Unlike the recent February school break, this week’s school break is very much busier here, with the Presidential Primary on Tuesday, Town court in session, and a Zoning Board meeting. This week’s cold, rainy, and mostly sloppy weather is still unfolding, and will likely push back the opening of the Western Turnpike Golf Course. The weather should return to normal next week, with hopefully dry conditions. You may recall that last year, there were several days in early April with temperatures in the 80’s that allowed for the course’s early opening, only to close a few days later with the return of April’s fickle, and often nasty, weather. More details are shared below.
Town News & Announcements
The Highway Department’s cleanup of the recent ice/storm is continuing, with front loaders removing accumulated storm debris placed at the edge of the road. This week’s weather might push the effort back for a few days. As you clean up, please do not put debris on the paved road surface and do not block stormwater drainage grates or ditches. Do not worry if you did not have time yet to clean up your yard. Highway crews, with front loaders, will make repeated pickups at least through the month. Highway crews circulate all year picking-up lawn bags and tied branches.
On next Monday, April 8 at 11am at Town Hall, the Guilderland Garden Club is hosting Amanda Dillon, Field Ecologist and Entomologist at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, who will talk about the Karner Blue Butterfly’s ecology and habitat restoration. Guilderland Garden Club is celebrating its 60th year anniversary.
On Tuesday, April 16 at 7pm, the Town Board will hold a public hearing on a proposed six-month moratorium that is intended to support draft recommendations raised during the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee’s ongoing public process. The moratorium on new applications for larger residential developments will allow the Water Department to consider how best to address water capacity caused by dramatically increased water usage by single-family homes during summer months and allow the Planning Department to propose amendments to the zoning code and subdivision regulations to advance affordable housing options.
On Saturday, April 27, there are three important scheduled community events. From 10am to 2pm, the Guilderland Central School District is sponsoring the Guilderland Recycling Extravaganza in FMS’s front parking lot where you drop off, with no fee, sneakers, bikes, cardboard, plastics, clothing, electronics (but not TVs), cell phones, and gently used instruments. Here is a list of acceptable and unacceptable donations.
From 10am to 2pm, the Police Department is holding the National Drug Take Back Day in the Guilderland Public Library’s auxiliary parking lot. This event allows residents to responsibly dispose of unused, expired or unneeded prescription medications. The event is free and anonymous. Research shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends from home medicine cabinets. Please remember that no needles are accepted.
Also, on Saturday, April 27, there will be Clean Up Guilderland, a Town-wide volunteer effort to pick up litter in public rights of ways and public spaces, starting at 11am and lasting for about two hours. There will be pop-up orientation tents at The Star Plaza’s lot at Western Avenue and State Route 155, and also at the parking lot behind Hilton’s Tru/Homewood Suites on Western Avenue. Volunteers will have a designated area to clean, bags, gloves, and bright colored t-shirts, with light snacks courtesy of Crossgates. You can sign up by contacting Kathy Burbank, the effort’s organizer, at kburbank01@gmail.com.
A reminder that DEC’s ban on residential brush burning runs through May 14. The regulations allow backyard fire pits and campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter and small cooking fires but with only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated, or unpainted wood. DEC’s Fire Danger Map for the 2024 fire season shows each region’s potential fire risk.
Please remember that dogs must be on a leash at all times in all Town parks and open space. The exceptions to this rule are the dog park at Nott Road Park and the new dog park behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere. Please remember that, when Western Turnpike Golf Course opens (not likely until mid-April), that walking on cart paths is not allowed during the golf season.
A reminder that Western Turnpike Golf Course has adult seminars for persons learning or improving the playing of golf. PGA Professional Joe Lavigna teaches the classes that take place once a week for four consecutive weeks in May, June and July. The program focuses on swing fundamentals and short game aspects. WTGC also has a junior program for children age 7 to 17 years.
Parks & Rec’s Bird Walk’s second spring session runs from Sunday, May 5 to Sunday, June 9, with the exception of Mother’s Day, May 12. Jeanette Roundy, a local bird expert, will lead the outings in the Town’s Community Gardens, and in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve and Schodack Island State Park. The program will use Ebird, a free downloadable app sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to keep track of bird species. It is also a fun app to use in backyards and other places as birds become more active with warming weather.
Parks & Rec has just opened registration for the very popular 2024 Summer Camp. The dark grey-colored 2024 brochure is now available online and is being delivered by backpack mail this week. The 2024 summer camp will run from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 9. Parks & Rec also has opened registration opportunities for entry level summer camp counselors. 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. Parks & Rec is also accepting applications for lifeguards, lifeguard managers, and pool booth attendants at Tawasentha Park pool, and seasonal laborers in Parks & Rec.
In another sign that warmer weather is approaching, Parks & Rec is offering Advanced Beginner Pickleball from Monday, June 5 to Friday, June 9, from 9am to 11am at the tennis courts at Tawasentha Park. The class is for beginner to advanced beginner/intermediate player, with shared tips and strategies, review of rules, and basic skills.
The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for a full-time Police Officer, Stormwater Management Officer, Laborer in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments, and Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher.
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