By INTRODUCTION
Like legions of others across the nation, O‘Connor is for the first time in her life gaining professional WFH (Work From Home) experience as she divides her time between Village Hall at the corner of Front and Bath Streets and the East High Street residence where she and husband Ed raised their two now young adult offspring Keegan and Brody. Prior to being promoted from Deputy Village Clerk to Village Clerk in 2013, Teri O’Connor spent five years running Ballston Spa’s Grant Office and two as a greeter at the main entrance of Ballston Spa High School. But, in some ways, O’Connor’s combined experiences working on what today are dubbed The Front Lines began decades earlier. Indeed, the distinguished Village Hall official sometimes quips that she’s been “in the public eye” since she was in diapers. That’s because O’Connor was but a tot when she began interacting with customers in a department store on Milton Avenue that was founded in 1901 by her great-grandfather Jacob Steiner. Steiner’s Department Store was later run by O’Connor’s grandfather, Emil Steiner, and then by her father, Irv Pachter, and her brother, Jim Pachter. Although her mother, Marilyn Steiner Pachter, did not work at the family-owned retail business, Steiner’s was home away from home for O’Connor throughout most her youth. “I absolutely love it when people tell me their memories of Steiner’s. It never gets old. I am very proud to be a part of a family that was very giving to their community in and out of business,” muses O’Connor.(CLICK HERE to read why Steiner’s was much more than a department store for generations of villagers.) Like legions of others across the nation, O‘Connor is for the first time in her life gaining professional WFH (Work From Home) experience as she divides her time between Village Hall at the corner of Front and Bath Streets and the East High Street residence where she and husband Ed raised their two now young adult offspring Keegan and Brody. Fortunately, O’Connor is accustomed to juggling myriad responsibilities. In addition to being at the wheel of Mom’s Taxi so her kids might participate in a broad range of extracurricular activities during their formative years, O’Connor served on the Village’s Historic District Commission. Additional accomplishments include having served as a PTA member and past-president who also chaired a Ballston Spa Central School District Parents as Reading Partners program. Ballston Spa Living Editor Ann Hauprich is grateful to O’Connor for recently taking the time to respond to questions about how her Village Clerk duties are being carried out in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. I absolutely inherited the spirit of serving the public from my ancestors, including my Dad, who was a member and past-president of Kiwanis. When you grow up seeing the positivity of helping others, it can’t help but rub off on you. Of course, the more I found out through Chris, the more inspired I became. Being a public servant is not always easy, but I really love this Village and hope I can help our residents to love it, too. A: We have a locked drop box in front of my office into which residents can drop payments or other important papers. For things that cannot wait, such as death or birth certificates, we have been using postal services. Our residents have been wonderfully patient, understanding that some things will have to wait, as we all certainly want to remain healthy. Q: You once said you owe a debt of gratitude to late Village History Consultant Maurice “Christopher” Morley (https://ballstonspaliving.com/mornings-with-morley-introduction/) with whom you shared an office on the Bath Street side of Village Hall from 2004 to 2009. Chris, who passed away at age 89 in 2011, had told you many fascinating things about your ancestors. Turns out your maternal great-grandfather, Jacob Steiner, not only founded Steiner’s Department Store at the dawn of the 1900s, but was also a Village Trustee. In addition, your Mom told you that your grandfather, Emil Steiner, was a 1922 graduate of Wharton School of Business, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Ballston Spa, a Justice of the Peace, a member of the board of the old Benedict Memorial Hospital, a member of Union Fire Co., The Boy Scout Council and the Ballston Spa Country Club to name just a few. And grandmother Betty Steiner was past-president of the Ballston Spa Garden Club as well as a Red Cross volunteer. Does this ancestral knowledge provide added inspiration and fortitude as you persevere to serve the public during these unprecedented times? A: I absolutely inherited the spirit of serving the public from my ancestors, including my Dad, who was a member and past-president of Kiwanis. When you grow up seeing the positivity of helping others, it can’t help but rub off on you. Of course, the more I found out through Chris, the more inspired I became. Being a public servant is not always easy, but I really love this Village and hope I can help our residents to love it, too. Q: What questions and/or concerns have been the most frequently brought to your attention by villagers these past three months? A: Most have just been concerned for their friends and neighbors safety. Some have been concerned about businesses being closed. It’s not the Village, however, that mandates closures, it is the State of New York and we must comply. Q: What has been the most challenging part of adjusting to The New Normal? A: It is odd to not have people coming into the Clerk’s Office. I miss the hustle and bustle not only of residents, but also of co-workers. And I really miss seeing people’s smiles under the masks! Q: Have there been any Silver Linings – such as witnessing or learning about inspiring acts of kindness in the Village of Friends? A: The number of people donating food is amazing and so heart-warming The local restaurant that is helping to feed our community and health care workers, first responders, etc, is outstanding. This is what community is all about and why I love our village so much! Q: What do you miss most about The Old Normal at Village Hall — or elsewhere? A: Having face- to-face contact. Seeing people’s smiles. Q: What — if anything — about The New Normal would you like to see continued after the pandemic is finally history? A: I really hope more people will realize the importance of hand-washing and covering their coughs and sneezes — although not with their hands! Q: Is it known yet when the State of Emergency (https://wnyt.com/coronavirus/village-of-ballston-spa-in-saratoga-county-declares-a-state-of-emergency/5678292/) that was declared in the Village of Ballston Spa on March 18 2020 will be lifted? A: Not yet. Q: What is the best advice anyone has given you during these unprecedented times? A: Hug those you love because we don’t know when we won’t be able to so again for a very long time.
A: I want to thank all of our residents for being patient while the office has been closed. With limited staffing, some things have taken longer, but the residents have been great about it. I want to extend well wishes to all and I hope that we can all look forward to seeing one another’s smiles soon!
Q: Where did you get the awesome face mask that doubles as a stylish promotion for the Village of Ballston Spa?
A: The Ballston Spa mask was ordered from an area company. Those of us at Village Hall felt it could help residents feel more comfortable when interacting with our employees — especially the Village Police and Department of Public Works (DPW).
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ballston Spa Living will feature those who have been helping to feed our community during the pandemic in the near future. Some of those who have created special protective facial coverings will also be recognized.
Ballston Spa Village ClerkCOVID-19
