The Peru Gazette

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Strong Tourism Numbers are being seen for the 2018 Summer Season

Plattsburgh, NY (8/1/2018) – Governor Cuomo’s office recently announced that New York State’s investment in tourism is paying BIG dividends.  I Love NY released their Economic Impact Study showing the effect tourism has on New York State, the region, and Clinton County.

New York State Tourism

• The industry generated $8.5 billion in State and local sales taxes, saving each NYS household roughly $1,172 in taxes
• Visitor spending was at $67.8 billion (up  5% from 2016)
•  US domestic markets supplied 70% ($47.2 billion) of visitors while international travelers made up 30% of visitors spending ($20.4 billion)

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “The state’s tourism industry continues to reach unprecedented heights, supporting job creation, small business growth and regional economies statewide. Through events like the Adirondack Challenge, we continue to encourage visitors to plan a trip and experience all there is to see and do in New York State.”

Clinton County Tourism
Along with the state tourism spending breakdowns, the study also shows how the counties in the Adirondacks are stacking up.  Once again, Clinton County Tourism boasts some very impressive economic impact numbers for 2017, contributing greatly to overall tourism spending and to local and state sales tax.   This shows that the county is a very viable player in the tourism make-up of the Adirondack region:

• $136,424,000 in tourism spending (up 5% over 2016)
• Collecting over $7,502,548 in state taxes (up 3% over 2016)
• Contributing over $9,354,516 in local taxes (up 7% over 2016)

These numbers are ahead of 2016 and show that our Canadian visitors are still crossing the border to consume goods.  This speaks volumes to the ideology that the Adirondack Coast is a value-added destination and a long-standing tradition for our neighbors to the north.

Kristy Kennedy, Director of Tourism at the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau and North Country Chamber of Commerce as well as The Tourism Promotion Agency for Clinton County via I Love NY, states, “These are welcome numbers for Clinton County tourism.  They speak highly for the marketing programs we are implementing daily and show our strong relationship with our Canadian visitors. I could not be more pleased to see the strong showing for Clinton County and can only imagine the positive numbers 2018 will bring.”

2018 Statistics for Clinton County to date

Here is what we are seeing so far (January – June):

• Clinton County Sales Tax is up 6% over last year’s collection
• Clinton County Sales Tax collection is up 8% over 2018 projections
• May passenger car crossings at the border in Champlain were up 11% over 2017
• June passenger car crossings at the border in Champlain were up 9% over 2017
• Occupancy Tax collection is up 12% over last year (a record year)
• The ILNY Gateway Information Center at Beekmantown (Exit 40) visitations are up 128%

Read more »

From the Office of Tedra Cobb

Yesterday, Tedra Cobb filed 3,976 petition signatures for an independent nominating line with the Board of Elections in Albany, NY. The line is named “CD 21 Unites,” which means Tedra Cobb will appear on the ballot in two places because more than 9,000 people have signed petitions to put her there.

“Nearly 4,000 people took the time from their busy lives to sign a petition to add my name to the November ballot because they are sick and tired of being misled, ignored and disappointed by this Congress,” said Tedra Cobb.

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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

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 13^th, $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

 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.

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