The Peru Gazette

Snowmobiler charged for Friday accident » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

Brushton man gets almost $1 million after surgery lawsuit 

PHS Science Olympiad team gunning for state win » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

Montreal woman killed in Northway crash – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

From the office of Congressman Owens 

PLATTSBURGH – Congressman Bill Owens (NY-23) outlined federal tax relief today for New Yorkers affected by severe weather last year.  Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee caused untold amounts of damage for many New Yorkers, and as they continue to recover from their losses, Owens wants to ensure that those affected get every penny of tax relief available. Tax relief provisions are available for Presidentially-declared disaster areas in New York that were eligible for Individual Assistance, which includes Oneida, Clinton, and Essex counties.

“As New York continues to rebuild in the wake of spring flooding, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee, it is critical that those affected have all the support available to get their lives back in order,” Owens said. “I urge those impacted by severe weather to take a look at the information my office has available, apply for this tax relief if eligible.”

Owens outlined provisions for which many New Yorkers in areas affected by severe weather may qualify:

·         Individuals and businesses that sustained damage may be eligible to deduct storm-related losses from their income tax returns.

·         Taxpayers who reside or have a business in a disaster area may be eligible for extended deadlines from the IRS.

·         Taxpayers who lost tax documents due to Irene may be eligible to receive replacement documents free of charge. Read more »

Should the North Country consolidate whole communities? « The In Box.

Tentative contract reached with officers » Local News » Press-Republican.

Adirondack Almanack: Natural History: Climate Change and the Winter of ’32.

Judge calls for ‘special master’ to redraw state legislative and congressional district boundaries – NY Daily News.

Watertown Daily Times | Federal budget builds at Drum, but cuts swath of programs.

Man arrested in connection with 2011 Peru School burglary » Local News » Press-Republican.

By Donald McBrayer

Why is Peru adopting a new Zoning Law and what changes are being proposed?

The Town of Peru Zoning Update Committee, appointed by the Peru Town Board over three years ago to revise the Town’s zoning ordinance, has completed the document. This effort was really initiated in 2003 when a larger committee began the process of completing a Comprehensive Plan, which is essentially a blueprint for guiding future growth and development of the Town. The Comprehensive Plan <http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/zoning/CompFinalPlan.pdf>  (http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/zoning/CompFinalPlan.pdf) was initiated in response to a number of issues that had arisen over the years, including loss of open space, increased housing starts and subdivisions, increase in commercial development and perceived loss of town character. The residents of the Town of Peru are blessed to live in a community that is diverse, well organized, and pleasant in character. The zoning ordinance is a key tool to allow the Town to protect those community values that we share in common and to allow the Town to continue to grow in a well planned manner.

The draft schedule for the adoption of the new zoning law anticipates that it will be adopted by the Town Board in June. Read more »

By Donald McBrayer

The Town Board held their regular meeting Monday night. Everyone except Kregg Brune (excused) was present.

Town Supervisor Peter Glushko reported  the town is to receive the $1,000.000 NYS Emergency Hurricane Loan Program money on Thursday. This money is to be used to pay for damages from the spring flooding, and Tropical Storm Irene until FEMA funds become available. So far the town has received $307,000 of the proposed $614,000 from FEMA and will continue to work with FEMA to secure more help as repairs continue.

Glushko also reported the town would not be receiving Clinton County Sales Tax income this year because of a $9,700 shortfall in sales tax revenue. Glushko intends to look into it, saying this was disappointing news. He reminded the board to keep spending tight.

The board also:

• Approved a request by Highway Superintendent Mike Farrell to sell a 1961 single-pass crusher. The town no longer needs the machine, which is valued between $20,000 to 30,000. Farrell reported two parties might be interested in purchasing it.
• Discussed amending the Planning & Zoning Fee Schedule to pass attorney fees to applicants in the event they contact the attorney directly for information that results in a cost to the town.
• Appointed Peter Glushko to be the liaison to the Zoning Update Committee during the process of adopting the proposed new zoning law.
• Reported the town received a “notice of claim” regarding the November 15th accident that claimed 4 lives on the Peasleeville Road. Peasleeville Road is a county road not maintained by the town.
  

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.

Watertown Daily Times | Plattsburgh woman to challenge Assemblywoman Janet Duprey.

Carnival invasion (with slide show) – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

TOWN OF PERU   

 PLANNING BOARD

&

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Immediate Volunteer Openings

Any interested persons are to submit a letter of interest along with any pertinent background information to:

TOWN OF PERU  

Codes Office

3036 Main St.

Peru, NY  12972

Snowboarder dies at Jay Peak Resort | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com.

Watertown Daily Times | Fire rips through SUNY Canton building, closes campus.

Winter, where are you? – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Gibson, Owens vote for STOCK Act amendment – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Plattsburgh teacher plans Assembly run – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com

Drive Chairman Jerry Morrow (3rd from left) announces campaign success

The United Way of the Adirondack Region has met the 2012 campaign goal of $775,000. The annual campaign is conducted primarily during the fall months and concludes in January of each year. This year’s campaign raised a total of $775,112.00, which includes proceeds from special events. John Bernardi, Executive Director, said “we are so delighted to deliver this exciting news to our three county region. It is once again a testament to the generosity and caring nature of the north country”.  Jerry Morrow, Chesterfield Town Supervisor, was the chair of this year’s drive and has volunteered on the campaign team for several years. He said, “It was a great team effort with campaign team volunteers, United Way staff and employee campaign representatives, but most of all, it was the generosity of businesses, organizations and individuals that made it successful”. The next campaign will be chaired by Gayle Alexander of Denton Publications, who served as vice chair of this year’s drive. Other campaign team members included: Jamie Basiliere, Jake Short, Lisa VanNatten, Alan Jones, Ellen Gordon, Bruce Gray, Phil Racine, Deena McCullough, Kirk Stallsmith, Marge Garcia, Dan Alexander, Betsy Senkowski, Ken Doyle, Courtney Chandler, Vickie Marking, Jan Garrett, DaleAnne Wolter, Marion Daniels, Kathy Snow, Larry Pickreign, Leona Andrews and Andrea Gbotoe. Read more »

From the Office of Congressman Owens 

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Owens (NY-23) introduced legislation today that would streamline U.S. apple exports to Canada by exempting bulk shipments of apples to Canada from inspection under the Apple Export Act.

“New York apple growers play a large role in the economic development and food security of our region, and this exemption will allow them to continue their contribution to New York’s economic recovery,” said Owens. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to ensure that the New York apple industry receives full support from Congress to remove this burdensome regulation.”

According to the New York Apple Association, the elimination of the required inspection would immediately offer a savings to growers of approximately $300 per truckload. Additionally, removing this regulation would allow apple growers to distribute their products on their own schedule without working around costly after-hours inspections procedures, providing them the opportunity to save money and streamline operations.

Last year, more than 1.5 million bushels of New York apples were exported to Canada. At about 1,000 bushels per truck and 1,500 trucks exporting apples to Canada annually, this amounts to a savings of about $450,000 for New York apple exporters. Read more »

On February 16th SUNY Plattsburgh is hosting a program celebrating the life of W. E. B. Du Bois.  The press release did not mention the controversies surrounding Mr. Du Bois. Please read this Wikipedia summary of his life and beliefs. 

Feb. 9, 2012 — The spirit and voice of seminal American black leader W.E.B. Du Bois will come alive Feb. 16 at SUNY Plattsburgh, with a special performance of song and prose.  The program is part of Black History Month celebrations in the North Country.

Du Bois, who died on the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, was the leading black intellectual activist of the early 20th Century,  co-founded the Niagara Movement, which later evolved into the NAACP.

On Thursday evening Feb. 16, Dr. MaryNell Morgan will offer her celebration of Du Bois, in what she terms a “Participatory Performance,” as she sings and recites passages from the Sorrow Songs featured in his best known work, “The Souls of Black Folk.”

“There are many reasons to celebrate Dr. Du Bois during Black History Month and throughout the year,” said Dr. Morgan, a singer-scholar who teaches at the Empire State College in Saratoga Springs.  “Among those reasons is his work to preserve and promote the music of Black folk.”

Du Bois, the first black man to win a Ph.D. from Harvard, used bars of music from traditional spirituals–which he called “sorrow songs”– as epitaphs for the fourteen essays in “The Souls of Black Folk.”

The program is co-sponsored by the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association and the Center for Diversity, Pluralism and Inclusion at the SUNY Plattsburgh.

It is free and open to the public, at 6 p.m. in the Cardinal Lounge, Angell Hall, on the University Campus.

For more information, call 518-834-5180 or visit:  www.northcountryundergroundrailroad.com.