BETHLEHEM — Bethlehem Neighbors, an aging-in-community “village” in the town held its first annual picnic on Friday, Sept. 6, with over 60 persons attending.

The Bethlehem YMCA donated its  pavilion. The Albany Guardian Society and Statewide Senior Action Council contributed beverages and paper products and ShopRite and Price Chopper donated food. Will Vail of Bethlehem Senior Services provided musical entertainment. Community Caregivers staff also provided support for the event.

At the picnic, Bethlehem Neighbors village announced that everyone will receive a complimentary membership to Bethlehem Neighbors for the remainder of the year. The village will continue to provide a calendar of events and host social gatherings that includes a monthly coffee get-together.

The group’s website has been updated with a new calendar.

At the picnic Laura Jonas, interim president, said Bethlehem Neighbors will try to coordinate rides or services through local zones that closely follow the own map of hamlets — Elsmere, Slingerlands, Glenmont, Delmar, Selkirk and North and South Bethlehem.

Anyone  interested in helping coordinate members within zones may contact Jonas at and she will provide further information.

The Bethlehem YMCA offered everyone a free guest pass to the Y for one week, and will waive the joiner fee for members of Bethlehem Neighbors.

Bethlehem Neighbors has a partnership with the Town Bethlehem Senior Services and with Community Caregivers to provide their services to village members.