Bangor Area School District students were recently selected to recieve awards from their educators for their outstanding contribu-tions to the district and their own education. The awards were The STAR Award and the Horvath Science Award.The Star Awards are

given annually to a Bangor student who has exhibited either classroom achievement and/or contributions to the school district or society that go above and beyond the class-room. Students are nominated for this award by their teachers, administrators, or other interested parties, and are chosen by a com-mittee of alumni for this honor. STAR Award Recipients for 2015 are Samantha Hartmann, Austin Ortega and Julia Pinter.Samantha is a senior

who has gained recog-nition for her work in the schools co-op program where she is doing an excellent job

in a challenging place-ment. She attends BAHS in the morning and then goes to work as an intern in a phar-maceutical lab at BioSpectra. There she works in the quality control department as a chemist. She is also active in sports, having played softball and field hockey. Samantha has been an honor student throughout high school and is currently Vice

President of the National Art Honor Society, a member of the National Honor Society and a member of the class cabinet. Through these organiza-tions she has done volunteer work for PUMP and the Slater Family Network. She will attend East Strouds-burg University next fall, with a full tuition scholarship from the Board of Governors.

She intends to major inbiochemistry. Mr.Brewer presented theSTAR Award to Saman-tha.Austin is a senior and a

member of the BoyScouts of America. Hehas achieved the rank ofEagle Scout after com-pleting a project design-ing and building a grand entry to the East BangorCemetery. Austin also worked as a student

Family and friends of the late Dennis Strouse are holding a bake sale on May 23rd at 9am, at Capitol Ace Hardware, located in Capitol Plaza on Blue Valley Drive, and Main Street Market, located on North Main Street in Bangor. Proceeds will benefit the 912 Schol-arship fund in memory of Dennis Strouse.The West Bangor

Memorial Association will be holding its Annual Memorial Day program on May 25th at 11am at the Memo-rial site on Second Street in West Bangor. In the case of rain, services will be held at

St. Josephs Episcopal Church Social Hall, located on Verona Avenue in West Bangor.Mt. Bethel/Portland

American Legion Post 216 is holding their Memorial Day service on May 25th at 11am at the Riverview Cem-etery. In the case of rain, services will be held at the Portland Fire Companys Social Hall on State Street. Joe Emrick will be this years guest speaker.Weona Park Pool

Project will hold a meeting on June 1st at 7pm at St. Johns Lutheran Church, located at 12 N. West-brook Avenue in Pen

Argyl. If you want to keep the community pool in Pen Argyl and want to do so without raising taxes, visit www.facebook.com/weonaparkpool project.Roseto Helping

Hands will be holding a hoagie sale now until June 12th. options are Italian, turkey or ham. Orders must be place no later than June 12th to Dorothy Ruffiero at 610-588-1363. Pick up will be June 17th at 11am at the Roseto Municipal Building on Garibaldi Avenue.Portland Community

Yard Sale Daze will be held on June 27th from 8am to 2pm, rain or shine. Vendors are still needed. You can also purchase a yard spot on the Portland map. Dead-line to be on map is June 20th. For more informa-tion call or text Stepha-nie Steele at 610-216-6716, Cindy Fish at 973-600-7120, or e-mail portlandboroughpa@gmail.comGrace Bible Fellow-

ship Church of Naza-reth is pleased to announce Everest Vacation Bible School will be held June 22nd through 26th for children ages four up to those who have com-pleted sixth grade. Chil-dren will meet at the church from 6pm and 8:30pm each day. Regis-tration is now open, for more information call 610-759-7036, visit gbfc naz.org, or email grace bfcvbs@gmail.com.Bangor High School

Class of 1966 is seeking the addresses of the following classmates: Sondra Buskirk Baier, Patty Pysher Bennett, Debbie Hughes Bush, Patricia Crowley, Rich-ard Danner, Glenda

Dunk, Diana Galatiota, Susan Rising DeBord, Tom Kittle, Jim LaBarre, Bob Mack, Charlene Pasqualino, Rita Danner Riley, Linda Repsher Silvius, Linda Meixsell Yeakel and Mikael Turner. Anyone with informa-tion can contact Karen Brewer at 610-588-8615.The BAHS Alumni

Association is collect-ing used musical instruments to be donated to Bangors elementary band program. The instru-ments will be used as loaners for students who cannot afford them. For more information, call 610-588-5198.The Slate Belt Heri-

tage Center "Oral History Project" is seeking Slate Belt senior citizens who would like to be inter-viewed. If you know of anyone who has a story, contact Marc Blau at 570-897-5459.Clara Schweitzer Will

Be Turnining 104 On June 3rd. Help Her Celebrate By Sending Cards To: Clara Schweitzer, Gracedale Nursing Home, 2 Gracedale Ave, Naza-reth, PA 18064. Nw2. Happy Birthday

wishes are sent to Sebastian Loren, May 20th; Bob Stivala, Dan Testa and Nona Lefsyk, May 21st; and Emily Yeagle, May 24thWe love hearing from

you! Send yourbirthdays,

anniversaries and tidbits of info to:

The PRESS,1 Broadway,

Bangor, PA 18013thepressmail@gmail.comVisit Us 24/7 online at

thepressnewsonline.com

Adult Fiction: A Spool of Blue Thread, Anne Tyler; Cold Betrayal, J.A. Jance; Trust No One, Jayne Ann Krentz; The Stranger, Harlan Coben; NYPD Red 3, James Patterson; A Touch of Stardust, Kate Alcott; Finding Jake, Bryan Reardon; At The Water's Edge, Sara Gruen; Hot Pursuit,

Stuart Woods; The LifeI Left Behind, ColetteMcBethAdult Large Print:

Mrs. Grant and MadameJule, Jennifer Chia-verini; The ReluctantMidwife, PatriciaHarman; Someone IsWatching, Joy FieldingAdult Non-fiction:

The Lady in Gold, AnneMarie O'Connor; DeadWake, Erik Larson

Adult Fiction: Buruma, Ian: The China lover; Copeland, Lori: A mans heart; Culliford, Penny: The art of stand-ing still; James, E.L.: Fifty shades of grey; March, Lucy: A little night magic; Perrotta, Tom: The leftovers; Rice, Anne: Christ the Lord, out of Egypt; Shields, Carol: Larrys party; Todd, Charles: The confession.Adult Non Fiction:

Alderton, David: The ultimate guide to dogs; Berry, Joy: A childrens book about teasing; Fanning, Robbie: The complete book of machine quilting; Good-enough, Simon: War maps; Kerrigan, Michael: Americans presidents, a dark

history; Lynn, Barry:Cornered; Preston, Ken:Bugs, beetles, spiders,and snakes; Prothero,Stephen: God is not one;Soltow, Willow Ann:Designing your ownquilts. Large Print Fiction:

DeMille, Nelson: TheGenerals daughter. Young Adult Fiction:

Paver, Michelle: Wolfbrother. Easy Non Fiction:

Berry, Joy: A bookabout lying.Adult Fiction Audio

Books: Burke, Alafair:Never tell; Crile,George: CharlieWilsons war; Estleman,Loren: A smile on theface of the tiger;Gregory, Phillippa: Thekings curse; Patterson,James: Swimsuit.

Eugene Edinger, Com-mander of Martocci-Capobianco American Legion Post #750 in Roseto has announced the schedule of Memo-rial Day events for Monday, May 25th. The legionnaires, lead by the Bangor Area High School Band under the direction of Mr. Eric Hahn, will depart from the Post home located on Garib-aldi Avenue at 8:30am and proceed to the New Catholic Cemetery where services will be held at 9am. The contingent will then move to the Roseto Presbyterian Cemetery on Liberty Street for services at 9:30am. The final graveside services will be held at the Catholic cemetery adjacent to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church at 10am.From this cemetery

the legionnaires will proceed to the Munici-pal Plaza on Garibaldi Avenue for the Com-munity Services at the War Monuments begin-ning at 10:45am. These services will also include the clergy from

the area churches: Reverends James and Thomas Prior of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and the Rev. Barry Eng, pastor of Roseto Independent Presbyterian Church, and Rev. J. Harry McElroy, pastor of Bangor-Roseto Presby-terian Church. Fortieth District PA Senator Mario Scavello will be the main speaker. In addition, students

from DeFranco Elementary, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Faith Christian schools will read their winning essays on the topic What Memorial Day Means to Me. Runners up from the three schools will also read their essays. Oratorical presentations will be given by students from Pius X Junior, Bangor Middle and Faith Christian Schools. Wreaths will be placed

on the War Monuments by the Post. In the event of inclement weather, the commu-nity services will be held indoors at the Post Home at 143 Garibaldi Avenue.

Bangor Public Librar-ian, Diane Lovelace accepted a $1,500 dona-tion from GFWC Club members Yvonne Hum-phreys and Doris Bergen at the Bangor Women's Club meeting at Prince of Peace Church on May 12th. In addition to being club members, both are also members of Friends of Bangor Public Library. They are accepting recipies until June 1st to put in a cook-book to raise funds. Ms. Lovelace informed the club that they have used some of the funds from last year to obtain new computer equipment and security software. The library has implemented

a new policy that every-one who checks items out of the library must have a current lending card. For the fiscal year

ending June 30th, 43,660 people visited the library and checked out 40,076 items. One thousand new items have been added to the library inventory, which

now has 33,097 books, DVDs, and other items. Ms. Lovelace brought a

new item to show the club, PlayAWay audio books. The club was given the opportunity to try them; five members were selected to listen and then fill out a survey to return with the Play AWay. The Bangor Club had

three student winners at the GFWC Arts Festival District Level, Emyrson Smith, Brynn Holland and Kayla Shurott. Each was presented with a ribbon, certificate, flower and cash award. Their entries will now be entered in the state level competetion. Joyce Barilla, Marie Balson, Fran Attinella and Karen Bodine organized the Arts Festival project.June Jones, Education

Chair, presented $500 scholarships to Erin Snyder and Zoey Calle.The next fundraiser for

the club will be a bake sale at Capitol Ace Hardware on June 19th and 20th.

Rosanne Roberts Archuletta, a 1974 Bangor Area High School graduate and a 1978 Pennsylvania State University gradu-ate with a BA in Com-munications, along with her husband Phil received the 2015 Individual Achieve-ment Award at the 43rd Annual Preservation Award event on May 8th. Phil and Rosanne

were honored along with a group of other leaders from throughout

New Mexico at the 43rd annual Heritage Preser-vation Awards. The awards are given by the Historic Preservation Division of the Depart-ment of Cultural Affairs. They received the award for Individual Achievement because of their publications, Women Marked for History (www.women markedforhistory.com) and Traveling New Mexico, as well as their willingness and enthusi-

asm to reach outthrough their personalappearances. NewMexico GovernorSusana Martinez did theforeword to WomenMarked for History.They travel throughoutthe southwest andbeyond telling thestories of the womenhonored by the NewMexico Historic mark-ers.The couple now

resides in Santa Fe,New Mexico.

Legislation that would address the misuse of a teacher evaluation test in the process of measuring college students perfor-mance has been unani-mously passed by the state House, according to the bills author, state Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Nazareth). House Bill 499 may now be consid-ered by the state Senate.

Certain schools in the PA State System of High Education are taking a licensing exam designed for teaching candidates and prematurely using it to evaluate students in their pursuit of a degree, Emrick said. Doing so can be a major disruption in a young persons life and education path and my bill would correct the

shortcoming.The schools to which

Emrick refers are misus-ing the knowledge and skills assessment test known as the Praxis exam. Intended as a measuring stick for teaching candidates who have already earned their diploma, the test is instead being inserted into the degree process,

where it is considered part of a students grade.A good analogy would

be a law school refusing to award a degree because the student failed to pass the bar exam prior to gradua-tion added Emrick. Using the Praxis exam in this manner penalizes the student and may sidetrack him or her in

pursuit of a degree.The Praxis exam

should be used simply to evaluate future teachers, not future college gradu-ates.Questions about this or

any legislative issue should be directed to Emricks Mt. Bethel office at 570-897-0401 or his Nazareth office at 610-746-5090.

Lehigh Valley Horse Council Meeting: May 21st, 7pm. 5289 Rt. 309, Schnecksville. FMI, call 610-837-7294 or 610-704-4130.

Memorial Weekend Concert & Dinner: May 22nd, 6:30pm. Mount Eaton Church, Saylorsburg. FMI, call 570-992-7050 or email office@mounteatonchurch.org.

Craft Fair & Flea Market: May 23rd, 9am-3pm. Rain or shine. Rt. 940 & Com-merce St., Pocono Summit. FMI, call 570-619-6924.

Girl Scout Troop 81 Yard Sale Fundraiser: May 23rd, 7am-3pm. Comm. Presbyterian Church, Rt. 611, Mt. Bethel. FMI, call Lori at 610-567-8463.

Pen Argyl Memorial Day Services: May 25th, 9am. Conducted by Pen Argyl American

Legion Charles Nelson Lobb Post 502. Fairview Cemetery. In case of rain, services will be held at Grace UMC, 404 E. Mountain Ave., Pen Argyl.

Bangor VFW, Ameri-can Legion & Elks Memorial Day Service: May 25th, 10am. St. Johns Cemetery. Rain Location: Bangor VFW. FMI, call 484-894-0767

West Bangor Memo-rial Association Memorial Day Service: May 25th, 11am. Memorial Site, Second St., Bangor. Rain location St. Josephs Episcopal Church Social Hall, Verona Ave., W. Bangor.

Mt. Bethel/Portland American Legion Post 216 Memorial Day Service: May 25th, 11am. Riverview Cem-etery. Rain location: Portlan Fire Co. Social Hall, State St., Portland.

Memorial Day Service: May 25th, 1pm. East Bangor Cemetery, Park Rd. E. Bangor. Rain

location: East Bangor UMCC, 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512), East Bangor. FMI, call 610-588-4453.

Safe Haven Pet Rescue Adoption Day: May 31st. 11am-3pm. Rt. 940, Mt. Pocono. FMI, visit SafeHavenPa.org, email SafeHaven @epix.net or like Safe Haven on Facebook.

Bangor Block Watch 3rd Annual Free Bicycle Engraving: May 30th, 12pm-3pm. Bee Hive, 197 Pennsyl-vania Ave., Bangor. FMI, visit facebook .com/BangorBlockWatch. The Bangor Block Watch holds meetings the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm at the Heritage Center.

Boomer's Angels Meet & Greet Adoption Day: May 31st, 11am-2pm. Rt. 209, Brod-headsville. FMI, email boomersangels@gmail.com or visit www. boomersangels.com, on Facebook, or call 570-350-4977.Weona Park Pool Project Meeting: June 1st, 7pm. St. Johns Lutheran Church, 12 N. Westbrook Ave., Pen Argyl. FMI, visit www. Facebook/weonaparkpoolproject.

LWH Foundation Truck & Car Show:June 6th, 10am-3pm.Weona Park, Pen Argyl.FMI, visit lukehahnfoundation.org.

East Bangor Commu-nity Day: June 6th, 10am-5pm. Rain date June 7th. E. BangorPark. FMI, call Maureen Cramer at 570-242-9628or email ebcomun ityday@yahoo.com.

Boomer's Angels Meet & Greet/Dog Adoption Day: June 14th, 11am-2pm. 101 Pocono Com-mons, Route 611,Stroudsburg. Visit,boomersangels.com foran adoption application.FMI, email boomersangels@gmail.com, visitboomersangels. com, or Facebook.com/BoomersAngels, or call 570-350-4977.

Join Safe Haven DogRescue Meeting: June 16th, 6:30pm. Rt. 209, Kresgeville. FMI, visitSafeHavenPa.org or email SafeHaven @epix.net.

Blood Drive: June 20th, 10am-3pm. OneWay Church, 50 Broad-way, Bangor.

(NAPSI)As you age, regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your physical and emotional well-being. Older adults are recognizing the incredible impact of physical activity and fitness, and are becom-ing more active than any previous genera-tion. For millions of active older adults, the path to improved well-being starts with S i l v e r S n e a k e r s Fitness. In fact, 66 percent of participants said they would exer-cise less or not at all if it werent for Silver-Sneakers.The innovative

program guides mem-bers through their fitness journey, helping them to improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being, and reach their fitness goals. According to the SilverSneakers Fitness annual participant survey, measuring fitness activities and attitudes, 83 percent of older adults enjoy aero-bic activity three or more times per week. Additionally, 65 percent do muscle-strengthening exercises three or more times per week, and 49 percent do flexibility exercises three or more times per week.Exercise is a preventa-

tive measure that can

improve well-being and health as we age. From tennis and yoga to hiking and dance, fitness offers many benefits for older adults including reducing health issues and increasing energy and emotional well-being.Additionally, exercis-

ing through a program allows people to meet new friends, socialize with others and have fun. SilverSneakers classes are a great way to stay healthy and foster friendships, as more than 37 percent of participants say they

attend class to socialize. In fact, 68 percent participate in classes with a friend and 34 percent participate with a spouse or significant other.SilverSneakers mem-

bers understand that achieving their health goals is best found at the intersection of fitness and fun. That is why SilverSneakers Fitness offers a variety of unique programming that provides members with access to fitness facility amenities, specialized group exer-cise classes, and Silver-

Sneakers FLEX, which offers convenient neighborhood classes and activities at parks, recreation centers and other local venues.Those who are inter-

ested in starting a fitness routine are encouraged to take the following steps before they get started: Seek out an exercise

that you enjoy. Consider any limita-

tions and share those

with your instructor. Start slow so that you

dont risk injury. Increase your water

consumption to stay hydrated. Make healthy nutri-

tion choices to see maximum results.For more information,

to see if you are eligible for the numerous S i l v e r S n e a k e r s benefits, and to find a class in your area, visit SilverSneakers.com.

Ciao Amici,Memorial Day is a

holiday in the United States that remembers the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service. It

typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. In the rural South on a

Sunday in late spring, relatives would travel to the family graveyard where ancestors, as well as those who were deceased more recently are buried; this may take on the character of an extended family reunion. There was often a religious service and a picnic-like "dinner on the ground," the traditional term for a potluck meal, in which people used to spread

the dishes out on sheets or tablecloths on the grass; thus where the food idea comes into play. In Roseto, 300 men

and women served in the armed services during the world conflicts. And of these, ten made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives so we could have our freedom. The American Legion

in Roseto, Martocci Capobianco Post 750, was organized in 1945. It honors John Martocci who died in World War I and the Capobianco

brothers, Carl and George, who died in World War II. Imagine the mourning parents losing two sons. Here is the list of soldiers from Roseto who died during World Wars I and IIWorld War I: Dante

Lucchetti and John Mar-tocci.World War II: S/Sgt.

Carl Capobianco, Pvt. George Capobianco, Pvt. Domenico Falcone, Cpl Mathew Menecola, Sgt. John Racciato, T/5Albert Trigiani, Sgt. Philip L. Sabatine and Pvt. Frank Tilli.Con cordiali saluti,

JoeMy book, Growing up

in the Butcher Shop, isavailable at the shop oron our web page. Toreceive menu specialsand our newsletter, joinour mailing list at www.JDeFrancoandDaughters.com, click on mailinglist and enter youre-mail. Send us yourRoseto stories, recipesand comments toportipasto@epix.net orcall 610-588-6991.Store hours are from7am to 7pm, seven daysa week, with cateringavailable anytime or byappointment.

House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), along with Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), recently released a statement following the introduction of House Bill 1164, which would reform the Commonwealths child care benefits structure in order to help families retain temporary assis-tance, while allowing them to earn their way out of poverty. Under current law,

families who earn more money eventually reach a so-called benefits cliff at which even a slight increase in their income makes them completely ineligible for services worth substan-tially more than the potential income increase, thereby discouraging them from

accepting raises or working additional hours.The proposed legisla-

tion would address this issue by increasing copayments as parents earn additional income. In addition, when parents reach the current benefits cliff, they would not be cut off from services. As they earn more money, their responsibility for the cost of services would increase until their income can

support it entirely.In the statement, the

lawmakers said:Guidelines for child

care assistance, while well intended, often keep individuals entrapped in poverty. People actually lose needed assistance when they accept a promotion or when additional work hours increase their wages.This important

reform is essential to help people fulfill their own American Dream

and not become more dependent upon addi-tional government assistance programs. It represents the begin-ning of a process to remove government barriers that keep people from working additional hours and accepting hard-earned promotions. The bill will soon be

referred to committee for further discussion, review and ultimate vote prior to heading to the House Floor.

Senator Mario Scavello (R-40) supported Senate passage of legislation recently to reform Pennsylvanias public pension systems, which are draining money from classrooms and driving up property taxes. Senate Bill 1, which

Scavello co-sponsored, would reduce long-term costs to taxpayers by creating a 401k-style pension system for newly hired employees who are eligible to participate in one of the states two public employee pension systems the State Employees Retirement System and the Public School Employees

Retirement System.Pension costs are

skyrocketing and its a crisis that requires action now. We cant go another year kicking the can down the road. Its killing our schools and forcing up school property taxes, and is the driving force behind the Governors call for unprecedented state tax increases, said Scavello.Senator Scavello noted

the East Stroudsburg School District has faced the following increases in actual and projected pension costs since 2008-2009:08-09; $2.7 million;

13-14: $10.1 million; 14-15: $13.1 million;

15-16: $16.2 million.The bill would not

affect benefits already earned by current employees or retirees. However, current employees would be given the option to either increase their contribu-tion rate or accept a reduced benefit going forward. Retirees would not be affected by Senate Bill 1.In past years while

this problem was grow-ing, solutions were introduced in the General Assembly but were voted down, turning a serious prob-lem into an all-out crisis. Lets not make that mistake again. The time

to act is now, he said.A non-partisan analysis

by the Public Employee Retirement Commission determined the measure would save $18.3 billion over the next 30 years.The bill would require

lawmakers to participate in the same pension system as newly hired employees. It also creates a new commis-sion to study investment options and fees associ-ated with managing pension system assets.Senate Bill 1 was sent

to the House of Repre-sentatives for consider-ation. You can follow Sena-

tor Scavello on Twitter and Facebook.

( N A P S I ) J u s t because your aging home heating and air-conditioning system is still functioning doesnt mean your home is as comfortable as it could be. And what about your energy bills? Could they be lower?It might be time to

think about replacing an obsolete heating, venti-lation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system with new, more energy-efficient equip-ment. You may be able to avoid a system failure with a little homework and an informed decision regarding new equipment.Inspect. Begin by

having a certified technician inspect and service your homes current HVAC system. North American Techni-cian Excellence ( N AT E ) c e r t i f i e d technicians can identify

existing or potential problems, take steps to repair or avoid them and, if appropriate, recommend a new system that better matches your heating and cooling needs.Learn. Become knowl-

edgeable about efficiency ratings, cool-ing and heating capaci-ties and other factors that affect equipment performance. Its also a

good idea to research the types and brands of systems available.Locate. Think about

where a new system will be installed. Do you require an outdoor unit or will you need to install the unit in a base-ment, attic or closet?Think green. Taking an

e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y friendly approach to equipment purchases and installations can improve the indoor air quality in your home and reduce your carbon

footprint. Fortunately, this approach usually results in increased energy savings, too.Shop around. Look for

a unit sized for the heating and cooling demands of your house, and be sure your home has sufficient insulation and the ductwork is properly sealed. Other-wise, you may lose some of the efficiency your new system offers.When looking for a

new system, many people consider purchasing the York LX Series Packaged Heat-ing and Cooling Units to get both heating and cooling in one space-saving cabinet with q u a l i t y - e n g i n e e r e d reliability. Available in electric or gas heat in air-conditioning or heat pump models, these 14 SEER units meet the latest federal energy standards.For further information

and to find a contractor nearby, go to york.com.

Hello, fellow readers!I visited Kathleen and

Andrew in Summit, NJ and witnessed first-hand the strength of their dilemma literally devas-tating their deck. It wasnt in bloom as yet and they admitted blooms have been few and far between. The wrist-thick woody vine climbing from the ground to their second story deck was strong and impressive. Indeed wisteria better have something beefy to climb onto as it can be destruc-tive. Wisteria is a genus of

about ten species. Eight are Asian and include Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and Chinese wisteria (Wisteria senensis). The barely fragrant American wisteria (Wisteria frutes-cens), is recommended as an alternative to the Asian species which are on the USDA list of inva-sive plants. You've likely seen

wisteria climbing in trees and when in bloom in May its a spectacular

show. But it also can strangle even a large tree. Rather, its best tostand alone. A Wisteriatree is typically made by grafting a wisteria vineon top of a standard treetrunk. Wisterias flower best

where they receive atleast six hours of full sun per day. They thrivein most types of soil as long as its well-drainedin zones five to nine. The first year after

planting, they need atleast one inch of water per week to speed estab-lishment. Once estab-lished, water sparingly. They require little if any fertilizing. In fact, areason for failure tobloom can be excessive fertilizer particularly nitrogen. Wisteria can also be reluctant to bloom because it has notreached maturity. It can take six or more yearsfor a newly establishedplant to start flowering. Pruning is the other

secret to good flower-ing. In late winter remove at least half of the prior year's growth, leaving just a few buds per stem. If you want amore formal appear-ance, prune again duringsummer after flowering. They say for even moreblooms, cut back therampant shoots every two weeks during thesummer. Not to worry if you

give your wisteria a badhaircut as they are very forgiving. And nextseasons rambling growth will give you a second chance. Garden Dilemmas?

askmarystone.com

Bloom Creative Studio, a social enter-prise started by the non-profit organization Connections for Women, will open its doors in downtown Bangor next month. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at the studio on Saturday, May 30th at noon. Bloom Creative Studio

is a 2,400 square foot space where people of all ages can discover new experiences through art. Walk in guests pay a studio fee

to work in the space and use supplies such as paints, brushes, stamps, stencils and a wide variety of tools. Group workshops led by local artists, teachers and

designers will take place each month and private parties can be scheduled for birthdays or celebrations. Youth art camps and adult workshop series will be offered, as well.Bloom Creative Studio

will be a supportive work environment for women moving beyond a life of addiction, violence and trauma. Carol Andersen,

Executive Director said, When you support or visit Bloom Creative Studio, you have fun and make a significant impact in the lives of others. The vision for this program has grown out of our own experi-

ence using art as a healing tool over the past several years. Terry Wilson agrees.

She is a counselor and life coach who will work with Bloom employees, as well as lead groups at the studio. Best practices and

current research reveals that art can have a remarkable impact on healing when included with therapy in a holis-tic trauma healing program, Terry said. Bloom creates a win-win situation as it will have both. Carol said, This is

phase one of a broader and bigger vision.

Our ultimate goal is to open a two-year thera-peutic residential program for women leaving a life of addic-tion, violence and trauma. Once Bloom Creative Studio is func-tioning well, we can begin the greater trans-forming work and launch the residential component. This is where survivors will find the necessary resources to maintain recovery, heal from wounds of trauma and discover hope to begin a new and healthier chap-ter in life. For the past six years,

Connections for Women has offered free programs to women living in the Slate Belt, empowering them through educational and awareness events, supportive workshops and discussion groups led by representatives from area non-profits, counselors, artists and other professionals. Connections for Women will maintain weekly Monday evening programs.

Future plans for BloomCreative Studio includefree weekly after-schoolprograms for youth andmonthly programs foradults. The goal is towork with other non-profits to combine theirunique and professionalprevention and educa-tional content with artand present these programs in an inviting and whimsical space to children and adults. We believe art heals

and develops resiliency and that collaborationwill be a key to our success. We are stron-ger when we join forces to empower individuals and ultimately createcommunities whereeveryone can thrive andlive with hope for abright and promising future, said Carol.For more information,

go to bloomcreative studio.org or facebook .com/bloombangor. To learn more about spon-sorship, how to donateto or volunteer, pleasecontact Carol Andersenat 570-977-0600 or carol@bloomcreativestudio.org.

By Jennifer LivelyDid you know in a

study by Loyola Univer-sity Chicago, over the period of a year, more than a half million people will suffer injuries in alcohol-related crashes? Forty thousand of these people suffer serious injuries. The study goes on to state these crashes are approximately four times more likely to occur at night than during the day. The National Highway

Traffic Safety Adminis-tration (NHTSA) reported 16, 694 people killed during 2004 in alcohol related traffic crashes. This is an aston-ishing average of 39 percent of the total traffic fatalities every day. The available facts on

drunk driving are many, and quite alarming. Pennsylvania is rated the fourth highest alcohol related driving fatality state, with 1,324 total driving fatalities, 502 of these were alcohol related fatalities at 38 percent.Is drinking and driving

an option? Your choice. For more information regarding alcohol misuse or abuse, see the staff at a Clean Slate in Bangor.

artist on the Heritage Murals produced by the Totts Gap Arts Institute, and was involved in the making of the accompa-nying film documenta-ries about the murals. When not helping with the artwork and films, Austin has made

himself indispensible as a volunteer for the art institutes many events. Austin has recently been awarded membership in the National Technical Honor Society at CIT. Upon graduation, he wants to major in Archi-tectural Drafting and Interior Design. He wants to make some-thing artistic, special and unique by designing All of a building. He also hopes to become involved in the music programs while in college. Austin was presented the STAR Award by Mrs. Christma.Julia Pinter is a third

grader at Five Points

Elementary School. Last year, for her birth-day, Julia requested, in lieu of presents, that donations be made to the Fight-For-Sam event to support the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley. Her request brought in $1,500 to support this charity. This year she raised over $500 during the American Heart Associations Jump Rope for Heart at Five Points Elementary School. That amount included several dips into her own piggy bank to start off the fund raising and eclipse the $500 mark. Julias generosity and compas-sionate heart are rare in one so young. Julia, a very active

young lady, is a member of the U-10 travel soccer team, which reached the semifinals of the Blue Mountain Youth Soccer League Garcia Cup in the fall of 2014. She plays softball in the Upper Mount Bethel Softball League where she was named 2nd/3rd Grade Girl-Pitch All-

Star for 2014. She also plays in the UMBT Basketball U9 Commu-nity Basketball League, and she just joined Girls on the Run at Washing-ton Elementary. She is an active member of the Mount Bethel Church Club 119:11 and takes piano lessons. Mrs. Rutt presented the STAR Award to Julia.The Horvath Science

Award, introduced in 2011, is given annually in honor of Dr. Bert Horvath and his wife, Betty Gregor Horvath, both Bangor graduates who have distinguished themselves in the field of science research. This award recognizes an outstanding science student in the hopes of inspiring the recipient to continue to pursue a career in that field.The 2015 Horvath

Science Award Recipi-ent was Rachel Bush. Rachel is a junior who has taken all honors science courses in biology, chemistry and physics. She is currently taking AP biology. She has

impressed her teachers with her work ethic and her analytical skills. Although she has taken difficult courses, she has never backed down from challenges and consistently earns top grades on assessments. She participates regu-larly in class, asking t h o u g h t - p r o v o k i n g questions that lead to discussions that go way beyond the scope of the course. Rachel has consistently

earned high honors throughout her high school career. In addi-tion, she plans to further her studies by taking a course in anatomy and physiology, as well as other independent studies to pursue her interest in biotechnol-ogy. Mr. Hachtman presented the Horvath Science Award to Rachel.For more information

on these awards visit www.slateralums.com.

The Bangor Lions Club takes great pleasure in welcoming Zachary Miller as their newest member. Zachary is the youngest person to ever join the Bangor Lions Club at the age of 18. Zachary is currently a senior at Bangor Area High School and is a member of the Bangor High School Leo Club. Zachary has been active with the Bangor Lions Club in many of their activities over the years, volunteering side by side with the members of the club, including his mother Deanne Miller who is a past president of the Bangor Lions. Zachary is active in

many clubs at Bangor Area High School, including the Leo Club serving as the treasurer. He is a member of the Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Symphonic Choir and District Choir. Zachary is a member of

the Concert Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band and Marching Band, as well. Zachary has been involved with musical theater, New Approach and the Elks Chorus. He is a member of his church choir, Church

Pasty Bakers. Zacharyhas been a vacation bible school leader and has been involved with his church council.Zachary will be attend-

ing college at Penn StateUniversity for the next two years at their localcampus before transfer-ring to the main campus.The Bangor Lions Club

takes great pleasure inwelcoming Zachary as a member of their club and they look forward to and thank him in advance for his contin-ued service to theBangor Lions Club and his community. As always the motto of theLions Club is WeServe.

On May 31st, the second annual cancer benefit featuring six wine tastings will be held at 130 Lower Cherry Valley Road in Saylorsburg. The event is scheduled from 2pm to 5pm and will benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Straw Hat Society, who annually raises several thousands of dollars for these two charities, is organizing this years program.Multiple Myeloma

and leukemia are both cancers of the blood.

The Straw Hat Society focuses on these two cancers because group members are directly affected. Russ and Jean Roper lost their son Tim to Multiple Myeloma three years ago. Pris-cilla Kuster, wife of Dick Kuster, is battling leukemia, and a friend,

Shawn Detweiler, diedfrom adult leukemiaearlier this year. In addition to the wine

tasting, there will bemusical entertainmentand there will be freesnacks provided. Hotdogs and non-alcoholicbeverages can bepurchased. For moreinformation and tickets,call Russ Roper at 610-863-5371, Bill Craig at610-759-5795, or DickKuster at 610-863-4772.

Boating safety experts want to get something off their chest and onto yours a life jacket. The importance of flota-tion devices and other watercraft safety tips are the focus of the 2015 National Safe Boating Week, May 16th through 22nd.During National Safe

Boating Week, and throughout the entire boating season, we are reminding boaters to practice safe and responsible boating, always wear your life jacket, and be alert while on the water, said Laurel Anders, director of the PA Fish and Boat Commissions (PFBC) Bureau of Boat-ing and Outreach. By practicing these simple steps you can save your life as well as the lives of the people boating with you.Each year, on average,

700 people die in boat-

ing related accidents nationwide. Nearly 80 percent of the victims were not wearing life jackets. In PA, 17 boat-ers died in 2014 as a result of recreational boating accidents and only three of them were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.People tend to think

of boating accidents in terms of collisions however capsizing and falls overboard are the most common type of reportable boating accident in PA, adds Ryan Walt, PFBC boat-ing and watercraft safety manager. Acci-dents where fatalities occur usually are the

ones where somebody falls overboard, or is swamped in a small boat and drowns. Those are precisely the accidents where a life jacket can make all the difference.Walt emphasizes that

life jackets are more comfortable, conve-nient and lightweight than ever before. They come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit every person and recre-ational opportunity. Inflatable life jackets are gaining in popular-ity because they fit easily over clothing, can be worn as a vest or belt-pack, and can be another option in addi-

tion to more traditional buoyant life jackets.National Safe Boating

Week is scheduled each year as the first full week before Memorial Day weekend, which is often thought of as the unofficial start of warm weather and the boating season in PA. Boaters should note that:Boats must have a U.S.

Coast Guard approved wearable (Type I, II, III, or V) life jacket on board for each person.Children 12 years of

age and younger must wear their life jackets while underway on any boat 20 feet or less in length and on all canoes and kayaks.

Boaters can demon-strate their personal commitment to wearing a life jacket by visiting the PFBC website and submitting the online Wear It Pennsylvan-nia! pledge form. The pledge form and a special video by PFBC Executive Director John Arway touting the importance of life jack-ets can be found at fishandboat.com/wear-it-message.htm. In addi-tion to taking the life jacket pledge, boaters can send in their life-saving stories on how they were Saved By the Jacket at fishand boat.com/savelives.As part of its safe boat-

ing campaign, thePFBC has created aspecial media resourcesweb page containingweb banners and highresolution photos forgraphic artists andreporters to use instories or as additionalimages on websites.The page also provides15 and 30 second publicservice announcementsfor radio stations to use.The page is located atfishandboat.com/media- resources /wear- i t - -m e d i a / w e a r - i t - -media.htm.For more information

about the National SafeBoating campaign, visitsafeboatingcampaign.com/welcome.htm.

Whats your 40 time? How about your verti-cal? Do you really know how to tackle? Are you training like you should? St. Lukes Sports

Performance and the Lehigh Valley Steel-hawks will hold the first annual Gridiron High School Football Com-bine on Saturday, May 30th from 9am to 3:30pm at St. Lukes Fitness and Sports Performance Center, 501 Cetronia Road, Allentown. If you desire to play

varsity, start in college or make a career of the game you love, these questions matter. Get your answers here. This is not a showcase. Its not a camp. It is a pro-style combine that will measure your athletic skills and abilities and put your fundamentals to the test. Its real num-bers to send to recruiters and coaches.This combine is appro-

priate for football play-ers in grades nine though 12 (students entering ninth grade in fall 2015 are eligible). The cost of the combine is $60 per player and registration is limited to 80 participants.

Individual performance testing results will be made available to all participants in a detailed report suitable to send to interested coaches.To accurately judge

athletes performances, they will be separated into grade-level groups and judged against their peers. First place awards will be given for each individual event in each grade-level group as well as an overall com-bine first place award in each grade-level group.In total, athletes will be

recognized with 20 total awards for the day!The Gridiron High

School Football Com-bine is sponsored and staffed by St. Lukes Sports Performance experts and the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks coaches and players!Registration is avail-

able until midnight on May 25th at: www. sluhn.org/gridiro, www. sluhn.org/getfit and www.lvsteelhawks.com

Senator Mario Scav-ello (R-40) recently announced the approval of $442,528 in state assistance for an affordable housing project in Hamilton Township.The aid comes in the

form of Preservation Tax Credits for a reha-bilitation project at Hamilton Manor Apart-ments, the senator said.Its crucial that

affordable housing be available for our area

residents, particularly seniors and families, said Scavello. These tax credits will help attract the private investment necessary to move the Hamilton Manor project forward.The funding will help

leverage additional funds to update and modernize Hamilton Manor Apartments, a 40-unit affordable housing complex for the elderly in Hamilton

Township, according to the Hamilton Manor Board of Directors. The board issued a

statement of apprecia-tion:The Hamilton Manor

Board of Directors and residents of Hamilton Manor would like to extend their sincere appreciation and grati-tude to Mr. Michael Kearney from M &L Consulting, Senator Mario Scavello, Repre-sentative David Parker,

the Monroe CountyBoard of Commission-ers, and all of the com-munity leaders whocame together tosupport and advocatefor the funding of thisproject. The tax credits are

administered by thePennsylvania HousingFinance Agency andwere approved by itsboard. You can follow Sena-

tor Scavello on Twitterand Facebook.

St. Lukes Hospice is hosting its 5th Annual Charity Bike Ride as a way to raise funds and awareness of hospice care and to encourage exercise as part of the Get Your Tail on the Trail program. The ride will be held on Satur-day, June 6th beginning at 10am.Bike enthusiasts at all

levels of ability will be able to participate in either the 15-mile or 30-mile trail ride, which begins on the D&L National Heritage Trail, Lehighton Trail-head, 200 North Main Lane, in Lehighton, just south of Jim Thorpe. The 15-mile option is

a one-way ride that begins in Lehighton, heads south and ends with a shuttle ride, provided by Pocono Biking, back to your starting point. The 30-

mile ride is a round trip beginning and ending at the Lehighton Trail-head. Both rides begin south of Jim Thorpe and traverse by riverbeds, the canal towpath and some paved sections. Museums, the Appala-chian Trail crossing, environmental center and beautiful views of the Blue Mountains, Appalachian Trail and Lehigh Gap will be seen. The cost of the ride is

$40, which includes a participation kit, shirt, bike loan from Pocono Biking (if needed) and shuttle service (for the 15-mile riders and bikes). All proceeds benefit the St. Lukes Hospice program. Registration for the

ride is required at www. active.com search: St. Lukes Hospice. Online registration closes at 10pm on June

3rd. Event registration is also available the morning of the event from 8:30am to 9:45am

at the Lehighton Trail head. St. Lukes University

Health Network and

Delaware and Lehigh National Corridor encourage you to get active with the Get Your Tail on the Trail program sign up at www.tailonthetrail.org. The Get Your Tail on the Trail program is free and when you log the miles you walk, run or bike, youll earn prizes!

The 5th Annual CharityBike Ride miles counttoward your miles forthe Get Your Tail on theTrail program. Jointoday and help us builda healthy communityone mile at a time! For more information

about Pocono biking,please see www.poconobiking.com.