The Peru Gazette

October 23, 2026 – PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – This morning, Assemblymember Michael S. Cashman (D-Plattsburgh) held a press conference amplifying concerns his office has received regarding allegations of poor quality of care in the Clinton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Community member Nora King, whose mother was housed in this facility, shared her mother’s story during the press conference.

“My team has taken numerous calls from constituents whose loved ones are housed within this facility,” Cashman said. “After attending a residents council meeting and speaking directly with some current residents back in July, I reached out directly to the leadership of this facility, and have still yet to hear back with any response to their residents’ valid concerns.”

“Currently, New York state is unable to regulate privately-owned for-profit practices, which make up roughly 70% of nursing homes in New York State. As I continue to work toward long-term solutions, including establishing direct, clear oversight of these facilities, there are still avenues for families to report concerns in the meantime.”

“I have been in direct contact with the Department of Health, Attorney General’s office, and the Comptroller’s office. I encourage anyone with reports of negligence or concerns to reach out directly to both the Department of Health and my district office to further amplify their stories. Families deserve the confidence that their loved ones are receiving quality and dignified care, and I will continue to fight to make sure these families receive just that.”

Detailed information regarding concerning behaviors or quality of care can be reported to the Department of Health at their 24-hour hotline 1-888-201-4563 or via email to nhintake@health.ny.gov. Assemblyman Cashman’s district office can be reached at 518-562-1986 or via email at cashmanm@nyassembly.gov.

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other State agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State.

During the first nine months of 2026, Forest Rangers conducted 277 search and rescue missions, extinguished 93 wildfires covering more than 224 acres, and participated in 54 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,355 acres of land. In 2025, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 202 wildfires covering 840 acres, participated in 68 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,649 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,100 tickets and arrests. Also in 2025, 41 Forest Rangers were deployed to fire assignments in 10 different states.

Town of Harrieststown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 7 at 11:32 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker on Ampersand Mountain assisting another hiker suffering from extreme abdominal pain. Forest Ranger Bowler and Saranac Lake Rescue Squad made contact with the 27-year-old from Nebraska approximately one mile from the trailhead. They treated the patient until Rangers Adams, Jeffery, and Lewis arrived with ATVs to transport the subject to the trailhead to an awaiting ambulance. The incident was clear at 1:48 p.m.

Ampersand rescue

Hamlet of Keene Valley
Essex County
Training: On October 8, five Forest Ranger instructors worked with 22 Rangers on technical rope rescue training. Rangers scaled the Beer Walls in the Chapel Pond area. Read more »

75 Actions across 17 agencies involving access to child care and other services, small businesses, state operations

October 21, 2026, Governor Hochul News Release – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the second wave of state regulatory reform actions through her EXPRESS NY initiative to make government work better for New Yorkers. The 75 regulatory reform actions across 17 state agencies build on the first wave of 50 reforms announced in June. To date, EXPRESS NY has advanced more than 120 actions spanning more than 20 state agencies and authorities. The reforms will save New Yorkers tens of millions of dollars and an estimated 5 million hours in time previously wasted filling out unnecessary paperwork, waiting in line, navigating confusing instructions and websites. More than 2.5 million New Yorkers are expected to benefit from these actions.

The 75 regulatory reform actions are focused across four primary areas: Read more »

Governor Hochul News Release, October 21, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today signed commonsense gun safety legislation to expand firearm safe storage requirements and prevent individuals prohibited from possessing guns from purchasing ammunition. Governor Hochul signed these bills at the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence annual benefit dinner on the fifth anniversary of the death of 17-year-old Francesco, who died by suicide after accessing an unsecured shotgun, and for whom ‘Francesco’s Law’ is named after.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my number one priority, which is why as Governor, I set out to enact one of the nation’s most advanced gun safety agendas — funding gun violence prevention programs at record levels and passing landmark legislation to prevent firearm tragedies,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, I’m proud to make our nation-leading laws even stronger to keep guns and ammunition out of the wrong hands and make our children and communities safer.”

S.7236/A.7943 strengthens background checks for purchasing ammunition by aligning them with the requirements for purchasing a firearm. This law clarifies that individuals prohibited by law from owning a rifle or shotgun or subject to a temporary or extreme risk protection order may not purchase ammunition.

A.1962-B/S.9629, known as ‘Francesco’s Law,’ requires gun owners to securely store firearms in an appropriate, locked storage container when they are not being used and creates stronger penalties for when minors and unlicensed individuals access unsecured guns. This legislation closes a gap in state law that allowed gun owners to leave firearms unsecured in homes without children or prohibited individuals.

Following the death of her son in 2021, Diana Cochran helped establish Francesco’s Foundation and became a leading advocate for stronger gun safety laws to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.

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1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of October 2026 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR TO PUBLIC HEARING
6. APPLICATIONS:
   1. File # Z-2026-114 – Area Variance – Samuel Groshans – Parcel ID# 291.-1-36.3 – 455 Calkins Rd. –REQUEST TO KEEP A SMALL BACKYARD FLOCK OF UP TO 12-16 CHICKENS FOR PERSONAL USE ON 2.71 ACRE RESIDENTIAL PARCEL, CONSISTING OF APPROX. 6 LAYING HENS AND UP TO 10 MEAT BIRDS. CHICKENS WILL BE KEPT IN A SECURE COOP AND ENCLOSED RUN WITH LIMITED CONTROLLED FREE-RANGE TIME ON PROPERTY. POULTRY FENCING OR ELECTRIC NETTING MAY BE USED.
7. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
8. CEO REPORT for October 2026
9. ADJOURNMENT

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October, 20, 2026 – Telegraph Road reopened to thru-traffic shortly after 2 PM today. A deteriorating culvert forced the road closure in April 2024. The Peru Highway Department will remove the detour signs later today.

Grand Isle, VT – NEIWPCC has named Mitzi Johnson as director of its Lake Champlain Programs Division and Director of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, effective October 13. Johnson brings more than two decades of public service, nonprofit leadership, and organizational strategy experience to the role.

NY DEC Region 5 Regional Director Joe Zalewski said, “DEC is thrilled to welcome Mitzi Johnson to her new role at NEIWPCC. The Lake Champlain Basin Program brings together New York, Vermont, and Québec’s local, state, and federal agencies along with a multitude of watershed partners to support the basin and the plants, animals, and people that rely on it. Read more »

Senior Planner, Jessica Kogut, AICP was in attendance to accept the award on behalf of the Town of Plattsburgh at the annual conference in Albany on October 15th.

October 19, 2026 – PLATTSBURGH, NY- The Town of Plattsburgh Town Board is pleased to share that the Town has received the 2026 Best Practice Award (Gold Level) from the NY Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association for the C.H.A.M.P. (Creating Housing Acceleration Measures for Plattsburgh) Local Law which was adopted in 2025.

The Best Practice Award is presented annually for a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process. The award emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices help to create communities of lasting value.

The C.H.A.M.P. Local Law was adopted in early 2025. It was introduced at a press conference held last spring at Emerson Place, a new multi-family housing development on the corner of Kansas Ave and New York Road, which was co-hosted by the owners/developers, K&M Taylor Properties, Inc.

Since adoption of the C.H.A.M.P. Local Law, the Town hasreviewed and/or approved more than 600 new units of single and multi-family housing. Senior Planner, Jessica Kogut, AICP was in attendance to accept the award on behalf of the Town of Plattsburgh at the annual conference in Albany on October 15th.

Town Supervisor, Chuck Kostyk commented, “On behalf of the Town Board, I want to thank the NY Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association for this recognition. We are honored and proud of the work we have done as a community to support housing development. The Town of Plattsburgh will continue to build upon these efforts through planning, partnership, and policy.”

Senior Planner & Department Head, Trevor Cole, AICP, commented, “It is always an honor to be acknowledged for our planning efforts, but it is even more meaningful to be recognized for the results. Community planning and zoning should be intentional, solve problems, and create great places to live. We are grateful to receive this best practice award.”

Earlier this year, the Town received the Pomeroy Award for Zoning Achievement from the New York Planning Federation for the C.H.A.M.P. Local Law.

If you have any questions about the award or the Town’s C.H.A.M.P. Local Law, please contact the Town of Plattsburgh’s Planning & Community Development Department: (518)-562-6850

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L-R Chuck Minster and Herbie Malpin

L-R Tim Cavemen, Jacob Martin, Clark Forster, Cody Coss

Town of Ausable, Route 9, October 18, 2026 – Six members of Free and Accepted Masons, Ausable River Lodge 149, Keeseville, are enjoying this beautiful day picking up litter along Route 9 for 2.5 miles, from near the Carpenter’s Flat Bridge to Keeseville.  They have done this two to three times a year for the past three years. Three Cheers to all the Lodge 149 volunteers!