Last Friday, the Town held a ceremony in recognition of its designation as a Purple Heart Town.  I thank Congressman Paul Tonko, County Executive Dan McCoy, and Major Aristeas K. Tzovaras, a Purple Heart recipient, for joining us for this celebration.  With its designation as a Purple Heart community, the Town honors 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.

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 discussions, legal aide, community meals calendar, games, 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, Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments.

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, and on Sunday, December 8 from 1pm to 5pm.  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. 

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s fall calendar is full of 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 today, from 4pm to 5:15pm, with 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 a three-thousand-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border.  On Wednesday, November 20, from 7pm to 8:15pm, the Library is hosting a virtual talk entitled Native Rights and Culture in Fiction, with Mona Susan Power about her latest novel A Council of Dolls. 

The Altamont Free Library’s fall calendar has events for all ages, including on Saturday, November 16 at 9am, the Library is hosting Yoga Storytime, for fun, kid-friendly yoga with yoga instructor Christine Carpenter. This event 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 emailing staff@altamontfreelibrary.org or calling (518) 861-7239. 

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.

With Thanksgiving approaching, the Guilderland Food Pantry needs your help to address food insecurity in our community.   You can donate food and money, or volunteer to help.  The most needed items are boxed scalloped potatoes, stuffing mix, brownie mix, and canned fruit.

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.

A 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.   

New York State has imposed a statewide burn ban in effect until November 30 due to increased fire risk. This burn ban bars outdoor fires for disposing of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking. Backyard fire pits and contained campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small, contained cooking fires.

Town Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. 

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor