HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• I surely hope you remembered to set your clocks ahead! Today, March 9, is when the time is set to "spring ahead" one hour.

• It was with a very divided heart that I recently found out that my friend and long-time publisher of the Courier Advocate, Colleen Neely, has been promoted (that part I like) to the position of publisher of the Dansville-Wayland Pennysaver for Gatehouse Media, the Courier's parent company. While it is a great honor for her, I am sure it will be sad not only for me but for many others not to be working with her. She came to our shores in 1994, fourteen years ago. I have enjoyed our friendship over those years, spending some off hours with her at lunches in the Bath- Hammondsport area. Born in Rochester, Colleen has had a long history with sales-management positions at many newspapers, such as Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle, the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin, and the Oneida Daily Star. She will stay at her present position until a successor is named. Colleen has been very active and helpful in a trio or more of organizations in the Bath area: the Greater Bath Area Chamber of Commerce, Bath Rotary Club, as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Dormann Library, and as a member of the Free Community Papers of New York Association. Best wishes, Colleen, for your new professional life coming up! -- HH

• Tuesday, March 11, in the south conference room of the Bath Legislature Building, the spring semester of the Steuben County Youth in Government meets at 8:30 a.m. The students will review and then turn in their journal reports. At 9 a.m., there will be a tour of the Public Safety Building led by Sheriff Tweddel. A tour of the Steuben County Health Care Facility, followed by lunch, will be conducted by Mr. McCarroll. In the afternoon, students are given a tour of the Emergency Services and 911 Building by Mr. Marshall and Mr. Wixon. At 2 p.m. student will return to the county office and board the busses to return to their schools.

• Well, seeing as how we are almost to the middle of March, believe it or not (even though it seems like we must still be in Feb. because some days continue to be snowy and chilly), I am getting ready to make out my outdoor plant list for 2008. Wanting to try something new to me, I am planning to plant pansies. I read just the other day that what people have grown and loved forever over the last 200 years as violas have been propagated into what we now call pansies. How about that.

• Hammondsport English teacher Joanne Le Clair wrote an interestingarticle in Hammondsport Central School's Laker Lines news for Feb. entitled "What Price Can You Place on Education?" Among the data given by Ms. Le Clair was some figures that, as she explained, she has "posted on her refrigerator so my son sees it often until he graduates." She recommends that when children "whine, 'Why do I have to go to school anymore?' throw these figures at them: 1) high school graduates earn a lifetime average of $300,000 more than dropouts do; 2) a two-year college degree adds $700,000 more; 3) a four-year degree increases earnings by a whopping $1.4 million! Enough said?" Indeed.

Hammondsport church news

• This is the final week of the ecumenical Lenten services. This week, March 12, the Noon service is at St. James Episcopal Church, with Don Peek of the Pulteney Presbyterian Church delivering the message. A light lunch follows.

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

Remember that tonight, March 9, at 5 p.m., is St. Gabriel's annual St. Patrick's Day party with music provided by Pat Kane. The parish provides corn beef, cabbage, and carrots. Each person or family is asked to bring a dish to pass. This year the parish is unable to provide adult beverages. If you would like to donate beer or wine, please call Barb Yahn at 569-2878.

The St. Gabriel's Youth Group will meet on March 9 at 7 p.m. at McGill Hall.

Each Friday, Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 8:30 a.m. immediately following the 8 a.m. mass. Everyone is welcome to take part.

All are invited to remain after mass today and next weekend to pray the Rosary for the sick of the parish and for Father O'Connor.

• 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.

Assisting with the service today, the fifth Sunday of Lent, are C. Van Houten, chalice; N. Forenz, acolytes; Connie Van Houten and D. Erway, readers; J. and L. Grillo, ushers.

• 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.

Deadline: Any information to be published in the monthly newsletter needs to be in the parish office or sent via mail or e-mail to Roger Tompkins (rogerandelf@ frontier.net) no later than the 15th of each month.

• 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 Hammondsport, adult Bible Study and Prayer at the Pulteney church on Tuesdays at 2 p.m.; adult Sunday School in Hammondsport, led by Jim Walling, at 10 a.m.

Many people, church members and others, enjoyed the return of the "Touch of Brass" musical ensemble last Sunday at the Hammondsport church. A tasty pancake breakfast was served before the 11 a.m. service, where the musicians rendered their religious music so pleasingly to all the men, women, and children in attendance. If you

missed the Sunday service, without

+ a doubt, this Rochester-area group will be invited back again!

John Wilderman of the Search Committee for the Pulteney and Hammondsport Presbyterian Churches reports that the group is working diligently to find a new full-time pastor.