contracts.

10. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2026 Town Mileage Reimbursement.

11. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Designation of Town Depositories.

12. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Designation of Town Newspaper.

13. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Town Procurement Policy.

14. MOTION:  Adjourn Meeting

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