By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD’s school board is a complete seven-person unit again after trustees appointed Bo Brown to serve for the rest of Dr. Cory Brown’s term, which will end in May 2023.

Dr. Brown moved out of the district earlier this year and has resigned from his Place 3 seat.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Even though the popular puppet shows at the Old Jail Art Center will not take place this year, the Christmas season is in full swing at the museum, and the OJAC education department has plenty of things planned for local families and their visitors.

Special activities for December include a DIY Drop In Gift Workshop and an upcoming family festival on Dec. 17.

DIY Workshop

By Donnie A. Lucas

The sounds of love songs – all types – were in the air Saturday during a musical performance called “The Seasons of Love,” presented by a group of local singers to benefit the Aztec Theater.

Performing on the Aztec stage, about a dozen local singers and several musicians presented a variety of music dedicated to love one way or another. The evening of music was attended by about 200 audience members, with proceeds benefitting the theater.

This was the sixth show over the past eight years by the group, performed to benefit local causes.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Rehearsals will begin in earnest next week for “The Nativity,” which is set to be performed on Dec. 10 and 11 at the Aztec Theater.

The sets for the play will be in place by Monday, and scene rehearsals are planned that evening for the Patriarchal family at 7:00 p.m. and the Shepherds scene at 7:30 p.m.

The Herod scene will be practiced on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m., with the Mary scene at 7:00 p.m. and the Innkeeper scene at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1.

By Sam Waller

Nancy Smith Elementary School fifth graders braved cooler weather last week to take part in the Camp Grady Spruce Outdoor Education Program at Possum Kingdom Lake.

Accompanying the 35 students were NSES principal John Gallagher and teachers Leslie Neve, Candy Balliew, and William Vaughan.

The group departed Monday, Nov. 14 and returned Wednesday, Nov. 16, after spending time learning about a wide range of sciences.

The main benefit, according to Neve, is that students get to see science at work in a natural setting.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany Junior High teacher Chanel Hayner got to strut her stuff on Tuesday as the winner of the Teacher Turkey Contest sponsored by the Albany FCCLA chapter.

Hayner dressed in the required turkey costume to hand out suckers to students as they arrived at the main entrance on Tuesday, followed by continuing to wear the outfit throughout the day while teaching junior high language arts.

Dear Editor:

Many years ago we moved to Albany. One of the first things that impacted me was the oilfield Christmas tree on one mile hill. It brought so much joy coming into town and seeing that tree all lit up. It was such a welcoming sight during the Christmas season.

It would be so nice if some of the “movers and shakers” in our community would make that happen again. Perhaps, some club or organization could take it on as a project for the community.

Merry Christmas!

Mary Rose

By Sam Waller

Friendship Baptist Church’s seventh annual Harvest Acres bazaar enjoyed plenty of business Saturday, Nov. 19, with several items selling out.

Organizer Danita Johnston said the event, which raises funds for local mission projects, had a good turnout.

“People were very supportive,” Johnston said. “We all enjoyed visiting with each other. It was a pretty good day.”

Johnston said food items were again a big seller.

John William Proctor Stockdale, of Jacksboro, Texas, passed away peacefully at home and in the presence of loved ones on Nov. 10, 2022 at the age of 83.

John Stockdale was born April 11, 1939 in Fort Worth, Texas to Ernest Frederick Stockdale, Sr., an attorney, and Alice Eitelman Stockdale, a teacher and artist. John had two siblings, his sister Linda Sikes and brother Fred Stockdale.

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 a wish list made by teachers and staff of items they would like to have for their classrooms or offices.