The Peru Gazette

“Monet’s Water Garden” Giverny, France

Retired Ausable Valley Athletic Director Dick Brogowski will have his wonderful photos on exhibit at the Peru Free Library from 5 p.m. Friday, September 9 through October 1st. Opening reception Friday, September 9 from 5-7 pm.

Wednesday: Prize-winning milk and cheese at the State Fair, snakes on a train, and Gene Wilder’s New York.

Source: New York Today: Empire State of Dairy – The New York Times

MORRISONVILLE — When the Trudeaus entered the American Legion to put their names into the mix for the highly anticipated Queen of Hearts raffle, an annual contest sponsored by the American Legion, the family didn’t think much of their odds of winning

Source: Peru woman wins $100,000 – Sun Community News & Printing

Additional facility to create 46 new jobs in Clinton County

Source: Schluter Systems expanding in Plattsburgh – Sun Community News & Printing

Peru – The Peru Knights of Columbus helped Dorothy LeClair celebrate her 95^th birthday tonight at the council’s Tuesday night bingo. Dorothy and all the other bingo players were presented with cupcakes celebrating Dorothy’s special occasion. Dorothy is a North Country Honor Flight World War II veteran who served as a U.S. Army nurse.

2016 Scott Woodward Awards

Peru – The North Country Community united on August 27th to make the 26th Annual Run For Jon a great success. $6,600 was raised to assist families with a child facing medical crisis.

Participants came from many communities and schools including Saranac Central, Peru Central, Chazy Rural School, Saranac Lake Central, Beekmantown Central, Seton Catholic and SUNY Plattsburgh. Almost 400 runners and walkers participated.

Each year it takes about 40 dedicated volunteers to organize and execute the the Run For Jon. The Run started in 1990 when Peru Track Coach Scott Woodward and his lifelong friend Beekmantown Track Coach Mark Elmore organized a run to assist Don and Shirley Evans whose son Jon cancer was battling cancer. Jon passed away just prior to the first event; nevertheless, the run has thrived contributing $80,000 to $90,000 to families in need. This year’s run was dedicated to Scott Woodward who passed away on April 11th. Co-founder Mark Elmore drove to Peru from his residence in Raleigh, North Carolina to volunteer and to honor his friend.

Click here to view a slideshow Accompanied by music if viewed on a PC or MAC. 

The second pickleball net has been installed on the Jenkins Street courts. Adele Douglas posted the following specific information on the Peru Pickleball Facebook page.

Our schedule is currently Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8am. Please join us. We have paddles and balls donated by the CVPH Foundation. When school starts we’ll also add an afternoon time, probably on Mondays. As the group grows we can add more days and times. There are also outdoor and indoor courts in Plattsburgh. Check out the Plattsburgh Pickleball facebook page for their times and locations.

Three hail storms earlier this summer severely damaged apples in several Peru Orchards. This McIntosh apple photo was taken this morning. The apples will be sold for processing into apple sauce or juice. The price will be a fraction of the normal Grade A price.

2015 Run For Jon Photo

The  26th Annual Run For Jon is this coming Saturday, August 27th, at Forrence Orchards on Mannix Road in Peru.  Registration is from 3:30 – 4:45. Forms and more information can be found at www.runforjon.org..

Start times have changed. This year the Kids’ Fun Run will start at 5:00PM.  The 2.5 mile runners and the walkers will all start together at 5:20.

Most people are aware that Scott Woodward, our race director, and well-loved longtime cross-country and track coach for Peru High School, passed away on April 11 of this year.  This year’s RUN is dedicated to to Scott’s memory.  The Evans family hopes that as many people as possible will come to remember and celebrate his life and all he did for our community during his lifetime.

The Ausable River Association (AsRA), in partnership with the Kayak Shack of Plattsburgh, is hosting a Paddling River Clean-Up Saturday, August 27^th in Peru. The clean-up is open to all community members who want to restore and protect the beauty of the Ausable River. “Volunteers will immediately see the results of their hard work improving the health and beauty of the river, and they’ll enjoy a day paddling and floating downstream through a beautiful location,” says Kelley Tucker, Executive Director of AsRA.

AsRA will be working with the Kayak Shack at their Baggs’ Landing location to remove trash in and along the banks of the Ausable River from Carpenter’s Flats to the mouth at Lake Champlain. Read more »

The Harkness United Methodist Church invites one and all to wrap up Summer with a North Country treasure, and great fellowship!  Bring your family and meet your friends for a great meal at MICHIGANS FOR MISSION on Sunday August 28^th from 11AM to 3PM at the Harkness Church Hall, 776 Hallock Hill Road in Peru.

What says “I’m going to hold on to the best of summer” any better than a Michigan?!   The cooks of the Harkness Church, known far and wide for their delicious Chicken & Biscuit Dinner, expanded their culinary skills in May with the first-ever Michigan meal. The response was extraordinary and the food was delicious, so the event is “back by popular demand”. There will again be two choices of sauce; Traditional and Sweet.  Which is better?  Try both and let us know which you prefer!

Your meal of a Michigan, chips, pickle, drink and dessert will cost $5; add another Michigan for only $2.00.  Takeouts will be available, there will be Live Music, and proceeds from this fundraiser will support the Mission activities of the Harkness Church. For more information, call 643-8659 or 834-7577. Mark your calendar and bring your appetite; hope to see you there! 

AGENDA – TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, August 22, 2016 @ 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes of the August 15, 2016 Regular Board Meeting.

5. Community Input

6. DISCUSSION: Court Building Purchase Update.

7. DISCUSSION: Dog Park Update. 

8. DISCUSSION: Pickle Ball Court/Tennis Court Update.

9. DISCUSSION: Increase in Tax Assessor County Contract.

10. DISCUSSION: Alltech Camera Purchase. 

11. DISCUSSION: Parsons Road Repairs. 

12. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: AES Term Contract Agreement. 

13. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session. 

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Return to Regular Session.

15. DISCUSSION: Other Business. 

16. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

17. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approve/Pay Bills.     

MOTION:    Adjourn

Click to see Calvin Castine’s August 20th interview and tour 

By John T. Ryan

The small gate is open, two courts are marked and one pickleball net has been installed at the Jenkins Street tennis courts. A second net should arrive soon. Once everything is in place, a pickleball orientation program will be offered.

The tennis court is not not open for play. There is no net and the surface needs repairs.

Peru – This was the scene on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 as SK Sealcoating applied hot patch sealcoating to the one of the Jenkins Street tennis courts. When the court boundary lines are painted and the nets are installed one former tennis court will become home to two pickleball courts.

On Saturday, August 20^th, the Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) will be partnering with City of Plattsburgh Historian, John Krueger to offer a Walking Tour of the Plattsburgh Barracks. Starting the tour with the 1609 discovery of Lake Champlain, the tour will explore Lake Champlain’s vast military history that led up to the Battle of Plattsburgh, paving the way for what is known today as the Plattsburgh Barracks/Post or, as to most locals, the Old Base. Once housing the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Plattsburgh Barracks is a treasure of information and a monument to the City’s military past.

The tour leaves at 1 p.m. from the Clinton County Historical Museum; located at 98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh. The cost of the tour is $5 per person, and is free for children and CCHA members. We encourage those interested in participating to pre-register with the Museum by calling 518-561-0340.

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The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.clintoncountyhistorical.org or call 518-561-0340. Museum admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for students. Members enjoy free admission.

A Message from Peru Community Development Coordinator Adele Douglas

The Town of Peru has been awarded funds from the Clinton County Health Dept. to build Fun/Exercise stations along the Little Ausable River Trail. The idea is to offer additional opportunities for exercise and improving balance in a way that’s fun for a wide range of users. For those who wish a more intense workout, signs at each station will list additional exercise options. There will be two stations in Heyworth/Mason Park and four within the easements along the trail. The Town’s Mike Hanlon plans to build the stations in the fall, using local white cedar.

Please read through the station descriptions and look at the draft designs. Click for draft designs FunExercise Stations.

If you have any comments or suggestions to make the stations better please contact Adele Douglas (643-7863 or chinadele1@hotmail.com) or Tracy Posada (tposada7092@charter.net or 335-5229).

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 3^rd 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). Sign will list other exercises and stretching options.

Opening is only a few weeks away. The Peru Gazette will keep you advised! 

Groundbreaking this morning, August 17, 2016, at new Dunkin Donuts adjacent to Langley Insurance on the Bear Swamp Road.

Undersized pumps in Maiden Lane Lift Station

Exposed Main Sewer Pipe adjacent to Little Ausable River

By John T. Ryan 

Peru – America’s aging infrastructure is constantly in the news and Peru’s infrastructure is no exception.  A Town Board commissioned study completed in March 2015 revealed that Peru’s sewage delivery system needs repairs and upgrades estimated to cost more than $4.5 million. Improvements of this nature are typically paid for by rate increases, borrowing, grants or a combination thereof. Depending on funding, the project would be completed in one or more phases. 

Fortunately, sewer district users can have a significant role in qualifying their sewer district for New York State grants. In a few days a Household Characteristics Survey will be mailed to Peru Sewer District users. People are requested to accurately complete the survey and return it to the town’s grant consultant by September 1, 2016.  If the survey reveals the district’s median household income falls below a certain level, the town will be eligible to receive state grants and no or low interest loans. If a sufficient number of surveys are not returned by the September 1, 2016 they will be hand-delivered to district users. Specific income information will be held in strict confidence. The consultant will compile a report and submit only aggregate figures to the town. Click here to view a Household Survey

Four sewage main pipes carry effluent from approximately 550 users to the Sunrise Drive Water Pollution Control Plant.  Upgrading a pipe installed in the 1930’s is the immediate need. This pipe transports effluent from users on and near the Elm Street, Pleasant, Jenkins, McIntosh, Holden, McDonald, Lafleur and Washington Streets. After passing under Route 22 it traverses a steep bank adjacent to Little Ausable River. Portions of this pipe have shifted above the surface. Engineers are very concerned that hillside erosion could result in a shifting, broken pipe and consequent severe river pollution. They have described the pipe as “hanging on a thread.”  The proposed plan includes installation of a pump/lift station to transport this effluent to an enlarged main pipe along North Bend Street. 

A lift/pump station at the intersection of Buttonbrook Parkway and Maiden Lane needs to be increased in capacity and moved across the street. Several manholes also need to be replaced or upgraded. 

By John T. Ryan

In June Peru Troop 8049 Eagle Scout candidate Andrew Banker asked the Peru Town Board for permission to install two bike repair stations along the Little Ausable River Trail. At the Board’s Monday, August 15, 2016 meeting Banker returned to thank the counselors and to tell them that the stations have been installed. Each station includes eight tools tethered to a metal post by steel cables.

Asked how he got the idea for the project Banker said, “During the summer there are a lot of people riding bikes in Peru. I know it’s difficult when you’re riding and your chain falls off or have another problem.” Banker raised funds for his Eagle Scout project by conducting a car wash, collecting refundable bottles and donations.

Banker (18), the son of Dan and Selena Banker, is an incoming senior at Peru High School. Following graduation he hopes attend SUNY Oswego and to ultimately become a technology education teacher.

Banker told the counselors that he still has one more repair station and asked for ideas on the best place to install it. The counselors suggested that he speak with Peru Central School officials.

Please share!

The Peru Youth Commission needs two mite coaches for its Fall Soccer Program. The mite age group is (6,7 and 8 ). If you can help please contact John Flynn at jpflynn@charter.net.

AGENDA Town of Peru Zoning Board of Appeals 

WEDNESDAY, August 17, 2016 @ 7:00 PM at Peru Town Hall 

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of July 20, 2016 minutes.
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. Area Variance: Paul Schlitt

Area Variance – Pool House

11 Mason St.

2. Area Variance: Julio Lemos

Area Variance – Continued discussion for construction of a retaining wall

28 Twin Creek Drive

7. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS:
8. CEO REPORT:
9. ADJOURNMENT