HAMMONDSPORT HAPPENINGS
BY HOPE HEREFORD SPECIAL TO THE COURIER

• Looking ahead to our historic inaugurationjusttendaysaway, I have to begin this week with a note about the amazing events taking place in preparation for that day. I read with great interest - and perhaps you did too - that a meeting of all four living Presidents,alongwithPresident-elect Barack Obama, took place at the White House on January 7. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill ClintonandGeorgeH. W. Bush, along with President George W. Bush, met for a private lunch. It was the first time all living presidents were together at the White House since 1981 - 28 years ago! We surely are privileged to be "livinghistory" right now and 2009 is certaintobeamemorableyear!

• Volunteers at the Hammondsport Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry were extra busy in November and Decemberkeepingthepantryshelves stocked,purchasing,sortingandstoringfoodandgettingreadytogiveout turkeys and pack Christmas food boxes. Many, many items for these projects were received from the Boy Scout Food Drive, students and faculty at the Hammondsport schools, and several local churches. Also helpful in these projects were the HammondsportGrocery, Hammondsport Woman's Club, Fred & Harriet Taylor Memorial Library, Mercury Aircraft, St. James Episcopal Church, Tops Grocery Store in Bath and many members from the community and beyond who gave monetary donations to help purchase needed items. Our h eartfelt thanks to all who helped make these projects work.

In November, 75 families in the school district received Thanksgiving turkeys as well as some "extras" such as stuffing, sweet potatoes, bread, etc. These turkeys were loaded on a pickuptruckattheHammondsportGrocery, delivered to the food pantry and distributed by volunteers.

On December 15, about 20 volunteersmet at the pantry in St. James Church to fill 121 banana boxes with food items for local families in need. HCS students helped load 44 boxes on Mercury Aircraft trucks for delivery to the Pulteney and Wayne fire halls, where they were given out to families that signed up to receive them. The remaining boxes were picked up at the food pantry.

The Pantry Board thanks all the volunteers from the community and beyond who were involved in these holiday projects in any way. Without their hard work, our projects would not have been so successful! The food pantry also welcomes all food, personalhygieneproductsandmonetary donations. For those who would like to make a contribution in "memory of " or in "honor of" someone or "just because," send checks to the pantry at PO Box 76, Hammondsport, NY 14840. If you can volunteer to work at the pantry, it is open Tuesdays from 3 - 4:30 P.M. and Saturdays from 11 - 12 noon. Please call 569-3639, 868- 3625 or 292-6634 for further information.• Wine Country Senior Citizens meet on Tuesday, January 13, at the United Methodist Church Hall, 35 Lake Street, Hammondsport, for the monthly dinner and program at 5:30 P.M. Louise and Lewis Webster are in charge this month. Please bring a dish to share and your t able service. Following a short time for the business meeting, Bingo will be enjoyed.

• The Davenport and Taylor Adult Program:When you need someone to care for your loved one during the day Monday through Friday for all or part of the week, a program has been set up to provide recreation, activities, a nutritious noon meal, medication administration, required therapies, hygiene care, and caregiver respite. Anyone wishing more information, please call 776-8686. Davenport and Taylor is located on the Hammondsport Bath Road. There is insurance coverage for those who qualify.

• The Christmas tree honoring HammondsportCentralSchoolservicemen and women, past and present, was decorated so beautifully again this year and placed in front of the district office. This year the school asked for pictures of loved ones, which the school framed and placed on the tree. The school also asked people bringing in pictures to include any informationabouttheirlovedonesthey wanted to share.

• Just the Facts - Here are facts of interest about the Hammondsport Central School District. Since beginning the Adjusting to Scale process two years ago, HCS has eliminated 24 staff members in multiple areas, resulting in over $1.5 million cost savings year to year. During this same two-year period, the district has decreased in size by 23 students and stands at an enrollment of 561 studentspre kindergartenthrough12th grade. The HCS district has to create/ revise 131 plans/reports and submits them to the New York State20EducationDepartmentevery year.As of the 2008-09 school year, the HCS district has 17.91% of its childreninpoverty, defined as a family of four earning less than $21,200 per year.•

From the HCS Transportation Department:We are currently at that time of year when the roads are icy and covered with snow. The drivers are getting into their winter mode, slowing down and taking it easy as they drive.Whenwe have slick conditions, the buses may be a few minutes late arriving at each student's stop, but please bear with us. We will be at each home as soon - and SAFELY - as possible. If there is a school delay or cancellation, it will be announced on the local radio and televisionstations.

Hammondsport church news

• St. Gabriel's Catholic: Maureen O'Neill, Pastoral Administrator; FatherJimJaeger, SacramentalMinister. Mass Schedule: Word and Worship service with Communion, Monday through Thursday at 8:30 a.m.; Friday mass, 8:30 a.m.; Saturdaymass, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday mass at 11 a.m.

Thank you to everyone who helped with St. Gabriel's Christmas in the Park fund-raiser: co-chairs Lorraine Barker and Christine Kolodziejczak and their dedicated crew of Mike Gabrielli, Denece Gossie, Kathy Hiney, Carol Malone, Kevin and Sue Morris, Paul Reiter, Lydia Shippee,BettyandFredWhite,Ruby and Sandra Williams, Gloria and Joseph Woods, and Arlene, Barb, and Victoria Yahn.

St. Gabriel's recently received a Christmas card from the Sisters of Saint Joseph. They have made a donationtotheSistersofSaintJosephof Cambrey in India in the name of the parishionersofSt.Gabriel's.Theyalso want the parishioners to know that Sister Dorothy Mulcahy has been praying for the parish as part of her prayer ministry for 2008-09.

There will be no religious educationclassesnextSunday, January 18, because of the long weekend for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19.

There was a meeting on Wednesday, January 7, at 7 p.m. in McGill Hall to discuss the results of the questionnaireonSt. Gabriel's mass attendance. There were 97 questionnaires received and the Forum officers, MaureenO'NeillandMaryLouO'Connor, have met to review them. St. Gabriel's will talk about responses and strategiesthattheysuggest.

Help wanted: if anyone can stay after the 11 a.m. mass today, January 11, to take down decorations, it will be greatlyappreciated.

• St. James Episcopal: Located on the corner of Main and Lake Streets. The Rev. Sandra Curtis, Rector; SundayEucharistandSundaySchoolare 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 January11, the second Epiphany: Chalice, L.Nichiporuk;Acolytes,N.Forenz; Readers, J. Grillo and E. Kosan; Ushers, R. Frey and E. Frey.

Monday, January 12, 7:00 P.M. Book study at the Rector's home

Tuesday, January 13, 7:00 P.M. Bible study

Wednesday, January 14, 7:00 P.M. Vestry meeting

Saturday, January 17, 4:30 P.M. Spaghetti and lasagna dinner at St. James

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

The generosity of the members of the Hammondsport Methodist and Presbyterianchurchescontributedto the success of the soup and hot dog sale during Christmas in the Park.Together, church members donated 14 pots of soup as well as hot dogs, rolls, and all the extras needed for the sale. The community supported the sale, as many in the area bought bowls, pints, or quarts of soup.A lot of people inHammondsportate"missionsoup" over the weekend. It was just great!

Amy Robinson deserves a special thank you for coordinating the Holly Sale. Thank you also to all who purchasedtheholly, which graced the tablesofmanyHammondsporthomes during the holidays and made it possible to help those in need in Louisiana.

Ad Council approved the purchase of a fireplace insert. This is a long-term capital project that will pay for itself in reduced energy costs over time. The insert was installed during the first week in December and is proving itself already.

Reminder:Foodpantrydonations wi ll be received at any time in the hamper in the church entrance. The monthly second Sunday collection after the services takes place today, January 11.

• The First Presbyterian Churches of Hammondsport and Pulteney:InterimPastorAnneWaasdorp 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.

•MitchellsvilleUnitedMethodist Church,8421CountyRoute13,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.