The Peru Gazette

Helicopter from Mansfield Heliflight in Milton, Vt. lands to load seed

Bruce Dimock checks Winter Rye seed.

Peru is a very busy little community this time of year, especially for our farmers. This morning trucks traveled our highways filled with a bountiful apple and corn harvest.  At the same time, aerial seeding was taking place on the Dimock Farm. Bruce Dimock watched as Winter Rye seed was loaded onto a helicopter which was landing adjacent to the Brand Hollow Rd. Dimock Farms is participating in a USDA sponsored program to determine the feasibility of planting Winter Rye as a cover crop in this region. Historically our cold climate has discouraged local farmers from planting cover crops. USDA believes that the Winter Rye will provide good silage, enrich soil and reduce nutrient runoff into our lakes and streams. Bruce Dimock planted the rye along the Brand Hollow Road last fall. This morning he said he was satisfied with the results. Myra Lawyer, an Environmental Analyst for the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, said that 1,620 acres of Winter Rye will be aerial seeded in Clinton County this fall. Bruce Dimock was seeding 80 acres today. Click here for some exciting photos of today’s seeding. Click here for our previous story which gives more detail on this agricultural development. 

Over 300 Peru children along with coaches, family and friends crowded into Laphams Mills Park today for the 2013 Peru Youth Commission Soccer Challenge.  Youth Commission Chairman Greg Mills and Town of Peru Youth Director John Flynn thanked all the coaches, volunteers, sponsors and parents for their support. Twenty-one teams participated in today’s games. Members of the Peru Central boys and girls soccer teams were on hand to offer their assistance. The Peru Gazette was present to take a few photos. (Click here to view)

Peru Youth Commission kids prior to the Applefest Parade!

The Youth Commission is having their annual soccer shootout this Saturday, September 28, 2913 at Laphams Mills Park.  Opening ceremonies are at 10:00 AM with games running through to @ 1:00 PM. There will be a concession stand and members of the Peru Varsity Soccer Boys and Girls team in attendance to assist with whatever is needed. Hope to see you there !

Evans Mills, NY – Country Cousins Farm in Evans Mills will be showcased among 51 farms opening their barn doors on October 13 from 11am to 2pm for the 2013 Open Farm Sunday across New England and New York state.

This is the third such event to introduce the public to some of the more than 1200 farm families who produce the milk that is made into McCadam and Cabot cheeses.

Country Cousins Farm in Evans Mills is owned by the Stanley Horning family. Stan, his wife Sharon, and two of their four children, sons Ryan and Derek, manage a herd of nearly 60 Holsteins and 270 acres of grazing and cropland. In May of 2012 they began offering day trip visits and opened a new cabin for overnight farm stays with the opportunity to just relax or to participate in the daily chores of the working dairy farm.

Other Northern New York region farms participating in Open Farm Sunday are:

In Champlain: Hidden View Farm run by brothers Dan, Don and Dale Tetreault. Their dad started in 1953 with a few hundred acres and milked only 20 cows. Today, the farm has more than 1,000 acres and 600 milking cows. They have never purchased a replacement; they breed and raise all their own stock.

In Lisbon:  Five Mile Farm owned by the Akins family for more than 160 years. Mark and Becky Akins are raising the 7th generation on the now-1200 acre farm with a herd of more than 600 Holstein dairy cows and some three dozen Black Angus beef cattle. A new heifer barn is being added to the operation.

In Peru:  Dimock Farms – a family-run dairy since 1971 with three generations helping to operate the 600-acre farm with a herd of 270 cows. The farm has earned Super Milk awards for more than 20 years and received the 2007 Agri-Mark Overall Quality Award from among more than 1300 farms.

Agri-Mark supports the production of a variety of dairy products including McCadam and Cabot cheeses made at four cooperative-owned dairy plants: two in Vermont, one in Massachusetts, and one in Chateaugay, NY. McCadam Cheeses won all the 2013 New York State Fair cheddar competition categories.

The farm families will be available to talk with visitors during the October 13 Open Farm Sunday event. Cheese samples will be available. For more details, visit the website at www.OpenFarmSunday.com.

AmeriCorps seeks volunteers » Local News » Press-Republican.

First Bite Bonanza: Tasting the Crop of New Restaurants | Seven Days.

By John T. Ryan

At the September 9^th Town Board meeting Peru Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell told the Town Board that repairing the highway department’s garage roof would cost less than expected.  At the Monday, September 25^th Board meeting Farrell reported that the town’s engineers think that it’s too late to start the project this year. By the time final plans are drawn up, cold weather will have arrived.

Farrell also brought the Board up to date on the September 16^th theft of a Highway Department pick-up truck. The alleged thieves have been apprehended and the truck has been impounded by New York State Police. The 2005 Chevy Silverado diesel sustained an estimated $8,923 in visible damages. Damage to the vehicle’s transmission has not been determined.

Responding to the concerns of several Peru farmers the Board unanimously voted to amend proposed changes to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The proposed agricultural overlay would have set aside certain areas of the town for agriculture use. The counselors voted to amend Section 8.1.1 to read “future concept” rather than something being enacted at this time. The farmers didn’t want to restrict the future use of their property to agriculture should the time ever come when it isn’t a viable industry.

Water Superintendent Greg Timmons delivered good news on the $3.2 million water system improvement project. Timmons reported, “The new mixer was installed on the blue tank today. The filters are online and running and the reservoir is done. It’s just cleanup items now.”

The Town of Peru may have another legal issue on its hands. During the public comment portion of the meeting Fuller Road resident Sharron Hemingway attempted to ask questions regarding flooding of her property.  Supervisor Peter Glushko told Hemingway he had been informed that she had filed legal papers on the issue with the New York State Attorney General. Based on the advice of legal counsel the Board would not respond to questions on the issue. Glushko told Hemingway that she was welcome to make comments. She made no comments.

In other actions/news the Board: Read more »

Area jobless rate was 5-year August low – Times Union.

Benefit to help Peru woman fighting cancer » Local News » Press-Republican.

Adirondack Birds: The Noisy Blue Jay – The Adirondack Almanack – The Adirondack Almanack.

Watertown Daily Times | 10th Mountain Division headquarters heading to Afghanistan.

By John T. Ryan

The St. Augustine’s 36th Annual Applefest enjoyed another success last weekend.  Crowds flocked to Peru to see the Saturday, September 21st parade and to enjoy the craft fair, food, games and other activities. On Sunday, the rain din’t fall during the Applefest, but it did fall in several neighboring communities, which held down crowds a little. Nevertheless, the chicken BBQ was sold out by about 3:30 PM.  Your Peru Gazette reporter had a Sunday commitment, so some activities were missed, but a few photo memories were preserved. Leonard Jozwiak also contributed photos. Click here for an array of photos.   Click here for Peru Central Band photos 

Click here for details

The deals after the spending deal – Times Union.

SUNY, Cuomo back tougher standards for teaching programs | Democrat and Chronicle 

Out with the inns: Adirondack destinations slowly vanishing – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Income sources request refused – Times Union.

Message from the Peru Water Superintendent

Regular Mtg Agenda Sept 23 2013

Roger F. Forrence » Obituaries » Press-Republican.

New director named for Plattsburgh Housing Authority » Local News » Press-Republican.

Woman rescued from fire, severely burned » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

Woman rescued from fire, severely burned » Breaking News » Press-Republican.