BC Gives a Budget and Nobody Comes Conrail Says Selkirk Yard an Ideal

., February 5, 1986 T E • Vol. XXX, No.6 ._. The weekly newspaper I T serving the towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland - BC gives a budget - and nobody comes By Caroline Terenzini tiona! Services Center in Delmar, The first draft of a proposed jokingly proposed to his fellow 1986-87 budget for the Bethlehem board members: "All those in Central School District was pre favor of the budget as it now sented last Wednesday, but board stands say 'aye'." members and administrators It won't be quite that simple. ended up talking to themselves The draft budget tops $19 million when only two staff members and and is nearly9 percent bigger than a reporter came to hear about it. the current year's budget, but it Board Vice President Robert doesn't include the $200,000 Ruslander, looking out over the rows of empty chairs at the Educa- (Turn to page 6) No viUage contests? Early indications are that the Republican Committee, has an March elections in Voorheesville nounced his plans to run for vil will be as quiet as they were last lage justice. Village justice Hector spring. Arbour has announced that he Mayor Edward Clark and Trus does not intend to run for reelec tees Daniel Reh and Susan tion. Rockmore have indicated that Phil Joyce, co-vice chairman of ,~ennifer Piarkowski, left, Erin Kietzman, Molly grade students at Glenmont had been studying the they will run for four-year terms the People's Party, said last week, Shultes and Meagan Gorman celebrate the culture culture of Japan and ended up the segment with a on the Village Party ticket "The People's party is not going to of Japan at Glenmont Elementary School. Third Japanese Festival Friday. Jeff Gonzales Kenneth Connolly, former chairman of the New Scotland (Turn to page 6) Conrail says Selkirk Yard an ideal location By Tom McPheeters Capital District for suitable indus The vacant land around trial park land and was unable to Conrail's rail yards in Selkirk is a find any that was reasonably sure bet to attract more companies priced. Instead, the company interested in establishing distribu decided to locate on farm land on tion points in the Northeast, says a Long Lane, north of the Conrail Conrail official who helped bring yards, and build a 40,00(}.square Honda here. But whether the area foot wholesale and distribution will also attract companies inter facility. The total cost would be ested in building manufacturing $980,000. plants is another question -one While the Winter move had that depends largely on how the nothing to do with Conrail -the roads, sewers and water lines are company plans to use trucks developed. rather than rail- it does illustrate "Selkirk is one of two or three the potential of the area. And that key spots in the whole Northeast," potential is what Conrail is selling nationwide. says Scott Nadler, regional mar Selkirk is connected with the entire Conrail system throughout the Northeast, the Midwest and the .keting director for Conrail, which by direct train service to and from principal points Province of Quebec. ''We're in the transportation moved its Northeast Region business," says Nadler. "'We're Headquarters to the Selkirk yards people on the idea of settling to the field representative for that according to area manager Mark marketing this area whether or two years ago. Last month, nearby, but instead to attract area; if it's a larger area, they can Mastro. not we own the land." Three fac- Honda became the first major companies that will use Conrail's talk to the area manager, and if "We ha ve very !"ttl1 e s t a ke m· th e tors go into that marketing effort: company to follow that move, rail lines. But when prospective they're interested in the entire land, and if the deal goes through "You have to react quickly to announcing plans to build an buyers come around, Nadler and Northeast, they can talk to Nadler we won't have any," Mastro said. whatever' comes in the door, "pro eight-acre warehouse on land his staff always show them Selkirk or his boss. That sort of approach But, he added, "there's quite a bit viding information and options adjacent to the yards. first "It's almost a laboratory is particularly important for com of additional property that is that will fit the customer's needs. case, with the Honda develop panies that want to maintain developable." He cited three par- That means knowing the area. While Conrail is in the process ment. I can show them what we secrecy until they make their of divesting itself of the land it eels of 300, 27 and more than I 00 Secondly, "we go out and get can do for them," he says. move. Honda, said Nadler, was - acres that are on the market now. people to come here." That's one owns near the yards, the giant seriously looking at Selkirk for 10 government-backed rail company Nadler, who grew up in Albany, months before even a rumor of the While it is by far the largest, the of the advantages of a large, clearly plans to take a leading role has been in charge of Conrail's activity leaked out. Honda warehouse is not the only nation-wide company, says in marketing the area. The only Northeast region since April, indication of Bethlehem's stra- Nadler. He works more with mar long-term question mark is the 1984. He lives in Delmar. "We're a modern company, not tegic location. Last year, Eastern keting executives than with trans status of Conrail itself. The Rea one of those old-line railroads," he Ingredients used Bethlehem In- portation executives. Moving his operation to Sel says. gan Administration is pursuing kirk, says Nadler, was something dustrial Development Agency Third, he works "with the whole plans to sell :he company to the of an '?Xperiment. He directs a Conrail is in the process of sel funds to build a new warehouse on development network," including Norfolk Southern Corporation staff of five field representatives ling the remaining developable Wemple Rd. The IDA recently local developers, real estate pea a move opposed by Conrail's own plus an area manager, Mark Mas land it owns in Selkirk. Much of approved another warehouse pie and local governments. management -and the economic . tro. The idea was to be where the the remaining Conrail and Penn plan, this one from V.P. Winter The Capital District has lots of impacts of that change in owner action is, and to maintain flexibil Central property will become part Distributing Co., a Massachusetts- natural advantages, such as rela ship are hard to foresee. ity. The office is set up on a "tele of the 200-acre "industrial park" based company that sells door and tively low costs and a stable work At any rate, the impending sale scoping system," so a company that developer Willard Anderson window moldings. force to complement its key loca- does not seem to be slowing can talk to one person, depending is putting together in the area At the IDA meeting, Louis tion, says Nadler. "'The problem is Nadler's marketing efforts. on their needs. If they're interested south of the yards between Feura Chabot, Winter's vice president, . ~o get on the menu." Nadler's job isn't really to sell in a specific location, they can talk Bush Rd. and Bell Crossing Rd., said the company looked in the (Turn ro page 3) - • Feura Bush Post-Offlce ropensJ rJ I Uft.,off. porcelain enamel The Post Office in Feura Bush l finish oven door. Separate has moved some 300 yards down broiler compartment with Rt. 32 to more spacious quarters. 2-piece porcelain enamel broiler pan and insert. 4" high The facility, which was housed backsplash matches counter in one room at the front of backsplash. Up-front angled control panel. Elwood Vadney's house for the past 30 years, has been moved into a building owned by Flach Devel opment and Realty. Prior to being housed in the Vadney .building, the post office was located in a Cash & Carry house at the corner ofRts. 308 and 222 Delaware Ave. 32. GREENS Delmar 439-6203 .,., APPLIANCES . Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-8, Sat 9-5 According to Postmaster Edward Gagner, the post office has a 10- year lease with four five-year options. Gagner said the new space is roughly five times larger. "With the growth over the last few Tony Mauro, left, who helped build the new building, was Postmaster years, the volume of mail has Edward Gagner's first customer when the new Feura Bush Post Office liDIll increased, the number of custo opened Saturday. Jeff Gonzales mers has increased and the number of transactions has lobby will now be open for box Registration required LlDDBB increased," said Gagner. ''In. the mail pickups from 7:30 a.m. to 5 past 4 oi 5 years the revenue has Off-road recreat'ional vehicles p.m. on weekdays and from 7:30 must be registered with the Town increased considerably." to ll :30 a.m. on Saturdays. FilMS of Bethlehem. Registration forms *· may be obtained from the town Gagner said the post office will Gagner says a stamp vending 5 km of continue with two part-time machine will soon be installed in clerk's office at the town hall clerks, a postmaster and one rural the lobby so that people can buy during regular business hours, or at police headquarters, 447 carrier.

Load more