It is a very quiet time of year here, with the wrapping up of the remaining year, and getting ready for the next year, with new leadership in several departments.  While our recent weather ensured snow on Christmas, it was not enough for outdoor winter recreation.  Town parks and open space are open for winter hiking, and when sufficient snow arrives, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing will be available.  More details are below.  

Town News & Announcements

The Parks & Recreation Department 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 can 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.

To help you stay active this winter, the Parks & Rec is keeping open Tawasentha, Keenholts, DiCaprio, and Nott Road Parks for daytime use.  Western Turnpike Golf Course is now also open for walkers on cart paths.  When measurable snow finally arrives (not likely soon, given the 7-day forecast), Town parks and Vosburgh Trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, with groomed trails at the golf course.  Sledding is available at the Winter Recreation Area just past Tawasentha Park.  Nordic ski and snowshoe rentals are available at the Parks & Rec Office.

Please remember that dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, including in Town parks and golf course, with the exception of the dog parks at Nott Road Park and behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.  While you may know that your dog is friendly, the Parks & Rec receives complaints from park patrons who are confronted by unleashed dogs while enjoying time with their family and children.  

Highway Department trucks will soon start picking-up discarded former living (not fake) Christmas trees.  Because the trees are recycled, please do not wrap the trees in plastic, and remove tinsel, ornaments, etc.  Please remember that Highway trucks pick-up lawn bags and tied brush on a year-round basis.    

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. 

The Town Board’s 2025 organizational meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 7 at 7:00pm.  At that meeting, the Town Board will approve the tentative meeting calendars for boards and committees which will then be added to the Town’s calendar of public meetings.

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 opened 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 tomorrow at 11am, Owl Investigation, an indoor program where you can learn about the owls that live in the Preserve and the signs they leave behind.   On Saturday, December 28 at 11am, the Preserve is hosting Discover the Pine Bush, when the Preserve’s experts will guide you on an 0.9-mile hike over rolling sand dunes and you can learn more about the Preserve’s natural history and seasonal surprises and transformations.

The Guilderland Public Library’s upcoming calendar includes on Saturday, January 11 at 11am, Realm Explorers, a book club that meets on Saturday mornings to discuss science fiction and fantasy novels. This month’s book is The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. 
A copy of the book is at the Library’s Information Desk, while supplies last, or borrow a digital copy from Libby. 

I was very pleased to have joined staff and supporters of the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy last Friday for the opening and inaugural hiking of trails in MHLC’s Upper Bozen Kill Preserve, a 225-acre property at the end of Bond Road.  The trails are now open to the public, and include over 4 miles of trails that connect to the existing trail system at the Lower Bozen Kill Preserve.  The total trails are nearly 6 miles.  You can access the new entrance to the Upper Bozen Kill Preserve by continuing north on Westfall Road past the existing Lower Bozen Kill Preserve entrance and turn left on Bond Rd.  A parking lot and preserve kiosk is located at the end of the road. 

On Saturday, February 15 at 10am, the MHLC 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. 

For over 40 years, volunteers at the Guilderland Food Pantry have devoted countless hours collecting food donations, making home deliveries, preparing backpack meals for schoolchildren, and distributing holiday food baskets with the singular goal of ending food insecurity in our community.  If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the volunteer form and email it to guildfoodpantry79@gmail.com or call the Pantry at (518) 930-1001. 

You can also help by making a donation online, mailing it to Guilderland Food Pantry P.O. Box 7, Guilderland NY 12084, or dropping it off at the Pantry at 4 Charles Park, Albany, NY  12203.  The Pantry also welcomes donations of non-perishable food items at the Pantry or by direct delivery from Amazon.   

The Food Pantry is also accepting redeemable bottles and cans which the Pantry brings to Hannaford in CLYNK bags and receives refunds deposited into its account.  After regular hours, you can drop them off in the regular donation box. The Food Pantry has returned over 14,000 bottles and cans, with proceeds supporting its programs.

I hope that you have an enjoyable and relaxing New Year’s holiday.

The Transfer Station will be closed at 11:30am and Town Hall will be closed at 12:30pm on New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.  

I thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor