Town News & Announcements

Last Friday’s Hometown Heroes banner event was wonderful, with dozens expressing appreciation for the celebration and holding the event this year in the newly renovated Guilderland Performing Arts Center. The setting was beautiful, with shaded terraced seating area and an expansive stage. The event recognized 17 local heroes who have served our nation, including employees in the Emergency Services and Police Departments. The banners are now flying in Tawasentha Park, and will remain in place until fall, and then delivered to honorees, their families or sponsors. I thank American Legion Riders Post 977, VFW Post 7062, and Girl Scout Troops 5011 and 5016 for their unwavering support for this event. I also thank Parks & Rec Director CJ Gallup, along with Amy Boyt and Dave Jenkins, for planning and making this ceremony so special.

Western Turnpike Golf Course’s adult seminars taught by Golf Pro Joe Lavinga have proven very popular with the May classes sold out, and leading to an additional second session in June. You now have the option between one-hour sessions at 5pm or 6pm on Tuesday’s evenings in June, and at 6pm on Wednesday evenings in July. The next session running from July 12 to August 9 of the PGA Jr. League for girls and boys, ages 7 to 13, is also now available. WTRC’s webpage also has up-to-date tee time reservations.

The Hedge Bistro, the restaurant at the golf course, offers dining and takeout options, including a new BBQ offering. On next Saturday, June 8 starting at 5pm, the Hedge Bistro is hosting a charity event, with a dinner with Joe Ganniscoli, a/k/a Vito Spatafore from The Sopranos. There will be a question-and-answer opportunity with the actor, and 20 percent of the proceeds will be donated to local charities.

For the last two days of May, please remember that the Guilderland Historical Society is designated as the Guilderland Hannaford’s Bloomin' 4 Good beneficiary this month. Hannaford is donating $1.00 to the Historical Society for the purchase of each specially marked bouquet. The eligible bouquets have a round red marker on the cellophane wrapper in their fresh flower display under the posted sign for the Guilderland Historical Society.

On Friday, June 14 from Noon to 5pm at EMS Station 1 in Westmere, the American Red Cross is hosting its annual blood drive in memory of Richard W.O. Beebe, a teacher of a generation of emergency medical technicians and paramedics. You can sign up online and enter “Guilderland EMS” in the search box. I thank residents who showed up at the May 10^th blood drive at Town Hall when the blood drive collected 38 units, far more than the goal of 27 units.

You can sign up online for scheduled classes at Tawasentha Park’s adult exercise facility, including Functional Fitness, Functional Strength Training, Lifted Vision Community Yoga, Tai Chi, and Total Body Circuit. Please bring water and wear comfortable, breathable exercise clothing and sneakers. You can also use a free app available for tracking your use of the equipment.

The 2024 Summer Camp, which runs, rain or shine, from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 9, is approaching soon. The camp brochure details over 100 sports camps, enrichment classes, and fun activities.

Tawasentha Park’s pool and new splash pad will, weather permitting, open for the season on Saturday, June 15. Public swim hours are weekdays from Noon to 7pm and weekends from 11:30am to 7pm. Adult lap swim is Monday through Thursday 11am to Noon, and weekends from 10am to 11:30am.

The Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s 2024 season opens in just three weeks, with an opening performance by the Guilderland Town Band on Thursday, June 20 at 7:30pm. The season’s nine concerts are on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, except for National Night Out’s concert at 6pm on Tuesday, August 6. Each of the season’s performance will also have a food truck vendor. GPAC’s season will be supplemented by Park Playhouse Stage Company’s performances of The Marvelous Wonderettes on Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21 at 7:30pm, with an additional 4pm matinee on Saturday, July 20.

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Equipment Operator II, Police Officer, Paramedic, Stormwater Management Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments.

Community Events and Resources

On this Saturday, June 1, from 10am to 1pm, Albany County Soil & Water Conservation District is providing a soil sample analysis for lead at its offices at 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville. You can bring two samples in a plastic ziploc bag (about two cups) for analysis and one-on-one health education. The event is part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County Master Gardener Garden Education Fair taking place at the same place and time.

A reminder that Guilderland Chamber of Commerce, with the support of a grant from Albany County, has launched its Seasons of Guilderland passport in support of local businesses. More than 40 businesses are participating in the initiative which invites you to explore and experience wide-ranging venues in our community at which you can have a passport stamped. The passports are available at the Chamber’s offices at Hone Coworks, 300 Great Oaks Blvd, Suite 300 and the participating businesses.

I would like to welcome Peter Petruski as the new director of the Guilderland Public Library. Mr. Petruski was library division chief for collections and access at the Arlington Public Library in Virginia. The Library’s monthly events calendar has interesting activities for all ages, including a virtual talk by Smithsonian Curator Matt Shindell on Monday, June 4 from 2pm to 3:15pm about For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet. On Sunday, June 2 at 2pm, the Library is hosting a concert by the Suburban Sounds Community Chorus.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s month long Lupine Fest is now in its final week, with opportunities for a full moon guided hike, bird-banding observation, and science tutorial. The Preserve is also hosting “Nature Night Out” events on Thursday, June 6, and Wednesday, July 17, when you can enjoy live music and a meal from food truck vendors, take a Story Walk along the trail, and learn more about the natural and cultural history of the Pine Bush with interactive Discovery Center exhibits. The Discovery Center will be opened until 7:30pm to take advantage of longer sunlit hours. The Preserve’s spring calendar has other activities for children and adults.

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s Loving Your Land Workshops continues with All About Birds, a seminar about techniques for grassland bird management on next Friday, June 7 from 10am to Noon at the Bender Melon Farm Preserve in New Scotland.

The Guilderland YMCA’s calendar is full of health and fitness programs. The YMCA is hosting a Brooks BBQ on Thursday, June 20 from 3pm to 6pm for its Rise Up for a Stronger Community Annual Support Campaign.

A reminder that Community Caregivers is seeking volunteers who are interested in helping older neighbors with friendly calls, visits, transportation to medical appointments, and grocery shopping. With your assistance, clients can remain independent and stay in their homes. If you are interested in volunteering, please call (518) 456-2898 or email izzy@communitycaregivers.org. On Monday, June 17, Community Caregivers is also holding its 20^th annual golf tournament at the Pinehaven Country Club, and is looking for sponsors and golfers. Please contact Linda Bourgeois at lbourgeois1@verizon.net for more information. The event is a key funding source for this non-profit’s work in our community.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor

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