Hammondsport Happenings
by Hope Hereford

The Rotary Club has had speakers before meetings at the Park Inn Hotel recently: Robert Babcock who talked on historic topics in the area, and, Andy Mazzells peaking on various services available locally. La s t we e k Wednesday, November 8, was the Rotary Goodwill Dinner, open to the public at the Hammondsport Fire Hall. A good attendance was on hand.

 Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. the Hammondsport Woman's Club met at Mr. Dorie Lundy's home on West Lake Road. Assisting her with hosting were Miss. Kay Leiderbach, Joyce Matson, and Barbarba Welles. The program of the evening was John Kohut presenting a program on Antique Glass.

 The final public dinner put on by Vine City Chapter #256 Order of the Eastern Stars was held Friday, November 10. Dinners will be available again come spring.

 The Hammondsport Public Library is presenting its holiday centerpieces again this season, and ending Wednesday, November 29. Monies raised by the project will go to the Library Building fund. Each centerpiece is to be paid for ($20) as the order is placed; pickup day will be Saturday, December 9, 2006. Also running from the 13 to the 30, the library will forget fines for anyone who brings in a food item or paper item for the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in the Episcopal Church. Items may be left at the library during their open hours. And, anyone donating five or more items will be entered in a drawing to win one of the above mentioned holiday center pieces. Patrons not having fines are also welcome to enter by bringing the five items or paper goods.

 Women have only to go to the Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, November 14 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to find the latest in Name Brand and Designer Handbags. Sponsored by Davenport and Taylor Auxiliary, on sale will also be wallets, luggage sets, brief cases, all marked down for the sale.

 Happenings at Hammondsport Central School this week include 5th grade NYS Social Studies Test; Board of Education meeting, and CDEP meeting, 5:30 p.m. all on November 15. November 16 continuance of 5th grade Social Studies test; 7-12th week concert; 7:30 p.m.; November 17 and 18 Senior High Area All- State.

 A Hammondsport native, Matthew J. Hereford, has a poem published in the yearly The Berkshire Review, Volume Fourteen, 2006. The Berkshire Review is an annual publication of the Berkshire Writers Room, Inc., located at 1350 West Street, P i t t s f i e l d , Massachusetts. Matthew grew up in upstate New York's Finger Lakes Region before moving to New York City to pursue a successful career as an Executive Chef in Manhattan. In 1999, he traveled to the Hudson Highlands, where, with his future wife, Kathy Feighery, he fell in love with the natural beauty of the area, somewhat like the Finger Lakes. He is a graduate of Hammondsport Central School and attended Corning Community College. Always interested in writing, he is working on a World War 1 novel, plus now being the General manager of Feighery's' Irish Pub in Carmel, New York. The Herefords' live in Cold Spring, NY. They also brought a ancestral home on Matthew's side, in Pleasant Valley, New York and spend as much time as they are able there. His published poem reads:

"A Winter's Day Vision of Spring" by Matthew J. Hereford

I swore I heard a songbird sing as I watched a black crow dance, on a craggy branch, of a snowcovered maple tree. A swift crisp wind swayed the barren limb, which screeched and groaned and moaned, as cold dusty sleet pelted the street, from a mighty blow that raged. It was through my shutters that I saw a flutter and stole just the slightest glimpse, of colorful feathers unsure of this weather and cowering atop a fence. The ruffled bird braved the tempest's chill, and sang a song of springtime charm, whilst all the time, the harsh gusts blew, as if to cause it harm. The song was sweet as nature is pure, my mind entered a halcyon calm, no longer did the wintry wind seem to blow quite as bitterly strong. As I closed my eyes, the storm clouds dispersed, and flowe r s bloomed in May, the green grass grew, thick with dew, while the trees blossomed in the sun's prism ray. Transported I was by a simple tune, by a little bird that sings, to a place of lush spectrum beauty, in a winter's day vision of spring.

 The winners in the Chamber of Commerce Scarecrow Contest which filled the Village park with autumn magic in October were Hammondsport Girl Scout Troop 942 for nonprofit groups-presenting a friendly circle of four of five "friends" circling a tree, a most colorful group. And, winner in the business group was The Village Gallery's own "Square Crow" Hammondsport home folks and the many visitors truly enjoyed this contest.

Church news:  St. James Episcopal Church: is apple pie sale in the undercroft. Also this year, they have mincemeat pies, kindness of Nancy French, who made the mincemeat. The pies are $7 and already to bake or freeze for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other time. Mary White is again chairperson.

 Hammondsport Presbyterian Church & Pulteney Church: The total amount of walkers in Crop Walk, $1,062. Many thanks to walkers: Nancy J., Matt & Kathy Hereford, Deborah Walker, Tom and Lyn Chadwick and thanks to all who gave that others may eat. Thursday, November 16, 6:30 p.m. family dinner with John Wildeman speaking afterwards on Sustainability.

Pulteney: this morning at 9 a.m. to change bylaws of the church to reduce Elders from 9 to 6 and to create a Board of Deacons with three members.

 Fir s t U n i t e d Methodist Church: On October 28, the church confirmed three youth: Jacob Albright, Micah and Rachel Armstrong. Two couples joined the church from other areas: Richard, Darlene Armstrong; Roger, Elfie Tompkins.

 St. Gabriel's Catholic Church: It is time for all Liturgical Ministers to build a schedule for December 9 through March. Please contact the parish office to let known if you are unable to serve some weekend, thus reducing the time you will need to find a substitute for those dates.

 Crop Walk wrap up report: Hats off to Mary Hope Benedict, Leandra Morris, Shelly Wood, Ruby Williams who walked, bringing in $735 donated toward the fight against hunger. Also thanks to Betty White, Mary Ellen Peck, Frank Curran who worked on the sidelines and thanks to all who gave.