By Melinda L. Lucas

Starting today, the Old Jail Art Center is hosting a two-week Christmas DIY Drop-In Gift Workshop, with extended evening hours and featuring several different kinds of projects that can be made by ages from elementary to adult.

According to the OJAC’s director of education, Erin Whitmore, the gift-making stations will be open from 11:00 a.m. all the way to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday until Dec. 15 to accommodate those who can’t come during the day.

Saturday hours on Dec. 3 and again Dec. 10 are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A blood drive conducted by the Hendrick Regional Blood Center will be held Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Albany High School.

The event is sponsored by the AHS Student Council as a way to gain donations from students who meet the requirements, as well as the general public.

The drive is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Drop-ins by the public are allowed, with students signing up for specific slots on the schedule.

The sign-up sheet is posted outside of the library at the high school.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany’s senior adults will have a chance to let Santa know what they want for Christmas when he makes a planned stop Friday morning at the Shackelford County Senior Citizen Center.

St. Nick will arrive at the local center at 9:30 a.m. to visit with participants and pose for pictures. He will play bingo with the regulars, and lunch (taco soup) will be served at noon, followed by senior games at 1:00 p.m.

Guests are invited to stop by, especially those 55 and above.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The final rehearsals are set next week for “The Nativity” performances set for Dec. 10 and 11 at the Aztec Theater.

Tickets are free of charge and will be available at the door starting 45 minutes prior to each performance.

The opening show is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, with a second performance on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2:00 p.m.

The play, written by Albany native Robert Nail, depicts the foretelling and birth of Christ.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Volunteers are still needed to help place 560 fresh evergreen wreaths on the graves of local veterans as part of National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 17.

A brief ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Albany Cemetery pavilion prior to votunteers spreading out across the Albany Cemetery to place the wreaths in honor and commemoration of those who served in one of the branches of the Armed Forces.

Two years ago about 490 wreaths were placed, followed by about 515 last year.

By Sam Waller

Those intending to send Christmas packages through the U.S. Postal Service should start soon to ensure presents are delivered before Christmas Day.

Albany postmaster Laura Gilbreath said packages posted by Friday, Dec. 16, should arrive at their destination before the holiday.

Gilbreath said the Albany Post Office will maintain its regular hours through Friday, Dec. 23. Hours are 8:00-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Albany News publisher Donnie Lucas announced this week that there will not be an edition published on Dec. 29 during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

“We’ve decided to again take that week off and be able to enjoy our family more during the holidays,” said Lucas.

There have only been a few times in 46 years of Lucas ownership that there hasn’t been a weekly paper.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany Junior High and Nancy Smith Elementary are competing in a number of UIL contests on Wednesday, Dec. 7, with the sixth through eighth graders traveling to Hamlin and the second through fifth graders at Cisco.

The elementary students through fifth grade will start speaking events at the First Baptist Church Activity Center at 8:30 a.m., while the rest of the contests will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the elementary school.

The sixth through eighth competitors will start at 10:00 a.m. in Hamlin at the school.

ByDonnie A. Lucas

Albany residents are invited to get into the holiday spirit on Sunday, Dec. 11 at the annual Christmas concert for the Albany school bands.

The performances will be divided into three sessions, with the high school band, which includes eighth graders, taking the stage at the high school auditorium starting at 4:00 p.m.

The seventh grade will follow with a concert at 4:45 p.m. and the sixth graders will play at 5:30 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany Academic Booster Club is once again inviting the community to “adopt” a member of the school staff through its Christmas Wish List program.

Sponsored by the “Rise and Shine” committee, the event enables local residents who want to participate to access wish lists that teachers and staff have been asked to make of items they would like to have for their classrooms or offices.

A number of wish lists by staff members from both campuses are posted on a “SignUpGenius.com” account for the public to select gifts for specific teachers.