The Spotlight

Established in 1955 as a modest publication in Delmar, NY, The Spotlight has grown into the leading source for local news in the greater Capital District over the years. Today, it offers five weekly editions covering Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties, reaching more than 20,000 readers. Our newspapers include a mix of paid subscription weeklies, free issues, and total market publications. In addition to these, The Spotlight publishes two specialized monthly magazines: Capital District Parent Pages and Capital District Senior Spotlight. These are distributed in Rensselaer, Columbia, and Warren counties, as well as throughout the Capital District. Together, these publications, along with The Spotlight’s online platforms, deliver exceptional coverage of local news and events, offering advertisers a unique opportunity to connect with consumers.

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Careers in Education Fair at Capital Region BOCES on Wednesday, June 11

2 days ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

ALBANY — Capital Region BOCES will host a Careers in Education Fair on Wednesday, June 11, to support individuals exploring a future in the education profession. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the BOCES main campus at 900 Watervliet Shaker Road. Organizers say the fair is designed for career changers, college-bound students, and anyone interested in the teaching field.
A festival built on improv

4 days ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

ROUND LAKE — What does it mean to improvise? For electric harpist and educator Alexandra Chang, it’s not just about spontaneity or playing without a plan. It’s about deep listening, shared energy, and rethinking the rules that typically separate art forms. That philosophy is the foundation of the Improv Spaces Music Festival, a daylong exploration of musical and interdisciplinary improvisation happening Saturday, June 7, at the Round Lake Auditorium.
Water Music NY: More Voices Festival celebrates Erie Canal’s bicentennial, diverse cultures that shaped our history

4 days ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

ALBANY — State and local officials joined cultural leaders on a modest stretch of grass near the Waterford lock of the 200-year-old Erie Canal to announce plans for its upcoming bicentennial celebration. A translucent podium bearing a bicentennial sign stood outside a tent atop a hill overlooking the Mohawk River, where nearly a dozen speakers reflected on New York’s layered history—from the American Revolution to the stories of immigrants who helped build the Empire State.
Born breaks course record in 47th Delightful Run for Women

5 days ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

ALBANY — Clad in ponchos, race bibs and determination, nearly 2,000 women runners speared through driving rain for Saturday morning’s 47th annual Delightful Run for Women on May 31. Gray skies set the scene downtown, but the mood was anything but dreary for what has become one of the Capital Region’s most celebrated community traditions — a 5K run that now stretches well beyond sport.
Barbara’s School of the Dance expands with new company

5 days ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

DELMAR — Barbara’s School of the Dance continues to take great strides after 50 years in business, announcing a new addition to its programming: a production company that will give students a separate platform for theatrical storytelling outside the traditional recital format. The company, with a name to be announced in the coming months, will launch in fall 2025 and rehearse weekly throughout the season. Its first full-length production, “Sleeping Beauty,” is set to premiere in May 2026.
Local students sign with local employers during BOCES National Signing Day

5 days ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

COLONIE — High school seniors from across the Capital Region, including several from Bethlehem, North Colonie, South Colonie, Guilderland and Ravena, formalized their next steps into the workforce during Capital Region BOCES’ National Signing Day on Thursday, May 29. Family and friends gathered at the Career and Technical Education Center, celebrating 40 students who signed letters of intent with area employers, joined by more than 150 supporters from the business community and educators.
Oceanographer shares research and career journey with Colonie students

1 week ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

COLONIE — Students at Colonie Central High School had the opportunity to meet with oceanographer Dr. Lily Dove during a recent guest visit that combined personal storytelling, hands-on science, and real-world insight into the field of climate and marine research. Dove, a postdoctoral fellow at Brown University, spoke to students about her work exploring the relationship between the ocean and the climate system.
WVCR plans 50,000-watt power boost with fundraiser push

1 week ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

LOUDONVILLE — For more than six decades, WVCR 88.3 The Saint has been a constant on the Siena College campus, growing from a student-run signal in a basement to a regional broadcast voice that carries far beyond the Capital District. Now, the station is preparing to enter a new phase—one that would stretch its signal deeper into upstate New York, thanks to a planned transmission upgrade and a $50,000 fundraiser slated for this weekend.
Bed bug prompts Bethlehem Library closure

1 week ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

DELMAR—Bethlehem Public Library reopened Wednesday, May 21, following a two-day closure prompted by a bed bug sighting near the public computer area. Library officials said the insect was discovered Monday and the building was promptly closed “out of an abundance of caution” to allow for a full evaluation. A pest control team assessed the situation and determined that the issue was limited to a small section of the library.
BC grad killed in tragic crash

1 week ago | spotlightnews.com | Michael Hallisey

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Bethlehem Central graduate Dave Shapiro was among three people killed when a private jet clipped power lines midair and crashed into a military housing neighborhood in Southern California early Thursday, May 22. Shapiro, 42, reportedly owned the Cessna 550 aircraft and held a pilot’s license, though it was not immediately clear whether he was flying the plane at the time of the crash.