The Peru Gazette

Watertown Daily Times | Watertown airport to welcome American Eagle on Thursday.

State seeks to fire 15 Sunmount workers – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

The resort deciders – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Vigil planned for four students killed in crash » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

Flags at Half-Staff This Week as Per District Policy; A Statement from Peru Interim Superintendent A. Paul Scott

Early this morning, Peru Central School District’s crisis intervention team gathered to discuss how the school district can best support the family, student friends and district employees who worked with Peru High School senior Brandon Rennert. Peru Central was informed Brandon died yesterday late afternoon, associated with a vehicular incident. Brandon’s teachers and many others at Peru High School are striving to provide strong support for each of his classmates. Read more »

Names of fatalities released » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

By John T. Ryan

Cars are slowing down as they drive by and people are noticing something good has happened at the historic house at 325 Route 22B.  (Click here for our photos) Many Peru residents know that location as the former home of the Phil Green family. The Greens left Peru several years ago and the property gradually fell into a state of disrepair. All this has changed since Eric and Heidi Duquette purchased the property in December 2009.  The Duquette’s completely refurbished the 1810 era home and its grounds with the help of family and friends. On June 18, 2011, Heidi Duquette opened Orchard House Catering as a private dining/catering facility. If you want to schedule a Friday or Saturday evening in December, it’s too late. The Orchard House is booked!

Heidi Duquette is the owner of the business and serves as its manager and chef.  Eric is best known as the owner of Duquette Building and Remodeling, but now he has another responsibility. He is the Orchard House’s maître d’. Needless to say Eric also had a lot to do with the changes both inside and outside the Orchard House. The building maintains its colonial character even though it has undergone a massive amount of work. Duquette says, “Pretty much everything is new.” Part of the back portion of the 200 year-old building had to be removed.  Another back portion was torn down to the beams and reconstructed. All the hardwood floors were refinished; the walls stained or painted; fireplaces repaired and the furnace replaced. The lathe and other ceiling materials removed from the large Gala Room filled seven refuse containers. The resulting exposed original beams made all that work worthwhile.  The adjacent Screen Room with its beautiful fireplace, skylights and view of the impressive grounds is another wonderful place to gather.

Heidi Duquette has been developing her culinary skills and raising her family for most of the past twenty years. She’s a 1988 graduate of Paul Smith College’s Culinary Management Program. Following college she worked as line chef at the Ground Round in Plattsburgh for several years.  Then she learned baking at Alan’s Bake Shop, coordinated catering at two local veterans organizations and recently served in an adjunct position in SUNY Plattsburgh’s Hospitality Department. Now she says, “I waited my turn. There are no more soccer games and other high school activities.” The Duquette’s children Lindsay and Adam are both in college, so the time was right to develop a business incorporating Heidi’s skills.

The Orchard House offers customers several rooms, all with a different character and charm.  What used to be the home’s kitchen is now an attractive pub. The Gala Room can accommodate up to sixty-four for dinner, while smaller groups can gather around the beautiful table Eric Duquette crafted for the Liberty Room.

Over the past five months Heidi Duquette has hosted everything from weddings, to wine tastings, to class reunions and family celebrations. Local corporations are discovering it’s a great place to entertain out-of-town guests and to host corporate celebrations and meetings.  A few people have even booked an evening for two.  The music is subtle, the atmosphere is warm and cheerful and the food offerings are numerous.

Karen and David Gosnell of Peru hosted their daughter Alyssa’s June 18^th wedding shower at the Orchard House. Karen says, “It went off without a hitch. You would have never known it was their first event.” Mrs. Gosnell said that fifty-five people were just too many to entertain at home.  The Orchard House was the perfect setting. She explained, “ You didn’t feel like you were in a banquet setting, you felt like you were at home. It was absolutely wonderful!”

Operating Orchard House Catering is definitely a lot of work, but as Heidi Duquette says, “We’re doing what we want to do. We like working.” She’s already considering offering cooking and canning classes in the future.  These are exciting times at 325 Route 22B in Peru.

For more information on the Orchard House call 643-8528 or 569-1122 or go to the website: www.theorchardhousecatering.com.

An excellent Press Republican article which describes several of Heidi’s food offerings and includes one of her favorite recipes can be found at www.northcountryscene.com/fork-a-spoon/203-fork-and-spoon-orchard-house-a-new-fixture-in-peru

Watertown Daily Times | 16 placed on unpaid leave at Sunmount Developmental Center.

Village’s insurance company won’t cover water break damage to homes – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Capitol Confidential » Budget gap now projected at $3-3.5 billion.

The Keeseville-Peru Ecumenical Choir is in rehearsal for its two annual concerts. The first concert will be Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 7:30pm at St. John the Baptist Church in Keeseville. The second concert will be Sunday, December 11, 2011, 7:30pm at St. Augustine’s Church in Peru.  The choir is directed by Jeanette Woodruff and accompanied by Carol Bachand.  The choir will be performing a variety of sacred and secular Christmas music.  Admission is free.

Angry over spying, Muslims say: ‘Don’t call NYPD’ | The Journal News | LoHud.com | LoHud.com.

Adirondack Almanack: Final Deliberations of ACR Project to Begin.

Falling in love with solar: Green Mountain Power sets an ambitious plan for the future | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com.

State workers fear that confidentiality is lacking – Times Union.

Effort on to reinvent Keeseville » Local News » Press-Republican.

Peru School launches superintendent search » Local News » Press-Republican.

A Town in New York Creates Its Own Department Store – NYTimes.com.

In the dirty culture of college sports, Penn State is the tip of the iceberg « The In Box.

Homeowners in limbo with state’s slow foreclosures.

County hires new airport manager » Local News » Press-Republican.

New APA chairwoman’s scorecard – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Peru historians Ron and Carol Allen have an amazing variety of Peru’s history on display today at the Peru Town Hall. They’ll be there until 3 p.m. today, Saturday, November 12, 2011. You’ll find business records of local businesses dating back over 200 years, photos of downtown Peru in its prime, the original St. Augustine’s Church bells, most of Peru Central’s yearbooks, and much, much more.

Students leave Climate Summit primed to make a difference – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.