Thank you Veterans

November 6, 2025

As noted last week, the forecasted weather has led to the season’s closing of the Western Turnpike Golf Course. The Comprehensive Plan Update is also nearing its adoption. With the Federal shutdown continuing, food insecurity in our community is increasing. While the demand has never been greater, we are blessed by having a wealth of volunteers and support organizations that work every day to respond. You can help by donating food, money, or volunteering at the Guilderland Food Pantry, Community Caregivers, and other groups devoted to serving our community. More details are below.

Town News & Announcements

To no one’s surprise, with falling temperatures, frost delays, and earlier darkness, the Western Turnpike Golf Course timely ended its season at the end of play on Tuesday. I have received nothing but praise and appreciation from patrons for the course’s maintenance crews in keeping the grounds open and playable to the maximum extent possible. I also extend appreciation to Superintendent of Golf Andy Ostrowski, Director of Golf Casey Childs, and Golf Professional Joe Lavigna for leading another successful season despite the challenging weather. Please check out the WTGC’s website for the latest news, including discounted memberships for the upcoming 2026 season.

With the season’s closing of the Western Turnpike Golf Course, the cart paths are now open for walking. It has proven very popular since the cart paths were open off-season during the pandemic and continued thereafter. Should sufficient snow arrive, the course will have snowshoeing and groomed cross-country skiing. Please note that all dogs must be leashed.

At its upcoming 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 remains on schedule. If there are weather events requiring the Highway Department’s full attention, the schedule has 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.

Please remember that, from November 1 to April 1, during the hours of 2 to 7 am, there is no parking on town roads, except where allowed by posted signs, to help with snow and ice removal.

Holiday Tree Lighting

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

Tomorrow 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 monthly 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 anticipating vacant positions on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Conservation Advisory Council, starting on January 1, 2026. If you are interested in serving on a board or committee, please email your resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and reasons for seeking the appointment to my assistant Jessica Montgomery at montgomeryj@townofguilderland.gov. Resumes and cover letters must be received by 4:30pm on Wednesday, November 21. Information about the Town’s boards and committees is available on the Town’s website.

The Town is also 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.

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

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, December 3

Holiday Greens Show

Community Events & Resources

The Guilderland Garden Club and the Guilderland Historical Society are hosting the 2025 Holiday Greens Show at the Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center. This year's show will be held on Friday, December 5 from 4pm to 8pm, on Saturday, December 6 from 1pm to 5pm, and on Sunday, December 7 from 1pm to 5pm, with a visit by Santa on Saturday between 1pm and 3pm. This year’s theme is “Winter Whites & Lights,” with the historic home decorated with fresh greens, handmade ornaments and decorations made by Garden Club members, and available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the Guilderland Garden Club’s scholarship program, and other local charities.

Food Drive

With the continuing Federal government shutdown, and suspension of Federal food support programs, the role of the Guilderland Food Pantry has never been more important for families who are facing food insecurity. The Town is collecting non-perishable food items at Town Hall to help restock the Pantry’s shelves, and help provide meals for those in need.

The Guilderland YMCA is in its final days of collecting food items for its Thanksgiving 2025 Basket Brigade for Thanksgiving, and requests your 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.

November Chats

Caregivers’ upcoming weekly Lunchtime Chats includes on Wednesday, November 12, Laurel and Hardy: The Timeless Duo of Comedy, and on Wednesday, November 19, Heat, Hype, and Hijinks: The Craziest Race in Olympic History. You can join the one-hour chats starting at 1pm by calling (518) 992-6661.

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 on Tuesday, November 18 at 2pm, a virtual conversation with Charles Duhigg, the author of the bestselling books The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better, about how to communicate and connect with anyone and his latest work, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. On Tuesday, December 9 at 2pm, the Library is hosting The Legacy of Julia Child's Kitchen, a virtual discussion with Paula J. Johnson, the author of Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space.

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.

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

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor