The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

June 9 – Generations of Peru Central School students remember Bill Ston as their high school chemistry teacher. Yesterday another important part of Bill’s life was recalled as he joined fifteen other World War II veterans on the North Country Honor Flight to Washington DC. The veterans toured the World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima Monument and Arlington Cemetery.

Attack Transport USS Baxter

Commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on January 20, 1944, following his graduation from St. Lawrence University and the V-12 Officer Training Program at Notre Dame University, Bill Ston was on active duty from January 1944 to January 1946. Assigned to the attack transport the USS Baxter, he commanded boats as they landed men and equipment on the Philippine Islands of Leyte and Luzon and the Japanese islands of Okinawa. The Leyte invasion took place in October and November 1944; Luzon in January 1945; and Okinawa in April 1945.

Ston described his duties,  “I was in charge of a number of boats. It was my responsibility to see everyone got to the beach. My boat was in the middle of what we called an assault wave.” He witnessed Japanese kamikaze attacks at both Leyte and Okinawa.  He said, “At Leyte a kamikaze aircraft attacked a distant ship and a nearby ship. Instead of coming after us, it turned and smashed into the side of the other ship. It looked like he was going to come right towards us. It scared the hell out of me.”

While the USS Baxter didn’t encounter active opposition at Okinawa, landing troops and equipment in unknown waters was difficult. Ston explained, “The landing boats always leaked water. Something plugged the pumps on my boat and we were low in the water. I sent signals to the other boats to continue.”

Fortunately, a repair crew rapidly came to Ston’s assistance and he was able to off-load about 30 U.S. Army troops and equipment. Unfortunately, when the small Army vehicle descended the ramp into what appeared to be shallow water, it disappeared into the Pacific waters. Ston believes that it drove off the edge of a coral reef.

Bill Ston taught high school science in Peru from 1949 to 1977.  He is 92 years of age and resides on the Barney Downs Road in Peru. Anyone who attends a local community dinner is likely to see Bill in attendance accompanied by either his daughter Julie Liberty and her husband Gary or his son Joe Ston and his wife Susan.

Doug Brown and a P-38 Recon Aircraft

By John T. Ryan

June 9 – Many people know Doug Brown as the man who operated Peru Hardware for 40 years (1946-1985).  Like most World War II veterans, Doug didn’t talked to many people about his war experiences and like most of those veterans he had never visited the World War II Memorial in Washington DC. Yesterday, thanks to the Honor Flight Program, Doug Brown and fifteen other local World War II veterans flew to our nation’s capital to view the World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima Monument and Arlington Cemetery.  Doug’s daughter Gail Moore accompanied him on the trip.

Doug Brown and his daughter Gail Moore

Brown entered military service in 1942. He served in the 33^rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron attached to the 9^th Air Force. He was a corporal in the engineering unit, working on the P-38 aircraft.  The planes were unarmed and flew missions to take photos before and after bombing missions. The 33^rd Photo Recon Squadron carried out the biggest photo recon mission of the 9^th Air Force in World War II. The unit was always on the move, following the changing positions on the front line.  Brown served in England, France, Belgium and Germany. He was discharged in 1945.

Brown vividly recalls his military service.  He said, “I enjoyed working on airplanes, but I’ll never forget how cold it was sleeping in a tent in the wintertime in Belgium.” While his squadron usually set operations at a captured base a few miles behind the front lines, things could get dangerous. Brown recalled, “One day a German jet flew over us. It was so low we could easily see a swastika painted on the side.” Brown’s unit followed the Allied troops into Paris and he vividly recalls visiting the Buchenwald concentrate camp in Germany about a week after it was liberated.

Doug Brown and his wife Helen reside on the River Road in Peru.  He’s 92 years age now, but still maintains his home and mows its big lawn. Last week he rejoined his golfing friends for another summer of league play.

Hundreds of people came to the Base Oval and the Clinton County Airport this morning to give sixteen World War II veterans a wonderful “North Country Honor Flight” send-off.  This afternoon the veterans and their escorts will visit the World War Ii Memorial, the Iwo Jima Monument and Arlington Cemetery. They’ll arrive back home about 11 tonight.  Please watch the slideshow.  I think you’ll find it to be an emotional experience.  Click here to view slideshow. Turn up your sound! 

U.S. Navy Vets – Bill Ston (left) and Ralph Santor

Watertown Daily Times | Fourth Samaritan nurse accused of drug charges.

Agenda 06.13-1

Regular Mtg Agenda June 10 2013

What to think about the two percent tax cap on ag land? « The In Box.

Lions Club volunteer Lois Roberts screens 5 year old Jillian Garrant

By John T. Ryan

June 6 – Only a few days ago the Peru Lions Club helped the “Safe Kids Adirondack Program” distribute bike helmets to Peru Central 2^nd graders.  This week Lions Club members were conducting a “Screening Eyes Early” program at the Peru Primary School. The vision screening program was offered free of charge to children being registered for this fall’s kindergarten class. The program’s goal is to decrease childhood blindness through the early detection and treatment of the most common vision disorders that cause amblyopia – the leading cause of monocular blindness (blindness in one eye). The local program is conducted in collaboration with the Lions SEE Program at the Ross Eye Institute in Buffalo.

RN Rena Hart explained the screening to Jill Garrow and her daughter Maggie

Specially trained Lions Club volunteers take digital readings of children whose parents have agreed to participate. The readings are read and evaluated by professionals at the Ross Eye Institute and parents will be informed if problems have been detected. The volunteers do not see the children’s screening results. Confidentially laws and regulations are strictly adhered to.

Peru Lions Club member Ed Eisele explained, “Our club has been screening children at pre-school and daycare centers for the past three years. This is the first year we’ve screened children in public schools.”

Jim McCarty had the happy task of giving stickers to the children

Eisele was the first local volunteer to be trained in the eye screening procedure and he has trained several other volunteers. He emphasized, “Children’s eyes begin to change at age 6. If the child is too old, some eyes issues may not be able to be corrected. As many as one in ten children may have an issue.”  Eisele recalled screening children at a local daycare where two of the four children who were screened had an issue which required follow-up by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Longtime Lions Club leader Jim McCarty, who was assisting at the Peru Primary program, commented, “I’m happy it’s being accepted by parents. It’s helping out a lot of kids.”

Three weeks ago the Lions screened 42 children at the Keeseville Elementary School.  Sixty-two pre-kindergarteners were screened this week in Peru with more Peru Primary sessions scheduled for July 16^th and August 20^th.

L-R Jim McCarty, Ed Eisele, Rena Hart and Lois Roberts are Lions Club screeners. Roy Perry is another trained volunteer.

Parents in other local communities are taking advantage of screening offered by the Plattsburgh and Chazy Lions Clubs.

Assembly bill introduced to bring back lever-operated voting machines – NY Daily News.

Tax-free plan gets a lukewarm reception – Times Union.

Cuomo unveils ‘Women’s Equality Agenda’ including proposed controversial abortion bill – NYPOST.com.

Poll Finds Voters Think Silver Should Step Down as Assembly Speaker – NYTimes.com.

OSWEGO, NY (06/05/2013)(readMedia)– Alyssa Estus of Peru, a senior history major, has been named to the President’s List for the spring semester at SUNY Oswego.

Students who achieve grade averages of 3.80 and above on the 4.00 scale are named to the President’s List, the top 8.3 percent of Oswego students.

Admission to SUNY Oswego is competitive. U.S. News Media Group counts SUNY Oswego among the top public regional universities in the North for 2013, and the Princeton Review includes Oswego in its 2013 college guidebook “The Best Northeastern Colleges,” as well as its 2013 list of “best value” colleges and universities nationally.

A 152-year-old comprehensive college in the State University of New York system, Oswego enrolls about 8,000 students in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education.

Visit oswego.edu for more information.

On the web: http://meritpages.com/achievements/Peru-resident-named-to-SUNY-Oswego-Presidents-List/6413972.

From the office of Representative Bill Owens 

Washington, DC – This week, Congressman Bill Owens introduced legislation, the “Spending Reduction Act” (H.R. 2250), in support of federal spending cuts outlined in a series of reports by the General Accountability Office (GAO).  Specifically, the Congressman’s legislation would require executive agencies to put into place the efficiencies identified by the GAO after reporting to Congress and the President on how they would enact the recommendations.  Congressman Owens issued the following statement on the bill: “The GAO identified $100 billion or more in savings the federal government can achieve without reducing services or endangering federal programs, but now we must fully implement these cuts,” said Owens.  “As sequestration takes its toll across the country and deficits remain at dangerous levels, we cannot wait any longer to responsibly address America’s spending crisis.  Wherever there are reasonable, common-sense options to reduce federal spending, it is incumbent upon Congress and the Administration to take action.” 

In addition to requiring implementation of the GAO’s report, the “Spending Reduction Act” would provide a road map to achieve savings outlined by the GAO.  Read more »

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the competition guidelines and resources available for Round III of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative. Together with funding from twelve additional New York State agencies, up to $750 million in economic development resources will be available to applicants through the 2013 REDC process.

The 2013 Available CFA Resources Manual, which outlines the funds available from 29 state agency programs, and the 2013 REDC Guidebook, which provides the competitive guidelines for this year , are both available at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

“Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, it is clear that New York State is on the path to building an economy made for the 21st Century. The past two rounds of the Regional Economic Development Councils have shown what a difference we can make to local economies by listening to regional business and community leaders,” said Lieutenant Governor Robert J. Duffy, Chair of the Regional Economic Development Councils. “This year we’re looking for even stronger projects – from businesses and applicants of all sizes – that will create new jobs for New Yorkers and ensure the Empire State remains a leader in the global economy.”

2013 Guidelines

The 2013 Guidebook indicates the priorities regions should strive towards this year, which include: Read more »

First Weekend events kick off Friday and Saturday » Local News » Press-Republican.

Lyon Mountain home destroyed by fire » Local News » Press-Republican.

Capitol Confidential » Conservative Party opposes tax free zones.

CANTON, NY (06/04/2013)(readMedia)– Korey M. Devins of Peru, was among the 548 students awarded a degree at St. Lawrence University’s Commencement ceremony, held May 19 on campus in Canton, New York. Devins was awarded a degree in biology and is a graduate of AuSable Valley Central High School. Read more »

Adirondack historian Amy Godine, whose ground-breaking research helped re-open the narrative of Timbuctoo, the black settlement at Lake Placid, is back with another revealing story.Godine has found that wealthy abolitionist Gerrit Smith’s land give-away may have benefited black Americans still being held in bondage in the south.

Speaking at the Peru Free Library on Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m., Adirondack Life contributor Godine will discuss the results of her latest research. With the help of primary and archival documents, she reconstructs the dramatic story of a Maryland slave who came into possession of an Adirondack deed he was never able to use, and the long struggle of his sons and heirs to hold onto their Adirondack patrimony in Essex County and Albany courts — a court battle that carried into the 20th century. Read more »

The Peru Lions very a big help in fitting and handing out 150 helmets

On Tuesday, May 21, Safe Kids Adirondack held the 3^rd Annual F.U.N. Ride (Fittin’ Ur Noggin). Community volunteers traveled to five elementary schools in Clinton & Essex Counties (Lake Placid, Ausable Valley, Holy Name, Keeseville & Peru).  Peru Elementary was the largest number of kids, with 150 second graders given helmets.  Thankfully, members of the Peru Lions Club were on hand to help fit the kids with helmets and keep the event running smoothly.

Peru students made bike safety signs

Cyclists Robert Light and Richard Kozak rode from school to school to talk about safety and the importance of staying active.  In total, 417 kids received free helmets and nearly 1,000 kids learned the importance of riding safely through school assemblies held by Officer Light prior to the May 21 event.

Funding for the purchase of the helmets was supported by the David Reuter Helmet Fund held by the Foundation of CVPH, Siemens, Casella and the Keeseville Elks Club.

Safe Kids Adirondack is a two-county organization serving Essex and Clinton and our mission is to prevent unintentional childhood injuries. It accomplishes this by providing education at health fairs and community events; conducting child passenger car seat checks and providing new car seats to those who need them; providing bicycle helmets and demonstrations of safe bicycle techniques; and much more.  Its lead agency is the Foundation of CVPH Medical Center.

Fire destroys Rouses Point home » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

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