By Melinda L. Lucas

The Christmas season is in full swing at the Old Jail Art Center, and special activities for December include the free holiday marionette shows that were offered earlier this week, as well as an upcoming family festival on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Last weekend, the OJAC staff hosted free gift wrapping stations for local shoppers during the Chamber of Commerce’s downtown Christmas activities.

Family Festival

“Buon Natale!” will highlight Christmas celebrations in Italy on Saturday, Dec. 14.

By Kathy Thomson

Tickets are on sale for Albany Mainstreet Playhouse’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and the first of three performances will be this Saturday evening following the lighted Christmas parade. 

“This Saturday in Albany is the best way to kick off the Christmas season,” said play director Lorna Ayers. “Come for the parade and stay for the play! The entire family will be entertained.”

Ayers is being assisted by Ragan Riley.

By Kathy Thomson

This Saturday, Nov. 30, the Albany Chamber of Commerce has sponsored a Christmas season kick-off event with a host of activities scheduled to take place in the downtown area throughout the day.

Shopping, a gift wrapping station, drawings for Albany Bucks, a lighted Christmas parade, the arrival of Santa Claus, Christmas music, lighting of the Memorial Christmas Tree, a wine festival, a fundraising raffle, and a live performance at the Aztec of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever are all planned.

Lighted Parade

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County worked through a long agenda Monday morning, accepting a bid to repair a bridge in Precinct 2, adopting a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution, and approving the 2018 audit.

They also passed an order prohibiting certain fireworks in the county during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays because of drought conditions. 

A notice with more details will be published in December.

Bridge Repair

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Chamber of Commerce will not hold a weekly luncheon on Friday, Nov. 29 because of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

Also, the Shackelford County Library will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28-29, and senior games on Friday, Nov. 29 are cancelled due to the holiday.

Holiday Weekend

By Melinda L. Lucas

Longtime puppeteers Dan Peeler and Charlie Rose will present an assortment of Christmas classics performed by puppets on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 3 and 4. 

This is the 34th year that the duo will perform at the Old Jail Art Center during the holiday season. 

“Bring the whole family and enjoy one of our annual holiday marionette shows with the master puppeteers from Peeler-Rose Productions,” said education director Erin Whitmore. 

The event is free and open to the public, and all ages are welcome.

By Kathy Thomson

The local Toys for Tots annual fund drive is underway, and members of Albany High School’s National Honor Society joined coordinator Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty to prepare and serve the annual fundraising luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Youth Center.

“There was a very large group of honor society students this year,” said Beaty. “It was neat seeing that many really bright kids.”

Beaty fixed four briskets, around 40 pounds of chicken, and some sausage, while the Albany NHS students supplied the side dishes and desserts for the fundraiser.

By Kathy Thomson

The Aztec Theater was the vehicle and local musicians and singers provided all the power needed to take ticket holders on a nostalgic musical road trip last Saturday evening.

Road Trip: A Musical Journey featured selections from the 1930s through the 1980s that included lyrics about being on the road or included possible destinations for those scenic journeys of yesterday.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The deadline for this year’s Albany Ministerial Alliance Christmas basket program is just a little over a week away, with applications due on Friday, Dec. 6.

Forms for Albany and Moran families are available at participating churches and at ResourceCare.

The program provides food for a Christmas dinner based on family size and will be delivered on Sunday, Dec. 22.

Contributions can be given to any participating pastor or mailed to the Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 3084, Albany, Texas 76430.

By Kathy Thomson

The fifth grade class from Nancy Smith Elementary School attended Camp Grady Spruce, an outdoor educational camp on Possum Kingdom Lake, last week.

Accompanying the 38 local students were NSES principal John Gallagher, and four teachers including Leslie Neve, Candy Balliew, Teri Antilley, and Richard Murrow. 

The group left the local campus on Monday, Nov. 18 and returned from camp on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 20.