February 19, 2026

With school break this week, it has been a predictable quiet period at Town Hall. With cold weather and possible snow, conditions should remain good for the Town’s groomed cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails at the golf course and winter recreational opportunities in Town parks and Vosburgh Open Space. If you need skis or snow shoes, they are available for rent at the Parks & Recreation Office on weekdays between 8am and 3:30pm. More details about happenings in the Town are shared below.

Parks & Rec 2026

Town News & Announcements

A reminder that Parks & Rec is accepting applications for seasonal employment, including camp counselors, seasonal laborers lifeguards, lifeguard manager and pool booth attendant. Here is a link to the webpage for Parks & Rec’s employment opportunities.

Please remember that you have until March 1, 2026 to apply for important tax exemptions including if you are a Senior Citizen (65 years of age or older by December 31, 2026), a person with a Physical Disability (Receiving Social Security Disability Award and other qualifying disabilities), or a Veteran, you may be entitled to a partial exemption on your property taxes. The qualifying income limits for senior exemptions are $110,750 in 2024 income for the Enhanced Star Exemption and $58,400 in 2024 income for the Senior Exemption. If you have questions, please to do not hesitate to call (518) 356-1980 or stop by the Assessor’s office. You can learn more about the wide-ranging property exemptions in the PowerPoint presentation made by the Town Assessor at the Guilderland Library.

The Hedge Bistro is the winter home for the Guilderland Farmers Market which takes place on the first three Saturdays of each winter month from 11am to 3pm. Local vendors offer crafts, foods, arts & crafts, and a special winter tulip market.

A reminder that you can now reserve pavilions, cabanas, and picnic areas at Tawasentha Park for the 2026 season. You make a reservation by completing and submitting the Request for Use of Facilities Form/ Know the Rules and provide full payment (credit card, check, or cash) to the Parks & Rec. Department. An Alcoholic Beverage, Beer & Wine Permit can be obtained for an additional fee.

The deadline for applications for the Parks & Rec. Dept.’s 2026 Hometown Heroes Banner Program is March 27. It is an opportunity to recognize 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 on Friday, June 12. 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. If you have any questions regarding banners, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

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.

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.

Industrial Development Agency- (CANCELLED)

Tuesday, February 24

Planning Board

Wednesday, February 25

Town Board

Tuesday, March 3

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, March 4

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, March 9

Traffic Safety Council

Tuesday, March 10

Planning Board

Wednesday, March 11

Town Board

Tuesday, March 17

American Revolution 250^th Anniversary Committee

Wednesday, March 18 at 3pm (neither broadcasted nor taped)

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, March 18

Community Events & Resources

A reminder that the deadline to place orders Albany County Soil & Water Conservation’s 2026 Annual Spring Tree and Shrub Sale is Sunday, March 16. The sale offers a wide range of conifers (seedling and transplants), fruit and berry species, and deciduous trees and shrubs, and are only sold in bundles. It is first come, first served, and often runs out of popular items. The pick-up dates are Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18.

The Albany County Agricultural Districts Law has opened, as of February 1, the annual 30-day period where landowners can request the inclusion of viable farmland in an Agricultural District. Landowners interested in adding a parcel to one of the County’s Agricultural Districts must complete an Agricultural District Review Worksheet.

On the first Wednesday of the month, the Guilderland Public Library is hosting Afternoon Garden Club from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, with a presentation by local expert and an opportunity to chat and trade tips with other gardeners. The presentation on Wednesday, March 3, is Wake Up, Garden! It’s Spring!. On next Tuesday, February 24 at 2pm, the Guilderland Public Library is hosting Smithson’s Gamble: The Incredible History Behind the World’s Largest Museum, a virtual one-hour talk by Smithsonian’s Tom D. Crouch about his book Smithson’s Gamble, how the Smithsonian grew and expanded to become the world's largest museum and research complex during its first 60 years.

The Library has a special page, “Guilderland Gets Historical”, devoted to the Library’s programs on the American Revolution 250^th Anniversary. On Thursday, February 29 from 6:15pm to 7:30pm, the Library will host 1775-1776... the Political War in Albany and Tryon Counties, a discussion about the local politics of the Revolution that divided families and friendships and evolved into a bitter civil between Patriots, Loyalists, and their Native American allies. The presenters are members of Schuyler's Co., NY Provincials (1759) and 2nd Regiment, Albany County Militia (1775).

On Saturday, March 21 from 11am to Noon, the Library is presenting The Battle of Normanskill and the Battle of the Flockey - Keeping the Loyalists of Old Albany County Off Balance During Burgoyne's Invasion, a discussion focusing on the summer of 1777, and how local civil wars occurred between supporters of the British and Patriots. The presenter is Mark Stolzenburg, a noted local historian and member of the Schoharie County Historical Society at the Old Stone Fort Museum.

Lunchtime Chats

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. Community Caregivers’ weekly Lunchtime Chats Sharks to Spaceships: Steven Spielberg on Thursday, February 19 and Lending a Helping Hand: Elevate Your Impact on Thursday, February 26. You can join the one-hour chats starting at 1pm by calling (518) 992-6661.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s winter calendar includes tomorrow at 11am, Winter Wildlife Tracking, an opportunity to learn how to identify wildlife tracks, trail patterns, scat, and activities. It will start with a brief indoor presentation followed by an outing to search for animal tracks and signs of activity. On Sunday, February 22 at 1pm, the Preserve is offering Learn and Paint a Pine Bush Winter Scene, when artist Noreen Powell will share special techniques on painting a winter Pine Bush scene with acrylic paint on a stretched canvas. All materials will be provided.

On this upcoming Saturday, February 21 from 10am to 12:30pm, the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is also sponsoring Winter Wildlife Tracking at the Upper Bozen Kill Preserve at the end of Bond Road in Guilderland. Dan Yacobellis, a certified track & sign facilitator, will share his decades of experience in winter tracking during a hike in the new preserve. Also on Saturday, February 21 from 2pm to 4pm at Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery, MHLC is sponsoring Salamander Crossing - Amphibians of the Helderbergs, when Al Breisch, a local herpetologist and retired DEC wildlife biologist, will discuss the phenomenon of the "Big Night" amphibian migration in early spring and how to safely participate in monitoring. He will also share details about the 21 native amphibians that call the Helderbergs their home and the habitats in which they reside and reproduce.

The Guilderland Food Pantry is experiencing a spike for its help in our community. You can help by making financial donations and dropping off food donations at the Pantry (4 Charles Blvd) during regular hours (Monday through Saturday, 9:30am to 11am) or left in the collection bin located outside the Pantry. Among the needed non-perishable foods are canned meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, beans, pasta, rice, mac & cheese, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, muffin mix, spaghetti sauce, stuffing, juice, nuts and soup.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor