The Peru Gazette

The State University of New York at Geneseo has announced its Dean’s List for the fall semester 2014. To be on the list, a student must have achieved at least a 3.5 grade point average while taking a minimum of 12 credit hours.

On the list from this area are:

Benjamin Ford from Peru, NY

Teagan Plimpton from Peru, NY

Maria Remillard from Peru, NY

Julie Hogan and Tom Venne on Guitar

The Clem Hawkins Band will perform their popular music at the Peru Community Church Coffeehouse, 13 Elm St. Peru, on 1/31 at 7:00. Doors open at 6:00 and tickets are available for $12 at the door or $10 in advance at the church office, Adirondack Coffee Roasters, Alpha Stereo and Saranac Country Store. Refreshments available. All proceeds support the PCC Youth Service Trip to Washington DC. Information at 518-569-9387.

Flames erupt at a closed, historic school in Champlain, N.Y. | Local News – WPTZ Home.

By John T. Ryan

When a snowstorm hits, the Town of Peru Highway Department is responsible for plowing and sanding 112 miles of town and county highways spread over 92 square miles. A few days ago a brand new 2015, 450 horsepower Freightliner tandem truck equipped with a Tenco plow and sanding apparatus arrived. It replaces a 2001 International truck with over 100,000 miles.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell explained, “We have eight plows including one spare. We try to replace a plow after 10 years use, but sometimes it can go a little longer. The sand and salt are tough on the trucks.” 

When a significant overnight snowstorm hits seven plow operators report to work at 3:30 a.m. and strive to get all the town’s roads cleared by school opening at 7 a.m. Farrell said, “Plowing in the hamlet is the most difficult, especially on narrow streets like Winding Brook. I’ve been asking the Town Board for a parking ban on some streets.” A plow with its wing down is fourteen feet wide and operates at from 20 to 23 miles per hour when plowing and about 30 miles per hour when sanding.

Providing equipment to plow highways is an expensive undertaking. RB Charlebois was the low bidder with a price of $121,000 for the truck and $72,000 for the plow and sanding apparatus.  

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (January 15, 2015) – The Strand Center for the Arts announces the production of A.R. Gurney’s critically acclaimed play “Love Letters” to be performed on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2015 at the historic Strand Theatre. The play features performers from the Adirondack Regional Theatre Company.

A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” is a disarmingly funny and unforgettably emotional portrait about the powerful connection of love. Two friends, rebellious Melissa Gardner and straight-arrow Andrew Makepeace Ladd III have exchanged notes, cards and letters with each other for over 50 years. When they were both seven years old, Andrew wrote his first letter to Melissa to tell her she looked like a lost princess. From second grade, through summer vacations, to college, and well into adulthood, they have spent a lifetime discussing their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats. But long after the letters are done, the real question remains: Have they made the right choices or is the love of their life only a letter away?

The show’s onstage couple is performed by real-life couple Pam and Tom Lavin. Pam and Tom Lavin have been married 17 years. The couple shares a love of theatre, in fact Tom proposed to Pam on stage during the curtain call of a musical in which she directed him. Read more »

Westelcom, Titus Mountain, and Eagle Country invite you to join us for the Chamber Family Ski Day on January 24th at Titus Mountain.

This event is open to the public and is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a day of fun on the slopes. With options like a free group lesson, night skiing, and tubing, it is fun for skiers of all abilities. And don’t miss the Apres Ski Party in the lodge at 4:30!

The special ticket price for this day only is $30 for adults and $27 for kids or seniors. Equipment rental is just $20 and Tubing Park admission is $20. Tickets must be purchased through the North Country Chamber of Commerce by January 20th. For more information go to www.northcountrychamber.com, or call the Chamber at 563-1000.

Stefanik votes for conservative-shaped immigration bill | NCPR News.

Capitol Confidential » Cuomo announces ‘first’ property tax cut plan (updated X6).

By John T. Ryan

The Town of Peru finally has a dog control contract with the Elmore SPCA. The Peru Town Board approved a 2015 contract at its Monday, January 12, 2015 meeting. The Board and the SPCA have been at loggerheads over contract language for several months, but Monday the SPCA presented a revised contract that the Board enthusiastically approved after a positive review by Town Attorney Donald Biggs. click here to view ELMORE SPCA CONTRACT 2015

The Board also approved almost all its required 2015 Organizational Meeting agenda items such as elected official and appointee salaries, Town Board liaisons to departments, meeting dates, mileage rates and a procurement policy. Click here for Organizational Meeting resolutions   Click here for Procurement Policy  Click here for Rules of Order

The Board did not renew its contract with Engineering Ventures and its engineer Peter Gibbs. Counselor Kregg Bruno and other board members have expressed concern with Gibb’s failure to respond promptly to phone calls and inaccurate cost estimates for several projects. Bids on the Highway Department garage roof and Town Hall front steps came in much higher than Gibbs estimated. Gibbs was present at Monday’s meeting. He admitted his company could have done a better job, but he said he would like to continue serving the town. Gibbs stated, “I would love to do some more cool projects for the town. Supervisor Glushko said Gibbs has provided engineering services since at least 1998. Glushko said, “You’ll have to convince me that we need to make a change.” Engineering Ventures and AES Engineering of Plattsburgh have submitted proposals to provide 2016 engineering services. The Board delayed making a decision until its January 27^th meeting when they expect Counselor Bruno to be present. Bruno was excused from Monday’s meeting.

The Board is also poised to approve an energy supply contract with Ambit Energy. NYSEG is its current supplier. Supervisor Peter Glushko has heard positive comments about Ambit made by Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Bernard Bassett and other supervisors. At the Board’s December 8^th meeting, Ambit Business Consultant Colleen LaFountain told the Board that Ambit would save the town a minimum of 2% compared to NYSEG and because it has 15 or more electric meters the Town’s highest use facility/meter would receive free electricity as long as the contract is in force. Counselor Brandy McDonald researched Ambit’s reputation at the Board’s request. He reported that he had not discovered any negative information. It is extremely important that any Ambit customer renew the Ambit contract annually in order to realize the promised savings. Supervisor Peter Glushko said he would place a resolution to finalize the agreement on the Board’s January 27^th meeting agenda. It will take 30 to 60 days to make the change from NYSEG to Ambit.

Mailboxes damaged by Highway Department snowplows came up under “Other Business.” Responding to a Letter to the Editor from Mr. Robert Melhorn of the Laphams Mills Road that appeared in the January 10th Press Republican, Supervisor Glushko said Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell visited Mr. Melhorn’s residence as soon as he learned about the incident and that Mr. Melhorn was not home and the mailbox was not available to be examined. Glushko said he did not “blow Mr. Melhorn off” as the letter contended saying that Melhorn approached him about four minutes before the St. Augustine’s Saturday Mass began, so there wasn’t time to discuss the incident. Glushko said the town will pursue the matter and will pay for the mailbox repair if it conformed to U.S. Postal Service regulations. Michael Farrell said he could be reached at his cell phone number 369-4845.

In other actions the Board:

Approved a $7,600 contract proposal from Donald Bell for work to be performed at the Lyons Road Schoolhouse, the historic property owned by the Town of Peru. Bell will level the floor, install a 6’x6’ beam in the center of the floor and repair the stone foundation. Bell is certified to perform work on a structure on the National Register of Historical Places.

Learned that the annual New York State Training School for town officials will be held in New York City from February 15-18. Attorney Donald Biggs said he might want to attend this year. Counselor Donald McBrayer attended last year.

Supervisor Glushko informed the board that the NYS required internal audit of all departments must be completed by January 20^th. Each counselor will audit one or more departments.

The Town Hall entrance doors will be framed in the next few days.

An Employee Handbook Workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m. on January 28th.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015, will mark the 5^th Annual Dine United for the Adirondack Region. There will be a wide variety of restaurants throughout Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties participating.

Every patron that visits a participating restaurant on January 21, 2015 will be giving back to our region, as well as supporting local restaurants. Each restaurant has agreed to donate to the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. “With their donations and our 41 partner agencies, we will be able to help fellow residents with critical needs such as food, clothing, shelter, child care, safety from domestic violence, and much more”, stated the Executive Director, John Bernardi, of The United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.

The Director of Development, Kathy Snow, suggested to start your day with a breakfast treat and then visit one of your neighborhood restaurants for lunch. Finally, go home and grab the family for a delicious dinner at any of the participating restaurant. Mention to the restaurants that you are there for DINE UNITED and enter the drawing for raffle prizes. It is a day to have fun and give back to the community!

Participating restaurants include:

• 99 Restaurant & Pub                                           Smooth Moves
• Arnie’s Restaurant                                                 The Pepper
• Burgoyne Grille                                                     Uno Pizzeria & Grill
• Butcher Block                                                       Weathercock Restaurant & Bar
• Chair 6
• Donavan’s Steak & Ale, Inc.
• Ground Round
• Gumas Restaurant
• Half-Way House
• Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
• Livingood’s Restaurant and Brewery
• My Cup of Tea
• Pizza Palace
• Pasquale’s Pizzeria
• Sandy’s Deli

Summer opening planned for Hotel Saranac | NCPR News.

Peru teen recovering from devastating accident – Press-Republican: Local News.

From the office of State Senator Betty Little

The New York State Senate today approved an eight-point women’s equality agenda, including two bills sponsored by Senator Betty Little. This is the first action on bills in the 2015 legislative session. All of the bills passed with unanimous support.

“With six months in the scheduled session, the state Assembly will have plenty of time to act on some, if not all, of the bills,” said Little. “These measures have been caught in a political dispute and have failed to win legislative approval despite widespread support. That should change this year.”

The goals of the comprehensive package of eight bills are to: stop human trafficking; ensure equal pay for equal work; combat sexual
harassment in the workplace; end gender discrimination in employment,housing and credit decisions; make reasonable work commodations available for pregnant women; and provide stronger protections for domestic violence victims.

Legislation (S.4) sponsored by Senator Betty Little (R-C-I, Queensbury) would help working mothers by preventing discrimination in the hiring and promotion of people with families. Employers would be prohibited from denying work or promotions based on family status, such as parents and women who are pregnant. Existing law only prohibits discrimination based on family status in credit and housing, but not employment — which can have a negative impact on women with children.

Senator Betty Little said, “State law protects against familial status discrimination for housing, but not employment. Changing the law would help protect some of our most deserving New Yorkers – single mothers with low incomes. I think we all agree that nothing is more important for our future than the upbringing of children. This law would send a clear message in support of that endeavor.”

A second bill (S.3) sponsored by Senator Betty Little (R-C-I, Queensbury) would remove barriers to remedying discrimination by allowing for reasonable attorney’s fees in employment and credit discrimination cases when sex is a basis of discrimination.

Under existing law, attorney’s fees for sex discrimination cases involving employment, Read more »

Story revised to reflect a 5:45 PM start time for the executive session. 

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 5:45 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 5:45 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. Anticipated topics include:

· Career Connect – Skills Initiatives and Business Partnerships
· Multi-Year Financial Plan
· Peru 2020

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

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, January 12, 2015, 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of minutes for the Public Hearing of December 22 and Town Board Regular Meetings of December 22 and December 31, 2014.

5. 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)

6. Community Input

7. DISCUSSION: Town Energy Provider. 

8. DISCUSSION: Highway 2005 Pickup Truck Disposition. 

9. DISCUSSION: Town Engineer Contract. 

10. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Schedule Board Workshop On Employee Handbook Update. 

11. DISCUSSION: Town Internal Audit. 

12. DISCUSSION: Town Hall Door Framing. 

13. DISCUSSION: Association of Towns 2015 Training School & Annual Meeting.

14. Other Business.
15. Community Input on Agenda Items.

16. Motion to Adjourn.

 AGENDA TOWN BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING JANUARY 12, 2015 – 6:30 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2015 Salaries for Elected Positions:

5. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of 2015 Appointees

6. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2015 Appointee Salaries and Frequency of Payments

7. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of Town Department Liaisons

8. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2015 Regular Town Board Meeting Dates and Times

9. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of 2015 Contracts

10. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2015 Town Mileage Reimbursement

11. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Designation of Town Depositories

12. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Designation of Town Newspaper

13. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Town Policies Update

          MOTION:                      Adjourn

Dear Friend,

Welcome to my new weekly e-newsletter to help keep you informed on what I am working on in Congress.

This week I had the honor of being sworn in as your Representative in Congress. This is incredibly humbling, and I want each of you to know that I will work my hardest on your behalf in Washington. In addition, I want to thank the over fifty North Country residents who were able to make the trip down to Washington for their support – it meant a lot to me for you to make that trip.

For too long our government has been broken and partisan politics have stood in the way of making real progress for the American people. As I said throughout the campaign, I will work with anyone of any party if they are willing to put solutions on the table that will help my constituents in New York’s North Country.

I want you to know that I hit the ground running this week on your behalf. In fact, the House passed several commonsense, bipartisan measures that would help create jobs and lower energy costs, help our veterans find jobs, and reduce the burden Obamacare is causing on our job creators and American workers. These measures include:

H.R. 22 – the Hire More Heroes Act — legislation that will help our nation’s bravest get back to work by exempting veterans who already have health insurance from being counted as full-time workers under Obamacare’s employer mandate.
H.R. 30 – the Save American Workers Act — commonsense legislation that changes the arbitrary definition of a full time worker under the Affordable Care Act from 30 hours to the traditional 40 hour week, allowing businesses to avoid onerous penalties and helping American workers make a decent living.
H.R. 3 – the Keystone XL Pipeline Act – bipartisan legislation that would approve TransCanada’s application to construct the pipeline, which will create as many as 42,000 new jobs, help lower energy prices for North Country families and help grow our economy. Read more »

Late bill payments alarm PSC – Times Union.

Watertown Daily Times | Milk glut reverses fortunes of NNY dairy farmers.

NY pays most for gas despite falling prices.

Taxing totals

Below is a breakdown of the gasoline taxes in New York, according to AAA, as of Jan. 1. The estimated sales tax would vary based on the pump price and county of sale.

NYS Excise Tax: 8 cents

NYS Petroleum Business Tax: 17.8 cents

NYS Fuel Quality Testing Tax: .05 cents

NYS Oil Spill Fund: .0196 cents

State Sales Tax: 8 cents

The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District — including NYC and the Hudson Valley — surcharge: .75 cents

Local Sales Tax: 10.88 cents

Total State Taxes: 45.49 cents

Federal Taxes: 18.63 cents

Federal and State Tax Combined: 64.12 cents

Title: VFW Breakfast – Public Invited!
Location: VFW Post 309, 710 Route 22B, Peru
Description: 4th Sunday VFW & Ladies Auxiliary Breakfast- Jan 25, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Only $8.00 for:
Bacon, Scrambled eggs, Corned Beef Hash, Sausage Gravy & Biscuits, Pancakes with “real” Maple Syrup. Juice & Coffee.
Peru Memorial VFW & Ladies Auxiliary
710 Pleasant St, Rte 22B
Peru, NY 12972
Open to the Public
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2015-01-25
End Time: 12:00

Story from the Office of Representative Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) voted in support of House passage of H.R. 22 – the Hire More Heroes Act — and released the following statement:

“Far too many of our nation’s bravest remain unemployed,” said Rep. Stefanik. “This is unacceptable, as those who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom deserve the support of their government. That’s why, with my support, I was so happy to see the House unanimously pass the Hire More Heroes Act. This important legislation will help our nation’s bravest get back to work by exempting veterans who already have health insurance from being counted as full-time workers under Obamacare’s employer mandate. Business owners should be able to hire veterans without worrying about being slapped with an Obamacare penalty, and I urge the Senate to quickly send this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to the President’s desk.”

The Hire More Heroes Act passed the House unanimously on January 6th, 2014 by a vote of 412-0.

Stefanik’s brother Matt, Elise Stefanik, Stefanik’s father Ken Stefanik, House Speaker John Boehner, Stefanik’s mother Melaine Stefanik.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) was officially sworn in to represent New York’s 21st district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I am thrilled and humbled by this opportunity to serve the wonderful people of New York’s 21st district,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I pledge to be a strong voice for our community in Congress and to work my hardest to advance bipartisan solutions. Washington is broken and now is the time for leaders to work together on behalf of the American people. I am grateful for this incredible opportunity.”

TROY, NY – More than 1300 students at Hudson Valley Community College were recently named to the college’s Deans’ List for the Fall 2014 term. Students named to the Dean’s List have have a term grade point average between 3.0 to 3.49.

Those honored include:

Geoffrey Halevan of Peru, who is studying in the Respiratory Care academic program.

Kyle Kemp of Peru, who is studying in the Business Administration academic program.

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers 75 degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of more than 12,000 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 75,000 alumni.

POTSDAM, NY – The State University of New York at Potsdam recently named Molly Lawliss of Peru, NY to the SUNY Potsdam Dean’s List.

Lawliss, whose major is Childhood/Early Childhood Education, was among 391 students who were honored for academic excellence in the Fall 2014 semester.

To achieve the honor of being on the Dean’s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average of between 3.25 and 3.49 in the given semester.

SUNY Potsdam has a strong focus on academics, with its long history of excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. To find out more, visit http://www.potsdam.edu.