📆 BETHELEHEM AREA EVENTS

🚧⚠️ WEMPLE ROAD CLOSED IN BETHLEHEM AFTER CULVERT EROSION CONCERNS ⚠️🚧

🚢⚙️ PORT OF COEYMANS GROWING INTO A MAJOR ECONOMIC FORCE FOR THE REGION 🌎💼

🥉👏 RCS STUDENT EARNS STATE MEDAL AT SKILLSUSA COMPETITION! ⚙️📚

🎭🗣️ RCS STUDENTS HELP LEAD IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AT PROCTORS YOUTH SUMMIT ❤️👏

Introducing the Bethlehem Area Live Community Calendar

MAY 15th

MAY 16th

MAY 17th

MAY 18th

MAY 19th

Drivers in Bethlehem should be aware of a significant traffic change after accelerated erosion at a culvert beneath Wemple Road forced officials to close part of the roadway Wednesday. 🚗🚫

📍 The closure is located near:
🏚️ The historic Heath Farm barn
📍 Wemple Road at Route 9W

Town officials say the culvert deterioration created safety concerns serious enough to require an immediate shutdown of the road. At this time, there is:
❓ No estimated reopening date

⚽ Important detour information for SoccerPlex visitors

Traffic heading to and from the:
🥅 Bethlehem SoccerPlex

must now follow a detour route using:
➡️ Route 9W
➡️ Clapper Road
➡️ Weisheit Road
➡️ Wemple Road south of the facility

🏗️ Long-term repair project already planned

The Town of Bethlehem has been working with:
🏢 CHA Engineering
🛣️ New York State Department of Transportation

on plans for a major culvert replacement and stabilization project currently scheduled for:
📅 2027

The project is expected to use:
💰 A $1.194 million state grant

Town officials now say they are exploring whether:
🔧 Temporary stabilization could reopen the road sooner
OR
🚜 Construction timelines can be accelerated

🏡 Why this matters locally

Wemple Road is an important connector for:
⚽ Families visiting SoccerPlex
🚗 Daily commuters
🚜 Local farm and residential traffic
🏘️ Bethlehem residents traveling through the corridor

Drivers are encouraged to:
⏰ Allow extra travel time
🚧 Follow posted detours
⚠️ Use caution in the area

Bethlehem officials say updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

#BethlehemNY #DelmarNY #TrafficAlert #RoadClosure #BethlehemSoccerPlex #CapitalRegion #Route9W #CommunityUpdate #BethlehemLocalNews #Infrastructure #NYTraffic 🚧

The Port of Coeymans continues to expand its footprint far beyond the Capital Region, playing a major role in some of the Northeast’s biggest infrastructure, transportation, and energy projects — while also bringing jobs and investment back home to local communities. 🏗️🚛⚓

Five months into 2026, officials say the port is already operating at a fast pace:
📈 20 ship calls recorded by April 20
📈 Compared to 46 total ship calls during all of 2025

🏡 Local impact close to home

According to Carver Companies, the port:
💰 Paid more than $1 million in school taxes in 2025
💰 Paid more than $450,000 in property taxes
👷 Added 66 new hires last year
🏭 Supports more than 100 direct jobs at the port alone

The Coeymans Industrial Park is also reportedly operating near full capacity, with only a small number of shovel-ready development sites remaining.

⚓ Big projects connected to the Port of Coeymans

Over the last year, the port has supported several major projects across the Northeast, including:
🌉 Portal North Bridge in New Jersey
⚡ Champlain Hudson Power Express
🌊 Offshore wind development projects
🏙️ Manhattan coastal resiliency work
✈️ JFK Airport terminal construction

The port has also handled:
🪨 Tens of thousands of tons of stone
🚢 Heavy steel shipments
🔌 Offshore energy infrastructure materials
🏗️ Massive bridge and transportation components

🌎 Growing role in clean energy

The Port of Coeymans has increasingly become part of New York’s evolving clean energy economy.

Officials highlighted work tied to:
🌬️ Offshore wind projects
⚡ Hydropower transmission systems
✈️ Sustainable aviation fuel development
🔋 Hydrogen and energy infrastructure logistics

One project included work supporting the Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm off Long Island.

🎓 Workforce development and local partnerships

Port leaders say growth isn’t just about shipping and infrastructure — it’s also about building careers locally.

Recent initiatives include:
🎓 A new scholarship partnership with SUNY Cobleskill
🛠️ Workforce training with BOCES and HVCC
🚜 Hands-on training opportunities for heavy equipment careers

The port has also partnered with:
🚒 Local fire departments
🤝 Community organizations
🥫 Food support programs
🏘️ Local business associations

🏡 Community conversations continue

As the port continues to grow, some local residents have raised concerns about:
🚛 Truck traffic
🔊 Noise
🏭 Industrial expansion impacts

Port officials say they are working to improve transparency and community engagement moving forward.

📅 Community members will have a chance to learn more during:
🚢 Community Day at the Port of Coeymans
🗓️ May 30
🕘 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 2170 River Road, Coeymans

The event will feature:
⚙️ Heavy equipment displays
🚢 Guided tours
👷 Staff meet-and-greets
❓ Opportunities for residents to ask questions

🏡 Why this matters locally

What was once viewed mainly as a local river port has evolved into a major regional logistics and infrastructure hub supporting projects across the Northeast.

For many in southern Albany County, the port’s growth represents:
💼 Jobs
📈 Economic investment
🏗️ Industrial expansion
🌎 Regional influence

And in 2026, the momentum appears to be accelerating.

🔗 Read more:
https://www.ravenanewsherald.com/categories/news/articles/port-of-coeymans-builds-momentum-with-major-projects-growing-regional-impact

#PortOfCoeymans #CoeymansNY #RavenaNY #CapitalRegion #EconomicDevelopment #Infrastructure #OffshoreWind #518News #CommunityNews #BethlehemLocalNews #AlbanyCounty #HudsonRiver ⚓

Big congratulations to Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk student Hunter Goss for bringing home a Bronze Medal at the New York State SkillsUSA Competition in Syracuse! 🎉🏆

Hunter earned the medal in:
🧮 Related Technical Math
🏭 Manufacturing & Machining Technology

The statewide competition featured more than:
👨‍🏭 3,000 students
🏫 Dozens of school districts
🛠️ Competitions in welding, nursing, machining, culinary arts, technical trades, and more

Hunter was among 80 students representing Capital Region BOCES at the prestigious event held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. 🇺🇸⚙️

SkillsUSA helps prepare students for real-world careers through hands-on technical education, leadership development, and workplace skill competitions — and this achievement highlights the incredible talent coming out of our local schools and career training programs. 👏📚

Congratulations again to Hunter Goss, RCS, and Capital Region BOCES on this outstanding accomplishment! The future of skilled trades and technical careers is looking bright right here in the Capital Region. 💪🔧

#RCS #RCSRavens #SkillsUSA #CapitalRegionBOCES #StudentSuccess #CTE #SkilledTrades #518News #BethlehemLocalNews #CommunityPride #CareerEducation #Manufacturing #TechnicalEducation 🏆

Students from Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School recently joined peers from across the Capital Region at Proctors Theatre for the Elevating Student Voices (ESV) Youth Summit — a student-led event focused on building stronger, safer, and more inclusive school communities. 🌎🏫

Representing RCS were:
⭐ Owen Smith
⭐ Nico Bonilla
⭐ Jillian Decker
⭐ Janelle Williams

The students participated in discussions centered around:
❤️ Mental health
🤝 Inclusion
🗣️ Student voice
🏫 School safety
🌍 Diversity and equity

The summit, organized through Capital Region BOCES, brought together students from districts throughout the region to collaborate, share ideas, and explore ways to create positive change in their schools and communities. 👏

🏡 A proud moment for RCS

One of the highlights of the event came when RCS senior Owen Smith served as a moderator for the Community Leadership Panel, helping guide discussions with regional leaders focused on:
🗣️ Elevating underrepresented voices
🤝 Building inclusive environments
💡 Encouraging student leadership

RCS officials praised the students for representing the district with:
✅ Thoughtfulness
✅ Leadership
✅ Pride
✅ A commitment to positive change

❤️ More than just a school club

The RCS Diversity Club — which may soon adopt the name:
🌟 “Elevating Student Voices”

— is continuing efforts to expand these conversations beyond the high school level and into middle and elementary schools as well.

The group’s mission focuses on:
🤝 Encouraging understanding
🌍 Embracing differences
🗣️ Promoting student-driven conversations
❤️ Building stronger school communities

🏡 Why this matters locally

For many families, events like the Youth Summit highlight the importance of giving students opportunities to:
💬 Speak openly
🤝 Learn from one another
🌎 Build empathy
❤️ Help shape the culture of their schools

Programs centered around student voice and inclusion continue to grow across the Capital Region — and RCS students are helping lead the way. 👏🎭

Read More at: https://www.rcscsd.org/article/2874077

#RCS #RCSRavens #StudentVoices #CapitalRegionBOCES #Proctors #YouthLeadership #CommunityStrong #MentalHealthAwareness #SchoolSafety #InclusionMatters #BethlehemLocalNews #518Schools ❤️

How Did We Do This Issue??