January
Members of the Ballston Lake Fire Department came up with a hot new way to boost recruiting efforts by engaging their own kids as the next generation of volunteers. The Young Adult Volunteers Apprenticeship Program brought teens, ages 16 to 18, into the fold with some restrictions, such as being barred from entering burning buildings or driving fire trucks. Five BH-BL High School students joined their parents in the ranks, including Brian Little with his father, David; Eli Willig and his father, Paul; Constance Waugh and her mother, Susanna Newton; David Wood and his dad, J.D.; and Tyler Farrar with his father, Doug. The young adult volunteers weren’t exempt from tough hours, as they attended weekly training drills Monday nights and most Saturday mornings.
The town of Ballston remembered local leader William E. Sewell who died in December 2006 at 87. Sewell was called a role model and stabilizing force by current Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Superintendent Jim Schultz. Sewell served as principal of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School from 1978 to 1987. He was also the town supervisor for several years.
February
Former Charlton town council member Damasita Miner, 78, died from injuries sustained in a car accident at the intersection of Route 67 and Mann Road. Miner’s husband, Francis, 81, allegedly failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn, entering the direct path of an oncoming Ford truck carrying a V-shaped snowplow in the elevated position. Damasita Miner served on the town council from 1973 to 1977, the first woman elected to the Charlton town board. She served again from 1986 to 1993, and continued to be active as a lifelong Republican, town planning board member and member of the Charlton Historical Society. Town Supervisor Alan Grattidge credited Miner with helping guide town policy during a time of wrestling with changing ordinances and zoning laws to keep the town rural and agricultural.
Property owners of the proposed Wal-Mart Super Center site in the town of Ballston went to Saratoga County Court to nullify a decision made by the court six months before, which turned down a bid to build the super center.
Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa High School senior Elizabeth Allocca earned national recognition from the Intel Science Talent Search 2007 for a research paper she completed. Allocca studied the neurocircuitry of self-recognition. She was one semifinalist of 300 chosen from among 1,075 entries.
March
Robert Curtiss of Schenectady brought a unique display to the BH-BL Library, a collection of good luck charms ranging from a mahogany prosperity cat from Japan, a Buddha and an Egyptian scarab (translation: large beetle). The eclectic collection also included a ladybug necklace, and a cross-shaped Milagro, decorated with Latin symbols such as a fish to bring an abundance of food to the table, and a foot for healing powers. I’ve had many blessings in my life, said Curtiss. `You need to be alert and have an open heart, and you never know when luck may find you. Be grateful for life. That’s my philosophy, and it works.`
Ballston resident Robert Pustolka urged the town board to place more street lighting at the intersection where Damasita Miner was killed on Route 67 heading toward Amsterdam. Pustolka said he spoke up years ago asking the town to keep the speed limit at 30 mph all the way out Route 67, rather than up to 45 mph as cars leave Ballston Spa, and up to 55 mph as cars travel past the Wood Road School complex. Highway supervisor Joseph Whalen said the town has contacted the state transportation department about the state-owned road and that Ballston Spa police are aware the road is a hot spot for speeders.
`The Ballston Spa police write tickets there all the time,` said Whalen.
April
The Ballston Spa planning board reviewed an application submitted by a New Jersey-based developer to build a Rite-Aid store at the intersection of routes 67 and 50.
Arnold Palmer, who regularly attends Ballston town board meetings, organized a petition to force the town to reconsider the purchase of the historic Bettys Tavern on Route 50, which was listed at $329,000. `I think it’s downright too expensive, and it will cost taxpayers a lot for upkeep,` said Palmer. `We can’t maintain the buildings we have now. We don’t even know what kind of condition it’s in. Just to make it ready for the public could cost us a lot.`
May
At a May 1 Ballston Town Board meeting, residents came out in waves to protest a unanimous decision by the board to buy into the Saratoga County water system. Nearly a dozen people showed up to the meeting to voice their concerns and confront Supervisor Ray Callanan. Several residents were angry over the lack of communication from the board in making the decision.
`This room will be packed triple what it is tonight once people start to hear about this decision made without notifying the public. You have stirred up a bee’s nest like you’ve never seen,` said resident Paul Hill. The town currently purchases water from the Veolia system in Glenville.
The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district passed its 2007-2008 school budget by a 63 percent margin. Voters also passed a proposition to borrow $350,000 for the purchase of new buses during the May 15 vote. The $50.2 million budget was favored by 1,255 voters while 751 residents voted against.
June
The town of Charlton celebrated Founder’s Day the weekend of June 2 and 3. The festivities included games, magic shows and fireworks, as well as a parade that concluded the event. Following the event, Ralph Rudolph, founder of Charlton’s Sons and Daughters of Liberty Ancient Fifes and Drums, was honored. The Charlton Militia Fife and Drum Corps was created in 1975, by Rudolph and his wife, Betty, after a trip to Lexington and Concord, Mass., for the Bicentennial of the Revolutionary War, where they were impressed by the celebration and events.
`Ralph has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in the service he has provided to the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, the residents of Charlton, the County of Saratoga and to many other citizens of this country,` said town of Charlton historian Catherine Caine.“
