The Peru Gazette

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Nichole Lapier was hiding in an attic on the Laphams MIlls Road in Peru 

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North Country Honor Flight (NCHF) is proud to announce a call to action for Vietnam Veterans to submit their applications for an unforgettable journey to their memorial in Washington, D.C.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our heroes to receive the recognition and gratitude they so richly deserve. As we continue our mission to honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our Veterans, we invite all Vietnam Veterans in the North Country region to apply for a flight to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and more. This special trip not only honors their service but also provides an opportunity for camaraderie and reflection among fellow Veterans.

The time is now to be thanked and recognized for your service! We believe every veteran should have the chance to visit the memorial commemorating their bravery and dedication to our country. NCHF is committed to ensuring that this journey is both meaningful and comfortable, with all expenses covered for Veterans.

To apply or to learn more about the program, please visit our website at http://www.northcountryhonorflight.org or contact us directly at 518-364-6503 or email northcountryhonorflight@gmail.com. The application process is simple, and our team is here to assist with any questions or concerns. Together, let us honor our Vietnam Veterans and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten. We look forward to welcoming our heroes aboard and celebrating their service to our nation.

About North Country Honor Flight: North Country Honor Flight is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring our Veterans by providing them with a free trip to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials. We are committed to ensuring that our Veterans receive the thanks and recognition they deserve.

Plattsburgh (4/2/2025) – The North Country Chamber of Commerce has released the findings of a survey of various hospitality-related businesses, providing a snapshot of the impact through March of reduced Canadian visitation to the area because of the current U.S. tariffs on Canada and the response by Canadians. The survey reached out to a cross-section of likely impacted businesses, including Hotel/Lodging, Restaurant/Food Service, Attraction/Recreation, and Retail.

“The feedback confirms a decline in Canadian plans to visit the North Country this year,” says Garry Douglas, Chamber President. “We saw a 16% decline in cars at the Champlain border crossing in February, and while we don’t yet have March numbers, we expect this number to be larger in the last month.”

The findings include:

• For 23.5% of these businesses, Canadians typically are 26-50% of their customers. 13.3% report that Canadians are more than 50% of their business
• Major retail contacts estimate that Canadian shoppers drive 30% of shopping traffic
• 66% have already experienced a slight to significant decrease in Canadian bookings for 2025
• 59% of businesses report that Canadian visitors generate 25-50% of their revenue
• 26% have already adjusted staffing levels in response to the decline
• 76% cite the political climate and tariffs as the primary cause of the decline. 43% also attributed the decline to the exchange rate

“For some perspective on the stakes, a Chamber study in 2004 estimated that Canadians were spending $310 million annually in just Clinton County, including shopper. tourists and other visitors,” notes Douglas. “Even without applying inflation since then, the economic impact is huge, and the impact of any significant drop is large as well.”

The Chamber believes the 16% decline in February was primarily due to the worsened exchange rate, now at about 70 cents, with the beginnings of decisions by Canadians to not spend in the U.S. “But March brought the two waves of U.S. tariffs along with the Canadian response including a 25% surcharge on almost all forms of goods Canadians purchase here, increasing the growing wave of a Canadian visitation boycott,” says Douglas. “This is profoundly sad to everyone in the North Country who rightly values the historic and special people-to-people relationship with our friends and neighbors.”

“While overall visitation numbers may be down, it’s important to remember that Canadians are still crossing the border and choosing our region as their getaway. That’s why now, more than ever, we need to maximize our hospitality efforts. Through our new ‘Welcome Canadians’ campaign, we’re equipping local businesses with signage, social media tools, and a checklist of simple ways to show our appreciation and make our neighbors feel truly valued, says Kristy Kennedy, Vice President of Marketing and Tourism for the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. At the same time, we’re refreshing our advertising in the Montreal market to deliver a welcoming and understanding message while also expanding our efforts into New York’s drive markets to help boost lost visitation throughout the tourism season.”

The North Country Chamber and Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau will continue to monitor impacts in the coming months and maintain close communication with local tourism partners.

“Canadian visitors are a vital part of our local economy,” Kennedy added. “We’ll keep pushing for policies that support cross-border travel and will be working with our partners to adapt as needed.”

The Peru Central School Board of Education will gather Thursday, April 3^rd at 6 PM in the High School Community Room for their third public session budget workshop. The meeting is open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal COVID-19 safety procedures and protocols will be followed.

The agenda will be available on the District’s website.

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, April 21,  from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.

The blood collected by the Donor Center provides more than 95% of the blood used at CVPH and other hospitals in Elizabethtown, Malone, Massena, Saranac Lake and Glens Falls.

St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 is coordinating the drive. 

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…he Scott administration sees small nuclear reactors as a promising new source of carbon-free electricity.”

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Clinton County Historical Association Awarded $48,000 in Grant Funding from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership

One award is for a 2025 Internship Grant in the amount of $8000 to hire and train an intern to process the large collection of historical documents donated to the Historical Association by the Plattsburgh Public Library. Work under this grant began in December of 2024.

The second grant is for Clinton County’s Pathway to America250, a Special Program Grant totaling $40,000.  This grant aims to cover collective projects by the Clinton County America250 Commemoration Committee in preparation for the America250 Semiquincentennial.  This grant will cover creating educational materials for area schools, a summer camp, a museum exhibit on the Revolutionary War telling the stories of women, Native and Indigenous Americans and other ordinary heroes and the Battle of Valcour Island.  It also includes funding for upgrading the Battles of Valcour and Plattsburgh diorama created by Arto Monaco in 1976, eight bilingual wayside interpretive panels, workshops by skilled artisans to teach the skills of that time period, promotional materials for each municipality and four free events with speakers and re-enactors.

This project will prepare for the area’s focus on the recognition and commemoration of the first and most significant naval battle of the American Revolution which determined the future of the fledgling republic of the United States.  The Lake Champlain Battle of Valcour Island, also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, fought on October 11, 1776, in what is now the Town of Peru, was led by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold.  His small, inexperienced American Navy, fighting its first naval battle after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, prevented the British fleet from sailing south to Fort Ticonderoga before the winter of 1776.  The battle caused the British to withdraw to Canada giving the Americans almost a year to prepare for the eventual Battle of Saratoga and the victory which prevented Britain from separating New England from the other colonies.  This extraordinary historical event will be commemorated by the Clinton County America250 Committee under the Clinton County Historical Association. For more information about Clinton County’s America250 program planning, contact: gerifavreau@gmail.com.  

Residency continues to improve access to primary care in region

PLATTSBURGH, NY (03/28/2025) – Six new physicians will begin their 3-year Family Medicine training program here in July. The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Family Medicine Residency introduced its incoming class of residents during a Match Day ceremony held at the hospital Friday, March 21.

Match Day is the day in which the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) releases results to applicants seeking residency positions. A requirement of obtaining a medical license and board certification, residency is a stage of medical training in which graduates of medical schools practice medicine under the supervision of an attending physician.

Members of the CVPH Family Medicine Residency Class of 2028 are:

• Lia Farrell, MD of West Virginia, is a West Virginia University School of Medicine graduate from Morgantown, West Virginia.
• Irzam Khan, MD and Cristina Prudencio-Brunello, MD are both from Ontario, Canada and graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada.
• Normeen Siddiqui, MD, is an Indiana native and a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine in Bridgetown, Barbado.
• Muhammad Sidiqui, MD is a graduate of American University of Antiqua College of Medicine. His hometown is Rochester, NY.
• Rishabh Taneja, MD of India is a graduate of Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, College of Punjab, India.

Residency Program Director Marianna Worczak, MD said Match Day is an exciting time for the residency. “Each new resident brings a fresh perspective and energy to our program, this organization, and our community.  Today is a celebration of those who have worked so hard to get here and for our program and the impact we continue to have on primary care in this region.”  In welcoming the Class of 2028, she offered that each doctor has a demonstrated interest in rural health care.

The CVPH Family Residency received more than 888 applications for the six spots in the Class of 2028 and conducted 110 virtual interviews after reviewing each application. Several open houses were held to provide prospective residents an opportunity to meet instructors and experience the North Country. The class was established after residents and the program’s team ranked their preferences and the NRMP creates the “match.”

Established in 2014 to improve access to primary care in the region, an average of 60% of graduates have opted to stay in Northern New York or Vermont to practice medicine. Worczak attributed that success to the community’s support, the dedication of the faculty, strong clinical experiences, a dedicated program administration, and support from CVPH and UVMHN senior leadership.

The CVPH Family Medicine Residency was created in a partnership with the University of Vermont’s Robert Larner College of Medicine and the University of Vermont Health Network. It offers a robust three-year program that includes rotations in emergency medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, cardiology, surgery, orthopedics, geriatrics and community medicine. Family Medicine Residents see their own patients in the CVPH Family Medicine Center at 159 Margaret Street and at the Hudson Headwaters Champlain Family Medicine Center.

“Trump’s executive order defended the actions, saying, “The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants…”

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Lake Champlain Polution is an issue in VT ag 

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“The process begun three years ago to relocate the Adirondack Park Agency’s headquarters from Ray Brook four miles west to the Village of Saranac Lake is approaching a critical juncture.”

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Current Plant

By John T Ryan 

Peru, NY – March 31, 2025- Upgrading Peru’s wastewater treatment plant should begin soon. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) mandated most upgrades. After being granted two delays, Peru signed a consent order to have a shovel in the ground no later than July 1, 2025. 

On March 18, the Peru Town Board approved the general, plumbing, and electrical bids totaling $16.3 million. The board had to advertise for the mechanical work (heating and air conditioning) twice because no contractors submitted bids for the February 29 initial bid opening. On March 28, K & L Plumbing & Heating submitted the lowest bid of $1,156,000, which C&S Engineering is reviewing. The board will award the winning bid at a special meeting on April 8 at 5 p.m. 

The following contractors submitted the lowest bids in their respective categories: 

• General Contractor: Murnane Building Contractors – $9,304,000 
• Plumbing Contractor: John W. Danforth – $5,648,000 
• Electrical Contractor: Triangle Electrical Systems – $1,342,800 Mechanical Contractor: (Pending) K & L Plumbing and Heating – $1,156,000 
• The bids totaled $17,450,800, not including engineering and contingency costs. 
• New York State awarded Peru $11,087,515 in grants, covering at least 50% of project costs. The town will finance the remaining cost through a 30-year no-interest loan. 

Today, Supervisor Randall said he would ask AES Northeast Engineering for an updated estimate of the project’s tax impact on the district’s 565 users. He expressed satisfaction that the bids came in lower than anticipated and his gratitude for the 50% grant funding, commenting, “We’re fortunate to have been awarded grants in today’s environment.” 

The board considered two alternatives regarding the project scope. After evaluating costs and grant funding, it agreed with Water-Sewer-Parks Department (WSPD) Superintendent Courtney Tetrault’s recommendation to relocate the Department’s base of operations to the treatment plant. The new facility includes a 5-bay garage, office, laboratory, lockers, shower, and restroom. The WSPD and Highway Department will use WSPD’s Cross Street building for storage. The board decided against pursuing a $2.5 million upgrade of the hamlet’s sewer collection infrastructure.

Correction 3/31/25 8:47 PM. The engineering firm is AES Northeast, not C&S, as initially stated.

Will serve consecutive 25-to-life sentences for the murders of Miranda Wade and Karen Lindsay

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Funds support free internet access, summer reading, museum projects

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The Peru Town Board has scheduled a Special Meeting for Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM at the Peru Town Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to award the mechanical bid for the Peru Waste Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project.