Albany ISD will decide next month whether to call a $26 million school bond election, following months of work by the district’s Long Range Facility Planning Committee, which members say has revealed that the district’s facilities are no longer safe, functional, or financially sustainable.

Closet Angels Ministry, a longtime Albany outreach effort that has quietly met some of the community’s most basic needs for the past 15 years, is beginning a new chapter as leaders seek a temporary home and launch a campaign to purchase a permanent facility.

When Gary and Emily Hughes lost their son Kolby in October, they began looking for a way to honor his memory in a meaningful way. The local couple decided that effort should focus on supporting the Albany Volunteer Fire Department, where Gary Hughes now serves as a volunteer.

The Albany Mainstreet Playhouse will bring back a familiar favorite next month with its production of God’s Favorite, a comedy by Neil Simon inspired by the biblical story of Job, with performances scheduled for February 6, 7 and 8.

By David H. WallerNote: Dad has never been one for attention, and he would much rather stay quietly behind the scenes. Not everyone gets a fancy article in The Albany News when they retire, but this is one of the perks of having a son who runs the paper, I get to honor him with words.

In the days leading up to Christmas, Albany is normally quiet aside from last-minute shopping and church services. This year, however, the town found itself in the middle of a 10-day kidnapping spree involving an inflatable Christmas cow named Kyle.

A new music series is coming to Albany this winter as the Aztec Theater prepares to host The Aztec Sessions, a lineup of concerts sponsored and organized by Goodnight Steakhouse and Saloon.

The Albany Masonic Lodge held a special ceremony on Saturday, November 15, to honor longtime member Sammy Joe Rippey for 50 years of service in Freemasonry. Family and local lodge members gathered at the Albany Lodge to celebrate the milestone. Rippey’s wife, Barbara, was also in attendance.

In Albany, mention of the “Bazaar” means the holidays are near — and this year’s event carries extra significance. Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its first Bazaar this Saturday, Nov.

Members of the Albany Masonic Lodge visited Nancy Smith Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 31, to deliver toothbrush kits and share a lesson on oral health with students.