📆 BETHELEHEM AREA EVENTS

🚌📚 WHY NEW SCHOOL BUSES ARE ON THE BALLOT IN BETHLEHEM

🌍🎓 BC STUDENTS HELP LEAD CAPITAL REGION YOUTH SUMMIT ON INCLUSION & STUDENT VOICES 💬❤️

🏈💜 VOORHEESVILLE WELCOMES NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR & STUDENT LEADER

⚾🌏 FROM DELMAR TO AUSTRALIA: BC GRAD ARLO MARYNCZAK RETURNS TO THE VALLEYCATS AFTER GLOBAL BASEBALL ADVENTURE

Introducing the Bethlehem Area Live Community Calendar

MAY 12th

MAY 13th

MAY 14th

MAY 15th

MAY 16th

When Bethlehem residents head to the polls on May 19, they’ll be voting on more than just the school budget and Board of Education seats.

Voters will also decide on a proposed 2026 Bus Purchase Proposition that would allow the Bethlehem Central School District to replace several aging buses in its transportation fleet.

The proposal includes the purchase of:
🚌 9 large 70-passenger diesel school buses
💰 Total cost: up to $1.63 million

However, district officials say the actual local taxpayer impact would be significantly lower because:
📊 Approximately 65% of the borrowing cost would be covered through state aid.

That would leave an estimated maximum local district cost of:
➡️ Roughly $579,800 total for all nine buses.

🏡 Why this matters to local families

For many Bethlehem families, school transportation plays a critical role in daily life — safely getting students to and from:
🏫 Schools
🏈 Athletics & extracurriculars
🎶 Music events
📚 Field trips & academic programs

District officials say replacing older buses helps improve:
✅ Student safety
✅ Reliability during winter weather
✅ Maintenance efficiency
✅ Long-term transportation planning

⚡ Why not electric buses this year?

One of the biggest points drawing attention in this year’s proposal is the district’s decision not to expand its electric bus fleet for 2026–27.

Bethlehem currently operates:
🔋 10 electric school buses

But according to the district, those vehicles have experienced:
⚠️ Charging management issues
⚠️ Reliability concerns
⚠️ Significant downtime

District officials reported that, on average, each EV bus has been:
🛠️ Out of service 66 days during the school year.

Because of those ongoing challenges, the district says it is pausing additional EV bus purchases until:
🔌 Charging efficiency improves
💲 Costs become more manageable
🚍 Service reliability increases

Officials emphasized they still remain committed to clean-energy transportation in the future.

🗳️ Vote Information

The Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will take place:

📅 Tuesday, May 19
⏰ 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
📍 Bethlehem Central High School – Gym A

📩 Early voting and absentee ballots are also available.

🔗 Read more:
https://www.bethlehemschools.org/on-the-ballot-2026-bus-purchase-proposition/

#BethlehemNY #SchoolBudget #BCSD #CommunityNews #SchoolTransportation #518Schools #BethlehemLocalNewsInsider #LocalGovernment #BusProposition

Eight Bethlehem Central High School students recently represented the district at the 4th Annual Elevating Student Voices Youth Summit, joining nearly 100 students from across the Capital Region in a day focused on:
🤝 Inclusion
🗣️ Student leadership
❤️ Empathy
🏫 Building welcoming school communities

The summit, held April 29 and sponsored by Capital Region BOCES and Proctors, brought together students from more than 20 school districts to share ideas, participate in discussions, and celebrate student-led efforts to create positive change.

Representing Bethlehem Central were:
⭐ Claire Aliggayu
⭐ Gabriel Bernal Burgos
⭐ Avani Dixit
⭐ Shyanne Figueroa Sealey
⭐ Bhavya Kakarala
⭐ Dominic Macarilla
⭐ Lulua Umar
⭐ Paisley Sims

The students were accompanied by BC English as a New Language teacher Elizabeth DeVanzo, while Superintendent Jody Monroe also attended the summit.

👏 One of the event’s standout moments came when BC senior Bhavya Kakarala was selected as one of only five students across the region invited to participate on a leadership panel.

Kakarala contributed to discussions surrounding:
🏫 Equity in schools
🌎 Community engagement
💡 Student-driven change

The Bethlehem students also led one of the summit’s most popular activities:
📸 “Celebrate Your Differences”

The activity encouraged students from different districts to:
🤝 Meet someone new
💬 Share something about themselves
📷 Take a Polaroid photo together as a keepsake

The result?
❤️ New friendships
🌍 Cross-community connections
🎉 A celebration of individuality and inclusion

🏡 Why this matters to the community

For many local families, events like this highlight an important part of education that goes beyond academics.

Programs focused on:
🗣️ Student voice
🤝 Inclusion
🌎 Cultural understanding
❤️ Respect and belonging

help prepare students not only for college and careers — but also for life in a diverse and connected world.

Bethlehem Central’s participation also reflects the district’s ongoing emphasis on:
✅ Leadership opportunities
✅ Student empowerment
✅ Creating supportive school environments

Congratulations to all of the BC students who represented the district and community so well! 👏🦅

Photo Credit: Bethlehem Central School District

🔗 Read more:
https://www.bethlehemschools.org/bc-students-participate-in-capital-region-youth-summit/

#BethlehemNY #BCSD #StudentLeadership #CapitalRegion #YouthSummit #CommunityNews #BethlehemLocalNewsInsider #StudentVoices #Inclusion #518Schools #BethlehemLocalNews

The Voorheesville Central School District is adding another experienced leader to its team as Joshua (Josh) Wagner has officially been appointed as:
🏆 Athletic Director
🎓 Dean of Students
💪 Director of Physical Education & Health Services

The appointment was unanimously approved by the VCSD Board of Education during its May 5 meeting and will officially take effect on July 1.

Wagner joins Voorheesville with an impressive:
📚 26 years in education
🏀 Extensive coaching experience
🏫 13 years serving as an Athletic Director

Most recently, he served as Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics at Cooperstown Central School.

He will step into the role following the retirement of longtime Voorheesville Athletic Director and Dean of Students Joseph Sapienza, whose leadership helped shape the district’s strong athletic culture over many years.

🏆 A strong tradition to continue

Superintendent Frank Macri said Wagner’s experience and leadership make him a strong fit for the district’s future.

💬 “We’ve built a strong foundation in our athletic program, and his background and leadership will help us continue to move that work forward in a meaningful way for our students,” Macri said.

Wagner shared that he is excited not only to join the district — but also to become part of the larger Voorheesville community.

💜 “I am looking forward to joining the Blackbird family and ‘bleeding purple and gold,’” Wagner said.

He also emphasized the importance of preserving Voorheesville’s reputation for:
📖 Academic excellence
🏅 Athletic success
🤝 Community pride

🏡 Why this matters locally

In communities like Voorheesville, school athletics often play a major role in bringing students, families, and residents together.

Leadership positions like Athletic Director and Dean of Students impact:
✅ Student culture
✅ School spirit
✅ Athletic opportunities
✅ Student wellness & leadership development

As the Blackbirds continue building on a strong tradition in both academics and athletics, district leaders say Wagner’s arrival marks an exciting new chapter for the community.

🔗 Read more:
https://www.voorheesville.org/voorheesville-announces-athletics-and-middle-school-leaders/

#Voorheesville #Blackbirds #VCSD #518Sports #SchoolLeadership #CommunityNews #VoorheesvilleBlackbirds #BethlehemLocalNewsInsider #Section2Sports

For most athletes, an offseason means rest and training.

For Delmar native and Bethlehem Central graduate Arlo Marynczak, it meant boarding a plane to Australia and diving headfirst into international baseball. ✈️⚾

Now back with the Tri-City ValleyCats for his third season, the former Bethlehem High School standout is returning home with:
🌍 International experience
🏆 A championship title
💪 A renewed mindset
🤝 A growing leadership role

And for local baseball fans, it’s another reminder of the incredible talent coming out of the Capital Region.

Marynczak’s Australian adventure started unexpectedly after ValleyCats teammate Stephen Still forwarded him a social media message from a team overseas searching for a pitcher on short notice.

Just weeks later, the 26-year-old Delmar native was on his way Down Under.

💬 “It was a total on-a-whim kind of decision,” Marynczak said.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander spent six months in Australia, playing both:
⚾ State-level baseball
🏟️ Professional baseball with the Adelaide Giants of the Australian Baseball League (ABL)

During his stint with the Giants, Marynczak posted:
🔥 1.50 ERA
🔥 7 strikeouts in 6 innings

Even more memorable?
🏆 The Adelaide Giants captured the Claxton Shield championship during his time with the team.

Marynczak described the title run as one of the wildest team experiences of his career.

For Bethlehem residents, Marynczak’s journey continues to be a source of hometown pride.

The BC graduate:
🎓 Graduated Bethlehem High School in 2018
⚾ Played collegiately at Siena College
🏟️ Made his professional debut with the ValleyCats in 2024

Since then, he has steadily become one of the organization’s trusted arms.

Last season, Marynczak finished:
📊 3-1 record
📊 3.05 ERA
📊 51 strikeouts over 62 innings

Now, the ValleyCats are shifting him back into a bullpen role — something both he and manager Greg Tagert believe could maximize his strengths.

💬 “This gives me a chance to be my most aggressive, most athletic self,” Marynczak said.

While his role on the mound may be changing, Marynczak says his biggest growth may actually be happening inside the clubhouse.

Now entering year three with Tri-City, he says he’s focused on helping younger players feel connected during the highly competitive spring training process.

💬 “I’ve taken on the task of really trying to make people feel included,” he said.

That leadership mentality reflects something many Bethlehem residents know well:
🏡 Small-town athletes often carry strong community values wherever they go.

Marynczak is one of several local athletes representing the Capital Region on the ValleyCats roster this season, alongside:
📍 Aaron Whitley (Niskayuna)
📍 Jake Reinisch (Shenendehowa)

After a strong 62-win season in 2025, the ValleyCats are hoping local leadership and chemistry can help push the team even further this year.

And for Bethlehem baseball fans?
Watching a hometown player succeed on an international stage — and then return home to keep chasing the dream — is something special.

🔗 Read the full story:
https://www.dailygazette.com/sports/delmar-native-arlo-marynczak-spent-his-offseason-in-australia-now-hes-back-for-year-3/article_04305239-5936-4f22-b9f8-c6700e6a044d.html

#BethlehemNY #DelmarNY #ValleyCats #518Sports #BethlehemCentral #CapitalRegionSports #LocalAthletes #TriCityValleyCats #BethlehemLocalNewsInsider #SienaBaseball #BaseballLife

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