The Peru Gazette

“It’s knowing what’s available, who to trust, and how to get help without frustration or fear.”

 April 13, 2026 – Elizabethtown, NY – Knowing where to turn for help shouldn’t be the hardest part of getting it. Yet for many elders in the North Country, understanding insurance, avoiding scams or getting a ride to their next appointment can feel overwhelming.

“The challenge isn’t a lack of resources,” says Jodi Gibbs, community benefits coordinator at University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital. “It’s knowing what’s available, who to trust, and how to get help without frustration or fear.”

That’s why the hospital is bringing resources together under one roof with its first-ever Senior Social – a free, welcoming event designed to help elder adults find trusted information, reliable support and make real connections in their community. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 from 11 am to 2 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall on South Main Street in Port Henry.

More than 20 exhibitors are expected to participate, offering guidance and hands‑on support on topics that matter to older adults and their families, including

• Fraud prevention and internet safety
• Insurance coverage and legal aid
• Food insecurity and transportation
• Exercise, wellness, and Alzheimer’s support
• Veterans’ services and end‑of‑life planning
• Technology support – attendees are encouraged to bring their cellphone, tablet or laptop for help

Whether someone has a specific question or is just curious about what services are available, the Senior Social offers a chance to learn, ask questions and talk face‑to‑face with knowledgeable professionals.

“This event is just as much about connection as it is education,” organizers added. “It’s a chance to meet neighbors, share a meal, and leave with useful information you can take home and use.”

There is no cost to attend. RSVPs and questions are encouraged by contacting Jodi Gibbs at 518‑585‑3761, but walk‑ins are welcome.

Department of Corrections Accounted for Over 87% of Total Increase in OT Earnings

New York State agency overtime costs increased 22.7% in 2025 for a total of $1.6 billion, while the number of overtime hours increased by 5.9%, or 1.4 million hours, higher than the previous year, according to the annual report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli examining state agencies’ overtime and workforce trends. The size of the state workforce, not including SUNY and CUNY, grew for a third straight year in 2025 increasing by 2.7%, or 4,139 positions, from 2024, to an average annual total of 155,448.

“The use of overtime by state agencies continued to climb with overtime as a share of payroll at its second highest rate since at least 2007,” DiNapoli said. “Agencies need to ensure usage is justified while continuing to safely and effectively provide the services New Yorkers expect and deserve.”

Overtime hours and earnings have continued to surge at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (Corrections), growing by 1.3 million hours and $264 million in 2025, the most of any agency. The agency experienced a 29.8% decrease in workforce since 2020 when there were 8,544 more employees than in 2025. Between 2024 and 2025, the Corrections workforce decreased by over 2,700 while overtime hours per employee grew 32.7% to reach an average of 432 hours – nearly triple what it was in 2020. These figures were influenced by the strike by some Corrections employees that took place between Feb. 17, 2025 and March 10, 2025.

Key Findings:

• In 2025, total state payroll costs were $22.4 billion, with overtime totaling $1.6 billion. Overtime earnings as a share of total payroll grew from 4.3% in 2016 to 7.3% in 2025
• Three agencies accounted for more than two-thirds of the state’s overtime in 2025. Corrections, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the Office of Mental Health (Mental Health) comprised 21.7% of the workforce but accounted for 68.3% of the overtime hours and 70% of the overtime earnings logged by all state agencies in 2025.
• Eight agencies performed more overtime in 2025 than in 2024, including Mental Health (327,000 more hours) and the Unified Court System (55,000 more hours).
• Eight agencies performed less overtime in 2025 than in 2024, with the largest reduction at OPWDD (down more than 215,000 hours). There were also drops for the Division of the State Police (-31,500), the Department of Environmental Conservation (-20,600) and the Department of Labor (-19,100 hours).
• Excluding SUNY and CUNY, the average number of annual employees declined from 158,067 in 2016 to 142,396 in 2022. Since then, the number has grown for three consecutive years to reach 155,448 in 2025. Headcount levels remain markedly below those 15 years ago when the state workforce size was over 172,000.
• New hires outpaced attrition in the state workforce. In 2024, there were 18,551 new hires, the highest in the 10 years covered by this analysis, reflecting, in part, the impact of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) Program. Attrition from the workforce increased 3.2% to 15,132, driven largely by separations other than retirement.

Report

New York State Agency Use of Overtime and State Workforce Trends, 2016-2025

William Chase has been sentenced to 90 days in jail, 10 years probation and must reister as a sex offender

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Jamie Szafran is a software engineer and architect on NASA’s Artemis missions. She graduated from SUNY Potsdam as a triple major.

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The Adirondack Park Agency approved one utility-sized battery energy storage system so far. But towns are passing moratoriums delaying their builds. So what are battery storage systems and why is the state promoting them?

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Peru Gazette File Photo

Serve as Assistant Recreation Director for Baseball/Softball and Summer Programs 

Job Description: Maintain a working relationship with coaches for Baseball/Softball and Summer programs. Equipment distribution and intake processing. Maintain visibility throughout the season at various home games. Provide support for summer recreation leaders and act as a liaison between summer employees and Recreation Director. Knowledge of programs and sports needed along with transportation. Hours vary, the season begins in the middle of May and ends toward the end of July.

Contact Town of Peru Recreation Director Kristen Marino

recreationdirector@perutownny.gov

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION/DISCUSSION: To Accept Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports, JCEO);

5. MOTION: Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of March 23, 2026.

6. Community Input. 

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Acceptance of 284 Agreement Between Highway Dept. and Town Board.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approve Purchase of New Holland Skid Steer on C5-5508-03-00 Contract for PWWTP Project.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approve Janitorial Services Contract Renewal.

10. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of Murnane Building Contractors Pay App. #9 for Peru WWTP Project. 

11. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of John W. Danforth Company Pay App. #9 for Peru WWTP Project. 

12. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of K & L Plumbing & Heating Pay App. #4 for Peru WWTP Project.

13. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of Triangle Electrical Systems Pay App. #7 for Peru WWTP Project.

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of Use of Heyworth Mason Park by the Autism Alliance of Northeastern NY.

15. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Casella Waste Systems Contract Renewal.

16. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  C & S – Telegraph Over Dry Mill Brook Culvert Update.

17. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Barton & Loguidice – Peru Water Treatment Project Update.

18. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Town Board.

19. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Dept. Heads.

20. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

21. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Pay April 2026 Bills.

22. MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.

23. MOTION: Return from Executive Session. 

24. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

PB Minutes Feb 2026

Peru CSD Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the High School Cafeteria. It is anticipated that an executive session will take place immediately following the 6:30 PM start, and that the Board will reconvene for open public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. The meeting will be recorded and will be available on the District’s website at www.perunighthawks.org.  

The meeting is open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal safety procedures and protocols will be followed. 

Currently, two (2) public comment opportunities are planned as follows:

First public comment: Related to items on the agenda. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.  

Second public comment: Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.  

Individuals who are unable to attend the regular meeting in person may submit public comments by emailing perucomments@perucsd.org no later than noon on Tuesday, April 14. Online comments are also subject to the conditions stated above.

Anticipated topics include:

• Budget Workshop #3

• Personnel Appointments

• Internal Audit & Corrective Action Plan

• SEQR Resolution(s) 

• Property Tax Report Card

The complete agenda will be available via BoardDocs on the District’s website (www.perunighthawks.org).

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Peru Gazette January 5, 2023 photo

Peru, NY, April 9, 2026  – Doug was an amazing man who Peru will truly miss. Most recently, he was Grand Marshal of the 2025 Peru Tractor Parade. Click here for a link to the latest Peru Gazette story on Doug Brown. There have been several Doug Brown stories over the years.

Click here for Doug’s obituary. 

Town leaders hope WiFi plus a new visitors’ center and EV chargers will result in more tourists stopping as they pass through.

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Fans and community members shared their experience from the cross country skiing FIS World Cup in Lake Placid

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Peru Gazette file photo

Peru Gazette file photo

One of the area’s local luminaries will be honored at a special service on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Harkness United Methodist Church.

This year’s annual recognition of Dr. Georgia Harkness will celebrate not only her birthday, but also the dedication of an official marker naming the church a Methodist Historic Site. The worship service begins at a special time of 10am and will conclude with the marker dedication.

A reception with cake and ice cream will follow at approximately 11am in the adjacent Church Hall. The public is warmly invited to attend. The church is located at 780 Hallock Hill Road, Peru.

Methodist Historic Sites are locations tied to significant events, developments, or individuals in the history of the United Methodist Church. Harkness United Methodist Church became the newest of 16 Historic Sites in New York State after receiving conference approval in 2025. As a designated Historic Site, the church offers tours by appointment.

Dr. Georgia E. Harkness (1891–1974), born in Harkness New York, became a leading figure in Methodism. She was a scholar, activist, clergy member, and prolific author of books and poetry. Her writing helped inspire Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She also helped pave the way for women’s ordination in the Methodist Church and became the first female professor of theology at a U.S. seminary. Her legacy continues today through several initiatives, including scholarships for women over age 35 who are studying to become Methodist clergy.

Using proceeds from last fall’s Chicken and Biscuit Dinner as seed money, Harkness United Methodist Church has launched a challenge to raise $5,000 to fully fund one scholarship in Dr. Harkness’s honor. The goal is to reach the target by May 17, the date of the first “Michigans for Mission” fundraiser of the year for the Harkness Church. During her career as a theologian, professor and writer, Dr. Harkness was a strong supporter and proponent of conferring full clergy rights for women in the Methodist Church. This effort also marks the 70th anniversary of achievement of that goal. 

Donations may be made by check payable to Harkness United Methodist Church. Please include “Georgia Harkness Scholarship” on the memo line. Contributions may be mailed to: Harkness United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 720, Peru, NY 12972.

Sarah Graves photo.

Sarah Graves photo

Sarah Graves photo

By John T Ryan

Peru, April 8, 2026 – Though some people may not know him by name, almost everyone residing in or near the Peru hamlet is familiar with Art Graves. Graves has been running along Peru’s streets and roads for as long as most people can remember. A few years ago, a Jamaican apple picker shouted to Graves, “Hey, Mon, are you still running? I’ve been coming here for more than 20 years. You’re always out there.” Yes, Art has been “out there” through all kinds of weather since he and his wife, Sarah, moved here in 1971. 

Now, at age 85, Graves runs three miles or more at least three times a week. He tries to leave his Woodland Drive home between the morning school bus runs for a three-mile, one-hour run. What would motivate a man his age to do this? Graves explained, “I don’t need a lot of motivation. I like exercise. I played basketball and tennis every weekend. Once you get started, you don’t want to quit. You like it, and it makes you feel healthy.” Being healthy includes reducing stress. He said, “After running three, or five, or six miles, when you get back, you’re too tired to be stressed.” 

Accidental injuries not related to running, including a shattered ankle and a full knee replacement, didn’t stop Graves’ running routine for long. Some people, including this story’s author, noticed he had slowed down. Sarah Graves remarked. “Do you know how many people stopped Art along his route and asked, ‘Do you need a ride?'” 

Sarah also pointed to another important aspect of running. “We’re very much a family. Running is something you can do anywhere, anytime. When we went on vacation, Art could run. He would fit it in. Running is flexible enough, there aren’t any major expenses, and it’s not so time-consuming that it would take him away from the family.”  The Graves have two children, Art Jr. and Spencer, both of whom inherited their father’s love for physical activity. St. Lawrence University awarded Art Jr. a running scholarship, while Spencer played soccer and baseball, and is a physical education teacher at Northeastern Clinton Central. 

A Plattsburgh native, Graves played high school baseball at St. John’s Academy. “I was too short for basketball,” he recalls. His running began at Canisius College (Canisius University) in Buffalo, where he captained the cross-country team and ran middle distances during the indoor track season. 

Marathons were popular in the 1970’s when Art and Sarah moved to Peru. Art recalls, “I competed in the first Champlain Valley Marathon. I ran in Converse sneakers. The following year, I was smart enough to borrow running shoes.” Since then, he’s competed in about 25 marathons, as far away as Prince Edward Island, Ottawa, Canada, and Niagara Falls, NY.  Graves fondly recalls long-distance weekend runs with friends like Jerry Shpur, Dick Sabourin, Scott Woodward, and John Adams. He said, “We were known as Adirondack Harriers. 

May Art Graves continue to be “always out there” and an inspiration to us all. If you see him on June 4th, wish him Happy Birthday! 

The most far-reaching study in 40 years aims to track impact of changing climate on Adirondack waters

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