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More About The Peru Gazette

The editor is John Ryan at email: perugazette@gmail.com. The Peru Gazette is a free community, education and information website. It is non-commercial and does not accept paid advertising.

Comment Policy

The Peru Gazette welcomes comments on posted stories. The author MUST include his/her first and last name. No  foul or libelous language permitted. The Peru Gazette reserves the right to not publish a comment.

Recent Comments

Pension fund underperforming for DiNapoli, says GOP opponent – Capitol Confidential

Source: Pension fund underperforming for DiNapoli, says GOP opponent – Capitol Confidential

Consumers cheer move to boot Charter while suitors await – Times Union

Source: Consumers cheer move to boot Charter while suitors await – Times Union

State gives Charter marching orders – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: State gives Charter marching orders – Sun Community News & Printing

A Great Family Activity

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Rob and Cathy Butts are #43 in the Peru Gazette’s photo series featuring people who make Peru a wonderful place to live. Peru residents know Rob as a logger and Cathy as a Peru High School biology teacher.  Many people may not realize that for the past 21 summers Rob and Cathy’s hospitality has attracted hundreds of people to Peru. They come from both the local area and all over the northeast to compete in cattle penning and sorting sanctioned competitions at the Butts’ Cimarron Arena. This past weekend the Butts’ barn was surrounded by horse trailers from Maine, Canada, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts. A few of the 80+ horses arrived as early as last Wednesday and some won’t be leaving until today (Monday). Six competitions were scheduled this summer at the Butts’ Cimarron Arena. 

L-R Leah, Rob and Molly Butts

Cathy Butts explained why they enjoy penning and sorting, “It’s a family sport. There aren’t a lot of sports that a grandparent, a grandkid and a mom can all do together. That’s the part we like the best.”  The Butts’ daughters Leah and Molly, who are now school teachers in Vermont, come home for the summer to help out. Preparation this year included trucking 240 young cattle to the arena from pastures in and around Peru. It’s not all work. Leah, Molly, and Rob all compete in several events each weekend. 

In team penning, three riders have 60 seconds to separate three same-numbered cattle from a herd of thirty and drive them into a small pen at the opposite end of the arena. In sorting, two or three riders attempt to sort ten cattle in numerical order and drive them through a gate and into a large pen. The action is fast-paced, with only a minute or two between events. The beautiful horses and riders’ skills are exciting to watch, and even though the riders are very competitive, they loudly cheer a good performance. Sportsmanship is one of the sport’s highest priorities. 

The events aren’t advertised, but Cathy Butts said, “If people hear about it and they stop by, that’s awesome.”  There’s a small grandstand and room for folding chairs. You don’t have to be on a horse to get a hot dog. You’ll see Peru’s beautiful orchards and the Green Mountains of Vermont in the distance.  Cimarron Arena is a very special place in Peru thanks to the hard work of Rob and Cathy Butts and their family. Click here to view several exciting weekend photos

Sunday On The Island Historic Lighthouse Tours

The Clinton County Historical Association Announces: Sunday On The Island, Historic Lighthouse Tours
 
Sunday, August 12, 2018 departing between 9am and 1:20pm
Peru Dock, Route 9, 1.5 miles north of the hamlet of Valcour
 
Participants $25 each for R/T transportation
 
The public is invited to join the Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at the Peru Dock for another exciting opportunity to visit the historic Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island.
 
Round trip transportation will be provided for a fee of $25 each. The fee will include a trail guide and George Clifford’s book on Lake Champlain Lighthouses. Special Lighthouse T-Shirts will also be on sale that day. The boat, that holds 5 people per trip, will begin shuttling at 9am with trips
to the Lighthouse made every 20 minutes. The Lighthouse will close at 3:30pm and all visitors to the Island must return by 4pm. In the event of wind or thunderstorms the tour will be cancelled and refunds will be made.
 
Pre-Registration, payment and scheduling departure and return times must be done by August 6 to guarantee a spot on the boat. Once on the island a Docent will be available for tours of the Lighthouse with self guided tours on the Island. Participants must be aware that the trip requires the physical ability to debark and board from the Island¹s natural landing,
walking on uneven surfaces over rough terrain and climbing stairs.
 
The Island is also famous for Poison Ivy plants! An adult must accompany anyone under that age of 12 and those under the age of 16 must bring and wear their own life jackets. Individuals may bring a picnic lunch to enjoy while on
the island.
 
Visitors to the Lighthouse will view displays depicting the history of Lake Champlain Lighthouses, Lake Champlain¹s Military History, the 20th Century Camps on Valcour Island and the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper. Visitors maclimb to the Lantern Room to see the functioning light and the outstanding
view it offers.
 
For more information and to register your spot, please call the Clinton County Historical Association at (518) 561-0340. More information about the Lighthouse can be found on Facebook or the Museum¹s website.

9th Annual Run to Remember 5K 2018- Sundown Run/Walk #DamnDementia

Friday-August 17, 2018  Plattsburgh Recreation Dept GYM

52 US Oval Plattsburgh, NY 

-5K fun run/walk around the oval and surrounding trail-  Registration begins at 6:00pm, kids 1mile fun run and walkers- 6:30pm, 5K run- 7:00 pm

-Donation: $15  up to August 13th, $20.00 after and up to day of the run, $5.00 for kids run 12 and under

-Paper registrations at the Plattsburgh Rec Center, Kinetic Running, use Online linkhttps://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Plattsburgh/RuntoRemember5K2018SundownRunWalk

Call Debbie Frederick with questions at: 518-569-5911 or email: runtoremember10@gmail.com

 

Genealogical Society Annual Fall Conference

 The Northern New York American Canadian Genealogical Society – ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 28, 29, 30 10am to 4pm

Dannemora Civic Center, 44 Emmons St., Dannemora, NY 12929

 Free admission to the conference – No pre-registration required

The public and members are invited to join the Northern New York American Canadian Genealogical Society (NNYACGS) Conference on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 28, 29 and 30, 2018, at the Dannemora Civic Center for 3 days of genealogical talks and research.

On Friday and Sunday, the genealogical library will be open from 10am to 4pm for free research. Saturday, the 29th is reserved for two sessions.

The first presentation, starting at 10am, will be by Ed McGuire, who will speak on DNA Testing. Ed has spoken extensively on the subject and will cover such subjects as the key tools on each DNA Testing company’s websites; how to determine shared DNA with your matches; the three common levels of interest in the matches lists; analysis of spreadsheets; advanced tools and techniques to consider; and where to get the best advice. Ed always builds in a lengthy question and answer period for people to question him about their particular results.

Lunch will be available at the Civic Center by donation. It consists of Michigans, coleslaw, macaroni salad, chips, soda and cookies.

The afternoon session, starting at 1pm, will be by local musicians, Bob Robidou and Annemarie Petrashune. They will present a workshop and demonstration on French-Canadian music. Bob and Annemarie have played at our conferences before, but this will be the first time they will give a workshop. With so many people having French-Canadian connections, the music of our grandparents should nostalgic and be of interest to all. 

For more information contact Dick Lynch at 518-569-8479, see our Facebook page, call NNYACGS at 518-492-4142 during library hours, or email nnyacgs@gmail.com.  View the society’s website, www.nnyacgs.com, to see a full list of our publications and our library schedule.

Lake City hosts summer of street art – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Lake City hosts summer of street art – Sun Community News & Printing

AuSable Valley awarded $503K for tech upgrades – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: AuSable Valley awarded $503K for tech upgrades – Sun Community News & Printing

Rouses Point welcomes new Italian restaurant – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Rouses Point welcomes new Italian restaurant – Sun Community News & Printing

Plattsburgh man arrested for attempted bank robbery – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Plattsburgh man arrested for attempted bank robbery – Sun Community News & Printing

New York to kick Spectrum cable out of state for ‘failures to serve New Yorkers’ | abc7ny.com

Source: New York to kick Spectrum cable out of state for ‘failures to serve New Yorkers’ | abc7ny.com

Sheldon Silver gets 7 years in prison in $4 million political fraud scheme – NY Daily News

Source: Sheldon Silver gets 7 years in prison in $4 million political fraud scheme – NY Daily News

Suspect in custody after attempted heist at Plattsburgh bank | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Suspect in custody after attempted heist at Plattsburgh bank | News | pressrepublican.com

Former Wall Street Maverick Sandy Lewis Is an Adirondack Agitator | Environment | Seven Days | Vermont’s Independent Voice

Source: Former Wall Street Maverick Sandy Lewis Is an Adirondack Agitator | Environment | Seven Days | Vermont’s Independent Voice

Making a Stink: Man Protests Burlington’s Wastewater Dumps | Off Message

Source: Making a Stink: Man Protests Burlington’s Wastewater Dumps | Off Message

Watertown Daily Times | Local family speaking out against wind farms

Source: Watertown Daily Times | Local family speaking out against wind farms

Watertown Daily Times | Stefanik announces funding from Northern Border Regional Commission, passage of bills

Source: Watertown Daily Times | Stefanik announces funding from Northern Border Regional Commission, passage of bills

SUNY Plattsburgh – Major Renovations Slated for Memorial Hall

Source: SUNY Plattsburgh – Major Renovations Slated for Memorial Hall

State IG: Ex-ORDA official used state-issued credit card for years for bar tabs – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: State IG: Ex-ORDA official used state-issued credit card for years for bar tabs – Sun Community News & Printing

Inductees announced for local baseball hall of fame – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Inductees announced for local baseball hall of fame – Sun Community News & Printing

Police: Bangor man hid woman’s body | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Police: Bangor man hid woman’s body | News | pressrepublican.com

East Branch of Ausable River to be Restored

News from the Ausable River Association

The Ausable River Association (AsRA) and its partners will lead a $1.1 million effort to restore flood resilience and stream health to the East Branch of the Ausable River in the Town of Jay. Ecosystem Planning and Restoration of Maryland, Erik Sandblom PC, and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, both from Vermont, teamed up with AsRA in the successful bid for this project. Additional expertise is being provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Trout Unlimited, Adirondack Chapter.

Funds for the project were awarded to the Town after Tropical Storm Irene and are administered by the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery.

The East Branch restoration team will use field data, hydrologic and geomorphic models, guidance from the Town government, and input from Jay residents and business owners to develop a comprehensive plan for flood resilience for the East Branch in the Town of Jay. The plan will include conceptual designs of all identified stream and floodplain projects and a scoring matrix for ranking them. This work will be completed by 2019. Two to five of the highest ranking projects will be fully designed, with construction scheduled to start in the summer of 2019. Collection of technical data describing the current state of the river and its floodplain has already begun.

“The Town of Jay is a leader in applying tested stream restoration science in its efforts to protect the community and restore the Ausable River’s East Branch,” notes Kelley Tucker, AsRA’s Executive Director. “We’ve worked side by side with the town highway crew to replace undersized culverts on Nugent and Jay Mountain Roads. These projects revealed the value of stream restoration as a tool to protect local roads, reducing maintenance costs, and improving stream water quality and habitat.”

“Our priorities after the devastation of Irene were clear: to evaluate and remove the deteriorating Rome Dam, repair the water infrastructure of Au Sable Forks, and start restoring the East Branch in a way that makes it resilient and healthy while protecting town infrastructure,” says Archie Depo, Jay’s Supervisor. “We’ve found the right team to work with our community.”

The Ausable’s East Branch runs through the three hamlets of the Town of Jay. Residents rely on the Ausable watershed for drinking water, recreation, and as a driver for their economy. In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene exposed longstanding vulnerabilities in the river’s capacity to move sediment efficiently. In a healthy river, a typical spring flood moves small sediment efficiently to floodplains and sorts larger materials along its bed and banks. But in a destabilized stream, such as portions of the East Branch today, the same flood scours banks, fills delicate pool habitats with sand, piles cobble in shallow riffles, and cuts off access to floodplains. This restoration effort begins the healing of the East Branch, creating resilience for local communities and a healthy river that can better support recreational uses and habitat.East

Provost Named United Way Campaign Chair

Officials at United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. have named Hannah Provost the 2019 Campaign Chair.  Ms. Provost is partner in the firm of Lomanto & Company.  Hannah has been on the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. campaign team for 4 years and has served for four years on their Allocation Committee.  She is a staunch supporter of many charities in the region and is a dedicated volunteer.   “Hannah was a great choice because of her enthusiasm and dedication to United Way’s mission” stated Kathy Snow, Director of Development. “Her energy just radiates from her on to all she touches thus making her a good leader.”

As Chair, Ms. Provost will lead the volunteer campaign team, comprised of members from throughout the region, to raise $725,000.00 for high priority health and human services in Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties.  “Hannah is an outstanding individual and it is our privilege to engage her on this level” said John Bernardi, CEO of United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.