The Peru Gazette

Supervisor McDonald announced that the Town Board Meeting of December 30, 2019 (6 p.m.) will include a resolution to dedicate the Town Court House to the late Joseph Kelley. The possibility of holding this meeting at the Court House will be explored.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that installation of the pre-cast concrete culvert on the Patent Road should take place very soon. The road will be closed and detour signs will be deployed while construction is underway. The culvert is located a few hundred feet north of Mother Cabrini Shrine.

The Board also:

Approved a $10 quarterly Valcour District sewer rate increase. No one addressed the Board at the public hearing for the increase.

Approved a Clinton County re-levy of Peru’s outstanding 2019 water and sewer bills in the amount of $59,703.71 Clinton County will include the charges in 2020 property tax bills. Payment had to be received at the Town Hall no later than November 5th to avoid the re-levy.

Approved interior wood work at the historic Lyon Street School in an amount not to exceed $1,675. Randy LaValley Construction of West Chazy will do the work. LaValley has liability insurance and will complete the work himself.

Agreed that the Board has no authority to request the removal of two Main Street political signs. Two residents complained about what they perceive as the inflammatory nature of the signs; however, Supervisor Brandy McDonald said property owners have freedom of speech. Town Attorney Matt Favro and fellow Board members did not disagree.

Learned that recent high winds damaged several Hometown Hero signs. The affected families will be notified. Repairing the signs is the sponsor’s responsibility.

Adjourned to executive session to discuss legal issues related to the Washington Street expansion. No action was taken following the session.

Concurred with Town Clerk/Tax Collector Dianne Miller’s proposed January office hours. Miller tries to make her hours convenient for taxpayers.

Peru native Nathan Wilson is Davey Commons’ developer and general contractor. Wilson is very enthusiastic about the project. He said, “I bought the land from my father-in-law Harney Davey. It’s been in the family for a long time and it lends itself to a nice development. It’s nice to bring something like this to my hometown.”

Wilson envisions the two bedroom units attracting people looking to downsize while the two-story 3-bedroom units should attract families. He anticipates monthly rent ranging from $1,300 to $1,500. No two apartments will be the same.

Wilson cited several of Peru’s great qualities saying, “I think many people are looking for Peru’s conveniences and small town life. They’ll be very close to restaurants, the post office and the walking trail.”

They’ll also find insurance agencies, a credit union, supermarket, drug store, hardware stores, liquor store, laundromat, car wash, gas stations, churches, beauty shops, dentists and a new Stewart’s. Peru has a lot to offer its residents!

The difficult decision was made earlier this week by Atkins and Fuller and the timing makes sense for both. Fuller is retiring from the construction business and Atkins’ business is continually growing throughout the east coast of the United States.

“It has been a lot of fun over the last 11 years, but I’m going into retirement now,” Fuller said. “The racing business has created a second family for me and I am very thankful for that.”

Atkins, who owns North Line Utilities, LLC. said, “Airborne has been an exciting venture for me, I’ve learned a lot about the business, enjoyed a great partnership with Steve and made many friends in the Airborne family. Currently with our continued expansion (Northline) I just don’t have the time to devote to the venture myself that it needs and deserves.”
During their ownership, the speedway had four promoters/speedway managers.

Fuller’s first promoter was Mike Perrotte back in 2008. Mike Bruno and John Walker followed, with Robby Knowles as the most recent. “It is definitely sad to hear the news, but I appreciate the effort and dedication put in by Steve and Jamie over the past decade,” Knowles said. “The facility is beautiful and hopefully someone will take advantage of this opportunity and continue Saturday night short track racing in Plattsburgh.”

The 2019 season came to a close this past Saturday with the Banquet of Champions at the Rainbow Banquet Hall in Altona, NY. Steve Bernier, Adam Pierson, Marc Lalonde, Shawn Duquette and Nathan Smart were crowned champions in their respective divisions.

If and when a new ownership group is formed, plans for the 2020 season will begin immediately. For more information, stay tuned to plattsburghairbornespeedway.com or Plattsburgh Airborne Speedway on Facebook.

Beginning at 12 noon, the second annual family tree-decorating is outside the Schuyler Falls Post Office at 954 Route 22B in the hamlet of Schuyler Falls (Route 22B and Norrisville/Pocket Hill Roads). Hosted by Ryan’s Masonry, ornaments are available as saved year to year, or bring more to put on the new tree! Special guests will visit, too – especially for the children, until about 2 pm.

Later that same afternoon, in Morrisonville hamlet, the sixth annual tree lighting and open house is at the Schuyler Falls Town Hall, 997 Mason Street.

The doors to the Town Hall open at 4:30 pm. A member of the town board will read ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas for children of all ages. Community groups (EMS, Fire Dept. etc.) will share their information and schedules of special holiday events.

Shortly before 5 pm, gather outside in front of the Town Hall to sing holiday songs around the tree. Decorated fire trucks are expected, courtesy of the Morrisonville Fire Department. Then, at 5:00 pm sharp – with all gathered – countdown to flip the switch to light this holiday tree! The open house continues until about 6 pm.

Sponsored by the Town of Schuyler Falls and Ryan’s Masonry. For more information or to volunteer, contact the Town Historians’ Office – 518-563-1129 or Barb Benkwitt (518-565-6263 cell, sfhistorian@charter.net, barbbenkwitt@charter.net)

December 7-8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day

The Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) will hold its annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The Open House, a North Country holiday tradition, provides a special opportunity to visit the Museum and find unique gifts for family and friends. The first 25 Open House visitors each day will receive free gifts, one per family.

The Museum shop has three limited-edition keepsake tree ornaments available for purchase. This year’s ornament depicts the Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island. Ornaments celebrating the Witherill Hotel and Plattsburgh’s Old City Hall are also available while supplies last. The Museum’s goal is to preserve a different aspect of Clinton County and create cherished keepsakes and heirlooms. All items are limited editions and will not be available again once they are sold out.

Along with many unique and interesting artifacts, the Museum has an outstanding collection of books about local history by local authors. Two limited-quantity books, “Clinton County Memories Volume II” and “The Plattsburgh Military Reservation, A Pictorial History,” by Richard B. Frost and Melissa A. Peck, are still available. Books on the Witherill Hotel and the Royal Savage, as well as several of Jim Millard’s books on local history, will also be for sale. And visitors can browse our gift shop’s used book section for old county history books donated by our members.

The museum galleries will be open with a media show of Old Plattsburgh photos and a virtual tour of the U.S. Oval running throughout each day.

All are welcome.

At the conclusion of this meeting, the Board is anticipated to conduct a Board Retreat for the purpose of developing/improving team building, communication skills and/or interpersonal relations, and to gain education and training related to school board service. The Retreat is not open to the public.