Pa 022515

By Maria CascarioValentines Day was

the reason for a special celebration held at the Chandler Estate IV in Wind Gap on February 13th.Relatives as well as

friends of residents and tenants were invited to an open house, which featured wine tasting, cheese sampling and a perennial favorite on this holiday, chocolate

covered strawberries. We planned this

event to be both elegant and fun, said Amber Behn, Director of Activities.Jennifer Schultz,

flutist, played a selection of love songs, which added to the meaning of the holiday celebration. Jennifer is affiliated with Compassionate Care Hospice.

The social room was decorated with pinkhearts, balloons, and wine bottle cutoutssymbolizing theholiday. I feel that the event

was a complete success, Amber said.The responses from those who attended wereo v e r w h e l m i n g l ypositive. They said theycant wait to have it again next year!

Congratulations to Bangor's Reece Jones and Michael Martino. They lead the list of Playoff Players of the Night for February 14th, as they led Bangor to the Colonial League regular season championship.The Pocono Garden

Club will be offering a car pool trip to the Sussex County Spring-fest Garden Show, in Augusta, New Jersey, on March 12th. For more information, contact club president Linda Bender at 570-977-6131 or email non [email protected] regis-

tration for Plainfield Elementary School in the Pen Argyl Area School District will be held April 28th through 30th. To make an appointment for registration, call 610-746-4436 between 9am and 3:15pm on March 9th. The Pen Argyl High

School Class of 1965 is planning their 50th reunion. The class is in need of addresses for Thomas Caponigro, Kim Edwards, Brenda Lock-hart Becker, Jody Miller, Linda Smith, Thomas Snyder, Richard Walizer, Walter Weaver, Gary

Wilson and Carol Werner Miller. If you have any information about them, please contact Judy Piper at 610-863-6326 or judith [email protected] Rogers is

asking for prayers for Jeff Pritchard. Cards can be sent to Jeff at 62 N. 8th St., Bangor, PA 18013 or Temple University Hospital c/o Jeff Pritchard, 3401 N. Broad St., 2nd Floor CICU Room 232, Phila-delphia, PA 19140.Hopesprings Com-

munity of Faith, a non-denominational Christian fellowship serving the Slate Belt and beyond, is welcoming you to join them for coffee at 10:15am and gather-ing at 10:30am on Sundays. Visit www. hopespringscommunity.org for more informa-tion, upcoming events, links and podcasts.Leck Veterinary

Hospital is in need of blanket donations to help pets in need.Please drop off dona-tions to 115 West Penn-sylvania Avenue, Rt. 512 in Pen Argyl.The First United

Methodist Church of Bangor will be holding a Knitting/Crochet Circle the second and third Wednesdays of every month at 6pm and the third Sunday of every month at

12:15pm. For more information, contact Cecily at carcher [email protected] at 123

Broadway in Bangor, the Slate Belt Preg-nancy Support Services is re-tooling to provide a better experi-ence for pregnant women and their fami-lies. They are currently virtual, but still avail-able to help and can be reached through Face-book or by calling Life Choices at 888-749-4772.Hope UCC Food

Pantry is in great need of donations. Items include any kind of drinks (in plastic bottles) or drink mixes, such as Kool-aid, lemonade and iced tea; and all canned fruits and canned meats (ham, tuna, chicken, spam, sardines, canned stew, chili). All dona-tions can be dropped off Monday through Thurs-day, 8am to 1pm. All monetary donations may be paid to Hope United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 425, Wind Gap, PA 18091.Happy Birthday

wishes are sent to Josh Kresge, February 26th; Shawn Bartilocci, Ethan Lowry and Jeff Evanko, February 27th; Scott Rider, Nick Ponnett and Jim DeSante, February 28th; Lisa Meixsell, February 29th; Sara Giroux and

Colin Beaumont; March 1st; Amber Morris, March 2nd; Sara Weist, March 3rd; and Josh Riley, March 4th.We love hearing from

you! Send us your birthdays, anniversa-

ries, birth announce-ments and other tidbitsof information to:

The PRESS1 Broadway

Bangor, PA 18013thepressmail@

gmail.comLike Us on Facebook!

Adult Fiction: Gerrit-sen, Tess: Die Again; Hannah, Kristin: The Nightingale; Hawkins, Paula: The Girl On The Train; Hoag, Tami: Cold Cold Heart; Neggers, Carla: Echo Lake; Patterson, James: Private India; Private Vegas; Walton, Jo: The Just City; Woods. Stuart: Insatiable Appetites. Young Adult Fiction:

Forman, Gayle: I WasHere; Young, Moira: Blood Red Road. Audio Books Fiction:

Coben, Harlan: LongLost; Follett, Ken: LieDown With Lions;White, Stephen: Privi-leged Information. DVDs: American

Beauty; The Darjeeling Limited; Gone Girl; TheGraduate; Rushmore; Shane.

The Slater Family Network is offering a $2,000 scholarship for a graduating Bangor Area High School senior who plans to attend a trade/vocational school or college. The scholar-ship is awarded to a student who is involved in community service. Applications are in the high school guidence office, Slater Family Network office or on the school districts website under SFN.Also available is the

$1,000 912 scholar-ship in memory of

Denny Strouse, offered by family and friends through the Slater Family Network. Appli-cations are in the high school guidance office, Slater Family Network office or on the school districts website under SFN. Both applications are

due in the Slater Family Network office no later than Friday, May 1st. If you have any questions, call the office at 610-599-7019.The Slater Family

Network would also like to announce their

9th annual silent auction scheduled for Saturday, March 7th at Five Points Elementary School. The profit from this event will benefit local families in need. The event begins at 10am for browsing and placement of tickets. The tickets will be pulled at noon. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase. There are 80 themed

baskets and premium items such as gift gards, 48 flat screen TV, BluRay player, two

bikes, Vera Bradley and Coach handbags, Cole-man Weather Master 8-person tent and accesso-ries, Great Northern standing popcorn machine, Fire HD 7 tablet and more. Family admission is

$12, which includes 26 tickets. Tickets for premium prizes will be available for separate purchase.Call the Slate Family

Network office at 610-

599-7019 for more information or if you

would like to make aprize donation.

A group of talented local musicians invite you to celebrate St. Patricks Day early this year on March 14th with Peaceful Closures Shamrock N Roll. Pies to Die For Caf is

honored to be the title sponsor for this event, which is undoubtably going to be a hit. Doors open at 5:30pm

with live music from 6pm until midnight. The event will be held at East Bangor Fire Company, 30 East Central Avenue in East Bangor.The line-up starts with

Still Laughing at 6pm followed by Mail Order Brides and finishing off the night with the sensa-tional Peaceful Closure.There will also be

delicious food availble for purchase and well as plenty of family friendly activities such as face painting, meet

our leprechaun, and door prizes and give-aways.In addition to some

great door prizes, there will also be a Celtic tattoo contest. The person with the best ink will recieve a gift certifi-cate to Sacred Art Tattoo and Body Piercing in Nazareth. To top it all off, after

midnight there will be a 21 and older VIP party, band meet and greet with beer pong and more.Tickets are available

exclusively at Pies To Die For Caf, located at

2 East PennsylvaniaAvenue in Pen Argyl,through a member of Peaceful Closure (DonnJacoby, Cody Temple-ton, Rick Snyder,Melissa Devery or Josh Chromiak), or at thedoor. You can messagethem on the PeacefulClosure Facebook fanpage and arrangementswill be made for ticketpickup. Tickets are $5per person; childrenunder 10 are free. Dont miss your chance

to support some amaz-ing local talent whilehaving an unforgettablenight!

Give It Up! for Lent: February 25th, 7pm. East Bangor United Methodist Com-munity Church. Lenten study using Dottie E s c o b e d o - F r a n k s work, Give it Up! Study raises up the distractions that are part of 21st century living. Sessions Mon. evenings, 7pm & Wed. mornings, 10am. FMI, call 610-588-4453 or visit www. ebumc.org.

Safe Haven Dog Adoption Day: March 1st, 11am-3pm. Rt. 209, Brodheadsville. FMI visit www.Safe HavenPa.org, email [email protected] or

visit Facebook.

D e l a w a r e - L e h i g h Amateur Radio Club Meeting: March 5th, 7:30pm. Bethlehem Twp. Community Center, 2900 Farmers-ville Rd., Bethlehem. Program: Setting Up a Contest Station Jon/N3JI. Members & interested general public welcome. FMI, visit dlarc.org or call 610-432-8286.

Peaceful Closures Shamrock n Roll Party: March 14th, 6pm. E. Bangor Volun-teer Fire Co., Central Ave., E. Bangor. Music & give aways. Fees apply, children under 10 free. For tickets, contact Pies to Die For in Pen Argyl or a band

member. FMI, visit the Peaceful Closure band page on Facebook.

Safe Haven Pet Rescue Adoption Day: March 15th, 11am-3pm. Rt. 209, Brodheadsville. FMI, visit www. SafeHavenPa.org or email SafeHaven @epix.net.

Safe Haven Dog Rescue Meeting: March 17th, 6:30pm. Rt. 209, Kresgeville. FMI, visit www. SafeHavenPa.org or email SafeHaven @epix.net & like them Facebook.

Boomer's Angels Rescue Meet & Greet: March 21st, 8am. 301 Resort Rd., Tanners-ville. FMI, visit www. boomersangels.com or email boomersangels @gmail.com

Bingo for Repairs to Church: March 28th, food at 5:30pm, bingo at 7pm. Salem UCC of Moorestown, 2218 Community Dr., Bath. Fees apply.

Lancaster Bus Trip to see MOSES: March 28th; leaving Five Points Elementary at 8am, show at 11am. Returning home approx. 7pm. Relay for Life fundraiser. Lunch at Shady Maple Smorgas-bord. Reserve tickets ASAP. Reservations & cancellations by March

4th, unless your ticket isresold. FMI, call 484-375-5161, 610-417-5550 or 610-588-7786.

Boomer's AngelsRescue Meet & Greet:March 29th, 11am-2pm. Rt. 209 Brod-headsville. FMI, visitboomersangels.com oremail [email protected]

Pet Pictures w/ SafeHaven Easter Bunny:March 29th, 11am-5pm. Sit, Stay N Play,1501 N. 5th Street,Stroudsburg. FMI, visitSafeHavenPa.org oremail [email protected].

Monroe AnimalLeague Monthly Meet-ing: March 31st, 7pm.Eastern Monroe Co.Library, Rt. 611/N. 9thSt., Stroudsburg. FMI,visit www.monroe-nimals.org, www.facebook.com/monroeanimal.league, or call theoffice 10am-2pm Tues-Fri, at 570-421-7775 orall other times at 570-476-8444.

Krusaderz 4 A KureTricky Tray: April11th, 11am. PortlandHook & Ladder Co.,Portland. Drawings startat 1pm. All proceeds goto the American CancerSociety via Slate BeltRelay For Life.

(NAPSI)There are some 10,000 Americans turning 65 each day, with many joining the growing pool of Medi-care enrollees trying to control their health care costs. And among the worries is how best to afford and manage what for some can be a not-so-simple prescription drug regimen.When you consider

that a recent survey showed more than one-third of Medicare beneficiaries surveyed are concerned about prescription drug costs, and one in five say theyve made sacrifices, such as delaying filling a prescription or skipping doses to help manage medication costs, the importance of seniors knowing how to manage prescription drug costs can be critical to managing their health.Not Too Late To Save:

Being able to make ends meet doesnt have to conflict with taking

medications correctly and on schedule. What many seniors with Medicare may not know is that, depending on how their insurance plan is designed, something as simple as where their prescriptions are filled can have a significant impact on how much they pay. In fact, some are able to identify savings of hundreds of dollars in co-pays by filling their prescrip-

tions at a pharmacy thats within their plans preferred pharmacy network.In addition, some

seniors may think that with the Medicare open enrollment period over, the opportunity to save on prescription drug costs is over, toobut thats not the case. Medicare beneficiaries can switch pharmacies at any time to access lower-cost medications;

they just have to know where to start.Ask A Pharmacist: The

quickest and easiest way to explore cost savings is for seniors to ask their local pharmacist to provide prescription drug cost estimates based on their selected plan. Walgreens, for example, is in the network of hundreds of Medicare prescription drug plans and partici-pates in the preferred networks of nine of the largest national Part D sponsors. These networks are specifi-cally designed to offer ways to save on medica-tions, and pharmacists can review potential cost-saving options for customers, which could include identifying a lower-cost generic medication option instead of brand name medications.Walgreens pharmacists

can also offer advice on

medications and help identify any potential harmful drug interac-tions. Community phar-macists also provide a wide range of impor-tant, preventive health care services, including immunizations, health testing, and helping patients manage their prescription drug regimenand are working more closely with physicians and other providers than ever before.A Convenient: (And

Cost-Effective) OptionAll this can be done

under one roof at your local pharmacy; all seniors need to do is stop by. Online resources such as Walgreens.com/Medicare offer additional infor-mation on specific cost savings that may be available to Medicare beneficiaries concerned about prescription drug costs.

( N A P S I ) T h e National Council on Aging reports that falls are the leading cause of injuries for those 65 years of age and over. In fact, every 14 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency depart-ment for a fall-related injurybut you can protect yourself.People have always

assumed falls are inevi-table with aging, but we now know many falls are preventable through simple lifestyle

changes, such as increased levels of physical activity, said Robert Flippo, CEO of MobileHelp, a company that makes mobile Personal Emergency Response Systems (M-PERS). The systems give active seniors expe-dited emergency help in case of a fall.He acknowledged

knowing how much exercise to add to your day can be a challenge. To help seniors monitor their exercise progress,

the company has intro-duced a new activity-tracking application. The application uses the components of the companys existing M- PERS solution.This means customers

and caregivers can take advantage of the new health-focused benefits without having to invest in extra technology devices or learn how to use new software.To learn more, visit

mobilehelp.com or call 1-800-761- 9185.

Joshua Onia, Network Director of Simulation, St. Lukes University Health Network, recently earned certifi-cation as a Healthcare Simulation Operation Specialist (CHSOS) by the Society for Simula-tion in Healthcare (SSH). Josh is among the first twenty-one recipients worldwide to earn this certification. We are proud to have

the only certified simu-lation director in the region at St. Lukes to have reached this level of experience and professionalism, said Joel C. Rosenfeld, MD, MEd, FACS, Chief Academic Officer, St. Lukes University Health Network and Senior Associate Dean, Temple University School of Medicine. Josh provides the medical students at The Medical School of Temple University/St. Lukes University Health Network with high-level simulation exercises that mirror real-life experiences. We are very fortunate to have Joshs expertise in emergency medicine and simulation that he brings to the medical, nursing and allied health students as well as the residents and fellows training at St. Lukes.As the St. Lukes

Network Director of Simulation Services for the past year, Josh has centralized the manage-ment and coordination

of clinical simulation activities across the network. He has been with St. Lukes Univer-sity Health Network since 2007, most recently serving as the Simulation & Standard-ized Patient Coordinator in the The Medical School of Temple University/St. Lukes University Health Network since 2011. Josh also serves as a Flight Paramedic with PennSTAR Flight Program since 2006 and has been a paramedic since 1998. Josh received his bachelors degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Health-

care Management from Muhlenberg College and completed his Masters Degree in Instructional Technology from Saint Josephs University. He is a resident of Hanover Township.The growing field of

simulation operations is the result of the increas-ing demands for skills, knowledge and abilities to meet the operational needs of busy simulation centers and labs, said H. Michael Young, CHSE, Chair of the CHSOS Subcommittee. The CHSOS communicates to current and future employers that they have the best that this field is offering to them. These

first individuals who have received this distinction have demon-strated the knowledge and skills required to support and deliver quality healthcare simu-lations. CHSOS certification

was designed to support and recognize these key individuals from all over the world, said Young. For more infor-mation about this new certification, which is now available to all eligible applicants, can be found at www. ssih.org/Certification/CHSOS. For additional questions, please contact Andrew Spain at [email protected].

By Jennifer LivelyDid you know that

misuse of common over-the-counter drugs containing acetamino-phen, like Tylenol, may increase your risk of developing acetamino-phen poisoning? Factors include: Heavy alcohol use Using multiple medi-

cines that contain acetaminophen Suicidal behaviorAt first, a person with

acetaminophen poison-ing may have no symp-toms. When symptoms develop, they can include:

Nausea Vomiting Symptoms of liver

failure It is always best not to

consume alcoholic beverages when taking any medication. If you recognize any of

these symptoms and you know you have misused acetaminophen or alcohol see your primary care physician ASAP. If you have any

concerns regarding alcohol or drug use or misuse feel free to stop by A Clean Slate, Bangor's only recovery center.

The Pocono Garden Club will be offering a special car pool trip to the Sussex County Springfest Garden Show in Augusta, New Jersey, on Thursday, March 12th.The Garden Show for

Gardeners offers inspiring and educa-tional displays for visitors to collect ideas for their own gardens. Speakers and demon-

strations are included in the admission fee.Club members are

encouraged to organize their own car pool. More information and directions will be avail-able.For more information

on the Pocono Garden Club, contact club presi-dent Linda Bender at 570-977-6131 or [email protected].

(NAPSI)Heres an eye-opening statistic: According to the National Institutes of Health, adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night, but nearly 30 percent are getting six or less.Five Steps To Better

SleepIf youre ever among

them, consider these five tips:1. Try to go to bed at

the same time each night and rise at the same time each morn-ing.2. Avoid large meals

before bed.3. Avoid caffeine and

alcohol close to bedtime.4. Avoid nicotine.5. Get a mattress with

the right degree of firm-ness for you.For example, a soft

mattress is for sleepers who prefer to feel it hug them in a supportive embrace but not let them sink in too much.Choose soft if you: Sleep on your side

and sometimes your back Like to feel envel-

oped in your bed and linens Have trouble with

your arms falling asleep before you do.The standard comfort

level used in the finest hotels is luxury firm. This balances cushion-ing and contouring support to ensure proper spinal alignment.Choose luxury firm if

you: Sleep on your side,

back or stomach Switch sleeping

positions often in the night.Firm is for sleepers

who prefer an initial plushness quickly followed by firm support.Choose firm if you: Sleep on your back or

stomach Prefer a mattress that

you float on top of instead of sink into Have been told by

your doctor to sleep on a firm mattress.Finding A Quality

MattressWhatever degree of

firmness you like, you want your mattress to be top quality. Look for higher density of nontoxic foams and dual innerspring construction, which prevents sagging. In the case of memory foam mattresses, look for higher weight and density and nontoxic foams. Focus only on a memory foam mattress that allows for the most

efficient air circulation within the mattress. Memory foam mattresses are a rising choice with consumers, as they offer the elimina-tion of pressure points or discomfort that can contribute to the toss-ing and turning at night to find a comfortable sleep position. A well-handcrafted memory foam mattress also eliminates motion transfer, the annoying transfer of motion from one side of the bed to the other that can come from sleeping next to a restless sleeper.Also look for coil-on-

coil construction. The lower coil unit should offer a connected, hourglass-shaped, steel support base while the top coil unit features an individually wrapped, pocketed coil system that contours and responds to your body, eliminating most motion transfer.As for where to get a

good mattress, a study by the Research Triangle Institute may help. It found many people feel rushed by in-store salespeople. As

a result, online mattress purchasing is on the rise.If you go that route,

look for a mattress thats delivered and set up in your home. A boxed compressed mattress may not recover to full size and, while some manufacturers fold mattresses for home delivery, a high-quality mattress should not be able to be rolled up. Make sure the manufac-turer uses top-quality foams and that the com-pany is mandated to follow proper guide-lines. Nonmandated foams from other coun-tries can contain danger-ous carcinogens, linked to a variety of health concerns.Make sure the manu-

facturer offers no restocking fees and a true return policy where you can get a full and prompt refund of the purchase price.The largest online

only luxury mattress firm, Saatva (which means truth) devel-ops, manufactures and distributes an impres-sive line of ultrapre-mium mattresses in America with what many consumers have called unparalleled price, performance and serviceand it has a 15-year warranty.The companys unique

online-only business model means it can offer highly reduced prices for luxury mattresses and help customers with true comparison shop-ping, providing easy-to-read, objective measures on a website designed for easy navi-gation: www. saatvamattress.com.

Hello, fellow readers! I learned from Patti of

Little Big Farm in Blairstown, New Jersey, that she started seeds in early February, which peaked my curiosity; actually it made me green with envy. Aren't we all longing for green? The rule of thumb is

eight weeks before the last frost date--which is May 19th here--is the time to start seeds indoors, but Patti wants to encourage early blooms, hence her early start. She kindly offered the following tips.Rather than starting

seeds in planting trays with cells, Patti uses only the trays that are typically under annual flats. Thoroughly clean recycled trays with bleach mixed with water as seedlings are susceptible to disease. Its important to use seed starting soil, which is light in weight and holds moisture well. Traditional potting soil compacts easily and makes it hard for seeds to sprout. She makes six furrows, narrow trench-like depressions, crosswise along the tray. Seed packages tell you how deep to sow seeds and how long they will take to flower

or produce fruit so you can calculate when to start seeds to meet your objectives. You dont need light to

germinate seeds, but you do need warmth and moisture. Patti recom-mends investing in heat mats to assure success-ful propagation and healthy roots. Theyre hard to find in stores, but easily available online. Once seeds sprout they

then need light, which is best from above. Patti suggests florescent or grow lights on chains suspended an inch above the plants; elevating them as plants grow. If the light source is too far away or from a window, plants will stretch toward the light and grow leggy. Also, baby plants need about 14 hours of light per day so daylight this time of the year is not long enough. Once her seeds sprout

and grow a bit, Patti transplants them. True her technique of furrows to transplant is an added step, but it saves space in terms of propagation as not all seeds germi-nate. Pattis nifty tip on checking the rate of germination is to wrap five to 10 seeds in a wet paper towel and in 24 hours viable seeds will start to open and show green. To think in just one day you can have a tiny green fix! Garden dilemmas?askmarystone.com Please visit me at the

upcoming Springfest Garden Show at the Sussex County Fair Grounds in Augusta, NJ! Ill be there every day and on Thursday, March 12th at 2pm, my colleague Marty Carson and I will give a talk on Deer Resistant Plants You May Not Know About. Look forward to meeting you there!

Ciao Amici ,With the Lenten

Season upon us and eating meatless dinners,

besides the fish eggplant, meatless pasta dishes, Grandmom would also make lentils. The lentil [lens culina-ris] comes from an annual plant of the legume family, known for its lens-shaped seeds. Lens is the Latin name for lentil. Lentils have been part of the human diet since aceramic [before pottery]. Lentils go a long ways back: It's known that they were a staple food in Ancient Egypt and lentils are mentioned many times in the Hebrew Bible. Like many other pleas-

ant foods the Rosetans brought with them were lentils. They were one of many staples they had and by eating them they reaped their health benefits including lower cholesterol, heart health, digestive health, stabi-lized blood sugar, good protein, increases energy and weight loss. Grandmom would start

by sauting onions, celery, carrots and garlic in olive oil then add the lentils and water about an hour later we would gather around the table with bread and enjoy a dish that people from around the world

depended on for their daily substance for thou-sands of years. In Italy, in addition to playing an important role in soups and other first course dishes, lentils are a tradi-tional accompaniment for zampone,[stuffed pigs feet] cotechino, which is a fresh sausage made from pork, fatback, and pork rind, and other pork sausages, and are also a required item on the New Year's Eve [or Day] menu; their shape brings to mind tiny coins and people eat them in the hope that they won't want for cash during the

rest of the year.La persona che

conosce una cosa, e lo sa meglio di chiunque altro, anche se solo l'arte di innalzare le lenticchie, riceve la corona meriti. Se egli solleva tutte le sue ener-gie a tal fine, egli un benefattore dell'umanit e la sua premiata come tali."The person who

knows one thing and does it better than anyone else, even if it only be the art of raising lentils, receives the crown he merits. If he raises all his energy to that end, he is a benefac-tor of mankind and its rewarded as such.Og Mandino quotes

(American Essayist and Psychologist, 1923-1996)Con cordiali saluti, Joe My book, Growing up

in the Butcher Shop is available at the shop or at www.JDeFrancoand Daughters.com. To receive menu specials and our newsletter, join our mailing list on our web page, click mailing list and enter your e-mail. Send us your Roseto stories, recipes and comments to [email protected] or call 610-588-6991. Our store hours are 7am to 7pm, seven days a week with catering available anytime or by appoint-ment.

The Department of Environmental Protec-tion (DEP) recently announced a newly formed Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory

Committee (COGAC) to increase transpar-ency and communica-tion about regulating the conventional oil and gas drilling industry.

Creating this advi-sory committee will increase dialogue between DEP and the regulated community as well as broaden the

interests we hear from, Acting DEP Secretary John Quigley said. Improving communi-cation between all stake holders and our depart-

ment will foster stron-ger environmental safeguards in the future.COGAC will advise

DEP on matters related to conventional oil and gas extraction practices and regulations and will be structured similarly to DEPs existing Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board.Nominations are being

accepted for COGAC. Persons interested in nominating a commit-tee member should send their full name, title,

affiliation, address,e-mail, and telephonenumber and theirnominees resume toTodd Wallace of theOffice of Oil at GasManagement at: RachelCarson State OfficeBuilding, P.O. Box2063, Harrisburg, PA17105-2063 or [email protected]. Nominations will be

accepted throughMarch 3rd.For more information,

visit, www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword:advisory committee.

The St. Lukes Singers will present With a Voice of Singing spring concert on Sunday, May 3rd, at Wesley Method-ist Church located at 2540 Center Street in Bethlehem. The prelude portion of the program begins at 2:45pm and the concert begins at 3pm.The concert begins

with Martin Shaws With a Voice of Sing-ing accompanied by organ. The Singers will present two contempo-rary pieces with a simi-lar theme: I Will Sing and Not Be Silent by Allen Pote and Cantate Domino by Mark Hayes. Soloist Michelle Giletto will join the Singers on the spiritual, Ride the Chariot. Together they will close the first section with River in Judea accompanied by brass, percussion and bass.In the second portion

of the concert, the Sing-ers are preparing three selections from musi-cals: Gonna Build a Mountain from Stop

the World I Want to Get Off, Sabbath Prayer from Fiddler on the Roof and Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music. They will also sing new settings of Stephen Fosters Camptown Races and the Ameri-can folksong, Aura Lee.Tickets are $12 and

may be obtained by calling 610-759-6325 or by visiting the hospi-tal gift shops, located at St. Lukes Hospital Bethlehem Campus, Allentown Campus, Anderson Campus and Warren Campus. The St. Lukes Singers

are the only hospital-based choir in Eastern Pennsylvania and annu-

ally perform a winterholiday and springconcert. Each year thegroup chooses a differ-ent beneficiary withinthe hospital community.This year's holiday andspring concerts willbenefit The St. LukesSingers EndowedScholarship Fund forthe Temple/St. LukesSchool of Medical. The primary mission

of the St. Luke's Sing-ers is to raise funds tohelp support projectsand services at St.Luke's for the benefit ofpatients in need of treat-ment and care. Since1991, the St. Luke'sSingers have raisednearly $250,314 forvarious St. Luke'srecipients.

Many first-time buyers of Pennsylvania hunting or furtaker licenses have a new, convenient option for completing the required certification course.A new, online-only

Hunter-Trapper Educa-tion course is available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The course, which can

be completed online in about six to eight hours, is available to students ages 16 and older. Students can use any computer, smartphone, tablet or e-reader to take the course, providing flexibility to take it anywhere at any time, said Andy Hueser, a h u n t e r - e d u c a t i o n specialist for the Game Commission.People live increas-

ingly busy lives these days, Hueser said. In recent years weve upped the number of tradi-tional, classroom courses we offer and have offered many more courses at peak times in the fall when more people are thinking about hunting and hunter education, and record numbers of new hunters have become certified as a result.

But demand still exists, and some folks simply cant make the time to attend a tradi-tional course, Hueser said. For them, this new, online option removes a hurdle that might have previously stood in the way of their obtaining a hunting license.The curriculum for the

online course is identical to that taught in the tradi-tional classroom course. Topics such as tree-stand safety, lawful trapping of furbearers, firearms safety, Lyme-disease prevention, state game lands regulations, and other programs all are covered. Students move through

the material a page at a time, making their way through 11 units. They must spend a certain amount of time on each

page to make sure theyre not glossing over the material. Theres a quiz at the end of each unit, which must be passed before moving on to the next. And a test covering all material in the course is completed at the end. After passing the test, a

temporary certification card can be printed, and a license purchased imme-diately.The online course is

available through Kalkomey, a Texas-based company that specializes in hunter education and has been an important partner in the Game Commissions programs for years.There is a fee, currently

set at $19.50, for the online course, which is wholly retained by Kalkomey to offset their

costs of providing the course.The course can be taken

through Kalkomeys website, www.hunter-ed.com. Hueser said a full slate

of traditional, classroom Hunter-Trapper Educa-tion courses will continue to be offered statewide in Pennsylva-nia to meet what has been a growing demand for this in-person option, and those courses will continue to be free of charge. We expect most

students, as well as the parents of young hunters, will continue to prefer the traditional courses, Hueser said. They like the opportunity to inter-act with an instructor and to see safe hunting and trapping practices dem-onstrated right before their eyes.We will continue to

work to offer as many of these courses as we can to keep up with the very high demand for them, Hueser said. At the same time, though, this new option is going to be a better fit for some, and were happy to provide it, so they can get their license and the informa-tion they need to be safe before they get out there and hunt.

(StatePoint) Sniffles and flu are not the only afflictions of winter. Many people find that the dark and cold days can impact their mood. In fact, seasonal affec-tive disorder (SAD) affects approximately 10 million Americans, and another 10 to 20 percent of the public may have mild SAD, according to Psychol-ogy Today.Coupled with busy

lives, the winter blues can put extra strain on ones relationships and psyche. Luckily there are simple lifestyle changes you can make

to help lead a happier, less stressful life during winter.Healthy Habits: Feel-

ing blue can be com-pounded by unhealthy habits. Limit alcohol and get plenty of rest. Eat foods beneficial to brain health, such as those that contain omega 3 fatty acids.Be sure to exercise

daily, as physical activ-ity can boost serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain. Get Cozy: One of the

causes of winter blues is light deprivation. If you have a fireplace, coun-teract the shorter days

by adding a fire to your daily routine.Dinner, reading, relax-

ing, watching TV, and even working can seem more enjoyable by adding the light and warmth of a fire, say the statistics. Indeed, 89 percent of people say having a fire is extremely important, important or somewhat important to their wintertime quality of life, according to a recent survey jointly conducted by the American Institute of Stress (AIS) and Duraflame, which creates fire-related products, including fire logs and fire starters.A fire can offer stress

relief, creating an opportunity to gather in a relaxing ambiance. Whether youre alone or with a group, consider making it a hassle-free experience by using a manufactured fire log, which produces robust, bright flames and burns significantly cleaner and more efficiently than a typical wood fire. Take a Breather:

Consider setting aside more time each day to mentally and physically recuperate. Nearly 60 percent of people take an hour a day or less to wind down and relax,

according to the AIS and Duraflame survey, and more probably should.Try this quick stress

relief exercise, The Quieting Reflex, recommended by Dr. Daniel L. Kirsch, presi-dent of AIS: Smile inwardly with

your eyes and mouth, relaxing your facial muscles. Think of something heartwarm-ing or amusing while you do this. This starts to counter stress imme-diately. Next think of the

expression: Alert Mind, Calm Body to counter negative thoughts. Slowly take a deep

breath while visualizing it as warm air coming in from pores, or holes opening up in the bottom of your feet and slowly moving up into your lungs. While you exhale,

visualize a wave of warmth and relaxation slowly flowing through your body exiting through your feet, like the spreading warmth you feel when sitting by the fireplace.You cant control the

seasons, but by being proactive, you can get back to enjoying your winters.

(StatePoint) Nearly all Americans understand that relaxation time is essential to good health, yet most of us dont spend nearly enough time unwinding during a typical day or week.While our society

acknowledges that kick-ing back is indispens-able, we dont seem to be practicing what we preach. Indeed, 99 percent of Americans think relaxation is important, yet they actually spend less than five percent of their day relaxing, according a new independent research study commis-sioned by Princess Cruises.The goal of the

research was to better understand the latest trends about how many of us actually relax and how we go about doing

it.Nearly half of Ameri-

cans report theyre morestressed than theirsignificant other, with awhopping 82 percent of men indicating that their partner is the stressed out one.Music topped the list

of relaxation techniques for those surveyed, with48 percent reportingmusic helps them take iteasy. Interestingly, only18 percent find exerciseis a good relaxation tool.The most surprising

findings were that relax-ation causes 62 percentof parents to feel guiltyand that nearly one third of Americans surveyed reported being stressed out simply by thethought of relaxing!So try to beat the odds

and make time tounwind.

With another round of steady, cold tempera-tures expected during the week, the Pennsylva-nia Fish and Boat Com-mission (PFBC) reminds anglers that ice fishing is a fun winter activity that provides opportunities across the state and that the PFBCs website has plenty of information to help plan their next trip.Ice fishing really

becomes a social event because anglers often group their sites around the spots where the fish are schooling and feed-ing, said Andy Shiels, PFBC Deputy Director for Field Operations and an avid ice fisherman who frequents Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir in Bald Eagle State Park. Ice fishing provides an opportunity to catch panfish, trout and larger gamefish such as bass, walleyes and even catfish. In some lakes, some of the best catches of the year are made through the ice.Many times anglers

even cook tailgate-type foods to share with their friends and family, he added.As always, anglers are

reminded to follow ice safety tips and guide-lines to ensure they have a safe day.Before going onto a

frozen lake or pond, it is important to take safety precautions to reduce the risk of falling through the ice, said Ryan Walt, PFBC Boat-ing and Watercraft Safety Manager. Re-member, anglers take a risk any time they go onto the ice. Knowing how to judge ice condi-tions will help them make more informed decisions while enjoy-ing their outing.Below are safety

precautions and tips that anglers should keep in mind:A lifejacket or float

coat should be worn at all times while on the ice.When arriving at the

water's edge, visually survey the ice. Look for open water areas, and look for signs of recent changes in water levels. Ice sloping down from the bank because the water level dropped, or wet areas on the ice because the water level rose, can be an indicator of a very dangerous condition.Listen for loud cracks

or booms coming from the ice. This can indicate deteriorating ice.Look for clear blue ice.

New ice is stronger than old ice and usually has a blue tint.

Remember that ice thickness is not consis-tent.Beware of ice around

partially submerged objects such as trees, brush, embankments or structures. Ice will not form as quickly where water is shallow or where objects may absorb sunlight.Anglers should use an

ice staff to probe ahead of them. If the ice staff punches through then the angler should retreat back to shore slowly.Anglers should always

carry a pair of ice awls handheld spikes - in the case they do go through the ice so they can self-rescue. Anglers drive the spikes into the ice and pull themselves from the water. Never go out on ice

that has formed over moving water such as a river or stream.Never go out on ice

alone.Always let someone

know your plans and when you expect to return.To get started ice

fishing, individuals should visit the PFBCs ice/winter fishing webpage. The page includes links to various information, including an ice-thickness chart, a safety checklist, and a

video of a PFBC-hosted ice fishing seminar which contains great information on equip-ment and tactics.In addition to these

how-to and safety resources, PFBC Executive Director John Arway provides a special video invitation that underscores the fun of ice fishing and the year-round value of a Pennsylvania fishing license. To see this video message, visit fishandboat.com/images/video/ice-fishing--video/ice-fishing.htm.Perhaps the best

source of information about ice fishing hotspots and activity are the local bait shops nearest the lake or pond you are fishing, added Shiels. Live bait is usually included in every ice anglers supplies so a visit to the local shop can usually get you the bait and tackle you need. You can buy your 2015 license at a reduced rate, get some bait, tips on where to go and have some fun.

The PFBC announced last fall that it was reducing the price of resident, non-resident and senior resident annual licenses by $1 for the entire 2015 season. The discount is part of a marketing campaign to highlight the sports affordability to families and younger audiences and to persuade lapsed anglers to return. Its being promoted under the slogan Catch the Value! (Twitter - #CatchTheValue)Ice fishing can be

solitary if you are seek-ing the quiet of nature that only winter can deliver or it can be a social activity that gets you out of the house in the winter months where the fish are just a part of the fun, said Shiels. If you ask most people why they ice fish they will probably tell you it is fun and its great just to be outdoors.More information

about PAs Best Fishing Waters is available at: fishandboat.com/PaBestFishing.htm.

St. Lukes Bethlehem Primary Care recently opened to provide care for un- and under-insured patients without primary care physicians on site at St. Lukes University Hospital - Bethlehem. Conve-niently located at St. Lukes Doctors Pavil-ion at 701 Ostrum Street, Suite 103 in Bethlehem, PA 18015, the practice is currently taking new patients. Staffed by current St.

Lukes providers who

have experience in a variety of settings including outpatient offices, hospital medi-cine, emergency rooms and nursing homes, the practice seeks to provide timely access and estab-lish relationships with patients who may not have a primary care provider or would other-wise be referred to St. Lukes medical clinics. The practice may be reached at 484-526-6400. The following clini-

cians are providing care at this new practice:

Muriam Afzal, MD, earned his Bachelor's degree from Utica College of Syracuse University and attended medical school at Medi-cal University of Ameri-cas. Dr. Afzal completed a Family Practice residency at Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Michigan, and became board certified in 2012. Dr. Afzal has been a resident of Allen-town since 2012 and has enjoyed working with the Lehigh Valley Com-munity.Ardeth Copeland, MD,

earned her Bachelor's degree from the Univer-sity of California, Berkeley and graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann School of Medicine (what is now the Drexel School of Medicine). She completed her Inter-nal Medicine residency at UMDNJ/ Cooper University Hospital. Dr. Copeland is board-

certified in internal medicine and views patient relationships as the most important aspect of practicing medicine. M. Fawwad Khan,

MD, graduated from Baqai Medical College at the University of Karachi in Pakistan and completed residencies in Internal Medicine at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago and Helene Fuld Hospital in Tren-ton, New Jersey. Dr. Khan has experience in an outpatient office and for the past seven years has been a hospitalist. He said, I look forward to developing the bonds, relationships and growth opportunities one can have with patients in an office setting.Justin Psaila, MD,

graduated from New York Medical College and completed residency in Internal Medicine at St. Vincents Hospital and Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Psaila provided care in multispecialty group as a general internist treat-ing patients the office, hospital and nursing home setting and joined St. Lukes as a Hospital-ist and Palliative Care Physician more than ten years ago. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Care. Ensur-ing patients have timely access to health care resources is one of my

top priorities as a physi-cian, said Dr. Psaila.Jessica Mehring Small,

DO, earned her medical degree from the Phila-delphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in Philadel-phia, PA and completed her Internal Medicine Residency at St. Lukes University Hospital - Bethlehem. After residency she joined the St. Lukes Internal Medicine Group as a Hospitalist and holds Faculty (Teaching) appointments with Temple Medical School and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Small said: My passion is to deliver effective and personalized care to all of my patients. Deborah Bryant, PA-C,

is a board-certified primary care physians assistant who graduated from HahnemannUniversity in Philadel-phia with a bachelors degree as a Physician Assistant. Part of hertraining and experienceincludes providing carein the United Kingdom.Lisa Culligan, CRNP,

is a St. Lukes School ofNursing graduate andholds a BSN from CedarCrest College and MSN-FNP from DeSales University. Sheis a board-certifiedFamily Nurse Practitio-ner with 32 years of experience at St. Lukes.

( N A P S I ) H e r e s sweet news: This delicious dessert can be easy to make and elegant to serve.Chocolate-Covered

Cherry Fudge20 maraschino cherries

with stems12 ounces semisweet

chocolate chips*6 ounces dark choco-

late, chopped (or bitter-sweet chocolate chips)*2 large eggs1 cup brown sugar1 teaspoon pure vanilla

extract2 tablespoons flour* teaspoon baking

powder teaspoon kosher or

fine sea salt1 teaspoon maraschino

cherry juice1 cup walnuts,

choppedPat the cherries dry

with paper towels and set aside. Generously spray an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray* or brush with oil.In a small saucepan,

combine the chocolates and cook over low heat until most of the choco-late is melted. Stir until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy.In a mixing bowl,

whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, flour, baking powder, salt, and maraschino cherry juice. Add the melted chocolate and

stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth and starts to thicken. Stir in the walnuts.Spread the mixture

evenly into the prepared pan and press the cher-ries into the top, leaving the tops of the cherries and the stems showing. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until hard. Cut into 20 squares.Makes 20 pieces of

fudge*Go gluten-free!

Replace non-stick cook-ing spray with gluten-free nonstick. Substitute gluten-free chocolate chips and gluten-free dark chocolate where indicated. Replace flour

with gluten-free flour.You can make it dairy-

free with dairy-free chocolate.Learn More:You can

find lots of great recipeswith a cherry on topfom the National Cherry Grow-ers and Industries Foun-dation at www.nationalcherries.com. For gluten-free advice and recipes, go to www.simplygluten-free.com.Recipes and photos

courtesy of Carol Kicin-ski, Professional Recipe Developer, TV Chef and Editor In Chief of Simply Gluten Free Magazine.