The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on the Town of Peru’s Preliminary 2015 Budget for Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 6:30 P.M.  Supervisor Peter Glushko said the Town Board worked hard to keep the budget under the state imposed 1.56% tax cap.  $140,000 in general fund monies will be used to balance the budget, although  Glushko is optimistic that Clinton County’s sales tax collections will ultimately reduce that amount to about $40,000. All employees including the Town Board will receive a flat $800 pay increase. Glushko said, “We haven’t had an increase for some time. We’re falling behind neighboring communities.”

The Water District retired two long term bonds in 2014 which will save water users $96,683 (22%) in water user property taxes. Unfortunately, a water rate increase is anticipated partially offsetting the property tax decrease.  Click Here to Review Town of Peru 2015 PRELIMINARY BUDGET

• HUDSON RIVER CONCERT SERIES – Friday, November 14 at 7pm. Meet the Musicians reception to follow. Donation at the door for library renovations.

• POTTER’S GUILD ANNUAL SHOW and SALE with PHOTOGRAPHY by RON NOLLAND Opening Reception and Meet the Artists on Friday November 21, 5-7PM

There’s more details on their website: www.perufreelibrary.org

The Peru Central School District Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for potential candidates.  The District Hall of Fame is designed to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on our school or achieved an outstanding contribution(s) to society as a graduate of Peru CSD. The candidate must have attended, been employed, served or contributed to Peru CSD in some capacity and must have been retired for at least five (5) years.

The following criteria will be used when considering an individual to the Hall of Fame – outstanding contributions to Peru CSD, outstanding contribution to society, outstanding career, participation and/or leadership in community activities, and a significant impact on an individual’s life while associated with Peru.

Deadline for applications will be February 1, 2015.  Applications may be picked up at the Jr/Sr High School office or downloaded from the District web site at www.perucsd.org.

By John T. Ryan

Town government watchers expected the Town Board to continue their discussion on relocating the Town of Peru’s Court Chambers and Court Room to the Town Hall’s lower level at the Board’s Monday, October 27, 2014 meeting. Instead, the Board delayed any action until after January 1, 2015. After conferring with JCEO Coordinator Pat Holmes, Board members concluded that the holiday season would not be a good time to disrupt JCEO Food Shelf services which are headquartered in the Town Hall’s lower level. Councilman Brandy McDonald said, “Let’s wait until the beginning of the year. Thanksgiving preparation is going on. We’ll also have a second judge elected by then.” Councilman Donald McBrayer added, “After reviewing the situation, relocating our offices is more logistically difficult than I thought.” Councilman Kregg Bruno chimed in saying, “Judge Kirby is agreeable to the delay. There’s no rush.”

Peru’s sewer and water users can expect to see a rate increase. Supervisor Peter Glushko said, “We haven’t had an increase in 5 years.” Glushko said the Board would discuss the need for an increase at a workshop to be scheduled before the end of the year.

An apparently homeless man has been sleeping on resident lawns and in Gods Acre Cemetery. Councilman Brandy McDonald described the man as being shirtless, shoeless. and having no identification. McDonald said the temperature was in the 30’s the evening he saw the man in the cemetery. McDonald called the NYS State Police who interviewed the man and were apparently unable or unwilling to take any action. The trooper allowed the man to proceed down McIntosh Street.

The Board will conduct a final budget workshop on Wednesday, October 29^th at 6:30 p.m. Supervisor Glushko said the Board will go over the entire budget.

A Special Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. to schedule a public hearing on the 2015 Town of Peru budget.

PLATTSBURGH, NY— The Strand Center for the Arts is proud to announce the opening of the exhibition “Portraits,” a fine art show featuring the works of various artists in the SCA Portrait Drawing Open Studio Group. These artists will have work on display in The Strand Center for the Arts Main Gallery on 23 Brinkerhoff Street in downtown Plattsburgh from November 7th to the 29th, 2014. The opening reception will be held Friday, November 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This event is free to the public and refreshments will be served, including samples from North Country Creamery.

The SCA Portrait Group is a fun, motivated and eclectic group of artists with a wide range of experience. They have been meeting at the Strand Center the past 5 years for a class focused on drawing portraits from a live model in a comfortable, casual setting. Classes are held in an open studio format, so there are no instructors but two coordinators, Bill Colquhoun and Cindy Root, who organize the models and collect donations. Although there is no formal instruction, artists of all skill levels are encouraged to join. Each artist brings their own unique approach, using a wide variety of mediums: pastel, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, or a combination of mixed media. The class regularly meets at The Strand Center for the Arts on Thursdays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Walk-ins and newcomers are always welcome.

SCA Portrait Group Coordinator Cindy Root stated, “This exhibition is a tribute to our great cast of models who have patiently, tirelessly, and repeatedly posed for us. It is our first public showing and our goal is to highlight all the different artistic viewpoints.” The exhibition will be organized by model rather than artist so those viewing the show can see the spectrum of artistic interpretations that are produced in the class.

The exhibition will be on view at The Strand Center for the Arts Main Gallery on 23 Brinkerhoff Street in downtown Plattsburgh from November 7th to the 29th, 2014. The opening reception will be held Friday, November 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This event is free to the public and refreshments will be served, including samples from North Country Creamery. For further information, please contact The Strand Center for the Arts Gallery Coordinator at gallery@plattsburgharts.org, call 518-563-1604, or stop in to the gallery on 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, NY.

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled a Special Meeting for Thursday, October 30, 2014, at the Peru Town Hall, at 6:30 PM. The purpose of the Special Meeting will be to establish a date for a Public Hearing on the Preliminary 2015 Budget.

AGENDA – TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING October 27, 2014@ 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the October 9, 2014 Public Hearing, the October 9, 2014 Regular Meeting and the October 14, 2014 Special Meeting.

5. Community Input

6. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Decision on Terry Mountain Communication Tower.

7. DISCUSSION: 2015 Water/Sewer Rates.

8. DISCUSSION: Publicly Owned Treatment Works Reporting Requirements.

9. DISCUSSION: Spitfire Drive.
10. DISCUSSION: VTANG Visit Update.
11. DISCUSSION: 2015 Town Budget.
12. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Schedule October 30 Special Meeting. 
13. DISCUSSION: Elmore SPCA
14. DISCUSSION: Town Court Chambers and Court Room.
15. DISCUSSION: Town Park Ordinance.
16. DISCUSSION: Other Business.
17. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only
18. MOTION: Approve/Pay Bills.
19. MOTION:    Adjourn

Editorial: Lasting records on the Internet – Press-Republican: Opinion.

Teen ‘critical’ after Peru crash – Press-Republican: Local News.

Amid tech boom, a bust – Times Union.

John T. Ryan

Clinton County Republican caucused on September 30 and elected Peru Town Councilman Donald McBrayer as their new County Chairman succeeding Randy Beach who has been chairman since last year. McBrayer has been serving as Peru’s Republican Chairman for four years. Local Republicans chose Michael Farrell, Peru’s Highway Superintendent, to succeed McBrayer in that office on October 8^th.

Asked why he sought the county political leadership position McBrayer said, “Good communication will be my #1 goal. I want to share resources and knowledge. I especially want to make the candidates for office fully aware of the Board of Election’s requirements.”  McBrayer said simple procedural errors sometimes result in an candidate being disqualified or opening up the possibility of an election challenge.

McBrayer is particularly concerned with the primary process. He explained, “ I really want to protect the primary process. I feel the party chairman needs to stay neutral during the primaries and make sure that everyone interested in being a candidate has equal access to resources, committee members and the voters. I don’t want to see candidates discouraged from seeking elective office.”

Peru – On October 18th, St. Augustine’s Council 7273 Grand Knight Anthony Andrews and “Coats For Kids” Chairman John Ryan presented twenty-four new winter jackets to Peru Elementary Principal Matt Slattery (Left) and Associate Principal Sanford Coakley (Right).

Since 2009, Knights of Columbus Councils in the United States and Canada have distributed more than 167,000 winter jackets to needy children through the organization’s Coats For Kids Program. These jackets will be made available to Peru Elementary students during this week’s parent-teacher conferences.

By John T. Ryan

On August 25^th, the Peru Town Board, citing employee and public concern with court proceedings being held in the midst of the Town Hall, voted to move the time Peru Town Court convenes from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a two-month trial period. At the Board’s October 9^th meeting, Supervisor Peter Glushko informed the Board that he had received a letter from Jerome J. Richards, Supervising Judge of the 4^th Judicial District, advising the Town of Peru that it does not have the authority to set town court hours. Judge Richards wrote the letter in a response to an inquiry from Peru Town Justice James Kirby. Supervisor Glushko responded stating the Town Board still has the authority to allocate space for court proceedings and that space would not be available until the Town Hall is closed for public business at 3 p.m.

At that point Board members began discussing the possibility of moving court proceedings to the Town Hall’s basement level where the JCEO Food Shelf and Town Historian currently conduct business. Counselors Donald McBrayer and Brandy McDonald were enthusiastic about the change both saying, “I think that’s a good idea.” McBrayer, who serves as the Board’s liaison to Town Court added, “I believe every office is starting to bulge at the seams so reallocating space might not just help the court but every office in this building. I’d like to see if downstairs could meet the court’s requirements.” All the counselors expressed agreement and Supervisor Glushko set a goal of getting the move accomplished before Christmas.

Subsequent to the Town Board meeting The Peru Gazette interviewed Supervisor Glushko and Judge Kirby in their respective offices. Glushko said that since the October 9^th meeting he had changed his mind on moving court offices stating, “Court proceedings will be downstairs and court offices will remain upstairs. We’d be relocating too many people for the sake of one hour’s court time.”

Judge James Kirby was enthusiastic about moving downstairs but stated that court offices would also have to be moved. Kirby or his clerk often retrieves documents or information during a court proceeding.

Kirby held fast to his contention that the court should convene at 2 p.m. He stated, “2 p.m. works best for both the sheriff’s department and the attorneys. If court convened at 3:30 p.m. we’d be here until 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. waiting for lawyers who represent clients in the Town of Plattsburgh Court. I could be here until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. The sheriff’s department shift change starts at 3 p.m. When we convene at 2 p.m. they can get here and back to the jail by 3 p.m. Then they can get to the Town of Plattsburgh for 4 p.m.”

On Tuesday, October 22, Clinton County Sheriff David Favro told The Peru Gazette that the jail’s shift change takes place at 2:30 p.m. when all inmates are locked in their cells for a head count. Asked about the time that Peru Town Court convenes Favro responded, “I don’t see our department’s shift change as being a deciding factor. We can accommodate whatever is needed. This is more about safety and procedural issues.”

Favro is enthusiastic about the prospect of Peru moving its court proceedings downstairs after having toured the Town Hall last week at the request of the Town Board. He stated, “It makes good sense. There are many dynamics in a courtroom setting. I think having its own space is more conducive to court proceedings.” Discussing the basement’s layout he said, “Inmates could come down the back ramp and into the small room (currently a small kitchen) that could be made into an inmate holding room. It would work better especially when we have a hostile inmate.”

Favro said conducting court in the midst of the Town Hall offices is far from ideal noting the unavoidable interaction with the general public and the presence of glass enclosures immediately adjacent to the Town Hall entrance. Glass located in close proximity to a hostile inmate is not a safe environment for anyone concerned.

Charter goes digital, requires box for every TV | Times Free Press.

From the Office of Congressman Bill Owens

Congressman Bill Owens is hosting a business export event at the Holiday Inn Plattsburgh on Thursday, November 6th titled “Doing Business Across the U.S.-Canadian Border”. The event will feature a practical panel with successful local businesses followed by a discussion of economic relations with the U.S. Consul General in Montreal, Ms. Nina Maria Fite. Businesses from across New York’s 21st Congressional District have been invited to attend.

“Many local businesses are in a position to grow by selling to markets in Canada and around the world,” said Owens. “I encourage business owners throughout the area to join me at this event for a practical conversation about growing through cross-border commerce. This forum is an opportunity to hear from local business owners with direct experience starting and expanding their international sales, and to access trade experts that can help you take steps toward selling your own products and services across the border and beyond.”

This event will highlight commercial opportunities for increasing supply chain activity and trade to stimulate local economic development. The panel will share lessons learned and on-the-ground perspectives from local businesses, and A Conversation with the Consul General moderated by Congressman Owens will provide an update of the U.S.-Canada economic relationship.

Doing Business Across the U.S.-Canadian Border
Thursday, November 6, 2014, 10am-12pm
Holiday Inn Plattsburgh
412 State Route 3, Plattsburgh, NY

Panelists:
Mr. Robert DeCamp, Director, Regulatory Affairs and Consulting, Deringer Logistics
Mr. Manna Doyle, General Manager, Tulmar Manufacturing Inc.
Ms. Kathryn Bamberger, International Trade and Investment Specialist, Empire State Development

POTSDAM, NY The State University of New York at Potsdam has awarded scholarships, grants and awards to 998 students for the 2014-15 academic year. These accomplished SUNY Potsdam undergraduate and graduate students were recognized for their achievements with support for their educational experience.

This year’s recipients included:

• Emily Allen of Peru, NY, whose major is Music Education. Allen was awarded the Helen Woods Cullen 1898 Scholarship and the SUNY Potsdam Freshman Scholarship.
• Keagen Briggs of Peru, NY, whose major is History. Briggs was awarded the SUNY Potsdam Freshman Scholarship.

Last year, SUNY Potsdam awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships to 1,067 students, including $821,000 from donor-funded scholarships through the Potsdam College Foundation. For more information about how donors impact the SUNY Potsdam student experience, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/giving.

SUNY Potsdam offers financial aid to more than 80 percent of students, in the form of federal and state aid, as well as scholarships. For more information, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/financialaid.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. To learn more, visit http://www.potsdam.edu.

The Ladies Guild of the Peru Community Church are selling pumpkin and apple pies and pumpkin cream cheese cake rolls. The apple pies are baked or unbaked with instructions to bake them. Pumpkin cake rolls will be frozen and can just be defrosted to use them. The pies are $8 each and the pumpkin cake rolls are $12 each. The orders must be in by Sunday, November 16^th at 12:00 noon. The baked goods can be picked up on Tuesday, November 25^th from 2:00 to 6:00 pm in Fellowship Center. Please call 643-8641 to place an order. All proceeds from this fundraiser are utilized for mission in the community and the church.

PLATTSBURGH, NY–Representative Bill Owens will be at Peru High School tomorrow to speak to students in the school’s P-TECH program about their future job prospects in the North Country and nationwide as well as answer any questions the students may have. These students began the P-TECH process in 8th grade and were selected based upon their interest and aptitude in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses, academic achievement, attendance and behavior.

P-TECH stands for “Pathways in Technology Early College High School”. Utilizing a school within a school model, P-TECH students begin college early. The first P-TECH school opened in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn in September 2011, as a unique partnership between IBM, CUNY-City Tech, and the New York City Department of Education. Its success led to the program’s statewide expansion, with sixteen more schools, including ADK P-TECH, being awarded seven-year grants.

The 2014-2015 inaugural class at ADK P-TECH consists of 30 students from three local school districts: Peru, Beekmantown and Saranac.

Mental Health Issues Put 34,500 on New York’s No-Guns List – NYTimes.com.

NAMI-CV in conjunction with Impeerium Peer Network will be offering a weekly NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group starting Tuesday, October 28th from 1:30-3:00pm. The meetings will be held at the NAMI office in Plattsburgh at 14 Healey Avenue, Suite D. The support group is open to any adult with a mental illness and there is no registration required.  This group is designed to connect, encourage and support participants using a structured group model.  NAMI Connection group is led by trained facilitators living in recovery themselves and is always free and confidential. For more information call Impeerium at (518) 324-6250 or email recoverycenter@nami-cv.org.

The North Country Chamber of Commerce invites you to the most delicious events of the year. Taste of the North Country will be held on November 13th at the SUNY Field House. This event combines an amazing Food/Beverage Tasting experience with an incredible auction. The Auction preview begins at 5:00, followed by the Silent Auction and Tasting from 5:30 – 7:00. Auctioneer Steve Brodie and MC Matt Boire will cap off the evening with the Live Auction at 7:00.

Attendees will enjoy sampling specialties from area restaurants and vendors, while they bid on hundreds of auctions items. Restaurant Gift Certificates, Jewelry, Artwork, Savings Bonds, Greens Fees, Gas Cards, and Gift Baskets are just a few of the many things up for bid. To see a complete list of vendors and auction items, visit www.northcountrychamber.com

Tickets to Taste of the North Country are $12 per person before November 3^rd or $18 after that. Sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, TD Bank, and Condo Pharmacy, this event is open to everyone. Those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.

Call the North Country Chamber of Commerce at 563-1000 or visit www.northcountrychamber.com to purchase tickets for Taste of the North Country.

A message From the Empire State Development Board
The Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors met yesterday in New York City and approved $19 million in funding for nine projects that are spurring economic growth and opportunity in New York State. These targeted investments will leverage over $136 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 projects will directly create nearly 120 new jobs and retain more than 380 existing New York State jobs.

“The State’s formula for growing jobs and the economy is working: Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils have made smart suggestions and ESD is taking action to support key projects across the state that are creating economic and employment opportunities for New Yorkers,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “The funds approved by the Board are supporting expanding businesses, infrastructure improvements and helping to revitalize communities from Buffalo to Brooklyn, and are proving to be critical investments in our efforts to strengthen and grow our economy.”

The Board approved the following Regional Council award grants:

Adirondack Historical Association – (North Country Region – Hamilton County) – $130,000 Read more »

NY-21 Candidates Answer Climate Change Questions – – The Adirondack Almanack.

Watertown Daily Times | Indictment of Hillary dismissed by Judge Richards.

Peru – Reverend Bill Edwards, a longtime Chaplain at the Clinton Correction Correctional Facility, will speak on the life of a prison chaplain on Friday, October 24th at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Church, 3035 Main St. in Peru. A Peru native, graduate of St. Augustine’s School and Peru Central School, Father Edwards was ordained in 1985 at St. Augustine’s Church. He currently serves as a Parochial Vicar at St. John’s Parish in Plattsburgh. All are welcome. St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 and St. Monica’s Court 2598, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, are sponsoring Father Edward’s presentation.