The Peru Gazette

Watertown Daily Times | Carthage hospital laying off 90 employees, cutting 20 beds in restructuring.

Mixed buyout deal for Alcoa Massena East workers « The In Box.

Peru – Sharon L. Gruendling, 72, formerly of Lakeshore Drive, Willsboro, and Marco Island, Florida, died Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, following a courageous battle with cancer, with her loving family by her side. Sharon was currently residing with her daughter and family on Route 22B in Peru.

She was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, July 24, 1941, the daughter of John and Gertrude (Quinn) Menzie. She grew up in Lawrence and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School, and later from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sharon was a physical education teacher at Long Meadow High School in Long Meadow, Massachusetts, Otter River High School in Durham, New Hampshire, and lastly Peru Central School where she also coached from 1970 until 1999.

Sharon started the swim team, coached field hockey, basketball, and softball. Her swim teams compiled a dual meet record of 90-1 over eight seasons, with eight CVAC championships and seven sectional titles. In softball, the Indians won 18 CVAC championships, eight sectional and four regional titles while compiling a 315-61 record. As a basketball coach, Gruendling’s teams compiled a 146-51 record while winning CVAC and sectional titles in 1998. Her field hockey teams in the 1970’s won six league and three sectional championships.

During her retirement, she assisted at the Westport Golf Club, and assisted in coaching her granddaughter’s youth commission sports teams as well as assisting with the modified softball team. She was inducted into the Peru High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach Gruendling inspired so many athletes and helped so many people in our community. She taught the importance of making commitments, striving for success, and to always put your best foot forward. Her continuous positive attitude, dedication, and hard work has shown through the many students and athletes she coached and she lived this to the end of her life.

Survivors include her loving daughters, Karen Marie Bouchard Braun and husband Francisco Braun, and Kristina Lynne Gruendling; beloved granddaughter, Sierra Antonine Bouchard; brother, John Menzie, Jr. and his wife Kristine; former husband and friend, Gerhard Gruendling; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2014 from 5 to 7 PM at the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru.

Coach Gruendling’s spirit “bled white and blue”, so her family request donations in her memory may be made to the Peru Varsity Club.

Arrangements are in the care of the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru. 643-9055.

UAlbany’s misguided goal – The Observation Deck.

Peru Central School District / Homepage.

This important project began last school year when a group of staff members and community volunteers gathered over several months to draft a set of recommendations to improve District communication.  Since that time, staff members from across the District have been working diligently with our technology team to expand, organize, and enhance the quality of information that we provide.  The District will continue to build upon this work to provide helpful information in a timely manner to our parents and community partners.  New interactive features have been added and there is also a tremendous amount of helpful content on classroom pages that has been provided to support the partnership between parents and teachers in helping every student succeed.  We hope that the community finds the completely reengineered Peru CSD website to be beneficial and look forward to adding new content and features along the way.  This will serve to strengthen the vital link between our schools and community.  Like other initiatives that have been rolled-out to improve our schools over the past year, it is Peru’s commitment to continuously improve the District website over time with the guidance of community feedback.

To share your comments, please visit the new website and click on the website feedback survey available via the survey link or under “Quick Links” on the left side of the home page.

The Peru Central School Board of Education will gather Tuesday, February 4th at 6 PM in the Jr/Sr High School Community Room for their first public session budget workshop. At its budget workshop, the School Board is expected to:

Receive a budget overview brief.
Receive a briefing on the fiscal stress monitoring system.
Review an updated multi-year financial plan.

BURLINGTON, VT — Matthew Leta, a resident of Peru, NY, has been named to the Fall 2013 Champlain College Dean’s List for academic achievements and achieving a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Leta is majoring in Managing Creative Media.

About Champlain College

Since 1878, Champlain College has provided career-focused education to students from its hilltop campus in Burlington, Vt. Champlain’s distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain offers traditional undergraduate and online undergraduate courses, along with online certificate and degree programs and eight master’s degree programs. Champlain offers study abroad programs at its campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review’s The Best 378 Colleges: 2014 Edition. Champlain was named a “Top-Up-and-Coming School” by U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges and is ranked in the top tier of 2014 Regional Colleges in the North. For more information,visitwww.champlain.edu

POTSDAM, NY Samantha Crosby of Peru, N.Y., a freshman majoring in biomolecular science, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2013 semester at Clarkson University. Dean’s List students must achieve a minimum 3.25 grade-point average and also carry at least 14 credit hours.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world’s pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.

Join us April 5, 2014 between 9am-7pm, and volunteer your time to make Clinton, Essex & Franklin counties a better place. To sign-up, simply complete the project application form below to register your team. If you’re interested in more information please call (518) 563-0028  Day of Caring.

Cuomo admin promises ‘every precaution’ on oil train safety | Capital New York.

NYS primary date is $50M issue – Times Union.

Legislation would give Canadian retirees more time to visit, spend money in U.S. 

WASHINGTON—Today, Representative Bill Owens announced he will co-sponsor H.R. 3768, the Promoting Tourism to Enhance Our Economy Act. If passed, the legislation would increase the number of days retired Canadians could spend in the United States each year.

“Canadian tourists and part-time residents are vital parts of New York’s economy,” Representative Bill Owens said. “Extending the number of days Canadians can spend in the U.S. could mean more Canadian visits in the summer, more spending in local economies, and, most importantly, more local jobs.” 

The legislation would extend the amount of time retired Canadians older than 55 years could stay in the country from 182 days within a 12 month period to 240 days.

A recent article in  USA Today explained how Northern New York stands to gain if the legislation passes. According to the article, Canadians who live near the U.S.-Canadian border often exhaust their current allotment of 182 days during winter stays in southern U.S. states including Florida and Texas. That means they cannot cross the border again for short trips to New York and other northern states in the summer months. Extending the amount of time Canadians can stay to 240 days allows retirees to spend a full winter in the South and then make short trips across the border in the summer, where they spend money on things like hotel rooms, rounds of golf, goods in local shops and visits to other tourist destinations.

“Anything that increases the time that our Canadian friends can be in the U.S. is clearly to our benefit,” Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce said. “This would eliminate impediments to additional back-and-forth visits to the North Country for all of those snowbirds going south in the winter. And, of course, we’re also increasingly servicing this back-and-forth travel via Plattsburgh International Airport. This just makes sense and is a positive additional step toward further encouraging cross border travel and commerce, the single greatest force in the current and future economy of the North Country.”

New York is a top destination for Canadians visiting the United States. In 2012, Canadians made more than 4.2 million visits to New York and spent more than $1.5 billion. During his time in Congress, Representative Owens has focused on increasing Canadian trade and tourism in the United States. He is the co-chairman of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus. Earlier this month, the House passed an amendment Owens wrote that essentially kills a proposal for a land border crossing fee, which Owens believes would have threatened New York jobs and wasted taxpayer money.

ITHACA, NY – Nicholas Uliva a resident of Peru, NY, and a sophomore Sport Management major in Ithaca College’s School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2013 semester.

From day one, Ithaca College prepares students for success through hands-on experience with internships, research and study abroad. Its integrative curriculum builds bridges across disciplines and uniquely blends liberal arts and professional study. Located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, the College is home to 6,100 undergraduate and 400 graduate students.

Donah’s ex-girlfriend testifies about abuse » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

From the Office of Congressman Bill Owens

Three Rep. Owens-authored provisions included in final bill 

WASHINGTON—Today, Representative Bill Owens voted for the Agricultural Act of 2014, commonly known as the Farm Bill, which passed the House by a vote of 251-166. “Passage of the Farm Bill provides farmers the long-overdue certainty they deserve and contributes significantly to deficit reduction,” Representative Bill Owens said. “I am confident this bipartisan agreement will help New York agriculture thrive.”

The Farm Bill combines an overhaul of the nation’s agricultural commodity programs with a package of reforms that will produce an estimated $23 billion in 10-year savings. Three provisions drafted by Rep. Owens were included in the Farm Bill:

Apple Exports to Canada Read more »

By John T. Ryan

Dog Control was the primary subject at the Monday, January 27, 2014 Peru Town Board meeting. The Board passed a revised Dog Control Law. Town Attorney Donald Biggs said the new law incorporates changes in New York State’s Agricultural and Markets regulations and a few other minor items into Local Law #1 of 2014. Click Here to the 2014 Dog Control Law

The Town of Peru contracts annually at a cost of $6,474 with the Elmore SPCA to maintain a shelter for dogs seized within the Town by the Dog Control Officer (DCO).  The Board voted to approve a 2014 contract at its January 13^th Organization Meeting.  However, at Monday’s meeting SPCA Board Secretary Carol Solari-Ruscoe read a letter from Board President Laurie Parsons stating that the Town had not provided the SPCA with prior notice regarding several changes in the 2014 contract between the parties. Parsons asked for a meeting with the Town Board. Town Attorney Donald Biggs responded saying that he had drawn up a new contract based on contracts being used by other communities and had tailored the new contract to the Town’s past experience with the SPCA. Following more than 20 minutes of discussion, the Board scheduled a workshop for February 4th at 6:30 PM. SPCA representatives and the general public are invited to attend that workshop. ELMORE SPCA 2013 CONTRACT. The 2013 contract remains in effect until a new contract can be negotiated.

Freezing rain and extreme cold have resulted in hazardous sidewalk conditions throughout the North Country. The Board received a petition from several people requesting that the Town improve sidewalk maintenance. Town Supervisor Glushko explained that the Town of Peru plows sidewalks as a courtesy to its residents. New York State law requires that property owners, not town or city governments, maintain sidewalks and driveways. Glushko said that Town staff had made a special effort during the past several weeks, but the thickness of the ice made removal almost impossible. Town Attorney Donald Biggs said he would research a Town’s responsibility once it undertakes a courtesy plowing program. It would be extremely expensive for the Town of Peru to salt, sand and remove ice from its sidewalks.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell will initiate the bid process for a 2015 tandem axle dump truck (frame and chassis). Farrell hopes to open bids on February 24th at 10AM and have the Board select the winning bidder at its February 24th evening meeting. In November, the Board authorized purchase of a $71,000 plow package for the new truck.

The Board declined Donald Green’s offer to grant an easement to the Town for a park near the entrance to Quaker Highlands. Supervisor Peter Glushko expressed the view that the Town has enough parks. The Board members expressed similar sentiments and voted unanimously to decline Green’s offer.

Richard Williams and Benjamin Wright were reappointed as as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Board and Robin Bashaw and James Falvo were reappointed as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Zoning Board.

Water Superintendent Greg Timmons reported the that Clinton County Health Department recently tested town water and that the results were good. The Town has until December 31, 2014 to bring its water system into total compliance.  Water test results are computed on a twelve-month average, therefore, it will take several months to bring the town’s system into compliance.

In other actions/news:

• The Town’s sub-division regulations will have to be rewritten. They were not included in the new Town Zoning Law.
• Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that as of two weeks ago his Department has used more sand and salt than it used in all of last winter. Supervisor Glushko noted the recent highway drifting saying that expansion of cultivated fields and the associated tree removal may be partially responsible for the drifting. Snow fences would help, but at least one large farmer would not agree to have snow fences erected on his property.
• Highway Department employees Chad Frechette and Tom Rock came to the aid of a lady who had fallen on the ice on Elm Street. Supervisor Glushko commended the men for their efforts.
• Counselor James Douglass reported that Mrs. Ken Edwards complimented the Highway Department for the excellent road conditions during this difficult winter season.
• During the next several days the counselors will be performing required internal audits of each town office.
• The Board will be updating the Town’s procurement policy to comply with changes in state and federal laws and regulations.

St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 invites the Peru and North Country community to enjoy its baked ham dinner on Saturday, February 8th at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center.  The dinner featuring baked ham and scalloped potatoes will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 PM for only $7.50 per person, $3.50 for children 6 to 12, free for children 5 and under.  Take-outs are available.

 Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday, the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, and Black History Month, four Plattsburgh-area institutions are joining forces to present four documentaries with riveting footage illustrating the history of civil rights in America.

Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle, is being co-sponsored by the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, the Clinton Essex Franklin Library System and the Plattsburgh Public Library.  A grant to the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System from the National Endowment for the Humanities will fund the five-part film series, featuring community discussions after each movie, beginning Feb. 1.

All films and community discussions are free and open to the public.  They will be held Saturdays at 1 p.m. at the Public Library, 19 Oak St.

Saturday, Feb. 1

 “The Abolitionists.”  Part One.Synopsis:  A small group of reformers in the 1830s launched one of the most ambitious social movements imaginable: the immediate emancipation of millions of enslaved African Americans.

Discussion leader:  Dr. J.W. Wiley, Director of the Center for Diversity, Pluralism and Inclusion at Plattsburgh State University, writer and commentator.

Saturday, Feb. 8
“The Abolitionists.”  Part Two.
Synopsis: A small group of reformers in the 1830s launched one of the most ambitious social movements imaginable: the immediate emancipation of millions of enslaved African Americans.
Discussion Leader: Dr. J.W. Wiley (see above)

Saturday, Feb. 15
“Freedom Riders.”
Synopsis: An inside look at a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights struggle, when a brave band of activists challenged segregation in the Deep South.

Discussion Leader:  Jackie Madison, President of the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association.

Saturday, Feb. 22
“Slavery By Another Name.”
Synopsis: Even after slavery was legally abolished, new forms of forced labor kept thousands of African Americans in bondage until the onset of World War II.
Discussion Leader: J.W. Wiley (see above)

Saturday, March 1

 “The Loving Story”
Film Synopsis: Richard and Mildred Loving were arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage. Their struggle culminated in a landmark Supreme Court decision overturning that ban.
Discussion Leaders:  Robin Caudell, reporter, Plattsburgh Press Republican, who has written about the Loving story and other interracial marriages in this area.  Portia Allie-Turco, professor of psychology at Plattsburgh State University, originally from South Africa, where she and her husband wed in an interracial marriage shortly after the end of apartheid.

For more information about attending the series:

–call the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System at 563-5190; email: wever@cefls.org or ugr@frontier.com.

–www.northcountryundergroundrailroad.com

Homeless Count takes place Wednesday » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

How does homeschooling fit into the ed debate? « The In Box.

Wind turbines become insufferable neighbors for some | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com.

Watertown Daily Times | Cutting the cord? Officials say think twice before abandoning landlines.

State to increase scrutiny of oil trains | Capital New York.

State teacher salary up 10% – Times Union.

Capitol Confidential » DiNapoli: State workers rack up overtime record.