State Representative Joe

Emrick
invites
senior
citizens, their families and
caregivers to his Senior
Fair on September 25th
from 10am to 1:30pm at
the Forks Township Community Center, 500 Zucksville Road, in Easton. Free
flu shots will be provided by
for anyone 18 years of age
and older. Admission is free,
light refreshments will be
served and door prizes will
also be awarded.
The Neucrue fundraiser
golf tournament, to be held
on September 25th, is seeking donations. If you would
like to be a sponsor, donate
promotional items or door
prizes (golf balls, golf clubs,
etc.), contact Ryan Mackay
at 484-695-5104 or neucrue
fundraiser@gmail.com.
Slate Belt Health and
Rehabilitation is looking
for volunteers. If you enjoy
talking, singing, dancing,
exercising, reading, and

more and would like to share

your gifts with the residents,
stop by 701 Slate Belt Boulevard in Bangor for an
application or call 610-5886161. Volunteers must be at
least 16 years old.
The Pen Argyl Alumni
Association is sponsoring a
trip to Deck the Halls at
the American Music Theater on November 28th.
The trip includes dinner,
show and all tax and gratuities. To purchase tickets or
receive more information,
call Bill Ruggiero at 610863-6297.
Hope UCC is in need of
neck tie donations for My
Brothers Keepers to tie
together sleeping bags
made for the homeless.
Donations can be dropped
off at Hope UCC in Wind
Gap.
St. Johns Cemetery is
seeking donations to help
with the upkeep of the
cemetery, roadways and
monuments. They are also
exploring the idea of adding
a Community Columbarium

near the mosoleum. Donations can be sent to Carol

Hummel c/o St. Johns Cemetery, 136 Messinger Street,
Bangor, PA 18013.
The Ladies Auxiliary of
the Mt. Bethel Volunteer
Fire Company in Mt.
Bethel is seeking new members and volunteers. If you
are interested and would like
further information, contact
Gail at 570-897-6293 or Kris
at 610-392-7975.
The BAHS Alumni Association is collecting used
musical instruments to be
donated
to
Bangors
elementary band program.
The instruments will be used
as loaners for students who
cannot afford them. For
more information, call 610588-5198.
The Slate Belt Heritage
Center Oral History Project is seeking Slate Belt
senior citizens who would
like to be interviewed. If
you know of anyone who has
a story, call Marc Blau at
570-897-5459.
The East Bangor United
Methodist
Community
Church, located at 136 W.
Central Ave. (Rt. 512) in
East Bangor, is now offering a new study on Mondays, titled "The Church
and People with Disabilities" at 7pm. Materials will
be provided. For more information, call 610-588-4453
or visit ebumc.org.

Washington Borough will

be holding a family
friendly
festival
on
September 26th, from
10am to 11pm. For more
information,
visit
festivalintheborough.com.
Blairstown Township will
be holding a town-wide
cleanup on September 25th
and 26th. Each property

owner is entitled to two

vouchers to bring items to
the Warren County Landfill
in Oxford. Vouchers may be
picked up at the municipal
building from 8am to 4pm,
Monday through Friday.
Owners who possess handicapped parking permits may
call the municipal garage in
advance at 908-362-8119 to
arrange for pick-up.
American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Traveling Wall will be visiting
Bridgewater on October
1st from 3pm through
October 4th at 2pm. The
American Veterans Traveling Tribute centerpiece is the
Traveling Wall, an 80percent-scale version of the
Vietnam Memorial Wall in
Washington D.C. Across its
370-foot length, the wall
contains every single name
etched on the original.
Related events will include
opening and closing ceremonies and a wreath-laying
ceremony. For information,
visit www.avtt.org.
Blairstown Recreation is
currently accepting registration for Fall programs
that will begin in October
for children of all ages. For
more information and to see
a list of programs that will
be offered, visit www.
blairstown-nj.org.
Blairstown Recreation is
offering Fall workout
sessions of Zumba, PiYo,
Pilates and Yoga for adults
and teens. Zumba will be
held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm now
through December 10th at
Blair
Academy
Dance
Studio. PiYo is offered on
Fridays,
now
through
November
20th
from
8:30am to 9:15am at the
Evangelical Free Church of
Blairstown. Pilates will be
held Tuesday and Thursday
mornings from 9:15am to
10:15am at the Evangelical

Free Church now through

November 19th and Yoga
will be held Mondays and
Wednesdays from 6pm to
6:50pm at Catherine Dickson Hofman Library. For
more information, visit
www. blairstown-nj.org.
Knowlton Township will
be holding a communitywide cleanup for nonprofit organizations on
October 3rd from 7:30am
to 1pm at the Tunnel Field.
Please sign-up by September
30th. Contact Dennis Lembeck at 908-246-3737 for
more information. Any non
profit organization can sign
up (boy scouts, girl scouts,
sports teams, etc).
The
Warren
County
Community Singers are
looking for new members.
The singers are a nonaudition group. Rehearsals
are Tuesdays, 7:30pm to
9:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Washington,
located at 40 Church Street
in Washington. Singers present two concerts a year: a
holiday concert in December
and Spring Fest of Song in
early May. All voice parts

are welcome. Mens voices

are especially needed. For
more information, call Jane
at 908-399-4771.
Public Notice: In accordance with the Adequate
Notice provision of the
Open Public Meetings Act,
please be advised that the
2015 meeting schedule for
the Warren County Mental
Health Board is as follows:
October 20th, November
17th and December 15th at
5pm. Meetings will be held
in rooms 123A and B at
Warren County Community
College, located at 475 Rt.
57 in Washington.
Public Notice: In accordance with the Adequate
Notice provision of the
Open Public Meetings Act,
please be advised that the
2015 meeting schedule for
the Warren County Human
Services Advisory Council
is as follows: November
24th (location TBD) at
1:30pm. Meetings will be
held in the Freeholder Meeting Room at the Wayne
Dumont Jr. Adminisration
Building, located at 165 Rt.
519 S. in Belvidere.

Adult Fiction: Alcott,

Kathleen: Infinite Home;
Beattie, Ann: The State
Were In; Child, Lee: Make
Me; Dodd, Christina: Obsession Falls; Dye, Ginny:
Storm Clouds Rolling; Egan,
Elisabeth: A Window Opens;
Grafton, Sue: X; Gregory,
Philippa: The Taming Of The
Queen; Griffin, Web: Deadly
Assets; Hamill, Pete: The
Christmas
Kid;
Jance,
Judith: Dance Of The Bones;
Kellerman, Jonathan: The
Murderers
Daughter;
Kleypas, Lisa: Brown Eyes
Girl; Macomber, Debbie:
Silver Linings; Murphy,
Shirley Rousseau: Cat On
The Edge; Paretsky, Sara:
Brush Back; Patterson,
James:
Alert;
Robards,
Karen: The Last Time I Saw
Her; Shriver, Lionel: Ordi-

nary Decent Criminals;

Weiner, Jennifer: Who Do
You Love.
Adult Non Fiction: Rathbone, Andy: Windows 10
For Dummies; Vaillant,
John: The Tiger.
Young Adult Fiction:
Ahdieh, Renne: The Wrath
And The Dawn; Clare,
Cassandra: City Of Fallen
Angels; City Of Glass;
Pyron, Bobbie: The Dogs Of
Winter; Shulman, Polly:
Enthusiasm.
Junior
Fiction:
Wisniewski, David: Halloweenies.
Easy Fiction: Vasilovich,
Guy: The 13 Nights Of
Halloween.
Dvd: Barbershop 2; Better
Off Dead; Biker Boyz; Bluehill Avenue; Insurgent; Mad
Max Fury Road.

On October 4th, Ridge and

Valley Conservancy is inviting the public to its Annual
Land Preservation Celebration. For those wanting to
connect with the beautiful
nature our area has to offer,
this should be a worthwhile
day thats family friendly.
The event will be held at
American Legion Givens
Belet, Post 258 on Hope
Road (Route 521) in Blairstown, NJ. The group will be
meeting at 11:30am in
Givens Belet parking lot.
Allow approximatly one hour
for an easy hike and tour of
Ridge and Valleys Limestone Ridge Preserve.
Upon return, join Pocono
Wildlife
and
Education
Center at 12:30pm for a free
wildlife presentation. During
the presentation you will get
to know many of these beautiful animals in our woods up
close and learn more about
their habitat and lives.

Bring your children and

prepare to ask lots of questions. Both of these events are
free and open to the public!
To round up the day, stay for
a variety of delicious barbecue and enjoy talented local
Gina Royals music. You will
also find out about Ridge and
Valleys efforts to preserve
this beautiful area and

participate in a silent auction.

The dinner will be held
between 2pm and 5pm with a
requested
donation
for
children and adults who plan
to attend.
To sign up for the barbecue
or for more information,
please visit ridgeandvalley
conservancy.org or call 908362-7989.

On Saturday, September
26th people from the Slate
Belt communities are invited
to attend another one of the
on going hospitality lunches.
This group from Faith
Church has been providing
these lunches from January
to October on the last Saturday of the month between
11:30am to 1:30pm at Faith
United Presbyterian Church.
We have been fortunate in
all of our years with having
such wonderful participants
and volunteers, said Diana
Newman, one of the coordinating volunteers at Faith
Church.
Karen Frey, who also cocoordinates the meals for
this monthly event said, this
year flew bye so fast that we
are starting to plan for 2016
already. This meal extends
the hospitality of the congregation through this Lunch
with Our Bunch program.
Reverend Ruth Ann Christopher said, I am able to
visit with so many of our
participants who have been
with us since we started and
share a good story with
them, this is something that
has been an on-going part of
life for many people in our

communities. said
This
months menu item, pork and
sauerkraut, is another one of
the groups popular lunch

items.
For directions to Faith
United,
visit
www.
faithunited.net.

Senior Fair: September

25th, 10am-1:30pm. Forks
Twp. Comm. Center, 500
Zucksville Rd., Easton.
Spaghetti Dinner: September 25th, 4pm-7pm. Hope
UCC, 2nd St., Wind Gap.
Children 5 & under eat free.
District 10 Fall Trapping
Convention & Sportsman
Show: September 25th,
noon-6pm & September
26th, 8am-5pm. Dealers,
tailgaters, & demonstrations.
West End Fairgrounds, 70
Fairgrounds Rd., Gilbert.
FMI, contact Bob Counterman at 610-759-9203.
East Bangor Vol. Fire Co.
Basket Bingo: September
25th, 6pm. FMI, call 610588-5996.
3rd Annual Pet Expo:
September 26th, 10am3pm. St. John Lutheran
Church, 12 N. Westbrook
Ave., Pen Argyl. FMI, call
610-881-4307 or 610-8634332.
Lunch with Our Bunchat
Faith Church: September
26th,
11:30am-1:30pm.
Faith United Presbyterian
Church. FMI, visit www.
faithunited.net.
Basket Bingo: September

26th, noon. Citizens Fire

Co., 3922 Main St., Slatedale. FMI, call 610-7672305, 610-767-1052 or 610760-3652.
All You Can Eat Roast
Beef Dinner: September
27th: 1pm-5pm. Blooming
Grove Volunteer Firehouse,
484 Rt. 739, Lords Valley
(Hawley). Eat in or take out.
FMI, call 570-775-7355.
Bangor Slater Marching
Band's 38th Annual Festival of Marching Bands:
September 30th, 7pm-9pm.
Bangor Memorial Park.
Featuring:
Pen
Argyl,
Wilson, Southern Lehigh,
East Stroudsburg South,
Belvidere, NJ & Bangor
High School bands. Rain
date: October 1st.
Pig Roast: October 2nd,
10am-5pm.
Slate
Belt
Senior Center, Blue Valley
Farm Show Complex, 700
American Bangor Rd.,
Bangor. FMI, call 610-5881224.
Faith United Presbyterian
Church 21st Annual Fall
Apple Festival: October
3rd, 4pm-7pm. FMI, visit,
www.faithunited.net.
Safe Haven Dog Adoption
Day: October 4th, 11am3pm. Rt 209, Brodheadsville. FMI, visit www.
SafeHavenPa.org or email
SafeHaven@epix.net.
Marine Corps League
Northampton
County
Detachment 298 Meeting:

October 7th, 1900 hours.

1621 Lehigh St., Easton. All
active duty & honorably
discharged
Marines
welcome.
FMI,
email
jimmineousmc@rcn.com.
East Bangor UMCC 150th
Congregational Anniversary:
October,
11th,
9:15am. 136 W. Central Ave.
(Rt. 512), East Bangor.
Reservations requested. FMI,
call 610-588-4453, email
pshower@epix.net, or email
ebumc.org.
Pocono Garden Club Meeting: October 13th, 1pm.
Kettle Creek Environmental
Education Center, Running
Valley Rd., Bartonsville.
FMI, call 570-977-613l.
Bangor Elks Halloween
Parade: October 15th, 7pm.
Theme: Wild Wild West.
Register before October 10th
at 3pm at Brays News Stand,
Heards Meat Market or
Bangor Public Library. Late
registration will be held at the
Bee Hive Comm. Center on
October 15th, 5pm. FMI, call
610-588-1195 or 610-5883183.

baugh, Jeff, Joe & John

Detzi, Anthony & Mike
Casciano, Charley Angelini,
Brad Decker, Alex Christoff,
Steve Zegalia, Mike Corvino,
Ralph
LoPardo,
Nick
Martucci, Eric Rath, Don
D'Iorio, Anthony Gruppo,
Richard Dick Smith & Rob
Godfredo. FMI, call Joe at
484-597-9007.
Boomer's Angels Boo At
The Zoo: October 25th,
10am-4pm. 5150 Game
Preserve Rd., Schnecksville.
FMI, email boomersangels
@gmail.com, visit boomers
angels.com, find them on
Facebook, or call 570-3504977.
Oldies Dance: November
7th, 6pm-10pm. Bangor
Elks, 120 Broadway, Bangor.
FMI, contact Sharon at 610390-6692 or email sharond
@tottsgap.org.
Pen Argyl Alumni Assoc.
Bus Trip: November 28th.
American Music Theater
Christmas
Show
in
Lancaster. FMI, call Bill at
610-863-6297.

Community Presbyterian
Church Fall Festival: October 24th, 11am-3pm. Rain
date: October 25th. 1755 S.
Delaware Ave., Mt. Bethel.
FMI, email community
presby@gmail.com or call
570-897-6766.

Greater Blairstown Business Association Meet &

Greet: September 23rd,
6pm-7:30pm. FMI or to
RSVP, call 908-362-7080 or
visit shopGBBA.com

Pius X High School Athlete

Recognition Dinner: October 24th, noon. Detzi's
Tavern. Honoring Phil Stam-

North Warren Democratic

Club Meeting: September
23rd, 7pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, Lambert

Rd., Blairstown. FMI, call

Fred Cook at 908-362-6808
or
email
fpchistory@
yahoo.com.
Understanding
Memory
Loss Seminar: September
24th, 1pm-1:30pm. Hardwick Senior Club Municipal
Building, 40 Spring Valley
Rd., Hardwick. Registration
Req'd. FMI, call 908-3628920.
Blairstown
Recreation
Department & USSI Adult
Tennis Instruction: September 24th-October 29th,
10:30am-11:30am.
Blair
Academy Tennis Courts.
Class size limited. Register at
USSportsInstitute.com
or
866-345-BALL. FMI, visit
blairstown-nj.org.
The House of Good Shepard
Casino Bus Trip: September 26th, 9am. 798 Willow
Grove St., Hackettstown.
Must be 21. FMI, call Helen
at 908-684-5900.
Washington Borough Festival: September 26th, 10am11pm. FMI, visit festival
intheborough.com.
Youth Center Little Tykes
Soccer: September 26thOctober 31st. The Youth
Center, 16 Hampton Rd.,
Glen Gardner. FMI, call 908537-4594 or visit www.the
youthcenter.net.
Children's World Language
&
Technology
Class:
September 30th, 6:30pm8:30pm. 186 Halsey Rd.,
Suite 1, Newton. Focus is on
developing strategies to meet
the Early Learning Standards.
FMI, contact the Training
Staff at 973-383-3461.
The House of Good Shepard
Peddlers Village Bus Trip:
October 3rd, 10am. 798
Willow Grove St., Hackett-

stown. Must be 21. FMI, call

Helen at 908-684-5900.
Meat Loaf Dinner: October
3rd, 4pm-7pm. Broadway
UMC, 2233 Rt. 57, Broadway. FMI, call 908-689-6951.
Chicken BBQ Dinner:
October 3rd, 5pm-7pm.
Tranquility
Community
House, 4 Kennedy Road (Rt.
611), Rt 517. Eat-in or takeout. FMI or reservation, call
908-850-1092 or 973-7865318.
St. Jude Ladies Guild
Bingo:
October
3rd,
6:30pm-10pm.
St. Jude
Church, 7 Eisenhower Rd.,
Blairstown. No one under 18
admitted.
Hope Historical Societys
Wine & Cheese Party:
October 6th, 7pm. Rt. 519,
Hope. FMI, call 908-4594377.
Tricky Tray: October 9th,
6:30pm. Knowlton Elementary School. Benefits Knowlton Elementary PTO &
Knowlton Twp. Fire &
Rescue. FMI, call Kathy
Garriques at 908-475-2498 or
visit TrickyTray.com.
Car Show: October 11th,
9am-1pm. Harmony Twp.
Recreation Fields, 3003
Belvidere Rd., Phillipsburg.
Advanced registration recommended. FMI, email h.monti
lone0307@gmail.com.
3rd Annual Swayze Mill
Park Car Show: October
18th,
11am-3pm.
100
Swayze Mill Rd., Hope.
11th Hour Rescue Fest:
October 18th, 4pm-9:30pm.
45 Main St., Stanhope. FMI,
call
973-347-7777.
To
purchase tickets now, visit:
https://goo.gl/b3duhn.

By Jennifer Lively

Did you know that 25

percent of our nations
youth are at risk for
substance abuse, teen pregnancy,
delinquency,
violence, dropping out of
school and teen suicide?
Putting your head in the
sand and denying that these
things exist will not make

them go away.
School
systems need to address and
apply educational, psychological and counseling interventions for both the
prevention and treatment of
at-risk behaviors.
Waiting or ignoring these
issues only makes matters
worse. The earlier anyone
begins substance abuse the

more likely it will be a lifelong issue. Contact your

school and make sure they
are pro-active in addressing
these issues. Don't let them
wait until there is a suicide
or death by overdose before
they take action.
As parents you can act in
your child's best interest and
be advocates for change.

For more information, stop

into A Clean Slate, located
at 100 S. Main Street in
Bangor, PA or call 610452-9348.

Ciao Amici,
This is part two of The
Express article from 1980,
written by Lauri di Felice.
Mary and her late husband
Bert [Marys real name is
Mary Cannavo; Mary
Bert is her nickname], held
dances in the back room of
the luncheonette years ago.

Mary unlocked and opened

the back door and cold air
rushed out. Old album
covers spot the walls and
dusty records circle ceiling
lights where huge Chinese
lanterns once hung.
We used to pack 300 kids
in here every Friday, Mary
boasts. They would come
from all overBangor,
Easton-even from Allentown.
Everybody
had
boyfriends then, you know?
Theyd go out front, slug the
box and then come back and
dance. Yeah, a lot of people
had a lot of good times
here.
But Mary says all those
kids grew up, and these
days, kids go to the Dixie
Cup or Tastee-Freeze.
Neighborhood kids still stop
between school breaks and
after school, though. And
kids that grew up come back

with their own kids to visit

Mary. Then she makes them
steaks and hamburgers with
her own spaghetti sauce in a
black
frying
pan.
Customers-friendssometimes walk behind the
counter into the kitchen with
Mary. Mary gives advice,
tells stories and listens.
Good-naturedly she swears a
lot, too. Pictures of her
kids are everywhereon
the walls, on the counters, on
the cash register. And souvenirs theyve given to Maryfrom vacations and Rosetos
annual festivalsadd to the
memories.
But
Marys
favorite collage in her eatery
is a group of Frank Sinatra
photos. Mary stares and
smiles, Oh Madonna,
Mary says, Thats my
boyfriend, Frank Sinatra. He
is so nice, isnt he?
If some time went by and

you didnt stop in Mary

Berts shed holler, Where
have you been? I thought
you were dead!
We miss you Mary!
Con cordiali saluti,
Joe
Growing up in the Butcher
Shop, is available at the
shop or on our web page. To
receive menu specials and
our newsletter, join our mailing
list
at
JDeFrancoAndDaughters.co
m, click on mailing list and
enter your email. Send your
Roseto stories, recipes and
comments to portipasto
@epix. net or call 610-5886991.
J. DeFranco and Daughters
is located at 2173 W. Bangor
Rd. in Bangor, PA. Store
hours are 7am to 7pm, seven
days a week, with catering
available anytime or by
appointment.

On September 17th, 1787,

delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for
the final time in Philadelphia
to sign the document they
had written, giving birth to
the United States government that we know today.
The Warren County Board of
Chosen Freeholders marked
the 228th anniversary of this
document by proclaiming
September 17th through

September 23rd, as Constitution Week.

It is probably one of the
most perfect governmental
documents ever written,
Freeholder Director Edward
J. Smith said, after he and
fellow Freeholders Jason J.
Sarnoski and Richard D.
Gardner
unanimously
approved the Constitution
Week proclamation and
presented a copy to Sue

Beall, Regent of the Gen.

William Maxwell Chapter of
the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Constitution Day is marked
nationwide on September
17th each year, to commemorate the formation and sign-

ing of the U.S. Constitution

by the 39 delegates, and the
proclamation states, It is
fitting and proper to
officially recognize this
magnificent document and
the anniversary of its
creation.
The freeholder boards
proclamation further noted
that the President of the
United States each year
proclaims
Constitution
Week.
This is a document on
which we base all our laws.
Its one of the strongest
documents in the world for
the establishment of a country, Sarnoski said, adding,
I know my fellow freeholders are strong proponents of
the Constitution.
Many people think the
Declaration of Independence
is the most important document in our country, Gardner
noted, and while it important, the Constitution is more
important because it represents the rule of law.
Thats the only way our
free democracy will last, if
we protect the Constitution,
Gardner remarked.
Beall thanked the freeholders for their support of the
Constitution
and
their
annual recognition of the
document and the D.A.R.
chapter.

Need a babysitter? Would

you like to be able to leave
your younger children with
their older siblings without
worrying? Well sign them up
for the Super Sitters class at
the Pocono Family YMCA.
Boys and girls 11 years old
and up can become a great
baby sitter by attending the
Super Sitters class.
Students will learn how to
be a responsible and fun

babysitter.
This
course
covers pediatric CPR, first
aid, fire safety, liability
issues, games, songs and
age-appropriate
behavior
expected from children;
infants through five-yearolds. This is a four-week
course and will cover a great
deal of information.
The next Super Sitters class
will be heldThursday, October 8th through October

29th, from 6:30pm to

8:30pm. The charge for this
class is $52 for YMCA members, and $72 for nonmembers. A minimum of
four students is required to
run this class.
Please register by October
3rd. For more information,
contact Deborah Lang at
570-421-2525, ext. 139, or
email
dlang@pocono
ymca.org.

(NewsUSA) - Congratulations to all you soon-to-be

grooms. Now that your wedding is only months away,
your jewelry collection -just a watch, huh? -- is about
to increase by as much as 50
percent.
Meaning, it's time to start
thinking about what kind of
wedding band you want for
yourself.
Wedding
bands
have
become the norm for men in
recent years--97 percent of
grooms in The Knot Market
Intelligence's "2011 Engagement & Jewelry Study"
opted for one -- so even if
you have any doubts, your
bride will probably set you
straight. That means your
only real decision is what
kind of band best suits you.
To hear CNNMoney.com
tell it, there are basically two
camps: those who "don't
want to compromise" when
it comes to quality (platinum
bands), and those who feel
they cannot afford the best
and therefore need to settle
(bands made from alternative metals). But, as jewelry
expert Michael O'Connor
points out, that doesn't really
give the whole picture.
"It's true that platinum is so
rare -- 30 times more so than
gold -- that if all the world's
supply were melted and
poured into an Olympic-size
pool, it would barely reach

your ankles," O'Connor says.

"But men's platinum bands
start at $500."
That turns out to be pretty
comparable to the cost of the
two most popular alternative
metals: titanium and tungsten carbide. Both are
perhaps best known for
being used to make fighter
jets. Cool, right? Well, yes,
but that also means they're
intrinsically lightweight and
lack the heft of platinum.
"Most men prefer something that feels masculine on
their finger," says O'Connor.
There are other facts to
consider, too. Tungsten and
titanium jewelry will need
special reconditioning if
scratched, and cannot be
resized. Even the more
popular white gold will
require rhodium replating to

restore its white color due to

wear over time. And while
platinum -- as all precious
metals -- can scratch, the
metal is simply displaced on
the surface of the ring,
meaning very little metal is
lost in wear. That makes it
the most durable family
heirloom that will last
generations.
Still confused? Then ask
yourself this question: How
committed are you to your
future wife?
If the answer's what we
think, then know that platinum has traditionally symbolized a relationship that
will endure since it doesn't
fade or change color. "That's
the kicker for a lot of
couples," says O'Connor.
For more information, visit
preciousplatinum.com.

(NewsUSA) - With everything that goes into your

wedding day, those once-ina-lifetime moments will go
by in a blur, which is why
hiring a professional wedding photographer is a must.
After all, the last thing you
should be worrying about is
whether your photographer
will be able to capture your
big day.
The key? Prepare yourself
so that you can accurately
evaluate the "right" photographer for you.
"The best photographer will
take the time to build a
rapport with you and use his
or her experience and
creativity to capture the
mood, personality, ambiance
and even the geography of
your wedding," says PPA
(Professional Photographers
of America) photographer
Berit Bizjak. "The finest
wedding photography is
more than a series of still
pictures. It's physical poetry
-- it tells the story of the day
and portrays the essence of
both people and place."
To this end, PPA, the largest
international nonprofit association created by professional photographers, has
taken the guesswork out of

(NewsUSA) - The answer

is: Yes, it's expected.
But it's also a chance for all
you brides out there to truly
show you know that not
everything is about you on
your wedding day. That
there really is another
person involved (that would
be the groom) who deserves
a bit of recognition, too.
We're talking wedding
presents -- specifically,
yours to your husband-tobe.
Tradition does, indeed,
hold that both you and he
exchange gifts. And while
it's true that some guys are
initially shocked to learn
your
engagement
ring
doesn't also count as a "present," that's no excuse for you
to waver.
Giving him something
that's just for him will make
him feel really special,
advises BrideBox.com.
Here's what you need to
know now that it's prime
time for weddings:
*
When to exchange
them. Etiquette dictates that
the hand-off occurs at one of
three times: the night before
the wedding, the morning of
the ceremony, or right
before leaving on your
honeymoon. Think it's bad

the process by offering six

tips to help you plan your
wedding photos like a pro:
1. Book far in advance. The
best
photographers
get
booked quickly -- sometimes
as much as a year in advance
-- so don't wait until the last
minute to book your photographer.
2. Show them the money.
Now is not the time to skimp
on your photo budget. Call
around and get a price range
for services, and remember:
after the cake is long gone,
and the dress is stored away,
your wedding photos will be
the only things left to share
and enjoy for years to come,
so don't cut too many
corners on your photography

luck to see the groom before

the nuptials? Many couples
choose to courier gifts via
bridesmaids or groomsmen
just before the ceremony,
says Brides.com.
* There's a thin line
between romantic and
mushy. Some of you may
be tempted to compile a
love notes journal of every
bit of correspondence you've
ever sent your groom. Even
assuming he's the type who
wouldn't consider that a bit
over the top, there's
always the chance he might
be left wondering, Okay,
where's my real present?-especially if his gift to you is
a serious piece of jewelry.
* The consensus choice.
There's a reason a watch

invariably makes everyone's

short list: It's the perfect
statement of who he is or
aspires to be. (It's also a lot
more impressive than a
flask, which for some reason
also gets a few votes).
No less a taste arbiter than
MarthaStewartWeddings.co
m favors Baume & Mercier's
Clifton line -- as elegant as
the original 1950s model
that inspired it -- for the way
it easily transitions from
big day to every day. Like
the Swiss watchmaker's
timelessly charming (and
affordably luxurious) Classima line, it comes with a
choice of straps, dial faces
and a variety of what's
known as small complications that go way beyong
just telling the hour. You can
shop them at the Baume &
Mercier e-boutique or by
calling 1-800-MERCIER,
where free engraving and
wrapping are available.
* Fun fact. One writer at
AskMen.com says he's
heard of women giving
their husbands watches in
the ceremony instead of a
wedding ring. If so, the
answer is: No, just like your
engagement
ring,
that
wouldn't also qualify as a
wedding present.

budget -- you'll end up

regretting it.
3. Make sure your photographer is a real pro. Only
hire someone who has liability insurance, experience
taking the style of photos
you want, backup equipment
and a plan for when things
go south. Ideally, he or she is
a PPA photographer. PPA
photographers do more than
just snap pictures. They have
the technical expertise and
artistry to make you look
your best and bring your
vision to life. They also
abide by a strict code of
ethics that makes a real
difference.
Watch
this
(video) to see real married
couples share their stories.

4. Request to see a full

gallery of real weddings.
Look at full wedding coverage (not just a small selection of each wedding's best
moments)
to
see
a
photographer's true style and
get a sense of how he or she
might tell your "story." Do
you prefer more artistic or
traditional poses? Would you
rather have a photojournalist
approach or a mix of all
styles?
5.Work with your photographer to create a detailed shot
list. PPA wedding photographers can also help you
create that shot list, as they
know what key moments tell
a wedding story and can
prepare for those. But talk
about your must-haves, and
walk through the entire
program with your photographer ahead of time. Share
your expectations ahead of
time to ensure that he or she
captures the key shots, while
remaining attentive and
available to catch the best
candid moments.
6. Plan your post-wedding
photo strategy ahead of
time! Almost as soon as the
festivities are over, you'll be
eager to look at the photos so
you can relive your big day
over and over again. Ask
your
photographer
for
teasers or a "sneak peek" and
a timeline for when the rest
of the pictures will be available. Will they give you an
online gallery for family and
friends to choose the images
they want? Again, knowing
these things ahead of time
will make things easy on the
back end, sparing you any
heartache.
Get more tips like these,
and prepare for the best wedding photos.

Tradition used to dictate

guests send gifts to the
brides home before the
wedding. Today, that is no
longer the case as many
guests choose to give gifts
before, during and after the
big day. Guests, in fact,
have up to one year after a
wedding to send a gift. With
so many gifts coming their
way, the bride and groom
may be at a loss as to the
proper time to open them.
Here are some tips.
Gifts Sent Before The Big
Day:
Some guests may send
gifts before the wedding.
These should be opened
immediately. That way, the
bride and groom can send
out thank-you cards right
away. Some guests may
choose to wait until the
bridal shower to bring gifts.
These should also be opened
right away, either at the
shower or at home so the
bride and groom can get
thank-you cards out right
away. Should the gifts be
opened at the shower, the
bride and groom should take
care with their reaction.
They should be receptive
and gracious whatever the
gift.
Gifts Brought To The
Reception:
Some guests will bring
gifts to the wedding reception simply out of convenience. A table should be set
up at the reception for the
drop-off of gifts, but they
need not be opened at the
reception. Guests will not

By Tresa Erickson

You arrive home from work,

check the mailbox and what
do you see? A wedding
invitation. Its been a while
since you attended a
wedding, and this is one
event you do not want to
miss. You know the couple
well, and you cant wait to
see them exchange vows.
Youll need a gift, of course.
Good thing they are registered. Youll also need
something to wear. Here are
some tips to ensure you
dress appropriately for the
occasion.
Review the invitation and
dress accordingly. If there is
a dress code, make sure you
follow it. Wear a hat or
gloves if asked. If there is no
dress code, study the invitation for clues. Formal invitations call for formalwear,
whereas informal invitations
may call for more casual
wear. Whatever the tone of
event, make sure you select
nice, modest attire. You do
not want to wear anything
that will embarrass the bride
and groom or take away
from the joy of their day.
Follow all wishes and traditions. If you know the bride
would prefer to be the only
one wearing white, then
select a color other than
white. If you know for
certain that guests will be
wearing hats, then wear a
hat. Choose formal hats for
formal weddings and informal hats or hairpieces for
informal weddings, such as

expect the bride and groom

to open the gifts, and some
may not even bring gifts,
another good reason not to
open any gifts at the reception. The bride and groom
should open the gifts after
their honeymoon if they are
leaving for it from the
reception or sometime the
next day, perhaps at the
post-wedding
brunch.
Friends and family can
assist in the opening of the
gifts, whether taking down
names, discarding wrapping
paper or packing items into
the car. Thank-you cards
should not be sent out until
after the couple returns from
their honeymoon.
Gifts Sent After The Big
Day:
Some guests will not send
gifts until after the wedding
is over. These should be
opened right away and
thank-you cards sent out the
next day. Should someone
hand-deliver a gift, the bride

fascinators,
headbands,
hairclips, flowers and the
like. Brush up on your hat
etiquette. Generally, men
should remove their hats
upon entering the church,
while
women
should
remove their hats when the
mother of the bride removes
hers or when sitting down to
eat at the reception. Women
may wear hairpieces all
day.
Whether you select attire
from your closet or a store
rack, try on every piece and
make sure it fits and works
with the ensemble. This
applies to overcoats as well.
You do not want to arrive to
the wedding in a suit and a
ski coat, nor do you want to
have to scramble for a new
outfit on the day of the wedding. This is especially
important with destination
weddings. You dont want to
be forced to purchase all new
attire because you cant wear
what you brought with you.
Not only will you have to
spend a lot, but you could
miss part of the wedding
shopping for new attire.
Be a good guest. Dress for
the occasion and the bride
and grooms tastes. If the
invitation requests guests
wear a hat, then by all means
do. If it requests guests dress
for the beach, then do. Just
make sure you wear something appropriate that will not
detract from or offend the
stars of the show: the bride

and the groom. It is their

big day after all.

and groom should look to

the person for clues as to
whether to open the gift
right then or later. Again,
graciousness is required.
Monetary Gifts:
Monetary gifts, either in
the form of cash, a check or
gift card, are very common
these days. These are best
opened in private as
amounts may vary. If the
gifts must be opened in front
of others, the bride and
groom should be gracious
but discreet. They should
open the gift, smile in
acknowledgement and say
thank you. They should not
announce the amount of the
gift, no matter how small or
large it may be.
Wedding gifts can be a
sensitive matter. The bride
and groom should never
lose sight of this fact and
open gifts in private whenever possible. Unfortunately, not every guest will
follow gift-giving etiquette.
Some may demand a bride
open a gift at the shower or
shove a wad of cash toward
the groom at the reception.
The bride and groom should
always be accommodating
and gracious. Every gift
should be appreciated whatever it may be!

(NewsUSA) - An engagement ring symbolizes your

promise to love and cherish
your partner forever, and
shows the world your commitment to your fiance.
Many women dream about
their engagement ring their
entire lives, so choosing the
right style is of utmost
importance.
Here are some tips to ease
the pressure of finding the
ring and proposing:
It's Not Only About the
Diamond
A ring's setting is as important as its diamond because
the setting is what displays
and secures the stone. Platinum provides an ideal
setting as it is stronger than
other precious metals, which
means that you don't have to
worry about losing the center
stone with everyday wear.
Also, platinum is a naturally
white metal, allowing the
diamond to sparkle even
brighter.
Did you know that a platinum engagement ring will
last forever? Since platinum
is so durable and loses little
metal over time, the ring will
undoubtedly
become
a
family heirloom that can be
passed down for generations
to follow. And platinum
engagement
rings
are
surprisingly
affordable.
Contrary to popular belief,
they are available in a wide
range of price points, starting
at
around
$1,000
at
BlueNile.com.
Know Her Style
Before you go to the
jewelry store, know your
future
fiance's
style,
personality and lifestyle

since there is a ring to suit

her perfectly. For example, a
woman with a hands-on job,
like nursing, might prefer a
simple band with a secure
setting, while a woman who
has a less active job might
want
something
more
intricate. A woman with
classic style will want a
different band design than a
trend-setting fashionista.
"A classic polished platinum band from Michael
Barin will suit a girl with
more traditional tastes, while
a birth stone of colored
diamonds on an embellished
band like one from Suna
Bros. will look bold and
unique," says jewelry and
style
expert
Michael
O'Connor. "To figure out her
ring size, press one of your

girlfriend's rings in a bar of

soap until it leaves a mark.
You can also put one of her
rings on your own hand,
mark where it falls on your
finger and have the jeweler
measure that area," suggests
O'Connor.
How to Propose
Some women want a public
proposal in front of friends
and family, while others
want something private and
special. In either case, your
fiance will remember the
day for the rest of her life.
Think about what your
fiance likes, and where and
how you met. For more tips
on pr oposing marriage or
choosing an engagement
ring,
visit
engagement
guide.com
or
precious
platinum.com.

(NAPSI)Living
landscapes do more environmental good than many people
realize.
Go Green To Be GreenHere are just some of the
benefits of protecting green
spaces, starting in your own
backyard:
Carbon dioxide. Carbon
dioxide is the single greatest
cause of climate change.
Fortunately, scientists say,
grass is the greatest carbon
sink in the country, removing
about six tons of carbon
dioxide per acre, per year
from the atmosphere.
Storm water runoff. Rain
water sheets off hard
surfaces, such as parking
lots, driveways and roads,
picking up pollutants as the
runoff makes its way to
streams, rivers and lakes.
Grassy areas, however,
mitigate storm water runoff,
slowing down and absorbing

the water while cleansing it

of dust and other impurities.
Soil erosion. Grass
controls erosion, not only by
slowing down water runoff
but by holding soil in place
with its natural, dense and
fibrous root system.
Heat island effects.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), on a hot, sunny day,
roof and pavement surface
temperatures can be 50 to
90 hotter than the air.
Synthetic turf, made from
petroleum, can be even
worse. A Brigham Young
University study found
synthetic turfs temperatures
were 37 higher than asphalt
and 86 hotter than natural
turf. Planting vegetation and
grass and installing green
roofs are among the strategies the EPA recommends to
mitigate the heat island
effect.

Oxygen. Lawns are

incredible oxygen-making
machines. In fact, a 25square-foot area of grass will
supply enough oxygen to
support one person for a
whole day.
Air quality. Research has
shown that grasses remove
pollutants such as carbon
dioxide and ozone from the
air. Grass plays a vital role in
capturing dust, smoke and
other harmful pollutants.
Play space. Outdoor areas
provide a safe place for
children and pets to play and
for families to enjoy. Numerous studies have demonstrated the health benefits of
spending time outdoors,
including improved mood
and decreased anger, fatigue
and depression.
Biodiversity. Unlike artificial grass made of petroleum,
real grass provides a habitat
for birds and animals.
What To Do About
Drought?
The good news is, you dont
have to lose all those benefits
to
drought
conditions.
During a drought, its fine to
let your lawn go brown. In
fact, it is part of the natural
plant cycle. It will turn green
again when the rains return,
and even a dormant lawn
provides
environmental
benefits, while giving kids
and pets a place to play.
Whats more, buffalo and
Bermuda grass and other
types require very little
water, making them a smart
choice for drought conditions, explains Kris Kiser,
president and CEO of the
Outdoor Power Equipment

Institute (OPEI), the international trade association

representing
the
small
engine, utility vehicle and
outdoor power equipment
manufacturing industry. The
right thing to do is to find the
right plants for the right
place, urges Kiser. Rocks,
mulch, hardscapes, pavers
and cactus simply dont cut
it.
If you xeriscape and put in
rock gardens and mulch and
cactus, it may not provide an
adequate place for pets and
kids to play, adds Kiser.
Green Facts For Family
Fun:
To help families understand
their options when it comes
to their yards, the OPEI
Education and Research
Foundation came up with a
kid-friendly character named
TurfMutt and his sidekicks
called the Outdoor Powers.
Created in partnership with
Scholastic, Inc., the global
childrens publishing, education and media company,
TurfMutt is a national educational program for grades K
through 5. The program
offers fun activities and on
online digital storybook for
children. Its featured on the
websites of the EPA, U.S.
Department of Education,
U.S. Department of Energy,
U.S.
Green
Building
Councils Center for Green
Schools, and U.S. Forest
Services Climate Change
Live.
For more information, go to
www.opei.org/stewardship.
To see fun ways kids can go
green,
visit
www.Turf
Mutt.com.

Hello, fellow readers!

Last week we spoke about
how fall is a great time for
planting most trees and
shrubs. What about perennials
asked Dorothy of Bangor, PA?
By and large I prefer spring
for planting most new perennials. But if you cant resist a
bargain, fall can work just
fine. In fact, like spring, the
cooler weather is less stressful
on plants and in the fall theres
less competition from weeds.
It goes without saying buy
healthy plants. While plants
are hard-wired to focus on
their roots in the fall rather
than foliage, I often cut back
the top growth on new plants
to further encourage root
growth. Don't fertilize either
as it will inspire top growth
taking energy away from the
roots.
David of Morris Plains asked
if fall is a good time to transplant or divide overgrown
perennials. The rule of thumb
is late summer and fall bloomers are best divided and trans-

planted in the spring. Spring

and early summer flowering
perennials in the fall. Unlike
plants you pay for though, Ill
push the envelope on the rule
of thumb for free divided ones.
When growth is primarily on
the outer edges of a plant or it
doesnt bloom as well as it used
to, the roots are overcrowded
and its time to divide. Before
dividing or transplanting,
thoroughly water a day or two
before. Dig around the entire
clump at the drip line and lift
the plant, soil and all, from the
hole. If you are dividing, gently
remove as much of the soil as
you can. Separate the crowns
by cutting them with a sharp
knife or shovel blade into
pieces that are at most 20 to 25
percent of the original clump.
Smaller sections grow more
vigorously and tend to produce
stronger,
longer-lasting
blooms. Plus perennials multiply very quickly - one stem can
quadruple itself each year! So
the more divisions the less
often youll have to divide.
Prepare the new planting spot
prior to dividing or revive the
old one by turning the soil at
least eight inches deep adding
compost and aged manure.
Whether transplanting or
dividing, you should allow
about six weeks before the first
hard freeze and keep the soil
consistently moist so plants can
settle in. And stay clear of
dividing or planting late
bloomers such as asters,
black-eyed Susan, ornamental
grasses and mums. Thats right
- Hardy Mums are hardly
hardy if planted this late in the
season.
Garden Dilemmas?
askmarystone.com

Its happened many times

before, but when we experienced a serious downward
move in stocks in late
August, it caught many
investors off guard since we
hadnt been through such a
shift for quite some time.
Beginning on August 18th
and ending on August 25th,
the Dow Jones Industrial
Average lost nearly 1,900
points or more than 10
percent of its value a
significant drop in a
condensed period of time. At
the close on August 25, 2015
the Dow Jones Index
actually fell more than 14
percent from the year-to-date
high it reached in mid-May.
More surprising than the
drop itself may be that it had
been roughly three years
since the U.S. stock market
experienced a correction of
at least 10 percent.2 Historically, such corrections tend
to happen more frequently
on average once every
two years since 1932.2
Markets move in unexpected ways:
Stock markets are notoriously unpredictable in the
short term. The events of
August 2015 are a reminder
that the markets can move
quickly with little or no
warning. Nobody can say
with certainty what will
happen to stocks over the
next week, month or even
over the next year. For

example, by early March of

2009, U.S. stock markets had
lost more than 50 percent of
their value over an 18-month
period. The Dow Jones
Industrial Average bottomed
at 6,547 and fears were
running high. At that point,
many investors likely didnt
think theyd see the Dow
Index around the 18,000
level that it reached this year
in May of 2015.
Its not about the markets
its about you:
It is important to look
beyond the headlines and
instead keep the focus on
what you are trying to
accomplish with your investments over time. Short-term
market fluctuations are a fact
of life, but they should not
drive investment strategy. It
is important to assess your
willingness to accept investment risk in conjunction with
the goals you are trying to
achieve. A market correction
may be a good time to step
back and re-assess what you
are trying to accomplish with
your portfolio.
Here are some things to
consider:
If you have years to let your
money grow. If you are still
several years from retirement, there may be less
reason to be concerned with
short-term market swings.
Make sure your portfolio is
positioned in the most effective way to achieve your
long-term goals consistent
with the amount of fluctuation you are willing to accept
over shorter periods. If you
dont feel your portfolio is
aligned with your goals
given the recent bout of volatility, it may be time to work
with a financial professional
to reposition it.
If you are investing regularly in the market (such as
contributions to your workplace retirement plan or an
IRA), the volatility could
work in your favor through
dollar-cost averaging. This is
a method of investing that
helps reduce the risks of

market timing by investing a

fixed amount at regular intervals. When prices are low,
your investment purchases
more shares. When prices
rise, you purchase fewer
shares. Over time, the average cost of your shares will
usually be lower than the
average price of those shares.
It does not assure a profit or
protect against losses in a
declining market. However,
over longer periods of time it
can be an effective means of
accumulating shares. Investors should always consider
their ability to continue
investing through periods of
low market prices.
If retirement is drawing
near:
Those who are within a few
years of retirement tend to be
more sensitive to short-term
market moves and may want
consider
making
some
adjustments to their portfolios. This could include
keeping more of your assets
in less volatile investments
that can help diversify stock
market risk. Yet its still
important to balance the
need for growth opportunity
as well as less volatile assets
with the likelihood that your
retirement could last for
two-to-three decades or
longer. Your next move
really depends on what stage
of life you are in and how
close you are to retirement.
Now would be a good time to
talk with financial professional about your portfolio.
The outlook? More unpredictability: If there is one
thing we can count on in the
days ahead, it is more speculation about where the stock
market may be headed.
Various experts will voice
different opinions about
whether a further correction
is in the cards or a major
rally is on the horizon. Dont
be overly concerned with
what you may read about in
the papers or hear from TV
pundits. Your own financial
goals and the time you have
to invest should guide your

investment decisions.
James
Fahey,
AAMS,
LUTCF, CLTC is a
Financial Advisor and Vice
President with Ameriprise
Financial Services, Inc. in
Bedminster,NJ. He specializes in fee-based financial
planning and asset management strategies and has been
in practice for 26 years. To
contact him, please visit
ameripriseadvisors.com/jame
s.fahey.This information is
being provided only as a
general source of information
and is not intended to be the
primary basis for investment
decisions. It should not be
construed as advice designed
to meet the particular needs of
an individual investor. Please
seek the advice of a financial
advisor
regarding
your
particular financial concerns.

The Dow Jones Industrial

Average (DJIA) is an index
containing stocks of 30
large-cap corporations in the
United States. The index is
owned and maintained by
Dow Jones & Company.2
Ameriprise
Investment

Research Group Morning

Research Notes, August 25,
2015 Ameriprise Financial
Services,
Inc.
Member
FINRA and SIPC. 2015
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All
rights
reserved.
File
#1284644

By Mike Baird

So how does one achieve

the perfect weld? I am asked
this question often and it
requires many follow up
questions in return rather
than an immediate answer.
What are you welding? What
process? What electrode?
For what purpose is the item?
Lets focus on the main four
processes used in todays
markets, SMAW or Stick,
MIG vs. TIG and Flux core.
Lets also have realistic

expectations of the equipment being used. We need to

know what the material is
that we are welding. If someone is fabricating smething
out of three quarter mild steel
with a buzzbox in the
garage, I would ask is it AC
or DC or both? You can get a
lot done on AC with a 1/8
6011 on 90 amps and if you
whip it correctly it will look
pretty nice, but were 7018
125 amps on DC would be
my choice if available.

If the same item ere being

fabricated in my shop where
I have three phase power, I
would use Fluxcored E71T1
with Ag75, Co2 25. I would
start with 26.5 volts and 400
IPM. When you get gas
shielded flux cored set up
correctly, it should lay down
like glass and 10 times faster
than stick.
Aluminium is its own
animal altogether. Lets say
you are repairing a broken
transmission housing. Someone may have a 110 volt
MIG set up with a spoolgun.
I would suggest using 4043
wire, .035 thick with 100
percent argon. Get the material as clean as you can with

an SS wire brush and solvent.

Voltage depends on thickness
of material.
My weapon of choice
would be my Dynasty 350
TIG machine with lanthinated Tungsten and 5056
wire. I would preheat to 150
to 200 degrees to take the
chill out of the material. Of
course I would clean the
material, but I could adjust
the positive and negative
amplitude valves and AC
balance to further clean the
material. This is the beauty
of a modern inverter power
source.
There are many factors to
figure out to make the perfect
weld. After time it becomes
instinct and skill. Finally, a
steady hand and a keen eye
are your best tool.