The Peru Gazette

Pope Francis is in the news almost daily. If you would like to learn more about him, the film Francis: The Pope From the New World will be shown on Friday, March 28^th at 7 PM at St. Augustine’s Church. The hour-long documentary begins with the Pope’s election on March 13, 2013 and revisits his background in Argentina, where he served as archbishop of Buenos Aires and as a Jesuit provincial.

The film uses interviews with the Pope’s close friends, his fellow priests, his co-workers, his biographer and the poor of Buenos Aires. It covers his personal life, including his family relations and his support for the San Lorenzo soccer team. A trailer and more information about the documentary is available at its website, popefrancisdocumentary.com.

The movie showing is co-sponsored by St. Augustine’s Knights of Council 7273 and St. Monica’s Court 2598 Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

The Peru Central School District is seeking candidates to fill two (2) vacancies on the Board of Education Both seats are at large, with one seat for a full five-year term from July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019, and one for an unexpired term for the period of May 21, 2014 – June 30, 2015. The candidate with the highest vote total shall fill the full term vacancy, and the candidate with the second highest vote total shall fill the unexpired seat through June 30, 2015.  The School Board Election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2014.

The ‘Petition for Nomination of Candidate’ is available in the District Office at 17 School Street on Mondays through Fridays, except school holidays, or via the web at http://www.perucsd.org/Page/1284.  Petitions must be directed to the School District Clerk, shall be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, and shall state the name, residence and phone number of the candidate.    Petitions must be returned no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, April 21, 2014.

The Peru Central School Board of Education will gather Tuesday, March 25th at 6 PM in the Jr/Sr High School Community Room for their fourth public session budget workshop.  At its budget workshop, the School Board is expected to:

1. Review the budget timeline.

2. Receive a series of recommendations from the Budget Advisory Committee.

3. Receive a first draft summary of proposed expenditure plan for the 14-15 school year.

4. Discuss the continued use of lever voting machines.

Area Students Advance to New York State History Day | Fort Ticonderoga.

Regular Mtg Agenda 03242014

Capitol Confidential » Cuomo: Veterans will get contract set-aside.

Willsboro – Elise Stefanik today launched a revamped website giving 21st Congressional District voters greater opportunities to become involved in the campaign and provide more information about Elise’s candidacy. The website, stillwww.EliseforCongress.com, offers voters  more information about her stances on the issues important to New York small businesses, veterans, hardworking families and farmers; the ability to endorse Elise’s campaign; an avenue to follow her travels and activities throughout the district in a social media center; and a way to volunteer and contribute to the campaign.

“Accessibility and transparency are important to me so that voters know exactly who I am and the values that I stand for. Our updated website is meant to provide people in the 21st Congressional District a better idea of the principles I hope to bring to Washington on their behalf, as well as a way to become an even bigger part of our team,” Stefanik said.\\

Cornell Cooperative Extension will present 2014 NNY Sheep and Goat Week programs in six North Country communities between April 8 and April 17. The program agenda includes activities for youth, families and adult livestock handlers, including the CSI Sheep and Goat: Health From the Inside Out presentation that includes learning how to do a basic necropsy.
 
“Necropsies are a very good way to understand what goes on inside an animal and to gather information to share with your veterinarian in a timely manner using digital pictures and the internet.  The 2014 Sheep and Goat Week programs offer the opportunity to learn what data to collect to help figure out sheep and goat health challenges,” says NNY Sheep Week organizer Betsy Hodge, a livestock educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County and team leader for the Northern New York Regional CCE Livestock Team.
 
The 2014 NNY Spring Sheep and Goat Week programs are as follows:
·      April 8: Plattsburgh, 7pm, CCE Clinton County office, activities include CSI Sheep and Goat: Health From the Inside Out; register with Peter Hagar at 518-561-7450.
·      April 9: Canton, 7pm, CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, adult-level program with veterinarian Carolyn Pierce and CCE Livestock Specialist Betsy Hodge, activities include CSI Sheep and Goat: Health from the Inside Out; register with Betsy Hodge at 315-379-9192.
·      April 15: Burke, 1pm, Downing Acres Farm, hands-on activities include body condition scoring, health assessment, showing, possible necropsy, and more, evening videos/photos with information on performing necropsies and working with your veterinarian; register with Diane Dumont at 518-483-7403.
·      April 16: Canton, 1pm, CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, youth-level program, activities include body condition scoring, grading, conducting a physical exam, working with your veterinarian, showing, and more; register with Amy Sands at 315-379-9192.

The evening meetings also include an update on the sheep artificial insemination project and a discussion of the Northern Adirondack Lamb Cooperative (NALC) proposal to develop a protocol for taking NALC-approved lambs to the livestock auction in New Holland, PA, to encourage better prices. 

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 70,000 sheep and lambs on farms in New York State in 2013. Learn more about small livestock management by contacting Cornell Cooperation Extension in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence County or go online to www.ccenny.com.
 
Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Contractor gets probation after pleading guilty to grand larceny » Local News » Press-Republican.

Average Wall St. bonus over $164K.

WASHINGTON—Today, Representative Bill Owens announced the start of the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students from New York’s 21^st Congressional District.

“This competition is an opportunity to showcase the talents of our region’s young artists,” said Owens. “I am excited to see how the students in our district translate their creative passion into original artwork.”

To enter, students should send a digital image of their original artwork and a completed Student Information & Release Form to NY21art@mail.house.gov.  The winning artist and a parent or guardian will have the opportunity to be flown to Washington, D.C. to attend the national reception and view the winning artwork in the Capitol building. Read more »

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.