The Peru Gazette

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Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call.

MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Town Board Special Meeting of October 30, 2017 and the Town Board Regular Meeting of October 23, 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: Peru Community Church Presentation.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approve 2018 Final Budget

DISCUSSION: Highway Culvert Update.

DISCUSSION: Highway Jenkins Street Update.

DISCUSSION: Highway New Hire Update

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Tobacco Free Facilities Resolution.

DISCUSSION: Town Water/Wastewater Projects Update.

DISCUSSION: Sullivan Park Grant Update.

DISCUSSION: Town IT Update.

Other Business.
Community Input on Agenda Items.

Motion to Adjourn.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 14^th at 6:45 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 6:45 PM start.  The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM.  Anticipated topics include:

• Annual Audit
• Building Goals
• Information Technology Update
• Bid Awards
• Policy Review
• Leadership Academy

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

All are welcome.

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Source: How The Adirondack Land Bank Will Work – Adirondack Explorer – Adirondack Explorer

L-R Lindsey Ashline, Owner Jim Kane and RN Pam Courtney

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Peru residents can’t help but be aware of Valehaven Home for Adults. It’s on Main Street at the center of our community. How many of us have ever entered its front doors to find out what’s going on?

Owner Jim Kane and administrator Lindsey Ashline want local residents to know they’re welcome to stop by and learn more about Valehaven. Lindsey Ashline said, “I think people sometimes forget us. The residents especially love to see kids. Our residents have great stories to tell. We’re open to the public. We want people to understand what we do here.”

Valehaven has 23 employees, 16 of whom are full-time employees. Jobs include a registered nurse, certified home health aids, certified personal care aids, cooks, maintenance, activities and transport personnel. Residents can receive help taking medications, bathing, dressing and toileting. Residents must have cognitive ability. Valehaven cannot restrict their coming and going.

Lindsey Ashline is excited about Valehaven’s coming facelift. The main room’s lighting is being upgraded and the walls are being painted in cheerful, joyful colors.  The front yard gazebo, the porch area and a storage building are other recent upgrades.

Several local groups and individuals help make the residents’ lives more enjoyable, but more are needed and welcome. Mountain Lake Services conducts a monthly bingo and Peru High School’s P-Tech students do yard work. Residents love the The North Adirondack Chapter’s “Love on a Leash” animals and the Butternut Ridge Farm’s Therapy donkeys. Local musicians stop by at least twice each week, the St. Augustine’s Church religious education students sing Christmas carols, 4-H members do Christmas activities and the Peru Community Church brings holiday gifts.

Valehaven is one of six licensed adult care facilities Jim Kane owns under the corporate name Adirondack Manor Home for Adults. The others are located in Ticonderoga, Queensbury, Scotia, Utica and Camden, NY. At one time the corporate headquarters were located in Peru in the building currently occupied by the New Impressions Family Salon at 6 Mason Street.

Here are the Town of Peru 2017 election results for the proposals on the back of the ballot.

Proposal #1 for a Constitutional Convention:
1,319 No, 208 Yes

Here are the 2017 Town of Peru Election results for the contested races, not including any absentee ballots.

Town Supervisor:
Brandy McDonald 819 Votes
James Langley 726 Votes

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In an effort to support early learning within the community, Peru Central School District has been awarded a grant from the New York State Education Department to support a prekindergarten program.

The Peru Central School District was recently awarded a grant that will allow our district to create a program for forty (40) Prekindergarten students.  The Prekindergarten Program is New York State funded, specifically designed for 4 year olds.  Prekindergarten is not mandatory; parents can choose to participate in the program.  In order to be eligible, children must turn 4 years old before December 1, 2017.  This full day Prekindergarten program is free to district residents chosen for the program.

The 40-student Program will start January 24, 2018.  The Program will first serve twenty (20) students that qualify under Head Start criteria and guidelines, and will be hosted at the JCEO Head Start site in Plattsburgh.  The remaining twenty (20) students will be hosted at the Peru Elementary School.  We will select the remaining students utilizing a lottery system.  Parents who wish their child be considered for this program must complete and submit an application.  The application can be found on the district website: https://www.perucsd.org/Page/5884.

All applications and any supporting documents must be submitted in person to Registrar’s Office on or before 3:00pm Friday, December 1, 2017.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania, western Vermont, and north central Massachusetts announced today that the company will offer military personnel and their immediate families an 11 percent discount off of their grocery bill this Veterans Day.

On Saturday, November 11, Tops Markets will honor an 11 percent discount off of a total order to all veterans and immediate family members in the same household, who shop at any Tops location. Customers should present proof of service that they, or an immediate family member are a U.S. Veteran, active duty, reserve or retired military personnel to automatically receive an 11 percent discount off of their total purchase that day.

“The respect and gratitude Read more »

By John T. Ryan

On Tuesday, November 7th Peru voters will have the opportunity to chose their town leaders for the next four years. This is a so-called off-year election: nevertheless, it’s a very important election. The voters’ choices may determine the future of Peru.  PERU Sample Ballot

The proposals for a Constitutional Convention and amendments to the State Constitution on the back of the ballot are also very important.

Voting takes place in Paul Calkins Memorial Hall at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main Street, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Voting should take no more than 5 or 10 minutes of your valuable time. You will have the opportunity to decide who serves in the following positions.

Town Supervisor:

Brandy McDonald (Democratic, Conservative, Working Families Parties)

OR

James R. Langley Jr. (Republican Party)

Town Council (Vote for Two Candidates)

Marque Lou Moffett (Democratic and Independence Parties)

James T. Douglass (Democratic and Conservative Parties)

Melvin A. Irwin (Republican and Independence Parties)

The following candidates are unopposed, but they are on the ballot:

Superintendent of Highways
Michael H. Farrell (Democratic, Republican and Independence Parties)

Town Justice
James P. Kirby (Democratic Party)

Town Clerk/Tax Collector
Kathleen K. Flynn (Republican and Independence Parties)

L-R Jerry Johnson chef/owner, Joe Hack, Robyn Lewis, Josh Martin front of the house manager, Sonia Passino, Lauren Prue office manager, Penny Defayette, Kyle O’kusky, Julia Lemieux, Shoben Runyan, David Hamilton chef/owner, Cameron Diman. 

The staff at Pasquales Restaurant, 2931 Main Street in Peru is #21 in the Peru Gazette’s photo series of people who make Peru a wonderful place to live.  Owners Jerry Johnson and David Hamilton are the head chefs, so it’s relatively easy for them to maintain food quality and consistency. Pasquales’ tasty American-Italian food and generous portions have made it a North Country favorite. Its staff members are very busy, friendly, hardworking people. Pasquales is open seven days a week.  Phone 518-643-0799.

Photo L-R Peru K-2 School Nurse Kathy Bedard, K-2 Principal Michelle Rawson, St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 Deputy Grand Knight Robert Manchester.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – On Thursday, November 2nd, St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 Deputy Grand Knight Robert Manchester presented twenty-four new children’s winter jackets to K-2 Principal Michelle Rawson and School Nurse Kathy Bedard. Kathy Bedard commented, “As the weather gets colder we see children, especially at recess, who need the extra warmth. There definitely is a need. The children are very happy to receive them.”

The Knights of Columbus began a Coats for Kids Program during the 2009 recession. Since 2013 the Peru Knights have distributed 120 jackets at the Peru Elementary School. The 2,000 Knights of Columbus Councils in the United States and Canada have distributed nearly 400,000 coats, including 88,000 during the past year.

On Saturday, December 2,  the Cornell Cooperative Extension will be holding its ever-popular natural wreath workshop at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office 6064 Route 22 in Plattsburgh from 10:00am to noon.

You will be supplied with a 14-inch grapevine wreath and your choice of pinecones, acorns, nuts, and lots of other found items that nature has provided. The fee for the class is $25 and space is limited so register early.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – A few weeks ago the Peru Gazette asked the candidates for town council and town supervisor to respond to several questions. They all responded and we thank them for their willingness to inform voters.

In light of Letters to the Editor published in the Press Republican and rumors circulating in the community, the Peru Gazette asked town supervisor candidates Jim Langley and Brandy McDonald to provide a more complete answer to one of our previous questions.

If you are elected Peru Town Supervisor what hours will you be at your desk in the town hall Monday-Friday, i.e. from when to when?

Jim Langley responded:
I will be in the Town Hall between the hours of 7:00 AM and Noon Monday – Friday. I will further extend my hours on a daily basis by being available on an as needed basis from noon until 5.

Brandy McDonald responded:
“My availability to perform the Supervisor position if elected, will be conducive to the current town hours and extended when required.  As most of you are aware, the position of Peru Town Supervisor hour requirement is part-time.  As Deputy Supervisor, I have performed the duties of Supervisor at all various hours during my 8 years in this position. This work has involved long and irregular hours with occasional call outs to respond to emergencies.  I fully understand and accept these responsibilities and necessary hours to successfully perform the position of Supervisor.  If I am elected, I will make a proper assessment and announce my hours at that time, so not to misinform the residents.  However please keep in mind, most often the Supervisor hours must be subject to change when the position requires it, but I am always obtainable by cell phone 1-518-593-3078 and my number is consistently listed on the Peru Town Website.”

Editors Note: There is no law or regulation requiring a specific number of work hours by a town supervisor. Supervisors historically set their own office hours and determine the number of hours they must work to get the job done.

McDonald’s previous responses.  Langley’s previous responses. 

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Babbie Museum Volunteer Carol Rock presented an uplifting museum report to the Peru Town Board at its October 23rd meeting. Over the museum’s 83 days of operation in 2017 it entertained about 2,000 visitors. It enjoys the support from almost 50 local sponsors/donors and visitors give the museum 4.8 out of a 5 star online rating. Its Facebook page has almost 800 followers.

Click here to visit the Babbie Museum Website 

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The Town of Peru, Town Board has schedule a workshop to be held on Monday, November 20, 2017 from 6:30 – 8:30.  The purpose of the Workshop is discuss the Town Computer System.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. Films made as part of a cell-phone film contest are among those featured at the fourth annual Lake Champlain International Film Festival, taking place Nov. 1 to 5 at the Strand Center for the Arts, 25 Brinkerhoff St., in downtown Plattsburgh.

In addition to films submitted from around the world that include topics such as refugees, gender equality and homelessness, SUNY Plattsburgh students, faculty and the community were encouraged to sign up for a 72-hour cell phone film contest, where competitors on teams of three to five members had three days to create film shorts using only their cell phones. The results will be screened at the Strand Thursday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. Winning films will be announced and screened during the festival’s Gala Night, Friday, Nov. 3.

Additionally, the 1924 silent film, “Hot Water,” will be kick off opening night with live organ accompaniment at 7 p.m. Afterward, two experimental films, “Panic Attack!” and “Melodrama,” will be shown from 8:10 to 10:10 p.m, followed by a Q&A with director Jason Andrew Torrance.

The film, “Good Funk,” by Adam Kritzer, will also be shown the night of the gala, followed by a Q&A with Kritzer and cast members.

The “Big Day” will showcase a series of family-friendly, short and refugee films, with a special presentation by Vietnamese-American novelist Le ly Hayslip.

Hayslip is an activist and founder of the Global Village Foundation, which promotes literacy and the arts throughout rural Southeast Asia. Her memoirs, “When Heaven and Earth Changed Places” and “Child of War, Woman of Peace,” are the subject of Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone’s 1993 film “Heaven & Earth,” which will be screened after her presentation Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7:10 p.m.

To wrap things up, documentaries and a closing film by director John O’Brien, titled “Man with a Plan,” will be shown. A closing ceremony with an awards presentation will conclude the five-day festival Sunday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.

An all-access pass costs $10 and can be purchased at the box office. Students get free admission with their school ID.

For more information, contact Julia Devine, coordinator of the Center for Community Engagement, at 518-564-3022 or jdevi002@plattsburgh.edu. For the complete program schedule, visit: www.lcifilmfest.com/schedule.

The Town Of Peru, Town Board will be holding a Public Hearing on the 2018 Preliminary Budget on Thursday November 9, 2017 at 7:00 PM, at The Peru Town Hall. The proposed schedule of salaries for elected Town Officials are as follows:

Supervisor:                              $24,600.00

Town Clerk/Tax Collector      $24,897.00

Highway Superintendent        $57,509.00

Town Board    (4)                    $  7,299.00

Town Justices (2)                    $18,658.50

________________________________

Kathleen K. Flynn

Town Of Peru

Town Clerk