The 69th annual Comunale Family Reunion

was held August 10th at

the Roseto Ball Park.
Announced
at
the
reunion were the recipients of the scholarship
awards.
During the meeting, the
winning essays were
read by the following
awardees:
Autumn
Williams,
daughter of Justine
(Comunale) and Scott
Cesari and granddaughter of Charlie and
Connie Comunale, was
one of the three awarded
the Comunale scholarship. Autumn, a 2014
graduate of Bangor Area
High School, will be
attending Northampton
Community
College
where she will major in
Special Education.
Daniel Feehan, son of
Joseph and Marjorie
Feehan,
was
also
awarded the Comunale

scholarship. Daniel, a
2014
graduate
of
BAHS, will be attending York College of
Pennsylvania to major
in Business Administration.
Alison Feehan, daughter of Michael and
Donna Feehan, was
also
awarded
the

Comunale Scholarship.
Alison, a 2014 graduate
of Monroe-Woodbury
High School, Central
Valley, New York will
be attending Bryant
University in Smithfield, Rhode Island to
major in International
Business.
The Comunale Family

Scholarship
program
was established to
provide college grants
to descendants of Frank
and Rosario Comunale
who migrated to our
country from Salerno,
Italy in the early 1900s.
Recipients of the award
must be recent high
school graduates planning to attend college
full time. Eligibility
requires a written essay
read at the reunion that
portrays their lineage to
the Comunale family,
academic achievement
and financial need.
Next years scholarship is open to all high
school graduates who
meet
the
criteria.
Scholarship papers are
available from your
high school guidance
counselor or by contacting Mary Jo Krafty at
610-588-6605. Deadline to apply is May 1st,
2015.

Bangor Class of 1952

is looking for the
addresses of: Shirley
Roberts
Bruch,
Barbara Seiple Yetter
and Marie Timmins
Jordon to contact for
class reunion if you have
any information please
call Marge at 610-8634593.
A medical fund has
been set up for a
Saylorsburg man and
his family. Cliff Cornell
was severly injured in an
ATV accident on July
22nd.
He
suffered
severe brain trama and is
currently in a coma. he
is married and a father
of two. If interested in
donating, kindly visit
w w w . g o
fundme.com/chnp7w.
Flicksville UCC is
offering
summer
Sunday
worship

services now until

August 31st. Worship
will begin at 9:30am.
The regular fall schedule
will resume on Sunday,
September 7th.
Sponsors and players
are needed for the
Slate Belt Chamber of
Commerce
16th
Annual Longaberger
Basket and Vera Bradley Purse Bingo on
September 7th at the
Bangor Elks Lodge. For
more
information,
please call 610-5881000.
Boy Scout Troop 41 of
Bangor is looking for
any and all past leaders
and youth members.
Whether the involvement was in East Bangor
or the current Johnsonville site, they would
like your participation to
help celebrate the 75th

anniversary on September 13th. Contact Dave

Karner at 484-809-1796
for further information.
Hope UCC Food
Pantry is in great need
of donations. Items
include any kind of
drinks
(in
plastic
bottles) or drink mixes,
such
as
Kool-aid,
lemonade and iced tea;
and all canned fruits and
canned meats (ham,
tuna, chicken, spam,
sardines, canned stew,
chili). All donations can
be dropped off Monday
through Thursday, 8am
to 1pm. All monetary
donations may be paid
to Hope United Church
of Christ, P.O. Box 425,
Wind Gap, PA 18091.
The churchs summer
hours are currently in
effect. Services are
9:30am with Communion the first Sunday of
the month and there is
no Sunday school.
Boys between the
ages of six and 17
interested in joining
Boy Scouts and Cub
Scouts should call Joe
Banghart for more
information at 610588-2307.
St. Johns Cemetery
is looking for dona-

tions. This year the

donations will be used
to repave the cemetery
roads, due to pot holes
and black top breaking
up. Donations can be
forwarded to Carol
Hummel c/o St. Johns
Cemetery, 136 Messinger St., Bangor.
Happy
birthday
wishes are sent to
Diane
Albanese,
August 20th; Nancy
Laubach and Chad
Zeruth, August 21st;
and Little Frankie
Castano, August 23rd.
Looking for something to do this weekend? Page four is full of
exciting events and
carnivals going on
around the Slate Belt.
Having a yard sale
this summer? You can
advertise it for free now
through
September
17th. See the form on
page 17.
We love hearing from
you! Send your
birthdays, anniversaries and other tidbits
of information to:
The PRESS
1 Broadway
Bangor, PA 18013
thepressmail@
gmail.com
Like us on Facebook!

Adult Fiction: Dickson,

Nicole Here And Again;
Fluke, Joanne Dead Giveaway; Frank, Dorothea
Benton The Hurricane
Sisters; Gabaldon, Diana
Written In My Own Hearts
Blood; Gaiman, Neal Good
Omens; Galbraith, Robert
The Silkworm; Gingrich,
Newt Grant Comes East;
Harris, Joanne Coastliners;
Hilderbrand, Elin The
Matchmaker; James, E.L.
Fifty Shades Of Grey;
Korelitz, Jean You Should
Have Known; Mcbride,
James Miracle At St. Anna;
Michaels, Fern Forget Me
Not; Palmer, Michael
Silent Treatment; Patterson, James Invisible;
Pekkanen, Sarah These
Girls; Siddons, Anne
Rivers The Girls Of
August; Slaughter, Karin
Cop Town; Straub, Emma
The Vacationers; Walters,
Minette Acid Row.
Adult
Non-fiction:
Adams, Noah Far Appalachia; Angelou, Maya The
Heart Of A Woman; Carter,
Mary Never Stop To
Thinkso I Have A Place
For This; Dsouza, Dinesh
America: Imagine A World
Without Her; Kaysen,
Susanna Girl, Interrupted;

Lucado, Max Fearless;

Lucado, Max Grace;
Mckinney, Devin The Man
Who Saw A Ghost: The
Life And Work Of Henry
Fonda; Newton, Jim Eisenhower: The White House
Years; Norville, Deborah
The Power Of Respect;
Rosaforte, Tim Raising
The Bar; Steers, Edward
Dont You Know Theres A
War On?; Walton, Sam
Sam Walton, Made In
America; Wyman, David A
Race Against Death.
Adult Large Print
Fiction: Lindsey, Johanna
All I Need Is You; Woodiwiss, Kathleen Petals On
The River.
Young Adult Fiction:
Butcher, A.J. Spy High:
Mission One; Golden,
Christopher The Wild;
Korman, Gordon Dive
Trilogy; Lu, Marie Legend;
Paratore,
Coleen
Dreamsleeves;
Smith,
Roland I, Q.; Stroud,
Jonathan The Amulet Of
Samarkand;
Supplee,
Suzanne Artichokes Heart;
Taylor, G.P. The First
Escape; Voelkel, Jon
Middleworld.
Junior Fiction: Appelt,
Kathi The Underneath;
Clements, Andrew Fear
Itself; Clements, Andrew
The Whites Of Their Eyes;
Healy, Christopher The
Heroes Guide To Storming
The Castle; Wallace, Bill
Red Dog.
Junior Non-fiction: Rey,
H.A. Find The Constellations.
Easy Reader Fiction:
Lopshire, Robert Put Me In
The Zoo.
Easy
Non-fiction:
Mccloud, Carol Have You
Filled A Bucket Today?
Dvds: Alias Nick And
Nora; Cars 2; Fahrenheit
9/11; Ice Age : Dawn Of
The Dinosaurs; Outrageous
Fortune; Over The Hedge.

The Friends of the

Bangor Public Library
Summer Book Sale:
August
19th-22nd,
6pm-10pm, & August
23rd from 12pm until
closing (Bag Day w/ $5
per bag). Held in the
large gray display building on the upper grounds
of BVFS. Bangor High
School yearbooks will
also be available. FMI,
contact Karen Brewer at
610-588-8615.
The Slate Belt Young
at Heart Club Meeting: August 21st, 1pm.
St. Elizabeth's Church
Hall. Open to all 55+
regardless of religion,
race, creed, location, etc.

FMI, call Mary Lou

DeRea-Lohman at 610863-4846 or 610-8444630.
The Friends of HJP
Park & Open Space
Dog Park Committee
Benefit Flea Market:
Saturday,
August
23rd,
9am-4pm.
PMTLC Park, Rt. 611 &
Rt. 715, Bartonsville.
Vendors
wanted.
Basket raffle, pet first
aid kits, pet adoption
opportunities & Hot
Dawg Caf. Proceeds
benefit HJP Regional
Park Dog Park, Bartonsville
Woods
Rd.
(Golden Slipper Rd.),
Bartonsville. FMI, call
Sophia at 570-872-9135
or e-mail purple46
@ptd.net.

Knowlton Fine Arts

Homeschool
Co-Op
Orientation: August
29th, 10am. FMI, call
908-619-9621 or visit
knowltonfinearts.org.
Free Country Music:
Saturdays, 12pm-8pm.
Alburtis Park. Visit,
www.alburtispark.net
Bangor High School
Class of 1947, 67th
Reunion: September
11th, 1pm. William
Penn Hwy., Bethlehem
Twp. RSVP by September 1st. FMI, call 610588-1363 or 610-5884541.
Delaware-Lehigh
Amateur Radio Club
Meeting: September
4th, 7:30pm. Bethlehem Township Community Center, 2900 Farmersville Rd., Bethlehem.
FMI, visit dlarc.org,
email ke3aw@arrl.net
or call 610-432-8286.
Pen Argyl Alumni
Association Penn State
Football Game Bus
Trip: September 6th,
6:30am. Leaving parking lot of shopping
center off W. 1st St.,
Wind Gap. PSU vs

Akron. FMI, call Joe

Depue at 484-695-8282
or Roy Clewell at 610863-9973.
Safe Haven Adoption
Days: September 7,th
RT. 940, Mt. Pocono;
September 21st at Rt.
209, Brodheadsville;
September 27th Rt.
940,
Mt.
Pocono.
11am-3pm. FMI, a list
of adoptables and adoption applications, visit
www.SafeHavenPa.org
or email SafeHaven@
epix.net & find them on
Facebook.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Pen
Argyl Casino Bus
Trip: September 11th.
FMI, call Mary Lou
DeRea-Lohman at 610863-4846 or 610-8444630.
The Slate Belt Heritage Center Tour:
September
14th,
1:30pm. Directed by
Walter Cole, entitled
"Go West." Leaving
from Weona Park in Pen
Argyl.
Safe Haven Volunteer
Meeting: September
16th, 6:30pm. Rt. 209,
Kresgeville. Safe Haven
Rescue needs volunteers
to help with adoption
days, fundraising, transporting dogs to vets &
groomers & fostering
homeless dogs until they
find their forever homes.
FMI, visit www.Safe
HavenPa.org or email
SafeHaven@epix.net.
Columbia Fire Co. #1
Annual Golf Outing:
September 21st. FMI,
call 610-588-0597 or
email
webadmin@
columbiafireco.org.
Citixens Fire Co. # 1
Basket Bingo: September 27th, 12pm. Game
starts at 1pm. Citizens
Fire Co., 3922 Main St.,
Slatedale. Fees Apply.
FMI, or advance tickets
call 610-767-3332 or
610-767-2305.
Bangor Class of 1999
Reunion: September
27th, 6pm-9pm. Fees
apply.
Eighth Annual Lehigh
Valley Knife Show:
September 27th, 9am5pm & September
28th, 9am-3pm. 4100
Green Pond Rd., Easton.
Fees Apply. FMI, visit
PAKnifeShow.com

(NAPSI)Each year
in the United States,
nearly 16,000 kids are
diagnosed with cancer.
And on any given day,
as many as 5 million
Americans are living
with
Alzheimers
disease. Beyond its
debilitating symptoms,
the death rate for
Alzheimers is on the
rise.
But there are steps you
can take to protect your
family
from
these
potentially devastating
medical conditions.
One idea that may
come as a surprise to
many Americans is to
contact your congressional representatives
and the candidates for

their seats.
Thats the suggestion
of a national, nonpartisan, voter education
initiative called Ask
Your
Candidates!
designed to empower
voters to talk to candidates about the future of
medical progress in the
United States. Congress
plays a key role in influencing the future of
lifesaving
research.
Many voters are asking
candidates if, once
elected, they will vote
to increase federal funding for medical research
and support policies that
spur innovation.
The initiative helps
voters engage candidates on social media

and
through
local
events,
grassroots,
advertising and other
interactive
projects.
Launched
by
Research!America, the
nations
largest
nonprofit public education and advocacy
alliance working to
make
research
to
improve health a higher
national priority, Ask
Your
Candidates!
illuminates the crux of
the issue: Federal funding for medical research
is lower today than it
was in 2010, and Congress has the authority
to set future funding
levels.
According to polling
commissioned
by

( N A P S I ) T h e r e s
good news for older
Americans.
While
financial abuse and
scams are believed to
cost
seniors
an
estimated $3 billion
annually, you can help
prevent
them
and
protect yourself.
For example, here are
some steps you can
take:
Plan your financial
future with trusted
family
members,
friends and professionals. If managing your
daily finances is difficult, consider engaging

a money manager.
Talk with a lawyer
about creating a durable
power of attorney for
asset management, a
revocable or living will,
and trust and health care
advance directives.
Dont be pressured or
intimidated into quick
financial decisions or
sign any documents you
do
not
completely
understand.

Never
provide
personal
information
(Social
Security
number, credit card)
over the phone unless
you placed the call and

know with whom you

are speaking.
Tear up or shred
credit card receipts,
bank statements, solicitations and financial
records before disposing of them.
For more tips on
avoiding exploitation,
or if you suspect you or
someone you know is
being exploited, call the
Eldercare Locator at
(800) 677-1116 or visit
w w w. e l d e r c a r e . g o v.
The Eldercare Locator
is a public service of the
U.S. Administration on
Aging.

Research!America,
more than 60 percent of
Americans
believe
candidates
should
assign a high priority to
funding for medical
researchand
with
good reason.
What The Researchers
Do:
Researchconducted at universities, research institutions and government
agencieslays
the
groundwork for treatments and cures for
diseases from cancer to
Alzheimers to diabetes
and many others.
Such research has,
among many other
things:
Cut in half the death
rate from childhood and

adolescent
cancer
between 1975 and 2010.
Restored mobility to
wounded warriors and
those with a disabling
condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Dramatically reduced
deaths
from
heart
disease by nearly a third
between 2000 and 2010.
Saved our economy
more than $21 in direct
medical costs for every
dollar spent on the
measles-mumps-rubella
vaccine.
What You Can Do:
Voters can communicate with their candidates
by
visiting
w w w. a s k y o u r c a n d i d
ates.org to find out
whether they will assign
a high priority to medical research.

Members of the Blue Mountain Community

Library Board and library volunteers serve
homemade pie and ice cream at the July
27th Summer Sounds Concert in Weona
Park.
The Blue Mountain Wendys in Wind Gap
Community
Library and Cafe on Broadway.
Board would like to The library exists solely
thank everyone from on donations from the
the community for their municipalities and the
support of the many people it serves.
The library, located at
fundraisers
this
summer,
including 216 S. Robinson Ave.
Detzis Tavern, the in Pen Argyl, is
collecting
AVH flea market and currently
bake sale, the Book food items for the
Nook sale, the home- Benders Church Food
made pie/ice cream at Bank until September
the Inch and the 15th. Please drop off
Echoes
Concert, your donations at the

library when you visit.

Hours are Monday
through Saturday from
10am to noon, and
Monday through Thursday from 6pm through
8pm.
Preschool Story Time
will resume on Wednesday, September 10th
and Thursday, September 11th at 10:30am at
the library. All children
are welcome for an
hour of stories and
crafts. Therapy Dog,
Quincy, will be visiting on September 17th
and 18th.
The
library
has
recently acquired a
large number of Pen
Argyl High School
yearbooks to add to its
collection. There are
many duplicates, from
1935 through 1993,
available to purchase.
Anyone interested in
purchasing a yearbook
or books on local
history may call Lisa at
610-863-8329.
Visit the library website for more information about upcoming
events, at bmcl.org.

Children who might

otherwise not have
pencils or paper will
start the school year
fully stocked with
school supplies and
brand-new backpacks
thanks to the St. Lukes
Backpacks
to
Brighten
project.
Students from the St.
Lukes School of Nursing (SON) organized
the drive to gather
school supplies and
backpacks donated by
St. Lukes hospital staff
and volunteers. The
students stuffed each
backpack with ageappropriate items and
distributed them to
families to begin the
school year.
Families are selected
from the Parent Advocate in the Home
(PATH) program and
the Visiting Nurse
Advocate
for
the
County
(VNAC)
program, which serve
families who may need
parenting
support,
education or assistance.
PATH and VNAC are
programs of the Visiting Nurse Association
of St. Lukes.
These kids often do
not have basic school
supplies, said SON
Student Nurses Asso-

ciation advisor Nancy

Kanuck. The goal of
the project is to fill this
need and make the
children feel special.

For more information

about the VNAC and
about
the
PATH
program visit www.
slhn.org

(NAPSI)If you think

a screen door is a great
way to let fresh air in
and keep insects out of
your home, you may
want to retract that. The
door, that is.
Thats because you can
now get a screen door
that retracts into its
frame, hidden from
view so its there when
you need it and out of
sight when you dont.
One such door, the Brisa
Retractable
Screen
Door, is mounted to the
outside of the doorframe rather than the
inside like many others,
so you get a full, clear
view of the outside
without losing valuable
walk-through
space.

You also avoid the

annoying banging and
slamming of traditional
hinged screen doors.
Whats more, Brisa is
easy to install yourself
whether
you
have
inward- or outwardswinging single-entry
doors, sliding patio
doors or double doors.
Three-Step Installation; Brisa requires a
mere 30 minutes to
install from start to
finish and a single tool:
a power drill. It takes
just three simple steps:
1. Assemble the five
components.
2. Place the screen
onto the door frame.
3. Secure the screen
onto the door frame.

A Quick-Snap Track
adjusts quickly to fit
most
popular
door
widths, 32 to 36 inches,
with no cutting required.
It can be customized for
smaller sizes, less than
32 inches, with just two
simple
cuts.
The
rustproof
aluminum
track easily snaps into
the screen door housing
and adjusts to match the
width of the door.
The EZ-Glide System
lets the screen open and
close smoothly with
every use and the ergonomic design allows for
easy one-hand operation.
The secure locking latch
operates from the inside
and prevents the screen
from opening uninten-

tionally. Subtle stripes

woven into the screen
provide a visual cue to
prevent walk-through,
especially on bright,
sunny days when the
screen can seem to
disappear, and rugged
weather
stripping
keeps dirt and insects
out.
Brisa comes with a
limited
lifetime
warranty from ODL,
Inc., a leading building
products supplier of
decorative and clear
doorglass and entry
treatments.
Learn More: For
further
information,
visit www.troublefre
escreen.com or call
(866) 635-4968.

(StatePoint) In the
warmer months, the
importance of your yard
and patio becomes topof-mind as you spend
more free time outside.
While theres no better
place to read a book,
meditate or simply kick
back with some lemonade, you can only truly
enjoy those activities if
the
space
inspires

tranquility and relaxation.

Here are some great
ideas for some alfresco
upgrades.
Grow a Garden: While
the fruits of your labor
can inspire relaxation,
the act of gardening
itself can be a stress
relief.
Spend some time
working in your yard

and you will be

rewarded with beautiful
flowers
and
the
tranquility of nature that
come with it.
Sculpture: Art can
inspire
relaxation.
Sculpture, in particular,
is especially beneficial.
Luckily, these days you
dont need to be a Rockefeller to afford highquality artwork for your
yard and lawn. New
designers are creating
affordable, but high
quality options.
For example, Hypnartic Artwork creates
visually serene, kinetic
wind sculptures within
reach for the todays
homeowner.
Ray
Iannetta, founder, was
inspired by the great
dynamic wonders of the
world to create quality
art.
Two of the more popular sculptures are the
Concord Swan, which
can also serve as a
weather vane, and
Spinning
Leaves,

which swivels 360

degrees and complements other landscape
artwork. More information about lawn art and
installation tips can be
found at www.Hypna
rticArtwork.com.
Lawn Furniture: Ditch
the traditional picnic
table and install more
luxurious alternatives to
complement your new
lawn art. From chaises
and daybeds to bar
stools and tables, you
can basically extend
your homes living
spaces outdoors with
style, comfort and functionality. Add a fire pit
to extend the daytime
into outdoor evening
activities.
If your yard doesnt
get
enough
use,
consider the reasons
why. Like any room in
your home, some care
and planning in the
design can make the
space more attractive,
inviting and ultimately
more livable.

Hello fellow readers,

While walking Miss
Ellie, Lori and Gary of
Blairstown were out
doing yard work and
shared their dilemma of
a challenging slope
along the driveway.
Steep hills can be an
eyesore and difficult to
maintain.
As with any plant
selection, consider soil,
light, root space, drainage, and irrigation. In
addition, ponder your
objective of creating a
beautiful tapestry of
color and texture, or is
your goal merely functional; to hold the soil
and be low maintenance? Then theres
deer, which is most
everyones
challenge
especially
as
we
approach their fall
feeding frenzy. Hence,
lets talk about deer
resistant alternatives.
Vinca Minor, also
known as Myrtle or
Periwinkle, creates a
quick evergreen carpet
with purple flowers. It
likes sun or shade, is
dense
enough
to
suppress weeds, yet
loose enough to allow a
showy
springtime
display of daffodils.
Then theres shade
loving evergreen Pach-

ysandra, which naturalizes a woodland slope.

Both are considered
invasive, but invasive can
be useful as long its not
allowed to run amok.
Lamium, also called
Dead Nettle, is a fast
growing
variegated
beauty for a sunny hill or
shady bank. Once established it will thrive under
tough conditions and
lights up a space. Lets
not forget Sweet Woodruff, Galium odoratum,
which even grows under
black walnut and in dense
shade. Both are deciduous, which means they
die back every winter, but
ambitiously return without the hassle of mulching.
Evergreen low-growing
shrubs for a hillside
include: Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi, also known as
Bearberry with pinkish
white flowers in spring
followed by reddish
berries that birds love;
Cotoneaster horizontalis
also fits the bill as a fast
growing evergreen for
well-drained soils in full
sun to part shade and can
withstand
drought;
Theres also Microbiota
decussata called Russian
arborvitae, a feathery
spreading
evergreen
alternative to the overused, nice way of saying
boring, spreading juniper.
Im all for lawn alternatives especially on a steep
slope. Theres a Toro
tractor I once had whose
fate ended with summersaults down the front
yard. Thank goodness the
rider is no worse for the
wear. I wonder if my
tractor gymnast was on
the quest to graduate to a
John Deere. Mission
accomplished. And, it
has brakes!
Garden dilemmas?
askmarystone.com

(NAPSI)Calling
breakfast the most
important meal of the
day is no exaggeration.
Without breakfast, your
metabolism can suffer,
performance
and
concentration are apt to
decrease, and hunger
throughout the day can
result in overeating
during future meals.
In addition to nutrition,
a growing number of
consumers are finding
that there are other
aspects of breakfast that
are important. For them,
making the most of
breakfast
includes
watching how they
spend their money and
not wasting anything
they buy. To help, here

are some tips on how to

get the most out of your
breakfast, and your
money.
Higher food prices
dont necessarily mean
you have to forgo any of
your favorite morning
staples. Try out some of
the better value brands,
such as Moms Best or
Malt-O-Meal. You can
often find the more
economical brands on
the highest and lowest
shelves in the aisle.
If you use your food
in a variety of ways,
youll find that you can
make the most out of
just about everything in
the
kitchen.
For
example, bread that has
gone slightly stale might

not make the best sandwich but it can often be

used to make excellent
French toast.
To get even more out of
your cereal, such as Oat
Blenders or Golden
Puffs, try putting some
in yogurt or using them
as a substitute for breadcrumbs or as a topping
for a dinner casserole.
Compost, according to
the EPA, Americans
diverted a mere 5
percent of the 36 million
tons of food waste from
landfills in 2012. Instead
of contributing to these
dismal recovery rates,
start to save your
uneaten food scraps for
the compost bin. Items
such
as
uncooked

veggies left over from a

morning omelet, used
coffee grounds and their
filters, or eggshells
make additions to any
compost. Not only will
you prevent these items
from going to a landfill,
but youll be getting the
most out of your morning meals by turning
uneaten portions into a
more beautiful yard or
garden.
Think twice about
packaging. According to
the experts at TerraCycle, food packaging
can be more than just a

container. For example,

you can clean and save
packaging to be recycled
for
creative
DIY
projects. MOM Brands
cereal has developed a
series of engaging ways
to recycle your packaging that can keep the
family busy until lunch.
TerraCycle is a leader
in the collection and
reuse of nonrecyclable,
postconsumer waste. To
learn about how you can
get the most out of your
cereal and recycle the
bag it comes in, go to
www.TerraCycle.com.

(NAPSI)Launching
today, the Safe Firearms
Storage
campaign
encourages
firearms
owners to make safe
firearms storage a priority. According to a
study by the RAND
Corporation
using
statistics
from
the
United States Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention,
approximately 1.4 million
homes have firearms
stored in a way that
makes them accessible
to the wrong handschildren, at-risk youth,
potential thieves, and
those who intend to
harm themselves or

others.
To encourage current
and prospective firearm
owners to safely lock up
their weapons when
theyre not in use, the
National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
announced a new public
service
advertising
(PSA) campaign developed in partnership with
the Ad Council and
funded by the Bureau of
Justice
Assistance
(BJA).
We teach all drivers
to buckle up in case of
accidents and to lock
their cars. The same
logic applies to this
campaign; we want

owners to lock up their

firearms to prevent
accidents and keep
them out of the wrong
hands. Safe storage
ensures that owners are
doing their part to
increase public safety,
said Ann M. Harkins,
President and CEO,
National Crime Prevention Council.
The TV, radio, print,
outdoor and online
PSAs feature community voices calling on
firearms owners to
safely
store
their
fire_arms.
The
campaign ads were
created pro bono by the
New York City-based
ad
agency,
Merkley+Partners. The
PSAs end with the callto-action: Remember,
Always... Lock It Up
and direct firearms
owners to ncpc.org to
determine the best
safety solution to fit
their
households,
including:
Clearing the firearm
before storing it.
Using firearms safety
devices, such as trigger
locks and cable locks.
Storing ammunition
separately in a locked
container.
For more than thirty
years, weve worked

with NCPC to produce

ads designed to prevent
crime including gunrelated
violence.
Through
iconic
McGruff the Crime
Dog we have helped
communities Take A
Bite Out Of Crime.
This campaign represents a powerful new
extension of our efforts,
and one that fosters a
critical
dialogue
between adults about
safe firearms storage,
said Ad Council President and CEO Peggy
Conlon.
The Safe Firearms
Storage
campaign
website, www.ncpc.org,
features a step-by-step,
visual Snapguide and
graphics that illustrate
options for properly
storing a firearm in your
household. The website
also offers resources to
help firearms owners
talk with their children
about firearm safety in
the home.
The PSAs will be
distributed to media
outlets
nationwide
today and per the Ad
Councils model, the
ads will air in advertising time and space
entirely donated by the
media
and
other
partners.

(StatePoint)
The
excitement of back-toschool
preparations
can bring back fond
memories of youthful
school days. Once you
have kids of your own,
making new memories
can be even sweeter by
thinking about your
childs new friends and
teachers and what the
new year will bring -but theyll need some
cool
new
school
supplies first!
So while the start of
the academic year may
mean lots of new stuff
for your kids, dont let
it be a budget-breaker.
To make the back-toschool season easier
and more affordable,
do your homework and
get your game-plan
together.
The shopping experts
at Dollar General are
sharing convenient and
cost-effective tips to
prep the family for a
great school year:
Cool Threads: For a
new academic year,
start with a fresh look.
Any parent knows
keeping
up
with
fashion isnt the only
consideration
for
school wear-- theres
price to think about as
well. Not only do
styles change, but
children grow and

change too. Be smart

and buy the basics like
jeans, sweaters and
sweatshirts for those
upcoming fall and
winter days at low cost.
Kids quickly outgrow
everything so you have
to plan accordingly. For
school
uniforms,
research online low
prices, discounts and
free shipping offers.
Reading,
Writing,
Arithmetic:
Pencils,
paper, calculators and
everything else. For the
little ones, you may
need to stock up on
pencils, markers, crayons and arts-and-crafts
essentials.
Older
children may have more
advanced
classwork
and advanced supplies
like calculators, compasses and composition
notebooks.
Consider purchasing
all of these items during
the summer from an
everyday low price
retailer like Dollar
General. You can get a
great deal and spread
the cost of back to
school supplies out over
the summer months.
The Breakfast Club:
Breakfast is the most
important meal of the
day to help fuel their
brains and muscles and
meet their growing
needs. Unfortunately, it

may be quickly eaten in

a rush out the door or
completely forgotten all
together.
Get off to a running
start by clipping digital
coupons and buying
everyday items that can
be eaten quickly, such
as cereal or peanut
butter. Save time and
money by shopping
online too. To help you
save even more for the
back to school season,
text DGBTS to receive
$5 off any $25 pretax
purchase in more than
11,000 stores nationwide or online at
dollargeneral.com.
The season of great
deals starts now, so
dont be late for school!

(NAPSI)Whether it
is with finger paint,
chalk,
or
crayons
children love creating
their own special works
of art. Not only are
crafts an enjoyable
activity for children,
simple crafting can also
help children learn
important skills that
affect their overall
development and is a
way through which
parents can observe their
childrens developmental progress to make sure
they are school ready.
Its important for parents
to be in tune with their
childs
development
during their early years
because the first five
years of life lay the
foundation for a childs
long-term success.
Thats why Easter
Seals,
the
nations
largest
nonprofit
provider of early intervention services, and
A.C. Moore, a specialty
arts and crafts company,

have teamed up for their

annual Crafting A Better
World For All Kids
campaign from now
through September 15th
at the retailers 140
stores nationwide.
There is a lot to think
about when it comes to a
childs
development.
Even the most attentive
parents may struggle to
find the information
they need to be sure
their young childs
health, wellness and
learning are on track.
To ensure that all
children are set up for
success when they enter
school, Easter Seals
Make the First Five
Count initiative offers
free online screenings
and provides thousands
of children access to the
services they need to
make sure they are
reaching
their
full
potential. Easter Seals is
a leading provider of

early childhood developmental services and

provides
education,
outreach and advocacy
so that children living
with autism spectrum
disorder
and
other
disabilities can live,
learn and play in their
communities.
Its
important
for
parents to observe their
childs progress and
remember that each
child is unique and
develops at his or her
own pace. Developmental screenings are an
important tool in helping to identify the
specific skills each child
needs to succeed.
Parents can monitor
their childs milestones
by taking the Ages &
Stages Questionnaires
at easterseals.com/asq.
You can find additional
facts and ideas at
easterseals.com
and
acmoore.com.

(StatePoint)
The
transition to college is
an exciting time, full of
anticipation for the next
chapter of life. But with
new opportunities come
uncertainties,
from
financing an education
to picking the right
courses.
Paying for college
and having kids leave
the house is new
territory
for
most
parents and children.
But with research and
preparation, parents can
help kids learn how to
maximize
available
funds, borrow responsi-

bly and manage their

new lives, says Jodi
Okun,
founder
of
College Financial Aid
Advisors and brand
ambassador
for
Discover
Student
Loans. Parents should
encourage kids to take
responsibility for forming a long-term financial plan they can work
through together.
Okun
offers
the
following tips for a
smooth transition:
Empower students:
Let students start with
smaller decisions, such
as what to do with high

school
graduation
money, and then build
to bigger ones, such as
finding and applying
for additional scholarships, and deciding
whether
they
can
balance school with
work-study or a parttime job. Encourage
students to form meaningful
relationships
with their schools
financial aid office.
Balance dreams with
opportunities.
While
students often pick a
major based on childhood passions, parents
may steer them toward

an in-demand field with

a good salary and career
trajectory. In fact, 70
percent of parents say
job potential after
college is as important
or more important than
choice
of
major,
according to a recent
Discover Student Loans
survey. Starting salary
should also guide how
much debt the student
takes on. For example,
if a student anticipates a
$40,000 a year starting
salary, he or she should
take on no more than
$40,000 in student
loans over the course of

college.
Figure out the
parents
role.
The
majority of student
loans are for students,
but there are loans
specifically for parents
(e.g., Parent PLUS
Loans and some private
student loans). Consider
the advantages of each
and decide whether
parent student loans,
traditional student loans
or a combination is best.
Regardless of whats
decided, parents should
discuss options and
expectations with their
child.
Exhaust free money
first. Grants, scholarships and other free
financial aid can help
students pay for costs.
Resources such as
Discovers Free Scholarship
Search
and
Studentaid.ed.gov can
help
students
and
parents identify and
apply for important free
money.

Choose the right

student loan. With so
many choices for loans,
choosing the right one
can be overwhelming.
Families should compare federal and private
student loans based on
key components, such
as interest rates, origination fees and repayment
options and then choose
the loans that best fit
their financial needs.
Seek consultation.
Financing college can
be an overwhelming
and confusing process.
Consider talking to a
financial planner who
can offer sound advice.
More tips can be found
at
DiscoverStudent
Loans.com.
As college costs rise,
understanding the financial resources available,
as well as having
conversations
about
who is responsible for
what, will ultimately
provide peace of mind
for students and parents.

Pennsylvanias
first
probable human case of
West Nile Virus (WNV)
infection in 2014 has
been detected. A Philadelphia County man was
hospitalized due to
WNV. He has since
recovered.
The departments of
Health and Environmental Protection strongly
recommend that all
residents minimize their
exposure to mosquitoes.
Detecting the first
human case serves as a
great reminder for Pennsylvanians to take the
proper precautions when
they are outside or near
areas where mosquitoes
are prevalent, Secretary
of Health Michael Wolf
said. There are some
simple steps you can
take to protect yourself
and your loved ones
from mosquito-related
diseases.
Although mosquitoes
can bite at any time of
day or night, they are

most active at dawn and

dusk. When outdoors,
people
can
avoid
mosquito bites by properly and consistently
using DEET-containing
insect repellants and
covering exposed skin
with lightweight clothing. To keep mosquitoes
from entering a home,
make sure window and
door screens are in place
and are in good condition.
Department of Environmental
Protection
(DEP) conducts regular
surveillance and control
to manage mosquito
populations around the
state. So far, DEP has
detected WNV-infected
mosquitoes easily in 32
counties.
As
always,
we
encourage Pennsylvanians to take caution and
reduce their risk for
mosquito bites, DEP
Secretary E. Christopher
Abruzzo said. Using a
personal insect repellant

or
staying
indoors
during dawn and dusk
will help prevent exposure to mosquitoes.
The mosquitoes that
transmit WNV breed in
areas with standing and
stagnant water. These
areas can include urban
catch basins, clogged
gutters, discarded tires,
poorly
maintained
swimming pools, flower
pots and other types of
plastic containers.
Simple steps to eliminate standing water
around
the
home
include: Remove tin
cans, plastic containers,
ceramic pots, discarded
tires or any object that
could collect standing
water. Drill holes in the
bottom of recycling
containers left outdoors.
Have
roof
gutters
cleaned every year,
particularly if the leaves
from nearby trees have a
tendency to clog the
drains. Turn over plastic
wading
pools
and

wheelbarrows when not

in use. Do not let water
stagnate in birdbaths.
Aerate
ornamental
pools, or stock them
with fish. Clean and
chlorinate
swimming
pools, and remove
standing water from
pool
covers.
Use
landscaping to eliminate
standing water that
collects on your property. Treat standing
water that cannot be
eliminated with Bti
products which are sold
at outdoor supply, home
improvement and other
stores. Bti is a natural
product
that
kills

mosquito larvae, but is

safe for people, pets,
aquatic life and plants.
DEP will continue to
survey affected communities to monitor WNV.
When necessary, DEP
will conduct larval and
adult control activities to
reduce the risk to human
health. These efforts will
continue through fall.
For a fact sheet on
WNV, including symptoms, please visit the

Department of Healths
webpage, www.health.
state.pa.us, and click on
West Nile Virus Fact
Sheet under Whats
Hot.
For more information,
including current test
results for mosquitoes,
birds and horses, visit
www.westnile.state.pa.u
s and click on the Pennsylvania map for WNV
data tables, or call
877-PA HEALTH.