The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Anyone attending the Monday, September 14, 2015 Peru Town Board meeting and the Public Hearing that preceded it could rightly conclude that cat and dog issues dominated the evening.

The public hearing concerned a Town Board proposed update of the Town’s Dog Control Law. It would have required that anyone reclaiming a dog taken into custody by the Dog Control Officer would have to pay any outstanding veterinarian fees to the Elmore SPCA. By contract the SPCA collects redemption fees on behalf of the town; however, Elmore SPCA Treasurer Carol Solari Ruscoe told the Board that she felt very uncomfortable collecting veterinarian fees, especially since the SPCA does not collect veterinarian fees for any of other towns it serves. After considerable discussion, Supervisor Peter Glushko suggested that the town collect the fees rather than the shelter. Solari-Ruscoe said that sounded like a viable solution; however, SPCA leadership would have to approve such an arrangement. The SPCA would not be able to release a dog without proof that the veterinarian charge had been paid to the Town.

During the public comment portion of the meeting Jabez Allen Road resident Carlene Allen Wood stated that she often has four to seven feral cats under her porch and on her property. Wood believes a neighbor is feeding the cats and there is at least one new litter born every two to three months. Wood asked the Board to consider passing a law regulating cats and/or providing resources to address the issue. Town Clerk Kathy Flynn, who lives in the hamlet, said she had five stray cats on her deck last week and another hamlet resident remarked that he has seen stray cats.

Supervisor Peter Glushko said he has investigated cat control over the course of many years. He said, “There are not rules on domestic cats. The state Ag and Markets doesn’t regulate them. I haven’t seen a program that has succeeded” Glushko said local animal shelters are frequently overwhelmed with cats, sometimes to the point of not accepting them. Counselor Donald McBrayer said that public education might help alleviate the problem. He said anyone feeding or harboring the cats is part of the problem, not the solution. Both McBrayer and Supervisor Glushko promised to research possible solutions to the feral cat problem.

Travel on Holden Avenue should be improving in a few weeks. After reviewing three contractor’s cost estimates, the Board hired Fuller Excavating to repair the street’s frost heaves at a cost of $12,950. A water catch basin will be constructed in front of Larry Ewald’s Holden Avenue home at a cost of $8,000. Next spring Fuller will overlay the street with another coat of asphalt at a cost of $5,800. Highway Superintendent Michael made it clear he doesn’t have the money for this project in his budget. Supervisor Glushko said he would find the money elsewhere. Repairing Holden Avenue has been a Glushko priority. The repairs should reduce school bus travel on adjacent, much narrower streets. Bus drivers often avoid traveling Holden Avenue because of the seasonal frost heaves.

2016 Town Budget Workshops were scheduled. Attending these workshops is the best method for any town resident to know the issues facing the town. All workshops will begin at 6:30 p.m. and all are open to the public. The workshop dates are:

• Highway- 10/7/15
• Water – 10/14/15
• Valcour Sewer – 10/15/15
• General – 10/19/15
• Salaries – 10/22/15

The Board is uncomfortable accepting a lease contract proposed by Unison Site Management LLC. Unison has offered to sign a 40-year cell lease agreement to manage the cellular space of the Town’s water tower. Unison would make a six-figure upfront payment to the Town, plus pay the Town 60% of any increased revenues. Unison would receive the current lease payments of $38,500 per year, plus 40% of any increased payments. While the large upfront payment is tempting, the Board is uncertain of the true value of the tower’s leases and of future changes in technology, especially over a 40-year lease period. Supervisor Glushko was going to contact Unison to determine if a 20-year lease would be possible.

Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Town’s Health Insurance Carrier, has been hacked. More information will follow.

Board action on instituting a dog park and repairing the Jenkins Street tennis court will be delayed pending a more exact cost estimate on repair and upgrades to the tennis courts. The Town has applied for a grant to repair the tennis courts; however, depending on the cost of repair, the grant might pay only a portion of the cost. A dog park fence installed at Heyworth/Mason Park has been estimated to cost between $15,000 and $16,000. Given the state mandated tax cap (estimated to be .74% in 2016) the Board is reluctant to approve any extraordinary expenditure.

Councilman Brandy McDonald reminded Board members that Greg Timmons retirement party is scheduled at Murphy’s Restaurant on October 10^th. McDonald estimates that 200 will attend. Approximately $1,000 in donations has been received.

The Board also reappointed Roy Perry to the Board of Assessment Review.

A 25-minute executive session to discuss a confidential employee matter was conducted.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – The unofficial results of Peru’s September Town Council primary election are in. The primary involved “third-parties” only. The two top vote getters in each third party’s primary will appear on the Election Day ballot. Twenty-two voters cast their ballots in person while thirty-five voters cast absentee ballots. A total of fifty-seven voters cast ballots.

Independence Party Results:

• James Langley – 24 votes
• Brandy McDonald – 18 votes
• Kregg Bruno – 16 Votes

James Langley and Brandy McDonald will appear on the Independence Party Line.

Conservative Party Results:

• Brandy McDonald – 10 votes
• Kregg Bruno – 6 votes
• James Langley – 2 votes
• Dwane Bast – 1 vote

Brandy McDonald and Kregg Bruno will appear on the Conservative Party Line.

Working Families Party Results:

• Brandy McDonald – 2 votes
• Kregg Bruno – 1 vote

Brandy McDonald and Kregg Bruno won the Working Families Party line.

James Langley and Dwane Bast will also appear on the Republican and Reformed Party lines. Brandy McDonald and Kregg Bruno will be on the Democratic Party lines.

From the Office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) joined Congressman Chris Gibson (R-NY-19) to introduce a resolution calling for improved environmental stewardship.

The measure calls on the House to commit to working on economically viable solutions that address the threat of climate change, saying it is “a conservative principle to protect, conserve, and be good stewards of our environment.”

“Climate change is a serious issue that we must address and I am proud to join Congressman Gibson on this resolution,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “This resolution strikes the careful balance between the priority of addressing the global threat of climate change and the importance of protecting and creating American jobs. New York’s 21st district is the proud home of the Adirondacks and we understand that protecting our environment plays an important role in promoting economic growth and opportunity.”

“All too often, the conversation about appropriate and balanced environmental stewardship gets caught up in partisan politics.  Yet, this conversation is key to the preservation of our great country for generations to come, as important as ensuring we have fiscally responsible policies to secure our future,” said Congressman Gibson. “For that reason, I believe the most important first step forward is recognizing that this is also a fundamentally conservative issue, and finding common ground on how to address it.”

The resolution calls for better environmental stewardship through “economically viable, and broadly supported private and public solutions to study and address the causes and effects of measured changes to our global and regional climates.”

The resolution was developed working with a non-partisan network of faith-based, national security, environmental, business, and community organizations for this outline of conservative goals and policies for ensuring the proper stewardship of our environment and natural resources.  Pope Francis is expected to also call for action on improved environmental stewardship to mitigate the causes and effects of our changing climate during his visit to Congress next week.

The text of the resolution can be found here.

A message from the Peru District Superintendent:

After school was dismissed today, a chemical spill occurred within the chemistry room of the Jr/Sr High School.  The immediate area was quickly evacuated and Emergency Services was contacted.   Given the nature of the spill, an evacuation was not ordered.  Peru Fire Department responded and neutralized the chemical spill.  The District then followed the cleaning procedures recommended by the Peru Fire Department.  No one was injured as a result of today’s spill.

North Country (SUNY Plattsburgh)

• Deborah Babcock, Thousand Islands School District
• Celeste Barker, Schroon Lake School District
• Barbara Bibbins, Belleville-Henderson Central School District
• Scott Carter, Ausable Valley Central School District
• Glenn Clemens, Canton Central School District
• Margaret Clemens, Norwood-Norfolk School District
• Robert Dixon, Canton Central School District
• Lisa Dunkelberg, Potsdam School District
• William Fairchild, South Jefferson School District
• Jaime Gates, Carthage Central School District
• Amber Henry, Ogdensburg School District
• John Miletich, Malone School District
• Amy Reinisch, Saranac Lake School District
• George Rogers, Malone School District
• Laurey Rosser, Canton Central School District
• Lindsey Steblen, Indian River School District
• Alicia Wentworth, Canton Central School District

Here’s a breakdown of participants all North Country participants including those selected in the fall of 2013.  Read more »

BOOK SALE

Friday & Saturday Sept. 18th & 19th. Friday hours: 10-4. Saturday’s hours: 10-3.

RECEPTION FOR IAN BURCROFF PAINTINGS EXHIBIT:

Friday, September 25th from 5 to 7 pm.

Ian’s work utilizes intense color and detailed multiple imagery in his abstract and realistic subject matter. The largest painting is 60″ x 40″; the smallest 20″ x 24″. His latest exhibits have been at Blue Mountain Lake Center for the Arts and SUNY Albany. Ian is Assistant Professor of Art at Clinton Community College and Chair of the Humanities Department.

The show will run through November 14th.

Event:  Rachel’s Challenge Community Event, open to all families of the Peru Jr/Sr High School and is specifically designed to address 7^th through 12^th grade students and their families.

When: Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 6:30 pm

Where: Peru Jr/Sr High School Auditorium

Description: Rachel’s Challenge exists to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness, and compassion. Rachel’s Challenge is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott who was the first victim of the Columbine school shootings in 1999. Through her example, Rachel’s Challenge is making a positive impact in the lives of millions of people every year.

Through powerful presentations, trainings, community events, and professional development, Rachel’s Challenge provides a sustainable solution for promoting acceptance, personal empowerment, and a framework for expanding awareness and positive change.

Rachel’s inspiring story provides a simple, yet powerful example of how small acts of kindness and acceptance motivate us to consider our relationships with the people we come in contact with every day. Rachel’s Challenge renews our hope that our life has meaning and purpose. Rachel’s story gives us permission to start our own chain reaction of kindness and compassion, which positively affects the climate in our schools and communities.

The Scott family and other Rachel’s Challenge certified presenters have reached millions more on popular media outlets like CNN, Fox News, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Oprah, Dateline, O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes and numerous others.

Contact:  Should there be any questions, please contact Tom Bull via phone, 643-6400 ext. 6304, or email, tbull@perucsd.org or Bernadette Nolan at 643-6400 ext. 6485, or bnolan@perucsd.org .

Additional Information:  You can learn more about Rachel’s Challenge by going to their extensive website, www.rachelschallenge.org.

By Adele Douglas

Last Friday Peru Central School’s Cross Country Team helped out along the Little Ausable River Walking Trail by pulling out a nasty weed that can be a problem for dogs and their owners. Cocklebur seeds were brought in with soil during construction last year and while Fuller Excavating did a great job removing most of the plants there were still some growing this year.

Coaches Francia and Provost were happy to have their team help maintain the trail since they use it so often when training.The runners took to the challenge in good spirits and did a great job.  They deserve a big thank you from all dog owners who use the trail, cockleburs stick like glue to dog fur and can hurt if caught in a paw.

This was the scene today at St. Augustine’s Parish Center at a primary election being conducted for registered Independence Party, Working Families Party and Conservative voters. Members of other parties are not eligible to vote. The polls close at 9 p.m. As of 2:30 p.m. only five voters had cast ballots.

Here is the 2015 Battle of Plattsburgh Event Schedule – The Parade is 1 PM Saturday. 

Peru – The 38^th Annual St. Augustine’s Applefest will be held on Saturday, September 19th and Sunday September 20^th. Saturday’s 11 a.m. parade is followed by live music, a giant craft fair, food, games, rides and a Sunday afternoon chicken BBQ.  All the activities take place at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.  The parade begins at the Peru Elementary School.

Saturday’s music includes the Plattsburgh Pipe and Drum Corps, the SUNY Plattsburgh Gospel Choir and the Bootleg Band. On Sunday at 11:30 a.m. the Compass Rose Band will perform followed by the Durham County Poets Band. Click here to learn more about Peru’s Applefest!

Ausable Chasm is organizing the first annual 5k Run, Ruck, or Walk to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project has helped tens of thousands of wounded service members and their families return to civilian life.

The race will be held on Ausable Chasm’s scenic walking trails. After the race enter into the raffle for a chance to win prizes from local companies!

The race will be held on Saturday September 26th starting at 8:00 am. You can register online at www.ausablechasm.com. The entrance fee is $25 per person.

So come on out and help support a great cause while enjoying some beautiful trails!

Contact:

Alex Myhr

ausablechasm5k@gmail.com

By John T. Ryan

Last September when the Peru Town Board appointed Dave Drollette as Dog Control Officer (DCO) it’s doubtful that they anticipated what was ahead. As of September 4^th, 2015, 160 more dogs were licensed than last year at this time. Dog licensing is important because it ensures that rabies shots are current and permits rapid animal identification.

Town Clerk Kathy Flynn collects the dog license fees. She remarked, “Dave’s so visible with the DCO sign on his truck.” Flynn said Drollette is good at working with people to resolve complaints. She said, “He has a soft, gentle way about him.” Town Clerk Flynn and Drollette have been coordinating license enforcement. Flynn mails annual license renewal notices and a second notice 30-days later. When the second notice is not paid within 10 days, owners can expect a personal visit from Drollette.

Dave Drollette, a retired 23-year U.S. Navy veteran, tries to work with people rather than issuing tickets. He explained, “I approach people and I don’t harass them. I don’t issue a ticket unless I have a second violation.” Drollette said he doesn’t go out of his way looking for violations; he usually gets a phone call from a neighbor when there’s a problem. An unlicensed stray dog can be expensive to the owner. If Drollette brings a dog to the Elmore SPCA, the boarding charge is $50 for the first day and $25 for each day thereafter. If a dog is not claimed within seven days it is put up for adoption. While Drollette has issued only 24 tickets over the past year, a ticket results in a court appearance and possible fine.

Dogs four months of age or older (there are exceptions) must be licensed. A license costs $9.50 per year ($5 for seniors 65 and over) and $17.50 for non-spaded or non-neutered animals.

DCO Drollette can be reached at 578-2217.

Our first photo post of the Saturday September 5, 2015 30-6 Peru Indian defeat of the Beekmantown Eagles contains 180 photos. We tried our best to narrow some of the game highlights down to 31 photos. We managed to photograph Troy Lawyer’s 86 yard 4th quarter run and several other highlights.  Click here for our highlight photos.

Indians ready to take to the field

The Eagles scored first, but a block of the extra point kick was a key play.

The Peru Indians won their Opening Day football game and Ryon O’Connell won his first game as Indians Head Coach this afternoon at the Apple Bowl. The Indians defeated arch rival Beekmantown 30 to 6 in a game featuring opening day mistakes, a spirited defense, surprise plays and an explosive offense. The Peru Gazette was there. We hope our photos captured some of the excitement and the plays as they unfolded. Anyone is welcome to download any or all the photos. Click here to view photos.

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

·         Public Hearing on the comprehensive district-wide and building-level school safety plans

·         Award Surplus Bid items

·         Review the Agreement for Health Services

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

All are welcome.

The Peru Town Board has proposed updating the Town’s Dog Control Law.  Town Supervisor Peter Glushko explained that the changes being proposed are concentrated in Section 17 of the law. Mr. Glushko stated, “We clarified the requirement for dog owners to pay all vet bills incurred by the Town before they can reclaim their dog from the shelter. That requirement used to be spelled out in our contract with Elmore SPCA before all the changes they required before contracting with us.” Glushko said NYS law requires that the Town provide stabilizing vet care to any dog picked up with medical issues.  He concluded, ” Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay vet bills because of violations of the leash law.'”

The Town Board’s public hearing will be held on Monday September 14, 2015 at 6:30 PM before its regular meeting.

Source: Long-awaited Lake Champlain cleanup plan targets farms | NCPR News

Click here for Run for Jon 2015 Results

By John T. Ryan

The past several days were undoubtedly memorable for Reverend Dr. Robert Svenson. Last Friday evening the Peru Community Church hosted a Recognition Dinner to honor his service as their pastor. Sunday he delivered his last sermon at the church and Monday he officially retired after forty-two years of ministry.

Anyone attending Friday night’s dinner soon became aware of that it was going to be a joyous, friendly, informal evening. All the speakers, including the church’s youth group president, addressed Reverend Svenson as “Bob.” It was very clear that his congregation regarded him as both a pastor and a friend. St. Augustine’s Church Pastor Reverend Alan Shnob was one of the people sitting at Rev. Svenson’s table. Interviewed last Thursday Rev. Svenson explained, “Our two Peru churches have always had a close relationship. My friendship with Father Alan started with a lunch. I don’t recall who asked whom out to lunch. Now if we can’t do lunch every Friday we’ll do dinner. He often invites me over to the rectory where Roberta (the rectory housekeeper) or his sister Carol cooks a great meal.”

Asked what he considers to be his great accomplishment Reverend Svenson responded, “I can’t think of any one thing. A lot has nothing to do with me, but I supported it – the Jamaican Mission, the Youth Group DC Mission program, teaching counseling to other pastors with Don Haight. This church also has a history of community outreach. We participated in the Family Promise Program where every month we would house one family for a week. Last night a group worked at the St. Augustine’s Soup Kitchen. These are the types of things that really matter. If my ministry has been successful it’s because God has been good to us and because the people in this church are sensational at pitching in.”

Reverend Svenson said the Peru Community Church’s community outreach flows from its worship service. He said, “Preaching! It’s a huge responsibility. You are teaching the people about God and who Jesus Christ is. If the worship service isn’t the center of the church then it’s just a social agency. Worship is the center of what we do here and everything else flows from that, our mission, our action.”

After The Peru Gazette published photos of Friday night’s Recognition Dinner, Community Church member Paul Madore addressed a comment to Rev. Svenson, “Your sermons here were second to none, and you have helped so many, many members with such well prepared, Holy Spirit inspired sermons. Words cannot express the admiration for you as our preacher, our mentor, our angel on earth, and I’m proud to say a friend.”

Reverend Svenson had special praise for Amanda Connelly, the church’s office manager/bookkeeper. He said, “I could not do what I do without Amanda Connelly. My career here has to a large extent been successful because of Amanda. She has been invaluable.”

Wednesday morning Reverend Dr. Robert “Bob” Svenson will be driving a truck to Syracuse where he’ll meet one of his five children who will accompany him to Tucson, Arizona. There he will reside with his daughter Elizabeth. His son Christopher lives next door to Elizabeth. Christopher’s job often takes him out of town, so Reverend Svenson is looking forward to spending a lot of time with Christopher’s three children.

He would like to stay in contact with his friends and recently joined Facebook. He can be emailed at robertericsvenson@gmail.com.

Click here to read our 2008 story about Reverend Svenson’s being installed as pastor. 

5^th Annual Kids Fair and Festival – September 12-13, 2015 – Hours 10am – 4pm.

Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum, 250 River Rd., Peru, NY 12972.

Old time games including hopscotch, sack races, corn box, bobbing for apples, pumpkin tic tac toe, egg races, bean bag toss; stagecoach and Thomas the Train rides; hayrides; face painting; visit the animals; climb the hay mound; watch the Blacksmith at work.  Picnic area available. Lunch will be available from Kat’s Katering.

A Northern New York Agricultural Development Program project report encourages farmers to consider the benefits of tile drainage to both crop production and environmental stewardship. The research is especially timely as farms face changes to the environmental standards they are required to meet and at a time when federal and state funding is available for installing the tile drainage.

As many states refine their phosphorus management requirements for farm nutrient management plans, it is critical that the models they use are based on representative field conditions and sound data, says project leader Eric Young, research agronomist at W. H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, Chazy, NY.

Young estimates the return on investment from installing tile drainage on farms with slow or very slow permeability is from seven to 12 percent over five to 10 years.

The goal of the most recent tile drainage research funded by the farmer-driven NNYADP was to compare phosphorus losses between tile drained and undrained test plots designed to simulate field-scale conditions typical of northern NY dairies.

Undrained conditions resulted in greater surface water runoff and phosphorus losses compared to tile drained lots, Young says. Read more »

Today was the 25th anniversary of the Run For Jon. In 1990, 13 year-old Jonathan 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 related to Jon’s illness. Two weeks before the 2nd Run, Jonathan passed away. Every year since then, the family and friends have held the Run for Jon to raise money for the families of local children with serious medical problems.

The Peru Gazette arrived before today’s run to take photos of the Evans family and several of the volunteers who make the event possible. Click here to see our Peru Gazette photos. 

Learn all about today’s farms today at Maplegrand/Irwin Farms, 135 Jarvis Rd. in Peru. You still have time. The program ends at 3 p.m. Here are a few Peru Gazette photos. It was a pleasure seeing Mrs. Bert Irwin out and about. It’s a beautiful day to visit one our region’s most beautiful farms. It’s a small farm by today’s standards milking 80 cows. However, Brothers Melvin, Jim and Bob Irwin also lease land and sell rolled hay, registered holsteins and feed crops as well as running an orchard opposite Peru Elementary School. Today’s program is sponsored by the Clinton County Farm Bureau. Click here to see our Peru Gazette photos.

Rev. Svenson receives a parting gift from dinner chair Cindi LaFountain

August 29, 2015 – There was a very large turnout at the August 28, 2015 Recognition Dinner for retiring Peru Community Church Pastor Reverend Dr. Robert Svenson. It was a joyous evening as members of the clergy, church members and Reverend “Bob’s” friends thanked him for his service over the past twelve years. The evening closed with a surprise performance from Reverend Svenson’s longtime friend Broadway Star Karen Mason. A video of her performance is posted on the Peru Gazette Facebook page.

A Peru Gazette interview with Rev. Dr. Svenson will be published next week.  By the time that interview is posted, Reverend Svenson will likely be on his way to Tucson, Arizona where two of his five children and three of his grandchildren reside. He will deliver his last Peru sermon tomorrow.  Click here to view more Peru Gazette photos of last evening’s dinner.

Everyone rose with applause at the evening’s close.