BALLSTON SPA ­— The Village of Ballston Spa is holding its annual Family Fun Day, a free event, on Sunday, Aug. 20. 

Family Fun Day includes Quiet Hours from 10 a.m. to noon for those with sensory sensitivities and the Main Event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for general attendance, located on Front Street. 

The day will close with a family-friendly concert with “The Refrigerators” at 6 p.m. at Iron Spring Park, also located on Front Street. 

The event will include more than 10 bounce houses, carnival games and crafts. 

Village Mayor Frank Rossi, Trustee Bernadette VanDeinse-Perez, and Planning Board Chair Rory O’Connor volunteered to be in a dunk-tank booth. Affordable $1-$3 food options will be available and provided by some favorite local restaurants. Free parking is available at the Saratoga County Parking Lot on West High Street (Route 67) or the surrounding streets. Special Needs or handicapped parking is available close to the event.

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors staged their monthly meeting Aug. 15 at the county complex in Ballston Spa. The Board unanimously approved: 

• Authorization of a lease renewal agreement with Saratoga Prime Properties, LLC for office space For the Saratoga County Department Of Mental Health And Addiction Services. 

The office space is located at 135 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, in close proximity to the current Code Blue emergency shelter which operates on a temporary basis on Adelphi Street.  

The current lease for the premises expires in October. The renewal, which would kick in in October, covers five years with the option of one additional five-year term at an annual rental rate of $391,682.66, for years one and two, and subject to a 3% rent increase every two years thereafter.

• The Board voted to accept the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services – 2023 SHSP (2023 State Homeland Security Program) and SLETPP (State Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention) – grant funds in the amount of $247,535. The funds are available to pay for installation of audio-visual equipment in the meeting/training room; cyano kits, firefighter accountability, 2D/3D forensic mapping scanner with related training, support equipment for the Lench Armored vehicle, and operational overtime for the protection of soft targets and crowded places, according to the resolution. 

• The 2023 Saratoga County Budget included a Trails Grant Program to give matching grants to local municipalities to fund trail development and construction projects. These include the funding of trail feasibility studies, engineering work, and construction in local municipalities. 

The Board approved fully funding 12 applications that were received by the Trails and Open Space Committee, at a total cost of $120,000.

Each municipality awarded the funding is required to provide matching funds or services in-kind.

Among those awarded: 

• City of Saratoga Springs: $10,000 to be applied towards the Saratoga Springs Railroad Run Trail Improvements to include the installation of energy efficient lighting to ~1/2-mile segment of the trail, between the Saratoga Springs YMCA and NYS Rt 50 that is heavily wooded and dark. 

• Town of Ballston: $10,000 to be applied towards the Ballston Creek Preserve to include a trailhead and small parking lot/area for people to access the existing trail on a Saratoga PLAN-owned parcel off of East Line Road. 

• Town of Greenfield: $10,000 towards the Brookhaven Park Trail. 

• Town of Malta: $10,000 towards the Malta Nature Preserve Trail Restoration.

• Town of Milton: $10,000 towards the Woods Hollow Nature Preserve Trailhead Improvements.

• Town of Moreau: $10,000 towards the Scenic Hudson River/Big Bend Trail.

• Town of Northumberland: $10,000 towards the Hudson Crossing Park to include rehabilitation of the park’s existing trail network.

Homelessness comes in many forms and affects individuals from all walks of life.  A housing crisis can happen to anyone at any time, but in certain circumstances it is much more difficult for an individual to overcome and handle.  Individuals living with developmental disabilities are a vulnerable population that are very susceptible to a housing crisis and becoming homeless without the right supports and interventions tailored to their needs when a crisis arises.  Raising awareness of the challenges and having the right resource available is critical to ensuring everyone is cared for and supported in our community.  The following is an example highlighting the housing challenges faced by individuals living with a developmental disability and the great work of agencies dedicated to serving them.

My name is Derek (not real name).  I have ADHD and mild Intellectual developmental Disability.  My Mom drank before I was born so I also have fetal alcohol syndrome.  I am 27 years old and have struggled to live in homes run by the State that are meant to supervise me.  Because I don’t have to stay, I often leave my residence when things don’t go my way.  I know I need some help but like to make my own decisions, especially about my money and my relationships.

I can work and love doing landscaping jobs.  I do have a driver’s license, but it is suspended. I have been in trouble with law enforcement and sometimes have issues with relationship boundaries.  This makes it tough to live with other people; so I often prefer to be on the streets, where I can feel no one is telling me what to do.  Without any support, however, I can sometimes make bad choices.  Recently I lost all my spending money when someone took advantage of me on the street. 

I am sometimes afraid to be homeless but want to be on my own.  I worry about the upcoming winter if I can’t afford my own place or can’t stay because I don’t follow the rules.  Being out on the street is hard but sometime better than being controlled.  I want to trust people but have been hurt in the past.  

Derek is one of so many people supported by and working with AIM Services, located and operating in Saratoga County.  Formed 1979, AIM Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing residential and community-based supports to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including those with traumatic brain injuries and those who are looking for nursing home transition or diversion.  AIM Services, Inc. is dedicated to supporting the “power of potential” in people of diverse abilities and helps raise awareness of the housing needs and issues faced by persons living with a developmental disability. 

AIM Services, Inc. is an active and committed partner of the Saratoga County Alliance to End Homelessness and they works collaboratively with over 18 other agencies and organizations committed preventing and ending homelessness.  The work and mission of AIM Inc., supports of all of the hard-working groups coordinating housing and support services for some of the most vulnerable in our community like Derek.

Today, Derek is living independently with support from AIM; he still struggles to hold down a job but has been employed continuously for several months now.  The job, along with counseling and housing assistance, have allowed Derek to find an apartment.  These developments have Derek hoping to avoid homelessness in the future, which right now looks very bright.