The Peru Gazette

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, August 19, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.

All blood collected is utilized in our local trl-county region. Your neighbors appreciate and need your support.

The blood drive is coordinated by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273.

Click here for the NCPR story 

Funds will be used for ash tree management

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

6:00 PM

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION/DISCUSSION:  

5. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of July 11, 2024. 

6. Community Input. 

7. DISCUSSION:  Use of Town Hall Basement.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Acceptance of Supervisor’s Resignation effective Aug. 11, 2024.

9. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

10. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: July 2024 Bills.

12. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

13. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

14. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

From left to right: CVPH Nurse Residency Program Director Rian Jock, Noelle Tedford, Jennifer Reid, Saleen Ramos, Katauna Trombley, Jasmine Whittington-McKinney, Kayla Munson, Krystal Frawley, Katie-Jane Garrow, Daisy Gonzalez, Paige Letourneau, Patrisha Howerton, Kimberly Clodgo, William Coats.

From left to right: CVPH Nurse Residency Program Director Rian Jock, Gretchen Tomo-Depo, Danielle Hance, Bailey LaBarge, Danielle Desrocher, Dorothy Durgan, Joshua Perkins, Torrance Shipman, Cydney Bond, Carrie French, Shelli LaPlante.

Nationally recognized program supports new RNs in first year of career 

PLATTSBURGH, NY (7/24/2024) – The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital’s (CVPH) proudly recognized 27 nurses who completed the New Nurse Residency Program at the hospital.

The registered nurses are continuing their work in a variety of care settings at CVPH, including Medical/Surgical, Progressive Care, Psychiatry, the Emergency Department, the Alice T. Miner Women and Children’s Center, CVPH Skilled Nursing Facility and Oncology.

“The first year of nursing can be incredibly challenging and emotional,” Rian Jock, MHA, BSN, RN, program manager for the residency, offers. “Having this program helps our new nurses, who are fresh out of school, get their bearings, ask questions, and have the confidence and competency to provide high-quality care to our patients.”

The residency provides new nurses – those just starting their career – with additional education and mentors. They spend the first few weeks of the program on the hospital’s Designated Orientation Unit (DOU), housed within the Progressive Care team. Described as innovative by nursing leaders at CVPH, the DOU helps graduate nurses get up to speed on hospital protocols while partnering up with an experienced colleague. Also known as preceptors, these veteran RNs provide invaluable support and guidance as the new nurses transition from the classroom to providing care at the bedside. Throughout the year-long residency, graduate nurses take on dozens of hours of curriculum, providing them time to enhance their clinical skills, participate in educational team-building exercises and learn about professional development opportunities within the organization.

About 400 nurses have graduated from the program since it was first offered in 2013. The New Nurse Residency Program is accredited as a Practice Transition Program (PTAP) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), considered the gold standard for nurse residency programs around the world.

The hospital is continuing to recruit new nurses and is welcoming the next class of 29 graduate nurses to join the team throughout the summer. For more information on the program, visit: https://www.cvph.org/Residency-and-Education/Residency/Nurse-Residency. Visit the University of Vermont Health Network careers page to learn more about nursing and many other positions open at CVPH and across the health system.

The Town of Peru Highway Department will close Davern Road from State Route 22 to Union Road on Wednesday, July 24th, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for paving. There will be no through traffic except for local residents and emergency vehicles.

SARANAC LAKE — Troy author Daniel Killion will be at Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) on Wednesday, July 31, at 7 p.m. along with co-author Michael Klane to read from his book Portrait of a Bank Robber.

Portrait of a Bank Robber is a work of creative nonfiction that follows Killion’s life from his adoption into an evangelical family in suburban Connecticut to his adventures in bank robbing and subsequent 12-year incarceration to his post-prison life as an artist and small business owner.

Killion started writing while incarcerated, supported by Connecticut’s Community Partners in Action program. Invited to write, paint and sculpt while serving his sentence, Killion discovered a new purpose for his life. Since leaving the prison system, he has published a memoir and opened a business, Weathered Wood, a local shop specializing in art and furniture made from Hudson River driftwood and other locally scavenged materials. His work can be viewed at weatheredwoodtroy.com.

“ACW has been running prison-writing programs in the North Country for over twenty years–and we’re starting a new one this week at Adirondack Correctional–so we’re especially interested in bringing Killion here to talk about his experience,” says program manager Tyler Barton. In a recent interview with Spectrum News in Albany, Killion put it this way: “Because of the prison art program and programs that go into prisons and consider incarcerated people to not be throwaways, you know, it made me feel like I wasn’t a throwaway.”

The event is part of ACW’s free author reading series, which occurs every other month and always concludes with an open mic. Anyone can share up to five minutes of their own writing. Register at adirondackcenterforwriting.org/event/portrait-of-a-bank-robber.

The Adirondack Center for Writing has brought people and words together for 25 years through provocative events and meaningful programs. For more information about ACW, visit adirondackcenterforwriting.org or follow @adkctr4writing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

All personnel and travel reimbursed by U.S. Forest Service

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Village incorporated in 1878 to establish fire department

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Peru, NY – Today, July 22, 2024, town employees, community members, friends, and firefighters from Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties lined Main Street as the Peru Fire Department escorted Greg Timmons’ remains to St. Augustine’s Church. 

Greg’s obituary summarized why so many people respected him: “Son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, firefighter, chief, superintendent, commissioner, instructor, leader, mentor, friend, no matter his role, Greg was an inspiration to everyone he met. He had a significant impact on the Peru community, Clinton County, and the world at large.”

Greg Timmons passed away on July 15, 2024, at age 68. His journey of community service began at age 18 when he went to work for the Town of Peru, eventually rising to the position of Water and Sewer Superintendent, succeeding his father, Bob Timmons. In 2015, Greg retired after more than 40 years of dedicated service to our community. He served as a volunteer firefighter for over 50 years, holding leadership positions, including Chief, Department Commissioner, Fire Investigator, Clinton County Deputy Fire Coordinator (Car 5), and New York State Fire Instructor. 

This morning, a Plattsburgh firefighter stated, “Greg had taught me every phase of firefighting. You name it, he taught it.”  A former Peru firefighter said, “Greg gave back to his community at every level – town, county, and state.”  Whenever there was a need, Greg Timmons did his best to respond. 

The Peru Gazette photographed Greg’s final journey to St. Augustine’s Church for his funeral Mass. Following Mass, he was buried in St. Augustine’s Cemetery. Click here to read Greg Timmons’ obituary. 

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a brief, special meeting in the High School Community Room on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 8:00 AM.  The sole purpose of this meeting is to approve a bid award.  At this time, no other district business is anticipated.

The agenda will be available on the District’s website (perucsd.org).

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

The County of Clinton remains steadfast in its support of fostering economic development for the residents of the entire County. That is why the Clinton County Legislature, in conjunction with the State University of New York (SUNY) appointed the North Country Chamber of Commerce CEO/President, Garry Douglas, to convene the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) Task Force. The goal of this task force was to ensure the vitality and longevity of the IAM in the Clinton Community College (CCC) relocation proposal. After just a few meetings, the Task Force put forth a set of recommendations that they believe will safeguard the origin of the IAM mission.

“The IAM Task Force was comprised of community stakeholders who set out to preserve and enhance the IAM,” said Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry. “The Task Force recommends that Clinton County negotiate a long-term lease with Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES/CVES. BOCES/CVES would utilize the space and provide the programming and workforce training the institute has always been designed for. The Clinton County Legislature welcomes this recommendation and looks forward to working with BOCES/CVES to fine-tune the details to deploy an action plan to get students in the classrooms as quickly as feasible. Overall, the Legislature remains committed to maintaining the integrity of the IAM, and we thank the Task Force for its efforts in finding a resolution.”

            “Champlain Valley Educational Services is committed to supporting the growing educational needs of our region,” said CVES District Superintendent Dr. Mark Davey. “Through this new partnership, we look forward to building on our successful track record of CV-TEC offering students excellent opportunities, resources, and training and providing North Country employers with new and talented candidates who strengthen our region’s workforce. We look forward to finalizing this agreement with the County and moving forward with the Task Force’s recommendation. ”

            The IAM Task Force was convened in February 2024, shortly after the announcement of the CCC relocation proposal. It comprised elected officials, state and county officials, and business community leaders. The North Country Chamber of Commerce submitted its final recommendations to the Clinton County Legislature, indicating that the task force has now completed its mission.

     “This is a completely positive outcome for all concerned, including Clinton Community College, CVES and especially our region’s manufacturers and all who can benefit from the training made possible by the IAM,” says Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber. “CVES’ CV-TEC division has the experience and commitment to take the IAM to a top level of training activity that will support and attract quality jobs and help many of our residents enhance their skills and careers. The timing is perfect as CVES finalizes plans for its new facilities at the Clinton County Business Innovation Gateway (CBIG), allowing coordination of the two sites. We thank all of the Task Force members for helping to identify the right path forward quickly, and we thank Clinton County, CVES, and Clinton Community College for their positive teamwork. Onward and upward!”

The Clinton County Legislature has reviewed the recommendation and will work with BOCES/CVES to finalize a lease agreement that allows them to continue the IAM’s workforce development training mission.

All are free of charge except Valcour Island Transportation. 

August 4 – Sunday on the Island. Visit the Bluff Point Lighthouse and explore the trails on Valcour Island. Transportation to the Island begins at 9:20. $30 per person. Call 518-561-0340 to reserve your spot.
August 10 – 9:30 am. Walking tour of Riverside Cemetery. Visit the graves of Plattsburgh pioneers and notables with narrations by Anne Bailey, Helen Nerska, Kit Booth and Jackie Madison. Call 518-561-0340 for information.
August 11 – 1 – 3 pm. Visit the Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island. Three floors of exhibits. Your own transportation is required.
August 16 –12:30 pm, Plattsburgh Senior Center, 5139 North Catherine Street, Plattsburg. The Catholic Summer School of America with Robin Labarge. Hear the story and see photos of the school, which dominated the landscape of Cliff Haven from 1893 to 1950 and attracted thousands of summer visitors to the Plattsburgh area.
August 18 – 1 – 3 pm. Visit the Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island. Three floors of exhibits. Your own transportation is required.
August 20 – 6:45 pm, Lake Forest Retirement Community, 8 Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh. The History of Railroads in Clinton County – Part 1. Inspired by CCHA photo albums of early area trains and the recently acquired collection of rail enthusiast Lawrence Duffina, Transportation Historian Dick Soper will share the history of rail development, which opened up Clinton County to new markets and eventually to new tourism and a past we now take for granted. This is the 1st of a multi-part series which will span the period from 1833 to present and include photographs, newspaper articles, and information from our large collection of railroad books recently added to our research library.
August 22 – 6:30, Clinton County Historical Association, 98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh. The Catholic Summer School of America with Robin Labarge. Hear the story and see photos of the school which dominated the landscape of Cliff Haven from 1893 to 1950 and attracted thousands of summer visitors to the Plattsburgh area.
August 25 –1 – 3 pm. Visit the Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island. Three floors of exhibits. Your own transportation is required.
August 26 – 1:00 to 2:30 pm, Kent-Delord House Museum, Women’s Equality Day celebrated in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of the North Country, the Clinton County Historical Association, the Kent-Delord House Museum, the Plattsburgh Business and Professional Women, and the Saranac Chapter NSDAR. Learn more about the New York Equal Rights Amendment (NY ERA), a ballot proposal to amend the New York State Constitution.  Adding to existing protections against discrimination based on race and religion, this amendment to the New York State Constitution would explicitly protect discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex—including their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in addition to pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.  New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote for or against this Amendment on November 5th.
September 1 – 1-3 pm. The last day this summer was to visit the Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island. Three floors of exhibits. Your own transportation is required.