HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS

• A summer concert in the area will be held at the CMAC, Lincoln Hill Road, Canandaigua, tonight, August 3, at 7 p.m. with singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. Call 585-232-1900 for information.

• Today, August 3, is the last day of a classic two-day motorcycle rally and tour at the Curtiss Museum. Call 569-2160 for information and events today.

• The American Legion Union #407 meets today at their legion home at 2 p.m.

• The Keuka Lake Players August presentation of Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma at the Hammondsport High School Friday and Saturday was well received. Today, August 3 at 2 p.m., marks the final performance. Do not miss it if you are a Keuka Lake Players fan, say those who saw the show on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

• Hammondsport's nearby neighbor of Prattsburgh is having its summer festival from Friday, August 1 through today. On Saturday, there were vendors, town-wide yard sales, horsedrawn wagon rides, a 6:30 p.m waterball competition, and an 8- 11 p.m. street dance. Today begins with a 9 a.m. ecumenical service in the park in Prattsburgh, followed by breakfast at the Presbyterian Church. At 11:30 a.m., Birds-On-A-Wire, and at 1 p.m., a parade, followed by awards, prizes and drawings. At 2 p.m., Specker, Henrie, and Henrie; and at 3 p.m., a car crash extraction demo.

• The Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring this year's Thursday night summer concerts in the picturesque bandstand in the Village Park. The concert this week, August 7, has a change from the original musicians and will be presenting the Steve Johnson Band with Big Leg Emma from 6-8 p.m.

• The PeaceWeavers hosted their fifth-annual Natural Building and Sustainable Living Colloquium at their Thunder Mountain Retreat Sanctuary in Bath. Events began last Sunday, July 27, and continued through Saturday, August 2. Experts, authors, designers, and builders offered educational presentations with "close to the earth" building materials and lifestyle choices. Participants learned a variety of natural building techniques, including timber framing, thatching, slate roofing, earthen plastering, using straw bales and cob. Presentations covered topics such as biofuel space heating, retrofitting existing buildings using natural materials, heating water with compost, and passive solar design.

• A celebration of life service was held yesterday, August 2, at the Hammondsport American Legion in honor of the late Gary Hicks. He was born on March 20, 1946, and died on February 17, 2008. In lieu of flowers, attendees were asked to send donations to the Keuka Lake Players, care of Kim Jacobs, 7833 Peacock Road, Bath; or to the American Cancer Society.

• Catholic Charities Turning Point, in conjunction with Americorps Kids First initiative and Reverv Ministries, has now expanded its annual Back-to- School Supply Drive. When it was founded in 2005, Catholic Charities (CC) helped supply almost 300 children with school needs in the Bath, Bradford, Cameron, Kanona and Savona areas. The next year the group also included Hammondsport and Prattsburgh. In 2007, the numbers increased to over 340 area kids. This year, with the rising prices of fuel oil, gasoline, and propane, CC expects to serve many more children. It is asking area residents to help by mailing a check or school supplies by Monday, August 11. Send to Catholic Charities, 23 Liberty Street, Bath, NY 14810; attention: Rick Kelley. One hundred percent of what is given will go to buy school supplies. CC thanks all who help.

H-port church news

• St. Gabriel's Catholic: Maureen O'Neill, Pastoral Administrator; Father Jim Jaeger, Sacramental Minister. Mass schedule for August 2008: Word and Worship service with Communion, Monday through Thursday at 8:30 a.m.; Friday mass, 8:30 a.m.; Saturday mass, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday masses at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

For Saturday, August 2, the lector was Ann Krug; greeters were C. Barker and A. Green; Communion ministers were A. Krug and D. Frey; cantor was B. Slatt. Today, August 3, 8 a.m. the lector is L. Turissini; greeters are B. and L. Turissini; Communion ministers are D. Gossie and J. Matson; cantor is C. Krug. For the 11 a.m. service, lector is A. Tomes; greeters are P. and A. Tomes; Communion ministers are B. and M. DeSeyn; cantor is M. L. O'Connor.

Thanks go to the July trio alter-care workers: Kate and Candy Rouin, and Yolanda Wheeler.

Anyone wishing to purchase a Parish Directory for $5, stop by the office during regular office hours, or call or e-mail the office to make other arrangements.

Anyone interested in signing up for the weekly e-mail newsletter, which the diocese has begun in place of the weekly bulletin stuffer, should send an e-mail to LATESTNEWS@cathol ic - courier.com

• 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 Vacation Bible School will be held Monday through Friday, August 18 to 22, from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Hammondsport United Methodist Church. If you are willing to help, please let the Rector know ASAP - and thank you.

A rummage sale will be held at St. James on Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16. Please bring your rummage items to the church beginning today, August 3. Leah Nichiporuk is chair. Contact her if you are willing to help or have any questions.

• 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.

The theme of the Vacation Bible School held here from August 18 to 22 is Son Harvest County Fair, Growing the Fruit of the Spirit. Children entering kindergarten through grade 6 are encouraged to take part. Pre-registration for the Vacation Bible School is recommended. Children receive a free music CD and Tshirtwhenthey register.Children may be registered through their church, or call 569-3511 or 569- 2093 or 868-3945.

We will be looking for creative ideas to turn our church into a county fair. Borrowed things needed from all churches are stuffed-figurines of farm animals and birds, artificial flowers like sunflowers; small or medium-size potted plants; clay pots, all sizes; bales of hay or straw; four children's wagons; four wheelbarrows; four kick balls; big overalls - large child-adult; quart berry baskets (baskets only will not be returned); toy tractors; patriotic swags; 6 bushel baskets; live animals for petting zoo (contact Diane to arrange). Please label items that must be returned.

Nonperishable items were delivered to the church by August 1. Perishable items will be needed on specific days during the week. Needs from the host church: green pipe cleaners, grapes for 100 on Sunday, 7 gallons of milk on Tuesday, 8 boxes of chocolate wafer cookies. (A sheet will be going around on Sundays to let us know who can bring what.) Monetary donations are needed to help meet expenses for curriculummaterials and supplies.

Friday, August 8, 4 p.m.: United Methodist Women smorgasbord dinner.

• 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.

Today, August 3, has the Rev. Janice Fitzgerald preaching and leading the worship. She is an interimministerwho has served in both Presbyteries of Geneva and Genesee Valley and is also the previous moderator of the Presbytery of Geneva.

August 17, Hammondsport and Pulteney join together for a combined worship service in Pulteney at 10 a.m. This service will include Communion.

There is a Farmer's Market in front of the Hammondsport Church each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please bring any baked good and/or excess garden produce to donate by 9 a.m. We are currently picking blueberrie s. If you can help, see Bryan Braman.

• 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.