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

The Town’s Senior Services Department’s February's newsletter has information about classes and seminars, tax preparation assistance, trips, medical and shopping transportation, next month’s book discussion, legal aide, monthly meal 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.

Parks & Rec is now accepting applications for summer positions including camp counselors, lifeguards, lifeguard manager, and pool booth attendants.  There are also seasonal laborer positions at the golf course and parks maintenance.  Applications are due by Tuesday, April 15, and interviews will take place in May.   Salaries depend on position.   Please contact the Parks & Recreation office at 518-456-3150, between 8am and 3:30pm on weekdays with any questions.

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. 

Community Events & Resources

Tomorrow from 3:30pm to 5:30pm, the Guilderland YMCA is holding a Brooks Barbeque fundraiser to benefit YMCA's Annual Rise Up for a Better Community campaign.  As of Noon today, you can pre-order meals and pick-up your order in a drive-thru. 

On Thursday, February 20, the Guilderland Historical Society will be meeting at the Guilderland Public Library.  It will start with a public business meeting at 1:15pm.  At 2pm, Town Historian Mary Ellen Johnson will present “The Army Depot During World War II” about the former use of the Northeastern Industrial Park in Guilderland Center.  The Town Historian will share firsthand recollections of people who worked at the army facility.  Don Rittner, Co-Chair of the Town’s 250th American Revolution Anniversary Committee, will provide an update on the Committee’s plans and efforts.

Please be advised that the 30-day annual review period for Albany County Agricultural Districts began on February 1 and allows property owners who have predominantly viable agricultural land to be included in a certified Agricultural District.  Landowners interested in adding a parcel to one of the County’s Agricultural Districts must complete an Agricultural District Review Worksheet.   If you have any questions, please check out the County’s website.  

Community Caregivers, which offers wide-ranging services and support for seniors and their supporters, has a new virtual education series that is designed to support caregivers.  The plan is to offer new topics.  Among its services, Community Caregivers’ volunteers provide respite time for persons caring for loved ones.  You can help with this mission by volunteering your time and/or making donations.

The Guilderland Public Library’s upcoming calendar includes on Tuesday, February 11 from 7pm to 8:15pm, the Library will present Dystopian Tropes from an Indigenous Perspective, when bestselling author Waubgeshig Rice will have a virtual chat about his newest book Moon of the Turning Leaves.  On Saturday, February 9 from 10 am to Noon, the Library is hosting the 3^rd annual “Shower Them With Love” event when you drop off hygiene products for local youth for distribution by The Caring Closet.   

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s winter calendar includes tomorrow at 11am, Winter Walk, when, during an 0.9-mile hike, to learn more about how the Preserve’s unique plant and animal species survive the winter by observing signs of animal activity and identifying plants that have lost their leaves.  If necessary, snowshoes will be provided.  

On Sunday, February 9 at 8am, the Preserve is hosting Get Ready for the Backyard Bird Count! Winter Birds ID and Walk, when you can learn about watching birds in your backyard or park and how to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, sponsored by the Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, from Friday, February 14 to Monday, February 17.  You will also learn about which birds are year-round residents and learn names and sounds of birds to help with the Great Backyard Bird Count. 

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy has opened 4-miles of trails in its Upper Bozen Kill Preserve, a 225-acre property at the end of Bond Road.  The new trail system also connects 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.  The trail system is open year-round, and given its elevation, often, like this week, has sufficient snow for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.  

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.

The New York State Library’s calendar of public programs includes, on Tuesday, February 18 from 1pm to 2pm, A Protest History of the United States, an online talk by Professor Gloria Browne-Marshall about the history of protest movements and rebellion in the United States.   On Friday, February 28, from Noon to 1pm, the State Library is sponsoring an onsite walking tour of the State Library’s Local History and Genealogy Resources, including published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution records, United States and New York State Census records, newspapers on microfilm, and city directories.

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, February 17 for Presidents’ Day.  The Transfer Station will also be closed on Tuesday, February 18.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.