HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• Saturday, April 5, was another bottle and can drive at Hammondsport Central School on Main Street. Dan Conley is in charge of the recycling drives. Bottles and cans may be dropped off on the day of the drive between 9 a.m. and noon. Check with the school about the next drive.

• At the Curtiss H. Museum, there have been many projects going on - and some new improvements thanks to the community of Hammondsport and our museum volunteers, who continue to work on and on and on. The museum thanks the Fred and Harriet Taylor Memorial Library, which donated three new light fixtures (they were not needed in the library). The lights were installed in the Curtiss Museum lobby by volunteers Norman Brush and Lou Fell, and one other helper. Because of the manner in which the walls were constructed around of the front desk, it turned into quite a project for the dynamic volunteers as they came forth, once again, with positive results. Many people have commented on the attractive lights.

• Now that spring has sprung (even though the snowstorms have continued leading into April!), in response to its members, the Keuka Lake Association continues to become more active in land-use issues, which affect the quality of Keuka Lake and the watershed. This year's Land Use Leadership Alliance training event included and provided seed funding. There is no question that land use will increasingly become more of a critical issue in the overall quality of our watershed. KLA intends to remain involved, influential and connected in all of this. New officers in 2008: Dawn Dowdle, Supervisor of the Town of Wayne and Chairman of the KWIC Board of Trustees; and Bill Weberk, Supervisor of the Town of Pulteney and Vice Chairman KWIC Board of Trustees, who also has been reelected as Chairman of the Keuka Lake Compact Outlet, which manages the lake level.

• Tuesday, April 8, the Wine Country Senior Citizens will have dinner and entertainment in the undercroft of the Hammondsport Methodist Church, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Please bring your place setting and dish to share.

• Thursday, April 10, there is a meeting of the Keuka Corkers Red Hatters at 1:30 p.m. in the Wildflower Hills Community Center in Bath. This is an important meeting for finalizing committees and other plans for the Red Hat Luncheon on May 8, so all members are urged to attend. Red hat regalia need not be worn for this meeting.

• What is the difference between the Steuben Senior Services Fund (SSSF) and the Office for the Aging (OFA)? Great question! says Ann H. Duland, Executive Director. Here is her response: Both organizations are dedicated to serving seniors in Steuben County but there are some important differences. First, the Office for the Aging provides services now - in the present. The purpose of the SSSF is to help assure that services are available in the future - the now of tomorrow. Second, OFA is funded by the federal, state and county governments through tax dollars. SSSF is a private, not-forprofit organization funded primarily by contributions from individuals, businesses, and other private sector sources like foundations. The OFA does a tremendous job for our senior citizens. The SSSF wants to do everything it can to stretch the value of government funds by building a $6.5 million endowment fund for that purpose. Your donations are key to the fund's success. Together, OFA and SSSF will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our local senior population.

• More on popular baby's names, which I began with an update on the boys. Here's more on the girls. Emily, Isabella, Ava, Madison, Olivia, Sophia, Emma, Samantha, Kayla, and Mia were the ten most popular girls' names in 2006. In an article I read about names, one woman named Vincenza from Carmel, New York, explained that she named her daughter Mia Pietra, upon hearing about a girl named Mia, because she "wanted a name that everyone could pronounce." However, she gave Mia a middle name that I wonder if everyone can pronounce! Pietra is in honor of her grandfather, Peter. The list of top girls' names does vary more than boys' names. In recent years, other top girls' names have included Ashley, which I recall was mentioned back in the early 1950s when our first daughter was born. Both Friend Husband and I thought it a little strange, as it reminded us of Ashley Wilkes of Gone With the Wind fame, who was a man. Another top-ten name today is Hannah, and we have one great granddaughter with two popular names: Hannah Madison Sebring. Come to think about that last name, the USA's first person to receive the No. 1 pilot license was a Hammondsport native who, in his last years retired to Florida with his wife, Lena, to enjoy the warm weather there. Of course, he had to remain "busy" and while there founded Hialeah and Miami Springs. Well, what about Sebring, Florida? I honestly cannot find out from the GHC book I have, but for me and my family, we can "Hope" eh?

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.

Maureen O'Neill is back after being away last week attending Convocation, an annual mandatory meeting when all priests and pastoral

administrators of the diocese +

meet with Bishop Clark. Father Peter is still in Ghana this weekend.

He went last week to attend the funeral of his great uncle, Peter Cardina Dery. The parish has been keeping Father Peter and his family in our prayers.

Small Christian Communities will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, in McGill Hall. Please note that this group will meet on the first Tuesday of every month from now on.

• 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.

The overseer of April coffee hours is Betty Frye. She will also have charge of the coffee hour today, April 6.

More results of the late February Vestry meeting: Move to give $100 to the Summer Vacation Bible School in Hammondsport; moved to send $294 for this year to Children's International Renovation for our sponsored child, Denise: $144 for sponsorship for one year and $30 each for Easter, Christmas, her birthday, and parasite control. The Audit Committee for 2008 are Ted Dykas, Leah Nichiporuk, Jim Grillo, and Karen Derr. A new accounting system, Quick Books Pro, is in operation. At the beginning of March, the church had received $3,350 for the Goat Project. Spring cleanup day has been set for May 17.

• 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.

There is a Mission Pot Luck Supper tonight at 5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There will be updates on the recent mission trip to Gateway UMC in Gulfport, Mississippi, as well as reports on mission work in Nepal, Kenya and Guatamala. Please bring a dish to pass and enjoy an evening of fellowship. For more information contact Diane Albright, 607-868-3945, wgc2@empacc.net.

• 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.

Update from the Touch of Brass Service on March 2: The group was given a donation of thanks of $515.46 ($375.25 from offering contributions and $140.21 from the public breakfast). There were around 80 in attendance. Many thanks to all who helped in any way.

Thanks you to all who helped with the Lenten Luncheon at the Hammondsport church. A donation of $53 was made to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry from the free-will offering.

On Saturday, April 5, there was a PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) Meeting in Hammondsport at 9:30 a.m. The PNC meets the 1st and 3rd Saturday every month.

• Mitchellsville United Methodist Church, 8421 County Route 13, Bath, has a new pastor, Rev. Ed Spencer. Pastor Ed came into the ministry from two previous careers, first in the mass media (1969 - 1992), and then as an entrepreneur in financial services (1992 - 2000). He responded to a call to serve the Lord full time in 2001, when the Family Life Network recruited him to serve as News Director of its network of Christian radio stations. In the summer of 2006 he began service as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, developing Reverb Ministries in Bath. He also served as Associate Pastor of Bath Centenary Church until January of 2008, when he became Pastor of Mitchellsville Church. Reflecting on his path through life, Pastor Ed says, "being on the radio and TV was exciting and challenging. Finding ways to help my clients in financial services was challenging and rewarding, but seeing God transform lives has been the most exciting and rewarding experience of my life. I look back at what I've been and what I've done, and I see how God has prepared me for what he's called me to do right now, it's amazing!"

Pastor Ed says Mitchellsville Church extends a warm welcome to all. Services are Sundays at 8:55 a.m., with Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month. There is Sunday School for children and youth during the second half of worship time, and a Coffee Hour with refreshments after the worship service. On Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m., there is a soup supper and Bible studies.