The Peru Gazette

Talented artists and musicians for a day-long celebration of creativity and culture to City Hall, Trinity Park and MacDonough Park from noon to 6:30 p.m.

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Over $23,000 handed out to organizations specializing in helping local kids

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August 10, 2023 – Adirondack Center for Writing and Adirondack Voters for Change are proud and excited to present the nine winners of this past spring’s “My Dreams for My Community” Essays Contest at a celebratory event and reading at Adirondack Center for Writing (15 Broadway, Saranac Lake) on Monday, August 28th at 7 PM.

The first, second, and third-place winners and several honorable mentions will receive their cash awards from Adirondack Voters for Change and then recite their short essays aloud for the audience. Light refreshments will be provided. The event is free and open to the public

The contest was presented in two categories: Youth (Ages 13 – 18) and Young Adult (Ages 19 – 25), and was open to any person in those age groups living in the North Country. The winners of the contest are:

Jacob Andre (Peru) – 1st place, Young Adult – $400 prize
Lee Ames (Canton) – 2nd place, Young Adult – $200 prize
Adalynne Perryman (Lake Placid) – Hon Mention, Young Adult – $25 Stewart’s Gift Card
Emma Anand (Warrensburg) – 1st place, Youth – $400
Kaidence Spooner (Keeseville) – 2nd place, Youth – $200
Evan Beech (Westport) – 3rd place, Youth – $100
Rebecca Cook-Chevier (Brushton) – Hon. Mention, Youth – $25 Stewart’s Gift Card
Thea Kennedy (Bolton Landing) – Honorable Mention, Youth – $25 Stewart’s Gift Card
Delphine Mann (Troy) – Honorable Mention, Youth – $25 Stewart’s Gift Card

Andre (1st place, Young Adult) and Ames (2nd place, Young Adult) will not be present at the reading but will read their pieces over video for the audience. The rest of the above winners will be in attendance and read their short essays. The judges of the contest will also be in attendance at the event. The contest judges were: writer and professor Shir Filler of North Country Community College, author and reporter Tim Rowland of Adirondack Explorer, author and reporter Adam Federman, author and editor Andy Flynn of Lake Placid News, teacher Joy McCabe, and author Ed Kanze.

This contest aims to amplify the voices and concerns of young people living in the North Country region. The essay guidelines directed writers to “Define your community; say what you are about; and offer ideas for change”. To support writers as they draft their essays, ACW provided guiding questions such as, “What concerns does your community have?” “What would you and your community like to see changed about politics or culture?”, “If you could run things, how would you do it differently?” and “When you dream of the world you want, what do you see?” Answering each of these questions was not a requirement; the prompts were simply meant to get writers thinking about a subject, a perspective, and a central argument.

To learn more about this event and the contest it is celebrating, contact Tyler Barton at Adirondack Center for Writing – info@adirondackcenterforwriting.org / 717-332-8137

By John T Ryan 

Peru – August 15, 2023 – The Peru Town Board passed a resolution to go out to bid construction of a new culvert on Cook Rd. at a Special Meeting conducted Monday morning at 8 a.m.  There’s only one residence on the road, and the project will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The highway department installed a steel plate on the existing culvert to keep the road passable.  

Highway Department superintendent Michael Farrell said the 14 ft. wide, 4.5 ft. high culvert structure will cost $129,000. It’s so heavy that the contractor must use a crane to put it in place. The NYS DEC has approved the project, but it’s awaiting the U.S. Corp. of Engineers’ approval. Farrell said having the culvert installed before the first snowfall is essential. 

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By John T. Ryan

Peru – The process has taken longer than anticipated. Still, if progress continues as hoped, the Hamilson Community Solar Farm will be functioning at 286 Mannix Rd. by the end of next year. Unlike traditional solar, where an array is installed on your roof or property, community solar is installed at an offsite location. People can subscribe to the community solar project and receive credits on their electric bill for the clean energy produced. Everyone, including renters and co-op/condo owners, is eligible. A ten percent savings on electricity cost (not electricity delivery) is typical of most community solar projects.

The Hamilton family is the project co-developer. The family’s first thought was to develop the project themselves; however, they quickly discovered it made sense to work with a party familiar with solar farm financing, regulatory requirements, and construction. The result is that the Sunvestment Group, Apex Energy, and RER EnergyGroup are co-developers.

Family spokesman Mark Hamilton commented, “A few years ago, a solar farm developer approached us. We were intrigued by the idea, but we didn’t want to lose control of the land.” We’re doing this because we think it’s the right thing to do with the land, a good thing for the community and the environment. It’s smaller than most solar farms, but I’m not sure our community would support a solar farm twice the size as this one in such a visible area. We want to be good neighbors. It sits lower than the road. It’s not going to block any sight lines.”

The 2.6-megawatt farm will be located on 12.5 acres, a few hundred yards east of the Hamilton Funeral Home, on land that wasn’t part of the orchard. It’s one-half the size of most farms; nevertheless, an estimated 400 to 450 homes and one or two businesses in Clinton County and parts of Essex and Franklin counties will be eligible to subscribe.

Hamilton emphasized that the solar project is unrelated to the recent removal of the large orchard surrounding the funeral home. He explained. “We leased the orchard to a local orchard for the past 40+ years, but they notified us that they didn’t want to maintain it any longer. Leaving the trees unattended could have resulted in blight and insect infestation that could have affected neighboring crops.” A local farmer is leasing the land for field crops for the foreseeable future.

Project Site Plan

hamilton-environmental-assessment-document-package-for-submission-updated-6272023.pdf

St. Clair looks forward to leading the sports department with reinvigorated local coverage

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Peru August 15, 2023  – Peru residents reported to the Peru Gazette that the Subway Restaurant co-located at the Maplefields Convenience Store at 654 Bear Swamp Rd. closed on or about August 1.  Otto Hansen, an R.L. Vallee/Maplefields spokesman,  stated, “The closure is in litigation. I am not able to comment.” The Gazette hasn’t been able to contact the Subway franchisee.  The closure affects many people, including area residents, I87 Adirondack Northway users, and the many young people traditionally working there. 

Emergency crews rescued a 23-year-old hiker from Canada in the Adirondack high peaks after a 40-foot fall

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Cheezy Macaroni & Cheese
Green Beans
Bread
Dessert
Served take-out only, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972
ALL ARE WELCOME!

Peru – August 13, 2023 Doug Brown (102) and his brother Cliff (a kid at 91) each drove to the concert tonight. Cliff said he’s played golf 85 times this year. Doug played outstanding golf well into his 90s.

August 13, 2023 The Town of Peru sponsors the Sunday evening concerts (6-8 p.m.) It’s a great place to see old friends. People were scattered throughout the park.

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Champlain Station described as the busiest station in the entire northern border

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Funds used for trail work, steward program

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