Despite today’s showers and cool weather, ground conditions have improved enough so that Western Turnpike Golf Course will open for the 2024 season tomorrow at noon. It is the best sign that spring weather has arrived. Town parks are also experiencing heavier usage, and are getting ready for summer recreational programs. Please take a look at the 2024 summer recreation program, which like Town parks, is seeing lots of early interest. More details are shared below.
Town News & Announcements
We are very pleased to announce that Western Turnpike Golf Course will open for the season at noon tomorrow. Both the golf course and driving range will open. The golf course will start its normal hours on Saturday, with an opening at 8am. Please visit the golf course’s webpage starting today to reserve tee times for outings on Saturday and thereafter. Time slots are quickly booked at the start of the season. Please remember that walking on cart paths must end for safety reasons. If you are new to golf or could use a refresher, PGA Professional Joe Lavigna is offering weekly adult classes for four consecutive weeks in May, June and July. The Hedge Bistro is also now open and ready with in-house and takeout options, including new menu items, with daily Texas BBQ.
The Highway Department’s removal of accumulated winter debris with front loaders will wrap up soon after making multiple pickups on most streets. Please make sure to place the accumulated debris at the edge of the road but not on the road’s paved surface, and do not block or place debris on stormwater drainage grates or ditches. Highway crews circulate all year picking-up lawn bags and tied branches in five-foot lengths.
On Tuesday night, the Town Board held a public hearing on a proposed six-month moratorium on larger residential development. The focus of the pause is to allow time for the Water Department to consider measures to address markedly increased water usage in the summer and allow the Planning Department to consider steps to promote affordable housing options.
At the meeting, the Town Board appointed Tim Downey as a Laborer II in the Parks & Recreation Department. Tim is also a certified arborist and will assist review boards and staff on land development issues involving trees. He will also provide helpful assistance to the Tree Preservation Committee.
Tonight at 7pm at the Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center, the Guilderland Historical Society is featuring a hands-on presentation by Stuart Lehman, a local historian, on the stereoscope or stereopticon, a device that provides left-eye and right-eye views of the same scene that combine to create a single three-dimensional image. The devices date to the early 1800’s, and allowed people to learn about geography and history.
On Saturday, April 27 from 10am to 2pm, National Drug Take Back Day will take place in the Guilderland Public Library’s auxiliary parking. Police officers will collect pre- bagged unneeded prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and pet medications. Please remember that no needles or sharp items are accepted. Also, on Saturday, April 27 from 10am to 2pm, the spring Recycling Extravaganza will take place in FMS’s front parking lot. You can drop off sneakers, bikes, cardboard, plastics, clothing, electronics (but not TVs), cell phones, and gently used instruments. Please take a look at the list of acceptable and unacceptable donations.
On Saturday, April 27 from 11am to 1pm, there are two volunteer efforts to help clean up public spaces. Clean Up Guilderland is a volunteer effort to pick up litter in public rights of ways and spaces, with pop-up orientation tents at The Star Plaza’s lot and Hilton’s Tru/Homewood Suites on Western Avenue. Volunteers will have a designated area to clean, bags, gloves, and bright colored t-shirts, with light snacks courtesy of Crossgates. Please contact Kathy Burbank, the event organizer, at kburbank01@gmail.com for more information. At the same day and time, the Parks & Rec Department is recognizing Arbor Day and Earth Day, with Help Clean Up Your Parks, Trails and Sidewalks, an opportunity to help clean up Town parks and other public spaces. You can contact Parks & Rec Director CJ Gallup for more information at gallupcj@togny.org.
With better weather, and more hikers and people in Town parks, please remember that dogs must be on a leash at all times in Town parks and open space. The only exceptions are the dog parks located at Nott Road Park and behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.
Parks & Rec’s next Bird Walk takes place on Sunday mornings from May 5 to June 9, except for Mother’s Day, May 12. Jeanette Roundy, a local bird expert, will lead the outings in the Town’s Community Gardens, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, and Schodack Island State Park. The program will use Ebird, a free downloadable app sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to keep track of bird species.
The registration for the 2024 Summer Camp is off to a strong start. To no one’s surprise, the Swifties Camp quickly reached capacity. There are over 100 sport camps, enrichment classes, and fun activities in this year’s camp brochure. The summer camp runs from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 9. There also opportunities for entry level summer camp counselors who must be at least 16 years old. While previous experience as a counselor-in-training, teacher, childcare, or related field is preferred, it is not required. There are also openings for lifeguards, lifeguard managers, and pool booth attendants at Tawasentha Park pool, and seasonal laborers.
A reminder that Parks & Rec is also offering a Pickleball class. You can learn the rapidly growing sport’s rules and basic skills, and also sharpen your beginning skills and strategies. Paddles and balls will be provided. The class will take place at Tawasentha Park, starting on Monday, June 5 to Friday, June 9, from 9am to 11am.
The Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s 2024 season opens on Thursday, June 20 at 7:30pm, with a performance by the Guilderland Town Band. The season’s nine concerts are on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, except for National Night Out’s concert at 6pm on Tuesday, August 6. Each concert will have food truck.
The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for a full-time Police Officer, Paramedic, Stormwater Management Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborers in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments,
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