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

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, 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 September newsletter has information about classes and seminars, 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 Deputy Receiver of Taxes in the Town Clerk’s Office.  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 Events & Resources

Tomorrow from Noon to 5pm, the American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at Town Hall.  You can register for an appointment online and entering “Guilderlandtown” in the sponsor code box or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.  While supplies last, the Red Cross is offering a free Red Cross & Peanuts t-shirt for donors.  

With shorter days coming, and winter weather just a few months away, the Westmere Fire Department is hosting a free community seminar entitled "Seasonal Affective Disorder, What it Is and Ways To Emotionally Manage the Long Northeast Winter!" on Wednesday, October 15 from 6pm to 8pm.  This timely seminar will be presented by Joe Germano, LCSWR, Executive/Clinical Director of Karner Psychological Associates.  No pre-registration is required.  

The Guilderland YMCA is hosting a Family Fun Night on Friday, September 12 from 5pm to 7pm.  It’s a free two-hour event, with board and active games, and other activities for all ages. 

On Thursday, September 18, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, the Guilderland Food Pantry is holding “A Taste of Guilderland” for its 46th Anniversary Celebration.   The fundraiser takes place in the gymnasium at Christ the King Church.   There will be food from local restaurants, live music, a photo booth, and raffles, auctions and games.  The Pantry is currently in need of tuna (pouches), mac & cheese (microwavable cups), ravioli (microwavable cups), and ramen noodles (microwavable cups).  Food donations can be dropped off at the Pantry during regular hours or left in the collection bin located outside the Pantry.

The Guilderland Public Library’s upcoming fall calendar includes on Saturday, September 7 from 2pm to 3pm, a performance by Mark Hecker on popular songs by Woodie Guthrie, Phil Ochs and others about social justice.  The Guilderland Public Library’s Long-Range Planning process is underway, and has created a survey for your feedback.  You can share what you value most about the library, as well as ideas for improvements or new services, and to help shape the library’s future. The survey is also available at the Library for your convenience.

On Saturday, September 27 from 9:30am to 2:30pm, the Library is hosting a Fall Craft Fair, with talented artists and booths filled with handcrafted creations from cozy textiles to pumpkin-spiced-inspired décor.  The event takes place inside in the Helderberg Meeting room.  

The Altamont Free Library has a new Long-Range Plan of Service that relies, in part, on a brief and anonymous survey on whether you use the Library, how you use it, and what it can do better for you in the future. 

On Saturday, September 27 from Noon to 3pm at Orsini Park, Historic Altamont is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration for a new Altamont Community Kiosk for the new “End-to-End” point of the Long Path, a 350+ mile hiking trail stretching from Manhattan and now ending in Altamont.  It will promote outdoor activities, and bring new visitors to local businesses.  There will be block party event, with a tent, live music, ice cream, food and family activities.  

On Saturday, September 27 from 10:30am to 5:30pm, the University at Albany and the NYS Writers Institute are hosting the eighth Annual Albany Book Festival.  The festival involves a wide-ranging list of local and regional authors, book signings, publishers, and literary organizations. 

Community Caregivers’ upcoming weekly Lunchtime Chats includes The Making of an Icon: Building the Golden State Bridge which takes place tomorrow.  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 fall calendar includes Barrens Birding Blitz on Saturday, September 20 from 6am to 1:30pm.   This annual community event takes place during the peak of fall bird migration.  This friendly competition is a full day event, with teams birding and counting the species they see and hear throughout the preserve.  Birdwatchers of all skill levels, from novice to expert, are invited.   Teams will compete to spot and identify as many species as possible in the time allotted.  The event will culminate in an awards ceremony and catered lunch in the Discovery Center at 12:30pm.   Reservations ($25) are required, and include a t-shirt, event guidelines, birding guide (score sheet), lunch, and a chance to compete for team prizes. 

The Preserve is also offering times for Drop-in Bird Banding Observation on Tuesday, September 23 from 7am to Noon; Saturday, October 11 from 7am to Noon; and Tuesday, October 21 from 7am to Noon.  You can see wild birds up close and personal as Preserve scientists carefully fit them with uniquely coded leg-bands, before releasing them back to the wild. Bands are provided by the US Geological Society Bird Banding Lab to licensed banders so scientists can identify individuals, and also study how long birds live, where they breed, and when and where they migrate.    On Thursday, September 18, at 7pm, the Preserve is hosting a science lecture entitled “Avian response to the restoration and management of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve,” when you can learn more about the effects of the Preserve’s habitat management on birds.  

The Guilderland YMCA’s Running Start program is continuing despite the start of school.   The program’s goal is filling 115 backpacks for students attending schools in Guilderland, Voorheesville, and Berne Knox Westerlo School Districts who have been identified by school counselors for extra support to start the school year ready and confident.  Each child receives 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.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor