The Peru Gazette

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, December 23, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru. Each presenting donor during December will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Applebee’s gift card. 

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

Click here for the Syracuse.com story

All school districts develop plans to mitigate extreme heat in classrooms and support services spaces and to establish a maximum allowable temperature

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Community thrilled with full-service grocery, deli open in the village

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Ed Eisele, Co-Chair of Peru Lions Club, presents toys to the Clinton County Christmas Bureau

Peru Lions Club members Larry Shanley (l) and Cheryl Breen Randall (r) present a check for $1,000 and several food gift cards to Lisa Goodrow, JCEO Director of Community Outreach for the Peru/Keeseville Food Shelf.

The Turkey Trot gets underway

The Peru Lions Club’s Thanksgiving Day  Turkey Trot has been a great fundraiser for 47 years. Thanks to more than  400 participants and many donors, the 2024 Turkey Trot was another success. The Peru Lions are putting the proceeds to good use.

Peru VFW President Judy Lefevre led the wreath-laying

Active members or veterans of every military branch participated

The Tomb of Medal of Honor Recipient Thomas Kelly

Geoff Blaise of Keeseville instructs his daughter Harlee

Goeff Blaise and his son Andrew

The Blaise family of Keeseville L-R Andrew, Goeff, Harlee, Amanda and Tyler in blue jacket

December 14, 2024, Route 9-Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh – By John T Ryan

Many veterans, civilians, families and community leaders participated in today’s Wreaths Across America program at the Old Post Cemetery. They laid 210 wreaths at the gravestones of our fallen heroes.

The Wreaths Across America theme is Remember—Honor—Teach. Remember our fallen veterans, honor those who serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.

The Old Post Cemetery is the location of our nation’s first Tomb of the Unknowns and the graves of many of the 136 Unknown Soldiers and Sailors of the Battle of Plattsburgh (1814). It is also the final resting place of another 163 known service members, members of their families, and Medal of Honor recipient Thomas Kelly.

Judy LeFevre, President of the Peru VFW Auxiliary, coordinated and led the ceremony. Guest speakers included Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest, Mayor-Elect Wendell Hughes, Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman, Assemblyman Billy Jones, and State Senator Dan Stec. Glenn Miller sang the “Star Spangled Banner” and American Legion Post 1619 Choir sang the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” American Legion Post 1619 served as an Honor Guard and performed the Rifle Salute. Plattsburgh Scout Troops 8039 and 8046 and the Peru Girl Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Peru VFW Auxiliary raised $4,600 to purchase the wreaths. Many veterans organizations, veterans, local businesses and community members contributed dollars and services.

December 13, 2024—Joanne Kennedy took several great photos and video clips of the 2024 Peru Tractor Parade.  Thank you, Joanne! 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac Story 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac Opinion Commentary 

Mark Richard, PhD presented work at Plattsburgh Public Library Speaker Series

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

The Peru CSD Board of Education’s Policy Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 12:30 PM in the District Office (high school building) to develop policy for its 2000 – 8000 series. The meeting is open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal safety procedures and protocols will be followed.

Thank you.

(Please Share) The Peru Fire Department will hold a spaghetti dinner on Friday, 12/13/2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Come and enjoy some great spaghetti, including meatballs and sausage, with your Peru Volunteer Fire Department.

Robert Thibodeau pleaded guilty to 11 charges after threatening to shoot hospital management

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Kristen Carnahan admitted to her role as the leader of a local drug ring

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Mrs. Dimock celebrated her birthday the day we visited.

By John T Ryan

Peru, NY – On Friday, December 13, at 6 p.m., Don Dimock will be Grand Marshal of the Peru Farmers’ Parade. As she has been throughout his farming career, his wife Martha will be at his side. (Look for them immediately behind the State Police Car) Among farmers, the Dimocks are best known for producing high-quality, award-winning milk. However, more people undoubtedly know their Route 22B farm for the candy cane decorating its 90-foot high silo during the Holiday Season. People travel from far and wide to see the silo’s bright lights.

Don and Martha moved to Peru in 1971. The Massachusetts natives worked on farms during their teen years. After high school, Don graduated from the University of Connecticut’s Agricultural School and worked for eight years for a purebred Holstein association before buying a farm.

The Dimocks looked at Vermont farms before coming to Peru. Don recalls, “I thought the Vermont farms were overpriced. I ended up buying the Harold Davis farm here in Peru. Paul Calkins was the realtor.” Martha commented, “The farm had sixty cows when we bought it and far fewer barns than we have now.” Dimock Farms, LLC has 360 cows and crops on about 800 acres.

Three children, Bruce, Anne, and Lisa, accompanied their parents to Peru. Heidi was born here. Today, Bruce is a farm partner and manager. Bruce’s wife, Mary, succeeded Martha in keeping books. Daughter Anne Farrell works with milking and feeding and is the brave person who climbs up the 90-foot silo ladder each year to replace burned bulbs and untangle cords. About every three years, she replaces all the lights. Don still does tractor work. Not counting Don and Martha, the farm employs ten people.

Dimock Farms, LLC is part of the co-op AgriMark, which sells Cabot & McCadam products like cheese, butter, and yogurt. AgriMark’s top-quality milk awards cover Dimock’s office walls. How do they produce such high-quality milk? Don mentions mastitis prevention, cleanliness, and animal health. Martha said, “We have good workers who do a good job!”

The Dimocks are rightly proud of their farm and family. They richly deserve to be honored in the 2024 Peru Farmers’ Parade.

Tonight’s December 11 Planning Board Agenda includes site plan reviews of motor Vehicle repair facilities at 16 Rockwell Rd. and 57 Connors Rd.