On Saturday, September 13 from 10am to 2pm at Tawasentha Park, the Town is hosting a rabies clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets.   The event is free but donations are greatly appreciated.  The clinic is sponsored by Albany County Department of Health and the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.

There are two important events are already on the fall calendar.  The Town’s Household Hazardous Waste Day takes place on Saturday, October 18 from 8am to 2pm at the Highway garage located at 6338 French’s Mill Road in Guilderland Center.  The event is open to Town residents only.  No pre-registration is required.   Please have the current Parks/Transfer Station vehicle sticker or proof of Town residency (tax bill, driver’s license).  Please carefully review the lists of acceptable and non-acceptable items.  Do not arrive before 8am, and when you reach the drop-off location, the contractor will remove the materials from your vehicle.  

The Drug Take Back Day’s fall event is scheduled for Saturday, October 25 from 10am to 2pm at the auxiliary parking lot at the Guilderland Public Library.  It is an opportunity for the safe, convenient, and responsible disposal of unused or expired prescription medications. 

Please remember that, with recent dry weather, the watering of lawns is restricted to times when overall water usage is low.  The Town’s summer water usage restrictions, which are in effect until September 15, help maintain adequate water capacity and pressure in homes, businesses, and fire hydrants.  The use of automatic underground sprinklers is only allowed from 1am and 4:30am on odd days for properties with odd numbered street addresses and on even days for properties with even numbered addresses.  For above-ground manually placed sprinklers and hand-held sprinklers, the water use is restricted to 6:30am and 8:30am and 6:30pm and 8:30pm on odd days for properties with odd numbered street addresses and on even days for properties with even numbered addresses.  There are no water restrictions for hand-held sprinkling of non-commercial vegetable and flower gardens.  Please contact the Water Department before filling a swimming pool.   

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 Senior Services Department’s newsletter has information about classes and seminars,   tax preparation assistance, trips, medical and shopping transportation, 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 interested in applying for the fulltime position of Court Scheduling Liaison in the Town Court. Because this position is covered by the Hiring Emergency Limited Placement (HELP) Program, candidates will not have to take an exam for this title.  More information about the HELP program may be found on the Albany County Civil Service website.   The Town is also 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 Caregivers’ upcoming weekly Lunchtime Chats includes Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of The Mazarin Stone on Friday, August 22.  You can easily join and listen in on these one-hour chats by calling (518) 992-6661.   Community Caregivers is looking for volunteer drivers who can transport seniors for medical and other essential trips, and help keep our neighbors in their homes.  If you are interested or have questions, please contact Community Caregivers at info@communitycaregivers.org or by calling (518) 456-2898.  

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s summer calendar includes, on Thursday, August 21 from 4pm to 7pm, Nature Night Out when the Discovery Center has extended hours until 7pm, and a Story Walk adventure along the trail and learn more about the Preserve’s natural and cultural history with interactive Discovery Center exhibits..  You can enjoy live music by RK Jazz and Blues and a meal from Moose on the Loose and Kona Ice.  

On Tuesday, August 26, from 6pm to 7:30pm, the Preserve is hosting Common Nighthawk Watch, when you can learn more about this species that is neither common nor a hawk and is experiencing declines in its breeding range.  With a 2-foot wingspan and a habit of feeding in the air near the ground, Common Nighthawks are easy to spot as they fly over the Preserve on their 6,000-mile southward migration. 

On Thursday, August 28, from 5pm to 7pm., Assemblymember Gabriella Romero is hosting an ice cream social at the McKownville Park, on the lawn adjacent to the Western Avenue entrance to Stuyvesant Plaza.  It is a family-friendly event.  Please bring your own chairs and enjoy chatting with your elected officials.

The Guilderland YMCA has launched Running Start, an effort to fill 115 backpacks for students attending Guilderland, Voorheesville, and Berne Knox Westerlo who have been identified by school counselors as needing extra support to start the school year ready and confident.  Each child will receive a new backpack filled with essential school supplies, including a $100 gift card to help purchase clothing and shoes for the upcoming school year.  You can help by making a financial donation online by selecting “Guilderland Community” from the dropdown, or dropping off binders, notebooks, lined papers, rulers, glues, and pencils, pens, crayons and markers at the YMCA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting a marked upturn in COVID-19 cases, and estimates that infections are growing, or likely growing, in most states, including New York State.  Among the likely reasons for the late summer increase are summer travel in airplanes and trains and more time in enclosed air-conditioned spaces.  Unfortunately, the current administration has terminated the program that provided free delivery of COVID-19 tests.    

Town Hall will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 1, and the Transfer Station will also be closed on Tuesday, September 2.   

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor