Spring arrived here, according to the calendar, on Tuesday night, and, with cold (barely above freezing today) blustery and snowy weather, you might think that winter has finally arrived. The winter season was a dud if you, like me, enjoy winter sports. Like most of the State, our area received less than half as much snow compared to a normal winter, with only 22.6 inches of snow and well-above amounts of rain. Despite the slow start to spring, there are lots of opportunities for spring and even summer activities. More details are below.
Town News & Announcements
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Town Board scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, April 16 at 7pm on a proposed moratorium in support of draft recommendations raised during the ongoing updating of the Comprehensive Plan. With the support of Town staff, the six-month moratorium on accepting new applications for larger residential developments would allow considering affordable housing options and measures to protect water capacity, quality, and adequate pressure in homes, businesses, and at fire hydrants.
Tonight at 7:30pm, Town Historian Mary Ellen Johnson is the featured speaker at the Guilderland Historical Society’s monthly meeting at Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center. Mary Ellen will make a presentation about the history of the hamlet of Guilderland Center, which is home to several historic properties including the Mynderse-Frederick House, the Appel Inn, and the Cobblestone Schoolhouse.
On Monday, April 8 at 11am at Town Hall, the Guilderland Garden Club is holding its first meeting of the year, with a presentation by Amanda Dillon, Field Ecologist and Entomologist at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, about the Karner Blue Butterfly’s ecology and habitat restoration. Guilderland Garden Club is celebrating its 60th year anniversary.
A reminder that, due to drier and warmer winter weather, DEC has a statewide ban on residential brush burning that started on March 16 and runs through May 14. The regulations allow residential brush fires only in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents (Guilderland has over 36,000 residents) during most of the year, but bar residential burning in spring when most wildfires occur. The regulations allow backyard fire pits and campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter and small cooking fires but with only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated, or unpainted wood. DEC’s Fire Danger Map for the 2024 fire season shows each region’s potential fire risk.
While current conditions (muddy and slippery, let alone unseasonably cold weather) are not suitable for enjoying the Town’s trail system, that will soon change. Please remember that, in all Town parks and open space, 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. Please also note that Western Turnpike Golf Course has historically opened in early April, and that walking is not allowed on golf cart paths during the golf season.
A reminder that Western Turnpike Golf Course has adult seminars for persons learning or improving the playing of golf. PGA Professional Joe Lavigna teaches the classes that take place once a week for four consecutive weeks in May, June and July. The program focuses on swing fundamentals including grip, setup, alignment and swing technique, with special emphasis on posture, alignment and stroke. It also focuses on short game and covers putting, chipping, and pitching. WTGC also has a junior program for children age 7 to 17 years.
Parks & Rec’s popular Bird Walk has a second session that runs from Sunday, May 5 to Sunday, June 9, with the exception of Mother’s Day, May 12. Jeanette Roundy, a local bird expert, will lead the outings in the Town’s Community Gardens, and also in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve and Shodack Island State Park. The program will use Ebird, a free downloadable app sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to keep track of what species are seen and to help improve bird identification skills.
A reminder that registration is open for Parks & Rec’s Spring Break Fun & Games camp which will run during the next school break from Tuesday, April 2 to Friday, April 5.
At 12:01am on Friday, March 29, registration will open for the very popular 2024 Summer Camp. The 2024 brochure, which is now available online, will also be delivered via backpack mail during the week of March 25. The 2024 summer camp will run from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 9. Parks & Rec has also opened registration opportunities for entry level summer camp counselors for the 2024 summer camp. You must be 16 years of age and older, and while previous experience as a counselor-in-training, teacher, childcare, or related field is preferred, it is not required. Parks & Rec is also accepting applications for lifeguards, lifeguard managers, and pool booth attendants at Tawasentha Park pool, and seasonal laborers in Parks & Rec.
Parks & Rec has opened reservations for Tawasentha Parks’ pavilions for the 2024 season. Walk-in reservations (with payment) will take priority over phone, faxed or emailed reservation requests. A Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules form must be submitted with payment and a signed Know the Rules form. To request booking a pavilion, residents must submit the Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules and full payment to the Town. Forms can be dropped off or mailed to the Guilderland Parks & Recreation Department at 181 State Route 146, Altamont, NY 12009, or faxed to 518-456-3156.
The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for the position of full-time Police Officer, Stormwater Management Officer, Laborer in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments, and Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher.
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