May 15, 2025

With more than four inches of rain over the past few days, most outdoor activities, including sporting events, were canceled. Several outdoor events took place last weekend despite showery weather. Western Turnpike Golf Course reopened today at noon but with heavy rain forecasted tonight and tomorrow, the already wet conditions might require a protective closing. More details are shared below.

Town News & Announcements

On Tuesday evening at Town Hall, Assemblymember Phil Steck held the Women of Distinction Award Ceremony which honored eight exceptional women for their work in the community. The room was filled with families, friends, and co-workers of the recipients. The eight women reside in the Assembly District 110, which includes the Town of Colonie, parts of the Towns of Guilderland and Niskayuna, and City of Schenectady. Among the awardees was Robyn Gray, an advocate for government transparency and public involvement in decision-making.

Prospect Hill Cemetery

This weekend, there are two special events that honor veterans. On this Saturday, May 17, starting at 9am, volunteers are placing memorial flags at burial plots for veterans at Prospect Hill Cemetery. You can help by showing up, with no pre-registration required. On Sunday, May 18, starting at 2pm, the Altamont Memorial Parade starts at the Altamont Fair Grounds and proceeds down Grand Street, Main Street, Lincoln, Western and Maple Avenues to Orsini Park.

The Town’s American Revolution 250^th Anniversary Committee has been gathering available very helpful and interesting information about the Battle of the Normanskill which took place in Guilderland on August 11, 1777, including visits to likely historical sites in Town, and meeting with historians at the Saratoga Historic National Park to learn more about the battle’s combatants, their families and neighbors, and how this battle played a role in the British army’s goal of capturing Albany, and the victories at Saratoga in September and October, 1777. Among the goals of the Committee is a reenactment of the battle on its 250^th anniversary in August 2027.

The Town’s Police Department and Emergency Medical Services Department have both released annual reports with details on each department’s staffing, services, programs, statistics, achievements, and responses. The annual reports show why the Police and EMS Departments are recognized State-wide for their professionalism and service to our communities.

On Monday, June 9 at 10am at Town Hall, the Guilderland Garden Club’s featured speaker is Albany County Master Gardener Lee Ryan who will talk all about Dahlias.

Hometown Heroes

On Friday, June 13 at 10am, the Town will hold its Hometown Heroes celebration which will honor 21 veterans for their service to our country. The program proudly recognizes active duty and veteran service members, both living and deceased. Like last year, the event will take place at Guilderland Performing Arts Center at Tawasentha Park. You are invited to participate in this celebration. You can also review online the banners for honorees since 2018.

A reminder that Parks & Rec has opened registration for its 2025 Summer Program which takes place this year from Monday, June 30 to Friday, August 8, with one-week half-day camps, swimming lessons, and dozens of sports and enrichment camps. The printed lime-colored 2025 brochures are available at Town Hall and the Park & Rec’s Office, and were delivered by back-pack mail at schools before the Spring break.

The Town’s extensive hiking system is open but please be mindful of possible slippery and muddy areas. Please also take efforts to protect from ticks. Hike Guilderland! has interactive mapping of all trails, including in the Town’s hiking trails at Tawasentha Park and Vosburgh Open Space, and also hiking trails managed by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, DEC (Black Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area), and Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (Bozen Kill Preserve). The interactive map allows you to zoom for each trail’s description, length, difficulty, and trailhead locations.

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 Town’s Senior Services Department’s May 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 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.

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.

Town Board

Tuesday, May 20

Development Planning Committee

Wednesday, May 21 at 10am

American Revolution 250^th Anniversary Committee

Wednesday, May 21 at 3pm (not broadcasted nor taped)

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, May 21

Planning Board

Wednesday, May 28

Industrial Development Agency

Thursday, May 29 (cancelled)

Town Board

Tuesday, June 3

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, June 4

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, June 9

Planning Board

Wednesday, June 11

Town Board

Tuesday, June 17

Community Events & Resources

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s calendar is full of outdoor events, including Forest Bathing on this Saturday, May 17 from 10am to Noon, at Normans Kill West Preserve, when Certified Forest Bathing guide Ebony LaBrew will lead a slow-paced walk through the preserve and engage the group with prompts to stop and connect with the natural world. On Saturday, June 21 from 9am to 11am at the Upper Bozen Kill Preserve (Bond Road entrance), MHLC volunteer preserve steward Laurie Lyons-Swift, who helped protecting this preserve, will offer a guided tour of the property

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s month-long Lupine Fest 2025 continues this week with special events to celebrate the blooming of the wild blue lupine with guided hikes, lupine walk, volunteer conservation opportunities, interactive exhibits, live music, wildlife encounters, and participating in conservation efforts. On Thursday, May 15 at 7pm, the Preserve is hosting a seminar entitled Butterfly and moth diversity in Preserve, when you can learn more about the high diversity of winged insects in the Preserve’s barrens habitats, highlight the species found in the Preserve, and explain how these species are managed and monitored to both protect them and to learn how management decisions are affecting the Preserve overall.

Tomorrow from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, the Preserve is hosting A Night with the Arts, a special event honoring the work of wildlife artist Wayne Trimm. Mr. Trimm was a frequent contributor to the Conservationist magazine. The ticketed evening will also feature the first public screening of Scorching Success, a short film that captures the Preserve’s transformative use of prescribed fire.

On Friday, May 30 from 4pm to 7:30pm, the Preserve is presenting "Nature Night Out", when the Pine Bush Discovery Center will have extended hours until 7:30pm to capitalize on longer sunlit hours. You can enjoy live music while dining on a meal from food truck vendors, go on a StoryWalk adventure along the trail, and learn about the natural & cultural history of the Pine Bush with interactive Discovery Center exhibits.

On Wednesday, June 25 at 7pm, you can join in National Butterfly Count Volunteer Training, a virtual seminar, when you can learn about butterfly habitat in the Preserve and how you can participate in the 2025 National Butterfly Count.

June Bloom Market

On June 1 from Noon to 4pm, the Westmere Fire Department is hosting June Bloom Market, with local farms, wineries, distilleries, breweries, arts and crafts purveyors offering their products for sale at the firehouse located at 1741 Western Avenue.

Community Caregivers

Community Caregivers is now partnering with CDPHP to offer personalized and compassionate support for CDPHP members residing in our community and other areas. The free program is for CDPHP members who need extra support, like transportation, grocery shopping, prescription pickup, in-person visits and more services, so that seniors and disabled persons may continue to live safely in their homes.

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day. The Transfer Station will also be closed on Tuesday, May 27.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor