HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• Remember that the Greater Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce is looking for nonprofit organizations, sc hool groups, and community groups to be part of the 31st annual Christmas in the Park on Saturday, Dec. 8. To register and reserve a place for your group, please stop by the Chamber of Commerce office at 47 Shethar Street, call 607-569-2989, or contact the Chamber at www.hammondsport.org.

• The nearby Town of Wayne has asked residents and friends not to park their cars on town roads from Nov. 17 through April 15, 2008. This is to facilitate plowing and to keep the roads free of snow, according to Wayne Highway Superintendent John McIntire. Vehicles will be towed at owners' expense. Plowing driveways across roadways is dangerous and will be subject to a violation and may result in an appearance ticket. In order to keep the town roads free of junk, anyone who observes garbage or other refuse being dumped on town roads should report it to the Sheriff's Office or the Highway Superintendent.

• Bath Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1470, Route 54, Bath, is offering veterans of the Iraq and Afghan conflicts who are not already a VFW member a one-year free membership, in appreciation of the veterans' service to our country. Please stop in with your DD214 and sign up now.

Hammondsport church news:

• St. Gabriel's Catholic: Maureen O'Neill, Pastoral Administrator: Rev. Peter Anglaaere, Sacramental. Mass schedule: Saturdays 5:30 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.

St. Gabriel's total for the Catholic Ministries Appeal is up to $7,404, thanks to the 51 parishioners giving toward the church's goal of $15,147. This weekend, Nov. 24 and 25, is an in-pew solicitation.

The church is looking for volunteers for the next Children's Mass on Dec. 23 and organizing a children's musical contribution for the Christmas Eve 4 p.m. Family Mass. If your child sings or plays an instrument and would like to take part in these events, please contact Sandra Williams.

Holy Day of Obligation, the Feast of Immaculate Conception, is a Saturday; hence you can serve at that mass as a lector, greeter, minister of Communion, or cantor. If you can do any of those, please contact the parish office ASAP.

The efforts of St. Gabriel's CROP walkers, donors, and workers brought in $787 to help feed the hungry. Participants from the parish: Chairman Frank Curran, Mary Hope Benedict, Marybeth Hafner, Elizabeth and Christine Kolodziejczak, Leandra and Kevin Morris, Megan and Diana Sermonis, and Ruby and Dan Williams. Walkers all deserve special thanks.

• St. James Episcopal: Located on the corner of Main and Lake Streets. The Rev. Sandra Curtis, Rector; Sunday Eucharist and Sunday School are at 9 a.m., followed by Coffee Hour; Thursday 12:15 p.m. Eucharist.

The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, located in St. James, is open on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m.

• First United Methodist Church: The Rev. Paul Rowley, Minister: 8:30 a.m. Service: 9:45 -10:45 a.m., Sunday school; 11 a.m. Service. On the 5th Sunday of the month, the two services are combined with a 10 a.m. service for all.

Wednesday, Nov. 28: Promise Keepers meet in the Fellowship Hall at 6 a.m.; Ladies Bible Study at 4 p.m.; Prayer Meeting at 6 p.m. and choir rehearsal at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m. Praise Team meets in the church.

Friday, Nov. 30 is District Bishop Day.

Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m., members will meet to decorate the church.

• The First Presbyterian Churches of Hammondsport and Pulteney: Interim Pastor Anne Waasdorp at both churches: Pulteney at 9 : 3 0 a . m . ; Hammondsport at 11 a.m. At the Port Church there is Bible Study for adults on Sundays at 10 a.m. led by Jim Walling. In Pulteney, Bible Study and Prayer on Thursdays at 10 a.m. for both churches on Wayne Muller's book Sabbath.

Attention Session Members of Both Churches: Dec. 4 or 12 is a combined Session Meeting at 7:30 p.m. You will be informed of the date when it is confirmed.

Especially for Pulteney: Tuesday evening, Nov. 27, there is a Bible study led by Bob Illi, at 6:45 p.m., on Paul and the Ephesians. Communion will be served during the worship service on Sunday, Dec. 2. On Sunday, Dec. 9, greening of the church will take place after the worship service.

Especially for Hammondsport: On Dec. 2, please invite a friend to join you for a light lunch after service, to be followed by singing of Christmas Carols at 1:30 p.m. and then the greening of the church. On Sunday, De c . 9 , Communion will be held during the worship service. Please send cards to member Joe Kulik, Nursing Home Care Unit 3, VA Hospital, Bath, NY 14810.

Although Hurricane Katrina struck over two years ago, there is still a great need for disaster assistance in the Gulf area. A small but willing group of seven from the 'Port Methodist and Presbyterian churches will spend up to two weeks in February 2008 in the Gulfport, Mississippi, area, where much help is still needed. Before going, the group would like your help to raise funds to defray the cost of transportation and accommodations. If you need your lawn raked, have beverage containers to be returned, or any other similar need that the group can fill for a donation, please call Diane Albright at 868- 3945 or Lynn Domras at

569-2361. The team has +

chosen a motto: "Serve One Another in Love" Galatians 5:13. They ask you to assist them in their mission.