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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.

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Big turnout for tonight’s tractor parade

December 13, 2024—Joanne Kennedy took several great photos and video clips of the 2024 Peru Tractor Parade.  Thank you, Joanne! 

Inside the Adirondack Fish Hatchery in Lake Clear

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac Story 

Section VII students including Peru’s Brady O’Connell, honored at MetLife Stadium

December 2024 – NYS Section VII – We’re very proud of our “Heart of a Giant” Award finalists! Saranac Lake’s Zane Ragsdale, Peru’s Brady O’Connell and Northeastern Clinton’s Katelynn Johnston are at MetLife Stadium representing Section VII and their schools and being honored by the @nygiants! #SectionVII

COMMENTARY: Is APA OK with ceding its authority over the Master Plan?

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac Opinion Commentary 

Rainfall brings Lake Champlain back to near normal levels

National Weather Service Burlington
@NWSBurlington
·
Given abnormally dry conditions long term, Lake Champlain welcomed recent rainfall; it received a boost in water that brought it up to nearly normal levels. Meanwhile, our mountains have maintained a healthy snowpack, as much of the snow melt occurred only in our valleys.

Tonight, Friday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m., Peru’s Tractor Parade.

It starts at the Irwin farm on Jarvis Road, left on River Rd., right on Laflure Lane, right onto Rt. 22, right over the bridge, right at Liberty’s on Union Rd., left on Cross St, left onto Route 22, back over the bridge to Stewart’s, left on Holden Ave, left on School Street to 22, and done.

French-Canadian immigration: Prof. unveils new research

Mark Richard, PhD presented work at Plattsburgh Public Library Speaker Series

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Lake Placid is backup Olympic site if Italian sliding track isn’t ready for 2026

Click here for the NCPR story 

Board Committee Meeting 12/18/24

The Peru CSD Board of Education’s Policy Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 12:30 PM in the District Office (high school building) to develop policy for its 2000 – 8000 series. The meeting is open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal safety procedures and protocols will be followed.

 

Thank you.

 

Friday, December 13 – Peru Fire Department Spaghetti Dinner

(Please Share) The Peru Fire Department will hold a spaghetti dinner on Friday, 12/13/2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Come and enjoy some great spaghetti, including meatballs and sausage, with your Peru Volunteer Fire Department.

Plattsburgh man sentenced to eight years for CVPH threats

Robert Thibodeau pleaded guilty to 11 charges after threatening to shoot hospital management

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Peru woman sentenced to 10 years as major drug trafficker

Kristen Carnahan admitted to her role as the leader of a local drug ring

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Two of Peru’s finest being honored at Peru’s 2024 Farmers’ Parade

Mrs. Dimock celebrated her birthday the day we visited.

By John T Ryan

Peru, NY – On Friday, December 13, at 6 p.m., Don Dimock will be Grand Marshal of the Peru Farmers’ Parade. As she has been throughout his farming career, his wife Martha will be at his side. (Look for them immediately behind the State Police Car) Among farmers, the Dimocks are best known for producing high-quality, award-winning milk. However, more people undoubtedly know their Route 22B farm for the candy cane decorating its 90-foot high silo during the Holiday Season. People travel from far and wide to see the silo’s bright lights.

Don and Martha moved to Peru in 1971. The Massachusetts natives worked on farms during their teen years. After high school, Don graduated from the University of Connecticut’s Agricultural School and worked for eight years for a purebred Holstein association before buying a farm.

The Dimocks looked at Vermont farms before coming to Peru. Don recalls, “I thought the Vermont farms were overpriced. I ended up buying the Harold Davis farm here in Peru. Paul Calkins was the realtor.” Martha commented, “The farm had sixty cows when we bought it and far fewer barns than we have now.” Dimock Farms, LLC has 360 cows and crops on about 800 acres.

Three children, Bruce, Anne, and Lisa, accompanied their parents to Peru. Heidi was born here. Today, Bruce is a farm partner and manager. Bruce’s wife, Mary, succeeded Martha in keeping books. Daughter Anne Farrell works with milking and feeding and is the brave person who climbs up the 90-foot silo ladder each year to replace burned bulbs and untangle cords. About every three years, she replaces all the lights. Don still does tractor work. Not counting Don and Martha, the farm employs ten people.

Dimock Farms, LLC is part of the co-op AgriMark, which sells Cabot & McCadam products like cheese, butter, and yogurt. AgriMark’s top-quality milk awards cover Dimock’s office walls. How do they produce such high-quality milk? Don mentions mastitis prevention, cleanliness, and animal health. Martha said, “We have good workers who do a good job!”

The Dimocks are rightly proud of their farm and family. They richly deserve to be honored in the 2024 Peru Farmers’ Parade.

Agenda – December 18 Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

Site plan reviews of motor Vehicle repair facilities at 16 Rockwell Rd. and 57 Connors Rd.

Tonight’s December 11 Planning Board Agenda includes site plan reviews of motor Vehicle repair facilities at 16 Rockwell Rd. and 57 Connors Rd.

St. Joseph’s Outreach Center forges ahead despite challenges

Sponsors and volunteers needed to continue the center’s many outreach services

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

NYS DEC Forest Rangers report on efforts to find lost hiker near Keene

Wilderness Search:
On Dec. 1 at 2:30 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from New York State Police (NYSP) for an overdue hiker on Allen Mountain. The caller reported his son Leo DuFour was hiking on Friday and expected back Saturday night. NYSP located the subject’s car covered in snow at the Mt. Adams trailhead. Forest Rangers led search efforts, with 59 Forest Rangers searching nearly 400 miles, primarily by foot, of rugged mountain terrain deep in harsh winter conditions. Rangers located one set of tracks on the trail leading from the subject’s vehicle, but recent snowfall hampered tracking. NYSP Aviation utilized two helicopters to transport crews, drop off supplies, and conduct aerial searching as weather conditions allowed.
After more than eight days of an active search and despite continuous efforts using cell phone data analysis and the expertise of Allen Mountain hikers, Rangers have not located the subject. Given the harsh conditions, the search mission to locate DuFour transitioned to a recovery mission. The operation will upgrade to an active search if any leads regarding DuFour’s whereabouts are realized.
Searchers utilized technical equipment, temporary basecamps, and extreme physical output to complete effective searches of tight drainages, thick forest cover, ledges and cliff bands, and swampy lowlands at elevations of more than 4,000 feet. This week’s weather is expected to dip below zero, and with wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, the windchill at the summit is expected to be -20.
Due to the treacherous conditions—dangerous terrain, up to four feet of snow, whiteouts, and windchills below—it is no longer safe for anyone to continue searching using the methods and strategies in place since Dec. 1. Search efforts going forward will be based on thorough risk analysis to put effective searchers into high probability, unsearched areas to support Rangers’ sustained commitment to bring Leo DuFour home. At this time, individuals should not attempt searching Allen Mountain.

Save Energy Save Dollars Workshop on January 9

Champlain fire claims two lives

Dee Duprey and Eric Russell were victims of a Saturday morning fire on McBride Road

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Search shifts to recovery for missing Canadian hiker in the Adirondacks

Click here for the NCPR story 

North Country community survey shows dissatisfaction with housing availability

Click here for the NCPR story 

St. Augustine’s Soup Kitchen Menu for Wednesday, December 11. 2024

Spaghetti
Salad
Bread
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!

Climate diary: A North Country vet on how farm animal care is changing

Click here for the NCPR story 

Peru Fire Department’s decorated trucks will be on the road tonight, Monday, Dec. 9

December 9 and 20 – Route 1: Bear Swamp Rd. to Rte. 9, turning around at Spit Fire back to Bear Swamp Rd., end of Jabez Allen Rd. to Sullivan Rd., Telegraph Rd., Bruce Dr, Telegraph Rd., back to Fuller Rd. to Laphams Mills Rd., Valcour Heights to Rock Rd. , Lyons Rd. Northwood and home on Dashnaw Rd.

December 11 – Route 2: River Rd., Barney Downs to Calkins Rd., Reservoir Rd., Barney Downs Rd. to Clark Rd., Quaker Highlands, Brand Hollow Rd. , Eccles Rd., Felton Rd., to Babbie’s and back, Connors Rd., Peasleeville Rd., Campsite Rd., Peasleeville Rd., turning around at the Community Church, to Patent Rd., turning around at the church back to John Boswell Rd. to Brand Hollow Rd., to 22B home.

December 16 – Route 3: Rte 22 to Davern Rd., Jarvis to River Rd, Ormsby Circle, Calkins Rd. and the upper end of Barney Downs Rd., Patent Rd. to upper Mannix Rd. to Old Town Rd. and around Quaker Springs, home across Washington Street, La Flure Lane, Jarvis Rd. to Union Rd. and back to PFD

December 18 & 23 – Route 4: Dashnaw Rd., Haynes Development, Rte 22 to Renedette Rd.,
Arnold Rd., Brand Hollow Rd. to the Turnpike, Rockwell Rd. to Fox
Farm Rd. over to Blake Rd., Red Fox Rd., Jane Lane, Route 22B, Middle of Brand Hollow to the Turnpike and then all of the Village.

On December 13, the trucks will be on display during the Fire Department’s Community Spaghetti Dinner.

 

Video: Peru Town Board Meeting of November 25, 2024

Approved minutes included 1/19/25 Approved Meeting Minutes

 

Please note that the first approximately 20 minutes were not recorded because of a technical issue.