HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• Hammondsport Rotarians served members of the Port community their annual delicious dinner last month at the local fire station. At the 31st annual Christmas in the Park, they served marvelous chili. For the first event, around 100 people enjoyed the food; while at the Christmas in the Park on Dec. 8, the hot chili was a welcome treat on a bitter cold, snowy evening. Rotary Club is one of the community's many great organizations. Thanks to all of them in so many ways.

• Christmas in the Park last weekend had a first-ever feature - a play presented to begin the festivities. The Keuka Lake Players inquired about using the Presbyterian Church on the Village Square as the stage for its holiday offering of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi." The church happily welcomed the group to use their worship center upstairs. The sanctuary was completely filled with men, women, and children enjoying the story, which is about a young couple of yesteryear who do not have money to buy each other a Christmas present. They both get the idea -- which they keep secret from the other -- to sell something that's dear to them. He sells a pocket watch and she, her hair. He buys her combs, perfect for long hair, which she has admired in a store. She buys him a beautiful chain to replace the shoe string that was holding his pocket watch. Alas, neither gift can be used - but the spirit of love in which they are given, as the KLP players explained, is the greatest gift of all. The players, of all ages, performed the play to standing ovations at every act. There were songs and a beautiful candlelight procession. The Rev. Anne Waasdorp, interim pastor of the church, was asked by the KLP to give a welcoming prayer. At the end of the production, the players also asked the audience to give free-will donations to the church as thanks for hosting the performance. Then the players led the audience outside and across the street for the tree lighting in the park, where many nonprofit groups offered food. It was a wonderful, wonderful evening!

• Tuesday, Dec. 18, eighteen teenagers who have been taking part in a hands-on government intern program with the Steuben County Legislature will have a simulated legislative session in the County Office Building at 3 Pulteney Square, Bath. They represent some of the finest youth in the county and are a good crosssection of area schools, says consultant Richard McCandless, retired Hammondsport Central School teacher. Parents are welcome to attend the 1 p.m. session, which is the final activity and an opportunity for students to pull together all phases learned about county government. Each student will offer a resolution that he or she feels may be of significant interest to the county government. Students taking part from all schools include the following. Hammondsport: Will Bailey, chairman of the group, Sylvia Sable, clerk, and Kalyn Fries and Kelsey Lanphere; Corning West: Taylor Barton, vice chairman, and Rich Horgan; Addison: Sybil Biby, Elizabeth Gorges, and Jacob Luta; Campbell-Savona: Harley Swedeen and Sarah Warner; Bath: Leah Bates, Emily Johns, and Jessica Sokolowski; Bradford: Mi t chell Kelly; Prattsburg: William Goodrich and Austen Shenk.

• Students of the Quarter at Hammondsport Central for the first marking period of the 2007-2008 school year are Christopher Haluszczak and Crystal Bogart. Christopher's favorite subject is math. Crystal has two - modern novel and technical drawing. Hobbies and activities are tennis for him and for her, soccer, basketball, softball, and Junior Fire Fighter in Bath. Future plans for both include college. Students of the Quarter are nominated by their teachers for outstanding contribution to Hammondsport Central School. To be eligible, students must be in grades 9-12, hold a Class A Pass, and maintain an 85 or above average.

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.

The Liturgy invites the church to focus on the theme of light throughout the season of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Parishioners began doing so on Dec. 2.

Everyone is invited to an evening of Christmas music, both religious and secular, performed by Common Ground (the former choir of Bath's St. Mary's Church) on Thursday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.

Liturgical ministers are asked to let the parish office know of any weekends between Dec. 22 and March 30 when they are not available to greet, read, serve, cantor, or help distribute Communion.

Those desiring to bring flowers for the church in memory of a loved one are asked to please do so by Dec. 23. Be sure to sign the list on the back table of the church. If you would like to have the church get flowers for you, envelopes are on the table to tell you how.

• 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.

Adrienne Hutcheson is overseeing coffee hours for the month of Dec.

Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is open on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 19: The Rector, accompanied by several church members, will provide a service of Holy Eucharist at the Taylor Health Center on the Bath-Hammondsport Road.

• 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.

Today at 6 p.m. is the youth Christmas program followed by a potluck meal at the church.

Wednesday, Dec. 19: Promise Keepers meet in the Fellowship Hall at 6 a.m.; Ladies Bible Study meets at 4 p.m.; prayer meeting at 6 p.m.; and choir rehearsal at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 20: Praise Team meets at the church.

• The First Presbyterian Churches of Hammondsport and Pulteney: Interim Pastor Anne Waasdorp at both churches: Pulteney at 9:30 a.m.; Hammondsport at 11 a.m. In Pulteney, Bible Study and Prayer on Thursdays at 10 a.m. for both churches on Luke.

Members of the congregation are asked to provide gifts for a local family with four children. Call the pastor for more information.

Around ten women from the church attended the annual Christmas luncheon at the Family Life Ministries near Kanona last Thursday, Dec. 13. There were gifts to buy for the holidays at the luncheon, along with a program.

Jim Wahling, adult Bible Study leader for the Hammondsport church, announces that the next Sunday session will be held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2008.

Please continue sending cards to fellow Hammondsport member Joe Kulik, Nursing Home Care Unit 3, VA Hospital, Bath, NY 14810.