Weekly Newsletter No. 123

Halloween 2024

With near record warmth and no rain, it should be a banner Halloween. Please be mindful for children darting across streets and having fun. If possible, please try to clear and light your home’s walkway. Conditions remain near perfect for enjoying Town parks and open space, extensive hiking trails, and an outing at the Western Turnpike Golf Course. More details are shared below.

EMS Station 3 Ribbon Cutting (October 30, 2024)

Town News & Announcements

Yesterday, the Town held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the Town’s new ambulance station (EMS Station III) at the entrance to the Western Turnpike Golf Course. EMS calls have increased every year, with a record number of 6,717 responses last year, far more than the 5,050 responses in 2015. The added capacity and the new station’s central location, with direct access to Routes 20 and 146, will help EMS to maintain its industry leading response times.

At its October 29th meeting, the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee unanimously approved its final plan for updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The CPUC agreed upon a handful of amendments that will be incorporated into the plan which will soon be referred to the Town Board for its consideration and public hearing.

The Town of Guilderland’s ADA Transition Plan will be considered for adoption by the Town Board at its November 7 public meeting. The draft ADA plan remains available for review at Town Hall and Guilderland Public Library. 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.

Parks & Rec is offering Morning Basketball on Saturdays at different morning times depending on grade level from December 7 to February 1.

The continuing dry weather has helped the Highway Department to keep pace with its vacuuming schedule. Please remember that the posted schedule allows for vacuuming streets twice but that Highway crews might reach your street before its scheduled date. If that occurs, please don’t worry or call the Highway Department. Leaf piles should be placed on the edge of the lawn, and not on the paved surface. The Highway crew will return on the scheduled dates.

November Blood Drive

Tomorrow from Noon to 5pm, the American Red Cross is sponsoring a blood drive at Town Hall. You can make an appointment online, with the sponsor code “Guilderlandtown” or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

2024 Purple Heart Event

Next Friday, November 8 at 10am at Town Hall, the Town will hold a ceremony in recognition of its designation as a Purple Heart Town. With its designation as a Purple Heart community, the Town honors and remembers military personnel wounded or killed in combat. The Town will also reserve parking spots for "Purple Heart" recipients and their family members at Town Hall, Senior Center, and Tawasentha Park.

Community Caregivers'

On Saturday, November 9 at 6pm, Community Caregivers is hosting its 30th Anniversary Party With a Purpose at the Albany Country Club.

The Town’s 2025 Hometown Heroes Banner Program 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 banners, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

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

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Automotive Mechanic I, 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, Verizon channel 34, and Spectrum channel 1303. Within days of the meeting, an indexed recording, with links to each listed agenda item, is also posted online.

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, November 6

Town Board

Thursday, November 7 at 6pm (public hearing on 2025 Town budget)

at 7pm (regular meeting)

Planning Board

Wednesday, November 13

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, November 18

Town Board

Tuesday, November 19

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, November 20

Industrial Development Agency

Tuesday, November 26

Community Events & Resources

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s fall calendar is full of fall activities, including tomorrow at 10am, a Morning Meander: Blueberry Hill West, when you participate in a 1.5-mile hike at Blueberry Hill West (Trailhead #5), and on Monday, November 4 at 11am, the Preserve is sponsoring Know Your Oaks, when you can learn more, in an 0.9-mile hike, about the eight species of oak in the Preserve and their important role as food source and cover for animals in the Albany Pine Bush. On Friday, November 8 at 6pm, the Preserve is sponsoring Nocturnal Animals Night Hike, when you can learn more about nocturnal animals in the Pine Bush and their adaptations.

The Guilderland Public Library has several interesting events, including on Thursday, November 7 from 7pm to 8:15pm, a virtual chat with Navajo Ranger Stanley Milford, Jr. about the chilling recounting of his investigations in his memoir The Paranormal Ranger into bizarre cases of paranormal and unexplained activity in Navajo land. On Saturday, November 9 from 9am to 4pm, the Library is hosting a Craft Fair with vendors selling their wares.

On Thursday, November 14 from 4pm to 5:15pm, the Library is sponsoring On Childhood Migration from Central America, a virtual chat with New York Times bestselling author Javier Zamora of his memoir Solito, a riveting tale of survival and perseverance in three-thousand-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border. On Saturday, November 9, from 2pm to 3:15pm, this virtual chat will be in Spanish.

A reminder that every Wednesday from 11am to 12:30pm, the Guilderland Public Library is the home for Senior Connects!, where seniors can have a friendly chat on a wide-range of interesting topics. The prior topics included home downsizing, senior resources, hobbies, books, movies, favorite day trips, and local events. No registration is required.

The Altamont Free Library’s fall calendar has events for all ages, including on Tuesday, November 12 at 6pm, with Ukulele Meetup, when you can enjoy fun and supportive ways of growing as a player, picking up hints and tips, learning new tunes, and meeting fellow ukesters. On Wednesday, November 13 at 6pm, the Library is hosting Author Talk with Charles Rielly, when Altamont resident Charles Reilly will share his experience as a tree farmer and homesteader and his first book, entitled So You Want To Buy Land: A Tree Farm and Log Cabin Memoir.” On Saturday, November 16 at 9am, the Library is hosting Yoga Storytime, for fun, kid-friendly yoga with yoga instructor (and AFL Trustee!) Christine Carpenter. This even is designed for children ages 4 through 8 and their adults and no yoga experience is needed. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one. Signup is required by calling (518) 861-7239 or email staff@altamontfreelibrary.org.

On Saturday, November 9 from 8am to Noon, the Albany County Soil & Water Conservation District is sponsoring a free electronic recycling event for computers, phones, printers, copiers, servers, and more at the Albany County DPW facility at 449 New Salem Road in Voorheesville. There is a fee of $0.35 per pound for televisions and monitors. The ACSWCD also offers for sale conservation items, including bluebird boxes, bat houses, wood duck boxes, and bird feeders. You can get more information at (518) 765-7923 or acswcd@gmail.com.

On Saturday, December 21, from 1pm to 3:30pm, Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is celebrating the winter solstice with a grand opening celebration of the 225-acre addition to the Bozen Kill Preserve. There will be hot beverages to warm up before heading out for a guided tour of the new trails.

In response to recent data showing an increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19, the CDC has updated its vaccine recommendation for people 65 years and older and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised by adding a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after their first dose. The updated recommendations also allow for additional doses (three or more) for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, in consultation with their healthcare provider.

Another reminder that the Federal government has revived its program which allows residents to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests for free delivery by the Post Office. The FDA encourages checking its website to see if the expiration date for your at-home COVID-19 tests has been extended.

2024 Fall Back

A reminder that daylight saving time ends this weekend at 2am on Sunday, November 3. You should turn clocks back one hour which, in theory, means an additional hour of sleep. The drawback is that the sun will set earlier.

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, November 11for Veterans’ Day. The Transfer Station will be closed on Tuesday, November 12.

I hope that you have a safe and enjoyable Halloween, and a relaxing weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor