The Peru Gazette

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October 4, 2024, Plattsburgh – Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) presented North Country Honor Flight with $100,000 that he secured in state funding at Lake City Choppers in Plattsburgh before the first motorcycle escort departed to pick up veterans for the Honor Flights on Saturday. This funding will support North Country Honor Flight’s mission to bring local veterans to Washington, D.C., to see our Nation’s war memorials.

“I am proud to have secured $100,000 in funding in the state budget for the North Country Honor Flight,” said Jones.  “I have seen firsthand the important work NCHF does throughout the North Country in honoring and recognizing our veterans for all their sacrifices for our great nation. I am humbled to be a part of this organization and its important mission, and I will continue to support our veterans in any way I can. I want to thank the North Country Honor Flight organization and all their dedicated members and volunteers for all they do for our veterans here in the North Country.

“Thank you to Assemblyman Billy Jones for his steadfast support over the years,” said Barrie Finnegan, Executive Director of North Country Honor Flight. “This funding has been invaluable in helping us bring veterans to our Nation’s capital, and we look forward to continuing to work together to support our local veterans.”

Amendments, public hearings and public comment period detailed

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(Please Share) Peru, NY – Chris Garrow, a 1994 Peru High School graduate, was a member of the New York State Police for 23 years, starting as a trooper in Plattsburgh.  Chris passed away on June 12, 2023, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. His cancer was deemed a result of his time responding to the recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Chris loved the job, and being the overachiever, he stayed busy as a Marine Operator, Firearms Instructor, member of the State Police Underwater Rescue Team, and Field Training Officer. He held ranks of Sergeant, Station Commander, Lieutenant, and, most recently, Captain, which was his career goal. Chris was a distinguished pistol expert and received a Superintendence Commendation Award and a 911 First Responder award.

The Garrow family is deeply touched by the community’s support and is eager to reciprocate. With the effort of many friends, they are organizing a fundraiser on Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12. The funds raised will benefit the Christopher Garrow Fund, providing scholarships to aspiring Peru High School graduates and supporting local families affected by cancer. Your participation in this fundraiser is appreciated and will better our community.

The fundraiser will kick off on Friday with exciting boys’ and girls’ soccer games at 4:30 and 6:30 PM. Jenn’s Smoking Hot BBQ will cater to your appetite, and raffle baskets will add to the fun.

The event will continue at 9 AM on Saturday with two thrilling “Battle of the Blues” flag football games between local law enforcement and Peru alumni. The winners will play a Championship Game at 10:30 AM. The day will also feature an auction, 50-50, and a raffle of exciting prizes. At 1:30 PM, participants will support the Peru team playing their home football game.

At 6 PM at Valcour Brewing Company ($5 entry fee), there will be snacks, dessert, raffle tickets, a 50/50, and a silent auction with an open cash bar.

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The purchase of the 45-store chain, including 38 stores in Vermont, is a major expansion of Stewart’s New England presence.

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Peru Town 2025 Budgeting Schedule:
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 5:30 PM       Highway Budget Workshop
Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 5:30 PM       Water/Sewer/Valcour Workshop
Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 5:30 PM             Salaries/General Workshop
Thursday, October 3, 2024, 5:30 PM – Special Meeting to Present Tentative Budget
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 5:30 PM           Budget Review Workshop (Downstairs)
Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 5:30 PM           Budget Review Workshop (if needed)
Monday, November 4, 2024, 5:30 PM                Public Hearing on Preliminary Budget
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5:30 PM            Special Meeting to Adopt Final Budget

Peru—Pancakes Plus Breakfast, Sunday, OCTOBER 13, served by the St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus, St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. $10 for adults, $5 children 5 to 11, and Children under 5 are Free. Take-outs are $10. The menu includes Pancakes, French Toast, Strawberry Sauce, Sausage, Bacon, Scrambled eggs, Hash Browns, Real Maple Syrup, Coffee, Orange Juice, and Milk.

Future breakfasts are scheduled for Sunday, January 12, Sunday, February 9, Sunday, March 9, Sunday, April 13, and Sunday, May 11.

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NYS Education Commissioner to join Thursday, Oct. 17 celebration

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TOWN OF PERU

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of  September  2024 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. Z2-2024-094  Relief of 15 feet from Side Yard Setback for Shed, W Group at Valhaven Prop LLC, 280.1-9-23,         2989 Main St

7. CEO REPORT
8. ADJOURNMENT

TOWN OF PERU

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL September 2024 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. P2024-0025 Site Plan Review-Motor Vehicle Repair, William Hendrie, 257.-1-10.1, 16 Rockwell Rd

2. P2024-0026 Site Plan Review-Sign, James Rock &                                                                                                                           Terrie Rock, 270.-2-42.2, 3284 US Route 9

1. P2024-0027 2-Lot Minor Subdivision, Erica Fields, 267.-4-7, 111/117 Clark Rd
3. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
4. CEO REPORT
5. ADJOURNMENT

Ravioli
Vegetable
Bread
Dessert

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972

All are invited and welcome!

Message from North County Honor Flight – This Saturday, October 5, will be the final North Country Honor Flight of the 2024 flying season. Flights 58 and 59 will have 3 Korean War Veterans and many Vietnam Veterans among the 30 Veterans being honored.

“Thunder in the Burgh” will take place once again thanks to the hard work and dedication of Lloyd Provost, who organizes all the motorcycles and law enforcement to accomplish all these escorts. Lloyd will pass these duties on after this flight; we could never thank him enough for all his years of organizing these escorts. He has truly brought this part of North Country Honor Flight to a new level. Lloyds final goal is to surpass 250 motorcycles, let’s get the word out to any bikers who can join us on Saturday.

The send-off ceremony will start at 7 a.m. sharp at Veterans Park on the US Oval, followed by the parade route to the Plattsburgh International Airport. The welcome home will be at 8:30 p.m., right back at Veterans Park.

These flights have become very expensive over the years; we are fortunate that the North Country always steps up when called upon. Flight sponsorships are available for the nominal cost of $12,000. The actual cost is $35,000. We are thrilled to have both these flights sponsored for the first time.

The Dutil family and D and D Meats will be sponsoring flight 58 through the great fundraiser “Bumpkins Halloween,” held last year and again this year starting on October 18th. Thanks to Shane Dutil and all the volunteers he recruits for organizing such a wonderful event.

Flight 59 is being sponsored by the Redford American Legion Post 1618. The Legion, Legion Riders, Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of the Legion have all made this sponsorship possible. This is the second flight Post 1618 has sponsored. Thank you for all the hard work in raising funds for this sponsorship.

All portions of the flight day are free, and the public is encouraged to attend. Please join us for these family-friendly events as we show our thanks and gratitude to our North Country Veterans.

L-R Honoree Geri Kaplan-Downs and Girl Scouts of NYNY CEO Brenda Episcopo

Plattsburgh, N.Y. – Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York (GSNENY) hosted its 20th Women of Distinction event for the Northern Region of the council on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the West Side Ballroom in Plattsburgh. This event honors women who have been nominated by someone in their community who exemplifies the values and abilities instilled in Girl Scouts.

This year’s honoree is an ambitious woman who takes calculated risks, motivates others, perseveres through hardships, and uses her leadership skills to act as an agent for change in her community.

The 2024 Woman of Distinction is Geri Kaplan-Downs from Morrisonville. She received the Distinguished Personal Achievement Award. Kaplan-Downs is the accounts receivable specialist at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center. Outside work, she is a Girl Scout leader and treasurer for her Troop and the Paret Teacher Organization at her daughter’s school. She is also a foster parent with her wife, Courtney. She has volunteered with Honor Flight, spent time at her local Pet Smart cleaning cages for cats being adopted, and runs an adult women’s softball team.

Whether at work, volunteering, or giving back to people in need, Kaplan-Downs loves knowing that her actions make a difference. She hopes to inspire the future generation of Girl Scouts to go out and help make a difference in the world.

“Whatever you do, give it your all; don’t short yourself. Go in with a positive attitude, dig deep, and be proud of who you are and what you’re doing,” Kaplan-Downs said.

The Women of Distinction event honors these women and raises funds to support Girl Scout programs.

Many women who are leaders in their fields credit Girl Scouting for helping them build the skills that have paved the road to success.

GSNENY serves over 5,000 Girl Scouts across 15 counties in New York, including over 500 from Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties. GSNENY is the preeminent leadership development organization offering year-round programs for Girl Scouts to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Peru—CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive will be held on Monday, October 14, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.

The drive is being coordinated by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273.

Peru – September 23, 2024,  Culvert replacement priorities dominated the Peru Town Board’s Monday, September 23, 2024, Regular Peru Town Board Meeting. Engineering Ventures representatives Peter Gibbs and Mark DeCrescente explained why exiting culverts failed and the challenges in replacing them.  Peru Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell recently evaluated/scored ten culverts to determine the replacement order. He did not score the closed Telegraph Road culvert. The need to replace it ASAP is self-evident.

FEMA monies installed most, if not all, the culverts needing replacement following severe floods in 1996 & 1999. Since then, regulations have changed, and technology has improved. Gibbs and Nummelin cited undersized culverts and changing weather patterns as the primary reasons for the ongoing problems. Undersized culverts result in faster water flow, more silt and sediment, and culvert deterioration, including the fill above and below a culvert.  In many cases, fast-flowing waters wore the galvanization off the culverts. Changing weather patterns also resulted in higher-than-expected water levels and faster flows.

The highest priority culverts are Wescott Rd., Fuller Rd., and Lions Rd. Their estimated replacement cost is about $4.9 million. The Wescott Rd. culvert will be the biggest challenge. Six homeowners rely on it for access to their property. The town must keep one side of the existing road open or construct a temporary bridge. Engineers estimate its replacement cost to be just over $1,527,000.

Supervisor Craig Randall said the immediate challenge is finding funding for the engineering work needed before construction begins and researching bonding sources for long-term borrowing. Randall and Farrell want engineering plans and financing in place, making the town eligible for any available grant monies.