At Mountain Villa School in Northwestern New Jersey, two teachers are showing their creativity by developing a project that

is truly unique. Gina Davey, special education teacher, and Holly Marenzana, general education teacher, with the help of supportive administration, brought a curriculum to students to provide many aspects of learning. Week-old chicks that had been given to the school are raised to full grown hens and are cared for by a group of children with a wide range of developmental disabilities. Eighteen students ages three to five, inclusive of cerebral palsy, autism, emotional issues, speech-language disorders, ADHD, and childhood apraxia of speech are included in this group. The chickens have been laying eggs since early February of 2012. There are four breeds involved in the project. Initially the chicks were housed in the school lobby in a brooder for eight weeks until they were ready to transfer to an outside coop. They were handled

By Maria Cascario

frequently by the students to help with their temperaments. The students taught them how to drink by dunking their beaks into small containers of water and using shiny objects to attract the chicks to their water bowls. Their coop is housed outside the window of the PSD classroom and the chicks often roost on top of the coop fascinat-

ing the students with their unique behavior. The chickens are let out of the coop each morning and free range around the school yard. Students observe their antics and this serves as a platform for language facilitation as the preschoolers ask questions, offer comments and use basic conversational skills with their peers. The chickens have even gotten on the

school bus, only to be shooed off by the driver! Involved in all aspects of caring for the chickens, the students configure the amount of food and water needed for the flock. They measure the egg size and color and chart the production of eggs. A photo and video library was created as a means for visually charting changes in the chickens size and color development. In addition to the learning aspects, a community partnership with senior citizens came about through the school yard chicken program and eggs are donated to seniors in the community and surrounding areas. The children were warmly welcomed to the local senior citizens group at their monthly meeting. One of the most touching moments occurred when a fiveyear-old non-verbal student used his iPad to communicate and a student with Cerebral Palsy, with much effort, extended his arm to hand out flyers. The preschoolers learned about the sustainability as they harvested and packaged the eggs. A former Allamuchy student designed the safe handling inserts inside each carton of

Congratulations to Aaron Ultimo, 1996 graduate of North Warren Regional High School and owner of Ultimo Coffee of Philadelphia. Popular blog The Daily Meal named Ultimo Coffee as the number one coffee shop in the country. The Blairstown Rotary is holding its annual 50/50 raffle at the Blairstown Firehouse on April 19th. The potential prize is $10,000! For more information, see the ad for Cannon Country Real Estate, LLC on page 19. The April GBBA General Membership Meeting has been changed from April 23rd to April 30th. The meeting will be held at Brook Hollow on Rt. 94 in Columbia at 6pm. More details to follow. Public Notice: Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, notice is hereby given that at the Regular Session Meeting held April 10th, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Warren took action as follows: Cancelled the scheduled Regular Session Meeting of May 8th. North Warren Regional School is

inviting Veterans to participate in the annual Voices of the Veterans program on May 29th. Veterans of all military branches and all eras are invited to attend and be recognized for their service. The program includes breakfast, assembly introduction with keynote speakers, performances by the NWR band and chorus, a commemoration ceremony, lunch on the lawn, and optional classroom visits to speak with students. Registration is required. For more information, call 908-362-8211, ext. 1139. The Sycamore Park Playground Project is having a car show on June 15th at Sycamore Park, located on Lambert Rd. in Blairstown. All proceeds will benefit the playground project. Crafters of handmade goods, artists and vendors are invited to apply for the art and craft/vendor fair running in conjunction with the car show. For more information, visit www.sycamoreparkplay ground.com, email jamiedoatley@yahoo .com, or call 908-7520260. The Warren County Technical School PTA is hosting its 4th

annual Crafts in the Warren Tech on December 7th. Exhibitors who hand-craft their own items are invited to submit an application to exhibit at the fundraising event to be held at Warren County Technical School in Washington. Artists and crafters who are interested in applying for consideration to exhibit should email craftsinwarren tech@live.com to request an application and submit, with photos as soon as possible. For more details, contact exhibit coordinator Jennifer at craftsin warrentech@live.com or call 908-496-4100. The Blairstown Auxiliary of the Newton Medical Center is looking for new members. The auxiliary meets the first Tuesday of every month at the First United Methodist Church in Blairstown at 10am. For more information, call 908-9023771. North Warren Regional Middle School is performing Seussical the Musical Jr. on May 31st and June 1st. Watch for details! Fitness Empire in Blairstown is holding a special on personal training: for every five sessions you buy, get one free! For more information, call 908362-8190 or visit FitnessEmpireGym.com Want to earn a $5 gift card to Tractor Supply? Visit angels

tailwaggintraining.com to find out how! Having water problems? High-Def Water offers a free basic water test. For more information, call 908441-2659 or visit highdef water.com. Rising oil prices got you down? You can save 10 cents per gallon at hackettstown oil.net! If youre a new customer, you can save $20 on your first order by using the online promo code NEW1! Time for an oil change? The Auto Shop in Blairstown is offering customers an oil and filter change for just $28 (some restrictions may apply)! See their ad in this weeks edition of The PRESS for complete details. Spring is a time of renewal. At Natural Image Skin Center in Hackettstown, customers can save 10 percent on chemical peels, Botox, Restylane and Juvederm through the month of April. Visit naturalimageskincenter. com. Happy birthday wishes are sent to Nicole Strunk, April 19th; and Kevin Donahoe, April 23rd. Have a great day! We love hearing from you! Send your birthdays, anniversaries, and other info to: The PRESS PO Box 430 Blairstown, NJ 07825 thepressnews@enter.net thepressnewsonline.com Like Us on Facebook!

The new North Warren Library Headquarters, located on Rt. 519, opens on April 20th, with a ribbon cutting at 10am. Here is a list of notable books and other items that have been added to the collection recently at the Warren County Library: Old-School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned to Cook, by Alex Guarnaschelli. The Duck Commanders, by Willie Robertson. Deeper Into You, by Sylvia Day. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (Electronic Format), by Stephan Pastis. The Power of Negative Thinking: An Unconventional Approach to Achieving Positive Results, by Bob Knight. Waking Up in Heaven: A True Story of Brokenness, Heaven, and Life Again, by Crystal McVea. Halo: Silentium (Forerunner Saga), by Greg Bear. Unintended Consequences (Stone Barrington), by Stuart Woods. A Conspiracy of Faith, by Jussi Adler-Olsen. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Eighth Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing), by Kate L. Turabian. The Redeemer (Harry Hole), by Jo Nesbo. Hungry Girl 200 Under 200 Just Desserts: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories, by Lisa Lillien. The Humanity Project, by Jean Thompson. Dont Go, by Lisa Scottoline. Into the Void: Star Wars (Dawn of the Jedi), by Tim Lebbon. Looking for Me, by Beth Hoff-

man. Just One Kiss, by Susan Mallery. The Power of Why: Breaking Out in a Competitive Marketplace, by C. Richard Weylan. A Book of Voyages, from W. W. Norton & Company. The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, by Lily Koppel. North America: A World in One Continent, by Huw Cordey. The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia, by Andrei Lankov. Mediterranean Cooking at Home with The Culinary Institute of America, by The Culinary Institute of America. The Wild Garden: Expanded Edition, by Rick Darke. Mickey and Willie: Mantle and Mays, The Parallel Lives of Baseball's Golden Age, by Allen Barra. The Family Guide to Mental Health Care, by Lloyd I. Sederer MD. Hemingways Girl, by Erika Robuck. The City of Devi: A Novel, by Manil Suri. The Son, by Philipp Meyer. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler. Lost City of the Templars, by Paul Cristopher. Montaro Caine: A Novel. by Sidney Poitier. Red Moon: A Novel, by Benjamin Percy. Stolen, by Daniel Palmer. The Body in the Piazza: A Faith Fairchild Mystery (Faith Fairchild Mysteries), by Katherine Hall Page. The Broken Places (A Quinn Colson Novel), by Ace Atkins. The Innocence Game, by Michael Harvey. The Missing File (Avraham Avraham Mysteries), by D. A. Mishani. The Shining Girls: A Novel, by Lauren Beukes.

Art lovers will have the weekend of a lifetime when the Washington Business Improvement District hosts the Warren County Arts Festival Weekend April 26th and 27th. On Friday night, April 26th, the organization's Fourth Fridays Art Walk and Antiques Trail kicks into high gear as the spring season begins, highlighted by the Monster Art work of nationally renowned illustrator Dave DeVries at Fliegauf Jewelers. And then on Saturday, April 27th, DeVries, along with dozens of other artists with an array of styles will be showcasing their works at the Warren County Arts Festival in Downtown Washington and be eligible to win over $2000 in prize money! Music will fill the air both days, with the eclectic jazz fusion group Jungle Jazz Initiative on Friday and singer songwriters Chelsea Carlson (11am to 1pm) and Kathy Moser (1pm to 3pm) scheduled for Saturday. The WBID is presenting this year's "Warren County Arts Festival Weekend" in conjunc-

tion with the downtown businesses in what promises to be a special weekend celebration of the arts. In addition to a $1,000 first prize for adults, a special high school category (ages 18 and under) will award a $250 first prize for the best student artist. All styles are welcome to participate in the juried art show, from painting to photography to woodwork and everything in between. Clearly, a highlight of the weekend is the direct participation of DeVries on Friday night and Saturday afternoon (his work will remain showcased through mid-May) at Fliegauf Jewelers. "I've loved art from the time I was a little kid-especially comic books," said DeVries. "When I got older, I actually got a chance to draw my childhood heroes--and get paid to boot. It was a dream come true. I was asked to paint Spiderman swinging over New York and Wolverine slashing robots with his unbreakable claws. My job was to make these heroes real for all the people who loved them. It wasn't easy but I

learned to make them colorful, detailed and full of action." However,that is not all DeVries, a lecturer and workshop leader as well, paints. "I also painted monsters for Universal Studios," he noted. Eventually he decided " to take all the lessons about color, action and detail and apply them to little kids' drawings. It made me remember my childhood and also realize that no matter how old I became I could always see things like a child." A special added activ-

ity for Saturday is a children's Story Walk featuring the work of Children's Book Illustrator Doris Ettlinger. Youngsters can "read a book" by following a trail of page placards throughout the Downtown. Also kids will get a chance to meet a Spiderman look-alike! Friday's activities begin at 5pm and continue until 8pm--or longer for those who dine in town. The Saturday portion of the Arts Weekend takes place along Rt. 57 throughout the Downtown and runs from 10am to 4pm. The Satur-

day rain date is Sunday, April 28th. Last year's Arts Festival winners were Blairstown artist Susan Marie David, first place; Betty Marchant of Old Bridge, second place; and New Brunswick potter Drew Brown. David's incredible use of vintage stones caught the attention of the judges and attendees while Marchant's watercolor paintings also garnered plenty of praise. Great food at local eateries and live music is also on tap for the day, as well as other activities. In all, on Saturday you can expect to see dozens of participating artists and vendors, Washington businesses, and special activities, throughout the day in the Downtown. A $25 refundable deposit and advanced registration is required for original artists to secure your space and participate in the juried show.All original artists and crafters are eligible. Re-sale vendors and non-profits are invited to register for the festival for a nonrefundable pre-registration fee of

$25 or $35 on the day of the show, space permitting. If you are interested in registering contact the WBID office at 908689-4800 or visit www. washingtonbid.org. It is expected that this event will sell-out early, so pre-registration is highly recommended. Each month on the Fourth Friday, a host of regional and statewide artists exhibit their works in mini galleries at businesses throughout the town. An artists' reception is held at each of the participating businesses from 5pm to 8pm. The art then remains on display for about three weeks. The Fourth Fridays are presented by the WBID and sponsored by participating businesses. Besides DeVries, other highlighted artists in April are Ray Radigan, an artist and and illustrator who has completed a number of commissions and participating in gallery exhibitions in New York and NJ; Howard Marc Steiman, a painter who specializes in flowers, and Ashley Green, a very talented painter who attends Hopatcong HS.

Adult Jeopardy: April 18th, 7pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. Ages 18 & up. Registration required. FMI, call 908-362-8335. Kids Crafts: April 19th, 4pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library. Ages 5 thru 12. Sign up necessary. FMI, call 908-362-8335. Blairstown Rotary Club Annual Cash Raffle: April 19th, 7pm to 9pm. Dinner & music for ticket holders & a guest. Proceeds benefit high school scholarship fund & community services. Winner need not be present to win. FMI, visit www.blairstown rotary.org. The Jungle Jazz Initiative w/ Wig Party & Dad Brother: April 20th, 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. The Historic Blairstown Theatre, 30 Main St., Blairstown. FMI, visit thehbt.com Open Mic Night: April 20th, 9pm to 11pm. Sweet Janes, 278 Main St., Johnsonburg. You bring the talent, we provide the stage! FMI, call 908813-8404.

Lawn Party & Silent Auction: April 20th, 3:30pm to 6:30pm. Rutherfurd Hall, 1686 Rt. 517, Allamuchy. Rain or shine. All proceeds donated to Ridge & Valley Charter School. FMI visit tiny url.com/rvlclawn party. Vernal Ponds Exploration Hike: April 21st, 2pm to 3pm. Meet Kevin Mitchell in the parking lot by Lusscroft Manor House, 50 Neilson Rd., Wantage. Free hike, but donations are accepted. FMI, email kmitchel@ptd.net or visit lusscroftfarm.com. AARP Driver Safety Program Refresher Course: April 22nd & 29th, 11:30am to 2:30pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. Sponsored by Blair Womans Club. Designed for drivers 50 & older. Must attend both classes for insurance discount. FMI & registration, call Susanne at 908-3626531. Pajama Storytime: April 24th, 6:30pm. The new Warren Co. Library location, 189 Co. Rt. 519, White Twp. Registration required. Sign up at warrenlib.org.

Tricky Tray Hosted by St. Jude Ladies Guild: April 26th, 6:30pm. St. Jude Church, McNulty Hall, Rt. 94, 7 Eisenhower Rd., Blairstown. Calling begin at 7:30pm. Must be 18 or older. FMI, call Joanne at 908-500-8140. Carbon Leaf: April 26th, 8:30pm. The Historic Blairstown Theatre, 30 Main St., Blairstown. Doors open at 7:30pm. FMI, visit thehbt.com Flapjack Breakfast Fundraiser: April 27th, 8am to 10am. Applebees, 225 Mountain Ave., Hackettstown. Sponsored by Blairstown Ambulance Corps. FMI & tickets, call Laura at 908-7520196. 2Plus1 Math Rocks! Concert: April 27th, 1pm. The new Warren Co. Library location, 189 Co. Rt. 519, White Twp. Pedestrian Education & Awareness Event: April 27th, 9am to 11am. Main St. Gazebo, corner of Main & Moore st. Blessing of the Animals: April 28th, 1pm (rain date May 5th). 1st Presbyterian Church of Blairstown, 1 Main St., Blairstown. All animals of all sizes are welcome to attend. Service, search & rescue dogs & law enforcement K9s & handlers encouraged to attend for blessings. All animals receive a St. Francis medal following blessing. FMI, call 908-362-5254.

All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet: April 28th, 7am to 11am. Franklin Twp. Vol. Fire Dept., 37 2nd St., New Village. FMI, call 908-319-0379. United Way Annual Warren Co. Golf Outing: May 21st, 10:30am registration. Panther Valley Golf & Country Club, Forest Dr., Allamuchy. All proceeds support United Way of Northern NJ. Registration Deadline: May 1st. FMI & to register, call Anna Hockenbury at 908835-3550. NW Midget Football In-Person Registration: May 1st, 7pm to 8pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. Open to players 5-14. General meeting to follow at 8pm. FMI, email NWMFL@ yahoo.com. Gala Opening Night at the Show sponsored by Chester Lioness Club: May 3rd. Black River Playhouse. Feature: Steel Magnolias. All proceeds fund charitable causes. FMI & tickets, call Anne MacMillan at 908-8797621. Warren Co. Tech PTA Tricky Tray: May 3rd, 6pm. Warren Co. Tech School, 1500 Rt. 57, Washington. Calling begins at 7:30pm. All proceeds benefit student scholarships, programs Project Graduation & more. FMI, call Bobbie at 908-229-9702 or email ddcarl@ comcast.net.

Blairstown & Knowlton A&P Alpine Meats Animal Mansion Ash Plumbing Asian Combat Arts A-Tech Auto Blair Tile Blair Tire & Auto Blairstown Chiropractic Blairstown Country Florist Blairstown Diner Blairstown Municipal Building Blairstown Optical BookNest Buckwood Building Specialties Burgdorff BuzzWorks Caffe Nelle Cucine Cannon Country Real Estate Columbia Post Office Country Kids Station Custom Colonial Dale's Market David Krawski Dentist DogHouse Dominick Pizza Dr. Magalio, Dentist Ellias Restaurant Finish Line Auto First Hope Bank Frank's Pizza Fun & Games Gallery 23 Geo's Pizza Gourmet Gallery Hair Company Hairs 2 You Historic Blairstown Theatre Hope Deli Hope Haircutters JD Liquors Jetstream Hobbies John Deere Kozimors Upholstery Knowlton Municipal Building Lakeland Bank Lebduska Accounting Lumber Majestic Cleaners Marksboro Deli Medical Associate Napa Nature's Harvest New Beginnings New HoHo North Warren Pharmacy North Warren Truck Repair Old Stillwater General Store Physical Therapy Pizza Express PJ's PNC Bank Post Time Pub Prudential R. Keiling Race's Farm Market Radio Shack Remax RunWay Caf Salon Chevoux Shell Gas Station Skyland Bank Smitty's Sophia Nails Studio 94 Sun Velocity Sunoco The Auto Shop Tile Warehouse Tractor Supply Tramontin US Gas Village Green Wells Fargo Wilbur's Country Store Wine & Spirits Woman to Woman Belvidere A&P Albanese Gallery Al's Pizza

ACI Truck Stop Bagel Smith Belvidere Spa Clucas Farm Dee Doo's Dr. Amanda Richline Food Mart Four Sisters Winery Gunnar's Landing H&R Block Hearth Shop Hickory Mortgage Mediterranean Riverside Designs Riverton Hotel & Restaurant Rosal Jewelers Short Stop Skee's Busy Bee Skoogy's Steckel's Shell Station Thisilldous Uncle Buck's Diner US Gas Vincent Haircuttery & Plus Zack's Zeeks Washington A&P Bagelsmith Fliegauff Jewelers Home Instead Senior Care Kaffe Kaprys Lost Ladies Mediterranean Bistro MWC Racing Pride-N-Groom Quick Check Rossi Second Time Around Shopper Stop Silver Stars Bagel Smith Dodge Stanley's Pizza Subway Town Market Washington Shoe Newton A& G Pizza Back in Motion BMW Dealership Charm Co. Seat Dunkin Donuts Hampton Diner Ho Hos HobbyTown Holiday Inn Home Furniture Warehouse Kathy's Restaurant Newton News Stand Optical Center O'Reilly's PB&J Prima Donna's Quick Check Shop Rite Skylands Sport Shop Springboard Shoppe Superior Shower Doors The Chatter Box VW-Audi Dealership Weis Hackettstown A&P Bachs Home Healthcare Cozy Corner Golden Skillet Hackettstown Guns & Ammo Hackettstown Sandwich Shoppe Mama's Pizza/Cafe Baci O'Neill's Jewelers Prickley Pear Quick Check Riverstar Diner Valley Bagel Weis Willow Caf Columbia Ayers Hunters Lodge Roses Cafe

The Journal of New Jersey Poets has announced it will be awarding its fourth annual New Jersey Poets Prize to Edwin Romond for his poem Champion. The publication, headquartered at County College of Morris, will be presenting the award on May 6th, in the Student Community Center Davidson Rooms at CCMs Randolph campus, 214 Center Grove Road. The program will begin with a poetry reading at 7pm followed by a reception. Romond, a native of Woodbridge and now a resident of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, spent 32 years as an English educator in high schools both in NJ and Wisconsin. He has published two books, Alone With Love Songs and Dream Teaching, in addition to having his poetry included in several anthologies. His poetry is described as conveying the

beauty and frailty of the human heart and the ways in which we all stumble and rejoice by Adele Kenny, poetry editor of The Tiferet Journal, and wistful and ironic, vulnerable and hopeful by Caroline Collins of Verse Wisconsin. Romonds work also has been featured on National Public Radio and in college texts and a number of literary and poetry journals. He has been awarded poetry fellowships from both the NJ State Council on the Arts and Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and in 1993 received a prize from the National Endowment for the Arts. Romonds winning poem, Champion, will debut in this years publication of The Journal of New Jersey Poets. The annual CCM New Jersey Poets Prize is sponsored by The Journal of New Jersey Poets and the CCM Foundation.

Parents and their children are invited to a free Family Expo hosted by the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project SelfSufficiency on Thursday, April 25th from 4pm to 8pm. The event will feature information about health and wellness, fire safety, parenting tips, and first aid. Keynote speakers will include Haley Ward who will present information about the Enough Abuse child sexual assault prevention campaign, and Kris Imbrie who will discuss the impact of trauma on children. Participants will be treated to dinner and goodie bags filled with parenting resources. The Family Expo is free and open to families from Sussex and northern Warren Counties, but space is limited and registration is required. The Enough Abuse effort is a communitywide education effort which aims to mobilize

adults and communities to prevent child sexual assault by increasing awareness of the warning signs displayed by predators and as well as victims. Program Coordinator Haley Ward will give an overview of the program, and highlight the free training sessions which are offered regularly to middle and high school youth, their parents, teachers, administrators, coaches and other youth-serving professionals about how to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Kris Imbrie will discuss the impact of trauma on children during her presentation. Children who have been the victims of violence, witnessed violence or who have experienced other types of trauma are particularly susceptible to the harmful changes that occur in the brain. This presentation will look at the behavioral changes that we can expect of

traumatized children and address the approach adults can take that will help them heal. In addition to Project Self-Sufficiency, organizations who hosted information tables at the event last year included the American Red Cross, Caring Partners of Morris/Sussex Counties, Gateway Northwest, the Division of Youth and Family Services, Domestic Abuse Services, Family Intervention Services, the Family Support Organization, Ginnies House, the Interfaith Hospitality Network, Legal Services of Northwest New Jersey, Literacy Volunteers of Northwest New Jersey, the Newton Police Department, NORWESCAP, Parent Interactions with Schools/Teachers, Sussex County Community College, NJ Shares, NAMI, the United Way of Sussex County, and others. The Family Expo

There are still a few tickets left for this years 7th Annual Hopatcong Womans Club Fashion Show, which will be held on April 21st at the Ridgewood Restaurant, 35 Brooklyn Stanhope Road, from 1pm to 4pm. The Show will feature clothing fashions from Coldwater Creek, a silent auction, a 50/50, door prizes, and lots of fun for all. A hot buffet lunch will be served, along with coffee and dessert. Tickets are $35 each and there is limited supply, so be sure to obtain your tickets now by contacting Cyndi at 973-398-3980, Ellen at 973-398-5926, Selma at 973-770-4989, or Norma at 973-3984989. Proceeds benefit the Hopatcong Womans Club Charitable Donations, and have in the past included DASI (Domestic Abuse), Scholarships, Head Start, Gildas Club, Family Promise, and many more. The Hopatcong Womans Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month (next meeting is April 17th) at the

Hopatcong Senior Center on Lakeside Blvd. at 10:30am, followed by a casual luncheon. The final meeting for the season will be held on May 15th and will include a luncheon at Pavinicis Restaurant. Tickets are $25 for members and guests. All are welcome. Please contact Elaine White for more details and payment information at 973-398-6449. All local women looking to form new friendships and to find a special niche or pet project of interest to them are encouraged to

contact Membership Chairperson Selma Reichert at 973-7704989. To learn more about the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs (NJSFWC), visit the Federation website at www.njsfwc.org and to learn more about the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), visit gfwc.org

gives parents the opportunity to interact with experts in a variety of fields, and to ask questions and get information about issues faced by their families, notes Claire Willetts, Program Coordinator at Project Self-Sufficiency. We are grateful for the response from the health organizations, social service agencies and public safety officials in our community, and we are looking forward to a wonderful and informative evening. The Sussex County Family Success Center at Project SelfSufficiency is part of a network of Family Success Centers across the state whose purpose is to strengthen families and neighborhoods; develop networks of family services that foster healthy families; and to build connections within families, between families and to the community. The Family Success Center provides a wide range of services to participating families, including assistance with healthcare, substance abuse prevention services, career planning, job training, parenting workshops, and life skills training. Participation in the Family Expo is free and open to the public, but space is limited and registration is required for attendance. To register for the Family Expo, or for more information about the programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500.

The Historic Blairstown Theatre is proud to present a return engagement with Carbon Leaf on April 26th at 8:30pm. Virginia natives Carbon Leaf weave their signature indie-rock blend of Celtic, Appalachian, folk, and country into a rousing new brand of music best described as ether-electrified porch music. The five-man bands steadfast arrangement of guitar, bass, drums, and mandolin is rounded out with more exotic instruments, like the bouzouki, fiddle, accordion and penny whistle, all tied together by lead singer Barry Privetts bold, straightforward baritone. Long beloved in their hometown of Richmond and known for highenergy live shows, the group entered onto the national scene in 2002 by winning an American Music Award with the Irish-tinged hit The Boxer. Doors open to the show at 7:30pm at The HBT,

The Chatham Community Band, under the direction of Mr. Brian Conti, will perform on May 19th at the Chatham High School, located at 255 Lafayette St. in Chatham. The event will begin at 3pm. The concert theme this year is Americana, with music selections from various American Composers including: George Gershwin, Aaron Copeland, Richard Rodgers, Eubie Blake, Jim Curnow, Frank Ticheli, Bob Lowden and Henry Fillmore. This years feature performance will be Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue, and the guest

pianist is Mark Yolleck. Mr. Yolleck is a 30 year veteran of the music industry and has been involved with education, performance and com-

position. While he has many other credits, he prefers to be introduced as, Mr. Yolleck is a cantankerous old coot who likes to play the piano. Other selections for the afternoon will include Victory at Sea by Richard Rodgers, and an arousing march, Americans We, by Henry Fillmore. Join the Chatham Community Band on May 19th for a trip through Americana and music made famous by American composers.

On April 25th from 12:15pm to 1:30pm and again at 1:40pm to 2:55pm, Sussex County Community College will host a special program in the PAC to raise genocide awareness among students and the public. The program will also be repeated at 7pm at Sparta United Methodist Church. The panel of guest speakers will include genocide scholars (Makiko Oku, Ph.D., and Jeff Benvenuto, Ph.D. candidate), and a genocide survivor from Rwanda (Eugenie Mukeshimana), who are affiliated with the Center for the Study of Genocide, Conflict Resolution, and Human Rights (CGHR) at Rutgers University. While the presenters will touch upon the Holocaust, the main focus will be genocide in the context of history, past, present, and future. The panelists will

discuss the persistence of genocide in the postHolocaust world, as seen, for example, in Cambodia, Bosnia, and Rwanda, up to the present-day along with the threat of future genocides as expanding populations compete for limited resources. The underlying theme of the program is why genocides occur and how can they be prevented in the future. Each of the presenters will speak for about fifteen minutes on their particular area of expertise, and a question and answer period will follow. The program is free to college and high school students. For nonstudents, a donation of up to $10 is suggested, but not required. The events are being cosponsored by SCCC, Newton Presbytery Peacemaking Committee, Amnesty International chapter 1004,

Sparta United Methodist Church, and Sparta Ecumenical Council and Friends, as well as several other organizations and individuals. All proceeds will go to support Rwandan and Bosnian survivor networks sponsored by the speakers. More information can be found online at sussex.edu, spartaumc. org, amnestyusa.org/ events/genocide-paneldiscussion-group, and www.ncas.rutgers.edu/ cghr (click programs, then genocide). For questions, e-mail tjohnson@sussex.edu or group1004@aiusa.org, or call 973-726-3245 or 973-876-1072. Group reservations for the afternoon presentations are recommended; e-mail requests to cschmidt@sussex.edu or call 973-729-2535 and leave a message and return phone number. Reservations must be confirmed.

The Warren County Community College Visiting Authors Series continues on April 25th, with a reading by the winners of the 2013 Warren County High School Fiction and Poetry Contests, as well as the student authors of WCCC, whose work appears in this years edition of Ars Poetica Student Art and Literary Magazine. Editors-n-Chief Tyler Thurgood and S. Michael Wilson will serve as the masters-ofceremony for the Arts Poetica release reading.

This event, beginning at 7pm in room E208, is free and open to the public. The WCCC Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, will provide complimentary refreshments. The winners of the 2013 Fiction Contest are Morgan Rutar (1st Place, Phillipsburg HS), Christian Menza (2nd place, Warren Co. Tech), Sam Allaman (3rd Place, NWRHS), and Rachel Fiore (Honorable Mention,

Phillipsburg HS). The winners of the 2013 Warren County High School Poetry Contest are Alexa Hess (1st place, Phillipsburg HS), Ewurakua DawsonAmoah (2nd place, Phillipsburg HS), Breanna Durkin (3rd place, Hackettstown HS), and John General (Honorable Mention, Warren Hills Regional HS). The Visiting Authors Series is supported by a grant from the WCCHC. For more information, visit warren.edu or call 908-835-WCCC.

The Chester Lioness Club will meet for dinner at 6:30pm on May 2nd in the Lamplighter Restaurant, located at 190 West Main St. in Chester. This evening will feature a demonstration of low vision equipment by Bernhard Schneider. Bernhard has been an independent distributor of low vision equipment for almost 20 years. The majority of clients are seniors and most often they are suffering from macular degeneration. Since his clientele is usually not able to drive, he has always traveled to their home for demonstrations and evaluations. Low vision encompasses numerous debilitating eye conditions such as macular degen-

eration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and stroke, among others. They result in the inability to read or see detail unless it is enhanced and enlarged. Most often the client is classified as legally blind. The equipment that Bernhard provides is designed to electronically boost contrast and magnify. Through a proper evaluation, Bernhard can determine which type of device will satisfy the customer's needs and intended tasks. During the presentation, a complete array of enhancement devices, from hand-held magnifying glasses to portable and stationary electronic closed circuit video magnifiers, will be shown.

Since no one aparatus is capable of accommodating all tasks that a visually impaired person wants to accomplish, there is the need to provide various types of mechanisms. The electronic units are a combination of video cameras and display screens that will allow variable levels of magnification and improved contrast to increase recognition and detail. Community residents are invited to attend by reservation only. Call Holly Simmenroth at 908-879-5932 for details.

On May 16th, 2010 the First Presbyterian Church of Blairstown held the third annual Blessing of the Animals. Approximately 30 dogs, 10 cats, 2 snakes and 2 horses were blessed after a service honoring animals and the importance they have in our lives. In addition to many pets, two animal shelters, Aunt Marys Dog House in Blairstown and Montclair, NJ and Father Johns Animal House in Lafayette, NJ brought dogs and cats to be blessed. All animals were on their very best behavior and happily received their blessing of holy water from Pastor David Harvey. This year we were honored to have the founder of K-9 Soldiers, JT Gabriel and her daughter Casey. They brought German Shepherd, Ben, a retired Air

Force Guard and Drug Detection dog who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in Washington, DC upon his retirement. Stella, a military contract dog performing drug detection in Pakistan were blessed by Pastor David Harvey after participants heard the history of the abuse the contract dogs suffered while in Pakistan and no longer under the control of the U.S. Military. Commander Robert LeClair and Jim McDonough of American Legion Post

258 provided an honor guard for both dogs in respect for the dogs years of service for the U.S. Military and citizens. The blessing of the animals originated with St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis founded a monastic order whose members ministered to the poor and the suffering. They also ministered to animals, believing that human beings and animals are all part of Gods creation and that they are interdependent upon one another.

(NAPSI)Many people may be surprised to learn how simple it can be to design a closet system that works beautifully with their unique space. A few basic ideas can help. Create a wish list. Decide whats not working with your existing space, then list your needs and desires for the new closet. Browse photos of closets in newspapers, magazines and online for inspiration. Consider features, accessories and aesthetics, including colors, hardware and drawer and door styles. Get complimentary design service. These days, homeowners are discovering the convenience of do-it-yourself closet systems available online from companies that offer free design services and free shipping. Leading home organization companies often give you the option to design your closet yourself or receive complimentary professional design services, should you prefer a greater level of

assistance or reassurance. Design for functionality first. The layout of your closet should allow for convenient access to items that are used frequently. The goal is to serve your daily needs, says Scott Rifflard, a closet design specialist at EasyClosets. His advice: Situate the shelves, hanging rods and drawers so its easy to get to items that are worn most often. Use the top shelves to stow seldom-used items such as dress shoes, hats, seasonal apparel and extra blankets.

Use every square inch. Tap into all the available vertical area by filling the full height of the closet wall with tall storage systems. Make the most of every nook and cranny with adjustable shelving and hanging rods that are custom built to fit the closets exact dimensions. Precut, customized components help streamline the installation process. Plan for the future. The closet should be versatile, so it serves you well now and accommodates your changing needs.

Whether youre planning to downsize, eliminate bedroom furniture, expand an existing space or adapt over time for a growing child, the ability to add to or rearrange your closet system is a wonderful benefit. Rifflard suggests you start with the essential storage features using hanging rods and shelves, then add to or refine your closet when the time is right. Personalize your closet. Take your closet from baseline to brilliant with a design thats personalized to work with your space, lifestyle and budget. The experts at EasyClosets, a leading online provider of home storage and organization solutions, suggest you include accents and accessories that add style and efficiency while making it easier to maintain an organized closet. Pullout pant racks, wardrobe valet rods, jewelry trays and baskets as well as racks for belts, ties and scarves are just some of the many options available. You can also choose a color and a style that blend beautifully with your home and add decorative molding to create a finished, built-in look. Get started. To design your dream space or request free personal design service, visit www.EasyClosets.com.

Hello fellow readers, Its that time of year again when folks start piling on the mulch. Ill have to admit, I may have become a member of the mulch police. Weve talked before about the hazards of volcano mulching and the resulting likelihood of root girdling or disease. Personally, while mulch serves the purpose of weed and moisture control, Id rather not be a slave to re-mulching year after year once plants become established. Why not consider ground covers? There are the everyday ones such as Vinca minor, also known as Myrtle, with the happy little purple flowers and of course Pachysandra. Both are evergreen and deer resistant and it seems there are two schools of thought:

either you love them or hate them. Sharon from Hackettstown asked what other options there are to mulching under trees. There are many pretty and creative alternatives. How about Lungwort/Pulminaria, which has mottled foliage that reminds me of frogs skin. Beyond the wonderful spring flower, its foliage is showy through fall. Then there's Red Barrenwort/Epimedium rubrum, which some call fairy wings, for good reason, as the red tinged pint sized leaves are oh so sweet. Tiarella, also known as Foamflower because of its frosty pink or white blooms, form large clumps of deeply lobed leaves that are often speckled or streaked. Lets not forget about Sweet Woodruff/Galium odoratum, which is tough as nails and even grows under black walnut and in dense shade. Like the others, it is deciduous, which means it dies back every year, but returns every year without the hassle of re-mulching. You're one step closer to ending the cycle of mulching... blowing out the mulch during leaf removal only to mulch again next spring. Phew! Garden dilemmas? Ask Mary at askmary stone@gmail.com

This warm spell has chased us out of the house as these winterslugged-up bodies are screaming for fresh air and exercise. So off we went to the Paulinskill Trail and walked it from the Blairstown airport to Footbridge Park and back again. Along the way we noticed that the Ramps (wild leek) are popping up all over. I just mention this so you can keep your eyes peeled. They are ready to be used as a slender scallion, but have a long way to go before they really come into their own. If you are interested in learning to identify this wild edible indigenous plant, send me an email and I will arrange an excursion. Meanwhile, back to cooking. I dont know about you, but I still have lots of ground venison in the freezers. Like all meats, venison has its own unique flavor that lends itself to dishes that other meats get lost in. One of these dishes is Cabbage Rolls. I am not here to dicker about the origin of these delicious cabbage leaf wrapped meat packages, and I know everybody has their own ideas on how they should be prepared. All I can tell you is that this recipe is a meld of my Ukrainian mother-in-laws and my German grand-mothers recipes. I have been told

by Polish, Ukrainian, German and Heinz 57s that these are the best they have ever eaten. So call them Pigs in a Blanket, Stuffed Cabbages, Golabki or what you will. They are a wonderful dish to pop in the crock pot and let simmer on low all day for a nofuss dinner later after a hard day working in the yard. Just do me one favor, please try this recipe as written before you start messing around with it. Venison/Beef Cabbage Rolls Makes approx. 26 medium Cook on low setting 7 hours minimum 1 Large Head Cabbage make sure there are no cracks in the leaves 1 Lbs. Ground Venison (you can substitute Beef) Lb. Ground Beef (85/15 or 80/20 mix) 2/3 C. Long Grain White Rice 1 1/3 C. Cold Water Tsp. Salt 1 Bag Deli Sauerkraut 2 Cans Tomato Soup 1 Heaping TBS. Dried Parsley 1 TSP. Granulated Garlic TSP. Ground Black Pepper 1 C. Chicken Broth Here we go! Peel off any yucky outer leaves. Turn the head stem side up. Use a small sturdy sharp pointed knife, cut straight down between the core and the leaves.

Do not try to remove the leaves at this time; because of the cuts, they will remove easily after cooking. Put the whole head in a large pot, stem down, and add cold water about way up the head; salt the water; put it on high heat and bring to boil. Put on a lid to speed it along. Once it comes to a boil, turn the heat off and leave the lid on. The cabbage will continue to cook. We dont want to cook, cook these leaves, we only want them soft enough to roll without them cracking and tearing. While the cabbage is cooking, lets get the rice done. Pour the rice in a medium saucepan, add the cold water and salt, stir with a fork. Cook uncovered on high heat until it starts to boil. Stir once with fork and cook on lowest heat possible covered for about 20 min. until done. Stir once with fork again mid-cook. The rice will absorb all the water. While cabbage and rice are cooking, put the meats in a nice big bowl, toss with a fork until well blended (do not use hands to mix it will make tough cabbage rolls). Sprinkle with garlic, parsley and pepper; toss with fork until well blended. Toss in cooked rice with fork (the final mix should be

just shy of meat & rice rice is the shy ingredient, so add it gradually). Prepare your crockpot by putting about 1/3 can of soup and a handful of sauerkraut in bottom. As you trim the cooked cabbage leaves, coarsely chop the trimmings and add about 1/3 cup of these to the bottom and the in-between layers. With tongs, remove the cabbage leaves and place in colander, spray with cold water. Loosen more not quite ready leaves and leave them in covered pot to continue to cook until ready to use. Place drained leaf on cutting board. The hard leaf stem needs to be removed. If the leaf is large enough, you can split the leaf into halves and remove the stem; if not large enough, cut the leaf back from the core end until it is tender enough to roll. Take a large spoonful of the meat mixture into your palm, shape it into an egg shape (it should be about the size of a

jumbo egg), and place it just on the other side of the cut edge of your cabbage leaf. Roll it over once (meat & leaf at the same time), away from you, fold in the leaf sides; roll again until you run out of leaf. Place seam side down in the crockpot on top of the sauerkraut, chopped cabbage & soup. Continue making the rolls until the bottom of the crockpot is covered. Sprinkle them with some more sauerkraut, chopped cabbage leaves and tomato soup. Continue layering until all the mixture is used. Top them all with sauerkraut & then tomato soup & pour chicken broth over all. Place lid on crockpot and let them cook. Now for dessert! This Strawberry Cheese Pie is easy to make and can be eaten within two hours of making it, unlike other recipes that require overnight refrigeration. As with any fruit dessert, fresh fruit is best. Whenever possible, take advantage

of our local growers products. Nothing is better than fresh. Strawberry Cheese Pie Bake at 350 Cup Half and Half 2 Eggs 1 Teaspoons Vanilla 11 Oz Cream Cheese (8 Oz & 3 Oz Pkg) Cubed Room Temperature 1 Teaspoons Flour Cup Sugar Juice from Fresh Lemon 1 Tsp. Lemon Zest from Lemon 9 Graham Cracker Crumb Pie Crust 2 Pints Fresh Strawberries Cleaned - 1/3 of the berries cut in half Cup Water Cup Sugar 2 TBS. Cornstarch Put first 8 ingredients in food processor or blender. Puree until smooth. Pour into pie crust. Bake until filling is set, about 20 minutes. Chill. For Glaze: Put water, berry halves, sugar and cornstarch in food processor or blender. Puree until smooth. Pour into saucepan; cook slowly, stirring constantly until clear. Stand whole berries, stem end down, on chilled pie. Spoon warm glaze over berries, covering completely. Chill. Dont forget to e-mail me at suziesaucepan @embarqmail.com with your questions, comments and any requests. And be sure to let me know right away about the Ramps outing! Until next time, keep cooking!

The Community Supported Garden at Genesis Farm will be hosting an Earth Day and Farm Celebration on Saturday, April 27th from 10am to 4pm in Blairstown (rain date is the April 28th). After a quarter of a century as a CSA, we have so much to celebrate, said Smadar English, one of three full-time farmers at the farm. So much has happened since we began as a one acre garden in 1988. Its a great community asset and we are happy to have this opportunity to share it with everyone.

This free event, which is open to all, will highlight local agriculture, healthy food, and the northwest New Jersey region. Activities for children and adults will take place throughout the day. Hayrides, field and greenhouse tours, plant walks, cooking demonstrations, hooping performance, animal & nature activities, food sampling, wine tasting, live music and more will take place throughout the day. Farmers Judy von Handorf, Smadar English and Mike Baki will be on hand to discuss community

supported agriculture, year round farming, and sustainable organic techniques that the farm has been developing for twenty-five years. I think this farm has been an integral part of a larger local food awakening in New Jersey, said Lori Gold, a founding member of the Community Supported Garden and an organizer for the event. When we began, no

one had even heard of CSAs, because we were the first in the state. And organic food was almost impossible to find. Today we have about thirty acres of vegetables, greenhouses, orchards, herbs, flowers, and even some laying hens. We have a great apprenticeship program that has taught so many people how to grow healthy food. And

Passers-by and travelers through Hackettstown may have noticed the Purple Bows on the lamps along Main Street. The Committee for the Relay for Life of Greater Hackettstown installed them to help not only celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the American Cancer Society, but also the 160th Birthday of Hackettstown, the 100th Anniversary of the Hackettstown Free Public Library and Womens Club. Plenty of reasons for celebration in Hackettstown. But more importantly, the bows are there to help raise awareness for the upcoming Relay for Life on May 31st in Independence Township. On May 22nd, the American Cancer Society celebrates 100 years of saving lives from cancer and creating a world with more birthdays. Its the progress weve made togetheras a community, as volunteers, as survivors and as leadersthat has helped us reach this incredible

milestone with tremendous success, said Jennifer Romer, Special Events Manager at the American Cancer Society. By lending your support to the Hackettstown Relay event this year, youll be lending your support to the Societys efforts to finish the fight and bring an end to cancer as we know it. Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event at the Field of Dreams in Independence Township, representing the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, those who face cancer will be supported, and one day cancer will be eliminated. There are lots of activities for people of all ages during the event, including a tricky tray, face painting, games, dancing and lots of fun. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in this amazing experience. Area residents are invited to attend, join a team, start a team or participate in any way they would like.

( N A P S I ) T h e r e s good news for parents who want their children to eat more fruit. A fun new website has been created by the growers of USA Pears to engage and educate children about pears. The sitePear Worldis an online destination for elementary schoolage children. Located under the Kids & Classroom section of usapears.org, the site brings a pear orchard to life, encouraging families to include

pears as they strive to make half their plate fruits and vegetables as recommended by the USDAs MyPlate initiative. The site features the Pear Buddies, a friendly and physically active crew of different varieties of pears, each with their own color, shape and personality. Theres even an interactive Living Orchard that changes with the seasons. While at the site, children are encouraged

to visit: The Pear Orchard, where kids will learn about the 10 different varieties of USA Pears, where they are grown, and how they get from the orchard to the grocer The Pear Kitchen, which is full of kidfriendly pear recipes, kitchen safety tips and an introduction to cooking tools and utensils The Pear LabWith arts and crafts, hands-on educational experiments, and fun games, this section is sure to be popular with kids and parents alike. Explore Pear World at www.usapears.org. Visit USA Pears on Facebook and follow @USAPears on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.

Everything is more delicious when its dipped in something yummy! Parents and kids alike will love this Cheesy Pizza Fundue. What You Need: 1 cup spaghetti sauce 6 oz. Velveeta Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2inch cubes 2 Tbsp. Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese 2 cups cut-up fresh vegetables (celery, carrots, cauliflower and red peppers) 4 slices Italian bread (1 inch thick), cut into 1-inch cubes Make It: Place spaghetti sauce in medium microwaveable bowl; cover with paper towel. Microwave

on HIGH 1 min. Stir in Velveeta and Parmesan cheese. Microwave 21/2 min. or until Velveeta is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after each minute. This should be adult assisted as bowl may be hot. Serve with vegetables

and bread cubes as dippers. Makes 4 servings. Variation: Serve with other dippers, such as breadsticks, cooked chicken and ham chunks, and cooked tortellini or farfalle (bowtie pasta).
Recipe and photo courtesy kraftrecipes.com.

Ridge and Valley Charter Schools 6th through 8th graders wrote a persuasive essay to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie requesting positive steps on a number of environmental issues. As a result, they were awarded a $300 State House Express grant from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University to cover transportation for a visit to Trenton. The persuasive essay was part of an integrated exploration of language arts, current events, writing skills and the global Earth Charter initiative. On March 11th the class group headed to Trenton where they received a guided tour of the State House and a closer look at New Jerseys legislative system. The highlights of their tour included visiting the State Senate, seeing the inside of the

Golden Dome, and taking a Make a Law class. The students were excitedly surprised to run into Governor Chris Christie along their tour. In the Make a Law class, the students acted as state representatives and experienced the process of passing a mock law about public smoking and litter. They found it interesting that the mock law was regarding an issue that was tied to many of the movements they are researching in school. The class group is currently learning about how ideas can become laws and how the social activism movements they are studying affect laws that are passed. This meaningful trip was yet another exciting experience that helped bring learning full circle as is the approach at Ridge and Valley Charter School. Ridge and Valley Charter School is a tuition-

free public school of choice open to any NJ child from kindergarten to eighth grade, with a mission of ecological literacy and sustainability. Class groups average 15 to 17 students. Students pursue integrated learning activities, frequently outdoors on the 16-acre campus that includes a sports field, meadows, wetlands, greenhouse, outdoor vegetable gardens and solar panels. Ridge and Valley Charter School is guided by the Core Content Standards and operates under the authority and supervision of the NJ Department of Education. The educational program integrates traditional academic subjects into a range of project-based learning experiencesoften geared to a students specific interests. For more information, visit ridgeandvalley.org.

eggs as part of his senior project. In the end, it is all about the chickens who have names: Princess, Bugsy and Teddy Bear. The impact of these birds on the school community is remarkable. Gina had seriously questioned the benefits of chickens to her students. She saw that one of her students was learning how to communicate on the iPad via speaking pictures. Gina said with a smile, I never imagined keeping 25 chickens as part of a teaching position, but it has been a great joy!

Eleventh Hour Rescue recently announced their plans to host Pours for Paws: Taste of Morris County for Food, Wine, and Beer Lovers on Wednesday, May 15th from 7pm until 10pm at the beautiful Meadow Wood Manor in Randolph. This event will benefit the rescues Building Hope project, which aims to raise funds to construct a new, permanent kennel to house some of the over 2,000 animals EHR saves from death row every year. In addition to officially kicking off the capital fundraising efforts, Pours for Paws will also celebrate the success and support of local restaurants and vendors. This celebration will bring together 20 to 25 of the top restaurants in Morris County, each offering a wide array of incredible tapas-style bites for guests to enjoy. The event will feature fine wines from around the world with varietals hailing from Italy, South America, and the United States. Craft beer from US and international microbreweries and special brews from New Jersey will also be featured. Guests will enjoy a stylish evening accompanied by the melodic

harmonies of JT Rooney and Glen Korzin, as well as Angie Stierch. Pours for Paws is the first official event aiming to raise funds for EHRs Building Hope project. Building Hope is the effort to fund and construct a new kennel to be a permanent home base for the organization for their adoptable animals. Over the last few years, EHR has been leasing a kennel facility to house some of the animals in their care and it is currently on the market to be sold. I lie awake at night worrying about the day that it does sell. Where am I going to put all these lives we have committed to saving? said Linda Schiller, Volunteer President and Founder.

Another issue is that the facility is old and run down. Some of the kennel runs are so beyond repair that it has rendered them useless. Schiller said, To me, an empty kennel run is a life that could have been saved and that is unacceptable. Its time to open new doors to our own home, to secure the future for our animals and save more lives. The goal of Building Hope is to create a comfortable haven and a place of hope. Cold concrete and chain link enclosures are a thing of the past. Specifically designed with dogs in mind, the state of the art facility will be a healthier environment physically and mentally. Equipped with heated floors for com-

fort, solid enclosures and sound proofing to reduce stress, sound, and airborne illness. EHR has already purchased land and buildings in Mount Olive on Rt. 46 and the organization is excited to kick-off the first big Building Hope fundraiser. Building Hope aims to raise $1.5 million to create this new home. Tickets for Pours for Paws are available for purchase at http://bit.ly/ PoursforPaws. Presale tickets are available until May 14th. Tickets will also be available at the door. EHR is a 501(c)3 that saves dogs and cats from death row. Visit ehrdogs. org, email EHRTasteof MC@optonline.net, or call 973-664-0865.

Sixty companies will be represented at a job fair open to the public to be held on Thursday April 18th on the SCCC campus. The day begins at 10:50am with a Career Symposium in the Student Center Theater in D Building followed by a Job Opportunities and Networking session from 12:30pm to 3:30pm in the colleges E Building Gymnasium. During the Job Opportunities and Networking session job seekers will have the opportunity to speak directly with companies and agencies represented regarding employment opportunities, including full-time, part-time and seasonal, summer jobs and internships. Job seekers are encouraged to dress professionally and bring an ample supply of their resumes. The following business sectors will be represented: Healthcare Finance & Banking Retail and Foodservice Manufacturing Technology Non-profit Resort/tourism Education and Recre-

ation Criminal Justice Speakers scheduled for the Career Symposium include: Guest Speaker: Hal Wirths, Commissioner, Department of Labor Keynote Speaker: Tammie Horsfield, President, Chamber of Commerce Featured Speaker: Joe Toscano, Managing Partner, CP Engineers, LLC Alumni Speaker: Andrew J. Manganiello, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Panel: Lydia Clark, Department Chair of Business Mary Ellen Donner, Assistant Professor of Business The Career Symposium will focus on the career journeys of the speakers who will share valuable insights and tips on career preparation and development, networking and job hunting resources available through the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development. For more information, contact Lee Harclerode at 973-300-2234. Visit Sussex.edu for companies in attendance.

For Sale: Roll top desk, Treadmill, Sony mega storage CD player, TV & stand, 700 CDs, Longaberger baskets, HD boots & jackets, Gym equipment, Teddy bears, Motorcycle jack, Knick-Knack shelves, Tool box, Tools, Flavia coffee brewer & much more. If interested, call 908-362-6051. (4/5) For Sale: Custom porch bench swing, oak: $175. Whirlpool Refrigerator: $100. Kenmore Gas Grill: $100. Antique Rocker: $75. Call 908-362-7703. (3/5) TAMA Rock Star Drum Set: pacific blue color, snare, base, floor & 3 toms, 3 floor crashes & HiHat, stool & music stand. $500. Call 908-343-1885. (1/5) Dining Room Hutch: $150 OBO. Email ksct4@yahoo. com for photos. Call 908362-8422. (1/5)

Understanding the human-companion animal bond with our pets today is quite simple. Now elevated to family status, the role of pets in our homes has changed tremendously and the owner-pet bond has grown dramatically stronger. Affection is shown differently between the species and in different ways. A widely held misconception is the aloffness of our felines. Cats raised by their human parents form close bonds with their caregivers and will follow them around the house, purring, gaze through squinted eyes, chatter, and head rubbing (bunting) against their owners legs as a display of intense affection. Our canine friends are a bit easier to under-

stand. Dogs overtly display fondness for their owners by excessive tail wagging, profusely trying to get our attention, whining, whimpering, bringing you things, etc. This bond could be so intensee as to cause some dogs to suffer emotional anxiety when separted from their owners. Because we feed and froom our pets much like their moms did it is thought that cats and dogs come to regard owners as maternal figures. This bond is extremely passionate, both owners and their pets grieve when separated by death. A Skye Terrier named Bobby sat by his masters grave in Scotland every day for 14 years until his own death. Another pup in Japan met the same train every day for years just as he did when his master was alive. How do you explain such devotion? What do you call a relationship like this? Whatever you want to call an extremely close and personal connection you cant avoid using the word love to describe it.
Courtesy of Leck Veterinary, 610-863-3111

Meet the not so big Kahuna Filicetti from Eleventh Hour Rescue. This tiny girl only weighs in at a petite 5 pounds. Shes an older senior girl who has no teeth remaining due to years of neglect. She is also deaf, so she is a special needs pup for sure. What she needs most is that special loving family to take her into their home and provide

her with a safe, warm, happy environment so she can enjoy life again. Currently in a foster home, the foster Mom reports that Kahuna is house trained, gets along with other dogs and people, too. She loves to be held and cuddled as much as possible. To read more about Kahuna Filicetti, to see more adoptable pets, or to make a donation, visit www.ehrdogs.org.

(NAPSI)The next time your family is thinking about travel, a few suggestions from Stephanie Oswald of Travelgirl magazine can help you go farther and spend less: Expert Advice Book travel during off-peak season to avoid large crowds in airports and popular attractions. Embrace technology, using age-appropriate and parent-approved apps, games, movies and books for children during flights. Also, headphones can eliminate noise for sleeping babies and young

children. Pack healthy snacks, such as your own mix of nuts, raisins and pretzels, to save time and money. Reduce stress by incorporating time into your schedule for random stops and exploring. State parks, famous homes and historic sites are scattered across the country. Kids can feel empowered when choosing an unplanned excursion. Consider borrowing or renting bulky items at your destination, such as car seats in rental

vehicles and strollers from family or friends. Email important travel documents to yourself to avoid search-

ing for them during your journey. Use your phone or tablet to easily access travel itineraries and important identification

(NAPSI)When its time for spring-cleaning, remember to include your car. Cleaning your vehicle inside and out prevents the buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt, reduces the potential for rust from road salt and helps ensure proper visibility needed for safe driving. To get started, remove any clutter from inside the car, including items that have accumulated in the trunk that can add extra weight and reduce fuel efficiency. The next step is to thoroughly clean and vacuum the interior and wash the windows. When washing the outside, include the tires, wheels, underside and fenders to eliminate any road salt or grime. Wheels and tires should be cleaned with a mitt other than the one used to wash the body. This will avoid contaminating the vehicles paint with debris. Wash in the shade and with a product sold specifically for cars. Wash one section at a time, thoroughly rinsing away the soap as you go.

Work your way down toward the front, sides and rear of the vehicle. Clean the fenders and bumpers last since they

will have the most dirt and grime that can contaminate the wash mitt. Give the car a final

rinse: Remove the spray nozzle from the hose and let the water cascade down the surfaces of the vehicle. To avoid water spots, dry your car with a chamois or other product made for drying. The last step is to wax the car. This should be done out of direct sunlight and every six months. It goes a long way toward protecting the vehicles finish and makes subsequent washes easier. For more information and tips, visit www. carcare.org.

documents. Kids travel happier when they have their favorite toy, stuffed animal or blanket with them. Join loyalty programs. Even if you only travel once or twice a year, join the frequent-flyer program for any airline you fly. You will not only accrue valuable miles for future trips, youll also be able to check in online, a huge timesaver. The same goes for hotel frequent stay clubs and rental car loyalty programs; they are free to join and offer great deals and discounts. For example, Alamo Rent A Car offers members of Alamo Insiders a guaranteed discount of 10 percent or better on every rental. It also recently introduced the Alamo Deal RetrieverSM on Alamo.com, which allows you to compare coupons and deals specific to your travel plans and then select the one that best fits your needs. You also receive the benefits of advance online check-in and self-service kiosks at 63 U.S. locations. You can find further advice and sign up for Alamo Insiders at www. alamo.com.

kids that grew up here are now coming back with children of their own, added Gold. Thats rewarding. Special talks and workshops will also be taking place throughout the day. Herbalist Lara Greenspan will lead a wild week walk, and Dr Jim Conroy and Basia Alexander, authors of Tree Whispering, will demonstrate their holistic, product-free

approach to healing stressed trees and plants. Naturalist Nicole Rose of Discover Nature will bring animal friends along for a kid-friendly Critter Talk. Three talented chefs will also do free cooking demonstrations. Delia Quigley will prepare wild foods, Charles Krause will cook up a variety of local vegetables, and Dorothy Salvatori will demonstrate raw food preparation. Participants will be able to learn about beekeeping, or prepare simple skin products

using kitchen ingredients with Jennifer Goldenberg. The Spirit Hoopers, a popular hooping troupe from Breathing Room, will perform. Wine tastings will be provided by Villa Milagro, local winery, and bread made with our own local grain will be available. Live musical entertainment will include Dave and Claire. A light farm lunch will also be available. A detailed schedule of specific talks and demonstrations and activities can be found at

CSGatGenesisFarm.co m. The farm is located on 41B Silver Lake Road in Blairstown. Approximately 300 members join the farm every year to receive a share of the harvest. Membership is open to all. Additional information about the farm is found on their website, CSGatGenesisFarm.co m or by calling 908362-7486.