K-9 dogs are a valuable tool for the police department and Bangor Police have one named

Edo. The value of a K-9 dog is appreciated not only by the police department but by the community members as well. JMS Salon and Spa has taken the initiative to do something for the department and to buy a bulletproof vest for Edo. Kevin Jones, a patrol officer for the Bangor Police Department, is the handler for Edo. Jennifer Schweitzer, owner of JMS has a goal of raising $1,200 in two months to buy a bulletproof vest for Edo. The interesting aspect of the K-9 unit is that Edo has aided in recent drug busts. Edo lives with his handler and is a two year old German shepherd and Belgium mix. Raising money for this cause is especially dear to Jennifer as she maintains a dog-friendly salon and she owns two

rescued bulldogs. She said, I really want to get him protected. Community members can donate. They will receive a free natural manicure with a minimum $5 donation or a neck cleanup with a minimum $5 donation.

If more than $1,200 is raised, that amount will be donated for Edos training. Jennifer said, Im reaching out to the community. Especially Slate Belt Business owners, to make a contribution to this much-needed

cause. JMS Salon and Spa, 436 South First St., Bangor is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 9-7, Thursday, 11-8, Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-2. For more information, call JMS at 610-5886813 or email tangirlred@gmail.com.

Is your Dad the #1 Dad in the Slate Belt? If you think so, send a letter to us and your dad could win some fabulous prizes! Check out all the details on the front page. We would like to wish Gage Lefsyk a very Happy 9th Birthday! Gage will be celebrating on May 30th. Have a wonder-

ful day, Gage! Happy Birthday wishes are sent to Yvonne Roberts on June 2nd. Have a great day, Yvonne! We would like to wish Davey Cappola a very Happy Birthday on June 2nd. We hope you have a fantastic day, Davey! Happy Birthday wishes are sent to Dorothy Paynter,

who will be celebrating on June 4th. Have a great day, Grams! Happy Birthday to Scott Hettenbach, co-owner of Horns Outdoor! Stop by Horns on June 4th and wish him a Happy Birthday! If youre interested in flora, check out the Blue Mountain Garden Club! Their next meeting will be held at the Trolley Shops Restaurant in

East Bangor on May 29th, 7:30pm. For more information, call 610-588-5764. Attention: The East Bangor Borough will be holding their Town-Wide Yard sales on Saturday, June 8th. The Slate Belt AARP #4135 will be Meeting on Monday, June 10th, at 1:30 pm at the Blue Valley Farm Show Building in Bangor. Installation of the next years officers will take place. The 8th Annual Vettes for Vets Car Truck Motorcycle Show will be held on Sunday, June 9th, at the Blue Valley Farm Show Grounds, American Bangor Road, Bangor, from 9am to 3pm. Proceeds from the show benefit Operation Touch of Home. For more information, call 610-841-6403.
We love hearing from you! Send your birthdays, anniversaries and other tidbits of information to: The PRESS 1 Broadway, Bangor, PA 18013

Here is a list of the new items added to the collection of the Bangor Public Library during the week of May 16-22. Adult fiction: Castle, Richard, Storm front; Frank, Dorothea, Porch lights; Haines, Carolyn , Smarty bones; Hosseini, Khaled, And the mountains echoed; Shaara, Jeff, A chain of thunder. Adult non-fiction: Dwork, Deborah, Flight from the Reich; Gilbert, Martin, A history of the twentieth century; Osmond, Marie, The key is love; Strobel, Lee, The case for a creator. Young Adult fiction: Grisham, John, Theodore Boone: the activist; Sonnenblick, Jordan,

Zen and the art of faking it. Young Adult nonfiction: DeReyna, Rudy, How to draw what you see. Junior fiction: Applegate, Katherine, The one and only Ivan; Bowen, Fred, Real hoops; Healy, Christopher, The heros guide to saving your kingdom; Hiaasen, Carl, Chomp; Hunt, Lynda, One for the Murphys; Levine, Kristin, The lions of Little Rock; McMann, Lisa, The unwanteds; Messner, Kate, Capture the flag; Nielsen, Jennifer, The false prince; Sitomer, Alan, Nerd girls; TenNapel, Doug, Cardboard; Turnage, Sheila, Three times lucky; Weeks, Sarah, Pie.

Here is a list of new items added to the collection at the Blue Mountain Community Library in Pen Argyl recently. Adult Fiction: The Obituary Writer - Ann Hood; Fever - Mary Beth Keane; The Paris Wife - Paula McLain; Tapestry of Fortunes Elizabeth Berg; Palisades Park - Alan Brennert. Large Print Fiction: Crystal Cove - Lisa Kleypas; Red Velvet Cupcake Murder Joanne Fluke; Starting Now Debbie Macomber; The Chance - Karen Kingsbury; Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts. Adult Nonfiction: The Soundtrack Of My Life - Clive Davis; Out of Order - Sandra Day O'Connor; The Searchers - Glenn Frankel;

Eighty Days - Matthew Goodman; Full Body Burden Kristen Iversen. Young Adult Fiction: Chomp - Carl Hiaasen; Ungifted - Gordon Korman; The Big Field - Mike Lupica; One For The Murphys - Lynda Hunt; Bliss - Kathryn Littlewood. Juvenile Fiction: Gooney Bird Is So Absurd - Lois Lowry; The First Pup - Bob Staake; Emeraldalicious - Victoria Kann; Bats At The Ballgame - Brian Lies; Zoomer - Ned Young. Juvenile Nonfiction: Queen Of The Falls Chris Van Allsburg; Taylor Swift, The Story of Me - Riley Brooks; Who Was Marco Polo? Joan Holub; Who Was King Tut? - Roberta Edwards; Tsunamis Mary Pope Osborne.

The Slate Belt Museum will reopen for the summer on June 2nd. The Museum, home to a variety of displays unique to the Slate Belt area of Northampton County, houses exhibits ranging from a replica slate workers shanty to agricultural implements, from antique physicians tools to artifacts from the little-known cigarmaking industry in Mount Bethel and Roseto. Of special interest is the complete collection of the Slate Belts own HOMEFRONT magazine issued during World War II. In addition, the museum has a beautifully hand-crafted doll house, with one-ofa-kind furnishings and electric lights. History buffs will also appreciate the display Charles Newbaker: a

Man and His Bridge, provided by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commssion, covering the history of Portlands covered bridge over the Delaware River. The bridge, the longest in the USA when it was destroyed by the Flood of 1955, holds a place near and dear to many long-time residents of both the Slate Belt and northwestern Warren County, New Jersey. The museum, now in

its 35th year, will be open from 1 pm until 4 pm every Sunday through the end of September. The museum is located at 2214 North Delaware Drive (PA Route 611) just north of the PA Route 512 intersection on Mount Bethel, and 2 miles south of the Portland-Columbia bridge to New Jersey and Routes 80, 46, and 94. Admission is free but donations are welcomed.

St. Lukes University Health Network will host a Community Open House at its Wind Gap Medical Center located at 487 East Moorestown Road in Wind Gap, on Saturday, June 22nd, from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Attendees are invited to meet the physicians and staff members and tour the practices at the facility, which include Family Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Perinatology, Physical Therapy, Laboratory and Radiology. Free health screenings will be offered as well as refreshments and family activities including fire truck and ambulance

vehicle tours, PennStar helicopter landing, bike helmet safety demonstrations, moon bounce, face painting, music and a photo booth.

For more information and to register for the event, please call St. Lukes InfoLink tollfree at 1-866-STLUKES (1-866-785-8537).

The Misericordia University Department of Speech-Language Pathology Department recently recognized the academic and clinical accomplishments of its graduating students at the annual Honors and Awards Ceremony at Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall on campus. The students received their Master of Science degrees in speechlanguage pathology May 18th at the 87th annual Commencement ceremony at the Anderson Sports and Health Center on campus. Maria Kidron of Elysburg, Pa., received the Speech-Language Pathology Academic Excel-

lence Award that is granted to the graduating student who has demonstrated academic excellence superior to the rest of the graduating class. Haley Ellis of Bangor,

Pa., was presented the Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Excellence Award that is given to the graduating student who has demonstrated exemplary skills in clinical practicum.

Mary Baran of Bethlehem, Pa., received the Speech-Language Pathology Outstanding Service Award that is awarded to the student who participates and provides volunteer service to the department above and beyond academic and clinical responsibilities. Kearston Healey of Avoca, Pa., was presented with the Speech-Language Pathology Research Excellence Award. It is granted to a student who takes initiative to participate in all aspects of the research process for multiple research projects, including independent research. The quality of the recipients scholarship has to be exemplary and to have led to presentations at conferences and /or academic publications. For more information, log on to misericordia.edu.

Merchants Bank Announces Recent Employee Promotions

Merchants Bank is pleased to announce the recent promotion of several employees: Tracey S. Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, formerly Senior Vice President, Retail Banking James W. Hartman, Vice President and Senior Commercial Lender, formerly Vice President and Commercial Lender Joseph Attinello, Vice President and Residential Mortgage Officer, formerly Assistant Vice President and Residential Mortgage Officer Michael G. Boulos, Vice President and Residential Mortgage Officer, formerly Assistant Vice President and Residential Mortgage Officer Terri A. Snyder, Assistant Vice President and HR Manager, formerly Human Resources and Trust Officer Joellen Burns, Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager and Cash Management Specialist, formerly Branch Manager and Cash Management Specialist Sarah Pepe, Banking Officer and Branch Manager, formerly Branch Manager Paula Kilpatrick, Banking Officer and Branch Manager, formerly Assistant Branch Manager Connie Silvius, Banking Officer and Branch Manager, formerly Branch Manager Mark Haldaman, Credit Analyst II and Banking Officer, formerly Credit Analyst II. Established in 1890, Merchants Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank. Headquartered in Bangor, Merchants has two branch offices in Bangor and additional offices throughout the Lehigh Valley, including Mount Bethel, Wind Gap, Nazareth, Forks Township, Martins Creek, and Easton, PA. MNB Investment Services is a division of the bank and offers investment and wealth management financial services. For more information, please visit merchantsbangor.com.

The Arts programming at Bangor Area School District is flourishing under the direction of Mr. Eric Hahn and Mr. Christopher Connelly. The two of them have created quite a stir for the Arts at the high school level. Their success comes from the passion in which they have for the Arts and due to District Adminis-

tration support. Dr. Frank DeFelice, Superintendent; Mr. John Reinhart, Principal; various levels of District Administration; and School Board Members leave Arts related events stating that Bangors talent is amazing. This year the high school put on various chorus and band concerts throughout the

year; an Arts Gala week where art, music, and drama were showcased; three plays Godspell, Annie, and Footloose; competitions for chorus and band in which each division was awarded and recognized; several Freddy nominations; band members playing with the Allentown Band; lip sync; chorus and band being featured

at the district levels; and the list can continue on and on. Connelly has done so well with passing on knowledge to the students, that for the first time Bangor High School had a completely student driven play. From top to bottom, Footloose was student directed by senior classmate, Justin Chesney. Jasmine Newland, who played Wendy Jo, tweets Slate Belt Updates on Twitter, I would tell them [students] theatre is a great outlet, and a great group of people to be around, and a great place to have fun while

doing hard work. Kirill Klingaman, who played Chuck, conveyed to Slate Belt Updates on Twitter to Please support any Musical department event if its band / choir concert, the lip sync, a musical, anything! We love it, thank you! This past weekend, Hahn was able to sit side by side with his students - Kaley Reid, Jennifer Thompson, Shatira Woods, Victor

Chaykowsky, Luke Nosal, and Justus Wilson - during an Allentown Band concert at Allentown Symphony Hall. Next on the Arts agenda is the Bangor Area Secondary Schools PTSA sponsoring the community wide event Battle of the Bands which will be held on June 1st from 6pm to 9pm at BAMS. Tickets can be purchased at Merchants Bank or by calling 610-217-7088.

(NAPSI)The warmer months mean social gatherings, travel and an active outdoor lifestyle. Ensure that you take the appropriate steps to stay safe and healthy this summer so you can have fun with confidence. 1. Get outside and rejuvenate your mind and body, but ensure that you give your skin a bit of TLC. Ultraviolet rays can harm your skin even when its cold or cloudy, so take the necessary precautions to protect your skin. Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 15 and apply 20 to 30 minutes before going outside. 2. Exercise, also known as Mother Natures antidepressant, can have a direct effect on your overall mood and self-confidence. Physical activity is also at the cornerstone of healthy aging, according to the experts at the National Institute on Aging. Move vigorously: Jog, swim, dance or garden at least 20 minutes a day, at least five days a week. Just remember to stretch your muscles first. Joining a gym can not only be a great way to get fit, it can be a good place to find new friends. Studies show socialization is vital, especially as you grow older. The National Institute on Aging adds that engaging in social and productive activities

Clara Schweitzer will be turning 102 on June 3rd. She was born Clara Uhler in 1911 in Edelman. She lived on a farm there with her eight brothers and one sister, until she married Edgar Schweitzer. They moved to Ackermanville, where they lived for many years. Her husband Edgar was a game warden for Northampton County until he passed away in you enjoy, such as taking an art class or volunteering in the community or with your place of worship, may help maintain your well-being. Studies have also found that people involved in hobbies and other social and leisure pursuits may be less likely to develop some health problems, including dementia. They might even live longer. 3. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderationespecially on hot days. According to the National Institutes of Health, people over 65 should have no more than seven drinks a week and no more than three drinks on any one day. While there are ingredients in red wine that may be good for your health, you can get many of the same benefits from a glass of grape juice. 4. If you are a denture wearer, the idea of dentures dislodging during dinner with friends or a meeting with colleagues can be mortifying. A recent study by Wakefield Research for Fixodent revealed that 72 percent of respondents avoid some type of food because of their dentures. In fact, more than 57 percent of all respondents have ordered denture safe food when dining out with company. If your dentures dont fit well, you should seek the care of a prosthodontist. Additionally, to help with oral hygiene and avoid potentially embarrassing slips, you should consider using a denture adhesive. Fixodent is one such adhesive that helps seal out food particles and kills odorcausing bacteria for a clean mouth and fresh breath. For helpful tips and tools on living your life to the fullest, visit facebook.com/Fixodent.

1973. Clara lived in Ackermanville until recently, and at age 101, moved to Walden III in Wind Gap. She is a member of the Ackermanville United Methodist Church. She also was a volunteer for many years for Meals on Wheels, Slate Belt Medical Center, Miller Memorial Blood Center, and the Washington Township Ladies Auxiliary.

Clara has kept busy doing quilts and has won many ribbons for her work. Over the years, her quilts have been displayed during Heritage Days in Bangor. Help Clara celebrate her birthday with a card shower. Send birthday cards to her at Walden III Assisted Living Residence, 325 N. Broadway, Wind Gap, PA 18091.

(NAPSI)--Performing regular engine maintenance is critical to keeping the small engine in a lawn mower running at peak performance. A mower engine tune-up takes about 30 minutes and costs under $12 for the average push mower, according to the engine experts at Briggs & Stratton Corporation, the largest manufacturer of gasoline-powered engines for outdoor power equipment. How to Tune Up Your Push Mower in Four Easy Steps:

1. Change the mower oil 2. Replace the air filter 3. Replace the spark plug 4. Add fuel preservative to the gasoline A tune-up on a riding mower may also require replacing the oil and fuel filters. Briggs & Stratton provides small engine tune-up kits that include everything needed to make the task even easier. Most people who own a walk-behind mower can tune up their mower following simple instructions, says Synoilva Shaw, with the Briggs & Stratton

marketing department. Homeowners know the importance of tuning up their lawn mower engine. According to research by Briggs & Stratton, 66 percent of homeowners who purchased a new push mower will perform a tune-up at least once a season. Also, 76 percent of homeowners tune up their engine mower before the season starts. Tuning up is key in extending the life of a mower engine and can reduce emissions by up to 30 percent. Shaw points out that difficult starting is the No. 1 problem people

report having with their lawn mowers, according to company research. A tune-up could be the answer. The source of most starting problems is old gasolinegas goes stale in about 30 days, and the new ethanol-based fuels can be especially problematic, she notes. The company warns that certain gasoline blends should never be used in lawn mower engines and other small gas engines. Fuel blends containing more than 10 percent ethanol, like E15 or E85 gasoline, or gasoline containing other alcohol blends can damage small gas engines. In addition, the company helps homeowners recycle oil from their lawn mower engine through participating Briggs & Stratton dealers nationwide. To date, over 150,000 gallons of used engine oil have been recycled. Find a participating dealer at recyclemower oil.com.

FHA MORTGAGES CHANCES ARE VERY GOOD THAT YOU REALLY CAN BUY A HOME!! A large percentage of Buyers purchase their homes by using the Federal Housing Administration mortgage program. The program allows Buyers who do not have a lot of money saved to buy a home. The mortgage process can be very difficult, or, flow easily depending on the quality of the Realtor, Mortgage Company, and originator that you are working with. Basic information is: 1. You will need 3 1/2 % of the selling price as a down payment..that is..on a $100,000 home you will need $3,500. You can get this money as a gift from a relative. 2. FHA does not use credit scores to evaluate creditworthiness. Don't get me wrong..you have to prove to them that you will pay the loan by showing a reasonable credit history. 3. In addition to the down payment there will be

closing costs amounting to approximately 6% of the purchase price. The program allows for the Seller to pay these on your behalf. 4. Since you are not putting 20% down on your new home you will be required to pay "Mortgage Insurance Premium". This aspect is very complicated.. call me if you are interested in the details. There is another program that allows a purchase with nothing down. This one has a few more conditions or "glitches" than FHA but it is a viable program. The bottom line is that it is a great time to buy. Owning a starter home actually costs less than renting. BUY NOW... Interest rates are approximately 3 1/2% today.. mortgage money is available. If you would like more detailed information..the names of some very good lenders..or any real estate information, feel free to call us at The Great American Real Estate Company, 610-863-6205.

The 2013-2014 BVFS Scholarships have been announced. Each recipient will receive a $500 scholarship in a

ceremony on August 24th at the Annual Blue Valley Farm Show. This years winners are Victoria Clark of

Bangor; Crystal Compton of Northampton; Candace Kleintop of Danielsville; and Kasie Kerr of Bangor. Victoria will graduate from Bangor High School in June and will be attending Delaware Valley College. Victoria has been a member of the Northampton County 4-H Forward Motion Horse and Pony for the past four years. Crystal will graduate from Northampton High School in June, and will be attending Northampton Community College in the fall, majoring in Interior Design. Crystal has been a member of the Northampton County 4-H Clover Crew for the past six years. Candace will graduate from Northampton High School in June and

will be attending Northampton Community College in the fall, majoring in Vet Tech. Candace has been a member of the Northaptom County 4-H Beef Club for the past nine years. Kasie will graduate from Bangor High School in June and will be attending Penn State University in the fall, majoring in Biology. Kasie has been a member of the Northampton County 4-H Beef Club for the past 10 years. Any student who is a past or present member of a Northampton County 4-H Club and will be attending an insititute of higher education, may apply for a scholarship. For more information, contact Audrey Koehler at 610-498-3389.

The Bangor High School Class of 1973 is seeking addresses for the following classmates for their upcoming 40th reunion: Sharon Gress Jennings, Craig Albert, Douglas Ronco, John Kovacs, Jay Kearney, Jeffrey

Delp, Donald Silfies, Joann Baker Sheesley, Brian Kardos, Steven Mausteller, Beth Healy, Donna Brodt Henry, Gary Ritter, Carol Ann Buzzard, Gus Cerino, Jill Gebert Wasworth, Keith Meixsell, Eugene Deshler, Dorothy Zeigafuse Romig and Mary Ann Cannavo. If you can help, please call 610-588-5108.

Chris Ruggiero of Bangor will perform his One Man Variety Show one night only at Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem. Shows will be held at 6pm and 8pm. Ruggieros familyfriendly comedy, juggling and magic show is enjoyed by audiences of all ages. With plenty of impressive tricks and feats of juggling and magic, Ruggiero combines his amazing abilities with audience involvement to create an atmosphere of laughter and amaze-

ment. Ruggiero strives to recreate the feeling of vaudeville variety shows and encourages audience members to be more than just spectators in the show. Whether its clapping along to the music or actually joining him on stage, the audience is a vital part of the

performance. Singer, songwriter and recording artist Allen Carrescia will join Ruggiero on stage as the opening act. Ruggiero has been performing across the country and overseas for the past 4 years since graduating from Penn State University. He is a

regular performer at colleges and universities, parties, resorts, and is a cast member in The Burlesque Show running all summer at the Borgata in Atlantic City. For more information, call 610-509-3476 or ruggiero.christopher@g mail.com.

Luke William Hahn Foundations Ride On Truck and Car Show: Saturday, June 1st, Weona Park, Pen Argyl. Gates open at 9:30am, registrations close at Noon; Closing Ceremonies at 3pm. Registration forms available at www.lukehahn foundation.org or can be picked up at Reagle Dodge or Wind Gap Chevy. Richmond Lions Club Chicken Bar-B-Que Dinner: Saturday, June 1st, 4pm to 6pm, at Jacktown Grove. Takeout Available. The Slate Belt YMCA 5k Run and Fun Walk: June 1st, 9am; check in beginning at 7:30am at the Blue Valley Farm Show Grounds, 707 American Bangor Rd., Bangor. Registration for the event is available online at www.slatebelt ymca.org, or at the Nazareth YMCA, 33 S. Main St., Nazareth PA, 18064. Registrations will also be accepted the morning of the run. Flicksville United Church of Christ Tricky Tray: Saturday, June 1st; doors open at 4pm, winners announced at 6pm. Kitchen will be open. Scrapbooking event to benefit Operation Smile: Saturday, June 1, 9am-9pm at Dryland U.C.C. Church - 4415 Newburg Road, Nazareth. For more information, contact Kristine Tanase - 610-9728228, bloominghearts@m sn.com Ride the Rails Strawberry Fest: Saturday, June 1, 10am-5pm; Bushkill Elementary

School, 960 Bushkill Center Rd, Nazareth. Proceeds benefit the Nazareth School Districts Planetarium & Environmental Center. For more information, visit nazarethscience.org. Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club Meeting: Thursday, June 6, 7:30pm, in the Bethlehem Township Community Center, 2900 Farmersville Road, Bethlehem. FMI: www.dlarc.org, KE3AW@ARRL.N ET or 610-4328286. St. Lukes United Church of Christ Annual Strawberry festival: Saturday, June 8th, 3pm to 8pm; 471 Belfast Road, Belfast. Lower Mt. Bethel Fire Co. Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser: Thursday, June 6th, 4pm-10pm at Texas Roadhouse, 4463 Southmont Way, Easton. 10% of purchase will be donated to the fire company. Salem UCC Church Strawberry Festival: Saturday, June 8th, 3pm to 9pm; 2218 Community Drive, Route 946, Bath. Bangor High Rise Flea Market and Bake Sale: at the High Rise, 101 Murray St., Bangor. Saturday, June 8th, 9am to Noon; Household items, misc., etc. Lunch available. Richmond United Methodist Church Spaghetti Dinner: Saturday, June 8th, 3:30pm to 7pm, full course meal, homemade ice cream and bake sale. 2013 Car Show at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church: June 8th, 10am to 2pm in church

parking lot. Rain Date, June 15th. Proceeds benefit Portland Upper Mt. Bethel Food Pantry. VNA/Hospice of Monroe County 3rd Annual Tricky Tray: Sunday, June 9th. Held at Desaki Restaurant, 2054 Pennsylvania Rt. 611 in Swiftwater. Doors open at 1pm and ticket pulling starts promptly at 3pm. FMI, contact Tammy Hiestand at thiestand @vnahospiceofmc. org or 570-5177421. Pocono Garden Club Meeting: Tuesday, June 11, at 1pm at the Monroe County Environmental Center, Kettle Creek. Everyone interested in gardening is welcome. For more information please contact club President Joyce Love at 570-629-0574 or email her at lovemj@ptd.net. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish of Pen Argyl sponsoring a trip to the Trump Casino in Altantic City: Thursday, June 13. For more information, please call Mary Lou DeReaLohman at 610863-4846 or 610844-4630. Families First, 11th Anniversary Annual Meeting and Clambake: rain or shine at the Wind Gap Borough Park Pavilion on Saturday, June 15th, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please contact Frank Jones at 610-863-3688.

Pocono YMCAs 5th Annual Celebrity Golf Outing: June 20th, 2013. For more info or to check out online auction visit www.biddingforgoo d.com/poconoymca/ celebritygolf. Slate Belt Young at Heart Club Meeting: at the St. Elizabeth Church basement in Pen Argyl on Thursday, June 20, at 1pm. A representive from the Liberty Bell Museum will present a very interesting program. For more information, please call Mary Lou DeReaLohman at 610863-4846 or 610844-4630. Portland Community Yard Sale Daze: Saturday, June 22nd, 8am to 2pm, Rain or Shine; Vendors Wanted: Deadline to be on map June 15th. FMI: Stephanie Steele 610-2166716 or Cindy Fish 973-600-7120 or e-mail to portlandboroughpa @gmail.com. 18th Annual West End Car Show: Sunday, June 23rd, 8am to 3pm, at West End Fair Grounds, Gilbert, PA. Sponsored by Western Pocono Jaycees. Annual Bangor Elks Lodge #1106 Golf Tournament: Monday, June 24th, at Whitetail Golf Club. Four person scramble format. Call the Bangor Elks Lodge at 610-588-3420 to register foursome. Deadline is June 10th.

Slate Belt Young at Heart Club Bus Trip to Gettysburg: Monday, June 24th. Includes Cyclorama Museum, tour of the Battlefield, wax museum of the Presidents, and dinner at General Pickett's Buffett! This trip is open to all ages. FMI, call Mary at 610-8634846 or Minnie at 610-863-6589. Wind Gap Family Fun Festival: June 28th and 29th, Wind Gap Park. Friday events begin at 5pm; Saturday events begin at 3pm. Festival supports Wind Gap Vol. Fire Co. Bike Run to benefit Camp Papillon: Saturday, June 29th. Registration is 11am-noon at Big Daddy's Family BBQ Restaurant, 3492 Rt. 611, Bartonsville, 570-5177979. Kickstands up at 12:30 noon. Baked goods and coffee supplied to all participants. Big Daddy's will discount 10% of any orders. 120th Annual Mt. Carmel Big Time Celebration: Tuesday, July 23rd through Saturday, July 27th; Procession on Sunday, July 28th, 2pm. Ashley Jones is the 2013 Celebration Queen. 3rd Annual Jake Miller Memorial Run: August 3rd, 10am, 537 Batts

Switch Road, Nazareth, to Wind Gap American Legion. Kickstands up at noon. FMI, call Richard Miller at 610-881-4234 or Connie Caiazzo, 610-216-3153. Slate Belt Heritage Center Annual Golf Tournament: Friday, August 16th, Shawnee Golf Resort. 4-Man Scramble with 8am Shotgun Start. FMI, Marc Blau at 1-570-8975459.

Soup Up Your Yard With Homegrown Superfruits

(NAPSI)Superfruits - fruits that are exceptionally rich in vitamins and antioxidantsare popular ingredients in a variety of healthy foods. Fortunately, although superfruit connotes something rare and exotic, a surprising number of these plants, including aronia, elderberry and goji berry, are hardy shrubs that can be grown right in your backyard. Theyre easy to grow and require no spraying or complicated pruning and produce pound after pound of juicy, nutritious fruit every year. Aronia is a large shrub native to eastern North America. With showy white flowers in spring and blazing red leaves in autumn, it makes an excellent choice for landscaping around your home. Large clusters of glossy black berries ripen in late summer, making aronia a standout in the kitchen as well as the garden. The fruits are sometimes known as chokeberries because of their very sour flavor but they can be sweetened and used in juice, jam, desserts, even wine, which makes it even easier to savor their high levels of antioxidants and vitamins. In fact, theyve been enjoyed in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Russia for decades. Aronia tolerates winter temperatures as low as -40 F, and does best when planted where it will get at least six hours of sun each day. Elderberry is another North American native shrub that you can count on to beautify the landscape and provide bumper crops of nutritious fruits. Varieties that have been selected for ornamental foliage are especially useful for home gardeners, as they are even more attractive than plain green wild types. Black Lace, which was developed in England, where elderberry flowers and berries are eaten regularly, has delicate, lacy foliage in a dramatic near-black color. Black Beauty has bigger, bolder foliage but the same dark purple-black color. Both offer large pink flowers that give way to small black berries that are very high in vitamin C; research suggests they can be effective in minimizing flu symptoms. Elderberry plants dont mind cold weather, surviving through temperatures of -25 F, and they can grow well even in partial shade (up to four hours a day). Goji berries are antioxidant-packed and sell for high prices at health food stores but theyre actually easyto-grow shrubs. Also known as wolfberry, the rich purple flowers appear in early summer and are followed by gleaming red berries. The plants produce fruit continuously until autumn and never need spraying or special attention. You can find all these at a garden center, in the fruit or shrub section. For further facts, tips and recipes, visit www.ProvenWinners.co m/VitaminBerries.

Winning Daylily Program Announces Lemony-Fresh 2013 Winner

They appear in early to mid-season above 24 30scapes and provide a long colorful display throughout the summer. The Lemonn Vista joins the Vista series of daylilies known to meet the ideal landscape demand for short-to-mid height, strong tendency to rebloom, arching foliage, large, sunfast blooms, good increase, and uniform scape height. These characteristics create a spectacular show of colorful blooms that are uniformly displayed to create a sheetor vistaof color. Plant Lemonn Vista in front of roses or other previous AllAmerican Daylily winners such as Frankly Scarlet or Red Volunteer for a delightful contrast and tidy foreground to your garden. The soaring popularity of daylilies, combined with the bewildering profusion of varieties and growing characteristics, demanded the development of a standard for daylily excellence. Started in 1987, the All-American Daylily Selection Council created a scientific methodology that evaluates daylilies on 52 different characteristics to determine the best varieties and to create a benchmark for future daylily varieties. There are more than 48,000 daylilies registered, bred in at least 25 states, by hundreds of individual hybridizers. For more information, visit the website at www.allamericandaylili es.com. You can also go to the site to locate the closest garden center offering All-American Daylilies or to place an order online.

(NAPSI)Its time to think about adding refreshing color and zest to your garden. Lemonn Vista, the 2013 AllAmerican Daylily winner, is both Americas favorite garden color and is an excellent repeat bloomer, providing a long-term color display. Lemonn Vista joins the now 20 award-winning daylilies that have been selected for the coveted All-American title for their scientifically proven and superior performance nationwide by the All-American Daylily Selection Council (AADSC). Recognized for its superior performance in landscapes, Lemonn Vista paints a beautiful garden picture whether planted solo en masse or combined with companion perennials. The large, 6, lemonyyellow blooms are fragrant and have heavy substance that withstands the summer sun.

Madeline Diorio, the daughter of Steven and Sherry Diorio, has been recognized for achieving the Girl Scout Gold Award. This is the highest award that can be earned within the Girl Scouts of the USA. She is a member of Troop 8397, which is sponsored by the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Bethel. Madeline has faithfully achieved outstanding accomplishments in the

areas of leadership, community service, career planning and personal development. For her Gold Award project, Madeline constructed dugouts at the Echo Lake Softball fields in Johnsonville. Madeline is a 2012 graduate of Bangor Area High School and is currently studying International Relations with a concentration in Intercultural Communication at Syracuse University.

Air pressure in a tire goes up in warm weather 12 pounds for every 10-degree temperature change. Make sure the weather isnt affecting your tires by using a tire gauge to check your pressure.

(NAPSI)Investing a little time and effort to make sure your tires are road worthy can pay dividends when it comes

to safety. Experts say the first step is to make sure your tires are properly inflated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, underinflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year. Simply checking your tire pressure can help you stay safe during your next trip. To get the most from your tires this summer, here are some maintenance tips from the worlds largest tire and wheel retailer-Discount Tire: Get Pressure RightLow tire pressure can decrease

fuel economy. Tires may lose up to one pound per square inch per month. The specific inflation pressure number can be found on the vehicle placard located on the drivers side doorpost, glove box door, fuel door or in the owners manual. Custom tires and wheels may change standard air pressure requirements, so if you customize, have a pro check them out before you go. Dont Overload VehicleOverloading decreases fuel economy due to increased wind drag and cargo weight. Handling, control and braking are also negatively impacted. Rotate Before You GoRegular rotation helps achieve uniform tire wear and improves road performance. Tires rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles have longer life and help to maximize your tire investment. Straighten UpProper wheel alignment provides safe, predict-

able vehicle control and helps tires wear evenly and last longer. Bald Isnt BeautifulLack of tread affects the tires ability to grip the road. Make sure tires dont have uneven wear, high or low spots or unusually smooth areas that can decrease traction and increase the risk of road accidents. Checking tire pressure and tread is easy and can pay dividends when it comes to fuel economy and handling. Dont go by appearances. Use a tire gauge to check since a tire can be 50 percent underinflated but still not appear flat. Make it a habit to check tire pressure every month and always before a long trip. Use the vehicle manufacturers recommended tire pressure. Additionally, check tire tread depth by using the penny test. Insert Abe Lincolns head upside down into the tread. If you see his entire head, its time to replace the tire. To learn more about tire safety, visit www.discounttire.com.

(NAPSI)With more than 5 million car crashes every year in the U.S., its important that drivers understand what they can do to avoid a collision and also what automakers are doing to help them should they be involved in an accident. Youve heard it a hundred timesstay off your cell phone and dont even think about texting. Work with your car dealer to make sure your tires are properly inflated, your fluids are topped off and your brakes are well maintained. Remember, if you are in an emergency on the roadand according to Forbes, the average driver is involved in a

collision every 18 yearsget to a safe place to call for help, give emergency personnel your specific location and do your best to stay calm. Car companies are including all sorts of new technology in modern cars in order to keep vehicles in tip-top shape and help drivers who may be involved in an accident. For example, Hyundai Assurance Connected Care is the new safety and maintenance suite powered by the firms Blue Link telematics platform. This program provides free proactive safety and car care services for three years and includes automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, monthly vehicle diagnostics reports and maintenance alerts. Said Barry Ratzlaff, Director of Customer Satisfaction and Service Business Development: While drivers want cars they enjoy driving, safety features and maintenance reminders are also important. Visit www.hyundai bluelink.com.