The Peru Gazette

Source: Canadian company expanding in Plattsburgh | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Click here to view a video of this meeting.  The video has two brief gaps because of technical issues and the video inexperience of your editor. 

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled their Organizational Meeting for 2018 for Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 1:00 PM.  The Meeting will take place at the Peru Town Hall.

Kathleen Flynn

Town Clerk

Town of Peru

Outgoing Town Supervisor Peter Glushko and his wife Karen will have the honor of lighting the Town Christmas Tree at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2017 at the Little Ausable River Park Gazebo. The Peru Fire Department will transport Santa Claus to the Community Church Fellowship Center following the tree lighting.  Everyone is invited to participate in this joyful community celebration.

Based on the novel by Lois Lowry, Jonas’ community prides itself on sameness. Yet when he is chosen to become the next Receiver of Memories, his world will be upended forever. What he learns will leave him questioning everything he has ever known.

Presented in the Peru Jr/Sr High Auditorium on December 1st and 2nd at 7:30 PM. The show runs approximately 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Admission is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. For more information and ticket reservations, please e-mail perudramaclub@gmail.com or call (518) 551-0811. Tickets are also available at Kinney’s Pharmacy in Peru.

Plattsburgh ​​Amtrak Station 2017-11-27 @ 7:15 PM 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM Performers – Jim Cuddy, Devin Cuddy and Kelly Prescott
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Dr. Anne-Marie B. Spear, Mary Turgeon – Dental Assistant, Jaime Frenyea – Front Desk, Deb Rix – Dental Assistant, Kim Poirier – Hygienist

By John T. Ryan

The staff at Boule’/Spear Family Dentistry is #24 in our Peru Gazette series featuring people who make Peru a wonderful place to live. Asked to describe her dentistry practice Dr. Spear thought for a moment and responded, “I’d describe it as caring, good quality, with a relaxed family atmosphere. We try not to lose the personal touch.”

Dr. Spear and her staff can be found in the Peru office at 2993 Main Street on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Mondays and Wednesdays they work at the Boule’/Spear Family Dentistry office at 263 Tom Miller Road in Plattsburgh. Call 518-643-8015 or 518-563-3090 for information.

AGENDA – TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, November 27 @ 7:00 PM

Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the November 13, 2017 Regular Board Meeting and the November 15, 2017 Special meeting.

Community Input

DISCUSSION/MOTION: Schedule 2018 Organizational Meeting.

DISCUSSION: Town IT Update.

DISCUSSION: County Computer Sale.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Road Name Change.

DISCUSSION: Water/Wastewater Grant Update.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Highway Employee Hire.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Cold War Veteran Tax Exemption.

DISCUSSION: Town Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

DISCUSSION: Other Business.

DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approve/Pay Bills.
MOTION: Adjourn

L-R Yolanda Agnew, Betty Furnia, Brooke Vaughn, Christina Vassar, Breanna Vance, Lindsey Ashline (Administrator),  Anita Sachs, Deb Hancock, Tina Parker, Jenny Blake, Pam Courtney, Colt Hicks & Tim Trayah.

The Valehaven Home For Adults’ staff is #23 in the Peru Gazette series of people who make Peru a wonderful place to live.  They provide 24-hour, 7-day a week care for up to 40 residents.  At a time of year when we give give thanks, the Valehaven residents the Peru Gazette spoke to were very thankful for the care they receive from the Valehaven staff. Providing personal and health care to others is a very high calling!

Peru—Fall Into Winter Craft Fair will be held at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Hot lunch, baked goods and basket raffles will also be available.

Peru – The Peru Community Church invites everyone to a Community Thanksgiving Service to be held on Tuesday, November 21st at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome!

Private First Class Ernest LaPine

L-R Madeline LaPine, Janet LaPine Downs, Ernest LaPine

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Veterans Day has a special meaning for Janet Downs. Her father Private First Class Ernest LaPine was in a hospital in France recovering from combat wounds on the first Veterans Day, November 11, 1918. On Veterans Day 1984, 66 years after being severely wounded, Private Lapine was awarded a Purple Heart.

Janet Downs related her father’s story at this year’s Peru VFW Post 309 Veterans Day Service. A Westport, NY native and longtime Keene Valley resident, Ernest LaPine enlisted in the U.S. Infantry on April 25, 1918 at age 22. On May 19, 1918, less than 30 days after entering service, he departed for England. On June 2nd, he was assigned to duty in France transporting goods by horse and wagon from the coast to the French interior. Just over 90 days later, on September 17th he was severely wounded and hospitalized with shrapnel in his left shoulder. His family wasn’t aware of his injuries until October 8th when they received a telegram from Washington, D.C. On March 10, 1919 Private LaPine was discharged from military duty. He brought home a reminder of his service to our country – the piece of the shrapnel that had been lodged in his shoulder. He carried that shrapnel in a change purse in his pocket for the rest of his life.

World War I veterans didn’t talk much about their war experience. Even though Lapine had suffered severe wounds, he didn’t complain about not having received a Purple Heart. However, as Janet Downs related, her parents were loyal fans for the television series Mash where Purple Hearts were awarded almost weekly. Janet’s mother Madeline started saying, “If they can get one, Ernest certainly deserves one.” She soon discovered that getting one would take persistence.

On April 18, 1983 an application for the award was submitted at the Veterans Administration office in Elizabethtown. The discharge records documenting Ernest LaPine’s wounds and the telegram informing his family of his wounds accompanied the application. Ernest even submitted a photo of the shrapnel.

Janet Downs said, “That’s when the fiasco began.” One government office quickly responded, “We’re all out of Purple Hearts.” Then a government official stated that Private LaPine’s records may have been housed in a St Louis, Missouri warehouse that had been destroyed by fire. Finally, after a year had passed, someone in Washington advised the family to contact their Congressman.

In July, 1984 the documents Ernest LaPine had preserved were sent to Congressman David O’B. Martin’s office in Washington D.C. The Congressman soon assured the family that the award would be received within the next six weeks. Finally, on Veterans Day 1984, Jim Lloyd of the Elizabethtown Veterans Administration office presented the Purple Heart to Private First Class Ernest LaPine at CVPH Medical Center where he was a patient. He passed away a little over 30 days later on Christmas Day 1984 at age 88, the proud recipient of the Purple Heart. The family also learned that the telegram informing them of his wounds was the document that made the award possible.

Western Union Telegram to the family

The Peru Ski Club will be holding a registration on December 10th from 6pm to 7pm at the Peru Town Hall, downstairs.

– Participants must bring a birth certificate.
– The child participating must be present
– Payment in full is required at registration.
– This program is Non-refundable once payment is made.

More info and registration forms can be found at the town website: www.perutown.com

The Peru Lions Club will host it’s 40^th Annual John P. Adams Memorial Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 23, 2017.  5K, 10K, and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk start time is 8:45 AM at the Peru Elementary School.

Online registration and full event details available at https://www.perulionsclubnewyork.org/turkeytrotregister

Bib/Chip packet pick-up at Peru Elementary School cafeteria 4-7PM on Wednesday, 11/22 and 7:30am to 8:15am on Thursday, 11/23

All proceeds from this event, used only in this local area to support Peru Lions Club sight preservation projects, provide aide to the blind and visually impaired, and to assist other local service organizations in meeting needs of residents in this area “We Serve”.

Source: DEC Announces Summer Camp Registrations Open – – The Adirondack Almanack

By John T. Ryan

Peru native Cindy Snow battling MS. I have loved her restaurant’s food.

Source: Downtown Plattsburgh eatery closes | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Plattsburgh Housing Authority hopes to rehab, reuse dilapidated properties | NCPR News

The Strand Center for the Arts is holding a Preview Party for the Tri-County ARTSMAP – a web-based interactive map of the region’s artists, individuals and cultural organizations.  The ARTSMAP Preview Party will be held on the Strand Center for the Arts’ lawn from 1 – 4, Saturday, November 18, 2017. The ARTSMAP will be on display for public preview with a reception and remarks in the Gallery at 1:00 – 1:30. Community members are invited to participate throughout the afternoon with the creation of an art installation on the Brinkerhoff Fence.  The installation “Oculi” by Beverly Eichenlaub is envisioned as the first in a series of art installations featuring local artists invited to embrace and promote the existing fence as a community asset.

Artist, individuals and cultural organization can elect to be located on the ARTSMAP as part of completing the ongoing information surveys available at ARTSMAP.net.  The Tri-County ARTSMAP Arts and Cultural Asset Mapping Project is being conducted by the Strand Center for the Arts, in partnership with SUNY Plattsburgh.  The project is funded by a grant from New York State Council on the Arts, managed by Premises Architecture PLLC, and supported by the City of Plattsburgh and North Country Chamber of Commerce.  For information, visit ARTSMAP.net or contact artsmap.net@gmail.com

By John T. Ryan

Peru – The charges against Michael James of Peru remain outstanding. James appeared in Peru Town Court on Tuesday, November 14th represented by his attorney David Albers. Assistant Clinton County District Attorney Tim Blatchley represented the people. Judge Lawrence Cabana set the next court date for December 12, 2017 at 2 p.m. and told the Albers and Blatchley that if a settlement is not reached by December 12th, he will set a trial date.

James was arrested in connection with the September 20th dog attack on his neighbor Mrs. Loretta Timmons. Mrs. Timmons suffered severe injuries when attacked by James’ three dogs. In 2016 the Town Of Chesterfield Town Court found one of those dogs to be dangerous and ordered James to permanently confine the dog. That dog was euthanized the day after the Timmons incident.

James is charged with Class A misdemeanor charges of Criminal Contempt in the 2nd Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree and an unclassified misdemeanor under the NYS Agricultural and Markets Law. He also faces nine town law violations related to the September 20th incident.

At a previous hearing Judge Cabana issued an Order of Protection directing James to stay away from Mrs. Timmons at her home or at any other location. He further directed that James not walk his dogs south in view of Mrs. Timmons’ property. He released James on his own recognizance.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Based on Supervisor-elect Brandy McDonald’s statements at the Monday, November 13, 2017 town board meeting, Peru residents will not find McDonald at his town hall desk until about 4 p.m. most weekdays. McDonald said that he completes his full-time job daily at 3:30 p.m. and will report to the town hall immediately thereafter. He stated that he plans to appoint town counselor Jim Douglass as deputy town supervisor and asked that the supervisor’s salary be decreased by $3,690 (from $24,900 to $20,910) and the deputy supervisor’s salary be increased by $3,690 (from $1,310 to $5,000). McDonald said, “We will have better coverage. Everyone knows I have a full-time job. That was no secret during the election. I’ll be here right after I get done work and as needed after work and on weekends. There’s no set time for a supervisor.”

In mid-October McDonald responded to a Peru Gazette questionnaire stating, “My employer is fully aware of my political position and potential increase in responsibilities if elected. To make sure I was accessible, I have continually listed my personal cell phone number on the Town of Peru’s website. I pride myself in having a proven record of availability and approachability.” Since McDonald did not specify what hours he would be in the town hall, the Peru Gazette followed up by asking exactly what hours he would be at his town hall desk. McDonald responded, “My availability to perform the Supervisor position if elected, will be conducive to the current town hours and extended when required…” The town hall is currently open to the public from 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

Responding to McDonald’s proposal, Supervisor Peter Glushko asked, “Why didn’t you bring this up during the budgeting process?” McDonald responded, “Why would I bring it up when we didn’t know who was going to win the election?” Glushko was clearly skeptical about an appointed person (the deputy supervisor) conducting traditional town supervisor duties. He said, “A deputy supervisor takes over if the supervisor is unable to function as supervisor.” Glushko also related how many years it took for the board and the public to accept increasing the supervisor’s salary rate to its current level. He did not want to see the salary decreased for McDonald’s successor. Counselor Jim Douglass agreed that a fair salary is necessary to attract people to the supervisor’s position. He proposed modifying McDonald ’s resolution to include a statement that the the supervisor’s salary will return to the current level, plus any cost of living increases, at the end of McDonald’s term of office.

When councilman Donald McBrayer asked town attorney Matt Favro for his opinion, Favro suggested that the budget approval be delayed to give him time to do additional legal research and to give the board time to think about the issue. The board responded by scheduling a special board meeting for Wednesday, November 15th at 7 p.m. NYS law requires that the budget be approved by November 20th.

The Town of Peru will be holding a Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 7:00 PM.  The purpose of the Special Meeting will be to accept the final budget for 2018.

Kathleen Flynn

Town Clerk

Town of Peru