The Peru Gazette

AUGUSTINE’S APPLEFEST – 37^th ANNUAL, 3035 MAIN STREET, PERU NY

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20^TH AND 21^ST , 2014

PARADE STARTS AT PERU SCHOOL AT 11:00 AM SATURDAY

GRAND MARSHALLS: WORLD WAR II VETERANS

(North Country Honor Flight)

HUGH CRAFT & VENDOR FAIR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

(OVER 50 VENDORS PARTICIPATING)!

GAMES OF CHANCE

VINCENT DE PAUL YARD SALE

CRATE & CHRISTMAS HOUSE

FATHER ALAN’S CHRISTMAS ROOMS IN PARISH CENTER

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

SATURDAY

North Country Talent Education String Ensemble

Plattsburgh Pipe & Drums

The Hooterville Express

The Bootleg Band

SUNDAY

North Country Talent Education String Ensemble

The Bootleg Band

SUNDAY CHICKEN BBQ     MERRILOONS THE CLOWN           BAKE SALE             SILENT AUCTION

CHILDRENS GAMES           PLANT SALE     FOOD OF ALL KINDS        SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

A Message From Peru Central School

In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word. On September 19, 2014, Peru Central School District plans to take part in an International art and literacy project, Pinwheels for Peace, by “planting” pinwheels with messages of peace in front of the clock tower of the Elementary Building on Route 22B.
Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, of Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. In the first year, groups in over 1,325 locations throughout the world were spinning pinwheels on September 21st – there were approximately 500,000 pinwheels spinning throughout the world. Last year (year 9), over 4.5 million pinwheels were spinning in over 3,500 locations, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Locally, art teachers Tracey Laundry and Greg Badger will be coordinating the Pinwheels for Peace project this year.

Peru Central School will create pinwheels of all shapes and sizes. As part of the creation process, the students will write their thoughts about “war and peace / tolerance/ living in harmony with others” on one side. On the other side, they will draw, paint, collage, etc., to visually express their feelings. The students will assemble these pinwheels and will “plant” them in front of the Elementary Building clock tower on Route 22B this year, as a public statement and art exhibit/installation.

On September 19th keep a lookout for the pinwheels – the spinning of the pinwheels in the wind will spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country and the world! For more information, please contact 643-6400.

John Rock, Cameron Riggs, Travis Angevine, Jennifer Goette and Nicky Viti-Duprey will be inducted into the Peru Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 27th. The Hall of Fame banquet will be held at Livingood’s Restaurant in Peru (former Crickett’s Restaurant). The scheduled times are, 6:30 social, and 7:00 dinner @ $20.00 per person. Checks can be sent with the names listed to Cathy Phillips, 4 Vista Drive, Willsboro, NY 12996, phone 518-963-7963. Checks should be made payable to the Peru Athletic Hall of Fame.

John Rock

John Rock graduated from Peru Central School in 1968. During his High school years John played football, basketball, baseball and track playing for Mike Beauvais, Tony Papero, Frank Ruane, Harry Brown, Dan McKillip and Frank White. In 1965 he was on the undefeated football team. In 1966, during the last game of the season, he scored 4 touchdowns against St. John’s at Bailey Ave.   The only JV sport he played was basketball in the 1963-64 seasons.

John held track records in the 220 yd. dash with a 22.7 and 100 yd. dash with a 10 flat.   He was also on the record setting 880-relay team with Joe Furnia, Barney Woodward, and Jeff Norman. The track team won three out of four track Section 7 titles and in baseball the teams won 3 out of the four years with Section 7 titles.

Cameron Riggs

Cameron Riggs, a 1978 graduate of Peru High School, was a three-sport athlete. He competed in football, wrestling, and baseball earning 9 varsity letters: four in wrestling, three in football, and two in baseball. During his high school athletic career, which started as an 8^th grader, Cam demonstrated versatility in all areas of athletics. He was an accomplished baseball player/pitcher all four years of high school. During his tenure on the team he displayed his leadership by serving as the team captain and by leading the team in hitting and pitching. He equally shined on the football field as the team quarterback. His speed and ability to orchestrate a play quickly made him a very dangerous thrower and kicker. His accomplishments include leading the CVAC in PATs and field goals. Again his leadership talents had him serving as captain his senior year.

In addition to serving his school in exemplary fashion in the above sports, it was his gift as a “grappler” that led to a career on the wrestling team that few since have surpassed. He began his rise to the top with an early commitment to the sport. He wrestled as a youngster in tournaments around the state throughout the school year and into the summer. His targeted focus earned him many outstanding wrestler awards, acclaims and recognition. His skills increased with age and include placing 6^th in the NYSPHSAA meet as a freshman and 3^rd as a senior when there was only one division. He was the first Peru wrestler to win four straight titles in the Peru Invitational and he was undefeated in Section 7 during his four years. To add to his fame, he was the first Section 7 wrestler to win over 100 matches. He earned a trip to the State meet every year and represented our area by wrestling for NYS team against Polish National Team.

Travis Angevine

Travis Angevine, a 1988 graduate of Peru High School, excelled in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball earning 9 varsity letters. Travis was a three-year starter at quarterback from 1985 through 1987. During this time period the team went 26 and 3 winning the CVAC Division 1 championship in 1985 and 1986, runner up in Super Bowl C in 1985 and Super Bowl champions in 1986. Travis played varsity basketball from 1986 through 1988. In 1987 the team was the CVAC Division 1 champion with a 17-2 record. In 1988 the team went undefeated in the CVAC winning the Division 1championship. The team was the Section Seven class B Champions, finishing the year with a 20-2 record. Travis was moved up to varsity baseball in 1985 and started as a pitcher in all playoff games winning the Section Seven championship and state quarterfinal participant. In 1988 the team won the CVAC and Section Seven championships. The team went on to win the New York State Eastern Regional championships and was state runner up in class “B”. Travis was undefeated as a pitcher and won the state semifinal game.

Awards that Travis won during his high school career included: 1988 US Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete, 1988 The Amateur Athletic Union/Milky Way Be an All American Award – given for outstanding athletic performance, 1988 – I.A.A.B.O Flynn Memorial Scholarship Recipient (CVAC Basketball Official Scholar Athlete Award), 1988 player of year in baseball and 1st Team CVAC All-Stars, player of the year CVAC Basketball 1988 & First Team All-Star, Captain Football 1986, Captain Basketball 1987 & 1988, Co-Captain Baseball 1988, 1987 Second Team All CVAC Offense Quarterback / 2nd Team All CVAC Defense – Safety, 1987 CVAC All-Academic Team Fall Sports, 1987 CVAC All Conference Baseball Honorable Mention, WEAV All Star Team Basketball 1986-1987, WIRY All Star Team Basketball 87-88, WIRY First Team Defense Football 1987, 1986 CVAC All Conference Second Team Football, NYS Basketball Coaches Association All-Academic Team for New York State.

Travis Angevine went on to play collegiately at Colgate University earning 2 Varsity Letters as a wide receiver and named to Patriot League Academic Achievement Honors 1991.

Jennifer Goette

Jennifer Goette graduated from Peru High School in 1992 and was the salutatorian of her senior class. She lettered in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track and field.

Jennifer was on the cross-country team in grades 8 through 12 and was captain of the team the last three years. She was the first runner to be a five time all conference runner in CVAC history. She won two sectional championships in 8th and 9th grade. The team won five sectional and four league titles during this time and her senior year the team finished as the number 1 ranked team in New York State.

Jennifer was a member of the indoor track team and was captain the last three years of school at Peru and on the Varsity Outdoor Track in grades 7^th – 12^th and captain of the undefeated league and sectional championship teams in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. She was on the Section Seven record setting team in the 4 X 800 meter relay during her senor year.

Other accomplishments while at Peru were, Champlain Valley Athletic Conference All Star, National Honor Society, and Ray A. Kroc Award.

After high school Jennifer went onto Princeton University where she graduated with Honors in Psychology. She competed in twelve consecutive seasons of Varsity athletics: Cross-Country, Outdoor Track and Indoor Track. In 1992 she was named Most Outstanding Freshman in Cross-Country. In 1995 she was the recipient of the Rosengarten Award in Outdoor Track “awarded annually to that member of the Princeton varsity cross country team who in sportsmanship, improvement and performance has contributed most to the sport.” Jennifer was a 1996 NCAA Division I Finalist in the 5000-meter race and earned Academic All-Ivy the same year.

Nicky Viti-Duprey

Nicky Viti-Duprey graduated from Peru High School in 1998, where she was a three-sport athlete. She participated in soccer, basketball and track and field. She played soccer for four years and was a major contributor to any success the team had. She was captain during her junior and senior year and was named to the Honorable Mention team in 1997 and All-Star team in 1998.

Nicky played basketball from 1993 through 1998. She was named to the Honorable Mention team in 1987 and 1^st team All-Stars in 1998 and captained her senior year. Nicky traveled extensively on the traveling AAU team Lake Champlain her junior & senior year. She traveled to Washington D.C. for the Junior Nationals.

In Track and Field Nicky competed from 1994 – 1998. She focused on the 100m hurdles, long jump, and high jump. She won numerous first, second and third places during meets. She was named captain of the team in the 1998 season. 

She went on to play collegiately all fours years of college at Plattsburg State. While playing she earned SUNY All-Academic Teams each semester in her junior and senior year, ECAC player of the week (4 times), Tourney Team Player, Most Valuable Player in the Cardinal Classic, Plattsburgh State Female Athlete of the year in 2002, SUNYAC All-Star Team in 2000-2001. In the 2001-2002 season her team reached the final round championship game during her senior year.

News from the Strand

PLATTSBURGH, NY- The last few weeks dedicated staff members and volunteers have been working hard to repaint The Strand Center for the Arts Gallery. The Strand Center for the Arts has gained local notoriety for restoring The Strand Theatre at 25 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, but also houses administrative offices, a clay studio, artist studios, classrooms, and a gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street as well.

This painting project would not have been possible without generous donations from community businesses. The Strand would like to thank Denise Duprey from Precious Moments Photography and Meron Properties for their charitable donation of paint and supplies. Gratitude is also extended to Katie Benway and the United Way for helping coordinate volunteers for the project at short notice. Additionally, The Strand deeply appreciates the abundance of support it received from numerous volunteers who dedicated their time and efforts prepping, painting, and cleaning.

As local non-profit, some of the projects and programs held at The Strand Center for the Arts would not be possible without the support of community members and businesses. Repainting the Gallery has not only improved its appearance, but also enables staff to curate a wider variety of exhibitions and provides greater accessibility to both patrons and artists. Since 2000, when it was previously known as the North Country Center for the Arts, The Strand Center for the Arts has always sought to unite the arts and the community; projects such as repainting the Gallery continue to reinforce and strengthen these efforts.

Everyone is encouraged to stop into The Strand Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street and see the improvements. The Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5 pm and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays.

Planning Board September Agenda

Peru – Bill Derrick died on August 27, 2014, surrounded by family in his Peru, New York home after a long fight with lymphoma. He was 85. Many knew Bill as the Director of the Campus School at SUNY Plattsburgh, a teacher at St. John’s Academy, and a local businessman in masonry heaters and wood stoves. Others knew Bill as a member of both the St. Augustine’s choir and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Plattsburgh. He is probably best known in his retirement as a modern day “Johnny Appleseed” sharing his homemade dried apples and other North Country foods with friends, neighbors, and those in need.

Bill was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, the son of William Wesley and Elizabeth (Meadows) Derrick. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1949-1952, during the Korean War and then went to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where he later took his first job as a teacher, a career that carried him to the U.S. Department of Defense Schools in Europe from 1954-1962. It was in Germany that he met his wife, Virginia Johnson Derrick, also a teacher, from Chisholm, Minnesota. During his last overseas teaching assignment in Paris, he served as President of the US Department of Defense Overseas Teachers Association.

Bill returned to the US in 1962 to continue a career in higher education, which brought him and his family from Chicago, Illinois to Kent, Ohio and next to SUNY Albany, where he earned a PhD in 1973. Bill moved his family to Peru, NY in 1974 to become the Director of the SUNY Plattsburgh Campus School, where he instituted Northern New York’s first bilingual education program. He taught English at St. John’s Academy from 1982-86 before retiring from education to work full time in his wood-heating business.

In addition to selling wood stoves, tending 10 grandchildren, and hosting “gentlemens’ lunches” for other members of the Peru community, Bill’s other passion was riding his bicycle, regularly logging over 1000 miles each summer on the North Country and Quebec back roads, right up until last summer at the age of 84.

Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Virginia; son William Michael Derrick, his wife Kathy and their children, Ryan, Kaitlin, William and Henry of Colorado Springs, Colorado; daughter Mary Beth Peabody, her husband Michael and their children, Hannah, Maeve and Asa of Keene, New York; and son Timothy Kent Derrick, his wife Veronica and their children, Charlotte and Aurora of Mill Valley, California.

Calling hours will be held Friday, September 5, 2014 from 3 to 5 pm at the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru. A memorial service will follow at 5 pm at the Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Philip T. Allen and Msgr. Peter R. Riani celebrating.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bill’s memory to the Peru Free Library or Hospice of the North County.

Arrangements are in the care of the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru, 643-9055. To light an online candle and offer condolences in the memory of Bill Derrick please visit www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com

By John T. Ryan

“It’s a space issue, isn’t it?” remarked Peru Town Attorney Donald Biggs at the Peru Town Board’s August 25, 2014 meeting following a contentious discussion between town counselors and Judge James Kirby. The counselors voted to change the time Peru Town Court convenes disagreeing with the points made by Judge Kirby. A temporary pay increase for Judge Kirby was also on the Board’s agenda. The increase was not approved.

Peru Town Court proceedings have been convening at 2 p.m. with defendants, attorneys and family members often entering the room at about 1:30 p.m. At the same time, members of the public come into the Town Hall to pay water/sewer bills, taxes or to transact other business. Some residents have been uncomfortable when they have encountered inmates in handcuffs and town employees have had to contend with court being conducted just a few feet from their workspace. Changing the time when court convenes has been discussed in the past but no action was taken previously because Peru’s Court is held at the same time as the Town of Plattsburgh Court. According to Judge Kirby some attorneys represent clients in both courts and convening court at 2 p.m. was begun to assist them. Attorneys typically come to Peru first and then go to the Town of Plattsburgh to represent other clients.

Supervisor Glushko suggested convening court at 3 or 3:30 p.m. Judge Kirby responded that the August 25^th meeting was the first time he had heard about the Board’s concern about court hours. He said convening court at 2 p.m. has worked well and that a later start time could mean court ending at 9 p.m. or later. After some discussion the Board decided the Court would convene at 3:30 p.m. for a two-month trial period. Kirby told the Board that in the future he wanted to be directly informed of any matters concerning his office.

A second spirited discussion involved a proposed local law which would have given Judge Kirby a 50% temporary pay raise for the period October 1, 2014 to December 31^st. Read more »

The Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors met today in New York City and approved $20.4 million in funding for 30 projects that are spurring economic growth and opportunity in all 10 regions of New York State. The projects will directly create 30 new jobs and enable the creation of hundreds more while also retaining more than 2,200 existing jobs. These targeted investments will leverage over $41.3 million in private and other public funding to support business expansions and regional tourism efforts, and projects that are building a strong foundation for future economic growth and job creation.

“The funding approved today stimulates local communities from Long Island to Western New York – carrying momentum that initiatives like the Regional Economic Development Councils and Buffalo Billion started just three years ago,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “By investing in these projects, we are fostering opportunity for New Yorkers by providing essential tools to improve business operations and create new jobs. With more than 17,000 new private sector jobs created in July alone, New York’s economic progress continues to move in the right direction, supported by the lowest business and middle class tax rates in a generation and important State investments that are working.”

The Board approved the following Regional Economic Development Council award grants: Read more »

L-R Johanna Meyer, Sam Perkins and Brenda Brelia

By John T. Ryan

Shawn Perkins is a man of many qualities. His peers recently selected him as the Peru Volunteer Fire Department’s 2014 Firefighter of the Year. Ironically those same peers also presented him with their annual Goat Award, an award which recognizes “silly” things such as forgetting to shut of a blue light, losing a pager or being absent-minded. Obviously Perkin’s outstanding qualities predominate. He has been a Peru firefighter for just over 4 years.

Former Chief Brian Westover presented Brenda Brelia with the 2014 Chief’s Award in recognition of her dedication to the department. Brelia has belonged to the Peru Department for three and one-half years.

Johanna Meyer was chosen Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider of the Year. She is a three-year member of the department.

Control of cable at issue – Times Union.

In case you haven’t heard the August 2nd RIDE FOR THE ROOF and PIG ROAST to benefit the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center’s maintenance update program was a tremendous success raising $5,225. Congratulations to Faith Long, Rick Lawrence, Kathy and Phil Madore, Pete and Polly Lake and all those who supported this very important effort. Click here to read the Peru Gazette’s original story about the rebuilding effort. 

Temporary Town Justice Pay Increase

Old Stone Barracks plan brews interest – Press-Republican: Local News.

Here is the Peru Gazette’s October 14, 2013 story. 

City Police investigating stabbing death – Press-Republican: News.

Regular Mtg Agenda 08252014

4th Annual Kids Fair and Festival at the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum– September 6-7, 2014 – Hours 10am – 4pm. Old time games including hopscotch, sack races, corn box, bobbing for apples, egg races; stagecoach rides; pony rides; face painting; catch a fish. Kat’s Catering will be present
518-643-8052 http://www.babbiemuseum.org/

Peru Central School’s Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at Livingood’s Restaurant on Saturday, September 27, 2014. This year’s nominees are John Rock (68), Travis Angevine (88), Nicky Viti-Duprey (98), and Jennifer Goette (92).

A 6:30 p.m. social will be followed by a 7 p.m. dinner. The cost is $20 per person. Checks should be sent to Cathy Phillips, 4 Vista Drive, Willsboro, NY 12996. Phone 963-7963. Make checks payable to Peru Athletic Hall of Fame and please include the names of the people coming.

The annual Run For Jon was held on Saturday, August 23rd at Forrence Orchards on the Mannix Rd. in Peru. There was a great turnout for this wonderful charitable and family event. Congratulations to the Evans family and everyone who work so hard each year to make the run a success.

In 1990, 13 year-old Jon Evans was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Soon after his diagnosis, two long time friends of the Evans family, Mark Elmore and Scott Woodward, organized the first Run for Jon to raise money to help pay for expenses. Just two weeks before the 2nd Run, Jon passed away. Since Jon’s passing the money has been used to assist families of local children with serious medical problems and to honor the memory of Jon Evans. Last year the Run For Jon raised $5,000. Click here for our Peru Gazette Photos in a slideshow format with music.  Unfortunately we had to leave immediately after the start of the last run category, so we don’t have photos of the closing festivities. Click here for a photo by photo view.

The presence of dogs may be a thing of the past at sporting events at Laphams Mills and Sullivan Parks. In response to a serious July 30^th dog-biting incident at Laphams Mills Park, the Peru Town Board directed Town Attorney Donald Biggs to draft a local law that would prohibit dogs, even on a leash, during sports events at town parks. Dogs would be permitted at other times. The Board will schedule a public hearing prior to enacting the local law. Counselor Donald McBrayer did not agree with this approach. McBrayer favored enforcing the existing dog ordinance that requires that dog owners always have their animal under control. Personal safety, especially child safety, was the counselors primary concern. Other counselors expressed the viewpoint that outright prohibition would be the best way to guarantee safety. The dog involved in the July 20^th incident was on a leash.

No matter what the Board decides to do Peru resident David Drollette will be involved. He is the Town of Peru’s Dog Control Officer effective August 12th. His pay rate will be the same as his predecessor Kelly Allen who resigned from the position – $817.00 per month. Drollette will be subject to a 90-day probationary period. He can be reached at 643-5076 (home) or 578-2217 (cell). Five individuals applied for the position.

It appears certain that Comcast will be replacing Charter Communications as Peru’s cable television provider. The Board passed a resolution approving the transfer of service from Charter to Comcast with the provision that Comcast will maintain all existing services. The Board does not have many options in the matter. The switch would include all of Charter’s Clinton County customers.

In other actions the Town Board:

Established 9 a.m. as the official opening hour for the Town Hall. Doors will be open to the public at that time.

Rescinded their July 28^th resolution to give Town Justice James Kirby a temporary 50% pay raise. Kirby has been handling the Town’s entire court workload since illness forced Judge Jack Lawliss from the bench. The Board still intends to give Kirby the pay increase, but the action will require a public hearing and passage of a local law. The public hearing is scheduled for August 25^th at 6:30 p.m.

City Hall Auditorium, 41 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Free Admission: Co-sponsored by the Lake Champlain Committee, Adirondack Council, Adirondack Mountain Club, and the Center for Biological Diversity.

Experts will discuss risks to the environment, schools and communities from transport of explosive Bakken crude oil on rail lines between Montreal and Albany.

Hear about federal spill-response plans; threats to fisheries and drinking water; risks to local schools, homes, and businesses; and the potential for additional risks if trains start shipping tar-sands crude as well as Bakken oil.

Find out what you can do to help local, state and federal officials protect our communities, farmland, tourism, wildlife and water. Lake Champlain, local rivers including the Saranac, Ausable and Boquet; and, the Adirondack Park, which contains 100 miles of rail corridor, are all in harm’s way.

The Champlain Valley has become a conduit for trains laden with explosive Bakken crude oil. How well are our communities prepared to deal with a tragedy on the scale of that which devastated Lac Megantic, Quebec just over a year ago? What ecological impacts would result from a derailment on the shores of Lake Champlain?

Learn more about the risks oil trains pose to the North Country and steps community, state and federal governments need to take to respond to and prevent disasters.

This Saturday at 5 p.m., you can have some great family fun, get some exercise and support an important cause. The Run For Jon at Forrence Orchards on Mannix Road in Peru (off Route 22B) is a wonderful community event celebrating its 24th year helping families who have children with serious medical needs.

Each year, the run draw hundreds of spectators and participants of all ages: running, walking or pushing baby joggers. Anyone can participate. There is a kids fun run, a 1.25-mile walk and a 2.5-mile cross-country race. There are team, baby jogger and individual awards (ages 0-70+) and numerous door prizes for participants. Over the 24 years of this event, literally raised tens of thousands of dollars for these deserving and needy families. Last year’s race raised nearly $5,000. Registration begins at 3:30 pm. Due to health regulations, pets are strictly prohibited from the site.

The event started out as an effort to help the family of Jonathan Evans, who died of cancer after a long struggle, deal with the overwhelming expenses associated with their son’s care. The Evans family and many volunteers have continued the event to assist other families in similar circumstances.

The 2.5-mile run is a really great race, sanctioned by USA Track and Field. The course is challenging and beautiful. Some past participants have gone on to the Olympics, national rankings and state championships.

By John T. Ryan

Additional Highway Department garage roof repairs, a delay in Safe Routes to School upgrades, appreciation to Town Justice James Kirby, a land offer, dead trees and comments about the new Town Hall steps were the primary subjects at the Monday, July 28, 2014 Peru Town Board meeting.

In summary the Board:

Approved additional repairs to the Highway Department Garage roof in the amount of approximately $19,000. Several roof panels will be replaced and new screws and washers will be installed in another roof section. These repairs are in addition to the already approved $145,000 roof repair project.

Rejected bids for upgrading pedestrian and bicycle access to the Peru Central School campus. Bids on the federally funded Safe Routes to School project came in $45,000 higher than projected. Over the next several months the Board will confer with the Peru Central School Board of Education to ask if they might be able to help fund the project. Reducing the scope of the project will also be explored.

Approved a salary 50% stipend for Town Justice James Kirby for the months August through December 2014. Kirby has been the Town’s only Town Justice since Judge John Lawliss resigned in late June. Subsequent to this meeting Supervisor Peter Glushko learned that passage of a Local Law was required for such a stipend.  Scheduling a public hearing for a Local Law will be voted on at the Board’s August 11^th meeting.

Listened to Winfried Holdereid who was present to offer the Town of Peru 23 acres of property in the vicinity of the town’s sewage treatment plant. Holdereid was willing to sell or gift the property to the town. Holdereid is the owner of the Tops Plaza, Peru’s primary retail shopping area.

Discussed a complaint from a property owner residing at the corner of Pleasant and School Streets who alleged that the work done to the School Street sidewalk damaged four trees on his property. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell will investigate. Farrell reminded the Board that the town has a fifteen-foot right away from the edge of any town highway.

Board members expressed general satisfaction with the recently completed Town Hall entrance steps. Counselor Brandy McDonald was concerned with the slope of the top step, while Counselor Kregg Bruno didn’t think the steps were deep enough. Everyone appeared to be satisfied with the steps’ overall appearance. The project cost approximately $95,000.

Supervisor Gluhsko reported that five individuals were interviewed for the Dog Control Officer’s (DCO) position.  The Board’s decision will be announced at its August 11th meeting.

By John T. Ryan

It appears the Town of Peru will have a race to fill its open town justice position in the November elections. The Democratic Party caucused on July 31^st and unanimously selected Karen Glushko as their candidate for the position. On August 8^th the Town of Peru Republican Committee announced that it unanimously endorsed Larry Cabana for the position. The Republicans will caucus on Tuesday, August 19^th at 7 p.m. If Cabana is successful at the caucus, he will face Glushko in the November 4^th election.

The town justice position opened when Town Justice John Lawliss resigned in late June citing health reasons. Lawliss served nine years in the position. Judge James Kirby has been handling the court workload for several weeks.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 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:

• An update on summer projects
• Appointment of various personnel
• The tax levy and tax rate
• Community calendar