Table-top Christmas trees sporting bright ornaments greeted parishioners in seven local churches this past Sunday, and between them, the seven trees included the anonymous wish lists of each of the 36 teens enrolled in the Ministerial Alliance’s new “Believe Trees” program.

Members of the Alliance offered to take over the lead role in the teen Christmas gift program, and are now spearheading that holiday drive along with continuing their annual Christmas Baskets ministry.

Christmas Baskets

The local Toys for Tots program is still accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations at various donations sites around Albany, but according to ResourceCare case worker Makenzie Marshall right now the greater need is for people to adopt the seniors in the Vittles by Vehicle program.

“We have 37 senior in the Vittles by Vehicle program, and so far none of them have been adopted,” Marshall said on Monday. “Donations are still needed for the seniors!”

Adopt-a-Senior

The fifth grade class from Nancy Smith Elementary School attended Camp Grady Spruce, an outdoor educational camp on Possum Kingdom Lake, immediately after the Thanksgiving holidays.

Accompanying the 27 local students were NSES principal Jonathan Scott, fifth grade teachers Candy Balliew and Teri Antilley, and high school science teacher André Raymond. The group left the local campus on Monday, Nov. 26 and returned from camp on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Twenty-six of the 29 Albany High seniors qualified to attend the upcoming annual College Pie Party that counselor Dee Dee Waggoner arranges every year to reward students that submit a college application early in their graduating year. 

“Our goal is for students to apply and plan early, so that they get into the colleges of their choice, have early access to financial aid and housing, and can then enjoy all the activities of the last semester of their senior year with the stress of applying behind them,” said Waggoner. 

Twenty-one sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students from the Albany Independent School District are competing at a UIL contest in Stamford on Thursday, Dec. 6, along with youth from Haskell, Hawley, Cross Plains, and Roscoe.

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

Elementary and junior high students need to sign up by Friday, Dec. 7, if they wish to compete in the upcoming UIL contest at Hawley on Thursday, Dec. 13.  

The youth of Beltway East Student Ministry hosted its annual Legacy Dinner on Dec. 5 at the Beltway East Student Ministry building. 

The invited guests were treated to a full holiday spread including turkey, ham, and the works, according to sponsor Lorna Ayers. 

The food is prepared by the youth group’s sponsors and served by the students.

A group of local youth is planning a ski trip to Crested Butte, Colorado and participants are hoping to raise some funds with a Christmas Fiesta dinner.

The meal will be served at The Feed Store this Sunday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. and will include fajitas from Ernie’s and desserts prepared by local volunteers.

The meal is free for those still in elementary school, and $20 each for those from seventh grade through adult.

Tickets can be purchased from any of the youth going on the ski trip.

For names of participants, contact Spencer Newsom at MMPC.

The adult choir for the Albany Nativity can still use a few more voices, according to choir director Sandy Abel.

“We could use some more people,” Abel. “It is not too late! There are not that many pieces to learn, and some of them are carols that most people are familiar with.”

The adult choir sings from the balcony, so they do not have to worry about costumes.

The next rehearsal will be Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:00 p.m., at the Aztec Theater, and the director invited new participants to just show up for practice.

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department honored member Joel Viertel with the 2018 Firefighter of the Year merit award at the annual Christmas party and meeting on Monday, Dec. 3.

According to chief Kyle Tischler, the members of the fire department nominate the individual for this award whom they believe has best met the five following qualifications:

The firefighter must not be on probation.

The firefighter must have shown to be highly active in the department through meetings and fire/emergency calls.

Only three weeks remain before the end of the annual Albany Chest campaign and the amount raised as of Monday, Dec. 3 was $25,107, according to treasurer Paige Adair, leaving the drive still $16,893 short of the $42,000 goal set by the directors for the 2018 campaign. 

Chest amounts rose quickly at the start of the campaign, but less than $4,000 has been added over the last three weeks. 

Twenty-six different organizations, including two new applicants, submitted requests for this year’s funding.