By Kathy Thomson

Theatergoers have one final chance to watch Albany Mainstreet Playhouse’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on Sunday, Dec. 8. 

The 2:30 p.m. matinee at the Aztec Theater will be the last of three performances of the holiday comedy.

“The first two performances were great and very well received by the audience,” said director Lorna Ayers. “We wanted to be sure and have a performance this weekend for those who were unable to come opening weekend due to the holidays.”

Santa letters and holiday essays for the 2019 Christmas issue published by The Albany News should be submitted by the end of this week if possible.

Students in both Albany and Moran schools have been working on letters in their classes, but home school students and preschool children are welcome to bring their letters by the News office.

By Kathy Thomson

The local Toys for Tots program is still accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations at various donations sites around Albany, and a Believe Tree for Teens, containing ornaments with an attached wish tag for older students was placed at five participating churches on Sunday.

All 40 of the senior adults currently signed up for the Vittles By Vehicle program have been adopted, and plans are well underway for Albany Ministerial Alliance’s Basket delivery.

Believe Trees

By Kathy Thomson

Kloey Cargill Painter, a four-year veteran of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, recently transferred locations from the Big Bend area to become the Shackelford County extension agent. 

“It has been an amazing adventure being the county agent for Brewster and Jeff Davis counties, but we are over the moon with excitement (to be moving to Albany),” said Painter. “We will be so much closer to family, we just love this area, and it feels like home.”

By Kathy Thomson

Twenty-one sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students from the Albany Independent School District competed at a University Interscholastic League contest in Stamford on Tuesday, Dec. 3, along with youth from Cross Plains, Haskell, Hawley, Roscoe, and Stamford.

Results from the District 8 UIL Junior High Speech Contest were not available at press time, and will be reported next week.

By Kathy Thomson

Two important events for local ag students will occur next week, and another took place earlier this Monday. 

The Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association will have a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6:00 p.m.

“We’ll meet at the high school ag building,” said FFA advisor Chris Beard. “This meeting helps us get ready for the county show.”

Weigh-in for sheep, swine, and goats will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The third annual Cele-bration of Remembrance, intended to honor lost loved ones and help with the grieving process during the holiday season, will be held this Sunday, Dec. 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Members of the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church are again hosting the event, but there are participants from several other Albany churches.

Kim Neece will give a testimony during the service, which will last about 45 minutes to an hour.

There will also be several musical numbers, congregational singing, scripture readings, and prayer.

By Kathy Thomson

Applications for the Albany Ministerial Alliance Christmas Baskets must be turned in by this Friday, Dec. 6.

Those still needing forms can pick them up at participating churches or at the Resource Center in Albany.

The program provides food for a Christmas dinner based upon family size.

Non-perishable food will be sorted into bags by members of Nancy Smith Elementary School’s sixth grade leadership team. 

By Kathy Thomson

Pick-up dates for the December distribution of the commodity food program are Dec. 5 and 6.

Moran recipients should note that both the day of the week and the time of pick-up have changed since last month.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

By Kathy Thomson

The Christmas season is underway, and local churches are hosting numerous activities to spread Christmas spirit throughout the community.

Some pastors and congregations have not yet scheduled all of their Christmas events, and several could not be contacted before this week’s deadline. Any changes or additions will be publicized in a later issue, if requested.

Church of Christ

Members of the Church of Christ plan to gather at the church on Wednesday, Dec. 18, for caroling.