HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• Remember, there is still time to sign up for the children's Summer Reading Program at the Fred and Harriet Taylor Memorial Library, which kicks off tomorrow, June 30 and continues through August 16. For more information, call the library at 569-2045.

• The 9th annual "War Years Classes" Get-Together, which was mentioned last week in this column, is very pleased to announce that its major founder, Charles Champlin of California, has his very own "star of fame" located in Hollywood between Rudolph Valentino and Bugs Bunny! Wonder if anyone else born and bred in Hammondsport can say the same? Actually, right now in his beloved birthplace of Hammondsport, at the Fred and Harriet Taylor Memorial Library, there is a brick in his honor, on the brick walkway in front of the gazebo, which was given by the "Greatest Generation." We love it!

• At Hammondsport Central School, one of its faculty members, Judy Chang, is saying her adieus after a tenure of eight years with the school. Ms. Chang has made the 'Port her community for those years. When she first came in the fall of 2000, for the support of the Hammondsport Spanish Club, she offered her students the opportunity to travel to one of her favorite places, Cancun, Mexico, and the Yucatan Peninsula. She told the students that they could help raise money for the trip by making and selling cookies decorated for the holidays.=2 0The unanimous response was, "Ms. Chang, no one buys cookies for the holidays!" However, little by little, the concept of Chang Cookies spread by word of mouth - "maybe cookie crumbs" (her words) - and their all-time record was 14,000 cookies sold at Christmas 2006 and about 40,000 during the school year!! The students and Ms. Chang worked in the Home and Careers kitchen on weekends before each holiday (Halloween, Christmas, Easter) with a rotating crew of teenagers and family members. "It was sometimes frustrating and tiring," says Ms. Chang, "but always a learning experience to work with the many students and families." Ultimately, the cookie sales helped support several trips to Mexico for Hammondsport Central School Spanish students.

Ms. Chang wishes to thank many groups and businesses in the Port area that helped them with the cookie making, and so forth. "I want to especially thank Heron Hill Winery and the Bath Packing Company for helping us with storage of the many cookies during the holidays, with sometimes short notice during the peak holidays." Also, she wants to thank Mrs. Kubrich and Mrs. Dominick for sharing the kitchen space in the Home and Careers classroom. And the support of the Turtle Beach Fund, the Taylor Fund, Hammondsport Rotary Club, Five-Star Bank, and the Hammondsport Community Services to help sponsor the trip for students who could not personally afford it. "During our last three trips to Cancun, the students20took school and personal items to a group of orphans at Casa Esperanza in Cancun," she explains. "The international community service was one of the students' favorite memories. Along with traveling to Mayan archeological sites, including Chichen Itza, Coba and Tulum, and speaking Spanish to the locals, each day in Mexico was a great day. I hope the memories keep coming back to the students for many years," she says.

One last Chang trip for students to Mexico is coming up on July 1-8. Ms. Chang says her personal plans for retiring including moving to Louisville, Kentucky, to be a grandmother to identical twins due this summer. She also plans to start her own bakery in Louisville!

• Attention Parents: Hammondsport Central School is required to release students' names, addresses, and telephone numbers of high school juniors and seniors to the military branches as authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act. As a parent, you may choose NOT to have your child's name released, but you must notify the school in writing by the start of the first school day in September to have your junior or senior's name removed from the list. Please direct your request to Mrs. Rocchi in the Guidance Office.

• According to the Steuben County Office for the Aging, right now is the time for some easy weatherization projects that will lower next winter's heating bills. 1) Change the filter on your furnace; 2) Turn your water heater temperature down to 120 degrees; 3) Pick up a water heat blanket at the hardware store and install it; 4) Remember the drafty spots where the cold air blew in during January and find the holes and caulk or foam them; 5) Replace the bulbs in the lights you use the most with fluorescent bulbs - they are cheaper now than they used to be; 6) Check out clock thermostats that will turn your heat down at night; and 7) Insulate hot water pipes that run through unheated areas in your house.

• Hammondsport Firemen's Carnival begins on Thursday, July 3, and goes through Saturday, July 5. It opens on the 3rd at 6 p.m. on the grounds around the Fire Hall on Route 54. On the 3rd from 8-10 p.m. there is a clam special and a bicycle giveaway at 9 p.m. by Sears of Bath and Shirley's Lumber. Friday July 4th, the carnival opens at 6:00 P.M. for waterball. From 8-11 p.m. there is a band, Misfit Karma. At 9 p.m., another bike giveaway by Pete's Automotive. Saturday, July 5th, the carnival opens at 12 p.m. with firetruck rides for the kids and a 12 p.m. chicken barbecue by the American Legion; 1 p.m. bike giveaway by Hammondsport Grocery; 1-4 p.m. wristbands for $12; and 4 p.m. bike giveaway by LaMarche Funeral Home. The annual parade will be at 6 p.m., with the final bike giveaway at 7:30 p.m. by Wheat & Fitzpatrick. At 10 p.m. raffle drawing and 10:30 p.m., fireworks over the lake. Bike helmets are being donated by Vine City Supply.

Hammondsport church news

• St. Gabriel's Catholic: Maureen O'Neill, Pastoral Administrator; Father Jim Jaeger, Sacramental Minister. Mass schedule: Saturday s 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.

Everyone is invited to come to the Coffee Hour this Sunday, June 29, after the 11 a.m. mass to give Father Jim Jaeger a proper St. Gabriel's welcome as our new sacramental minister.

• 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.

Vestry members and delegates to convention: Wardens are James Grillo, first year, Leah Nichiporuk, second year; Vestry: Tom Noteware, Barbara Brayer and Betty Arnett, first year; Mary White, William Kingham and Arlene Santus, second year; Ted Dykas, Bob Hunn and Nick Forenz, third year; Delegates to Convention: Sue Dykas, first year, Charles Skinner, second year, Thaddeus Dykas, third year. Alternate delegate, Leah Nichiporuk. Other leaders next week.

• 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.

As this is fifth Sunday in June, the 29th, there will be a combined worship service at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. brunch to welcome new members. At 5 p.m. today will be the Small Group meeting.

• 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.

The weekly Farmer's Market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday in front of the Hammondsport church on the Village Square.

The Hammondsport Presbyterian Church will again be hosting the "Touch of Brass" sacred jazz band during their Sunday morning service on July 13. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Prior to that, there will be a continental breakfast from 8:30-10 a.m. in the undercroft. The public is20invited to both of these events. Cost of the breakfast will be a "free will" donation with proceeds going to "Touch of Brass" for their music ministry.

• 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.