Our beautiful late summer weather is continuing and likely will extend until fall, which arrives on Sunday.  Leaves are also just starting to change in color, and few have fallen.  There are autumn festivals, apple-picking, and other fun activities taking place in our community.  More details are shared below.  

Town News & Announcements

The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee next meets on Thursday, October 10 at 7pm, to consider comments offered at its September 10^th public hearing, and written comments submitted thereafter.  Written comments can be submitted online at the CPUC’s webpage, or mailed or dropped off at Town Hall by next Friday, September 27.

At its Tuesday, October 1 meeting, the Town Board will hold a public hearing at 7pm on the draft Town of Guilderland ADA Transition Plan.  The draft is the result of an 18-month review, inspection, rating, and action plan for Town-maintained sidewalks, with the help of a consultant.  You can provide comments at the public hearing or online.  The draft ADA plan is also available for review at Town Hall and Guilderland Public Library.

Tonight at 7pm at the Guilderland Public Library, the Guilderland Historical Society is hosting a presentation by Aaron Mair about the Battle of the Normanskill and the important role of the 1^st Rhode Island Regiment.  The public is invited to attend.  At its Tuesday meeting, the Town Board appointed the initial members of the Town’s 250^th Anniversary of the American Revolution which will focus, in large part, on commemorating this significant event.  

On Saturday, October 12 from 8am to 2pm, the Town is hosting the 2024 Fall Household Hazardous Waste Day at the Highway garage.  No pre-registration or event passes are required; just bring proof of Town residency, like a driver’s license or tax bill, or have a blue-colored sticker for Town parks and Transfer Station.  Please review the information sheet on what are acceptable and non-acceptable materials.  You can help the Town reduce the event’s cost by not discarding latex paint cans. The State’s paint care law allows you to bring paint cans to local vendors for proper disposal.  

The Town’s Fall Newsletter is now arriving in mailboxes.  In addition to the Highway Department’s calendar for vacuuming leaf piles from the edge of your lawn, the newsletter details what’s happening or planned for, including park enhancements, sidewalks, and other significant public improvements.

The City of Albany has started paving its part of Old State Road as you approach the Route 155.  This very rough stretch of pavement was a common complaint of Town residents but, unfortunately, the Town’s Highway Department cannot spend taxpayer dollars paving another municipality’s roads, no matter how bad or how frequently it is used by residents.  The work will continue through Saturday, and will result in periodic lane closures.  It is advisable to consider alternate routes.  

We are proud to announce the launch of the 2025 Hometown Heroes Banner Program which 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 February 28, 2025.  If you have any questions regarding memberships, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

The Town’s Senior Services Department has September newsletter has information about classes and seminars, medical and shopping transportation, legal aide, community meals, and much more.   

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Recreation Administrative Assistant,  Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments.  

Community Events & Resources

On this upcoming Saturday, September 21, from 10:30am to 5pm, the University at Albany and the NYS Writers Institute are hosting the Annual Albany Book Festival.  The festival involves a wide-ranging list of local and regional authors, local publishers, and literary organizations.  More information is available by calling (518) 442-5620 or by email at writers@albany.edu

The Guilderland Public Library’s monthly events calendar including a virtual talk on Saturday, September 21 from 7pm to 8:15pm, entitled A Deep Dive in Character Development with Global Sensation Liane Moriarty in which Liane Moriarty, the author of the novel Here One Moment, will examine free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world.   

Tonight from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, the Guilderland Food Pantry is holding “A Taste of Guilderland” for its 45th Anniversary Celebration.  The fundraiser takes place in the gymnasium at Christ the King Church.   There will be food from local restaurants, live music, a photo booth, and raffles, auctions and games.  

On Saturday, September 28, from 2pm to 6pm, the McKownville United Methodist Church at 1565 Western Avenue is hosting a drive-thru Brooks Barbeque fundraiser.  
 

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s upcoming summer calendar includes Learn 10 Asters and Goldenrods in the Albany Pine Bush, on Sunday, September 22 from 9am to Noon, when you can join botanists Steve Young and Laura Lehtonen of the NY Flora Association (NYFA) and learn how to identify asters and goldenrods.  The seminar will focus on ten common species, examine specimens in the field, and focus on features that will help you distinguish species. “Learn 10…” is a NYFA program designed to help people of all ages and levels of knowledge to learn more about the plants of New York.

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy has an events calendar full of outdoor activities.  On Saturday, September 28, from 9:30am to 12:30pm at Van Dyke Preserve, MHLC is sponsoring Plein Air Painting, when artist Kevin Kuhne will instruct on techniques for capturing the nature scene using watercolor.  On Saturday, October 5, from 1pm to 4pm at the Keleher Preserve, MHLC is sponsoring Wilderness Wayfinding with Ondatra Adventures, when you can learn key navigation and wilderness survival skills. 

The CDC finding that the summer surge in COVID-19 is subsiding, with rates growing or likely growing in just 3 states, declining or likely declining in 31 states (including New York State), and stable or uncertain in 13 states.  Later this month, the Federal government revive its program that allows residents to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests for free delivery by the Post Office.  The program had ended on March 9. 

The State has released its weekly fall foliage report and map for the entire State.  While it shows that leaves are beginning to change in our immediate area and is at mid-point in the high peaks of the Adirondacks.  

I hope that you have an enjoyable and relaxing weekend. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor