📆 BETHELEHEM AREA EVENTS

🌡️BETHELEHEM AREA WEATHER

🎶🌳 TRAIL TUNES RETURNS SUNDAY! MUSIC, NATURE & FAMILY FUN COME TOGETHER IN NEW SCOTLAND! 🎸🥾

🔋🔥 TESLA MEGAPACK FIRE RAISES QUESTIONS AS LOCAL BESS DEBATE CONTINUES

🛏️❤️ HELPING ALBANY COUNTY CHILDREN SLEEP SAFELY — $2,345 GRANT WILL PROVIDE BEDS & BEDDING!

🔋⚡ FEURA BUSH BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT APPROVED — FIRE PROTECTION & INSURANCE CONDITIONS INCLUDED

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

🎉☀️ SATURDAY IS PACKED & SUNDAY KEEPS THE FUN GOING! 10 EVENTS AROUND BETHLEHEM, RCS & VOORHEESVILLE! 🎶🌭🌿❤️

🧩☕ SATURDAY MORNING MATH PUZZLER SOLVED! ☕🧩

Introducing the Bethlehem Area Live Community Calendar

AUGUST 15th- Saturday & August 16th- Sunday

More Events at: https://BethlehemAreaLive.com

What happens when you combine beautiful hiking trails, live local music, food, refreshments and a summer afternoon outdoors? You get Trail Tunes! 🎶🌿☀️

After attracting more than 200 people for its inaugural event last summer, Trail Tunes returns this Sunday, August 16, from 1:00–4:00 PM at the Bender Melon Farm Preserve in New Scotland.

Hosted by the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, this FREE, all-ages event gives visitors the chance to explore the 175-acre preserve at their own pace while discovering live acoustic performances stationed along the trails. 🎵🥾

🎶 Kimono Dragons — Instrumental psychedelic surf rock with everything from big waves of sound to laid-back summer vibes.

🪕 Laura Leigh — Folk inspired by old-time country and rock & roll traditions.

🎵 Carolyn Shapiro — Southern Adirondacks banjo player and songwriter bringing old-time music to the trail.

🎸 The Husbands — A seven-member family band blending heartland rock, grunge, jam-band sounds and folk.

And there's even MORE happening this year! 🙌

🍺 Common Roots Brewing Company — beer & cider available for purchase
🌮 Hungry Traveler Food Truck
🎨 Kids' Craft Table
🗺️ Trail Map Challenge — collect stamps at all four music stations
🎁 Complete the challenge for an MHLC vinyl sticker AND entry into a raffle for prizes including MHLC merchandise, Tacos Diablo gift cards and a Common Roots gift basket!

📅 Sunday, August 16
⏰ 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Bender Melon Farm Preserve — Route 85A, New Scotland
🎟️ FREE & ALL AGES

🚲 BONUS: The preserve can also be accessed from the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, making this a great destination for cyclists as well as hikers.

Trail Tunes is a pretty terrific example of what makes our area special — local musicians, preserved open space and neighbors coming together to enjoy both. ❤️🌳🎶

📖 More details from The Altamont Enterprise: Read the original Trail Tunes story

👇 WHO'S HEADING TO TRAIL TUNES THIS SUNDAY? Tag the friends or family you'd bring along! 🎸🥾☀️

#BethlehemLocalNews #TrailTunes #NewScotlandNY #VoorheesvilleNY #BenderMelonFarmPreserve #MohawkHudsonLandConservancy #LiveLocalMusic #SupportLocalMusic #GetOutside #HelderbergHudsonRailTrail #CapitalRegionNY #WeekendFun #CommunityEvents #BethlehemAreaLive

A recent Tesla Megapack battery fire in Arkansas is drawing attention here at home as residents continue discussing the proposed installation of the first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in our immediate area.

One of our Bethlehem Local News readers shared the report with us because of the ongoing local conversation surrounding large-scale battery storage facilities.

According to the report, a tractor-trailer was transporting a Tesla Megapack from Texas to Georgia when its load shifted Tuesday afternoon while entering Interstate 40 near Forrest City, Arkansas. A Megapack reportedly fell from the trailer, ignited nearby grass and subsequently overheated and caught fire.

🔥 The response lasted for hours.

The Forrest City Fire Department remained at the scene until approximately 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, and Tesla technicians were brought in from Memphis and Texas to assist.

Firefighters eventually moved the battery approximately five miles away to highway department property where officials said it could continue burning in an area away from homes and the interstate. The battery was reportedly still burning at 4 a.m.

Importantly, the Forrest City fire chief reported that there was no danger to the public during the incident.

This incident did not occur at an operating BESS facility. It involved a Megapack that reportedly fell from a tractor-trailer during transportation, an important distinction when considering what the event does — and does not — tell us about stationary battery-storage projects.

Still, the incident is likely to be of interest to residents following the local BESS proposals because it highlights questions surrounding lithium-ion battery fires, emergency response, transportation, thermal runaway, fire duration and how damaged battery units are managed.

Those are precisely the types of issues communities may want addressed as BESS projects move through local review.

For residents evaluating a proposed facility, some of the important questions include:

🔹 What battery chemistry and technology will be used?
🔹 What fire-detection and suppression systems are incorporated?
🔹 How is thermal runaway contained to prevent propagation between cells or units?
🔹 How far will batteries be located from homes, roads and neighboring properties?
🔹 What training will local firefighters receive?
🔹 What is the emergency-response plan if a battery does ignite?
🔹 How will damaged batteries and contaminated runoff, if any, be handled?
🔹 What safety standards and independent testing must the project meet?
🔹 How will batteries be transported to and from the site?

The Arkansas incident by itself does not establish whether a proposed local BESS facility would be safe or unsafe. But it does provide a real-world example that residents, emergency responders, project developers and local officials can examine as part of the broader discussion about risk mitigation and emergency preparedness.

📣 WHAT DO YOU THINK?

As our communities consider battery-energy-storage projects, what questions would you like developers and local officials to answer before a project receives final approval?

👇 Keep the conversation respectful and share your thoughts below.

📖 Source: WREG News Channel 3 — Tesla battery pack falls off truck, burns for hours on I-40

Read the original WREG report

This Article was First Published on our Social Media Pages on Friday August 14th 2026

#BethlehemLocalNews #BESS #BatteryEnergyStorage #TeslaMegapack #BatterySafety #LithiumIonBatteries #FireSafety #EmergencyPreparedness #CommunitySafety #BethlehemNY #NewScotlandNY #VoorheesvilleNY #CapitalRegionNY

Some community investments can make an enormous difference in a child’s life — including something as fundamental as having a safe, comfortable bed to sleep in each night. ❤️

Justice For Orphans (JFO) is thanking Albany County Legislator Zachary Collins, who represents Coeymans, for inviting the organization to apply for an Albany County Legislative Grant.

🎉 Great news: Justice For Orphans was awarded $2,345!

The funding will be used to provide beds, mattresses and bedding requested through CarePortal for children in need throughout Albany County. 🛏️🧸

Through JFO’s network of participating churches, the grant will help more local children have something many of us may take for granted — their own safe and comfortable place to sleep.

👏 A special thank-you to Legislator Collins for recognizing this important community need and helping connect resources with an organization working directly to assist local children and families.

And congratulations to Justice For Orphans and its network of churches for continuing to turn community support into practical help for children across Albany County. ❤️

📧 For more information about Justice For Orphans: [email protected]

💬 It’s always great to see local funding making a direct difference for children and families right here in our communities!

#BethlehemLocalNews #AlbanyCounty #CoeymansNY #RCSCommunity #JusticeForOrphans #CarePortal #HelpingChildren #CommunitySupportingCommunity #LocalImpact #CommunityMatters #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #MakingADifference

A year-long review has come to an end in New Scotland, where the Planning Board has approved a 5-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Indian Fields Road in Feura Bush.

The project is significant locally because it is the first of three BESS applications currently before the Town of New Scotland to receive approval.

The Planning Board voted 4-0 in July, with one member absent and an alternate abstaining.

The approved project by RIC Energy will occupy approximately 7 acres carved from the roughly 131-acre New Scotland Beagle Club property at 1543 Indian Fields Road.

Plans call for an approximately 11,300-square-foot, 5-megawatt/20-megawatt-hour facility consisting of:

🔹 Five Tesla-made battery units
🔹 Two transformers
🔹 Associated electrical switchgear
🔹 Three customer-owned utility poles

But some of the most significant parts of the approval involve what happens if there is an emergency. 🚒

According to The Altamont Enterprise, discussions during the review raised concerns about the Feura Bush Water District's aging infrastructure and the potential for water-main breaks when hydrants are used for sustained fire-protection demands.

The conditional approval requires RIC Energy to pursue a new water connection and hydrant serving the site and contribute $200,000 toward improvements to the water district's fire-protection system.

An alternative outlined in the approval would involve construction of a water-storage tank of at least 23,000 gallons on Onesquethaw fire company property.

The developer had sought to reduce the $200,000 contribution to $150,000, but the Planning Board maintained the higher amount.

The approval also calls for substantial liability coverage:

➡️ $5 million per occurrence
➡️ $10 million aggregate

Importantly, the required insurance is also intended to include environmental liability and cleanup coverage.

RIC Energy raised concerns during the review about whether coverage at those levels is commercially obtainable.

The approval provides the developer an avenue to document what insurance is actually available and potentially return to the Planning Board seeking a modification. Such a change would require another public hearing, according to the report.

Battery energy storage has become an increasingly important local issue, particularly as three BESS proposals have now been brought before New Scotland.

The Feura Bush decision also provides residents with a concrete example of the conditions a municipality can consider when reviewing these facilities — including firefighting water availability, emergency infrastructure, environmental cleanup and financial liability.

Those questions may receive even greater attention following recent reports of a Tesla Megapack catching fire after falling from a tractor-trailer in Arkansas, a story we shared yesterday after it was brought to our attention by a Bethlehem Local News reader.

It's important to distinguish the two situations: the Arkansas incident involved a Megapack damaged during transportation, not an operating stationary BESS facility. Still, the lengthy fire response underscores why emergency planning surrounding large battery systems is receiving considerable public attention.

📣 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Do the fire-protection improvements, insurance requirements and other conditions included in this approval address your concerns about the Feura Bush project? What additional information would you like to see as the other BESS proposals are reviewed?

👇 Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments.

📖 Source: The Altamont Enterprise

Read the full Altamont Enterprise report on the Feura Bush BESS approval

#BethlehemLocalNews #FeuraBush #NewScotlandNY #BESS #BatteryEnergyStorage #TeslaMegapack #EnergyStorage #FireSafety #Onesquethaw #CommunitySafety #EmergencyPreparedness #VoorheesvilleNY #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

Looking for something to do this weekend? You won't have to look far! 🙌😎

The BethlehemAreaLive.com Community Events Calendar is loaded for the second weekend of August, with farmers markets, native plants, live music, food, outdoor adventures — and an opportunity to rally around a local family. ❤️

Here’s what’s happening around Bethlehem, RCS & Voorheesville! 👇

🍅 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday Delmar Farmers Market
📍 Bethlehem Middle School, Kenwood Avenue, Delmar
Fresh, local and a great way to start your Saturday! 🥕🍓

🌿 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
August Native Plant Sale
📍 Wildbird Junction Backyard Nature Shoppe, Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Add some native beauty to your backyard! 🌼🐝🦋

🌭🍺 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
International Bratwurst Day
📍 The Warbler Brewery, Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Brats + a summer Saturday = sounds like a pretty good combination! 😋

🎸 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Jesse Brandt & Ryan Carmello LIVE
📍 Blackbirds Tavern, Voorheesville

🎶 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Jack Kelle LIVE
📍 The Warbler Brewery, Delmar

🎤 6:00 PM – 9:10 PM
Dave McCarthy and The Very Deep LIVE
📍 Anthony’s by Romo’s Pizza, Voorheesville

🎵 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Will Proper LIVE
📍 Rail To River Brewing, Main Street, Ravena

🎸 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Joe’s Boys LIVE
📍 Normanside Country Club, Delmar

❤️ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
DELMAR RALLIES FOR EMILY — Benefit for Local Mom Battling Rare Cancer
📍 Normanside Country Club, Delmar
Come together with the community for an afternoon supporting Emily Prudhomme and her family. ❤️🙏

🎶🥾 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Trail Tunes
📍 Bender Melon Farm Preserve, New Scotland
Explore the trails while enjoying live local music surrounded by nature! 🌳🎸

Whether you’re shopping local, grabbing a brat, catching a band, exploring the outdoors or supporting a neighbor, there are plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy our communities this weekend! ☀️❤️

👉 Check BethlehemAreaLive.com for the community calendar, event details and more things happening around town.

📣 SHARE THIS POST with someone who's always asking, “What are we doing this weekend?” 😂

👇 Which event are YOU heading to?

#BethlehemLocalNews #BethlehemAreaLive #BethlehemNY #DelmarNY #RCS #RavenaNY #CoeymansNY #VoorheesvilleNY #NewScotlandNY #WeekendEvents #ThingsToDo #LiveMusic #SupportLocal #CommunityEvents #WeekendFun #CapitalRegionNY

Good morning, Bethlehem! ☀️ Ready to get those weekend brain cells working?

Today’s challenge is:

🤔 Don’t rush! This one tests an important part of the order of operations that sometimes trips people up.

👇 Try it yourself BEFORE reading the solution!

We use PEMDAS:

P — Parentheses
E — Exponents
M/D — Multiplication & Division from LEFT to RIGHT
A/S — Addition & Subtraction from LEFT to RIGHT

There are no parentheses or exponents, so we move to multiplication and division.

⚠️ Important: Multiplication does NOT automatically come before division. They have equal priority, so we work left to right.

Step 1️⃣ — Division first because it appears first from the left:

11 ÷ 11 = 1

Our expression becomes:

11 − 1 × 2

Step 2️⃣ — Multiplication:

1 × 2 = 2

Now we have:

11 − 2

Step 3️⃣ — Subtraction:

11 − 2 = 9

The big lesson today? 🧠

👉 Multiplication and division are equals. Work them from LEFT TO RIGHT. The same rule applies to addition and subtraction.

💬 Did you get 9 on your first try? Drop your answer below — and tell us if this one made you think twice! 😂👇

#SaturdayMorningMathPuzzler #MathPuzzler #SaturdayChallenge #BrainTeaser #PEMDAS #OrderOfOperations #MathChallenge #WeekendBrainWorkout #BethlehemLocalNews

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