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.

Founded in the fall of 2010 after director Lori Reames posted a simple Facebook message about a coat and clothing drive, Closet Angels quickly grew beyond its original mission and began operating from the Allen House building, where it has served families since its earliest days.

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 result is the Kolby Hughes Memorial benefit drive, a fundraiser created to help provide equipment and materials for a new training and physical fitness room at the Albany fire station.

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.

This marks the second Neil Simon production for AMP in less than a year, following last winter’s presentation of Rumors. The play was last staged locally in 2010 and was well received, prompting director Lorna Ayers to bring it back more than 16 years later with a largely new cast.

By David H. Waller

Note: 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. Now to the article...

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. What began as a lighthearted idea from Molly Cauble and her family, inspired by a TikTok trend, quickly grew into a full-blown crime saga that will be talked about in Albany for years to come.

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 downtown venue has seen steady activity during the past several years, and the new series is intended to give Albany a consistent schedule of live music during the winter months.

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. 15, continuing one of the town’s oldest and most beloved community traditions. What began as a small gathering of church women raising funds for local mission work in 1900 has grown into an annual event that continues to bring together friends, families, and neighbors from across the area.

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. With many children dressed in their Halloween costumes, it proved to be a fitting day to learn about taking care of teeth before an evening filled with candy.

As part of the visit, school nurse Heather Nitschke spoke with first-grade students about the importance of brushing and demonstrated proper techniques to help keep their smiles healthy.

It’s time to break out the recipe cards and family secrets — The Albany News is cooking up this year’s Holiday Recipe section and we need your help to make it delicious. From cherished family desserts passed down through generations to new dishes you’ve perfected for the holiday table, every recipe tells a story. We want to celebrate those stories and the cooks behind them.

This year’s recipes will appear in the regular newspaper instead of in a separate section.