Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 Master Watershed Steward Program. Master Watershed Stewards receive 40 hours of training on topics including water quality, stream health, native plants, recreational resources, and groundwater. The 2016 Master Watershed Steward training program starts Wednesday, March 9th and continues on subsequent Wednesdays from 6pm to 8:30pm through mid-June. The course also includes three hands-on Saturday field trips. Classes will be held at partnering environmental organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley. For more information about the Master Watershed Steward Program or to request an application for the 2016 training program, contact Erin Fred-erick at 610-391-9840 or elf145@psu.edu. Applica-tions are due by January 8th. Two information sessions will be offered: January 13th, from 6:30pm to to 8:30pm at the Lehigh County Agricul-tural Center, and January 27th at Illick's Mill in Bethle-hem from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.Little Creek Bar-B-Cue,

located at 1004 Washington Blvd., in Bangor, is holding a benefit for Daniele Demler on January 24th, from 12pm to 6pm. Eighty percent of the days profits will benefit Daniele Demler, former Slate Belt resident who was severely injured in October when she was struck by a motorcycle. For more information, call Little Creek Bar-B-Cue at 610-588-3831.Slate Belt Health and

Rehabilitation is looking

for volunteers. If you enjoy talking, singing, dancing, exercising, reading, and more, and would like to share your gifts with the residents, stop by 701 Slate Belt Boule-vard in Bangor for an appli-cation, or call 610-588-6161. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.The Ladies Auxiliary of

the Mt. Bethel Volunteer Fire Company is seeking new members and volun-teers. If you are interested and would like further infor-mation, contact Gail at 570-897-6293 or Kris at 610-392-7975.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.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 Ladies Auxiliary of

the Mt. Bethel Volunteer Fire Company in Mt. Bethel is seeking new mem-bers and volunteers. If you are interested and would like further information, contact Gail at 570-897-6293 or Kris at 610-392-7975.Parking space rentals are

availabe in five municipal lots throughout the Borough of Bangor. Always have a space to park! Cost is $40 per month or $100 for three months. Call the

Borough office at 610-588-2216 for more details.

NORWESCAPs Career and Life Transitions Center for Women is hosting a collaborative monthly workshop called "At the Table: Support, Informa-tion, Hope" with DeTorres and DeGeorge, a local family law attorney and financial expert. We will be collaborating to help women navigate through the challenges of untying the knot. To be held at the Career and Life Transitions Center, 16 Broad Street in Washington, starting on Thursday, January 14th from 6pm to 8pm. For more infor-mation please call 908-835-2624 or www.conleyc2norw escap.org.RE/MAX Town and

Valley is holding a holiday collection for our troops serving overseas. Not every person gets to be home with their families for the holidays. Our soldiers over-seas who fight daily to protect our freedom, are the people that aren't. Please take a moment to purchase a small item to put in the holiday collection box. A few items that are needed are shampoo, conditioner, chapstick, deoderant, gum, candy, magazines, DVD's, contact solution, iTunes cards, deco-rations to make their home-away-from-home festive or anything else you think would make a soldier happy while away from home. The collection box is located at RE/MAX Town and Valley in Hackettstown. Cash dona-tions will be accepted as well to purchase whatever the box is lacking once the collection is complete. For any ques-

tions, or if you want to make a donation but would like someone to pick it up, contact Stephanie Rucereto at srucereto@earth link.net.Religious education

classes at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sussex County have begun. Children ages three through 12 will participate in a program called Sing to the Power, which includes lessons and activi-ties that help children explore ways they can use their different forms of personal power to effect positive change in the world. The classes are held every Sunday from 10:30am to noon in the fellowship hall, located at One West Nelson Street in Newton. For further information, call 570-828-2732 or visit www. UUNewtonNJ.org.Free exercise classes will

be held for adults at town hall in Johnsonburg. Classes are an hour long on Monday and Wednesday at 10am, and Saturday at 9am; or Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 4:45pm. For more information, visit www. frelinghuysennj.us/aerobics.htm, call Cathy at 908-852-7426, or email cathy@cathy baobean.com.Public Notice: Pursuant to

the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975 and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:20-75, notice is hereby given that at the Regular Meeting held November 24th, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Warren took action as follows: Scheduled the Annual Reorganization Meeting for Saturday, Janu-ary 2nd, at noon, in court room number one of the Warren County Court House, located at 413 Second Street,

in Belvidere.Attention Warren County

Homeowners: The Local Market Update as provided by New Jersey REALTORS shows Warren County CLOSED home sales up 16.3 percent with the year to date number being 792 (10/2014 - 10/2015). The Median Sales price in 2014 was $237,000 and for 2015 is $254,000. An increase of 7.2 perccent. Great news for Warren County. For more informa-tion on the statistics visit the website at njar-public.stats. 10kresearch.com/docs/lmu/x/WarrenCounty?src=map.Public Notice: Pursuant to

the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:20-75, notice is hereby given that at the Regular Meeting held December 9, 2015, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Warren took action as follows: Scheduled

a Budget Meeting for Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 7pm; Scheduled a Budget Meeting for Saturday, Janu-ary 9, 2016 at 9am; Sched-uled a Regular Meeting for Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 7pm. All meetings will be held in the Freehold-ers Meeting Room, Wayne Dumont, Jr. Administration Building, 165 Route 519S, in Belvidere.ATTENTION READERS:The PRESS Office, located

at 1 Broadway in Bangor will be closed in observance of the holidays from December 24th through January 4th. We will re-open on Tuesday, January 5th at 9am. Our paper will be published on its regular schedule during this time (December 30th and January 6th). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year!

Adult Fiction: Bloom, Amy: A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You; Brosnan, Meredith: Mr. Dynamite; Campbell, Bebe: What You Owe Me; David, Susan Page: Pieces Of The Past; Dodge, Vera: Muslin Mystery; Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter; Hyde, Catherine: Worthy; Lee, Harper: To Kill A Mockingbird; Michaels, Fern: Perfect Match; Peters, Elizabeth: He Shall Thunder In The Sky; Putnam, Cara: Timeless Treasures; Roberts, Nora: Red Lily; California Dreams; Wilson, Susan: The Dog Who Saved Me.Adult Non Fiction:

Bowker, John Westerdale: God A Brief History; Jack-son, Laura: The Light Between Us; Kast, Marlise Elizabeth: Fodors Costa Rica 2015; Palin, Sarah: Good Tidings And Great Joy; Perino, Dana: And The Good News Is; Sherrill, John: The

Hiding Place; Tee, Susanna: Fish And Seafood Bible. Large Print Fiction:

Bagshawe, Tilly: Sidney Sheldons Angel Of The Dark; Coulter, Catherine: The Final Cut; Ellison, J.T.: Edge Of Black; Gardner, Lisa: Catch Me; Staub, Wendy Corsi: Dying Breath.Young Adult Fiction:

Noel, Alyson: Evermore; Wells, H.G.: The War Of The Worlds.Junior Fiction: Alcott,

Louisa May: Little Women; Osborne, Mary Pope: My Secret War; Stevenson, Robert Louis: Treasure Island.Junior Non Fiction: Hind-

ley, Judy: The Usborne Time Traveler.DVDs: Good Day For It;

The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe; Macgyver Season 1; 2; 3; Prince Caspian And The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair.

Are you determined to quit smoking for the New Year? Do you want to know all about a better alternative right in your town? You need to visit Rocs Diamond Vape Shop in its new location on Route 94. Chris Gentile is the proud owner of this creative shop right in the heart of Blairstown. Chris has made it his mission to provide the best and safest products for his customers. If you want to learn more about the vaping experience and how it can work for you, you need to visit Chris at RDV.People are gaining their

health back. Some of the benefits of e-cigs vs cigarettes are coughing much less, better skin, less irritable more energy, smelling better, etc. Other perceived benefits of vaping include less nausea, improved sense of smell/taste and better circulation. Smok-ers walk around all day smelling disgusting while vapers smell like cinnamon buns, fruit loops, and cotton candy. Sounds silly but you also dont have to go outside for a cigarette break when you vape and come back inside reeking of smoke. Everyone that hates the smell

of smoke will thank you!Vaping is a proven method

to help quit or drastically reduce your smoking habits. There are over 4,000 chemi-cals in one single cigarette including 43 known cancer-causing (carcinogenic) com-pounds and 400 other toxins. This includes nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT. In contrast, e-cigarettes are mostly com-prised of Glycerin (found naturally in vegetables), Propylene Glycol (used com-monly in asthma inhalers), Food Grade Flavoring (used in many foods) and Nicotine (a stimulant which is not a carcinogen, although it can be highly addictive). For that reason, almost all juices are also available without any nicotine. Thats it. Four simple ingredients and if you decide to vape without nico-tine youre down to three. Something to note is that

when talking about e-liquid, you should only use trusted companies that produce their liquid in sterile environments in the USA and other coun-tries with similar regulations as we also do with our own

House Juice. Being educated about the proper usage of batteries, especially when using sub ohm atomizers on mechanical and unregulated mods all things Chris teaches on a daily basis. Reputable vape supply/juice

companies have also done their homework over the last few years and made sure that they use the safest of ingredi-ents in their products. That means they listened to studies, reports and their clientele to make their prod-ucts the safest on the market. Can big tobacco companies make the same claim? Do they research and make their product better and non-toxic for consumption?RDV is another example of

research and demand. Chris is very knowledgeable in his craft and will work with you to make sure that your experi-ence of choosing the products from mod box to e-liquid is the very best one. Every day he looks for new ways to create a product that works for each customer.Vaping has come very far in

a short amount of time. There are still questions about the process and sometimes a stigma associated with

anyone that wants to try it. Keep in mind that unlike cigarettes there is NO com-bustion (lighting) there is NO smoke being inhaled, NO second hand smoke to endan-ger others around the vaper. Lets get down to the cost as

well the average smoker goes through a pack of cigarettes a day. Thats

around $56 dollars a week on cigarettes alone. Vaping however, after the setup, is a fraction of that cost. For the initial cost of a carton of cigarettes, you could be on your way to a safer and cheaper way of life.Nothing can be 100 percent

safe but relatively speaking, vaping appears to be much safer than cigarettes -which have already been proven to

be deadly from long term use. Everyone knows someone that has died from lung cancer due to smoking or second hand smoke. Not to mention the countless accidental fires that have been started by smoking a lit cigarette vs vaping. In the end the choice is up to the consumer and making sure vaping is the right alternative for you.

By Jana Morris, MS, CAADC, LPCThe holiday season, while it

can be a joyous time, can also be a time of stress and chaos. The stress and chaos can lead people into abusing alcohol and drugs. Many people have legal and family issues around the holidays that bring them to need to reach out for help. Individuals who are in early recovery can have diffi-culty staying sober through-out the season. There are many times alcohol and drugs are associated with Thanks-giving, Christmas and New Years Eve. For some, it will be their first time since they

began using that they are trying to stay sober for the holidays. Thoughts of relapse are common through-out the holiday season. It is important for individuals trying to maintain sobriety to reach out for help from their support system or friends that do not use drugs and alcohol.A Clean Slate (100 S. 1st

Street) will be open on Christmas Eve from 11am to 4pm, New Years Eve from 11am to 4pm, and New Years Day from 1pm to5pm.Please stop by to check out

other holiday events for people in recovery.

Celebrating Bangors 140th Anniversary has been a rewarding experience. We held monthly events at various businesses down-town, highlighting the diver-sity and talents of our business owners. All year long, we have also been celebrating the fact that Bangor has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is indeed a great honor.Bangors 140th Christmas,

held Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th, was the final event for our 140th celebration. I wish to thank all the businesses for decorating so beautifully and remaining open on Friday from 5pm to 8pm for holiday

shopping. Thank you to Trinity Lutheran Church Choir for caroling and Bangor Chiropractic for providing refreshments. The Slate Belt Heritage Center also opened its doors both days. On Saturday, Lorrie and Jim

Music performed at the Broadway Pub. Thanks to them for hosting the entertain-ment. Thank you to Baby Harrys for hosting the visits with Elsa and the M and M candies jar. Also thank you to Brays for hosting the Tolinos winery and taking care of the tickets for the free drawings held Friday and Saturday. Thank you to the following businesses for donating prizes for the drawings: Bono Pizza, Broadway Pub, Eunikue

Fashions, Bangor Coins and Collectibles, Bangor Chiro-practic, China Wok, Main Street Market, Bangor General Store, Millers Paint Store, Dukes Sporting Goods, US Eyewear Inc., Borked PC, Baby Harrys, Lydia Albert (handmade tree skirt) and Sharon Davis, man-ager of SBCP.A special thank you goes out

to Slate Belt Girl Scouts, Troops 836, 874 and 41 for decorating these businesses respectively: Bono Pizza, Dukes Sporting Goods, Borked PC, and Brays News Agency. Also, thank you to seven troops from the Slate Belt Girl Scouts for decorat-ing our parking meters down-town. Everyone did a wonder-ful job.On Saturday, December 5th,

at 2:45pm we had our closing program at Bono Pizza, announcing the winners of

Saturdays drawings; the store front decorating by businesses contest and the store front decorating done by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Bono Pizza served us delicious pizza and other greast food. Thank you to Bono Pizza for hosting the program and for the great refreshments.I wish to thank the members

of the committee for all their hard work; Lydia Albert, Janet Miller, MaryAnn Repsher, June and Sherk Jones, Fae Fuks and Sharon Davis, manager at SBCP.We will be celebrating

Bangors 141st Christmas next year!Merry Christmas and Happy

New Year! God Bless America!Sincerely,Bonnie J. LaBar - Chairper-

son of Bangors 140th Anni-versary Committee.

Eight Bangor Area High School students were accepted into the Pennsylva-nia Music Educators Asso-ciation District 10 Chorus.Selected students are Maya

Ramautar, Elisha Hoyte, Lauren Steinert, Kevin Rutzler, Allison Strunk, Kristofer Swanson, Amber Ward, and Jaden Boyd. They were among over 700 students who auditioned from schools in the counties of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, and Schuylkill. Of that, 200

were selected to create the District 10 Chorus.The students will be travel-

ing to Delaware Valley High School, in Milford, to partici-pate in the festival February 4th through 6th. While there, they will work under the direction of Dr. Raymond Wise of Indiana University to present two concerts to the public. The students will also be auditioning for the Region V Chorus. One-half of the District 10 participants will move onto the Region V level.

We haveClosing Kits,

Winter Covers & Winter Chemicals

r

908-362-62691028 Rt 94

in Marksboro

Left: The Pen Argyl cheerleaders amp up the schools spirit during half time. Right: Jake Gillette drives the ball toward the basket for two of his game-high 14 points against Palisades. Photos by Dale Young/The PRESS

Q: I think my wife just expe-rienced a terrible episode of food poisoning. How can we protect ourselves from getting sick in the future?A: Food poisoning can

really catch you off guard. Symptoms can start suddenly after eating germ-infected food or drink, or they can take several days to develop. It depends on the cause of the food-borne illness. Either way, its usually a miserable experience. According to the Centers for

Disease Control and Preven-tion (CDC), nearly 50 percent of food poisoning is caused by eating foods from restau-rants. If you find your stom-ach is very upset after eating out, it may be due to some-

thing you ate. One way to tell that you have food poisoning is to find out if other people who ate the same food also got sick. Food poisoning happens

when you eat or drink some-thing contaminated during the food preparation, handling or storage process. The most common culprits are bacteria, such as Salmo-nella and E. coli, and viruses and parasites. These harmful organisms can get in meat, chicken, fish, eggs, as well as unwashed salads and produce. Common symptoms of food

poisoning include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea and fever. As terrible as that sounds, the symptoms usually go away in a few days. If you do develop food poisoning, its important to rest and drink plenty of fluids (water, not coffee or sugary drinks) to prevent dehydra-tion. Most people who develop

food poisoning experience a mild episode. Medical treat-ment is usually not necessary, but you should call your doctor if symptoms last more than 24 hours, diarrhea or vomiting is very bad or you have a fever of 102 degrees or higher. Each year, one in six Ameri-

cans is sickened from contaminated foods or bever-ages. Although common,

food poisoning can be prevented. FoodSafety.gov offers this advice on how to safely handle food at home: Clean. Always wash your

hands with warm, soapy water before eating, and before and after preparing food. Keep utensils, cutting boards and cooking surfaces clean: use hot, soapy water after each use and before moving on to the next step of food preparation. Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Sterilize dishcloths and sponges in the hot cycle of your washing machine and dishwasher. Separate. Keep raw meat,

poultry, seafood and eggs separate in your refrigerator and on cutting boards and plates. Never put cooked meat back on a platter that held raw meat.Cook. Cook all food

thoroughly. Use a meat thermometer to make sure that food is cooked to safe internal temperatures (165 degrees F for poultry and 145 degrees F for red meat).Chill. Keep your refrigera-

tor below 40 degrees F. Put perishable foods in the refrig-erator or freezer within two hours, and store leftovers right away. When in doubt, throw it out.

Its also important to carefully select foods from good sources, buy foods before their expiration date

and avoid buying food items in dented or bulging cans. If you and your spouse eat

out a lot, choose restaurants cautiously. Avoid consump-tion of raw or undercooked foods such as eggs and meat. You can also reduce your risk of the illness by safely handling food at home. Victor Catania, M.D.,

specializes in family medi-cine. He practices at PMC Physician Associates Primary Care in Toby-

hanna at the Mountain Healthcare Center, at the new location in Mountain-home. Sources: Nearly 50 percent of food

poisoning is caused from restaurants and delis. http://www.cdc.gov/features/d

sfoodborneoutbreaks/Up to 80 percent of food

poisoning is related to eating foods from a commercial source.http://www.cdc.gov/foodborn

eburden/attribution-1998--2008.htmlCDC [Each year, one in six

Americans get sick from contaminated foods or bever-ages]http://www.cdc.gov/features/d

sfoodborneoutbreaks/

FDA [statistics]http://www.fda.gov/food/reso

urcesforyou/consumers/ucm103263.htmFoodsafety.govhttp://www.foodsafety.gov/http://www.foodsafety.gov/kee

p/basics/clean/index.htmlhttp://www.foodsafety.gov/poi

soning/causes/bacteriaviruses/ecoli/CDChttp://www.cdc.gov/Features/

dsFoodborneIllness/USDAhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/

portal/fsis/topics/food-safety--education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/cleanliness-helps-prevent-foodborne-illness/CT_Indexhttp://www.fightbac.org/

On December 2nd, students from Career Institute of Technology in Forks Town-ship volunteered their time at Country Meadows in Bethle-hem as part of a SkillsUSA Community Service Project. They spent the day decorat-ing Christmas trees, setting up a silent auction and assist-ing residence with their tickets, baking, playing games and spreading holiday cheer throughout the halls and lobbies. Students from fifteen CIT programs partici-pated and donated items to the Nursing & Rehabilitation Center located on Green Pond Road. The project was coordinated by Gwen Farkas, Director of Community Life at Country Meadows and the CIT Community Service participants.In addition to volunteering,

SkillsUSA CIT Ambassadors promoted their idea to include all CITs programs in the project and donate items made in class. Emma Wort-man, a student in the CIT Culinary Arts program and Bangor High School deliv-ered cookies that her class baked prior to the visit. Josh

OBryon, a student from the Building Construction Tech-nology Program and Bangor High School, constructed decorative wooden sleighs. Other programs donated hand-made holiday cards, machine crafted candle sticks, holiday posters, and personal care kits to name a few. When asked about her

experience of the community

service, Emma Wortman said, It seems as though residents dont get visitors very often, so it made them smile for young people to visit and spend the day. Susan Day, CITs SkillsUSA Schoolwide Advisor, com-mented that students really enjoyed the day with the residents of Country Mead-ows. An experience like this, provides a lesson we

cannot teach in the class-room.

New Years Eve has histori-cally been the one night of the year that society accepts and even promotes a pro-drinking mentality. Exces-sive drinking is not only assumed; it is encouraged and promoted. It is almost impossible to find an adver-tisement, billboards or com-mercial about New Years Eve that doesnt include a champagne glass. Our culture sends the message that on New Years Eve- everyone drinks alcohol to excess! Teens are among the recipients of this message and naturally want to emulate what they see as the fun way or the right way to ring in the New Year. Under-age drinking is always a

concern for the parent of any teenager, but on New Years Eve this concern is height-ened. This year, The Coali-tion for Healthy and Safe Communities, a program of the Family Guidance Center of Warren County, wants to help teens and their parents to celebrate the holidays safely and without the use of alcohol.Too many people think

underage drinking is harm-less or worse - safer if parents are supervising the party or the cars keys are taken away from a youth that is drinking. Doing so does not eliminate the possibility of intoxica-tion, alcohol poisoning and other negative health conse-quences, said Liz Montalvo

from the Coalition. The truth is, these actions

tell our youth that it is accept-able for them to drink. Con-sequently, when teens feel they have their parents approval to drink alcohol, they tend to drink more and more often outside the home. What seemed harm-less at first often results in tragic consequences that even parents dont anticipate. What we permit- we promote.With all this in mind, the

Coalition has some sugges-tions for parents and adults to keep teens safe during the holiday season.1. Host a New Years Eve

party at your house with NO alcohol.

2. Research alcohol-free events being held in your Community. 3. If there is party or event

involved outside of the home- get ALL the details of the event! Speak directly to those hosting the event.4. Communicate your

expectations about drinking, driving and drug use. 5. Create a plan with the

teen to keep them safe.6. Act as a Role Model by

displaying the behaviors you would want a teen to mimic.7. And lastly, Dont be

afraid to say NO!The Coalition for Healthy

and Safe Communities is available to answer any ques-tions pertaining to the dangers or prevention of

State of the Arc Welding is volunteering its skills to the historic slate quarry hoist thats being brought back to the Slate Belt. We had read a newspaper article about the hoist being located and restored and decided to offer our services. My family own and operate one of the last slate mines in the Slate Belt, so I thought it would be fitting for State of the Arc to offer our services. My grandparents Henry and

Ruth founded the Capozzolo Slate Mine in the 1950s and their children carry on the traditional method of mining the slate from the quarry. Using skills from days past they craft the stone from the quarry into everyday items such as drinks coasters and turkey callers. They are part of a dying breed and after they are gone so will the industry that gave our area its name. The hoist was built in

Bangor in 1900 and used for 80 years until it was put into

storage, as local economies changed. It has been procured by industrial historian Mike Piersa, a volunteer with the Slate Belt Community Partner-ship (SBCP). With the help of volunteers they intend to bring the hoist back to Bangor to become a central part of the Downtown Historic District. The hoists were a modern

marvel for their time, and used to haul the huge chunks of slate, weighing up to five tons, that were mined from the quar-ries. The slate was carried to the surface where it was broken down into the items we use every day. Preserving the heritage and

history of our industrial past, for future generations of Bangor residents seems impor-tant to me. I hope for many years to come people will see what their forbearers did to create our beautiful town. State of the Arc Welding

wishes everyone in Bangor and Beyond happy holidays and a prosperous 2016. Mike and Tansy Baird

It is becoming all too common. Someone, or a few, work their way into a school, a business, a restaurant, or a happy occasion party or concert with guns blazing. Before you know it several are killed or injured. It could be a terrorist

attack, someone with a grudge, or maybe someone simply with a mental prob-lem. Unfortunately such incidents have become all too common, and as we now know, they happen every-where.The Hope Area Chamber of

Commerce will be hosting an Active Shooter Aware-ness event on Tuesday, Janu-ary 12th, from 8am to 10am, at the Inn at Millrace Pond. William Eppell, Chief of

Staff of the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, along with Independence Town-ship Police Chief Dennis Riley, will conduct this important presentation.The event is open to cham-

ber members and any inter-ested business person in the region. An active shooter is defined

as person(s) actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and other popu-lated area. In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active Shooter situations are unpredictable and happen quickly. Individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically

to take action in order to deal with an active shooter. Everyone should be

prepared to help prevent and prepare for potential active shooter situations. This presentation is intended to provide guidance to individuals and to help them prepare and respond to an active shooter event.Cost to attend the event is

$15 per person, which includes a continental style breakfast. Interested attendees are

encouraged to call in advance to reserve your spot as space is limited. Payment can be made at the door. You can call the Inn at Millrace Pond directly at 908-459-4884 or email dan@chpcomm unications.com.

State Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Nazareth) is offering the men and women of the 137th Legislative District who serve and have served our country an opportunity to get assistance with individual issues through his district office.Approximately 20,000

veterans live in Northampton County, Emrick said. What were providing each month is a chance to get answers to questions they may have, as well as check out programs for which they may be eligible.

Gina Svoboda from the Pennsylvania American Legion is available the first Monday of every month, from 10am to 2pm, in Emricks Nazareth district office, located at 134 South Main Street. Appointments may be set up by calling 570-897-0401 or 610-746-5090. Emrick would also like to

remind Forks Township residents of the chance they have to discuss state govern-ment issues. A member of my staff will

be at the Forks Township Community Center, 500

Zucksville Road, the first and third Thursday of every month from 9am to noon and 1 to 5pm, added Emrick. Feel free to stop by and have your legislative questions answered. The 137th District consists

of the townships of Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, parts of Palmer (Middle 1, Upper East and Upper West), Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Naza-reth, and Washington; and the boroughs of Bangor, East Bangor, Nazareth, Portland, Roseto, Stockertown and Tatamy.

Ciao Amici, This story I wrote in 2009

may be before some readers knew about growing up in the butcher shop...Christmas Day was such a

special day while growing up in the butcher shop. Since the front of the house was the store, my grandparents would stay open for a while just in case someone would need something. The food we enjoyed on Christmas day was prime rib; quite a contrast from all the fish from the previous day. With

the wonderful aroma of the beef roasting we did not need scented candles to know that Christmas day was here. Like most children, I enjoyed opening presents. Back then gifts were modest and kept simple. I remember being more excited with sharing them with my friends than having them for myself. Christmas was really about the birth of Christ, not presents. In Italy, presents are exchanged on the Feast of the Epiphany.One Christmas Day a

blizzard fell upon the town of Roseto. I recall looking through the large windows in front of the store and seeing the snow piled so high that half of the windows were covered. As we sat down to have our antipasto and prime rib dinner, a knock came from the side door. It was someone from the neighbor-hood. My grandfather was concerned and thought maybe there was an emer-

gency. Is every thing alright,

Grandpop asked.Yes, she said. Then how I can help you?

She said, I need a pound of chopped meat. My grandfather asked,

Where to do you normally buy your ground beef? She replied, The Acme. Grandpop said, Well

please go there and buy it today. Grandmom was listening and told the lady to come in. I will help you, she said.

The lady came though the house and into the store. Grandmom put her apron on and asked her how much she needed. The lady said a pound. So Grandmom ground the meat for her, gave it to her, then took her hand and said, Remember where you got this. The lady became a customer for life.My moms family from

Italy, Toronto, Hamilton and Washington always called to

wish us a Buon Natale. I could tell how much my mom missed them, but what are you gonna do? Distance may keep us apart; however, it can not come between us.Chi trova un amico, trovo un

tesoro / He who finds a friend, finds a treasure Buon NataleMerry ChristmasBest Regards / Con cordiali

salutiJoe and Joelene and familyGrowing up in the Butcher

Shop, is available at the shop or on our web page. To receive menu specials and our newsletter, join our mail-ing list at JDeFrancoAnd Daughters.com, click on mailing list and enter your email. Send your Roseto stories, recipes and com-ments 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.

(NAPSI)Giving your home personality and adding a dash of character can be achieved easily and afford-ably with small paint projects. The experts at Dutch Boy Paint are a great resource for unique project ideas and help-ful how-tos that will assist you with transforming your space into a haven that reflects your personality and style.1. The Grand Entrance:

Personalize your front door by painting it an unexpected hue. It will bring character and personality to your home and offer fresh curb appeal.Color expert Sue Wadden

suggests a stately shade, such as red or purple, to wake up a simple cottage-style door and accentuate a front garden. A bold yellow hue that has warmer undertones can ener-gize an otherwise neutral exterior, and a bright pop of orange makes for an unex-pected statement.Complement your newly

painted front door with color-ful, eye-catching address numbers. Choose a color that complements the front door or a contrasting hue that offers an interesting accent. Numbers may be painted directly onto the door or a section of siding.2. Make a Splash: The

kitchen is the perfect place to have some fun with color since its often the communal area of a home. Instead of traditional tile, cook up a scene-stealing space by giving your backsplash a makeover. Stencil in a design, favorite quote or food-inspired words.Dont forget to consider the

other colors at play in the space before selecting the backsplash paint color. If the kitchen has dark cabinets, choose a lighter shade to keep the room from feeling heavy. For white or light-color cabinets, both brighter and darker paint colors work well for this space; and for a pop of brightness thats also durable and stain resistant, use Dutch Boy Platinum Paint in semi-gloss.If you have the whole week-

end, further customize your kitchen by painting the island a hue that complements the other colors in the room. If youd like to keep the space neutral, select a subtle shade for the island such as cream, beige or gray. Or, if youre looking to be a bit more daring, choose a shade such as turquoise, navy blue or mint. A striking color will make the room feel fun and inviting. You can also incor-porate the island color in a few new accessories such as a

rug, curtains or dishware to create a feeling of harmony throughout the room.3. Rethink your Wardrobe:

For an element of surprise, paint the interior of your closet. A vibrant shade will dress up your everyday routine and give your ward-robe an exceptional room of its own!4. More to Adore: Make a

personal statement in the bedroom by transforming walls into exceptional works of art.Instead of adorning walls

with framed artwork, paint a multicolored diamond or chevron pattern for an unex-pected pop of color. A frame wall with favorite pictures or prized album covers centered in painted blocks puts a spin on the traditional. Or create big-time graphic impact with an oversized DIY wall clock.Add perceived dimension to

a room by creating nontradi-tional stripes with three or even four colors. Angled stripes painted in different widths are less structured and provide a unique design, and an exaggerated single stripe of color can rescue plain walls.A headboard painted

directly onto the wall creates an element of decorative surprise in the bedroom, and a stenciled one can add definition and polish. Choose from a premade design, such as a rectangle or whimsical silhouette, or create your own. No matter the shape, a bold hue or using two shades of the same color are both visually interesting and impactful.With Dutch Boy Paints

unique paint project ideas and wide variety of paint colors and finishes, the possibilities of creating a distinct identity for your home that embodies your personality and lifestyle are easy.Check out the store locater

on DutchBoy.com to find your closest retailer.Learn MoreFor even more ideas and

inspiration, visit www. dutchboy.com/inspiration or find Dutch Boy Paint on Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

Hello, fellow readers!Tis a few days before Christ-

mas and all through the valley, folks are scrambling like lunatics with their last minute rally. The stockings all hung by the chimney with care. In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. Santa coming sure would take the pressure off! Don't you love all the funny

Christmas poem and carol twists? Theres the 12 Pains of Christmas by Bob Rivers, describing the 12 things of Christmas, thats such a pain to me such as finding a Christmas tree, rigging up the lights, hangovers, sending Christmas cards; leading to the crescendo of five months of bills. Or the Redneck version that, instead of five golden rings, features five flannel shirts (I love flannel shirts) and ends with two hunt-in dogs and some parts to a Mus-tang GT.Christmas songs are played

over and over in every public place starting as early as

Halloween. Typically only the secular ones so as not to show favoritism. No wonder Christ-mas songs are worn out by now and so are we. I look forward to hearing the true songs of the season, such as O Holy Night, Silent Night, and The First Noel, which seem few and far between and are never worn out. Shopping, wrapping, baking,

and running about. Its kind of like the mad dash to wrap up the gardening season and the loads of leaf cleanup. But at the end of it all comes the long winters nap from gardening, which I thoroughly enjoy (Shhhhh). This fall is linger-ing and there are still perenni-als to cut back and no snow to cover up the evidence I have yet to get the job done. Im late decorating winter window boxes and pots, too; garnishing them with cuttings from the property and side of the road remnants I've been known to pick up.Because of the warmth and

drought this year, don't forget to water your woody family outside weekly, especially the evergreens, until the ground freezes. And, you still have time to apply Wilt-pruf to prevent transpiration; the loss of water from plant parts particularly leaves that can wreak havoc on plants during cold windy spells. Winter will come and when it does I suspect it will arrive in a gusto.Wishing you a very Merry

Christmas and hope you reflect on the true meaning of the season, which is universal to all - its all about love. Garden dilemmas? askmarystone.com.

East Bangor UMCC Family Christmas Eve Service: 7pm. 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512), East Bangor. FMI, call 610-588-4453 or visit www. ebumc.org.

Moving for Better Balance Tai Chi session: December 30th-March 4th. Registra-tion: December 29th. 10 week program designed for older adults, helps w/ balance & prevents falls, by learning proper weight shift-ing, postural alignment, & coordinated flowing move-ments. The class will be held twice a week on Wednesday & Friday, from 1:30pm-2:30pm. FMI, contact Debo-rah Lang at 570-421-2525 ext. 139 or email dlang@poconoymca.org.

New Years Day Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner: Janu-ary 1st: 1pm-4pm. Belfast Wesley UMC, 607 School Rd., Nazareth. Children under 3 free. FMI, call Tom at 610-863-7772.

Marine Corps League

Meeting: January 6th, 1900 hours. Northampton Co., 1621 Lehigh St., Easton. All active duty and honorably discharged Marines welcome. FMI, email jim mineousmc @rcn.com

East Bangor UMCC Finan-cial Peace University Class: January 9th, 1pm. 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512), East Bangor. FMI or to register, contact Becky Saltern at rebeccaasaltern@aol.com or 610-739-4024, or visit ebumc.org.

Slate Belt Heritage Center Monthly Historic Presenta-tion: January 10th, 2pm. The Heritage Center, 30 North 1st St., Bangor. Speaker: Curator & President Melissa Hough. Her topic will be The Early Settlers of the Slate Belt: The Scots-Irish. Learn how these "little known" Scots-Irish who settled here, before the famous Pennyslvania German's (PA Dutch), made an impact on the area and what their lives was like. The event is free (donations accepted) and open to the public. FMI, call Karen Brewer at 610-588-8615.

First UMC of Blairstown Christmas Eve Services: 7pm - Family worship service with candlelight & 11pm - A prayer filled wor-ship service w/ candlelight and communion. 10 Still-water Rd., Blairstown. FMI, visit www.first umcblairstown.com, www. facebook.com/fumcblairstown, or call 908-362-6693.

Families First Snow Ball Dinner & Dance Fund-raiser: January 23rd, 6pm-midnight. Weona Park Recreation Center, Pen Argyl. BYOB. Casual attire. FMI or tickets, call 610-863-9095, ext. 1308

Benefit for Daniele Demler: January 24th, 12pm-6pm. Little Creek Bar-B-Cue, 1004 Washing-ton Blvd., Bangor. 80% of the days profits will benefit Daniele Demler, former Slate Belt resident who was severely injured in October when she was struck by a motorcycle. FMI, call Little Creek Bar-B-Cue at 610-588-3831.

Read to a Dog at the Warren Co. Library: December 29th, 4:30pm-5:30pm. 2 Shotwell Dr., Belvidere. Registration reqd & space is limited. Register at warrenlib.org. FMI, call Lina Crowell at 908-475-6017.

Teen New Years Party: December 30th, 1pm. Grades 5 & up. Registration reqd. Sign-up at warrenlib.org or call 908-475-6322.

Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee 31st Annual New Years Day Group Hike: January 1st, 10am. Footbridge Park, Blairstown. Hike will be 4-5 mi. The trail is cinder-based, which provides easy, level walking. Bring lunch & a drink. Because both the Sussex Branch & Paulinskill Valley Rail Trails are in some places adjacent to public or private hunting areas, please wear an upper garment that is either blaze orange or a bright, non-natural color. FMI, visit www.pvtc-kvsp.org.

NORWESCAPs Career & Life Transitions Center for Women Confidence Build-ing Program Empower-ment for New Beginnings: January 5th, 9:30am-2:30pm. 6-session program includes a job readiness workshop & will be offered at the Career & Life Transi-tions Center. FMI, call 908-835-2624.

Ridge & Valley Charter School Open House: Janu-ary 13th, 8:30am. 1234 Rt. 94, Blairstown. FMI or to register, call 908-362-1114.