On the afternoon of Saturday, June 14, the Town-owned three historic properties are participating in New York State’s Path Through History.  The Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center at 451 Main Street will be open from 1pm to 4pm, with the Guilderland Garden Club and Guilderland Historical Society hosting a tour of the historic house and the award-winning perennial garden.   It is an opportunity to learn more about the residents of the historic home since its construction around 1802.   The exterior and interior of the house was recently repainted. 

The third historic Town-owned property is the John L. Schoolcraft House in the hamlet of Guilderland at 2299 Western Avenue.  The home, which was built around 1835, was recently repainted, and is fine example of Gothic Revival architecture.  The first floor has been restored, and will be open from 1pm to 4pm.  

In addition to preparing for the 250^th anniversary of the Battle of Normanskill (August 11, 1777) and its reenactment in 2+ years, the Town’s American Revolution Committee is looking to recreate what life was like in our community in the months before and after the battle.   Part of that effort involves establishing an apple orchard featuring tree species found in our area in the 1700s.  Parks & Rec just acquired two 4-to-5-foot Golden Russet apple trees, popular in the early 1800s for cider production and eating.  An additional 14 heritage apple trees will arrive later this season for planting at the Town’s Community Gardens.  There also plans for a medicinal garden of herbs and small plants that were common at that time.   

On Monday, June 9 at 10am at Town Hall, the Guilderland Garden Club’s featured speaker is Albany County Master Gardener Lee Ryan who will talk all about Dahlias. 

Guilderland Performing Arts Center opens its 2025 summer season with the opening performance by the Guilderland Town Band on Thursday, June 26 at 7:30pm.  GPAC’s nine concert season continues through August 14, with performances by popular local groups and the return of Park Playhouse Stage Company’s showings of Oklahoma! at 7:30pm on Thursday, July 31 through Saturday, August 2, and a matinee on Saturday, August 2 at 3pm, and the return of The Refrigerators for National Night Out on Thursday, August 5.  

A reminder that Parks & Rec’s 2025 Summer Program is little over a month away, starting on Monday, June 30 through Friday, August 8, with one-week half-day camps, swimming lessons, and dozens of sports and enrichment camps.  The printed lime-colored 2025 brochures are available at Town Hall and the Park & Rec’s Office, and were delivered by back-pack mail at schools before the Spring break. 

The Town’s extensive hiking system is open but please be mindful of possible slippery and muddy areas.   Please also take efforts to protect from ticks, and consider attending the Tick Awareness Event at 6pm on Tuesday, June 10 at Town Hall.  Hike Guilderland! has interactive mapping of all trails, including in the Town’s hiking trails at Tawasentha Park and Vosburgh Open Space, and also hiking trails managed by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, DEC (Black Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area), and Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (Bozen Kill Preserve).  The interactive map allows you to zoom for each trail’s description, length, difficulty, and trailhead locations.

Please remember that, in all Town parks and open spaces, dogs must be on a leash at all times.  Your dog may be very friendly, but hikers and park patrons do not know that and the presence of an unleashed dog can be disconcerting.   The exceptions to this rule are the Town’s two dog parks at Nott Road Park and behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.   

The Town’s Senior Services Department’s May newsletter has information about classes and seminars, book discussions, tax preparation assistance, trips, medical and shopping transportation, next month’s book discussion, legal aide, monthly meal calendar, games, and much more.  On Wednesdays 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 Town is now accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates interested in applying for the full-time position of Keyboard Specialist or Senior Keyboard Specialist in the Assessor’s Office. The Town is also accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments. 

Community Caregivers’ weekly Lunchtime Chats include “Lending a Helping Hand: Elevate your Impact!,” tomorrow at 1pm, and “The Athletic Achievements of Jim Thorpe,” next Wednesday, May 28 at 1pm.  You can easily join and listen in on these one-hour chats by calling (518) 992-6661.  You can help with Community Caregivers in fulfilling its mission by volunteering your time and/or making donations. 

The Food and Drug Administration announced new guidelines that would limit the administration of the updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall to persons over 65 years and persons older than 6 months with a higher risk of severe illness or conditions such as pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, cancer and obesity.  It is a departure from past years when COVID-19 vaccines were not restricted.  

Town Hall will be closed on this coming Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.  The Transfer Station will also be closed on Tuesday, May 27.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor