The Peru Gazette

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Race director Greg Borzilleri on his path from athlete to event manager of long-running triathlon and Lake Placid Marathon

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Active members in good standing who reside within the town to receive 10% off town taxes

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On Oct. 24 and 25, Fort Ticonderoga’s penultimate Signature Reenactment of 2026, “Hold the Line for Liberty” will dramatically recreate one of the greatest Continental Army victories of 1776

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Owner hopes to open Valor Mountain Veterinary Services by early fall

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Albany, July 16, 2026 – State tax receipts totaled $37.2 billion through the first quarter of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027, $2.4 billion higher than Division of the Budget (DOB) estimated in the SFY 2027 Enacted Budget Financial Plan. State tax collections were also $4 billion higher than the first quarter of 2025, according to the monthly state cash report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“Tax collections for the state were higher than projected, primarily reflecting strong business tax collections,” DiNapoli said. “However, caution is warranted as geopolitical conflicts and changing trade policies have contributed to higher inflation, financial market volatility, and slowing employment growth.”

Personal income tax (PIT) receipts totaled $20.9 billion and were $654.2 million above DOB’s financial plan projections through the first quarter. However, PIT receipts were $1.7 billion higher than the same period in SFY 2026, reflecting, in part, the 6.5% increase in collections from the settlement of the 2025 tax year.

Business taxes, which include collections from the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET), totaled $9.4 billion, $1.9 billion higher than through June in the prior fiscal year and $1.6 billion higher than DOB’s financial plan projections. This reflects an increase in corporate franchise tax and PTET collections of 34.7% and 23.7%, respectively over last year. Read more »

L-R Ron Deragon, legislator, Peru’s Lauren Davey, Beekmantown’s Loghan Strickland, Mark Henry Chairman, Mark Lavigne Ex Director MEGA, Kim Kinblom deputy county administrator and MEGA board member. Photo provided

CLINTON COUNTY, NY, July 16, 2026 – – The Clinton County Legislature is proud to announce that outstanding students from the Peru Central School District and Beekmantown Central School District have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA) Member Scholarship. Peru’s Lauren Davey and Beekmantown’s Loghan Strickland have each received $3,000 toward their college freshman year expenses.

MEGA is a non-profit local development corporation that provides stable, competitively priced energy supply to local governments and school districts across New York State. This is the second year of the annual MEGA Member Scholarship, which supports graduating high school seniors from member communities who demonstrate academic achievement and plan to pursue studies in STEM or public policy at a college or university in New York State.

“The Clinton County Legislature is proud to celebrate Loghan Strickland’s selection as a recipient of the 2026 MEGA Member Scholarship,” said The Honorable Mark R. Henry (Area 3-R, Chazy). “Loghan’s hard work, academic achievements, and commitment to his future have earned him this recognition among students from across New York State. Scholarships like this help open doors for the next generation of leaders, innovators, and public servants, and we look forward to seeing all that he accomplishes in the years ahead.”

MEGA received several outstanding applications from across New York State, reflecting the strong talent, ambition, and community-minded spirit of students in its member municipalities and school districts.

After reviewing applications from across its 250 member communities and school districts, MEGA selected Lauren Davey and Loghan Strickland as two of the 2026 scholarship recipients. Their achievements, dedication, and future aspirations reflect MEGA’s commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders in energy, innovation, and public service.

“I am honored to recognize Lauren Davey for earning this prestigious scholarship and for representing our community so well,” said The Honorable Ron E. Deragon, Jr. (Area 8-D, Plattsburgh). “Lauren’s dedication to her studies and her future aspirations exemplify the talent and determination we see in so many of our young people here in Clinton County. Congratulations to Lauren and to all of the scholarship recipients on this outstanding achievement.”

“On behalf of MEGA, I congratulate Lauren and Loghan on this well-deserved recognition,” said Mark LaVigne, MEGA Executive Director. “Their dedication to their educational pursuits is inspiring, and we wish them the very best as they continue their studies and work toward a brighter future for New York State.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 7 at 1 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker who suffered a broken arm on Mount Marcy.  New York State Police pilot Beck flew Forest Rangers Rooney and Sabo to the hiker’s location. Ranger Sabo lowered Ranger Rooney onto the mountain. Ranger Rooney splinted the subject’s arm and harnessed them for extraction. Ranger Sabo hoisted the 61-year-old from Nyack into the helicopter and pilot Beck flew them to the hospital. Ranger Rooney hiked out with the remaining members of the subject’s party. Resources were clear at 8 p.m.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 8 at 11:30 a.m., Forest Ranger Rooney responded to a call for a hiker with a shoulder injury approximately half a mile from the summit of Upper Wolfjaw Mountain. The hiker indicated a friend was helping on a steep step and pulled the arm and felt their shoulder pop out. The hiker and their party continued hiking to Johns Brook Lodge. Rangers Ezumah and Rooney met the hiker there, treated the shoulder injury, and put the arm in a sling. Rangers escorted the hiking party to the trailhead. The hiker indicated they would seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 3:45 p.m.

Town of Hunter
Greene County
Rescue: On July 8 at 7 p.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a swimmer and a dog stranded below Fawn’s Leap. The dog went over the edge and was stuck on the other side of the stream. A 29-year-old from Poughkeepsie tried to rescue the dog but also got stuck. Rangers Horn and Jackson assisted the Ulster County Sheriff’s Dive/Swift Water Rescue Team, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens and Hudson Fire Departments, and Twin Cloves Technical Rope Rescue Team with a high-angle rope rescue. Rangers provided a personal flotation device to the swimmer as a rescuer was lowered to attach a harness to the swimmer and the dog. Rescuers raised the swimmer and dog to the top of Fawn’s Leap, where they were assisted across a calmer section of the stream. Resources were clear at 9:15 p.m.

This occurred in a restricted area with warning signage. DEC reminds hikers to follow signs and avoid dangerous locations.

Town of Lysander
Onondaga County
Law Enforcement: On July 9, while on patrol in Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, Forest Ranger Chappell heard and then observed two people riding electric bikes on the property. Ranger Chappell stopped the two 15-year-old riders. Electric bikes cannot be operated on roads with posted speed limits over 30 miles per hour, are prohibited in any State Wildlife Management Area, and are illegal for anyone under age 16. Ranger Chappell issued the teens a warning and contacted their parents to safely pick up the bikes and their children. Read more »

Boards of Visitors are supposed to oversee state-run disability and psychiatric programs. Almost none of them have enough members.

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Read the full list of President’s List and Vice President’s List honors students for NCCC’s spring 2026 semester

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(PLATTSBURGH- July 15, 2026) – The City of Plattsburgh is excited to announce the return of its popular Movie Night series, bringing free family-friendly entertainment to parks across the city throughout the summer and fall. Last October was the first movie night held at Macdonough Park. Given the success and engagement from the community, the City has decided to plan 3 movie nights in 2026 for all to enjoy.

The first Movie Night of the season will take place on Friday, July 17, 2026, on the Plattsburgh City Beach Lawn, featuring a screening of Zootopia 2. The movie was selected through a community vote, giving residents the opportunity to help choose the film shown on the big screen.

Movie Nights are scheduled for:

8PM Friday, July 17, 2026 at the City Beach Lawn

8PM Friday, August 7, 2026 at the MacDonough Park Bandshell

7PM Friday, October 9, 2026 at the Melissa Penfield Football Field

The movies for the August and October screenings will also be selected by the community. Residents are encouraged to follow the City of Plattsburgh’s social media pages and visit the City’s community engagement platform,

My.CityofPlattsburgh-NY.gov, for upcoming movie voting opportunities.

Two guided walks and a water chestnut pull scheduled for July, August

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Albany, July 15, 2026 – The estimated $277 billion Enacted Budget for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027 is an increase of 7% from SFY 2026 with the state Division of the Budget (DOB) projecting that disbursements will exceed receipts in each year of the Financial Plan, raising questions about long-term fiscal sustainability, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The Financial Plan reveals the impact of current pressures on state finances, with DOB projecting that cumulative out-year budget gaps have increased since January and now total $31.8 billion. Despite this growth, no increases were made to the state’s total reserves. In addition, the state is anticipating drawing down on $1.3 billion in General Fund balance by the end of SFY 2027 to help balance the budget.

“The state’s finances remain highly exposed to federal actions and potential economic downturns,” DiNapoli said. Read more »

Albany, July 15, 2026 – The 2027 property tax levy growth will be capped at 2% for local governments that operate on a calendar-based fiscal year, according to data released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. This figure affects tax cap calculations for all counties, towns and fire districts, as well as 44 cities and 13 villages.

“For the sixth consecutive year, the allowable tax levy growth will be limited to 2%,” DiNapoli said. “Local governments are tasked with the difficult challenge of delivering essential services efficiently while managing higher costs of goods and services, as well as the persistent threat of destabilizing federal actions. My office offers technical assistance for those that need it and provides transparency to the public so they understand the fiscal pressures facing local governments.” Read more »

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Program Will Help Connect Workers to Opportunities in America’s Fastest Growing Semiconductor Ecosystem

Albany, July 15. 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Workforce Training Incentive Program, designed to connect workforce training programs to careers in the state’s rapidly growing semiconductor industry sector. The new program, administered by Empire State Development, supports eligible semiconductor manufacturers and manufacturing businesses by offsetting the costs of training employees for high-demand manufacturing careers, helping companies build the skilled workforce needed to support continued industry growth across New York State.

“New York is making historic investments to become the nation’s premier destination for semiconductor manufacturing, and that means investing in people just as much as projects,” Governor Hochul said. “This new workforce training tax credit will help manufacturers develop the highly skilled workforce they need while creating new opportunities for New Yorkers to build careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.”

The program supports employer-led training that addresses specific business needs, enhances employee skills, improves productivity and creates opportunities for career advancement. Eligible training may be provided directly by employers, third-party providers or New York State Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Tax credits can cover up to 75 percent of eligible training costs, including employee wages during training, curriculum development, instructor costs and qualifying wraparound services, up to $25,000 per employee receiving eligible training. Eligible semiconductor manufacturing businesses may receive up to $5 million in credits over the life of the program, while other eligible manufacturing businesses may receive up to $1 million.

To qualify, businesses must operate in New York State as eligible semiconductor manufacturing or manufacturing businesses, submit an approved workforce training plan before training begins, and demonstrate compliance with worker protection and environmental requirements. Applications are now being accepted through ESD. Additional program information, eligibility requirements and application materials are available here.