The Peru Gazette

Source: Clinton CC president: no faculty layoffs, despite budget gap | NCPR News

Regular Mtg Agenda21Dec2015

From the Office of Empire State Development

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, “With 23,000 international students from 72 countries currently studying at our colleges and universities, SUNY is proud to ensure a truly global educational experience for all of our students.”

Empire State Development today announced that New York State ranked first in the Northeast region and second in the nation in attracting international students to its colleges and universities, according to the “Open Doors Report” for 2015. This top ranking underscores the important role that New York’s colleges and universities play as economic engines in the State. This success reinforces the Governor’s GLOBAL NY initiative, which is supporting New York State businesses’ expansion of global exports, working to attract additional international business investment to the State, and helping create and retain world class jobs in the Empire State. Read more »

From the Office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C.–Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) announced that the final government spending and tax package that passed the House with her support include several provisions she has fought hard for on behalf of the North Country. Among these provisions are a suspension of the medical device tax, an extension of the Land Water Conservation Fund, inclusion of the Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Program, extensions of renewable energy tax credits, and funding for a Fort Drum military training academy, among other provisions. Read more »

Federal prosecutors successfully proved to a jury that former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver of Manhattan took millions in bribes and kickbacks disguised as legal fees. The annual disclosure forms legislators are required to submit to the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics only asks the elected officials to provide income ranges, not specific dollar amounts, for their outside income as well as the value of stock and property owned by them or their spouse. Former Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos, convicted last week on federal corruption charges and expelled from the chamber, was third with $200,000. In the Capital Region, the three lawmakers with the largest outside incomes were Democratic Assemblyman Phil Steck of Colonie, a lawyer with the firm of Cooper Erving & Savage, who earned between $100,000 and $150,000, and John T. McDonald of Cohoes, owner of Marra’s Pharmacy, and GOP Sen. George Amedore of Rotterdam, with his own construction business, who both earned between $75,000 and $100,000.

Source: Public servants, private pay – Times Union

Joe Purtell checks on Remi Beauharnois as she makes her poster

By John T. Ryan

Peru – At a time in history when many people stress the secular aspects of Christmas, Joseph Purtell has been attempting to expose Peru’s youth to the religious nature of the season since 1989. Purtell has served as Chairman of St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273’s Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest for 25 years. It would have been 27 consecutive years, except as member of the U.S. Air Force Purtell was called away to serve in Korea and in Operation Desert Storm.

Before the children arrive to draw their posters Purtell and his helpers place Christmas cards portraying the Christ Child on each worktable. He explained, “Sometimes they start off drawing Santa. We explain Christ to them and they quickly understand.” After having conducted the contest for so many years Purtell has many memories. He remarked, “I get to see the children grow and now I see their children. It’s wonderful!”

The Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest is a Knights of Columbus international program that began in the 1960’s. Several thousand K of C councils conduct the program annually for children ages 5 to 14. Posters are judged for each age level. The local youth judged to have the best poster this year will receive a special honor; their poster will be featured on St. Augustine’s Pastor Rev. Alan Shnob’s 2016 Christmas card.

Purtell said 2015 would be his last year leading the contest. He explained, “My wife Judy and I have 16 grandchildren living as far away as Florida and the Carolinas. We want to visit them more often. If I can’t commit, I’d rather not chair the program. If I’m here, I’ll be happy to help.

Coincidently the Peru Knights are in the process of reviving their Columbian Squires Circle, a youth group open to boys and young men ages 10 to 18. Purtell said, “I hope the contest can be passed on to the Squires. They conducted our contest in the 1980’s. It would be a great activity for them.”

By John T. Ryan

Town of Peru Water and Sewer Department Equipment Operator Chad Frechette has been busy this week preparing the base for skating rink adjacent to the road leading into Sullivan Park. Ice thickness and quality combined with safety issues associated with sleds entering the rink at high speed convinced the Town Board to move the rink from the Little Ausable Park pond.

The Sullivan Park location is large enough to accommodate the rink and several parked cars. There’s also a nearby fire hydrant and electric power pole. On December 21^st the Town Board plans to approve installation of a streetlight on the pole. Peru Youth Commission volunteers will maintain the rink.

St. Augustine’s Christmas Schedule 

Sunday, December 20 – 9:30 a.m Mass

Sunday, December 20 – 2 p.m. Penance Service

Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve – 4:30 and 8:00 p.m. Masses

Friday, December 25 Christmas Day – 9:30 a.m. Mass

January 1, New Year’s Day – 9:30 a.m. Mass

All are welcome!

2-1-1 is a FREE number you dial for information and referral on health and human service needs. United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. is pleased to announce a new website for 2-1-1 in the Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties. It is 211adk.org and can help individuals find the necessary services they need. Visit www.211adk.org and click on the DD link to get connection to Developmental Disabilities services in Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or call 2-1-1, 7 days a week from 9:00am to 7:00pm for the answers you are looking for.

Do you know someone with a Developmental Disabilities and may be looking for services? 211ADK.org is an empowering tool for families, self-advocates and professionals, enabling them to find service options quickly and easily.   You can find out about activities and services you didn’t even know existed! The site provides details on services, fees, eligibility, hours and intake as well as program websites, translation and mapping tools.

Keeseville Knights of Columbus Eugene G. Santor Council #4689 donated the proceeds from their annual Harvest Dinner to the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. Grand Knight, Roy Armstrong is presenting a check for $3,000.00 to Executive Director/CEO, John Bernardi. Also shown is Gerald Morrow, Hall Coordinator and United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. board member.

Melissa LaReau with her mother, Shirley LaReau-Kemp, after speaking to parishioners at St. Augustine’s Church, Peru, NY.  Photo and Story by Mike Langlois.

Psychology researchers describe happiness as a combination of life satisfaction and having more positive emotions than negative emotions. Melissa LaReau believes happiness is following your inner voice and pursuing life’s passions.

LaReau, a 2003 graduate of Peru High School and aspiring entrepreneur, recently talked to St. Augustine Church parishioners in Peru, New York. She described her role in creating Unfold Uganda, a business designed to help impoverished East African women.

LaReau’s twelve-year journey began after graduating high school. She attended Hartwick College, Oneonta, where she received a bachelor’s in science and economics. She taught English as a Second Language for a brief time for the Oneonta school district. LaReau then attended Texas A&M and graduated with a master’s in international affairs. Her first foray into the business world was an entry-level economist’s position with Ernst & Young, a multinational professional services company.

“This is exactly not what I want to be doing,” said LaReau, on her first impression of the corporate world. “I told myself three years and then I have to leave this job. I have to find something that I am more passionate about.”

Two-and-a-half years later, LaReau remembered the promise she had made to herself and listened to that inner voice. While scanning the online want ads for photo gigs – she had always dabbled in photography – an interesting item popped-up. The position was a fellowship working for a microfinance company which required basic computer and photography skills. The company was the Maryland-based Women’s Microfinance Initiative. The job was an operations position in the company’s Uganda, Africa, office.

WMI’s mission, according to the company’s website, is to establish village-level loan hubs, administered by local women, to provide capital, training and support services to rural women in the lowest income brackets in East Africa so that they can engage in income producing activities.

“I can do that job,” recalled LaReau. “I work in international economics, and I wrote my undergrad thesis on microfinance for my economics degree.”

The subsequent interview and hiring process moved quickly. Within a few weeks, she was in Uganda acting as the company’s only American employee. The decision meant giving-up a substantial salary with benefits, and collecting only a few hundred dollars per month.

When LaReau submitted a financial report a few months later, WMI’s treasurer knew the company didn’t have an average employee in the East African district.

“She (the treasurer) said we didn’t know the extent of your skills and experience,” said LaReau. “You look like a forensic accountant with the spreadsheet work you are doing.”

WMI asked LaReau to create and implement a finance system for the company’s East African loan-hubs. The district included Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. “This was very different from a fellowship doing operations,” she said. “I was now the East Africa finance director.”

Microfinance companies offer high-quality, affordable financial services to low-income people. Typically, these clients live in rural areas and are sustained by trading crops or locally made goods. Women in third world countries constitute a majority of the borrowers. In Uganda, LaReau worked with a staff of twenty local women who cultivated and sold tomatoes.

“We would give training in business planning, marketing, sales, and saving and investing money,” she explained. “The women were given one hundred dollars over six months. You can spend one hundred dollars in two minutes (in the U.S.). It’s a very small amount, but it’s life-changing for them.”

WMI’s business plan was to make the East African district financially sustainable and pull its operations within ten years. LaReau, who was hired seven years into the program, now had three years to reach the company’s goal. She trained a few top performing staff members who were able to successfully continue WMI’s business plan.

Although LaReau’s contract with WMI was nearing an end, she hoped to continue her work with the East African women. She became good friends with Lydia Neumbe, the daughter of WMI’s Uganda director. The two women decided to start their own business selling African made goods to an international market. The company would utilize the trade skills of the East African women to produce fashionable women’s wallets using local textiles. LaReau has since relocated to Washington, D.C., to raise venture capital, and Neumbe remains in her native country to set-up the company’s operations. LaReau said they decided to name the company Unfold.

“You can unfold a wallet,” she explained. “We’re also unfolding peace, hope, and opportunity (for the Uganda women and their families).  We are naming the company here Unfold Uganda,” she added. “If we move to other countries, then we will name it Unfold (for that country).”

LaReau said that Unfold Uganda hopes to add education credits, health care benefits, and begin an apprenticeship program for its employees and their families. “The main goal is to put the profits back into Uganda and create sustainable jobs,” she said. “If we give them the skills and the business training, then they can pass that along to their own children.”

For more information on Unfold Uganda visit:

Website: www.discoverunfold.com

Email:info@discoverunfold.com

Twitter: @discoverunfold

Instagram: @discoverunfold

Facebook: https.//m.facebook.com/discoverunfold

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1010431239/unfold-wallets-that-empower/description

The Peru Community Church is pleased to announce their special Christmas season services.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20^th, during the 10:30 am service, the 20-member choir directed by Carol Gallagher will present the Christmas cantata “Appalachian Winter”, accompanied by organist/pianist Dennis Frisbie. Composed in the spirit of folk songs, the Cantata recounts the story of Christmas combining traditional and rustic music elements with spoken narrative. A reception and fellowship hour follows the service.   Sunday School at 9:15 am that Sunday will focus on the true meaning of Christmas (for all ages). Please Note: There will be no 8am Service.

On Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24^th, the 6 pm family service includes Lessons and Carols, as well as candlelighting. The 8 pm service includes anthems by the choir, again closing with candlelighting.

On Christmas Day, the 10 am service, held in the Chapel, reaffirms the birth of the Christ Child. Communion will be served.

On Sunday, December 27^th one service will be held in the Sanctuary at 10am.

The regular schedule of Sunday services at 8 am and 10:30 am, with Sunday School at 9:15 am for all ages, pre-school through adult, resumes on January 3, 2016.

All are invited to worship at any time.

Questions? Please call the church office at 518-643-8641. Read more »

Courtney Tetrault (L) and Greg Timmons

By John T. Ryan

“Top-Tier” is the description Clinton County Health Department Director of Environmental Health and Safety John Kanoza uses to describe the Town of Peru’s current water quality. Kanoza said, “It was a long time coming, but Peru made ten small to medium upgrades that resulted in a comprehensive improvement to its system. Today Peru’s water compares favorably with the top systems in the county. It’s a top-tier system.” Peru Town Supervisor Peter Glushko agrees stating, “We want our residents to know that our water is great! They don’t have to purchase water from other sources.” Improving the system’s capabilities, equipment and filtration building cost just over $3 million. (Click here to see all our Peru Gazette photos)

Interim Water Superintendent Courtney Tetrault and former Superintendent Greg Timmons are proud of all the system improvements especially the upgrades at the Reservoir Road filtration plant and the system’s two water towers. When the Peru Gazette toured the filtration plant last Friday Tetrault pointed to a computer unit monitor saying, “This is the heart of the system. When Bill Downs, our Plant Operator, looks at this he can monitor and adjust the water filtration process from the reservoir through the filtration process including our two water towers.” Tetrault pointed out that Downs, backup operator Chris Martineau and Tetrault himself can also monitor the system 24 hours a day on their laptop computers. Tetrault said, “The automation and constant monitoring also cut down on our department’s overtime and on our chemical use.” Greg Timmons added, “The improvements have also doubled our system capacity. We’re ready for additional water users.”

In addition to installing the computerized control system, contractors dredged the reservoir; increased the size of filtration building by approximately 900 square feet to accommodate a computer room, restroom, lab, generator room and electronics room. Filtration media and backwashing procedures were upgraded. Tower piping and water treatment processes were also improved.

Peru’s 780 water district users require about 150,000 to 180,000 gallons of water daily. Peru’s water is primarily sourced from Furnace Brook, which enters a reservoir about a quarter mile west of the filtration plant. Water first undergoes a coagulation process to clump any unwanted particles. It then passes through three tanks: tanks 1 and 2 contain filtration media; the third contains activated carbon. After the water leaves the third tank, chlorine is added and the water is piped to the nearby outside storage tank where it undergoes mixing and chlorine contact time. When needed, it enters the main line for transport to several users and the in-hamlet water tower. Further mixing takes place in the 375,000-gallon in-hamlet tower and chlorine can be added if needed.

Greg Timmons knows the system very well given his 40 years of Water Department experience. He explained, “Our water met all the Health Department requirements when the plant was put into service in 1995. However, as time passed regulations were tightened and in about 2000 to 2002 tests revealed that Peru’s water exceeded the allowed limit of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, both by-products of the chlorination process.” Timmons added, “With the new system even the reading that we took after the leaves fell, which is always our highest reading, was much lower than we have to be.” Prior to the system upgrade water district users received quarterly Violation Notices stating that anyone consuming the water might experience increased health risks. Fortunately, the Town of Peru mailed its last Violation Notice in the fall of 2014. Violation Notice Water 4th Q 2013

At 8:10 a.m. 11/9/15 two sentences of this story were edited.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 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:

·         Appointment of Personnel

·         Recognition of Student Artwork

·         Capital Project Update

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

All are welcome.

Jackie Young Douglass, Lucy Godfrey and and Sandy Lashua led the caroling last night at the Peru Gazebo. Here’s their version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. 

John and Vicki Masella watched Santa’s arrival at the LIttle Ausable River Park this year. They were a vital part of the festivities from 1982 to 2014. Congratulations and thanks to them! They are pictured with Peru Town Supervisor Peter Glushko who thanked the event organizers, workers, the Peru Volunteer Fire Department and everyone who attended.

Santa arrived at the Fellowship Center right on time thanks to the Peru Volunteer Fire Department!

A few photos from tonight’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival at LIttle Ausable River Park and the Fellowship Center. There was a wonderful turnout of Peru’s many young families!  Click here to view. 

PLATTSBURGH — Award winning local author Lawrence Gooley will be giving a presentation called “Escape From Dannemora: Breakouts, Tortures and Violence in Clinton Prison’s Past” on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

Source: Author to give presentation on Clinton Prison – Sun Community News & Printing

Regular Mtg Agenda7Dec2015

New York will get a boost in highway funding under a highway bill on track to be passed by both houses of Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer said. The bill will include a provision sought by Schumer to ensure car rental companies fix cars recalled because of safety defects before renting or selling them to consumers.

Source: Schumer: NY to get funding boost under highway bill – Times Union

Craft Fair 2014

Peru – Make plans to attend the “Fall into Winter Craft Fair” at St. Augustine’s Parish Center on Saturday, December 5^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 30 vendors will have something for everyone on your Christmas list. There will be fun raffles with great prizes along with Farther Alan’s Christmas Shop. The Catholic Daughters will offer a delicious hot lunch and decadent dessert bake sale. The St. Vincent’s Thrift Store and Roger’s House, the Crate and Christmas Thrift Shop, will also be open.