CHATHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT: The Chatham Fire Department is pleased to announce that Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be at the Tracy Memorial Village Hall on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Letters for Santa can once again be left in Santa’s Mailbox which will be at the Gazebo that night and then moved to the steps of the Tracy Memorial Hall.

The CFD will be conducting a Toy Drive to collect toys to be given away to children at a FREE Pancake Dinner & Hot Chocolate Bar Christmas Party which will be held on December 21, 2024 from 4:00 pm-8:00 pm at the Firehouse. The CFD is asking for new, unwrapped toys for all ages and genders or monetary donations (please make checks payable to Ocean Fire Company) to purchase gifts.

Chatham Fire Department members will be driving around the Village on Saturday, December 7th to pick up donations beginning at 9:00 am. Donations can also be dropped off at the Tracy Village Memorial Hall or Chatham Hardware any time before December 7, 2024. Individual pick-ups can be arranged by emailing: prattp5822@gmail.com.

SHREDDING: COLUMBIA COUNTY K.I.S.S. PROGRAM: Seniors over sixty can bring sensitive documents to the Village Hall from December 9th – December 20th, for FREE destruction. Village residents’ documents will be signed over to the Clerk and will be placed into a secure, locked container immediately. This container cannot be unlocked by any County or Village employee, only by the vendor.

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL: With winter fast approaching, it is important to keep your sidewalk clear of snow and ice. Please note that the Local Law regarding snow and ice removal has been updated and can be read in its entirety by visiting the village website at www.villageofchatham.com and entering LOCAL LAW 5 OF 2022 in the search bar.

SNOW EMERGENCY STREETS: The Mayor is authorized to declare a Snow Emergency when necessary, in order to permit snow plowing and snow removal. During a Snow Emergency, parking on either side of the designated "Snow Emergency Streets" is prohibited and vehicles may be towed. For the purpose of snow plowing and removal on all NON-snow emergency Streets, the village may post temporary snow removal signs and we ask that any vehicles parked there be removed within 24 hours.

The following streets are designated as "Snow Emergency Streets": Austerlitz Street, Cemetery Hill, High St, Kinderhook Street, Library Place, Maiden Lane, Woodbridge Avenue (from Hoffman Street to Church Street)

CABA: CABA is gearing up for a festive 2024 holiday season with events and promotions designed to spread cheer and support local businesses. Festive Fridays will extend shopping hours to 8 PM on the four Fridays before Christmas, featuring special activities, promotions, and themed nights like Santa’s arrival on December 6, complete with hot chocolate, cookies, and a mailbox for letters to Santa at Tracy Memorial Hall. Winterfest on December 14 will celebrate the season with carolers, wagon rides, a free screening of Elf at the Morris Memorial, raffles, and more.

Stay warm and have a very happy holiday season!

I guess I am just going to keep drawing snowmen and adding them to this newsletter until Desiree fires me…