The Peru Gazette

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Fire erupted in this forklift loader causing the fire

Sunday, July 21, 2024, Beekmantown – Several area fire departments battled a blaze today at Adirondack Farms, 52 Pardy Road farm. Reported at 11:30 a.m., the fire broke out in the farm’s manure separation building when a bucket-forklift loader caught fire, and the blaze quickly spread to the rafters. At 3 p.m., when the Peru Gazette arrived, firefighters were still attempting to extinguish flames at the roof’s peak. At about 3:20 p.m., they descended the ladder after extinguishing the fire.

In October 2020, a fire destroyed two barns and killed 400 cows at this farm (the former Bubbins Farm) just off Moffitt Road. Jon Rulfs said, “This fire was insignificant compared to that fire. No one was injured, and operations will not be interrupted.” Along with manure, the building housed electrical and water-handling equipment. Rulfs said, “We’ll deal with that tomorrow.”

The West Chazy, South Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh District 3, and Beekmantown Departments fought the blaze.

Lasagna 

Vegetable 

Bread

Dessert

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

All are invited and welcome!

July 20, 2024—Keeseville’s Stone Mill was a beautiful setting for today’s Plen Art Show and Sale. Thirty-three artists traveled from near and far to create artwork in the beautiful Keeseville area. Students from the nearby Meadowmount School of Music performed as people viewed the artwork.

More photos are on Peru Gazette’s Facebook page. 

Tesla Stock Photo

Peru, NY – July 19, 2024—If all goes as planned, eight electric vehicle Superchargers will operate 24 hours daily at Stewart’s Main St Shop sometime this fall. The Zoning Board of Appeals approved Tesla Corp.’s setback variance application on July 17, 2024. Tesla has partnered with Stewart’s at several shops, and several more installations are planned. The chargers in Peru will accommodate both Tesla and non-Tesla electric vehicles. Charging times should range between fifteen and thirty minutes.

There will be 1,600 feet of new paved surface. Downcast, shielded lights on 16-foot-high poles will illuminate the charging area. Tesla will landscape and plant two trees behind the chargers to minimize impact on adjacent property owners. If Stewart’s -Tesla relationship ceases for any reason, Tesla representative Scott Austin said Tesla would remove the chargers and light poles, and the Zoning Board of Appeals also set a condition whereby the property owner appears before the Planning Board to discuss any remaining issues.

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By John T. Ryan

The announcement that the board plans to appoint Craig Randall as interim town supervisor wasn’t the only news at the Peru Town Board’s Thursday, July 11 meeting.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported bad and good news about the closed Telegraph Road bridge. NYS formally emailed him that the project did not qualify for a Bridge NY grant. Since grant funding isn’t pending, Farrell hopes construction can begin about March 2025 rather than in 2026 and be completed by September 2025. He emphasized that his hope depends on approvals by NYS DEC and the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers.  Farrell said he filed construction permit applications with the two agencies on Monday, July 9.

Two years from now, the town will have to replace an even larger bridge on Westcott Road. Farrell notified town engineers Engineering Ventures to begin planning that $1 million+ project. Farrell doesn’t expect Bridge NY funding.

Bruce Drive resident Karyn Langlais presented photos of badly deteriorated road shoulders and pavement issues on Bruce Drive and Telegraph Road. She asked Michael Farrell how he determines his road paving schedule. Farrell said he evaluates road conditions and his available funds.  This year, he plans to complete paving John Boswell Road, Davern Road between Union Road and Route 22, and, if there’s money, Rock Road and Alexander Road. He’s already paved Knob Hill Road and  Locust Drive. Farrell said he plans to pave Telegraph Road after the bridge is reopened.

A four-way stop should be erected at Sullivan Road and Fuller Road intersection in the next 30 days. Telegraph Road’s partial closure has increased traffic on Fuller Road.

The town will be buying something other than a 2025 Freightliner plow truck. Over the past 18 months, parts shortages have upped the delivery date to sometime in 2025. NYS mandated that beginning January 1, 2025, Mike Farrell expects the state will be rescending the electric mandate, but not until sometime in 2025. Users have discovered that cold weather severely impacts electric snow plow hydraulics, making their use unfeasible. The seller can deliver a 2025 Western Star 47X truck by December 2024; therefore, the board authorized its purchase at $351,946, $13,000 more than the Freightliner would have cost.

Longtime planning board member Mark Robinson asked to step down, but he will continue serving as an alternate member. Jerry McGovern will move from alternate to regular member.

The box culvert structure recently installed on Cook Road cost the town $129,000. The board authorized the transfer of $176,319 to that account to pay that bill and other costs. Installation of the box culvert by Ed Garrow & Sons cost the town $142,936.

The Peru Gazette thanks Bill Baggs for starting and stopping the video camera for this meeting.

July 17, 2024—Rick Curry beat the heat and humidity early this morning. At 6:50 AM, he was up a ladder painting the Lakeshore Pediatric Dental building on Main Street. Rick’s company, A-Blake Enterprises, is renovating the building.

July 17, 2024 – Bonnie Mahnk didn’t let today’s high humidity deter her from her painting task. At 6:45 AM, she had already painted the front porch and was beginning to paint the mailbox post. WAY TO GO BONNIE!

Photo provided

By John T. Ryan (Please Share)

Peru – July 16, 2024 – A few weeks ago, Brandy McDonald announced that he was moving to Plattsburgh and would, therefore, be stepping down as Peru Town Supervisor. At the town board’s Thursday, July 11 meeting, Councilman Melvin Irwin announced that the board has agreed to appoint Craig Randall as interim town supervisor from August 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025. A vote to approve his appointment will be on the July 29 meeting agenda.

Craig Randall and his wife, Cheryl “Woodward” Breen Randall, a Peru native, moved here from Lake Placid in 2021. Randall brings forty-four years of banking and twelve years of government leadership experience to our community. In 2007, he retired as NBT Regional Vice-President of Commercial Lending, specializing in small business loans. In March 2009, Lake Placid voters elected him a village mayor, where he served three successful four-year terms until term limits sidelined him in April 2021. Since moving to Peru, he’s joined the Peru Lions Club and the Keeseville Elks Lodge.

As Lake Placid’s mayor, Randall developed a $20 million budget. He oversaw all aspects of village operations, including accounting, finance, code enforcement, the fire department, highway department, municipal electric department, water and sewer department, and village court. Two of his most memorable accomplishments were working to bring the International Children’s Games to Lake Placid in 2019 and the World University Games to Lake Placid in 2023.

Peru town board members are enthusiastic about working with Randall. Deputy Supervisor Jim Douglass told the Gazette, “Craig was a successful mayor. It will be good to get an outsider’s perspective. He’s got the time to be in the office every day. We have a lot of projects going on. Let him come forward and see what he can do for us. I think he will be good for the town.” Douglass said the board talked to one other well-qualified person, but it came down to how much time they could devote to the position. There are no mandated hours for the town supervisor position; however, the board wants a person in the town hall to supervise finances and interact with personnel and the public.

Counselor Melvin Irwin stated, “I like his financial experience, especially since we’re likely to spend about $30 million on water and sewer projects over the next couple of years.” Kregg Bruno commented, “I was impressed not only with his political background but also with the fact that he worked in banking. He’s very knowledgeable and has a lot of experience with grants. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

Eric Duquette also cited Randall’s mayoral experience: “He’s dealt with multiple unions and a water department. He knows the avenues for grants that might help us. He’s familiar with people in Albany. His banking experience should be helpful in budgeting. We want someone to sit in that seat three or four hours daily to keep a handle on and steer the ship. People I’ve spoken with say he’s a true gentleman, very business-oriented, and ready to reach across the table and to make sure everyone’s happy.”

Chicken & Stuffing Casserole 

Vegetable 

Bread

Dessert

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

All are invited and welcome!

LOCATION CHANGE FOR

ADIRONDACK REGIONAL THEATRE
PRODUCTION OF ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA JR.
NOW AT PERU HS JULY 13 AT 6:30PM

Sometimes, You Have to Be a Little Bit Naughty if
You Want to Change Your Story

Peru will be filled by the smell of rebellion when Adirondack Regional Theatre’s Young Director Series presents Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical JR. The show has been moved from Heyworth Mason Park to the Peru HS Auditorium. It was announced today due to the possibility of a storm on Saturday. Roald Dahl’sMatilda The Musical JR. tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. The Young Director Series consists of actors 8-17 years of age.

Matilda, a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers, lives with cruel parents who find her to be a nuisance, a lousy little worm, and a bore. When Matilda enters her first term at school, she captures the attention of Miss Honey, a kind teacher, and the two form a wonderful friendship. Unfortunately, the school is ruled by a tempestuous and mean headmistress named Miss Trunchbull, who hates children and delivers cruel and unjust punishments to all her charges. Matilda is determined to change her story, but will her cleverness and courage be enough to withstand the reign of Miss Trunchbull?

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature and administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International 423 West 55^th Street, New York, NY 10019,212-541-4684, mtishows.com.

6:00 PM