The Peru Gazette

Retired Peru Central Music/Band Director Lynn Wilke played a flawless rendition of Taps at the November 11, 2015 Peru VFW Post 309 Veterans Day Service.

Town of Peru Supervisor Peter Glushko, a retired U.S. Air Force Officer, represented the Town of Peru at today’s Peru VFW Post 309 Veterans Day Service. Post Commander Rick Cornish introduced Mr. Glushko.

Former Clinton County Legislature Chairman and current Area 7 Legislator James Langley was a guest speaker at today’s VFW Post 309 Veterans Day Service. Post Commander Rick Cornish made the introduction.

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Council unanimously approved the Town’s 2016 budget at its Monday, November 19, 2015 meeting. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko said the tax levy increase is under the state mandated 0.72 percent tax levy cap. The 2016 tax levy will total $2,321,663, an increase of $65,405 from 2015. Combined town general and highway tax rates will rise from $4.61/M to $4.73 (2.6%). Glushko said, “Staying below the tax levy cap was difficult, especially when we’re running a deficit this year in the highway budget.” Glushko said no major projects are planned during the coming year.Preliminary/Final Budget Attached

The Highway Department is budgeted for $1,631,918 in 2016. Its tax rate will rise from $2.54/M to $2.62/M. Over the past three years salt/sand budgeted expenses have risen from $75,000 to $120,000. Snow removal and road treatment cost taxpayers almost $280,000 annually. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said, Salt prices have increased $10 a ton. Farrell has also had to curtail highway repaving the Town’s 81.5 miles of highways. “I’d like to get back to paving five miles a year, but we won’t know asphalt prices until April.”  A second asphalt supplier should be operating soon which might result in more competition and lower prices. Farrell was able to pave only about two miles this year.

Town Counselors will not enjoy a pay increase; however, other town employees will receive a 0.5% pay raise. Glushko said counselors favored the pay increase because employee heath insurance expenses would increase by as much as 12.8% if employees maintained the same coverage they have this year. After working with the town’s insurance consultant, the Board is offering less expensive plans to employees. The Town budgeted $181,185 for 2016 current and retired employee health insurance.

The Town’s general budget totals $1,366,818. The general tax rate will rise from $2.07/M to $2.11/M. General budget items include such items as town court, zoning, planning, youth, town clerk, historian, town council, assessor, town hall utilities, data processing, parks and cemeteries and even the highway superintendent’s salary.

PLATTSBURGH — In honor of Veterans Day and to acknowledge New York History Month, the Kent-Delord House Museum will be open Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. free of charge.

Source: Kent-Delord House Museum to honor Veterans Day – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Comptroller Budget Report: NY’s Economy Slowing Down

PLATTSBURGH, NY –The exhibit will be on view in The Strand Center Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh from November 13 to December 4, 2015. The Opening Reception will take place Friday, November 13 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM and is free and open to the public.
Handley was educated at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University where he received a BFA in Fine Art and in Education.  He then had the opportunity to live abroad for many years; working as an English Teacher and a Graphic Designer. Handley has had numerous solo shows in the region, including locations such as the Bibliothèque Claude-Henri-Grignon in Longueuil, QC, ROTA Art Gallery in Plattsburgh, NY, Ici Par Les Arts in St. Jerome, Quebec, and the Rothwell Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario. He has also won awards for his work in children’s literature.

Handley stated Read more »

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 10, 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:

·         Building Reports

·         Tax Reports

·         Recognition of Staff

·         Appointment of Personnel

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

All are welcome.

On Friday November 6th, Champlain Centre will be celebrating United Way from 5-8pm. United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. will have 30 different partner agencies with information about their respective organizations. “We are excited about our partnership with the mall and the opportunity to educate people about the many programs and services that our funded organizations provide” stated Kathy Snow, Director of Development. In addition to educating customers, the event will be used to raise money for United Way. Raffle prizes like gift baskets from Regal Cinemas, restaurant gift cards and stays at local hotels will be offered. All proceeds will support the United Way fundraising efforts.

To liven the event, the mall will be assembling entertainment, including: the “Super Super Serious Please Don’t Laugh Band,” the Champlain Valley Irish Dancers, Center Stage Dance, Pipsqueak the Clown, KOOL 105, and much more. “We look forward to this special event,” stated David Napolitan, general manager of Champlain Centre. We hope our patrons will come to the mall and enjoy the entertainment and assist the fundraising efforts for a great organization that touches the lives of many people.”

Regular Mtg Agenda9Nov2015

LAKE GEORGE — Spectacular mountain views from atop Prospect Mountain can be seen this weekend for free, thanks to the efforts of three local veterans working in collaboration with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Source: Veterans Highway open, free this weekend – Sun Community News & Printing

NYSEG recently mailed out an energy supplier information postcard. It’s very good, except it doesn’t mention electricity and it doesn’t have the question: Does your plan require a periodic renewal and when? Some suppliers (ESCOs) require an annual renewal; if you do not renew each year your rates can skyrocket.

Peter Keenan leads by Rhonda Barber 42 votes in Clinton County Legislature Area Five. These totals do not include any absentee ballots:

Peru
Keenan 260
Barber 119

Vote totals for the two Peru Town Board positions not counting absentee ballots:

Brandy McDonald 659
Kregg Bruno 454
Dwane Bast 306
James Langley 635

Only 1,075 voters cast ballots out of 4,146 registered voters.  Extremely poor showing by Peru residents.

Alcoa is idling its smelting plant in Massena and will not modernize the facility’s East smelter. Alcoa officials said 487 employees will be affected; another 220 workers will remain.

Source: Hundreds of Jobs Lost As Alcoa “Curtails” Massena Operations | WWNY TV 7 – News, Weather and Sports for | Local News

Peru – The Peru Knights of Columbus Tuesday night bingo will not conducted on Tuesday, November 3^rd because Election Day voting takes place in the St. Augustine’s Parish Center. Bingo will resume in the Parish Center on Tuesday, November 10^th. The Knights encourage everyone to vote in your local elections. Peru voting takes place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m

The Peru Lions will be holding their 14th annual Election Day Spaghetti Dinner on Tuesday, November 3rd at The Peru Community Church Fellowship Center from 4:30 – 7:00.

Cost is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children ages 6 – 12, and free for children under 6.

PLATTSBURGH —The North Country Chamber of Commerce and its licensed health insurance service, the Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp., are reminding all employers and households in the North Country of the need to review updated health insurance.

Source: North Country Chamber offering health insurance services to both employers and individuals – Sun Community News & Printing

By John T. Ryan

If the cost to repair a sinkhole isn’t prohibitive, Peru residents may be enjoying pickle ball, tennis and even half-court basketball on the dilapidated/closed Jenkins Street tennis courts sometime next year. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko informed the Board at its Monday, October 26, 2015 meeting that Clinton County was recently awarded a $200,000 “NYS Building Healthy Communities” grant. Peru had submitted a plan to the county and will be receiving approximately $32,000 to repair and resurface the Jenkins Street courts for tennis, pickle ball and possibly basketball. The Board will ascertain the cost of repairing the sinkhole that appeared last summer. If the repair cost isn’t too high, the project should proceed. The Board also plans to use approximately $500 of the grant monies to develop soccer or disk golf at Heyworth/Mason Park.

There’s a good chance that the Town will be installing solar powered flashing stop and/or warning signs at the Brand Hollow Road – Military Turnpike intersection. Contract engineer Peter Gibbs told the Board that if they commissioned him to do a detailed study he would almost certainly recommend larger, flashing stop signs, a pavement stop bar and clearing of the Military Turnpike right-a-away. The Board has requested vendor prices and expects to make a decision in the near future.

The Board approved Town Historian Ron Allen’s request to repair the roof and entrance steps at the Town’s historic Lyons Street Schoolhouse. Jerry Watkins will perform the roof repairs at a cost if $3,230. Robbie Timmons will perform the step repairs at a cost of $1,556. The funds will come from Allen’s 2015 and 2016 regular budget. Allen hopes improve the schoolhouse so that local schools can schedule class trips to learn about education in a one-room schoolhouse.  If anyone has a large blackboard and potbelly stove that they would like to donate to the schoolhouse restoration please notify Ron Allen.

Verizon will be replacing Sprint as the Town’s cell phone provider. Verizon will provide the service at $35 per month per phone, which is less than half the previous provider’s charge. Department heads use cell phones for town business.

The Board hired retired Water/Sewer Superintendent Greg Timmons as a 2-hour per week consultant at a $4,500 annual rate. The Board values Timmons’ 40+ years of experience, as well as his industry and government contacts.

If no changes are made town and employee health insurance costs could increase by 12.8% in 2016. The Board will meet with its insurance broker on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. to discuss modifying present coverage so as to reduce any premium increases.

CLINTON COUNTY — On Oct. 24, State Police made four arrests during an underage drinking initiative in Clinton County.

Source: State Police make four arrests during underage drinking initiative – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: N.Y. law requires hospitals to instruct caregivers before releasing patients – The Pulse

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/29928/20151028/young-farmers-bring-energy-amp-savvy-to-quot-the-new-keeseville-quot

From the Office of the Peru Central School Superintendent

Peru Jr/Sr High School received a report on Friday, October 23 that a group of student athletes, while off campus, took actions which violated the District’s Conduct & Discipline Policy and Philosophy of Interscholastic Sports.  District administrators immediately began to investigate the actions, and continue to address the matter, as provided for under Board policies.

The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Patrick Brimstein said, “The Peru community recognizes that athletics offer young people an opportunity to learn and grow, and values its athletic traditions. It is unfortunate when students, for whatever reasons, decide to ignore the guidance and behavioral expectations provided by the District’s policy and philosophy, and make decisions which may be harmful to themselves and their teammates. While the actions taken by District administrators in response to the athletes’ misconduct is confidential, the District takes violations of its behavior code seriously.  The District is taking steps to promote the wellbeing of all of its students.”

The District’s anti-hazing policies are clearly written and intended to safeguard the dignity and wellbeing of all students.  The District will strictly enforce its anti-hazing policies. Any reports of hazing are handled on a priority basis, and may result in the immediate removal of a student athlete from athletic competitions.

New York National Guard troops, in conjunction with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, will be presenting a free disaster preparedness class at the Northeastern Clinton Central High School here on Monday, Nov. 2.

The two-hour program begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Francis “Bud” Moore Auditorium. The school is located at 103 Route 276 in Champlain.

The event is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s continuing Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program, which provides citizens with the knowledge and tools to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions.

Working with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and local emergency management personnel, troops are conducting these training events across the state.

Citizens should register for the event at http://www.nyprepare.gov/aware-prepare/nysprepare/

Since the program’s launch in early February 2014, Read more »

Peru United Soccer Club still has limited openings for our U06, U08, and U10 programs.  Give your child an opportunity to play and burn some energy this winter with our indoor soccer program.  Our programs offer the following:

All teams strive for the smallest squad size possible.  This allows for more 1-on-1 training time and more playing time.

U06:

– 8, 1-hour training dates held in the Peru Intermediate Gym

– Saturdays (11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 1/2, 1/9) 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

– Includes Peru United training shirt

– ONLY $60 for Session 1

U08/U10:

– 8, 1 1/2-hour training dates held in the Peru Intermediate Gym

– 8 indoor soccer games played at the Crete Civic Center

– U08 games primarily on Thursdays

– U10 games primarily on Tuesdays

– Saturdays (11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 1/2, 1/9) 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

– Includes Peru United Soccer Club jersey.

– ONLY $135 for Session 1, and ONLY $235 for Session 1 AND 2!

We are open to anyone, regardless of the community you live in or the school your children attend.  We accept cash, check, and credit cards.  Please act fast and contact us, teams are filling up much quicker than expected and we don’t want anyone to miss out.

Thank You,

Alex Jess – Executive Director

 Copy of 2015-16 Registration Form.pdf

 Copy of 2015-16 Letter to Families.pdf

 Copy of 2015-16 Sport Parent Code of Conduct.pdf