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Tonight, the first of three candidate forums begin. All will be at the Platte Valley Community Center. The county candidate forum is at 6 p.m. tonight. On July 29 at 6 p.m., the Saratoga mayoral candidates will present their platforms. The Saratoga council candidates have their say on July 30 at 6 p.m. The Valley Service Organization hosts these forums during election years and they are invaluable for voters. This is an opportunity for you to weigh the candidate’s positions, past performances and future promises against newcomer’s ideas and pla...
When the Saratoga Sun’s Mike Dunn interviewed the retiring teachers this year, one theme was common. The teachers will miss the students. We are very fortunate to have the quality of teachers in our school district that we do. The teachers retiring this year are no exception. Their experience varies from 20 to over 40 years and in that time these teachers have seen a huge change in technology, school curriculum, superintendents, principals and school boards. It is not easy adjusting to a new boss every few years, or to explain to school b...
Many people who may be interested in running for office, may have too many fears about being in such a position. They may be afraid of the responsibility, or of too many people disagreeing with their ideas. They may also think their voice does not matter, or that no one would be interested in what they have to say. For anyone who has ever felt that way, it’s time to overcome those fears and realize that your voice does matter. Every voice counts and has worth in a small community. Many of the Valley’s younger residents may feel like they hav...
The political season is about to come into full swing. On May 15, people who want to run for office will register. That means these people will also be getting the word out about their platforms, goals and public appearances. Therefore, this is the perfect time to let the candidates, voters and supporters know the Saratoga Sun policies for election articles and advertising. • The Saratoga Sun does not endorse candidates. • All political ads must be prepaid. • Ads must include a disclaimer stating who paid for the ad, i.e. “Paid for by the Com...
Many times, adults forget to look at things and people from a child’s perspective. For instance, it would have never have occurred to us at the Saratoga Sun that children would be frightened of firemen. We, as adults, know they are there to help during a fire. To a child, a fireman in full gear may look like a giant yellow monster. Last week, the Saratoga Fire Department went to Saratoga Elementary School and gave a gear presentation in conjunction with a fire drill. One of the demonstrations included what a fireman looks like in full fire g...
The Saratoga Planning Commission has a difficult job in keeping up with modern technology. More and more workers are doing business in their homes, on cell phones, laptops and iPads making enforcement of regulations more difficult. Last month, the Planning Commission had an important discussion on the definition of “permitted – meaning allowed” and “permitted – those requiring a permit.” This is not the first, nor will it be the last time this important discussion has been on the table. The Saratoga Sun commends the commission for its efforts i...
Thanks to the Saratoga Town Council. After hearing public complaints, the council made changes to its agenda and meetings. Issues were discussed openly by council members. Employees of the town were asked to explain processes and procedures during its reports. The Saratoga Sun commends the Saratoga Town Council for this action. The town council plans to further change its agenda to have items from the public after report items and before business which allows the public to comment on what was discussed in the meeting. The only request the town... Full story
The Saratoga Town Council is in the second month of the new year and it is already facing criticism on how meetings are being conducted. The people want to be heard and that is understandable. During the election, voters shared their frustrations about not hearing discussion from the council before a decision is made. For important decisions, we feel the council should not only discuss matters, but also seek public comment whenever possible. It is not unlikely that a citizen may have a comment or idea that could be helpful in coming to a... Full story
Recently, the Saratoga Town Council and the Saratoga Planning Commission have taken action that appears to seek to limit public involvement at their meetings. In both cases, the reason given for the changes was to generate more productivity among the board and council members and allow them to be more effective at their jobs. The Saratoga Town Council removed “Items from the Public” from its agenda and at its meeting Tuesday announced the agenda item would only be included if people submitted their topic of discussion by the Thursday prior to... Full story
Circling an asphalt wasteland like a vulture waiting for that fleeting moment when a parking space opens, fighting the bargain-hunting hordes blocking the aisles and stepping into lines that feel like they have not moved since the last Black Friday may be fun for some people. Here in Saratoga, we feel lucky for the opportunity to walk into a distinctive store, go straight to the owner and ask about the new items in stock. Inside this year’s Christmas Candle special pullout, you will find local business owners donating their time and money to p... Full story