📆 BETHELEHEM AREA EVENTS

🌡️BETHELEHEM AREA WEATHER

🏫🍎 NEW LEADERSHIP AT HAMAGRAEL: BCSD NAMES INTERIM PRINCIPAL FOR 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR

🌊⚖️ $1.1 MILLION ENVIRONMENTAL SETTLEMENT REACHED INVOLVING COEYMANS INDUSTRIAL PARK

🏫❤️ RCS RECEIVES COUNTY FUNDING TO FIGHT BULLYING, VAPING & SUBSTANCE ABUSE! 🚭🛡️

🎓🦅 RCS PROMOTES FROM WITHIN: TIMOTHY KING NAMED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES! 👏📚

❤️💪 DELMAR RALLIES FOR EMILY: SUNDAY BENEFIT TO SUPPORT LOCAL MOM BATTLING RARE CANCER 🎶🤝

🧩☕ SUNDAY MORNING MATH PUZZLER SOLVED! ☕🧩

Introducing the Bethlehem Area Live Community Calendar

August 16th- Sunday

August 17th- Monday

More Events at: https://BethlehemAreaLive.com

DELMAR — Bethlehem Central School District has announced a familiar face will take the lead at Hamagrael Elementary School for the upcoming school year. 🦅📚

Heather Culnan, currently an assistant principal at Bethlehem Central High School, has been appointed interim principal of Hamagrael Elementary, effective August 31.

Culnan has served as an assistant principal at BCHS since 2012 and brings more than 25 years of experience in education. Her career has also included positions in the Schuylerville and South Colonie school districts.

🏫 A year of transition at Hamagrael

Culnan will step into the role as current principal Ian Knox takes a one-year leave of absence to pursue a professional opportunity outside the district.

Her appointment also comes during an important transition for Hamagrael, as the school prepares to welcome students and families affected by Bethlehem's recently approved elementary attendance-zone changes.

Culnan plans to build upon the work already underway at Hamagrael while developing relationships with students, families, faculty and staff. She also brings previous elementary-level experience to her new assignment.

📚 Looking ahead to September

With the beginning of the 2026-27 school year just weeks away, Culnan's familiarity with the Bethlehem school community should provide continuity during a year that will bring some new faces to Hamagrael.

👏 Please join us in wishing Heather Culnan, the Hamagrael staff, students and families a great start to the new school year!

💬 Hamagrael families — what are you most looking forward to as September approaches?

Source: NEWS10

#BethlehemLocalNews #BethlehemNY #DelmarNY #BCSD #BethlehemCentral #HamagraelElementary #Hamagrael #BethlehemSchools #BackToSchool #Education #CommunityNews #Eagles #CapitalRegionNY

COEYMANS — A settlement has been reached in two federal environmental lawsuits involving the Coeymans Industrial Park, bringing years of litigation over stormwater runoff and wetlands to a close.

Under the agreement reached Thursday, the owners of the industrial park will restore wetlands, monitor stormwater runoff and complete $1.1 million in environmental projects benefiting the Hudson River watershed. 🌿💧

The lawsuits were brought by environmental organization Riverkeeper and alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act involving stormwater entering Coeymans Creek, which flows into the Hudson River, as well as the filling of wetlands and tributaries without required federal permits.

⚖️ Importantly, Coeymans Recycling Center LLC and owner Carver Laraway did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

As part of the agreement:

🌱 Wetlands identified in the litigation will be restored.

💧 Stormwater runoff from the industrial park will be monitored for pollutants.

🌊 $1.1 million will be devoted to environmentally beneficial projects involving pollution reduction, mitigation or environmental restoration within the Hudson River watershed.

🔎 Riverkeeper will monitor compliance with the requirements of the settlement.

🏗️ An additional provision addresses Eastern Metal Recycling. If the tenant remains at the industrial park beyond six months, the parties are expected to meet to establish additional stormwater protections.

The specific project to be funded by the $1.1 million environmental commitment has not yet been selected. According to the Times Union report, Riverkeeper and the industrial park could identify an existing Hudson River improvement proposal for the company to complete. The work must be finished within six years.

The settlement also provides $1.6 million to Riverkeeper for attorneys' fees and other litigation expenses.

The two cases date back several years. The first was filed in 2020 over alleged stormwater discharges, while a second lawsuit filed in 2024 focused on alleged impacts to wetlands.

🏭 The Coeymans Industrial Park is a major commercial and industrial property in the community, with multiple tenants and more than 1.28 million square feet of interior space, according to its owner.

🌎 With Coeymans Creek flowing directly into the Hudson River, the environmental requirements resulting from this settlement will be of particular interest to residents throughout the RCS and greater Capital Region communities.

💬 What do you think about the settlement and the $1.1 million commitment to Hudson River watershed projects?

Source: Times Union

#BethlehemLocalNews #CoeymansNY #RavenaNY #RCS #CoeymansIndustrialPark #HudsonRiver #CoeymansCreek #Riverkeeper #CleanWater #Wetlands #Environment #CapitalRegionNY #AlbanyCounty #CommunityNews

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — New Albany County funding is headed directly into RCS schools to help address two challenges facing young people: bullying and substance abuse.

Albany County lawmakers recently awarded more than $336,000 to 48 organizations and programs through the county’s Annual Legislative Grant Program and Improvement Initiative Fund.

Among the local recipients are the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District and Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School, with funding targeted toward programs designed to make schools safer, healthier and more supportive for students. 🦅❤️

At the RCS Middle and High School, county funding will continue tobacco and substance-abuse prevention education for a third year.

The program brings Speak Sobriety presentations to eighth- and 12th-grade students — two important transition points as students prepare for high school and life after graduation.

Students will hear about addiction, resilience and decision-making, followed by smaller breakout sessions designed to encourage discussion.

The goal is straightforward: give young people information and tools before vaping, tobacco or other substance use becomes a larger problem. 🚭

With vaping continuing to be a concern among teenagers nationwide, prevention and education can play an important role in helping students understand the consequences of the choices they make.

At Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School, grant funding will support a more comprehensive bullying-prevention and intervention program.

The initiative will build upon programs already in place at the school and include:

📚 An evidence-based bullying prevention curriculum
🤝 Lessons covering empathy, respect and conflict resolution
🧑‍🏫 Additional professional development for teachers and staff
📊 Ongoing evaluation to measure the program's effectiveness
👨‍👩‍👧 Increased communication with parents and families
❤️ Strategies to help students recognize and appropriately respond to bullying

The emphasis is on prevention and creating a positive school culture, rather than waiting until problems occur.

The RCS grants are part of a larger county investment supporting 48 organizations and initiatives. Funding will also help improve parks and playgrounds, support women's health programs, strengthen community organizations and expand educational opportunities.

For RCS families, however, this portion of the investment hits especially close to home.

Helping children feel safe at school and giving teenagers the knowledge to make healthier decisions can have an impact well beyond the classroom. Stronger students help create stronger families — and ultimately a stronger RCS community. ❤️🦅

👏 Congratulations to RCS, Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary and all of the educators and community partners working to put these funds to good use!

💬 Parents and residents: What other youth programs would you like to see expanded in our local schools?

#BethlehemLocalNews #RCS #RCSCSD #RavenaNY #CoeymansNY #SelkirkNY #RCSRavens #PieterBCoeymans #AlbanyCounty #StopBullying #BullyingPrevention #SubstanceAbusePrevention #VapingPrevention #StudentSafety #MentalHealthMatters #Education #CommunityInvestment #SupportingOurKids #CapitalRegionNY

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — RCS is welcoming a familiar face into a new leadership role!

The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District has announced the appointment of Timothy King as its new Assistant Director of Student Support Services. 🎉

King brings extensive experience in K-12 special education and already has strong connections throughout the RCS school community.

Most recently, he served as Special Education Instructional Coach and Transition Coordinator for RCS Middle and High School, working with students and staff while helping address instructional and transition needs.

☀️ King has also served for several summers as Principal of the district's Extended School Year Summer Program, overseeing staff while supporting students and curriculum implementation.

🎓 His educational background includes a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, along with multiple education and leadership certifications.

Superintendent Craig P. Chandler highlighted King's familiarity with RCS students, staff and programming, along with the experience and work he has already contributed to the district.

👏 RCS also recognized Kate Thibault, who previously served as Assistant Director of Student Support Services, thanking her for her dedication and contributions to students, staff and the greater school community.

Please join us in congratulating Timothy King on his new leadership position and wishing him continued success serving RCS students and families! 🦅❤️

#BethlehemLocalNews #RCS #RCSCSD #RavenaNY #CoeymansNY #SelkirkNY #RCSRavens #Education #SpecialEducation #StudentSupport #SchoolLeadership #CommunityNews #AlbanyCounty #CapitalRegionNY

This is one of those moments when the Bethlehem community has an opportunity to do what it does best — come together for one of our own. ❤️

A special benefit will be held this Sunday at Normanside Country Club in Delmar to support Emily Prudhomme, a local mother and bartender who has been undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer.

Emily was just 30 years old when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in July 2025, only days before her daughter Tatum's fourth birthday.

Since her diagnosis, Emily has endured an incredibly demanding treatment journey that has included 33 rounds of radiation and four rounds of chemotherapy.

Through it all, one of her greatest sources of strength has been her young daughter, Tatum. ❤️

Emily has also built a tremendous support system through her work as a bartender in Delmar. Friends and regular customers Tina DeCastro and Maeve O'Donnell decided they wanted to do something tangible to help — and Sunday's community benefit was born.

📅 Sunday, August 16
⏰ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Normanside Country Club, Delmar
🎸 Live music from Earth To Joe
🍽️ Food & drinks
🤝 An afternoon dedicated to supporting Emily and her family

The goal isn't simply financial assistance. It's also about surrounding a local mother and her daughter with a community that cares while helping ease some of the enormous emotional and practical burdens that can accompany cancer treatment.

Many of us talk about what makes living in Bethlehem special. Moments like this are where that community spirit becomes real.

A meal. A donation. Showing up Sunday. Sharing Emily's story. Every gesture can help remind a neighbor facing an extraordinarily difficult chapter that an entire community is standing beside her. ❤️

For those unable to attend Sunday's benefit, Emily's family has also established a fundraiser:

Support Emily through her family's GoFundMe

📖 You can read the original NEWS10 story here:

NEWS10 — Benefit to support Delmar woman living with rare form of cancer

📣 PLEASE SHARE THIS ONE, BETHLEHEM. Even if you can't attend or donate, sharing the benefit can help it reach someone who can. ❤️🙏

#BethlehemLocalNews #DelmarNY #BethlehemNY #SupportEmily #CommunityStrong #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #BethlehemCommunity #CancerSupport #BenefitForEmily #NormansideCountryClub #SupportLocalFamilies #CapitalRegionNY #TogetherWeAreStronger

Today’s puzzle is:

30 + 30 ÷ 3 = ?

Before grabbing the calculator, remember our old friend PEMDAS — the order of operations!

Division comes before addition:

30 ÷ 3 = 10

Now our equation becomes:

30 + 10

30 + 10 = 40

A common mistake is adding 30 + 30 first and then dividing by 3:

❌ 60 ÷ 3 = 20

But without parentheses telling us to add first, division takes priority over addition.

So...

Did you get it before reading the explanation? 😎

👇 Drop your answer in the comments — and NO PEEKING at everyone else's answers first! 😂

#SundayMorningMathPuzzler #BethlehemLocalNews #MathPuzzler #BrainTeaser #PEMDAS #OrderOfOperations #SundayFun #MathChallenge #CanYouSolveIt

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