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 »

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Amazing Photos

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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.

Source: Amish death reminder of buggy hazards on North Country roads | NCPR News

News from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos, Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick E. Swanson and Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph A. Gerace announced today that the man who shot and killed a woman walking her dogs in a field behind her Sherman home last week has been indicted.

Thomas B. Jadlowski, 34, of Sherman, surrendered himself to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the Nov. 22 incident in which he allegedly opened fire on what he thought was a deer but turned out to be his neighbor. Jadlowski was arraigned today in Chautauqua County Court on a two-count indictment alleging manslaughter in the 2nd degree and hunting after legal hours.

“Today, Mr. Jadlowski is being held accountable for his dangerous and reckless conduct when he fired a shot in the dark, causing this terrible tragedy,” Commissioner Seggos said. “I commend the work of our Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson for their professionalism and careful handling of this case. I hope this sends a loud and clear message that illegal hunting after sunset is dangerous and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

On the day before Thanksgiving, DEC ECOs and Chautauqua County Sheriff’s responded to a call of a hunting-related shooting incident just after 5:20 p.m., well beyond the legal close of the daily hunting period at sunset.

Rosemary Billquist, 43, of Sherman, was struck in the hip by a bullet fired by Jadlowski. After firing the shot, hearing a scream and finding Billquist, Jadlowski called 911. Members of the Sherman Stanley Hose Company Volunteer Fire Department responded within minutes of the shooting to find Ms. Billquist unresponsive about 150 yards behind her home. She was immediately transported to UPMC Hamot medical center in Erie, Pennsylvania, but later succumbed to her injuries.

“Like the rest of Chautauqua County, Sherman has many responsible hunters, and having grown up in Sherman myself, I know many families where hunting is a family affair,” DA Swanson said. “Responsible hunting is paramount to the safety of anyone enjoying the outdoors. This incident is a tragic reminder of the importance that hunting laws be followed. This incident was completely avoidable. My sincerest condolences go out to the Billquist and Jafarjian families.”

Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace said: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Rosemary Billquist. This tragic event should never have happened. I am pleased that through the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office, the DEC, and the District Attorney’s Office, we have charged the defendant whose reckless actions resulted in the death of an innocent woman.”

Jadlowski, of Sherman, entered a plea of not guilty in Chautauqua Court in front of Judge David W. Foley. Bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 property. Jadlowski is due back in court on Jan. 29, 2018 for motions. The charges carry a potential state prison sentence of 5 to 15 years.

A message of the office of Assemblyman Bill Jones

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) announced that legislation he authored to statutorily establish the state Department of Health rural health council was signed into law (Ch. 419 of 2017). The council advises the state health commissioner on the unique challenges facing rural health care in New York.

“The North Country is New York’s most expansive region with some of the state’s most rural communities, which unfortunately means that there are families here that don’t have transportation to access quality health care,” Jones said. “That’s not right, and this law will help change that by ensuring the council’s work is thorough and truly takes into account our needs.”

The rural health council was established in 1988; the new law strengthens and refocuses the council, requiring that it submits a yearly report to the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) on the status of the health care workforce in rural areas. Additionally, the law requires that the council’s members come from rural areas It will also require meetings to be available to the public via webcast so New Yorkers can stay informed and to encourage transparency and accountability.

“As the largest rural hospital in the region, we strongly support the new rural health council and applaud Assemblyman Jones for his efforts,” said Stephens Mundy, President and CEO of UVM Health Network-CVPH “A council such as this can further support collaboration similar to what we’ve experienced with our family medicine residency which seeks to address limited access to primary care in the North Country.”

“The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) commends Assemblyman Billy Jones and Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) for sponsoring the rural health council legislation,” said Jill Furillo, RN, Executive Director of NYSNA. “It gives a boost to the families in upstate New York by creating policies and protocol that will give them access to quality healthcare – something all New Yorkers deserve.”

“As a home health aide for over 30 years, I have seen first-hand the challenges that come with providing care to a rurally populated area such as upstate New York,” said Karla Clark, North Country Home Services. “I commend Assemblyman Jones for recognizing the need to establish a rural health council that will greatly improve health care throughout the North Country.”

Tomorrow night (Friday) we will be bring Santa to the Gazebo after the Christmas tree lighting around 6:45-7:00. We will then kick of our Christmas parade! We will be traveling around the Village of Peru for a little bit after dropping off Santa. We will start our routes next week traveling around on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

AGENDA – Planning Board, WEDNESDAY, December 13, 2017 @ 7:00 PM, TOWN OF PERU

CALL MEETING TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL of October 11, 2017 minutes.
OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
APPLICATIONS:

1. Merge with SEQR: P-2017-026 Joan Agoney
Merge
111 Reservoir Rd.
Peru, NY 12972

2. Merge with SEQR: P-2017-027 Paul Irwin
Merge
150 Donahue Rd.
Peru, NY 12972

3. Site Plan Review with SEQR: P-2017-028 Keith Herkalo
Site Plan Review – Convert a Two Family Dwelling to a Multi-Family Dwelling
38 Pleasant St
Peru, NY 12972

4. Site Plan Review with SEQR: P-2017-029 Todd Clowney
Free Standing Sign
618 Lapham Mills Rd.
Peru, NY 12972

8. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS: Discussion on Maplefields Project
9. CEO REPORT:
10. ADJOURNMENT

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