The Peru Gazette

Commentary: ARTA Rail Trail, Economic No-Brainer – The Adirondack Almanack – The Adirondack Almanack.

DURHAM, NH (06/14/2013)(readMedia)– Douglas Osborne of Peru has earned High Honors for the spring semester of the 2012-2013 academic year at the University of New Hampshire.

Students named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Hampshire are students who have earned recognition through their superior scholastic performance. Highest honors are awarded to students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.85 or better out of a possible 4.0. Students with a 3.65 to 3.84 average are awarded high honors and students whose grade point average is 3.5 through 3.64 are awarded honors.

On the web: http://readabout.me/achievements/Douglas-Osborne-of-Peru-Named-to-the-University-of-New-Hampshires-Deans-List-for-the-2013-Spring-Semester/6584791.

Clinton County treasurer won’t run » Local News » Press-Republican.

USS Arkab – In Service May 1944, Out of Service January 1946

By John T. Ryan

Ralph Santor has always associated with people just a little older than himself. He was one of the youngest members of Peru High School’s class of 1944. He was also one of the youngest at his U.S. Navy seaman’s training and as a member of the crew of the USS Arkab.

Ralph Santor – Bottom Left

Ralph Santor and his son Butch

Last Saturday, at age 86, Ralph Santor was once again the youngster in the group. He was the youngest veteran to participate in the North Country Honor Flight to Washington D.C.  Both Ralph and his son Butch, who accompanied him on the trip, had a great day. Ralph said, “Seeing the World War II Memorial, The Iwo Jima Monument and Arlington Cemetery was a great experience.” Butch enjoyed the trip because he was able to assist his father and some of the other veterans, especially in getting on and off the bus.

Seaman Ralph Santor has many memories of his World War II service.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on the first day he was eligible –  May 1, 1944, the day he turned 18.  He served on the USS Arkab, a 441-foot long ship with a 206 member crew. The USS Arkab transported cargo and over 1,200 passengers to bases in the Pacific, steaming some 60,000 miles by December 1945. Ports of call included Pearl Harbor, Manus Island, and the Admiralty Islands.

On one of those islands Santor met the pilot of the Enola Gay, the Boeing B-29 bomber that dropped the hydrogen bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. Colonel Paul Tibbets told Santor, “If you would have gotten here a week ago I would have taken you for a ride.” Santor responded, “The hell you would have.”

Ralph Santor – Bottom Right

Sailors are famous for enjoying their onshore liberty and Santor is no exception.  One planned two-day liberty in Hawaii was extended to two weeks after the captain met an “old friend” on shore. Santor had already emptied his wallet thinking he had only two days of liberty. He managed to borrow $7 from two buddies and enjoyed at least one more night away from the ship.

Discharged from the Navy in July of 1946, Ralph returned to the North Country where he went to work for Truman Davis driving a tractor-trailer filled with Peru apples to buyers throughout the northeast. In the early 1950’s, he began working for Fort Edward Express driving a tank truck over 2 million accident-free miles during his career. Santor smiled broadly when he talked about representing Fort Edward Express at a truck driver rodeo in Syracuse. He said simply, “I was a good driver and I loved it.”

Ralph Santor – 2 million accident-free miles for Ft. Edward Express

Santor’s family has been the center of his life. In 1949, he married his childhood neighbor, Marilyn St. Louis. They had two children, Ralph (Butch) and Sandra Lynn (Sandy). Sandy Santor passed away in 1999 and Marilyn Santor passed away in February of 2012. Ralph still resides in his home at the corner of the Military Turnpike and the Irish Settlement Road.

How IBM cuts could trigger other Vt. job losses – WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-.

Adirondack lands, waterfall open up – Times Union.

IBM slashes 700 jobs in Dutchess County, site of its chip fab – The Buzz: Business news.

A Burlington Company Takes a Chance on the Segway | Seven Days.

Garden Talks
Our latest garden talk Planting Day was held on Thursday, May 16th. Led by a Master Gardener our group learned all about when to plant our vegetables and a closing open forum was full of helpful gardening tips. Our next talk is at 6:00pm on June 20″‘ and will be on tomatoes.
Free and open to the public.

Community Garden
Most of our garden has been planted: beans and peas, lettuces, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and melons. But, there is still some remaining space if anyone would like to use it.

Summer Family Programs
Our summer programming will begin on Tuesday, July 9 and will run on consecutive Tuesdays through the month of July. We will present magicians, and storytellers and musicians and a live theater production of The Secret Garden- all tying in with our summer reading theme “Dig into Reading”.
Programs are on Tuesdays in July at 2:30 pm and are free.

Children’s Art Classes
Art teacher Greg Badger will hold art classes for children here at the library as part of our summer programming. Structured art classes will be held during July and into August. Morning and afternoon classes will be offered. There will be no fee but children must be registered.

IBM layoffs have begun – WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-.

Little Ausable River at 3 pm, June 12, 2013

Water laps on bridge – Movie Heyworth-Mason 4a 

and 

Movie Little Ausable Rages

By  John T. Ryan

Important decisions having to do with water quality improvement project costs, natural gas availability and speed limits highlighted the Monday, June 10, 2013 Town Board meeting.  Counselors approved two resolutions that could add from $25, 000 to $50,000 to the cost of the water quality improvement project. Bringing natural gas to more town residents will be more difficult than the board had been led to believe and Lyons Road residents were present to request lowering the speed limit on that highway.

Following a recommendation by the town’s project engineer, the counselors authorized the expenditure of not more that $15,000 to pay a “Resident Project Representative” to monitor the last phase of the $3.2 million water quality improvement project. The delayed filtration media has arrived and the redesigned control values are scheduled to arrive at the contractor J. Hogan Refrigeration and Mechanical on June 13^th. AES Northeast engineer Todd Hodgson said the project representative would ensure that the project would be completed in conformance with specifications.

Hodgson also recommended a change order estimated to cost in excess of $20,000. The change will allow the filters to be separately cleaned (backwashed) thereby maintaining filtration media efficiency. The town may be required to solicit bids for the change order. Town Attorney Donald Biggs will research the legal requirements. Advertising for bids would delay the project by a few days. The board will schedule a Special Meeting if necessary.

In response to a question from this reporter, Counselor Brandy McDonald stated any Peru resident desiring natural gas service must call the NYSEG’s 800 number (800-572-1111) and request an application. McDonald said a letter NYSEG sent to Peru residents a few weeks ago was “misleading.”  At the April 22, 2013 board meeting McDonald stated that a NYSEG representative told him that if 10% of residents responding to the letter indicated an interest in installing natural gas service, there would be a good chance that service would be extended to many parts of the community.

Lyons Road residents Cindy Arnold and Lee Meyer asked the board for a lower speed limit on the Lyons Road. Arnold said, “There is no posted speed limit, making the limit 55 miles per hour. There’s a daycare and disabled people along the road. There have been several accidents and close calls. We need help with speeders from the South Junction Road to the Rock Road.”  As they have done with similar requests the board passed a resolution requesting that the NYS Department of Transportation consider lowering the speed limit. Counselor Brandy McDonald stated that a petition signed by Lyons Road residents could help bring a more favorable resolution.  He stated, “The community has more say on speed limits than we do.”

In other actions/news:

Peru Central Physical Education teacher Tracy Posada described the “Adventure Challenge Program” to the board. The program is intended to promote physical fitness, especially among young children. It will be conducted on Saturday, June 29^th at the Laphams Mills Park. There will be obstacles with water, mud, climbing, crawling and jogging. This year’s kindergarten through 6th grade children are encouraged to participate. The cost will be $10 per child up to a maximum of $25 per family. Click here for YouthAdventureChallenge Pre-Registration Form.

The board reappointed Tim Surpitski to a 6-year term as Town of Peru Assessor. Surpitski’s current term of office expires on September 30, 2013.

The Lyon Street School was added to the National Register of Historic places on May 22, 2013. The designation makes it feasible for the town to apply for grants to restore the building. (See earlier story & photo) 

The agricultural overlay to the proposed new zoning law is being amended. Several local dairy farmers and apple growers objected to their land being restricted to agricultural use. If the profitability of the dairy or apple industry changes, they want the ability to use or sell their land for other than agriculture purposes. The proposed law would have restricted the future use of the land to only agricultural purposes.

Rick Perry goes job-hunting in New York – Editorial.

Why the Washington spy scandal isn’t a scandal « The In Box.

Watertown Daily Times | DOD confirms identity of two Fort Drum soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Saturday.

From the Office of State Senator Betty Little

A proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow for a land exchange between New York State and NYCO Minerals, Inc. located in Essex County won second passage today in the Senate according to its sponsor, Senator Betty Little. The exchange would enable NYCO to continue its wollastonite mining operations in the Town of Lewis while adding valuable land to the state Forest Preserve.  The Adirondack Council today added their support for the amendment.

Senator Little commented,  Read more »

The Buffalo News: Albany remains a cesspool of corruption. Every year, it seems, elected officials, including members of the Assembly and Senate, are unmasked as thieves, cheats or manipulators gaming the system for their own benefit. They extend from the rank and file to the leaders of each chamber to independently elected officeholders such as former State Comptroller Alan Hevesi.//It has become so predictable and so bad that Albany needs to revamp its entire system of financing elections, providing for a public match of funds that will give potential candidates without deep pockets a chance to run against entrenched and financially flush incumbents.//Other reforms need to take place, as well, including a ban on campaign consultants cashing in on their success by suddenly turning corporate lobbyist. It’s a scam, and the public pays. (BN)

Cuomo bill eyes public-financed elections – Times Union.

Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest This Weekend – The Adirondack Almanack

Watertown Daily Times | Caddisflies are missing from Ogdensburg, and no one really knows why.

CUNY and SUNY bigs get chauffeurs as tuition soars – NYPOST.com.

Capitol Confidential » Here’s the Tax-Free NY bill.

Please read the audit findings of NYS Comptroller Thomas DeNapoli. These are the best results the Peru Gazette has ever seen! 

Trailer destroyed by fire in Peru » Local News » Press-Republican.