🌱 Patch AM: Flying soon from Albany airport? Here’s what to know before you go

Hello again Albany! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Flying soon from Albany airport? Here’s what to know before you go
• Which older volunteers will be honored in Albany next spring?
• Want to uncover hidden treasures at Albany’s Washington Avenue Armory?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 6 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Albany? Post it to Albany photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: A stray afternoon shower, with a high of 41 and low of 28 degrees.
• Thursday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 44, low: 40.
• Friday: Breezy; rain in the morning, with a high of 55 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Albany airport readies for holiday rush, shares travel tips (news10.com) — If you’re flying out of Albany International Airport for the holidays, officials urge you to arrive at least two hours early, use airline apps, and avoid wrapping gifts so TSA doesn’t have to open them. They’re also reminding travelers about REAL ID or passport requirements and previewing a new ConfirmID option coming in 2026 for those without standard identification.
   

2. Older New Yorkers' Day 2026 NYSOFA's flagship annual event to recognize older adults for their volunteerism. Learn more about Older New Yorkers' Day 2026 (einpresswire.com) — Older New Yorkers’ Day 2026 is set for May 26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel-Desmond in Albany, honoring older adults statewide for their volunteer service. The invite-only NYSOFA event will spotlight healthy aging, community engagement, and one standout recipient of the Governor’s Exemplary Volunteer Service Award, with nominations opening in January.
   

3. Albany Armory to host 2nd annual Relic Show (news10.com) — Albany history buffs can browse coins, tools, weapons, and other artifacts at the second annual Relic Show coming to the Washington Avenue Armory on February 15. For $5 admission, adults can shop vendors, get items appraised, and enjoy raffles, while kids 13 and under get in free.
   

4. New law places memorial signs for vehicle collision victims on state highways (news10.com) — From Albany, a new state law will place memorial signs along New York highways where people have died in crashes, including sites like Route 7 in nearby Niskayuna. Named for 14-year-old AJ Smullen, the measure aims to comfort families and remind drivers of the deadly risks of reckless or impaired driving. Local planners are also studying Route 7 safety improvements.
   

5. Law professor weighs constitutionality of social media checks in visa applications (cbs6albany.com) — An Albany-based law professor is raising First Amendment questions about a new U.S. State Department policy that requires many visa applicants to expose their social media profiles for review. He explains how the rule, justified on national security grounds, could chill speech and conflict with long-standing protections for lawful residents. The debate highlights ongoing legal tensions between safety and civil liberties.
   

📸 Around Albany

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Albany

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Street Food cooking class at Capital Cooks in Albany, NY. — Capital Cooks | Albany Cooking School
  Capital Cooks, 12 Walker Way, Albany
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Commission on Monuments and Public Art
  Albany, NY Calendar Albany, NY 12207
  5:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  The Venue , 65 Congress St , Cohoes
  6:00 pm
• It's a Wonderful Life
  Palace Theatre , 19 Clinton Ave , Albany
  7:00 pm
• Candlelight: 90s Hip-Hop on Strings
  The Venue , 65 Congress St , Cohoes
  8:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Albany, NY
  Hilton Garden Inn Albany Medical Center 62 New Scotland Ave Albany, NY 12208
  6:00 pm
• Chris Porter
  Funny Bone , 1 Crossgates Mall Rd #K - 206 , Albany
  9:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Library Closing Early @ 3pm
  Menands Public Library , 4 N. Lyons Ave. , Menands

Thursday December 25

• Library Closed
  Menands Public Library , 4 N. Lyons Ave. , Menands

📣 Albany Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 17

• Elementary Winter Concert
  Rensselaer City SD Rensselaer, NY 12144
  6:30 pm
• Winter Concert (Part 2)
  Colonie Central High School Albany, NY 12205
  7:00 pm
• CCHS Winter Concert (Part 2)
  South Colonie Csd Albany, NY 12205
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Anthony Fuentes
  Funny Bone , 1 Crossgates Mall Rd #K - 206 , Albany
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Albany PatchAM possible:

• Meyers Advisory — (516) 428-3678
  INSTANT and CLEAR financials

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Spirit of Giving Toys 4 Tots Community Dinner Presented by Bridge Tha Gap Resource and Outreach, Inc.
  Empire State Plaza Convention Center (Meeting Room 6) 279 Madison Avenue Saturday, December 20th Noon - 3:00 pm For more information or to sign up,… (Nextdoor North Albany - Shaker Park)
• I'm 24 , late diagnosed high functioning Autistic and ADHD.
  I need to find a job that works best with my needs but also pays enough to cover my bills. I'm so overwhelmed with job searches because everywhere I… (Nextdoor Harriman)

• Lake effect snow continues through midday today in several areas. Jefferson and Lewis counties could see an additional 2-4 inches of accumulation by... (X: NYSDHSES)
• New York projects lower energy bills for people who electrify their homes and transportation. But there's a $1000+/month catch: www... (X: DanClarkReports)

• UG2 posted a job opening for Porter in Albany. Apply here.
• Oracle posted a job opening for Delivery Manager (Individual Contributor) - NetSuite ACS (Products Team) in Albany. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Albany here.

Ok Albany! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook