DUELING PETITIONS Changes Coming to Union Ave.

BALLSTON SPA — Three local teens are heading west in June, competing at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Amber Cook, Paige Cook, and Rachel Wilbur, members of the 4-H Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, all qualified for the National Championships after competing at the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships. Amber Cook will compete on New York’s Shotgun team, while Paige Cook and Wilbur will each compete on New York’s Archery team.

See Story pg. 30

by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Changes are coming to Union Avenue. A public meeting scheduled to take place Thursday, Feb. 9 may go a long way in determining the substance of those alterations along one of the Spa City’s most notable thoroughfares.

Already decided: the NYS Department of Transportation will soon begin making improvements – including markings for a bike path - between Henning Road (by Exit 14 of the Northway) and East Avenue (where Saratoga Race Course is located).

The city meanwhile is considering making improvements along the lower portion of Union Avenue that would connect the NYSDOT’s bike path to Circular Street –the location of Congress Park.

Additionally, the city is considering the possibility of reducing vehicle lane traffic along a portion of that lower segment, between Circular Street and Nelson Avenue, and create a protected bike lane that would make that path safer.

Petitions with opposing viewpoints, each garnering hundreds of signatures, have been posted on the website change.org.

See Story pg. 9