The Peru Gazette

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Carly Newton Press-Republican Photo.

Plattsburgh – April 17, 2024 – The George and Shirley Moore Foundation of Keeseville presented the Heart Well Homestead with a $25,000 donation to help establish a maternity home in the city of Plattsburgh.

Heart Well Homestead is a new nonprofit in Clinton County that will strive to alleviate homelessness by operating a 24-month transitional residential program for pregnant and postpartum mothers and their children. In addition to housing, the program will provide necessities and coordinate resources, referrals, and support programs to aid mothers in restoring their self-sufficiency and becoming contributing members of society.

Heart Well Homestead anticipates opening in 2025. For more information about Heart Well Homestead, visit its website https://www.HeartWellHomestead.org or contact Janice Tobin at (518) 569-5370.

Peru – Monday, April 10, 2024—The Peru Town Board conducted a Special Meeting to authorize the payment of routine bills, which the board did. (Because of the eclipse, only one regular meeting is being held this month). Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell requested that the board allow the sale of a 1996 water truck and a 2006 International plow truck. Both trucks have significant maintenance and body integrity issues. Farrell recommended that they declare it as scrap advertised in the Press-Republican. The board concurred. 

167 Donahue Rd.

Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup informed the board about deplorable outside conditions at 167 Donahue Rd, an unoccupied property. Trash is strewn all around the property. The owner passed away in 2022; the property is in probate. Friends and relatives may clean the property. Guynup will keep an eye on the situation.

Kevin D. Kosza was arrested and was arraigned this morning

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A new entrance booth 

The first 50 kids who join us will receive a coupon for one free ice cream cone from Stewart’s.

Spring has arrived signaling it’s time to start planning the 3rd Annual Town of Peru Green Up Day on Saturday, April 20th from 8 am to 12 pm. We invite you to join the Peru Lions Club and the Peru K-5 PTO along with our sponsors, Stewart’s Shops and Casella, to celebrate Earth Day by helping our planet and community as we pick up garbage and debris along the town roads.

Meet us at the Peru Fire Dept. to get bags, gloves, pickers and safety vests so you can participate in a safe way. The first 50 kids who join us will receive a coupon for one free ice cream cone from Stewart’s. Can’t join us on April 20th? Email us to find out how you can participate on your own schedule. For further information contact us at perunylionsclub@gmail.com or perupto@gmail.com.

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This is your chance to support a family with Peru ties whose son is undergoing cancer treatment

By John T Ryan

Peru/Plattsburgh —If you’ve never been to Peru’s Courthouse, you may not know Holly Stone. She’s been a Peru court clerk since 2011. Holly and her husband Terry’s 25-year-old son Austin is battling brain cancer.

Austin Stone is a 2016 Beekmantown High School/CVTEC and 2023 Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) graduate. Before the onset of his illness, he worked in Rochester as a computer game design and development engineer.

Peru Town Judge James Kirby, who has worked with Austin’s mom for many years and has been battling cancer himself for over two years, commented. “I’ve met Austin. He’s a very nice man. We couldn’t ask for a nicer family. Cancer is an awful thing for a family to go through.”

The first sign of Austin’s cancer came on November 19, 2023, when he suddenly lost consciousness. On January 5, physicians diagnosed his illness as a rare form of cancer called oligodendroglioma multifocal. He has four cancerous brain tumors. Associated symptoms commonly include seizures, headaches, altered sensations (strange smells or hallucinations related to the sense of smell), muscular weakness (mainly down one side of the body), and a loss of control of bodily movements. Austin’s experiencing all of those symptoms.

Austin’s Aunts, Sandy Rasco, Judy Rasco, Gail LeBeau, and Uncle Art Rasco, are organizing a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for April 27 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at the Quarry Road American Legion in Plattsburgh. There’ll be an auction, raffle, music, and great food. The dinner, raffle, and auction proceeds will help with Austin’s medical and travel expenses to Burlington and Boston. Auction donations and gift cards to help purchase dinner supplies are needed.

If you would like to discuss a potential collaboration or to make a donation, you can contact Art at 518-569-1859, Sandy at 518-293-1116, Gail at 518-225-2186, or Judy at 518-569-9849.

Given Holly Stone’s long and valued service to our community, the Peru Gazette hopes Peru will rally behind the Stone family.

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Jeremiah Cross in his Pru Town Hall office today

By John T Ryan 

April 15, 2024, Peru—Most Peru property owners opened their mailboxes today to find their 2024 Assessment Notification from Peru’s assessor, Jeremiah Cross. An accompanying letter explains why annual assessments are necessary and provides options if a taxpayer disagrees with the assessed value. County, town, and school tax rates, not assessed values, determine final tax bills. When the town’s total assessed value increases, tax rates typically decrease. 

According to the 2024 assessment, Peru’s 3.363 parcels have a total assessed value of $792 million, about $59 million (7.5%) higher than last year.  Most assessed values increased by about 5%, but a few increases were much more. (The Gazette watched one taxpayer open his notification envelope. His assessment increased by $113,000 or 33%). 

“The location, home style, additions, and renovations account for most changes. Property on Lake Champlain experienced the biggest increases, Cross commented.” 

Not all properties increased in value; fifty-three parcels decreased by $1.8 million. Fire damage, removal of a portion of a parcel, and corrections in assessed value are the most common reasons for the decreases.  

Cross said the assessments are based on property sales between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, when sales prices escalated. Over the past few months, prices have moderated. If this trend continues, 2025 value increases should be less. Cross commented, “I would love for this to happen. It would make my life a lot easier!”  

Taxpayers questioning their assessments should ask themselves, “What would cause anyone to pay less than the assessed value for my property?” “Do I have evidence that might change the assessment, such as photos, a realtor’s estimate, or an appraisal from a licensed appraiser to contest the assessment?” 

The best way to meet with Jeremiah Cross is to make an appointment through the Clinton County Real Property Office by calling 518-566-4760. On Tuesdays, he’s at his Peru Town Hall office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m . Phone 518-643-2745 Extension 104. He’ll do his best to answer questions over the phone, but he anticipates his phone being busy often. 

CVPH Lockdown Initiated for Patient and staff safety

Security measures were lifted after a quick, professional response from local law enforcement

PLATTSBURGH, NY (04/15/2024) — Earlier this morning, the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) officials, in conjunction with local law enforcement, locked down the Main Campus after a credible threat to a provider was received.  The decision was made for the safety and security of patients and staff.

While patient care continued on the main campus, some appointments and procedures were delayed or postponed.

At 10 am, the lockdown was lifted after hospital officials were informed that there was no longer a threat.

“Our thanks to the quick and professional response from the New York State Police, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and Plattsburgh City Police Department,” said CVPH Administrator Katherine Peterson. “The decision to enter into a lockdown was made with the safety of our patients and staff in mind. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused to our patients and our thanks to them for their understanding.” “Once again, our employees did an extraordinary job continuing to care for our patients and for supporting each other,” she said.

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This story was last updated at 1:50 p.m.

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