To the Editor:

Historic Altamont warmly invites residents and community to a Trail Planning Community Open House, part of our ongoing effort to preserve and promote the region’s unique natural environment.

At this event, we aim to gather community feedback on eight proposed projects that will form the Altamont Trail Network, an initiative to connect communities, and natural resources throughout the village of Altamont, the town of Guilderland, and Albany County.

The open house will be held next Thursday, June 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Masonic Temple Noah Lodge at 138 Maple Avenue. The evening will begin with a brief project overview and summary of identified trail priorities, followed by an interactive session with maps and draft concepts. Trail planning consultants from LaBella Associates will also be on hand to participate.

Community input is vital to shaping a trail network that reflects local priorities and strengthens recreational opportunities in and around Altamont. We hope you’ll join us!

As noted in our recent letter, construction on the new Community Kiosk is scheduled to begin next week - Monday, June 23rd.  We are delighted to see this long-awaited project take shape, with a Ribbon Cutting Celebration planned for late September. Details of the event are being finalized and will be shared soon.

We are especially thankful to Jeff Thomas, who provided Historic Altamont with a long-term lease and a welcoming home for this new community site.

In other news, Historic Altamont is excited to announce new funding for a public art project. A generous grant from Advance Albany County Alliance will support the initial phase of a sculpture installation at the Community Kiosk site.

Plans are underway to commission a hiking-themed figurative sculpture that celebrates Altamont’s link to the Long Path and evokes the enduring spirit of adventure and the personal journeys that bring us together.

Advance Albany County Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local economic development throughout the county.

For more information about these initiatives or Historic Altamont, please visit historicaltamont.org.

Dave Bourque

Debra Barnes Breitenbach

Bob Casey

Jodi Novak Wey

Historic Altamont Inc.