With the new school year starting next week, please be mindful of children waiting for or darting around while waiting for their school bus. The draft Comprehensive Plan Update and the draft Americans with Disabilities Transition Plan will be discussed at public hearings in the next month. The Town’s popular Household Hazardous Waste Day is coming up. More details are shared below.

Town News & Announcements

Please remember that, with the start of the new school year, it is illegal to pass a school bus with its stop sign extended and lights flashing. It applies in every setting including four-lane highways and parking lots. Albany County is again working with local school districts by providing cameras on school busses to enforce this safety rule. In one month last year, there were over 1,500 incidents of illegal passing on Western Avenue east of State Route 155.

On Tuesday, September 10 at 7pm, the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee will hold a public hearing on the draft plan. Written comments on the draft plan can also be mailed or dropped off at the Planning Department at Town Hall or online on the plan’s webpage. On Thursday, October 10 at 7pm, the CPUC will meet to consider the public comments and possible revisions to the draft plan.

On Tuesday, October 1 at 7pm, the Town Board will hold a public hearing on the draft Town of Guilderland ADA Transition Plan, the result of an 18-month review and the rating of the Town-maintained sidewalks. You can provide comments at the public hearing or, in writing, to the Planning Department or online. Copies of the draft ADA plan are also available for review at Town Hall and Guilderland Public Library.

The draft plan includes proposed steps to address issues. State DOT is currently working on ADA upgrades for sidewalks ramps on Western Avenue from State Route 155 to State Route 146 (Carman Road).

On Monday, September 9 at 11am at Town Hall, please join the Guilderland Garden Club for “The Art of Bonsai" presented by Dave Hodgetts, Vice President of the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society. You will have the chance to learn about the art of bonsai, its origins and history, and the elements of a bonsai display.

On Saturday, October 12 from 8am to 2pm, the Town is hosting the 2024 Fall Household Hazardous Waste Day at the Highway garage. A reminder that the event will not start until 8am because there is no street parking, insufficient parking space on-site, and the DEC-certified contractor, who oversees the event, will start at 8am. No pre-registration or event passes are required; just bring proof of Town residency, like a driver’s license or tax bill, or have a yellow-colored sticker for Town parks and Transfer Station.

Please consider the helpful information sheet on safety procedures, and the lists of acceptable and non-acceptable materials. Please help the Town reduce the cost of this event by not discarding latex paint cans. More than a year ago, the State adopted a new paint care law under which you can bring your paint cans to local vendors for proper disposal.

A reminder that you still have the opportunity to comment online through tomorrow on the Town’s next sidewalk project which, next year, will complete the sidewalk on Carman Road from Western Avenue to Old State Road, and a new sidewalk on East Old State Road from Carman Road to Hillview Drive. This project extends the pedestrian link for more residential neighborhoods to reach Lynnwood Elementary School, Vosburgh Open Space, and shopping, restaurants, and services. You can learn more about the project by watching the presentation by the project’s consultant, CHA Consulting, Inc. and the project’s maps.

The Tawasentha Park pool is open through the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The swimming hours are weekdays from Noon to 7pm, and weekends from 11:30am to 7pm, with adult lap swimming on Monday through Thursday from 11am to Noon and on weekends from 10am to 11:30am.

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

Community Events & Resources

On Friday, September 6 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 t-shirt for donors.

On Saturday, September 21, the University at Albany and the NYS Writers Institute are hosting the Annual Albany Book Festival. The festival involves a wide-ranging list of local and regional authors, local publishers, and literary organizations.

The Guilderland Public Library’s monthly events calendar has interesting activities for all ages, including on Saturday, September 7, from 9:30am to 2pm, the Library is hosting a Crafts Fair. If you are interested in participating as a vendor, the Library has shared an application.

On Thursday, September 19, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, the Guilderland Food Pantry is holding “A Taste of Guilderland” for its 45th 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.

On Sunday, September 8 from 11am to 3pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension is sponsoring Family Farm Day at the Patroon Land Farm located at 132 Ketcham Road in Voorheesville. The Farm is operated by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. This free event will take place, rain or shine, with the opportunity for a hands-on farm experience, farm tours, food vendors, music and activities.

State DOT is completing its ADA modifications on sidewalks, curbing repairs, and stormwater improvements at intersections along Route 20 (Western Avenue) from State Route 155 to State Route 146 (Carman Road). DOT has also started milling the same stretch, and with the follow-up of starting paving the week after Labor Day. The project remains scheduled for completion in mid-September. There will be weekday single lane closures on eastbound Route 20 from 10am to 6pm and westbound from 6am to 2pm.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s upcoming summer calendar includes Turtle Time, tomorrow at 2pm; Naturalist Walk on Saturday, August 17 at 11am, and Discover the Pine Bush at Karner Barrens , on Monday, September 2 at 1pm.

Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s summer events calendar includes on Sunday, September 8, from 7:30pm to 9pm, Owl Prowl at the Bozen Kill Preserve when hike guide and nature educator George Steele will explore the preserve at dusk and learn all about owls and other birds that make their homes there.

On Saturday, September 14 from 10am to 2pm, the Helderberg Reformed Church in Guilderland Center is hosting a church yard sale.

A reminder that NYS Parks’ Get Offline, Get Outside program which offers free pool or beach access at State parks this summer is continuing. You can find a state pool or beach near you on State Parks’ swimming interactive map of freshwater lakes, salty ocean waters, Olympic-sized swimming pools, and other aquatic offerings.

For another week, the CDC again is finding a summer surge in COVID-19, with rates growing or likely growing in 27 states, but now likely stable in New York State. Since last week’s email, CDC has approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season. In response to increasing infection rates, the Federal government will soon revive its program that allows residents to order four free at-home COVID-18 tests for free delivery by the Post Office. The opportunity to register for the program will not start until late September. The program had ended on March 9.

Town Hall will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 2, and the Transfer Station will also be closed on Tuesday, September 3.

I hope that you have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday weekend.

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 & Resources