The Peru Gazette

Grandmother Judy Akey congratulates Anthony after he graduates from Parris Island.

Mom Dorina, Anthony, and Dad James Falvo

Anthony and several of his fellow Marines

By John T Ryan

Peru, NY – January 9, 2025—Four members of Peru High School’s 2024 graduating class are proud members of the U.S. Marine Corps. Anthony Falvo, the 18-year-old son of Jim and Dorina Falvo, is one of them. Anthony has been home for a few weeks since his November 8 Basic Training graduation. He’s been waiting for his Marine Corps Intelligence School Class to open, so a few days ago, the Peru Gazette talked to him about why he joined the Marine Corps and what his experiences have been thus far.

Anthony Falvo considered joining the Marine Corps for several years before enlisting during his senior high school year.  “I love learning, but I didn’t enjoy school. I knew the military would give me choices. It would get me into the role of being an adult and kick-start my career for anything I wanted to do after that. If I decide to return to school, the Marine Corps will pay for it. I signed a five-year active duty contract and a three-year reserve contract.” Anthony took the AP courses at Peru High School, which, combined with his summertime EMT course, helped him advance to E-2, Private First Class.

Anthony encountered a mixed reaction when he told his parents about his plans. He recalled, “My recruiter recommended that I sit down with my parents to talk to them about it. They were surprised at first and a little hesitant, especially my mother. I sat my dad down with the recruiter at first. He was on board. After my mom talked to the recruiter, she felt better about it.” Anthony said his grandfather, Bob Akey, and earlier generations served in the military. He remarked, “As far as I know, I’m the first Marine.”

Why did he choose the Marine Corps over one of the other services? Anthony explained, “I talked to the Army first, then the Navy. I wanted to see what they had to offer me. When I spoke to the Marine Corps recruiter, I said, ‘I’m not going to talk to anyone else. I know what I want to do.’” Why was it an easy decision? Anthony responded, “It’s how Marines carry themselves and feel about their job. It’s being a part of something bigger than you and swallowing your pride to do your part.”

Marine Corps Basic Training is known as the toughest Basic of all the services. Anthony said, “Basic is tough, but it’s mentally more than physically challenging. Your body will get you through the physical part. The mental part is where you really have to fight. After arriving, you’re up for three days doing things you’ve never done before and meeting new people from all over the country. When you finally get time to sleep, you think about what’s happening at home. You miss home a lot. You don’t have your cell phone except for one Sunday when you get it for two hours. But you are building friendships. I have a very good friend from Alabama and another from Florida.”

Anthony also developed confidence in others and in his leadership abilities. I loved working with the other people. People were able to swallow their pride and listen to others. I was a fire team leader during the Crucible. My peers listened, followed orders, and gave me feedback. It’s great seeing that from young adults.”

Since arriving home, Anthony has been in uniform on recruitment duty. He visits schools and talks with young people wherever he finds them, asking if they want to know more about the U.S. Marine Corps. Those young people will undoubtedly be impressed by how Anthony Falvo carries himself and observe his pride in being a United States Marine. 

Jim Falvo Photos 

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Multiple agencies, K-9s, ATVs and drones involved in Irish Settlement and Cass Road searches

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Chicken & Biscuits 

Salad 

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!

Scheduled for Lewis and Ticonderoga 

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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 30, 2024.

6. Community Input. 

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Accept the Contract for Atlantic Testing Laboratories for the Lyons Road Culvert Project.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Accept the Contract for Atlantic Testing Laboratories for the Fuller Road Culvert Project.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Acceptance of Ryan Davies’ Resignation from the Peru Planning Board. 

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Reappointment of Richard Williams as Chairman to the Peru Planning Board.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Appointment of Justin Wilson as Vice Chairman to the Peru Planning Board.

12. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Allow the Highway Dept. to go to Bid for New Pickup Truck.

13. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

14. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

15. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay December 2024 Bills.

16. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay January 2025 Bills.

17. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

18. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

19. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Establishment of 2025 Salaries for Elected Positions:

5. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Approval of 2025 Appointees.

6. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Establishment of 2025 Appointee Salaries and Frequency of Payments

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

8. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Establishment of 2025 Regular Town Board Meeting Dates and Times.

9. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Approval of 2025 Contracts.

10. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Establishment of 2025 Town Mileage Reimbursement.

11. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Designation of Town Depositories.

12. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Designation of Town Newspaper.

13. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Town Procurement Policy.

   MOTION:                      Adjourn

Allison Monroe brings dogs like Pumpkn to her Casella office.

Plattsburgh, January 11, 2025 –  There were many happy faces at the Elmore SPCA’s Champlain Centre location this morning as Casella Waste Systems kicked off Elmore SPCA’s Capital Campaign with a $10,000 donation. Area Manager Bill Meyers, Shawn Mclean, Hauling Division Manager, and Sean Lukas, Morrisonville Landfill Division Manager, made the presentation. Shawn McLean commented, “Elmore SPCA does great work, and there’s a real need. We’re happy to make this donation.” Casella does more than donate. Two days each week, Casella employees bring two SPCA dogs to Casella’s office for socialization. Shawn McLean said that’s led to four adoptions.

Elmore SPCA’s board president Laurie Parsons said the SPCA had not established the capital campaign’s goal. Architects are at work; the SPCA will announce the goal when the drawings are complete and costs are determined. 

Parsons said the state enacted new animal shelter regulations about three years ago. They cover many areas; however, the required space per animal has the most significant impact. She said, “If we applied the regulations at our Telegraph Road shelter, we’d only be able to accommodate about 4 to 6 dogs.” The shelter historically houses about 25 dogs and even more cats.

Parsons added, “The new regulations sparked our expansion, but many changes are long overdue. We’ll add a 60-foot x 60-foot room at the back of our building. Dogs will be in that room. The space we’re currently using will be for cats and our office.”  The dogs will be much more comfortable in the larger kennels.

From enrollment of less than 600 students, more than 800 are now attending CV-TEC

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Family’s association with the Y dates back to the early 1900s

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(PLATTSBURGH, NY – January 10, 2025) Boat House Row hits the stage at the Strand Center for the Arts Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. This musical group promises to deliver a fun, mellow yacht rock experience wherever it goes. It may be snowing outside, but inside, audience members can warm up with music reminiscent of summers out on the lake.

What is “yacht rock”? In the musical sense, yacht rock refers to the highly polished soft rock that emanated from Southern California between 1976 and 1984. The term is meant to suggest the kind of smooth, mellow music that early yuppies likely enjoyed while sipping champagne on their yachts.

Significant “yacht rockers” include Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Toto and many more. Boat House Row pays tribute to these artists in their set.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit StrandCenter.org/theatre-events.

Abigail Middlemiss

Abigail and her co-workers

Abigail Middlemiss Receives BEE Award

(CVPH News Release and photos) 

PLATTSBURGH, NY (1/10/2025) – Oftentimes, it’s the simplest of gestures that make the difference in health care. In the case of Abigail Middlemiss, CA, her difference comes in the form of a smile that brightens even the darkest of days for patients and colleagues alike.

She works on a floor that includes patients fighting cancer. It is challenging work that brings on a roller coaster of emotions. A positive mindset means the world to everyone who comes in contact with Middlemiss.

“Abby walks on to the unit with the brightest smile. And it’s a smile that is contagious,” Elizabeth Trudeau, BSN, RN explains. “In the hospital setting, I feel as though this is crucial to creating a positive and comfortable atmosphere that enhances patient care and the patient experience.”

That is one of the reasons Trudeau nominated Middlemiss for the BEE Award at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH). Middlemiss received the honor during a surprise ceremony with her co-workers at the hospital this week.

In her nomination, Trudeau also points to her beloved co-worker’s tremendous dedication to teamwork. One busy shift in particular sticks out to Trudeau. While she was in a room with one patient, another patient in a second room urgently needed to use the restroom but needed help getting there. Middlemiss instantly jumped in, wanting to make sure that second patient did not have to wait. Trudeau also noticed her answering call bells to assist staff members with other patients throughout the shift.

“This is what you get every day with Abby. She goes out of her way to help all patients, nurses and other staff members,” Trudeau writes.

“All the patients on the floor are her patients, not just the ones she’s assigned to,” Mia Biondolillo, RN adds in her nomination of Middlemiss. “You can always count on her for a helping hand.”

Biondolillo describes Middlemiss as someone who is always on the move, never missing a moment to ask a patient or a colleague what she can do to make their day better or job easier.

“She is always asking the other clinical assistants what she can do to help them. And she is always running to help any patient that calls out,” Biondolillo says.

Consistency and compassion – two of the many reasons Middlemiss stands out as the hospital’s sixth recipient of the BEE Award. During the award presentation, she was presented with a certificate commending her for her extraordinary work. She, like all honorees, also received a BEE Award pin, a beautiful and meaningful sculpture and a basket filled with bee-themed gifts.

All CVPH employees who support patient care by working together with physicians and registered nurses to improve the physical, emotional and spiritual health of patients and their loved ones are eligible for the BEE Award. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and on the CVPH website. Support staff may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving employee each quarter.

The Town of Peru requests that all residents take this community survey. The town’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Law need to be updated. Peru resident input is critical to the community’s future! 

Click here for the survey! 

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Judge Derek Champagne swore in Assemblyman Billy Jones on January 2, 2024. Jones’s daughter, Ella, witnessed the ceremony. (Photo provided) 

The New York State Assembly announced today that Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) will be the new Chair of the Standing Committee on Local Governments. The Committee was formerly led by Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor) from 2019 until he retired last year after 30 years in the Assembly.

            “I am honored to be named Chair of the Local Governments Committee in the New York State Assembly,” said Jones. “My experience in local government on the village and county levels and being the Chair of the Franklin County Legislature before I took State office gives me a deep understanding of what local governments experience. I am keenly aware of the services local governments provide to our residents day in and day out and the challenges they encounter while ensuring the needs of their constituents are met. They are truly the cornerstone of our communities throughout New York State. I want to thank the Speaker for appointing me to this important committee, and I look forward to supporting local governments across New York State.”

            Jones also serves on the Assembly Committees on Agriculture, Small Business, Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development, and Veterans Affairs.

Education and awareness can support a safer environment and a positive patient experience 

PLATTSBURGH, NY (01/09/2025) – While the incidence of workplace violence in health care remains a serious concern for healthcare professionals across the country, the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is taking steps to ensure patients continue to receive the compassionate, high-quality care they need in an environment that is safe for them and those providing that care. 

According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), healthcare workers suffer more workplace violence and injury than any other profession. The AHA reports that almost 45% of all nurses report an increase in physical violence, and nearly 70% report an increase in verbal abuse. 

CVPH Emergency Department Manager Michael Wells said education and awareness can be important in supporting a positive patient experience while fostering a safer environment for them and the healthcare professionals committed to delivering their care. 

“In the Emergency Department, our goal is to be sure our patients get the care they need and that they also have a good experience with us while keeping everyone in our department safe,” Wells explained. “Knowing what to bring to the ED and what patients and visitors should leave at home can enhance patient comfort and reduce the risk of everyday items like pocketknives or nail scissors being used as weapons.” 

CVPH ED Director of Quality and Safety Gail Bjelko added, “We are asking patients and visitors to leave items like pocketknives, their Leatherman, scissors, protectant sprays or syringes – anything that could be used as a weapon – at home or in their vehicle when they come to the ED.” 

Bjelko suggested creating an “ED Go Bag” that could include a current list of medications, identification and insurance cards, a debit card or small amount of cash, a phone charger, and a sweater. “Having these items readily accessible should you need to come to our ED—as a patient or a visitor—can be helpful,” she said. 

CVPH continues its multifaceted approach to enhancing workplace safety, which includes recruitment of additional security staff, installation of state-of-the-art badge access for entryways, education, training, and partnerships with local law enforcement. 

“We’re now reaching out to those we serve and asking for their assistance in embracing this new safety mindset and creating a safer environment for our team and the hundreds of community members who turn to us for care each day,” Wells said. 

While there is no single solution to healthcare violence, the University of Vermont Health Network has called out healthcare violence to give visibility and voice to frontline staff members who have endured acts of physical and verbal violence and to inspire new conversations that could lead to meaningful action. 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced that online registration for the 2025 Summer Camps program will open on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 1 p.m. Parents and guardians can register youth for a week of camp, manage their account, and complete required forms and waivers through a link from the DEC Summer Camps webpage. Guardians are encouraged to register early since weeks fill up quickly and are advised to monitor the webpage for upcoming announcements on 2025 camp forms.

“At DEC’s summer camps, youth have the opportunity to take part in various lessons and workshops to develop outdoor skills, learn about nature and wildlife, and build a foundation for lifelong environmental stewardship,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “We encourage families to sign up early for these great opportunities and for sponsors to support the next generation of conservationists.”

Now in its 78^th year, the DEC Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11 to 17. DEC operates four residential camps for kids: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor (Sullivan County); Camp Rushford in Caneadea (Allegany County); and Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg (Warren County). Opening of specific camps is dependent on staff availability.

Camp Rushford will offer five weeks of programming for children ages 11 to 13 and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Colby will operate five weeks of camp for 11- to 13-year-olds and two weeks for campers ages 14 to 17. Camp DeBruce will offer six weeks for kids ages 11 to 13 and one week for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Pack Forest will host children ages 11 to 13 for three weeks and 14- to 17-year-olds for four weeks with one Outdoor Adventure Week. Individual campers are limited to one week of camp registration. If spots at camps are still available after May 24, campers will be allowed to sign up for additional weeks. The complete schedule of camp weeks and ages is available on the Camp Weeks and Availability webpage.

At camp, kids will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of outdoor adventures and are encouraged to try new things. Activities may include fishing, birding, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering, and hunter safety education.

DEC campers engage in fun, hands-on activities and outdoor exploration focused on local field, forest, and freshwater aquatic ecological principles. Campers might collect insects in a field, use nets in a stream, investigate soil composition, measure tree sizes, or practice taking field notes and writing in journals. Trips to nearby State lands might include kettle bogs, State Parks, fish hatcheries, or nature museums.

One hunter education program of gun, bow, or trapping is offered at each camp during four of the camp weeks. Class size is limited for hunter education programs and campers must sign up during registration and complete required homework in advance. Registered campers will receive booklets prior to their session at camp.

Camp Pack Forest will offer an Outdoor Adventure Week during Week 4 (July 20 – 25). DEC encourages teens ages 14 to 17 who love being outdoors to sign up for this popular program that will help deepen their enjoyment and widen their horizons. During this week, campers will develop hands-on outdoor skills that go above and beyond the traditional camp week. In addition to typical camp activities, campers may be engaged in team- and trust-building activities, forestry, citizen science, conservation science, and more. Guest DEC and natural resource professionals will introduce campers to a variety of career options.

All four camps will offer seven one-week sessions (Sunday to Friday) beginning June 29, 2025. One week of camp is $350 per child for 2025, and includes lodging, meals, trips, and a camp t-shirt. This significant value for a week-long overnight camp is supplemented by assistance from New York State to help make camps and the education benefits they provide affordable for more New Yorkers.

In addition to inviting guardians to register children to participate in the DEC environmental education Summer Camps program, sporting clubs, civic groups, and environmental organizations are encouraged to sponsor one or more children for a week at camp. Information about becoming a sponsor and managing sponsor accounts is available at the Sponsoring Youth to Camp webpage on DEC’s website.

For more information, please visit the DEC’s website, email EducationCamps@dec.ny.gov, visit “NYS DEC Summer Camps” on Facebook or write to DEC Camps, 3rd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4501.

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the High School Community Room. An executive session is anticipated immediately following the 6:30 PM start, and the Board will reconvene for open public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. The meeting will be recorded and will be available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.

The meeting is open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal safety procedures and protocols will be followed.

Currently, two (2) public comment opportunities are planned as follows:

First public comment:  Related to items on the agenda.  Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.

Second public comment:  Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.

Individuals who are unable to attend the regular meeting in person may submit public comments by emailing perucomments@perucsd.org no later than 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, January 14^th.  Online comments are also subject to the conditions stated above.

Anticipated topics include:

• Professional Development
• Ed Law 3012-e
• Cell Phone Use
• Personnel Appointments
• Policies

The complete agenda will be available via BoardDocs on the District’s website (perucsd.org).