Town News & Announcements

On Monday, April 21 from 6pm to 8pm the Town is hosting a Town Hall styled event when State Senator Patricia Fahy, Assemblymember Phil Steck, and Assemblymember Gabriella Romero will have a public discussion on the State budget, policies, and other issues of importance, including the impact of Federal actions on funding and the delivery of services.  This public event will take place at EMS Station 1, 200 Centre Drive. 

 Parks & Rec has opened registrations for Bird Walk at the Community Gardens, a weekly outing on Friday mornings from 8:30am to 10:30am starting next Friday, April 18 through Friday, May 6.  Each week, you will join Jeanette Roundy, an experienced birder, on easy trail walks through woods and fields to identify by sight and sound potentially over 100 bird species in the varied habitat. Please bring water and binoculars, have bug spray and sunscreen, and wear long light-colored pants to make ticks easier to see.  

The following day on Saturday, April 26 from 11am to 1pm, is Town Park Cleanup Day when you can select one of the Town’s parks and open spaces for cleaning up trash and litter.  You can pick up bags at Tawasentha Park during that time or at the Park & Recreation Office, opposite Tawasentha Park’s entrance, between 8am and 3pm on Monday, April 21 through Friday, April 25.  More information is available by contacting Dave Jenkins at the Parks & Rec Office or by calling (518) 456-3150 or emailing at jenkinsd@togny.org.  

The Town is participating in Caring for Your  Cemetery Day by cleaning gravestones and removing brush at the Town-owned Guilderland Cemetery in Guilderland Center on Saturday, April 26 from Noon to 2pm.  You can get more information by calling the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150 or by emailing Parks Foreman Dave Jenkins at jenkinsd@togny.org.

Parks & Rec is accepting applications through next Tuesday, April 15 for summer positions including camp counselors, lifeguards, lifeguard manager, and pool booth attendants.  There are also seasonal laborer positions at the golf course and parks maintenance. Salaries depend on position.  Please contact the Parks & Recreation office at 518-456-3150, between 8am and 3:30pm on weekdays with any questions.

Parks & Rec’s Pickleball for Beginners takes place from Monday, June 2 to Friday, June 6 from 9am to 11am at Tawasentha Park.  The course can advance your Pickleball game from beginner to an advanced beginner/intermediate player, and also learn the basic skills and rules of the sport.   Paddles, if needed, and balls will be provided.  

Please remember that, in all Town parks and open spaces, dogs must be on a leash at all times.  Your dog may be very friendly, but hikers and park patrons do not know that and the presence of an unleashed dog can be disconcerting.   The exceptions to this rule are the Town’s two dog parks at Nott Road Park and behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.   

The Planning Board completed its review of the draft Comprehensive Plan Update last night, and its report will be soon shared with the Town Board and posted on the Town website.  The Town Board will likely schedule its next public hearing on the draft in May.  You can follow the review progress on the Town’s website.  You can access the Comprehensive Plan Update and its appendices online or review hard copies at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall.  

Please remember that Highway crews only pick up lawn bags and tied brush and will not vacuum leaves until fall.   Leaf piles should be bagged.  The Highway Department has also completed its sweeping of sidewalks and is now sweeping streets and cleaning out stormwater drains.    

The Town’s Senior Services Department’s April newsletter has information about classes and seminars, book discussions, tax preparation assistance, trips, medical and shopping transportation, next month’s book discussion, legal aide, monthly meal calendar, games, and much more.  On Wednesdays 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.

Please remember that, if your home has a septic system or cesspool that adversely impacts certain designated waterbodies, you may be eligible for reimbursement for replacement costs under the Septic System Replacement Fund Program.  The program reimburses eligible property owners with grants for up to 50% of the costs (up to $10,000) of their eligible septic system projects. Grants are awarded only to those septic system projects that will significantly and quantifiably reduce environmental and/or public health impacts from cesspools or septic systems.   You can check your property’s eligibility by entering your property’s address.  This rare opportunity is a collaboration between the State, County, and Town, and property owners to address a pressing environmental and public health issue. 

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments. 

Community Events & Resources

On Monday, April 14 at 11am at Town Hall, the Guilderland Garden Club is hosting a presentation by the Capital District Audubon Society on how to prevent and reduce bird collisions with glass windows and doors, and buildings.   Every year, thousands of birds are lost or hurt by avoidable collisions.

On Thursday, April 17 at the Guilderland Public Library, the Guilderland Historical Society is holding its monthly meeting at 12:30pm, followed by a presentation at 1:15pm by Doug Cornwell about the history of harness and auto racing in Altamont.  On Thursday, April 24 from 7pm to 8:15pm, the Library is offering The Thrill of Writing Action, Adventure, and Suspense, a virtual conversation with bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz about his Orphan X series and his life as a writer of suspenseful storytelling.

On Saturday, April 26 from 10am to 2pm at the Guilderland Public Library’s auxiliary parking lot is National Drug Take Back Day which allows residents to responsibly and confidentially dispose of unused, expired or unneeded prescription medications. The event is free. 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.  

On Saturday, April 26 from 10am to 11:30am, the YMCA is hosting Dance (Zumba) for Circle of Champs!, a fundraiser to support sending Circle of Champs kids to summer camp.  The event is free, with donations appreciated.   There will be raffles and snacks.   

On Saturday, May 17 from 8am to 2pm, the Westmere Fire Department is hosting a Flea Market, with breakfast sandwiches, hamburgers and hotdogs, donuts, cookies, and ice cream.  If you would like to participate as a vendor and sell your products at this event, you can email for information. 

The Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District has opened its Spring Fish Stocking Program for private pond owners, with various species available including Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Fathead Minnow, and Triploid Grass Carp. Orders are being accepted through April 14, with orders available for pickup on May 1 at the District garage at 24 Martin Road. Prior to stocking a pond, landowners should obtain a Farm Fish Pond License from the NYS DEC.  This license is free and is good for five years