HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• Kindergarten registration at Hammondsport Central School for those children turning 5 by Dec. 1, 2008, is Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 2 4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. in the primary building on Main Street. Parents, please bring your child's birth certificate, Social Security card, and proof of immunization. If you can't come that day or evening, contact Darcie in the primary office at \569-5200, ext 5233, so that alternative arrangements may be made.

• If you have not seen the Hammondsport Central School Spanish Department's new bilingual book showcase, located next to Room 101, check it out! February features the Spanish-English books written by students in Spanish 7 and Spanish 1. There are readings on sports, vacations, pets, travels, family, friends, and a lot more. Students worked many weeks and the final products are great.

• "Dances Dollar$ and Sense (Cents)" is the title of interesting article from the monthly Hammondsport Central School Laker Lines describing an intriguing - and cost-saving - project of the Hammondsport Parent-Teacher Organization. Before formal dances, the PTO sponsors "The Formal Closet" in the school library. Thanks to Mrs. Curran for opening the library for this purpose. Girls can try on dresses in school or take them home to try on. Girls who find a gown they like can have the gown for no cost -- though it's one per customer. After the dance, they can return the dress or may keep it. The PTO takes care of dry cleaning, mending or alterations, as needed. Girls receive a note from the PTO encouraging them to donate dresses - explaining that even if they don't have 27 Dresses, like the girl from "Grey's Anatomy" in the recent movie, but have only 7 dresses - or two - to consider donating them to the Formal Closet. Boys are also invited to donate prom shoes. To date, the Formal Closet is a great success!

• Steuben County Youth in Government is well underway in the second semester of the school year. This program is sponsored and funded through the Steuben County Youth Bureau and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. Students are chosen from each school in Steuben County (large schools have two student representatives and small schools have one) and through the sessions, they find out how county government works, meet county legislators, department heads, and other officials. They learn information that many people don't know about their county government. For example, there is a Steuben County flag. It has stalks of wheat, which are taken from the county seat and denote the county's agricultural heritage; there are two large stars for the cities of Hornell and Corning, a smaller star for Bath, the county seat, and stars arranged in a circle, one for each of the 32 townships in Steuben County. The colors are gold insignia on white background with borders of blue. So watch for the flag!

H-port church news

The Lenten message this week, Feb. 20, is at 12 Noon at the United Methodist Church with a visiting pastor from one of the area churches. A light lunch follows.

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

On Sunday, Feb.17, all parishioners who use weekly donation envelopes can pick up their statement of giving for 2007 on the table in the back of the church. The statements will be in sealed envelopes marked with each parishioner's name. This saves on the cost of mailing statements, so thanks to all for picking up your statements this way.

• 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 at 12:15 p.m., Holy Eucharist; Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is open on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m.

A four-part series entitled "The Passion and Resurrection" by Rev. Philip Kuhn, which began last week on Feb. 13, will be continued this week on Feb. 20. There is a 6:30 p.m. dish-topass supper followed by his presentation.

Remember that this Friday, Feb. 22, is movie night at the Rector's home on 10 Shethar Street. Dish-to-pass supper at 6 p.m. followed by a movie.

Because Easter is so early this year - March 23 - the flower envelopes have already been distributed. Please remember your flowers and memorials, for they must be in no later than Palm Sunday, March 16.

• 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.

Pray for our members going shortly to Mississippi to help with the continued cleanup from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

• 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. In

+ Hammondsport, adult Sunday

School in the undercroft, led by Jim Walling, at 10 a.m.

Prayers for Lynn and Bob Domras who are joining the Methodists in Mississippi on Hurricane Katrina-related cleanup and building projects.