By Kathy Thomson
Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce are busy getting the word out about special events that will take place in the downtown area next Saturday, Nov. 30, to celebrate the start of the 2019 Christmas season. Activities including music, shopping, gift wrapping, drawings for a total of $1,000 worth of Albany Bucks, a lighted parade, Santa Claus, lighting the Memorial Tree, a wine festival, and a Christmas play.
Lighted Parade
By Melinda L. Lucas
Members of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors spent quite a bit of their meeting on Monday night discussing ways that the EMS schedule might be changed to better benefit part-time EMTs, who currently may only get “on-call” time while fulfilling their obligation to the district for school assistance.
After looking at the possibility of appointing a special committee, the directors eventually decided that EMS supervisor Mary Quintero should work on some scheduling options and bring recommendations in December.
By Kathy Thomson
Students and teachers at Nancy Smith Elementary School are wrapping up a full five days of Grandparents Week celebration.
“Grandparents Week is going really well,” said administrative assistant Stephanie Gleitz on Tuesday. “We’ve had a good turnout.”
NSES students’ grandparents and “substitute” grandparents were invited to join their family members for a special lunch, classroom visits, and entertainment during Grandparents Week Nov. 18-22.
By Kathy Thomson
Four Albany junior high one-act play members received individual awards at the District 8-AA competition last Thursday, Nov. 14 in Albany.
Tyler Chapman won a place on the district All-Star Cast.
Stage manager Cort Peterson was named as part of the Best Technical Crew.
Brooklyn Abbate and Sidney Russell were both named to the honorable mention All-Star Cast.
Albany’s contest play was Jerome McDonough’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
By Kathy Thomson
Albany school students will be dismissed for the Thanksgiving holidays on Tuesday, Nov. 26 with a noon release time.
Classes will be at the normal time on Monday.
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, preschool through high school students will be dismissed at various times, starting with the preschool and Head Start at 11:30 a.m. Parents will need to pick up their students or make other arrangements.
All other grades will be released at 12:00 noon, including junior high and high school students. All buses will run at noon.
By Melinda L. Lucas
The location of the annual community-wide Thanksgiving service has changed since it was first publicized last week.
The traditional service sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance will be held at the First Christian Church rather than the Albany Church of Christ, beginning at 6:00 p.m. this Sunday, Nov. 24.
First Baptist Church pastor Jeff Turner will deliver the message at the Sunday night event, and other members of the Alliance will also participate in the program.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Friendship Baptist Church members are inviting everyone to attend the church’s fourth annual “Harvest Acres” this Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to buy homemade baked goods, purchase handcrafted gifts, eat a hot meal, or just “come by and drink some coffee and visit for a while.”
The gift and food bazaar will offer a wide variety of baked and craft items for sale.
By Kathy Thomson
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be performed live at the Aztec Theater by members of the Albany Mainstreet Playhouse on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, and Dec. 8, and tickets are now on sale.
“The play is perfect for the whole family,” said director Lorna Ayers. “It is a timeless, hilarious classic. Children and adults alike will be thoroughly entertained.”
Samuel French’s comedy is a full-length play based on Barbara Robinson’s best-selling book with the same name.
By Kathy Thomson
Christmas, which in America is traditionally celebrated with family gatherings, gift giving, and holiday foods, is only a month away, and members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance are once again working to try and insure that everyone in the county, even those who are having financial difficulties, have a chance to enjoy a special Yuletide meal this year.
Applications for the Alliance’s Christmas baskets are currently available at participating churches and at ResourceCare.
By Kathy Thomson
Several members of the Albany FFA Chapter competed at the Big Country District’s Leadership Development Events on Monday, Nov. 18 at Cisco College.
Seth Hale made up the Albany entry that placed second high team in Job Interview. Hale will advance to the Area IV contest.
Alayna Koemel competed in Senior Creed Speaking, earning ninth place for the Albany team.
The local chapter’s Senior Quiz team placed sixth. Members of the team were Addison Asher, Madelyn Connally, Alayna Koemel, and Taylor Scott.
