The Peru Gazette

Mike Hanlon and Matt Houser were busy this morning decorating the Gazebo at Little Ausable River Park. All will be ready for the Friday, December 5th Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Caroling begins at 6:45 p.m. Santa arrives at 7 p.m. or shortly thereafter.

10k winner Mitch Ryan and 5k winner J. Matt Meraros

Story updated with race & walk results at 4:40 p.m.

Hundreds of hearty folks began their Thanksgiving Day celebration by participating in the Peru Lions Club’s 37th annual John P. Adams Memorial Turkey Trot.  Yesterday’s snowfall made walking and running a little treacherous, but that didn’t seem to deter the congenial families and supporters from having a great time. Lets face it, the Turkey Trot is a Peru tradition. A total of 362 runners braved the first snow of the season to help support the Peru Lions Club in the running of their 37th annual event. The Lions would like to thank the local community for their continued support.

See many photos.   See slideshow with music.  

Mitch Ryan and Sara Dunham were the male and female winners respectively, in the 10K event. Ryan ran in 31 minutes 44 seconds, while Dunham finished in 35:34.

The 5K winners were Matthew Meraros for the males, and Carly Graham for the females. Meraros finished in 17:10 while Graham turned in a 20:24 time.

Here are the detailed race results: Click here for 5k results   Click here for 10k results. 

5K and 10K Runners head for Pleasant Street

Fun Run/Walk participants got off to a fast start

By John T. Ryan

The Monday, November 24^th Peru Town Board Agenda was brief, but the Board’s decisions will have both a short and long-term impact on Peru residents.

The Board approved a November 24-December 31 contract with North Country SPCA Inc. in Elizabethtown. Supervisor Peter Glushko indicated that he hopes a 2015 contract can be negotiated with Elmore SPCA. Dogs having to be confined will be transported to Elizabethtown until December 31.

With economic growth in mind, the Board extended the boundaries of Water and Sewer district #1 from the Dashnaw Road to I87 along both sides of the Bear Swamp Road. Engineering studies will be conducted to determine the cost of any eventual construction. The Bear Swamp Road is Peru’s most highly traveled highway. It is used by vehicles traveling to and from Peru and many other communities.

Town Park Ordinance #1 of 2014 was approved. It will regulate activity in Peru’s Town Parks and Walking Trail. Its many provisions prohibit alcoholic beverage use in/on all parks and trails. Dogs must be leashed 100% of the time. Poop must be scooped and motorized vehicles are not permitted on the Walking Trail. The Ordinance will take effect 10 days after its publication in the Press Republican. Town officials will schedule a meeting with Clinton County Sheriff David Favreau to request that his department enforce the ordinance. Click here to review Ordinance #1

Public Hearings on the water district expansion and the Park/Trail Ordinance were conducted prior to Monday’s meeting. No one other than this reporter testified. Very few if any residents attend either public hearings or town board meetings.

In other actions/news the Board:

• Delayed scheduling the public hearing for raising water–sewer rates. The rate increase is not related to the water district’s expansion.
• Appointed David Drollette as Dog Control Officer. Drollette has completed a 90-day probationary period. All the Board members have been effusive in their praise of Drollette’s performance to date. Drollette can be reached at 518-643-5076 (home) and 518-578-2217 (cell)
• Briefly discussed the December 5^th Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Little Ausable River Park. Caroling will begin at 6:45 p.m.
• Learned that two town employees have elected to drop out of the Town’s health insurance program. Both are eligible for a buy-out, but the Town will save money even when a newly eligible employee joins the program.
• Closed bank accounts established for the Fuller Road Bridge project and the Town Hall Entrance project. NYS monies received for or expended for a capital project are maintained in a special “H” account.
• Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that the Town’s new snowplow-equipped tandem truck should arrive by Christmas.

Representative-elect Elise Stefanik (R-NY) today announced new staff hires for her incoming office in the 114th Congress.

Lindley Kratovil will serve as Chief of Staff. Ms. Kratovil has served as Legislative Director to Representatives Scott Tipton (R-CO) and Todd Rokita (R-IN). She came to Capitol Hill after serving in the George W. Bush Administration where she served in the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Legislative Affairs, and the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. Ms. Kratovil holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Vanderbilt University.

Emily Hunter will serve as Scheduler. Ms. Hunter, a native of Michigan, attended the University of Rochester, where she studied Political Science, English, and International Relations. Prior to joining Ms. Stefanik’s office, she served as Scheduler to Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS).

“I am pleased to announce that Lindley will join my team as Chief of Staff. She brings a wealth of experience from both the Legislative and Executive Branches, has a mastery of key policy issues and has helped start up a new office before,” Stefanik said.

“I’m honored to be joining the Congresswoman-Elect. We will focus on a seamless transition, the committee assignments we need to be most effective, and superior constituent service and response”, Kratovil said.

Ms. Kratovil and Ms. Hunter will officially begin work on January 3, 2015.

Cornell Cooperative Extension/CCE has planned ‘Management Systems to Fit Your Life’ workshops for sites in Watertown, Malone, Plattsburgh, and Canton to focus on ways producers can structure their operations to accommodate both their farm business goals and lifestyle.

Workshop presentations and discussion will consider how frequently to lamb or kid, growing versus buying feed, how different marketing channels may conflict with off-farm job commitments, and how different management systems impact costs, time and labor requirements.

‘Sheep and goat farmers have lots of options for different management systems to meet unique business and lifestyle goals. For example, lambing and kidding can be once a year or multiple times as well as at different times of year. For some producers, profitability is important but not the first priority. These workshops are designed to help small livestock producers develop the right management system for each individual operation,’ says CCE Northern New York Livestock Team Leader Betsy Hodge, a small livestock specialist with CCE St. Lawrence County.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture counts the six Northern New York counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence with 184 sheep farms, 5,975 sheep, 261 goat farms, and 2,206 goats.

The 2014 NNY Sheep and Goat Week Management Systems to Fit Your Life workshops will be held:

Tuesday, December 2, 6:30pm, CCE Jefferson County office, Watertown, $5/person, contact Ron Kuck, 315-788-8450, rak76@cornell.edu;

Wednesday, December 3, 10:30am, CCE Franklin County office, Malone, free, bring a dish to pass for lunch, contact Diane Dumont, 518-483-7403, drd9@cornell.edu, and

Wednesday, December 3, 6:30pm, CCE Clinton County office, Plattsburgh, free, pre-registration appreciated, contact Peter Hagar, 518-561-7450, phh7@cornell.edu; and

Thursday, December 4, 6:30pm, CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, Canton, $5/person, contact Betsy Hodge, 315-379-9192, bmf9@cornell.edu.

Empire State Development’s (ESD) Board of Directors met recently in New York City and approved nearly $12 million in funding for nine projects that are spurring economic growth and opportunity across New York State. These targeted investments will leverage over $144 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 State’s investments will directly create at least 706 new jobs and retain more than 1,640 existing jobs in the Empire State.

The Board approved the following Regional Council award grants:

Bombardier Mass Transit – (North Country Region – Clinton County) -$2,500,000
Bombardier Mass Transit Corporation, a rail car manufacturing company and a division of Canadian public corporation Bombardier Inc., will use a grant of up to $2,500,000 for a portion of the costs required to expand its train manufacturing and testing facilities in Plattsburgh, Clinton County. Bombardier manufactures airplanes and trains and produces rail cars and public transportation equipment for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and many other major mass transit systems. Worldwide, the company employs over 70,000 people, and in the U.S. it employs 36,000 people at 37 facilities in 15 states.

Bombardier determined the need to expand and upgrade its Plattsburgh facility to provide for future growth and meet production demands resulting from increased sales of its rail cars, but required assistance to help finance its manufacturing expansion. The company applied for funding through the Regional Council CFA process and received a $2,500,000 grant, without which the project would not have been possible. Bombardier has constructed a 57,000-square-foot manufacturing building, including the installation of equipment upgrades for a welding robot, and has expanded its test facility by 2,100 square feet. The expansion project will increase productive capacity by 40% and increase production flexibility, efficiencies, and cost competitiveness.

North Country Cultural Center of the Arts – (North Country Region – Clinton County) – $250,000
The North Country Cultural Center for the Arts, a performing arts center created to save the historic Strand Theater, will use a grant of up to $250,000 for a portion of the construction, renovation machinery and equipment costs to renovate the Strand Theater.

North Country Cultural Center for the Arts (NCCA) was formed in 1987 by community leaders to acquire and save the historic Strand Theater building from complete deterioration, and plans were made to raise funds, restore the facilities, and restart operations as a community resource for entertainment. In 2005, new volunteer leadership began fundraising for additional renovations and expanded programming opportunities, and NCCA sought ESD’s assistance to help finance the improvements. NCCA applied for funding through the Regional Council CFA process and received a $250,000 grant, without which the project would not have been possible.

The Theater renovations and installation of new equipment have been completed, and the Theater is now operating as a performance and cultural arts center with a 1,326 seat auditorium. This project will provide an enhanced quality of life and new venue for cultural entertainment in the Plattsburgh community, and is consistent with the North Country Regional Economic Development Council’s plan to enhance the quality of life and expand economic development in North Country communities.

Other Approved Funding Included:  Read more »

Developer Pitches $200 Million Burlington Town Center Overhaul 

Buffalo snow unlikely to shatter Tug Hill record: lake effect expert | syracuse.com.

Local museums plan to merge – Press-Republican: Local News.

Fire at Adirondack Coffee Roasters – Press-Republican: News.

Adirondack Coffee Roaster is owned by Peru residents Dwane and Krissie Bast. They been working very hard and successfully to establish and grow their business.

The Peru Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on Town Park Ordinance #1 for 2014 (Sullivan, Little Ausable, Laphams Mills, Sullivan and Heyworth/Mason Parks) at 6:45 PM on Monday, November 24, 2014. The proposed ordinance includes a prohibition of alcoholic beverage consumption in any town park or trail, a requirement that dogs be leashed at all times in a park/trail and prohibition of any motorized vehicles on trails. Counselors are expected to vote yea or nay on the ordinance at their 7 p.m. meeting. Click here to review proposed ordinance

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, November 24, 2014@ 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the November 10, 2014 Regular Meeting.
5. Community Input
6. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Dog Control Officer Appointment. 
7. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approve Town Park Ordinance. 
8. DISCUSSION: Water District Expansion.
9. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Set Public Hearing for 2015 Water/Sewer Rates.
10. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Fund Transfers.
11. DISCUSSION: Town Engineering Firm.
12. DISCUSSION: Employee/Retiree Insurance.
13. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval for Land Use Training certification for Kayla Martin.
14. DISCUSSIONRESOLUTION: H Fund Bank Account Closures.
15. DISCUSSION: Other Business.
16. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.
17. MOTION: Approve/Pay Bills.
18. MOTION:    Adjourn

News from the Empire State Development Corporation

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced it has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase and redevelopment of the former Chateaugay Correctional Facility, an approximately 100 acre site located in Chateaugay, New York. The site was closed in July 2014 as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s initiative to save New York taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by consolidating the state’s correctional facilities based on a declining inmate population.

“ESD’s goal is to ensure that redevelopment of the Chateaugay site will support the local economy and maximize economic impact and job creation,” said ESD President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “This RFP will provide the opportunity to generate new employment and private investment in Franklin County, which is known for its tourism attractions, agricultural, food processing and renewable energy industries.”

The Chateaugay site includes 30 modern construction structures totaling approximately 98,000 square feet of floor area and related infrastructure. The site includes an additional 80 acres of undeveloped land. The campus-like operation and setting is ideal for businesses and institutions that have a need for multiple uses on a single site. There is additional capacity on the roads adjacent to the site for cars and trucks and water, sewage and electrical to the site are ample for most uses. Read more »

Come on down on a cold winter’s night to Peru Jr/Sr High School auditorium where the excitement of Christmas will be presented only on December 5th and 6th at 7:30pm. Admission is $7.00 at the door, and $5.00 in advance. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Peru Pharmacy and are available for Peru faculty and students during lunch periods at Peru High School. The event page on Facebook can be found using this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/576768179094336/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Experience what Christmas is truly about as Peru Drama Club presents the classic Christmas tale of the famous “Bah Humbug” Ebenezer Scrooge (Devin Wood), as he struggles, with the help of a few spirits (Connor Douglass, Mason Barber, Hadley Houck, and Fabian Döpping), to overcome his lack of compassion and his greed.

Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL adapted for the stage by Romulus Linney tells a story that will enchant your inner Christmas spirit. This PDC performance is one you don’t want to miss!

Matt Warren, Director

Christopher Urban, Production Supervisor

Amber Arnold, Costume Designer

Hannah Osborne, Production Stage Manager*

Kali Dorey, Stage Manager*

THE CAST Read more »

Samantha Johnson, A Peru Central School graduate and SUNY Plattsburgh freshman is the 2014 FRIENDS scholarship winner.

Library Fall 2014 Newsletter

Jim Favreau, CFO of Jeffords Steel & Engineering Company, presented John Bernardi, Executive Director of the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. with a check for $19,545.00 from the employees’ workplace giving campaign and their corporate pledge. Jeffords Steel & Engineering Company has a long history of supporting the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. and many other community initiatives.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 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:

• Recognition of Peru Elementary School staff
• Report on Elementary Building Math/ELA
• Tax collector reports
• Combined heat & power sequence optimization

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled a PUBLIC HEARING on Town Park Ordinance #1, for 2014. The Public Hearing will take place at the Town Hall in the Town of Peru at 6:45 PM on Monday, November 24, 2014.

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled a workshop on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 6:30 PM. The purpose of the Workshop will be to discuss the new Water/Sewer rates.

Researchers claim an incredible discovery in Lake Champlain – WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-.

4th Sunday Breakfast- Nov. 23, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Only $8.00 for:
Bacon, Scrambled eggs, Corned Beef Hash, Sausage Gravy & Biscuits, Pancakes with “real” Maple Syrup. Juice & Coffee.
Peru Memorial VFW & Ladies Auxiliary
710 Pleasant St, Rte 22B
Peru, NY 12972
Open to the Public
Proceeds to benefit local Veterans and their families

CRAFT FAIR
WHERE: Peru Memorial VFW
710 Pleasant St, Rt 22B
Peru, NY 12972
WHEN: November 22, 2014 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WHY: Proceeds to benefit the Ladies Auxiliary Relief that benefits veterans and their families.
WHO: Everyone – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Local craft vendors merchandise for sale, bake sale, raffles and lunch/snack items for purchase.

Extra Info: Table rental is $15 for 6′ Table or 20 for 8′ – Contact Melissa Wiggins @ 605-3023

By John T. Ryan

The 2015 budget was not the only important subject matter at the Monday, November 10, 2014 Town Board Meeting.  Dog control, water-sewer rates, curbside parking in the hamlet, an enforceable park policy and walking trail fencing were also on the agenda.

As of Monday’s meeting the Town of Peru did not have an animal shelter under contract to receive animals detained by the Dog Control Officer. The Town had a contract with the Adirondack Humane Society, but when it ceased operation a few weeks ago another shelter had to be located. The Board immediately commenced contract negotiations with the Elmore SPCA; however, the Town Board and Elmore officials have not been able to agree on contract terms. Elmore SPCA officials proposed a contract that they say other towns accept, however, Peru Town Attorney Donald Biggs is of the opinion that the contract needs clarification regarding the town’s liability, an animal’s length of stay and the responsibility for incurred expenses. All the Town Board members expressed a desire to reach an agreement with Elmore SPCA, especially since it is a local shelter. The only alternative shelter at this time appears to be a facility located in Elizabethtown. Transporting animals to Elizabethtown would be expensive and time-consuming.

Peru’s water and sewer users will experience a 2015 rate increase. Supervisor Peter Glushko told the Gazette, “The water district has a very low fund balance. We’ve tried to keep rates down, but we’ve reached a point where they have to be increased.” A $40,000 increase in water receipts has been included in next year’s budget. The Board scheduled a workshop for November 17th at 6:30 p.m. at which time the they will determine the amount of the rate increase.

The Board has proposed an ordinance regulating the use of facilities at town parks and its trail system (Sullivan, Little Ausable, Laphams Mills and Heyworth/Mason). The ordinance includes many provisions including a prohibition on consumption of alcoholic beverages, a requirement that dogs be leashed at all times and a prohibition of any motorized vehicles on trails. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on November 24th at 6:45 p.m. Click here to review proposed ordinance

Also on November 24^th, a 6:30 p.m. public hearing will be held on the extension of the water sewer district to I87 along the Bear Swamp Road. The district currently ends at the Dashnaw Road. If approved, the proposal would extend district boundaries. It would not authorize expending monies for laying pipe at this time. The Town Board believes that water-sewer availability would encourage business development. Supervisor Glushko siad that the owners of the Mobil station bordering I87 have indicated that they would like to hook up to the system.

Several Peru residents did not get their water-sewer bill payments to the Town Hall by the November 6^th close of business; hence the Town will apply a levy to their 2015 tax bills. The bills will include a 10% penalty. All bills must be received in the Town Hall by the last date for payment. A payment postmarked but not received on the due date is subject to the 10% penalty. The amount due totaled $59,429.25.

The Town may soon be purchasing signs to inform vehicle operators that curbside parking is not permitted adjacent to Peru’s roads and highways where “no parking” signs are in place, the only exception being for local merchants and delivery trucks which are permitted to park for temporary loading and unloading.  A few Elm Street and Jenkins Street residents have complained about cars being parking in front of their homes and sometimes two-way traffic is impossible on portions of Elm Street. Town plows also are unable to properly remove snow when vehicles are parked adjacent to curbs. The Board asked Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell to determine signage costs. Local Law No. 1 of 2003 could be enforced if signs are posted. Click here to review Parking Law of 2003

In a bit of good news, Code Enforcement Officer Frank Slycord reported that permits for twenty-three new single-family homes have been issued in 2014.

Please note: at 4:55 p.m. on November 13, 2014 the portion of this story covering the Parking Law of 2003 was clarified. 

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board unanimously approved the Town of Peru’s 2015 budget at its Monday, November 10, 2014 meeting. The Town’s general, highway and water district tax rates will decrease, while sewer tax rates will slightly increase. Here are the projected 2015 tax rates per $1,000 dollars of taxable property value. Two water district (2005) bonds were paid off in 2014 permitting the 23% reduction in water district tax rates. Click here to review the 2015 Budget

                                 2014                2015

General               $2.10               $2.07

Highway             $2.58               $2.54

Water                    $3.03               $2.33

Sewer                     $0.25               $0.26

Valcour Sewer   $0.37               $0.38

Valcour #2            $0.45               $0.48

$1,370,951 ($1,364,951 in 2014) will be appropriated to fund the general portion of the budget with $378,679 funded by fees, fines and other revenues, $140,000 from the 2014 fund balance and $852,272 from taxes. The general budget funds operations such as the town board and supervisor’s office, legal fees, data processing, office equipment, the town clerk, the highway superintendent’s salary, planning and zoning, town court, parks and recreation.

Highway Department appropriations for 2015 total $1,572,226 ($1,605,945 in 2014) with $521,523 generated by services to other governments, New York State highway maintenance monies and $1,050,703 in property taxes. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said he plans to pave three miles of highway in 2015: the Dashnaw Road between the Laphams Mills Rd. and Route 22 and the Fox Farm Road from Route 22B to the Rockwell Road. Additional paving might be done, depending on the cost incurred on these projects.

The Board will receive a $800 flat pay raise along with all staff members regardless of pay grade. 2015 salaries for elected officials will be:

Supervisor                                    $23,686

Board Member                             $ 7,299

Town Clerk/Tax Collector      $23,810

Town Justice                              $18,201

Highway Superintendent       $55,000

The Strand Center for the Arts will be hosting the Inaugural Lake Champlain International Film Festival this weekend showcasing our new equipment. “Filmmakers from over 23 countries submitted films for this year’s festival. The stories they are presenting showcase a tremendous creative range with highly-developed plot-lines, picturesque cinematography and professional-level production value. Audience members should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to meet some of the filmmakers who will be in Plattsburgh for the festival and checkout their films,” said Jessica Dulle, Executive Director of The Strand Center for the Arts.

The Strand Center for the Arts has completed the installation of its new state-of-the-art digital cinema equipment, with the goal of becoming the North Country’s premier artistic movie house showing classic films, documentaries and showcasing the Wurlitzer organ with silent movies. It is not our intention to compete with the regular movie options in Plattsburgh, but offer what is not currently available to the community.

The Strand Theatre was one of the 12 independent movie theatres that were involved with ANCA’s “Go Digital or Go Dark” movement to help small theatres convert to expensive digital equipment to stay in business, as film versions would no longer be available. The Strand Theatre also received partial funding through a grant of $78,000 from the New York State Council of the Arts, as part of the North Country Economic Councils CFA process for this digital conversion. We have been able to raise the addition $78,000 to match this grant with the continued generosity of our financial community.

Installed is a NEC 2000C digital projector with a Dolby server plus a blue-ray player. We have also installed a JBL surround sound system with crown amplifiers along with a 16 x 32 ft screen that is motorized and can be raised and lowered as needed.

The Strand Theatre restoration process is just about finished but the organization still needs $400,000 to install the remaining rigging, lighting and sound equipment needed to become a professional performance venue for the North Country.

Price Chopper to be renamed Market 32 – Times Union.