The Peru Gazette

A message from the CVPH Foundation

Our annual Candlelight Ceremony will be Saturday, December 6 at 4 p.m. at the Circle of Healing & Hope on the front lawn of the Hospital, 75 Beekman St., Plattsburgh.  The Candlelight Ceremony will provide people with an opportunity to remember their loved one.

We are accepting names to be read during the ceremony. To submit a name, call the Foundation Office at 562-7169 or send us an e-mail. As part of the tradition with all organizations that have an Angel of Hope, similar ceremonies will be happening all across the country on this same evening. We hope you can join us!

Capitol Confidential » Skelos: Immigrants’ new status will raise Medicaid costs.

Look up how many people in your county are too mentally unstable to have guns 

Cuomo: Time for feds to act on oil trains | Crain’s New York Business.

Melvin Irwin with the Irwin family farm in the background

By John T Ryan

The face of agriculture in our community continues to change. On November 27, 2014 Melvin Irwin started cutting trees at his family’s orchard at the corner of the River and Jarvis Roads, not far from the Peru Elementary School. When he’s finished about 120 of the orchard’s 800 trees will be gone and forage corn will be planted in its place.

While Melvin, Jim and Bob Irwin are known as very successful dairy farmers, their small 1000-tree McIntosh/Cortland orchard has been a profitable business. Melvin explained, “My father Kermit planted these trees at least 60 years ago. Several local dairy farmers got into the apple business about that time. Some even left dairy and became orchardists. We could make money in a good year. Back when everyone made pies, cars would line up when people stopped to buy drops.”

Finding apple pickers is difficult especially for a small orchardist. This year the Irwins hired three Crown Point men to pick the crop and ended up helping to complete the job. An abundant apple crop across the country resulted in low prices. Melvin said, “We were fortunate enough to sell the crop to a Massachusetts wholesaler.”

It wasn’t hard to sense that Melvin Irwin enjoys the apple business and resisted cutting more than twenty percent of the orchard’s trees. Apple prices and labor availability will undoubtedly dictate the orchard’s future. The apple wood that Melvin was piling high today will eventually warm the Irwin brothers’ homes and families.

Mike Hanlon and Matt Houser were busy this morning decorating the Gazebo at Little Ausable River Park. All will be ready for the Friday, December 5th Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Caroling begins at 6:45 p.m. Santa arrives at 7 p.m. or shortly thereafter.

10k winner Mitch Ryan and 5k winner J. Matt Meraros

Story updated with race & walk results at 4:40 p.m.

Hundreds of hearty folks began their Thanksgiving Day celebration by participating in the Peru Lions Club’s 37th annual John P. Adams Memorial Turkey Trot.  Yesterday’s snowfall made walking and running a little treacherous, but that didn’t seem to deter the congenial families and supporters from having a great time. Lets face it, the Turkey Trot is a Peru tradition. A total of 362 runners braved the first snow of the season to help support the Peru Lions Club in the running of their 37th annual event. The Lions would like to thank the local community for their continued support.

See many photos.   See slideshow with music.  

Mitch Ryan and Sara Dunham were the male and female winners respectively, in the 10K event. Ryan ran in 31 minutes 44 seconds, while Dunham finished in 35:34.

The 5K winners were Matthew Meraros for the males, and Carly Graham for the females. Meraros finished in 17:10 while Graham turned in a 20:24 time.

Here are the detailed race results: Click here for 5k results   Click here for 10k results. 

5K and 10K Runners head for Pleasant Street

Fun Run/Walk participants got off to a fast start

By John T. Ryan

The Monday, November 24^th Peru Town Board Agenda was brief, but the Board’s decisions will have both a short and long-term impact on Peru residents.

The Board approved a November 24-December 31 contract with North Country SPCA Inc. in Elizabethtown. Supervisor Peter Glushko indicated that he hopes a 2015 contract can be negotiated with Elmore SPCA. Dogs having to be confined will be transported to Elizabethtown until December 31.

With economic growth in mind, the Board extended the boundaries of Water and Sewer district #1 from the Dashnaw Road to I87 along both sides of the Bear Swamp Road. Engineering studies will be conducted to determine the cost of any eventual construction. The Bear Swamp Road is Peru’s most highly traveled highway. It is used by vehicles traveling to and from Peru and many other communities.

Town Park Ordinance #1 of 2014 was approved. It will regulate activity in Peru’s Town Parks and Walking Trail. Its many provisions prohibit alcoholic beverage use in/on all parks and trails. Dogs must be leashed 100% of the time. Poop must be scooped and motorized vehicles are not permitted on the Walking Trail. The Ordinance will take effect 10 days after its publication in the Press Republican. Town officials will schedule a meeting with Clinton County Sheriff David Favreau to request that his department enforce the ordinance. Click here to review Ordinance #1

Public Hearings on the water district expansion and the Park/Trail Ordinance were conducted prior to Monday’s meeting. No one other than this reporter testified. Very few if any residents attend either public hearings or town board meetings.

In other actions/news the Board:

• Delayed scheduling the public hearing for raising water–sewer rates. The rate increase is not related to the water district’s expansion.
• Appointed David Drollette as Dog Control Officer. Drollette has completed a 90-day probationary period. All the Board members have been effusive in their praise of Drollette’s performance to date. Drollette can be reached at 518-643-5076 (home) and 518-578-2217 (cell)
• Briefly discussed the December 5^th Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Little Ausable River Park. Caroling will begin at 6:45 p.m.
• Learned that two town employees have elected to drop out of the Town’s health insurance program. Both are eligible for a buy-out, but the Town will save money even when a newly eligible employee joins the program.
• Closed bank accounts established for the Fuller Road Bridge project and the Town Hall Entrance project. NYS monies received for or expended for a capital project are maintained in a special “H” account.
• Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that the Town’s new snowplow-equipped tandem truck should arrive by Christmas.

Representative-elect Elise Stefanik (R-NY) today announced new staff hires for her incoming office in the 114th Congress.

Lindley Kratovil will serve as Chief of Staff. Ms. Kratovil has served as Legislative Director to Representatives Scott Tipton (R-CO) and Todd Rokita (R-IN). She came to Capitol Hill after serving in the George W. Bush Administration where she served in the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Legislative Affairs, and the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. Ms. Kratovil holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Vanderbilt University.

Emily Hunter will serve as Scheduler. Ms. Hunter, a native of Michigan, attended the University of Rochester, where she studied Political Science, English, and International Relations. Prior to joining Ms. Stefanik’s office, she served as Scheduler to Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS).

“I am pleased to announce that Lindley will join my team as Chief of Staff. She brings a wealth of experience from both the Legislative and Executive Branches, has a mastery of key policy issues and has helped start up a new office before,” Stefanik said.

“I’m honored to be joining the Congresswoman-Elect. We will focus on a seamless transition, the committee assignments we need to be most effective, and superior constituent service and response”, Kratovil said.

Ms. Kratovil and Ms. Hunter will officially begin work on January 3, 2015.

Cornell Cooperative Extension/CCE has planned ‘Management Systems to Fit Your Life’ workshops for sites in Watertown, Malone, Plattsburgh, and Canton to focus on ways producers can structure their operations to accommodate both their farm business goals and lifestyle.

Workshop presentations and discussion will consider how frequently to lamb or kid, growing versus buying feed, how different marketing channels may conflict with off-farm job commitments, and how different management systems impact costs, time and labor requirements.

‘Sheep and goat farmers have lots of options for different management systems to meet unique business and lifestyle goals. For example, lambing and kidding can be once a year or multiple times as well as at different times of year. For some producers, profitability is important but not the first priority. These workshops are designed to help small livestock producers develop the right management system for each individual operation,’ says CCE Northern New York Livestock Team Leader Betsy Hodge, a small livestock specialist with CCE St. Lawrence County.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture counts the six Northern New York counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence with 184 sheep farms, 5,975 sheep, 261 goat farms, and 2,206 goats.

The 2014 NNY Sheep and Goat Week Management Systems to Fit Your Life workshops will be held:

Tuesday, December 2, 6:30pm, CCE Jefferson County office, Watertown, $5/person, contact Ron Kuck, 315-788-8450, rak76@cornell.edu;

Wednesday, December 3, 10:30am, CCE Franklin County office, Malone, free, bring a dish to pass for lunch, contact Diane Dumont, 518-483-7403, drd9@cornell.edu, and

Wednesday, December 3, 6:30pm, CCE Clinton County office, Plattsburgh, free, pre-registration appreciated, contact Peter Hagar, 518-561-7450, phh7@cornell.edu; and

Thursday, December 4, 6:30pm, CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, Canton, $5/person, contact Betsy Hodge, 315-379-9192, bmf9@cornell.edu.

Empire State Development’s (ESD) Board of Directors met recently in New York City and approved nearly $12 million in funding for nine projects that are spurring economic growth and opportunity across New York State. These targeted investments will leverage over $144 million in private and other public funding to support small businesses, community and downtown revitalization, regional tourism, and projects that are building a strong foundation for future economic growth and job creation. The State’s investments will directly create at least 706 new jobs and retain more than 1,640 existing jobs in the Empire State.

The Board approved the following Regional Council award grants:

Bombardier Mass Transit – (North Country Region – Clinton County) -$2,500,000
Bombardier Mass Transit Corporation, a rail car manufacturing company and a division of Canadian public corporation Bombardier Inc., will use a grant of up to $2,500,000 for a portion of the costs required to expand its train manufacturing and testing facilities in Plattsburgh, Clinton County. Bombardier manufactures airplanes and trains and produces rail cars and public transportation equipment for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and many other major mass transit systems. Worldwide, the company employs over 70,000 people, and in the U.S. it employs 36,000 people at 37 facilities in 15 states.

Bombardier determined the need to expand and upgrade its Plattsburgh facility to provide for future growth and meet production demands resulting from increased sales of its rail cars, but required assistance to help finance its manufacturing expansion. The company applied for funding through the Regional Council CFA process and received a $2,500,000 grant, without which the project would not have been possible. Bombardier has constructed a 57,000-square-foot manufacturing building, including the installation of equipment upgrades for a welding robot, and has expanded its test facility by 2,100 square feet. The expansion project will increase productive capacity by 40% and increase production flexibility, efficiencies, and cost competitiveness.

North Country Cultural Center of the Arts – (North Country Region – Clinton County) – $250,000
The North Country Cultural Center for the Arts, a performing arts center created to save the historic Strand Theater, will use a grant of up to $250,000 for a portion of the construction, renovation machinery and equipment costs to renovate the Strand Theater.

North Country Cultural Center for the Arts (NCCA) was formed in 1987 by community leaders to acquire and save the historic Strand Theater building from complete deterioration, and plans were made to raise funds, restore the facilities, and restart operations as a community resource for entertainment. In 2005, new volunteer leadership began fundraising for additional renovations and expanded programming opportunities, and NCCA sought ESD’s assistance to help finance the improvements. NCCA applied for funding through the Regional Council CFA process and received a $250,000 grant, without which the project would not have been possible.

The Theater renovations and installation of new equipment have been completed, and the Theater is now operating as a performance and cultural arts center with a 1,326 seat auditorium. This project will provide an enhanced quality of life and new venue for cultural entertainment in the Plattsburgh community, and is consistent with the North Country Regional Economic Development Council’s plan to enhance the quality of life and expand economic development in North Country communities.

Other Approved Funding Included:  Read more »

Developer Pitches $200 Million Burlington Town Center Overhaul 

Buffalo snow unlikely to shatter Tug Hill record: lake effect expert | syracuse.com.

Local museums plan to merge – Press-Republican: Local News.

Fire at Adirondack Coffee Roasters – Press-Republican: News.

Adirondack Coffee Roaster is owned by Peru residents Dwane and Krissie Bast. They been working very hard and successfully to establish and grow their business.

The Peru Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on Town Park Ordinance #1 for 2014 (Sullivan, Little Ausable, Laphams Mills, Sullivan and Heyworth/Mason Parks) at 6:45 PM on Monday, November 24, 2014. The proposed ordinance includes a prohibition of alcoholic beverage consumption in any town park or trail, a requirement that dogs be leashed at all times in a park/trail and prohibition of any motorized vehicles on trails. Counselors are expected to vote yea or nay on the ordinance at their 7 p.m. meeting. Click here to review proposed ordinance

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, November 24, 2014@ 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the November 10, 2014 Regular Meeting.
5. Community Input
6. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Dog Control Officer Appointment. 
7. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approve Town Park Ordinance. 
8. DISCUSSION: Water District Expansion.
9. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Set Public Hearing for 2015 Water/Sewer Rates.
10. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Fund Transfers.
11. DISCUSSION: Town Engineering Firm.
12. DISCUSSION: Employee/Retiree Insurance.
13. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval for Land Use Training certification for Kayla Martin.
14. DISCUSSIONRESOLUTION: H Fund Bank Account Closures.
15. DISCUSSION: Other Business.
16. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.
17. MOTION: Approve/Pay Bills.
18. MOTION:    Adjourn

News from the Empire State Development Corporation

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced it has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase and redevelopment of the former Chateaugay Correctional Facility, an approximately 100 acre site located in Chateaugay, New York. The site was closed in July 2014 as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s initiative to save New York taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by consolidating the state’s correctional facilities based on a declining inmate population.

“ESD’s goal is to ensure that redevelopment of the Chateaugay site will support the local economy and maximize economic impact and job creation,” said ESD President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “This RFP will provide the opportunity to generate new employment and private investment in Franklin County, which is known for its tourism attractions, agricultural, food processing and renewable energy industries.”

The Chateaugay site includes 30 modern construction structures totaling approximately 98,000 square feet of floor area and related infrastructure. The site includes an additional 80 acres of undeveloped land. The campus-like operation and setting is ideal for businesses and institutions that have a need for multiple uses on a single site. There is additional capacity on the roads adjacent to the site for cars and trucks and water, sewage and electrical to the site are ample for most uses. Read more »

Come on down on a cold winter’s night to Peru Jr/Sr High School auditorium where the excitement of Christmas will be presented only on December 5th and 6th at 7:30pm. Admission is $7.00 at the door, and $5.00 in advance. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Peru Pharmacy and are available for Peru faculty and students during lunch periods at Peru High School. The event page on Facebook can be found using this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/576768179094336/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Experience what Christmas is truly about as Peru Drama Club presents the classic Christmas tale of the famous “Bah Humbug” Ebenezer Scrooge (Devin Wood), as he struggles, with the help of a few spirits (Connor Douglass, Mason Barber, Hadley Houck, and Fabian Döpping), to overcome his lack of compassion and his greed.

Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL adapted for the stage by Romulus Linney tells a story that will enchant your inner Christmas spirit. This PDC performance is one you don’t want to miss!

Matt Warren, Director

Christopher Urban, Production Supervisor

Amber Arnold, Costume Designer

Hannah Osborne, Production Stage Manager*

Kali Dorey, Stage Manager*

THE CAST Read more »

Samantha Johnson, A Peru Central School graduate and SUNY Plattsburgh freshman is the 2014 FRIENDS scholarship winner.

Library Fall 2014 Newsletter

Jim Favreau, CFO of Jeffords Steel & Engineering Company, presented John Bernardi, Executive Director of the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. with a check for $19,545.00 from the employees’ workplace giving campaign and their corporate pledge. Jeffords Steel & Engineering Company has a long history of supporting the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. and many other community initiatives.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 6 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 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. Anticipated topics include:

• Recognition of Peru Elementary School staff
• Report on Elementary Building Math/ELA
• Tax collector reports
• Combined heat & power sequence optimization

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled a PUBLIC HEARING on Town Park Ordinance #1, for 2014. The Public Hearing will take place at the Town Hall in the Town of Peru at 6:45 PM on Monday, November 24, 2014.

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled a workshop on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 6:30 PM. The purpose of the Workshop will be to discuss the new Water/Sewer rates.

Researchers claim an incredible discovery in Lake Champlain – WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-.

4th Sunday Breakfast- Nov. 23, 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
Proceeds to benefit local Veterans and their families