The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The plight of a parent seeking help with the care of his autistic child was the most memorable news at the Peru Town Board’s March 10, 2014 meeting. Steve Vanvalkenburg told the Board, “I’m a sad father. My ten-year old autistic son Ethan requires professional one on one care. He has been kicked out of several daycare facilities and other daycare facilities are unwilling to take children with disabilities.” Vanvalkenburg said his child requires one on one care and he has run out of options. Both Vanvalkenburg and his wife are employed – he is a janitor and his wife works at Wal-Mart; therefore, childcare is especially needed during the summer months. He asked, “Why does the community care for people who are older and not for children?”

Board members responded offering the names of resources and mentioning people who are especially concerned with autistic issues.  Supervisor Glushko said he would follow-up and get back to Vanvalkenburg and Counselor Jim Douglass asked Vanvalkenburg to keep the Board informed. Counselor Donald McBrayer said he would speak to Assemblywoman Janet Duprey who is widely known to be concerned about issues facing autistic children and their parents.

The Town will apply for a $25,000 grant to develop a plan for a Main Street improvement project. Main Street enhancement was a goal mentioned in the Town’s new comprehensive plan. Improvements could include planting trees, sidewalk repair, installing bike lanes and more. Resident input will be sought.

Peter Gibbs, the Town of Peru’s contract engineer, discussed his plans for the town hall entrance stairs.  Counselor Kregg Bruno’s contracting background was evident as he asked several questions. The Board approved Gibbs’ concept after making several suggestions.  The Board has limited the project’s cost to $60,000. Entrance Stair Plan presented to Board

The Board offered several comments and suggestions

Planning for the Walking Trail construction progressed. Bids have been advertised and will be opened on Wednesday, March 19^th at 11AM. Eighteen individuals/contractors have picked up project details from Town Clerk Kathy Flynn.

In other actions/news:

The Board discussed how to pay for the upcoming Fuller Road culvert repair project and Hurricane Irene related road/drainage repairs and improvement. The Fuller Street culvert replacement and road repair will cost $301,225 and the Town will have to pay $330,336 for road and drainage repairs that FEMA did not finance. Supervisor Glushko will research funding options for the next Board meeting.

The $160,000 in needed repairs to the Highway Department garage roof will be funded through the Town’s general budget. Bond anticipation notes or municipal bonds were mentioned as possible means of paying for the work.

Board members agreed to develop a formal Town of Peru Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) policy.

The Board held a 15-minute Executive Meeting to discuss litigation issues and employment history.

BREAKING:State Announces Purchase of More Former Finch Lands – The Adirondack Almanack

Lawrence Gooley: Old Values and Modern Education – The Adirondack Almanack

Region braces for Vulcan » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

School officials say close the Gap » Local News » Press-Republican.

New Democrat joins race for Congress » Local News » Press-Republican.

LOUDENVILLE, NY, March 10, 2014 —Teach For America announced today that Morgan Flynn, a senior at Siena College, has been accepted to the organization’s 2014 teaching corps. A native of Peru, New York, Flynn studies English and Education at Siena College. She was selected from an applicant pool of over 50,000, one of the largest and most diverse in the organization’s history. She is the fourth Siena graduate to join the teaching corps and will teach in Mississippi next year. Teach For America is the national corps of top recent college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in the pursuit of educational opportunity for all students.

Teach For America trains more teachers to teach in low-income communities than any other organization or institution in the country. Read more »

City & State – Wild, Wild North.

Cuomo: N.Y. to run ski bus service from NYC, Toronto – Times Union.

Regular Mtg Agenda 10Mar2014

Watertown Daily Times | Fort Drum generates $1.4 billion in economic activity; slight decrease from previous year.

The Peru School Band, Chorus and alumni are seeking participants to present an honorary concert for longtime former Peru Band director Lynn Wilke to be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in the Peru School Auditorium.

Wilke was band, chorus and general music teacher at the school for more than 30 years. His halftime shows were known for their creativity, extravagance and, occasionally, humor. Wilke and his wife Joanne directed musicals each year and he led the band in the opening of the 1964 World’s Fair and at the Olympics in Lake Placid in 1980. He is still involved in music as the organist at St. Augustine’s church, a position he has held for 50 years.

Peru alumni from any year up to the present or any musician in the area that would like to be a part of this event can email kirkwilke03@aol.com.

There will be two rehearsals for the concert: from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 11, and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 12.

Elected Capital Region officials oppose Cuomo tax freeze – Times Union.

Senate blocks military sexual-assault bill – Houston Chronicle.

Morgan Flynn has been named to Siena College’s President’s List for the Fall 2013 Semester. Flynn, of Peru, NY, is majoring in English education. To be included on the President’s List, a student’s GPA for the semester must be 3.9 or higher. Flynn was one of 235 students who were named to this semester’s list.

Founded in 1937, Siena College is a private, Catholic Franciscan, residential, liberal arts college with a student body of about 3,000. Siena College offers 27 degree programs, 50 minors and certificate programs, and professional curricula in teacher preparation/education, pre-medical, pre-law and social work. A student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, average class size of 21, rigorous academics, Division I athletics, intramural sports and widespread service and advocacy experiences nurture each student’s personal growth while providing the education of a lifetime.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 5 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 PM start.  A public Community Budget Forum is slated to begin at 6 PM.  The School Board is expected to reconvene for its regular monthly session business at approximately 7:00 PM.  Anticipated topics include:

• Budget Development Timetable
• Policy Review
• Proposed Annual Meeting/Vote Propositions

Astorino announces candidacy for governor « The In Box.

Adirondack Insects: Extreme Cold And Climate Change – The Adirondack Almanack 

Senator Betty Little (center) talks with county and town highway superintendents during the annual “Local Roads Matter” lobby day in Albany on Wednesday, March 5.  Under the executive budget proposal, funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) and the Federal Municipal Streets and Highways Program (“Marchiselli”) would be held at current levels. The Peru Highway Department budgeted $174,323 in CHIPS revenues for 2014, almost 11% of its anticipated revenue. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko, Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell and Town Board Highway Department Liaison Donald McBrayer are seen in the upper right of this photo which was supplied by Senator Little’s office.

The Medicaid solution – The Observation Deck.

Panel’s new chief vetted – Times Union.

Senator Betty Little is pictured with Quebec’s New York delegate general, Dominique Poirier, in the senator’s Albany office on Monday, March 3.  Little and Poirier discussed tourism, the success of Canadian companies operating in New York and the importance of the cross-border trade relationship.

Senator Betty Little has been appointed to the Rules Committee an the Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee in the
State Senate.

She will continue to serve as chair of the Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee, and as a member of the following committees: Consumer Protection, Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, Education, Environmental Conservation, Finance and Judiciary.

“With the departures of a couple of senators there was some shuffling and a chance to serve on some new committees,” said Little.  “The commerce
committee focuses on job creation and the rules committee sees much of the legislation that makes its way to the Senate floor. Both are good
opportunities to add my perspective on behalf of my constituents.”

Peru native dies in Fla. car/motorcycle crash » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.