The Peru Gazette

FitzPatrick Cancer Center’s survivorship celebration part of American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life

PLATTSBURGH, NY Eat Dessert First: A Celebration of Life, the FitzPatrick Cancer Center’s (FCC) signature celebration of cancer survivorship and part of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay for Life, takes place Sunday, June 9 at the Clinton County Fairgrounds.

Ice cream sundaes will be offered in the Survivors Hall beginning at 4 p.m. After the Relay’s opening ceremonies, survivors are welcome to lead the walk in the first lap.

Each June, the FCC joins other cancer care organizations to honor cancer survivors and remind everyone that survivorship begins on the day of diagnosis. Read more »

Adirondack Park – A writing workshop is now available online to help young people enter the essay contest My Dreams for My Community.   North Country residents between ages 13 and 25 can win up to $400 by writing about their vision for the Adirondacks.  Submissions are due by June 15, 2023.

In a workshop recorded on May 23, Professor Shir Filler explains why we should write essays ourselves when ChatGPT can do it for us.  The bottom line:  a ChatGPT essay may be well crafted, but it’s boring.  Professor Filler’s workshop provides inspiration and leads people through a 9-step exercise to quickly draft an essay.  The free workshop is open to the public and can be accessed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFTcSQ2yv4I

The Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) and Adirondack Voters for Change are sponsoring this essay contest to highlight concerns of young people living in the North Country region.  Professor Filler states that “Writing is the best way I know to figure out solutions to any kind of problem. The key is that you don’t have to get it right the first time. You can rewrite and rethink until you get to a solution or idea that works for you, and then you get to share it with others and enter a conversation about the issues you care about. It’s magic!”

To submit an essay, [1] fill out this form (available on ACW website) and [2] email the essay as a PDF or Word document to info@adirondackcenterforwriting.org.

Winners will be notified in July and will read their essays at a celebration on Monday July 24.   Sponsors will award the following prizes for two age groups: $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, $100 for Third Place, and three Honorable Mentions.

The Adirondack Center for Writing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that inspires the love of writing, reading, and storytelling while honoring the rich history of the Adirondacks. Read more »

Click here for the NCPR story 

After decades-long negotiations, Franklin County has reached an agreement with New York State regarding Land Claim issues and the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe first filed a lawsuit in the 1980s against New York State regarding land purchased from the reservation by the State in the early 19^th century. In 2022, a federal judge ruled that New York State did not have the authority to purchase that land because it was not approved by Congress as required under the Non-Intercourse Act of 1790.

            Since New York State illegally purchased the land in the 1820s, local government and state leaders, including Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) when he was Chair of the Franklin County Legislature, have been working together for years to determine the next steps for this Land Claim issue. Compensation for land ownership, taxes and public services like road maintenance and water infrastructure are major concerns for local governments, which is one of the reasons why it has taken so long to reach an agreement. Jones met with Franklin County and State officials on Friday, June 2 to finalize the agreement so that Franklin County and the Towns of Bombay and Fort Covington are compensated for land and services rendered. Read more »

Click here for more information and to sign up! 

Reduced visibility and air quality possible through Tuesday

Click here for the MYNBC5 story

Small Businesses with 100 or Fewer Employees May Receive Tax Credits for COVID-19-Related Costs 

Empire State Development today announced that the application deadline for Empire State Development’s (ESD) $250M COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program has been extended to September 30, 2023. New York State small businesses that made investments to comply with emergency orders and regulations in response to COVID-19 can apply for a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000.Governor Hochul announced the launch of the program on October 25, 2022 and secured an extension of the program’s application deadline through September as part of the FY 2024 Budget.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said. “By extending the application deadline for the COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program to September 30th, we are expanding the reach of our support, ensuring that more New York small businesses receive the financial relief they need to bounce back and thrive once again”.

Small businesses with qualifying COVID-19-related expenses are eligible for a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000 based on qualifying expenses of $50,000. Qualifying expenses are related to building upgrades, structural changes, or supplies to comply with public health or other emergency-related orders and regulations to increase public safety through infectious disease mitigation during 2021 and 2022. Expenses can also include hand sanitizer stations, supplies to disinfect against COVID-19 transmission, equipment for social distancing, air purifiers, contactless point of sale equipment and more.

Businesses independently owned and operated in the State of New York with less than 100 full-time employees and gross receipts of less than $2.5 million are eligible.

Applicants and qualifying businesses can expect the following:

• To fill out a pre-screening questionnaire to confirm their eligibility
• An online application portal available in 68 languages
• Access to multilingual application assistance via phone, text, and email
• To present proof of expenses and other supporting documents
• A tax credit certificate to submit to the Department of Taxation and Finance when filing a tax return

Applications will be open until September 30, 2023. Small businesses are encouraged to apply through the pre-screening tool. If businesses receive a tax credit certificate in 2023, they can claim the credit on their 2023 tax return.

To learn more about eligibility and qualifying expenses, visit www.esd.ny.gov/covid-19-capital-costs-tax-credit.

Remember the CVPH blood drive today, June 5, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru.

Fastening photos of Peru High School”s graduating seniors along Route 22B began during the Covid pandemic. Fortunately, the practice is continuing! Parents, family, and friends erected 130 banners on Saturday. Thanks to Jennifer Madore for the photos and congratulations to all the seniors. 

Click here for the registration website

Click here for the VTDigger story 

The 15-year-old driver- identified by loved ones as Saranac Central athlete Donavyn Smith- was critically injured in the May 29 crash. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist his parents who are out of work as they stay at his side.

Click here for the Sun Community News story

Click here for the gofundme page. 

N.Y. Environmental Protection Fund grant to help expand community engagement

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NPR story 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department claims a lawsuit filed by a former corrections officer is “untimely” and “unjustifiable”

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Nauman Hussain, convicted of manslaughter in connection with the 2018 crash, was sentenced to at least five and a maximum of 15 years.

Click here for the NBC News story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

By John T. Ryan

Deputy Supervisor Jim Douglass chaired the meeting of May 22, 2023 

General Town News 

J. Hogan Refrigeration will provide and install a new electric-powered heat pump heating and air conditioning system. The board deemed Hogan’s $18,996 bid to be the most responsible.

Peru will host nine Heyworth-Mason Park summer concerts.

Bids will be advertised to stump and chip the town’s forty-one acre parcel adjacent to Brand Hollow Rd. The board plans to sell the property since the sewer plant no longer utilizes it as a filtration basin. The bid opening is scheduled for June 12 at 10 a.m.

The board amended a portion of the town’s employee handbook to suspend nepotism rules permitting the town to hire a part-time seasonal junior employee ages 18 or under, provided an unrelated person does not apply for the position.

Jim Douglass noted that Kravitz Landscaping of Keeseville cut, chipped, and hauled away 135 trees along the John Boswell, Mannix, and Lapham Mills Roads. The highway department wanted the large trees cut because they shaded the highways resulting in snow-covered, icy conditions during winter months. Douglas said Kravitz has a county contract that extends to towns. Its prices are based on stump diameter. The cost totaled $70,600.

The Hometown Hero Banners should be up in time for Memorial Day.

Highway Department News

Paving the Dashnaw Road was accomplished on Thursday, May 18. Unfortunately, the town’s paver broke down the previous day. Burnell Paving provided a paver and operating personnel to get the job done. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said Burnell’s $600,000 paver and experienced personnel did an excellent job. Mannix Road is the next road to be paved.

Kyle Spear is the town’s newest equipment operator. Michael Farrell said Spear comes highly recommended. He has worked for the NYS Department of Transportation operating snow plows and heavy equipment. He starts at $22.34 hourly with a one-year probationary period.

Farrell said his department is back at full staffing levels. He thanked Darrell Martineau, who returned to work temporarily last winter after retiring. His help was invaluable.

Water-Sewer-Parks Department News 

The department’s twenty-four foot Haulmark maintenance trailer was declared as surplus equipment. It will be advertised for sale in as-is condition, with no warranties, with a minimum bid of $25,000. The bid opening is scheduled for June 12 at 10 a.m.

A 2000 backhoe was declared to be surplus equipment. As a result, auction International will offer it in as-is condition, with no warranties with a $25,000 minimum bid.

The board accepted Jonathan Babbie’s $4,250 bid for a surplus 1985 Model 1710 Ford tractor. Five bids were received. The town recently purchased a new John Deere tractor.

The meeting adjourned at 7:01 p.m.