Town News & Announcements

Parks & Recreation’s popular in-person craft workshop for making holiday centerpieces and take-home grab & go craft kits takes place next week, with an in-person craft workshop on Wednesday, November 27, from 9:30am to 12:30pm at the Parks & Recreation Office (181 State Route 146).  Each child will have the opportunity to work through all the crafts at their pace.  All participants must be accompanied by an adult.   The grab & go craft kits come with instructions and materials for crafts to be done at home.  The pick-up dates for the kits are Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26 from 9am to 3pm.  If you are able to, please bring a non-perishable item to donate to the Guilderland Food Pantry.  Please register online or call the office at (518) 456-3150.  The registration deadline has been extended to Monday, November 25.  

At its Tuesday meeting, the Town Board took the first step in reviewing the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee’s draft plan by referring it to more than a dozen local and State agencies for their comments.  Under State law, the Town Board must hold a public hearing on the proposed plan within 90 days of its referral.  The first public hearing should take place by early February.  

The Town Board adopted the Town’s ADA Transition Plan after an 18-month process, including 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 in about 0.75 miles of sidewalk in the existing 29.6 miles of sidewalks.  

With no rain or adverse weather, the Highway Department’s schedule for vacuuming leaf piles remains on schedule with most streets having been vacuumed multiple time.  The last scheduled sweeping is Wednesday, December 13, and will likely end at that date.  The Highway Department is well-aware of where leaves fall late and have given those streets extra attention.  The trucks will soon be refitted for winter weather duties.  Please remember that leaf piles should be placed on the edge of the lawn, and not on the paved surface.  With snow in the forecast, albeit not much here, please remember that, except where allowed on posted street sign, that no parking is permitted on Town roads from November 1 to April 1.  

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.

With the season’s closing of the Western Turnpike Golf Course, the cart paths are now open for walking.  It has proven very popular since the cart paths were open off-season during the pandemic and continued thereafter.    Should sufficient snow arrive, the course will have snowshoeing and groomed cross-country skiing.   

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.