The Peru Gazette

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont has announced that the company has been awarded the Independent Retailer of the Year distinction from New York City-based industry publication, Grocery Headquarters. The title comes with a cover story in the publication’s February issue titled “Tops of the Town,” and an awards dinner in downtown Buffalo in late February. Read more »

State’s legislators speak out against possibility of closing

Pre-emptive strike aims to save base – Times Union.

The Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors recently approved over $17 million in funding for 17 projects that are spurring economic growth and opportunity throughout New York State. These targeted investments are leveraging over $195 million in private and other public funding to support local businesses, workforce development, downtown revitalization, and projects that are building a strong foundation for future economic growth and job creation. The projects approved by the Board will directly create 387 new jobs and retain 485 existing New York jobs. Read more »

Pure Country Music for your Listening & Dancing Pleasure

Saturday, March 28th 1 – 4 p.m.
Kitchen Open for lunch & snacks

VFW event proceeds benefit local veterans & their families.

Peru Memorial VFW
710 Pleasant St, Rt 22B
Peru, NY 12972

A mountain ministry – Adirondack Explorer – Adirondack Explorer.

Even if it’s only 32 degrees in Peru this morning, seeing Melvin Irwin pruning his McIntosh orchard made us believe that springtime weather can’t be far away!

Melvin Irwin pruning at Irwin’s River Rd. Orchard

The North Country Regional Economic Development Council (NCREDC) today held its public meeting in Watertown in a show of support for the long-term viability of Fort Drum ahead of the scheduled rally and listening session about the military base’s impact on the region. The meeting provided the Council with the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to helping to retain and grow Fort Drum as a national defense asset and the region’s largest employer. Council co-chairs Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, and Tony Collins, President of Clarkson University, shared a joint statement of solidarity with the Fort Drum community during the meeting. Read more »

The Peru Youth Commission will be holding sign ups for all Town of Peru Youth on Friday March 20th from 6-9 pm and Saturday March 21 at from 9 – noon. Sign ups will include Baseball, Softball, Summer Activities and Fall Soccer. Employment opportunities will also be offered for youth ages 14. -18. All youth must reside in the Town of Peru and a copy of a Birth Certificate is required.

For any more information please contact John Flynn Youth Director at 593-0935.

New York’s 2014 voter turnout 49th best in the US – Times Union.

Albany – Assemblywoman Janet Duprey (R,I – Peru) today reiterated her support for a more open and transparent state government in light of an ethics reform agreement between Gov. Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. Duprey, a longtime advocate for ethics reform, was appointed to a bipartisan search committee earlier this year for an executive director for the new Office of Ethics and Compliance by Heastie.

“I’m passionate about enacting meaningful ethics reforms to the Assembly, and I’m determined to work with my colleagues across the aisle to earn back the trust of the people,” said Duprey. “This week, we started taking small but critical steps toward making the state Legislature more transparent. We passed legislation that strengthens the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), and now, Gov. Cuomo and Speaker Heastie have an agreement on ethics reform. I’m encouraged by these developments, but there is still much more work to be done to give New Yorkers the open, accountable, and transparent government they deserve. Now that ethics reform is finally on the agenda, we need to take further action and shed some much-needed sunlight on our house.”

Gov. Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie yesterday outlined an agreement on reforms to New York State’s ethics laws and rules. The agreement includes Read more »

Form the Office of Superintendent of Schools 

The Peru Central School Board of Education will gather Tuesday, March 24th at 6 PM in the Jr/Sr High School Community Room for their fourth public session budget workshop. At its budget workshop, the School Board is expected to:

• Review Budget Timeline.
• Receive a series of Recommendations from the Budget Advisory Committee.
• Receive a First Draft Summary of Proposed Expenditure Plan for the 2015‐2016 school year.

  The full agenda is available on the Peru CSD website at www.perucsd.org.

  The meeting is open to all.

Flames consume Giroux’s Poultry barn in Chazy – Press-Republican: News.

Fujitsu Frontech branch headed to TN – Press-Republican: News.

Shared Responsibilities – 1st Place Winner Nature/Wildlife Category – Professional Division, Best in Show – Professional Division, and People’s Choice Award for the 2014 Annual Lake Champlain Maritime Museum’s Through The Lens Juried Photography Exhibit

By John T. Ryan

“The Jewels of Lake Champlain,” “Snowy Owl,” Minimalist Sunrise,” and “Shared Responsibilities” are just four of the twenty photographic works by Craig Allen on view through March 31^st at the Best Western Plus Inn at Smithfield. The display is part of the Strand Center for the Arts Off-Site Gallery Program. A Peru native and Peru High School graduate, Craig Allen has been a New York State Corrections Officer for 34 years.

The works on display feature landscape and wildlife photography. Anyone viewing Allen’s photographs will likely agree with his remarks in the show’s pamphlet. “Sharing intimate perspectives of the nature that surrounds us all, everyday, is a quiet satisfaction that is not easily expressed in words, nor is it meant to be. It is the photographer’s hope, and vision, that his images simply speak for themselves.”

Allen travels throughout the northeastern United States to practice his skills. Photos from as far away as Maine’s Acadia National Park are on display. Still as Allen explained, “Most of my photographs are right here in our own back yard. Some are taken on the Vermont side of the lake; others are taken as far north as the Chazy and Champlain area.” The Ausable Point State Park on Lake Champlain, not far from Allen’s boyhood home, is one of his favorite locales. 

The Jewels of Lake Champlain – 1st Place Winner Still Life Category – Amateur Division, Best in Show – Amateur Division for the 2013 Annual Lake Champlain Maritime Museum’s Through The Lens Juried Photography Exhibit

Allen’s interest in photography began in his youth. At about 8 years of age his father, Peru High School Counselor Ron Allen, introduced him to a black and white Polaroid camera. At Peru High School he learned darkroom techniques from teachers John Hotchkiss and Judy Corigliano. Several years later he took a semester-long course at Clinton Community College. A local professional photographer has also been a longtime friend and mentor.

Visitors to the Smithfield Boulevard display should enjoy Allen’s close-up, often-dramatic photographs of birds. Photography of this nature requires an intimate knowledge of animal habitats. Allen explained, “The more you study the biology of animals the more you realize that they’re telling you things. More clues are revealed to you about when something magnificent is about to happen.” Allen often waits five or six hours in freezing temperatures for that memorable magnificent happening.

While Craig Allen will undoubtedly always love landscape and wildlife photography, he plans to expand into portrait photography. He possesses all the needed professional equipment and accessories. He would like nothing better than seeing his work in a local publication.

Capitol Confidential » Latest inspection turns up railroad tanker defects.

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Strand Center for the Arts is proud to announce that its Annual High School & Middle School Exhibition will be opening in the SCA Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh. The opening reception for this exhibition will be held March 20th, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibition will be on view from March 20th through April 24th, 2015 and is open to the public.

Yearly, The Strand Center for the Arts invites schools from Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties to participate in this juried show. Participating schools for the 2015 competition include Ausable Valley Central High School & Middle School, Beekmantown Central High School & Middle School, Brushton Moira Central High School, Elizabethtown-Lewis, Peru Central School, Northeastern Clinton Central School, Seton Catholic High School, Saranac Central High School, Saranac Lake High School, Willsboro Central School, and a number of home school students.

Awards will be given to students in the media categories of drawing, painting, sculpture (3D), ceramics, mixed media, photography/design and printmaking. Jurors for the awards are well acquainted with the arts and include Judy Guglielmo, local artist and business professional; Louise Pattinelli, retired art therapist and local artist; David Monette, Clinton Community College professor, illustrator, and writer; and Karen Blough, art historian and professor at SUNY Plattsburgh.

This year the High School & Middle School Exhibition features an added incentive for students. Artwork placing first and second in each of the media categories will be featured in a satellite exhibition at the Champlain Centre Mall in Plattsburgh. This satellite exhibit will be on view at the Champlain Centre Friday, April 10th from 5:00 to 9:00 pm and Saturday, April 11th from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm. Mall visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite work that weekend. The piece receiving the most votes, and thus earning the “Best in Show” award, will receive a scholarship sponsored by Champlain Centre Mall.

The Annual High School & Middle School Exhibition will be opening in the SCA Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh in March. The opening reception for this exhibition will be held March 20th, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibit will be on view at the SCA Main Gallery from March 20th through April 24th, 2015 and is open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information on this and other events, please visit The Strand Center for the Arts website at www.plattsburgharts.org or email gallery@plattsburgharts.org.

From the United Way of the Adirondack Region

At the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner on Friday, March 13^th, 2015, Hope Coryer was the recipient of the 31^th Annual Dorothy & Alan Booth Distinguished Citizen Award.

She is truly deserving of this most coveted award. There is hardly a community event that she does not get involved in. She served on the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. campaign team and was chair for the 2002 campaign. But it is not just the United Way that has benefitted from her community minded spirit and generosity. She serves for numerous other organizations.

Coryer blends in perfectly with the quality of past winners of this prestigious award. Her dedication to volunteerism and willingness to help improve the quality of life of others fits nicely with the legacy that Dorothy and Alan Booth provided this area.   She is someone who chooses to stay in the background and work hard to make the Adirondack region a better place to live. According to John Bernardi, Executive Director of the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc., “Hope’s generosity, compassion and selflessness are a fine example for all of us.”

Hope just recently retired from ETS yet continues to serve the community in many aspects.

From the Office of the Superintendent of the Peru Central School

Does education meet the needs of the 21st century workplace? Students will be able to find out on Thursday, March 19, 2015, when seniors and juniors from Peru and Beekmantown Central School Districts embark on a new opportunity for post-secondary career planning.

The Career Jam, which was created as a collaborative effort among area school districts, ETS, Inc. and the Development Corporation will be held at Clinton Community College. Students will be introduced to a variety of exciting opportunities available right in their own community. Representatives from Camoplast, Spencer ARL, Plattsburgh Animal Hospital, Swarovski and several others will network with the next generation of hard working, energetic and eager future employees to introduce current and future job opportunities. Our Career Jam will provide alternatives to traditional post-secondary options and build up enthusiasm for a strong workforce to support our regional economy.

60 students are anticipated to attend Career Jam this year with the goal of expanding to include additional districts and more students next year.

The Peru School District Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) is tentatively scheduled to meet in the Jr/Sr High School Community Room at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, March 17th. In addition to these informational sessions, the BAC will be invited to share their recommendations with the School Board on Tuesday, March 24th during a public budget development workshop.

If you wish to participate in any of the meetings of the BAC, please register by calling 643-6004.

For the past nine years, Peru CSD has organized a Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) that has served to inform and promote school-community discussion concurrent with the school district budget development process.

The BAC typically meets 3-4 times to develop an understanding of revenues and expenditures, components of a balanced budget, and particular challenges that face the school district. Traditionally, the BAC has formulated recommendations for Board consideration to assist the Board and administration.

From the Office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) applauded the announcement that Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven Blaney today signed the Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada.

“This landmark agreement is welcome news for our North Country community,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “In addition to helping increase efficiency along our northern border, this agreement will help increase trade with our Canadian neighbors. This is good for our North Country economy and for hard working North Country families. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to pass the legislation necessary to implement this plan.”

“The Beyond the Border process has provided an important opportunity for the U.S. and Canada to jointly build our economic connections while valuing and supporting the flow of legitimate travel and commerce at ours hared border,” states Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “And today’s agreement on pre-clearance is nothing short of historic as it sets the stage for a number of advances in the years ahead.”

According to Douglas, the North Country Chamber and other partners on both sides of the border have been supporting an agreement that would specifically facilitate three long sought advances for the North Country:

1) The agreed terms for the pre-clearance of New York bound Amtrak trains in Montreal by U.S. Customs & Border Protection personnel, eliminating the current long stoppages at the border.

2) The possibility of Canadian Border Service Agency operations in Massena on the U.S. side of the Massena-Cornwall crossing, addressing space limitations on the Cornwall side and enhancing flow at this important North Country gateway.

3) Agreement on how U.S. and Canadian personnel can jointly staff and operate small, rural crossings from one side or the other without two separate operations. thereby saving resources for both countries while securing the future operation of many small crossings in the North Country and elsewhere which, while low volume, represent important connections between rural U.S. and Canadian communities.

“We thank both governments for this historic agreement, as well as our representatives in Washington who have been steadfast advocates, including Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and a continuity of engagement and attention from fromer Congressman Owens and now Congresswoman Stefanik,” added Mr. Douglass.

Thera-Pets, Inc. will begin the Jonathon’s Journey program for children with special needs on Sunday, April 15^th from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. The group will meet every Sunday for nine weeks, excluding Memorial Day Weekend, at the Butternut Ridge Farm, 648 Calkins Road, Peru.

Jonathon’s Journey is a newly structured program that still gives the children free time to explore the farm. Activities include learning to care for the animals, walking donkeys, games, crafts, gardening, show & tell, scavenger hunts, and various chores. There are also plans to visit Kickin Up Dust Farm and the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum.

The program is free, however Thera-Pets, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, does ask for a commitment to attend. 
The registration deadline is April 6th. New volunteers are welcome to assist with the program.

For more information contact Holly Besaw 518-643-2577 or email therapets@yahoo.com. 
To download an application for the JJ Program go to our web site page. 
http://www.butternutridgedonkeys.org/jjgroup.html

L-R Nathan Kennedy, Abigail St. Louis, Gabrielle Dion, Shauna Fliss, Megan Mazzella, Chris Mazzella 

By John T. Ryan

The North Country Mission of Hope’s February 17-24 mission to Nicaragua included nine high school students and adults who either live in Peru or attend Peru High School. They included Chris Mazzella, Megan Mazzella, Shauna Fliss, Samantha Bashaw, Nathan Kennedy, Gabrielle Dion, Abigail St. Louis, Sally Kokes and Mary Hensel.  Approximately 1,500 photos taken by the volunteers were compiled, placed on a memory stick and given to each volunteer. Sally Kokes was kind enough to share her memory stick with the Peru Gazette. The task was difficult, but we selected 75 photos that we believe capture the spirit of the mission journey. Please watch the slideshow on a PC, where the slide show is accompanied by music. Click here to view.

L-R Samantha Bashaw of Peru and Grace Leader of Gouverneur

L-R Mary Hensel and Sally Kokes

Trooper Donald Fredenburg dies at NY State Police Academy – Times Union.

Cuomo raising campaign cash again | Capital New York.