The Peru Gazette

Source: Discover Jazz won’t take place in June due to coronavirus pandemic

As of April 8th: In the last week alone, farmers in the state dumped up to 35 million pounds of raw milk, according to one estimate, as demand for some dairy products evaporated and prices collapsed.

Source: Coronavirus sends Upstate NY dairy industry into ‘free fall’ as milk dumping soars – syracuse.com

Stewart’s Shops News Release  

April 13, 2020 – In these uncertain times, Stewart’s Shops Partners have received some good news regarding their profit sharing statements. Existing ESOP accounts received approximately 17.5% growth on their existing accounts including over 6.3% in dividends. This success is from the service their great Partners provide, increased operating profitability, and returns on outside investments.

In December 2019, the company made a $17.5 million company contribution to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), an increase over the previous year.  This contribution is about 17.5% of the Partners’ 2019 gross pay. Stewart’s employees are called Partners, and they really are, since they own over 40 percent of the company through their ESOP.  This is 100 percent funded by the company for anyone working at least 1000 hours a year. After six years in the plan, a Partner’s balance is usually greater than a year’s pay.

There are over 1000 Partners with a balance of over $100,000, and 88 Partners have a balance of over
$1 million. Nearly a third of these millionaires started out as hourly employees, and over a third are still actively working versus retired. This is possible because of Stewart’s stability, enabling years of double digit percent of pay contributions, plus double-digit growth of balances each year.

One of the youngest millionaires in the company, Walter Gannon, is only 49 years young and has worked with the company for 29 years, starting as a partner and now a seasoned shop manager. He exclaims, “No one believes me when I tell them that Stewart’s Shops has made me a millionaire. The flexibility and financial freedom to retire at the age of 55 working at Stewart’s is unbelievable, although I love what I do and may stay longer. I am forever grateful to work for a family and employee owned company that truly cares about their employees.”

“In these times, we are all different with various challenges and this makes sharing our 2019 achievement with our Partners even more significant. As an employee and family owned business, our success would not be possible without the hard work of our Partners and the loyal patronage of our customers. However, with the current uncertain circumstances, we have many challenges ahead of us. We will continue to weather this storm, evolve our business and find new solutions for continued success,” says Stewart’s Shops president Gary Dake.

Stewart’s ESOP participants also receive paid maternity leave, half-priced YMCA fitness and day care memberships, as well as “Make Your Own” scholarships which provides $300,000 per year of scholarships to Partners dependents. Stewart’s Shops currently has positions available at its shops, plant, and corporate office. Visit their careers page for more information.

State agriculture industry on the brink of collapse due to coronavirus pandemic

From the office of Assemblyman Dan Stec candidate for NY State Senate

Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) and his Assembly colleagues are calling on President Trump and New York’s Congressional delegation to take action on behalf of our agricultural industry.

In a letter sent to the President and the state’s entire Congressional delegation, Stec and the Assembly Republican Conference offered a series of recommendations to boost our agriculture industry as it struggles to maintain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These proposals are intended to work in conjunction with any future federal stimulus funding. In addition, Stec and his colleagues requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture to identify immediate measures to deliver essential resources and much-needed, immediate relief to our family farms.
“These are unprecedented, uncertain times for every New Yorker,” Stec said. “We need to do the best we can to help everyone who is facing severe economic hardship, and right now, that means supporting the economic backbone of our state: the agriculture industry.

“Our farming families employ thousands of New Yorkers and are responsible for the healthy, quality food we all eat. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, dairy farmers right here in my District and farms across the state are in danger of going under,” he added. “For those reasons, my colleagues and I are calling on the federal government to take immediate, major action to help our farmers.

“As the President and Congress work on new strategies to help jumpstart our economic recovery from this crisis, I will continue to apply pressure and make sure our state and region receive the resources they need and deserve,” Stec concluded.

Because of the emergency protocols in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, there have been major disruptions to the agriculture industry’s supply chain, labor force and market demands. The recommendations can be found on the second page of this release, seek to address that:
• The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was a monumental achievement to assist Americans in this time of crisis. We believe the USDA must ensure New York State immediately receives the largest percentage of CARES Act funding, due to the severity of the virus here, combined with our position as a national leader in dairy production;

• The Small Business Administration (SBA) must clarify and ensure that farm and agricultural businesses are eligible for the $10,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan provided for in the CARES Act;

• Further, the federal government must ensure that the temporary flexibilities on farm loans recently announced by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are made permanent for the duration of the pandemic and subsequent economic recovery, and also by ensuring adequate and equitable access to credit during this period of market uncertainty;

• Washington must enact an additional stimulus package that provides 100 percent federal reimbursement of monies lost to New York farmers that would not be covered under the CARES Act. Further, this relief should continue for at least 90 days after the present emergency period has expired;

• The federal government should ensure that the H2-A visa program continues to operate;

• The list of agricultural items should be expanded to include dairy products for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program; and

• The federal government should reimburse the state for any revenues lost by actions designed to reduce costs and regulatory burdens on the agricultural industry.

Source: Youth Services Shout-Out: YSS Blog: Coronavirus: A [Free Digital] Book for Children

More than 180 nations worldwide have confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The following have the highest number as of 4 a.m. ET*:

1. US 557,590 (+5.20%)
2. Spain 166,831 (+0.49%)
3. Italy 156,363 (+2.69%)
4. France 133,670 (+2.25%)
5. Germany 127,854 (+1.91%)
6. UK 85,208 (+6.66%)
7. China 83,135 (+0.01%)
8. Iran 71,686 (+2.37%)
9. Turkey 56,956 (+9.18%)
10. Belgium 29,647  (0.00%)

Source: Johns Hopkins University

Dear Friends,

I hope you are staying well and strong in body and spirit during these dire days. It has been only three weeks since we cancelled our first events, but it seems like an eternity, as each day brings more devastating news, restrictions, and sad losses. Even so, are we not incredibly fortunate to live in this part of the world, where we truly have room to breathe?! Most of us are trying to do the “right thing,” by observing protocols and reaching out to help others as best we can.

Source: ‘There’s no doubt in my mind’ | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

Source: An ‘awesome person’ | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

Action Recommended: Execute a pre-planned activity identified in the instructions

Issued by: Burlington – VT, US, National Weather Service,

…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM EDT TUESDAY… * WHAT…SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH EXPECTED. * WHERE…PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN ADIRONDACKS AND NORTHEAST NEW YORK. THIS INCLUDES CLINTON COUNTY, SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY, AND SOUTHEASTERN SAINT LAWRENCE COUNTY. * WHEN…FROM 5 PM TODAY TO 5 AM EDT TUESDAY. * IMPACTS…WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN BLOW DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES AND CAUSE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…LATE DAY SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON MAY ALSO CAUSE STRONG LOCALIZED WIND GUSTS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IF OPERATING A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE. SECURE OUTDOOR OBJECTS. &&

Source: Burlington City Council to vote on measure to ground F-35s

Source: South Burlington Holiday Inn will be Covid-19 recovery site for homeless population – VTDigger

Source: Quebec Now Has 12,846 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases & Montreal Remains The Epicentre – MTL Blog

Are Your Neighbors in Need?

Avoid Risks Associated with Distancing Requirements

A man in his 40’s per Mayor Read

Source: Second COVID-19 death in Clinton County | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

Source: How to Make a CDC-Approved Cloth Face Mask (and Rules to Follow) | WIRED

Message received from Tracy Ebersole

TODAY!! The Easter Bunny is coming to Town… at 5pm leaving Peru School Playground, left towards the Gazebo then left towards Stewart’s ending at St Augustines. Please, please practice social distancing and if you can’t please stay in your vehicle. We want everyone safe and the kids to be able to see the Easter Bunny.

Source: IRS extends more tax filing deadlines – The Washington Post

4-11-20 Clinton County Health Department COVID-19 Case Update

Plattsburgh, April 11, 2020. “Today we mourn the death of a second Clinton County resident due to complications of the COVID-19 virus, stated John Kanoza, Director of Public Health for Clinton County. This is an extremely difficult time for the family and friends of both individuals and a very sad time for our entire community. We have known from the start that COVID-19 can be deadly. It’s only human to hold on to hope that such a terrible consequence might pass us by, but today we know otherwise.”

On Friday, CVPH Medical Center reported the first COVID-19 death in Clinton County as that of an 80-year-old woman, who entered the hospital on April 2nd. On Saturday, a second COVID-19 patient passed away.

As the first news of a possible worldwide pandemic began to appear, Clinton County leadership and departments, our hospital and health care providers, school systems, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and other entities pulled out previously developed emergency plans, checked that they were up-to-date, and readied themselves for implementation. Now several months in, these organizations are continually working together under a Unified Command System to respond to new cases of the virus and to meet the needs of residents who are in isolation or quarantine, along with the needs of individuals who are staying at home to help slow the spread.

On Thursday night, the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD), with the support of the Unified Command leadership for Clinton County’s response to COVID-19, employed an up-until-now unused strategy to control the spread of COVID-19 in an apartment building in the City of Plattsburgh. A building-wide legal quarantine was issued at the Russell Barnard Apartments on Flynn Avenue after the number of confirmed cases among residents rose to four along with an additional suspect case.

With the detection of this possible hot spot, CCHD notified the incident commanders of the County’s Incident Management Team and sought approval for plan of action. Critical partners, including City of Plattsburgh government, City police, City fire, County Sheriff, and EMS responders along with the building operator, Plattsburgh Housing Authority, were included in a coordinated effort to notify residents and assess immediate needs. Follow-up among partners and with building residents has been on-going. Eric Day, Director of Clinton County’s Office of Emergency Services noted, “Our goal in an incident such as this is to be nimble and responsive.”

Clinton County Legislative Chairperson, Mark Henry commented, “Thursday’s actions illustrate the importance of the County’s emergency decision and planning process. Clinton County agencies are overseeing and coordinating the response to the quarantine order at the Russell Barnard building. The Clinton County Department of Social Services (DSS), and Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) are working with building operator Plattsburgh Housing Authority and partner organizations JCEO and United Way to ensure that affected residents will receive the critical support they need during this difficult time for them and their families.”

In regard to the two members of our community lost to COVID-19, Mr. Kanoza stated, “Even with our best efforts, we have learned that COVID-19 has its own plan. However, one strategy that has proven to be particularly effective in slowing the spread of this virus is staying at home and distancing ourselves from each other”. Over the last week Clinton County statistics indicate what might be a “flattening of the curve,” a phrase used to describe the slowing of new cases of the virus. According to Mr. Kanoza, “This shows that social distancing works. We implore all residents to remain steadfast and to continue these efforts for a bit longer.”

CCHD issued these numbers regarding the number of COVID-19 cases in Clinton County for Saturday April 11, 2020. There have been 363 tests performed resulting in 43 lab confirmed cases, 28 of whom have recovered. There have been 2 deaths.

“This is a notice that I have not been looking forward to but I have decided not to reopen the Ground Round Grill and Bar in Plattsburgh. My family has been operating restaurants in Northern NY and Vermont since 1956. After serving in the Navy from 1968 to 1972 I joined my father in the hospitality business.
With none of my three children interested in the business I hired Julie Kramer who eventually became the COO/CFO and vice President of Nine Platt Corp 18 years ago. One year ago I decided that it was time for me to retire and start the process of selling or leasing the Ground Round building. I advised the staff that at some point the building would change ownership but that I wanted it to be controlled and properly operated. I knew this would take time and we did not have a buyer or a tenant at that point. The unexpected turn of events with Covid-19 virus we were forced to close the restaurant. We took this as an opportunity to do some deferred maintenance which is nearly competed but we also had to lay off our entire workforce. Our vacation policies were followed and we assisted the staff in the completion of unemployment claims.
This was difficult but necessary and knowing that I, as well as the staff, would go through this again I decided last Monday April 6 that we would not reopen.
Nine Platt Corp will continue operating the Best Western Plus Plattsburgh and we will meet our obligations to staff, vendors, service technicians and customers. We are working out details of any gift cards that have not been redeemed with either the 99 restaurant, or our hotel. Details of that will be released in the near future.
Julie and I thank you for your patronage, friendship and we are very proud of the work our staff has done to provide excellent food, service and accommodations …………..and to be nice to people.”

Sincerely,
Robert Smith
Owner

By John T. Ryan

Peru – An elderly Peru couple is in good hands thanks to a concerned school bus driver, Supervisor Brandy McDonald and others. Last Tuesday a Peru School bus was delivering food to children in a local trailer park. When she stopped at one residence an elderly lady approached the school bus and asked for help saying that she and her husband hadn’t had food in three days. Knowing that McDonald responds to people in need the driver called asking for help. Brandy quickly reacted. He explained, “I don’t think the lady understood how to reach out to people. The husband was in a wheel chair. Their caregiver was sick in the hospital. They were alone. They didn’t know what medicines they were taking. When I asked her what food they needed, she responded ‘anything.’”

Correction made in paragraph #1. The school bus driver was a.female, not a male.