With last week’s heat wave behind us, and pleasant summer weather has arrived.  The Tawasentha Park’s pool, which was greatly appreciated last week, offers open and adult lap swimming every day.  The Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s season continues tonight at GPAC, after moving last week’s opening performance to the Guilderland High School auditorium due to the extreme heat.  More details are shared below.   

Town News & Announcements

Community Caregivers has a desperate need for volunteer drivers who have time to transport seniors in our community for medical and other essential trips.  This support helps our neighbors to remain in their homes.  If you are interested or have questions, please contact Community Caregivers at info@communitycaregivers.org or by calling (518) 456-2898. 

Tomorrow at 2pm at Town Hall, the Town will hold a swearing-in ceremony for promotions and appointments recently approved by the Town Board.  The Town’s police force has 43 uniformed personnel, the largest in the Town’s history.  

The 2024 Summer Camp’s six-week, half-day program starts next Monday, July 1 and runs through Friday, August 9.   There are still openings for the one and two-week sessions.  The camp brochure details over 100 sports camps, enrichment classes, and fun activities.  

Tawasentha Park’s pool has open swimming hours on weekdays from Noon to 7pm, and weekends from 11:30am to 7pm.   Adult Lap swim is available on Monday through Thursday from 11am to Noon and on weekends from 10am to 11:30am. 

The Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s 2024 season continues tonight at 7:30pm with a concert by The Matt Mirabile Band, a classic blues ensemble.  High on the Hog BBQ will have a food truck.  GPAC’s concerts take place on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, except for National Night Out’s concert at 6pm on Tuesday, August 6.  Each performance will also have a food truck vendor.  GPAC will soon host Park Playhouse Stage Company’s production of The Marvelous Wonderettes on Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21 at 7:30pm, with an additional 4pm matinee on Saturday, July 20.  

Western Turnpike Golf Course’s adult seminars taught by Golf Pro Joe Lavinga has openings in its July classes that take place on Wednesday evenings at 6pm.  The PGA Jr. League’s session for girls and boys, ages 7 to 13, takes place July 12 to August 9.  WTRC’s webpage also has up-to-date tee time reservations.  The Hedge Bistro, the restaurant at the golf course, offers daily dining and takeout options, including a new BBQ offering.  

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.  After installing the adult exercise facility, the Town was recognized as the healthiest community in the State based on residents’ use of the new facility.  

On Wednesday, July 24 at 7pm, the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee will meet to discuss the draft comprehensive plan.  The CPUC members are now working on assigned topic areas, and are expected to unveil their draft with the public before the meeting.   

The Town’s water usage restrictions are now in effect, and the use of automatic underground sprinklers is limited to between 1am and 4:30am on odd days for properties with odd numbered street addresses and on even days for properties with even numbered addresses.   For above-ground manually placed sprinklers and hand-held sprinklers, the water use is limited to between 6:30am and 8:30am and 6:30pm and 8:30pm on odd days for properties with odd numbered street addresses and on even days for properties with even numbered addresses.   There are no water restrictions for hand-held sprinkling of non-commercial vegetable and flower gardens.   Please contact the Water Department before filling a swimming pool.  These restrictions are in place to maintain adequate water capacity and pressure in homes, businesses, and fire hydrants.  

With the 4^th of July’s celebrations nearing, please remember that the sale and use of fireworks, such as sparkling devices, firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, spinners, and aerial devices, is illegal in Albany County.  Unlawful dealing with fireworks can result in a violation, class B or class A misdemeanor, or class E felony. The illegal use of fireworks is dangerous to persons and property, and unnecessarily disturbs dogs, cats and wildlife.   

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

The Guilderland Public Library’s monthly events calendar has interesting activities for all ages, including on Tuesday, July 9 from 6pm to 7:30pm, an in-person class about Getting Started with your Family History when a professional genealogist will guide you through basic steps in researching family history.  The class is limited to five participants, who are encouraged to bring a family document, story, or picture to design a research plan, and you should bring along a computer or tablet.   

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s summer calendar is full of activities for children and adults, including on Sunday, June 30 at 1pm, Nature Journaling for Fun when you can use simple journaling activities and learns ways of incorporating drawing, scientific observation, and poetry in journal entries along a 0.9- mile hike. On Monday, August 8 at 2pm, the Preserve is hosting Introduction to Invasive Plants, an hour-long tutorial about invasive species in our area, with an indoor talk and outdoor walk to learn what invasive species are and how they differ from native species.  

The Preserve is also hosting “Nature Night Out” on 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.  

Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s summer events calendar, including on Saturday, July 20 at 10am, a guided hike of the Bozen Kill Preserve starting at the trailhead in Altamont.  Stewards will lead hikers along the trails and discuss the area's unique geology, history, flora and fauna.

The New York State Library’s summer calendar is full of free public programs, including seminars, trainings, book talks, and walking tours.  The State Library is hosting a webinar on accessing resources through NOVELny, a Statewide Internet Library, providing access to wide-ranging resources.  

The Summer Movie Express at Regal Cinemas at Crossgates, which shows two kid-friendly movies for $1 per ticket on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August 7, continues next week with a double-billing of Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse and Paw Patrol: The Movie on July 2 and 3.

The State has announced that this weekend (Saturday, June 29 & Sunday, June 30) is a free fishing weekend in the State, with the waiving of the fishing license requirement for freshwater fishing.   The State’s website lists libraries, including the Guilderland Public Library, where you can check out fishing equipment (rods, bobbers, and hooks).  DEC also offers I FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing, which provides basic information on how to fish and an understanding of fishing regulations.  DEC also offers a video series on DEC’s YouTube channel that complements the Beginners’ Guide.

DEC's Places to Fish webpages provides information when planning your next fishing trip.

A reminder that the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce’s Seasons of Guilderland is underway with the help of a grant from Albany County.  Over 40 businesses are participating and encourage you to visit wide-ranging venues in our community where 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.      

Town Hall and the Transfer Station will be closed next week for the 4^th of July holiday on Thursday, July 4.   

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor