June and more consistent summer weather has finally arrived, and the Town’s summer activities are already taking off, with the Tawasentha Pool opening for the season on June 15, the Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s season opening on June 20, and Parks & Recreation’s popular summer camp program on July 1. More details are shared below.

Town News & Announcements

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Town Board made several appointments in the Police Department including the promotion of Sergeant Matthew Egnor to Lieutenant and Officer Matthew McCaffrey to Sergeant, and the hiring of Matthew Iuorno, Steven Clermont, and Christian Cooper as Patrolmen. The public swearing-in ceremony for these appointments will take place at Town Hall on Friday, June 28 at 2pm.

The Town Board also authorized the flying of the Pride flag at Town Hall for the month of June. The flag recognizes that residents and visitors of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are welcome in our community. The flag was authorized after the Board adopted a resolution that requires Board approval and that, except for flags of the nation, state or town, the proposed flag commemorates events or observances supported, like with the Pride flag, by a proclamation by the President, Governor, or County Executive or appropriate legislative body.

On Friday, June 14 from Noon to 5pm at EMS Station 1 in Westmere, the American Red Cross is hosting its annual blood drive in memory of Richard W.O. Beebe, a teacher of a generation of emergency medical technicians and paramedics. You can sign up online and enter “Guilderland EMS” in the search box. I thank residents who showed up at the May 10^th blood drive at Town Hall when the blood drive collected 38 units, far more than the goal of 27 units.

You can sign up online for scheduled classes at Tawasentha Park’s adult exercise facility, including Functional Fitness, Functional Strength Training, Lifted Vision Community Yoga, Tai Chi, and Total Body Circuit. Please bring water and wear comfortable, breathable exercise clothing and sneakers. You can also use a free app available for tracking your use of the equipment.

The 2024 Summer Camp, which runs, rain or shine, from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 9, is approaching soon, with some offerings already full. The camp brochure details over 100 sports camps, enrichment classes, and fun activities.

Tawasentha Park’s pool and new splash pad will, weather permitting, open for the season in less than two weeks on Saturday, June 15. Public swim hours are weekdays from Noon to 7pm and weekends from 11:30am to 7pm. Adult lap swim is Monday through Thursday 11am to Noon, and weekends from 10am to 11:30am.

The Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s 2024 season opens in two weeks, with an opening performance by the Guilderland Town Band on Thursday, June 20 at 7:30pm. Big-n-Cheesy Grilled Cheese will have a food trailer at the event. The following week, The Matt Mirabile Band, will return with an evening of classic blues music. High on the Hog BBQ will have a food truck that night. GPAC’s season has nine concerts, all on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, except for National Night Out’s concert at 6pm on Tuesday, August 6. Each of the season’s performance will have a food truck vendor.

GPAC’s season will be supplemented this year, and hopefully more, by Park Playhouse Stage Company’s performances of The Marvelous Wonderettes on Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21 at 7:30pm, with an additional 4pm matinee on Saturday, July 20.

Western Turnpike Golf Course’s adult seminars taught by Golf Pro Joe Lavinga has options between one-hour sessions at 5pm or 6pm on Tuesday’s evenings in June, and at 6pm on Wednesday evenings in July. The next session of the PGA Jr. League for girls and boys, ages 7 to 13, that takes place from July 12 to August 9 is also available. WTRC’s webpage also has up-to-date tee time reservations.

The Hedge Bistro offers dining and takeout options, including a new BBQ offering. On this Saturday, June 8 starting at 5pm, the Hedge Bistro is hosting a charity event, with a dinner with Joe Ganniscoli, a/k/a Vito Spatafore from The Sopranos. There will be a question-and-answer opportunity with the actor, and 20 percent of the proceeds will be donated to local charities.

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Equipment Operator II, Police Officer, Paramedic, Stormwater Management Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments.

Community Events and Resources

Regal Cinemas at Crossgates has announced the return of its popular Summer Movie Express series. Starting on Tuesday, June 11 at 11am, the cinema will screen two kid-friendly flicks for $1 per ticket on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August 7. The double-bill showing on June 11 and 12 is “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”

A reminder that Guilderland Chamber of Commerce’s Seasons of Guilderland passport in support of local businesses. With the support of a generous grant from Albany County, more than 40 businesses are participating and encourages you to visit wide-ranging venues in our community where you can have a passport stamped. The passports are available at the Chamber’s offices at Hone Coworks, 300 Great Oaks Blvd, Suite 300 and the participating businesses.

The Guilderland Public Library’s monthly events calendar has interesting activities for all ages, including on Sunday, June 9 from 2pm to 3:30pm, a performance by The Finger Lakes Guitar Quartet, which plays music spanning several centuries, and virtual talk on Thursday, June 13 from 8pm to 9:15pm by Freida McFadden, the author of The Housemaid series and her upcoming third installment, The Housemaid Is Watching, coming out on June 11.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s month long Lupine Fest may be over, but the Preserve’s summer calendar is full of activities for children and adults, including a Father’s Day hike on Sunday, June 16 at 11am, an easy 0.9 mile walk along the blue trail in the Karner Barrens. The Preserve is also hosting “Nature Night Out” on Wednesday, July 17, when you can enjoy live music and a meal from food truck vendors, take a Story Walk along the trail, and learn more about the natural and cultural history of the Pine Bush with interactive Discovery Center exhibits. The Discovery Center will be opened until 7:30pm to take advantage of longer sunlit hours.

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s Loving Your Land Workshops continues with All About Birds, a seminar about techniques for grassland bird management tomorrow Friday, June 7 from 10am to Noon at the Bender Melon Farm Preserve in New Scotland. As of June 1, MHLC’s offices have moved from Delmar to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s Discovery Center on the second floor.

The Guilderland YMCA’s calendar is full of health and fitness programs. The YMCA is hosting a Brooks BBQ on Thursday, June 20 from 3pm to 6pm for its Rise Up for a Stronger Community Annual Support Campaign.

A reminder that Community Caregivers is seeking volunteers who are interested in helping older neighbors with friendly calls, visits, transportation to medical appointments, and grocery shopping. With your assistance, clients can remain independent and stay in their homes. If you are interested in volunteering, please call (518) 456-2898 or email izzy@communitycaregivers.org. On Monday, June 17, Community Caregivers is also holding its 20th annual golf tournament at the Pinehaven Country Club, and is looking for sponsors and golfers. Please contact Linda Bourgeois at lbourgeois1@verizon.net for more information. The event is a prime source of funding for this non-profit’s work in our community.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor

Town News & Announcements

Upcoming Meetings at Town Hall

Community Events and Resources