The Peru Gazette

Peru native, Barney Woodward (left) and his three California friends, Mike Sills, Vic Haggerty and Matt Rodrigues claimed first prize in the Men’s Division and were the overall winners in the 2nd Annual Leo Bourgeois Memorial Golf Tournament.

Nineteen teams took to the links and teed up in support of the 2nd Annual Leo Bourgeois Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, September 30th at the Adirondack Golf Club.  Unlike the first year, the sun broke through and shined down on the 76 golfers and $3,800 was raised for Mr. B’s scholarship fund which annually awards a scholarship to a deserving Peru Central School senior.

First place honors in the Men’s Division with a low score of 62 went to “Barney’s Boys”, a foursome from California captained by Barney Woodward, PCS Class of ’67, who was in town not only for the tournament but also for the PCS Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.  Lena Dashnaw and her teammates, Jim Bordeau, Larry Delong and Joe Koscak, claimed first place in the Mixed Division with a low score of 66.  Jerry Rudmin (Class of ’68) and his teammates, Rob Reid, Nap Light & Roy Perry were awarded the “Most Honest Score” award.  Holly Duprey and Joe Koscak won closest to the pin for the women and men respectively while Mary Lou Baker (Class of ’60) and Scott Woodward (Class of ’73) claimed honors for driving closest to the line.  Six skins were awarded; three to Barney’s Boys for the lowest scores on Holes 3, 16 and 18, and one each to the teams of Lena Dashnaw, Mike Rock (Class of ’66) and Mary Lou Baker for the lowest scores on Holes 7, 14 and 15 respectively.

Mike and Jonathan Karl Matzkin are father and son photographers with different approaches but a similar passion for New York City. Mike has extensive experience as a professional photographer and has had successful careers in newspapers and trade magzines as well as in public relations with Canon and Nikon.  Son Jonathan only recently took up photography, has no formal training and uses consumer grade cameras.  Will you be able to tell who took which photo? Their works will be on display at the Peru Free Library from 5 p.m. Friday through November 8th.

Opening Reception. Peru Free Library, Friday, October 14th, 2011, 5 -7pm

County favors veterans cemetery at Camp Gabriels – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

From the Office of NYS Comptroller Tom DeNapoli

Every citizen of New York State is a resident of some local government unit, and usually of several overlapping governmental units (county, city, town, village, school district, fire district). While the federal and State governments get a lot of attention for the laws, regulations, and policy decisions they make, it is local governments that administer programs and services that usually have the most direct day-to-day impact on people’s lives. Local governments are responsible for public education, police, fire protection, road maintenance, parks, health programs, and much more. One good way to get a picture of your local government’s activities is to look at its budget.

A local government budget can be difficult to understand for the average citizen who may not have a background in accounting or a familiarity with budgeting. However, with some basic knowledge about what budgets contain, why they are important, and how they are presented, every citizen of every local community in New York State should be able to decipher the budget document.

With the resources in this guide, interested citizens should be able to understand what is contained in their local government’s budget. This in turn will allow citizens to understand the challenges facing their local government, what it is doing to manage them, and – perhaps most importantly – what it is doing with their tax dollars. The guide is intended to enable concerned citizens to evaluate how well the budget has been formulated.

Click here for your Budget Guide

Capitol Confidential » This week’s ‘NYN’: Adirondack communities in peril.

GlobalFoundries – Times Union.  (A close look at government aid. This is what journalism is all about!)

“This massive transfer of taxpayer cash to a private company, and the paper trail that documents it, may provide the public its only glimpse into the biggest economic development project in state history.”

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/All-expenses-paid-2209878.php#ixzz1aNciBbUR

Adirondack Almanack: Ausable River Restoration Walk and Talk.

Peru’s highways have been very busy during the past several weeks as our orchardists have been harvesting their apple crops. The River Road was particularly busy this past weekend. Forrence Orchards was harvesting Cortland and Gala apples and transporting them to their River Road storage and packing facility.  Seth Forrence said year’s first-quality harvest was about 85% to 90% complete as of Saturday.  He hoped it would be 100% complete after about three more days of picking.  Drops or processing apples will be picked up over the next few weeks.

Seth Forrence was much happier Saturday than the last time the Peru Gazette spoke to him on August 30^th a short time after Hurricane Irene struck this region. At that time he estimated that the storm’s high winds had turned 100,000 bushels of first-quality apples into low-value “drops.”  A June hail storm had also caused severe damage in parts of the Forrence Orchard.  Saturday, Forrence said this year’s harvest has been very good in spite of the storm damage.  The apples were abundant and the color of the fruit was outstanding. He said Forrence’s total harvest should reach between 600,000 and 700,000 bushels or some 25 million pounds. That’s 600 to 700 tractor trailer loads of Peru fruit being shipped all along the east coast and overseas.

Forrence Orchards employed 187 Jamaican workers this year. The pickers will begin departing for home this week with the majority leaving about November 1^st.  About thirty-five men will stay on until the end of the year.

Tentative budget shows increase in Peru taxes » Local News » Press-Republican.

A statement from A. Paul Scott, Interim Superintendent of Schools, Peru CSD

Peru Central School District appreciates the cooperation of the State Comptroller’s Office regarding the recent comprehensive fiscal accountability audit of the school district, according to Peru Central Interim Superintendent of Schools A. Paul Scott. The District was very pleased to learn that sufficient progress had been made in the areas identified during the first such fiscal accountability audit report. The District is pleased to note that these areas were not mentioned in this follow-up fiscal accountability audit report.  The District was not surprised that the fiscal accountability audit focused on a particular area that Peru Central – and the school district’s own public session budget development workshops of winter 2011 were focused on: fund balance. Read more »

Anyone visiting Forrence Orchards quickly senses the pride the Forrence family has in their orchard and the respect they have for people they employ.  Every September about two hundred Jamaican men travel from their island nation to harvest the Forrence crop.  These men play a key role in Forrence’s success.

Last Saturday, Seth Forrence wanted a picture taken of Kenneth Thompson, a seventy-one year old man who has been working at Forrence Orchards for the past thirty-two years.  This will probably be Thompson’s last year at Forrence Orchards.  He will be returning to his home in Carendon Parish, Jamaica.  Thompson said he also picked sugar cane for some twenty years.  He doesn’t do it any longer, because sugar cane harvesting has been mechanized. Best wishes to this dedicated and very respected man.  The Peru community appreciates the presence of our hard-working and very friendly Jamaican friends!

Peru is is a beautiful community in every season, but if someone considers fall to be our most beautiful season anyone would understand! Click here to see a few photos taken in our community on Saturday, October 8, 2011. 

A brew with a view – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

State of the Adirondack North Country: Presentations |.

Note statistics in Ms. McCormick’s presentation

Capitol Confidential » State releases list of laid-off PEF titles (updated).

University of Vermont wins $20 million grant to study Lake Champlain | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports 

The Press Republican reports

The Peru Gazette is including Town Council Candidate Geoffrey Spear in our Candidate Forum. His responses to our questions arrived several days following our deadline, however, in the interest of informing the public we believe his views deserve to be heard.  We are reposting the responses received from candidates Brandy McDonald and Kregg Bruno.

Summarize your educational background, primary employment, a little about your family and community involvement.

I’m Geoffrey Spear, and I’m a candidate for the Town Council.  My family moved to Peru in 1966, and I graduated from Peru Central School in 1980.  I’m a graduate of Plattsburgh State University and have a Masters Degree in Education from Springfield College.  Over the years I’ve worked in higher education as a coach, instructor and assistant admissions director.  Presently I am Men’s Soccer Coach at Plattsburgh State.My wife Dr. Ann-Marie Boule Spear is a prominent dentist with a practice in Peru.  She and I have four children who are, or have been,  all active members in Peru School and community functions.

How will your background assist you as a town counselor?

My background as a coach at Plattsburgh State will enable me to be a productive team member with the other town board members in addressing the issues facing the town.  As a state agency employee, I’ve learned to work within a diminishing budget while dealing with increased costs and maintaining a highly productive program.

What town issues concern you the most?

A major issue in these difficult economic times is the need of the town board to control spending and still preserve the high quality of services that town residents enjoy.

How would you address this issue?

My approach will be to balance the needs of the taxpayers with revenues and to be sure we control spending.

Why should a person vote for you?

I am confident my common sense approach to decision making and my proven listening skills make me a viable candidate for town council, and I will appreciate being given the opportunity to serve the people of Peru.

1. Please summarize your education, employment, family, community involvement. 

 I graduated from Peru High School in 1993.  I am married to Amy and we have three children; Frank, Cole and Jenna. I currently work for Hynes Electric Supply.  My community involvement includes; voluntary Peru Town Youth Coach for eight years in baseball, softball and soccer, and Peru Town Youth Committee member for six years. 

2. How will your background assist you as a member of the town council ?

I believe my background in voluntary work assists me as a town counselor by giving me the opportunity to interact with many of our town residents.  Over the years, I have been able to listen to their issues and concerns that our town residents would like to be addressed by our town board.     

3. What town issues concern you the most? 4. How would you address these issues? 

My recent area of concern is the ability of our town to overcome the cost of the last harsh winter and the current destruction from the last two floods. The cost incurred by these events will take diligent effort from all of our councilmembers to adjust the budget accordingly, so that it causes the least amount of effect.

5. Why should a person vote for you? 

People should vote for me, because I have experience as a Town Board Councilman for four years and for the past two years as the Deputy Supervisor.  I am a determined councilman and strongly believe in being an active representative for everyone.  I will always strive to maintain the positive fellowship that our present councilmembers have been able to achieve.  When our council works together, it benefits our town with prosperity and the ability to keep moving forward.

1. Please summarize your education, employment, family, community involvement. 

2. How will your background assist you as a town counselor?

Kregg has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus for over 25 years, and self-employed as a general contractor for over 10 years. During those years he became well established in the Peru Community both as a coach for the Peru Youth Commission and assistant wrestling coach for Peru high school.  In November of 2009, that community elected him Town Councilman.  Before becoming an elected official Kregg actively attended many board meetings asking questions and challenging board decisions.

3. What town issues concern you the most? 4. How would you address these issues? 

Kregg has the following concerns for this upcoming budget year.  As the liaison of the water department he is adamant about improving the water system by working with the employees.  The solution is to work closely with an engineering firm to enhance the quality of the Town’s water, which will be significance for the Peru Community.  Kregg is concerned about the damages to the highways and road caused by the Spring Floods and Hurricane Irene. He plans on utilizing FEMA and funding from the Federal Government, in order to keep costs at a minimum for the Town’s people.  Lastly, the town budget is of highest priority.  This year’s budget shows a concern due to a lack of funding; therefore it will be a challenge to keep taxes at a minimum as we have in the past 2 years .

5. Why should a person vote for you? 

Re-elect Kregg Bruno because he has already proven his loyalty to the tax paying community and families of Peru, while exercising proper etiquette and making informed decisions!

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 11th at 6 PM at the school district’s community room, adjacent to the main entrance of Peru High School. An executive session associated with particular matters leading to employment, collective negotiations and advice of counsel from the school attorney and a meeting of the school district’s audit committee with the external auditor pertaining to its work with the external auditor will take place immediately following the 6 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:30 PM. It’s anticipated the school board will:

• Host a public forum on the proposed annual state-mandated update to the school district’s safety plan;
• Launch discussion focused on establishing and implementing a timetable to recruit a successor Superintendent of Schools.
• Examine the 11th annual set of grade span goals for collective focus this school year in support of Board-approved 2011-2012 district goals at Peru Central.
• Adopt a budget development timetable, featuring a budget advisory committee of stakeholders and two larger-scale ‘community conversations’ for district residents.
• Receive snapshot reports on promoting parent volunteerism at each grade span.
• Attend to the full range of regular monthly personnel matters, public reporting, new business and fiscal matters as is customary at regular monthly meetings.