The Peru Gazette

Update as of 4:38 PM 

The Jr/Sr High School has been thoroughly cleared by law enforcement. The building will remain secured until a normal class schedule resumes tomorrow. No one will be permitted into the building until tomorrow morning. District Administrator’s will continue to work cooperatively with law enforcement to investigate this incident. The District greatly appreciates the assistance law enforcement provided and professionalism they demonstrated during this incident.

Jr/Sr High School Building Incident 1/22

At approximately 2:10 p.m. this afternoon a note was turned into the Jr/Sr High School Principal’s Office indicating that the school would be bombed. Law enforcement was immediately contacted and the District is presently coordinating with law enforcement to properly secure the building. Students and adults have been evacuated from the Jr/Sr High School and this building will remain closed until the building has been properly cleared by law enforcement. Additional information will be released as the situation develops.

A message from the Peru Central School

Peru Central School District is taking the lead investigating solar initiatives by hosting a ‘Solar Symposium’ on Monday, February 2, 2015. The meeting will be held in the Jr/Sr High School Auditorium from 4:00 to 7:00 PM and is open to all.

Exploring solar opportunities on school campuses promotes student learning, a commitment to a healthier future, and the promise of a sustainable financial efficiency tool.

Peru CSD is partnering with area organizations to provide school government and business attendees with the information needed to make informed decisions as to whether or not a project of any scale would be advantageous to school districts and the respective community.

Presenters are looking forward to providing ideas and recognized models for leveraging investment dollars in support of solar energy projects on public school property between two or more school districts and/or in cooperation with municipalities.

Reservations are greatly appreciated and should be directed to Kimberly DesChamp at deschamp@citec.org.

A message from Peru United Soccer Club Executive Director Alex Jess

We currently have a U6 (Under-6) soccer program going on in the Peru Intermediate Gym on Fridays starting at 6:30 and running until 7:30P. There are seven more sessions, including 1/23/15. There are still 3 spots available. The cost is $45 and that covers a t-shirt, gym rental fee, and equipment.

We have several U10 (Under-10) slots available too. Their fee is $130, includes 8 practices at the Peru Intermediate Gym (starting Saturday January 31, 2015 and 12:00p to 1:30p), 8 games at the Crete Center (on Tuesday evenings), and includes a jersey.

We are also able to start a another U8 program but would need at least 6 interested players committed by 1/27/15. That is the final date to register a team with the Plattsburgh Recreation Department. Their practice would be Saturday afternoons after the U10 practice.

Lastly, we have an opportunity for town children to burn some energy during February Vacation. We are running a soccer camp that will run Monday through Friday and has two sessions, covering ages 6 to 10 in the morning and 10 to 14 in the afternoon.

We currently have 17 U6 players, 9 U8 players, 16 U10 players, and help another U12 team with equipment and insurance.

Alex Jess
Executive Director – Peru United Soccer Club
(518) 593-1409

U6 Registration

U8-10 Registration

February Futsal Camp

Sheldon Silver, Speaker of New York Assembly, Is Accused of Taking Millions in Graft 

Police: Unattended death related to medical issues – Press-Republican: Local News.

Fun with friends that will benefit our local veterans.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SUPER BOWL PARTY @ PERU MEMORIAL VFW
710 Pleasant St, Rte 22B
Peru, New York

Munchies and other specials. Multiple TVs.
No cover charge.

Feb 1, 2015 4 p.m. until ?????

Sheldon Silver, New York Assembly Speaker, Faces Arrest on Corruption Charges – NYTimes.com.

UVM Medical Center Has Grown into a Billion-Dollar Monolith | Healthcare | Seven Days | Vermont’s Independent Voice.

Man found dead in Plattsburgh yard – Press-Republican: News.

From the Peru School District Office.

For the past nine years, Peru CSD has organized a Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) that has served to inform and promote school-community discussion concurrent with the school district budget development process.

The BAC typically meets 3-4 times to develop an understanding of revenues and expenditures, components of a balanced budget, and particular challenges that face the school district. Traditionally, the BAC has formulated recommendations for Board consideration to assist the Board and administration.

The BAC is tentatively scheduled to meet at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 27th, Thursday, February 12th, Thursday, February 26th and Tuesday, March 17th. In addition to these informational sessions, the BAC will be invited to share their recommendations with the School Board on Tuesday, March 24th during a public budget development workshop.

If you wish to participate in any of the meetings of the BAC, please register by calling 643-6004. Thank you.

The Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum, 250 River Road, Peru, NY is proud to announce that on January 12, 2015, they were granted their Absolute Charter by the New York State Board of Regents. The museum was provisionally chartered by the Board of Regents on January 12, 2010. By granting the museum an Absolute Charter, the Board of Regents has certified that the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum meets their organizational and educational standards and that our museum has a record of financial stability, programmatic accomplishment, and a reputation for excellence.

The museum would like to thank all of our valuable volunteers who helped make this milestone possible. The Babbie Museum is open mid-May through mid- October. For more information, please visit our website at www.babbiemuseum.org and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/babbiemuseum.

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.