Community members have come together to help alleviate the medical costs of 24-year-old local woman, Christie Benner,

by creating a fundraiser at www.you caring.com/Comfortfor Christie. Christie, a 2008 Bangor Area High School graduate, is currently battling lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, and her medical bills are quickly growing. Rich and Kim Green, owners of Little Creek Bar-B-Cue, are showing their support for Christie by hosting a benefit dinner on Saturday, February 8th. Rich and Kim will be selling half chicken dinners with two sides for $10 from 2pm to 8pm at the restaurant, located at 1004 Washington Blvd., Rt. 191 in Bangor. One hundred percent of the sales from these dinners will be donated to Com-

By Sarah Loren

fort for Christie. If I could give her a million dollars I would,

Kim said. Our goal is to sell 50 dinners, but if you cant make it out,

even a $10 donation would be awesome. Christies mom, Louise Benner, said, I want to thank Rich and Kim for helping Christie. They are wonderful, caring people, always ready to help our community. My family is overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from family, friends and the community, Louise said. Thank you. We appreciate the prayers, kind words of encouragement, cards and the generous donations. We're praying for a miracle. According to Facebook group Comfort for Christie, Christie was born with the liver disease biliary atresia, which led to many hospital stays as a child and eventually the need for a liver transplant. In 2010, one day after her 21st birthday, Christie

After overhearing a conversation between her mother and her older sister, Ashley, that Ashleys childhood friend, Lindsey, (all from Upper Mount Bethel, had lost her hair while battling leukemia, 10-year-old Abby Bauer wanted to help make things better. Her mother recalls Abby saying in a soft voice, Mommy, can I give

Lindsey my hair? That is when Abby made the decision she wanted to donate her hair to the Locks of Love foundation so she could help Lindsey and others benefit from a true donation from the heart. Abbys mother called a local salon, and explained the circumstances and Abbys

In the early 1900s, a store was built in Roseto that would become an icon. Founded in 1919, Ruggieros Market first opened next door to its present location where Mary Goffredo Ruggiero and her husband, Faust, lived. Mary tended to the store while Faust worked on the railroad. In 1925, they built their store at its present location, 88 Dante St., and both worked full time at the store. They began with general merchandise and when their son Joseph was discharged from the service, he began working there. In the 1940s and 50s they introduced meat products. Joe learned the butchering trade in Ohio and used these skills to work in the family business. He then took over the business and

By Maria Cascario

ran it until retirement in 2002. The following year his son David took over and he and his wife, Elena, own and operate the business today. We carry a variety of merchandise as well as food products. David said, We have everything from sugar, flour and fresh cut deli meats, to imported Italian ceramic dishes. Our store is the one that used to be on every corner years ago, but now we are one of the few remaining. Elana said, you can also buy fresh bread, fresh eggs delivered from Millers Egg Ranch, cannolis and cookies delivered from New York. Some of the unique merchandise you will find are pasta machines, espresso makers, pizzelle irons and Olivella brand

soaps and lotions imported from Italy. Ruggieros also has Stonewall Kitchen products such as jams, marinades, soaps and

more. An entire aisle at the store is dedicated to a wide variety of imported pastas, candies, torrone

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 Univer-

salist 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 610-863-6472 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 Birthdays to Ashley and Courtney Constable who are turning Sweet Sixteen; Hailey Sortore, on January 29th; Richard Kern and Donald Miller, on January 30th; Jeremy Miller, on January 31st; RoseElaine Castano, on Feburary 2nd; Josh Giaquinto, on February 3rd. 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 16th to January 22nd. Adult Fiction: Marchant, Catherine Miss Martha Mary Crawford; Vonnegut, Kurt Cats Cradle. Adult Non-Fiction: Boerens, Patrice TwoHour Cross Stitch; Grandin, Temple Animals in Translation; Holloway, Monica

Driving With Dead People; Janasak, Debbie A Year of Scrapbooking; Karmel, Annabel Top 100 Baby Purses; Wilson, Valerie Plame Fair Game. Young Adult Fiction: Lowry, Lois The Silent Boy. Young Adult NonFiction: Federman, Russ Facing Bipolar. Easy Non-Fiction: Ball, Jacqueline Do Mommies Have Mommies?; Discover People and Places.

Washington Elementary School, is one of three elementary schools in the Bangor Area School District, is continuing to support the success of therapy dogs. This program gives students the opportunity to read to dogs that are non-judgmental of student mistakes or difficulties. It further allows students to improve their reading skills and abilities while becoming excited about reading. Every Wednesday for the past four school years, handlers Joel and Naida Schwartz, of Mt. Bethel have been bringing their well-trained, German Shepard Therapy Dogs to school at Washington Elementary. This year, Hilda and Bella, Joel and Naida, all spend approximately one and a half hours helping students to become better readers. They listen to three students

at a time from four classrooms on each visit. By the end of the school year, they will have listened to approximately 200 children become a bit more successful at reading. In addition to being good listeners, Hilda and Bella have used their calming influence to work with students who are having a bad day. Sometimes just a wagging tail and a smile can change ones dispo-

sition. The children are also instructed to always ask if they can pet the dogs before they reach out to touch them. This teaches students safety since you cant always trust all dogs. During their last visit, Hilda and Bella became better acquainted with the new principal, Mr. Scott Davis. Mr. Davis has been on board at the school since August and he is still making new friend. Even if they are dogs!

Boy Scouts honored leaders for outstanding service during the Annual Council Recognition Dinner held on January 24th at the East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem. About 200 participants attended the Boy Scouts of America Minsi Trails Council Recognition Dinner and Annual Meeting. Eight local leaders will be recognized for their outstanding and distinguished services to the youth in the community and will receive the Silver Beaver Award. The Silver Beaver Award is presented by the Boy Scouts of America upon nomination of an individual by the Minsi Trails Council. This award is the highest award presented by a

local scout council and recognizes noteworthy service of an exceptional character to youth by a Scouting volunteer with the Minsi Trails Council, BSA. Jody C. Pysher of Bangor, was awarded this honor, along with seven other scout leaders. Three youth members will be receive awards, as well. Michael Linkowsky of Nazareth,

will receive the National Medal of Merit, Evan Dryfoos of Sugarlaof will receive the local Council Certificate of Merit, and Aiden Ramage of Stroudsburg will receive the local Council Certificate of Merit. The Medal of Merit is presented by the Boy Scouts of America upon nomination of an individual by the Minsi Trails Council.

At a recent meeting of the Bangor Borough Council, unanimous

conditional approval was granted to add a signature section to the Paul Farnan sign at Bangor Memorial Park. The proposal is to attach a permanent sign below the windows of the press box at no cost to the borough. It will include the signatures of former players and coaches who were members of the Bangor High

School football teams coached by Paul Farnan from 1975 to 1997. Council will vote for final approval during a regularly scheduled meeting in February. More information will follow in regard to the opportunities that will be available for former players and coaches to place their signatures on the sign.

On Saturday, February 8th at 2pm, the Blue Mountain Community Library will sponsor a special event to celebrate the birthday of George Washington, whose birthday is February 22nd. Local author, Jeffrey E. Finegan Sr., will present a reading of his book, Colonel Washington and Me. The book is about the extraordinary relationship between Washington and his mosttrusted servant and friend, William Lee, a slave purchased by Washington in 1768.

Through the eyes of Lee, the young reader will discover the behind-the-scenes story of how the original thirteen colonies went to war against the British Empire and established the United States of America. Jeffrey Finegan is a 1982 graduate of Seton Hall University. His interest in history spans from the Norman Conquest of England to World War II, with a concentration on George Washington, the American Civil War and historic architecture. He resides in

Finesville, NJ with his wife and two sons. This event will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 404 E. Mountain Ave., Pen Argyl. (Please park and enter in lower parking lot). The program targets children in grades 4 -6, as well as adults. Mr. Finegan will have copies of his book for sale and signing. Dont miss this opportunity to gain a valuable insight into the life of George Washington. Call Lisa at 610-863-3029 for information about this event or visit bmcl.org.

The Northampton County 4-H program is once again sponsoring the annual tree seedling sale. This sale benefits the 4-H youth in the county, supporting various programs such as camp, fair, trips, achievement banquet, and the clubs in general. The pick-up date for the trees is Saturday, April 26th, at various pick-up locations, including a location in Lehigh County. Trees must be ordered by March 1st to guarantee availability. The trees offered this year are Eastern White Pine, Colorado Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, Concolor Fir, Sugar Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, American Arborvitae, Japanese White Birch and White Flowering Dogwood. The tree seedlings are offered in bundles of 10 per type. New this year is an offering of fruit trees.

Being offered this year are Nittany Apple, Shrizuka Apple, Aunrise Pear, Seckel Pear, Raritan Rose Peach, Redhaven Peach, Redgold Nectarine, Artic Glo Nectarine, Montmorency Cherry, and Hedelfingen Cherry. The deadline for ordering the trees is March 1st. Orders received after that date will be filled on the availability of trees. The orders may be picked up at one of the following locations: Northampton County 4-H Center, 777 Bushkill Center Rd., Nazareth; Ace Hardware in Capital Plaza on Rte. 512, Bangor; the Neighbors Home and Garden Center, 38 S. Main St., Hellertown; The Farm Bureau, 300 Bushkill St., Tatamy; Millers Supply on Rt. 329, Northampton; and new location in Lehigh

County, Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rt. 873, Schnecksville. Each of these pick-up points, except the 4-H Center, will have order forms available. More order forms have been distributed around the county at various locations. If you are unable to obtain an order form, you may access a form at tinyurl/northtreesale14 or please call the Northampton County Extension Office, weekdays between 8am and 4pm, at 610-746-1970, to request an order form. All orders must be prepaid. For further information on trees and orders, please call Debbie at 610-7469784. The 4-H program is open to all youths ages six to eighteen years with a Cloverbud program for ages five to eight, and offers over 150 hands-on projects with an emphasis on leadership, citizenship and life skills. The program is staffed by adult volunteers; volunteers are always welcome. Anyone interested in obtaining more information on the 4-H program in general, or wishes to help as a volunteer, is asked to call Brad Kunsman, Northampton County 4-H Program Manager, at 610-7461970.

Hello fellow readers, Several of you like the idea of standing tall while picking vegetables and are intrigued by the decorative possibilities of vertical gardens. Ted from Allamuchy, NJ uses a cattle panel arched in half so he can walk under it and secures each corner with T-posts Voila!, an inexpensive arched trellis. A cattle panel is typically four by 16 feet, made of light flexible wire thats sturdy and sag resistant. Perfect for keeping livestock in and veggies on! Barb from Pen Argyl shared the idea of using a wooden pallet to create a decorative garden frame. At first I was skeptical, as historically they are treated with toxic chemicals to prevent the transport of invasive insects and plant diseases, as required by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). But companies are starting to use heat treatment rather than chemicals, which overcomes a big

part of the worry to reuse them. Pallets now require an IPPC logo, with initials if heattreated (HT) or fumigated with Methyl Bromide (MB), and includes the initials of the country where made. Stay clear if labeled MB or those without a logo at all. Wrap the back and sides of a pallet with two or three layers of black landscape fabric; wrapping the corners neatly like you would gift wrap. Use a staple gun, generous on the staples, to secure. Fill the frame from the open slats with a lightweight potting mix that drains well, compacting lightly as you go. Sedums and other succulents make an adorable display for low light, low water situations. Keep the soil moist and the pallet flat for a few weeks so the plants can get rooted. Then lean your artwork against the side of your house or deck rail. Beautiful! Of course consider your growing conditions and plant characteristics when choosing plants. Id be hesitant to grow edibles on your recycled pallet even if labeled HT and made in the US because no one knows if something toxic spilled on it, where it was warehoused or how it was transported. Call me cautious rather than a worrywart or fusspot. Maybe fussbudget is okay sounds thrifty! Garden dilemmas? askmarystone.com

(NAPSI)Your home is probably the biggest monetary investment youll ever make, so its a good idea to carefully discuss your houses siding choices with your home builder or remodeler. For homeowners, in particular, natures wild sidehurricanes, high winds, heavy rain, fire and floodcan be a big concern. Whats more, that sort of thing seems to be on the upswing: According to Weather.com, four of the top five costliest hurricanes have occurred since 2005, while Insure.com notes that six of the top 10 costliest wildfires have struck in the last 10 years. Thats why, if youre

considering a home building or remodeling project, its important to choose products that best protect that investment, including the siding. There are several materials you can consider, including: 1. Fiber cement, which consists of sand, cement and cellulose fiber 2. Masonry 3. Wood-based siding, including cedar and wood-composite 4. Viny. Compared with vinyl or wood-based siding, fiber cement siding is better formulated to handle the rigors of both everyday and extreme weather. Consider this: Fire: Fiber cement siding is noncombus-

tible, so it doesnt contribute any fuel to a fire. Conversely, vinyl siding melts and burns and wood-based siding burns. Impact: Fiber cement siding resists impact from objects blown by a storms high winds much better than vinyl siding. Flood: Fiber cement siding is a Class 5 flood-resistant material according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This differs from woodbased siding, which is not moisture resistant and prone to rotting. Certain types of fiber cement siding go even further to protect your home. For example, James Hardie siding is mix. As Americans continue a trend of moving their living space outdoorseven having full kitchens poolsidetheres a growing need for safe electrical service that is weatherproof. To help, there are RedDot While-in-use Covers. They provide waterproof protection while the appliance is plugged in and are the first products to comply with the new National Electrical Code and UL requirements for weatherproof enclosures. Energy efficient. There are now energy ratings for new homes similar to those on appliances. Thats where the new Carlon

engineered for the homes specific climate. That means for homes in cooler, wetter areas, proprietary additives are included in the formulation to decrease the water absorption rate and protect it from wet or freezing conditions. For those in hotter, dryer places, the formulation is tailored to protect the house from wind and dry heat. You can learn more about how the right siding can protect a home, even during a hurricane, at www.jameshardie.com/ protection. Draft-Tight NonMetallic Box comes in. It incorporates a drywall flange covered with a foam gasket to provide a draft-tight seal. This helps improve the efficiency of the heating and air-conditioning system. Using this easy-to-install, energysaving device will save your builder time and save you money. Most of these receptacles are available at home centers. Since electricity is involved, its best to ask your electricians advice. Electricians can easily get them through their local electrical distributor. For more information on these clever devices, visit www.tnb.com /receptacles.

(NAPSI)While you probably dont think much about electrical outlets, you should know that theres a whole new generation of receptacle wall boxes and accessories that can make your life easierand safer. Heres a look at just a few of the more interesting functional electrical wall boxes now available: A helping hand. The Carlon Retractable Work Surface Receptacle offers the convenience and safety of placing an electrical outlet on a work surface, where most electronic devices are used. When the outlet is not in use, it can be recessed below the work surface by pushing down on its cover; the outlet becomes accessible by pulling up the integral grip on its cover. The receptacle can be mounted easily with the holesaw

provided. No wiring is required, as a six-foot cord connects the receptacle to an existing outlet. Get it together. Wallmounted, flat-screen televisions look great but dont peek behind them at the wiring; chances are theres a nightmare of outlets and cables. The Carlon Recessed Work Plate is an innovative way of organizing this wiring to make a neat, attractive installation. It also has an exclusive template feature that makes accurately cutting the box opening easier. High and dry. Water and electricity dont

(NAPSI)One of the most important learning tools for students is broadband Internet at home. With it, students can tackle almost any assignment. Beyond benefits to education, the Internet offers a world of opportunity to the entire family, bringing quick and easy access to an endless variety of resources that make health care, job searches, saving money and staying in touch with friends or family as simple as the click of a mouse. For instance, with the Internet at home, you have the ability to: Search and Apply for Jobs OnlineWhether writing a rsum, learning interview skills, networking or finding and applying for a job, the Internet can be crucial for the job search. Check out sites such as CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com and LinkedIn.com. Access Health Care InformationWith the Internet, you can search for quality medical care nearby, read reviews of health care professionals, keep track of your insurance coverage and monitor your health progress on sites such a s http://health.yahoo.net and WebMD.com. Find Educational ResourcesNot only is the Internet a place to research and write homework assignments, it also offers students of any age the opportunity to explore everything from the GED test and colleges to getting student aid and finding a scholarship. Try CollegeSource.org, InfoPlease.com and CK12.org. Explore Financial Literacy and SupportGetting a credit card, creating a budget, finding tax

help, retirement planning or learning helpful tips on managing moneythe Internet, and sites such as MyMoney.gov and Mint.com, can help you get a better understanding of it all. Stay Connected-Email is a quick way to send and receive messages. You can also choose to get bills and bank statements electronically, instead of through the mail. Use Social MediaFor most, social media is a way for family and friends to stay in touch. Its also a way to find new recipes or learn parenting tips. Popular sites include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Skype. Unfortunately, not everyone has broadband Internet service at home. Many lowincome families struggle to afford it, while others simply dont understand the benefits the Internet can provide. In fact, in many low-income neighborhoods, broadband adoption rates are only around 15 to 20 percent, while in upper income communities, broadband penetration rates are as high as 90 percent. With 30 percent of the U.S. still without broadband Internet service at home, far too many continue to miss out on all the terrific resources the Internet can deliver. To help bridge this digital divide in America, programs such as Comcasts Internet Essentials have

been developed. Offering families with at least one child eligible for the National School Lunch Program inhome Internet for less than $10 a month; computers for less than $150; and free digital literacy training online, in print or in person, its the largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program in the country. In less than two years, Internet Essentials has connected 220,000 f a m i l i e s approximately 900,000 l o w - i n c o m e Americansto the power of the Internet. Speeds for customers are now up to 5 Mbps downstream and up to 1 Mbps upstream. The enrollment process has also been streamlined with instant approval eligibility available to more schools. To take advantage of this program, call (855) 846-8376 or visit www.Internet Essentials.com or www.Internet Basico.com Additional information can be found at http://learning.internete ssentials.com.

by Patricia Smith (NAPSI)During Medicares annual open enrollment period, which ends December 7, millions of Medicare beneficiaries must decide on their Medicare Advantage (MA) health plan for the coming year. While many factors go into deciding about a plancost, choice of doctors, benefits theres one important question Medicare beneficiaries should ask: What is the quality rating of the plans Im considering? A high rating means better health care and the best value for your money. Medicare uses a system called Star Ratings. Plans receive a rating of up to five stars. These ratings are based on things like how well the plan does at keeping people healthy by making sure they get the treatments, tests and vaccines they need to prevent illness, how quickly you can get an appointment and see

specialists, and how the plan responds to your complaints and concerns. For 2014, over a third of MA plans will receive four or more stars, which is an increase from 28 percent in 2013. Seven of the 11 MA plans earning five stars this year are members of the Alliance of Community Health Plans, an organization representing the nations leading health plans. You can learn more about MA plansand their quality ratingsusing the Medicare Plan Finder at www.Medi care.gov. MA plans are called Medicare Health Plans in the Plan Finder. The National Committee for Quality Assurance also evaluates quality in MA plans; those rankings can be found at www.ncqa.org. Ms. Smith is president and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans, www.achp.org.

(NAPSI)Coming soon to theaters internationally: A mass grave excavation reflects a fallen society in a film by Archival Magazine called The Frozen Theater. In this film, the life and work of Grisha Bruskin, an icon of the Soviet Underground, present a second history of life between the folds of the Iron Curtain. Irina Prokharova, The New Literary Observer, states, This generation didnt want to mutilate themselves with Soviet censorship and write and do exactly what was dictated to them by Soviet ideology. They were able to create a parallel world. A big part of the population in the Soviet Union were inmates, prisoners. Thats why prisoner became like a sportsman, worker, military man, young pioneer, etc. It became archetypal, Bruskin describes. You can explore The

Frozen Theater and other projects at archivalmagazine.com. Focusing on the social sciences including the visual and performing arts, political and economic theory, and anthropology, Archival Magazine is the gravity of art and age. The new multimedia publication produces film, television, and written content for theatrical and television release and Web distribution.

desire to donate her hair. They immediately made an appointment for her and were so encouraging. Alisha, Abbys stylist and the owner of the salon, was so supportive and was touched by the actions of one child trying to make a difference any way she could, as were all of the staff at the salon. They really went out of their way to make this a special day for her and let her know that what she was doing was a selfless and wonderful act. After all was done and many photos were snapped, Abbys mom sent one to older sister Ashley, now living in Massachusetts while attending college. She immediately posted the picture to Facebook for all, especially Lindsey, to see, with the simple yet heartfelt words that followed: If Locks of Love would let you pick who

you gave your hair to I know who she would choose. I have never been more proud of my sister than this morning when I got a text from my mom saying she wanted to donate her hair and give it to Lindsay Well, Linds, this is for you. Lindseys reply was even more touching. I want to give her the biggest hug in the entire world. Shes such an amazing little girl and has such a great heart. I cant explain how much this honestly means to me. Together they gave what can can only be described as a true gift from the heart.

received her first liver transplant from her brother-in-law Patrick, who donated a piece of his liver to Christie. Unfortunately, the transplant was unsuccessful and Christie was placed at the top of the list for another liver. That following January, Christie received a cadaver liver from a 16year-old boy. We were devastated for this familys loss and not a day goes by that we do not think about the gift they gave Christie, as stated on the Comfort for Christie Facebook page. A long recovery later, Christie was feeling well and enrolled in college, where she started thinking about her goals. She completed her first semester and began the next when she was diagnosed with PTLD, post transplant lymphoproliferative disease. About one percent of transplant

patients are diagnosed with this type of lymphoma, which is fueled by the Epstein Barre Virus. Christie has been undergoing chemo treatments since October. Despite the hardships and tribulations she has faced however, Christie remains positive and relies entirely on God for strength and comfort. Christie is truly my hero and inspiration, Louise said. Her love of life and gentle, kind spirit inspires me. I am amazed at her strength and courage to continue to fight these tough challenges. Her positive attitude and love of others motivates me to be more like her. Most of all I am in awe at the faith she has in God. If youd like to support Comfort for Christie, stop by Little Creek Bar-B-Cue on February 8th and help the Greens reach their 50-dinner goal. You can order your dinners ahead by calling the restaurant at 610588-3831. Those who wish to donate can also visit www.youcaring.com/Co mfortforChristie, where donations can be made in any amount. To follow and support Christie through her difficult and inspiring journey, join the group Comfort for Christie on Facebook.

and snacks. The Roseto Cuisine Cookbook by Anna Ruggiero, as well as gift certificates and gift baskets, are available all year round. In the frozen food section you will find homemade meatballs and braciole made in the store.

In the deli case there is a variety of fresh beef, chicken, pork and veal, all cut to order. They also offer their homemade sausage, Dietz and Watson cold cuts and a variety of cheeses and olives. Deli and relish platters are available and made to order. Monday through Friday, homemade hoagies and wraps are a customer favorite, as

well as coleslaw, potato, macaroni and seafood salads, along with their own antipasto salad. Every week, Elena posts a Recipe Of The Week at the deli counter. It features products from the store and the customers say they appreciate her ideas. Another plus is that Ruggieros staff is friendly and helpful. Ruggieros has been in

business almost a century and it looks like it will continue to be a destination shopping venue for years to come. Visit Ruggieros Markets website at Ruggierosmarket.com, or they can be reached at 610-588-2681. Their Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday, 8am to 5pm. They are closed Sundays.

Jacquelyn at 610-5882101. 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 visit Facebook at Rescue Fire Company Auxiliary. St. Peters Annual Oldies Dance: February 8th, 6pm to 11pm at the Blue Valley Farm Show Auditorium, Bangor. For more information and tickets, call 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 610-5997011. 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, 610-

588-9268 or 610-5889262. Free Chicken Parm Dinner at East Bangor United Methodist Community Church on February 2nd, 4pm to 6pm. For more information, call 610-5884453 or visit ebumc.org. Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church Silent Auction, Friday February 7th Snowdate, February 8th at 2445 Lake Minsi Drive, Bangor. Doors open at 5:30; bidding begins to close around 7:15pm. Food will be available for purchase. Crystal, floral arrangements, gift certificates, gift baskets and more! For more information call 570-897-6601 Comfort for Christie Benefit: Saturday, February 8th, 2pm8pm. Little Creek BarB-Cue, 1004 Washington Blvd., Bangor. Half Chicken dinner with two sides. Call 610-5883831 to place your take out orders. All Proceeds benefit Comfort for Christie. Visit www.youcaring.com/co mfortforchristie FMI. Bangor Public Library, Get Writing! Get Published! event: Tuesday, February 18th, 6:30pm. Presented by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. Sign up at the library circulation desk or by email at bngrpl@epix.net. Be sure to include your name & contact information in the body of the email.

Blue Mountain Garden Club Meeting, January 22nd at Mt. Bethel Diner, 7pm. For more information call 610-588-5764. The Diamond Fire Company is hosting 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 7th, from 4pm to 7pm. All events are held at the Diamond Fire Company Social Hall, 110 Main St., Walnutport. Columcilles Annual Womens Retreat Weekend: January 31st through February 2nd. Kirkridge Farmhouse, Bangor. Delaware-Lehigh Valley Amateur Radio Club Meeting: February 6th, 7:30pm at Bethlehem Township Community Center,