Our non-winter and crazy weather is continuing, with near record high temperatures, beautiful skies today, and strong damaging winds with heavy rain a few days ago, but no snow over the past week.  The official start of Spring is next week but it is a still a bit too early for the opening of Western Turnpike Golf Course.  There are many early spring activities coming up over the next few weeks.  More details are below. 

Town News & Announcements

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee had in-depth discussions about the Plan’s draft goals and recommendations.  Many topics were considered including the role of accessory dwelling units, the “missing middle” in housing options, possible bicycle and pedestrian use of abandoned bridges over railroads, expanding commuter access to the Thruway by removing tolls to relieve traffic on Western Avenue, and residential impacts on water capacity and quality.  You can review both the indexed broadcast and agenda packet.   You can learn more about this CPUC’s work on its website.    

On next Thursday, March 21 at 7pm, Town Historian Mary Ellen Johnson is the featured speaker at the Guilderland Historical Society’s monthly meeting at Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center.   Mary Ellen will make a presentation about the history of the hamlet of Guilderland Center, which is home to several historic properties including the house itself, the Appel Inn, and the Cobblestone Schoolhouse.

Western Turnpike Golf Course is offering seminars for adults who are interested in learning about golf.  The classes are taught by PGA Professional Joe Lavigna, and take place once a week for four consecutive weeks, and will be held in May, June and July.  The program focuses on swing fundamentals including grip, setup, alignment and swing technique, with special emphasis on posture, alignment and stroke.  It also focuses on short game and covers putting, chipping, and pitching.  WTGC also has a junior program for children age 7 to 17 years.   

Parks & Rec’s popular Bird Walk at Community Gardens is back.   The program is hosted by Jeanette Roundy, a local bird expert, and will run on consecutive Sunday mornings starting on this upcoming Sunday, March 17 to April 28, except for March 31. There are two scheduled outings from 8am to 9:30am and from 10:30am to Noon. The program will use Ebird, a free downloadable app sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to keep track of what species are seen and to help improve bird identification skills.  

Parks & Rec has opened registration for the Spring Break Fun & Games camp which will run during the next school break from Tuesday, April 2 to Friday, April 5.   

Parks & Rec has also opened registration opportunities for entry level summer camp counselors for the 2024 summer camp.  You must be 16 years of age and older, and while previous experience as a counselor-in-training, teacher, childcare, or related field is preferred, it is not required.  The 2024 summer camp will take place daily in the mornings from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 9.  Parks & Rec is also accepting applications for lifeguards, lifeguard managers, and pool booth attendants at Tawasentha Park pool, and seasonal laborers in Parks & Rec.   

Parks & Rec has opened reservations for Tawasentha Parks’ pavilions for the 2024 season.  Walk-in reservations (with payment) will take priority over phone, faxed or emailed reservation requests.  A Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules form must be submitted with payment and a signed Know the Rules form. To request booking a pavilion, residents must submit the Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules and full payment to the Town. Forms can be dropped off or mailed to the Guilderland Parks & Recreation Department at 181 State Route 146, Altamont, NY 12009, or faxed to 518-456-3156.  

Please remember that dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, including in Town parks, with the exception of the Nott Road dog park and the new dog park behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.  While you may know that your dog is friendly, the Parks & Rec receives complaints from park patrons who are confronted by unleashed dogs while enjoying Town parks with their family.

Tawasentha, Keenholts, DiCaprio, and Nott Road Parks are open for daytime use for the winter season.  Western Turnpike Golf Course is now also open for walkers on cart paths.  These options have been proven to be very popular, and I thank Parks & Rec crews for making it happen.   When (maybe) sufficient snow arrives, snowshoeing trails and cross-country skiing will return to the golf course, Town parks and Vosburgh Open Space trails. Sledding is available at the Winter Recreation Area just past Tawasentha Park.  Please check out the Parks & Rec’s webpage for latest conditions.  You can also rent cross-country skis and snowshoes, and pickleball equipment (paddle and balls), at the Parks & Rec Office during business hours.

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for the position of full-time Police Officer, Stormwater Management Officer, Laborer in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments, and Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher.  

Covid-19 Update

The CDC reported this week that hospitalizations nationwide decreased over the past week by 13.6% and that the death rate increased by 2.2%.   The CDC’s current map shows that all of New York State has a “low” rate of COVID-19 transmission.  The nation only has 7 counties or 0.22% with a “high” rate and 141 counties or 4.38% with a “medium” rate.    

A reminder that the Federal government has expanded its program under which you can receive by mail free at-home COVID-19 tests.  The program now allows for eight home tests per household which means that if you recently placed an order for four tests, you can now order four additional tests at no cost.  

Four years ago yesterday, COVID-19 was declared a national emergency that lasted until May 11, 2023.  During that time, we issued 845 consecutive daily updates followed by today’s 90^th weekly update.  I thank the hundreds, if not thousands, of residents who wrote cards, letters, emails, social media postings, and shared spoken words of appreciation for this effort.   It was only possible with the help of my assistant Jessica Montgomery who reviewed, edited, and posted nearly every update.  In the near future, we will be launching a new version in a newsletter format, with more information about community partners, photos and videos, insights on Town departments, and other means of keeping you informed on happenings in your town.    

Community Events and Resources

Tomorrow from Noon to 6pm, the American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at Town Hall.  To make an appointment, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcross.org at enter the sponsor code “guilderlandtown.” 

As you may have read, there will be a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 with 97.1% eclipse here at 3:26pm, not a common occurrence in North America and will not happen again until 2044. The last one here was in 1925.  The moon will start blocking the sun here starting at 2:12 pm, reach its peak at 3:26:36pm, and end at 4:36pm.  No idea yet whether the weather will cooperate but we often have overcast skies in early April.  I am not an expert but I understand that our Town is just outside the 115-mile path of the total eclipse of the sun, with Buffalo, Syracuse, and Plattsburgh, experiencing a complete moon blocking of the sun.  Please make sure that you have the proper eye protection to safely view this rare astronomical event. 

The Guilderland Public Library’s events monthly calendar is full of interesting activities for all ages, including tonight at 6:30pm, Gardens of the Emerald Isle, a virtual photographic  tour of Ireland’s gardens hosted by Jana Milbocker, an author and principal of Enchanted Gardens.  

A reminder that the Preserve is inviting the public to wide-ranging special guided programs and outings in March. The Preserve’s website contains details about in-person and virtual opportunities including night photography, astronomy, nighttime activities, wildlife videos, special winter activities, and downloadable activities and nature craft instructions.  More information about Discover the Night, trails and other programs is available at www.AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.

The Preserve has also posted its Community Science opportunities for volunteers in the upcoming year.  These important engagement activities help the Preserve to fulfill its mission of learning more about our changing environment and further understanding of the Preserve’s fragile ecology.  Volunteering opportunities include surveying for rare birds, measuring snow packs, identifying invasive species, and much more.    

The Preserve’s winter calendar is full of activities for children and adults, including a Full Moon Hike next Wednesday, March 20 at 5pm, a short hike (0.9 mile) when you can look for emerging signs of spring’s return.  On Wednesday, April 17 from 7pm to 8pm, the Preserve is offering Community Science: American Woodcock Survey Volunteer Training, an online opportunity to learn more about the American Woodstock, whose numbers have declined since the 1960s, and help the Preserve monitor their presence.

On Saturday, April 20 at 9am, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve is recognizing Earth Day, with a volunteer clean-up effort in the Preserve.  The event takes places rain or shine so dress for outside work, and bring water and snacks.   All equipment will be provided. 

As noted in last week’s newsletter, the Preserve is removing black locust trees and other invasive species from 18 acres of the Preserve off of Route 155, just south of Pinehurst Boulevard in the City of Albany. The tree removal is the first step in restoring this site back to pine barrens, and will be followed with the planting of native pine barrens plants.    During this restoration work, this area is closed to all public use.

Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy has several early spring activities on its calendar including on Sunday, March 24 from 1 to 4pm at the First United Methodist Church and Rail Trail, a seminar on iMap Invasives, a proven key tool used by professionals and enthusiasts to document invasive species in our environment.  The training will be led by Addison Kubick, Education & Outreach Coordinator for the Capital Region Partnership for Invasive Species Management.   On Thursday, April 4 from 7pm to 9pm, MHLC is hosting Hike and Draw, an online drawing workshop, with step-by-step instructions by artist James Sisti.  

The New York State Library’s March calendar is also full of free and informative seminars and programs, online and in-person, on wide-ranging topics, and also walking tours.   

A reminder that Town Hall will close at 12:30pm on Friday, March 29 for Good Friday and Passover.  The Transfer Station will close early at 11:30am on Saturday, March 30. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor