The Peru Gazette

Source: Burlington asks for halt of F-35 flights during pandemic – VTDigger

Message from Town of Peru Supervisor Bandy McDonald:

(30) Day Extension for the State of Emergency I signed on 3-16-20 until 4-16-20 for the Town Of Peru. This order expires every 30 days. So this order will now run until 5-13-20 for the Town Of Peru. I can also lift this order before the 30 days if needed.

The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) today reported 47 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents of Clinton County. The number includes 43 cases, as of this morning, listed on the NYSDOH website. CCHD noted that 4 of the 47 individuals they are reporting were tested in Vermont. These four are not currently listed on the NYSDOH website (https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home) and CCHD expects that they will become part of the Vermont case count.

Source: Joyful Noise: father and daughter planting a “victory garden” in Peru | NCPR News

Source: No, You Don’t Need To Disinfect Your Groceries. But Here’s How To Shop Safely | NCPR News

Source: We asked how the coronavirus was impacting people’s lives in the North Country. Here’s what they said | NCPR News

The Latest
President Donald Trump asserted Monday on Twitter that he is the ultimate decision-maker for determining how and when to relax the nation’s social distancing guidelines, as he grows anxious to reopen the country as soon as possible. He added, “With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue. A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!”

Source: Layoff of 337 Glens Falls Hospital employees announced – Sun Community News & Printing

Peru – The Town of Peru is attempting to continue its most essential services during the coronavirus crisis. Supervisor Brandy McDonald, whose full-time employment schedule has been curtailed, said he is at the Town Hall several hours each week and responds to calls via cell phone (518-593-3078). He sometimes responds to as many as 50 calls daily. Water and sewer payments are being processed and Town Clerk Dianne Miller is processing quarterly tax payments. Dog Control Officer Dave Drollette is continuing his normal activities and coordinating dog licensing. Call him at 518-578-2217. Call 518-643-2745 to leave a message for any of the Town Hall personnel. They will do their best to get back to you. Click here for direct numbers

McDonald said some construction projects are continuing. Building permits are being issued and inspections performed. Contractors and developers have had many questions regarding the “essential work” permitted by Governor Cuomo’s ‘PAUSE’ Executive Order. Normal staffing is permitted on projects classified as essential such as service stations, convenience stores and low-income housing. Only one person is permitted to work on a non-essential project at a given time. McDonald said the state is requiring the Town to strictly enforce the Executive Order.

Town Board meetings are continuing although they are closed to the public and limited to 5 persons being present. Authorization of bids for a new town hall roof is on tonight’s meeting agenda. Bids for the multi-million dollar sewer system upgrade project are expected to be advertised on April 18th.

Water-Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault said his department is working two crews and rotating shifts. Each crew has a licensed water and wastewater operator on shift to meet requirements for DEC and DOH. He commented, “ We try to distance ourselves from each other when possible and have restricted access to our facilities to employees only unless necessary. Crews have been instructed to clean vehicles and work areas when their 3-day shift is done and before the next crew comes on. We are primarily concentrating on running the facilities and making sure our Dig Safe locates are done. We are also concentrating on maintenance of our facilities and any emergencies that come about.”

Water meters are not being replaced unless absolutely necessary and back-flow testing requirements have been put on hold. Grounds clean-up may be delayed. Larger maintenance projects which require confined space entry have been put on hold.

The Highway Department is working split shifts. Superintendent Michael Farrell commented, “We switched to four ten-hour days. We are working Monday-Thursday 6 AM-4:30 PM. We have three people working Monday and Tuesday and the other three working Wednesday and Thursday. Yes, it has an impact on what we can do and still maintain social distancing.”

Sand-sweeping roads on the outskirts of village has been done. Farrell said, “We don’t have the personnel to sweep the village and sub-divisions. It takes all six men to run the sweeping equipment and that’s with no flagging people. We are taking all the plow gear off the trucks and servicing them for summer work. We will be doing a few ditch jobs on back roads and trying to get salt delivered or held in storage if that’s necessary.”

Chamber set to host conversation with local leaders on impact of COVID-19!

Plattsburgh, NY – The North Country Chamber of Commerce is hosting a conversation with our local county leaders on Thursday, April 16th at 9:00AM. Hear updates and answers to questions regarding the response by our Counties to COVID-19 and the impacts on our county governments.

Panelists will include:

• Mark Henry, Chair, Clinton County Legislature
• Donald Dabiew, Chair, Franklin County Legislature
• Shaun Gilliland, Chair, Essex County Board of Supervisors
• Bill Farber, Chair, Hamilton County Board of Supervisors

Register and ask your questions by visiting northcountrychamber.com!

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. &&