HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• Do you know which animal is honored in the traditional Victorian holiday as representing good health, prosperity, and happiness? It is the pig. The peppermint (pink) pig originated in Saratoga, New York. Originally cast in hard candy, similar to a festive pink candy cane, it came to represent even more. It stood for an old-fashioned Yuletide and a wonderful time to share memories through the gathering of friends and relatives.

• The holiday season has been in the air, and Hammondsport Central School students have observed it with concerts, writing celebrations, holiday parties, and other events.

All through December, parents and friends were present for these activities. The school also thanks all parents and friends who attended conferences in November, for these conferences are important in maintaining a positive working relationship between home and school. Hammondsport Central will be closed beginning December 24 for the Christmas holidays, reopening again on January 3. The entire school wishes all a happy, safe, and healthy holiday.

• Every year the Steuben County Youth Bureau honors unsung students who exhibit positive classroom behavior, are good neighbors, hard working and conscientious, and display a positive attitude in everything they do. This year Hammondsport Central School is very proud to have seven students receive the award. They are: Bethany Draper, 4th grade; Logan Rosekrans, 5th grade; Joanna Northrup, 6th grade; Destiny Smith, 7th grader; Tyler Pettengil, 8th grade; Christopher Reese, 8th grade; and Dan Williams, 8th grade. The winners receive a gift card to the store of their choice. Congratulations to each student!

• The local school district is investigating plans to begin a pre-kindergarten program in Hammondsport. Much depends upon finding out how many eligible children are in the district and how parents feel about such a program. Families in the H'port district with a child who turns four years old before December 1, 2008, are eligible. To help with the planning, if you qualify and are interested in sending your child to pre-kindergarten, please call Mrs. Graves in the primary office at 607-569-5200, ext. 5233. Please give your child's name and your contact information. There have been no specifics determined yet on whether the program will be full day or half day, on-site at the school or off-site. The school wants to be sure there is a large enough interested population to plan further.

• A former Hammondsport man, Private Brandon Snyder, graduated from thirteen weeks of Marine Corps training on Parris Island, on November 21. Private Snyder is a native of our village and graduate of the Hammondsport Central Class of 2007. Following his home leave, he will attend his job specialty school to become a flight crew member.

• The newly built Town of Urbana Hall is now occupied for Town Offices and Municipal Court at 8014 Pleasant Valley Road. An open house was held there on December 14. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

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 Committee continues to ask the church to focus on the theme of light throughout the season of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Light was the December 16 Gospel - Jesus talking about the blind seeing, the lame walking, and lepers being cured. Do we reflect and shine the light of Christ on those less fortunate than us?

December 23: Christmas Eve service choir practice. Parishoners will green the church after the 11:00 A.M. mass. Small Christian

Community meets at 2:00 P.M.

On December 24, Christmas Eve family mass is at 4:00 P.M. Christmas Eve "midnight" mass at 8:00 P.M. There is no mass on December 25th.

December 16, with its ice and snow, prevented the intended caroling and choir rehearsal. Many people aware of the Sunday forecast attended the Saturday mass instead, including a number from Bath.

A printed page of corrections for the parish cookbook is available. If you would like a page to insert for a book already purchased, please take one from the back table.

• 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.

On December 23, following the 9 a.m., Eucharist and Sunday School, the members will green the church. At 4 p.m., Cecil Van Houten will present a "Peace on Earth" concert open to the entire community.

Monday, December 24, 9 p.m., Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist.

Thursday, December 26, 12:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist.

Saturday, December 29, 11 a.m., the Food Pantry will be open.

St. James did not cancel their services on December 16 and had a smaller but good attendance, with even some folks from Bath attending the worship.

• 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.

December 23, 8:30-11 a.m., Junior Church with Diane Albright and Onalee Clark; nursery school with Connie Cook and Elaine Pruyn. No Sunday School today or December 30.

December 24, Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 8 p.m.

December 27, 6 p.m. Praise Team meets at the church.

On December 30, the church will have a combined service at 10 a.m. There was no church on December 16 because of the dangerous weather.

• The First Presbyterian Churches of Hammonsport 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.

At the Hammondsport church, please remember to bring gifts for a local family with four children. Call the pastor for more information.

On Christmas Eve, 7 p.m. service and carol singing with special selections by the choir and a candlelight ending, at the Hammondsport church. The service is open to both the Pulteney and Hammondsport members, friends, and neighbors.

Remember that the next adult Bible session in Hammondsport will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday. January 6, 2008.

Church was cancelled December 16 because of the

severe weather. With the +

interim pastor living in Penn Yan, neither Pulteney nor Hammondsport wanted her to travel that far, or to encourage elderly members to venture out.