The Relay For Life of the Slate Belt teams have started organizing their annual fundrais-ers for this years event which will take place

at 4:00 pm on Friday, May 16th through 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Bangor Memorial Park. Krusaderz 4 A Kure

are planning to Wrap the Track in Hope. Starting in January they will be collecting donations of new or gently used bras (or tank tops/undershirts for the guys) as well as a small monetary donation ($1.00 mini-mum). Pin a message of hope to your bra or add a loved ones name so that it can be easily seen when displayed along the track. All money raised will be donated to the American Cancer Society through the Relay For Life of the Slate Belt. Also all clothing items will be donated to a charity for those in need. All items can be

dropped off at Curvesin Mt. Bethel (ask forSharon LaBar), at theMerchants Bank onRoute 191 in Bangor(ask for Karen Cam-panaro) or one of themonthly team meet-ings. Anita Buzzardand Bob Smith had funat the December meet-ing modeling some ofthe donations. To drop off a donationor learn more aboutwhat other local teamsare doing to raisemoney for the ACScome out to the nextteam meeting onMonday, January 6th at7:00 pm at St. MarysChurch in Wind Gap. For more informationplease contact Bob atweber54@rcn.com or484-695-8890.

On Saturday, Febru-ary 8, 2014, at the Engel Education Center of Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, 347 Quiet Valley Rd. Stroudsburg, PA, there will be a Cabin Fever Workshop and Luncheon. Cost for the program is $30 for Quiet Valley members and $35 for non-members, which includes the cost of the workshops and a delicious homemade luncheon of soup, bread and dessert. Participants will be able to complete two projects, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.Morning workshops

include a garlic basket, transfer design candle, machine patchwork placemat or natural egg dyeing. Afternoon workshop choices are a garlic basket, woven felt heart basket, machine patchwork

placemat or Valentine quilling project. Each workshop has limited seating; participants should choose a first and second choice for each session. Registra-tion and payment are due by Friday, January 31, 2014. The garlic basket is

an open weave basket to hold garlic. Persons choosing the transfer design candle will learn to apply a colored design of their choice onto a white pillar candle. For the machine stitched patchwork placemat a variety of fabrics will be available. The woven felt heart is suitable for hanging or for holding a small item. Create a lovely Valentine heart with thin strips of paper in the traditional craft of quilling. Be ready for Easter with naturally dyed Easter eggs and find out how the Easter

Rabbit came to be associated with the delivery of decorated eggs! Quiet Valley Living

Historical Farm is a non-profit, educational corporation dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Pennsylvanias agricul-tural heritage. At Quiet Valley history comes to life on our 19th century farm-stead. Quiet Valley conducts school and special tours from

Labor Day until the third week in June and is open to the general public from the third Saturday in June to Labor Day. Period-dressed family mem-bers reenact the life of the original Pennsylva-nia German farming family who lived on the farm from the 1760s to 1913. The farm hosts many special events throughout the year. For more information call 570-992-6161 or at www.quietvalley.org.

Pennsylvanias Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now accepting applica-tions, according to Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne. LIHEAP, which opened on November 4th, provides grants of up to $1,000 to help low-income families pay heating bills during the winter months. LIHEAP also offers crisis grants of up to $500 for families who experience heating emergencies, such as a broken furnace, fuel short-age or utility termi-nation. Local residents can apply for LIHEAP grants online at the Com-monwealth of Penn-sylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) web-site, at www.compass. state.pa.us. More information on the

program is also available by calling the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095.The East Bangor

United Methodist Community Church is sponsoring a bus trip to the Sight & Sound Theater in Strasburg, PA, to see MOSES on Thurs., May 1, 2014. The cost is $92 and includes the bus, show, and smorgas-bord dinner at Shady Maple Restaurant. For more info., call Jackie Williams Bartosh at 570-992-6820 or Chris Ott at 610-588-1429.Fun Fridays are

planned for February ar Unitarian Univer-salist Fellowship of the Poconos, 940A Ann Street, in Stroudsburg Attend-ees are invited to express themselves through Crafts with Mary Lou on Febru-ary 7th, 7pm, Open Mic Night, February 14th, at 7pm, Poetry

Workshop with Jim E. on February 21st, 6pm (please note earlier time), and Family Board Game Night on February 28th at 7pmDonations accepted. See www. uupoconos.org/ for more information.The Slate Belt

Heritage Center will be holding their monthly historic presentation on Sunday, January 12th @ 2:00 PM. Speaker for the evening will be Naturalist Author, Anna Caldara. Her topic will be: "Lenape' Culture in Stone and Wood". Ms. Caldara has documented trees with Native Ameri-can connections for over a decade and will discuss her newest book about the Lenape' culture in the natural world around us. This event is free and open to the public. The Heritage Center is

The Blue Mountain Community Library would like to thank everyone who partici-pated in the Christmas Tree Fundraiser. Your donations will help the library to meet its needs and purchase new books in 2014. Also, thanks to all who supported the Library Night at Wendys Fundraiser on December 4th, with a special thank you to Wendys Restaurant in Wind Gap for its gener-osity. Are you looking for a

gift idea for a booklover or want to add to your book collection? On Friday, Jan. 17 and Sat., Jan. 18, from 10:00 am -12:00 pm, the Blue Mountain Community Library is having an After Christmas Sale in the Book Nook, located on the 2nd floor of the library. All items will be reduced for those two days. Please come and purchase gently used

Books, CDs, DVDs and Puzzles. Gift certifi-cates are also available. Beginning January 1-January 31, the library will be collecting yarn for the NazareneNeedlers of Bangor. Allyarn donations may bedropped off at thelibrary and will bedistributed to the group,which makes hand-knitted items for hospi-tals and nursing homes. The library is located at216 S. Robinson Ave. inPen Argyl. Hours areM-Sa, 10:00 am to Noon, and M-Th, 6:00to 8:00 pm. The BookDiscussion Group meetsthe third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the library and is opento anyone. The bookselection for January 21 is Fever by Mary BethKeane (historical fiction about Typhoid Mary). Call Lisa at 610-863-3029 for information.The website is www.bmcl.org.

located at 30 North 1st Street, Bangor, Pa. For additional information contact: Karen Brewer at 610-588-8615.We at The PRESS

Would like to wish Happy Birthday Aubrie LaBar who is celebrating on January 11th and Melissa Devery who is celebrating on January 13th. We Hope you both have wonderful birthdays. We would also like to wish Jake Santo a very happy belated birthday, he celebrated his 8th birthday on Decem-ber 31st. We hope it was great!

We love hearing from you! Send your birthdays,

anniversaries and tidbits of

information to:The PRESS1 Broadway

Bangor, PA 18013thepressmail@

gmail.com

The Pocono Health Foundation announces the offering of various healthcare-related schol-arships. The scholarships are awarded to students who exemplify academic excellence, compassion, and a desire for improv-ing the quality of life in our community. These scholarships are desig-nated for nursing students entering their final year of an accredited nursing program. R. Dale Hughes estab-

lished the first scholarship in 1991, and it was named the R. Dale Hughes Nurs-ing Scholarship Endow-ment. The Cramer Family established The Jennie Cramer Nursing Scholarship in 1992 to help recruit outstanding nursing students to Pocono Medical Center. The final nursing schol-

arship is The Robert A. Gordon Memorial Nurs-ing Scholarship, created by the Pocono Medical Center Board of Directors in 1991 in recognition of Mr. Gordons outstanding service as a Board member. In addition to the

nursing scholarships, there is also a scholarship

designed for future healthcare professionals who are currently Monroe County High School seniors accepted in a college or university program. This scholar-ship is made possible through the Dr. Elmo Lilli Memorial Health-care Scholarship. Dr. Lilli began serving as a family and geriatric physician in 1959 and also served as Chief of the Medical Staff at Pocono Medical Center from 1978 to 1980.In conjunction with

these four scholarships, the Pocono Health Foundation invites community organiza-tions to apply for a grant through the Dr. Alberta Finch Childrens Health Endowment or the Dr. Claus G. Jordan Endow-ment Fund. Anyone interested in learning more about these grant and scholarship opportu-nities is encouraged to visit the Pocono Health Foundation website at www.poconohealthfoundation.org. The applica-tions for all of the schol-arships will be accepted through March 31, 2014.

Katherine And Teribio Cuono Of West Bangor Celebrated Their 65th Wedding Anniversary On December 26, 2013 With Their Family.Mrs. Cuono is the daughter of the late Guiseppe (Joseph), Sr. and Maria

Guiseppa (Carrescia) Cerino who lived in Bangor. She retired from the garment indus-try in 1988.Mr. Cuono is the son

of the late John, Sr. and Madalena (Nicoletti) Cuono, who lived in

West Bangor. He retired in 1987 after thirty-six years in the garment industry. He served in the 5th Air Force Army in the South Pacific during World War II.The couple was

married on December 26, 1948, in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Roseto by the late Reverend Joseph Ducci. Members of the bridal party were the best man, the late Mr. Angelo Cuono, the grooms brother; the maid of honor, the late Mrs. Marie (Visingaldi) Albanese; and the flower girl, Mrs. Cecilia (Cascioli) Oliver.

They were long time members of St. Rochs Catholic Church in West Bangor. They have three daughters: Priscilla, wife of Leon deLeon of Lower Saucon Township; Brie-della, wife of Dennis Fehr of Pen Argyl and Lori, wife of Edward Imparato of Cheyney. They also have three granddaughters Myra Fehr, Krista, wife of Jason Evans, and Tresa Imparato; one grand-son, Edward Imparato; three great-grandsons, Brian, William, and James Evans; and three great-granddaughters, Katherine, Ella, and Madelynn Evans.

By Dr. Gary WeltonFor many years, on January 1, I resolved to practice a more active and healthy lifestyle; instead, I experienced consistent failure.The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 20 to 60 minutes of continuous aerobic activity (biking, walking, jogging, danc-ing, swimming) three to five times a week, at 60 to 90 percent of maxi-mum heart rate. I have a busy life with many and varied responsibilities. I never made it out of January with that reso-lution.The surgeon general's report on physical activity and health recommends that all adults should accumu-late 30 minutes of m o d e r a t e - i n t e n s i t y activity on most, if not all, days of the week.

Unfortunately, I have a sedentary job: reading, teaching, advising, and preparing reports. I never made it out of February with that reso-lution.The National Institutes of Health suggests that even 10 minutes at a time is fine. The key is to find the right exer-cise for you. It should be fun and should match your abilities. Except, I dont have that many physical abilities, and for me, exercise is not fun. Nevertheless, this suggestion includes a perspective that I appreciate. Even though 20, 30, or 60 minutes would be better, something is better than nothing. Even 10 minutes is more than I used to do.Increased activity became a sustainable

goal for me when I adopted the following perspective: Exercise can be of three forms.In the first form, some exercise is indeed fun. Some joggers tell me that jogging is fun for them. I accept their contention as true (though with some doubt), as long as they are willing to accept my contention that it is not fun for me. On the other hand, volleyball is my true passion. It is the one (and only) sport in which I am competi-tive, and that remains true in my mid-50s. But, I understand that volleyball might not be fun for everyone. The limitation with volley-ball is that it requires a critical mass of like-minded and skilled competitors (but not too many). Then again, get one or two players on

the court who confuse volleyball with dodge ball, and the enjoyment quickly abates. Some-times, on really good days, I can clock hours of fun physical activity, but most days, not so much.In the second form, some physical activity is productive. Although I do not enjoy jogging or walking in circles, some treks are produc-tive, as I complete errands around town or use the stairs. Although I dont enjoy raking leaves from my yard, it is a productive activity, as I recover my lawn from the 6 inch carpet of leaves. I seem to lose more weight in October and November than during any other time of the year. If exercise cannot always be fun, then it should be productive (which is one of the reasons why I still choose to shovel snow from my drive, rather than using a snow blower).Most days in my hectic life, however, there are no obvious opportuni-ties for either enjoyable or productive exercise. In the third form, exer-cise ought to be quick.

If I cant do something fun, and no active duty forces my hand, then I need a quick option in order to establish a sustainable exercise program. For me, that looks like sit ups first thing in the morning. Once getting out of bed, I accomplish my 10 minutes of active exer-cise. For me, the sit ups are boring, but the process is very quick. My waste size is still the same, without that spare tire look.If you make resolutions that require a complete change in your lifestyle, it is unlikely that you will make much headway. On the other hand, focus on a sustainable change. How can you establish a new habit now, rather than waiting for health problems to force your hand? The key is a sustainable manageable program. When you can, enjoy your exer-cise. Or, at least accom-plish something productive. When neither of these is available, just be quick.Im now starting year four. May your resolu-tion be just as success-ful.

(NAPSI)There seem to be countless things we dont think twice about when it comes to protecting our families. Youd never hit the road on a long road trip with-out buckling your baby in a car seat. And most people have a nightly habit of making sure the house is locked before going to bed. Both are simple things that become a habit in order to keep your family safe.So why are Americans

still not taking simple actions to protect their families from home fires? According to the United States Fire

Administration (USFA), almost 2,500 people die every year in home fires. Yet most of these deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.Did you also know that

cooking is the main cause of home fires and home fire injuries? But it doesnt have to be that way, because Fire is Everyones Fight. There are simple steps you can take right now to reduce your risk of a home fire that could not just injure you or a loved one, but could take a life.Put smoke alarms in

your home to keep your family safe. Make sure

your smoke alarms work. Your family is not safe if they cant hear the smoke alarms. Test your smoke alarms. Push the test button. You will hear a loud noise. If you dont hear the noise, you need a new battery or a new alarm. Fix this immediately.To protect against

cooking-related fires and injuries, keep an eye on what you fry. Most cooking fires start when someone is frying food. Hot oil and grease can burn people and start fires. Be prepared when cooking and make the cooking area safe. Make sure children and pets

stay at least 3 feet away from a hot stove. Clean and clear the area around the stove before you turn on the heat. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so no one can bump them or pull them over.Just as the simple click

of a seat belt can become a habit that decreases your chance of being injured in a car crash, getting in the habit of doing these fire safety practices may help save your life or the life of your family one day. Remember, keeping you safe isnt just the fire departments job. Fire is Everyones Fight.

(NAPSI)For the first time in a long time, home remodel costs are trending in a positive direction for homeown-ers looking to add value with cost-effective projects. According to a recent study by Remod-eling, the average cost-to-value ratio has increased to 60.6 percent.Recouping On A

Remodel. The Remod-eling report also said, regarding the national average for midrange home remodeling projects costing less than $12,000 that still recoup at least half of their cost: A steel entry door

Standby Generators Can Increase Home Resale Valuereplacement increases resale value by 85.6 percent of its cost. A garage door

replacement increases resale value by 75.7 percent of its cost. A fiberglass entry

door replacement increases resale value by 65.9 percent of its cost. A wood deck addi-

tion increases resale value by 77.3 percent of its cost. A vinyl window

replacement increases resale value by 71.2 percent of its cost. A wood window

replacement increases resale value by 73.3 percent of its cost.

A backup power generator increases resale value by 52.7 percent of its cost.Why Remodel? Mean-

while, you and your family can enjoy the comfort and savings that these improve-ments provide. For example, the backup power generator, also known as a standby or home generator, can offer your family peace of mind during emer-gencies and natural disaster. During a power outage, standby generators provide a seamless supply of power using a transfer switch and power man-agement system. This

lets you run appliancessuch as sump pumps, airconditioners, heaters,refrigerators, clotheswashers, dryers andlights.Any time a hom-

eowner can choose aremodeling project thatincreases the homeslivability while alsorecouping a large chunkof the project invest-ment its a great idea,said Amanda Grandy ofBriggs & Stratton, oneof the nations leadingmanufacturers of homestandby generators.To learn more about

standby generators or tofind a dealer, visitwww.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/generators.

Hello fellow readers,Winter weather can be

for the birds. Not for those of us with a passion to play in the snow mind you, but winter brings the desire to feed and watch the antics of backyard birds. Emma and Josh of Mt. Bethel asked if there is a certain seed they should buy. They bought a seed mix that took several days and then only a few birds showed up.Ill have to fess up that

I am not a bird expert; in fact have a respectful aversion to some birds which has to do with being beaked multiple times by a Blue Jay while jogging umpteen years ago. How would an innocent passerby know there was a nest in the trees above? The raucous made friends and a medical expert chuckle and may have lessened my bird intrigue. Hence best to seek the advice of an authority.According to Cornell

Universitys Lab of Ornithology (the study of birds), sunflower seed attracts the widest

variety of birds. The worst choice is an inexpensive seed mixture that contains red millet, oats, and other fillers that most birds snub.I called on my friend

and ultimate birder Dennis of Blairstown. Not only does he have a Life List of bird species observed, his lists are categorized by geogra-phy and include migra-tory records of species first seen each season. Not to mention his furry critter lists.Dennis agrees that

sunflower seed attracts the most varieties of birds and suggests the bottom of your feeder should be hung no lower than 8 feet from the ground. His solution to keep squirrels away is to string 4 or 5; 2-liter plastic bottles end to end on each side of a rope suspended between two trees - then hang your feeders in the middle. The bottles roll and cast off the intrud-ers. What a nifty and cheap fix!Dennis added that a

good quality mixed seed without fillers can be inviting to ground feeding birds such as sparrows and doves when used in feeders near or on the ground itself rather than suspended above.It should be noted,

scalp puncture wounds caused by angry Blue Jays bleed profusely. Not that I harbor a grudge. Ha!

Garden dilemmas?askmarystone.com

By Jim MillerThere are lots of small

adjustments and simple modifications you can do to make your home safer and livable as you age that are very inex-pensive or completely free. Here are several to consider.Fall-ProofingSince falls are the lead-

ing cause of home injury among seniors, a good place to start is by picking up any possible clutter that can cause you to trip like newspa-pers, books, shoes, clothes, electrical or phone cords. If you have throw rugs, remove them or use double-sided tape to secure them. And if you have stairs, consider putting handrails on both sides.Good lighting is also

very important, so add lamps or light fixtures where needed, and install brighter full-spectrum bulbs in exist-ing fixtures to improve visibility. Also purchase some inexpensive plug-in night lights for the bedroom, bathroom and hallways, and consider installing motion sensor lights outside the front and back doors and in the driveway.In the bathroom get

some non-skid bath rugs for the floors, put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub/shower and have a carpenter install grab bars inside the tub/shower.And in the kitchen,

organize your cabinets so the things you use most often are within easy reach without using a step stool.Simple Modifications:

Growing old can also bring about various physical limitations

which can make your home more difficult to use. Some simple solu-tions, for example, that can help weak or arthritic hands is to replace round door-knobs with lever handles, or get some inexpensive doorknob lever adapters. The same goes for twist knob kitchen or bath-room faucets. You can easily replace them with lever faucet handles that you can purchase for a few dollars in most hardware stores, or get a single lever handle faucet installed.In the kitchen, you can

make your cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pullout shelves or lazy susans. And D-shaped pull-handles for the cabinets and drawers are also recommended because they're more comfort-able to grasp than knobs.In the bathroom,

consider getting a hand-held adjustable shower head installed and purchasing a shower or bathtub seat so you can shower from a safe seated position if need be. And for easier toilet access, purchase a toilet seat riser for a few dollars. This can make sitting down and stand-ing up a little easier, especially if you're 6" or taller.And, if you get to the

point where you need to use a walker or wheel-chair, you can adapt your house by installing ramps on entrance steps, and mini-ramps to go over high entrance thresholds. And, you can widen the doorways an additional two inches by installing "swing clear" offset door hinges.More TipsFor many more tips,

visit The Fall Preven-tion Center of Excel-lence, and see "The AARP Home Fit Guide" which offers dozens of modification sugges-tions to make your home safe and livable as you age.Or, if you want person-

alized help, get an in-home assessment with an occupational thera-pist, or OT, who can evaluate your home, make modification recommendations and refer you to products and services to help you make improvements. Medicare will pay for a home assessment by an OT if prescribed by a doctor. Ask your physi-cian for a referral.Send your senior ques-

tions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contribu-tor to the NBC Today show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book.

(NAPSI )There s good news for older individuals who are concerned about their health and fitness. There are simple steps they can take to help them main-tain a healthier lifestyle.Experts say that as you

age, its important to stick with healthy eating habits and get regular physical activity. Thats because staying at a healthy weight may lower your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Regular physical activ-ity may even help you ward off depression and keep bones and muscles healthy.To help, here are some

tips from the Weight-control Information Network (WIN).WIN is a national information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.Get the Fuel You Need:

Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Eat less white bread, rice and pasta made from refined grains. Avoid foods with added sugars or solid fats such as shortening and butter., Choose high-fiber foods, such as whole-grain breads and cereals, and vegetables with deep color, such as

kale and sweet potatoes, Stay hydrated. You might feel less thirsty as you get older, but your body still needs fluid to stay healthy. Tea, water, low-fat milk and other unsweetened drinks may help.Enjoy Movement and

Physical Activity: Make physical activity part of your daily life. Take short walks throughout your day. If you use a walker or cane, or if walking is hard for you, talk to your doctor about activities that are safe for you to do, raise and lower arms and legs for a number of counts to strengthen your muscles. You can even do this while seated, if you live in an assisted living or retire-ment facility, ask if the fitness center offers a free health checkup and fitness program.Be Good to Yourself:

Get enough sleep, join a walking group or other social group, stay in touch with family and friends.For more tips from

WINs brochure Young at Heart: Tips for Older Adults, visit www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/young_heart.htm. For more infor-mation, call WIN at 1-877-946-4627 or visit w w w . w i n . n i d d k .nih.gov

By Joe Zemba Lehigh Valley Sports

Hall of Fame Induction candidate for the 5th Annual Lehigh Valley Sports Hall of Fame Pete Heard got to play two years for Bill Pensyl in basketball. Pensyl was a LVSHOF inductee in 2011. Heard said "The first year 1962-63 that Coach Pensyl was at the helm Bangor had its winningest season in ten years 15-5. In 1963-64 my senior year Bill followed it up with a 14-6 record in the Lehigh-Northampton League." Pete Heard went on to

captain both the basket-ball and baseball teams for the Slaters, winning seven varsity letters. Heard was named All LNL League 2nd Team Basketball, voted as one of the top ten basketball players ever at Bangor High School. After a stellar baseball and basketball player at Rider College and a

successful basketball coaching career in high school, college and pros Pete was elected to the Allen-Rogewizz Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame in the 1990's. Heard had great

success with the Roseto Legion where 2014 LV Sports Hall of Fame Inductee the legendary Sammy Balliet of Coplay Legion saw me play and told Rider College I could play both base-ball and basketball for the Broncos. "Sammy had a pipeline to Rider College with at least half of the 25 man roster being from the Lehigh Valley. I recall every springtime The Morning Call sent a photographer to New Jersey to take a group photo of the players from the Lehigh Valley. it is a pleasure that I am being inducted with Sammy Ballet on May 10, 2014 at the Northampton Memo-

rial Community Centerin Northampton." "I continued to play

baseball in the BlueMountain League withPortland and Martin'sCreek and in thePocono MountainLeague with Saylors-burg". After college Pete

Heard returned toBangor to teachsecondary education inhistory. "I was an assis-tant coach for five yearsand then was head boysbasketball coach atSchuylkill Haven andhad a very good fouryears in the 70's andanother four in the 80's.The Haven won Class Atitles in 83-84 and84-85. Heard coachedat Tr-Valley in the 90'swith his best recordsbeing 14-11 and 25-6.Heard was Coach of theYear several times andadvanced his teams farinto the state playoffsNext Heard coached

college at Penn Stateand pro basketball withthe Pottsville Stingers.Coach spent 25 yearswith both the Fellow-ship of ChristianAthletes and ChristianEndeavors. Pete islicensed by the Evan-gelical Church. Mr. Heard retired as

an educator after 35years and taught gradu-ate courses at PennState University for 29years and four atLehigh Carbon Com-munity College

(NAPSI)Safety on the road is important all year round, but winter weather calls for extra caution behind the wheel to keep you and your passengers safe.Thats why many auto

safety experts including Discount Tire, the worlds largest tire and wheel retailer, urge motorists to keep road safety top of mind this winter and switch to tires specifically designed for cold weather driving.Winter tires are

designed for driving in temperatures of 45 degrees or below. If theres any chance youll encounter snow, ice, slush, black ice or wet roads on a consistent basis, you should prepare your car for these conditions.Often, drivers arent

aware that commonly used all-season tires have a rubber compound that gradually hardens when temperatures dip below 45 degrees. When this happens, braking and turning are compro-mised as there is decreased road traction and less grip. Its also

important to note that snow and ice often pile up in the tire grooves and tread blocks on all-season tires, which can impact your vehicles performance.Winter tires are made

with higher-silica com-pounds. This allows the tire to deliver much better traction, which reduces skidding and improves braking. In fact, in temperatures below 45 degrees, winter tires can provide 25 to 50 percent more traction than all-season tires. In addition, the tread block design includes thousands of very small interlocking slitsknown as sipesto provide extra road-biting edges for improved winter traction.Every aspect of a

winter tire has been engineered to provide the best performance in winter conditions and temperature fluctua-tions while maintaining traction on any surface, said Mark Marrufo of Discount Tire. The winter tire advantage will maximize your

safety and provide peace of mind during the winter months.Five Tips for Winter

Tire Safety1. Replace your all-

season tires with winter tires for driving in temperatures of 45 degrees or below. Make sure to replace all four tires with winter tires to avoid an unsafe traction mismatch.2. Dont forget the

wheels when switching to winter tires. Having a set of wheels specifi-cally for your set of winter tires will save money in the long run.3. Check tire inflation

pressure regularly and dont forget the spare. Underinflated or over-inflated tires may result in poor handling, uneven tread wear and poor fuel consumption.4. Rotate your tires at

least every 6,000 miles or earlier if irregular or uneven wear develops.5. Make sure the tire

shop that gets your tires ready for cold tempera-tures torques the lug nuts to the proper speci-fications for your vehicle.

By Kate LivieWitch Ducks, Ruby

Salts, Pleasure House: Today the Bay is teeming with small aquaculture startups whose evocative names are just one strategy to attract a new kind of consumerthe oyster connoisseur. At oyster events and stylish raw bars, these elite consumers will pay handsomely for an oyster that lingers on the palate. But this new luxury market is crowded with large, established brands whose customers request their favorites by namea challenge for fledgling oyster farms in a region where a dozen Chesa-peakes, please used to suit just fine. For the Chesapeakes

aquaculture brands to survive, the Bays oyster lovers need to go beyond generalities to develop connois-seurship with a loca-vore sensibility. Taste your way to your favorite small brands. The next time you belly up to an oyster bar, demand a dozen or two. Its only when oyster consumers in the Chesapeake region are prepared to put their money where their mouth is that the Bays luxury oyster industry will have a hope of survival against a mountain of

Blue Points, Kusshis and Damariscottas.The challenges

facing Chesapeake entrants in the white tablecloth market are exemplified by events like Washington, D.C.s Oyster Riot. There, where hundreds of local foodies paid for the privilege to select from shoals of inter-national oysters, just one Chesapeake brand, Battle Creek, was offered-evidence of the struggle facing small local oyster growers to get a foot in the door of the competi-tive connoisseurship market. But securing a spot

on the ice in this whos who of the oyster world was just the first obstacle facing Bay brands at the Riot, where participants were largely unaware of the Chesapeake oysters growing place in the luxury food market. Though the attendees were shellfish sophist icatesthe ideal patrons of the Bays Watchhouse Points and Choptank Sweets, familiarity with individual Chesapeake oyster brands was scanty and out-of-date. Arent Chesapeake oysters totally depleted? commented John, a DC native. I mean,

can you even really buy Bay oysters anymore? This off-handed dismissal, frequently repeated by other Rioters, is one of the major factors working against small local oyster farms. If oyster connoisseurs in the Chesapeake cant be bothered to educate themselves about todays staggering array of shellfish being grown in their own backyard, who will?But the Chesapeake

oysters perception problem can be over-come easily enough, as Oyster Riot partici-pants quickly discov-ered. I love the sweet-ness of these oysters. They have the perfect amount of brine, commented John, whose preconceived notions were quickly dispelled by a plate of Battle Creeks fluted, oval oysters. Betty, whose husband had introduced her to 15-cent Chesapeake oysters at Lexington Market in the 60s, agreed. These have the perfect balance-little salt, a little sweetI would defi-nitely buy these at a restaurant. In just a few minutes, Battle Creek had two new connoisseur converts, but for the Bays farmed oyster brands to become established in this growing upscale market, they

need scores of new consumers willing to challenge their famil-iar Blue Point comfort zones.As the participants at

the Oyster Riot discovered, introduc-ing yourself to the burgeoning array of Bay-grown oysters is anything but onerous. Available in every size, shape and inten-sity of brine, most of the Chesapeake produces oysters gently seasoned with a faint kiss of salt that gives way to a sweet, almost creamy com-plexity. After sam-pling a few, its easy to understand why aficio-nados describe oysters with the same breath-less terminology as fine wines. And just as you might inquire after your favorite vintage at a restaurant or shop, Bay oyster lovers need to know and request their preferred aqua-culture brands at oyster bars and grocery stores. With dozens to choose fromall local and sustainableits an edible self-education that benefits the economy and the envi-ronment of the Chesa-peake Bay.The power of

consumer demand is key to the success of the Chesapeake aqua-culture industry, and it all starts with a simple request. The next time you slide into your seat at an oyster bar, order a dozen Barren Islands or Stump Coves. Then await the arrival of the briny beauties, knowing that youll be changing the future for the Chesa-peake Bays fledgling oyster farms with every satisfying slurp.

The Bangor High School Class of 1969 is planning their 45th class reuinion. Some graduates of our class cannot be located. If there is anyone who did not recieve a Save the Date Card, please contact Sandy Palma at flmngo51 @hotmail.com.

The Nazareth, Pen Argyl, Bangor GED program, through Northampton Com-munity College, will conduct a gradua-tion ceremony on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at Nazareth Senior High School. The ceremony begins at 7pm with main speaker, Dr Dennis Riker of the Nazareth School District. Graduates are from each of the participat-ing districts. They and their families and friends, as well as the

GED staff, will participate in the ceremony.

William Allen High School is hosting a six week baseball camp starting Janu-ary 19. Top area coaches will direct the program in conjunc-tion with U.S. Base-ball Academy. Classes are available for players in grades 1-12 and are limited to six players per coach. Sessions are offered in advanced hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and baserunning. Pro-ceeds from the program benefit amateur baseball in Allentown. Space is limited. Registration is now under way. For more information, visit www.USBaseballAcademy.com, or call toll-free 866-622-4487.

Boomer's angels dog adoption day, January 26 come to Tractor Supply, Route 209, Brod-headsville from 11- 2, to meet some of the beautiful loving dogs that Boomer's Angels have for adoption! Boomer's Angels Rescue & Care is a new group in Northeast Pennsyl-vania that rescues and rehomes dogs, cats, bunnies and critters. To find more infor-mation, visit www.Boomers Angels.com and find us on Facebook. Call (570) 350-4977.

Safe Haven Pet Rescue will have a Volunteer Meeting on Tuesday, Janu-ary 21 at 6:30 PM at Cherry's Family Restaurant, Route 209 near Route 534, Kresgeville.If you are an animal lover,

please come and meet the volunteers and have a bite to eat. Volunteers are needed for adoption days, dog transport to veterinary and grooming appoint-ments, fundraising, clerical help, home visits and more. Foster homes are needed in order to save more dogs. If you are interested in volunteering or fostering, come to the meeting or visit www.SafeHavenPA.org for volunteer and foster applications and to see the avail-able dogs. For more information, email SafeHaven@ epix.net. Join Safe Haven PA on Face-book.

Don't shop, adopt! Camp Papillon will hold an Meet & Greet/Adoption Day from 11 am to 3pm

on Sunday, January 26 at Tractor Supply, Route 209, Brod-headsville. Come and meet the dogs, cats and critters that Camp Papillon has for adoption! Fill out an Application or apply to be one of our

wonderful Foster Families. For More Information email volunteer@camppapillon.org or visit our website at www. camppapillon.org or phone (570)420-0450.

The Special Education Formula Funding Com-mission recommended today (December 11) that the General Assem-bly adopt a new formula for distributing state funding for special education in excess of 2010-11 levels, accord-ing to co-chairs of the commission Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne and Representa-tive Bernie ONeill. The new formula will

include factors reflecting students needs based on three cost categories low (category 1), moder-ate (category 2) and high (category 3). The formula will also include factors reflecting community differences such as market value/personal income aid ratio, equalized millage rate and small and rural school districts. The commissions goals

also included creating a formula that did not place undue burdens of administrative reporting on state or local educa-tion agencies while seek-ing to improve accuracy in distributing limited

state resources. In addition, the formula does not create incen-tives to over-identify students with learning disabilities. The current formula

does not effectively match the needs of Penn-sylvania students with the cost of providing those services. The census formula paid school districts based on calculations assuming that 15 percent of all students have mild disabilities and one percent have severe disabilities. Since 2008-09, Pennsylvania has not increased special educa-tion funding, effectively ending the use of a fund-ing formula. The new formula will

be a great improvement over the current system, which is ineffective in ensuring that state money is adequately and equitability being distrib-uted, Senator Browne said. This formula will take into account the actual number of students needing special-ized education services and base the funding for those students on the degree to which they need those services. Nearly 270,000

children or one out of every 6.5 students receive special education services in Pennsylvania public schools. In schools with adequate resources, academic achievement for children with disabilities averages close to the results for all students. State funding for special education is slightly less than $1 billion a year.There are many factors

that have an impact on

the financial stability of special education programs in our schools, Representative ONeill said. The commission has gathered a wealth of valuable feedback and data from school districts, parents and special education organizations, and we took a look at how other states drive out funding for special education. All of this information has allowed us to develop a funding struc-ture based on the actual costs involved in provid-ing special needs students with the resources they need to succeed. The commission also

determined that the special education reim-bursements system for charter schools and cyber charter schools should receive similar reforms.The 15-member

commission, created through Act 3 of 2013 (sponsored by Senator Browne and Representa-tive ONeill), was charged with developing a system for allocating any new state special education funding in a manner that recognizes the actual number of physically- and mentally-challenged students in a school and the various levels of their need for services. Other members of the

commission include: Senators Mike Folmer; Andrew Dinniman; James Brewster; Ted Erickson; and, Judith Schwank; Representa-tives Paul Clymer; James Roebuck; Mark Longi-etti; Michael Peifer; and, Mike Sturla; Charles Zogby, Secretary of the

Budget; Carolyn Duma-resq, Acting Secretary of Education; and, Rita Perez, Acting Deputy Secretary of Education. The commission held

seven public hearings throughout the state in the summer and fall of this year. It listened to testimony from more than 50 witnesses rang-ing from students to parents to educators to experts on special educa-tion. We would like to thank

our colleagues who logged many hours listening to testimony and pouring through pages of data and infor-mation, Senator Browne and Representa-tive ONeill said. The commission was tasked with ensuring that every school district receives the funding required to provide a proper educa-tion to children with special needs and we believe we have laid out a plan that succeeds in doing that. We would also like to

thank everyone who testified or contacted the commission with infor-mation that helped us to come to this important conclusion and vision. It is clear there are many people across the state that have made reform-ing special education funding a priority and wanted to help. For more information

on the report recom-mended by the commis-sion, visit the Special Education Funding Formula Commissions website which is on Senator Brownes homepage at www.senatorbrowne.com.

Easton, PA - The Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg &Vicinity is pleased to present an exhibition of artwork featuring six of it's current members: Peter Boccadoro, Rick Bryant, Erik Chuss, Kailey Goodnuff, Clarissa Louw, and Christina Wallitsch.Exhibited artwork by

the artists will include a variety of mediums, including hand crafted woodwork, photographs, pencil sketches, and paintings. It's a great opportunity for our mem-bers to display their talents to other Y mem-bers and the local community, says Lori Metz, Branch Director of the Family YMCA. One of the main purposes of our gallery is to enrich the lives of our members by showing how others have pursued their interests and passions in art form and

hopefully inspire others to do the same.The exhibition is the

fourth in a series of planned exhibitions at the Family YMCA gallery that will depict the Easton/Phillipsburg area and it's rich history, dynamic culture and unique landscape.An opening reception,

free and open to the public, will be held Friday, January 10th from 6-8pm. The exhibit runs from January 6-February 28.The Family YMCA

gallery is located at 1225 West Lafayette Street, Easton, PA 18042 on it's lower level. It is open to the public and hours are M-F 9am-8:30pm; Sat & Sun 9am-6pm.For more info contact

Lori Metz, 610-258-6158 or email Lori@ familyymca.org or Kyra Lysynecky, 908-962-6439 or email kyra lysynecky@gmail.com.

Since 1970, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month to honor donors and stress the impor-tance of blood dona-tion. This January, start the

year off by making a resolution to help your community and the lives of people around you. Its the perfect time to donate blood when unpredictable weather and post-holiday activities make it difficult for donors to schedule appoint-ments. If you already donate once each year, make it two in 2014. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. More than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day.There are only a few

requirements to be eligible to donate blood. Donors must be healthy, weigh at least

110 pounds and be at least 17 years old in most states or 16 years old with parental consent if allowed by state law. The Ameri-can Red Cross reports that just one pint of blood donated can save up to three lives. Since many major

surgeries need blood to be available on standby, blood dona-tion plays a vital role in patient safety, says Donna Balsley, Quality Insights of Pennsylva-nia Health Care Qual-ity Improvement Director. Blood dona-tion is a small way to make a big impact on your community.As the Medicare

Quality Improvement Organization for Penn-sylvania, Quality Insights of Pennsylva-nia is committed to helping hospitals and nursing homes provide better patient care. A component of this work is surgery safety. To learn more about

the blood donation process and to locate a blood donation event near you, please visit the American Red Cross Web site at http://www.redcrossblood.org/. If you are

unable to donate blood, there are other ways to start the year with a life-saving gift:Volunteer at a com-

munity drive Refer someone to

donate blood or plate-lets the number one reason people dont donate is because they havent been askedHost a blood drive at

your school, place of business or faith-based organizationAbout Quality

Insights of Pennsylva-nia Quality Insights of

Pennsylvania, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organi-zation for Pennsylva-nia, is committed to partnering with health care providers across the state to bring about widespread, signifi-cant improvements in the quality of care they deliver. Quality Insights strongly supports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services three-point aim of providing better health, better care and lower costs. To learn more about this non-profit organization, visit www.qipa.org.