Weekly Newsletter No. 127

I thank the community for its overwhelming response to the YMCA’s Basket Brigade that will deliver hundreds of Thanksgiving meals in our community. The Guilderland Food Pantry, Altamont Community Pantry, and other organizations are also provided essential assistance. You can help this holiday season by donating food, money, or volunteering at the Guilderland Food Pantry, Community Caregivers, and other groups who work year-round to address food insecurity in our community.

Town News & Announcements

I congratulate Director of Parks & Recreation Director CJ Gallup on his retirement, his remarkable career, and service to the Town and its residents. For more than 32 years, CJ tirelessly worked to improve and expand the Town’s park system and add recreational activities, including recently finding space for pickleball courts in multiple locations. He masterfully managed the competing demands on our parks’ assets and found creative ways to keep almost everyone happy. CJ is a caring leader and will leave an enviable legacy.

The Parks & Recreation’s popular Winter Break Fun & Games returns over the Christmas holiday for children in grades 1 to 6. After warm-up tag games, there will be games such as Jailbreak, Pins Down, Survivor, Seven-Base Kickball, Indoor Soccer, Basketball and more.

The Highway Department’s schedule for vacuuming leaf piles is nearing its end, with trucks being readied for winter service that might arrive soon. The last scheduled date is Wednesday, December 13, and will likely end at that date. Please remember that, except where allowed on posted street signs that no parking is permitted on Town roads between November 1 and April 1.

The Town’s 2025 Hometown Heroes Banner Program recognizes active duty and veteran service members, both living and deceased, for their bravery, courage, and sacrifice. Each banner honors a current or former Guilderland serviceperson by name, branch of service, and photo. The banners will be displayed at Tawasentha Park at a special event held at GPAC. In late fall, the banners are made available to sponsors. Banners may be sponsored by individuals, families, businesses or organizations at a cost of $150 per banner. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2025. If you have any questions regarding banners, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

The Town’s Senior Services Department’s November newsletter has information about classes and seminars, trips, medical and shopping transportation, book discussions, legal aide, community meals calendar, games, and much more. The newsletter provides more information about expanding transportation for medical appointments to Thursdays. A reminder that every Wednesday from 11am to 12:30pm, the Guilderland Public Library is the home for Senior Connects!, where seniors can have a friendly chat on a wide-range of interesting topics. The prior topics included home downsizing, senior resources, hobbies, books, movies, favorite day trips, and local events. No registration is required.

Western Turnpike Golf Course’s cart paths are now open for walking. Please remember that, like the Town’s parks, dogs must be leashed at all times, except for dog parks. When sufficient snow arrives, the course will have snowshoeing and groomed cross-country skiing.

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Payroll Specialist, Automotive Mechanic I, Deputy Receiver of Taxes, Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments.

Upcoming Meetings at Town Hall

The following is a list of dates and times for currently scheduled meetings of boards and committees at Town Hall over the next 30 days. Please check the Town’s calendars for the latest news about public meetings and community events, possible changes in agendas and cancellations, and the latest contents of agenda packets. Unless stated otherwise, each of the listed meetings start at 7pm, and are livestreamed on the Town website, Verizon channel 34, and Spectrum channel 1303. Within days of the meeting, an indexed recording, with links to each listed agenda item, is also posted online.

Guilderland IDA Board Meeting

Tuesday, December 3

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, December 4

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, December 9

Town Board

Tuesday, December 10

Planning Board

Wednesday, December 11

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, December 18

2024 Greens Show

Community Events & Resources

The Guilderland Garden Club and the Guilderland Historical Society are hosting the 2024 Holiday Greens Show at the Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center. This year's show will be held on Friday, December 6 from 4pm to 8pm, on Saturday, December 7 from 1pm to 5pm, and on Sunday, December 8 from 1pm to 5pm. The historic home will be decorated with fresh greens, handmade ornaments and decorations made by Garden Club members, and available for purchase, with proceeds shared with local food pantries and the Caring Closet.

On Tuesday, December 10 from 10am to 2pm, Community Caregivers is hosting its annual Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 7 from Noon to 2pm at 2021 Western Avenue, Suite 104. The event will provide an opportunity to learn about the wide-variety of services offered by Community Caregivers in our community. It is also collecting donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, soups and stews; cereals; peanut butter; and gluten free food) for the area’s food pantries.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s calendar is full of activities, including on Sunday, December 1, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s gift shop at the Discovery Center is participating in Museum Store Sunday, an annual holiday shopping day involving more than 2,100 museum stores nationwide and overseas. It provides the opportunity to purchase unique gifts for the holiday season, with all purchases supporting its parent institution and the artisans and craftspeople who create many of the gifts found in museum stores.

The Guilderland Public Library has several interesting events, including next Monday, December 2, from 6:15pm to 7:15pm, Rising from the Payment Pause: How to Handle Your Student Loans Post COVID-19, a discussion led by Jordan Daniels, a Student Debt Counselor from Empire Justice Center, about the many options to manage or eliminate your federal student debt. On Wednesday, December 4, the Library is presenting a virtual presentation by Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, emeritus curator of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection, about The Smithsonian National Gem Collection Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.

The Altamont Free Library’s calendar has events for all ages, including Library Lights on Friday, December 6 at 6pm, when you can honor the memory of a friend or loved one with a light on the Village Gazebo in Orsini Park. Each sponsored light costs $5 and all proceeds will benefit Altamont Free Library. Forms are available at the library, in the Altamont Enterprise, and on the library website. There will be a reading of the honorees’ names and the official lighting of the gazebo.

The New York State Library’s events calendar has in-person and virtual programs including on Thursday, December 12, from Noon to 1pm, Rethinking Revolutionary New York: A Conversation about Haudenosaunee Histories and the Sullivan Campaign, a virtual talk on the Revolutionary War’s Sullivan-Clinton Campaign from the Haudenosaunee perspective. On Tuesday, December 17, from Noon to 1pm, the State Library is featuring a virtual talk by author Maria Smilios about her award winning book The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis, which focuses on group of unknown Black nurses who fought racism, sexism, and redlining while working at Sea View, an understaffed and underfunded Tuberculosis sanatorium in New York in the 1920s.

On Saturday, December 21, from 1pm to 3:30pm, Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is celebrating the winter solstice with a grand opening celebration of the 225-acre addition to the Bozen Kill Preserve. There will be hot beverages to warm up before heading out for a guided tour of the new trails.

The Guilderland Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA are asking for your support to adopt a family for this holiday season. If you are interested in adopting a family, please reach out to Kathy Burbank at kburbank@gmail.com.

A reminder that the Federal government has revived its program which allows residents to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests for free delivery by the Post Office. The FDA encourages checking its website to see if the expiration date for your at-home COVID-19 tests has been extended.

Despite recent rainy weather, the State’s burn ban remains in place until November 30. The ban bars outdoor fires for purposes of brush and debris disposal, uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking. Backyard fire pits and contained campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small, contained cooking fires. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State. For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC's FIREWISE New York web page.

This year’s “Small Business Saturday” takes place this Saturday, November 30. It is a special day for showing your support for local retailers and restaurants. Please make an effort to support local businesses, most of which are owned by and employ our neighbors and friends.

Town Hall and the Transfer Station are closed tomorrow and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Transfer Station will be open on Saturday, November 30.

I hope that you have a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor