HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS
BY HOPE HEREFORD SPECIAL TO THE COURIER

• The Hammondsport Central School Music Department had a very busy November this year. Congratulations go to many a young woman and young man who were selected to attend the Area All State Festival in our region. Festival #1 at Elmira Broad Middle School was November 7 and 8. Susan Sincerbox and Lauren Binnert (clarinets) were selected to perform in the Area All State Junior High (7-9) Band and Jessica Anthony (violin) was selected to perform with the Area All State Junior High Orchestra. The concert was at the Broadway Middle School auditorium on November 8 at 2:30 P.M.

Festival #2 was at Haverling High School on November 21 and 22, with Kelly Perz pe rforming with the All State Women's Chorus and Brynn Day (clarinet), Josh Haluszczak (tenor sax) and Kyle Young (baritone sax) performing with the Area All State High School Band. The concert was held on November 22 at 3:00 P.M. in Haverling High School auditorium.

The Hammondsport Main Street School's first concert of the season occurred November 20 at 7:30 P.M. It featured the junior and senior high bands and choruses. The bands played selections including Korean folk songs, one of Wagner's operas, and a very famous movie featuring disco music. The choral performances featured a variety of music as well. Junior and senior high choruses combined forces for an a cappella arrangement of "The Star- Spangled Banner." The junior high choir performed lighter selections including one based on a tongue twister and a medley of famous songs from the 1970's. The high school choir performed mostly a cappella music, including a selection written for orphans from the war in Serbia, an arrangement of the ballad "Fields of Gold" and an a cappella arrangement of a popular Beatles tune!

• HCS members of the Grape Press, the high school students' newspaper, just attended the annual Communications Day at St. Bonaventure University. In attendance were high school students from the Buffalo region to the Southern Tier interested in careers in journalism. The trip, organized by the Grape Press advisor Diana Satterfield, provided students with the opportunity to not only visit a v ariety of works regarding the communications field but also tour the campus. The keynote speaker was Patricia Kennealy Morrison, St. Bonaventure graduate, former editor and author of a jazz and pop magazine and widow of musician Jim Morrison. Speakers stressed the importance of writing skills at the college level and as a necessary component for the job market. HCS students in attendance were Cora Moyer, Rachel Armstrong, Tyler Dalaba, Josh Halucszak, Max Burke, Cejae Scotchmer, Brooke Gordon and Christine Tipton.

• Remember that there is a yoga class each Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 A.M to 12:00 P.M. in McGill Hall of St. Gabriel's Church at Church and Shethar Streets in H'port. Wear comfortable clothing. All ages are welcome. For more information, call 607-346-1961.

• On Tuesday, December 9 at 5:30 p.m., the Wine Country Senior Citizens will meet in the Fellowship Room of the United Methodist Church for their last meeting of 2008! In charge of arrangements are Kay Tiejen and Marilyn Eckel. Please bring table service and a dish to share with others.

Hammondsport Church news

• St. Gabriel's Catholic: Maureen O'Neill, Pastoral Administrator; Father Jim Jaeger, Sacramental Minister. Mass schedule: 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 mass at 11 a.m.

St. Gabriel's will have a blessing of Bibles at the masses today, Nov. 30. Remember to br ing yours, old or new.

The next Youth Group meeting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. in McGill Hall.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Yolanda Wheeler, we only have 14 parish cookbooks left. Don't miss out! They will soon become a collector's item. And what a great Christmas gift! Cookbooks will be sold after the masses the weekends of Dec. 6-7 and 13-14.

• 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.

Lay ministers scheduled for Nov. 30, the first Advent Sunday: Chalice, L. Nichiporuk; Acolytes, C. Skinner; Readers, S. Pulver and Cecil Van Houten; Ushers, J. and K. Kennedy. There will also be the blessing of the Advent wreath.

Monday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m., Southeast District at Savona

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. Bible study

Thursday, Dec. 4, 9:30 a.m., clergy meet with Bishop Singh at St. Thomas Church in Bath

Friday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m., wedding rehearsal; 7 p.m., First Friday Fellowship

Saturday, Dec. 6, wedding of Samantha Worden and James Heil.

• First United Methodist Church: The Rev. Paul Rowley, Minister: 8:30 a.m. Contemporary Service: 9:45-10:45 a.m. Sunday School; 11 a.m. Traditional Service. On the 5th Sunday of the month, the two services are combined with a 10 a.m. service for all.

Many worshippers from all local churches attended the Ecumenical Thanksgiving services this year held last Sunday evening at the United Methodist Church.

Reminder: Today, Nov. 30 is a fifth Sunday, so there is one worship service at 10 a.m. and no Sunday School.

• 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..; adult Sunday School in Hammondsport, led by Jim Walling, at 10 a.m.

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