G
Guilderland’s #1 Choice W NO for Snow & Ice Management
S
We now offer a
SINCE 2005
OUR TOWNE GUILDERLAND MID-OCTOBER 2020
New Service Plan!
We can snowblow your driveway for only $300 per season. DON’T PAY MORE THAN $25*/PLOW Please see our ad on pg 5 or visit our website for services and service area.
Q: Where do snowmen get the weather report? A: The Winternet. Q: What do you call a snowman party? A: A
Snowball.
518-461-7539 www.nosnowny.com ROll YOUR OWN
&NYSCIGARETTES MIN PER PACK
ALBANY BEVERAGE Discount Beer & Soda
ROUTE 146 & ROUTE 20 • CARMAN RD. • GUILDERLAND
MODIFIED HOURS: MONDAY-SATURDAY 10AM -8PM • SUNDAY 11AM -5PM
Serving Guilderland for 42 Years!
518-355-4370
www.AlbanyBeverageS www.AlbanyBeverage S .com Bottle Redemption OPEN under these guidelines:
• limited to 240 beverage containers per visit, per day. • Bottles should be clean. • Arranged in a countable way. Thank you for your understanding.
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Coors Light • Bud • Lite • Bud Light
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Heineken 12 pk $14.99 Goose Island 15 pk Can $14.99 Yuengling 24 pk Can/Btl $18.99 Molson • Labatt 30pk Can $19.99
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Guilderland Public Library...here for you! NEW! LIMITED BROWSING in our Normanskill Room, plus expanded CURBSIDE CHECKOUTS, starting 10/7! Normanskill Room Browsing Guidelines starting Oct. 7: Mon-Wed.-Fri. 10 am-4 pm; Tues.-Thurs. 1-7 pm; Sat. 10 am-2 pm - Self-service, at your own risk - Use hand sanitizer upon entering - Masks required for everyone ages 2+ - Restrooms unavailable, due to construction - Check out all items before leaving - Room is monitored by video - Returns: to the shed with the green canopy
check outs
returns
CURBSIDE CHECKOUTS - EXPANDED HOURS starting Wed. Oct. 7th: Mon.-Wed.-Fri. 10 am - 4 pm / Tues.-Thurs. 1 - 7 pm / Sat. 10 am - 2 pm RETURNS - EXPANDED HOURS: Mon.- Fri. 9 am - 8 pm / Sat. 9 am - 2 pm VIRTUAL PROGRAMS: register on the Events Calendar on our website, including family-friendly Halloween activities at Tawasentha Park ONLINE RESOURCES on guilderlandlibrary.org: library cards - get one online instantly K-12 resources at: guilderlandlibrary.org/learning-tools eBooks, eMagazines, audiobooks, music, movies, TV, concerts, Great Courses, language learning, job search resources, NY Times, Consumer Reports and much more! Subscribe to weekly/monthly updates: bit.ly/GPLeNews 518.285.0050 / ask.librarian@guilderlandlibrary.org
Guilderland's ONLINE Gathering Place
BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY!
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU: formerly
Westmere News Hours:
Monday - Friday 8am-6pm Saturday - Sunday 8am-2pm
Family Owned & Operated
FISH FRY FRIDAYS!
Don’t settle for a frozen fish fry!
Stop by each Friday and enjoy your freshly made Fish Fry!
Call (518) 456-4223 Place Your Order Pay with a Credit/Debit Card Choose your delivery option
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MENTION AD WHEN ORDERING
your delivery order of $20 or more. expires 11/15/20
Take-out Curbside Pickup Delivery Inside/Outside Seating Catering
We feature Boar’s Head Meats and Prinzo’s Rolls & Bread. Freshly made soups and salads made in house daily. Our new menu offers hot & cold sandwiches, paninis and burgers and fries. Visit our website www.route20cafeanddeli.com for menus, daily specials and to stay up to date on our latest offerings.
& SHAKE $10 SHAKE IT UP BURGER & SHAKE/DOGS ALL DAY LONG!! WEDNESDAYS! served with hot tater tots, and a vanilla or chocolate shake CONVENIENT ACCESS TO WESTERN AVE AT THE LIGHT ADDITIONAL PARKING AND ENTRANCE IN THE REAR
(518) 456-4223
1823 Western Avenue, Albany NY 12203 TLC FIREARMS TRAINING
Guilderland, New York 12084 www.tlcfirearmstraining.com • tlcfirearmstraining@gmail.com
(518) 441-2160
Upcoming Calendar of Events
ALBANY COUNTY PISTOL SAFETY COURSE (This is the course needed to apply for a pistol permit in Albany County.)
I am now doing it right in your home! Just pick a Sunday in October and I will come to your home and give you the course! It is about a 4 hours.
Check our website for the latest courses & schedule:
www.tlcfirearmstraining.com
Private lessons in all phases of firearm shooting available! Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Trap, Pistol Self Defense! Please feel free to contact me by email or phone with any questions. Tony LaTorre, NRA Training Counselor
Check out our website for course description and information!
Scan with your Smart Device's Camera App to view Our Towne's Digital Edition!
1971 Western Ave. Albany (Guilderland) 452-6085 Next to Hewitt’s Garden Ctr. M-F: 8-6:00 Sat 8-4:00 www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
3
notes from the SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE 5209 Western Ave, Guilderland • (518) 356-1980 • www.townofguilderland.org Guilderland, NY - Fall’s arrival brings cooler weather, colorful leaves, and local farm stands and businesses full of apples, pumpkins, and autumn produce. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy more than 30 miles of hiking trails in Tawasentha Park, Albany Pine Bush Preserve, Bozen Kill Preserve, Black Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area, and Vosburgh Trails Open Space. Maps and information about these trails are available on Hike Guilderland!, the Town’s GIS mapping app of hiking opportunities. These trails will also be used in a few months for snowshoeing. You should have received in the mail the Town’s Fall Newsletter which includes a street-by-street schedule for leaf-pick from October 13th to December 3rd. You can download the schedule on the Highway Department webpage. Please help Highway Department workers keep our streets safe for walkers, strollers, and bicyclists by depositing leaves on the edge of your lawn, and not on the pavement. With shortened daylight hours and the end of daylight saving’s time, it is important to keep our paved streets clear of leaf piles to improve visibility and allow pedestrians and bicyclists to stay on the side of the street. You can also help the Highway Department by keeping storm drains clear of accumulated leaves, debris, and lawn bags and avoid stormwater runoff damage and flooding problems. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Highway Department at (518) 8615108. If you were at the Fall Household Hazardous Waste and Confidential Document Shredding Day held on Saturday, September 19th, you quickly realized that it was a very busy day. In fact, the event was record-setting with 942 residents who responsibly disposed of two full tractor trailers of hazardous waste and one and a half trucks of shredded documents. I thank Transfer Station and Highway Department employment for conducting this “contact-less” event during a pandemic. The hazardous waste disposal is made possible by a DEC grant which reimburses the Town for one-half of the cost. Albany County is offering two outdoor rabies clinics for dog, cats, and even ferrets on Saturday, October 10th from 1pm to 4pm at Bethlehem Town Park, and Saturday, October 24th at the Ford Motor Company in Green Island. Please note that dogs are, of course, separated from cats and ferrets, with dog vaccinations from 2:30pm to 4:00pm, and cats and ferrets from 1pm to 2:30pm. Preregistration for this event is required at https://apps.health.ny.gov/ doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties or by calling (518) 447-4620. The wearing of face-masks and social distancing are mandatory. On Saturday, October 24th from 10am to 2pm, the Police Department is holding its bi-annual Drug Enforcement Agency National Prescription Take Back Day in the auxiliary parking lot at the Guilderland Public Library. You can confidentially dispose of both unused prescriptions (remember to remove any identification 4
Mid-October 2020 |
www.OurTowneGuilderland.com
on the label) and over-the-counter drugs (no needles or sharp objects). This responsible disposal promotes public safety and Peter G. Barber - Town Supervisor health by preventing the accidental use or abuse of prescription drugs often found in home medicine cabinets. You can also dispose of pet medications. This drivethrough event is “contact-less” (but, please have a face mask ready) by having the bagged items to be disposed items and allowing access to your vehicle by a police officer for removing the bag and placing it a disposal receptacle. More information about this important event is available at https://www.guilderlandpd.org/ drug-take-back Town Hall is the voting site for certain election districts on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd, from 6am to 9pm. Please remember that all participants must adhere to guidelines including the wearing of face masks and social distancing. You can also vote early starting Saturday, October 24th until Sunday, November 1st at different locations in Albany County, including the Guilderland Fire Department on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 2pm, on Monday and Wednesday from Noon to 8pm, and on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm. The NYS Board of Elections has an online portal by which voters can request an absentee ballot before October 27th. Here’s a link to the online portal for requesting an absentee ballot: https:// absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/Home/Search The Town of Guilderland Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee is now working on a plan to address racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color as required by Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order No. 203. The 14-member committee has formed four subcommittees focusing on Policies & Training, Response & Diversion, Criminal Justice Strategies, and Racial Justice & Equity. The final plan must be adopted by April 1, 2021. Yesterday, the Governor noted that the Town of Guilderland was among the small fraction of communities to have embarked upon this process. The committee’s website will be regularly updated as the committee’s work progresses, and has links to the Executive Order, Governor Cuomo’s Resources & Guide for Public Officials and Citizens (August, 2020), President Obama’s 21st Century Policing Report, Police Department Policies & Procedures, and opportunity for public comment. Here’s the website: https://www.townofguilderland.org/police-reform-andreinvention-collaborative-committee
As of August 3rd, the Moving Forward Plan, has allowed “buzzerentry” to Town Hall for short transactional activities at counters and pre-arranged meetings in a designated room. Since then, as of September 30th, there have been 1,850 visitors to Town Hall, including 671 visitors to the Town Clerk and 422 visitors to the Receiver of Taxes, mostly for paying school tax bills in September, and also 671 visitors to the Town Court to pay fines. Another popular destination was the Building Department with 183 visitors. Please remember that most transactions should be completed by “contact-less” methods by mail or phone, and the Town’s website (https://www.townofguilderland.org/). Also, tax payments, payment of court fines, and other sealed correspondence can be placed in a secure green-colored mailbox at the entry of Town Hall that is emptied every day. You will receive a paid receipt by mail. An indispensable part in the Town’s successful Moving Forward Plan is performed every day by Michele Sarraino, Town Hall receptionist, who has warmly greeted nearly all of the nearly two thousand recent visitors to Town Hall. Michele welcomes every visitor by answering the buzzer for entry, performing temperature and symptom checks, recording information for contact tracing, and providing directions to department counters and the designated meeting room. Michele also finds time to answer phone calls. I’d like to thank Michele for making sure that visitors are reassured and comfortable to transact business. I am also pleased to report that, after nearly six months of the pandemic-caused shutdown, in early August, the Town Court resumed limited court proceedings under the NYS Office of Court Administration’s strict operating guidelines which greatly reduced the court’s operating capacity. Over the past two months, the Town Court has worked closely with the Town’s EMS Department in carefully expanded its operations. To meet OCA guidelines which limit the number of persons in court at a given time, the Town Court is scheduling proceedings in hourly stages on Monday and Thursday nights. To address the months-long backlog and keep up with new matters, in September, the Town Court has started scheduling additional proceedings on Wednesday mornings. This successful transition to a new normal was only possible with careful planning with EMS supervisors and the professional dedication of Chief Clerk Jennifer Stephens and her staff Sharon Groves, DeAnna DeSantis, and Heather Carr. They have played a key role in laying out a reconfigured court room and use of other space to maximize social distancing, and the efficient processing of tickets and cases. I also thank Town Judges John Bailey, Denise Randall, and Bryan Clenahan for devoting more hours to this effort and, in particular, taking time from their legal practices to hold Court during daytime hours. Town offices are closing at Noon on Friday, October 9th to allow for the periodic deep disinfecting of common spaces at Town Hall. This remedial step is part of the Town’s Moving Forward Plan, which requires the regular disinfecting of more frequently used spaces, including the Town Board meeting room and court room. For this deep disinfecting, the EMS Department uses an ozone generator which is also used to disinfect ambulances and senior services buses. The proper use of an ozone generator requires that the space remain unoccupied for several hours.
W Sign up Today ! O N S Guilderland’s #1 Choice for Snow & Ice Management
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518-461-7539 | www.nosnowny.com Peter G. Barber, Town Supervisor
COMBINE ALL SEASONS AND SAVE! www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
5
DEAR COMMUNITY:
Your Guilderland YMCA is Open! Together, we are Stronger.
Welcome Back!
Now Open: Pool, Wellness Center, Track for Walking, Outdoor Classes! Learn More at: www.CDYMCA.org / 518.869.3500 6
Mid-October 2020 |
www.OurTowneGuilderland.com
HAIR EVENT
LLC
SALON & WIG CENTER
In the event you need hair, we have you covered
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DONATE YOUR HAIR TO C.W.H.L & WE DONATE OUR TIME! stylists: Cassandra Clark 518-380-8924 Sara Raponi 518-225-0892 Melissa Grega 518-496-8112 PhOtOgraPhy: Catherine-Mary
518-366-4604
ARE YOU THINKING PINK?! Pink extensions available for breast cancer awareness! $15 each. 1/3 of the cost of each strand is donated!! We have you covered with different shades of pink for everyone to show their support. Our best wishes, Melissa & Cassandra
1857 Western Avenue, Guilderland, NY 12203 • (518) 867-6202 www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
7
• How a test result might not give you all the information you need. • The emotional risks and benefits of genetic testing. • How genetic test results may affect other family members.
Inherited mutations are thought to play a role in 5-10% of breast and 10-15% of ovarian cancers.
What is Genetic Testing? Genetic testing helps you learn if your family history of breast cancer is due to a specific inherited gene mutation. It’s done with a blood or saliva sample, at a doctor’s office, hospital, or clinic.
Take Action to Lower THE RESULTS Your Breast and High Risk Ovarian Cancer Risk
UNDERSTANDING Average Risk
Stephen Rudnick
NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Cell: (518) 423-1259 (call or text)
Genetic test results are a factor in determining overall risk. Knowing your cancer risk and being proactive Results can help you understand your risk of getting and about yourbreast health and may ovarian help youcancers take steps to steps you can take to reduce your risk. lower your risk for getting breast or ovarian A positive test result does not mean you will definitely get breast or ovarian cancer. cancer, or find it at an early stage. If you test negative for a specific gene mutation, you still may be at an increased risk for breast or ovarian cancer.
Office: (518) 456-6518 srudnick@518realty.com www.518realty.com
Learn Your Family History of Cancer
A Guilderland resident, former Air Force officer and well respected business man in the Capital District for 40 years. Serving the entire Capital District with a focus on Guilderland .
Asking relatives about their cancer histories can be hard. Follow these tips:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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Share that you have learned that cancers can run in families. Explain that you are creating a record of your family’s history of cancer. Encourage family members to respond in a way that is most comfortable to them. Word your questions carefully, be a good listener, and respect their privacy. Write down who had cancer, age when diagnosed, and type of cancer.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Understand Genetic Counseling and Testing Genetic counseling and testing are recommended for women whose family medical history has certain patterns of cancer.
What is Genetic Counseling? Maintain a
Get enough
Genetic counseling can help you understand risk healthy weight physicalyour activity based on your personal and family medical history.
Breastfeed your babies
You willthe discuss like: breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. Increase chancethings of finding
DID YOU
If a genetic right fornormally you. •• Know how test yourisbreasts look and feel. Specific testsdoctor that might beaway usedifand their accuracy. •• Talk to your right you notice changes in your breast. •• Talk to your doctor you have a higher Possible genetic test if results and next steps.risk, including a family history of cancer. • How a test result might not give you all the information you need. • The emotional risks and benefits of genetic testing. • How genetic test results may affect other family members.
www.cdc.gov/BringYourBrave #BringYourBrave
KNOW?
Inherited mutations are thought to play a role in 5-10% of breast and 10-15% of ovarian cancers.
What is Genetic Testing?
Genetic testing helps you learn if your family history of breast cancer is due to a specific inherited gene mutation. It’s done with a blood or saliva sample, at a doctor’s office, hospital, or clinic.
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DO YOU SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES? By: Dr. Kim Leis-Keeling
Are you one of the 38 million men, women and children that suffer from migraines? Migraines are more than just a “headache”. They are a collection of neurologic symptoms affecting multiple organ systems that can result is visual disturbances, sensitivity to sound and smells, nausea, vomiting, extreme head and body pain. Living with chronic migraines can have a dramatic impact on quality of life impacting someone’s ability to work, go to school, use of medications and family life. I would like to share a testimonial from one of our patients who was willing to share her story about migraines. “After suffering from chronic severe and intractable migraines for years, I am so fortunate to have found Dr. Kim Keeling. My migraines were accompanied by not only severe pain but sensitivity to light, sound and vomiting. I was taking two medications and two vitamins to prevent migraines in addition to multiple medications for migraine symptom management. I had tried many other therapies for migraine reduction including acupuncture with little improvement. Dr. Keeling completed a comprehensive review of my extensive medical history, reviewed all of my radiology exams and reports before commencing treatment. She listened to my individual concern and goals for treatment in order to treat “the whole person”. After my first chiropractic treatment with Dr. Keeling, I experienced an incredible improvement in the frequency of my migraines, as well as the severity of the headaches. Currently, I’m able to start reduction of my preventive medicine. I am so grateful to Dr. Keeling for her expert and compassionate care and treatment. She has greatly improved my quality of life by providing significant relief of my debilitating migraines. She truly has “healing hands”. LW It has been such an honor to work with this patient. She has had such dramatic results in a very short time. We are utilizing gentle techniques consisting of craniosacral therapy, myofascial release and making a few small nutritional recommendations. It makes me so happy to see patients be able to reduce pain medication and improve their quality of life by making a few simple changes. Many of the patients that I have seen for migraines, headaches and neck pain respond so well to chiropractic care. Stop suffering and call us for a consultation. As always, if you have questions about how we can help you with headaches or migraines, please feel free to contact us at the Sports & Spinal Wellness Center at 518-869-3415. Please visit our website for more information at www.sportsandspinalwellness.com. We would be happy to be a part of your health care team.
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www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
9
THANKSGIVING PROJECT
WAYS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO GIVE BACK THIS THANKSGIVING
For many, Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy turkey, parades, and football, but it can also be an extremely difficult time for families who are struggling to make ends meet. Having to decide between paying the utility bills or seeing your kids go to bed hungry is a decision that no parent wants to make. Thanksgiving is just one day in November, but there are many ways you and your family can help others in need throughout the entire month. From donating items at a food drive to sponsoring a family’s Thanksgiving meal, every contribution makes a difference. We’ve come up with some great ideas to get you started. 1. DONATE TO OUR FOOD DRIVE 2. SPONSOR A FAMILY’S MEAL Donate on our website to sponsor a families dinner. 3. GIVE THE GIFT OF GIVING Support the Guilderland Food Pantry on Amazon. Amazon will donate 5% of your purchases. 4. HOST A “FRIENDSGIVING” TO BENEFIT OTHERS Host a Friendsgiving either at the office potluck or at home anytime in November. Feast on turkey, stuffing and the works or be creative by having a wine and cheese night, pizza or tapas. Whatever you decide, make it count by sponsoring a local family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Set a goal for the number of families you would like to support – each meal costs only $50. An event with just 5 people will raise $250 and feed 5 families. 5. GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED Use this time as an opportunity to speak with your children about how hunger and poverty affect other kids and families in your community – use real-life experiences that they can relate to. Need some pointers on how to frame a positive and effective conversation? We have tips to help you get started. Ask your kids how they would like to help this season. Offer suggestions like organizing a school fundraiser to sponsor families or start a food drive to fill grocery bags. And don’t forget to check out The Guilderland Food Pantry's website, which offers plenty of family volunteering ideas. When kids participate in activities that make a positive social impact, it inspires self-confidence, tolerance, and empathy so encourage your kids to share their experience at school! You can do this throughout November and anytime during the year. 6. SPREAD THE WORD Share your message with others throughout November on Social Media. Family tip: This is a fun way for teens to get involved. However you chose to give back this month, your spirit of generosity will make a big difference in the lives of others.
To sponsor Thanksgiving Dinner, please visit www.guilderlandfoodpantry.com and click donate Enter the amount you would like to donate and designate Thanksgiving Dinner 10
Mid-October 2020 |
www.OurTowneGuilderland.com
The key to a beautiful property in the spring isn’t found at the beginning of the year—it’s actually during the fall when you prepare your landscape to make it through the colder winter months. The Grounds Guys® know that fall is one of the toughest times to keep an immaculate lawn. That’s why we’re standing by with an array of lawn care services to help including:
• Cleanup of fallen leaves and branches • Aeration • Dethatching • Overseeding • Fertilization
• Mulching • Tree trimming and pruning • Seasonal color • Winterization of irrigation systems
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GroundsGuys.com | Neighborly.com
Peggy’s Cleaning Service Celebrating Business Celebrating 37 30 Years In Business “Personalized” RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL 7 Days A Week Reasonable Rates Fully Insured
References Available
Call Peggy 456-8268 Call Peggyatat(518) 456-8268
We are the locally owned and operated car service whose purpose is to provide Guilderland and the surrounding community a clean, safe, affordable, reliable, and professional transportation.
The services offered include:
• Medical Appointments & Procedures • Rides to/from mass transit JFK • Logan • Newark • Albany Airports Amtrak & Greyhound
• DWI avoidance • Day Trips to Nearby Cities Boston • NY • Saratoga
• All taxi related services • Light “stuff” transportation
Both scheduled appointments and immediate service are available
Call or Text (518)339-0658 or e-mail info@guilderlandcarservice.com
AKANOMI
Japanese Restaurant
OPEN • Inside Seating Available! Great Food. Great Service! (518) 357-0888 • www.akanomisushi.com Tuesday - Thursday: 11am - 9:30pm • Friday & Saturday: 11am -10:30pm • Sunday: Noon - 9:30pm
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518-355-6839
7385 ChurCh rd., Guilderland nY • www.518CutTree.com
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www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
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*Rates subject to change.
YEAR-END TAX STRATEGIES may contribute as much as $3,550 for individual coverage or $7,100 for family coverage (plus an additional $1,000 for people age 55 or older). Be sure to coordinate this strategy with any contributions your employer may have made on your behalf. Please note that HSA contributions are not permitted if you are enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B.
by Douglas Bauer Earlier this year, we discussed the importance of making income tax planning a yearround activity. This month, we offer reminders of some strategies that have year-end deadlines as it relates to the 2020 personal income tax year. •
•
If you are not on pace to achieve your target level of contributions to your employersponsored retirement plan (up to a maximum $19,500 for 401k or similar accounts, plus an additional $6,500 ‘catch up’ for those who are age 50 or older), you may wish to contact your employer’s payroll department to increase your contributions for your remaining paychecks. You may even find it makes sense to contribute your entire paycheck (after other mandatory withholdings) so as to maximize your contribution for the year.
sales taxes, mortgage interest, state income tax payments, and charitable donations) are close to the standard deduction, you may wish to consider pre-paying some 2021 expenses, such as charitable donations. By “bunching deductions”, those who typically are eligible only for the standard deductions may be able to itemize deductions every other year, thereby realizing some income tax savings. •
For tax year 2020, the standard deduction amounts are $24,800 for married-filing-jointly, $18,650 for head of household, and $12,400 for individual taxpayers and marriedfiling-separately. If you find that your itemized deductions (which may include, but are not limited to, medical expenses, property taxes,
Certain high-deductible health insurance plans allow for the ability to make tax-deductible contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA) as an above-the-line deduction, which means one need not itemize deductions in order to benefit. Additionally, contributions made via payroll deduction are not subject to FICA tax. For 2020, eligible persons
•
Depending on your personal tax situation, you may wish to realize capital gains (by selling appreciated securities) or capital losses (by selling securities which are worth less than what you paid for them). Many investors may be able to realize capital gains and pay a tax rate of 0% on their federal return if they are in a 12% or lower marginal income tax bracket. Other investors may benefit from utilizing realized losses to either offset realized gains (no limit) or to offset ordinary income (up to $3,000 per year, with any remainders carrying forward to future years).
Please consult your tax preparer and/or financial advisor to determine if any of the above strategies are appropriate for your overall financial situation.
AllSquare Wealth Management 200 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 219, Guilderland (518) 456-8900 • www.allsquarewealth.com
Douglas J. Bauer, CFP® is a principal advisor at AllSquare Wealth Management, LLC. As part of assisting clients with their overall wealth management needs, AllSquare Wealth offers income tax planning and income tax preparation services.
AllSquare Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser. www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
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WELLNESS TO GET YOU THROUGH TOUGH TIMES by Margaret C. Tabak
Guilderland, NY - I was asked by several readers about Betty Broderick after the reference in my August article. Betty and Dan Broderick had a notoriously nasty divorce in the late 80’s in San Diego. He was a successful and powerful attorney and was able to use and exploit the “old boys club” in a manner that was devastating to Betty both emotionally and financially. Even after the 5+ yearlong divorce process, there was a continued battle about custody and child support. In a heartbreaking turn, Betty killed Dan and his new wife in 1989. After 2 criminal trials she was convicted of 2d degree murder and still remains in prison. Betty had many reasons to be angry with Dan. When they married, he was finishing medical school and then decided to go to law school. She worked, supported him, and lived like a pauper. In the first 10 years of their marriage there were 9 pregnancies, 5 children were born and 4 survived. When Dan did start making it big, he began an affair with his assistant, and lied to Betty about it for years. He left their home claiming he needed “space” but was actually using the time to plot out his divorce strategy. Unfortunately, Betty channeled her anger in ways that were unproductive to her and harmful to their children. Rather than work with her attorneys to try to reach an equitable settlement or proceed to trial, she fought with each and every one and ended up conducting the trial herself, with terrible results.
abusive ,and obscene messages that not only could Dan hear, but their 4 children as well. Betty placed the children in the center of their fight, constantly saying vicious and painful things to them. When she wouldn’t stop, Dan started taping conversations between Betty and the children. Not only did this hurt her in the custody dispute, but probably sank her in the second murder trial as well. What could she have done differently? First and foremost, she should have committed to a course of therapy. One of her friends recommended that she go in-patient, which probably would have been very helpful. While Betty took some stabs at therapy, she never made an earnest attempt to look at the ramifications of her actions. Many times, someone going through a divorce or custody dispute does not want to seek help (medication, therapy) because they think it will “hurt “ them with a Court. Generally, the opposite is true. Judges would much rather see a parent take actions to help herself than to disintegrate in a manner that hurts the children and the parent/child relationship. “Wellness” was not talked about in the 80’s. We now recognize how important it is. Self-destructive behavior rarely has a happy ending. Being “well” can take you through tough times and to a way better outcome.
Being it was the late 80’s, Dan purchased a new-fangled answering machine. Once Betty discovered this, she would leave lengthy,
from Tabak Law Office
100 Great Oaks Boulevard, Suite 122, Albany • (518) 464-4095 www.tabakLo.com
Margaret C. Tabak has been an attorney since 1988, starting her career in Schenectady and moving her practice to Guilderland in 1995. The law firm is located in Great Oaks Office Park (near Crossgates Mall). Margaret counsels clients in all matters related to matrimonial and family law. A resident of Guilderland for more than 25 years, Margaret received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany and her law degree from Albany Law School. If you have questions about a matrimonial or family law issue, contact Margaret for a consultation. www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
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Guilderland’s [Online] Gathering Place 2228 Western Avenue • Guilderland, NY 12084
518-456-2400 • guilderlandlibrary.org
Big Plans: Limited Reopening Plus Construction By Tim Wiles, Library Director
There is a lot going on here at the library! We have major news on a couple fronts, which I am excited to share with you.
Limited Reopening At our recent board meeting, the Trustees approved a phased reopening plan which opens our doors a little wider. We are doing our best to provide library services safely during the pandemic, and we have the added complication of doing so with a building that will be under construction, probably by the time you read this. Our reopening is phased and gradual, and there will be future updates to the plan listed below. Expanded Curbside Hours: On Wednesday, October 7th, we will expand from 20 hours a week of curbside service to 34 weekly hours. The new schedule will be Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 10-4, Tuesday/Thursday from 1-7, and Saturday from 10-2, Beginning Saturday, October 10th. We hope to add Sunday hours soon as well – stay tuned!
We are opening up the Normanskill Room to limited browsing and expanding curbside service to 34 hours per week, including Saturdays, starting October 7. Our construction project is slated to begin October 15.
New Browsing Room: On Wednesday October 7th, we will open the library’s Normanskill Room for drop-in patron browsing. We are excited to offer this new Service and welcome you back in on a limited basis. These hours will mirror curbside service: Monday/ Wednesday/Friday from 10-4, Tuesday/Thursday from 1-7, and Saturday from 10-2. We hope to add Sunday hours for this as well. Patrons will enter via the emergency exit door that is just to the right of our main front door and also a bit to the right of our Little Free Library and front benches. The room will be stocked with a curated selection of our newest and most popular items, including children’s and young adult materials. Checkout will be via two self-checkout machines. Please note that public restrooms will not be available, as they will be under construction. Patrons must wear masks, maintain social distancing, and use hand sanitizer provided upon entry. We ask that patrons self-monitor to keep visits under 15 minutes, and that no more than five people are browsing in the room at any given time. The room will be monitored by video to ensure compliance for the safety of all. Use of the room is “at your own risk.” While science tells us that the primary method of transmission of Covid-19 is airborne, it is also possible to get the virus by touching items that others have touched. We ask that patrons be judicious, and only touch items they are seriously considering checking out. Return of materials will continue to be done in the sheds in our parking lot, and those items will continue to be quarantined for 96 hours prior to being brought into the building and sanitized. Expanded Return Hours: We now accept returns of materials in our quarantine sheds from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Saturday. This adds 15 hours per week to the available times for returning materials for extra convenience.
Construction Starts We are delighted to announce that construction is slated to begin on October 15th! This project commenced in earnest in 2017, and the referendum was approved by Guilderland voters in May, 2019. The general plan is to immediately begin constructing the expanded children’s area just east of the library. Also in the first phase of construction, the public restrooms will be completely rebuilt and renovated. Once the new space is framed in, we will move our children’s collection into that space, so that we can begin work on the rest of the library’s interior, moving collections around frequently in order to allow for construction work on the various indoor spaces.
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Mid-October 2020 |
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In the finished plan, our parking lot will be significantly larger, with an additional 47 spaces, with improved safety features and a relocated book drop that should reduce bottlenecks upon exiting. However, in the short term, our parking capacity will be reduced by about 25%, as the construction firms will fence off a section for their equipment. While we are working to minimize impact on the public, we will frequently need to close off sections of the library and the collections for short periods of time. We will do our best to keep patrons notified of what’s available and what’s not. If all goes according to plan, we should be finishing up all construction activity in fall, 2021. For more information on this project, please see: https://guilderlandlibrary.org/ get-to-know-us/places/renewal/
Drug Take Back Day Seeking to safely dispose of expired or unused medications? Drug Take-Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 24th from 10-2 in our staff parking lot, located across MercyCare Lane from our main lot. This twice-yearly event is coordinated in partnership with the Guilderland Police Dept. and is a drive-through event. All medications are accepted, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, including liquid medicines and pet medications. Here are the important guidelines: ·
Put your medications in a bag, if possible
·
Wear a mask covering your nose and mouth
·
Put bagged medications in an easily accessible place while remaining in your vehicle, or place the bag in your trunk so an officer may retrieve it
·
Drive through to the drop off point and stay in your vehicle
·
Follow the officers’ instructions
Please note: we cannot accept medications before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m., nor can we accept sharps, needles, or lancets. Thank you for participating!
Halloween If you’re looking for safe family-friendly Halloween activities, look to your friendly local library! We’re planning two themed programs at scenic Tawasentha Park in October: ·
Pumpkin Decorating for tweens and teens on Sat. Oct. 24 at 2:00-3:30 p.m. Middle and high schoolers are invited to meet us at Tawasentha Park dressed in your best costume, ready to celebrate Halloween with creepy and terrifying activities. We’ll take a picture of your decorated pumpkin for online voting, and the top vote-getter will be awarded a special prize!
·
Halloween Party for Families on Sat. Oct. 31 at 1:00-3:00 p.m., with two Monster Egg Hunts at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Registration opens Oct. 10. See the Events tab of www.guilderlandlibrary.org for further details, and to register.
Voting GPL serves as an Election Day polling place on Tuesday, November 3rd, 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. As in past years, voting for the Presidential election will be held in the library’s Helderberg Room. Approximately 3,500 citizens are eligible to vote at this polling place, so we have made the decision to suspend curbside pickup and drop in browsing on Election Day. If you vote here, please note that bathrooms will be under construction and thus unavailable to the public. Also, as mentioned above, parking spots will be reduced due to construction. If you can’t find a spot in our main lot, our staff lot across MercyCare Lane should have available overflow spaces. After the polls close, we will clean and sanitize the room (as we do with the whole building every evening) and on November 4th, we will expand the in-person browsing to include the Helderberg Room as well. We will be able to house approximately three times more materials in the two rooms than in just one. That’s a general rundown of where we stand, and where we are headed. We’re glad that you’re on the journey with us as we continue to navigate uncharted waters, and we thank you for your unwavering support. As we carefully move forward, all signs along the way point to a bright future ahead!
www.OurTowneGuilderland.com | Mid-October 2020
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HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH? Most of us know our toothbrushes aren’t meant to last forever. But it can be hard to figure out when our beloved bristles are nearing the end of their lifespan. Indeed there have been studies undertaken on this matter. After 3 months of normal wear and tear, most brushes begin to lose their effectiveness. The bristles wear down and soften. The brush becomes less effective at removing plaque from your teeth and your gums. Worse, the worn down brush can’t reach all of those tricky corners that a new brush can. And yes, most dentists do agree that changing your toothbrush regularly – every 3 months or so – is imperative to proper dental hygienic care. It is also important to change toothbrushes after you’ve had a cold, the flu, a mouth infection or a sore throat. That’s because germs can hide in toothbrush bristles and lead to reinfection. Even if you haven’t been sick, fungus and bacteria can develop in the bristles of your toothbrush —another reason to change your toothbrush regularly. To keep your toothbrush and yourself healthy, make sure you let it dry out between uses. Toothbrushes can be breeding grounds for germs, fungus and bacteria, which after a while can build up to significant levels. After using your toothbrush, shake it vigorously under tap water and store it in an upright position so that it can air out. We are doing everything to keep you safe during these times with new advanced technologies and special procedures. Feel free to call the office for details or check out our website.
Important Numbers Emergencies POISON CONTROL
911 800-222-1222
Ambulances: Town of Guilderland Emergency Medical Services Altamont Rescue Squad
(518) 456-3600 (518) 861-6715
Police: (Non-emergency) Altamont Police Department Guilderland Police Department New York State Police-Guilderland Substation
(518) 861-5480 (518) 356-1501 (518) 456-1118
Fire Departments: (Non-emergency) Altamont Fort Hunter Guilderland Guilderland Center McKownville Voorheesville Westmere
(518) 861-8171 (518) 355-2434 (518) 456-5000 (518) 861-8871 (518) 489-4340 (518) 765-4048 (518) 456-5200
Post Offices: Altamont Guilderland Guilderland Center Stuyvesant Plaza
(518) 861-6953 (518) 456-1400 (518) 861-5090 (518) 438-0773
Schools:
Altamont Elementary Christ the King School Guilderland Schools Transportation Guilderland District Administration Guilderland High School Farnsworth Middle School Guilderland Elementary Lynnwood Elementary Pine Bush Elementary St. Madeleine Sophie Westmere Elementary
With OshinsofSmiles,
(518) 861-8528 (518) 456-5400 (518) 861-6434 (518) 456-6200 (518) 861-8591 (518) 456-6010 (518) 869-0293 (518) 355-7930 (518) 357-2770 (518) 355-3080 (518) 456-3771
General Information: Albany County Clerk’s Office (518) 487-5100 Dr. Steven Oshins Albany County Executive’s Office (518) 447-7040 Altamont Fairgrounds (518) 861-6671 Altamont Village Hall (518) 861-8554 Guilderland Animal Control Officer (518) 356-1501 Guilderland Animal Shelter (518) 861-6855 Guilderland Chamber of Commerce (518) 456-6611 Guilderland Food Pantry (518) 930-1001 Guilderland Highway Department (518) 861-5108 Guilderland IDA (518) 356-1980 Can’t tolerate your CPAP. We make Oral Guilderland Interfaith Council (518) 456-5410 or (518) 355-3000 Appliances to treat Sleep Apnea. Guilderland Parks & Recreation Department (518) 456-3150 Natural looking restorations including Guilderland Performing Arts Center (518) 456-3150 Veneers and crowns. F a m i l y D e n t a l C a r e Nott Road Park (518) 869-9884 Invisalign to improve function, crowding and Road, Guilderland Park Superintendent 3905 Carmen (518) 456-8220 aesthetics. Working with kids and adults of all ages Day Camp (Tawasentha) Summer (518) 456-3475 Implant Services: Single implant crowns to Town Pool (518) 456-4446 (518) 356-5635 Teeth in a day. Guilderland Public Library (518) 456-2400 Korare Whitening (518) 280-7607 If you lookingprocedures. for a passionate, quality Guilderland dentist whoSenior trulyService cares about his Oral Appliances Guilderland Town Hall (518) 356-1980 patients Call Dr. “O” today for complete, comprehensive dental care. Guilderland Transfer Station (518) 861-6776 (518) 356-5635 • 3905 Carman — Rd., Guilderland Participating with Most Insurance Plans Guilderland Water—& Wastewater Management Dept. (518) 456-6474 WWW.OSHINSOFSMILES.COM • ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Our Towne Guilderland - Rev. 0519
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Steven J. Oshins, D.D.S.
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Mid-October 2020 |
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FEELING BAD YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ISSUE OF OUR TOWNE?
On Saturday, October 24th from 10am to 2pm, the Police Department is holding its bi-annual Drug Enforcement Agency National Prescription Take Back Day in the auxiliary parking lot at the Guilderland Public Library. You can confidentially dispose of both unused prescriptions (remember to remove any identification on the label) and over-the-counter drugs (no needles or sharp objects). This responsible disposal promotes public safety and health by preventing the accidental use or abuse of prescription drugs often found in home medicine cabinets. You can also dispose of pet medications. This drive-through event is “contact-less” (but, please have a face mask ready) by having the bagged items to be disposed items and allowing access to your vehicle by a police officer for removing the bag and placing it a disposal receptacle. More information about this important event is available at: https://www.guilderlandpd.org/drug-take-back
Don’t miss the next one! Call 356-3898
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YOUR GUILDERLAND REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST
IMPORTANT TIP FOR SELLING YOUR HOME TO GET TOP DOLLAR
CHECK YOUR ZESTIMATE!
Looking at homes online is a piece of cake these days. With modern technology, you have access right at your fingertips. Zillow is one of the most popular resources to look at homes for sale and home information. Did you know that most of the information that you see on Zillow is pulled from the Multiple Listing Service? Unfortunately, the ZESTIMATE is not, and It is inaccurate much of the time. How is this a problem? Let’s say your home is listed for sale at $300,000, but the Zestimate says your home is worth $250,000. Many times buyers look the Zestimate up to cross reference with the list price. If the Zestimate is lower, the buyer questions the list price and does not want to make that offer. The ZESTIMATE is a computer generated number based on comparable sales. Most of the time, updates made to the home (new kitchens, flooring, roofs, HVAC...), condition, additions, finished basements etc., are not taken into consideration. In order to get an accurate market value of your home, you need a real estate professional to take the time to do a market analysis and compare/contrast comparable sales with all the pertinent details included. According to Zillow, there are steps you can take to increase your zestimate: Log onto Zillow - Type in your HOME ADDRESS - Claim this home - Go into the OWNER VIEW and add every single piece of descriptive information you possibly can. Check as many boxes as you can! If your Zestimate goes up, please let me know. Good luck! As always, if you would like to know the current market value of your home, please reach out. It is a free service I provide.
Kellie Kieley (518) 225-0454 Broker/Owner
kkieley2@gmail.com • www.KellieKieleyRealty.com 1525 Western Ave. , Suite 2A • Albany, NY 12203
Thank you and Happy October!
Kellie