Christmas was a religious holiday for the Shakers from the start, said Lorraine Weiss, the education coordinator for the Shaker Heritage Society in Albany, but it was not originally a decorated holiday. “Over time, the Shakers took on more of the world’s cultural traditions, so they probably celebrated Christmas, giving gifts,” she said.

On Dec. 6, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center will host the unveiling of its sixth juried photo exhibit, celebrating the uniqueness and diversity of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.

B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation kicks off its 2019-20 “Synagogue Scholars” series with a Dec. 13 discussion, led by Professor Emerita Martha Rozett, of “Judas,” the acclaimed novel by Israeli author Amos Oz.

“The county is not in the business of finding children for families. Rather, it is finding families for children,” says foster mother Sharon Astyk. “That sounds like a small difference but it’s an important distinction. The county is child-centered. This is not about going and picking out a kid.”

Sharon Astyk has this to say to people who are considering becoming foster parents: “If you ever want to run a marathon or climb Mount Everest, this is the home-life version of that.” She stressed, “You can do it as an ordinary person.”

More foster homes are needed in Albany County not just because the number of children in the system has increased but also because 2018 federal legislation, which prioritizes family-based foster care, will limit reimbursement for certain residential placements in New York in 2021.

ALBANY COUNTY — On Tuesday, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy signed two local laws to help with environmental efforts: one is for a five-cent fee on paper bags at retail stores and the other creates a loan program for sustainable energy projects.

ALBANY COUNTY — After receiving “numerous complaints of time abuse” by county employees who were alleged to have been doing political campaign work on county time, an investigation into the allegations by the Albany County Department of Audit and Control is being hamstrung by County Executive Daniel McCoy’s office, according to County

Thanksgiving Eve, which has also been called “Blackout Wednesday,” is one of the busiest drinking nights of the year and the beginning of the holiday season, when there is an increase in instances of impaired driving.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Uber are therefore offering free rides on Wednesday night.