The Guilderland Garden Club and the Guilderland Historical Society are hosting the 2025 Holiday Greens Show at the Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center.  This year's show will be held on Friday, December 5 from 4pm to 8pm, on Saturday, December 6 from 1pm to 5pm, and on Sunday, December 7 from 1pm to 5pm, with a visit by Santa on Saturday between 1pm and 3pm.   This year’s theme is “Winter Whites & Lights,” with the historic home decorated with fresh greens, handmade ornaments and decorations made by Garden Club members, and available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the Guilderland Garden Club’s scholarship program, and other local charities.

The Highway Department’s vacuuming of leaf piles remains on schedule.  If there are weather events requiring the Highway Department’s full attention, the schedule has catch-up days.  Please do not call the Highway Department if your street is vacuumed on an earlier day than the schedule. A Highway crew will return to your street on the scheduled day.  Highway trucks circulate year-round picking up leaf bags and tied brush. 

Please remember that, from November 1 to April 1, during the hours of 2 to 7 am, there is no parking on town roads, except when allowed by posted signs, to help with snow and ice removal.

The Assessor would like you to know that there are changes to the STAR (Exemption and Credit) that have recently taken effect, including:  

• To qualify for Enhanced STAR, only one of the resident owners will need to be 65 or older.   
• To be income eligible for Basic or Enhanced STAR, NYS Tax & Finance will only consider the income of the owners and their spouses who primarily reside on the property. 
• NYS Tax & Finance will notify assessors of Basic STAR recipients who become eligible for Enhanced STAR. You no longer need to apply with the Assessor.

If you will be turning 65 and qualify for the Enhanced STAR, and would like to switch to the STAR Credit (check) and potentially save more money, please go to NYS Tax & Finance where you can sign up or call at (518) 457-2036.  There is no need to bring your paperwork to the Assessor’s office. You will receive a check from the State instead of an exemption (discount on your school taxes).  The checks are mailed out by the end of September or you can choose the direct deposit option.   If you have any questions, please contact the Assessor’s Office at (518) 356-1980 ext. 2002. 

The Parks & Rec. Dept.’s 2026 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 March 27, 2026.  If you have any questions regarding banners, please call the Parks & Rec Office at (518) 456-3150.

With the seasonal closing of the Western Turnpike Golf Course, cart paths are now open for walking.  Please note that all dogs must be leashed. 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 Parks & Rec. Dept. has registration for its Saturday Morning Basketball for children in grades 1 to 5 at Farnsworth Middle School.  The program focuses on basketball fundamentals, with an emphasis on fun, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  The program will use a league format, with games taking place every Saturday morning. The program has a limited number of spots available to maintain an optimal player-to-coach ratio and ensure quality instruction. The camp takes place on Saturdays from December 6 to February 7, with no camp during the school break on December 27 or January 3.  Camps for Grades 1 and 2 are from 8:30am to 9:30am, and grades 3, 4, and 5 from 9:30am to 11am.

The Senior Services Department’s monthly newsletter has information about classes and seminars, upcoming trips, heating assistance program, medical and shopping transportation, a visiting author, fall crafts, legal aid, monthly meal calendar, games, and much more.  On Wednesdays from 11am to 1 pm, the Guilderland Public Library is the home for Seniors Connect!, where seniors can have a friendly chat on a wide-range of interesting topics.    

The Town is anticipating vacant positions on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Conservation Advisory Council, starting on January 1, 2026.  If you are interested in serving on a board or committee, please email your resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and reasons for seeking the appointment to my assistant Jessica Montgomery at montgomeryj@townofguilderland.gov.  Resumes and cover letters must be received by 4:30pm by next Wednesday, November 19.  Information about the Town’s boards and committees is available on the Town’s website.

The Town is also accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates interested in applying for positions for Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments. 

Community Events & Resources

With the impacts of the Federal government shutdown, and the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Guilderland Food Pantry is working to help support families who are facing food insecurity. The Town is helping by collecting non-perishable food items at Town Hall for the Pantry.   The most needed items are rice (one-pound bags), pasta, canned fruit, cereal, pancake and muffin mix.  Thank you for your support.  

The Guilderland YMCA is in its final days of collecting food items for its Thanksgiving 2025 Basket Brigade for Thanksgiving, and requests your help in delivering meals to families.  Each meal delivery includes 2 boxes of stuffing, box of potatoes, can of yams, box of brownie mix, 2 cans/packets of gravy, 2 cans of fruit, 4 cans of veggies, and a can of cranberry sauce.  You can help by dropping off food donations at the YMCA and/or by making a financial donation.   

On this upcoming Saturday at 3:45pm, Guilderland Boys’ soccer team are facing Fairport in the Class AAA State semifinals in Middletown.  To reach the semifinal game, the team has won four consecutive overtime games.  Congratulations on your success to date and best of luck this weekend.  

Town Hall and the Transfer Station will be closed for Thanksgiving and Friday, November 

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor