The Peru Gazette

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole 

Bread 

Dessert 

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972. 

All are invited and welcome!

Community leaders, educators, faith organizations, etc. needed for July 19-26 week-long event

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Elizabethtown launches new brand and website focusing on serving the community

Click here for the Sun Comunity News story 

Story profiles Sheriff Todd Hood’s rise to prominence 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Albany, February, 21, 2026, NYS News Release  – Governor Kathy Hochul today declared a State of Emergency in Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Greene, Delaware, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester and contiguous counties, and activated the New York National Guard as a blizzard is forecast to hit the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island, and severe winter weather conditions are expected throughout the rest of the Hudson Valley. Forecasts rapidly worsened Friday night and now indicate 18 to 24 inches of snow with winds potentially gusting at over 60 mph for Long Island and New York City. The Hudson Valley is forecast to see 12 to 18 inches of snow, while the Capital Region could see eight to 12 inches. Other areas statewide will see totals from one to six inches of snow. These blizzard conditions will create extremely dangerous travel conditions, coastal flooding and the potential for power outages.

Beginning Sunday, 100 members of the New York National Guard with 25 vehicles will be staged across the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island to support Downstate response operations and local partners. Additionally, the State Emergency Operations Center will activate beginning Sunday morning. Read more »

ORDA board approves maintenance planning process for Lake Placid and alpine facilities valued at $1B

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Hiking in the Adirondack Mountains can offer great experiences and views

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

February 25,  6 pm, (This is a date change. The event was originally scheduled for Feb. 24) Advisor’s Room, Beekmantown High School, Haynes Road Entrance, West Chazy. The Golden Age of the Cigar Trade in Downtown Plattsburgh – photos and stories of the men who generated this prosperous local industry. Seating is limited. Call 518-561-0340 before February 24 to reserve a seat.

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of February 9, 2026. 

5. Community Input. 

6. DISCUSSION:   Engineering Update on Telegraph Road Over Dry Mill Brook.

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Possible Award on Bid the Lyons Rd. Culvert Replacement Project.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Acceptance of Construction Inspection Services Proposal for the Telegraph Rd, Over Dry Mill Brook Culvert Replacement Project.

9.  RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Money Transfer from Water Debt Service to Pay H34 Water Project Bill.

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: 202-b Order for the Peru Water Treatment Facilities Upgrade.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Bond Resolution for the Peru Water Treatment Facilities Upgrade.

12. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Councilmen

13. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Dept. Heads

14. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

15. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay Bills – December 2025

16. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay Bills – January 2026

17. MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.

18. MOTION: Return from Executive Session. 

19. MOTION:  Adjourn Meeting.

1. 1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call

4. MOTION:       To Open the Public Hearing.

5. DISCUSSION:   Community Input and Questions

6. MOTION:      To Close the Public Hearing.

7. MOTION:        Adjourn

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced a new online exam for people seeking to become licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs). To provide enhanced access, DEC is offering these examinations online and free of charge.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the customer experience, DEC is proud to offer these free examinations online,” DEC’s Deputy Commissioner for Natural Resources Katharine Petronis said. “This process makes it easier for individuals to meet examination requirements, apply for a license, and take part in helping others safely respond in situations where wildlife is damaging property or has become a nuisance.”

A NWCO is a person at least 18 years of age who is authorized to take/trap, transport, and release wildlife whenever an animal becomes a nuisance, destroys property, or threatens public safety. Licensed individuals can conduct these activities for commercial purposes or as an employee of a municipality.

Applicants are not required to be a resident of New York State to receive a NWCO license.

The 2 hour exam can be completed any time between 7 am and 11 pm on the assigned date.

All exams will be online. Exam and registration instructions and a NWCO training manual can be found on DEC’s “Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator” webpage.

To register, visit the “NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Special Licenses Exam Registration – Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Exam” webpage. Applicants will receive an email acknowledging registration with a one-time link to access the exam on the specified exam date. Upon successful completion of the exam, applicants will receive information on applying for the license, including an application form. Please do not send applications or fees prior to passing the examination.

For questions or assistance please contact:

DEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4752

Email: SpecialLicenses@dec.ny.gov

Phone: 518-402-8985

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Recovery: On February 12 at 3:05 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call through Essex County 911 from a hiker with a dog who said they slipped off the trail near the summit of Mount Marcy and were unable to get back on the trail. The initial response included six Forest Rangers on snowmobiles, one New York State Police Pilot, one Ranger Helicopter Crew Chief, one Ranger Helicopter rescuer, and one Ranger on a tracked utility task vehicle (UTV). New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation responded for a possible hoist rescue. Due to the heavy cloud cover, the two Rangers in the helicopter could not see the missing hiker. At 6:06 p.m., one of the Rangers in the helicopter was inserted into the Marcy Dam Outpost to search on the ground. At 9:51 p.m., a Ranger located the 21-year-old hiker from New Jersey deceased and weather conditions prevented removal from the mountain at that time. Rangers also found the dog alive and hiked it out to safety. On the morning of February 13, NYSP Aviation inserted two Rangers to the site and recovered the hiker.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers its condolences to the family.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 12 at 8:17 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Ordway about a hiker who became lost while hiking Phelps and Tabletop mountains. The hiker’s spouse said they last heard from the hiker at 4:30 p.m. when they were attempting to bushwhack back to the trail. The spouse provided coordinates based on a phone app. Ray Brook Dispatch called the hiker and confirmed they were still lost off trail, but then the call dropped. At 9:41 p.m., Ranger Ordway found the hiker’s vehicle at Adirondak Loj. At 9:47 p.m., the hiker called 911 and provided new coordinates. At 10:30 p.m., Rangers Hamm and O’Connell located the 65-year-old from Arkport. Rangers transported the subject to their vehicle. After talking to the hiker, Rangers determined the subject lost the trail at the summit of Phelps Mountain and was unable to locate the trail using their phone, which died during a 911 call. The hiker paced back and forth to maintain body temperature until Rangers arrived. Resources were clear at 12:09 a.m.

Rangers suggest hiking with a map and compass. While cell phones can be helpful, there are places in the High Peaks without cell service. Phone batteries also drain more quickly in the cold weather. DEC’s website has information about the 10 Hiking Essentials and other details to hike safely.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 14 at 3:23 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the spouse of a hiker who was off trail on Haystack Mountain and getting cold. Forest Rangers called the 51-year-old hiker and determined they were near the summit of Basin Mountain. Rangers talked the hiker back onto the trail. At 7:10 p.m., Rangers Jansen and Jeffery met the hiker on the trail to ensure the hiker was safe and hiked with the subject back to the trailhead.

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 15 at 3:19 p.m., Whiteface Mountain medical services contacted Forest Rangers and Whiteface Ski Patrol to assist three skiers who skied out of bounds into the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness. Rangers made contact with the skiers and determined the three teenagers were uninjured but were stranded in deep snow on top of a cliff. Whiteface Mountain staff provided a ride in a snowcat for four Rangers. At the same time, NYSP Aviation and one Ranger located the group and dropped off sleeping bags for warmth. At 6:07 p.m., Rangers located the skiers warm and in good health. Rangers provided the skiers with snowshoes and headlamps and assisted them back to the resort.

Whiteface Mountain rescue

Whiteface Mountain rescue

Whiteface Mountain rescue

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 15 at 5:10 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a call for a hiker experiencing cardiac issues while hiking Whiteface Mountain between Lookout and Marble mountains. At 6:53 p.m., Rangers Corey and R. Praczkajlo reached the hiker and assisted the 68-year-old to the trailhead where they transferred care to Wilmington EMS. Resources were clear at 8 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s “Hike Smart NY,” “Adirondack Backcountry,” and “Catskill Backcountry Information” webpages for more information.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on State lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region.

Initiative Aims To Provide Stable Employment Opportunities for New Yorkers in Recovery From Addiction 

• Champlain Valley Family Center for Drug Treatment and Youth Services, Inc.: $1,750,000
• Behavioral Health Services North, Inc: $1,456,360

Albany, February, 20, 2026. News Release – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced awards totaling $42.9 million to fund job training and placement efforts across New York State for individuals impacted by addiction, who are ready to join the workforce. This includes more than $35.6 million for the hiring and retention of vocational rehabilitation counselors at addiction services providers, as well as an additional $7.3 million for two organizations that will provide regional support services for the counselors hired through this program and the organizations providing services. Research shows stable employment for someone in recovery can have several key benefits, including financial stability, as well as providing structure and purpose, and social connections which can help prevent isolation.

“Supporting individuals struggling with addiction is the initial step, but it’s equally important to empower these New Yorkers to secure stable employment,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will be distributed to every region across the state, reinforcing our commitment to support New Yorkers who have been impacted by addiction in starting a new chapter, while simultaneously bolstering critical workforces statewide.” 

This initiative will help to improve employment outcomes for individuals in treatment and recovery for substance use disorders by offering employment training and job placement assistance. Funding provided allows each recipient to hire or retain two counselors. Each of the following providers was awarded a five-year contract for the amount listed, for a total of $35,620,085:  Read more »

Click here for the New York Focus story 

Click here for the New York Focus story 

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Judd Collier, RN

Emergency Department Team Members celebrate with Judd

Always There When it Matters 

Elizabethtown, NY – In the busy, often unpredictable Emergency Department at University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital, one thing has become remarkably consistent: when a crisis hits, Judd Collier, RN, is already on the move.

Whether he’s stepping in to place a difficult IV, answering rapid‑fire clinical questions from colleagues, or rushing to support a rapid response, Collier brings the same calm, steady presence every single time. Colleagues say he shows up with quiet confidence and a genuine smile. That reliability has made him a nurse his teammates deeply trust.

It was during one of those urgent moments that Collier’s co-worker, Jessica Litts, RN, saw something she wouldn’t forget.

“A rapid response was called, and Judd was there right away,” Litts recalls. “He didn’t hesitate. He gloved in immediately, helped set up the high‑flow machine, and answered every question we threw at him. He stayed past the end of his shift, not because anyone asked him to, but because the patient wasn’t stable yet. That’s just who he is.”

Litts says Collier brings a mix of high‑level skill and genuine kindness that makes a difference in every corner of the ED. She adds that he teaches without judgement and treats every patient as if they’re the only one in the room.

“You can tell he loves this job,” Litts says. “And you can tell he’s passionate about helping people. This hospital is lucky to have him.”

Collier’s care is the kind that leaves a mark on both patients and families – something Julie Tromblee, RN, MSN, MBA, Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, experienced firsthand.

“I’ve watched Judd care for patients many times, but seeing him care for someone in my own family changed everything for me,” Tromblee explains. “He didn’t just focus on the medical needs – though he handled those with skill and urgency. What stood out was how he cared for all of us. He made sure we understood what was happening, he asked what we needed and he never once made us feel alone in the moment.”

Litts nominated Collier for the hospital’s DAISY Award, and he was recognized yesterday during a surprise ceremony with his Emergency Department colleagues.

Elizabethtown Community Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2022 to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. A nomination form can be filled out 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.

Click here for the vtdigger story 

Message from Peter Cadieux, “I hate to do this, but it looks like a decent snowstorm is coming in, timed perfectly to affect travel plans tomorrow. So, we will try again in March and look forward to booking Carl Rubino for a later date. Stay safe!”

Cancelled Concert at 

Wood Wire and Voice Coffee House
February 20, 2026 7-9 pm
United Methodist Church
127 Beekman Street, Plattsburgh, NY

Several shortcomings identified. 

Beekmantown Fire District No. 1 – Board Oversight (Clinton County)

The board did not adequately oversee the district’s financial operations related to maintaining accounting records, preparing bank reconciliations, submitting monthly and annual financial reports, auditing and approving claims and performing annual audits. The board did not provide oversight of the secretary-treasurer’s duties related to maintaining the accounting records. Auditors reviewed 257 disbursements for claims paid totaling $222,372 and identified several deficiencies in the records. The inadequately maintained accounting records also prevented the treasurer from being able to properly reconcile the district’s bank accounts during the audit period. The board also did not ensure that the treasurer submitted adequate monthly financial reports or that the treasurer prepared and filed an Annual Financial Report (AFR) each year. As a result, as of Jan. 31, 2025, the district’s AFRs for the 2019 through 2023 fiscal years were between 337 and 1,798 days late. Click here to view the auditor’s report. 

Beekmantown Fire District No. 1 – Investment Program (Clinton County)

Auditors determined that the district’s investments were legal, safe and liquid. However, officials did not develop and manage a comprehensive investment program. For example, officials did not prepare monthly cash flow forecasts to estimate funds available for investment or solicit interest rate quotes from financial institutions. During the 25-month audit period, the district earned $114 in investment earnings, even though it had an average of $530,000 available to invest each month. Had officials considered alternative legally permissible investment options, the district may have increased the investment earnings by more than $52,000. Click here to view the auditor’s report 

Before modern ferries and suspension bridges, horses were used to power boats across Lake Champlain

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story