The Peru Gazette

City Police investigating stabbing death – Press-Republican: News.

Regular Mtg Agenda 08252014

4th Annual Kids Fair and Festival at the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum– September 6-7, 2014 – Hours 10am – 4pm. Old time games including hopscotch, sack races, corn box, bobbing for apples, egg races; stagecoach rides; pony rides; face painting; catch a fish. Kat’s Catering will be present
518-643-8052 http://www.babbiemuseum.org/

Peru Central School’s Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at Livingood’s Restaurant on Saturday, September 27, 2014. This year’s nominees are John Rock (68), Travis Angevine (88), Nicky Viti-Duprey (98), and Jennifer Goette (92).

A 6:30 p.m. social will be followed by a 7 p.m. dinner. The cost is $20 per person. Checks should be sent to Cathy Phillips, 4 Vista Drive, Willsboro, NY 12996. Phone 963-7963. Make checks payable to Peru Athletic Hall of Fame and please include the names of the people coming.

The annual Run For Jon was held on Saturday, August 23rd at Forrence Orchards on the Mannix Rd. in Peru. There was a great turnout for this wonderful charitable and family event. Congratulations to the Evans family and everyone who work so hard each year to make the run a success.

In 1990, 13 year-old Jon 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. Just two weeks before the 2nd Run, Jon passed away. Since Jon’s passing the money has been used to assist families of local children with serious medical problems and to honor the memory of Jon Evans. Last year the Run For Jon raised $5,000. Click here for our Peru Gazette Photos in a slideshow format with music.  Unfortunately we had to leave immediately after the start of the last run category, so we don’t have photos of the closing festivities. Click here for a photo by photo view.

The presence of dogs may be a thing of the past at sporting events at Laphams Mills and Sullivan Parks. In response to a serious July 30^th dog-biting incident at Laphams Mills Park, the Peru Town Board directed Town Attorney Donald Biggs to draft a local law that would prohibit dogs, even on a leash, during sports events at town parks. Dogs would be permitted at other times. The Board will schedule a public hearing prior to enacting the local law. Counselor Donald McBrayer did not agree with this approach. McBrayer favored enforcing the existing dog ordinance that requires that dog owners always have their animal under control. Personal safety, especially child safety, was the counselors primary concern. Other counselors expressed the viewpoint that outright prohibition would be the best way to guarantee safety. The dog involved in the July 20^th incident was on a leash.

No matter what the Board decides to do Peru resident David Drollette will be involved. He is the Town of Peru’s Dog Control Officer effective August 12th. His pay rate will be the same as his predecessor Kelly Allen who resigned from the position – $817.00 per month. Drollette will be subject to a 90-day probationary period. He can be reached at 643-5076 (home) or 578-2217 (cell). Five individuals applied for the position.

It appears certain that Comcast will be replacing Charter Communications as Peru’s cable television provider. The Board passed a resolution approving the transfer of service from Charter to Comcast with the provision that Comcast will maintain all existing services. The Board does not have many options in the matter. The switch would include all of Charter’s Clinton County customers.

In other actions the Town Board:

Established 9 a.m. as the official opening hour for the Town Hall. Doors will be open to the public at that time.

Rescinded their July 28^th resolution to give Town Justice James Kirby a temporary 50% pay raise. Kirby has been handling the Town’s entire court workload since illness forced Judge Jack Lawliss from the bench. The Board still intends to give Kirby the pay increase, but the action will require a public hearing and passage of a local law. The public hearing is scheduled for August 25^th at 6:30 p.m.

City Hall Auditorium, 41 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Free Admission: Co-sponsored by the Lake Champlain Committee, Adirondack Council, Adirondack Mountain Club, and the Center for Biological Diversity.

Experts will discuss risks to the environment, schools and communities from transport of explosive Bakken crude oil on rail lines between Montreal and Albany.

Hear about federal spill-response plans; threats to fisheries and drinking water; risks to local schools, homes, and businesses; and the potential for additional risks if trains start shipping tar-sands crude as well as Bakken oil.

Find out what you can do to help local, state and federal officials protect our communities, farmland, tourism, wildlife and water. Lake Champlain, local rivers including the Saranac, Ausable and Boquet; and, the Adirondack Park, which contains 100 miles of rail corridor, are all in harm’s way.

The Champlain Valley has become a conduit for trains laden with explosive Bakken crude oil. How well are our communities prepared to deal with a tragedy on the scale of that which devastated Lac Megantic, Quebec just over a year ago? What ecological impacts would result from a derailment on the shores of Lake Champlain?

Learn more about the risks oil trains pose to the North Country and steps community, state and federal governments need to take to respond to and prevent disasters.

This Saturday at 5 p.m., you can have some great family fun, get some exercise and support an important cause. The Run For Jon at Forrence Orchards on Mannix Road in Peru (off Route 22B) is a wonderful community event celebrating its 24th year helping families who have children with serious medical needs.

Each year, the run draw hundreds of spectators and participants of all ages: running, walking or pushing baby joggers. Anyone can participate. There is a kids fun run, a 1.25-mile walk and a 2.5-mile cross-country race. There are team, baby jogger and individual awards (ages 0-70+) and numerous door prizes for participants. Over the 24 years of this event, literally raised tens of thousands of dollars for these deserving and needy families. Last year’s race raised nearly $5,000. Registration begins at 3:30 pm. Due to health regulations, pets are strictly prohibited from the site.

The event started out as an effort to help the family of Jonathan Evans, who died of cancer after a long struggle, deal with the overwhelming expenses associated with their son’s care. The Evans family and many volunteers have continued the event to assist other families in similar circumstances.

The 2.5-mile run is a really great race, sanctioned by USA Track and Field. The course is challenging and beautiful. Some past participants have gone on to the Olympics, national rankings and state championships.

By John T. Ryan

Additional Highway Department garage roof repairs, a delay in Safe Routes to School upgrades, appreciation to Town Justice James Kirby, a land offer, dead trees and comments about the new Town Hall steps were the primary subjects at the Monday, July 28, 2014 Peru Town Board meeting.

In summary the Board:

Approved additional repairs to the Highway Department Garage roof in the amount of approximately $19,000. Several roof panels will be replaced and new screws and washers will be installed in another roof section. These repairs are in addition to the already approved $145,000 roof repair project.

Rejected bids for upgrading pedestrian and bicycle access to the Peru Central School campus. Bids on the federally funded Safe Routes to School project came in $45,000 higher than projected. Over the next several months the Board will confer with the Peru Central School Board of Education to ask if they might be able to help fund the project. Reducing the scope of the project will also be explored.

Approved a salary 50% stipend for Town Justice James Kirby for the months August through December 2014. Kirby has been the Town’s only Town Justice since Judge John Lawliss resigned in late June. Subsequent to this meeting Supervisor Peter Glushko learned that passage of a Local Law was required for such a stipend.  Scheduling a public hearing for a Local Law will be voted on at the Board’s August 11^th meeting.

Listened to Winfried Holdereid who was present to offer the Town of Peru 23 acres of property in the vicinity of the town’s sewage treatment plant. Holdereid was willing to sell or gift the property to the town. Holdereid is the owner of the Tops Plaza, Peru’s primary retail shopping area.

Discussed a complaint from a property owner residing at the corner of Pleasant and School Streets who alleged that the work done to the School Street sidewalk damaged four trees on his property. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell will investigate. Farrell reminded the Board that the town has a fifteen-foot right away from the edge of any town highway.

Board members expressed general satisfaction with the recently completed Town Hall entrance steps. Counselor Brandy McDonald was concerned with the slope of the top step, while Counselor Kregg Bruno didn’t think the steps were deep enough. Everyone appeared to be satisfied with the steps’ overall appearance. The project cost approximately $95,000.

Supervisor Gluhsko reported that five individuals were interviewed for the Dog Control Officer’s (DCO) position.  The Board’s decision will be announced at its August 11th meeting.

By John T. Ryan

It appears the Town of Peru will have a race to fill its open town justice position in the November elections. The Democratic Party caucused on July 31^st and unanimously selected Karen Glushko as their candidate for the position. On August 8^th the Town of Peru Republican Committee announced that it unanimously endorsed Larry Cabana for the position. The Republicans will caucus on Tuesday, August 19^th at 7 p.m. If Cabana is successful at the caucus, he will face Glushko in the November 4^th election.

The town justice position opened when Town Justice John Lawliss resigned in late June citing health reasons. Lawliss served nine years in the position. Judge James Kirby has been handling the court workload for several weeks.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 6 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 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. Anticipated topics include:

• An update on summer projects
• Appointment of various personnel
• The tax levy and tax rate
• Community calendar

By Adele Douglas

The crane was late and the weather threatening but despite those challenges Fuller Excavating did a great job of placing the bridge over the Little Ausable River, as part of the Town’s Little Ausable River Trail project. Watching the whole operation unfold, from the set-up of the crane, to the maneuvering of the large trucks transporting the bridge, to the pinpoint placement of the structure was a lesson in organization, efficiency and precision.

The project is wrapping-up nicely. The trail should be paved starting the week of August 18^th and will hopefully open to the public in mid-September. Stay tuned!

Setting up the crane at the site of the bridge crossing. From CCS of Vermont, the crane can lift 275 tons.

The second of two 50’ bridge sections is raised off the truck that brought them up from Pioneer Bridges in Alabama.

The two bridge sections have been bolted together and make their way into place as the bolts on the abutment are cleaned-up. The bridge weighs about 19 tons.

Almost there.

Operations Manager Doug Hesseltine asks the crane operator to lower the bridge. It’s a perfect fit onto the bolts of the abutment.

On the bridge Site Superintendent Noah Rounds, Foreman Alan Fuller and Doug Hesseltine prepare to remove the crane cables. From start (when the crane arrived) to finish the placement of the bridge took 5 hours.

The boardwalk approach over wetlands to the bridge from the Route 22 side of the trail.

By John T. Ryan

Over the past few days The Peru Gazette received two phone calls asking if we had seen the beautiful work done by Lauren Lawliss for this week’s Vacation Bible School (VBS). When the program’s 162 students descended the Peru Community Church’s Fellowship Center stairs to the VBS classrooms, they passed through a multitude of Lauren Lawliss’s artwork that traces the life of Moses through the Bible. Manna and the quail, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, Moses and the Amalekites and receiving the Ten Commandments are beautifully depicted.

The daughter of Michael and Lisa Lawliss and soon to be a Peru High School 10^th grader, Lauren Lawliss illustrated the VBS theme for the 3^rd consecutive year. She began working in June and estimates that it took her over 100 hours to reach her goal. She explained, “I attended the Vacation Bible School from Pre-K through the 6th grade and I loved it. I want to give back to the community and I love seeing the faces of the children when they walk down the classroom hallway.”

Lauren Lawliss also volunteers to assist in the VBS classroom. Today she was working with 1^st graders. She’s just one of 82 volunteers who are working to make the program a success. Students return year after year because the program is focused on being educational and fun.

St. Augustine’s Church and the Peru Community Church jointly sponsor the Vacation Bible School. Children from many faith traditions participate in the five-day program.

Charles Remillard, of Peru, NY, was one of 50 SUNY Oneonta student-athletes named to the State University of New York Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and Commissioner’s List for the Spring 2014 season.

To qualify for the All-Academic Team, a student must be varsity athlete who has completed the entire season and earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.3 for the semester in which they competed. In addition, to be named to the Commissioner’s List, the student athlete must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3 based on three semesters at the institution. (Does not have to be consecutive semesters). Remillard, who is majoring in Secondary Education, was a member of the Track & Field team.

A liberal arts college with a pre-professional focus, SUNY Oneonta features outstanding and accessible faculty, students committed to academics and community service, exceptional technology, a modern Field House and athletic facilities, and a beautiful campus. The college enrolls 6,000 students in its 70 undergraduate majors and 15 graduate programs. Athletes compete on 21 teams at the NCAA Division III level, and the college is a member of the SUNYAC conference.

A liberal arts institution with a strong focus on undergraduate research, SUNY Oneonta consistently gains recognition for delivering excellence and value. The college has been named to Kiplinger’s list of “100 Best Values in Public Colleges” for eight consecutive years, was ranked No. 2 on the 2014 Kiplinger’s list of “10 Best Public Colleges With Lowest Debt at Graduation” and sits at No. 16 on the 2014 U.S. News and World Report list of the best public institutions in the region.The college enrolls 6,000 students in its 70 undergraduate majors and 14 graduate programs.

The following Peru, NY students were named to the dean’s list at Paul Smith’s College during the spring 2014 semester. Each earned a semester average of 3.3 or higher to receive this distinction:

Emily Brosseau of Peru, N.Y., who is majoring in hotel, resort and tourism management.

Grace Mayhew of Peru, N.Y., who is majoring in environmental sciences.

Marijuana debate heats up in U.S. and Canada « The In Box.

Rob Duquette, a resident of Peru, N.Y. was one of 93 SUNY Potsdam student-athletes to earn a spot on the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Academic Team for the spring semester, the conference announced Tuesday, July 29.

Duquette is a Senior member of the SUNY Potsdam Men’s Basketball team. Players named to the all-academic team have a minimum of a 3.3 GPA for the Spring 2014 semester.

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.

Emma Altizer and Sarah Connelly of Peru were named to Le Moyne College’s  spring semester Dean’s List.  Altizer, who recently completed her junior year, is majoring in Biology. Sarah Connelly completed her senior year and majored in Psychology.

Located in a suburban setting on a picturesque 160-acre campus in Syracuse, N.Y., Le Moyne College is one of only 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Offering more than 30 majors, Le Moyne provides a values-based education that helps students explore their potential through academics, experience and service. In 2014, for the first time ever, Le Moyne was ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to “The Best 378 Colleges.” A Le Moyne education provides students with the intellectual skills necessary to succeed in the world and the will to use their abilities to promote a more just society.

Megan M Tedford of Peru, NY, received academic honors from the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University by making the Dean’s List for the spring 2014 semester.

Binghamton University is one of the four university centers of the State University of New York. Known for the excellence of its students, faculty, staff and programs, Binghamton enrolls close to 15,000 students in programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Its curriculum, founded in the liberal arts, has expanded to include selected professional and graduate programs.

Watch harvesting of buckwheat and oats using antique farming equipment and loose hay being gathered and stored at the Hay and Harvest Plus Music Weekend August 16th and 17th at the Babbie Farm and Rural Leaning Museum. Enjoy the demonstrations in the granary. Music by Flashback (50’s music/classic country) on Saturday at 2:30. Sunday is Irish Day with performances by Champlain Valley Irish Dancers at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Also wheat weaving and making corn husk dolls. Picnic area available…. bring your own lunch or hotdogs, chips, and soda will be available for purchase. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Call 518-643-8052 http://www.babbiemuseum.org/

The “Ride For The Roof” is taking place and Randy Furnia is at home roasting delicious pork for this afternoon’s great meal at the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center. All proceeds will be donated to install a new roof on the Fellowship Center. Experienced Road Captain Rick Lawrence is leading the cycles on a 100-mile ride through the Adirondacks. Community members and riders are invited to the pig roast dinner which will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Fellowship Center. You do not have to ride to attend the pig roast.

At this morning’s registration at Livingoods Restaurant Rev. Robert Svenson and Rev. Alan Shnob conducted a “Blessing of the Bikes” before kickstands went up at 10AM. The 1 to 5 PM pig roast will include music by Peru’s own DJ Don “Yo” McBrayer, raffles and a silent auction. The pig roast is $25 for passengers and non-riders. The Peru Gazette thanks Don McBrayer for the cycle photos!

By John T. Ryan

The Town Board meeting of Monday, July 14^th adjourned at 10:15 p.m. following a 40-minute Executive Meeting on personnel issues and long discussions of several other items.  Town Counselors’ frustration with inaccurate engineer cost estimates dominated the meeting as bids came in higher than expected on yet another project. In January 2013, the Town of Peru received a $235,000 Safe Routes to School Program grant. To date planning and engineering costs total $45,000 with more costs to be incurred for supervision and inspection. Equipment and construction costs were estimated at $145,000, but when the bids were opened on July 3^rd, the lowest bid meeting specifications totaled $195,618. While the Town is not at financial risk since the program is 100% federally funded, counselors no longer trust engineer cost estimates. Counselors asked how they could make engineering firms more accountable.

Counselor Jim Douglass was in favor of rebidding the project. Counselor Kregg Bruno suggested asking the Peru Central School to assume a great share of the cost since most of the improvement will take place on the school campus. He said, “The Town has gotten the grant. I think the school should come up with some money.” Prior to the Board’s July 28^th meeting, the Board will look into reducing the project scope or delaying the project until a time when construction companies have less work. It appears to be a seller’s market at this time.

The Safe Routes to Schools Program is designed to improve safety of the crosswalk on 22B; build sidewalks where needed on campus to keep students from walking where cars and buses are driving; install bike racks at all entrances and; an educational, in-school component, to raise awareness and encourage walking and biking to school safely.

The Board’s frustration with engineers virtually exploded when Glushko reported that repairs to the Highway Department Garage roof could cost $33,000 more than estimates. The contractor performing the work observed additional roof panels in need of replacement and many loose panel screws. Waterproof insulation was also recommended. Counselors Kregg Bruno and Brandy McDonald said all these issues were thoroughly discussed with engineers during the bid formulation process. Bruno said members expressed skepticism at the insulation proposal stating that keeping water out was the reason the roof was being repaired. Installing screws and replacing needed panels appeared to be absolutely necessary. A decision will be made at the Monday, July 28^th meeting. 

Code Enforcement Officer Frank Slycord reported that he has issued building permits for twelve new single-family homes since January 1^st. Seven homes are site-built homes, three are modular homes and two are doublewide homes.

The Board interviewed five candidates for the Dog Control Officer’s position. The Board is expected to announce its choice at its Monday, July 28^th meeting.

The Board approved the installation of three fingerprint-based time clocks. Wells Communications will train personnel and install the clocks in the Town Hall, the Water Department and the Sewer Department at a cost of $3,188. The clocks should result in more accurate computation of regular and overtime hours worked.

Supervisor Peter Glushko addressed the Board regarding the July 20^th International Peruvian Festival. Plans are in place for 11 a.m. ceremonies at the Town Hall followed by food and entertainment in Calkins Hall at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center. Only two local residents have stepped forward to house the visitors (Glushko and Counselor Donald McBrayer); therefore, the Town will be assuming the cost of some housing and the food to be served.

New Peru resident Judi Grant addressed the Board stating that she would like to serve on town committees. She said, “I would like to invest my time in the community.” After some discussion, the Board asked Grant to do fact-finding on instituting a farmer’s market at Heyworth/Mason Park next summer.

WASHINGTON—Today Congressman Bill Owens announced new funding allocations for local law enforcement agencies through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) state and local preparedness grant program for Fiscal Year 2014. OPSG provides funding to support operational preparedness along the northern and southern U.S. borders and to improve coordination among Federal, state, territorial and local law enforcement agencies.

This allocation includes $102,392 for organizations in Jefferson County, $103,860 in Clinton County, $103,860 in Franklin County and $101,613 in St. Lawrence County.

“This funding will give emergency preparedness officials and first responders the necessary support to ensure North Country border communities are safe,” said Owens. “With significant rising demand at our region’s border crossings and land ports, this funding will encourage legitimate trade and tourism while preventing illegal trafficking, keeping local communities secure and economies growing.”

Congressman Owens sits on the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee which oversees funding allocations. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Northern Border Caucus and has led numerous efforts to create a safer, smarter northern border. Owens previously proposed legislation (H.R. 4747) to increase the penalty for people caught trafficking through tribal lands, and (H.R. 4748) to improve coordination between the Office of National Drug Control Policy and DHS.

Law enforcement agencies in New York’s northern border communities have received funding through the OPSG program since 2008.

Watertown Daily Times | Doheny steps out, throws his support to Elise Stefanik.