The Peru Gazette

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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).

Click here for the Vermont Public story 

Click here for the Vermont Public story 

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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

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac Story 

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL December 2025 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR TO PUBLIC HEARING

6. APPLICATIONS:

   1. File # Z-2026-111 – Area Variance – Myles Tallada at 771 Bear Swamp Road – Parcel # 280.-1-28.2 – Requesting to remove an existing 10’X10′ shed and replace with a new 14’X30′ shed that will encroach 5 ft. into the required 15 ft. side yard setback with only 10 ft. Provided.

   2. File # Z-2026-112 –Commercial Special Use Permit – Justin & Kristie Hugus at 741 Allen Hill Rd. – Parcels 290.-1-26.21 & 302.-1-11 – Owners seek to engage in agri-business, including events that promote the sale of agricultural products, weddings, and auctions. Requesting Site Plan Review and Commercial Special Use. 

1. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
2. CEO REPORT
3. ADJOURNMENT

Plattsburgh, NY – Nearly 100 tenth-grade students from seven area schools participated in TDC’s 4^th annual Manufacturing Experience Day on Tuesday March 31st, where they toured local manufacturers and explored the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at Clinton Community College. The immersive experience provided the students with valuable insights into the world of manufacturing and higher education, inspiring them for future career paths. TDC, Brilliant Pathways, and Clinton Community College joined together to partner on this STEM career-exploration event that engaged students from Northern Adirondack, Northeastern Clinton, Chateaugay, Keene, Moriah, Chazy, and Beekmantown.

Every student participated in two one-hour tours of manufacturing facilities such as Norsk Titanium, W Schonbek, MRP, Beta Technoloiges, Monaghan Medical, Alstom, BCI Lakeside and Schluter Systems. They were able to witness firsthand the intricate processes involved in manufacturing and learn about the cutting-edge technologies used in the production of various products across North Country industries; and were able to interact with engineers and technicians to gain a deeper understanding of the manufacturing industry. 

 The other half of the day was spent at Clinton Community College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing. Here, the students participated in hands-on circuit board activities, virtual reality welding and Oculus career exploration provided by NYS Department of Labor, heard from a manufacturing careers panel comprised of young professionals from CV-TEC’s New Visions Applied Engineering program and Holly Black, CEO of Crossborder Development Corporation, and explored the IAM production floor, with support from IAM staff, SnapOn representatives, TDC staff, and CV-TEC young professionals. 

“Part of TDC’s mission is to attract and retain quality jobs within our industrial parks; part of that is making sure the community (including the next generation) understands what kind of opportunities are present here. We are so grateful to the employers that enthusiastically participate in events like this and open their doors to students, demystifying what a career in STEM could look like,” said Dani King, President and CEO, TDC.

“We at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at Clinton Community College were excited to welcome tenth graders back to the facility for Manufacturing Experience Day. This type of hands-on experience not only brings awareness to the state-of-the-art facility right in their backyard here at the IAM, but also draws the connection between the educational and career pathways available in modern manufacturing,” said D. Billy Jones, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development at Clinton Community College. “It is a wonderful opportunity to introduce North Country students to different careers and future prospects in a variety of North Country industries.”

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Protect the Adirondacks offers a response to an Adirondack Almanack piece about how to use certain parts of the Forest Preserve

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac commentary