Neighbors question subdivision
Proposed Legends Preserve has been before town for eight years
Several Glenmont residents who went before the Bethlehem Planning Board on Tuesday, Feb. 5, disapproved of a plan to build a new housing subdivision off of Jolley Road.
Sending secrets
Frank Warren discusses years-long PostSecret Project at UAlbany visit
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, PostSecret creator Frank Warren gave a keynote presentation at the University at Albany as part of the college’s recognition of Sexuality Month
Car charge stations powering up
State and federal dollars mean public chargers more common
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the owners of Tri City Rentals unveiled two new electric vehicle charging stations at their Woodlake Apartments complex in Guilderland on Old School House Road.
Coat collection bundled up
Winter donation campaign nets 1,200 coats
On Thursday, Feb. 7, Drobne and Albany County officials distributed coats collected through the Katie’s Koats initiative to representatives from the Homeless and Travelers Aid Society of Albany on Central Avenue.
Beyond the rose
Local florists say color and variety add a fun twist to Valentine’s Day
Although red roses continue to be a top seller on Valentine’s Day, some florists have noticed more women are looking for something a little less traditional on the annual day of love.
BC pegs budget gap at $5M
District calls on community to lobby for more state aid
At a school board meeting on Wednesday, February 6, the district released its budget projections for the coming year.
Porco movie to air March 23
Lifetime movie to showcase Delmar killings
Lifetime television network has released the air date of its small screen movie about the Christopher Porco murder case.
Sidewalks, train traffic top talk in Selkirk
Residents bemoan lack of progress at community forum
Three years after Selkirk residents got a visit from then-Bethlehem Supervisor Sam Messina, many of the same issues were the subjects of a recent community forum held by Supervisor John Clarkson.
Anti-war movement marks 10 years
Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace continue work with renewed focus
On Monday, Jan. 28, members of the Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace organization marked their 10th anniversary by meeting at Delmar’s Four Corners and holding a short vigil.
Crosswalk an issue for students
Town and school district seek safety improvements
Bethlehem officials recently met with parents and staff of Elsmere Elementary School to discuss how to make the walk to school safer for students.
Young driver in hit-and-run makes plea
Ian Eckardt-Rigberg of Delmar faces three to 10 years for hit-and-run last year
Ian Eckardt-Rigberg, 20, pleaded guilty this morning in Albany County Court to manslaughter in the second degree.
Bethlehem school seeks historical recipes
Completed cookbook to be fundraiser
The private Bethlehem Children’s School is putting together a cookbook made up of local family favorites
Bethlehem Central school board approves bond
Facilities and athletics vote will go to the public as separate propositions
Bethlehem Central school board members unanimously voted on Wednesday, Jan. 23, to allow two propositions to go before the public in March on bonding for facilities upgrades and a new turf athletic field.
Bethlehem to bond for sewer upgrades
State grant to pay $3M, town to chip in $2.6M
The Bethlehem Town Board has approved a plan to bond $2.6 million for sewer improvements in North Bethlehem.
A dedicated cast
Middle schoolers to perform ‘Annie Jr.’ four times
America’s favorite redheaded orphan is coming to Bethlehem, and audiences have rarely seen such dedication from a cast.
Sidewalks, comp plan targets for Bethlehem in 2013
Clarkson lays out vision in State of the Town
Bethlehem Supervisor John Clarkson hopes to focus the second year of his term on sustainable development, civic improvements and economic expansion.
A picture of health
Glenmont woman takes new approach with dieting app
Keeping up with a diet can be tough, but Christy Venter of Glenmont has created what she believes to be a new approach to eating healthy.
EMS merger is final
Delmar-Bethlehem ambulance service expected to save money
As of the beginning of the year, Bethlehem’s two volunteer ambulance agencies have become one
Bully-proof armor
Program takes alternative approach to stop bullying
Finding exactly how to stop bullying has always been a question asked in schools. Today, the age-old problem is only getting more attention.
Dispatchers, town ink contract
Consolidation with county services still on the table
The Town of Bethlehem and its telecommunicators union have come to a three-year contract agreement after going a full year without a contract in place.
Town gets grant for sidewalks
DOT program meant to provide safe routes to walk to school
The Town of Bethlehem has received a federal grant to fund the installation of sidewalks throughout portions of the town where students lack a safe place to walk to and from school.
Bethlehem supervisor dubs 2012 a success
Town budget, politics play central roles in Clarkson’s brief political life
As he prepares to deliver his second State of the Town address, Bethlehem Supervisor John Clarkson feels he has managed to accomplish the goals he laid out after taking office one year ago, despite a difficult budget season.
Life in hard places
Film on work of Tom Little needs backing for Afghanistan trips
A film will look at the life of Delmar optometrist Tom Little, who was killed in a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan during one of his philanthropic missions to the war-ravaged country.
CDTA restores evening stops
Residents’ concerns prompt schedule change
After a group of Bethlehem commuters aired their concerns last month about changes to a bus route, officials from the Capital District Transportation Authority have opted to increase bus frequency during evening hours.
Voorheesville looks outside box, onto stage
School district renting out theater as alternative revenue source
Municipalities take heed. Your tax problems may be solved thanks to the groovy tunes of The Beatles.
Board splits bond vote
BC Facilities, athletic turf to be separate referendums, public hearing Jan. 16
The Bethlehem Central School District Board of Education has elected to split the proposal for facilities upgrades and a new athletic turf into two bond resolutions to go before the public
Coming up with coats no small task
Selkirk woman gets a hand from county, businesses, in helping homeless
Katie Drobne from Selkirk is working to collect coats and winter gear for the county's homeless and needy.
Fight like a girl
Albany County offering free self-defense course to women
New county Rape Agression Defense Team will offer courses for free using asset seizure money collected from criminals.
School’s Out move met with concerns
BC building sale sees some opposition at community meeting
The sale of Bethlehem Central’s former administration building to School’s Out, Inc. was met by opposition from some neighbors of the building at a recent meeting to discuss the deal with the community.
The new Democrats
New Bethlehem leaders work to bring party under one tent after tumultuous election season
After experiencing a shakeup in 2012, many members of Bethlehem’s Democratic Committee say they are looking to a future that is more inclusive and community minded.
Board backs turf, barely
BC school board could change mind on $3.8M sports field before bond finalized
A slim majority of Bethlehem Central Board of Education supported including plans for an artificial turf athletic field within a facilities bond at a recent meeting, but were careful to point out their opinions could change before the final resolution is passed in January.
Offer on BC building accepted
School’s Out to buy old admin offices, but town approval still needed
After more than a year on the market, the Bethlehem Central School District may be close to selling its former administration building.
Town bus users air concerns
Fewer buses, overcrowding, lack of notification create headaches on Route 18
A group of Bethlehem commuters are unhappy with recent changes to their bus route, but it’s unlikely the adjustments will be reversed.
Albany County schools respond to rumors
Multiple districts report fears of incident on Dec. 21 unwarranted
Several Albany County school districts have dispelled rumors circulating about an incident to occur on Friday, Dec. 21.
Lending leads to learning
BC-led program connects students from across the globe to fund businesses
last year, Bethlehem Central Middle School teacher Bill Reilly didn’t just rely on a textbook. Instead, he began a global micro-lending bank operated by the school’s sixth-graders through their social studies classes.
100 reasons to give
Local Girl Scouts celebrate centennial with coat donations
As a special service project to honor Girl Scout’s founder Juliette Gordon Low, members of Bethlehem’s Junior Girl Scout Troop 1546 made it their mission to collect 100 winter coats to donate them to local charitable organizations.
Porco tale headed to small screen
Lifetime movie to portray Delmar Murder and ensuing trial
The infamous Christopher Porco murder story will soon be portrayed through a Lifetime television movie.
Light shines in Bethlehem
Hanukkah Wonderland added to Festival of Lights festivities this year
In a local celebration of the Festival of Lights, the Capital Region’s largest outdoor menorah was lit on the second day of Hanukkah at Delmar’s Four Corners.
One good turn
Delmar Progress Club’s Knitting Group prepares all year for Giving Tree
Each year at Christmastime thousands of collections are started to provide gifts for needy families, but one local giving tree adds a personal touch sewn with care.
P.O. Box: North Pole
Longstanding town program connects kids with Santa
For more than 25 years, Santa’s little helpers in the Bethlehem Police Department and Senior Services Department have worked to deliver the Christmas lists from Bethlehem’s children to the North Pole by Dec. 25.
Price tag balloons on BC projects
Architectural review finds bond would be $26M for repairs, field
Bethlehem Central Board of Education members experienced a slight case of sticker shock when estimates for facilities upgrades jumped by millions following an architect’s review.
Acts of giving follows thefts
Charitable spirit shown after 34 trees vanish from Lions sale
Some caring citizens have stepped forward to help out the Bethlehem Lions Club after a holiday Grinch stole dozens of Christmas trees from the lot where the group’s annual sale is held.
Eatery aims for spring opening
Hibachi & Sushi Asian Buffet to occupy former Casa Mia in Glenmont
The former Italian restaurant and pizzeria Casa Mia is now under new ownership and is being turned into a new eatery called Hibachi & Sushi Asian Buffet.
Shakespeare in time
BC acting troupe puts psychedelic twist on ‘Twelfth Night’
A Shakespearian production might be a long-running tradition at Bethlehem Central High School, but this year students are staging a different take that might make the Bard’s work more relatable.
Annual teatime steeped in tradition
Historical Society’s Silver Tea to focus on Christmas in Bethlehem
The Bethlehem Historical Society’s annual Holiday Silver Tea celebration at the Cedar Hill Schoolhouse in Selkirk this year will focus on Christmas in Bethlehem. The open house will feature locally baked desserts, with hot beverages and holiday-themed exhibits for the community to enjoy.
‘P’ is for perseverance
Young cancer survivor’s drawing to be featured in holiday fundraiser
Payton Gordinier might only be in first grade, but she’s still doing something to give back to the organization that helped save her life.
Bring on the snow
Ski areas start winter early, but weather remains a business challenge
It has become a necessity for many area mountains to begin making snow in the fall, as hitting the slopes over Thanksgiving weekend has become a tradition for families looking for outdoor adventures instead of shopping centers.
Holidays are busy times for charities
From Equinox Thanksgiving dinner to pantry drives, season for giving has arrived
Cooks know preparing a family Thanksgiving meal means spending all day in the kitchen. But in the recipe for making sure the Capital District’s needy have a holiday meal, the prep time is measured in weeks.
Gifts that give twice
Black Friday market selling fair trade goods still going strong
Heading out to a shopping mall or big box store to fight over flat screens has become all but a Thanksgiving tradition for many families, but in Bethlehem a different kind of Black Friday shopping tradition is becoming more entrenched by the year.
Students rock the mock vote
Obama wins by a landslide in BCSD election
This year’s presidential election ended up being less competitive than many experts had predicted, but if things were decided by the Bethlehem Central School District, it would have been a landslide.