Opening Remarks

Another week, and another miss on a winter storm, as we enter the historically snowiest time period.  Not much is forecasted in the next ten days.  Please note that scheduled activities during the upcoming school break week, including the Annual Snowshoe Clinic, will be held even if there is no snow.  More details are below.      

Town News & Announcements

This past Monday, residents had the opportunity to attend the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee’s public open house to share comments on draft recommendations for the plan’s topics, including Agriculture; Business, Employment, and Fiscal Resources; Environment, Climate Change, and Resiliency; Neighborhoods and Housing; Parks, Recreation and Historic Resources; and Transportation and Mobility.  The meeting was well-attended, with comments collected for consideration in the next stage of further refining the goals and recommendations.  You can learn more about this CPUC’s work on its website and also watch the meeting when the CPUC considered the goals and recommendations submitted by the six subcommittees.  The CPUC’s next public meeting is Tuesday, March 12 at 7pm at Town Hall. 

Earlier today, I presented my 2024 State of the Town with details on this year’s progressive agenda including the updating of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, planned improvements in Town parks, efforts to further promote pedestrian safety and non-motorized connectivity, responding to climate change, addressing water capacity issues during summer months, promoting public safety with investments in dispatch consoles, new EMS ambulance station, and fire training facility, and continuing to improve the community’s quality of life.  The PowerPoint presentation used at the address will be posted on the Town website.   

A reminder that the Annual Snowshoe Clinic takes place this Sunday, February 18 from 9am to 10am at Tawasentha Park.  The event will be held regardless of the lack of snow.  While there is no charge for the event, please register in advance.  You can bring your own snowshoes or rent a pair for $5.  Albany Running Exchange will have an instructor who will provide tricks for walking or running in snowshoes.  You are welcome to snowshoe around Tawasentha Park.  The Albany Running Exchange is also sponsoring the Brave the Blizzard 5K Snowshoe Race, which offers participants a low key and fun opportunity to try out snowshoeing.  If there is insufficient snow, the event is held as a trail run.  

Parks & Rec’s February Break Fun-N-Games program for children in grades 1 thru 6 takes place during the upcoming school break from Tuesday, February 20 to Friday, February 23.  The program takes place at Guilderland Elementary School from 9am to 11am, and includes warm-up tag games followed by games such as Jailbreak, Pins Down, Survivor, Basketball, Seven-Base Kickball, Indoor Soccer and more. You have until tomorrow to register online for this popular program or call (518) 456-3150, if you have any questions. 

Parks & Rec has opened registration opportunities for entry level summer camp counselors for the 2024 summer camp.  You must be 16 years of age and older, and while previous experience as a counselor-in-training, teacher, childcare, or related field is preferred, it is not required.  The 2024 summer camp will take place daily in the mornings from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 9.  Parks & Rec is also accepting applications for lifeguards, lifeguard managers, and pool booth attendants at Tawasentha Park pool, and seasonal laborers in Parks & Rec.   

Parks & Rec has opened reservations for Tawasentha Parks’ pavilions for the 2024 season.  Walk-in reservations (with payment) will take priority over phone, faxed or emailed reservation requests.  A Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules form must be submitted with payment and a signed Know the Rules form. To request booking a pavilion, residents must submit the Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules and full payment to the Town. Forms can be dropped off or mailed to the Guilderland Parks & Recreation Department at 181 State Route 146, Altamont, NY 12009, or faxed to 518-456-3156.  

Please remember that dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, including in Town parks, with the exception of the Nott Road dog park and the new dog park behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.  While you may know that your dog is friendly, the Parks & Rec receives complaints from park patrons who are confronted by unleashed dogs while enjoying Town parks with their family and children. 

Tawasentha, Keenholts, DiCaprio, and Nott Road Parks are open for daytime use for the winter season.  Western Turnpike Golf Course is now also open for walkers on cart paths.  Not enough snow this week to groom cross-country trails at the golf course.  When sufficient snow arrives, snowshoeing trails and cross-country skiing is available at the golf course, Town parks and Vosburgh Open Space trails. Sledding is available at the Winter Recreation Area just past Tawasentha Park.  Please check out the Parks & Rec’s webpage for latest conditions.  You can also rent cross-country skis and snowshoes, and pickleball equipment (paddle and balls), at the Parks & Rec Office during business hours.

The due date for participating in 2024 Hometown Heroes Banner Program is Friday, March 1.   The program recognizes active duty and veteran service members, both living and deceased.  Each banner will honor a specific current or former Guilderland serviceperson and will include her or his name, branch or service, and photo. 

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for the position of full-time Building Maintenance Mechanic in the Building Maintenance Department, Stormwater Management Officer, and Telecommunicator. 

A reminder that Town offices will be closed for Presidents Day on this coming Monday, February 19.  The Transfer Station will also be closed on Tuesday, February 20.

Covid-19 Update

The CDC reported this week that hospitalizations nationwide decreased over the past week by 10.0% and that the death rate decreased by 6.1%.   The CDC’s current map shows that Albany County remains at a “medium” rate, and neighboring counties, including Schenectady, Saratoga, and Washington have returned to “medium” rate from a “high” rate last week.    

It was reported this week that the CDC is considering changing its recommendations for how persons should isolate after testing positive for COVID.  The proposed guidelines would no longer advise a five-day isolation before returning to work or school, and would advise a return if the positive person is fever free for at least 24 hours without medication.  It is the same standard for the flu and respiratory viruses.

A reminder that the Federal government has expanded its program under which you can receive by mail free at-home COVID-19 tests.  The program now allows for eight home tests per household which means that if you recently placed an order for four tests, you can now order four additional tests at no cost.  

Community Events and Resources

The Guilderland Historical Society’s meeting tonight is cancelled in anticipation of inclement weather.  The program on the Great Western Turnpike’s importance in the Town’s development and other communities will be scheduled for a future meeting.     

DEC’s first Free Fishing Days of 2024 takes place this weekend when a fishing license is not required on Saturday, February 17 or Sunday, February 18.  DEC is urging newcomers to fishing to give ice fishing a try, with a reminder of wearing warm clothes, an auger/spud (to cut through the ice), ice scoop, jigging rod and some bait.  But, with variable temperatures, please check ice thickness and continue monitoring it while on the ice.  DEC has ice safety tips and “How to” video series on beginning ice fishing.  

A reminder that the Albany Pine Bush Preserve is inviting the public to wide-ranging special guided programs and outings in February. The Preserve’s website contains all the details about this opportunity to explore nighttime in the Preserve, including geologic history, plants, animals, restoration, human influence, scientific research and protection of the Preserve.  The website also has videos about local wildlife, storytelling, community history and more, and also photography tutorials, downloadable activities and nature craft instructions.  The Preserve is also offering a free Discover the Night activity kit for pick up, while supplies last, from February 19 to 25 at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road in Albany.  More information about Discover the Night, trails and other programs is available at www.AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.

The Preserve has also shared its Community Science opportunities for volunteers in the upcoming year.  These important engagement activities help the Preserve to fulfill its mission of learning more about our changing environment and further understanding of the Preserve’s fragile ecology.  Volunteering opportunities include surveying for rare birds, measuring snow packs, identifying invasive species, and much more.    

The Preserve’s January calendar is full of activities for children and adults, including FrogWatch Volunteer Training online on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30pm, when you can learn to listen for and report frogs and toads calling in the Preserve from March through August in the Preserve’s study area.  Participants will be trained to become certified FrogWatchers.

Albany County Soil & Water Conservation District has released its 2024 Tree and Shrub Newsletter, which lists the wide-variety of plants, shrubs, fruit trees, berries, conifers, ground covers, seedlings and transplants, and other interesting items available for order and pickup.  The order deadline is April 1.  

The Guilderland Public Library’s calendar includes seminars on interesting topics and conversations with well-known authors.  The Library also offers free weekly gatherings for the community’s benefit including Let’s Talk: Coffee & Conservation for Seniors on every Wednesday from 11am to 12:30pm, with coffee, tea, snacks, and lunch available at the Café’ con Mel, the Library’s café.   The Library’s events calendar also has LEGO Free Play, Teen Drop-In DIY, and other interesting group activities.   

The New York State Library’s February calendar is full of free and informative seminars and programs, online and in-person, on wide-ranging topics, and also walking tours. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor