October 30, 2025-Eve of Halloween

With heavy rain and wind today into tomorrow, and the word “snow” appearing in the long-range forecast, this weekend might be good, and one of the last, times for an outing at Western Turnpike Golf Course. The course’s usual closing date is after the Veterans’ Day holiday but weather here is unpredictable. The Comprehensive Plan Update is also nearing completion. More details are below.

Town News & Announcements

At its November 18 meeting, the Town Board will consider adopting the Comprehensive Plan Update, the last step in a four-year process. The Town Board received the draft Plan in October 2024, and has held seven public hearings over the past year. While the public hearing is now closed, you can still submit written comments until Tuesday, November 11.

The Highway Department’s vacuuming of leaf piles is staying on schedule. Please note that, if there are weather events requiring the Highway Department’s full attention, the schedule includes catch-up days. Please do not call the Highway Department if your street is vacuumed on an earlier day than the schedule. A Highway crew will return to your street on the scheduled day. Highway trucks circulate year-round picking up leaf bags and tied brush.

December 6, 2025

On Saturday, December 6 at 7pm, the Town is holding its first annual Tree Lighting celebration near the clubhouse at Western Turnpike Golf Course. It will start with a holiday parade of decorated fire and other trucks that will end at the clubhouse. Music, food, and warm drinks are planned. In addition to the lighting of a Town holiday tree, 20 trees are available for purchase in memory of a loved one, as a symbol of peace & hope, or for celebrating the season by pre-purchasing and decorating the tree. The trees will be secured in place by Town staff near the Town holiday tree. The cost of each tree is $75.00 which includes the cost of the tree, electricity, and a lead cord. You will provide LED lights (not incandescent), ornaments, and decorations. For more information, please contact Town Clerk Lynne Buchanan at Town Hall at (518) 356-1980 or Dave Jenkins at the Parks & Rec at (518) 456-3150.

The Parks & Rec. Dept.’s 2026 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 March 27, 2026. If you have any questions regarding banners, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

The Parks & Rec. Dept. has registration for its Saturday Morning Basketball for children in grades 1 to 5 at Farnsworth Middle School. The program focuses on basketball fundamentals, with an emphasis on fun, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The program will use a league format, with games taking place every Saturday morning. The program has a limited number of spots available to maintain an optimal player-to-coach ratio and ensure quality instruction. The camp takes place on Saturdays from December 6 to February 7, with no camp during the school break on December 27 or January 3. Camps for Grades 1 and 2 are from 8:30am to 9:30am, and grades 3, 4, and 5 from 9:30am to 11am.

November 7, 2025

On Friday, November 7 from Noon to 5pm, the American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at Town Hall. It is easy to schedule a donation appointment online by entering the code “guilderlandtown” or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Senior Services Department’s newsletter has information about classes and seminars, upcoming trips, heating assistance program, medical and shopping transportation, a visiting author, fall crafts, legal aid, monthly meal calendar, games, and much more. On Wednesdays from 11am to 1 pm, the Guilderland Public Library is the home for Seniors Connect!, 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 positions 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.

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, November 5

Town Board

Thursday, November 6 at 6pm (2026 Budget Hearing)

Town Board

Thursday, November 6 (regular meeting)

Planning Board

Wednesday, November 12

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, November 17

Town Board

Tuesday, November 18

American Revolution 250th Anniversary Committee

Wednesday, November 19 at 3pm (neither broadcasted nor taped)

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, November 19

Tree Preservation Committee

Thursday, November 20

Community Events & Resources

The Guilderland YMCA has launched its 2025 Basket Brigade for Thanksgiving, and requests you help in delivering meals to families. Each meal delivery includes 2 boxes of stuffing, box of potatoes, can of yams, box of brownie mix, 2 cans/packets of gravy, 2 cans of fruit, 4 cans of veggies, and a can of cranberry sauce. You can help by dropping off food donations at the YMCA and/or by making a financial donation. The YMCA also has a few volunteers opportunities for its Halloween Bash this Saturday, October 25 from 2pm to 4pm.

On Wednesday, November 6 from 6pm to 8pm, UAlbany is partnering with the New York Power Authority on a do-it-yourself workshop on energy savings tips. This free workshop takes place on UAlbany’s Uptown Campus at the Massry School of Business, Room 137. Food will be provided and all participants will receive a free home weatherization kit.

Community Caregivers is looking for volunteer drivers who can transport seniors for medical and other essential trips, and help keep our neighbors in their homes. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Community Caregivers at info@communitycaregivers.org or by calling (518) 456-2898.

The Guilderland Public Library’s fall calendar is full of opportunities, including a virtual seminar, Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity, on Wednesday, November 5 from 2pm to 3pm, when journalist and author Joseph Lee will chat online with us about his memoir, Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity in which he explores Indigenous identity on Martha’s Vineyard.

The Library’s Holiday bus trip takes place on Saturday, December 6, with two buses departing the Library at 8am and arriving at Bryant Park in Manhattan at 11:30am. The day can be spent visiting museums, grabbing a show, shopping and enjoying the holiday splendor. The buses will depart Manhattan at 6pm and return to the Library by 9:30pm.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s fall calendar includes, on Friday, November 14 at Noon, a Lunchtime Hike, when you join a 0.9 mile hike through the Preserve’s rolling terrain and talk about this unique habitat. On Thursday, November 20 at 7pm, the Friends of the Pine Bush are hosting an in-person and virtual lecture on Why did they do that? Restoring Health to our Globally Rare Inland Pine Barrens. Neil Gifford, Conservation Director for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, will have a questions and answers session on fire ecology and other efforts to protect and restore the Preserve.

A reminder that daylight saving time ends this weekend at 2am on Sunday, November 2. You should turn clocks back one hour which, in theory, means an additional hour of sleep. The drawback is that the sun will set way too early.

All Town facilities will be closed on Tuesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans’ Day. The Transfer Station is also closed on Monday, November 10.

I hope that you have a safe and enjoyable Halloween, and a relaxing weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor