David Osterhout, a longtime Schaghticoke resident, was one of the representatives whose inspirational story was featured at the 53^rd annual Center for Disability Services Telethon held on Sunday January 27^th at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road in Albany. The Center for Disability Services is in its 71^st year of operation and provides an array of innovative programs, services and resources to individuals with disabilities and their families.

The Center’s mission is “to enable and empower people, primarily those with disabilities to lead healthy and enriched lives.” The annual telethon is about fundraising as well as community awareness and partnership. This year’s Telethon theme is “Reaching Out.” According to Anne Schneider Costigan, Deputy Executive Director of the Center’s Foundation Division, it is the oldest running Telethon in the area.

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HALFMOON, Jan. 23 – Saratoga County Sewer Commissioners are making ready to accept the large, 3.5-mile private sewer line built by the Luther Forest Technology Campus, before the corporation that owns the property is dissolved as expected in the near future.    

Commission Chairman William Davis at the January meeting reported that the Luther Forest Technology Campus Economic Development Corporation, which owns the property, "will be dissolving their corporation shortly, and wants the district to take over their sewer line." He said he had been in some contact with the county attorneys to see how that could be done.

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   It was a sight so impressive that our newly-sworn-in President of the United States, Barack Obama, turned around to have one last look as he made his way into the Capitol building following his inaugural address on January 20.  From his vantage point high up on the Capitol steps, he looked out at the Washington Mall, from the Capitol Building to the Washington Monument all the way to the Lincoln Memorial, where there was a mass of humanity, more than 800,000 strong, waving American flags and cheering. It was an impressive sight indeed, a “proud to be an American” moment for sure.

And somewhere in the midst of that massive crowd was 15-year-old Michael Bove of Mechanicville.  What was it like to be there?
“Amazing!” says Michael.

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  MALTA, Jan. 28:  A "pet project" – literally – of Flo Sickels of Malta, going back some 20 years of her 22 as Town Clerk, is moving ahead with the support of a dedicated committee gathered last fall, to see if the idea is adopted by the Town Board.

   Sickels presented a proposal for a dog park at Monday's Town Board agenda meeting, explaining how, twenty-two years ago, there was "a very small dream that I had for the Town."

   Over the years, she recalled, two parks were created, a community center built, then an ecological park established. Now she is asking consideration of a dog park on the Michalko property, and presented a plan to Town Board members. She indicated the committee would like to schedule a workshop and get the Board's ideas as well, for what will be called The Happy Tails Dog Park.

The park is proposed for part of the about-20 acre property, located on East High Street near Ballston Spa, which the Michalko family sold the town in 2006.

"The excitement is in the air, and the dog owners are going to be part of Malta's history now," she began; and over 20 years later, thanks to a committee that came together last fall, she was ready with a proposal for a dog park for townspeople's many pets.  "Before you is the dedication of not just these several committee people, but this whole town of dog owners. Every day, we get questions about an area for dogs."

Last year Sickels started investigating the property, some of which the Town Board had designated for a possible dog park last October. She discussed it with Highway Superintendent Roger Crandall; also with Parks and Recreation Director Audrey Ball, and several board members, "to see if this was an idea we might be able to investigate... Everyone's been positive, and wonderful, and excited about this possibility."

The committee was formed last autumn, and its first meeting included a walkabout on the property, she explained, "because I wanted everyone to walk around and see what his or her thoughts are. It's a beautiful piece of property and I think it will be a beautiful place for dogs running and playing in a fenced area."

Sickels conveyed the committee's wish for a Town Board workshop in the near future, when

Board members have had time to look over the materials she gave them just that evening.

She noted that, also included in the plans, are programs and training opportunities, and likely many events. Later, in a Phase Three of the project; there would even be a memorial area for cherished deceased  "cats and dogs, or other little animals that someone may want to have a stone there for."

"And I was thinking about a movie, Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner: "Build it, and they will come. "

She said   the committee already has a variety of programs they want to hold there; while the park "would be great for Malta and businesses in town – because everybody has to eat" – as good training programs are brought into the picture.

Councilwoman Tara Thomas noted how preparations were already well in the works, with even a site plan already drawn up. Sickels explained they were moving it along as best they could with the idea of opening next summer. She added, a not-for-profit is to be formed, and the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process is expected to take about a month.

Town Supervisor Paul Sausville likewise commended their efforts, and quipped about the "lobbying" abilities of the enthusiastic committee.  He stressed that there is "a broad spectrum of people" it would serve.

Among other discussions at the agenda meeting:

– Ball announced that two offers are now received to purchase the historic Collamer House at US 9 and East High St. An executive session was to discuss those.

– In an update on noise issues and efforts at GlobalFoundries, Town Building and Planning Coordinator Anthony Tozzi, to a question of Sausville about the sound report from Global, said the company submitted a report that provided the morning noise levels; but not the PM, and of particular interest late evening levels that exceeded the allowances, which he was told some inside background noise at those times was sufficient to compromise the data. He said the next report issued should be by next week, and that will include both AM and PM figures.

– Sausville announced that he would be in a meeting with Luther Forest Technology Campus officials this Friday at 8:30AM, to "learn a little more about Mike's [Relyea, president of LFTC Economic Development Corporation, which owns the 1,414 acre site] plans for meeting their obligations."

See also story, this issue, in which the Saratoga County Sewer District #1 is considering plans for the 3.5 mile private sewer system on the campus to be dedicated to the District, if as officials there understand, the financially troubled tech campus corporation is dissolved in the near future.

The two-week build-up to the last football game until September (yikes!) can seem interminable.  Storyline after storyline is not only beaten into the ground, it is stomped on, trampled, and buried thirty feet deep.  Hey guys – did you know the coaches of each team are brothers??  CRAZY!  Super Bowl week has turned into a week-long parade of athletes and entertainers put on display to sell this item or that on every TV and radio show imaginable.  At this point, it’s hard to remember that there is an ACTUAL GAME to be played on Sunday.  I double-checked – they are still planning on playing, and more than 100 million people are planning on watching, many gathered together at Super Bowl parties.  These gatherings mirror the Super Bowl week spectacle; a few people are there for the game, but the majority is there simply for the food and drink.

You find all kinds of people at Super Bowl parties:  non-football fans (shhh – the commercials are on), casual football fans (watching the game, but just as excited for Beyonce), and the hardcore football fans (over-analyzing every play, keeping track of 47 prop bets).  No matter what category you fall into, hopefully after reading this column you’ll have a little something extra to bring to your party.

Non-Football Fans:  Here are the aforementioned major storylines that have suffered a brutal death.  Ravens coach John Harbaugh and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh are brothers, the first brothers to coach against each other for a championship in ANY major sport.  Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is playing his last game.  A first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest linebackers in history, Lewis has a checkered past but has become a religious, inspirational figure who is the unquestioned leader of the Ravens.  And he dances.  49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick took over the offense at midseason and has been an absolute revelation - morphing the once conservative 49ers offense into one of the league’s most dynamic.  Know these three things and nobody will realize that this is the first football game you’ve watched all year (just don’t ask what inning it is).

Casual Football Fans:  Typically when you think about the 49ers and Ravens, you first think defense.  The Ravens have long been the standard bearer in the NFL for defense, with the 49ers taking over the last few years as the top dog.  With the emergence of Kaepernick, and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco taking his game to another level, my hunch is that this game will be higher scoring than conventional wisdom suggests.  The key for the Ravens offense will be keeping Ray Rice involved, whether it is running or in the passing game.  They have a tendency to forget about Rice, but they’ll need him to move the chains and keep possession as the Ravens defense is susceptible to getting worn out.  For the 49ers offense, if Kaepernick can keep his nerves in check and make the right reads in both the passing and running games, they should be able to move the ball effectively all night.

Hardcore Football Fans:  Defensively, the 49ers have not been the same since defensive end Justin Smith’s injury late in the season.  Dynamic edge rusher Aldon Smith has been invisible since, and without that pass rush they’ve been giving up a lot of big plays down the field.  Key to watch early is if Justin looks healthier with the two-week layoff and is able to control two blockers up front, Aldon might be able to get the edge and disrupt the Ravens passing game.  For the Ravens defense, the key will be how they decide to defend the read-option running game.  So far in the playoffs the Packers chose to focus on running back Frank Gore, and Kaepernick proceeded to gash them repeatedly.  The Falcons did the reverse, and, as such, Gore had a big afternoon.  My hunch is that they will dedicate an extra body up front and make Kaepernick try to beat them with his arm, banking on a few mistakes from the youngster in the direction of Ed Reed.

In the end, the Ravens appear to have a lot of the same characteristics of the last few Super Bowl champs:  uneven regular season, got hot at the right time, quarterback making “the leap,” and a little bit of luck on their side.  It all adds up to a Ravens victory, 34-28.  Enjoy the game – if it ever gets here.

TROY – George H. Morey, 73, of Kennedy Towers, died Thursday morning at Springs Nursing Home, Troy, after an extended illness.

A native and longtime resident of Mechanicville, born October 3, 1939, son of the late Ray and Florence Senecal Morey, George worked at a number of jobs in his lifetime, including Menands Workshop, Kellogg’s Amusements, Strang Mill and Hudson View Cemetery, among others,

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The Historic Saratoga-Washington on the Hudson Partnership was established through an act of legislation passed in 2006 to preserve and enhance the land and waterways in the designated Partnership region, which at that time included the Hudson River regions.  In 2012, former Senator Roy McDonald and Assemblyman Steve Englebright sponsored a bill that would expand the Partnership into other areas of Saratoga, Washington and Rensselaer Counties. Governor Cuomo recently signed this bill into law.
The Town of Schaghticoke passed a resolution to join the partnership in December of 2012. Many other towns and communities in the newly expanded municipal region have since passed resolutions to join the Partnership. “There are so many great assets in this region,” says Devin Lander, Deputy Legislative Director and Committee Clerk for Assemblyman Steven Englebright. The Partnership, which will come to be called The Historic Hoosic-Hudson Partnership, holds regular meetings, which encourage discussion and the opportunity for communities to share information, ideas and work together and influence what is going on in the region, says Lander.

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BALLSTON SPA, Jan. 15 – Saratoga County Supervisors voted to hand over Maplewood Manor County Nursing Home to a Local Development Corporation established earlier under state law to manage the process of finding a suitable private operator to purchase it. The measure was passed 16-5. No votes were cast by Preston  Jenkins of Moreau, Daniel Lewza of Milton, Richard Lucia of Corinth; Patricia Southworth of Ballston and Joanne Yepsen of Saratoga Springs/

   During the public input portion of the meeting, some familiar and other voices again requested the transfer be delayed or abandoned, so that some other solution may yet be found – particularly a public referendum, which other speakers also called for the Board of Supervisors to allow.

   CSEA union speakers again warned of court action to stop the process.

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