HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

.• One week from today, Sunday ,May 25, is Keuka College's 100th commencement ceremony. All graduate Pathfinders from the Bath- Hammondsport area are invited to take part in the 12:30 p.m. baccalaureate and/or commencement ceremony.

• Also planned for May 25 is a dinner and square dance with the PeaceWeavers. The event begins at 5 p.m. at the Thunder Mountain Retreat Sanctuary, 8125 Crouse Road in Bath. Music and calling of the dances will be by Pat Kane and his ensemble. There is an organic buffet meal, with attendees asked to bring a dessert to pass (fruit or vegan preferred). RSVP was requested by May 16 to 776-4060. Cost is $15 for adults and $5 for children and teens.

• Do you know that Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic? It was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize Memorial Day was New York State! Today Memorial Day is always observed on a Monday (May 26 this year) so it ALWAYS creates a long weekend.

• If you love great moments in baseball, there is one coming up on Friday, May 23. In 1926, 82 years ago, Hank Wilson of the Chicago Cubs became the first player to hit a home run off the scoreboard in Wrigley Field. At the time the scoreboard was on the ground level. In 1937, it moved above the bleachers. Young baseball and softball players, that's something to try for - and how to really score for your team!

• Thanks come from the Hammondsport Central School's Transportation Department and Cindy Tollerup, transportation supervisor, to all parents for their patience and cooperation on many a very icy morning this winter and spring. Tollerup says, "We have never had a year with so much ice making many delays as we had this school year. A special thanks also goes to all the road crews who tried to stay ahead of our buses, backed up the hills to get us going ahead, and listened to our radio transmissions for our location when we needed them. You guys are super and we appreciate all of your efforts."

• A senior at Hammondsport Central School recently won the Future Business Leaders of America, District #11, Impromptu Speaking Contest. The winner, Gavin Goodman, went on to represent District 11 at the Nevele Grand Hotel in Ellenville, New York. The impromptu speaking contest requires contestants to give a four-minute speech on a topic related to FBLA goals and current activities. After the contestant is given the topic, he/she is allowed four minutes to make notes and prepare the speech to appear before the judges. Speeches are judged on content, delivery, and adherence to the time restrictions. Gavin's topic at the district level was Leadership in Action. He used his FBLA chapter's involvement with the Hammondsport downtown merchants as a focus of his speech. Gavin placed in the top 8 out of 40 contestants in the 2007 FBLA contest.

• Hammondsport Central School doesn't just have special junior and senior fun affairs for their teens. Just see what they also do for the younger students! Saturday, March 1, 2008, the Parent- Teacher Organization (PTO) sponsored a Snowflake Ball for students in grades 4-6. The dance was held at the Curtiss School and music was provided by deejay Tom Strong. The dance was very well attended, with fun had by all! Thanks go to the Curtiss Student Council for helping with decorations and to all those parents who chaperoned the ball.

• Please save the date of June 14, 2008, for the first annual Run-Walk-or-Crawl 5K, sponsored by Hammondsport Central School's Parent-Teacher Organization. This event is for all ages. Watch for more information in upcoming news.

• Two young ladies head the top of their class at Hammondsport Central School. Valedictorian of the Class of 2008 is Amanda Miller, daughter of Diana Potter of Hammondsport and Erich Miller of Keuka Village, Hammondsport. During Amanda's high school days, she has been active in volleyball, softball, cheerleading, Academic All Stars, Spanish Club, and a member of the National Honor Society. Amanda will go on to college in the fall majoring in pre-veterinary medicine at a school not yet finalized. Salutatorian is Hannah Catherman, daughter of Stephen and Tammy Catherman of Bath. All throughout high school, Hannah has been active in Spanish Club, Girl Scouts, yearbook, and a member of the National Honor Society. She is planning on attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the fall and will major in marine biology. The remaining top ten in the senior class include: Sylvia Sable, daughter of Karen Krivanek-Sable, Penn Yan, and Michael Sable of Hammondsport; Jennifer Lane, daughter of Carl and Luella Lane of Bath; Hannah Shippee, daughter of Daniel and Patricia Shippee, Hammondsport; Kayla Walruth, daughter of Margaret Walruth, Bath; Kalyn Fries, daughter of William and Barbara Fries, Hammondsport; Alexandra Putney, daughter of Timothy and Shirley Putney, Dundee; Jessica Gilson, daughter of Ceaser and Yvonne Bustamante, Hammondsport; Autumn Makarick, daughter of Elizabeth Makarick, Hammondsport, and Scott Makarick, Hammondsport. Graduation has been scheduled for Friday, June 27, at 6:30 P.M. in the auditorium, or outside if weather permitting.

• Trafford Doherty, director

+ of the Curtiss Museum,

must be happy that it is well into May! In the spring Aerogram for members, he spoke about the tremendous

volunteer effort during the cold winter months in the Restoration Shop AND other volunteers who soldiered on through the cold winter months to assist the museum. He recalled seeing Jeanette Feil huddled under quilts next to an electric heater, cataloging library books, and Wilma Poehlein at the front desk with a heater. "Leaving warm homes to come here where it is NOT warm to show off the museum to our visitors ... we enjoy an amazing level of dedication from our volunteers, especially during those cold cold months," Doherty said.

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.; Word and Worship Communion Service, Monday - Thursday at 8 a.m.; Mass on Fridays at 8 a.m.

Following 5:30 p.m. mass yesterday, May 17, a farewell reception for Father Peter in McGill Hall brought out a lot of people. Appetizers were served and enjoyed. Father Peter was very pleased with the parish's gift of a memory book. Photos and notes and many pages of individual good wishes to Father made the book truly a very personal gift.

St. Gabriel's will follow the summer mass schedule on Memorial Day weekend (May 24-25), and then no Sunday 8 a.m. mass on June 1, 8,15, and 22. Also, our Friday 8 a.m. mass will not be celebrated from May 30 through June 22. Both the 8 a.m. Sunday mass and the 8 a.m. Friday mass will resume when Father Jim Jaeger begins his service as our Sacramental Minister at the end of June.

Parish members are invited to use the Catholic call-in service to get answers to simple or complicated questions. Call 1-888-477- 1718 tomorrow, May 19, anytime between 2-8 p.m. Experts from the dioceses will be standing by to answer the calls.

Last weekend's second collection was our annual collection for Dioceses Missions. This year marked four years that the parishes of the Dioceses of Rochester has been supporting the people and Sisters of St. Joseph in Brazil and Sisters of Mercy in Chile with our prayers and financial gifts.

• 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.

Leah Nichiporuk has been the overseer of the May coffee hours after church service. Thanks to her and to all the servers. Coffee hour is a fellowship time for everyone.

• 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.

Providing music for the service each Sunday is Bonnie Lowery, organist, and Shelia Moon, pianist.

• 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. I n 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.

Hammondsport member Bryan Braman organized a plant sale at the Hammondsport church for yesterday, May 17.

• Mitchellsville United Methodist Church, 8421 County Route 13, Bath. Pastor is Rev. Ed Spencer. Services are Sundays at 8:55 a.m. 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.

The Mitchellsville Methodist Church is planning a pig roast for Saturday, May 31, from 4-7 p.m. The menu is: roast pig, salt potatoes, cole slaw, applesauce, rolls & butter, dessert, and beverages. Prices are adults, $7.95; youth 5-12 years old, $3.95; and free for children under 5. There will also be a bake sale during the pig roast.