📆 BETHELEHEM AREA EVENTS

🚨🚗 POWERFUL MESSAGE BEFORE PROM SEASON AT RCS HIGH SCHOOL 🚔💔

🎶🏆 BCHS SENIOR NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR — ONE OF ONLY THREE IN THE CAPITAL REGION! 🦅👏

💼🏡 TWO BETHLEHEM SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVE $20,000 COMMUNITY GRANTS! 👏🌱🍔

🎶🏆 RCS MUSICIANS STRIKE GOLD AT NYSSMA FESTIVAL! 🎺🎤

Introducing the Bethlehem Area Live Community Calendar

MAY 19th

MAY 20th

MAY 21st

MAY 22nd

MAY 23rd

🚨🚗 POWERFUL MESSAGE BEFORE PROM SEASON AT RCS HIGH SCHOOL 🚔💔

As prom season and graduation celebrations approach, RCS High School students were given an important and emotional reminder this week about the very real dangers of impaired and distracted driving. ❤️

RCS S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) partnered with:
🚓 Albany County Sheriff’s Office
🚨 Albany County STOP-DWI

to host a special safety assembly and interactive mock crash experience for students ahead of Junior Prom. 👏

While projected weather forced changes to the outdoor mock crash demonstration, students still participated in a series of impactful activities and presentations designed to show the life-changing consequences that can result from impaired driving.

Students heard firsthand stories from:
🚑 Emergency responders
🚔 Law enforcement personnel
💔 Individuals affected by impaired or distracted driving crashes

The experience also included:
👓 Impairment goggles simulating alcohol, marijuana, and opioid effects
🚗 Driving simulations with delayed reaction times
🛑 Field sobriety test activities
🧠 Fine motor skill challenges

The goal was to help students better understand how quickly poor decisions behind the wheel can impact lives, families, and entire communities.

❤️ More than just a school event

Programs like this are meant to encourage students to:
✅ Make safe choices
✅ Plan ahead
✅ Look out for friends
✅ Understand the seriousness of impaired driving

As prom, graduation, and summer celebrations begin across the Capital Region, the message remains simple but critical:
🚫 Don’t drive impaired
📱 Don’t drive distracted
❤️ Get home safely

A big thank you to RCS S.A.D.D., school staff, Albany County STOP-DWI, and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office for bringing this important program to students. 👏🚔

#RCS #RCSRavens #PromSafety #STOPDWI #SafeDriving #StudentsAgainstDestructiveDecisions #CommunityStrong #BethlehemLocalNews #CapitalRegion #DriveSafe 🚗🚨❤️

🏆 BCHS SENIOR NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR — ONE OF ONLY THREE IN THE CAPITAL REGION! 🦅👏

Huge congratulations to Bethlehem Central High School senior Keiran McNay, who has been named a 2026 National Merit Scholar! 🎉

Keiran is one of:
⭐ ONLY 2,500 students nationwide
⭐ ONLY 3 students in the Capital Region

to receive the prestigious National Merit Scholarship award. 👏📚

The scholarship includes:
💰 $2,500 toward college tuition

This fall, Keiran will attend:
🎓 The University of Chicago

where he plans to pursue studies in:
🧬 Molecular Engineering
📈 Economics
⚖️ Potentially Pre-Law

National Merit Scholars are selected based on:
📚 Academic excellence
📝 Standardized test performance
🌟 Leadership & school involvement
🎓 Potential for college success

And Keiran’s accomplishments reach far beyond the classroom. 👏

Throughout his time at BCHS, he has been deeply involved in:
🎤 Speech & Debate (serving as president and earning national rankings)
🎻 Orchestra (cello section & quartet leader)
🏃 Cross country & indoor track
🎾 Tennis
🤝 Students for Peace and Survival club

Through SPAS, Keiran helped raise thousands of dollars to combat food insecurity in the community. ❤️

He also plans to continue:
🎻 Playing cello in college
🗣️ Participating in debate at UChicago

When asked what he’ll miss most about Bethlehem Central, Keiran highlighted the supportive BC community and the encouragement he received throughout his academic journey.

(And yes… apparently BCHS coffee earned a special shoutout too ☕😂)

This is an incredible achievement and another proud moment for Bethlehem Central and our entire community. 👏🦅

Congratulations, Keiran! Your future is incredibly bright. 🌟

#BethlehemCentral #BCHS #NationalMeritScholar #StudentSuccess #BethlehemNY #CommunityPride #AcademicExcellence #CapitalRegion #BethlehemLocalNews #GoEagles 🦅🎓🏆

💼🏡 TWO BETHLEHEM SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVE $20,000 COMMUNITY GRANTS! 👏🌱🍔

Two local businesses are getting a major boost thanks to the Town of Bethlehem’s Microenterprise Grant Program, which awarded:
💰 $20,000 to Stacked Grill in Delmar
💰 $20,000 to Sunray Community Farm in Glenmont

The grants are funded through the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal and are designed to help small businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen local communities. ❤️

Town officials say programs like this help local entrepreneurs invest in equipment, expand operations, and continue building vibrant commercial districts throughout Bethlehem. 🏡📈

🍔 Stacked Grill — Delmar

One of the newest restaurants at Four Corners, Stacked Grill recently opened in the former FoCo Taco location on Delaware Avenue.

The fast-casual burger spot was created with:
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families
🏘️ Local residents
🥡 Takeout customers

in mind.

Grant funding will help support:
🍔 Startup operations
📦 Packaging & inventory
🪑 Furniture & supplies
🍽️ Catering operations

🌱 Sunray Community Farm — Glenmont

Sunray Community Farm recently signed a three-year lease to operate at historic Heath Farm in Bethlehem.

The farm plans to create:
🌿 A regenerative community farm
🌻 Educational agricultural experiences
🚜 Hands-on learning opportunities
🌱 A community-centered nursery and growing space

Grant funds will help purchase:
⚙️ Equipment
🛠️ Machinery
🌾 Farming tools & supplies

🤝 Supporting local entrepreneurs

Former grant recipient and Wildbird Junction owner Lance Raffe, who now serves on the grant review committee, shared how impactful the program can be for growing businesses and said the committee works hard to help entrepreneurs succeed while also offering mentorship and guidance throughout the process.

Recipients are also required to complete entrepreneurial training before receiving reimbursement funds.

🏡 Why this matters locally

Programs like the Microenterprise Grant Program help:
✅ Support locally owned businesses
✅ Create jobs
✅ Encourage community investment
✅ Revitalize commercial districts
✅ Keep Bethlehem’s small business community growing

Town officials say this round distributed the remaining available funding for 2025, with the program expected to return again in Fall 2027.

Congratulations to Stacked Grill and Sunray Community Farm! 👏❤️

#BethlehemNY #DelmarNY #GlenmontNY #SupportLocal #SmallBusiness #CommunityGrowth #StackedGrill #SunrayCommunityFarm #EconomicDevelopment #BethlehemLocalNews 🌱🍔💼

🥵🌡️ CAPITAL REGION HEAT WAVE ALERT: RECORD TEMPS POSSIBLE TUESDAY! ⚠️☀️

Get ready, Bethlehem area — the hottest weather of the year so far is arriving Tuesday, and it could break records across the Capital Region. 🔥

Forecasters say:

🌡️ Temperatures could soar to 94° in the Albany 📈 That would break the current record of 91° set back in 1989

☀️ Most areas outside the Adirondacks are expected to hit at least 90° And the heat won’t stop overnight… 😓

With:

💧 High humidity

🌬️ Light south winds

🌃 Mostly clear skies overnight temperatures will only dip into the upper 60s and near 70 degrees, offering very little relief from the muggy conditions.

⛈️ Storm chances increase Tuesday afternoon While many areas may stay dry, isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. A few storms could become: ⚡ Strong to severe 💨 Capable of gusty winds 🧊 Possible hail producers Some lucky spots could also get brief cooling rain from passing downpours.

🌧️ ❄️ Relief arrives Wednesday A cold front is expected to move through early Wednesday, bringing:

🌬️ Cooler air

😌 Lower humidity

📉 Temperatures below normal heading toward the end of the month

🔥 Heat Safety Reminder:

✅ Stay hydrated

✅ Limit outdoor activity during peak heat

✅ Never leave children or pets in vehicles

✅ Check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable residents Summer is definitely making itself known this week! ☀️🔥

#CapitalRegionWeather #HeatWave #BethlehemNY #AlbanyNY #SummerHeat #WeatherAlert #CapitalRegion #BethlehemLocalNews 🌡️☀️🥵⛈️Share Bethlehem Local News Insider

How Did We Do This Issue??