Francesca Catino, daughter of Daniel and Michelle Goffredo Catino, is the Celebration Queen of the 122nd Mt. Carmel annual Big Time celebration. Francesca is a 2015 graduate

of Pius X High School and will attend Moravian College in the fall.The 2014 Celebration

Queen, Gianna Rose Goffredo, cousin to Queen Francesca, will do the crown-ing. The crowning ceremony will take place at the Mt. Carmel Church Plaza on Saturday, July 25th at 6:30pm, followed by a parade down Garibaldi Avenue led by the Italian-American Band. Mr. Joseph E. Diorio, Pius X alumni and lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, is Master of Ceremonies.On Sunday, July 26th at 2pm

at the church plaza, Queen Francesca will crown the statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, followed by the procession down Garibaldi Avenue and back to church.The girls in Queen

Francescas court are Chris-tina Bubba, daughter of Gennarino and Laura Bubba; Caitlyn Carmella, daughter of

Thomas and Denise Carmella; Laura Christman, daughter of John and Cynthia Christman; Melissa Comunale, daughter of Michael and Mary Ann Comunale; Sarah DeFranco, daughter of Dante DeFranco; Danielle King, daughter of Lawrence and Mary Lou King; Kapri Koflanovich, daughter of Richard and Chriss Koflanovich; Sarah Richmond, daughter of Daniel and Andrea Rich-mond; and Mackenzie Schrader, daughter of Michael and Terra Schrader. Queen Francescas flower

girls are Mia Goffredo, daughter of Michael and

Jamie Goffredo; Mackenzie Hughes, daughter of Jarrett and Lindsay Goffredo Hughes; and Lyla Rettaliata, daughter of Aaron and Meredith Rettaliata. The Queens crown-bearer is

Max Moyer, son of Steve and Danielle Goffredo Moyer. The page boys are Peter Thomas Goffredo and Matthew James Goffredo, sons of Peter and Beth Goffredo.The annual celebration will

be held Wednesday, July 22nd to Saturday July 25th at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School grounds. Hours of the celebration are 6pm to 11pm each evening, and Saturday evening from 6pm until midnight. Wednesday, July 22nd and Thursday, July 23rd are family nights with ride specials available for $18 from 6pm to 9:30pm. Entertainment is scheduled

for each evening and on Saturday evening, July 25th from 7pm to midnight the musical feature is Festa Musica d'Italia with Sal Panto. Pizza fritta, sausage and peppers, and meatball sandwiches along with a variety of other foods, will also be available.

Sarah Harvat, 11, of Bangor, PA, has been chosen to represent the Northeast after competing against girls from Maine to Maryland, in the first USSSA All Ameri-can Games. Sarah and the Northeast team will compete over three days against the other top players from across the country. The All American Games

will run through Thursday July 16th in Kissimmee, Florida at Disneys Wide World of Sports. Sarah was selected after trying out at Veterans Park in Quaker-town on May 8th. The tryout was one of 22 held through-out the country.The country was divided in

to eight regions-Atlantic, Central, Far West, Great Lakes, Midwest, Northeast Northwest, and Southeast. The top 15 players in each age group (10U, 11U, 12U, 13U and 14U) were selected to represent their respective region in the All American Games. Players selected were scored on both their primary and secondary position, along with other drills that tested speed, agility and overall athleti-cism. Players were also

evaluated by the National Scouting Report, (NSR) a highly revered high school and college recruiting organi-zation that has conducted evaluations and showcased events for over 30 years. Team members were chosen by NSR, Players from the National Pro Fastpitch team The Florida Pride, and a USA Elite Select committee. All American teams were announced via an online selection show broadcasted on www.usssalive.com. For more information on the games and a live broadcast feed visit, www.usaelite select.com/all-american.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Mt. Bethel Volunteer Fire Company in Mt. Bethel, PA is seeking new members and volunteers. If you are interested and would like further information, contact Gail at 570-897-6293 or Kris at 610-392-7975.The BAHS Alumni Asso-

ciation is collecting used musical instruments to be donated to Bangors elementary band program. The instruments will be used as loaners for students who cannot afford them. For more information, call 610-588-5198. The Slate Belt Heritage

Center Oral History Proj-ect is seeking Slate Belt senior citizens who would like to be interviewed. If you know of anyone who has a story, call Marc Blau at 570-897-5459.The Blue Mountain Com-

munity Library is manag-ing the Wind Gap Middle

School Summer Reading Program. All students enter-ing grades four through eight are required to read three books over the summer, as well as complete a writing assignment on a non-fiction book. This book may be from the list of books given by the school or from any book on the non-fiction shelves in the library. The books will be available in the library now through August 15th. In order to borrow books, children must have a library member-ship. For those needing to open a membership, an adult with a valid PA drivers license must accompany the student. Membership is free to all residents living in the Pen Argyl School District. Blue Mountain Community Library is located at 216 South Robinson Avenue in Pen Argyl. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am to noon, and Monday through Thursday, 6pm to 8pm. For more information, call 610-863-3029 or visit www.bmcl.org.

St. Johns Cemetery is seeking donations to help with the upkeep of the cem-etery, roadways and monu-ments. They are also explor-ing the idea of adding a Com-munity Columbarium near the mosoleum. Donations can be sent to Carol Hummel c/o St. Johns Cemetery, 136 Messinger Street, Bangor, PA 18013.

Blairstown Recreation is offering Summer Sessions of Zumba, PiYo and Pilates for adults and teens to get fit and stay fit for the summer. Zumba is open now through August 6th on Tues-days and Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm at Blair Acad-emy Dance Studio in the Armstrong Hipkins building. PiYo is offered on Fridays, July 10th through August 14th, from 8:30am to 9:15am at the Blairstown Free Evan-gelical Church. Pilates will be on Tuesdays and Thurs-days, now through August 13th, at the Evangelical Free Church from 9:15am to 10:15am. Registration is accepted at the recreation office on Tuesdays and Thursdays during office hours or mail-in or drop-off box, located outside the municipal building. For more information, visit blairstown -nj.org or call 908-362-6663, ext. 232.The First Presbyterian

Church of Blairstown invites all children to Move, Act, Care, Follow and Share at G-Force: Gods Love in Action Vacation Bible School. VBS will be held August 3rd through 7th from 9am until 11:30am at the Outreach Center, located at 35 Main Street (next to the Blairstown Post Office). For more information, call 908-459-9068 or visit FPCBNJ.org.

Knights of Columbus Assembly #3125 of Blair-stown is holding their annual flag sale for three feet by five feet nylon USA flags with deluxe embroi-dered stars and sewn stripes. Donation per flag is $20. Call 908-362-9121 for pickup.Warren County Commu-

nity Senior Centers will be featuring exercise classes, including Tai Chi and Zumba Gold, guest speak-ers and activities. Lunch will be served Monday through Friday and transpor-tation is available upon request. For more informa-tion and locations, call 908-475-6591. Deer Valley Sportsmens

Association of Blairstown is looking for land to lease in the Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Hope, Freling-huysen, Stillwater or White Twp. areas. All members belong to the National Rifle Association and hunt-alongs are done before new mem-bers are voted into this asso-ciation. Several of the associations properties are semi-wild and licensed by the State of NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. They stock phesants, partridge and sometimes quail. All leased property is posted and trespassers are vigorously prosecuted. If you own prop-erty, either wooded or fileds with brushy cover, and would like to speak with someone about leasing the property, call Robert at 973-948-4001; James at 973-875-9266; Timothy at 908-637-4408; Brian at 908-362-6598; or James Craig at 908-278-5149. The association is a rounded group including doctors, lawyers, police, contractors, farmers, a former director of Fish and Game, and they are well-known and respected in the Blairstown area.Public Notice: In accor-

dance with the Adequate Notice provision of the Open Public Meetings Act, please be advised that the 2015 meeting schedule for the Warren County Human Services Advisory Council is as follows: July 28th, September 22nd and Novem-ber 24th (location TBD) at 1:30pm. Meetings will be held in the Freeholder Meet-ing Room at the Wayne Dumont Jr. Adminisration Building, located at 165 Rt. 519 S. in Belvidere. Wildwood Crest ia holding

a fundraiser trip to benefit "Haven of Hope for Kids"on September 7th through 11th. The cost of the trip is $410.00 per person double occupancy, and extra $96.00 for a single. The cost includes Deluxe Motor Coach Transportation, five days, four nights at the Bal Harbor on the ocean. Four full breakfasts at the motel, four full dinners in excellent area restaurants. Group pizza luncheon, special gala night with dinner, prizes, dancing. Cocktail party with music around the pool. Star Studded show at the Performing Arts Center and a stop at Historic Smithville for lunch on the way home. This fundraiser helps make a sick child's wish come true to enjoy a week in the country. All Taxes, Baggage & Dinner Gratuities included. For Information and Reservations Please call Gladys (908) 459-9210 or Polly (908) 276-3850. Deposit due now and pay in full by August

1st.Public Notice: In accor-

dance with the Adequate Notice provision of the Open Public Meetings Act, please be advised that the 2015 meeting schedule for the Warren County LACA/DA is as follows: August 11th, October 13th and December 8th at 5pm. Meetings will be held in Meeting Room A--located on the first floor--at Warren County Department of Human Services, located at 1 Shotwell Drive in Belvidere. Public Notice: In accor-

dance with the Adequate Notice provision of the Open Public Meetings Act, please be advised that the 2015 meeting schedule for the Warren County Mental Health Board is as follows: August 18th, September 15th, October 20th, Novem-ber 17th and December 15th at 5pm. Meetings will be held in rooms 123A and B at Warren County Community College, located at 475 Rt. 57 in Washington.Public Notice: In accor-

dance with the Adequate Notice provision of the Open Public Meetings Act, please be advised that the 2015 meeting schedule for the Warren County Transpor-tation Advisory Council is as follows: September 10th and November 12th at 1:30pm. Meetings will be held in the Rutgers Cooperative Exten-sion Meeting Room at the Wayne Dumont Jr. Adminis-ration Building, located at 165 Rt. 519 S. in Belvidere.

Adult Fiction: Bostwick, Marie: A Single Thread; Lee, Linda Francis: Emily And Einstein; Malkin, Nina: Swoon: Robets, Nora: Change Of Heart; Ryan, Annelise: Scared Stiff.Adult Non Fiction: Scahill,

Jeremy: Blackwater; Steves, Rick: Paris 2009.Large Print Fiction:

Delinsky, Barbara: Flirting With Pete; Escape. Young Adult Fiction:

Acosta, Marta: Dark Com-panion; Damico, Gina: Croak; Hale, Shannon: Enna

Burning; The Goose Girl; River Secrets; Pike, Christo-pher: To Die For.Young Adult Non-Fiction:

Filipovic, Ziata: Ziatas Diary: A Childs Life In Sare-jevo. Audio Books Fiction:

Koontz, Dean: The Key To Midnight; Ness, Patrick: The Ask And The Answer; Mon-sters Of Men.DVDs: Frantic; Haunted

The Complete Series; In Good Company; Like Water For Chocolate; Romeo Is Bleeding.

For 12 weeks during the recent tax season, 10 volun-teer IRS-certified tax prepar-ers worked with United Way of Northern New Jersey and NORWESCAP, giving up hundreds of hours of their time to help local families who cant afford the average $200 it costs to hire a paid tax preparer. They are a part-time nurse

and a retired accountant, teacher and police officer. And for more than 20 hours each week, they worked steadily to make sure nearly 600 ALICE and poverty-level households in Warren County got back as much of their hard-earned income as they were due. This collaboration not only

saved local taxpayers an estimated $120,000 in tax preparation costs, but also put more than $624,000 in refunds back into local residents hands. For the 32 percent of households in Warren County who are

ALICE Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed working, but unable to afford basic neces-sities, these savings can keep families afloat in the face of a financial emergency. I hate to see people lose

money when they are already struggling, said Pete Larkin, 78, of Belvi-dere, a retired Wall Street accountant who started volunteering to do free tax preparations 10 years ago and has been hooked ever since. I do this because I like to help people. In addition, the program

helped residents successfully claim nearly $186,000 in Earned Income Tax Credits. A major focus of the United Way tax preparation program is ensuring that qualified residents claim EITC, as its proven to keep ALICE families from falling into poverty. We find that a lot of people

have missed out on the earned income credit before coming to us, said Suzanne Cadwalader, 63, a retired math teacher from Indepen-dence Township.

And when clients find out that they are getting a healthy refund, they are so appreciative, they try to offer sandwiches or cookies as a thank you, which the volun-teers have to decline. Its rewarding, said Kevin

McPartland, a retired state trooper from Hardwick. I enjoy the people, they are so gracious and grateful, they just make your day. Across its five-county

region, including Morris, Somerset, Suburban Essex, Sussex, and Warren coun-ties, United Way and its partners helped more than 5,000 filers receive $5.6 million in tax refunds, claim-ing nearly $1.4 million in

EITC and saving residents an estimated $1 million in tax preparation costs.ALICE families work hard

for every dollar they earn and should get back every dollar they are due, said United Way of Northern New Jersey CEO John Franklin. These volunteers are helping us provide a critical service by easing the financial burden for families and putting money back into our local economy. To learn more about United

Ways efforts to provide IRS-certified free tax prepa-ration for ALICE and poverty-level residents, visit www.UnitedWayNNJ.org/FreeTaxPrep.

East Bangor UMCC Adult Study: Mondays, 7pm. Now-August 17th. 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512), East Bangor. Based on The Political Teachings of Jesus, by Tod Lindberg. No class July 20th or 27th. FMI, call 610-588-4453 or visit ebumc.org.

Senior Citizen Game Night: July 15th, 3pm-7pm. Slate Belt Senior Center. Blue Valley Farm Show Complex, 700 American Bangor Rd., Bangor.

Marine Corps. League Northampton Co. Detach-ment 298 Meeting: July 15th, 1900 hours. 1621 Lehigh St., Easton. All active duty & honorably discharged Marines welcome. FMI, email jimmineousmc @rcn.com.

Slate Belt Officers Meeting: July 16th, 9:30am. Slate Belt Senior Center. BVFS Complex. 700 American Bangor Rd., Bangor.

Lehigh Valley Horse Coun-cil Meeting: July 16th, 7pm. 2750 Hugh Moore Park Rd., Easton. FMI, call 610-837-7294 or 610-704-4130.

Baseball: July 17th, 12:30pm. Slate Belt Senior Center. BVFS Complex, 700 American Bangor Rd.,

Bangor. Bangor Community Yard Sale Benefitting Relay for Life: July 17th-19th, 9am - 4pm. Rain or shine! Rt. 611, Lower Mt. Bethel. Sunday Specials: 9am-2pm; every-thing half price, 2pm-4pm, fill a bag for $1 (per stand). FMI, visit facebook.com/ events/1448475098788131.

Flea Market & Craft Fair: July 18th & 25th, 9am-3pm. St. Nicholas Byzantine Church, Rt. 940 & Com-merce St., Pocono Summit.

Free Benefit Concert: July 18th, 4pm-7pm. Trinity Lutheran Church Grove, 404 Broadway, Bangor.

Weona Park Pool Pals Flapjack Fundraiser: July 18th, 8am-10am. FMI, visit Facebook.com/weonapark poolproject.

Wind Gap Summer Sounds: July 19th, 6pm. Wind Gap Park. Live music by Desire.

Safe Haven Pet Rescue Adoption Day: July 19th, 11am-3pm. Rt. 940, Mt. Pocono. FMI, visit Safe HavenPa.org, email Safe Haven@epix.net or like Safe Haven on Facebook.

Music by Randy Simpson: July 21st, noon. Slate Belt Senior Center. BVFS Com-plex, 700 American Bangor Rd., Bangor.

West Jersey Soccer Club Summer Soccer Nights: Now-August 6th, 6pm-7:30pm. NJ Soccer Club practice field, Broadway. FMI, visit www.west jerseysoccerclub.org.

Free Parenting Work-shops: Now-August 12th, 6pm-8pm. 127 Mill St., Newton. For families w/ children ages 0-10. FMI, call 973-940-3500 or visit projectselfsuffi ciency.

Growing Up Wild: July 16th, 6:30pm-8:30pm. 350 Marshall St., Phillipsburg. Ages 3-7. FMI, call 908-454-1078.

Snake-N-Scales & Turtle Tales: July 15th, 4pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. FMI, call 908-362-8335.

Adult Jeopardy: July 16th, 7pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. FMI, call 908-362-8335. Registration reqd. Ages 18 & up.

Super Comedy Show w/ Pat Davison: July 17th, 2pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. FMI, call 908-362-8335.

Walnut Valley UMC BBQ Chicken Dinner: July 18th, 4:30pm-7pm. 4 Vail Rd, Columbia. Take out only. FMI, call 908-362-6516.

Walpack Historical Society's Meeting: July 19th, 1pm. Walpack ME Church, Walpack Center, Sussex Co. FMI, visit walpackhistory.org or call 973-948-4903.

Morning Lit Group: July 20th, 10am. Catherine Dick-son Hofman Library, 4 Lam-bert Rd., Blairstown. FMI, call 908-362-8335.

The Gravestone Artist: July 20th, 2:30pm. Cath-erine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. Create your own foil impression using a gravestone cast. Ages 11-16. Registration reqd. FMI, call 908-362-8335.

Super Hero Capes Work-shop: July 21st, 2pm. Cath-erine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. Ages 5-8. Regis-tration reqd. FMI, call 908-362-8335.Pirate Short John Leadfoots Reading & Magic Adventure: July 22nd, 4pm. Catherine Dick-son Hofman Library, 4 Lam-bert Rd., Blairstown. FMI, call 908-362-8335.

North Warren Democratic Club Meeting: July 22nd, 7pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library. Lambert Rd., Blairstown. FMI, call Fred Cook at 908-362-6808 or email fpchistory@ yahoo.com.

122nd Annual Big Time Celebration: July 22nd-25th. Religious Procession, July 26th. Roseto.

Toy Bingo: July 25th, 11am. Hope UCC, 2nd St., Wind Gap. FMI, email hopeucc@hotmail.com or call 908-727-0090.

Tatamy Historical Society Car Show: July 26th, 9:30am-2:30pm. Broad St., Tatamy. Pre-registration by July 17th. Rain date, Septem-ber 27th. FMI or to enter, call 610-258-3380, 610-759-6268, 610-258-3832 or email jduel@rcn.com.

Bangor Park Board Movie: June 26th, dusk. Stuart Little. Free to the public. FMI, call Debbie Smith at 610-751-7692.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church VBS: July 27th - July 31st, 6:15pm-8pm. 2455 Lake Minsi Drive, Bangor. FMI or to register, visit www.popbangor.org or call 610-588-2355.

2nd Ward Annual Carni-val: July 30th-August 1st, 6:30pm-10:30pm. 517 S. Northampton St., Bangor. Bingo, games, food, and much more.

Blood Pressure w/ Cecelia: July 30th, 9am-11am. Slate Belt Senior Center. Blue Valley Farm Show Complex. 700 American Bangor Rd., Bangor.

Farkle Tournament: July 30th, 12:30pm. Slate Belt Senior Center. BVFS Com-plex. 700 American Bangor Rd., Bangor.

Camp Discovery VBS: August 3rd-7th, 6pm-8pm. Grace UMC, 404 Mountain Ave., Pen Argyl. Ages 3-Grade 8. FMI, visit www.worshipatgrace.org or call 610-863-4811.

Annual Homecoming Bazaar: August 7th & 8th, 5pm. Our Lady of Victory R. C. Church, Tannersville. Event will be held rain or shine.

Movie Night: August 8th, dusk. Bangor Park. A Bug's Life. FMI, contact Debbie Smith at bangorparkboard @gmail.com or 610-751-7692 .

United Methodist Womens Group of 1st UMC, Blair-stown Yard Sale: July 24th & 25th, 9am-5pm. 109 Mt. Hermon Rd., Blairstown Fundraiser supports the Womens various ministries.

Phillipsburg Area Summer Youth Theatre Presents 42nd Street: July 23rd-25th, 7:30pm & July 26th, 2pm. Phillipsburg HS audi-torium. FMI, visit payst.org.

Monarch Migration: July 24th, 10am. Catherine Dick-son Hofman Library, 4 Lam-bert Rd., Blairstown. Ages 6-12. Registration reqd. FMI, call 908-362-8335.

Harvest Home Dinner & Country Auction: July 25th, 4pm. Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church, Rt. 94 & Yellow Frame Rd., Fredon. FMI, call 973-383-6553.

Free Barn Concert: July 25th, 6pm. Rain or shine. Ramsaysburg Historic Homestead, Knowlton. Open air seating. Bohemian String Quartet. FMI, visit ramsays burg.org.

Lapsit Storytime & Sing-Along: July 27th, 10am. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown. Ages 1-3. FMI, call 908-362-8335.

Bubble Trouble: July 28th, 4pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, 4 Lambert Rd., Blairstown.

VBS: August 17th-21st, 9am-noon. Walnut Valley UMC, 4 Vail Rd., Columbia. Registration now open for children ages 3-11 at vacationbibleschool.com/northwarrenvbs. Sign up by July 31st for a free gift!

3rd Annual Swayze Mill Park Car Show: October 18th, 11am-3pm. 100 Swayze Mill Road; Hope 8th Grade Fund Raising Event. FMI or to register cars, email Rob Caputo at robcaputo@yahoo.com.

The Warren County Advi-sory Council on Disabilities is seeking nominations for the Thomas M. Kennedy Excel-lence in Accessibility Award, asking residents to recommend any local business, organization, professional office, or other place of public accommoda-tion, or a county resident, who has made real strides in facilitating and supporting equality and access for all people, including people with disabilities.Nominee achievements for

consideration for this award can include: Accessible sidewalk and

parking area accessibility (ramps, accessible parking, widened, entrance, etc.) Accessible goods or

services (interior ramps, positioning of racks, shelves, counters, or tables, signs/materials in braille or large print formats, etc.) Accessible restrooms;

removal of any other accessi-bility barriers Removal of attitudinal

barriers (treating all custom-ers with respect, providing reasonable accommodations and assistance, etc.)Nominations must be

submitted by August 1st.Contact DAWN Center for

Independent Living to obtain a nomination form, or call and they will assist you in getting your nomination submitted for consideration. They can be reached at 1-888-383-3296 or via email at kkryspin@dawncil.org.

House Democrats recently rejected a plan to increase funding for several of the states higher education insti-tutions, and as a result, voted to eliminate funding for several state-related universi-ties, announced House Majority Policy Chairman Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and House Majority Whip Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). The proposed funding allocation would have represented a three percent increase over last years funding levels to keep tuition affordable for students, without any new or increased taxes on Pennsyl-vania residents. The vote to allocate funding

for The Pennsylvania State

University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple Univer-sity and Lincoln University requires a two-thirds vote, and failed to pass the House today with votes along mostly party lines.Its time to stop playing

politics with education, Benninghoff said. After four years of difficult budgeting, we were finally able to make a responsible increase to higher education without raising taxes. Quite frankly, a no vote is unacceptable, and demonstrates a total lack of commitment to affordable education for Pennsylvania residents and the success of future generations.The funding package would

have provided an $8.4

million increase for Penn State, a $4.22 million increase for the University of Pittsburgh, a $4.2 million increase for Temple Univer-sity and a nearly $400,000 increase for Lincoln Univer-sity. The defeated plan also included an additional $840,000 for the University of Pennsylvanias Veterinary School. Given that the governors

tax plan was unanimously defeated, we must live within our current means, Cutler said. Schools are planning now for next year and should not be held hostage for a tax increase that has already been defeated. The proposed increase to

these institutions was part of

a budget plan supported by both Senate and House Republican leadership, which includes a total of $800 million in new money for education. The Republican-endorsed

education spending plan also includes a three percent increase for community colleges and the Pennsylva-nia State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), a $10.35 million increase in PHEAA grants for students, $732,000 for Institutional Assistance Grants, $3.39 million in additional funding for Penn States Agriculture Research and Extension Program, and an 8.7 percent increase to rural education outreach.

By Maria CascarioThe 140th Anniversary

Committee of Bangors Incorporation has announced their monthly tour.On Saturday, July 18th, the

tour begins at 11am at the House of Sabatini on Market Street. Bernadette Sabatini will demonstrate her craft for those attending. Donald Jones will give a talk on the history of the places on the

tour. The audience will also be given a tour of the Jackso-nian Club, which features a tiger oak bar, slate tiles and fireplaces.The group will stop at the

building that was the train station, across from CVS and view it from the outside only.The tour will end at Main

Street Market, which was a participant in the facade program.

The Skylands Sierra Club Group will host its Third Annual Picnic and Hike Saturday, July 18th, at Kittatinny Valley State Park.The hike will begin at 10am

from the picnic area near the Park Office, located at the entrance to the park off Goo-dale Road in Andover Town-ship. The picnic will begin at 11:30am and end at 2pm. The public is welcome to attend the hike and/or the picnic free of charge. Ham-burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers and soft drinks will be provided by the Skylands Group. Participants are invited to bring a favorite side dish or dessert.This years special guest

will be Vicky Hoover, Chair of Sierra Clubs Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Reauthorization Task Force and the California/Nevada Wilder-ness Committee. A lover of wilderness everywhere, she can often be found wander-ing in Alaska, through the Sierra Nevada, California desert, Utah and Nevada. Last year, she received A Wilderness-Forever Future Award from a national coali-tion of environmental and conservation groups for her decades of leadership and work to protect and connect people with wilderness.At the Skylands Group

picnic, Hoover plans to present information regard-ing federal legislation to

permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. For 50 years, LWCF has been the nations main funding source for acquiring holdings in federal lands like national parks and forests, and for providing states and local communities with land for parks and other essential outdoor recreation facilities. The fund uses revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling. Unless Congress takes action to reauthorize the fund, this

remarkably successful bipar-tisan program will expire on September 30th of this year. New Jersey has received

approximately $338 million in LWCF funding over the past five decades, protecting places such as the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge and the Delaware Water Gap National Recre-ation Area. LWCF also provides direct economic benefits in Sussex and North-ern Warren counties, as active

outdoor recreation is impor-tant to NJ's economy. Each year 696,000 sportspersons and 1.7 million wildlife watchers combine to spend $1.7 billion on wildlife-associated recreation in NJ. Those interested in partici-

pating in the picnic are asked to RSVP, indicating a side dish or dessert, by contacting Skylands Group Chair Susan Williams at SkylandsGroup @gmail.com or 973-222-0274.

The eight year wait is over! Since 2007, Camp Papillon has been working non-stop preparing for a safe place to take in homeless, abused, neglected, stray pets of all shapes and sizes. They are very pleased to say that the dream is now a reality. Camp Papillon Pet Adoption and Rescue now has a place, to call home. It is with great pleasure and big smiles that Camp Papillon, here before a foster, home-based rescue only, now has a place to plant its roots. The organization has big plans for its recently purchased 30-plus acre prop-erty.We could have never

accomplished this without our volunteers and the com-munity, President Gerri Papillon said. It has been years in the making, but it is finally here. All our work has paid off. Anyone thinking that working toward getting the property was the hard part must realize the hard part is actually just beginning. I know with hard work, help of our dedicated volunteers and the community the purchased property will be something wonderful. We are asking for the publics help again. We are going to need volunteers to help to get our camp ready for operation. Please give us a call if you would like to

volunteer, even for a few hours or for the day. Please reach out to us via our website, Facebook page or call 570-420-0450 and leave a message with your name, phone number, type of assis-tance, as well as dates and times of availability.The group is looking

forward to working together with the other animal societ-ies. We are looking to partner

with any and all rescues to bring help to our community and our state animal crisis, Vice President Mebbie Van Orman said. Over the next few weeks the

Camp Papillon volunteers

will be cleaning and repairing to prepare what they can in order to get ready to open. The property is in no way ready for animals of any kind, and will not be for a while. There is no set date to open as of yet, but Camp Papillon will announce to the public the open house, grand opening, as well as when animals can be taken in.Visit their website to see

what Camp Papillion is all about at www.cppac.org or visit them on Facebook. Monetary donations can be made online at www.you caring.com/cppac.Camp Papillon Pet Adop-

tion and Rescue is a non-

profit, no-kill 501c3 animal rescue group dedicated to giving all homeless animals a chance for life. Nearly 100 animals are currently being cared for in foster care homes with Camp Papillon. Each year, hundreds of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and others are placed in

forever homes through hours of work by Camp Papillon volunteers. Camp Papillon consists of a Board of Direc-tors, many dedicated and priceless volunteers, and numerous volunteer foster parents. Since 2007 Camp Papillon has saved thousands of animals just through the power of their unbelievable Foster Home Network. Camp Papillon dedicates time and manpower to assisting dogs with behavioral and/or medi-cal issues that would have had these dogs euthanized at any kill shelter. The volunteers and trainers work hard to see that every animal that comes to them will find their forever home, and until they do, they stay with Camp Papillon.

Many of these columns have dealt with dogs. Its not that I dont like cats, in fact it is the opposite. I have three wonderful cats; (well, two are wonderful and one is a little cranky, as my staff will agree!). It just seems that there is less information and research out there pertaining to cats. Maybe thats just part of their mystique, but it also creates problems for veteri-

narians as there are some unique physiological differ-ences between cats and other pets and there are fewer drugs available that are approved for use in cats. There is a saying in veteri-nary medicine that cats are not small dogs and this is very true. This month, we will examine some of the unique characteristics of cats.

Anatomically, there are some interesting quirks of cats. They only have 30 teeth (compared to 42 in dogs and 32 in people). But as anyone who has tried to pill a cat can attest, they know how to use those teeth very effectively! They also have a clavicle (collarbone), which dogs lack. Cats can retract their claws voluntarily while dogs cannot. One of the biggest things about cats is that they can purr and they have man-aged to keep the exact way they do this a secret from scientists all these years. Basically, they can cause a very short vibration of the vocal chords and this happens both during inspira-tion and expiration, hence the sound is continuous.Cats are obligate carni-

vores. This means they have evolved to eat meat and little else. Because of this, a cats liver lacks certain metabolic

pathways that are unneces-sary on a prey-based diet. This is the reason that many medications that are fine for humans and other animals can be toxic to cats. Aspirin and many other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are a classic example of this. Cats also require certain amino acids in their diet that are not essential to other animals. Taurine is the most notable of these. A lack of taurine leads to dilative cardiomy-opathy causing heart failure and retinal degeneration causing blindness. Because it is now required to add this to all commercial cat foods, the cases of these diseases has dramatically decreased. A cats liver also handles lack of eating differently. People and dogs can go for long periods of time without food without a long-term effect. Cats, however, will start to mobilize fat to their liver and this results in a disease called hepatic lipidosis. This is very serious and these cats need

immediate nutrition, usually via a surgically implanted tube, often for weeks.Some other diseases are

specific to cats as well. Cats can become hyperthyroid (have an overactive thyroid) while dogs become hypothy-roid (underactive thyroid). People can get either. Cats can get hypertrophic cardio-myopathy, which is a very thickened heart wall. This is very rare in dogs.Cats also have some unique

behaviors. Unlike dogs, where a simple praise/correction technique is usually quite effective, cats will resent any form of punishment, particularly if it seen as coming from the owner. With litter box issues, especially, if the cat is punished for going outside the box, the problem will get worse and not better. Cats also do not tend toward being in structured social groups like dogs, although they certainly can live together in harmony. Many cats prefer to be only children and dont necessarily need another cat

around to be happy.Many medications that are

available for dogs are not labeled for cats. Often, these drugs have been tested on cats, but bringing a product to market is very expensive (to the tune of millions of dollars) and the pharmaceuti-cal companies often do the required studies on dogs only. So as veterinarians, we often have to go extra-label. If we didnt, there would be very little we could offer our feline patients. Rest assured, we do this with an intimate knowledge of the medications and how effec-tive and safe they are for cats. Cats also have a way of

hiding illness, often just becoming aloof and starting to pick at their food. Some-times, by the time the owner notices a problem, it is already quite advanced. It is very important for cats to get annual physical exams so we can detect problems early. We care about our kitty patients and strive to keep them healthy and happy.

The farmers markets are in full swing, which means that local vegetables are available all over northern New Jersey. But although LocalShare gleans from area farms, they were never in winter hibernationon the contrary, they had a very busy winter! After growing exponentially last year, the nonprofit was awarded a grant from the NJ Department of Agriculture in December. Then, in early 2015, LocalShare was recog-nized for their work at the intersection of hunger and food waste with awards from Project Self-Sufficiency and Trinity Church of Hackett-stown. Over the past three years,

LocalShare has brought together farmers, food pantries, soup kitchens, religious organizations, com-munity gardens, public sector aid organizations, and enthu-siastic volunteers to work toward equal distribution of the food grown in our own communities. In 2014, LocalShare gleaned over 10,000 pounds of produce using volunteers alone. Demand for their services skyrocketed, and the group is building on this success in 2015 to improve the projects infrastructure, become more efficient, extend their reach even further, strengthen the volunteer base they rely on, and in turn serve more people. In March they hosted a summit with regional food pantry leaders to find out how

LocalShare can serve them better.LocalShare could use some

help, since theres real work that needs doing. An aston-ishing 40 percent of the food in the United States is wastedand yet 20 percent of American households with children are food insecure. LocalShare is building a bridge to span those extremes. By gleaning extra produce, they rescue what cannot be sold at market, then deliver it to people in need. By involving people from all sectors of our community, they heighten awareness of socioeconomic issues as well as the importance of support-ing and preserving local farms. Getting valuable help and

feedback from the communi-ties they work in is essential to LocalShares success, and also gratifying. In January, Project Self-Sufficiency in Newton honored the project

with a Mosaic Award, along with other community partners that help support the acclaimed center for low-income families. In February, LocalShare was among the organizations recognized by Trinity Church in Hackett-stown during their Pantry Partner Day. The Lords Pantry at Trinity is the second largest food distribution program in Warren County and a close affiliate of LocalShares mission is to connect people in need to locally grown, natural foods. By involving the volunteer efforts of everyone in our community, LocalShare gleans foods from local fields, turning what farmers could not harvest into nutri-

tion for our neighbors who need it most. The program encompasses growing healthy organic food, rescu-ing and using what cannot be sold at market, getting it to people in need, teaching them how to cook and preserve it, and creating community through pay-what-you-can community dinners. LocalShare is a project of

the Foodshed Alliance, a grassroots, 501(c)(3) non-profit devoted to promoting locally grown food and farm-ing. Foodshed works with farmers, community mem-bers, and agricultural leaders to develop projects that foster the growth of a sustainable local food system. LocalShare is actively

recruiting individuals and teams from church and school groups, corporate community service programs, Boy and Girl Scouts, and others to help with gleaning and distribu-tion throughout northwest NJ (primarily Morris, Warren, and Sussex counties, but growing quickly!) during the 2015 harvest season. Sign up to be a volunteer by contact-ing info@local sharenj.org or 908-362-7967, and on Face-book to help hungry neigh-bors near you.

By PA State Rep. Joe Emrick- 137th Legislative DistrictWhen I took office in 2010, I

stated that I would not support raising taxes on the hard-working people of the 137th District, and I would fight to force state govern-ment to live within its means. For these reasons, I was proud to support the budget passed on June 30th as it accomplished each of these goals. For the last seven years,

people have struggled finan-cially, sacrificed much and been forced to make tough personal decisions within their own households. The state government cannot, and should not, be forced to grow exponentially on the backs of the taxpayers who already pay more than their fair share!On June 30th, PA Govenor

Tom Wolf vetoed the entire budget and here is what he said no to: $100 million increase for basic education funding which sends more money to every Pennsylvania public school district; $25 million increase for Pre-K Counts and an additional $5 million increase for Head-start; $20 million for special education; $10.35 million increase in PHEAA for student grants; $23 million in new funding for the Depart-ment of Agriculture; CHIP (Childrens Health Insurance Program) coverage for an

addition 15,881 children; Nearly $128 million in increased funding to remove individuals with intellectual disabilities from the waiting list and provide them with the services they need; 350 new state troopers; $2.4 million increase for domestic violence and rape crisis programs.He also continues to push

for more than $506 million in new school funding, 32 percent of which will be earmarked for the School District of Philadelphia, while school districts in the 137th District are forced to settle with the following: School District of Philadel-phia - 32 percent; Bangor Area School District - 0.16 percent; Easton Area School District - 0.35 percent; Naza-reth Area School District - 0.13 percent.Those decimal points are

correct. Under the Wolf school funding distribution formula, the three schools in the 137th District would each receive an increase of less than one percent.I will continue to fight for a

fiscally responsible budget that doesnt raise your taxes, adequately funds our schools and supports essential services. Questions about this or any

legislative issue should be directed to my district office at 570-897-0401 or 610-746-5090.

Select members of the Childrens Chorus of Sussex County (CCSC) Concert Choir, under the direction of founder and Artistic Director, Deborah Mello, will partici-pate in the Festival of the Aegean, a two-week long musical celebration which takes place annually on the island of Syros in Greece. The choir will perform six pieces independently and collaborate with choirs from around the world in the performances of works by Faur, Rutter and Mozart. The International Festival of

the Aegean, which takes place annually on the Island of Syros, Greece, was founded in 2005 by the Greek-American conductor Peter Tiboris. Now entering

its tenth season, the festival attracts world-class musi-cians, dancers and actors from dozens of countries.We are honored to have

been chosen to participate in such an important festival in front of a worldwide audi-ence, Deborah Mello said.. Our children have worked extremely hard to prepare for this experience, and we continue to be grateful to the organizers of this event for the opportunity.The Childrens Chorus of

Sussex County serves school-aged children in and

around Sussex County, New Jersey, by providing a com-prehensive choral music program. This sequential program has two ensembles: Bella Voce for beginning and intermediate singers in grades two through six, and Concert Choir for advanced singers in grades seven through 12. The organization also features a beginning music experience, Musikgarten music class for children in kindergarten and first grade. The choirs perform in two annual concerts, and take advantage of different performing

opportunities locally and regionally. The Concert Choir has also performed extensively throughout North America and Europe. The Childrens Chorus of

Sussex County will be offer-ing summer camps for children of all ages at Christ Church in Newton from August 10th through 14th. Children entering grades one through six are invited to attend from 9am to noon; students entering grades seven through 12 can attend from 6pm to 9pm. Younger children will have fun explor-ing different musical genres, while the older children will work on repertoire from classical and musical theatre, and learn how to prepare for college auditions, as well as county, region and state honor choirs.CCSC is grateful for the

support it receives from the Sussex County Arts and Heri-tage Council. To schedule an audition, or to find out more about the Childrens Chorus of Sussex County, call Debo-rah at 973-670-4556 or visit www.ccscsings.org.

Ciao Amici,My daughters and I started a

tradition back when they were little. Olivia was about two and a half years old and I decided to shave my mustache off. As I came down that summer day, Olivia looked at me and started crying and asking, Where is

my Daddy? Where is my Daddy? I said, Livy its me, I just

shaved my moustache off. She still could not believe it.

It was not until Julia and Jasmine convinced her that it was me and Olivia settled down and stopped crying. I spoke to my daughters and asked them to come up with a plan to avoid this from happening again. We decided that as our menu for catering changes with the seasons, so should my face. So in the summer I am clean shaven, I wear a goatee in the fall, a beard in the winter and mustache for the spring. This way they can expect a change without being surprised. My daughters can recognize what time of year a photo was taken by how I look; we have a lot of fun with that. Se non si mente annusare

come burro di arachidi per due o tre giorni, burro di arachidi ottima crema. If you don't mind smelling like peanut butter for two or three days, peanut butter is darn good shaving cream. ~Barry GoldwaterCon cordiali saluti, JoeGrowing up in the Butcher

Shop, is available at the shop or on our web page. To receive menu specials and our newsletter, join our mailing list at JDeFrancoAnd Daughters.com, click on mailing list and enter your email. Send your Roseto stories, recipes and comments to portipasto@epix. net or call 610-588-6991. J DeFranco and Daughters is located at 2173 W. Bangor Rd. in Bangor, PA. Store hours are 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, with catering available anytime or by appointment.

Brooke Chuddley Diatta will be spending the majority of her summer with a trip to Moshi and Zanzibar, Tanza-nia, to participate in sustain-able volunteer projects via African Impact. Her trip includes education

and community support through teaching, empower-ing women and children, conservation efforts, commu-nity development, teaching literacy, caring for the elderly, nursery school involvement, HIV education, business skills development, and gardening and farmingBrooke is currently a full-

time educator at Long Valley Middle School and has worked with children over the past decade. Brooke attended Centenary

College, where she got a taste

of world traveling while studying a semester abroad at Ewha Woman's University in Seoul, South Korea. Brooke is extremely excited to have a positive impact on the lives of people in Tanzania through

education and community support, while also trans-forming her own life in a multitude of ways. Donations can be made to

Brooke at to help fund the trip to brookebonic@gmail.com

NORWESCAPs Career and Life Transitions Center for Women will be conducting a four-week job club that focuses on assisting women in their job search. The "Break-fast Job Club will be facili-tated by Mary Jo Howard, Career Training Advisor at NORWESCAPs Career and Life Transitions Center for Women.This program is a great

opportunity to hone your job searching skills and to network with other women to discuss what is, and what is not, working for you in todays job market. This workshop is offered on Fridays from 10am to noon starting Friday, July 31st. Pre-registration is required. For more information, please call the Career and Life Tran-sitions Center at 908-835-2624. The Career and Life Transitions Center is located at 16 Broad Street, Suite 7, in Washington, NJ. The Career and Life Transi-

tions Center for Women has

been providing services to Displaced homemakers in Hunterdon, Warren, Somer-set, and Mercer Counties for over 30 years. Displaced homemakers are women who have lost their primary means of financial support following the death or disability of a spouse or due to divorce or separation and now must return to the workforce. Displaced homemakers have traditionally been out of the job market for a significant period of time, lack market-able skills and are now faced with supporting both them-selves and their family. The Career and Life Transitions Center also provides services to women who have been in a long term relationship that has ended, women with spouses who have been actively deployed, as well as to women who must return to the workforce when their spouse has become unem-ployed. Services the Career and Life

Transitions Center offers

focus on assisting women prepare for a return to the workforce and includes a computer training program, career interest inventories, career counseling, job search skills, support groups, self-esteem workshops and refer-rals to community resources. The mission of the Career and Life Transitions Center is to provide quality services that will assist women gain personal and economic self-sufficiency and reach their full potential through educa-tion training, job readiness, community referrals and supportive services. NORWESCAP is a non-

profit community action agency established in 1965 that creates opportunities for over 30,000 low-income people in northwest New Jersey by providing a large portfolio of self-sufficiency and emergency services. The mission of NORWESCAP is Strengthening communities by creating opportunities that impact poverty.

RE/MAX Ridge Real Estate is pleased to welcome Donna Lee Cannistraci to their sales team. Donna Lee will be working out of the Blairstown and Washington, NJ offices. Donna Lee and her

husband, Charles, migrated to Hardwick with their family in 2007, attracted by the schools and quality of life. They fell in love with the close-knit communities and became actively involved in volunteering including as a local Girl Scout leader. Donna Lee is passionate

about local and healthy whole foods and is com-mitted to making a differ-ence by supporting the local economy. She volunteers for the Foodshed Alliance, the LocalShare Program and the Blairstown Farmers Market, sponsored by RE/MAX

Ridge and other local businesses. In her spare time, Donna Lee loves running on the Paulinskill Trail and cycling along the beautiful country roads.Donna Lee began her career

as an accountant in both the public and private sectors, bringing a wealth of profes-

sional and marketing experi-ence to her real estate profes-sion.Donna Lee is enthusiastic

about her partnership with RE/MAX Ridge. I decided to join RE/MAX

Ridge because I wanted to take my new profession to the highest level. I know my clients will benefit from the extraordinary marketing capabilities of RE/MAX Ridge including print adver-tising throughout northern NJ and their incomparable and enhanced Internet cover-age on all the major real estate websites.Gail Masson-Romano,

broker and owner of RE/MAX Ridge, is very pleased that Donna Lee selected RE/MAX Ridge as the vehicle to grow her real estate business. As we continue to grow

our office to better serve our

communities, we are excited that a person of Donna Lees character and caliber has joined our team. She comes to us with an impeccable reputation and professional excellence. Her friendly and cheerful disposition is greatly appreciated by our office and staff. She is a welcome addition to our RE/MAX Ridge team!Donna Lee Cannistraci and

RE/MAX Ridge, home of the most productive agents in Warren County, invite you to experience the benefits of working with their team. Please visit Donna Lee on

the web at www. DonnaLeeProperties.com or call her at 908-362-7200 (8 Main Street, Blairstown), 908-689-4444 (218 Rte 31 South, Washington) or directly at 973-557-3354 to discuss your real estate objectives.

( N A P S I ) A l t h o u g h moving is one of the most stressful life events-according to the Employee Relocation Councilit doesnt have to be. Here are four steps to make moving easier: Build A To-Do

TimelineStart by making a list of everything you need to do and when you need to do it. Include tasks such as budgeting, decluttering, hiring movers, purchasing supplies, and updating important medical and finan-cial records. Create A Moving At-A-

Glance ListPut all your

critical move-related names, phone numbers and addresses on one document to carry with you and store in your smartphone. Be sure you can easily access your moving contract, real estate and mortgage documents, and info on local utilities, banks and schools, too.

Pack A First-Night Survival BoxAfter youve arrived at your new home, you dont want to have to hunt for the must-have items, such as box cutters, tools, device chargers, bed linens, toiletriesand the coffeepot for the following morning. Look Online For HelpIf

youre one of the 40 million people estimated to move this year, you can turn to valuable online resources, such as the Moving Guide, from CableMover. Its a one-stop, customizable solu-tion to help you stay orga-nized and stress-free.

Hello, fellow readers!One of the notable things

about our chats is the cycle of gardening dilemmas that comes up each year. Its Japanese beetle time and theyre out in full force based on all who have asked what to do. Last year we talked about the store bought beetle bags and how their pheromone lures actually attract more beetles into your yard. Maybe a gift idea for your neighbor? Rebecca of Andover, NJ

whos in the last stages of a backyard renovation, writes, Japanese Beetles are already swarming us. What can I spray to protect the plants while keeping them safe for bees and butter-flies?I shared the nostalgia of a

jiffy jar of beetles good old mom hired her five pack to fill for five cents a jar. It turns out handpicking,

especially early in beetle season, is one of the most

impactful first lines of defense. Japanese beetles themselves emit a pheromone lure that draws kinfolk to their feeding spot. In fact, Patti Doell, who owns a flower farm in Blairstown, cuts off the parts of the plant infested to prevent other beetles from joining the party.Milky Spore is a safe, all

natural biological control using milky disease spores, which is lethal to grubs but harmless to humans, pets and beneficial insects. The bacte-ria lives in the soil for 10 to15 years and can be applied anytime the ground is not frozen. True Milky Spore is a long

term remedy and not an immediate hit to the current population. So catch as many as you can. Then you can throw a second punch using Neem Oil if you wish. They say its not harmful to benefi-cial bugs, as they don't ingest leaves, but you still need to be careful when you spray. Any spray can suffocate insects so best to apply first thing in the morning or late in the evening when pollinators are least active.Early morning is the best

time to catch Japanese Beetles, too, as they are sluggish then and will easily fall into your jar or bucket. Its what to do with your catch that always leaves me a bit queasy. You can drown them in soapy water, or use plain water so you can feed them to your chickens or pond fish. Or cook the suckers Mom used to say as she tossed them into boiling water; out of character really as shes normally compassionate about critters. But a treasured Japanese maple disrespect-fully defoliated by beetles with the same heritage changes things.Garden Dilemmas? askmarystone.com

On Thursday, July 16th, over 500 summer day camp kids from across the Lehigh Valley will gather together at the Nazareth Borough Park for a day of healthy fun in the sun. Kids from the YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg and Vicinity, Forks YMCA Education Center, Nazareth YMCA, Suburban North YMCA, Slate Belt YMCA, and Bethlehem YMCA will compete in relays, outdoor games, song contests and more. The opening ceremony will be held at 10:15am. The days festivities will conclude with a tug of war between 2:15pm and 3:15pm.

This year, the Greater Valley YMCA is partnering with the Rotary Club of Easton to make Field Day even healthier. A generous grant from the Rotary Club of Easton will assist with providing a healthy lunch at

Field Day. Local Rotarians will be on hand to help serve lunch.When kids are out of school,

they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential, related to hunger, water safety, academ-ics, safe spaces to play, and health. Through summer camp and other youth devel-opment programs, the Y helps over nine million youth nationwide to hop the gap and achieve more, providing a safe to place to learn, stay healthy and build friendship. The Ys day camp activities focus on impacting the social-emotional, cognitive and physical development of all kids. To learn more about the

Greater Valley YMCA day camp program, visit greatervalleyymca.orgThe YMCA is one of the

nations leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 YMCAs engage 21 million men, women and children regardless of age, income or background to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nations health and well-being, and provide opportuni-ties to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the YMCA has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.