The Peru Gazette

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.

Unusual winter has Central New York maple producers wondering if they should tap trees now or wait | syracuse.com.

Rochester youth dies from lacrosse injury | Press & Sun-Bulletin 

Council: state budget cuts threaten Adirondacks | Press & Sun-Bulletin

Leahy fights efforts to reduce Air Guard | Burlington Free Press 

Experts plan for climate change as fate of all life put at risk – Times Union.

Watertown Daily Times | Canton school may face 44 job cuts.

Watertown Daily Times | Uncertainty clouds political process.

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, February 13, 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 January 23, 2012.

5. DISCUSSION/MOTION:   Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour: Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning Report; Supervisor’s Report; Banking Report, Web Report)

6. Community Input

7. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Public Meeting for Comprehensive Plan.

8. DISCUSSION:  EFC HELP Loan Update.

9. DISCUSSION:  Water Quality Improvement Bond Update.

10. DISCUSSION:  FEMA Update

11. DISCUSSION: Sale of Highway Crusher.

12. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Request for additional item on planning and zoning fee schedule.

13. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of Peru Free Library Contract.

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  County Sales Tax Update.

15. Other Business

16. Community Input on Agenda Items.

17. Motion to Adjourn.

The Fort La Présentation Association’s fourth annual War of 1812 Symposium in Ogdensburg, NY April 27-28, 2012 marks a milestone in local War of 1812 bicentennial commemorations. Eight expert speakers, four from Canada and four from the United States, are confirmed. They are coming from Plattsburgh, Ottawa, Kingston, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Potsdam and Chicago to present seminars on campaigns and battles, Indian allies, archaeology, artifact conservation, medical practices, research challenges and more.

Read more »

Landmark $25 billion foreclosure-abuse settlement could bring much relief to homeowners | syracuse.com.

Kodak to stop making cameras, digital frames – Yahoo! News.

Richard Williams, Chairman of the Town of Peru Planning Board, called the meeting of Wednesday, December 14^th, 2011 at 7:00 pm to order. Read more »

Daily Courier-Observer | New teacher evaluations move forward in St. Lawrence County schools.

Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center to see layoffs, ward closings – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Tough sledding.

Adirondack Almanack: Wilmington Bike Fest: Weekend of Family Fun, Sanctioned Races.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says urban schools are shortchanged, but his budget offers few quick fixes for city schools, municipalities | syracuse.com.

Watertown Daily Times | Schools facing more extreme cuts.

Schumer: Upstate water, sewer infrastructure needs work – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com

‘Will you marry me?’ – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Peru School looks at relocating sixth grade » Local News » Press-Republican.

Prosecuting teenagers – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com