Ballston Journal

By a vote of 5,442 to 2,323, Shenendehowa School District residents have rejected a plan to develop wooded land near the main campus.

Meanwhile, in nearby Ballston, the town is being sued by the state for failing to protect farm land, and being denounced by residents for permitting too much development near Ballston Lake. And in nearby Malta, the Town Board is pressing ahead with commercial and other development at all costs. Tuesday’s vote should cause all the public officials involved in these issues to reconsider their priorities.

In Shenendehowa, that shouldn’t be too hard. The school board only had a bare 4-3 majority to develop the property, and if a modicum of common sense prevails, a new majority will find a way to cooperate with the Town of Clifton Park, which is willing to pay the district a significant amount to create a park there.

Ballston, Malta, Clifton Park and most of the rest of Saratoga County are, of course, run by Republicans, but that doesn’t mean they have to be in favor of paving over farm land and other open space. Many Republicans, at the federal, state and local level, have worked to conserve (a word with the same root as conservative) rather than develop land, and there is no reason why the town boards in Ballston, Malta and other communities can’t follow in that tradition.

Paul Vandenburgh, the Talk 1300 morning radio host and a big supporter of President Trump, was hoping the Shen vote would go the other way, and has been saying that if it didn’t, it spelled trouble for the local Republican Party. While I was a critic of Trump last year, I did wind up voting for him in the general election, when he carried Saratoga County (but lost New York state).

I disagree with Vandenburgh on the policy, but agree on the politics. The Shen vote and much other evidence shows that the people of Saratoga County do not want the endless development of strip malls and housing developments, with ever more traffic roaring or idling in-between them. They prefer to conserve farms and develop other open space into parks, while building sidewalks and denser development in downtowns, which exist in all these municipalities.

That “smart growth” is not necessarily a liberal policy. It could lead someone to oppose state-subsidized housing now being constructed on Route 67 and East Line Road, in a place with no sidewalks or bus line. Smart growth also is welcomed by many business people, who do not want to destroy the environment which makes people want to be located in Saratoga County. Trump voters like me are willing to try education vouchers and social conservatism, and negotiating with Russia, but we also want to keep farm land and woods.

Vandenburgh is correct that the Shen vote could mean trouble for Republicans. Democrats have been making electoral inroads lately in Ballston Spa and nearby. Unless Republicans in Ballston and Malta prove more willing and able to address voters’ concerns on land use, they will likely suffer the consequences.

BALLSTON SPA – October kicked off with a bevy of events tailored for students interested in learning more about technology.

Area business leaders, Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School ( Clean Tech ECHS) students and teachers attended a breakfast and panel discussion focused on millennials in manufacturing Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART facility in Malta.

The panel discussion gave students the chance to hear from young professionals making an impact in manufacturing and learn about a day in the life of a manufacturer. Panelists shared their stories and offered advice about manufacturing and innovation. Other topics discussed included new manufacturing technologies, the “maker culture,” workforce needs and career pathways.

The panel included representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Applied Robotics,  GLOBALFOUNDRIES and Simmons Machine Tool Corp.

At Ballston Spa Middle School, members of the Rensselaer Engineering and Science Ambassadors made a return visit to science and technology classes to inspire the students about the role of engineering and technology in society. They shared exploratory activities and lessons they have developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  More than 600 students participated in the science and engineering program during classes where the Ambassadors taught the students an engineering or science lesson and facilitated a demonstration or a hands-on design activity.

The Rensselaer Ambassadors are a group of RPI students focused on inspiring a younger audience to explore the role of engineers and scientists in society. The Ambassadors offer hands-on demonstrations and short presentations at no cost to the school districts  to encourage the interest of students in careers in the areas of science, technology and engineering.

This year’s topics included chemical reactions, bio-manufacturing, lighting research, structures and jet engines.

“These opportunities provided by the Rensselaer Ambassadors allow students to identify careers they can pursue as well as what they will need to do over the next several years to achieve their goals,” Diane Irwin, K to 12 science coordinator for the Ballston Spa Central School District, said in a statement. “The Ambassadors provide invaluable perspectives and serve as great role models for our students.”

Students Highlight National Manufacturing Month

As part of National Manufacturing Month this October, Clean Tech ECHS students will participate in a  series of regional events produced by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers, Manufacturing Institute and Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

In addition to the breakfast panel, Clean Tech ECHS senior Julia Amodeo spoke at a press conference about her textile recycling capstone project and experience in the Clean Tech ECHS program Thursday, Oct. 6. The event was attended by Mayor Gary R. McCarthy, elected officials, local manufacturers, educators, and organizational leaders in the field of manufacturing and business. Laurel King, assistant superintendent of curriculum, assessment and pupil services, also  speak about Ballston Spa Central School District’s programs and partnerships as part of an week-long set of events highlighting manufacturing in the Capital District.

On National Manufacturing Day, Friday, Oct. 7, 11th grade students visited Simmons Machine Tool Corp. in Albany to see examples of modern manufacturing practices in action. Simmons Machine Tool manufactures specialized machine tools and automation systems for railway wheel set maintenance and production.

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, 11th grade students visited  Quad/Graphics in Saratoga Springs to learn about the commercial and industrial printing industry including print production and types of jobs in the industry.

There are more events scheduled for the remainder of the month, including an exhibit by 10th graders of their integrated circuit projects Friday, Oct. 14, in Malta as part of the GLOBALFOUNDRIES Manufacturing Day Challenge event in Malta. Students were tasked with creating a special design using at least one integrated circuit along with any one or more predetermined elements that include light, sound, movement, color and alternative energy.

The final event will be held Thursday, Oct. 20 at Ecovative Design in Troy, where 11th graders will learn about the manufacturing of mushroom-based packaging materials and furniture parts.