The Peru Gazette

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Dear Editor:

There is no doubt that the North Country is known for the giving spirit of the people that live here.  It never ceases to amaze me how this community comes together for a common goal, even in the toughest of times.  Although there are many worthy causes to support in our area, there are few that affect the number and variety of that impacted by the annual United Way campaign.  

Our local United Way supports 40 member agencies.  These agencies are staples in our North Country community, ones that most of us could not imagine life in our area without.  The Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, YMCA, Senior Citizens Council, Champlain Valley Family Center, Alzheimer’s Disease Assistance Center, and Hospice, to name just a few, rely on the support of the United Way to continue to provide their much needed services in our area.

This year the United Way has a goal of $725,000-a goal that can only be reached by all of us coming together as our North Country community always has.  A gift to the United Way does not have to be large in order to make a difference.  If everyone gives just a little, it is amazing how quickly it all adds up.  Find out if your employer does payroll deduction to the United Way-the easiest way to give over time.  If this is not available to you, please consider a gift, in any amount, to our United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. at 45 Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh, NY  12901.  Remember that every dollar brings us a step closer to providing services to all walks of life in our community.  

We all know someone that has been touched by the United Way and its 40 member agencies.  Let’s not let them down….let’s show everyone that even in the toughest of times, the generosity of the people of the North Country will always shine.

Thank you, in advance, for your generous support.

Sincerely,

Nicole Cline

Town of Jay  

AGENDA – TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 15, 2018 @ 7:00 PM

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION:  Approval of Minutes for the Town Board Regular Meeting of October 29, 2018, Special Board Meeting of November 5, 2018 and Public Hearing of November 7, 2018.

5. 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; JCEO; and Banking Reports)

6. Community Input

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  To Accept the Preliminary Budget as the 2019 Final Budget.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  To Accept Bid from Carmody Ford Inc. for W/S Truck.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  To Accept Bid from Riley Ford to Lease Codes Vehicle. 

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  To Approve the 2019 Water Sewer Relevy list.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  To Schedule Public Hearing on the Public Interest Order for the Sewer Project.

12. DISCUSSION:  Schedule IT Workshop.

13. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

14. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.     

MOTION:     Adjourn

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Peru Soup Kitchen Menu for Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at St. Augustine’s Parish Center. 4:30 pm. to 5:45 p.m.

Fruit cup
Turkey/Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing
Squash
Pumpkin Pie

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Jeanne Arnold (L) and Jackie Douglass – Earl Witherwax’s banner was purchased for his family’s reunion

Mike McKeon’s banner near Livingoods was the first one erected

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Veterans Day is the appropriate time to highlight Peru’s Hometown Heroes Military Banner Recognition Program.  The first banner honoring U.S. Air Force veteran Michael McKeon was erected on a utility pole along the Bear Swamp Rd. in May 2018. Since then twelve more are flying aloft and seven more have been sponsored. Michael McKeon’s banner was purchased as a birthday gift. Others have been purchased to honor deceased or honored family members. 

Jeanne Arnold and Jackie Douglass are the program’s organizers. Jeanne Arnold explained, “I got the idea driving through Willsboro and Keeseville. I said to my husband, ‘I can’t believe no one in Peru has done the same thing.’” Jackie Douglass remarked, “I kept saying the same thing to my husband Jim. They look so beautiful.”  Jeanne added, “My husband Tim’s birthday was coming up. I wanted something that would mean something to him. I thought of a banner for his father Norm Arnold. I called Willsboro and got information from the lady who had done it there and it’s progressed from there.” 

There are eligibility requirements. Honorees must be military personnel who are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans who have served in the past, or veterans who are now deceased.  An honoree must have received an honorable discharge and be a Peru resident or an immediate family member of a Peru resident (spouse, father, mother, step-father, step-mother, son, daughter, brother, sister).  The residency requirement can be waived if the honoree is a graduate of Peru High School or a resident at the time of birth. Documents must be submitted to verify eligibility. Jeanne said, “People like the idea that the required information is given to someone in Peru and that it’s kept private.” Jackie has the veteran documentation carefully organized and safeguarded.  

Available banner space is determined on a first-come, first-serve basis, and all banner locations shall be solely determined by the Water Superintendent’s office and based on poles approved by NYSEG.  Banners will be displayed for a minimum of three (3) months or determined by space availability. The banners erected next April should be displayed through Veterans Day. 

The cost of a banner is $215. Funds are deposited in the Peru Federal Credit Union with Credit Union Manager Maggie Pope serving as volunteer auditor. The Credit Union and Sweet Treat Ice Cream have sponsored the program covering the cost of brochure production and office material. Donations to purchase additional banners for Peru families who don’t have the funds for a banner are welcome. 

Jeanne Arnold and Jackie Douglass have even more ideas including telling veterans’ stories in a book or on an app. These ladies are truly focused on ensuring that our veterans’ sacrifices for our nation are never forgotten. 

For more information or to submit applications contact Jeanne Arnold at 518-726-6444 email: totch1227@gmail.com or Jackie Douglass at 518-570-9548 email: jim.douglass09@gmail.com.  

Click here for an Application Form

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Peru – Peru Memorial Post 309 Veterans of Foreign Wars conducted its annual Veterans Day Service this morning at 11 a.m.  Post Commander Bill Lefebvre was the Master of Ceremonies. The James P. O’Connor Composite Squad Color Guard, Civil Air Patrol posted the Colors. Glenn Miller sang a memorable rendition of our Natinal Anthem. Father Alan Shnob offered the opening and closing prayers. Peru Town Councilman Melvin Irwin was the main speaker. Saranac Central senior Joseph Webster was presented with the VFW Post and Auxiliary’s Voice of Democracy Award (The Peru Gazette will post the award presentation and Joesph Webster’s speech after he competes in a VFW district competition). A rifle salute was performed by the local U.S. Army Reserve unit.

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By John T. Ryan

A Peru Planning Board public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 7 p.m. on an application filed by Nathan Wilson to extend Davey Drive approximately 440 feet and to construct four 4-plexes on two parcels adjacent to the extended street. Wilson told the Peru Gazette that if approvals are granted he would extend the street in 2019 and construct the 4-plexes in stages. The proposal may require a change in the Peru zoning law.

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L-R Peru Primary School Nurse Kathy Bedard, Grand Knight Keith Kemp, School Nurse Regan Finlaw

By John T. Ryan

Earlier this week St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 Grand Knight Keith Kemp presented 24 boys and girls jackets to the Peru Primary School. School Nurses Kathy Bedard and Regan Finlaw accepted the jackets. Kathy Bedard said, “We have several students in need who come in without jackets. The families are very appreciative especially in the winter months.” Regan Finlaw remarked,” “I know a student who needs one of these right now.”

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018 @ 11 A.M.
PERU MEMORIAL VFW
710 Pleasant St, Route 22 B, Peru, NY 12972

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – November 8, 2018 – Tops Markets, LLC (“Tops” or the “Company”) today announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (“the Court”) has confirmed the Company’s Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”). Tops expects to complete its restructuring and emerge from Chapter 11 shortly.

“We are pleased to receive the Court’s approval of our Plan and are poised to emerge from this process an even stronger and more competitive company,” said Frank Curci, Chief Executive Officer of Tops. “Through this process, we have accomplished several key objectives, including significantly reducing our debt, creating a viable cost structure and efficiently optimizing our store portfolio. Importantly, we provided an opportunity for employment to every associate who was interested and impacted by store closings at other nearby stores. Our restructuring will create an even more exceptional shopping experience for our customers and assure that we will continue to serve our communities like no one else can.”

New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas today announced that work is wrapping up on $7.5 million in improvements to 15 bridges across the North Country. The bridge maintenance projects range from deck replacements to painting, enhancing safety and extending the service life of structures in Clinton, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

The bridge improvement projects include:

• $3 million to rehabilitate two bridges, one on Route 11 in Canton, St. Lawrence County, and the other on Route 3 in Harrietstown, Franklin County.

Improvements to the bridge that carries Route 11 over the Grasse River in Canton included the removing and replacing of the concrete deck surface, curb and sidewalk. Wider shoulders were created to accommodate cyclists. Bridge joints were replaced, bearings were rehabilitated and concrete substructures were repaired. New lighting also was installed

The bridge in Harrietstown carries Route 3 over the Saranac River. The bridge, which is a vital link to the Village of Saranac Lake and the Adirondacks, had the concrete deck surface replaced, new joints installed and bearings rehabilitated. Minor repairs were made to the concrete substructure as well.

• $2.7 million to clean and paint 12 bridges along Interstate 81 in Jefferson County. The periodic cleaning and painting of structural steel reduces corrosion and extends the service life of highway bridges. The project will help keep these bridges in good working order to assure the efficient movement of goods and people traveling to and through the North Country.

• $1.9 million to raise and make repairs to the bridge carrying the D&H Railroad over Interstate 87 in the Town of Plattsburgh, Clinton County. The project raised this bridge over I-87 by two feet to provide additional clearance and enhance safety for vehicles traveling the I-87 corridor. The bridge now meets the contemporary clearance standard of 16 feet, five inches.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.

Peru – In an attempt to clarify the final vote count for Peru Town Councilman, here are the results as announced at the polls Tuesday night.

Rick Barber 1,210 votes
Kregg Bruno 1,150 votes

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