The Peru Gazette

Rob Davis

The Alice T. Miner Museum Presents
Brewing Up History
Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

Chazy, N.Y.—Beer is one of humankind’s oldest beverages. Some of the earliest known writings deal with beer and brewing, and archaeological evidence of beer production dating to ca. 3500 BCE has been found in the Middle East. Today’s craft breweries embrace local traditions and ingredients, just as cultures around the world have done for centuries. Rob Davis, Master Brewer for the Valcour Brewing Company in Plattsburgh, will lead a virtual tour through the history of beer and brewing at the Alice T. Miner Museum. Along the way, attendees will have the opportunity to try some samples of the brewer’s art!

Rob Davis began his professional career as brewmaster for the Great Adirondack Brewing Company in Lake Placid from 1997 to 2004. He has won numerous awards at the TAP New York Craft Beer and Food Festival, including the Matthew Vassar Cup for best craft beer brewery in the Hudson Valley. Rob joined Valcour Brewing Company in 2015 as brewmaster and executive chef. Valcour Brewing is housed in the historic Old Stone Barracks building on the former military base in Plattsburgh, and currently offers four craft beers and rotating seasonal brews.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – NYSEG has informed the Town of Peru that in 2017 it will be bring natural gas service to the Cayea Road, Henry Sr. Drive and portions of the Lapham Mills Road (299, 315-349, 128) and Rock Road (336-384) in 2017.

In 2018 NYSEG has plans to bring gas to Aubrey Lane, Birchwood Drive, Eva Drive, Haynes Terrace, Howard Drive, Holden Avenue, Locust Drive, McDonald Place, McIntosh Drive and Radcliffe Drive. Portions of Dashnaw Road, Lapham Mills Road, Maiden Lane and State Route 22 will also have gas lines installed.

In 2016 gas lines were installed at Valcour Heights and portions of State Route 22 (3064-3179), South Junction Road (4-40) and State Route 9 (3918-4047).

In the very near future NYSEG will be surveying Rounds Drive residents and Route 22B residents between the Mannix Road and Champlain Valley Apple Storage to determine if they have interest in receiving natural gas service.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – As of January 1, 2017 Plattsburgh Attorney Matt Favro will be Peru’s new town attorney, planning board attorney and zoning board of appeals attorney. Favro’s appointment was approved at the Town Board’s December 27th meeting. Favro replaces Donald Biggs who has been town attorney since November of 2006.

Matt Favro, an associate in his father’s law firm Gary L. Favro, PLLC, is a graduate of Providence College and Albany Law School (2006). At Monday’s meeting Counselor Donald McBrayer commented, “Matt wants to expand his practice beyond criminal law. I think he’s a good fit for what we’re looking for.” Counselor Jim Langley and Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup concurred.

Favro will be paid an hourly rate of $175 an hour. A formal contract will be negotiated in the very near future.

Click see for more information on Matt Favro’s background and experience. 

At about 2:30 p.m. today p.m. today the Peru and South Plattsburgh Fire Departments were called to an apparent attic fire at 435 Brand Hollow Rd. in Peru. The home is owned by Betty J. Theisen. No one was in the house at the time of the fire.
Heavy smoked enveloped the home as firefighters sought the source of the heavy black smoke. Constructed in 2005, the house has been unoccupied for a few months.  (Click here for video)

Tuesday, December 27, 2016 @ 7:00 PM

Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

MOTION: Approval of Minutes of the December 12, 2016 Regular Board Meeting.

Community Input

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Retention of Matt Favro as Town Attorney And Planning Board And Zoning Board Of Appeals Attorney.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Authorize Transfer Of Town General Funds.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Authorize Transfer of Town Highway Funds.

DISCUSSIONRESOLUTION: Authorize Use of Additional Pave New York Revenue.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Authorize Transfer of Highway Machinery Equipment Reserve Funds.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Authorize Loan From General Savings To Water and Sewer Fund.

DISCUSSIONRESOLUTION: Authorize Transfer of Town Water Funds.

DISCUSSION: Planning Board Manning Issue.

DISCUSSION: NYSEG Gas Line Expansion

DISCUSSION: Other Business.

DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approve/Pay Bills.

PLATTSBURGH — Authorities are investigating an early-morning burglary at Plattsburgh Turnpike Wesleyan Church in Plattsburgh.

Source: Turnpike Wesleyan Church burgled, safe stolen – Sun Community News & Printing

In every corner of the North Country, there are towns with persistent questions about economic development – how do we make our downtowns bustle again? How do we fill the empty storefronts? How do we create a new generation of entrepreneurs?

Source: Meet the guy behind Burlington’s renaissance. Could his ideas work in the North Country? | NCPR News

Blue Christmas is a time for those who are sad, grieving, lonely or just looking for a reflective time of worship. Peru Community Church will be holding a Blue Christmas Service, open to everyone, on Thursday, December 22nd at 6:30 pm, in the Chapel of the Fellowship Center. Held the longest night of the year at the end of the Advent season, this service is offered as a quiet and reflective respite from the hustle and bustle of the season, and recognizing that Christmas is not always joyous for those who mourn loved ones no longer with them or who have other sadness in their lives. All are welcome.

Christmas Eve Services at Peru Community Church:

FAMILY FRIENDLY: The 6 pm service will be a Family-Friendly interactive service where children and adults will hear the story of Jesus birth in the format of ABCs. This service is designed for families with children to enjoy worship together without the worries of keeping the kids quiet and still. The service will end with candle-lighting….with glow sticks for the kids, of course! If you are looking to hear the Christmas story this year in a new way, bring the kids and enjoy familiar carols and relax at this service.

TRADITIONAL CANDLELIGHTING: Partake in a traditional Christmas Eve service at 8PM with sermon, carols, choir and Communion. This service will include the singing of Silent Night in the darkened sanctuary illuminated only by candles.

CHRISTMAS SUNDAY: December 25th one service will be held in the Chapel at 10:30 am, followed by fellowship/coffee hour. New Year’s Day, Sunday January 1st, 2017, will also be one service at 10:30 am in the Church Sanctuary.

For the first time in a decade, New York State experienced a net population loss, as of July of last summer, according to the Empire Center which examined Census data. While upstate has been steadi…

Source: Census: NY lost more people than gained this year as of July – Capitol Confidential

A Message from the Office of the Superintendent of Peru Central School

The “Buddy Bench” is being used in schools around the world. First introduced in September, the “Buddy Bench” has been rolled out to students in the Peru K-2 House at our first assembly as a way to teach “compassion,” which is one of the character traits the K-2 is focusing on during the 2016-2017 school year. The idea behind the “Buddy Bench” is that when students need a friend to play with at recess, he or she will sit on the bench. When children see another child sitting on the bench, the other children know that the child sitting on the bench needs a friend to play with. The children will invite that student to play.

An article published by Dustin Petty from Michigan State University indicates that social exclusion is the new bullying and that “Instead of the child being teased, pushed around or called names, they are shunned and not invited to join games and activities” (Petty, 2012). Our goal is to continue to find new ways to empower students to be inclusive and to show compassion to others who may feel lonely and excluded.

Some of the students of the K-2 and members of our “Positive School Environment Team” created a video clip of the superpower “Compassion.” Compassion was demonstrated in this video using our very own student actors and actresses and the “Buddy Bench.” The video can be seen by visiting, http://www.perucsd.org/Page/5144. This video is posted on our web-site for students and their parents to view and reinforce the initiatives at home as well.

Since the roll out of the “Buddy Bench,” students consistently share their stories of compassion, often referring to playing with someone who was sitting on the “Buddy Bench.”

For more info, please contact the Elementary K-2 House at (518) 643-6100.

KEESEVILLE — A proposed riverside park in downtown Keeseville has moved closer to reality as another piece of the funding puzzle has snapped into place.

Source: Keeseville Riverfront Park to move forward – Sun Community News & Printing

PERU — Peru Central School District is continuing to search for new superintendent, and hope to hire a replacement by April.

Source: Search for new Peru CSD superintendent underway – Sun Community News & Printing

Kerri Bedard

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Peru has a new small business. On November 15, 2016 Kerri Bedard opened KB Styles at her 860 Fuller Road residence. Bedard has eight years of cosmetology experience including the last six years at Colours in Peru. An Ausable Forks native and Ausable Valley Central graduate, Kerri Bedard and her husband Phil have resided on the Fuller Road for over ten years.

As the mother of a four year old boy (Luke), Bedard is looking forward to the flexibility of setting her own schedule and simple things like seeing Luke board the bus when he enters kindergarten next fall. She’ll also be near her husband Phil who is battling MS. She said, “I needed him to build the studio now. Next year he might not be able to.”

Using a combination of knotty pine boards and logs, Phil Bedard transformed a room that once housed his fishing equipment into what his wife describes as “a cozy, elegant place to be pampered.” Along with the cozy atmosphere, patrons will undoubtedly appreciate the comfortable new leather chairs and the adjoining large restroom.

KB Styles is handicapped accessible. It is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10-6 and on Saturdays from 9-2. On Tuesdays it is open by appointment only.

To reach Kerri text 518-593-3389 or call 518-643-2659. If you’re driving from the Peru hamlet, travel east on Bear Swamp Road and turn left on the Fuller Road. KB Styles is the third house on the right.  Look for this sign.

PLATTSBURGH, NY –The Strand Center for the Arts (SCA) is excited to open a larger, updated Artist Store in the Strand Center at 23 Brinkerhoff Street, Plattsburgh, NY. This project was made possible in part by generous donations from friends of the Strand Center for the Arts and from the tireless work of numerous volunteers who did everything from painting, installing countertops and moving furniture.

“The Strand Center Artist Store provides an opportunity for local artists and artisans to sell their works within the Strand Center.” says SCA Executive Director, Joshua Kretser, “This new endeavor at the Strand Center will continue to enable us to carry out our mission of uniting the arts with our region.”

The space for the new store occupies the area where administrative offices were once located. Those offices were reshuffled and the area reconditioned. Walls were removed, new walls created and painted, a new floor was put in to match that which exists in the gallery, and display cases were added to showcase an impressive array of merchandise, ranging from handmade jewelry, scarves, pottery, books, cards, prints, paintings and so much more. Read more »

If you find yourself hungry or alone (or both) on Christmas Day, come enjoy a FREE Ham Dinner at the Harkness Methodist Church Hall at the four corners in Harkness, 776 Hallock Hill Road, Peru. The dinner is Open to All, on Sunday December 25 from 2 to 5pm. In addition to warm fellowship, the menu will include Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Vegetable, Beverage and Homemade Desserts.

Reservations are appreciated, but if you decide to join us on the spur of the moment. all “last-minute guests” will be welcome as well. Take-out meals will also be available.
Call 643-8708 or 570-7574 to reserve your place, or call 643-6690 for more information. Merry Christmas!

Office of the New York State Comptroller: Press Release

Source: DiNapoli: Consumers Should Read Fine Print On Gift Cards This Holiday Season

Thanks to Vicki Defayette for this drone photo taken this morning of the original Peru School. At one time it was the home to grades K-12. Now it houses grades 3-6.

Construction building fire in Peru had firefighters out most of the frigid night.

Source: Fire companies respond to building rekindle, house fire | News | pressrepublican.com

Are you looking to volunteer in the community?
JCEO is looking for volunteer drivers to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments.
YOU decide when and how much you want to drive.
Drivers are reimbursed 56 cents per mile and must have their own vehicle.
For more information, contact Chelsea at 518-561-6310 or stop by your local outreach center or JCEO’s main office at 54 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh.

Peru superintendent says more feedback on choices will be sought.

Source: Students press for better cafeteria food | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Gazette File Photo

By John T. Ryan

Peru – The Main Street Plan was the primary topic at the Monday, December 12th Peru Town Board meeting; however, other important topics were discussed or acted on.

The need for water and sewer rate increases was on the agenda. Supervisor Glushko said, “The special districts have to support themselves. Unfortunately, sometimes a rate increase is necessary.” A resolution to increase the rates will be placed on the December 27th meeting agenda. Water and Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault said an typical household utilizing both water and sewer services would have an increase of $32 per year. Click here to review proposed increases

Courtney Tetrault requested that a permit requirement be instituted for anyone installing or digging up water or sewer lines. He said some people are replacing pipes without his knowledge. The town has pipe and hookup requirements and the presence of  utilities such as cable TV wires should be checked before any digging occurs. The code enforcement office would collect the fees. This matter is expected to be taken up at the December 27th meeting.

Town Attorney Donald Biggs told the board he plans to resign as of December 31st. Biggs works for the firm O’Connell and Aronowitz which is losing William Favreau who was recently elected as Clinton County Judge.

Biggs’ departure means that Peru is seeking attorneys for the town board and for the zoning and planning boards. The positions are difficult to fill given the nighttime meetings and relatively low rate of renumeration. There are very few local attorneys who have municipal law experience.

Counselor Donald McBrayer reported that he met with Youth Director John Flynn, Youth Commission President Greg Mills and Youth Commission member Jen Madore. Mills and Madore asked several questions regarding the town’s 2017 Youth Commission budget. McBrayer would like to improve communication between the youth commission and the town board. He encouraged Mills and Madore to periodically attend town board meetings. He said he would try to attend the commission’s meetings.

Supervisor Pete Glushko asked Courtney Tetrault to get a ballpark price on lowering the town hall’s main room ceiling and relocating the lighting and air handling systems. Glushko would like to encumber the money in the 2017 town budget.

Counselor Jim Langley remarked that if the ceiling was going to be lowered, that it would be a good time to update the town hall’s main room, especially its wall paneling. Langley also asked what the plans are for the room formerly used by the town court. Supervisor Glushko said he envisions it being used as a conference and break room. Langley said it might make sense to use that room as a code enforcement office and use the current codes enforcement office as the conference/break room. No decision was made.

Judge Jim Kirby reported that operations in the new court house are going very well. There has been only one problem – sound echoing in the court’s office. He will be installing sound absorbing materials.

Judge Kirby plans to schedule an Open House for the general public on Saturday, January 14th. Details will follow.

After having moved the board’s next meeting to December 19th, the board moved the meeting back to its original date of December 27th at 7p.m. No reason was given for the change.

The board’s final 2016 meeting was scheduled for Friday, December 30th at 8 a.m.

John T. Ryan

Peru – What will Peru’s North Main Street look like next year at this time? On November 29th a short-term and long-term vision for the all Main Street was presented to interested residents by Monica Ryan and Liam Law of River Street Planning and Development. Over the past two years Ryan and Law have working with Peru’s Main Street Committee to devise a short and long range vision for Peru’s primary thoroughfare. A public meeting was held in May, a plan was unveiled in September and on November 29th the plan was presented to the Peru residents and suggestions were elicited. Only about twelve residents attended. Counselor Donald McBrayer, the town board’s liaison to the Main Street Planning Committee, was present as was Adele Douglas, Peru’s Community Development Coordinator.

Funded by a $150,000 NYS grant, Phase #1 envisions a tree-lined North Main Street and improvements to the Route 22 – Maiden Lane intersection.  A portion of the street’s shoulder would be removed to be replaced by trees and grass. The existing, very wide road shoulder would still accommodate on-street parking. Ryan and Law said a tree-lined street typically reduces vehicle speeds promoting a more pedestrian friendly environment. Phase #1 also envisions curbing and more visible crosswalks being installed at the Route 22 – Maiden Lane intersection with the goal of slowing traffic and improving safety. (Click here to view all excellent slides depicting the process and changes) 

At the November 12th town board meeting, Supervisor Peter Glushko, Brandy McDonald and James Langley were concerned about New York State Department of Transportation’s (DOT) approval of the project (North Main Street is a state highway) and about the project’s effect on Peru water and sewer system. They asked if all residents residing along Main Street had been informed about the meetings and they wanted to be assured that grants would totally fund the project. Counselor McBrayer said the meetings had been advertised and he thought a letter had been mailed to people residing along the street. He requested that the other counselors be more involved with the project so that any concerns they have could be addressed. After discussion, Counselors McBrayer and McDonald agreed to hand-deliver a notice of any future meetings to people who reside or do business along the street.

Monica Ryan of River Street Planning & Development

The plan is on a tight schedule. Monica Ryan said the Master Plan will be ready for review in January. Final design and permitting documents would be prepared by sometime in March and construction would begin in the summer.

Future phases envision a new and more vital center core which would attract private business investment. Over 45,000 people reside within a 10-mile radius and over 1,500 people reside within an easy walking distance from the Route 22 Route 22B intersection. A walking trail loop, a tree-lined primary street and a more pedestrian friendly core would make Peru an even more attractive community for business investment and for residents.

Widening the existing North Main St. sidewalk making it a multi-use path the Little Ausable River Walking Trail is under discussion. It would encourage more trail walkers and bikers would travel a loop along Main Street and stopping at businesses along the route. Monica Ryan said that unlike most Upstate New York communities, Peru is projected to continuing growing at a moderate pace. Between 2000 and 2010 Peru’s population increased by 10%, one of the very few Upstate New York communities experiencing a population increase.

Ian Law of River Street Planning and Development

Depending on grant availability, a high future priority would include a path to the Walking Trail on the north side of the Route 22 bridge, (adjacent to Shear Creations Beauty Shop) and a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge giving pedestrians better access to the Tops Plaza and the Bear Swamp Road sidewalk. The Elm Street – Pleasant Street intersection would also be improved.

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Strand Center for the Arts is excited to host Rose Hebert’s “Monsters in the Closet” exhibition in the Main Gallery in January, 2017. This upcoming exhibit will open in The Strand Center Main Gallery on Friday, January 6 with a reception open and free to the public from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that evening.

Rose Hebert is a contemporary folk artist best known for her paintings that drip with vibrant colors. Raised in Plattsburgh, NY, Rose is a self-taught artist currently working in Burlington VT. Rose works primarily in acrylics but dabbles in many different media. Her style is culminated from years exploring tattoo art, outsider art, punk music, and the general absurdity of life.

About her work in this exhibit, Hebert states: “Although a preliminary sketch is made and transferred to the canvas, my work from this series is very reactionary and can best be equated to an orchestra creating a symphony. Read more »

Dear Editor:

An open letter regarding donations to the United Way of the Adirondack Region.

The 2017 United Way of the Adirondack Region campaign has launched with an ambitious goal of $725,000.

Are you noticing that more people in our area are in need of the assistance offered by the 43 partner agencies; assistance such as the mental health services offered by BHSN or end of life services supplied by Hospice? I too, have noticed these changes in our society and I have come to know that I am able to help so many through my contribution.

Today, I am writing to ask current or past givers to consider an increase in the amount donated to our local United Way of the Adirondack Region. I know this can be difficult but any amount that you are able to increase will be used to help the lives of the nearly 80,000 neighbors, friends, and family who have been helped by a United Way agency this past year.

For this reason, I have increased my donation this year. Won’t you please join me? A dollar or more added to your current gift each week will make a huge impact. It will also bring you closer to becoming a leadership giver. The leadership program starts at $500, just $10 per week.

The Video this year is just great! If you have not had a chance to view it, here’s a link.
http://www.unitedwayadk.org/campaign2012vid.html
Words cannot adequately express the gratitude. Thank you for considering this increase.

Gayle Alexander
The United Way of the Adirondack Region
2017 United Way Giving Campaign Volunteer

POTSDAM, NY (12/13/2016)– Clarkson University has announced recipients of endowed, sponsored, and Share Clarkson scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Samantha Crosby of Peru, N.Y., a senior majoring in communication, received the A. Douglas Burrow ’31 Endowed Scholarship.

Nick Lawliss of Peru, N.Y., a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, received the Doug ’71 and Jane Collette Endowed Scholarship and the Brian Y. Changlai MD, PhD ’70, Mary C. Daye MD ’71 and Brian A. Changlai MD Endowed Scholarship.

Clarkson University is grateful to its many donors of endowed, sponsored, and Share Clarkson scholarships. Scholarship support is essential to providing students with the financial resources necessary to achieve their goal of a Clarkson education.

Clarkson University educates the leaders of the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as an owner, CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. With its main campus located in Potsdam, N.Y., and additional graduate program and research facilities in the Capital Region and Beacon, New York, Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university with signature areas of academic excellence and research directed toward the world’s pressing issues. Through more than 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, education, sciences and the health professions, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and innovation with enterprise.