HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• A Vesper Service is being held tonight, June 22, at 6 p.m. in the Hammondsport High School auditorium, for the Class of 2008.

• Two daughters of Hammondsportians Kerry and Luann Simmons of 13868 Route 54 graduated from two different colleges this May and June. Congratulations go to the young women and their parents. Graduating magna cum laude in May from Niagara University, majoring in criminology and criminal justice B.S. sociology, was Kendra Simmons. She will return to Niagara University in the fall of 2008 to complete her master's degree in criminal justice. Graduating in June from Elmira College and receiving a master's degree in Education is Rachelle Simmons.

• A going-away reception to honor Rachel Brown, who has served the Fred and Harriet Taylor Memorial Library as Director for nearly nine years, will be held there on Wednesday, June 25, from 5-7 p.m.

• Here are more details on the Summer Reading Program, which will take place between June 30 and August 16 at the Fred and Harriet Taylor Memorial Library. The program is for children of all ages. Each participating child will check out one book per week, read it, get a prize, and look for and find the reading bug hidden in the library each week. Children keep track of the books they read each week, and a grand prize will be given to boys and girls who complete at least six of the seven weeks. This year the children are urged to read "bug" books - but it is not a requirement. Younger children who are not reading yet may be read to by parents to reach the goal. If you need more information, just call the library at 569-2045.

• The 9th annual "War Years Classes" Get-Together is coming up again this year on July 19 at the Pleasant Valley Winery with Charles Champlin and our 2008 host Paul Wood. It is being held from 12-2:30 p.m. in the Visitor's Center on the flat land below the winery. Handicapped accessible through the gift shop. The Visitor's Center will serve hors d'oeuvres, wine, soft drinks, coffee and tea. There is ample level parking and the center is spacious - just right for mingling, renewing friendships and making new ones. Admission this year is $15.50 per person for food, gratuity and postage. More information to come.

• The last Hammondsport Central School Students of the Quarter for the school year 2007-2008 are Arlen R. Cornell and Jennifer Lane. The students are nominated by their teachers for outstanding contributions to Hammondsport Central School. To be eligible, students must be in grades 9- 12, hold a Class A Pass, and maintain an 85 or above average. Congratulations to Jennifer and Arlen. Jennifer's favorite subject in school is music. Arlen's is math. Hobbies for Jennifer are listening to music and for Arlen, playing the guitar, drums and listening to music. Future plans: Jennifer will attend Fordham University to major in music education and eventually become a teacher or A & R representative for a record label. Three words Jennifer would use to describe herself: creative, fun-loving and happy. Arlen's plans are to go to college for music technology and become a record engineer. Three words that Arlen would use describe himself: bodacious, outgoing and optimistic.

• The Hammondsport Central School senior class of 2008 has returned from their senior trip to the historic cities of Salem and Boston. In Salem, they visited the Salem Witch Museum, toured the House of Seven Gables, and braved the Haunted Footsteps Ghost Lantern Tour. Following all of this, it was off to one of America's oldest cities, Boston, where they took one of the city's famous Duck tours. The young ladies and gentlemen boarded amphibious vehicles that took them across the land and water to all of the major attractions in the city. Other trip highlights included the Museum of Science, two shows - Sheer Madness and the Blue Man Group- a tour of the JFK Library and Museum, and a lot more. The seniors had a good time and returned home with many many great memories.

• With changes in the school calendar, sixth grade graduation is now Tuesday, June 24, at 9 a.m. in the Curtiss gymnasium. The last day for classes for grades K-6 is Wednesday, June 25, with dismissal at 11:30 a.m. that day. June brings final exams, field trips and end-of-year celebrations. As always, the school thanks the parents and community members that have been involved in the elementary program in the last year. From volunteer club advisors to our parent buddy readers, we appreciate your gift of time and willingness to help with our students. We cannot do it without you. Thanks again for making 2007-2008 another great year at Glenn H. Curtiss Elementary School.

• And now a final word from outgoing Superintendent Chris Brown: "As our time together comes to an end, I want to take time to thank you all for your support. And my best wishes to you for the future. I have gotten some great going-away presents. We received our preliminary school report card results. And once again we were dominant. We also received word that our K-6, 7-12, and District were noted for a second

year as a Title I School of +

Excellence School System by the New York State Education Department." Hammondsport church news

• St. Gabriel's Catholic: Maureen O'Neill, Pastoral Administrator. 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.

Monday, June 23, a mobile food bank, sponsored by the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, will be in the St. Gabriel' parking lot from 1- 2:30 p.m. Anyone in need of food, bring containers and bags to fill.

The local pantry is located in the St. James Episcopal Church undercroft. Currently it is in need of personal items such as: laundry soap, bar soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste and so on. Items may be placed in containers in each Hammondsport church this week or brought to the pantry.

Remember that St. Gabriel's is looking for a few volunteers to help with weeding and watering chores throughout the summer months. Please sign up on the back table to adopt a plot of the yard.

• 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.

Community Summer Vacation Bible School will be held this year in August from 18 to 22, from 9 a.m. to Noon. If you are willing to help, please contact Rev. Curtis ASAP.

• 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.

From Pastor Paul: We are celebrating the graduation of our son John from Cornell University plus the May 5, 2008, birth of our first grandchild and John's daughter, Jenna Eve Rowley. Mom and Dad are doing fine. In the fall, John, who received a Ph.D. in chemistry, will be teaching chemistry at Houghton College. We are also celebrating the graduation from HCS of Amanda Miller and Hannah Catherman. They are the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. And we are celebrating the May 18 graduation of Katherine Pruyn from Niagara University with honors. She earned a B.A. degree in political science and pre-law. We recognized our graduates on June 15 with a reception during the Sunday School hour.

• 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. 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.

Richard Schied, a member of the Hammondsport Church choir and pastor of the Weston Presbyterian Church and father, led the Father's Day service.

• Mitchellsville United Methodist Church, 8421 County Route 13, Bath, with new pastor, 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.