May 2007 Archives

On Tuesday, May 15, local residents headed to the polls to decide on their district’s proposed 2007-08 school budgets. In Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa and Schuylerville people voted yes more often than no.

The Saratoga Springs City School District’s $104.3 million budget passed 2472-1245. The budget, which residents will be paying roughly $66.5 million of in taxes, represents an increase of 4.2 percent over the present budget.

On Sunday, May 20, the Third Annual Billy Grey Ride for Research will be held at the Farmer’s Market at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs. Since it began, the local cycling event, along with generous donations, has funded more than $500,000 in grants for brain tumor research.

Cyclists participating can choose to ride 10, 25 or 50 miles. Ken Grey, Billy’s father and one of the event’s organizers, will be pedaling in the 50.

Last year’s Ride for Research drew approximately 250 riders and volunteers and raised more than $40,000. Grey said the event has a lot of local support, and he believes attendance will be even higher this year. With close to $25,000 already raised, Grey expects it to top last year’s figure.

Pulling up to a gas pump, it’s impossible not to notice how the prices keep rising. Earlier this week, the Automobile Association of America (AAA) announced that gas prices hit their all-time high through the country.

According to Eric Stigberg, marketing, public and government affairs manager for AAA Northway, the high prices reflect the increase in demand for gasoline and the extremely low supply for the time of year.

Saratoga Springs High School students watch a demonstration of an actual car accident involving teenagers and alcohol, Friday. The re-enactment followed the specific details of the event including the condition and extraction of those involved.

The driver was under the influence of alcohol. The front passenger died and back seat passengers suffered substantial injuries. The actual accident occurred a few years ago on Petrified Sea Gardens Road.

After the re-enactment, Gretchen Silberg spoke to the students about losing her son five years ago in a separate car crash.

In the past few weeks, Skidmore officials have issued campus-wide alerts twice for incidents on campus. The college, which continually reassesses its security protocol, met Thursday to look at the past few days’ events.

Early Monday morning, May 14, employees at Skidmore’s Alumni Affairs Department found a threatening voicemail that had been left on the college’s toll free number late Saturday night. After deeming the message a credible threat, City Police were contacted. Because the Alumni Department is located in Colton House, technically a Greenfield address, State Police also were brought into the investigation.