Weekly Newsletter No. 124

Veterans Day 2024

It has been another week with near record warmth and no measurable rain, with unseasonably warm and dry weather into next week. Conditions remain near perfect for enjoying Town parks and open space, extensive hiking trails, and an outing at the Western Turnpike Golf Course. The Town Board is considering two important plans, the Comprehensive Plan Update and the ADA Transition Plan. More details are shared below.

Fire Tower Wet Down

Town News & Announcements

On this past Saturday, November 2, I was proud to join members, families, and supporters of the Town’s eight fire departments for a ribbon cutting for the new fire training tower. A minute before the event was about to start, several fire trucks were dispatched to respond to a fire call. After 20 or so minutes, the dispatched crews returned to participate in a wet down, a traditional ceremony to celebrate the new fire tower’s entry into service, and a barbeque on a beautiful afternoon.

The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee has referred the final updated plan to the Town Board for its consideration. Under State law, the Town Board must hold a public hearing on the proposed plan within 90 days of its referral. The next step is a coordinated review with involved State agencies and others. The first public hearing should take place in January.

Tonight, the Town Board will consider the adoption of the Town’s ADA Transition Plan The ADA Plan was the result of an 18-month process, including an on-site inspection and rating of the Town’s existing pedestrian infrastructure in the public right-of-way including curb ramps, sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and pedestrian accessible transit stops that are paved or concrete. The plan includes recommended time periods for remedying accessibility issues with existing 29.6 miles of sidewalks.

The Highway Department’s schedule for vacuuming leaf piles is proceeding with no issues. A reminder that the posted schedule provides two dates for vacuuming. If your street is vacuumed before the scheduled date, the Highway crew will return on the scheduled date. Leaf piles should be placed on the edge of the lawn, and not on the paved surface.

2024 Purple Heart Event

Tomorrow 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 November newsletter has information about classes and seminars, trips, medical and shopping transportation, book discussion, legal aide, community meals, and much more. The newsletter provides more information about expanding transportation for medical appointments to Thursdays. 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 Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Payroll Specialist, Automotive Mechanic I, Deputy Receiver of Taxes, 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.

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

Guilderland IDA

Tuesday, December 3

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, December 4

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, December 9

Town Board

Tuesday, December 10

Community Events & Resources

The Guilderland Garden Club and the Guilderland Historical Society are hosting the 2024 Holiday Greens Show at the Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center. This year's show will be held on Friday, December 6 from 4pm to 8pm, on Saturday, December 7 from 1pm to 5pm, with Santa from 3-4pm, and on Sunday, December 8 from 1pm to 5pm, with house tours at 2pm and 4pm. The historic home will be decorated with fresh greens, handmade ornaments and decorations made by Garden Club members, and available for purchase, with proceeds shared with local food pantries and the Caring Closet.

On November 21, 2024 at the Guilderland Public Library, the Guilderland Historical Society is having its business meeting at 1:15pm, followed by a presentation at 2pm, by former GHS Vice President Tom Capuano about "The Ghost Church." The church is the old St. James Lutheran Church that stood on the hill above the current entrance to the Fairview Cemetery.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s fall calendar is full of fall activities, including tomorrow 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. On Monday, November 11 at 10am, the Preserve is hosting Pine Bush Wonder and Wish Walk, when you participate in a 0.9 mile walk to explore the big and the small, the living and non-living and the seasonal surprises around us using Rachel Carson's writing as inspiration. . On Thursday, November 14, at 11am, the Preserve is offering Owl Prowl, an informational talk about owls in the Preserve and a brief hike to look for evidence of owls.

The Guilderland Public Library has several interesting events, including tonight 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.

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.

The Guilderland Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA are asking for your support to adopt a family for this holiday season. If you are interested in adopting a family, please reach out to Kathy Burbank at kburbank@gmail.com.

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.

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

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.