Bangor Memorial Park Ice Skating is back!

The Bangor Borough Parks and Recreation Board will be holding Winterfest on Sunday, February 17th from 1pm to 5pm. The back basketball court will be turned into an ice rink. There will be FREE snow related games for kids of all ages and a hockey puck shooting contest at 3pm. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

This festival is weather dependent-If there is a huge snowstorm or if there is warm weather, then the event will be cancelled. Please watch the Message Board on Market Street in front of Bangor Memorial Park for a cancellation. For more information about Winterfest or to volunteer for this event, call Sherry at 610-5886894 or email Debbie at bangorparkboard@gma il.com.

Join Northampton/Monroe Farm Bureau For Annual Adventures in Agriculture

Join Northampton and Monroe County branches of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau for the 2013 Adventures in Agriculture. From February 8th through 10th at Palmer Park Mall in Easton, learn about soil, seeds, farm animals and more. Exhibits and displays will be available for viewing, including project displays, tractors, water model displays and more. The Northampton/ Monroe Farm Bureau has an on-going project to collect tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. A container will be available for you to deposit your tabs at our display. Remember, tabs can be found on dog and cat food cans, soda cans, soup cans and many more. Exhibitors Include: Blue Mountain Antique Gas and Steam Engine Association; Bushkill Steam Conservancy; Forks of the Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited; Keepers of History; Northampton County Conservation District; Northampton Farm Bureau, Tatamy; Northampton/ Monroe County Farm Bureau; Penn State Master Gardeners; Plainfield Farmers Fair; 4-H of Northampton County; and more. For more information about Adventures in Agriculture, contact Duane Stevenson, Jr., at 610-746-2966, or Susan Hahn at 610-863-6816.

Hawk Named Bangor Football Head Coach

Donnie Hawk was approved at Monday evenings Bangor Area School Districts Board of Education meeting as the new head football coach at Bangor Area High School. Donnie is a 1996 graduate of Bangor Area High School where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. Since 2000, he has been an assistant football coach at Pen Argyl Area High School most recently serving as the offensive coordinator. Three candidates were interviewed for the position and Donnie impressed the interview committee with his knowledge of the game, and his passion to return to his alma mater to lead the Slater football program. There will be a press conference introducing Coach Hawk as the new head football coach on Wednesday January 30th, at 3:15pm, in the Bangor Administration Office Slater Conference room. The address is 123 Five Points Richmond Road, Bangor. The media, parents and Slater Football fans are all invited to attend.

Send your pet photos to The PRESS for our Annual Pet Photo Contest! Photos will be printed weekly. Check out the front page for all the details! We would like to wish Nelson Albert a very Happy Birthday! Nelson will be celebrating on January 31st. Have a fantastic day, Nelson! Happy Birthday wishes are sent to Jeremy Miller, who will be celebrating on January 31st. Have a wonderful day, Jeremy! We would like to wish

RoseElaine Castano a very Happy Birthday on February 2nd. Josh Giaquinto will be celebrating his 8th birthday on February 3rd. Have a great birthday, Josh! Micah Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from East Stroudsburg University on December 15th, 2012. Micah received an Associates degree in Criminal Justice from Northampton Community College on January 10th, 2010. He is a 2007

graduate of Bangor Area High School. Micah is the son of Larry and Saundra Smith of Mt. Bethel, and the grandson of Eleanor Bush of Bangor. Congratulations, Micah! The East Bangor United Methodist Community Church welcomes you to a FREE "Souper Bowl" Soup/Sandwich Supper with dessert on Sunday, February 3rd, from 4pm to 6pm. Free baked goods are also available. The Manna Ministry distributes free baked goods and health and beauty items every Sunday from 11am to 1pm. The church is located at 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512), East Bangor. For more

information, call 610-588-4453 or visit www.ebumc.org. The Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, February 7th, 7:30p.m. in the Bethlehem Township Community Center, 2900 Farmersville Road, Bethlehem. NASA Astronaut, Terry Hart, will be in attendance. Members and interested general public are welcome. For more information, please call 610-432-8286. We love hearing from you! Send your birthdays, anniversaries, and other tidbits of information to us at: The PRESS 1 Broadway, Bangor, PA 18013
thepressnews@enter.net

Here is a list of the new items added to the collection of the Bangor Public Library during the week January 17 through 23, 2013. Adult fiction: Crais, Robert, Suspect; Greenwood, Kerry, Unnatural habits; Hall, Parnell, Arsenic and old puzzles; Hunter, Stephen, The third bullet; Margolin, Phillip, Capitol murder; Meltzer, Brad, The fifth assassin; Neuhaus, Nele, Snow White must die; Patterson, James, Private Berlin; Rankin, Ian, Standing in another mans grave; and Wiseman, Beth, Plain pursuit. Adult non-fiction: Ball, Edward, The inventor and the tycoon; Daschle, Tom, The U.S. Senate; Fuhrman, Joel, Eat to live; Lawson, Jenny, Lets pretend this never happened; Levitin, Daniel, This is your brain on music; Monahan, Evelyn, And if I perish; Sacks, Oliver, Musicophilia;

Sonnenberg, Susanna, She matters; Steinbaum, Suzanne, Dr. Suzanne Steinbaums heart book; Steinman, Ron, The soldiers story; and Wolfelt, Alan, Understanding your grief. Young Adult fiction: Garcia, Kami, Beautiful chaos; Garcia, Kami, Beautiful creatures; Garcia, Kami, Beautiful darkness; Garcia, Kami, Beautiful redemption; Gould, Steven, Impulse. DVDs: Americas book of secrets: the monuments, Avas magical adventure, Best of ancient aliens, Bring it on, Call the midwife season one, Edgar & Ellen: trick or twine, The essential Bugs Bunny, Glee: dont stop believing, The godfather legacy, Mesrine: public enemy #1, Gullivers travels/Hercules, OSS 117: Cairo, Pawn stars: volume 5, Pitch perfect, Under 21 and filthy rich, Dr. Joel Fuhrmans Secrets to healthy cooking, Star trek.

Northampton Community College Deans List

The following students have been named to the Deans List for the fall semester at Northampton Community College. The honor is reserved for students who have completed a minimum of 6 credits and achieved at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. The list includes:
Bangor: Meagan Ackerman, John Ahart, Michael Altorfer, Audrey Anglemeyer, Megan Antonioli, Caitlin Baunach, Claire Boucher, Clifford Bressette, Julie Burd, Jenny Buskirk, Chelsea Carver, Ezekiel Cinelli, Diana Coleman, Chelsea Crisafi, Connie Daniele, Kera Denker, Philip Duckworth, McKenna Esposito, Rae Fiore, Jessica Folk, Lauren Frey, Angela Galante, Michelle Gardner, Shannen Garner, Megan Garzillo, Danielle Geake, Lisa Hoffman, Hailley Houck, Lindsay Howell, Suzanne Jackson, Michael Jankowski, Kristen Kostakos, Cassara Labar, Deana LaTorre, Jamie Lautenbacher, Benjamin Lentine, Christopher Lindblad, Joseph Livezey, Brooke Loane, Jessica Magnuson, Amanda Maynard, Kecia McCarty, Beth Miller, Lizette Morales, Ryan Moyer, Jennifer Mullikin, Tiwana Nestor, Kelly Noble, Colin O'Leary, Yahaira Perez-Russo, Robert Purdue, Mary Ratzman, Joshua Remaley, Elizabeth Rhoads, Jay Sabatine, Steven Sanford, Jessica Schreck, Jessica Shiner, Joshua Smith, Thomas Stambaugh, Kaitlynn Stopfer, Peter Syzonenko, Anthony Thompson, Jared Tocket, Lindsay Toye, Jared Tudge, Michael Vedral. East Bangor: Travis Capalbo, Laura Chadwick, Cindy Peterson, Erika Tohlman. Martins Creek: Michelle Buscemi, Megan Hall, Daniel Koch. Mount Bethel: Lauren Bodine, Elyse Gibson, Laura Gonzales, Kimberly Hakvaag, Thomas Hardardt, Gail Laudenbach, Tracy LaurieLakhram, Richard Lawson, Jena Rinehart, Michael Schoenagel, Juli-Ann Silver, Tamara Utess, Emily Wallace. Pen Argyl: Jennifer Anderson, Amy Boekhout, Jason Branton, Luciano Burriesci, Jillian Cozzubbo, Jessica Dziura, Lorynn Foti, Arlene Fox, Amanda Frace, Kirsten Granda, Albert Gregory, Steven Gullotta, Tonya Haderthauer, Kody Hines, Lisa Hoffmann, Stormie Jones, Jenna Lancaster, Corey McDonough, Kathleen Nansteel, Brian Pfeiffer, Deborah Prutzman, Gabrielle Riker, Alexa Sabatino, Zachary Scheller, LeeAnn Shafer, Samantha Suranofsky, Mark Vargo, Jordan Weith-Glushko, Jessica Welsh, Tori Werkheiser, Jenna Woolverton, Thomas Young. Portland: Dylan Billings, Christopher Makinson. Roseto: Nedzhip Alendar, Kellsey Cooper, Craig Cozze, Joseph D'Alessio, Thomas Devine, Audrey Konecsny, Marco Marinucci, Jared McGuire, James McNair, Wensley Popke, Matthew Rasley, Shannon Schlegel, Kaylee Venezia, Marissa Ward. Wind Gap: Ashley Achenbach, Samantha Bedoya, Jarad Beers, Amanda Bennett, Rachel Brumbaugh, Joseph Capasso, Veselinka Chausheva, Chad Cornell, Pamela Cornetta, Rita Curry, Megan Featherman, Matthew Ferrari, Leann Hill, Mitchell Knapp, Lindsay Meyers, Amanda Molina, Christopher Nicolaro, Gregory Noll, Alexandra Pritchard, Jamie Staniec, Selina Turtzo, Daniel Uhler, Umer Zaimov.

Library To Host Get Writing, Get Published Program

She is a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She has completed one novel and is working on a second. She also has written short articles for family magazines. The workshop will address both fiction and non-fiction writing. Among the topics for discussion are research for content and markets, elements of storytelling, agents, and resources for writers. For more information, call Barbara Brandt at 610-588-4136.

Authors John Evans and Donna Brennan of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group will host a discussion about writing for publication at the Bangor Public Library on Wednesday, February 27th, at 6:30pm. Evans published work includes A Tom Sawyer Companion, a YA novel The Cut, as well as essays, reviews, and articles. A Dead Issue, a mystery, is scheduled for publication this year. Donna Brennan, GLVWGs 2013 Conference Co-chair, was a technical writer in the corporate world for over ten years.

On behalf of the volunteers and clients of the Portland Upper Mt. Bethel Food Pantry (P.U.M.P.), I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the community. We were able to provide 292 families with a Thanksgiving meal and 265 families with a Christmas meal. In addition, 114 children were sponsored to receive Christmas gifts. The food pantry distributes to 300 families monthly. We were only able to accomplish this due to the generosity of churches, individuals, corporations and service organizations. Without your help, none of this would be possible. Thank you, Sherma Godshalk, Executive Director, P.U.M.P.

Diana Everitt and Kenneth Santangelo of Kunkletown, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Leah Caryn Santangelo. She was born on December 7th, 2012 at Easton Hospital. Leah weighed six pounds, two ounces, and was 19.5 inches long. Leahs big brother is Connor, 14 months. Proud grandparents are Brian and Wanda Everitt of Pen Argyl, and Harry and Rheta Santangelo of Ambler, PA.

Kathryn Turnbull and Justin Champagne were united in marriage on April 14, 2012, at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Hoboken, NJ. Officiating at the ceremony was Father Meyer. Parents of the bride are William and Joan Turnbull of Flanders, NJ. Parents of the groom are Pierre and Jan Champagne of Mt. Bethel. Maids of honor were Ashley Regan and Destiny Jackson. Best man was the brother of the groom, Ryan Champagne. Bridesmaids included Caroline Durbin, Elizabeth Sandman, Nicole Amendola and Annemarie Champagne. Groomsmen were Scott Garbe, David Giglio, Brad Bodine, Stephen Nasatka and Kristian Sandman; cousin of the bride. Flower girl was Gianna Amendola and the ring bearer was Colin Sandman; cousin of the bride. The bride is a graduate of Hickory High School in Chesapeake, VA. and the University of Scranton. She is employed by AXA Financial in Secaucus, NJ. The groom is a graduate of the Bangor Area School District and the University of Scranton. He is employed by SumRidge Partners, LLC, in Jersey City, NJ. The reception was held at the Waterside Restaurant in North Bergen, NJ. The couple honeymooned in

A Lenten Bible Study will be held Mondays at the East Bangor United Methodist Community Church, starting February 18th. The topic will be: "Why: The Influences that Shape Our Religious Thinking." This 5-week study will look at ways life influences how to interpret the scriptures and their applications. The Church will hold it's monthly pastie sale

on Tuesday, February 5th. Pickup will be at the Church 136 W. Central Ave., East Bangor, at 3:30 p.m. Pasties are beef with or without onion and broccoli cheese with or without onion. To order, call 610-588-1745. The church is located at 136 W. Central Ave. (Rt. 512), East Bangor. For more information, call 610-588-4453 or visit www.ebumc.org.

The Stroudsburg Aglow will meet on Thursday, February 14th, at 9:30am at the St. Peters United Methodist Church in Saylorsburg. Refreshments will begin at 9:30am and fellowship will start at 10am. Laverne Weber serves as Pennsylvania East Central Aglow Area President. She got involved in Aglow in 1979 and has seen the powerful effect it has in the women who attend. She is also the founder of Victory's Journey Ministries, a ministry to those who are hurting from past pain and abuse. Her desire is for every woman to experience freedom and joy in Christ. Laverne is an ordained

minister, a registered nurse, and a teacher. She moves freely in the Spirit and has a unique ability to minister to those who are hurting. She received her calling into the Lord's service as a missionary child in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The Webers have three grown children and four grandchildren. Laverne currently serves as women's pastor under her husband Pat at Faith Community Assembly of God in Palmer Township, Easton. Come and hear the Word that God has prepared. If you have any questions or need directions call 610-614-0507 or e-mail stroudsburg aglow@verizon.net.

On Sunday, February 3rd, Faith United Presbyterian Church will participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring. The idea was simple: use Super Bowl Sunday, a time when people come together for football and fun, to also care for others by tackling hunger. The Souper Bowl of Caring event is now in its twenty third year of mobilizing organizations to provide food for people in need. Faith Church has been an active participant in the Souper Bowl of Caring for twenty straight years. Participants in this years event are asked to wear their teams colors and place a donation in the soup pot of the team they think will win the game. Faith Church has been on a bit of a hot streak picking the right winning team for the last

three Super Bowl games. All donations from this years event will go towards Faiths on-going community luncheon program. Everyone in the Slate Belt is invited as lunch is served as part of the churchs mission of hospitality for all. Needless to say, soup

will be on the menu, said Dianne Newman who coordinates this event. The volunteers each month make and prepare a lunch for members of the community. Reservations are never needed. Also, if any person or group would like to help serve the Hospitality

Lunches, please contact the church office at 610-863-4447. The dates and menus for the upcoming lunches are as follows: February 23rd: variety of soups, salad, and homemade cookies March 23rd: Lasagna, salad, and cobblers & crisps April 27th: Turkey & Beef BBQ, chips, pickled cabbage, and ice cream Meals are served from 11:30am - 1:30pm. Pastor Ruth Ann Christopher said, This is a wonderful event for football fans and it also helps families in need. Faith church is proud to be a long time participant in this event. Winning results, directions, and pictures from the event will be posted on Faith Uniteds website at www.faith upc.net.

Talk about bitter cold! While my nose hairs freeze during the single digit morning walks with Miss Ellie Mae, I cant help but dream about the flower gardens to come. We spoke about edible seed buying last time and the delight of perusing catalogs this time of year. This week, lets talk color. Whether adding to your existing garden or creating new, its all about creating garden vignettes. A fancy way of saying plants that look beautiful together. Think of your garden space as a room. The ceiling and walls are the tall plants, the furniture the swaths of plants that serve as the bones for structure and the accent pieces are to excite the eye. Most print catalogues are arranged alphabetically, which makes creating vignettes somewhat challenging. But many catalogue companies also have a searchable website by type (annual, biennial and perennial), bloom period, color, height, sun exposure and by attributes such as deer resistant, drought

tolerant, fragrant and native to North America. They also have seed collections figured out for you such as cottage garden, butterfly and shade gardens. Talk about ready made vignettes! I often use websites for searches to create plant combinations but dont necessary buy the plants or seeds from them. (Shhhmy little secret.) If you are not an internet enthusiast, grab a pair of scissors and clip your likes considering their attributes and create groupings on a table much like playing with a deck of cards. Once you figure out your purchase based on the space you have to fill then of course throw in some splurges. I plan to buy some Caladium to start indoors. While not hardy here they have a commanding presence and I have had an elephant in the room for years. An Elephant Ear overwintered in a pot, that is. Garden dilemmas? askmarystone @gmail.com.

(NAPSA)A growing number of homeowners looking to save space are seeing their bathroom from a whole new angle...a triangle. Thats right, triangle designs are now popular in whirlpool tubs, toilets, even pedestal sinks. Experts report that this innovative approach to the bathroom gives homeowners spacesaving options with high performance, luxury and style. Here are some ways triangle designs are saving space: Triangular Toilets A good example of this is a triangular toilet called the Titan Triangle, an extension of the original Titan that was ranked number one in flushing performance against 25 other brands in a recent nonprofit consumertesting magazine.

Created by Eljer, it is gravity fed and equipped with an advanced flushing system, a streamline trapway and duel-jet water feeds that guarantee total bowl evacuation in every flush. Triangular Tubs For those awash with tension, whirlpools can help melt away that stress. Fitting snugly into the corner, a stylish triangular tub can turn a bathroom of any size into a relaxing retreat. One option is the Trinity

whirlpool, featuring a special bubbler system that gently releases tiny bubbles from 24 air jets at the bottom of the tub. The tub also has a unique heating system that ensures warm water throughout your bath without using extra electricity. Triangular Sinks

A Cornice pedestal sink completes the collection. Made from vitreous china, the sink is perfect for small lavatories and powder rooms. All of which proves there are three sides to every space-saving problem. To learn more, visit www.eljer.com.

By Ron Decesare, Broker-appraiser, The Great American Real Estate Company

Beginning with this issue I will be addressing and discussing many real estate related topics. I welcome any calls with questions that I will address through this column, or confidentially, depending on the nature of the topic. Lets start in the beginning with . Why should I buy a Home ?

The answers are numerous but here are the most important reasons for most families. 1st Pride of Ownership You will develop a sense of stability and security for your family. It is an investment in your future. There are other benefits such as having pets, painting rooms whatever colors you desire, landscape and decorate in any manner that you desire, etc. 2nd Appreciation

Although Real Estate values move in cycles, long term values have always appreciated. It will be very difficult to find a better investment for the long term, especially considering the next two items. 3rdMortgage Interest Deduction Home ownership is a superb tax shelter. Mortgage interest is deductible on your tax returnandfor the first 15 years + - interest is the largest component of your payment.

4thProperty Tax Deduction Real Estate property taxes paid on your home are deductible from your tax return. When you consider #3 & #4 the net cost of owning may be less than renting. 5thCapital Gain Exclusion As long as you have lived in your home for 2 of the last 5 years you can exclude $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple of profit from capital gain when you sell your house. There are numerous additional reasons, tax benefits, and opportunities related to buying a home. In the next issue Ill explain WHY YOU SHOULD BUY A HOME NOW. Whether you are a first time homeowner or one who desires to move to a larger or smaller home now is the last best time. You can reach Ron by calling The Great American Real Estate Company at 610 863 6205 or e-mail him at rondecesare@yahoo.co m.

Emrick Endorses Education Tax Credit Legislation State Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Northampton) is co-sponsoring legislation which would allow career and technical schools to be directly eligible for Education Improvement Tax

Credit (EITC) programs in the same manner as other public schools. House Bill 91 may now be considered by the full House following passage today by the House Education Committee, of which Emrick is a member. The EITC program is

a win for the students who benefit from better educational opportunities, the communities in which those students live and to which they often give back, and the businesses that can visualize the value of such an investment, Emrick said. Expanding it to make more students eligible simply means more winners. Career and technical

schools currently receive EITC donations through a statewide association. House Bill 91 amends the Tax Reform Code so these schools may directly benefit from the program. Questions about this or any other legislative topic may be directed to Emrick by email at Jemrick@pahousegop.c om.

(NewsUSA) - Every year, Valentine's Day is looked at as one of the biggest gift-giving holidays of the year. Additionally, many use the holiday to drop down on one knee and pop the big question. Last year, 250,000 couples became engaged on Valentine's Day -; a testament to how important the day is to thousands of love-struck Americans. If you're looking for a unique, stylish and heirloom-quality accessory to give your special someone this year, you aren't alone. According to jewelry and style expert Michael O'Connor, Platinum jewelry is one of this

year's best bets for a Valentine's Day gift. "Giving a gift of love on Valentine's Day is about emotion and being sure you will be remembered," O'Connor said. The following jewelry ideas, compiled by O'Connor, will help you pick out the hottest jewelry this Valentine's Day: * Engagement ring. If you're looking to propose to your significant other this Valentine's Day, look beyond the four Cs and seriously consider the setting. With an engagement diamond purchase, a premium is paid for a quality diamond, and you won't want to diminish that investment with a metal that won't complement the beauty and longevity of the stone. Platinum will hold your diamond more securely,

and since it's naturally a white metal, it will maximize the diamond's sparkle. * Gifts for him. One of the most popular Valentine's Day gifts for men- stylish watches; * Platinum pendants. From the runway to Hollywood's A-list, it's

all about layering this season. Look to layering Platinum pendants in oval, heart and square shapes for a distinct flair this year. For more information on jewelry trends for Valentine's Day, visit www.preciousplatinum. com.

(NAPSI)--You can score an instant touchdown with your party guests during football season-or at any timeby offering a hot baked potato bar fully loaded with fan favorites and some new players. Unlike watching the big game on the screen, a hot potato bar is

anything but a spectator sport. Encourage guests to engage in full contact with your potato bar, where they can customize their spuds with toppings of their choice. If dressed properly, baked potatoes with toppers are hearty enough that they can serve as an entre, explained Fred Williams, EVP Concept Development for Buffets, Inc. This fun and interactive party idea caters to various tastes and ages. Dish up the ingredients buffet style, so guests can serve themselves, experimenting with whatever winning combinations work for them. A buffet setup leaves you free to mix and mingle with your friends. Just remember to keep hot items in warming dishes, cold

items on ice, and refresh the buffet occasionally as necessary. First, make sure you have the right spuds. Williams suggests using russet potatoes, which are great for baking. He recommends baking over microwaving, as the potatoes will maintain their natural flavors and have a consistent texture. Select potatoes that are the same size, so they cook evenly. Remember to scrub potatoes clean under running water and pat dry before baking. After theyre cooked, slit the potatoes lengthwise and keep them warm in a chafing dish, so guests may grab and load. Top This Build the base of your potato bar with simple and classic favorites such as butter, salt, pepper, sour cream, cheese, green onions and bacon bits. These ingredients are great on their own but can also complement other toppings. Next, spice up the offering with savory toppings such as vegetarian or meat chili, shredded cheese, salsa, sliced jalapeos and pico de gallo. For the more adventurous guests, offer these delicious and less traditional toppers: Shredded chicken with barbecue sauce Baked beans and sausage

Tuna tossed with creamy peas Crab with an Alfredo sauce Coleslaw Chicken salad The beauty of a potato bar is that guests can splurge or go for a little garden variety, healthful options: Steamed vegetables such as broccoli, green beans or asparagus Roasted peppers and onions Goat cheese and sauted spinach Kernel corn Black or red beans Dont forget to try baked sweet potatoes on your potato bar. These can become especially sweet when topped with cinnamon and chunky warm apple sauce. If you need more inspiration for your hot potato bar, you can visit a Buffets brand restaurant-Ryans, Country Buffet, Fire Mountain, Grannys Buffet, in addition to HomeTown Buffet as well as Old Country Buffet-to check out the Top This! setups throughout the restaurant. While there, you may care to top off your potato with a wide selection of options, then pair with a terrific partner-the new thickcut Ranchers Select Sirloin. For more information, visit www.Ryans.com, GrannysBuffet.com or HomeTownBuffet.com.

Winning Ideas For Your Tailgating Season

(NAPSI)For many, football season means tailgating and thats no accident. Fans have enjoyed the two of them together, literally since the beginning. Its believed the first documented tailgating event took place in 1869 during a football game between Princeton University and Rutgers Universitythe first collegiate football game on record. Although tailgating has come a long way since then, the practice still centers on one key elementsharing food with friends before the big eventwhether thats a game, a concert or even another party. Everybody has his or her favorite tailgate traditions. For some, tailgating is all about grilling. Others prefer the picnic approach, with appetizers, sandwiches and salads. Regardless of your preference, its easy to make your tailgates special this football season. To help, here are some tips from a familyowned company best known for its line of bread products made from their Original Hawaiian Sweet recipe KINGS HAWAIIAN. For many, tailgating is all about the thrill of the grill. However, whether you are featuring hot dogs or hamburgers, its important to remember that a lot depends on having the right bun. Whether you are someone who likes to dress your dog with just a spot of mustard or ketchup or you prefer to go all the way on your burger, topping it with tomato, avocado, onion and pickle, never underestimate the importance of the bun. The key is to find a bun designed to keep all your favorite toppings and flavors together in every bite. For the hot doglovers at your tailgate, the Hot Dog Buns offer a signature top-cut design to keep all your favorite toppings and flavors together in every bite, and are perfect for either hot dogs or grilled sausages. For family-favorite recipes, visit the website at www.kings hawaiian.com/recipes or call (877) 695-4227.

(NewsUSA) - Home is where the heart is. Increasingly, the home is also where the healthcare is. For various reasons, older people prefer to receive medical care at home, whether it be in their own home or their children's home. Census data show a 67 percent jump between 2000 and 2007 in the number of

parents who have moved in with their adult children. More than 8 million seniors and people with disabilities enjoy the benefits of medical care at home. Services and equipment that enable people to receive care at home include oxygen therapy, power wheelchairs, hospital beds and diabetic supplies. Congress and the White House will consider the value of homecare for patients and taxpayers as they explore avenues for healthcare reform. Reforming healthcare, especially Medicare, is a top issue in Washington, D.C. Medicare provides health insurance to approximately 43

million Americans aged 65 and older, and to people with permanent disabilities. The spending of Medicare is projected to grow annually by 7.5 percent over the next decade. Medicare trustees project that Medicare's Trust Fund will be exhausted in 2019. While total Medicare spending skyrockets, the portion devoted to home medical care and equipment remains less than 2 percent. At the same time, homecare holds down costs better than other healthcare segments. Two years of home oxygen therapy costs less than the average Medicare cost for a single day in the hospital, which is more than $5,500. Providing care to seniors in their homes requires services. Homecare providers serve clients after hours and over weekends to ensure that their patients

stay safe; and out of emergency rooms. Also, homecare providers help vulnerable seniors during emergencies such as ice storms and hurricanes. As the President and Congress work toward solutions regarding the uninsured and the rising costs of care, the role of home medical care and equipment is likely to be considered as one of the key solutions that will help sustain Medicare and Medicaid. Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare, notes, "Homecare will continue to be safe and cost-effective only as long as policy-makers in Washington remember that homecare requires a human touch, including services and personal attention." For more information on homecare and its services, visit www.aahomecare.org/at home.

(NAPSI)One of the most common objections to buying longterm care insurance is the notion that you can pay for long-term care services yourself if and when those services are needed. According to Mutual of Omaha Vice President Brad Buechler, however, there are many reasons self-funding may not be in your best interests. Ask yourself these six questions: 1. What about your spouse? Even if you think you have enough money to pay for longterm care, think about what will happen if you need care for several years and the financial impact on your spouses retirement and future care. 2. Have you considered the tax implications? Most people dont have money set aside specifically for long-term care. That means they may have to liquidate assets. When that happens, capital gains tax, income tax and potential penalties can all take a bite out of the returns those assets were expected to generate. 3. Are you prepared to invade your plan? People with significant

assets generally have a plan for those assets. 4. Have you thought about the cost of lost opportunity? Even if you have funds specifically to pay for longterm care services, that money must be invested so theres enough available to pay for care 10, 15 or 20 years down the road. 5. Can you really save enough? There are a lot of what ifs when it comes to investing your own money to pay for long-term care services. What if you dont save enough? What if your assets dont earn enough interest? And the biggest what if: What if you need long-term care tomorrow? 6. Are you sure youll get the care you need? Most people who say theyll self-fund are reluctant to use longterm care. For more information, visit www.mutual ofomaha.com.

Safe Haven Pet Rescue Plans Adoption Day

Safe Haven Pet Rescue will hold an adoption day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 3, at Tractor Supply, 2970 Route 940, Pocono Summit.. Safe Haven will have many young dogs available for you to meet and get to know. Safe Haven requires a pre-adoption application with references and a home visit prior to adoption. Safe Haven Pet Rescue is a small group of dedicated volunteers from the West End of the Poconos who save highly adoptable dogs from high kill and overcrowded shelters and finds them loving homes. Shelter killing is the number one cause of dog deaths and Safe Haven has saved more than700 lives so far. Safe Haven Rescue needs volunteers to help with adoption days, fundraising, transporting dogs to vets and groomers and fostering homeless dogs until they find their forever homes. Help save homeless dogs. For more information about Safe Haven, and to find a list of dogs available for adoption and adoption applications, please visit SafeHavenPa.org. Contact Safe Haven at SafeHaven@epix.com. Join Safe Haven Pa on Facebook.

(NAPSI)Safety on the road is important all year-round, but the winter weather calls for extra caution behind the wheel. Thats why many auto safety experts, such as Discount Tire, Americas largest tire and wheel retailer, urge motorists to switch to tires specifically designed for cold weather driving. Winter tires are designed for driving in temperatures of 45 degrees or below and if theres any chance youll encounter snow, ice and wet roads on a consistent basis. All-season tires that are commonly used during warmer months contain a rubber compound that gradually hardens when temperatures dip below

45 degrees. This results in decreased road traction. These tires also tend to collect winter road debris like snow and ice that can affect the vehicles performance. Winter tires, on the other hand, are made with higher silica content to stay flexible when its cold out and provide better traction than all-season tires in these conditions. The superior traction that winter tires deliver can be as much as 25 to 50 percent more than allseason tires in cold temperatures. Their tread blocks design also includes thousands of very small slitsknown as sipesto provide extra road-biting edges for improved winter

traction. Every aspect of a winter tire has been engineered to channel away road debris and provide better traction in winter driving conditions, said Mark Ballard of Discount Tire. This traction advantage can provide the margin of safety you need to stop in time or avoid trouble. What the Pros Do in Winter: Replace your allseason tires with winter tires for driving in temperatures of 45 degrees or below. Make

sure to replace all four tires with winter tires to avoid an unsafe traction mismatch. Check tire inflation pressure regularly and dont forget the spare. Underinflated or overinflated tires may result in poor handling, uneven tread wear or poor fuel consumption. Rotate your tires at least every 6,000 miles or earlier if irregular or uneven wear develops. Make sure the tire shop that does your work torques the lug nuts to the proper specifications for your vehicle.