The Peru Gazette

Tourism from and Exports to NY’s Largest Trading Partner, Canada, Severely Impacted

New York had one of the steepest drops of any state in international tourism in 2025, with overseas travelers falling 3% — a loss of over 176,000 visitors — second only to California, according to an analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The decline is hurting the state’s economy, as fewer visitors means less spending and a smaller number of jobs in hotels and restaurants. The impact is most acute for areas near the Canadian border, where travel from Canada fell by more than 21%, a decrease of nearly 3.6 million visitors. Exports to Canada also declined by $3.8 billion due to tariffs.

“Federal policies are driving foreign travelers away and taking billions in tourism spending and harming our economy as exports substantially decline,” DiNapoli said. “That loss of revenue means fewer jobs in New York and tougher times for those working in the tourism industry. We’re already seeing the consequences, especially in hotels and restaurants in those regions near the Canadian border. New York is a top destination for tourists to the U.S., and policies that welcome and encourage international travel are needed to avoid damaging economic consequences.” Read more »

NY Forward project will include expanded footprint for a new cafe, expanded bulk/produce area and four renovated apartments 

See rendering here

Empire State Development and the New York Department of State today announced the start of construction on a $662,000 expansion and rehabilitation project at Nature’s Storehouse, a full-service natural food store, in Canton. Supported by the state’s NY Forward program, the project will create a seamless floor plan that integrates Nature Storehouse’s current 21 Main Street location with an adjacent historic building at 19 Main Street, adding a new cafe with table seating for customers as well as expanded retail space throughout. Nature’s Storehouse owners Clark and Yen Maine were awarded a $497,000 NY Forward grant in 2025 to facilitate the project, which will complement the store’s long-standing natural food and supplement business.

“The expansion of Nature’s Storehouse serves as a cornerstone of the NY Forward revitalization initiative in Canton and will demonstrate how targeted investments can breathe new life into our rural downtowns,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “By modernizing these historic buildings to include both a vibrant new cafe and much-needed residential units, Clark and Yen Maine are helping to create a more resilient, healthy and walkable community. Empire State Development is proud to support small businesses that anchor our downtowns and drive local economic growth.”

“This expansion represents the kind of community-driven investment NY Forward is designed to support,” said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “By breathing new life into historic buildings; expanding access to healthy, locally sourced foods; and adding new residential and gathering spaces, this project will strengthen the vitality of downtown while deepening Canton’s connection to the North Country. Investments like this not only support small businesses and local producers, but also help create more vibrant, walkable communities where residents and visitors alike can live, work and thrive.”

“Nature’s Storehouse is driven by a purpose to nurture a healthier, more sustainable North Country,” said Nature’s Storehouse Owners Clark and Yen Maine. “The development of Nature’s Café is a pivotal step toward our ‘Vision 2028’ of becoming the region’s premier health and wellness hub.”

The project removes a party wall between the two historic storefronts; adds ADA-compliant front and rear entrances; modernizes building systems and commercial equipment; constructs the sit-down cafe and expanded bulk/produce area; rehabilitates four upper-story apartments; and restores facades, masonry, signage and energy-efficient windows.

After four years abroad, Clark and Yen Maine returned to their North Country roots in 2022 to raise their family and lead the next chapter of their family business, Read more »

District has healthy unrestricted fund balance

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Nurses secure a contract that ensures staffing, workplace safety, benefits to recruit and retain nurses, and wage increases

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Tips and conditions as trout fishing season kicks off April 1 in New York state 

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File Photo

Albany, April 1, 2026 – Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Ron Kim today announced that the Assembly has passed legislation that requires mandatory health insurance coverage for acupuncture services (A.622, Kim).

“Expanding access to acupuncture services in New York ensures that those suffering from chronic illnesses can access the treatment they need to improve their quality of life,” said Speaker Heastie. “New York is committed to leading the way in providing quality and affordable care and will always work to ensure that New Yorkers have coverage for the spectrum of treatment that keeps our communities healthy.”

“This bill is about ensuring that New Yorkers with chronic pain and illnesses have access to an important and often life changing treatment,” said Assemblymember Kim. “Acupuncture improves the quality of life for many and has been shown to be an effective alternative to opioids. Requiring insurance coverage for these services greatly improves access to this vital treatment and affordability across our state.”

“Acupuncture has long been recognized in Eastern medicine for its ability to promote healing, manage pain, and support overall well-being. Yet without insurance coverage, this time-tested treatment still remains out of reach for too many New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation to require insurance companies to cover acupuncture, helping ensure that more New Yorkers have access to this important and proven healthcare option. Thank you Assemblymember Ron Kim for his leadership on this legislation.”

This legislation will require large group insurance policies to cover acupuncture treatment. Currently in New York State, acupuncture is not provided as an essential health benefit and is not covered by the Affordable Care Act enabled basic health plan. This bill expands access to this critical treatment beyond the federal requirements and reduces the harmful risks associated with alternative options such as opioids.

Acupuncture is a cost-effective treatment for patients with chronic illnesses that has been shown to be effective in treating conditions such as chronic pain, nausea, headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia and infertility.

Construction has been ongoing since October 2024 with a cost of $68 million, made up of mostly federal money

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Albany, April 1, 2026 – An audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. (WROTB) found poor oversight of operations by the board of directors, cost overruns and significant estimation errors. The audit found WROTB’s failure to take action to address the declining handle, the total amount wagered on horse races and other gaming activities, adjust to changes in the gambling industry, and control costs limited the amount of revenues provided to participating municipalities.

DiNapoli offered 16 recommendations to help the organization improve its financial operations, which WROTB officials said they were acting on. The audit covered the period from January 2021 through December 2024 and some contracts going back to 2020, with nearly all the period being before significant changes in WROTB board and leadership occurred.

“The Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation is under pressure as revenues decline from its horse racing and wagering operations, and it must rein in costs and strengthen its financial operations,” DiNapoli said. “The corporation is supposed to benefit local participating municipalities and taxpayers, and even as the gambling industry changes, the board can adapt without losing that mission. I’m encouraged by steps the current board and new management have taken, and urge continued progress.”

WROTB was formed in 1973 and is owned by 15 participating counties and the cities of Buffalo and Rochester. Read more »

Clinton County Awarded $50,000 Grant 

State Landmarks to Be Illuminated in Teal on April 1 and April 29

Albany, April 1, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today issued a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in New York, reaffirming the State’s commitment to supporting and empowering victims and survivors and preventing sexual violence in all its forms. State landmarks will be illuminated in teal the evening of Wednesday, April 1 to recognize the month and the evening of Wednesday, April 29 to mark Denim Day.

“Sexual violence remains a deeply serious issue impacting individuals and families across our state. As we recognize April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we reaffirm our commitment to stand with survivors, hold perpetrators accountable and will continue to take meaningful action to strengthen our support systems and expand resources,” Governor Hochul said. “New York is committed to building safer communities where every New Yorker is protected and survivors are provided the resources they need to heal.” Read more »

Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5:00 – 8:00PM The Strand Center for the Arts

Plattsburgh, NY — Behavioral Health Services North (BHSN) and the Strand Center for the Arts invite the community to “Holding Space,” a collaborative exhibition exploring the universal intersection of mental health and creative expression. 

Click here for photos from last year’s event

The gallery will feature a diverse collection of works from the public alongside powerful pieces created by program participants in BHSN’s Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) program and BHSN staff. This exhibition serves as a dedicated environment to “hold space” for the individual psyche and the various ways art informs the mental health journey.

“Art is more than creativity; it’s a language of emotion. For those who create, it’s a way to process and express what words often can’t capture. For those who engage with it, it’s a reminder that we are not alone in how we feel,” said Katherine Cook, President & CEO at BHSN. “Art connects us — and in that connection, we find community, empathy, and healing. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we celebrate the artists, the art, and the shared human experience that brings us together.”

“With this exhibition being an open show for the public to submit artwork to, it’s likely that we’ll see a lot of familiar artists as well as new ones. Exhibitions that have a theme give the general public a greater opportunity to display their work. Having this exhibition up all through Mental Health Month in May worked out so well and it gives even more meaning to this show,” said Elsa Koop-Angelicola, Gallery Manager & Associate Curator at The Strand Center for the Arts.

Representatives from BHSN and the Strand Center for the Arts, as well as select participating artists, will be available for interviews regarding the therapeutic impact of the arts and the importance of community mental health visibility. The exhibit will remain open April 11 through May 30, in recognition of Mental Health Month in May.

Click here for the Vermont Public story 

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Labor and Delivery nurse honored for care during devastating delivery 

Plattsburgh, NY, April 1, 2026 –  – For many expecting parents, the days leading up to an anatomy scan are filled with excitement – picking out names, imagining tiny fingers and picturing a future that suddenly feels close enough to touch. But for Marissa Burnell, that hopeful moment shattered in an instant.

What she expected to be a joyful milestone became the start of the most heartbreaking experience of her life. She learned that her baby girl had a genetic condition not compatible with life, a reality that left Burnell and her husband stunned, grieving and searching for something steady to hold onto.

That steady presence came in the form of Cindy Tate‑Gutierrez, RN.

Caring for her Patient’s Heart

When Burnell was admitted to Labor and Delivery at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, she was scared, heartbroken and overwhelmed. Tate‑Gutierrez introduced herself on that first day – not just as a nurse, but as someone who would walk beside their entire family through a moment no one ever imagines facing.

The next morning, Burnell was relieved to see a familiar face. Tate‑Gutierrez had become her primary nurse. From the start, it was clear Tate‑Gutierrez understood that caring for Burnell meant caring for her heart as much as her body.

“She met with me and my husband 1‑on‑1 and provided us with so much reassurance, comfort and confidence,” Burnell says.

She remembers how Tate-Gutierrez noticed the small details that matter – massaging Burnell’s legs and feet, sharing stories and listening with warmth and without hurry.

“She Was My Voice When I Lost Mine.”

As the delivery progressed, Burnell says she reached a moment when fear swallowed her words. She couldn’t speak up for herself or steady her thoughts.

Tate‑Gutierrez didn’t hesitate.

“During an incredibly difficult moment in my delivery where doubt and worry overcame me, she was my voice,” Burnell says. “She advocated for me, for us, for our daughter. Cindy was my anchor – someone I knew I could trust. She was the light for our entire family during a very dark and painful time.”

For a nurse, those moments can be emotionally heavy. But Tate‑Gutierrez never pulled away.

Moments Preserved Forever

After their daughter was born, Burnell was drained – emotionally, physically and spiritually. She wasn’t thinking about photos or memories. She was just trying to breathe through the moment.

Tate‑Gutierrez thought of it for her.

“She grabbed my cell phone and captured some of the most precious moments my husband and I will forever be able to cherish,” Burnell writes.

Those photographs became gifts the family will always be able to hold on to, even though they’ll never be able to hold their daughter.

A Nurse Who Embodies Compassion

Even as she managed one of the most heartbreaking experiences of her career, Tate‑Gutierrez put Burnell’s needs above her own.

“Her support, compassion and empathy never wavered,” Burnell says. “All of our needs were put before her own, showing the true selflessness she has to offer.”

“When I think of a DAISY, I think of Cindy.”

Honoring an Extraordinary Nurse

For the profound difference she made during one of the darkest moments a family can face, Cindy Tate‑Gutierrez, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She received the award during a surprise ceremony surrounded by her colleagues in Labor and Delivery. During the award presentation, she received a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse. Tate-Gutierrez, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin.

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2018 to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and online at UVMHealth.org. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues.  A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org

Will Fund museum repairs and America250’s Signature Event 

Plattsburgh, March 31, 2026 – The Clinton County Historical Association is pleased to announce the receipt of $50,500 in grant monies through two 2026 Local Heritage Grants from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.  

The first grant for $10,500 is to replace three windows at the Clinton County Historical Association at 98 Ohio Avenue.  The Association is committed to keeping its 121-year-old building comfortable for visitors and energy efficient and secure for housing exhibits and the County’s artifacts.  Window replacement is an ongoing requirement, and grants have been used over the years to replace 21 windows to date.

The second grant for $40,000 is to fund the county’s three-day Signature event from October 9-11, 2026, which will culminate the area’s two yearlong America250 celebration with free events for students and the public and concluding the weekend with a reenactment of the Battle of Valcour Island. Additionally, events will be filmed for posterity. Friday and Saturday events are focused on student and public learning opportunities including the Native North American Travelling College, walking and museum tours relating to local revolutionary war histories, free boat trips to and tours of Valcour Island including the Bluff Point Lighthouse, the dedication of a legacy center at the Peru Dock interpreting the story of the national historic landmark for the Battle of Valcour Island, and reenactor demonstrations. Saturday evening and Sunday morning will feature concerts by the United States Navy Band. Sunday, the final day of the weekend celebrations, begins with the Saranac Chapter NSDAR’s 131^st commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Valcour Island followed by a fully narrated reenactment of the first battle of the United States Navy with a flotilla replicating both British and Patriot gunboats.

Activates throughout the coming months will be posted on the battleofvalcour.com and clintoncountyhistorical.org websites, in local news media and on the Clinton County Historical Association’s Facebook page.  Any questions can be directed to County America250 Committee Chair, Geri Favreau at 518-561-0340.

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A GREAT STORY!!!!!!! 

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Nearly half a million New Yorkers on the Essential Plan could lose their coverage this summer.

Click here for the New York Focus Story 

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL

“Last July, New York House Republicans voted for Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, ripping health care away from millions of working families. Today, New Yorkers will begin to feel the consequences of that vote as communities across our state are notified of looming coverage cuts.

“From the beginning, I sounded the alarm about the devastating impact H.R. 1 would have on our hospitals and health care system, and made clear that no state can fully backfill cuts this severe. While we have taken action to protect coverage for 1.3 million New Yorkers who would have otherwise lost care, hundreds of thousands more now face a serious health care crisis at the hands of these seven New York Republicans. This was their callous vote. This is their crisis, and they need to hear from the thousands of constituents now affected.

“My administration is committed to helping impacted individuals find the most affordable coverage available. New Yorkers deserve better than the decisions coming out of Washington. They must fix this now.”

Click here for the New York Focus story 

Application Period for Prestigious Program Closes June 1; Apply Online  

Albany, March 31, 2026 – Governor Hochul today announced that applications will be accepted starting April 1 for the Empire State Fellows Program, a full-time, two-year leadership training program that prepares the next generation of talented professionals for careers as New York State policymakers. New Yorkers interested in the 2027-2029 class of this prestigious program should apply by the deadline of June 1, 2026. The incoming class of Empire State Fellows will serve from January 2027 to January 2029, and receive an annual salary of $90,000, plus a generous benefits package.  Read more »