I thank the Highway Department staff for clearing snow from Town roads over Thanksgiving holiday.  I received more than a dozen appreciative comments for their professional work in keeping our roads clear.  Highway crews are now resuming their schedule for vacuuming accumulated leaf piles.  More details are below.  

Town News & Announcements

The Parks & Recreation’s annual Evergreen Holiday Centerpiece Workshop takes place this year on Tuesday, December 17 between 1pm and 5pm.  It is a fun opportunity to create your own holiday centerpiece decorated with mixed greens, pine cones, berries, candles (all of which are provided), and anything else that you would like to add.  You will need to bring gloves and heavy-duty clippers.  Please make sure to arrive before 4:30pm at the Parks & Rec. office at 181 State Route 146, across from Tawasentha Park’s entrance.  The deadline for registering is Sunday, December 15, with a $20 charge for materials to make one centerpiece.  You can also call (518) 456-3150 or stop by the Parks & Rec. office.  

The Parks & Rec.’s popular Winter Break Fun & Games returns over the Christmas holiday for children in grades 1 to 6.  This activity takes place at Guilderland Elementary School’s gym on Thursday, December 26; Friday, December 27; Monday, December 30; and Tuesday, December 31, from 9am to 11am.   After warm-up tag games, there will be games such as Jailbreak, Pins Down, Survivor, Seven-Base Kickball, Indoor Soccer, Basketball and more.   

Despite the recent heavy snow, the Highway Department is resuming its remaining scheduled vacuuming of leave piles by using loaders, with some personnel using rakes and blowers.  The last scheduled day is Wednesday, December 13.  Depending on the weather, the goal is one last pickup town-wide.   Nearly all trucks have been converted to snow and ice removal.  Please note that Highway crews circulate year-round to pick-up lawn bags, discarded Christmas trees, and tied brush.  Please remember to remove obstructions, like basketball hoops, from the paved surface, and remember that, except when allowed on posted street sign, no overnight parking is permitted on Town roads from November 1 to April 1.  

On Tuesday, December 10 at 7pm, the Police Department is hosting a Guilderland Neighborhood Watch meeting at EMS Station 1, 200 Centre Drive, behind the Westmere Fire Department firehouse.   It will be an opportunity for residents to meet other residents about crime prevention in their communities.  

With the season’s closing of the Western Turnpike Golf Course, the cart paths are now open for walking.  It has proven very popular since the cart paths were open off-season during the pandemic and continued thereafter.    Should sufficient snow arrive, the course will have snowshoeing and groomed cross-country skiing.   

The Town’s 2025 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 February 28, 2025.  If you have any questions regarding banners, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

The Town’s Senior Services Department’s December newsletter has information about classes and seminars, trips, medical and shopping transportation, book discussions, legal aide, community meals calendar, games, and much more.   Every Wednesday from 11am to 12:30pm, the Guilderland Public Library is the home for Senior Connects!, where seniors can have a friendly chat on a wide-range of interesting topics.  The prior topics included home downsizing, senior resources, hobbies, books, movies, favorite day trips, and local events.  No registration is required.

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Payroll Specialist, Automotive Mechanic I, Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments.

Upcoming Meetings at Town Hall

The following is a list of dates and times for currently scheduled meetings of boards and committees at Town Hall over the next 30 days.  Please check the Town’s calendars for the latest news about public meetings and community events, possible changes in agendas and cancellations, and the latest contents of agenda packets.  Unless stated otherwise, each of the listed meetings start at 7pm, and are livestreamed on the Town website, Verizon channel 34, and Spectrum channel 1303.  Within days of the meeting, an indexed recording, with links to each listed agenda item, is also posted online.

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, December 9 (cancelled)

Town Board

Tuesday, December 10

Planning Board

Wednesday, December 11

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, December 18 (cancelled)

Town Board (2025 Organizational meeting)

Tuesday, January 7