Hammondsport Happenings
by Hope Hereford

+ Glenn H. Curtiss Museum officers for 2007 include Jill R. Flynn, president, Gregory Hintz, treasurer, Trafford Doherty, director. Trustees include Ralph Brown, Marcia Coon, Mardo Doherty, Mihael Doyle, Thomas Freeman, Richard Honeyman, Joseph F Meade, Jr., Joseph "Bud" Meade, Paul Middlebrook, William H. Read, Esq., John Van Zanten, Arthur H. Wilder, Thomas G. Snow. Honorary Trustees are Jeanne Curtiss and Lee Robbins; Trustees Emeritus are Charles "Bud" Shaw, Robert Turissini and Peter Baker, Esq. while Robert H. Cole and William Doherty, Jr., both deceased, are Trustee Emeritus'.

Winter Hours at the museum began November l, end April 30. They are Monday-Sunday: 10-4 p.m. They are closed Easter Sunday, April 8. A Curtiss 2- cylinder motorcycle was extensively overhauled to be ridden at Ormond Beach, Florida last month, the 100th birthday of Curtiss' record-breaking ride of the 8-cylinder motorcycle January,1907. He rode the cycle at l38 plus mph; there after called "The Fastest Man on Earth". One year later, l908, he was also the fastest man in the air at 46 mph. The museum's reproduction 8-cylinder motorcycle was on display in Ormond Beach.

+ In the middle of last D e c e m b e r t h e Hammondsport Primary Library took part in an effort to be in the Guinness Book of Records. Looking forward to the new bookbased Charlotte's Web a goal was set to have over 500,000 readers across the world read Charlotte's Web to children at noon on December l3, 2006. Michael Moretti and his wife, Rita Moretti, both retired Hammondsport Central School teachers volunteered to read the story to the kindergarten library class scheduled during the noon timeframe.

M e m b e r s o f Hammondsport Central School Senior Class helped the Community Services Organization load their boxes for their food basket drive for Christmas, 2006, including Brandon Lawson, Ray Ullrich, Brandon Snyder, Austin Morlan, Kane McAfee, Dan Barton, and Kyle Baird. The 7-12 Student Council raised $400 for the Food Pantry by selling holiday wreaths. In addition, they also collected goods for our troops in Iraq. And, the K-3 Primary gave the community a festive, enjoyable holiday concert reminding all of the joys the season brings.

+ Retired teachers and staff of Hammondsport Central School will meet on Valentines Day at the Chat A Whyle in Bath at 9 a.m. for breakfast and fellowship. New retirees welcome always.

+ The Bostwick Couples Club will enjoy going out to dinner Saturday, Feb. 17 instead of meeting for dinner in the social rooms of the Masonic Temple, on the third Saturday of the month. This year Luther and Lucy Perkins are the hosts of the evening.

This special evening was created years ago when on one evening in Feb., so many of them had other plans or were away for the winter in Florida, California, Arizona, etc. someone suggest just going out for the evening. It was so delightful, they now do it each and every winter.

+ The Peace Weavers of Thunder Mountain will have their monthly Circle "Calls," to other Peace Weavers' area places and also to a variety of states this Thursday, Feb. l5. They say it is an enjoyably calming and inspiring "Listening Circle" memories and often get new ideas.

+ The Steuben Senior Services remind seniors that most New York elders 65 and over can reduce their yearly property and school taxes through the STAR and Tax Reduction for Elderly programs. Call your local assessor for more information. And, from the Steuben County Office of the Aging, Director Linda M. Tetor reports: "Oooops! Despite many, many proofreads of the Steuben Senior Services Cookbook, an error is on page 8 in

the recipe there for Grape Bread calling for 23 cups of grapes, the "Oooops"! It should read "for 2-3 cups of grapes."

+ Rotary International Youth Exchange Student Miss Laura Priest from the Gold Coast, Australia, is attending Hammondsport Central School this semester. She is now living with the Richard and Linda Musso family in Pulteney but later, she will be a part of the Dr. Curtiss and Sarah Cranmer, family in Hammondsport. The community welcomes her to our shores.

Church news:

+ St. Gabriel's Catholic Church: Youth Groups held soup pots at the church doors at the Masses last weekend, not to serve soup to parishioners but to collect money for the local Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. Since the Super Bowl of Caring became a National Grassroots event in l993, more than twenty-eight million dollars has gone to help those in need. St. Gabriel's is proud of their youth taking part, Feb. 4. Today the ll, will see the next Children's Mass at ll a.m. Religious Education Classes do not meet on Feb. l8 or 25 during the school's winter recess. There is a Youth Group Meeting today, the ll at 7 p.m., in McGill Hall for the kids and their parents of those planning to attend the National Catholic Youth Convention later this year.

+ St. James Episcopal: 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Sunday School Feb. ll-7:30 p.m.- Al-Anon, Feb. l3; 3 p.m. and Sat. the l7, Food Pantry Open; 7 p.m. Tues.: Bible Study at Rectors: 10 Shethar Street; Wed.,the 14th Vestry meets at the church 7 p.m.; Saturday, the 17th, 11 a.m. Food Pantry opens. 4 p.m. Chicken/Biscuit Dinner.

+ First United Methodist Church: Local Church Officers for 2007 include Pastor Paul J. Rowley; Lay Leader Jim Conkin; Lay Member: B r i d g e t t e Lanphere, Alternate: Jim McNamara; Administrative Council Chairwoman: Ruth Barry, Vice Chairman: Robert Lewis; Recording Secretary: Onalee Clark; Financial Secretary: Marilyn; Treasurer: Rhonda Sweet. Continuing officers next week.

+ First Presbyterian Churches of Pulteney and Hammondsport; Services are at 9:30 a.m. and ll a.m. At last week's Annual Meeting and Election of Officers following worship at ll a.m., Janny Koster and Bryan Bramen were re-elected Elders on the Session. Lucille Walbridge was elected a Deacon plus Bramen will serve also. He is treasurer and reports the Deacon Fund is low and needs continuing helpers. Going off the Deacons is Marilyn Draper. A long time member of the church, she is now attending the Bath Presbyterian Church, which is closer to her home. The local church wishes her continued health and happiness. The Deacons meet following worship today. Last Sunday, the 4, was Boy Scout Sunday and five Scouts plus 6-7 Leaders and 2 fathers were in attendance. On the last Sunday of the month there will, hopefully, be a return visit of a "Touch of Brass" musicians from the Rochester area. There will also be a breakfast in the undercroft before, chaired by Robert Domras.

+ The Mitchelville United Methodist Church holds Shrove Tuesday dinner Tuesday, Feb. 20, 4-7 p.m. Pancakes, sausage, eggs, applesauce, assorted muffins, doughnuts and beverage: $5.50 Adults, $3 children. Also a Bake Sale.