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Emergency Responder Evan H. Cramer, of the Blair-stown Ambulance Corps 46 Rescue in Blairstown, New Jersey, recently completed training offered by the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama. The CDP is operated by the United State Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency and is the only federally-chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training facility in the nation.The CDP develops and

delivers advances training for emergency response providers, emergency man-agers, and other government officials from state, local and tribal governments. The CDP offers more than 40 training courses focusing on incident management, mass casualty response, and emergency response to a catastrophic natural disaster or terrorist act. Training at the CDP campus is federally funded at no cost to state, local and tribal emergency repose professional or their agency.Resident training at the

CDP includes healthcare and public health courses at the

Noble Training Facility, the nations only hospital dedi-cated to training healthcare professionals in disaster preparedness and response.A number of resident train-

ing courses culminate at the CDPs Chemical, Ordinance, Biological and Radiological (COBRA) Training Facility. The COBRA is the nations only facility featuring civil-ian training exercises in a true toxic environment using chemical agents. The advanced hands-on training enables responders to effec-tively prevent, respond to,

and recover from real-world incidents involving acts of terrorism and other hazard-ous materials.Responders participating in

CDP training gain critical skills and confidence to respond effectively to local incidents or potential WMD events.Information about CDP

training programs can be found at cdp.dhs.gov under the news and media tab. For more information contact the CDP External Affairs Office at 256-847-2212 or mail [email protected].

Back away from the cell phones, gadgets, and gizmos and enjoy some unplugged fun at Land of Make Believe.Located minutes away in

Hope, NJ, Land of Make Believe and Pirates Cove Water Park two wonderful parks for one even better price encourages family bonding by mixing classic fun with modern twists that appeal to every generation.A range of activities for the

littlest members of the family are plentiful.As summer winds down,

Land of Make Believe is the perfect day-cation trip. The park is open daily from 10am until 6pm through Labor Day weekend, with its Grand Finale Weekend slated for September 12th and 13th.Become a part of the show

with parents acting alongside their aspiring prince or princess in the interactive Middle Earth Theatre. Watch as their faces light up as you casually chat with Colonel Corn, the talking scarecrow. And see the wonder in their eyes as you take them to see

Santas summer home.Of course a full array of

rides for the pint-sized mem-bers of the family are also included, from the classic Grand Carousel to the new twisty Drop N Twist ride. And in Pirates Cove, parents and tykes alike love the USAs largest wading pool with full-size Buccaneer Pirate Ship!Older siblings and parents

seeking a bit of thrill them-selves can find it in Pirates Cove, home to the exhilarat-ing Sidewinder, heart-pounding Pirates Escape, and too-fun Pirates Plunge.With ample free parking and

a picnic area (no charge for picnic baskets!), this two-for-one park doesnt require a summers worth of saving up. Kids tickets, for ages 2 to 18, are $28 each and adults are $26. Grandparents aged 62 and older receive a discounted $24 rate.For more information about

Land of Make Believe, please visit www.lomb.com or call 908-459-9000.

By Maria CascarioGinder Green House and

Garden Center, located at 558 Lake Minsi Drive in Bangor, PA, is having a Craft and Vendor Show on the premises Saturday, Septem-ber 12th from 9am to 3pm.Local crafters and vendors

will be displaying their wares amidst the array of beautiful fall mums and lawn decor items that Ginders is known for. Joann said Im having

specials throughout the day and spin-the-wheel for addi-tional savings and prizes.Vendors and products that

will be featured are Pampered Chef, Avon, stained glass, Scentsy, stuffed animals,

embroidered items, pet mag-nets, jewelry, scarves, birdhouses, Isagenix, door knockers, child rockers, Infinity Baskets and Gifts, cutting and cheese boards, and J. DeFranco and Daugh-ters Catering and Deli.Spots are still available for

vendors.Im looking forward to a

successful venture this year and making this an annual event, Joann said.Judging from past events at

Ginders, this one is sure to be a success.If you would like to be a

vendor for this event or have any question about Ginder Green House and Garden Center, call 610-588-0222.

Vendor Applications are now available for Bangor Park's Octoberfest. The event will be held on Octo-ber 10th and 11th. Interested parties can find the applica-tion at bangorborough.org or they can request one to be emailed or mailed by contact-ing Debbie at bangorpark [email protected] or 610-751-7692. The Bangor Park Board is also in need of volunteers for Octoberfest. They are looking for help in the concession stand, set up, clean up, selling and taking tickets, running game booths, and picking pumpkins. To volunteer, email bangorpark [email protected] Neucrue fundraiser

golf tournament, to be held on September 25th, is seek-ing donations. If you would like to be a sponsor, donate promotional items or door prizes (golf balls, golf clubs, etc.), contact Ryan Mackay at 484-695-5104 or neucrue

[email protected] Area High School

class of 1952 is searching for the correct addresses of classmates Gerald Ronco, Alvin Englert, Elenor Shaheen, Betty Laub, and Marie Jordan (Temins). If you have any information please contact Marge DeNardo at 610-863-4593.Slate Belt Health and

Rehabilitation is looking for volunteers. If you enjoy talking, singing, dancing, exercising, reading, and more and would like to share your gifts with the residents, stop by 701 Slate Belt Boulevard in Bangor PA for an applica-tion or call 610-588-6161. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.There will be a school

supply drop-off for students in the Bangor Area School Dristrict who cannot afford the supplies needed for the upcoming school year. Donation boces can be found at Dukes Sporting Goods, Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce and The

PRESS.Monroe County Bible

Clubs are being held weekly on Thursdays at 1:30pm at Dansbury Park in East Stroudsburg. The program is free to attend and is open to all ages. For more information, contact Jim at 570-421-9968 or jimecker-bcm @verizon.net.St. Johns Cemetery is

seeking donations to help with the upkeep of the cem-etery, roadways and monu-ments. They are also explor-ing the idea of adding a Com-munity Columbarium near the mosoleum. Donations can be sent to Carol Hummel c/o St. Johns Cemetery, 136 Messinger Street, Bangor, PA 18013.The Ladies Auxiliary of

the Mt. Bethel Volunteer Fire Company in Mt. Bethel is seeking new mem-bers and volunteers. If you are interested and would like further information, contact Gail at 570-897-6293 or Kris at 610-392-7975.The BAHS Alumni Asso-

ciation is collecting used musical instruments to be donated to Bangors elementary band program. The instruments will be used as loaners for students who cannot afford them. For more information, call 610-588-5198. The Slate Belt Heritage

Center Oral History Proj-ect is seeking Slate Belt senior citizens who would like to be interviewed. If you know of anyone who has a story, call Marc Blau at 570-897-5459.

Fresh, refrigerated and frozen foods are available to northwestern New Jersey residents at reduced prices through the Jolin Food Box

program. The food assis-tance program offers a variety of ordering options, from breakfast-lunch-dinner combination packs to boxes of dinner entrees to special packages just for children. Each month features a variety of high-quality menu items from seafood and poultry to baked goods and prepared meals. The price of a single box ranges from $20 to $40. There is no limit to the number of boxes an individual or family can purchase, and the menu changes each month. Inter-ested residents can order online with a credit card at www.jolinfoodbox.com or by calling Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500. Payment is made when the order is placed. The next deadline for placing an order is September 15th; delivery will be made to Project Self-Sufficiency on September 26th. For more information, call 973-940-3500, or visit projectselfsufficiency.org.The Annual Blairstown

Town Wide Yard Sale, sponsored by the Blair Woman's Club, is being held on September 19th and 20th. Applications can be found in the lobby of Blairstown Post Office, Cath-erine Dickson Hofman Library, First Hope Bank on Route 94, and Blairstown Town Hall. Applications may also be emailed to pwoelfle@ embarqmail.com. For more information, call 908-459-4129. All proceeds go toward community chari-table giving, scholarships, and military support.Blairstown Recreation, in

cooperation with US Sports Institute, is offering Tennis, Lacrosse, and Total Sports programs for children ages three through five. Pre-school tennis classes are on Thursdays, September 24th

through October 29th from 9:30am to 10:20am at Blair Academy tennis courts. Class size is limited. Lacrosse Squirts is offered on Tuesdays, September 15th through October 27th from 9:30am to 10:30am at Syca-more Park. Total Sport Squirts is on Tuesdays, September 15th through October 27th, from 10:30am to 11:30am at Sycamore Park. For further information on all programs and events, please visit Blairstown Recreations website at www.blairstown-nj.org under recreation.Blairstown Township will

be holding a town-wide clean up on September 25th and 26th. Each property owner is entitled to two vouchers to bring items to the Warren County Landfill in Oxford. Vouchers may be picked up beginning Septem-ber 14th at the Municipal Building from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. Owners who possess handi-capped parking permits may call the Municipal Garage in advance at 908-362-8119 to arrange for pick-up.The Warren County Com-

munity Singers are looking for new members. The singers are a non-audition group. Rehearsals are Tues-days, 7:30pm to 9:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, located at 40 Church Street in Washington. Singers present two concerts a year: holiday concert in December and Spring Fest of Song in early May. All voice parts are welcome. Mens voices are especially needed. For more information, call Jane at 908-399-4771.Knights of Columbus

Assembly #3125 of Blair-stown is holding their annual flag sale for three feet by five feet nylon USA flags with deluxe embroi-dered stars and sewn stripes. Donation per flag is $20. Call 908-362-9121 for pickup.Warren County Commu-

nity Senior Centers will be featuring exercise classes, including Tai Chi and Zumba Gold, guest speak-ers and activities. Lunch will be served Monday through Friday and transpor-tation is available upon request. For more informa-

tion and locations, call 908-475-6591. Deer Valley Sportsmens

Association of Blairstown is looking for land to lease in the Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Hope, Freling-huysen, Stillwater or White Twp. areas. All members belong to the National Rifle Association and hunt-alongs are done before new mem-bers are voted into this asso-ciation. Several of the associations properties are semi-wild and licensed by the State of NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. They stock phesants, partridge and some-times quail. All leased prop-erty is posted and trespassers are vigorously prosecuted. If you own property, either wooded or fileds with brushy cover, and would like to speak with someone about leasing the property, call Robert at 973-948-4001; James at 973-875-9266; Timothy at 908-637-4408; Brian at 908-362-6598; or James Craig at 908-278-5149. The association is a rounded group including doctors, lawyers, police, contractors, farmers, a former director of Fish and Game, and they are well-known and respected in the Blairstown area.Public Notice: In accor-

dance with the Adequate Notice provision of the Open Public Meetings Act, please be advised that the 2015 meeting schedule for the Warren County Transpor-tation Advisory Council is as follows: September 10th and November 12th at 1:30pm. Meetings will be held in the Rutgers Cooperative Exten-sion Meeting Room at the Wayne Dumont Jr. Adminis-ration Building, located at 165 Rt. 519 S. in Belvidere.Public Notice: In accor-

dance with the Adequate Notice provision of the Open Public Meetings Act, please be advised that the 2015 meeting schedule for the Warren County Mental Health Board is as follows: September 15th, October 20th, November 17th and December 15th at 5pm. Meetings will be held in rooms 123A and B at Warren County Community College, located at 475 Rt. 57 in Washington.

New Jersey State Assembly-man John DiMaio, a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts, will be honored by the Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America, as the 2015 Warren County, Good Scout at a reception on Thurs-day September 24th in Wash-ington Township, NJ.DiMaio represents the 23rd

District, which includes parts of Warren, Somerset and Hunterdon counties. The fundraiser event honors

community leaders who have supported the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America event is a direct benefit for the 1200 Scouts of Warren County.I am truly honored to be

recognized, said DiMaio, who resides in Hackettstown, NJ. The Boys Scouts of America is a terrific organiza-tion that does so many good things for our youth.Scott R. Wolfe, President,

St. Luke's Hospital, Warren

Campus, is the Chair of this years Reception. Wolfe is also a board member of the Minsi Trails Council. Com-menting on the upcoming event, Wolfe said, I believe Assemblyman John DiMaio is richly deserving of this recognition. He is an asset to Warren County - an elected representative who is deeply committed to economic growth, yet equally concerned about improving the quality of life for all those he represents.DiMaio has attended

hundreds of Scouting award ceremonies over the years, from his days as Mayor of Hackettstown, as a freeholder, and for the past several years,

Back pain is pervasive among American Adults, but in the past couple of years a new disturbing trend is emerging, and this one in many ways, is of greater concern. Young Children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributing factor according to the American Chiropractic Association. In fact, accord-ing to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, the use of book bags or back carries have resulted in thou-sands of injuries in the past decade. In my own practice, I have

noticed a marked increase in the number of young children who are complaining about back, neck, and shoulder pain, notes Dr. James Fedich, Clinic Director at Village Family Clinic in Alla-muchy Township, NJ. The first question I ask these young patients or their parents, is Do you/they carry a backpack to school? Almost always, the answer is yes.This new back pain trend

among youngsters isnt surprising when you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in their backpacks often slung over just one shoulder. According to a recent study it was found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the

equivalent of a 39-pound burden for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound woman. Of those children carrying heavy back-packs to school, 60 percent had experienced back pain as a result. Preliminary results of other

studies being conducted show that the longer a child wears a backpack, the longer it takes for a curvature or deformity of the spine to correct itself.The question that needs to

be addressed next is, Does it ever return to normal? asks Dr. Fedich, who invites anyone in for a free backpack checkup to see if their childrens backpacks are compliant with safe standards. With young children you really want to be especially careful and not have long-term damage. It's not something you want to mess with. The results of these studies

are especially important as more and more school districts remove lockers from the premises, forcing students to carry their books with them all day long.The American Chiropractic

Association recommends the following tips to help prevent needless pain from backpack misuse:-Make sure your childs

backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight-The backpack should never

hang more than four inches below the waistline-A backpack with individu-

alized compartments helps position contents most effec-tively-Bigger is not better. More

room in the bag, more things will be put in it.-Urge your child to wear

both straps.-Wide, padded straps are

very important to distribute the weight-Shoulder straps should be

adjustable

Adult Fiction: Angell, Kate: Sweet Spot; Falco, Edward: The Family Corleone; Frank, Dorothea Benton: Porch Lights; Hemingway, Ernest: The Sun Also Rises; Holman, Sheri: The Dress Lodger; Morris, Mary: The Lost Mother; Penny, Louise: The Nature Of The Beast; Perkins,

as an Assemblyman.I try to attend as many of

these ceremonies as I can, DiMaio noted. I know how important it is to the Scouts, who have reached their Scouting goals, and their families.DiMaio joins a long list of

Good Scouts that have been honored by this group. In recent years, Chris Maier, Dr. Will Austin, Jason Coe, Jim Courter, Douglas Steinhardt, among others, have been so honored.For tickets, sponsorship

opportunities, and other infor-mation about the Good Scout reception, call 610-465-8564 or email, brian.dungan @Scouting.org.

Suzetta: In My Review Mirror; Spargo, R. Clifton: Beautiful Fools.Adult Non Fiction: New

York September 11, Smiley, Sarah: Diner With The Smileys.Adult Large Print Fiction:

Steel, Danielle: Lone Eagle.Young Adult Fiction: Alen-

der, Katie: Famous Last Words; Breen, M.E.: Dark-wood; Longshore, Katherine: Manor Of Secrets; Richards, Elizabeth: Black City.Junior Fiction: Cole,

Joanna: Space Explorers; Kinney, Jeff: Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Hard Luck; Diary Of A Wimpy Kid The Long Haul.Easy Fiction: Disney Pixar

Storybook Collection; My First Learning Book.Easy Non Fiction: Field,

Rachel: Prayer For A Child.DVD: The Godfather; Open

Range. The People Who Changed The World.

-If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your childrens teachers-Although roller packs have

become popular, they are now not recommendedFor further information,

contact Dr. James Fedich at Village Family Clinic in Allamuchy Township, NJ at 908- 813-8200, or at www. hackettstownfamilyclinic.com. Village Family Clinic is located on Route 517 in Allamuchy, one mile north of Mattars and next to the Panther Valley Church in the Corporate Office Building.

Marine Corps League Meeting: September 2nd, 1900 hours. Northampton County Detachment 298. 1621 Lehigh St., Easton. All active duty & honorably discharged Marines welcome. FMI, contact jimmineousmc @rcn.com.

Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club Meeting: September 3rd, 7:30pm. Bethlehem Twp. Comm. Center, 2900 Farmersville Rd., Bethlehem. FMI, visit www.dlarc.org or call 610-432-8286.

Forks of the Delaware Chapter 14 Society for PA Archaeology Meeting: September 3rd, 7pm. Easton Area Public Library, 1 Weller Place, Easton. Visitors welcome. NJ residents encouraged to attend. All are

encouraged to bring Native American artifacts for dating & classifying. Attendance & classifying free. FMI, call Len Ziegler at 908-750-4110 or email lziegler2019 @centurylink.net.

East Bangor UMCC Free BBQ Chicken Dinner: September 6th, 4-6pm. 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512), E. Bangor, FMI, call 610-588-4453 or visit ebumc.org.

The Community Presbyte-rian Church American Red Cross First Aid & CPR Course: September 16th, 5:45pm-10pm. Dead-line: September 9th. FMI, call 908-910-8250 or email [email protected].

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Casino Bus Trip: September 10th. Departure from St. Elizabeth parking lot in Pen Argyl, 8:30am; St. Joseph parking lot in

Wind Gap, 8:335am. FMI call Mary Lou Derea-Lohman at 610-863-4846 or 610-844-4630.

Stroudsburg Aglow Meet-ing: September 10th, 9:30am. St. Peters UMC, Saylorsburg. Speaker: Anne Trozzolillo. FMI, call 610-614-0507 or email [email protected].

Slate Belt Heritage Center Monthly Historic Presenta-tion: September 10th, 7pm. 30 N. 1st St., Bangor. Speaker: Civil War historian, Dane DiFebo. Free & open to the public. FMI, call Karen at 484-894-5661.

Families First Wine Tast-ing: September 11th, 4:30pm-7pm. 239 Blue Ridge Rd., Saylorsburg. Tick-ets must be paid in advance. FMI or tickets, contact Spring Shank at Pen Argyl High School; Kate Marsteller at Wind Gap Middle School; Kelly Thomas at Plainfield Elementary School; or Frank Jones at 610-863-9095, ext. 1308.

Prince of Peace: Living Well Festival on Saturday, September 12th, noon-4pm. Rain date, September 13th. 2445 Lake Minsi Dr., Bangor. FMI, call 610-730-7895 or email [email protected].

Free Community Picnic: September 12th, 2pm-5pm. Belfast Wesley UMC, 607 School Rd., Nazareth. FMI, call Paul at 908-565-2447.

Richmond Lions Chicken Bar-B-Que: September 12th, 4pm-6:30pm. Jack-town Comm. Center. Take-out available. FMI, call 610-588 8334.

Slate Belt Young at Heart Club Meeting: September 17th, 1pm. St. Elizabeth Church Hall, Pen Argyl. FMI, call Mary Lou DeRea-Lohman at 610-863-4846 or 610-844-4630.

Monroe Animal League Mid-Year New Year's Ball: September 18th, 7pm-11pm. 1100 Trout Lake Rd., Stroudsburg. Benefits Monroe Animal League (MAL), Animal Welfare Society of Monroe (AWSOM), & Camp Papillon Pet Adoption & Rescue. Limited seating. FMI or tickets, call 570-421-7775, leave your name, number & number of people in your party.

Rummage Sale: September 19th, 7am-1pm. Arndts Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Easton.

St Joseph's Annual Tricky Tray: September 19th, 11:30am. Delaware Valley Elementary School, 236 Rt. 6 & 209, Milford. Calling starting at 2pm. Over 200 trays. FMI, call 570-491-9074.

San Gennaro Festival Bus Trip: September 20th, 9am. Proceeds benefit the Ameri-can Cancer Society. FMI, call Karen Campanaro at 610-588-2429.

Our Ladys Guild, Our Lady of Victory R.C. Church Chicken Cordon Bleu Dinner: September 20th, noon-5pm. Cherry Lane Rd., Tannersville. FMI, call 570-629-4572.

Spaghetti Dinner: Septem-ber 25th, 4pm-7pm. Hope UCC, 2nd St., Wind Gap. Children 5 & under eat free.

District 10 Fall Trapping Convention & Sportsman Show: September 25th, 12-6pm & September 26th 8am-5pm. Dealers, tail-gaters, & demonstrations. West End Fairgrounds. 70 Fairgrounds Rd., Gilbert. FMI, contact Bob Counter-man at 610-759-9203.

Bangor Slater Marching Band's 38th Annual Festi-val of Marching Bands: September 30th, 7pm-9pm.

Chester Lioness Club Meet-ing: September, 3rd, 6:30pm. 180 W. Main St., Chester. The topic will be Frauds Perpetrated on The Elderly. FMI, call Holly Simmenroth at 908-879-5932.

Skylands Sierra Club Group Guest Speaker: September 8th, 7pm. Beekeeper Michael Smith FMI, contact Susan Williams at SkylandsGroup @gmail.com or 973-222-0274.

Free Seminar on Bank-ruptcy: September 9th, 7pm-9pm. Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill St., Newton. To register, call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500.

Walnut Valley UMC Blair-stown Barbecue Chicken Dinner: September 12th, 4:30pm-7pm. Take Out Only. FMI, email chris-tiebende @yahoo.com.

Free Caregiver Seminar: September 12th, 8:30am-1pm. Warren Co. Comm. College, 475 Rt. 57 West, Washington. Registration deadline, September 3rd. FMI, contact Robin at [email protected], or call 973-993-1160, ext. 305 or visit UnitedWayN NJ.org/CaregiversConferences.Water Gap Singers Rehearsals: Mondays, beginning September 14th,

7pm-9pm. 164 Rt. 94 S., Blairstown. FMI, call Jim at 973-927-9555, 973-229-6049 or visit watergapsingers.org.

Detect & Prevent Child Sexual Assault Seminar: September 16th, 10am-noon & 6pm-8pm. Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill St., Newton. Registration req'd. FMI or to register, call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500.

11th Annual Puptoberfest: September 19th, 11am-5pm. Horseshoe Lake, 72 Eyland Ave., Succasunna. Dogs Welcome! Proceeds benefit Eleventh Hour Rescue. FMI, visit www. ehrdogs.org, email mainoffice @ehrdogs.org, or call 973-664-0865.

PSAT Practice Test: September 19th, 11am. Warren County Library, 2 Shotwell Dr., Belvidere. Please bring water, a snack and two sharpened #2 pencils. FMI, call 908-475-6322. Registration is required at: http://kaplan.formstack.com/forms/warrenlibrarypsat.

Blairstown Recreation Department & USSI Adult Tennis Instruction: Septem-ber 24th-October 29th, 10:30am-11:30am. Blair Academy Tennis Courts. Class size limited. Register at USSportsInstitute.com or 866-345-BALL. FMI, visit www.blairstown-nj.org.

3rd Annual Swayze Mill Park Car Show: October 18th, 11am-3pm. 100 Swayze Mill Rd., Hope.

Bangor Memorial Park.

By Jennifer LivelyAlcoholics Anonymous

(AA) and Narcotics Anony-mous (NA) are fellowships of men and women who help each other recover from alcoholism or addiction and remain abstinent from drink-ing and using drugs. Anyone who has a desire to stop drinking or drugging is welcome to attend.Established in 1935 by Bill

Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, AA unites members in a common goal: to stop drink-ing alcohol and to help other alcoholics recover. This recovery is achieved by following the groups 12 steps, which encourage spiritual and character devel-opment by requiring the alcoholic to commit them-selves to a Higher Power, make amends with those they have wronged and admit all wrongdoings, and practice the principles of AA in all

aspects of their lives. AA doesnt charge any fees or dues, and the organization is not associated with any politi-cal or religious institutions. Members attend meetings

and volunteer for events, and each is encouraged to form a relationship with an experi-enced member, preferably of the same gender, to act as a sponsor and help new mem-bers follow the program. In turn, the sponsor benefits from the relationship, as participating in a helping relationship fosters feelings of self-worth and helps to sustain abstinence. It is commonly believed that

one in five people maintain lasting sobriety while attend-ing a 12-step program. Sev-eral meetings are held at a Clean Slate, located at 100 S. First Street in Bangor, PA. If you would like to attend a meeting stop by the office or call 610-452-9348.

Hundreds of children and their families turned out for the 13th annual Back-to-School Fair at Project Self-Sufficiency on August 20th. Workshops gave parents tips

about detecting and prevent-ing child sexual assault, information about local resources for families with children up to the age of eight, and access to support for adults contemplating a college education. Mean-while, children got free haircuts, played games and received back packs brim-ming with free school supplies. Representatives from local social service organizations were on hand to discuss topics ranging from healthcare to household safety to literacy. Fire safety was addressed with younger children. Agency staff mem-bers and volunteers handed out school supplies, played games, organized crafts, and provided refreshments. Project Self-Sufficiency is

proud to offer the Back-to-School Fair to our partici-pants again this year, com-mented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director at Project Self-Sufficiency. The help-ful information and services available to families at this event prepare both children and their parents for a successful school year. We are grateful to all of the social service agencies, businesses

and volunteers who took time to lend a helping hand to local families in need. Tactics for teens and adults

interested in learning about the warning signs displayed by predators and victims of child sexual assault were addressed by Project Self-Sufficiency Enough Abuse Program Coordinator Melissa Bischoff. A discussion of the resources and information available to Sussex County families who are parenting children up to the age of eight through the new Project Sussex Kids program was

offered by Program Coordi-nator Haley McCracken.Participating social service

organizations, health care agencies and emergency responders, as well as, professional stylists from several area salons volun-teered their time to the students. The stylists who volunteer to cut hair at the Back-to-School fair each year are to be commended for their graciousness, patience and enthusiasm, noted Berry-Toon. The children look beautiful, and the parents are delighted because

the service is free and avail-able to their families each year at the fair.Project Self-Sufficiency is a

private non-profit community-based organiza-tion dedicated to improving the lives of low-income fami-lies residing in northwestern New Jersey. The agency has served more than 20,000 families, including more than 30,000 children, since its inception in 1986. Project Self-Sufficiencys mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to achieve personal and economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and to improve their lives and the lives of their children. The agency offers a support-ive family-centered environ-ment where life issues are addressed through a combi-nation of individual counsel-ing, peer support groups, case management services, parent-ing skills training, life skills management training, home visits, childcare and early childhood education, family activities and health educa-tion. For information about any of the services provided at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

The Water Gap Singers, under the direction of Joseph Mello, will begin their 32nd season rehearsing on Monday, September 14th at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 164 Route 94 South in Blair-stown, New Jersey, for their Christmas Concert. The rehearsal time will be from 7pm to 9pm, every Monday. There are no auditions, only the ability to match pitches is required. New members are welcome in all vocal sections. The Water Gap Singers are partially funded by the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Com-mission. Although an ama-

teur chorus, they have often been referred to as the ama-teur chorus with the profes-sional sound!This years Christmas Con-

cert will be held on Sunday, December 13th at 4pm. in the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. The program will be centered around three works: Mozarts Regina Coeli, K. 276, Haydns Te Deum and Daniel Pinkhams Christmas Cantata. Additionally, there will be

shorter works performed that are associated with the Christmas Season. Mozart wrote three settings of this text. K. 276 is the third one

and clearly shows the admi-ration Mozart had for G. F. Handel in that in several places there is a strong flavor of the Hallelujah Chorus found in Handels Messiah. Although one continuous piece, this work has three sections for chorus and solo-ists, all accompanied by orchestra. The two allegros are in C Major and are bright and joyful, while the middle section is in c-minor produc-ing a mysterious quality to the text Te ergo quaesu-mus. This work is all choral with no solos. It, too, is accompanied by orchestra. The third piece, written by

Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006) is a contemporary setting of the Christmas story composed in 1957. It was written for chorus, double brass and organ. It opens with full chorus, followed by a rhythmically complex allegro section. The allegro is followed by a middle section sung by sopranos and altos before the full chorus final section. This is an unusual and powerful piece ringing with the tradi-tional Christmas sound of brass!They are hoping for a large

turnout for the first rehearsal. If you would like to sing with The Water Gap Singers but cannot attend the first rehearsal, please come join them as soon as you can! For more information, call Jim at 973-927-9555, 973-229-6049 or vist www. watergapsingers.org.

Ciao Amici,As September draws to a

close, the late summer sun and cool evening breeze are pleasant reminders that, throughout Pennsylvania, a change of season is upon us. Lautunno is arriving, and with it comes more than just a breath of fresh air to savor. As Grandpop would go to the farms in the area to purchase livestock he would see the farmers with stalls overflow-ing with fresh autumn fruits and vegetables. He would say arrivato settembrini, September has arrived. The word settembrino (plural settembrini) is an adjective meaning of (or from) September. A word sadly lacking in English, it can be loosely translated as Septemberishbut it just sounds better in Italiano! For Italian Americans in the Slate Belt, it was tomato harvest time, time to can the tomatoes for the year. If you can think of crisp apples freshly picked from one of the many

orchards in the Slate Belt area youve got the idea. While the cool evening breeze and locally grown mele (apples) and pere (pears) can all be described as settembrini, there is one type of fresh fruit so sweet, so fine, that the word often refers only to them. Many of us from Roseto had a fig tree in the garden. Most were the late maturing variety of white fichi, or figs. One of the high-lights of autunno, these tree-ripened figs harvested in September are one of the sweetest treats that we enjoyed. Figs are highly perishable and do not ripen after picking, so having a tree behind your house was important to have the freshest and most ripe fig available. The people of Roseto Valfor-tore, Italy have been eating figs for centuries. The trees grow well in the Mediterra-nean climate, with the strong sun in southern Italy produc-ing exceptionally rich and luscious fruits. That is why it was important for them to have the fig tree because it produced delicious fruit, but also for the memory of their home town. For the most part, figs are luscious all on their own and make a delight-ful dessert in themselves. However, Grandpop made an art form of combining figs in a multitude of mouthwatering combinations, as well. A classic Italian combination pairs these fruits with prosciutto as an antipasto. Although September is quickly arriving, the warm

late summer sun and crisp night air make fall a favorite season for us in the northeast. Its not too late to experience the delightful treats this time of year bringsespecially the fichi settembrini. What better way to enjoy and reflect upon the change of seasons the cool breeze, the changing light, the warm shades of the landscape than enjoying some (or more!) of these satisfyingly sweet offerings of nature? We will have fresh figs for sale in the coming weeks at our shop. In quel giorno avverr",

dice l'Eterno degli eserciti, "ognuno di voi inviter il suo vicino a sedersi sotto la sua vite e sotto il suo fico." In that day,' declares the

LORD of hosts, 'every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.'" Zechariah 3:10Con cordiali saluti, JoeGrowing up in the Butcher

Shop, is available at the shop or on our web page. To receive menu specials and our newsletter, join our mail-ing list at JDeFrancoAnd Daughters.com, click on mailing list and enter your email. Send your Roseto stories, recipes and com-ments to portipasto@epix. net or call 610-588-6991. J. DeFranco and Daughters

is located at 2173 W. Bangor Rd. in Bangor, PA. Store hours are 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, with catering available anytime or by appointment.

Pennsylvanians should prepare for dangerously high summer temperatures and more severe storms, increased threat of certain diseases carried by insects, and drastic changes to agriculture and water quality, according to a new report on the impact of climate change from Penn State University. The report was authored by Dr. James Shortle with assis-tance from a multidisci-plinary team of colleagues at Penn State.The Pennsylvania Climate

Change Act (PCCA) (Act 70), enacted by the General Assembly in 2008, directed Pennsylvanias Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a study of the potential impacts of global climate change on Pennsylvania over the next century. This report is the second update to the original report published in 2009. The scientific data is clear:

climate change is happening, and there will be impacts to Pennsylvania, said Dr. James Shortle, lead author of the report. The effects of climate change will be felt across all parts of Pennsylva-nia agriculture, human health, water quality, energy, even outdoor recreation will be affected.The 2015 Climate Impacts

Assessment report found that Pennsylvania has warmed 1C (1.8F) in the past 110 years, and will increase at an accelerated rate. By 2050, it is expected that Pennsylvania will be 3C (5.4F) warmer

than it was in the year 2000. The report notes that by 2050, Philadelphias climate will be similar to current-day Richmond, VA, and Pitts-burgh will be similar to current-day Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD. This report shows that

climate change is reality and it will get worse, and it will affect key sectors of the economy, our health, and our quality of life, said DEP Secretary John Quigley. We must respond to this challenge, and do so in a way that strengthens Pennsylvanias economy and improves the environment we live in. The entire state will experience the effects, and we must all take note of the consequences of our changing climate as detailed by Dr. Shortle and his colleagues. Some key takeaways from

the report include: Climate change could

worsen air quality: increasing pollen concentration, mold concentration, and ground-level ozone, causing longer allergy seasons, aggravating asthma, and increasing mortality among at-risk populations. Vector-borne diseases like

West Nile virus and Lyme disease could increase due to more favorable conditions for mosquitoes and deer ticks. Increased precipitation in

many parts of the state could lead to higher flood risks and threaten safe drinking water supplies.

Warmer temperatures will bring more favorable condi-tions for agricultural pests like weeds and insects. Severe storms strength-

ened by warmer temperatures could affect reliable electric service and threaten current electric infrastructure. Some changes will be

positive: longer growing seasons and more tolerable temperatures for crops not currently grown in Pennsyl-vania offer new opportunities for farmers.I thank Dr. Shortle and his

colleagues for their diligent and comprehensive efforts to provide the public and decision-makers with an understanding of the scien-tific and human impact of our changing climate, Governor Tom Wolf said. The Department will accept

comments on the 2015 Climate Change Impacts Assessment Update through November 4, 2015. Com-ments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. All comments, including com-ments submitted by electronic mail must include the originators name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit com-ments using the Departments online eCom-ment tool at www. ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments should be submitted to Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105 2063, or by email to [email protected] full report can at www.

elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-108310/2700--BK-DEP4494.pdf

On August 27th, St. Lukes University Health Network celebrated the completion of the first phase of a nearly $30 million improvement and expansion of a one-mile section of Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem Town-ship near Route 33 in PA. State and local officials,

regional business leaders, physicians, members of the community, supporters and friends joined St. Lukes to acknowledge the private and public partnership created to complete this portion of the project. The impact of this public

and private partnership has resulted in the advancement of economic growth and increased access to health care in our community, said Richard A. Anderson, Presi-dent and CEO, St. Lukes University Health Network. This road project represents a cooperative effort funded largely by St. Lukes in com-bination with state grants and a contribution by KRE Group to improve the transportation system that ultimately feeds the local economy. St. Lukes is investing more

than $28 million in the project with an additional $6 million contributed by the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-vania and federal grants earmarked for economic growth. The project is divided into three phases for completion.The road project follows a

history of St. Lukes and Bethlehem Township work-ing closely together that includes acquiring 500 acres of land; building a hospital, medical office building and cancer center; expanding of the emergency room two years after the hospital opened; completing the hospitals fourth floor medical-surgical unit to

accommodate the patient volume years before projected; partnering with Rodale Institute to create the St. Lukes Rodale Institute Organic Farm; and creating jobs through the construction and employees at the campus, said Charles Saun-ders, MD, Chairman, Board of Trustees, St. Lukes University Health Network.St. Lukes Anderson

Campus opened in November 2011 and quickly exceeded expected volumes by 60 percent in its first eight months of operation, he said. To accommodate this tremen-dous growth, a $4.5 million expansion project increased the number of treatment rooms from 17 to 32 and doubled the size of the Emer-gency Department in April 2013. Three months later, the unfinished fourth floor was completed to meet the patient volume, increasing the total patient bed capacity from 72 to the full-licensed compo-nent of 108 beds. This project

was originally planned for 2016. This thriving health care

campus required infrastruc-ture improvements to Freemansburg Avenue, Dr. Saunders said. The road expansion is improving access to excellent health care and contributed signifi-cantly to the economic growth and development of the area. The $15 million first phase

of the Freemansburg Avenue construction project has been primarily financed by St. Lukes, said D. Martin Zawarski, Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Bethle-hem Township. In 2003, as St. Lukes was

planning a new health care campus, St. Lukes entered into a master development agreement with Bethlehem Township to address improvements to the existing infrastructure. Through perhaps one of the greatest public-private partnerships in our region, involving Bethle-

hem Township, the Pennsyl-vania Department of Trans-portation (PennDOT) and St. Lukes, a plan was developed to improve the major infra-structure along Freemans-burg Avenue, involving the road, sewer and water systems, he said. Bethlehem Township is the

third-largest municipality in Northampton County, with nearly 25,000 residents, according to Zawarski. With the township growth estimated at twelve percent over the next ten years, the Freemansburg Avenue corri-dor will increasingly be important to the residents to access entertainment, shop-ping and health care, he said.St. Lukes stepped up to the

plate to finance significant changes to Freemansburg Avenue, taking on more infrastructure expense than was required to build the first phase of St. Lukes Anderson Campus, Zawarski contin-ued. Instead of only doing what was required, St. Lukes

agreed to the full build-out of Freemansburg, including the widening of the bridge, preferring to do it once upfront and to do it right.Due to the complexity of the

project, it took five years to develop a plan that would best meet the communitys needs now and far into the future, while meeting PennDOTs requirements and design regulations. St. Lukes worked with the Bethlehem Township engineers who designed the expansion of the road to the east and west of the bridge. St. Lukes pledged to be a

good partner with us and with PennDOT; they fulfilled that promise. Today, with the completion of Phase I of the Freemansburg expansion, we are seeing the evidence of this partnership, Zawarski concluded. The need to expand

Freemansburg was initiated by another major roadway development, according to Michael W. Rebert, PE, District Engineer, Engineer-ing District 5-0, Pennsylva-nia Department of Transpor-tation. In January 2002, the southern extension of Route 33 with I-78 was completed, which immediately opened up transportation along the major roadways and also the interchanges off Route 33, including Freemansburg Avenue. The Route 33 expan-sion also opened the door to economic development and job growth and access to health care as the Southmont Shopping Center opened as did St. Lukes Anderson Campus, he said. At that time, no one could

predict just how much addi-tional traffic we would expe-rience as a result of this 3-mile expansion to Route 33, and how it would ultimately impact Freemans-

burg Avenue. Today, more than 15,000 vehicles travel Freemansburg Avenue daily, and this region continues to experience growth, said Rebert. Transportation systems are

essential to the continued vitality of any region, easing traffic and providing access to essential services. Even before St. Lukes Anderson Campus was built, St. Lukes committed to significant improvements to Freemans-burg Avenue by entering into partnership with Bethlehem Township and with PennDOT to make improve-ments for today and for the future, continued Rebert.This road improvement

project includes the widening of the Freemansburg Bridge, owned by the Common-wealth, a project made neces-sary to avoid a traffic choke point at the bridge. St. Lukes has worked with the state to design and finance the bridge project, ultimately increasing the number of lanes from five to eight lanes. The bridge expansion will benefit all current and future development in the area, and also serve to improve traffic flow and access to services to area residents, including the newest Bethlehem Township residents moving into the luxury apartments at Madi-son Farms. The first phase of construc-

tion, completed last week, consisted of road widening west of the Freemansburg bridge to Farmersville Road. New traffic signals, drainage systems and ADA-approved sidewalks have been installed. All pole-mounted utilities were relocated underground, and more than twenty sink holes were repaired as part of the scope of the project. New landscape medians have improved the aesthetics of the site, while improved road signage has increased motorist safety, according to Rebert. The $13.1 million second

phase to rebuild the Freeman-sburg bridge and widen the on and off ramps began in May and will continue until December of 2016. This portion of the project was partially funded through combined state and federal grants totaling $6.1 million, with the remainder financed by St. Lukes. The $6 million final phase

of the project is currently under review with the Penn-sylvania Department of Transportation. The proposed plan, completely funded by St. Lukes, includes widening the road from the east side of the Freemansburg bridge to Kingsview Avenue and is slated to take a year, begin-ning December 2016.

Easton Hospital welcomes celebrity chef Anne Burrell to the State Theatre as part of the 5th annual Girls Night Out on October 28th. Girls Night Out is a health

fair and womens exposition with a variety of shopping vendors. Over the last few years, the event has had an average attendance of 700 women. This year, in honor of Easton Hospitals 125th Anniversary, the event has cooked up a new twist. The City of Easton has

become the culinary epicen-ter of the Lehigh Valley, says event organizer Janine Santee, community outreach coordinator at Easton Hospi-tal. Weve leveraged that reputation by bringing in a chef of Anne Burrells caliber and character. She should feel right at home in Easton. Ms. Burrell will present on

the Main Stage at the State Theatre at 7 p.m. Her show includes a question and answer portion and a cook-ing demo. She will be signing books after the show as well. Tickets will go on sale at the State Theatre box office for $26 on August 28th. The core elements from

Girls Night Out will remain intact despite the expansion of the event. In the Easton Hospital Gallery and Acopian Room at the State Theatre, beginning at 5 p.m., will be a free evening of physician interactions, well-ness information, culinary arts and shopping from over 60 local vendors. We should probably

change the name to Foodies Night Out, Santee says. There will be something there for everyone, not just the girls. There will be an emphasis

on vendors from the soon-to-open Easton Public Market. The downtown space, once occupied by the Weller Center, will be a regional destination, creating a downtown food district when partnered with the robust Easton Farmers Market. The new public market will feature a butcher, seafood counter, demonstration kitchen and several ready-to-eat vendors. We see this event as an

opportunity to introduce and showcase the vendors who

will be permanently based at the Easton Public Market to a crowd that cares about cooking, food preparation and local ingredients, says Megan McBride, manager of the Easton Farmers Market. Easton Hospital is a big

supporter of the downtown programming with its spon-sorships of the State Theatre, Downtown Gift Card and Easton Farmers Market, says John Zidansek. So it was a natural fit to hold our event at the State, bring in Anne Burrell and work with our market partners. We are excited about the continued revitalization of downtown with the new Easton Public Market. It is going to be a fun night for both men and women. The Girls Night Out event

is free and open to the public. It will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For information on spon-

sorships, program advertis-ing and vendor registration, contact Janine Santee at 610-250-4952. For tickets to Anne Burrell, contact the State Theatre box office at 610-252-3132 or visit www.statetheatre.org. Fees apply. This is not a State Theatre Production. State Theatre Member Benefits and Gift Cards do not apply.Easton Hospital is a 254-

bed acute care teaching hospital serving more than 300,000 residents in Northampton County and the five surrounding coun-ties in Pennsylvania and

New Jersey. Founded in 1890, the hospital is celebrating its 125th anni-versary in 2015. The hospital offers an active Emergency Department which sees more than 32,000 annual visits; a cardiac care program recog-nized as an accredited Chest Pain Center and one of 55 designated Heart Attack Receiving Centers in the country; a Center for Ortho-pedics, Joint and Spine which is accredited by the Joint Commission for both total-hip and total-knee replacement; a certified Primary Stroke Center; a Surgical Weight Loss program designated as an accredited center in Bariatric Surgery; and the Easton Regional Cancer Center which is a Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner. In addition, the hospital maintains two free-standing, fully-accredited residency training programs in surgery and internal medicine. For more information and a complete list of services offered at Easton Hospital, visit the hospitals website: www.easton-hospital.com.Anne Burrell with her

trademark spiky blond hair and pumped-up personality, Anne Burrell has worked at some of the top restaurants in New York, studied the culinary landscape and tradi-tions of Italy, battled along-side Mario Batali as his sous chef on Food Networks Iron Chef America and wrote a New York Times best-selling

cookbook.In Fall 2015, Anne will host

the debut series of Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition, where she mentors teams of celebrities who are in serious need of some cooking pointers. In addi-tion, Anne hosts Worst Cooks in America, a prime-time reality show where she leads a team of hopeless home cooks from around the country through culinary boot camp. The sixth season premiered in January 2015 and Anne went on to reclaim her victorious title as the seasons winner. Chef Wanteds third season premiered in August 2013 where Anne put top-notch chefs through the ultimate job interview as they strived to land the Executive Chef position in restaurants around the country. In her Food Network series, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, she eliminated the intimida-tion of restaurant dishes and revealed concise, easy-to-master techniques for the at-home cook. Anne also starred in her own right on Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs in Fall 2011.Anne published her first

cookbook, Cook Like a Rock Star, in 2011, which gives home cooks the confi-dence and support to be rock

stars in their own kitchens. Her cookbook earned a place on The New York Times Bestseller List. Annes second book, Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower was released in October 2013.Growing up in upstate New

York, Annes passion for food and cooking began at an early age. After obtaining an English and communica-tion degree from Canisius College in Buffalo, she pursued her interest in the restaurant business by enrolling in the Culinary Institute of America. Following graduation, she spent a year in Italy attend-ing the Italian Culinary Insti-tute for Foreigners while working at La Taverna del Lupo in Umbria and La Bottega del' 30, a 30-seat restaurant that offers only one seating a night in Tuscany. During this year, Anne grew to truly appreci-ate and understand the philosophy of Italian cuisine and culture, which left a lasting impact on her culinary point of view.Upon her arrival in New

York City, Anne was hired as a sous chef at Felidia Restau-rant, working with Lidia Bastianich. She then served as a chef at Savoy where she cooked over an open wood

fire and created flavorful Medi terranean- inspired menus. Here Anne devel-oped her personal culinary style: a real love of rustic food made with pure and simple ingredients with intense flavors.Anne took the opportunity

to spread her culinary knowledge and passion as a teacher at the Institute of Culinary Education. Shortly after, she joined the Batali-Bastianich empire by accept-ing a job at Italian Wine Merchants. The job also included salumi production and traveling to off-site events with Mario Batali. When Mario became one of Food Networks esteemed Iron Chefs, he knew exactly who to enlist as his sous chef: the talented and dynamic Anne Burrell.As the executive chef at

New York hot spot Centro Vinoteca from its opening in July 2007 through Septem-ber 2008, Anne served up her "creative-authentic" Italian menu of small plates (piccolini), antipasti, pastas and main courses accented by her trademark bold, pure flavors.Burrell feels fortunate to

have found a field that satis-fies her so completely. "I feel so lucky that I have found my true passion in life."

Diane Pratt will be featuring new photography in Septem-ber at Gallery 23, located at 23 Main Street, in Blairstown, NJ, including images of sunsets from various locations. Dianes fine art images include color landscape and garden photo-graphs, black and white photographs and selectively hand-painted black and white photographs. She creates images utilizing many differ-ent photographic processes showing a time and place often missed in our busy lives.My love of nature, architec-

ture and gardens is reflected throughout my work, Diane states. I become inspired by the fleeting moments in the light on my surroundings whereever I travel and aspire to show the beauty that I see.Dianes new collection of

sunset images are printed on metal using a process called dye sublimation, in which the dyes are infused into the surface of a sheet of alumi-num. The photographs have a high contrast and show great detail with deep blacks and bright whites.Come to the gallery and see

how this quality affects the sunset rippling across the waters of the St. Lawrence River or how the sun peaks out from behind the saguaro cactus in Arizona.

Diane has been photograph-ing for over 30 years and has had work published in many calendars, books and maga-zines. She is a founding member of Gallery 23, Inc. Diane also makes cards for

any occasion from her images that are sold at Gallery 23.Sheila Grodsky approaches

each painting as an opportu-nity to express her feelings about nature through the means of color, form, texture, line, and light. She enjoys aquamedia because of its versatility, working with trans-parent watercolor, gouache, ink, and acrylics on both paper and canvas. She is more inter-ested in depicting an intuitive version of the world rather than the nostalgic rendering of subject manner in traditional art. However, elements of nature emerge in her work in the form of landscapes, florals, and combinations of both. She is willing to use any technique that is requited to achieve the results she seeks.

Grodsky's work has been represented in many state and national exhibitions including the NJ Watercolor Society, the Salmagundi Club, The National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic, The American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society. She recently received an award for a watercolor at the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club in New York and has been honored with full mem-bership in that organization. Sheila is also a signature member of the Pastel Society of America.An active member of Gallery

23 and past president for nine years, Sheila has also been published in several North Light Books, which are Creative Watercolor, The Best of Watercolor, Painting Color, and A Walk Through Abstrac-tion.An artist reception will be

held at the gallery on Satur-day, September 12th from 12pm to 4pm for Diane and

Sheila.For more information, call

908-362-6865

(NAPSI)Theres no better time than now to make the most out of your outdoor living space before the cool months arrive. Creating an outdoor haven is easier to achieve than you think thanks to a few expert tips. These simple steps will not only extend the life of your deck, but also make it the talk of the neighborhood for the rest of the summer and beyond.1. Deck-spiration: Before

tackling the transformation, think about how you plan to utilize your outdoor living space. Will you be mostly cooking, dining and enter-taining al fresco? Or will your deck be a haven to unwind and relax? Maybe it will be a combination of both? No matter what you dream up, its best to pull references from magazines, DIY blogs, or even Pinterest to help guide your inspiration process.2. Time to Beautify: Tough

weather elements such as direct sunlight, rain, snow and everyday wear can dull the appearance and integrity of your deck. One of the best ways to liven up your outdoor space is with a fresh coat of beautiful, color-rich exterior wood stain. When choosing your wood stain or sealant, consider a product that also includes waterproofing and UV damage protection benefits like Thompsons WaterSeals new Penetrating Timber Oil. This premium product nourishes and beauti-fies with a unique triple blend of fast-absorbing oils designed to provide coverage with just one coat.3. Deck-orate & Enjoy:

Once the stain or sealant has been applied, its time to furnish and personalize your deck with accessories that are functional and design friendly. Select comfortable and eye-catching amenities that are dual purpose, such as

wicker pieces or end tables that can double as pull-up seating. Accent pillows are an easy way to add a pop of color and personality to an otherwise neutral space. If your deck is in direct sunlight, consider blocking the blazing rays by creating a shady oasis with an all-weather fabric umbrella or sunshade in a fun, stylish pattern.Lastly, dress up the stairs or

entryway of your deck by lining the edges with wood planters in various sizes filled with flowers, fresh herbs or other garden fare in vibrant colors and textures to add visual interest. HGTV/DIY Network star Jeff Wilson recommends sealing planter boxes with Thompsons WaterSeal Waterproofing Wood ProtectorClear Aerosol to help maintain woods natural color and protect your pieces from water damage.Comfort and visual appeal

are equal partners with deck-orating; youre more

likely to spend time outdoors if you can relax, entertain and dine in style. No matter what outdoor activities appeal to you most, the Thompsons WaterSeal website is a great place to start for inspira-tional ideas and product application tips to make the most of your outdoor living space this summer and for years to come.Thompsons WaterSeal

Penetrating Timber Oil and Thompsons WaterSeal Waterproofing Wood ProtectorClear Aerosol are sold nationwide at The Home Depot.Thompsons WaterSeal

Penetrating Timber Oil is available in five colors: Natural, Pecan, Walnut, Redwood and Teak.For further facts, tips and

inspiration for your back-yard deck, visit www.thompsonswaterseal.com. (Click through to Face-book, YouTube and Pinter-est for even more creative deck ideas!)

Hello, fellow readers!Last week Queen Anne

created quite a buzz, and this week we have the Bachelor to talk about - Bachelor Buttons, Centaurea cyanus, also known as cornflower. Theyre an old fashioned flower that have beautified gardens for centuries, first in Europe just as Queen Annes Lace, Daucus carota. They grow well in full sun and are easy keepers. In folklore, cornflowers

were worn by young men in love. If the flower faded too quickly it was a sign that the mans love was not returned. Just like the reality show,

theres a new bachelor every year. Bachelor Buttons are an annual plant rather than a perennial, which comes back year after year. He self-seeds vigorously (figures) and grows 16 to 35 inches tall with grey-green branched stems. The flowers are about an inch and half and intense blue. In the past he often grew as

a weed in crop fields, hence the name cornflower. So is he a weed or wildflower? The same question we asked of Queen Annes Lace. In Europe hes now endan-

gered by agricultural intensi-fication, largely due to the overuse of herbicide destroy-ing his native habitat. Their conservation organization, Plantlife, named him one of 101 species to bring back from the brink. On the other hand, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contami-nant in crop seeds, Bachelor Buttons have naturalized in many parts of the world. Hes now found wild in every state except Alaska and is consid-ered weedy or invasive by some authorities.Rodales Organic Life

published an article Flowers For Borders that talks about controlling pests by planting the 11 best flowers for borders that will draw beneficial insects into your garden. Guess what; the Bachelor was the first on their list to attract ladybugs, lacewings, ground beetles and other insects that feed on pests. As a bonus, many of the beneficial bugs will also pollinate crops increasing yields. The article explains that Bachelor Buttons have extrafloral nectaries, which means his leaves release nectar even when the flowers are not in bloom. So what about Queen Anne

hooking up with the Bach-elor? Ive often seen them comingling along the road. You wild thing! Garden Dilemmas? askmarystone.com

House Education Commit-tee Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York) today called on

Gov. Tom Wolf to reverse course on his administrations attempt to

unilaterally rewrite and dictate the charter school funding formula in the Chester Upland School District. On Tuesday August 18th,

Wolf asked a Delaware County judge to approve an amended recovery plan written by the Wolf adminis-tration that would result in drastic reductions in the payments that Chester Upland sends to charter schools, even though a court-approved recovery plan is already in place. Saylor issued the following

statement: The facts are that Chester

Upland was in dire financial straits due to its own misman-agement years before charter schools even appeared in the district. Wolfs ill-advised

legal maneuver merely attempts to balance the school districts historic financial mismanagement on the backs of children and parents trying to obtain a better education in charter schools, and would allow that mismanagement to continue. Clearly, the administration is

exceeding its statutory author-ity by attempting to impose a new charter funding mecha-nism on charter schools serving the Chester Upland School District and in so doing, attempting to usurp the authority of the General Assembly. The House passed House Bill 530, which is pending in the Senate, and that bill contains comprehensive charter school reform, includ-ing the establishment of a

charter school funding com-mission to conduct a thorough review of charter school fund-ing statewide. Instead of working with the

General Assembly to properly address charter school funding statewide in a holistic manner, Wolf has chosen to ignore the current Chester Upland recov-ery plan, which required the school district to implement specific cost-saving actions which the district has failed thus far to implement including rightsizing the district. By placing the blame for Chester Uplands financial woes on the charter schools serving children living in the district, the administration is not holding the district accountable for its own finan-cial mismanagement.

A survey recently conducted by the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Com-munities, a program of Prevention Connections, clearly indicates that there is a growing concern over alcohol and drug abuse in Warren County, NJ.An informal survey was

administered by Prevention Connections, a program of the Family Guidance Center of Warren County, at this year's National Night Out event in Washington Town-ship in early August. The survey was intended to assess the attitudes, beliefs and concerns pertaining to alcohol and drug use held by parents of youth in Washing-ton Township, Washington Borough and surrounding communities.The results indicated that

there are three prevailing concerns held by the parents of the youth in the commu-nity. Of the 45 parents surveyed, 23 percent stated that teenage drug use is the leading concern for young people. Twenty percent of parents believe that bullying is the second most pressing

issue and 16 percent report that teenage alcohol use is the third most pressing issue today.At the same time, the

survey revealed that 62 percent of parents state that they are unaware of the extent to which alcohol and drugs are present within the schools and the community. Based on these results, the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities will be hosting Town Hall meetings in late September and Octo-ber to provide families with the opportunity to voice their concerns and to learn about the work being done to address these concerns and ways in which the com-munity can be involved as part of the solution. Prevention Connections,

through the efforts of the staff and volunteer members of the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities, work diligently with the assistance of community agencies, law enforcement and school personnel to address youth-related concerns, increase commu-nity awareness, provide drug

and alcohol education and create a safer school and community environment for our youth. The Town Hall meetings will provide fami-lies with an understanding of these behind the scenes efforts being made to influ-ence positive changes. Dates and locations for these meetings will be made avail-able shortly and posted online at www.preventionconnections nj.org. These issues are not found

just in cities, said Diane Bonelli, Program Director for Prevention Connections. It's not just some other kid. It's our neighbors and friends' kids. We have to acknowledge that it is happening right here, right now.Drug and alcohol abuse

among our youth is not going to somehow just disappear, added the Coalition's Coordinator, MaryJo Harris. It's a rising epidemic and we need to face the problem head-on. To get more information or

to find out how you can get involved, call 908-223-1985

and ask for either Diane Bonelli or MaryJo Harris. You can also email Project Assistant Kim Spangelberg at kspangenberg @fgcwc.org

The state House today unanimously passed House Resolution 448, authored by state Rep. Marcia Hahn (R-Nazareth). The legislation recognizes the 150th anni-versary of the borough of Chapman in Northampton County.Chapmans great history

dates back to William Chapmans arrival from Cornwall County, England, in 1842, said Hahn. His legacy lives on today in many of the boroughs homes, which are now occu-pied by descendants of the original Chapman Slate Company workers.William Chapman

purchased land in 1850 where the borough named after him now sits. He

formed the Chapman Slate Company and created an accompanying small town in which his employees could live, work and raise a family. Chapman Borough was subsequently incorpo-rated on October 25th, 1865.Slate from the business was

used in the construction of state capitol buildings in New York and Connecticut. Chapman Slate Quarries closed its doors in 1959, but the homes that surrounded the business remain standing today. The borough officially

recognized its 150th anni-versary on August 29th, with a celebration at the borough hall.

The Coalition is a program of the Family Guidance Center under the direction of Prevention Connections. For more information on preven-tion programs offered through Prevention Connec-tions contact Supervisor

Diane Bonelli at 908-223-1985. Funding for the program is made available through the Division of Mental Health and Addic-tion Services and the Drug Free Communities Support grant.