The Peru Gazette

Melissa LaReau with her mother, Shirley LaReau-Kemp, after speaking to parishioners at St. Augustine’s Church, Peru, NY.  Photo and Story by Mike Langlois.

Psychology researchers describe happiness as a combination of life satisfaction and having more positive emotions than negative emotions. Melissa LaReau believes happiness is following your inner voice and pursuing life’s passions.

LaReau, a 2003 graduate of Peru High School and aspiring entrepreneur, recently talked to St. Augustine Church parishioners in Peru, New York. She described her role in creating Unfold Uganda, a business designed to help impoverished East African women.

LaReau’s twelve-year journey began after graduating high school. She attended Hartwick College, Oneonta, where she received a bachelor’s in science and economics. She taught English as a Second Language for a brief time for the Oneonta school district. LaReau then attended Texas A&M and graduated with a master’s in international affairs. Her first foray into the business world was an entry-level economist’s position with Ernst & Young, a multinational professional services company.

“This is exactly not what I want to be doing,” said LaReau, on her first impression of the corporate world. “I told myself three years and then I have to leave this job. I have to find something that I am more passionate about.”

Two-and-a-half years later, LaReau remembered the promise she had made to herself and listened to that inner voice. While scanning the online want ads for photo gigs – she had always dabbled in photography – an interesting item popped-up. The position was a fellowship working for a microfinance company which required basic computer and photography skills. The company was the Maryland-based Women’s Microfinance Initiative. The job was an operations position in the company’s Uganda, Africa, office.

WMI’s mission, according to the company’s website, is to establish village-level loan hubs, administered by local women, to provide capital, training and support services to rural women in the lowest income brackets in East Africa so that they can engage in income producing activities.

“I can do that job,” recalled LaReau. “I work in international economics, and I wrote my undergrad thesis on microfinance for my economics degree.”

The subsequent interview and hiring process moved quickly. Within a few weeks, she was in Uganda acting as the company’s only American employee. The decision meant giving-up a substantial salary with benefits, and collecting only a few hundred dollars per month.

When LaReau submitted a financial report a few months later, WMI’s treasurer knew the company didn’t have an average employee in the East African district.

“She (the treasurer) said we didn’t know the extent of your skills and experience,” said LaReau. “You look like a forensic accountant with the spreadsheet work you are doing.”

WMI asked LaReau to create and implement a finance system for the company’s East African loan-hubs. The district included Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. “This was very different from a fellowship doing operations,” she said. “I was now the East Africa finance director.”

Microfinance companies offer high-quality, affordable financial services to low-income people. Typically, these clients live in rural areas and are sustained by trading crops or locally made goods. Women in third world countries constitute a majority of the borrowers. In Uganda, LaReau worked with a staff of twenty local women who cultivated and sold tomatoes.

“We would give training in business planning, marketing, sales, and saving and investing money,” she explained. “The women were given one hundred dollars over six months. You can spend one hundred dollars in two minutes (in the U.S.). It’s a very small amount, but it’s life-changing for them.”

WMI’s business plan was to make the East African district financially sustainable and pull its operations within ten years. LaReau, who was hired seven years into the program, now had three years to reach the company’s goal. She trained a few top performing staff members who were able to successfully continue WMI’s business plan.

Although LaReau’s contract with WMI was nearing an end, she hoped to continue her work with the East African women. She became good friends with Lydia Neumbe, the daughter of WMI’s Uganda director. The two women decided to start their own business selling African made goods to an international market. The company would utilize the trade skills of the East African women to produce fashionable women’s wallets using local textiles. LaReau has since relocated to Washington, D.C., to raise venture capital, and Neumbe remains in her native country to set-up the company’s operations. LaReau said they decided to name the company Unfold.

“You can unfold a wallet,” she explained. “We’re also unfolding peace, hope, and opportunity (for the Uganda women and their families).  We are naming the company here Unfold Uganda,” she added. “If we move to other countries, then we will name it Unfold (for that country).”

LaReau said that Unfold Uganda hopes to add education credits, health care benefits, and begin an apprenticeship program for its employees and their families. “The main goal is to put the profits back into Uganda and create sustainable jobs,” she said. “If we give them the skills and the business training, then they can pass that along to their own children.”

For more information on Unfold Uganda visit:

Website: www.discoverunfold.com

Email:info@discoverunfold.com

Twitter: @discoverunfold

Instagram: @discoverunfold

Facebook: https.//m.facebook.com/discoverunfold

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1010431239/unfold-wallets-that-empower/description

The Peru Community Church is pleased to announce their special Christmas season services.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20^th, during the 10:30 am service, the 20-member choir directed by Carol Gallagher will present the Christmas cantata “Appalachian Winter”, accompanied by organist/pianist Dennis Frisbie. Composed in the spirit of folk songs, the Cantata recounts the story of Christmas combining traditional and rustic music elements with spoken narrative. A reception and fellowship hour follows the service.   Sunday School at 9:15 am that Sunday will focus on the true meaning of Christmas (for all ages). Please Note: There will be no 8am Service.

On Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24^th, the 6 pm family service includes Lessons and Carols, as well as candlelighting. The 8 pm service includes anthems by the choir, again closing with candlelighting.

On Christmas Day, the 10 am service, held in the Chapel, reaffirms the birth of the Christ Child. Communion will be served.

On Sunday, December 27^th one service will be held in the Sanctuary at 10am.

The regular schedule of Sunday services at 8 am and 10:30 am, with Sunday School at 9:15 am for all ages, pre-school through adult, resumes on January 3, 2016.

All are invited to worship at any time.

Questions? Please call the church office at 518-643-8641. Read more »

Courtney Tetrault (L) and Greg Timmons

By John T. Ryan

“Top-Tier” is the description Clinton County Health Department Director of Environmental Health and Safety John Kanoza uses to describe the Town of Peru’s current water quality. Kanoza said, “It was a long time coming, but Peru made ten small to medium upgrades that resulted in a comprehensive improvement to its system. Today Peru’s water compares favorably with the top systems in the county. It’s a top-tier system.” Peru Town Supervisor Peter Glushko agrees stating, “We want our residents to know that our water is great! They don’t have to purchase water from other sources.” Improving the system’s capabilities, equipment and filtration building cost just over $3 million. (Click here to see all our Peru Gazette photos)

Interim Water Superintendent Courtney Tetrault and former Superintendent Greg Timmons are proud of all the system improvements especially the upgrades at the Reservoir Road filtration plant and the system’s two water towers. When the Peru Gazette toured the filtration plant last Friday Tetrault pointed to a computer unit monitor saying, “This is the heart of the system. When Bill Downs, our Plant Operator, looks at this he can monitor and adjust the water filtration process from the reservoir through the filtration process including our two water towers.” Tetrault pointed out that Downs, backup operator Chris Martineau and Tetrault himself can also monitor the system 24 hours a day on their laptop computers. Tetrault said, “The automation and constant monitoring also cut down on our department’s overtime and on our chemical use.” Greg Timmons added, “The improvements have also doubled our system capacity. We’re ready for additional water users.”

In addition to installing the computerized control system, contractors dredged the reservoir; increased the size of filtration building by approximately 900 square feet to accommodate a computer room, restroom, lab, generator room and electronics room. Filtration media and backwashing procedures were upgraded. Tower piping and water treatment processes were also improved.

Peru’s 780 water district users require about 150,000 to 180,000 gallons of water daily. Peru’s water is primarily sourced from Furnace Brook, which enters a reservoir about a quarter mile west of the filtration plant. Water first undergoes a coagulation process to clump any unwanted particles. It then passes through three tanks: tanks 1 and 2 contain filtration media; the third contains activated carbon. After the water leaves the third tank, chlorine is added and the water is piped to the nearby outside storage tank where it undergoes mixing and chlorine contact time. When needed, it enters the main line for transport to several users and the in-hamlet water tower. Further mixing takes place in the 375,000-gallon in-hamlet tower and chlorine can be added if needed.

Greg Timmons knows the system very well given his 40 years of Water Department experience. He explained, “Our water met all the Health Department requirements when the plant was put into service in 1995. However, as time passed regulations were tightened and in about 2000 to 2002 tests revealed that Peru’s water exceeded the allowed limit of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, both by-products of the chlorination process.” Timmons added, “With the new system even the reading that we took after the leaves fell, which is always our highest reading, was much lower than we have to be.” Prior to the system upgrade water district users received quarterly Violation Notices stating that anyone consuming the water might experience increased health risks. Fortunately, the Town of Peru mailed its last Violation Notice in the fall of 2014. Violation Notice Water 4th Q 2013

At 8:10 a.m. 11/9/15 two sentences of this story were edited.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 6:00 PM at the school district’s Community Room, adjacent to the main entrance of Peru Jr/Sr High School.  An executive session associated with particular personnel matters will take place immediately following the 6:00 PM start.  The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM.  Anticipated topics include:

·         Appointment of Personnel

·         Recognition of Student Artwork

·         Capital Project Update

The full Board agenda is available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.

All are welcome.

Jackie Young Douglass, Lucy Godfrey and and Sandy Lashua led the caroling last night at the Peru Gazebo. Here’s their version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. 

John and Vicki Masella watched Santa’s arrival at the LIttle Ausable River Park this year. They were a vital part of the festivities from 1982 to 2014. Congratulations and thanks to them! They are pictured with Peru Town Supervisor Peter Glushko who thanked the event organizers, workers, the Peru Volunteer Fire Department and everyone who attended.

Santa arrived at the Fellowship Center right on time thanks to the Peru Volunteer Fire Department!

A few photos from tonight’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival at LIttle Ausable River Park and the Fellowship Center. There was a wonderful turnout of Peru’s many young families!  Click here to view. 

PLATTSBURGH — Award winning local author Lawrence Gooley will be giving a presentation called “Escape From Dannemora: Breakouts, Tortures and Violence in Clinton Prison’s Past” on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

Source: Author to give presentation on Clinton Prison – Sun Community News & Printing

Regular Mtg Agenda7Dec2015

New York will get a boost in highway funding under a highway bill on track to be passed by both houses of Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer said. The bill will include a provision sought by Schumer to ensure car rental companies fix cars recalled because of safety defects before renting or selling them to consumers.

Source: Schumer: NY to get funding boost under highway bill – Times Union

Craft Fair 2014

Peru – Make plans to attend the “Fall into Winter Craft Fair” at St. Augustine’s Parish Center on Saturday, December 5^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 30 vendors will have something for everyone on your Christmas list. There will be fun raffles with great prizes along with Farther Alan’s Christmas Shop. The Catholic Daughters will offer a delicious hot lunch and decadent dessert bake sale. The St. Vincent’s Thrift Store and Roger’s House, the Crate and Christmas Thrift Shop, will also be open.

2014 Photo

The Keeseville-Peru Ecumenical Choir will be performing two concerts to celebrate its 50^th anniversary. The first concert will be Saturday, December 19, 2015, at St. John the Baptist Church in Keeseville at 7:30pm. The second concert will be Sunday, December 20, 2015, at St. Augustine’s Church in Peru at 7:30pm. The choir is directed by Jeanette Woodruff and accompanied by Steve Collier. There will be several selections accompanied by guest instrumentalists. The 70 member choir will be performing a variety of sacred and secular Christmas music. Admission is free.

Click here to see and hear the choir’s 2014 performance of “O Holy Night.” 

Rhonda Ross

The Strand Center for the Arts is pleased to announce that Rhonda Ross is coming to The Historic Strand Center Theatre.  This performance will be held on  Saturday December 12th at 7:00pm at the Strand Center Theatre located at 25 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, NY

Some people know Rhonda Ross as the only child of singing legend, Diana Ross and Motown-Founder, Berry Gordy, but there is much more to Rhonda Ross. Rhonda is a singer, songwriter, actress, and an innovative parent, pioneering early language acquisition in children.

Rhonda’s music is African inspired as well as based on traditional jazz. In 1994, she met, married, and began a 20-year musical collaboration with jazz pianist and composer Rodney Kendrick. Through him, Rhonda commenced studying with the late jazz great Abbey Lincoln. “It was Abbey and Rodney who convinced me to begin my journey as a singer-songwriter.” Rhonda says, “I primarily consider myself a story-teller and poet. I use my music to inspire and to uplift. To teach people – including myself.” Their live CD, Rhonda Ross Live: Featuring Rodney Kendrick is a hot internet seller.

Rhonda headlined one of President Obama’s 2nd Inaugural Balls, and later performed to standing ovations and rave reviews at The Hollywood Bowl, The Montreal International Jazz Festival, Wolf Trap, and The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Rhonda’s live performance will thoroughly entertain you and move you to the point of tears – all while inspiring you to believe that you can do or be anything!

Learn more about Rhonda: www.therhondaross.com

Come and enjoy the inspiring Rhonda Ross  performance on December 12th at 7:00 pm at the Strand Center Theatre located at 25 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, NY. Tickets can be obtained online, at the box office (located in the Strand Center Gallery), or at the show. The Strand Center Box Office hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  For further information on this show or other upcoming events at The Strand Center Theatre, Gallery exhibits or Art Classes please call 518-563-1604 or visit www.strandcenter.org.

PLATTSBURGH, NY-The Strand Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the start of a series of films for the holidays is coming to The Historic Strand Center Theatre.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) G Sat, Dec 19th, 2015 at 2:00 pm

The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Other Muppets — Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and Sam the Eagle — weave in and out of the story, while Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases — past, present and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) NR Tue, Dec 22nd, 2015 at 7:00 pm

It’s a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story “The Greatest Gift”, which Philip Van Doren Stern wrote in 1939 and published privately in 1945. The film is now considered one of the most popular films in American cinema and due to numerous television showings in the 1980s has become traditional viewing during the Christmas season.

The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched and how different life in his community of Bedford Falls would be had he never been born.

Come and enjoy our first movie series for the holidays at the Strand Center Theatre located at 25 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, NY. Tickets can be obtained online, at the box office in the Cultural Center, or at the show. The Strand Center Box Office hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  For further information on this show or other upcoming events at The Strand Center Theatre, Gallery exhibits or Art Classes please call 518-563-1604 or visit www.strandcenter.org.

Plattsburgh, NY.  Cornell Cooperative Extension is inviting small livestock producers in Essex County to learn winter feeding tips and the latest results of parasite control research for sheep and goat farmers on Thursday, December 3rd.

A 6 pm meeting will focus on different breeds and general animal care for youth.

A 7 pm meeting follows for adults with Dr. Tatiana Stanton of the Cornell University Sheep and goat Program presenting a detailed update on parasite control research funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program. Field trials were conducted as Asgaard Farm and Goat Dairy in AuSable Forks and at the Extension Learning Farm in Canton, NY.

NNY Regional Livestock Team Leader Betsy Hodge will present information on winter feeding basics, including when and what feed products to use to supplement sheep and goat diets through the cold weather season.

The programs are free. For more information, contact Sara Bull at 518.561.7450.

Peru – Peru’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on Friday, December 4th at 6:50 p.m. at the Little Ausable River Park Gazebo. A few minutes later Peru Volunteer Fire Department trucks will arrive with Santa Claus who will lead all the children and parents into the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center for fun and fellowship. All are welcome!

Regular Mtg Agenda23Nov015

L-R Peru Elementary School Principal Matt Slattery, School Nurse Nicole Powers, Peru Knights of Columbus Deputy Grand Knight Dwane Bast and Coats for Kids Chairman John Ryan 

PERU – On November 19^th, St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 Deputy Grand Knight Dwane Bast and Coats For Kids Chairman John Ryan presented twenty-four new boys and girls winter jackets to Peru Elementary Principal Matt Slattery and School Nurse Nicole Powers. The Knights of Columbus launched the Coats for Kids Program during the 2009 recession. Since then approximately 2,000 Knights of Columbus councils in the United States and Canada have distributed more than 167,000 coats to children in need.

PLATTSBURGH, NY-The Strand Center for the Arts is pleased to announce that Scarlett James and her Burlesque Show are coming to The Historic Strand Center Theatre.  This show will be performed on November 21st at 7:30pm at the Strand Center Theatre located at 25 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, NY

The Art of Burlesque is a classic and sophisticated burlesque revue that will bring humor, glamorous performances, live singers, showgirls and dancers with fabulous costumes and lots of feathers!  This show is for 18 years of age and older.

Scarlett James is Montreal’s own international star of burlesque. Read more »

The Peru Lions Club will be hosting their 38^th annual John P. Adams Memorial Turkey Trot on November 26th, 2015  (Thanksgiving Day). Preregister by going to www.perulionsclubnewyork.org . Click online Registration. Then click www.adirondackcoastevents.com , for online registration. Or, click on “Download printable entry form.

Same day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Peru cafeteria. To ensure a 9:00 start, registration will end at 8:15 sharp. The 1 mile fun run/walk begins at 8:45 a.m. and the 5K & (unofficial) 10K races shortly afterward.  Entry fee for 5K & 10K events is $20 if preregistered online before Wednesday 11/25/15 at 7p.m. The 1 mile fun run/walk fee is $7.50.

Bib pick-up and last minute preregistration can be done in person at the Peru Intermediate cafeteria on Wednesday the 25^th from 4-7 p.m.  On the day of the event, the fee is $25  Trophies are awarded to male and female winners of the 5K & 10K races.  

For more info, contact: Lois Roberts @ 643-2213 or Jen Boyer @ 562-0528.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program will help new, prospective and experienced vegetable growers learn how to choose and grow the best crops for profit using high tunnel structures that allow for nearly year’round production. A workshop is set for Thursday, December 10 form 5:30 pm to 8:30pm at the CCE Essex County office at 3 Sisco Street in Westport. The workshop fee of $10 covers materials and refreshments; registration is requested by December 4 at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/HighTunnelSchool15_10511 or 518.561.7450.

Speakers at the workshop include Cornell University NYS Vegetable Extension Specialist Judson Reid. Reid will talk about the results of NNYADP funded trials on growing basil, cucumbers, ginger, green beans, and zucchini in high tunnels and how the market income from these crops compares with the ever-popular tomato.

Amy Ivy, a regional vegetable and berry specialist, and Crystal Stewart, a vegetable specialist, with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program, will present crop data and high tunnel grower tips at the workshops.

‘If growers can successfully use high tunnels to grow crops more commonly planted in fields, they have the potential to produce food crops that appeal to a broader market audience,’ says Ivy.

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Senate and administered through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Find research reports and learn more at www.nnyagdev.org.