The Peru Gazette

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County voters approve NYS Prop One

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The Town of Peru Town Board has scheduled a Workshop for Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 4:00 PM. The workshop will discuss the wastewater treatment project and will take place at the Peru Town Hall.

Click here for the Clinton County Board of Elections Totals 

President of the United States
Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz – 896
Donald Trump & JD Vance – 1,276
Write-ins – 17

United States Senator
Kristin Gillibrand – 954
Michael Sapraicone – 1,474
Diane Sare – 3
Write-ins – 3

Representative 21st District in Congress
Paula Collins – 1,151
Elise Stefanik – 1,313
Write-ins – 3

Equal Rights Proposition
Yes – 1,107
No 1,048

These totals do not include:
177 – Early Vote Mail-Ins
223 Absentee Votes
783 Early Vote
Total 1,183
(23.6% of Peru’s 5,007 Active Voters)

Jim will walk out his office door into retirement on December 31.

By John T Ryan

November 5, 2024, Peru, NY – One of Peru’s most visible and long-standing businesses will change hands at the end of this year. Langley Insurance Agency owner James Langley Jr. is retiring on December 31, 2024, and Troy Shepherd will become the agency’s new owner. Shepherd, the owner of the MLM Insurance Agency in Westport, brings ten years of industry experience and advanced technology skills to the business. With 30 years of industry experience, Grace Bechard will conduct day-to-day operations in Peru. The Agency’s name will not change.

At age 65, Jim Langley says it’s time to retire. “I plan to spend more time with my family and travel. My wife Tammy will be joining me. She’s retiring next July.”

A few days ago, the Langleys purchased a home in Cohoes, NY, near Latham, where their daughter Tiffany and her husband Chad and grandchildren Payton and Jackson live. Jim and Tammy also plan to spend several months at their Chazy Lake camp each year. They’ll be close by son Tyler, his wife Elora, and their kids Silas and Elowyn, who live in Peru.

Jim Langley is well-known in at least two circles—insurance and community service. After graduating from Canton ATC in 1980, he worked for ten years in his father’s insurance agency, J. Langley Associates. In 1990, Langley bought the Ross E. Clark Agency on Mannix Road, and in 2006, he opened his new building along Bear Swamp Road at 5 Davey Drive, opposite the Peru Post Office.

Langley loves his chosen profession. He commented, “I’ve never considered this to be work. I enjoy meeting people and learning about their lives. I’ve never had to advertise. I visit people’s homes and businesses. I learned that from Barbara Thew at the Ross E. Clark Agency. We treat people here like extended family.”

Thinking about memories of living in Peru, Jim commented, “Peru is a very accepting community. There’s a village with everything a family needs. Peru Central is great for the kids; our kids loved it. Thanks to my wife Tammy and her family, we are proud to say our children were the fourth-generation graduates of Peru Central, and one day, I expect our grandchildren Silas and Elowyn will be the fifth.”

Langley always found time to serve his community. His service included assisting in coaching basketball, soccer, and baseball and being a member of the Community Bank Advisory Board. He was a member of the Peru and County Planning Boards, the Peru Town Board, and the Clinton County Legislature (1999-2015) until a new law term-limited him out of office. From 2001 to 2013, he was the Legislature’s Chairman, where many people praised his ability to bring people together to accomplish positive change.

Two of those changes serve thousands of people – relocating the county airport from Route 3 to its current location on the former airbase and the Cumberland Head connector road to and from the ferry. Under his leadership, the county acquired millions of dollars in federal and state funding for both projects by working directly with the agencies involved. Locally, Jim worked with the NYS Department of Transportation to redesign a hazardous Route 22B—River Road intersection.

Langley summarized his feelings: “I have served my community in many ways over the years. I’m proud of being a Peruvian and the community that has accepted me for the past 35 years.”

(Schenectady, NY) – Market 32/Price Chopper is honoring the dedication and service of our nation’s Veterans with a special 11% discount on any one shopping trip on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. All veterans and retired, active-duty, reserve and National Guard military personnel and immediate family members are welcome to the discount with proof of service and AdvantEdge Card.

Proof of military service includes Uniformed Services ID Card, Common Access Card, VA Healthcare Card, VFW Membership Card, Veterans Advantage Membership Card, Veterans Administration ID Card, American Legion Membership Card, DD214 Form, or driver’s license with veteran status indicated.

“We greatly respect those who have served our country and want to express our gratitude for their courage, and commitment to protecting our freedoms,” said Blaine Bringhurst, Market 32/Price Chopper president. “This is Market 32/Price Chopper’s way of thanking members of our military, veterans, and their families for their sacrifices.”

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At the Monday, October 28 meeting, the Peru Town Board:

• Approved selling a used paver and roller to the Town of Jay for $40,000. The paver is owned jointly with the Town of Ausable, which will receive $15,000 of the $40,000 total sale price.
• Approved a one-year snow and ice removal contrast with the Clinton County, the price is a 2.5 percent increase over this year.  The board tabled a resolution to sign the contract at the last meeting.
• Accepted Councilman Jim Douglass’ audit of Town Clerk Tax/Collector. Douglas complimented Dianne Miller, saying, “Her records are perfect. She does a great job.”
• Approved hiring Alexis Grennon as Assistant Youth Director for fall sports.
• Hired AES Northeast to conduct a request for quote (RFQ)  solicitation for the wastewater treatment plant project. At least one other company presented a proposal.
• Supervisor Craig Randall said the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) installed signs honoring NYS Trooper Christopher Garrow at the Carpenter’s Flat Bridge. Randall will work with DOT to schedule an appropriate ceremony.

Acting on Dianne Miller’s suggestion to hold an Election Day “Meet and Greet” for Supervisor Craig Randall, the board scheduled it for Tuesday, November 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Youth Director Kristen Marino reported that soccer is finishing up, and basketball is starting. She thanked Courtney Tetrault and the staff for excellently maintaining town parks and fields.

Helen Nerska said the October 19 Walking Tour of Peru was very successful. She’s planning a similar walk next year. Nerska also indicated that Peru would be very involved in America250, which will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Highway Superintendent Mike Farrell reported that someone placed a boat and logs on the McGarr Road snowplow turnaround area. He wants town attorney Matt Favro to get involved in this ongoing issue.

Deputy Highway Superintendent Tyler Jarvis reported that the John Boswell Road paving is complete. His staff continues to repair trucks in-house rather than pay for expensive dealer repairs. With the snow plowing season approaching, on November 15, Department personnel will begin 5-day, 8-hour work weeks instead of the 4-day, 10-hour work week summer schedule.

Water Superintendent Courtney Tetrault reported that his department will send about 500 letters to residents and businesses that have not responded to the lead survey. All water lines must be proven lead-free in town records or by examination.

At 6:58 p.m., the Supervisor asked to adjourn to an Executive Session for a personnel performance issue. He said the board would not be conducting further business.

Note – Highway Department work schedule corrected at 8 PM, 11/3/24. 

Approved meeting minutes added 1/19/25 – Approved Meeting Minutes 2024-10-28-RM

Forrence Orchards, Barney Downs Rd., November 3, 2024

Shepherd’s Pie 

Bread

Dessert

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972 

All are invited and welcome!

Monday, November 4, 2024, 5:30 p.m. – Public Hearing on Preliminary Budget

November 7, 6:30 pm, CCHA, 98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh.  The History of Railroads in Clinton County – Mooers (Part III). Inspired by CCHA photo albums of early area trains and the recently acquired collection of rail enthusiast Lawrence Duffina, Transportation Historian Dick Soper will share the history of rail development, which opened up Clinton County to new markets and eventually to new tourism and a past we now take for granted. See old photos, then aerial videos of today’s rails. This is the third in a 5-part series from 1833 to the present, including photographs, newspaper articles, aerial videos, and information from the extensive collection of railroad books recently added to the Clinton County Historical Association’s research library.

November 8 – 12:30 pm, Plattsburgh Senior Center, 5139 North Catherine Street, Plattsburgh. History of Clinton County in Pictures. Where did the County start, and how did it develop? See photos of the towns and villages that formed to become part of the Clinton County story.

November 11^th – 2:00 pm, meet at the parking lot near the Farmers’ Market at 26 Green Street.

Walking Tour of Peace Point and the Plattsburgh D&H Rail Yard Site. Join us for a new

walking tour as Richard Caudill and Maribeth Dunajski take you to the historic districts of Dock,

Bridge and Green streets with stories and photos.

November 12 – 2:30 pm, Meadowbrook Healthcare, 154 Prospect Avenue, Plattsburgh.  Plattsburgh City Hall and the Macdonough Monument:  their design and construction as told in photos from the Clinton County Historical Association’s Collection with Helen Nerska.

November 12 – 6:45 pm, Lake Forest, 8 Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh.   Plattsburgh City Hall and the Macdonough Monument:  their design and construction as told in photos from the Clinton County Historical Association’s Collection with Helen Nerska. Doors open at 6:30.

November 13 – 5:00 pm, West Side Ballroom, 253 New York Road on the ‘new base’.  CCHA Annual Meeting. Program: The Booming Blueberry Business on the Altona Flat Rock by Steve Frederick. Dinner reservations are required.  Call 518-561-0340.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 26 at 1:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with a lower leg injury on Mount Marcy. New York State Police Pilot Engel flew Forest Rangers Lewis and O’Connor to the scene. Ranger Lewis lowered Ranger O’Connor down to the 45-year-old from Lockport. Ranger O’Connor stabilized the hiker’s broken leg, and Ranger Lewis hoisted the subject into the helicopter so they could fly to the hospital. Ranger O’Connor escorted the subject’s husband to Adirondak Loj. Resources were clear at 7 p.m.