To the Editor:

It’s hard to believe another year has passed and Altamont Village is bustling with community efforts to make ready for the Victorian Holiday and Winter Market.  Altamont Community Tradition is a not-for-profit organization made up of community members who cherish Victorian days gone by.

The ACT committee works all year with the purpose of rekindling cherished memories, fortifying the harmony of neighbors and fun, fun, fun, for everyone. We are expecting the village to be embraced by neighbors near and far who share in the philosophy that there are many memories worth recreating.

Simplicity is at the forefront of the imagery created by this tiny village, nestled amid the hustle and bustle of a busy, busy world.  Invite yourself to join us on Dec. 11 between noon and 5 p.m. for a flavor of the past.

If you are entering the village on Route 146 be sure to stop at the Village Hall Archive and Museum. This will give the visitor to Altamont a great perspective of the historical value that has been preserved and treasured by residents and businesses of this Victorian village.

The village hall will be a popular spot this year, hosting a number of vendors selling a variety of wares that are sure to please someone on your holiday list. The Altamont Fire Department has a special surprise planned this year, so be sure to stop in there while you are at the village hall.

New to the agenda at the village hall is a Mustache Competition that begins at 2:30 p.m. This event promises a barrel full of mustache laughs.  The Veterans of Foreign Wars Boyd Hilton Post will be having lunch with Santa from 1 to 4 p.m. Be sure to call for a reservation. Santa loves having lunch with his friends.

All local businesses, such as the stores in Altamont Corners, The Home Front Café, The Hungerford Market, and Stewart’s, will be open regular hours, so please be sure to stop in and visit these fine establishments who always support our village.

Bella Fleur, the beautiful neighborhood flower shop, and Remedies, your local spot for cheer, will be hosting a German-Austrian Christmas celebration with hot wine, holiday cheer, wine-tasting, and great music.

Mio Vino is having an outdoor pig roast and the bar is open all day. The Spinning Room has a treasure of beautiful hand-knitted items for sale to keep you and your loved ones warm this winter.

Agway is welcoming visitors and has planned a special opportunity for you to meet with someone from the Schenectady Chapter of Therapy Dogs, where you can experience reading with a therapy dog and have your pet photographed with none other than Santa.

The beautiful Altamont Free Library, the former train station, is featuring: author Keith Willis, storytelling, a quilt raffle, and a gallery of town photos. At Orsini Park, you will find hayrides, campfires, hot chocolate, delicious foods, animals, and later you can watch Santa arrive at 5 p.m. on the train. Be sure to board the train and visit with him to tell him your special wish.

The American Legion is another great place that is participating in the Winter Market and an excellent place to shop for the special people in your life. About a dozen vendors with various wares can be found at this location.

Moving down Maple Avenue, you will find a number of local businesses hosting area vendors at their locations. These businesses have graciously opened their doors to vendors and are participating in the Winter Market. Be sure to stop in at Severson Insurance, Re-Nue Spa, and Altamont Antiques, and visit with additional vendors featuring: beautiful craft items, food items, and gift items too numerous to mention.  All are guaranteed to please a variety of your senses.

Children, be sure to participate in the many activities for children and teens at Saint John’s Lutheran Church. Mrs. Red Shoes with her craft table is always a delight, as will be face-painting, games, food, organ music, and a poinsettia sale.

Students will be displaying their artwork and scarves; hats and purses will also be on sale.  Be sure to stop by the table for instructions to participate in the town treasure hunt called “Stuff Your Stocking.” This activity has been such a favorite in the past that the children have asked to have it be a part of this year’s events. You may want to stop here first so you can pick up the information for the treasure hunt that takes children around the village.

The Altamont Reformed Church has again agreed to present a beautiful and very touching live Nativity that can be viewed at 4:15 p.m. This moving exhibit should not be missed.

Finally, the Masonic Hall can be entered to view the Festival of Trees featuring trees that have been decorated with loving hands. Vote on your favorite tree.

Beautiful donated wreaths are up for auction and hang above the trees for all to view. Children of the village have decorated gingerbread houses and they are very proud of the results. Come see the work of our future architects.

We support our sponsors — Altamont Country Values, Big John’s Portable Toilet Rentals, 1st National Bank of Scotia, KeyBank, Masonic Lodge, State Employees Federal Credit Union, SMS Lines, and Wunsapana Farm — and we hope you will too.  We appreciate all their support in helping us to bring our dream to fruition.

Holiday House Tours are always a special part of the Victorian Holiday and many look forward to visiting the beautiful homes of the village. Tickets can be purchased at the Masonic Lodge for $10 per person; children under 10 may tour for free. Special transportation will be provided to the Pruyn House and the Old Stone Inn due to restricted parking and turn-around space. However, you may drive yourself or use the transportation provided to visit the lovely Howie Home and the Cranell Home.

For more details, the names of all vendors and additional information, please visit altamontcommunitytradition.org and you can find us on Facebook.

As you can see, “It takes a village….

Chi Walthery

ACT Board Member