The Peru Gazette

The new dog park in Peru will be officially opened with a ceremony on Saturday, November 5th at 10AM. During the ceremony, the Town Board of Peru will be dedicating the Dog Park to Lynn & Ann Wilke.
Ann Wilke formed a volunteer group a few years back to raise funds for a dog park and the new park is the results of those early efforts. The dog park is located at the Heyworth/Mason Park in Peru.
For more information contact Town Councilor, Donald McBrayer at (518) 593-1217 or doyo1@charter.net

Akeem Carr-Foster and four other students were on their way to campus when driver fell asleep at the wheel, police said.

Source: CCC official: Student killed in crash ‘very, very respected’ | News | pressrepublican.com

Together with the North Country Creamery Livingood’s will be hosting an evening of beer and cheese tasting at the Peru Free Library on Friday November 4, 2016 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm.
6, 5oz samples of Livingood’s beers (TBD) alongside cheese boards featuring North Country Creamery’s cheeses.
Matt from Livingood’s and Ashlee from North Country Creamery will be in attendance to present and talk about the brews and cheese.
COST
Tickets are $20 per person. Limit of 20 people!
Tickets can be purchased at the library during regular hours of operation:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 10:00AM – 7:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM – 7:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM – 7:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Sunday: CLOSED

Source: State, Clinton County health officials investigate Legionella bacteria contamination | NCPR News

The New York Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the 2017 Honorable Judith S. Kaye and Children and the Law Committee Scholarship, which has been created through a special project of the Committee on Children and the Law of the New York State Bar Association.

The scholarship partnership aligns the missions of The Foundation, the Children and the Law Committee, and the passion of Judge Kaye.

The scholarship, valued up to $2,500, will be awarded to three students enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis during the 2016-2017 academic year in an accredited undergraduate or post high school certificate program. The scholarship is open to students who will age out or have aged out of foster care in New York state with a permanency goal of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement and are enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or post high school certificate program during the 2016-2017 academic year.

Students must be under the age of 26 years. The application deadline is December 5, 2016. Students must demonstrate a school-related financial need beyond tuition that is not being met by other sources. Read more »

Peru Water/Sewer/Parks Department personnel have begun installing excessive stations in Heyworth-Mason Park and along the Little Ausable River Trail. Peru Town personnel are performing the work. A $7,058 NYS grant administered by the Clinton County Health Department will pay for the materials.

• Stump Jump, a series of stumps of various diameters and heights (from 6” to 20”) to invite kids of all ages to hop from one to the other. More advanced athletes to jump up from the ground with both feet.
• Cargo Climb, a 6’wide, 20’ long wide cargo net hung over an 7’ high cross beam, one side with a slight angle the other straight down. For ages 5+.
• Push ‘n Pull, a series of three bars, one low enough for push-ups, two for pull-ups: one for those in wheel chairs and children and one for adults. Sign also will show possible stretches.
• Tire Trot, 10 large tires lying flat in rows of two so people can do a typical football run from tire to tire. Sign to describe other hopping options too.
• Balance Logs, 3 – 12’ logs in a crooked line, top shaved for better grip, making about a 4” wide flat surface. The first log will be on grade, the second on the first one (so about 8” above grade) and the 3rd log will be back at grade. More intense exercises include two leg hopping from one side of the log to the other, hands on raised log or hands off.
• Log Leap, a series of 4 raised horizontal logs about 3’ high to get over however possible, and for young kids, under (spaced too far to jump from log to log). Signs will list other exercises and stretching options.

Click here for our previous story which included a link to station designs. 

Click here for the TV 22 Story

Several Peru dogs and residents are getting acquainted with one another this afternoon at our new dog park. The animals are having a great time and the owners say they love the the facility. And yes, the fire hydrant and water bucket are being put to good use.

Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup

By John T Ryan

Peru – Since becoming Peru’s Code Enforcement Officer on May 31st, Bob Guynup has discovered that Peru is a very busy small town. A 20+ year Wilmington resident, Guynup said, “Before taking this job I didn’t really know a lot about Peru. I knew it’s a bedroom community. Now I realize it has all the amenities and is short distance to everywhere.”

Peru’s attractiveness is born out in the January 1 – October 19th Code Enforcement activity. The town has issued 197 building permits (57 more than last year) including nine permits for stick built homes with an estimated value of $1,991,500 and eight manufactured homes estimated at $523,000. There has also been significant commercial activity with seven commercial projects valued at an estimated $2,422,379. The combination of new homes and commercial activity totals $4,936,879 which does not include projects such as decks, kitchen remodels, swimming pools, storage buildings, etc.

Enforcing building codes and zoning laws can be a contentious undertaking, but by all indications Guynup’s enforcement philosophy has been successful. He explained, “If you’re fair and consistent, no-one should have a gripe.” Over the past few months Guynup has worked with Rulfs Orchard to resolve a code interpretation issue on its new building. The new Dunkin Donuts building is also well on its way to completion. Guynup said, “Both contractors have been cooperative and a pleasure to work with.” Town Supervisor Peter Glushko said, “The Town Board is very satisfied with Bob’s performance. He’s been doing a great job.”

Unfortunately, some people don’t think of building codes until the last minute – sometimes the day before concrete is to be poured. Guynup cautioned, “Your lack of planning doesn’t constitute an emergency on my part.” In other words, Guynup needs time to study project plans. A 24-hour notice will not suffice.

Building Codes protect against disaster due to fire, structural collapses and general deterioration. Fines for non-compliance can be substantial and banks usually will not finance the sale or resale of a structure until satisfied that it is in compliance with all codes.

Guynup also works closely wth Peru’s Zoning and Planning Boards. He refers matters to the boards when required. He said simply, “I follow the code. I’m not the judge and jury!”

Guynup advises anyone considering a project to contact his office. He explained, “When you’re considering something and you have questions, we’re open. We’re not about to bite someone’s head off. Just call and make an appointment.” To schedule an appointment with Bob Guynup call 643-2745 x3 or Office Secretary Darlene Grigware at 643-2745 x6.

October 22, 2016
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
PLATTSBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT PLATTSBURGH PD 45 PINE STREET PLATTSBURGH NY, 12901

or KINNEY DRUGS 288 CORNELIA ST. PLATTSBURGH NY, 12901

Popular acoustic musical group Beartracks will perform Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 7 pm in the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center, 13 Elm Street, Peru, NY. Tickets are $10 in advance. $12 at the door (if available). Doors open at 6 pm. The Senior/Junior High Youth Group is pleased to host the performance. Proceeds will benefit the Youth Group’s mission and service trips. The youth will also have refreshments available for purchase.

Beartracks is a well-known musical group based here in the North Country, whose bluegrass and country sounds have been recognized across the Eastern US and Canada. The four ‘bears’ are brother and sister Tom Venne and Julie Hogan, Harry Ralph (fiddle) and Dr. Steve Light (banjo and Dobro). For more info, see their website, http://www.beartracksband.com. We are privileged to have them perform in our Center, to support the Youth Group and its programs.

The Youth Group welcomes all area youth in grades 7 through 12 to join us on Sunday evenings during the school year in the Fellowship Center, for fun and interesting events. Past service/mission trips have included going to NYC and to Washington, DC. Plans are forming now for trips later this year and next. For information, a schedule and to register/learn more, please leave your name, contact info, and grade at church office and one of our youth leaders will contact you with details.

Tickets are available at Adirondack Coffee Roasters, Saranac Country Store, Alpha Stereo, and the Peru Community Church Office.

Green Party candidate Steve Ruzbacki, opponent to Betty Little, charged with marijuana possession.

Source: State Senate candidate arrested in Tupper Lake | Local News | pressrepublican.com

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers are asking hunters in northeastern Warren County to be alert for any signs or clues of the whereabouts of a hunter from Troy who went missing last November.

Thomas Messick was last seen on Nov. 15, 2015, while hunting a short distance from Lily Pond Road near Brant Lake in the town of Horicon. Despite a massive two-month-long search effort by Forest Rangers, Environmental Conservation Officers, State Police, other state and county agencies, and hundreds of volunteers, no sign of Mr. Messick or his belongings has been located.

Anyone hunting in the general area between State Route 8 and State Route 9N and State Route 8 and Schroon Lake is asked to be especially alert. Hunters have been helpful in the past locating and reporting signs of lost or missing persons in the woods. Hunters typically seek game in areas that most people do not enter and are keen observers of the landscape.

Forest Rangers and the Messick family are still searching for Mr. Messick under a limited continuous protocol. Mr. Messick, 82, is 5-foot-10 and weighs 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket, coveralls, and a red and black plaid hat.

Hunters who find any evidence of Mr. Messick are asked to contact DEC Ray Brook Dispatch at 518-897-1300.

Dave Drollette and his sidekick Hank

By John T. Ryan

When Dave Drollette became Peru’s Dog Control Officer (DCO) in September 2014 there were 845 licensed dogs in the town. Today 1,098 dogs are licensed, a 36% increase. Drollette’s enforcement activities undoubtedly motivated several people to bring their dogs to the September 6th rabies vaccination clinic at the Peru Fire Station. Town Clerk Kathy Flynn reports that 39 dog licenses were either issued or renewed in the week following the clinic.

Drollette tells everyone he loves his job. Drollette explained, “I’m available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I try to immediately respond to a phone call. If they call me at midnight or early in the morning, I’ll get up and do what I have to do.” He typically travels about 300 miles each month performing his DCO duties. (Click here to view the September DCO Report)

A phone call often results in the discovery of several unlicensed dogs. A few days ago a lady called to complain about two barking dogs outside a neighbor’s home. DCO Drollette discovered that neither of the barking dogs were licensed and the lady who reported the barking dogs was also found to possess two unlicensed dogs.

Drollette works closely with Town Clerk Kathy Flynn, the town’s dog licensing official. He said, “At the end of each month Kathy gives me a list of the dogs licensed that month and a list of the licenses that haven’t been renewed.” Drollette tries to assist first time violators rather than issue a ticket. He explained, “I give people a dog census form and 10 days to license the animal.” Anyone with a second violation can expect to receive a ticket.

Stray dogs are a continuous problem. Drollette said, “ If I capture the dog and I can’t locate the owner I bring the dog to Elmore SPCA which charges $50 the first night and $25 a night thereafter. After 7 days, Elmore SPCA owns the animal. They have it checked by a veterinarian, neutered if necessary and put it up for adoption.” Over the past two years Drollette has brought 67 dogs to the Elmore SPCA.

Combating animal abuse is an important part of the DCO’s job. Last winter Drollette found a dog tied up outside and restrained by two short chains that were frozen into the the ice. The dog was seized and eventually adopted by a caring person. The guilty party was fined in Peru Town Court.

People sometimes ask why dogs need to be licensed. There are several reasons: #1 It’s the law; #2 If a dog goes missing having him/her licensed drastically improves the chances of getting him/her back; #3 Licensing lets people know that your dog is up to date on its rabies vaccinations. It’s very disconcerting for someone to be bitten by a stray dog and not know if the dog has been lawfully vaccinated.

Dogs four months of age or older (there are exceptions) must be licensed. A license costs $9.50 per year ($5 for seniors 65 and over) and $17.50 for non-spaded or non-neutered animals.

Drollette believes that there are still many unlicensed dogs in the community. Town Clerk Flynn has requested funds to conduct a town-wide dog census. If that’s approved, every resident can expect to receive a dog census form. The DCO can be reached at 578-2217.

Click here to view Peru’s Dog Control Law. 

Due to a conflict in scheduling, the Salaries Budget Workshop has been changed from Tuesday October 18th to Wednesday October 19th at 6:30 downstairs.

The moderator of a Monday 21st Congressional District debate has donated $650 to Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik over the past two election cycles, campaign cash which drew a rebuke from Democrat Mi…

Source: NY-21 debate moderator donated to Stefanik campaign – Capitol Confidential

Source: Adirondack Park wilderness expands, but critics see missed opportunities | NCPR News

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties helped well over 4,440 individuals and families last year get their taxes done for FREE. This program counts on volunteers! Over $6,000,000 in refunds was seen in the three counties. The Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition of the Adirondack chaired by Kathy Snow, Director of Development of the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc., is seeking volunteers for this program for the upcoming 2017 tax season.

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns, including the elderly, the disabled, and those in rural communities.

Kathy Snow stated that “If you ever wonder how to make a difference and help people in your community, then becoming a tax volunteer may be just right for you.”

Volunteers assisting with the VITA Program come from all walks of life: retirees, college and high school students, and people who just want to help in their communities. They do not need to have experience in taxes. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare tax returns. Online training is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via IRS.gov and allows volunteers to take courses and obtain certification at their own pace. Supplemental classroom training on tax law and using tax preparation software is also offered.

If you do not know that much about taxes, don’t worry, you will get specialized training. You can also choose a volunteer role that doesn’t require tax law certification. There are two volunteer roles that are needed at the FREE tax preparation sites, Greeter/Screener and Tax Preparer.

In Essex and Franklin Counties, we are seeking volunteers for four locations: Adirondack Community Action Programs, Inc. in Elizabethtown, Port Henry Town Hall in Port Henry, Malone OneWorkSource in Malone, and the Mohawk Indian Housing Corp in Akwesasne.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced the arrest of Lisa Dillon after an investigation with the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office found the former town of Norfolk justice court clerk misappropriated nearly $10,000 in court fees paid by defendants.
“Ms. Dillon was entrusted with collecting the fines and surcharges imposed on defendants by the court for a variety of cases; instead she abused that trust by pocketing thousands of those dollars and falsifying records in a vain attempt to conceal her crimes,” DiNapoli said. “The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office was instrumental in helping my staff bring this individual to justice. We will continue to work with law enforcement across the State to protect taxpayers’ money.”
Dillon, 36, was charged yesterday with third degree grand larceny, third degree corrupting the government and first degree tampering with public records, all Class D felonies. She is also charged with offering a false instrument for filing, a Class E felony, and public corruption.
As a court clerk, Dillon was responsible for collecting court fines and surcharges and recording the receipts in the court’s official paper and electronic record systems. She also prepared deposits for the justices, reported applicable court transactions to the state Department of Motor Vehicles and prepared monthly Justice Court Fund reports, which are submitted to the Comptroller’s office. The investigation revealed that money was collected but never deposited and that Court records had been altered to hide the missing funds. Dillon, an employee at the Justice Court since August 2013, admitted some of her wrongdoing and resigned on Jan. 11, 2016 after two judges confronted her about the shortages.
The matter was referred to DiNapoli’s Division of Investigations by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office after the Justices reported their findings. DiNapoli’s office discovered several thousands of additional misappropriated dollars as well as Dillon’s falsification of various court records.
Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse.
New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at investigations@osc.state.ny.us, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 14th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.

SARANAC — Town officials are discussing a possible shakeup of the town’s administrative structure.

Source: Saranac considering adding town manager position – Sun Community News & Printing

Peru’s Dog Park adjacent to Heyworth/Mason Park is almost ready to open. The Freedom Fence Company installed 450 linear feet of fencing and a 4′ gate early this week at a cost of $9,305. A dog waste bag dispenser is on order and two maple trees will be planted in the next few days. Signs with the park rules are being made and a water tray will be placed in front of the water hand-pump.

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Strand Center for the Arts is excited to host the October installment of its lunchtime music series in the Strand Center Gallery. This concert features a select group of SUNY Plattsburgh student performers, Drew Caico (guitar), Sean Houlahan (guitar), Rachel Hurtt (piano), Ryan Mahony (piano) and Trevor White (clarinet). It will take place in The Strand Center Gallery on Friday, October 21 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Gallery Director, David Monette said of SUNY Plattsburgh student involvement with the concert series, “I’m thrilled to be working with the folks at the college to put on this show. Whenever we feature students in past shows, it’s always a great success, with an incredible turnout by the community.”

The concert will be in The Strand Center Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh on October 21, 2016 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Those who attend the concert are encouraged to arrive early and bring their lunches along with them, as café seating will be available to enjoy the music and the artwork. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on these exhibits, upcoming events, concerts or classes happening at The Strand Center for the Arts please call 518-563-1604 or visit strandcenter.org.

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING –  October 13, 2016,  7:00 PM

Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Town Board Regular Meeting of September 26, 2016, the Emergency Board meeting of September 29, 2016, the Emergency Board Meeting of September 30, 2016 and the Special Board meeting of October 3, 2016.

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: Rounds Drive Water Survey.

DISCUSSION: Military Turnpike/Mannix Road.

DISCUSSION: Town Dog Park Update.

DISCUSSION: Workman’s Comp for Elected Officials.

DISCUSSION: Hamilton Half Marathon Support

DISCUSSION: Welcome to Peru Sign Replacement.

DISCUSSION: Harassment/Workplace Violence Training.

DISCUSSION: PESH Complaint Investigative Board

DISCUSSION: Background Investigations for Summer Hires.

Other Business.

Community Input on Agenda Items.

Motion to Adjourn.