This coming weekend, the Guilderland Garden Club and the Guilderland Historical Society are hosting this year’s Holiday Greens Show at the Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center.   The event takes place tomorrow from 4pm to 8pm, Saturday, December 6 from 1pm to 5pm, and Sunday, December 7 from 1pm to 5pm, with Santa making a special visit on Saturday between 1pm and 3pm.   This year’s theme is “Winter Whites & Lights,” with the recently restored and painted historic home decorated with fresh greens, handmade ornaments and decorations made by Garden Club members, and available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the Garden Club’s scholarship program, and other local charities.

I thank the Highway Department, which just wrapped up its last scheduled vacuuming of leaf piles, and quickly pivoted to its snow plowing duties.  I received numerous compliments for this exemplary leaf vacuuming and snow removal.   If weather cooperates and leaf piles are not covered in snow, one and only one Highway truck will be used for vacuuming remaining leaf piles.  Please remember that Highway trucks circulate year-round picking up leaf bags and tied brush.  Please also remember that, except when allowed on posted street signs, that overnight parking is not permitted on Town roads until after April 1.  

Parks & Rec.’s popular Evergreen Holiday Centerpiece Workshop takes place from 1pm to 4:30pm on Wednesday, December 17 at the Parks & Rec. Office at 181 State Route 46, opposite the Tawasentha Park’s entrance.  It is a fun opportunity to create your own holiday centerpiece decorated with mixed greens, pinecones, berries and whatever else you desire. Please bring heavy-duty clippers, gloves and any ornaments you want to include.  Greens, pinecones, berries and candles will be provided. The event Registration deadline is Sunday, December 14.   Please contact the Parks & Rec. Office at (518) 456-3150.

Parks & Rec. has opened registration for its Winter Break Bonanza, a fun camp for children in grades 1 to 6 of tag games and activities like Jailbreak, Pins Down, Survivor, Seven-Base Kickball, Indoor Soccer, Basketball, and much more.   It takes place from Friday, December 26 through Wednesday, December 31 from 9am to 11am at Guilderland Elementary School.  

There are still a few openings for Saturday Morning Basketball for children in grades 3 to 5 at Farnsworth Middle School.  This activity is full for children in grades 1 and 2.  The program focuses on basketball fundamentals, with an emphasis on fun, teamwork, and sportsmanship, and uses a league format, with games taking place every Saturday morning. The program limits participants to maintain an optimal player-to-coach ratio and ensure quality instruction. The camp takes place on Saturdays from December 6 to February 7 from 9:30am to 11am, with no camp during the school break on December 27 or January 3.  

The Parks & Rec. Dept.’s 2026 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 March 27, 2026.  If you have any questions regarding banners, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

The Senior Services Department’s monthly newsletter has information about classes and seminars, upcoming trips, heating assistance program, medical and shopping transportation, a visiting author, fall crafts, legal aid, monthly meal calendar, games, and much more.  On Wednesdays from 11am to 1 pm, the Guilderland Public Library is the home for Seniors Connect!, where seniors can have a friendly chat on a wide-range of interesting topics.    

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

Community Events & Resources

The Albany County is looking for volunteers to defend the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail against bittersweet vines, an aggressive invasive species that is strangling native trees and shrubs.  The volunteer opportunities take place on Saturdays on December 6 and 13 from 10am to Noon, by meeting at the Albany County Rail Trail Pavilion at 30 Grove Street in Voorheesville.  Please dress for the weather, ticks, and poison plants. 

Tomorrow evening at 6pm, the Altamont Free Library and the community are celebrating a Lighting Ceremony at the Village Gazebo in Orsini Park.  At this ceremony, the names of loved ones, friends, or pets, who are remembered by the lights, will be read during the ceremony.