January 22, 2014

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Vol. 41 No. 11

Cody The Kid Quaglito Raises Money for Breast Cancer Research
It has been another fun and successful kartingseason for Cody The Kid Quaglito. Cody raced in the PA Dirt Kart Elite Series, traveling to four tracks around the state. He also races locally in Saylorsburg. This was his final season in his kid kart and to show thanks for all the support he has recieved over the past three years from his family and sponsors, Cody wanted to pay it forward. Cody decided to Kart for a Cure and raised $350 for the Breast Cancer

Dale Young/The PRESS Photo Courtesy of Tim Krysiuk/ Strictly Dirt Photography

Cody in his last race of the season, wearing his cancer ribbon stickers on his helemt. Research Foundation. Next season he is lookHe sold pink ribbon ing forward to racing his stickers that were put on Junior Clone and debutthe back of his helmet ing his Junior Champ for his last race. Kart.

The Bangor Area High School girls basketball team hosted their 2014 Pink Out game on January 17th, to help raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research. Both Bangor and Wilson posed before the game in their pink shirts. More photos can be found on page 15.

James Hilton Receives Eagle Scout Award

The Bangor Lions Club celebrated their 59th charter night on January 16th. Also in attendance were three Lions from the Richmond Club and Zone Chairman Lion Paul Stoudt from the Plainfield Club. On display at the meeting was the original charter and a plaque of past presidents. The Select Choir from Bangor Area High School provided entertainment. The Lions are presently looking for new members if interested in joining the oldest service club, call Lion President Peggy Reimer at 610-588-6041.

Roseto Troop #36 (Front L-R) Dan Hawes, Chris Flyte, Henderson Clsrk, John Mamarmus, Nick Del Asandro, Cody Gurski, and John Murdri, (Back L-R) Lenny Castellucci, James Fenny, Manual Klagus, Dillion Gower, Charlie Wayland, Shawn Hower, Benjamin Hawes, Tom Smith, and Eagle Scout James Hilton. On January 11th, James Hilton received his Eagle Scout from Roseto Troop #36. James was presented with many certificates and awards during the ceremony to honor his accomplishment. To obtain his Eagle Scout Award, James made outstanding improvements to Flicksville United Church of Christ where he attends. Joe Emrick, and Mayor Joseph Angelini presented a formal resolution from the Borough of Roseto that was passed by Borough Council on January 6th in honor of James' Eagle Scout. A representative for Lisa Boscola, and Joe Emerick, delivered resolutions to James during the ceremony. Ken Tillmand and Jennifer Newland, two Borough of Roseto Council Members, also attended the ceremony to support James' great accomplishment. The Hiltons now have two sons whom are Eagle Scouts from Roseto. Dan Hilton, James' brother, was an intrical part of the ceremony assisting in presenting his brother with the awards and speaking on behalf of the troop.

Annual Point & Shoot Pet Photo Contest

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Pennsylvanias Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now accepting applications, according to Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne. LIHEAP, which opened on November 4th, provides grants up to $1,000 to help low-income families pay heating bills during the winter months. LIHEAP also offers crisis grants of up to $500 for families who experience heating emergencies, such as a broken furnace, fuel shortage or utility termination. Local residents can apply for LIHEAP grants online at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website, at www.compass.state.pa. us. More information on the program is also available by calling the LIHEAP hotline at 1866-857-7095. The East Bangor United Methodist Community Church is sponsoring a bus trip to the Sight and Sound Theater in Strasburg to see MOSES on Thursday, May 1st. The trip includes the bus, show,

and smorgasbord dinner. For more information, call Jackie Williams Bartosh at 570-9926820, or Chris Ott at 610-588-1429. Fun Fridays are planned for February at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Poconos, 940A Ann Street, in Stroudsburg. Attendees are invited to express themselves through Crafts with Mary Lou on February 7th at 7pm, Open Mic Night on February 14th at 7pm, Poetry Workshop with Jim E. on February 21st at 6pm (please note earlier time), and Family Board Game Night on February 28th at 7pm. Donations are accepted. See www. uupoconos.org for more information. The Slate Belt Heritage Center has an ongoing project of collecting Oral Histories related to those living in the Slate Belt. If you or a family member have a story to tell or memories to share, please contact Mr. Walter Cole at 610863-6472 to set up a time for an interview. You may also record your own interview and

submit it to the Heritage Center by contacting Mr. Cole. The Heritage Center has a veritable compilation of many stories already in its archives and is looking to enhance the oral library. You may also contact, Karen Brewer at 610-588-8615 for additional information. The East Bangor UMC Singles' Ministry is holding a "Pasta Night" on Friday, February 7th at 6:30pm in the church Fellowship Hall, 136 W. Central Ave., East Bangor. RSVP by February 1st to Cindy at EBUMCSM@yahoo.co m, or call 610-6141477. Waggin' Tails Rescue needs volunteers and Fosters Waggin' Tails Pet Rescue urgently needs volunteers to help save more dogs. Waggin' Tails Pet Rescue is a group of volunteers based in the West End of the Poconos, who have been rescuing and rehoming dogs for years. Waggin' Tails Rescue takes pride in finding the best homes possible for its abandoned pets. Volunteers are needed

to help with adoption days, animal transport, fundraisers and more. Foster homes are also urgently needed in order to save more dogs and cats. Learn more by talking with the volunteers or by visiting www. waggintailsrescue.com. You will find the dogs that Waggin' Tails has for adoption, volunteer and foster applications and more. For additional information, email information@ waggintailsrescue.com Happy birthday wishes are sent to Dean Jennings, January 26th; Thomas Devery, January 27th; and Susan LaBar Stephen, January 28th. Happy Belated Birthday to Brandy Meixsell Devine, who celebrated on January 21st. We hope you had a wonderful birthday. We love hearing from you! Send your birthdays, anniversaries and tidbits of information to: The PRESS 1 Broadway Bangor, PA 18013 thepressmail@ gmail.com Like us on Facebook!

Here is a list of the new items added to the collection of the Bangor Public Library during the week of January 9th to January 15th: Adult Fiction: Corbett, David The Devils Redhead; McCleary, Kathleen House and Home; Rivers, Francine Redeeming Love. Adult Non-Fiction: Bielakiewicz, Gerilyn The Everything Golden Retriever Book; Coloroso, Barbara The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander; Complete Cookery Baking; Cooks Library Low Fat; Healy, Jane Your Childs Growing Mind; Homer The Iliad of Homer; Homer The Iliad: Spark Notes; LeComer, Laurie The Socially Included Child; Logan, Samuel This is For The Mara SalvaTrucha; Lucado, Max Outlive Your Life; The Rejection Collection:

Cartoons You Never Saw and Never Will See; 25 Years of Favorite Brand Name Recipes. Adult Large Print Fiction: Sparks, Nicholas Safe Haven. Young Adult Fiction: Sanjo, Riku Beet, the Vandel Buster Volumes 1 to 4; Yovanoff, Brenna The Replacement. Junior Fiction: Bauer, Steven A Cat of a Different Color; Crilley, Mark Akiko in the Sprubly Islands. Easy Reader Fiction: Tuchman, Gail The Beasts Feast Beauty and the Beast. Easy Fiction: Discover How Stuff Works. DVDS: Dr. Seuss Horton Hears a Who!; Edgar and Ellen: Mad Scientists Season 1; The Goonies; Joan of Arc; A Knights Tale; National Security; Planet of the Apes; The Thin Red Line.

Relax. Its not what you think. Its always good to know whats going on in your corner of the world, and its nice to have a local farm growing mushrooms. Thats right! Shiitake mushrooms are growing right now at Baarda Farms, a family-owned and operated farm, located on River Road in Mt. Bethel. The Baardas have always tried to listen to and meet the desires of their customers when it comes to what theyd like to see more of on the produce stands. So with much research, they have started to master the growing process of mushrooms, adding to the large variety of things they already grow. Why Shiitake? Shiitake provide extra flavor for any meal. Grown in hardwoods like oak, they can add a smoky flavor to any dish. The density of the wood helps create the flavor, so if a fruit wood were used, the mushrooms would take on a fruity flavor. Shiitake mushrooms are also blood friendly, which makes them great for circulation. Not to mention, theyre fun to cook with and delicious! Harvesting of the mushrooms are every 18 to 20 days, so a lot of precisely calculated

time goes into growing. Although the Baardas are still trying to get the growing pattern down to a science, they are trying to have the mushrooms available to their summer customers, right through the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Along with the mushrooms, Baarda Farms offers a variety of farm fresh produce. Customers are encouraged to Like the Baarda Farms Facebook page, where one will find out what is being harvested, along with great recipes. The Baarda family Denise, John, Marianne, Nate, Jake and Sabrinaare very proud of their labor of love. With the addition of the mushrooms, we can only see ourselves moving forward when it comes to bringing farm

fresh, locally grown products to our community, Denise said. Besides the mushrooms, Baarda Farms offers fresh brown eggs year round, along with honey produced from their hives, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, berries, tomatoes, kale, spinach, swiss chard, peppers, corn, squashes and so much more. We pretty much carry it all! Denise said. Were open year round for egg sales, and except for some cold crops, we usually have produce starting mid-April, such as lettuce, greens, beets and kale. Baarda Farms is a state-regulated farm with three inspections a year. The family also takes part in the Open Gate farm tours in October, where everyone is invited to walk around the farm and see how everything is run. We are proud that our farm is used as an example for new farmers coming into the field, Denise said. Baarda Farms is located at 1566 River Road in Mt. Bethel, along with Denises Designs floral and gift shop. They are currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. For more information, call the farm at 570-897-0135 or Like their Facebook page, Baarda Farms and Denises Designs.

There is an interested group of volunteers who want to see Slate Belt Heritage Days continue. The festival has a successful run of 13 years and generates interest within and outside the area. Enthusiasm remains high. They are looking for a leader to coordinate the entire event. Ideally, they would like to include a representative from each municipality, individuals to any group or organization to help plan and implement the festival. They would like to have activities going on in the various municipalities to create more regional interest. There is a basic format and list of past events, food vendors, programs, craft demonstrators, safety procedures and other details. Janet Miller, as past coordinator, is willing to provide guidance. Several organizations, including the Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce and the Slate Belt Heritage Center, are also willing to assist. A number of the crafters and vendors have inquired about the festival this year, as well. While we realize that it is too late to organize an event for spring or summer of 2014, it is not

too soon to do something in the fall or in 2015. In the past, food vendors and crafters have been based in Bangor and bus tours took visitors to other Slate Belt locations. In the future, perhaps the hub location could rotate between municipalities and highlight sites and activities there. This spring, the Heritage Center will roll out the Heritage Troup Map of the Slate Belt designed to draw visitors to and through the area. Theyve considered asking some of the sites,

which are located in all ten municipalities, to have special open house times and the 2014 Heritage Days, perhaps with special crafts or program particular to each site. These are some of the current ideas, but all ideas are welcome! All are welcome to provide guidance, recommendations for leadership roles, and attend the meeting on February 13th, at 7pm at the Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce office, 187 Blue Valley Dr., Bangor. For more information, call 610-588-1000.

By Senator Pat Browne ,16th District

One of the most fundamental responsibilities of legislators is to protect Pennsylvanias children and provide a safe environment in which they can live, learn and play. It is vital that we pass laws aimed at safeguarding children from abuse and prosecuting predators. It is also important that we encourage and protect those who speak up on behalf of victims and shield them from harassment and intimidation. I am pleased that the state legislature and the Governor placed a high priority on strengthening Pennsylvanias child protection laws. As part of that effort, through the passage of Senate Resolution 250 in December of 2011, the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protec-

tion was created. Following a series of public meetings, the task force released a report in November of 2012 that detailed its finding and recommendations for ways the state could improve the protection of children in Pennsylvania. The task force focused on both broad and specific recommendations. The state Senate and House of Representatives picked up the mantle from there and proposed, in a bipartisan, bi-cameral effort, a package of legislation to take the necessary steps to ensure childrens safety. Governor Tom Corbett recently signed into law 10 bills from the package of legislation. One of the bills signed into law last year, Senate Bill 28, was legislation I introduced. This measure

lowers the age of a perpetrator for simple assault from age 21 to 18; amends aggravated assault to include (1) causing bodily injury to a child under the age of six as a felony of the second degree and (2) causing serious bodily injury to a child under the age of 13 as a felony of the first degree; creates new offenses of false reports of child abuse and intimidation or retaliation in child abuse cases to protect any reporter, victim or witness who reports child abuse. This new law holds perpetrators accountable for their actions by increasing the criminal penalties for any person who injures a child. In addition, it creates the new offense of intimidation or retaliation in child abuse cases, which not only protects the victim, but also the reporter or witness who

acts on behalf of the abused child. These changes are important steps to increase the safety of Pennsylvanias young people, fully prosecute those who prey on children and to protect those who have a responsibility to report cases of child abuse. Some of the other bills that were part of the package include laws that increase penalties for luring a young child into a motor vehicle or structure (House Bill 1594), while another (Senate Bill 30) holds accountable individuals who make false abuse reports by establishing accountability and due process protections for individuals. Senate Bill 23 and House Bill 726 update definitions of perpetrator, child abuse, person responsible for a childs welfare and other related terms in the Child Protective Services Law.

Senate Bill 1116 provides for a multidisciplinary investigative team to be used to coordinate child-abuse investigations between county agencies and law enforcement, while Senate Bill 34 establishes a comprehensive system for professional educators who are investigated Senate Bill 34 establishes a comprehensive system for professional educators who are investigated and disciplined for misconduct in Pennsylvania. House Bill 321 directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to provide a sentencing enhancement for child pornography, based upon the age of the child victimized, the number of images possessed, and the nature and character of the abuse. House Bill 414 requires the court, in a custody proceeding, to consider factors related to child abuse and involvement

with child protective services, while House Bill 1201 amends the Judicial Code concerning child victims and witnesses, and reporting by district attorneys. Whether in school, on a playground or in a home, children and their parents should feel safe and should not have to worry about individuals looking to prey on children. We must continue to seek ways to prevent child abuse from happening in the first place and, if it does, we must have laws in place that adequately punish those who target children. These legislative measures are important steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. As we head into the new session, I am hopeful that more bills that were part of the child protection package will receive final passage.

Hello fellow readers, Oh goodie! Garden catalogues are here to tease our fancy and tickle our toes. Not sure what toes have to do with it, but it sounds exciting. And it is! John from Hope asked whether to grow veggies in those newfangled vertical garden systems and bags. Its fun and takes up less space, allowing edibles closer to the door in hopes of deterring the uninvited. Vertically grown veggies are easy to pick and the techniques can help eliminate weeding and ground insects. And by using layers of hanging and climbing, adding flowers into the repertoire, vertical gardens are beautiful. There are stackable pots, hanging planters or baskets, and wall bags. Even self-watering containers such as Earth Box kits, each with an overflow hole, an aeration screen, a water fill tube, two reversible mulch covers, plus instruction sheet. Phew. You may rather keep it

simple and use an existing fence as a vertical structure. Even chain link looks appealing with veggies climbing aboard; a bit tough to remove previous years vines to prevent disease, but doable. Woolly Pockets are a popular felt-like wall bag. Theyre pricey at $40 for a single called Wally One, and Wally Three and Wally Five pocket versions run $100 to $150. Made in America of recycled plastic bottles helps justify the splurge; and green walls are hip and stylish even filled with houseplants to create a green piece of art inside. Remember the trend of upside-down gardening? Topsy Turvy planters, a lousy likeness to Chinese lanterns, are still around. Theres a homemade version using a five-gallon spackle bucket Ive heard works better in terms of yield. But lets face it, both are ugly. And plants want to grow upward responding to gravity and light, so it seems cruel to plant them upside down. Theres always easyto-make tripod trellises made of bamboo that veggies can climb if added to pots or your traditional garden. Nothing like sticking your toes into good old fashioned dirt. Maybe just a gardeners thing? Tickle tickle! Garden dilemmas? askmarystone.com

(NAPSI)There is good news for homeowners who want to protect the safety and quality of their well water. There is a new set of information tools designed to help household well owners operate and maintain their wells to provide safe water for their families. The tools, which are being developed by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) through assistance from the U.S. EPA, include: A series of live webinars, a series of online lessons, a Private Well Owner toll-free hotline at 855420-9355, and a monthly Private Well Owner Tip Sheet.

To access these private well owner information tools and more, visit www.WellOwner.org. Testing, Treatment And More: Household water well owners are responsible for monitoring their water quality and taking action when necessary, said NGWA Public Awareness Director Cliff Treyens. To help, these new information tools are designed to give well owners next steps and guide them to the help they need. Among the specific areas covered by the new information tools are: Water testing Water treatment Well maintenance Water testing related to hydraulic fracturing

Groundwater protection Well construction Well flooding. The live webinars will be recorded for viewing at any time. Both the webinars and the online lessons will be added to the collection as they are done, so well owners are advised to check periodically for new offerings. Registration links for the webinars and online lessons will be accessible through the Well Owner.org home page, where visitors can also subscribe to the free monthly Tip Sheet. The telephone hotline is operational Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm Eastern Time

(except national holidays). To encourage learning, the online lessons and the webinars will have a short pre-lesson/webinar quiz and a postlesson/webinar quiz. Those who successfully complete the final quiz will receive a certificate of completion. There is no replacement for certified drinking water testing labs and qualified water well system professionals in providing accurate diagnoses and remedies for water quality issues, Treyens said. What these tools are intended to do is arm the well owner with important basic information and direction.

NAPSI)Having small children in your home means appropriate measures need to be taken to ensure they grow up in a safe environment. While childproofing different areas of your home such as cabinets and electrical sockets, dont forget to review your window coverings. Access to windows and dangling window covering cords can pose a safety hazard to curious children and even small pets. Tracy Christman, window coverings expert and Vice President of Vendor Alliance at Budget Blind, said, Window safety is often overlooked and its important for parents to be fully aware of all the potential dangers. Tracy offers the following useful tips to help parents get started: 1. Arrange furniture away from windows. Always set up furnituresuch as cribs,

chairs and toy chestsaway from window areas so that they cannot be used to access window treatment cords. In addition to installing window screens, placing furniture away from the window area also minimizes the risk of the child accidentally falling out of an open window. 2. Choose cordless window coverings. The Window Covering Safety Council recommends cordless window treatments in homes where children are present. Shutters and roller shades are inherently cordless and come in a wide variety of playful colors for your childrens rooms. You

can also select cordless cellular shades that provide insulation to help keep your kids warm in the winter. 3. Add safety features to existing window covering cords. Its sometimes easier to add safety features to existing window covering cords than to purchase new treatments altogether. Options include breakaway tassels that are designed to break apart under minimal stress, and cord cleats, which allow you to safely tie cords up and away from your toddlers reach. A growing trend in the window coverings industry is motorization.

Motorized window coverings provide convenience since they can be opened and closed using a handheld remote and also increase safety by eliminating the need for cords. Virtually any window covering can be motorized. For more information visit www. budget blinds.com/safety or call (866) 590-6341. Budget Blinds offers free inhome consultations and its products meet or exceed the American National Standard for Safety of Corded Window Covering Products set forth by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a public meeting and formal public hearing on Thursday, January 23rd, to outline and take public comment on a proposed Consent Order and Agreement with Cyprus Amax Minerals Company. The proposed agreement outlines plans to sample and, if necessary, clean up a property in Smith Township located near the site of a historical zinc smelter. The potentially affected property is currently owned by Cyprus Amax Minerals Company. The public meeting and hearing will be held at the Smith Township municipal building, located at 1848 Smith Township State Road in Slovan. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm. From 1917 to 1947, the

American Zinc and Chemical Company operated a zinc smelting facility near the property. Environmental emissions controls were not required during this time period and there is concern that air emissions may have deposited metals into the soil of the surrounding area. At the public meeting and hearing, DEP and Cyprus Amax Minerals Company will explain the proposed settlement and what steps will be taken to determine if any offsite soil requires cleanup. Representatives from DEP and the company will be available to answer questions. Those who wish to present testimony or comments during the public hearing portion of the evening should contact DEP Community Relations Coordinator John Poister at 412-442-4203 to register. There will also be an opportunity to sign up at the door prior to the hearing. For more information, visit www.dep.s tate.pa.us or call 412442-4000.

By State Rep. Joe Emrick/ 137th Legislative District

As a young boy growing up on Repsher Road in Bangor, I spent years fishing the Martins Creek, which ran right in front of my house. Thousands of you have enjoyed fishing the same stream for decades, as Martins Creek provides a great experience for all anglers and is considered one of the best trout streams in Pennsylvania. Sportsmen from outside the state have been known to come to Martins Creek and take advantage of this great fishing experience.

Unfortunately, this tradition, which has been handed down from generation to generation, is in danger. Stocking of Martins Creek may come to an end, thanks to a policy of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. By the end of this year, Martins Creek may be designated a Class A wild trout stream. If Martins Creek receives this classification, it will no longer be stocked, even though it has been stocked for decades. Fortunately, we have a voice in the process. From now until Friday, March 7th, the commis-

sion is taking public comment on this proposal. There are two ways to let your voice be heard. The first is to send a letter to: John Arway, Executive Director Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission P.O. Box 67000 Harrisburg, PA 171067000 The other way is to respond electronically. To do so, please visit www.fishandboat.com/r egcomments. You will be asked to provide contact information, as well as submit a Number of Rulemaking or Title of Notice. In that space, please type Class A Stream Stockanxious reality of so much to learn and do and so little time to do it in. Determined to discover meaning in her life and to make the most of the time she has, Sara becomes enamored of a human boy named Sam who soon grows fond of her as well. Friends and family of both, however, seem to disapprove.

ing Policy. In the space labeled Your Comments, type Please continue to fully stock Class A streams, especially Martins Creek. Martins Creek also runs through local sportsmens clubs. This proposal would have a definite impact on the youth fishing events they conduct and the future of fishing in our area. We have until Friday, March 7th, to state our case for continuing to stock Class A streams. Lets keep Martins Creek fully stocked. Contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission today. Teachers and parents can use the book as a teaching tool to help kids learn about friendships; and how to respect and embrace those who are different from themselves. For more information or to order, go to Amazon.com and type Paul Harvey, Jr.; A Tale for Everybody in the search tool.

(NAPSI)A heartwarming story of friendship that teaches children about love and acceptance has been created by Paul Harvey, Jr., author, playwright, pianist, composer, award-winning journalist, National Radio Hall of Fame inductee, and the son of legendary

radio and television broadcaster Paul Harvey. His first children's book, "E: A Tale for Everybody," with illustrations by Bryan C. Butler, is a charming and unusual story that introduces Sara, a precocious and curious cicada faced with the

(NAPSI)Like many professionals, youve worked hard at building your career. Work comes with enough challenges on its own, so dont let your eyesight let you down; instead, keep it focused. If youre 40 years old or older and beginning to feel that your ability to see close objects clearly is decreasing, you might be experiencing a vision condition called presbyopia and need correction to ensure you continue to see clearly at all distancesnear (book), intermediate (computer screens) and far (road signs). Presbyopia is an eye condition that occurs within the natural course

of aging. It involves the gradual loss of the eyes ability to actively focus on close objects such as smartphones, computers, books and restaurant menus. Its likely, once a person turns 40, that he or she will experience presbyopia at some point and will require correction. Symptoms of the condition can occur differently in each individual, but commonly include: The need to hold reading material at arms length Blurred vision at a normal reading distance Headaches or fatigue from doing close work.

The good news is that there are several options to correct presbyopia. However, the first step is visiting your eye care professional, who can help you select the best and most comfortable vision correction option to meet your needs. Many people dont know that contact lenses are an effective option to correct all stages of presbyopia. Specially designed multifocal contact lenses can provide the clear vision you need, and fit easily into your daily routine, whether at work or home, away on a business trip or even playing sports.

However, when selecting multifocal contact lenses as your vision correction option, keep these few things in mind: Be patient: The brain needs to learn how to adapt to new and different contact lens prescriptions. Because multifocal contact lenses are designed to help correct vision issues for all distances, near through far, correcting presbyopia takes time. Your eye care professional can help you understand and set expectations about the fitting process, which is important in achieving vision satisfaction. This includes testing the

contact lenses over one to two weeks. All-day comfort is key: The material that contact lenses are made of is important. Some multifocal contact lenses are made of material that has been shown to maintain comfort and vision even after a month of wear. For example, AIR OPTIX AQUA Multifocal contact lenses are made to maintain their comfort even after the end of a month of wear, which is key to satisfaction. For more information on conditions like presbyopia, or for a free trial pair of contacts, go to www.airoptix.com. and choose up to three verifiers, trustworthy individuals who will notify the service if anything unfortunate happens to you. Then, Heart Writing sends your notes by mail or e-mail. Anyone can join, free with a 14-day trial, membership at www.HeartWriting.com.

(NAPSI)An increasing number of people have discovered a way to tell their families and friends how much they care for themeven when theyre not able to

actually say so. Thats because these folks have found an ingenious new service that lets you create notes for the most important people in

your life and then, once you pass away, each person receives the letter you left. You can say anything, how much you love them, how proud you

are of them, a piece of advice, or just something you never got around to saying. Your note can become a precious keepsake, handed down for generations. Once you sign up, you simply write your notes

By State Rep. Marcia Hahn 138th Legislative District

Pension and property tax relief top the list of

critical issues I am hopeful the General Assembly will take on in 2014. Fortunately or unfortunately, the two are intertwined and have a tremendous impact on wallets of Pennsylvania taxpayers. When the budget for 2014-15 is prepared, negotiators will have to factor in the $41 billion unfunded liability currently held by the State Employee Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees Retirement

System (PSERS). Employer contributions are set to increase from 16.9 percent to more than 21 percent and hit a potentially crippling 32 percent three years from now. Statewide, the PSERS pension obligation for the coming fiscal year will be approximately $1.4 billion, split nearly evenly between the school districts and the state. The options for making up that shortfall are an unappealing combina-

tion of program and staff cuts in our public schools and/or hikes in school property taxes. With school districts having been made aware their pension costs will climb to 21.4 percent of payroll in the 2014-15 school year, the word is out. Fortunately, there are also legislative options that can and must be acted on as soon as possible. Pension reform legislation currently exists in both the House and Senate. House Bill 1350 sits with the House State Government Committee, which passed House bills 1352 and 1353 six months ago. Senate Bill 922 was passed in June

by the Senate Finance Committee and its fiscal impact is being evaluated by that chambers appropriations committee. This legislation would place new hires into a defined contribution plan and protect retirement benefits already accrued by current employees while making needed changes to future benefits for employment not yet served for all employees. We are still waiting for Rep. Glen Grell (RCumberland) to have his Three Buckets pension reform plan drafted into bill form. In short, his concept involves borrowing $9

billion to save $15 billion over 30 years in taking advantage of low interest rates. For more details, please visit www.RepGrell.com. House Bill 1189 sits with the Senate Finance Committee following House passage last October. The local option property tax bill received overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle. While property taxes are not a statewide problem, they are also not an issue exclusive to either party. During the process of voting House Bill 1189, an attempt was made to amend in the much talked-about House Bill 76. This attempt failed due to a number of shortcomings, the majority of which were errors in language that needed to be cleaned up. For the record, I voted in favor of the amendment. Its counterpart, Senate Bill 76, supposedly has addressed many of those problems. The bill, however, has yet to be voted by the Senate Finance Committee. The pension crisis is a threat to our constitutional obligation to educate our students. Failure to address the problem means more of what is allocated for basic education funding will be consumed by pension costs. The result is either less money for actual education or less disposable income for the Pennsylvania property owner. In the meantime, addressing the pension crisis will take some of the stress off the issue and allow us to effectively invest in our students.

Stells Sirka turned 100 years old on December 28th, 2013. She was born in Dunellen, PA, but lived most of her life in Struthers and Campbell, Ohio. She has resided with her son, John, and daughter-inlaw, Anita of Bangor, for the last 13 years. A special mass was cekebrated for her on December 27th at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, with Father Stephen Maco giving

her a special blessing. She is the oldest member of the parish. Following the mass, a breakfast was held in the church hall. On Sunday, December 29th, a luncheon was held at home with family and some close friends. She had all 100 candles on her birthday cake and lots of help blowing them out! Stella has one son, John, five grand children, and ten greatgrandchildren.

By Andrew Staub// PA Independent The state House has approved legislation barring municipalities from penalizing residents or landlords for calling police to their properties. Lawmakers want to avoid the unintended consequences resulting from ordinances such as one in Norristown, which affect victims of domestic violence who call 911. The House passed the bill 197-0, sending it to the state Senate for consideration. On June 23rd, 2012, Lakisha Briggs exboyfriend used a shard of glass to stab her in the neck. The attack was the culmination of a pattern of domestic abuse, some of which went unreported. Briggs feared eviction

under Norristowns three-strike ordinance, according to a federal lawsuit. State Rep. Todd Stephens, RMontgomery, introduced the legislation. The House vote (Tuesday) was a strong vote both for victims of crime and for civil liberties, Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. The people have a fundamental right to contact the police in an emergency. The House stood for that concept today in passing this bill. EMERGENCY ACTION: A 2012 domestic assault in Norristown., has prompted one lawmaker to target nuisance ordinances.

Norristowns ordinance allowed the borough to penalize a tenant who called for police assistance three times in four months. After police twice responded to her home for incidents involving her ex-boyfriend, Briggs, fearing eviction, decided not to call when he showed up again, according to her lawsuit. He attacked Briggs again, leaving her bleeding with a large gash on her neck. She still didnt call police; a neighbor did, according to the lawsuit. The ACLU sued Norristown on Briggs behalf in April. I hope that municipalities do not intend for victims to be negatively impacted by these ordinances, but thats the reality and thats the situation in our Norristown lawsuit, said Andy Hoover, legislative director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Norristown has rescinded its ordinance and replaced it with a similar law that allows for escalating fines against landlords of problem properties. Norristowns administrator, Crandall Jones, who was not in the position when the ordinance was enacted, did not return a message seeking comment. Neither did Borough Council President William Caldwell. Councilwoman Linda Christian described the second iteration of the three-strike ordinance as an attempt to clear up the law. I know that when we developed the ordinance it was never written where it would

penalize or further victimize individuals involved in domestic violence, Christian said. About 23 other Pennsylvania municipalities have ordinances similar to Norristowns, says a news release from the ACLU, citing the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Wilkes-Barre has fallen under scrutiny in recent months for its controversial onestrike ordinance, which allows it to shutter a rental unit for six months if its the scene of drug or weapons violations. Drew McLaughlin, municipal affairs manager for Wilkes-Barre, said the city usually uses its ordinance after police investigate a narcotics or weapons offense, not when people report an emergency. We dont want to deter anybody from calling 911, he said. Its about responding to an issue thats unaddressed by an owner or a landlord. Critics of the measure say it violates dueprocess rights. Stephens pointed out the narrowly tailored bill doesnt aim to stop municipalities from enforcing ordinances in cases that dont involve the victim of abuse or crime, or in emergencies. Municipalities will still retain the right to go after true nuisance properties and true nuisance property owners, Stephens said. They just will not be able to penalize someone whos the victim of a crime or domestic violence.

Contest entry is free. Photos of all animals are accepted in color or black and white, but will be only be printed in color as space permits. Categories will be Best Overall, Funniest and Most Original. A winner from each category will receive prizes from our sponsors. The deadline for entries is March 27th. Photos will be printed through April 2nd. The winners will be announced in the April 3rd edition. To enter the contest, submit your photo with your name, address and phone number to: The PRESS, 1 Broadway, Bangor, PA 18013 or you can email your photo to thepresspetsPA@gmail.com. Photos will not be returned. One photo per pet is permitted.

Bangor. Boomer's Angels dog adoption day is being held on January 26th on Route 209 in Brodheadsville from 11am to 2pm. Come meet some of the beautiful loving dogs that Boomer's Angels have for adoption! For more information, visit Boomers Angels.com, and find them on Facebook, or call 570-350-4977. Camp Papillon will hold a Meet and Greet Adoption Day from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, January 26th in Brodheadsville. Come meet the dogs, cats and critters that Camp Papillon has for adoption. Fill out an application or apply to be a foster family. For more information, email v o l u n t e e r @ camppapillon.org, visit camppapillon.org, or call 570-420-0450. Columcilles Annual Womens Retreat Weekend: January 31st through February 2nd. Kirkridge Farmhouse, Delaware-Lehigh Valley Amateur Radio Club Meeting: February 6th, 7:30pm at Bethlehem Township Community Center, 2900 Farmersville Rd., Bethlehem. Visit www.DLARC.org for more information. Pancake Breakfast: February 8th, 8am to 11am at Bangor Area Middle School, 5 Pts. Richmond Rd., Bangor. For more information and tickets, call Sue at 610-588-3041. Rescue Fire Co #1 Auxiliary will be holding a 25 Cent Bingo, at the social hall on 1st Street in Bangor. Saturday, February 8th from 2pm to 6pm. Doors open at 1:30pm. Children welcome with an adult, refreshments will be available for purchase. For details email merrybear 941993@yahoo.com or on Facebook at Rescue Fire Company Auxiliary. St. Peters Annual

Blue Mountain Garden Club Meeting, January 22nd at Mt. Bethel Diner, 7pm. For more information 610588-5764. The Diamond Fire Company is hosting a Homemade Pot Pie Supper, January 24th from 4pm to 7pm, a Flea Market on January 26th, 8am to 2pm. a Super Bowl Sunday food sale on February 2nd, 2pm to 5pm (Take-Out Only), and a Fish Dinner on Feburary 7, from 4pm to 7pm. All events are held at the Diamond Fire Company Social Hall, 110 Main St., Walnutport. Families First SnoBall Fundraising Dinner Dance: January 25th, 6pm to 12am at the Blue Valley Farm Show Auditorium. For more information and tickets, call Frank at 610-8633688.

Oldies Dance: February 8th, 6pm to 11pm at the Blue Valley Farm Show Auditorium, Bangor. For more information and tickets, call Jacquelyn at 610-588-2101. St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish is sponsoring a trip to the casino on Thursday, February 13th. This trip will be taking the place of the monthly trip to Atlantic city. For more information, call Mary Lou DeRea-Lohman at 610-863-4846 or 610844-4630. Seussical the Musical: February 27th and 28th, and March 1st at Bangor Area High School, 5 Pts. Richmond Rd., Bangor. For more information and tickets, call 610599-7011. Blood Drive, March 9th, 11am to 4pm. Hope UCC, 2nd and Cherry St., Wind Gap. Craft & Home Based Vendor Show, April 5th, 9am to 3pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 404 Broadway, Bangor. Free admission

and parking. Raffle, door prizes, snacks and lunch available. For more information call 610-588-9211, 610588-9268, or 610-5889262. Free Chicken Parm

Dinner at East Bangor United Methodist Community Church on February 2nd, 4pm to 6pm. For more information call 610-588-4453 or visit ebumc.org.

Jennifer Grube, Founder and CEO of F.A.C.E.S.Faith, Accountability, Community, Education, Servicesrecently announced an association with Eagle Media Group and its CEO, John Calvaresi, to launch a national motorsports related campaign titled "Race to End Child Abuse". When asked about the reason for their association, Grube said, "Child Abuse Prevention and violence impacts all of us and crosses all economic, social and racial lines. In this case, principles, passion and a nudge from the man above birthed an unlikely partnership between an enthusiastic Northern Social Work

Administrator, a dynamic, Mid-Western motorsports media owner, and legendary racing icons to support children without a voice. Now that, my friends, is fantastic!" Once headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, referred to as "The heart of NASCAR" and closely associated with many marketing and philanthropic endeavors of that organization, Calvaresi is enthusiastic and eager to launch this campaign. He stated "It's my pleasure to be integral in associating motorsports with this amazing organization that has been so successful in their efforts to stop child abuse before it happens through coun-

seling and educating at-risk families before the abuse takes place." He went on to say, "In my opinion, more organizations should take this proactive approach...it's so much better to stop abuse before it begins than to treat the victims and jail the perpetrators after the fact" As the campaign is motorsports related, it is championed by the Mattioli family, owners of Pocono Raceway, who have made their facility available for an invitation only launch party slated to take place early this year. FX Marketing Group, publishers of the Official NASCAR Hall of Fame Yearbook, are also supporting the

campaign through the sale of advertising in their Hall of Fame Magazine, as well as giving special consideration to the campaign's sponsors at the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition, Fox Sports television network has agreed to participate by extending exposure for the campaign and its sponsors during their live NASCAR Hall of Fame telecast and during other motorsports related programming. F.A.C.E.S.Faith, Accountability, Community, Education and Services, is a community benefit organization with over 125

years of experience in human services with a vision to end child abuse. They move toward this vision through counseling, education, outreach and prevention. Uniquely, F.A.C.E.S. is not dependent on federal or state funding. Thus, private support enables the organization to provide quality,

client-driven services impacting dozens of children and families in the Northeastern US. For information on how you or your company might become associated with this very worthwhile cause contact John Calvaresi at 303-564-7766 or Jennifer Grube at 85553-FACES (82237) or visit www.f-a-c-es.org.

(NAPSI)If you or someone you care about feels theres a slim chance of keeping fit, it may be because of certain common but false ideas. Heres a look at a few, as well as some facts about weight loss and nutrition. 1. Myth: Healthy eating costs too much. Fact: Eating better doesnt have to cost a lot. Try these ideas for healthful eating on a budget: Use canned or frozen fruits and vegetables, which may provide as many nutri-

ents as fresh ones at lower cost. Rinse canned veggies before you cook them to remove extra salt. Choose fruit canned in its own juice or packed in water. Canned, dried or frozen beans, lentils and peas are healthful sources of protein that last a long time and may not cost much. 2. Myth: If I skip meals, I can lose weight. Fact: Skipping meals may make you feel hungrier and lead you to eat more than you normally would at

your next meal. Consider these ideas: For a quick breakfast, make oatmeal with low-fat milk, topped with your favorite fruit. For healthful snacks on the go, pack a small lowfat yogurt, wholewheat crackers with peanut butter, or veggies with hummus. 3. Myth: Physical activity only counts if I can do it for a long time. Fact: The U.S. government recommends 150 to 300 minutes of activity each week, but you

dont need to do it all at once. To benefit, you can exercise for as few as 10 minutes at a time. Here are some ways to fit activity in: If youre in a safe, well-lit area, get off the bus or train one stop early and walk the rest of the way to where youre going. Plan a game of basketball or soccer or go dancing with friends. For a free copy or more information, call (877) 946-4627 or visit www.win.niddk.nih.gov or www.facebook.com/ in.niddk.nih.gov.

VACANT/EXPIRED POSITIONS BOROUGH OF BANGOR The Borough of Bangor will be accepting Letters of Intent from interested and qualified person to fill the vacant and/or expired position in the Borough, including but not limited to: Planning Commission; Vacancy Board; Disruptive Conduct Board of Appeals (Owner/Operator/Agent/ Manager-Alternate). Interested persons must be a resident of Borough. Also Accepting Letters of Intent for the Bangor Area Commercial & Industrial Development Authority (need not be a resident of the Borough). Letters should be sent to: Borough Secretary, Borough of Bangor, 197 Pennsylvania Acenue, Bangor,PA 18013. Persons should respond no later than Febuary 3, 2014.