Happy Holidays

2024 Happy Holidays

Our recent roller coaster weather is on a down course, with this season’s coldest weather arriving this weekend, and possible light snow. Town parks and open space are open for winter hiking, and when snow arrives, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing will be available.  More details are below.  

Town News & Announcements

The Parks & Recreation Department’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 a variety of games such as Jailbreak, Pins Down, Survivor, Seven-Base Kickball, Indoor Soccer, Basketball and more.   

Parks & Rec will open booking for 2025 rentals of Tawasentha Park’s pavilions on Thursday, January 2 at 8am on a first-come, first-served basis.  Walk-in reservations (with payment) will take priority over phone, faxed or emailed reservation requests (with payment).  To request booking a pavilion, please submit a completed Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules and required payment (credit card, check or cash) to the Town of Guilderland. You drop off the required forms or mail them to Guilderland Parks & Recreation Department at 181 State Route 146, Altamont, NY 12009, or faxed to 518-456-3156.   You can view the availability calendar for Tawasentha Park Pavilion Rentals.

The Highway Department’s schedule for vacuuming leave piles has ended for the season, with last week’s scheduled pick-up and is now wrapping up one last Town-wide sweep.   All trucks required for winter duties have been converted.  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.  

Winter hiking is available at Town parks and open space, and on the cart paths at Western Turnpike Golf Course.  Should sufficient snow arrive, the golf course will have snowshoeing and groomed cross-country skiing.   The Parks & Recreation Department has snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals.  

On Friday, January 3 from Noon to 5pm, the American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at Town Hall.   While supplies last, the Red Cross will give an exclusive long-sleeved American Red Cross T-shirt to donors.  

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 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.

Town Board (2025 Organizational meeting)

Tuesday, January 7

 

Planning Board

Wednesday, January 8 (tentative)  

 

Zoning Board of Appeals 

Wednesday, January 15 (tentative)   

 

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, January 13 (tentative)

 

Town Board

Tuesday, January 21 (tentative)

 

Planning Board

Wednesday, January 22 (tentative)

 

Industrial Development Agency

Tuesday, January 28 (tentative)

Community Events & Resources

The registration for the Guilderland Central School District’s Winter/Spring 2024-25 continuing/adult education program opens on Monday, December 23. You can register online or by mailing registration forms and payment.   You can learn more about the program’s wide-variety of upcoming classes. Registration ends on Friday, January 3. 

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s fall calendar is full of activities, including on Monday, December 23 at 10am, Photos and Frost, when you can enjoy an 0.9 mile and learn the difference between frost and snow, and tips and tricks on how to photograph ice crystals, snow, and things covered in frost.  No special equipment is needed, and snowshoes will be provided if necessary.   On Thursday, December 26, the Preserve is sponsoring Annual Cookie Burner Hike, a 2.6- mile hike over rolling terrain to work off cookies and holiday treats.  If there is snow, you will snowshoe about one-mile, with snowshoes provided.  

The Guilderland Public Library has several interesting events, including this Sunday, December 22 at 2pm, when Suburban Sounds Community Chorus presents its annual holiday concert.  

The Altamont Free Library’s calendar has events for all ages, including Yoga Storytime on Saturday, December 21 from 9am to 10am, when you can learn more about yoga with yoga instructor and Library trustee Christine Carpenter.  The program is designed for kids ages 4 through 8 and their adults and no yoga experience is needed. Signup is required by calling (518) 861-7239 or emailing staff@altamontfreelibrary.org.

On Saturday, February 15 at 10am, the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is hosting Winter Wildlife Tracking, when Dan Yacobellis, a certified Level 3 Track & Sign facilitator, who has studied the animals of the northeast and their habitats for three decades, will lead a hike at the 208-acre Winn Preserve in Altamont. 

Community Caregivers needs your help in providing essential services ranging from driving residents to medical appointments and shopping, providing respite time for persons caring for loved ones, assistance with paperwork, visitation, lunchtime chats, and more helpful services.  You can help your community by volunteering your time and/or making donations.

Town Hall will be closed at 12:30pm on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, and again at 12:30pm on New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor

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5209 Western Tpk., Guilderland, New York, 12084

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