June 12, 2025

It is hard to believe that it has been more than six months since we have had a rain free weekend, and its looks like this streak will continue. More than three inches of rain fell last weekend, and was preceded by a record rainfall in May. Despite this lousy weather, Tawasentha Park’s pool opens this week, followed by the opening of the Guilderland Performing Arts Center’s summer concert series and opening of the Summer recreation program in the next few weeks. More details are shared below.

Town News & Announcements

I thank residents who attended Tuesday’s Lyme Disease Awareness at which specialists in Lyme Disease shared important information about the types of ticks and diseases in our area, and how to minimize your exposure. The event’s video and copies of the slideshows by Holly Ahern, Professor of Microbiology at the State University of New York at Adirondack and Dr. Saravanan Thangamani of SUNY Upstate Medical University are available on the Town website.

I was honored to participate in award ceremony last evening at Western Turnpike Golf Course for Northeast New York PGA’s Hope Program which introduces and teaches golf, at no cost, to veterans and active-duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. PGA golf professionals led participants in six-week development program. I thank Director of Golf Casey Childs and Golf Pro Joe LaVigna for hosting this special program for the third year.

June 13, 2025

Tomorrow morning at 10am, the ninth annual Hometown Heroes celebration takes place at the Guilderland Performing Arts Center. This year’s event will honor 21 veterans for their service to our country. You are invited to participate in this celebration, and for a change, it looks to be free of rain. You can also review online the banners for honorees since 2018.

June 14, 2025

New York State’s Path Through History takes place this weekend, with the Town’s historic properties playing a role in this celebration on Saturday, June 14. The Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center will be open from 1pm to 4pm, with the Guilderland Garden Club and Guilderland Historical Society hosting a tour of the newly painted historic house and the award-winning perennial garden.

Cobblestone Schoolhouse

The Cobblestone Schoolhouse, also in Guilderland Center, can be viewed from the outside, as the Town starts renovating the one-room schoolhouse building built in 1860. The recently painted John L. Schoolcraft House in the hamlet of Guilderland, built around 1835, will have its restored first floor open from 1pm to 4pm.

2025 Mission: Lifeline Gold Award

I am pleased to announce that the Town’s Emergency Medical Services Department was recognized by the American Heart Association with the 2025 Mission: Lifeline Gold award. The program seeks to improve the system of care for patients suffering from acute, high-risk time-sensitive conditions, particularly ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and stroke. It focuses on streamlining processes across EMS, emergency departments, and cardiac and stroke centers to ensure timely, evidence-based treatment. Agencies and hospitals are evaluated based on performance metrics, such as appropriate use of medications, and adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines, with recognition awarded to those that meet or exceed national benchmarks. Town EMS received the 2025 Mission: Lifeline Gold award, the highest level of the award for consistent evidence-based excellence in time-sensitive acute care of heart attack and stroke patients.

In just two weeks, on Thursday, June 26 at 7:30pm, Guilderland Performing Arts Center opens its 2025 summer season with a performance by the Guilderland Town Band. GPAC’s nine concert season continues each Thursday evening 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 Refrigerators for National Night Out on Thursday, August 5.

A reminder that Parks & Rec’s 2025 Summer Program starts on Monday, June 30 and runs 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. The program also lists events and activities during summer months and beyond for all ages.

Tawasentha Park’s pool will open for this season this Saturday, June 15. There are also Tot Swim and Learn to Swim programs. Adult lap swimming takes place on Monday thru Thursday from 11am to Noon, and on weekends from 10am to 11:30am. Lap lanes are limited, and are provided on a first come, first serve basis.

Hike Guilderland! provides interactive mapping of all trails, including 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 on for each trail’s description, length, difficulty, and trailhead locations. Please be aware that ticks are present, with reports of far more ticks this spring than prior years.

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 Senior Services Department’s June 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 Senior Services Department’s popular summer outings still have space available for the luncheon cruise on the Lac du Saint Sacrament on Lake George on next Thursday, June 17, and the showing of Guys on Ice at the Lake George Dinner Theater on Thursday, August 21.

The Town is 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.

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

Tuesday, June 17

Industrial Development Agency

Tuesday, June 24

Planning Board

Wednesday, June 25

Traffic Safety Committee

Tuesday, July 8

Conservation Advisory Committee

Monday, July 14

Town Board

Tuesday, July 15

American Revolution 250^th Anniversary Committee

Wednesday, July 16 at 3pm

Community Events & Resources

The Guilderland Public Library Board and staff have launched a Long-Range Planning process for the Library. To ensure that the Library continues to meet the changing needs of our community, it has created a survey for your feedback. This is your chance to share what you value most about the library, as well as ideas for improvements or new services, and to help shape the library’s future. The survey is also available at the Library for your convenience.

Albany County has launched a new transportation program with GoGoGrandparent that provides residents aged 60 and older with two free round-trip rides each month to any destination of their choice. The service is available Monday through Saturday, from 8am to 8pm. The program is funded by the New York State Office for the Aging. To participate, you can call a dedicated County line at 855-915-6601. Once enrolled, rides can be scheduled in advance by calling 855-464-6872.

Seniors (at least 60 years old) may be eligible for coupons for 2025 farmers markets. There are monthly income thresholds based on family size. To request a coupon booklet, please contact the Albany County Senior Services Office at 518-280-7607.

Cornell Cooperative Extension and New York State Agriculture & Markets are offering informational sessions for the Community Garden Leadership certificate program, an online opportunity to learn more about and strengthen skills for community gardens.

Regal Cinemas at Crossgates has announced the return of its popular family-friendly Summer Movie Express series. Over nine weeks this summer, Regal will offer two PG-rated movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 11am only for $1. The double-bill showing on June 17 and 18 is “SMX25: Trolls Band Together” and “SMX25: IF.”

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s summer calendar includes on this Sunday, June 15 at 1pm a Father’s Day Hike, a 1.8-mile hike, with a knowledgeable leader, on the Great Dune trail. On Friday, June 20 at 6pm, the Preserve will mark the longest day of the year with a Summer Solstice Stroll, an opportunity to explore different habitats and seasonal changes, while hiking 1.5 miles over rolling topography. On Wednesday, June 25 at 7pm, you can join in National Butterfly Count Volunteer Training, a virtual seminar, when you can learn about butterfly habitat in the Preserve and how you can participate in the 2025 National Butterfly Count.

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s summer event calendar is full of outdoor events, including on Saturday, June 21 from 9am to 11am at the Upper Bozen Kill Preserve (Bond Road entrance), when MHLC volunteer preserve steward Laurie Lyons-Swift, who helped protecting this preserve, will offer a guided tour of the property.

Town Hall and the Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor