The Peru Gazette

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From the Office of Congressman Bill Owens

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Owens announced today that the House Agriculture Committee will hold one of four field hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake.  The hearing, which will gather on-the-ground input on the multi-year reauthorization of federal agriculture policy, will be the only one held in the northeast United States this year.  It has been many years since the last congressional hearing was held in one of the eleven counties that make up New York’s 23rd Congressional District. The hearing is scheduled for Friday, March 9th and will be held at the Sparks Athletic Complex on campus at NCCC. Read more »

By John T. Ryan

The New York State Comptroller is charged with ensuring that state and local governments comply with all financial laws and regulations.  State auditors arrived in Peru on Tuesday, February 28th.  At the Monday, February 27^th Town Board meeting Town Supervisor Peter Glushko addressed department heads saying, “I think we’re in good shape. Please use this as a learning opportunity and don’t be afraid to ask questions.” Glushko said retirement records, payroll records and meeting minutes would be the first things audited. All departments will be audited.

Other Town Board meeting actions/information included:

FEMA will be reimbursing the town in the amount of $611,006.67 for Hurricane Irene related flood damage repairs. The Town of Peru calculated its contribution of in-kind labor, machinery and other services regarding Irene-related repairs at $161,006.67.

The Town of Au Sable Highway Department is still using the Peru Highway Garage as its base of operations. Au Sable’s garage has deteriorated to the point where it is no longer usable. Planning for a new garage is underway.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that a verbal agreement for purchase of the town’s stone crushing machine has been reached with Pat Remillard.  No other party expressed interest in the machine.  Remillard will provide 12,500 yards of sand to the town as payment for the machine. Farrell said he had verified the legality of such a transaction with the Association of New York Towns and with Town Attorney Biggs.

The Town of Peru will not receive any share of the Clinton County 2011 sales tax revenue.  Peru had received excessive sales tax monies in some previous years and carried a negative balance into 2011.

The Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau will be providing War of 1812 Bicentennial banners (29 inches x 60 inches) to the Town of Peru at no charge. The town will supply the manpower and hardware to extend the banners from major street light poles. The word “Peru” will be stated on each banner.

Three different banners will be displayed.

Increasing number of state workers earn more than the governor – NYPOST.com.

Audit: State agency wasted your money – Times Union.

Watertown Daily Times | A welcoming change: Canada to ease entry restrictions for U.S. visitors starting March 1.

North Country Catholic Newspaper.

EDITORIAL: New school contracts must reflect reality.

Hermitage woman faces vehicular homicide after handing over keys to boyfriend | The Tennessean | tennessean.com.

$4B budget sleight-of-hand: Port Authority on hook to fund ‘unknown projects’ | SILive.com.

Watertown Daily Times | SBDC to help small wineries export products to China.

Owens supports president’s performance – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

By John T. Ryan

Saturday morning’s “Donuts with Doheny” at St. Augustine’s Parish Center attracted about 30 local residents including most if not all of the top local Republican leaders. Doheny is making his second attempt to take the 23^rd New York District seat away from Democrat Bill Owens. In 2010 he lost by only 1,950 votes.  In most elections the Republican candidate wins Conservative Party endorsement; however, in 2010 Douglas Hoffman was nominated by the Conservatives and garnered 6.1% of the vote. Assemblywoman Janet Duprey was present Saturday morning. She emphasized that Republicans and Conservatives must be unified this year and said that she is looking forward to working with a Congressman from the western part of the Congressional District.

Matt Doheny spoke and answered questions for about one hour. The audience made several comments and asked questions about layoffs by local companies, keeping educated youth in this region and attracting industry. Doheny cited his business experience and the necessity of cutting taxes and regulations at all levels of government. He said expanding cell phone and broadband coverage throughout the district is absolutely necessary. Expanding cultural offerings and targeting our industrial marketing to companies that can realistically locate here are also very important.  Noting our region’s many assets he said military installations and nuclear power plants are among the industries that might locate here. He would support granting foreign students legal immigration status if when they graduate from a local college and pledge to work in this region. When this reporter asked for his position on the global warming issue, he responded, “Is that an issue?” Doheny said there has been conflicting scientific opinion on global warming and he doesn’t believe its existence has been proven. He doesn’t want concerns about global warming to stop economic development and said carbon pollution has to be addressed in countries like China, Venezuela and Mexico before being addressed in the United States. He did not bring up social issues such as abortion or gay marriage and neither did the audience.

These are the most significant points Doheny made during his presentation:

• Congress and President Obama are going in the wrong direction.
• Congress needs more business leaders because they understand the economy.
• Congressman Bill Owens favors a European style welfare state.
• He knows how to grow the economy, which will lead to more jobs.
• Cutting government regulation is absolutely essential.
• Congressman Owens voted against free trade, which he believes is vital to economic prosperity.
• The number of state and local regulations must be reduced. Doheny said Congressman Owens voted agains the REINS Act which would have required that Congress approve any regulation having an impact of over $100 million.
• The 35% federal corporate tax rate must be reduced. Corporate tax rates are 25% in most of the world.
• The $15 trillion federal deficit must be reduced or eliminated. He opposes President Obama’s proposed $1.3 trillion budget deficit for next year.
• Income tax laws should be simpler, flatter and fairer.
• He would repeal all “death” or inheritance taxes.
• Government should not dictate to religious institutions. He opposes the Obama Administration’s attempt to force religious institutions to offer free contraceptive coverage when they provide insurance to their employees.
• He would vote to repeal Obamacare. Aligning the interests of doctors, patients and insurance companies could decrease health costs. Pricing transparency should be encouraged and the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines should be permitted.
• He opposes President Obama’s proposed Defense Department cutbacks of 150,000 troops and $1 trillion in spending. He said he doesn’t want the U.S. to be the world’s policeman, but he wants the world to be terrified of the United States.
• Under the heading “energy security,” Doheny objects to “hidden taxes” such as the $.675 per gallon state/federal gasoline taxes in this state. He called for more domestic oil drilling and refinery construction. He wants to immediately begin construction of the Keystone pipeline from Canada to Texas.
• The Federal Reserve Board’s monetary policies have resulted in reducing the value of the U.S. Dollar, and dramatically higher oil prices. Oil is traded in U.S. dollars.

Congressman Bill Owens (L) discusses milk marketing with John Rulfs

By John T. Ryan

Peru is a small town, but it received a lot of political attention last week. On Saturday morning, Congressional candidate Matt Doheny was in town to meet with local residents. Friday afternoon Congressman Bill Owens was here to meet with local farmer Jon Rulfs. The House Committee on Agriculture, on which Owens serves, is formulating the 2012 Farm Bill. It will dictate federal farm policy for the next five years. Owens is traveling throughout the 23rd Congressional District to gather information from farmers and milk processors. He wanted to hear Rulfs’ opinions, especially on milk pricing. Their one-hour discussion was complex and could best be understood by someone who had studied farm issues in depth. Small, medium and large farmers, as well as milk processors, sometimes disagree on farm policy and Owens is responsible for representing all their interests.

Adirondack Farms is one of the largest if not the largest farm in Owens’ district. Jon Rulfs and his partner Jake Swers have 3,800 cattle including 1,850 milking cows, 140 other mature cows and 1,800 young cattle. Tractor-trailers haul 180,000 pounds of milk from the farm to the Agri-Mart manufacturing facility in Chateaugay each day. A trailer holding 70,000 pounds of milk leaves the farm every ten hours.

As many local residents know, Adirondack Farms has purchased several smaller farms since it opened in 1996.  Today, the farm crops 4,000 acres, about 75% of which is devoted to corn production and 25% to alfalfa. It takes approximately 1.5 to 2 acres of cropland to support each producing cow. Adirondack Farms has 40 full-time employees.

Promising pineapple » Lifestyles » Press-Republican.

Clarkson to offer Adirondack curriculum » Local News » Press-Republican.

Local scholarship program fights brain drain » Local News » Press-Republican.

Peru PTO wants answers » Local News » Press-Republican.

Watertown Daily Times | Doheny slowly winning over conservatives.

       AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING February 27, 2012 7:00 PM

1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. MOTION:  Approval of minutes for the Town Board Regular Meeting of February 13, 2012.
5. Community Input
6. DISCUSSION:  NYS Comptroller Visit.
7. DISCUSSION:  EFC HELP Loan Update.
8. DISCUSSION:  Water Quality Improvement Bond Update.
9. DISCUSSION:  FEMA Update.
10. DISCUSSION: Sale of Highway Crusher Update.
11. DISCUSSION: CDBG Update.
12. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  County Sales Tax Update.
13. DISCUSSION:  2012-2013 NYMIR Insurance Annual Renewal Application
14. Other Business
15. Community Input on Agenda Items.
16. Motion to Adjourn.

By John T. Ryan

Update: This story will updated with details today (Monday, February 27th). 

About 30 people turned out at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center this morning to hear Congressional candidate Matt Doheny explain why he’s running to unseat Representative Bill Owens. The Peru Gazette will have an in-depth report tomorrow.

Obama’s Burlington visit moves to UVM, Grace Potter to perform | Burlington Free Press 

By Donald McBrayer

Congressional Candidate Matt Doheny would like a chance to meet and converse with you. Matt Doheny wants to bring his expertise in business and his common-sense approach to problem solving to Washington. Come hear more about Matt’s plan to jumpstart our economy, while also limiting the size of our government. He will be in Peru this morning, February 25th  from 9:00am – 10:00am at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main Street.

This is a free event open to everyone, so if you have any questions or concerns or you would just like to say “Hi!” and have a donut you are invited. Donuts will be from Rulf’s Orchards, Coffee will be from Adirondack Coffee Roasters.

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