Hammondsport Happenings
by Hope Hereford

The Curtiss Museum has begun their 16th Annual Holiday Miniatures and Dollhouse Exhibit which continues on until January 21, 2007. Bring the family for a special holiday affair always looked at this time of year. For more information, call the Museum at 569-2160.

Hammondsport's 30th Annual Christmas in the Park, located on the Village Square, will have vendors from all over Steuben and Yates County and maybe other counties for its December 9th affair. Interested in being a vendor? If you are, and have not let the museum know, call 569-2989 for more information.

Currently members of The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program are looking forward to a late fall get-away when the RSVP group travel hosts a trip to the Smoky Mountains for a Winterfest Musical Holiday. They leave tomorrow, November 27 and return Saturday, December 2. Brenda and Sheldon West, are the groups "hosts" for the six day, five night adventure.

Hammondsport Central School Superintendent Chris Brown has reported that the school is working on traffic problems at the Main Street School. One of the biggest problem has been attempting to get in or out of the parking lot. The hardest times are at 7:46 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. The Village Police are working on clearing on Tuesdays- Thursdays. The state has/will paint a new cross walk across Main Street and then, the school's own personnel can clear traffic on Mondays and Fridays. School people should and are, trying to arrive before 7:46 a.m. and leave after 7:50 a.m. Brown says that once the new school bus garage is built, the problem should be taken care of since the busses can then make a right hand turn out of our parking lot as they go back to the new bus facility. He appreciates all being patient as they are attempting to resolve the promlem.

At the mid - October Homecoming 2006, if got off with a Pep Assembly in the p.m. with an introduction of fall sports teams.The Best Seat in the House winner declared by a drawing went to Andy Conley; the 7-12 graders then put the finishing touches on their homecoming parade flouts whose themes for 2006 were television game shows. One of the many interesting ones had 7th grader Matt Bussmann asking, "Deal or No Deal." The Royals of the Day included Nicole Wright as Homecoming Queen; Jeremiah Jacquier, King. Also: Prince and Princess, Nick Foster and Shawna Potter; Duke and Duchess, Ricky Wendtlent; Pages; Ryan House and Kristen Cornish. Other highlights of the special day were members of the high school chorus rendition of the Hammondsport Central School Alma Mater, and the many elementary students jumping for joy right along with the older students.

Church news: One of the many ecumenical projects the Hammondsport churches work on together in the village is Project Care's Make A Difference Day where volunteers visit the Fred and Harriet Taylor Health Center and the Steuben County Health Care Facility, playing and singing music, helping with crafts, polishing women's nails if they wish, etc. This delightful autumn yearly program include male and females from the Hammondsport community: Jordan Bernd, Cody Billings, G e r t r u d e Blancher, Stacy Brzezinski, Lyn Chadwick, Cameron Drain, Arlene Heffner, Carolyn Hughes, Christine, Claire, Elizabeth, and James Kolodziejczak, Jesse Learn, Lucy Perkins, Lydia Shippee, Meriah Van Sickle, Kelly Walling, Barb Welles, Betty White. (Let me know if I missed any one, please.)

First United Methodist Church: Chosen Lay Person of the year for 2006 was Diane Albright, who says she feels humbled and honored by the title, and thanks everyone so much. She also says, "I thank the Lord also for giving me the time, energy, health and direction to undertake activities in His service. I pray always that I do things according to His will and for His glory."

St. James Episcopal Church: The church is looking for persons to help with the Altar Guild. Those concerned about what is required, Leah Nichiporuk and Rector Curtis are willing to help you until you feel comfortable with the work. Both men and women are encouraged to help. Those interested, please let Leah and Sandy know. Thanks go to John Rogerson, Arlene Santus, Jenny/Dick Hutcheson, Ann Oates, Peg Rumsey, Tony Ocean, Jean Chase, and Martha Copp for supporting the ministry at Taylor Health Center on the third Wednesday of each month when St. James offers a service of Holy Communion there. And, thanks also to William Kingham, for welcoming people each Sunday as they arrive. Remember First Friday on December 1 at 7 p.m.;, open to all faiths.

First Presbyterian Church Hammondsport: On the third Thursday evening, this month, seventeen people gathered in the Hammondsport undercroft for a family night dish to pass supper. Following the tasty affair, Deacon John Wilderman was the speaker, talking on Sustainability, especially in the area of farming. Among other points he brought up which opened up lively questions and discussion were Targeted Programs to manage their land for grazing (pasture) sometimes have remote fields where water is not available. Solar (sun) power can be used to generate energy to pump the water to those locations. As the issue of Global Warming becomes more and more in the public debate, he offered that farmers are being looked at as an important group to help solve the problem. Industry is playing an important role in reducing greenhouse gases; The USA Department of Agriculture has a number of programs available to landowners to address natural resources and environmental issues on their farms; New York State has programs also. Wilderman had a film to show but time ran out and he was asked to bring it to the next family night in January. (There is no family night in December.) A report of the 175th Anniversary of this church will be given asap.