SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga High School welcomed 127 of its seniors into the National Honor Society on November 14. According to the school, the students “exemplify citizenship, leadership, and character development through community service and academic excellence.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two little libraries were vandalized last month in Saratoga Springs. The public boxes contain banned books that can be borrowed and returned for free.
One box, located near Caffe Lena on Phila Street, is stewarded by Nancy Weber. When she found the library vandalized, she said she “kind of did a double-take because it was so shocking.” Weber discovered that dozens of books had been taken from the library. Only one remained: “The Hate U Give,” a novel about race relations in the wake of a police shooting.
“We knew that it was just a matter of time before something like this would happen,” Weber said. “We’re living in very volatile, polarized times.”
The identity of the vandal or vandals is unknown. “It could’ve been a prank, or it could’ve been someone intentionally doing it,” Weber said.
Weber said that no further vandalism has occurred since the initial incident, but there was one odd book exchange.
“Curiously, one book came back: The Bible,” Weber said. “A few days ago, that copy of the Bible left and another copy of the Bible came in, which I thought was sort of pointless.”
Weber said that since the vandalization occurred, there’s been an increase in book donations to the library. But many of the donated books are not actually considered banned books. Donated books should be included on the American Library Association’s list of banned and challenged books, or the PEN America Index of School Book Bans.
The second vandalized little library of banned books is stewarded by Julie Holmberg. She said that one of the congregants at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Saratoga found the library’s contents under a nearby bush.
“There had been a rainstorm, and all of the books were destroyed,” Holmberg said. “They were all hidden away underneath there and had to be trashed.”
“It’s very frustrating that people would destroy property like that, especially books,” she said. “It just feels like right now things are so discouraging.”
Unlike Weber, Holmberg has not received a significant increase in book donations since the vandalization occurred, leaving the little library with an uncertain future.
“I just encourage people to open their minds, read things. If you don’t agree with it, that’s fine. But keep the conversation going so that we can figure out a way to live together,” Weber said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Dozens of people huddled together in the frigid darkness. With glow sticks and cell phones to light the way, they marched towards downtown Saratoga. Thus began a dramatic and emotional night for Saratoga Springs City School District teachers and their supporters.
The march began and ended at the Caroline Street Elementary School, where a Board of Education (BOE) meeting occurred on Thursday, November 9. The demonstration was in support of the teachers’ union, which has been negotiating a new contract with the district for two years.
During the board meeting, teachers criticized the current state of their schools.
“In all my years here, morale is at an all-time low,” said Robin Chudy. “I see a huge change. I see good, young teachers leaving this district; good teachers looking for jobs in different districts that pay more, and I can’t blame them.”
John Mishoe, a 2005 graduate of the district, spoke of teachers experiencing “nights of tears, searching for new careers, and early retirement.”
“I implore the board to take action in securing and maintaining teachers,” said Katie Cole. “It’s what our current and future students deserve.”
At a previous BOE meeting on October 12, teacher Melissa Deutsch said she has not received a “true raise” in over eight years. “Each contract that provides more salary also increases our healthcare contributions, wiping out any significant increase in take-home pay,” she said.
At both BOE meetings, teachers said that the district was struggling to hire and retain employees.
In a statement to Saratoga TODAY, Saratoga School District’s Director of Community Outreach and Communications Maura Manny said that “teacher retention and recruitment are ongoing priorities for our district, and we continuously strive to create an environment that attracts and retains professionals who are dedicated to the success of our students.”
“Like many school districts across the nation,” Manny said, “the nationwide teacher shortage makes teacher recruitment and retention more challenging each year. Despite these challenges, our district has been fortunate to consistently attract a talented pool of applicants for our open positions.”
According to a November 2021 report from the U.S. Department of Education, New York State “has faced geographically widespread and persistent teacher shortages.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS —It was a chilly afternoon, but that didn’t stop a dedicated group of high schoolers from honoring Veterans Day with a flag replacement ceremony at Veterans Park.
The Saratoga Springs High School Military Club, led by sophomore Kelly McMurtrie, hosted the event on Thursday, Nov. 9. Attendees included veterans, fellow students, and New York State Senator James Tedisco.
“I always like to say that all good things emanate from the 44th senatorial district, and you certainly exemplify that,” Tedisco said of the military club. The senator said the students’ involvement in the club helped them understand why “we’re the greatest nation in the world, hands down.”
McMurtrie, whose father served in the Navy, said she loved growing up in a military family. “I liked being part of something that was bigger than just myself. The military was a huge community. But I also know that some families weren’t as fortunate as mine.”
McMurtie encouraged attendees to donate cash to the nonprofit organization Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Boxes were set up to collect donations. There were also Veterans Day cards made by local elementary school students available for veterans to take home.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Empire State University celebrated the opening of its Veteran and Military Resource Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday.
“At Empire State University,” said school president Lisa Vollendorf, “we are very proud to serve military and veteran students. We serve more of this population than any other four-year public university or college in the State of New York. And here’s what I want to say to that: we want to serve more.”
According to Empire State University, the new center will offer both in-person and online services for the school’s veterans and military-affiliated students. It’s located at 111 West Ave in Saratoga Springs.
Notable attendees of the event included New York State Senator James Tedisco, a representative who spoke on behalf of Congressman Paul Tonko, and school mascot Blue the Bluebird.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The truth is out there. It might also be on Route 50 in Saratoga Springs. A group of freshmen from Skidmore College went to find out.
Students from a seminar called “The Fantastic: Seduction of the Strange” toured the X-Files Preservation Collection in Saratoga as part of their course study.
The students “thought it was cool to see the original props,” said Assistant Professor Juliane Wuensch, who led the excursion. “They were very fascinated seeing these original things that were in the show.”
The collection includes props of monsters, human corpses, and space aliens used in the hit series The X-Files, which was originally broadcast on the Fox network from 1993 to 2002.
Given that the series aired before any of the Skidmore students were born, 90s-era technology was also a source of fascination for them.
“It was interesting to see their reactions to all these memorabilia from a time they can’t even really imagine anymore,” Wuensch said. Students were interested “to see the technical side. How was this made? How was it done before digital?”
The freshmen were especially intrigued by X-Files creator Chris Carter’s laptop and floppy disk, which he used to write the first episode of the show.
“I think it’s piqued their interest as well for the show,” Wuensch said. She even heard a couple of her students saying, “I have to watch more of this show” and “let’s have a watch party.”
“The Fantastic: Seduction of the Strange” explores all forms of fantastical art, literature, and media. In addition to The X-Files, Skidmore students can study Edgar Allan Poe, Franz Kafka, The Twilight Zone, and German fairy tales.
The X-Files Preservation Collection opened last year and bills itself as “the world’s largest collection of screen-used props, costumes, and set dressings from The X-Files.” It’s located at 4284 NY-50 in Saratoga Springs.
BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa High School English teacher Mrs. Tina DeFabio has won the Educator of Excellence Award from the New York State English Council (NYSEC). Mrs. DeFabio was nominated by both her colleagues and a parent.
“We admire and are proud of Tina,” said Ballston Spa Superintendent Dr. Gianleo Duca in a statement.
Educator of Excellence Award winners are recognized for showing a commitment to excellence, innovation, and creativity in teaching, mentoring, and learning.
For more information about the NYSEC, visit www.nysecteach.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —All students enrolled in the Saratoga Springs City School District are now able to receive free breakfast and lunch meals.
The cost-free meals are the result of the USDA’s expanded Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP rules dictate that free breakfast and lunch offerings must be complete meals.
According to School Lunch Program Director Eric Bush, a complete meal consists of protein, fruits, vegetables, milk, and grain. Students will “have to take at least three of the main components for it to count,” Bush said.
The free meals were first offered on November 1. No action is required for students to be eligible.
BALLSTON SPA — Students stood safely behind glass panes as the robots began to rumble. The bots moved with remarkable speed, fetching purple cubes and sometimes colliding with one another. Teams of judges and referees watched the mayhem from a safe distance outside the steel enclosure. For some, emotions ran high.
“The hardest part of a competition is probably the struggle of coping with failure,” said Alaina Bottisti, a member of the Ballston Spa High School robotics team. “You will get down on yourself or even shed a few tears, but in the end…the only thing failure can do is make you grow.”
The Robot Rumble Off-Season Robotics Competition occurred at Ballston Spa High School on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Fourteen teams from New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts participated in the event. Regional participants hailed from Ballston Spa, Albany, and Lake Placid.
“I love the variety of teams that participate and enjoy the event more than anything,” said Ballston Spa robotics team member Gavin Lafountain. “Seeing so many different teams in one place outside of regionals, and at our school of all places is really awesome and rewarding.”
The off-season battle allowed teams to recruit members, mentors, and sponsors in preparation for the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in March 2024. MVP Arena in Albany will host the event.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competitions challenge participants with strict rules and limited resources. Teams must raise funds, design a brand, and build robots that can accomplish tasks such as quickly grabbing objects and dropping them into a bin.
The competitions give students practical engineering experience that can lead to continued interest in the field.
BSpa robotics team member Julia Cressman said she plans to pursue engineering in the future and has “already visited several colleges in the region.”
“I’ve chosen robotics because I aspire to be an engineer, and robotics is a great start to getting into a STEM pathway,” she said. “FIRST robotics competitions are competitive, but friendly, and are a great way to develop your STEM experience.”
For additional information about the program, contact Ballston Spa Science Coordinator Diane Irwin at dirwin@bscsd.org or 518-884-7150 ext. 2317.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tree House Brewing Company plans to build a brewery, taproom, and “expansive indoor and outdoor experience” across the street from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Route 9. It will be the brewer’s sixth location overall and first outside of New England.
In a Facebook post announcing the plans, Tree House said “Saratoga Springs is famous for its vibrant arts and music scene. This history aligns with our passion and support for music and the arts in ways we almost find too good to be true. To say that we are excited to become a part of the community would be an understatement.”
The company expects to create “at least” sixty jobs and generate $30 to $40 million in economic activity. Tree House also plans to make financial contributions to local organizations, such as Sustainable Saratoga, a non-profit that “uses education, advocacy, and action to advance sustainable practices and protect our environment for current and future generations.”
“Tree House aims to become an integral chapter in Saratoga Springs’ vibrant and hopeful future,” the company said.
Tree House Brewing is a Massachusetts-based company that was ranked the fourth-best brewery in the world by RateBeer in 2019. Two of Tree House’s most acclaimed beers are the IPAs “Julius” and “Alter Ego.” Current locations also serve a variety of cold brew coffees, seltzers, and canned cocktails. Food offerings include pizza and lobster rolls.
Tree House is also known for hosting live music and stand-up comedy. In the past, notable musicians such as Iron & Wine, Old Crow Medicine Show, Aimee Mann, Graham Nash, and They Might Be Giants have performed at Tree House venues.
According to the company’s website, its “goal has been to present you with reliably delightful beer that can contribute positively to life’s precious moments, and serve them in a cheerful, communal environment.”
The new facility will be located about two miles from both the Saratoga Race Course and the heart of downtown Saratoga. According to Google Maps, the address is listed as 3376 S Broadway. Tree House hopes to open its Saratoga location sometime in 2024.
