The Peru Gazette

Source: Flowing Wells – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Source: A good problem for Watertown – how to spend a $10 million revitalization grant | NCPR News

Source: Eye on the Arts – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: IRS scam making rounds in North Country – Sun Community News & Printing

Seated – Sr. Investigator Clement J. {Clem} Jackson. Standing left to right. Sr. Investigator Lawrence H. {Larry} Manor, BCI Lieut. Roy A. Garrant, Major John H. {Jack} Lawliss.

Anyone familiar with Northern New York law enforcement has to be familiar with these men. Between them, they have a combined 117 years of service with the New York State Police. The four retirees enjoyed a recent get-together at Clem Jackson’s Plattsburgh home.

From the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) enforce the 71 Chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York.

Recent missions carried out by ECOs include:

Source: Scandal erupts over Plattsburgh mayor’s comments caught on video | NCPR News

L-R Don McNulty, Ted Brown, Curtis Lamere, Steve Duell, Dustin Bushey, Ashley Akey, Jordan Keleher, Devin McDonald, Matt Girard.

The Peru Farm Center staff is #27 in our Peru Gazette photo series featuring people who make Peru a wonderful place to live. Located at 2682 State Route 22, the Peru Farm Center specializes in agricultural, construction, outdoor power and power sports equipment. Manager Jordan Keleher is very appreciative of the Farm Center’s great local support. He said, “Our local support has been wonderful.”

Source: Cuomo proposes tightening gun ownership laws for domestic abusers – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Saranac, Peru, Champlain net over $967K in state grants – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Rep. Elise Stefanik voting no on GOP tax bill

Source: Cuomo OKs Buy American law; Canada irked – Times Union

The Keeseville-Peru Ecumenical Choir, December 17, 2017, St. Augustine’s Church, Peru, NY. Jeanette Woodruff Director, Steven Collier Accompanist, Stephen Woodruff Organist. 

Below you will find links to all the songs. It was a great concert! Director Jeanette Woodruff, the accompanists and all the choir put their hearts and souls into making it a wonderful evening. What a beautiful way to approach Christmas! Many thanks to all the choir for bringing their beautiful talents to Peru.

“O Holy Night” 

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” 

“The Holly And The Ivy”

“Christ Is The Morning Star” 

“Deck The Hall” 

“Candlelight Carol” 

“Shepherd’s Pipe Carol” 

“A King Is Born” 

“Speak To the Child of Love” 

“Hodie Alleluia” 

“Christmas Angel” 

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” 

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” 

“Go Tell It On The Mountain” 

“The Very Best Time of Year” 

“Hallelujah Chorus, from The Messiah”

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Source: Search still on for Peru armed robber | Local News | pressrepublican.com

The Peru Community Church invites all to celebrate the coming of Christmas through worship and fellowship.   Our theme this year is “Coming Home”.   Worship and Sunday school for ages pre-school through pre-teen are held in the stone building at the corner of Elm and Pleasant Streets in Peru, at the intersection of Routes 22 and 22B.   Other events are held in the church Fellowship Center across the street at 12 Elm Street.

On the third Sunday of Advent, December 17^th, worship services are at 8 am and 10:30 am, with Communion at the 8 am service, and nursery care provided during both services.  Coffee and fellowship hour follow each service.   At 9:15 am in the Chapel (in the Fellowship Center) the “Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem” video series finishes with ‘The Manger’ – an informational video vignette retracing the actual path of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.  All are welcome to watch the video – no preparation is needed.

On Wednesday, December 20^th at 6:30 pm, a “Blue Christmas” service will be held in the Chapel (in the Fellowship Center).   Held on the longest night of the year near the end of the Advent season, this service is offered as a quiet and reflective respite from the hustle and bustle of the season, in recognition that Christmas is not always joyous for those who mourn loved ones no longer here, for those who have much sadness in their lives.  All are welcome.

On Sunday, December 24^th, Christmas Eve, one morning service will be at 10 am with ‘Lessons and Carols’ – a retelling of the story of Christmas and the birth of Jesus through Bible readings interspersed with hymns and carols sung by the congregation and by the choir.    At 6 pm and at 8 pm Sunday evening December 24^th, traditional Christmas Eve worship services are at 6 pm and 8 pm in the sanctuary. Both services end with the singing of ‘Silent Night’ in the darkened sanctuary illuminated only by candles lit from the Christ candle and held by the congregation.

On Christmas Monday, December 25^th, one service will be held in the Chapel at 10 am, followed by fellowship/coffee hour.

On New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31, 2017, one service will be at 10 am in the Sanctuary.

The members, staff, and friends of the Peru Community Church wish all a blessed holiday season, and welcome you to worship with us.  Questions?   Please contact the church office / Pastor Peggi Eller at 518-643-8641.  Our website is www.perucommunitychurch.com.

The Peru Community Church is located at the corner of Pleasant and Elm Streets in the heart of Peru, Read more »

Source: Armed robbery reported in Peru | News | pressrepublican.com

Cory and Merilda Brito

By John T. Ryan

Peru – When the Peru High School Class of 1962 celebrated its 55th Class Reunion in October 2017 it was easy to determine the classmate who had traveled the longest distance. Coriolano Brito accompanied by his wife Merilda traveled approximately 5,000 miles from Brazil. Coriolano, or “Cory” as he was known to his classmates, was a foreign exchange student at Peru High School during the 1961-62 school year. Peru Community Church Pastor Rev. Melvin McGaughey, his wife Grace and their children were his host family.

Cory’s classmate Mary Downs Nisoff said, “We really enjoyed Cory’s presence in Peru. He was very friendly, very smart and very well-liked.” The Peru Gazette communicated with Cory Brito via email at his home in Volta Redonda, Brazil. As you read his responses to our questions you’ll sense his love for our little town, his classmates and the United States. He has led a very interesting, successful life that was influenced by one year in the small town of Peru, NY.

1. What are your best memories about your time in Peru, NY?
So many good memories! If I were a writer or had been one, I’d write / would have written a book about the wonderful experience of having lived in Peru and how much of an influence it was/has been for the rest of my life. The town itself, being so much smaller than the city where I was actually born in (São Paulo) or the one I was living then (Juiz de Fora), was so very quaint and cozy and enchanting, especially in the winter time when I got acquainted to snow for the first time. The fact that everyone could leave home for church without needing to lock the door; no walls or fences around the house and you could leave your bike and other things outdoors was all new to me and still very different from what I was used to. To make a long story short or to summarize a book, I became an English teacher, today in my own English language school and have been talking about it all my life. There are over 150 students in my school and two of my children are also teachers besides five others including an American who is married to a Brazilian. I’m somewhat retired these days and will only teach to cover for teachers who can’t make to class for any reason.

2.  How many reunions have you attended and why do you come? 
I only attended the last two. I had unfortunately lost touch with everyone until one day, about 5 years ago, I typed my “brother’s” name, Stanley McGaughey, in Facebook, got in touch with him who told me about the 50th reunion. Incidentally, my wife and I visited Peru many years ago when we were on our way to Canada. If I had known Mary Nisoff’s address for example we would have dropped by then. Anyway, I was very emotional driving and showing my wife around remembering all the wonderful memories I had of that little town. I was so excited (actually had tears in my eyes) that I almost had an accident and barely missed running into another car while driving. (I have never had any accidents driving in much bigger cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, NYC, Orlando, Miami, etc, where traffic is quite challenging, not to mention chaotic in some.) By the way, I learned how to drive in Peru when I took drivers’ ed at PCS.

3. What did you do when you returned to Brazil? i.e. college, career, family, etc.?
How can I summarize the 55 years of my life since I left Peru when I was only 18 years old? Well, right after I arrived back in Brazil, I was invited to teach English at the same school where I had learned it; after a semester moved to São Paulo, where I was born, to work and live independently / on my own. After a year there I was offered a job to work at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 as a receptionist for the Johnson’s Wax Co pavilion while living in Greenwich Village – I was 20 then; upon returning to Brazil again I entered the Federal University of Juiz de Fora where I graduated in 1969 with a degree in Law. I got married while I was still in the 4th of 5 years of school when I was 24 and after graduation and two years later we moved to Volta Redonda I started my own language school. I worked alone for more than 10 years and was extremely busy then which was good because we were able to buy our home where we still live today. Marilda and I have 3 children (46, 44, 43) and 3 grandchildren (19, 13, 1 1/2) and we’ll be celebrating our 50th anniversary next year.

4. What did you think of Brazil hosting the Olympics?
It was a good thing for the city of Rio de Janeiro because of the renovation it went  through, but it was too expensive for the country as a whole. We know today about all the corruption it involved for “winning“ the venue and preparing it for the games. Like most people in the world and in Brazil for that matter, we preferred to enjoy watching the competitions in the comfort of our own homes where we were able to “move” from one arena to another without any difficulty.

5. What was the most memorable part of this year’ reunion? Were you disappointed by the turnout?
Everything was memorable. It wouldn’t be fair to judge anyone who didn’t show up. I realize how difficult and expensive it must be for some of our friends to travel, sometimes from very distant places like Florida or Texas, in order to attend this event. I feel I’m among the lucky ones to have been able to make it especially because of the mobility, in my age, I still enjoy.

6. Do you keep in frequent contact with any of your Peru classmates?
Yes, I do nowadays, since the 50th reunion, thanks to the leadership of Gerry Shadrick who organizes everything and keeps us updated about everything that goes on with our classmates.

7. Did you take time to visit any other people or locations in the U.S.?
We didn’t have much time to visit anyone this time, but after the reunion we visited Boston during 3 days. It was the first time for my wife and mine after more than 50 years. Our flights were to and from JFK so we also spent 3 days in NYC which we get to visit from time to time.

8. What is your favorite part of the U.S.?
We, as well as many Brazilians, love Florida because it is a shorter flight away from us and where we’ve been able to take our children (when they were kids) to the different attractions they have there. But in different years we’ve enjoyed visiting several places besides New York such as Texas (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), Louisiana (New Orleans), Nevada (Las Vegas), California (Berkeley, San Francisco), Washington  (when I was the Rotary GSE program coordinator of our District then) and Washington DC.

9.  Did you keep in contact with the McGaughey family?
Yes, since 2012 when I found Stanley on Facebook. Now we mostly keep in touch through Instagram and / or Facebook including Janet James (currently Calvary United Methodist Church senior pastor in Latham, NY) who was Janet McGaughey when she was only 6 and I, 17-18, was an exchange student living with her family. Grace and Rev. Melvin McGaughey, the pastor of Peru Community Church then, are both deceased.

Cory Brito (left) Rev. Melvin McGaughey, his wife Grace & family

Front Row L-R: Rich Shea, Michelle Gibbs Shea, Roxy Davis, Jim Aloi, Evelyn Marcotte Pelkey, Sandy Garrow Banker

Back Row L-R: Cory Brito, Merilda Brito, Mary Downs Nisoff, Gary Alpert, Seralory Alpert, Nancy Moomey Fisher, Janet Brand Cooper Wetherly, Bruce Cohen, Gerry Keenan Shadrick, Ronald Banker, Rachael McKnight, Ted McKnight

Friday attendees not in photo: Jim and Ellen Duprey and Sharon Clark Paneccasco

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) announced that the North Country will receive $64.9 million through awards provided by the North Country Regional Economic Development Council (REDC).

“This state funding will help us continue moving forward as a region by strengthening our burgeoning tourism industry and improving our infrastructure,” said Jones. “The North Country will be able to draw new visitors and businesses while helping our local industries thrive.”

The funding will support a range of projects throughout the North Country, including:

• a museum residency training pilot program at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake to provide invaluable work experience for young adults;
• the renovation of the former Dew Drop Inn in Saranac Lake to create a culinary destination, including a restaurant, cooking school, event space and short-stay apartments;
• Elevate Plattsburgh, a smart growth project to develop a strategic revitalization plan along NYS Route 3;
• the development of a hydrodynamic sediment transport model of the Salmon River in the town of Malone, which will help identify options for improving river flows to and over the dam, reduce sediment deposits and improve storage capacity.
• the development of The Franklin County Microenterprise program which seeks to provide training and financial assistance to entrepreneurs;
• a planer system for Cedar Knoll Log Homes, Inc. which will include the installation of upgraded equipment for its plaining operations to improve production efficiency; and,
• the installation of the wood pellet fired municipal heat system in the Village of Tupper Lake which will utilize a central heat plant fueled by wood pellets.

“The North Country REDC has helped revitalize and reinvigorate our region,” said Jones. “The council’s hard work, including the tireless efforts of North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas and Clarkson University President Anthony Collins, is bringing the North Country into a future full of opportunity.”

Peru – There still many opportunities to assist 8 families with 20 children all of whom attend the Peru Central School. The TD Bank is assisting the National Honor Society and the Student Council in soliciting gifts. Everyone is invited to stop by the bank and take a gift tag. Gifts and monetary donations must be submitted by Monday, December 18th.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Michael James, charged in connection with the September 20th dog attack on Mrs. Loretta Timmons, appeared in front of Judge Lawrence Cabana in Peru Town Court on Tuesday, December 12, 2017. The defense filed several motions that were referred to the Clinton County District Attorney. The next court date is January 9, 2018 at 2 p.m.  Click here to view our previous stories. 

Source: New York education leaders urge flexibility in free tuition program – Times Union

Source: Permit deadline looms for tens of thousands of NY gun owners | Local News | pressrepublican.com

• Former Town Attorney addresses board
• Jenkins-Pleasant Street flooding is being addressed
• Town will not be plowing the Fellowship Center parking lot
• Supervisor Glushko praised and thanked
• Covel donates Town Christmas Tree

Former Peru Town Attorney Dennis Curtin addressed the board. He thanked outgoing Counselor Donald McBrayer and outgoing Town Supervisor Peter Glushko for their service. He praised Glushko stating, “You brought calm back to the town and order to the meetings.”

Curtin stated that he was town attorney during the administrations of supervisors Michael Bardon, Ken Jahn and Donald Covel. Relating that both Bardon and Jahn spent several hours in the town hall daily attending to town business. Curtin referred to Peru Gazette news stories in which incoming Supervisor Brandy McDonald had various responses when asked what hours he would be in the town hall. He initially stated that his hours would be “conducive with current town office hours” (town hall hours are 9-3). At one point he proposed appointing Counselor Jim Douglass as Deputy Supervisor and reporting to the town hall after his full time job ends at 3:30 p.m. At a November 15th meeting he dropped that proposal saying he didn’t need the controversy. When asked after the meeting what his hours at the town hall would be he responded, “I’ll be available on my cell phone.”

Addressing McDonald Dennis Curtin said, “As supervisor you’re no longer a counselor. You have much greater responsibilities. You can’t supervise employees if you’re not here,. You can’t evaluate them. You can’t meet with state representatives…” Curtin concluded, “I presume that come January 1 you’ll have regular town hours and be seen here most of every day and you’ll be doing your job. I congratulate you and look forward to seeing you in the office.” McDonald thanked Curtin for his remarks. (See video 2:15 minute point to 6:15 minute point)

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that he has met with Matt LeFevre, the Peru Central School Facilities Director, regarding the non-functioning water retention area near the tennis courts. Farrell believes its failure is responsible for 90% of the Jenkins Street flooding. The pond is not retaining water; therefore, when a significant rainfall occurs the drainage pipes are overwhelmed with water. Farrell said his proposed fix would be relatively inexpensive. LeFevre is conferring with the school’s engineers. The school board would also have to approve any changes.

Citing liability and plowing cost, Supervisor Glushko said he agreed with Highway Superintendent Farrell’s opinion that the town should not assume the responsibility for plowing the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center’s parking lot. A few weeks ago church representatives asked if the town would be interested in taking on the task given that the parking lot is utilized by residents and town employees when they access the walking trail, the gazebo park and pond. Glushko said he could envision the town reimbursing the church when the the Fellowship Center is used for certain events.

Deputy Supervisor Donald McBrayer expressed the town board’s thanks to Supervisor Glushko for his 20 years of service to the town. See story.

Councilman Jim Douglass thanked the town parks department, Councilman McBrayer and everyone involved with the recent town Christmas party. Douglass also thanked Donald Covel for donating the beautiful Christmas tree in the park.