The Peru Gazette

A side-note to our story yesterday on Peru’s low voter turnout in the November 2017 election. In Beekmantown a new town supervisor was elected by one vote. As in Peru, only 35% of Beekmantown’s registered voters cast ballots. One additional voter could have had a significant influence on the outcome.

Source: Early Adirondack Hunting: More Deer, Less Bear Killed So Far – – The Adirondack Almanack

Join the Conversation

Democrats have had good candidates running for our US House seat in the past few elections, but our candidates have fallen short of votes at the polls. We are hoping 2018 will be different.

At this time, there are seven Democrats who have officially declared candidacy for next year’s election. At our most recent committee meeting, we discussed our desire to meet, talk to, and learn about the candidates prior to the primary in June.

As a result of those discussions, we will keep you apprised of all the local events being held by/for our Democratic Congressional candidates between now and the primary.

The first event we are sharing is a Meet & Greet with Tedra Cobb which will be held tomorrow, Dec 13th, from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at Plattsburgh Brewing Company (at the Comfort Inn). Tedra has already made several visits to our area, including our October potluck social. If you haven’t yet had a chance to meet her, this event would be a good opportunity to do so.

We, the Peru Democrats, are working hard to grow the party in Peru. We hope you’ll join the conversation as we plot our course for the coming year. Please join us at our committee meeting on Thursday, Dec 14th, at 7 pm at Peru Town Hall.

[Glens Falls, NY] – Adirondack Health Institute is offering free enrollment assistance services to individuals, families and small business owners in seven North Country counties – Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington. Open Enrollment for health insurance coverage through the NY State of Health Marketplace is underway and runs through January 31, 2018.  However, the deadline is December 15, 2017 to begin health insurance coverage on January 1, 2018.

“Our enrollment specialists provide unbiased assistance to help clients determine their health insurance eligibility for Qualified Health Plans and such programs as Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan,” explained Joyce Porter, AHI’s Enrollment Assistance Services and Education (EASE) Program Manager. “We are excited to help our community members enroll in high-quality, affordable coverage, and many individuals will see a decrease in premium costs in 2018 for comparable coverage.”

Individuals may call AHI’s toll-free number, 1-866-872-3740, or visit http://www.ahihealth.org/ease/appointment-request/ to schedule a no-cost appointment with an enrollment specialist.  Read more »

December 11, 2017 – Town Supervisor Peter Glushko, who did not seek reelection, chaired his last town board meeting tonight. On behalf of the board Deputy Town Supervisor Donald McBrayer recalled Glushko’s successes 20 years serving the town, the first 12 years as a counselor then 8 years as town supervisor.

Glushko was elected to the town board in November 1997, taking office on January 1, 1998. Shortly after taking office the board faced the challenge of rebuilding from the infamous 1998 ice storm and Heyworth Village flood. He was elected as town supervisor in 2009, taking office on January 1, 2010. In August 2011 Glushko and Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell led the community’s response to the damage caused by Hurricane Irene. Many other advances have taken place during Glushko’s tenure including the $3 million water system improvements, the walking trail and connecting trails, the dog park, relocation of town court and purchase of the Lyon Street School.

Supervisor Glushko thanked everyone saying the progress was not made by any one person but by everyone working together. He emphasized, “It is not a one-man show.” He closed by wishing everyone, especially incoming Supervisor Brandy McDonald, good luck.

McBrayer presented Glushko with a beautiful plaque to commemorate his service.  Click here to view the meeting. 

Story Updated at 5:30 p.m. December 12, 2017.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Compared to the 2015 off-year election, Peru voters turned out in larger, but still disappointing numbers in 2017. Only 35% of Peru’s 4,552 registered voters cast ballots. Of the two major parties, 41% of Peru’s 1,711 registered Republicans cast ballots while 36% of the 1,394 registered Democrats voted.

The official final vote totals for the contested races were:
Town Supervisor – Brandy McDonald 876, James Langley 774
Town Council (two positions open) Jim Douglass 1,133, Melvin Irwin 1,028, Marquet Moffett 814.

By John T. Ryan

The Forrence Orchards packing and distribution staff is #26 in our Peru Gazette series featuring people who make Peru a wonderful place to live. These are the people who inspect, pack, sell and ship approximately 500,000 bushels of Forrence’s beautiful apples each year. At 40 pounds a bushel, that’s 20 million pounds or about 1,000 tractor-trailer loads of apples leaving our community thanks to the hard work and dedication of these people.

Bottom Row (kneeling) Left to Right – John Jump, Nickey Allan, George Bass, Diana Plummer, Jamie Bombard, Julhash Uddin, Robert Tibbets. Second Row(standing) – Peter Forrence, Petra Shirley, Carolee Furnia, Kathrine Grimet, Patti Chase, Paula Merchant, Michele Belanger, Jennifer Chase, Amber Doty, Laurin Horner, Gayle Wager. Third Row (standing) – Letman Powell, Mary LaBombard, Rachel Owen, Molly Ano, Henry Forrence, Robert Owen, Amy Macey, Brenda Wright. Last Row, (tall man in the back) – Weston Forrest

TD Bank Staff L-R Tammy Rawleigh, Youtha Forrest-Williams, Keri Bashaw, Heather Giuliano & Jesse Decosse.

Stop by the TD Bank and find out how you can be an angel for a Peru High School student or family this Christmas. The TD Bank is assisting the National Honor Society and Student Council to make this a joyous Christmas for 20 kids and 8 families. The tags identify a needed gift. Monetary contributions are also being accepted. All gifts must be made by December 18th. The bank has great hours of operation:
Mon: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Tue: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Wed: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Thu: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Fri: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Sat: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm Sun: Closed

Source: Mexican consulate visits St. Lawrence County, talks dairy farm workers | NCPR News

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 7:00 PM

Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call.

MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Town Board Regular Meeting of November 27, 2017

DISCUSSION/MOTION: Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports)

Community Input

DISCUSSION: Retention Pond Update.

DISCUSSION; Peru Fellowship Center Plowing

DISCUSSION: Cold War Veterans Tax Exemption.

DISCUSSION: Town Water/Wastewater Projects Update.

DISCUSSION: Sullivan Park Grant Update.

DISCUSSION: Town IT Update.

DISCUSSION: Veterans Banners

Other Business.
Community Input on Agenda Items.

Motion to Adjourn.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 12^th at 6:00 PM at the school district’s Community Room, adjacent to the main entrance of Peru Jr/Sr High School.  It is anticipated that an executive session will take place immediately following the 6:00 PM start, and that the school board will reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM.  Anticipated topics include:

• Budget Challenges & Timetable
• Policy Review
• Appointment of Personnel

The full Board agenda is available on the District’s website.

All are welcome.

Public Information Meetings Planned for Dec. 11; Adirondack Park Agency Deems Permit Application Complete

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the release of plans for the Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian, and Day Use Area, a new, accessible, public campground proposed at the site of the former Frontier Town theme park in the town of North Hudson, Essex County.

The plans for the campground are envisioned in the Upper Hudson Recreation Hub Master Plan to establish a “Gateway to the Adirondacks” that will link local and regional outdoor recreation experiences in the Adirondack Park, bolster tourism, and strengthen the North Country’s regional economy. Earlier this year, Empire State Development (ESD) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop and operate a world-class tourism destination near the site, linking the concepts and principles proposed in the Master Plan and complementing DEC’s recreational facilities. Responses to the RFP are currently under review, and additional projects anticipated by the Master Plan are expected to be announced early next year. Read more »

Source: Gov. Cuomo vetoes 20-year retirement option for sheriffs, corrections | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Source: Upcoming Lake Placid Winter Sports Events – – The Adirondack Almanack

Amazing Photos

Source: Republic Steel mines in Mineville in the 1940s |

Source: Stefanik votes in favor of concealed-carry reciprocity – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: After reshaping the US (and Upstate NY) General Electric is in crisis | NCPR News

Source: Plattsburgh detective credited with breaking case of missing Florida teen found with soccer coach

Source: New “Mobile Crisis Team” helps people through mental health emergencies | NCPR News

Photos – Jessica Lagree and baby Avery, Town Supervisor Peter Glushko and his wife Karen. Pete will complete his term of office on December 31st.  Lighting the tree was one of his last official duties.

Thank you to Joanne Kennedy for the photos of tonight’s activities at the Little Ausable River Park Gazebo.  Joanne said the Fellowship Center was filled with kids and parents. The Peru Gazette wishes everyone a wonderful Christmas Season.

Source: Mayor: Amateur bladesmith started massive Cohoes blaze – Times Union

MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

Very special AED (automated external defibrillator) TRAINING has been co-ordinated for our Plattsburgh Group by Town of Plattsburgh Recreation & Youth Director Melanie Defayette. Please let’s pass this good word to those not on Facebook and in memory of Scott Hecoux let’s make every effort to attend.

Mary Breyette from Cornell Cooperative Extension will train:

Source: Plattsburgh hospital remains in lockdown; employees are still to come in for shifts | News | pressrepublican.com

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Residents, businesses and organizations have been given the opportunity to participate in upgrading the Sullivan Park ice rink into a dual use ice rink – basketball court venue. The Peru Town Board accepted a challenge from the New York State Healthy Neighborhoods Program to raise matching funds for the upgrade.

The Healthy Neighbor’s program will match total donations up to $10,000 and individual donations of up to $1,000 when received through the ioby crowd funding platform. When people donate on the ioby website, they immediately see their donation doubled. The board hopes the entire community will get involved in the project. Click here to go the ioby website. 

Town Supervisor Peter Glushko is enthusiastic about the planned upgrade. He explained, “At Sullivan Park we have a water hydrant, very good lighting and plenty of parking. We want people to use Sullivan Park. Many people are getting familiar with it as the beginning of our walking trail. It will be a great place for our kids to have fun and keep busy.”

The project includes: excavation, laying down base materials, applying a tarmac surface, installing a new ice rink liner, benches, two basketball hoops and painting the the tarmac for basketball. Picnic tables and a new Sullivan Park sign will also be included if possible. The highway department has already laid down a level base and the ice rink liner will be installed for use this winter. Volunteers are being sought to design a changing/warming hut. The project should be completed in spring/summer 2018.

Many people recall when Peru’s youth skated on the Little Ausable River Park pond; however, three years ago the pond’s thin ice and sleds sliding down the adjacent hill into the midst of hockey games created a dangerous condition. The town board decided it was time to move the ice rink.

Heyworth/Mason Park was considered as a possible location; however, the board determined that plowing would severely damage the fine dust road leading into the park. There is no convenient water source and the rink would have also meant tearing up a portion of the grassy area in the midst of the park. Town Supervisor Peer Glushko pointed out that the park has been designated as a flood plain making approval of any new construction difficult, it not impossible.