With August at its mid-point, GPAC’s season ending tonight, and the Altamont Fair taking place this week, there is a feeling that the summer season is ending soon.   However, we just had another stretch of daytime highs in the low 90s, and beautiful weather if forecasted for this weekend.  It is a perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities.  More details are shared below. 

Town News & Announcements

The Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s 2025 concert series ends tonight at 7:30pm, with a performance by Hey Jude, a Beatles tribute show.  Big D's BBQ is this evening’s food truck.   Tonight’s concert concludes a very successful and diverse season that included very well-attended performances of Oklahoma! by the Park Playhouse Stage Company.

Parks & Rec’s remaining summer schedule has several offerings including Chinese and Italian Renaissances Archaeology classes.  Tawasentha Park’s pool is scheduled to remain open until the end of August.  It is open weekdays from Noon to 7 pm, and weekends from 11:30am to 7pm.  Adult lap swimming takes place on Monday thru Thursday from 11am to Noon, and on weekends from 10am to 11:30am.  Lap lanes are available on a first come, first serve basis. 

A reminder that Water Department is now replacing about 9,500 water meters.  The first batch of letters was mailed to homes in McKownville, the Fort Hunter area west of Carmen road, and the lower part of Willow Street, with installations starting on Monday, September 8.  The next batch includes homes east of Route 155, with installations starting in early October, and the last batch for the remainder of the Town, with installations starting in November.  At the scheduled appointment time, the technician will also need cleared space to access the meter.   While the appointment will be scheduled for a four-hour window, the installation should take about 30 minutes, with a brief break in water service.  

Please remember that, with recent dry weather, the watering of lawns is restricted to times when overall water usage is low.  The Town’s summer water usage restrictions, which are in effect until September 15, help maintain adequate water capacity and pressure in homes, businesses, and fire hydrants.  The use of automatic underground sprinklers is only allowed from 1am and 4:30am on odd days for properties with odd numbered street addresses and on even days for properties with even numbered addresses.  For above-ground manually placed sprinklers and hand-held sprinklers, the water use is restricted to 6:30am and 8:30am and 6:30pm and 8:30pm on odd days for properties with odd numbered street addresses and on even days for properties with even numbered addresses.  There are no water restrictions for hand-held sprinkling of non-commercial vegetable and flower gardens.  Please contact the Water Department before filling a swimming pool.   

Please remember that, in all Town parks and open spaces, dogs must be on a leash at all times.  Your dog may be very friendly, but hikers and park patrons do not know that and the presence of an unleashed dog can be disconcerting.   The exceptions to this rule are the Town’s two dog parks at Nott Road Park and behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.   

On Saturday, September 13 from 10am to 2pm at Tawasentha Park, the Town is hosting a rabies clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets.   The event is free but donations are greatly appreciated.  The clinic is sponsored by Albany County Department of Health and the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.

The Senior Services Department’s newsletter has information about classes and seminars,   tax preparation assistance, trips, medical and shopping transportation, legal aide, monthly meal calendar, games, and much more.  On Wednesdays 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 Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates interested in applying for the fulltime position of Court Scheduling Liaison in the Town Court. Because this position is covered by the Hiring Emergency Limited Placement (HELP) Program, candidates will not have to take an exam for this title.  More information about the HELP program may be found on the Albany County Civil Service website.   The Town is also accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for 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, and broadcasted on Verizon channel 34, and Spectrum channel 1303. Within days of a broadcasted meeting, an indexed recording, with links to each listed agenda item, is also posted online.

Town Board

Tuesday, August 19

American Revolution 250^th Anniversary Committee

Wednesday, August 20 at 3pm (not broadcasted)

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, August 20

Industrial Development Agency

Monday, August 26

Planning Board

Wednesday, August 27

Town Board

Tuesday, September 2

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, September 3

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, September 8

Planning Board

Wednesday, September 10

Community Events & Resources

UAlbany is welcoming back its 17,000+ students for the fall semester with several public events, including a movie night for families at the Uptown Campus (State Quad field) on this Saturday, August 16 at 8:30pm.  The featured film is Despicable Me 4, with a rain location indoors in Lecture Center 7.  On Wednesday, August 20 at 9pm, UAlbany is hosting its annual Candle Lighting Ceremony at Collins Circle, followed by a fireworks display. 

The Guilderland Public Library’s upcoming calendar includes on Thursday, August 28 from 2pm to 3pm, How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos, a virtual discussion by psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich with a talk about her newest book, Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos (And why resilience alone isn’t enough).  On Saturday, September 7 from 2pm to 3pm, the Library is hosting a performance by Mark Hecker on popular songs by Woodie Guthrie, Phil Ochs and others about social justice. 

The Guilderland Public Library’s Long-Range Planning process is underway, and has created a survey for your feedback.  You can share what you value most about the library, as well as ideas for improvements or new services, and to help shape the library’s future. The survey is also available at the Library for your convenience. 

The Altamont Free Library also is also creating a new Long-Range Plan of Service that relies, in part, on a brief and anonymous survey on whether you use the Library, how you use it, and what it can do better for you in the future. 

The 2025 Altamont Fair is underway this week through this Sunday, August 17, with an entertainment schedule listing new shows, amusement rides, demolition derby, circus, dog shows, and the return of favorite attractions.