Teen choristers from

the Childrens Chorus of

Sussex County Concert
Choir placed second in
the Kathaumixw International Choral Festival
which
took
place
recently
in
British
Columbia. The festival
committee selected a
total of 30 choirs,
including
children,
youth and adults, based
on an audition process.
The Childrens Chorus
of Sussex County was
chosen along with only
four other choirs from
the United States.
Throughout the weeklong event, choristers
and musicians enjoyed a

rigorous schedule of
competitions and performances, culminating in
a
concert
which
included all participants.
Other nations represented at the festival
included Russia, China,
New Zealand, Czech
Republic,
Canada,
Uganda, Kenya and
Slovenia.
Auditions for acceptance into the prestigious Childrens Chorus
of Sussex County are
taking place by appointment throughout the
summer. The Childrens
Chorus
of
Sussex
County serves schoolage children in and

around Sussex County

by providing a comprehensive choral music
program.
Interested
applicants can audition
for one of three separate
ensembles that perform
under the umbrella of
the Childrens Chorus of
Sussex County: Bel
Canto for beginning
singers in grades one
through four, Bella Voce
for intermediate singers
in grades five through
eight, and Concert Choir
for advanced singers in
grades seven through
12.
The Childrens Chorus
of Sussex County has
several
exciting

ventures planned for the

upcoming
season,
including the recording
of a music track for a
video game, as well as a
summer 2015 trip to
Syros,
Greece
to
perform in the Festival
of the Aegean. The three
choirs also participate in
concerts during the
winter and spring, and
take
advantage
of
several local performance
opportunities.
Rehearsals take place at
Christ
Episcopal
Church, at 62 Main
Street in Newton.
For more information,
on the choir, visit www.
ccscsings.org.

NW Marching Band
is selling three-month
calendar raffles. They
are $10 each for 92
chances to win! Daily
drawings will be held
July through September.
For more information,
contact Sandy at 908448-1889.
The North Warren
Recreation Group is
welcoming
outdoor
enthusiasts that enjoy
things such as hiking,
bike riding, canoeing,
hunting, local fishing,
deep sea fishing trips,
golfing, archery and gun
target shooting, and
wildlife
sightseeing.
Hosting two activities a

month will be the goal

of the group. Email
Matthew at muconn47
@centurylink.net.
Ashley
Katherine
Smith received her
Doctorate of Pharmacy from Albany
College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences on
May 17th. Ashley is the
daughter of Andy and
Mary Smith of Blairstown. Ashley is also the
granddaughter
of
Herman and Pat Shoemaker, Gladys and
Ralph Kitchen, and also
Robert and Marilyn
Smith. Ashley is a
member
of
North
Warren Regional High

School Class of 2008.

Ashley now resides in
Watertown, Massachusetts and is employed as
a pharmacist for CVS.
Happy
Birthday
wishes are sent to Scott
Zurat,
July
25th;
Marisa Balzafiore, July
25th; Ellen Zazulak,
July
26th;
Leslie
Howell, July 28th; Kirk
Albanese, July 28th;
Brett Buskirk, July
29th;
and
Joseph
DeFranco, July 29th.
Having a blast this
summer? Send us your
summer fun photos for
publication! Just email
your favorite photos to
thepressmail@gmail.co
m with the subject

Summer Fun Photos!

Say Happy Birthday to your loved
ones in The PRESS!
Send us their names and
birthdays and well print
it here for free! You can
also send us a photo and
a birthday wish and
well publish it in the
paper for a small fee.
For more information,
call 610-599-1952.
We love hearing
from you!
Send your birthdays,
anniversaries, and
other tidbits of info to:
The PRESS
PO Box 430
Blairstown, NJ 07825
thepressmail@gmail.com

Like us on Facebook!

The following is a list

of books added to the
Warren
County
Library
collection:
Blood Feud, by Edward
Klein. Tripwire, by Lee
Child. California: A
Novel,
by
Edan
Lepucki. World of
Trouble:
The
Last
Policeman Book III, by
Ben Winters. The PoutPout Fish Goes to
School (Pout-Pout Fish
Adventure), by Deborah
Diesen. The Amazing
Tale of Steve: A Minecraft Novel, by Minecraft Novel. Batman
Vol. 3: Death of the
Family (The New 52),
by Scott Snyder. The
House on Mermaid
Point, by Wendy Wax.

Dollbaby: A Novel, by
Laura Lane McNeal.
Wayfaring Stranger: A
Novel, by James Lee
Burke. Justice League
Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (The New 52), by
Geoff Johns. Invisible,
by James Patterson.
Rusty Nailed (The
Cocktail Series), by
Alice Clayton. Learn to
Program with Scratch:
A Visual Introduction to
Programming with Art,
Science, Math and
Games, by Majed Marji.
Suddenly Last Summer,
by Sarah Morgan. The
Far Side Gallery 4, by
Gary Larson. Heads Up
Psychology, by Marcus
Weeks. Power Play, by
Catherine Coulter.

The
12th
annual
Celebration of Literacy
was held recently at
Project Self-Sufficiency
to honor agency participants who had impressive academic achievements, as well as those
who had completed
significant
steps
towards economic selfsufficiency during the
past year.
Several
participants were also
awarded scholarships in
recognition of their
success. New Jersey
Department of Children
and Families Commissioner Dr. Allison Blake
served as the events
keynote
speaker.
Presentations were also
given by members of
the Sussex County
Board of Freeholders,
George Graham, Dennis
Mudrick and Freeholder
Director,
Richard
Vohden.
The men and women
who were acknowledged at the event
included
community
college graduates, medical assistants, nursing
students, and students at
business colleges. Several participants are
graduates
of
the
sixteen-week
Higher
Opportunities
for
Women program, a
structured curriculum
which provides computer training, job skills
training and internships
at area businesses.
Many others have completed courses at the
non-profit agency in
QuickBooks and Microsoft applications. Several young adults were
lauded for successfully
completing the agencys
Youth
Connections
course, a combined
GED and employment
training program for
youth ages 16 through
21. A group of young
mothers were congratulated for moving on to
the next step one of the
agencys home visitation programs. Finally,
several agency participants were honored for
obtaining employment
leading to economic
self-sufficiency.
Its an honor to
celebrate this special
moment
with
this
evenings graduates,
said NJ Department of
Children and Families
Commissioner Allison
Blake. Their courage,

hard work, and perseverance is inspiring and

I know that today represents just the first of
many
achievements
these graduates will
attain as they move on
to lead productive and
successful lives.
The Celebration of
Literacy is intended to
honor those Project
Self-Sufficiency participants who have successfully worked towards
academic achievement
or economic selfsufficiency during the
past year, said Deborah
Berry-Toon, Executive
Director of Project
Self-Sufficiency. We
are very proud of the
goals achieved by these
men and women. These
milestones are vital
steps on the path to
economic
selfsufficiency for these
participants and for their
families.

Six agency participants

were singled out for
special
recognition
during the event. Both
Andrew Amati and
Kayla
Bross
were
chosen to receive the
Ruth
Ann
Duffy
Williams Scholarship,
named in honor of the
esteemed
Sussex
County educator who
spent her career as a
teacher and principal at
the Branchville and
Frankford Elementary
Schools. The scholarship is bestowed upon
an
individual
or
individuals under the
age of 25 who have
demonstrated
exceptional
drive
and
academic
potential
during the previous
academic year.
Agency
participant
Kelly White received
the Connie Koeppel
Award, given in honor
of the late Sussex

County educator and

spiritual leader who,
along with her husband
Keith, founded the
Loving Arms crisis
shelter for pregnant girls
and women, and who
worked tirelessly on
behalf of those experiencing hunger in our
area.
The award is
bestowed annually to a
young woman who is
newly parenting and
who is actively striving
to provide a stable,
loving and economically
self-sufficient
home for her family.

The Dot Dedrick

Award was given to
Lois De Luccio in
memory of the ardent
Project Self-Sufficiency
supporter who spearheaded
fundraising
projects on behalf of the
agencys food pantry,
Back-to-School
Fair,
and Season of Hope Toy
Drive, both as an
individual and through
her membership in the
Sparta Womens Club.
The award is given to an
agency participant who
is actively engaged in
giving back to the community through acts of
volunteerism.
Project
SelfSufficiency participant
Sandra Zaruba was
selected to receive the
Richard
Illingworth
Scholarship, in honor of
the former Leadership
Council member and
Human
Resources
professional
who
devoted countless hours
to assisting participants
in the agencys Career
Center. The scholarship
is given to an agency
participant who has
tenaciously
pursued
education and employment during the past
year.
Agency
participant
Yolanda Dones received
the Jessica Heaney
Brown award in recognition the young aspiring
student
whose
dream of attending
college was tragically

cut short. The award is

bestowed annually upon
a mother who has overcome substance abuse
or is actively in recovery and wants to further
her education.
Several agency participants inspired the gathering by sharing stories
about the obstacles they
had overcome along
their respective paths to
academic
success,
including Lisa Christiansen, Yolanda Dones,
Margaret Kolinoski, and
Carmen Rohde.
In reviewing this
years crop of award
recipients,
Beverly
Gordon, President of
Project
SelfSufficiencys Board of
Directors, said, Each
step these men and
women take brings them
closer to their personal
goal of financial selfsufficiency. We are
proud to have been able
to help them to determine their career paths,
and more importantly,
to give them the tools to
start the process with a
solid education in their
chosen field.
Project
SelfSufficiency has helped
more than 19,500 families and 30,000 children
since 1986. For information
about
the
programs and services
offered at Project SelfSufficiency, call 973940-3500,
or
visit
projectselfsufficiency.org.

Free
Parenting
Classes: Dates vary.
All classes run from
6-8pm. Project Self
Sufficiency, 127 Mill
St., Newton. Participants will learn about
the different stages of
physical & emotional
development
during
childhood, as well as
techniques for positive
discipline & improved

communication. Free &

open to public; childcare
provided.
Preregistration required.

volcano erupt! Ages

8-12.
Registration
required. FMI, call
908-362-8335.

Blairstown
Seniors
Bus Trip to Ehrhardts
on Lake Wallenpaupack: Aug. 20th. Sign
up is July 23rd at Town
Hall, 1pm. The group
will see Danielles
Dream Big Tour. $30
per person. FMI, call
Mickey at 908-3628919.

Intro to Energy Healing for Teens: July

26th, 10:30am. Catherine Dickson Hofman
Library. Energy medicine is a form of
complementary & alternative medicine that
works to balance the
subtle energies of the
body. FMI, call 908362-8335.

Chemistry in The
Cemetery: July 24th,
1pm. Catherine Dickson
Hofman Library. Learn
about erosion & the
effects of acid rain &
biological
growths.
Experiment with different minerals to understand how geology
affects the way gravestones stand up to the
test of time. Ages 7-12.
Registration required.
FMI, call 908-362-8335.
Fandom Friday: July
25th, 3pm. Catherine
Dickson
Hofman
Library. Chat about the
fandoms you love with
fellow fans. Snacks
provided. Registration
required. Ages 11+
FMI, call 908-362-8335.
Erupting
Volcano
Workshop: July 25th,
10am; July 29th 2pm;
July 30th, 3:30pm.
Catherine
Dickson
Hofman Library. Day 1:
build your own paper
mache volcano. Day 2:
Paint & decorate your
masterpiece. Day 3: Use
science to make your

Alzheimers
Family
Caregiver Workshop:
July 26th, 10am-12pm.
A personalized experience for those caring for
loved
ones
with
Alzheimers Disease or
Dementia. Will explore
symptoms, managing &
coping with behaviors,
Health concerns, activities & taking care of
you, the caregiver. A
workbook
will
be
provided. Refreshments
will be served. RSVP
recommended. FMI, call
Home Instead Senior
Care at 908-835-1400.
Kinderhook Country
Rock Band Live Lawn
Concert: July 26th,
7pm. Vass Farmstead,
Hardwick. Sponsored by
Hardwick
Township
Historical Society. Tickets are available at hard
wickhistorical.eventbrit
e.com or at the door.
Bring lawn chairs/ blankets & coolers. No
alcohol or pets. FMI,
call 908-362-8496.
All

You

Can

Eat

Breakfast Buffet: July

27th, 7-11am. Franklin
Twp. Vol. Fire Dept. 37
2nd St., New Village.
FMI, call 908-319-0379.
Dragons & Dreams
with
Sciencetellers:
July 28th, 2pm. Catherine Dickson Hofman
Library. Learn about the
science of fire & ice
through the tale of
"Dragons & Dreams."
Features
interactive
science
experiments
with dry ice, flash paper,
exploding bottles &
more.
Gods Miracle Safari
Vacation Bible School:
July 28th-Aug. 1st,
9am-noon.
Lutheran
Church of the Good
Shepherd, Rt. 94, Blairstown.
Potty-trained
thru 6th grade. To register, call 908-362-9405,l
prompt 1.
Summer Bible School:
July 28th-Aug. 1st,
5:30pm-8pm. 1st UMC
of
Blairstown,
10
Stillwater Rd. Presented
by Blairstown, Knowlton & Walnut Valley
Churches. Bible fun,
great
music,
super
science, cool crafts,
hands-on mission work,
global games & more.
FMI, visit first umc
blairstown.com
Bubble Meet & Greet:
July 31st, 10am. Sycamore Park. Hosted by
MOMS Club of the
Blairstown Area. Bring
bubbles, play at the park
& have fun! All at-home
moms (even part time),
expecting moms & their
children of all ages are
welcome. FMI, call
908-912-MOMS
or
email BlairstownMOM
SClub@gmail.com.
Vacation Bible School:
Aug. 4th-8th, 9am11:30am. 35 Main St.,
Blairstown. All are
welcome. Crafts, recreation, Bible stories,
science, music & snack.
FMI, call 908-362-5254.
Save the Date: Aug.
23rd. Celebrate 125
Years w/ Blairstown
Hose Co. #1. See pg. 2.

Blairstown, Knowlton
& Hope
A & P, Alpine Meats, Animal
Mansion, Ash Plumbing,
Asian Combat Arts, A-Tech,
Auto, Blair Tile, Blair Tire &
Auto, Blairstown Chiropractic, Blairstown, Country
Florist, Blairstown Municipal
Building, Blairstown Eye
Associates, Blue Ridge
Lumber, Buckwood, Building
Specialties,
Burgdorff,
BuzzWorks, Caffe Nelle
Cucine, Cannon Country
Real Estate, Columbia Post
Office, Custom Colonial,
Dale's Market, David Krawski
Dentist,
DogHouse,
Dominick Pizza, Dr. Magalio:
Dentist, Ellias Restaurant,
First Hope Bank, Fitness
Empire, Fountain Mall
Laundromat, Frank's Pizza,
Gallery 23, Geo's Pizza,
Gourmet Gallery, Grand
Rental
Station,
Hair
Company, Hairs 2 You,
Historic Blairstown Theatre,
Hope Deli, Hope Haircutters,
JD Liquors, John Deere,
Kozimors Upholstery, Knowlton Municipal Building,
Lakeland Bank, Lebduska
Accounting, Marksboro Deli,
Mark D. Nelke: DMD,
Medical Associate, Mediterranean Diner, Napa, Nature's
Harvest, New HoHo, North
Warren Farm & Garden,
North Warren Pharmacy,
North Warren Truck Repair,
Old Stillwater General Store,
Pizza Express, PNC Bank,
Post Office (Both Locations),
Post Time Pub, R. Keiling,
Race's Farm Market, Radio
Shack, Remax, Shell Gas
Station, Skyland Bank,
Smitty's, Sunrise, Nutrition
Center,
Sun
Velocity,
Sunoco, The Auto Shop, The
Inn at Millrace Pond, Tile
Warehouse, Tractor Supply,
Tramontin Harley-Davidson,
US Gas, Voulas Hairway to
Heaven, Village Green,
Warren County Library, Wells
Fargo, Wilbur's Country
Store, Wine & Spirits,
Woman to Woman
Belvidere
A & P, Al's Pizza, ACI Truck

Stop, Bagel Smith, Bel-Pike

Lanes, Belvidere Diner,
Belvidere Spa, Clucas Farm,
Curves, Dee Doo's, Dr.
Amannda Richline, Food
Mart, Four Sisters Winery,
H&R Block, Hearth Shop,
Hickory Mortgage, Little
Johns Pizza, Mediterranean
Riverside Designs, Riverton
Hotel & Restaurant, Rosal
Jewelers, Short Stop, Skee's
Busy
Bee,
Skoogy's,
Steckel's Shell, Station,
Thisilldous, Uncle Buck's
Diner, US Gas, Vincent
Haircuttery & Plus, Zack's,
Zeeks
Washington
A & P, Bagelsmith, Fliegauff
Jewelers, Home Instead
Senior Care, Kaffe Kaprys,
Lost Ladies, Mediterranean
Bistro, MWC Racing, PrideN-Groom, Quick Check,
Rossi, Second Time Around,
Shopper Stop, Silver Stars
Bagel,
Smith
Dodge,
Stanley's
Pizza,
Town
Market, Washington Diner,
Washington Shoe
Newton
A&G Pizza, Back in Motion,
BMW Dealership, Charm,
Co. Seat, Dunkin Donuts,
Hampton Diner, Ho Hos,
HobbyTown, Holiday Inn,
Home Furniture, Warehouse,
Kathy's Restaurant, Newton
News Stand, Optical Center,
PB&J, Quick Check, Shop
Rite, Skylands Sport Shop,
Springboard
Shoppe,
Superior Shower Doors, The
Chatter Box, VW-Audi
Dealership, Weis
Hackettstown
A & P, Bachs Home Healthcare, Cozy Corner, Golden
Skillet, Hacktettstown Free
public Library, Hackettstown
Guns & Ammo, Hackettstown Sandwich Shoppe,
Hackettstown
Regional
Medical Center, Mama's
Pizza/Cafe Baci, O'Neill's
Jewelers. Prickley Pear,
Quick Check #2, Riverstar
Diner, Tranquility General
Store, Valley Bagel, Weis,
Willow Caf
Columbia
Ayers, Roses Cafe

(NAPSI)One way to
keep your home at a
comfortable temperature
without
your
heating and cooling bills
going sky high can be
found underground.
Geothermal systems
are among the most
efficient, energy-saving,
environmentally
conscious ways to
climate control around.
A geothermal heat pump
can give you years of
reliable, safe home comfort at a low operating
cost. Here are a few of
the benefits:
Enhanced Comfort:
Geothermal systems
can provide precise
distribution of comfortable air all year long,
eliminating hot spots
and cold spots. During

heating, youll experience warm air without

the hot blasts associated
with
ordinary
gas
furnaces or the cooler
air of an air-source heat
pump.
Additionally,
when cooling, geothermal systems deliver
cool, dehumidified air.
Quiet:The system can
be a comfort to your ears
as well. Unlike ordinary
air conditioners or heat
pumps, theres no noisy
outdoor unit to disturb
your outdoor livingor
your neighbors.
Reliable: You can comfortably count on the
system lasting a good
long time. Unlike air
conditioners and heat
pumps,
geothermal
systems are installed
indoors, so theyre not

While high heat can

drain your energy,
increase your utility
bills and make your AC
work overtime, there are
simple ways you can
save energy without
compromising comfort.
Try fighting back
against heat in your
home with these tips:
Install a programmable
thermostat:
Theres no need to keep
the AC blasting while
youre
away.
A
programmable thermostat can help you time
your AC use and cut up
to 20 percent from your
cooling bill.
Change your lightbulbs: CFL and LED
lightbulbs give off
significantly less heat
than incandescents and
use less energy. If you
dont want to replace all
your bulbs at once,
prioritize the hottest or
most frequently used
rooms of your home.
Longer-lasting
LED
bulbs are good for hardto-reach places, such as
in garages or high
ceilings.

Use
appliances
wisely: Avoid using the
oven if you canfire up
the grill instead to keep
the
heat
outdoors.
Check if your dishwasher has a nonheated

drying setting and if it

does, use it. Save
clothes
drying
for
nighttimeor,
better
yet, hang the wash on a
clothesline.
Theyll
smell fresher, too.
Use a fan: It costs just
pennies an hour to operate and can make a
room feel four to six
degrees coolerits low
tech and low cost.
While some believe a
fan cools the room by
drawing in fresh air, it
really works by helping
perspiration evaporate
from your skin, so
theres no need to keep
it running when youre
not around.
Check for duct leaks:
Your ACs efficiency
can be affected if ductwork isnt properly
balanced.
Call
an
HVAC professional to
have your system examined, and while theyre
at your home, they can
perform any necessary
tune-ups to the AC
itself.
Control sunlight in
your house: If it feels
drab to shut out sunlight
with drapes or blinds,
consider installing a
heat-rejecting window
film. These films can
help keep your home
cooler, reduce energy
use and protect your

subject to the wear and

tear of rain, snow, ice,
debris,
extreme
temperatures or vandalism.
Environmentally
Friendly: You can even
feel comfortable about
their effect on the environment. According to
the Department of
Energy and the Environmental
Protection
Agency,
geothermal
systems are the most
environmentally
friendly way to heat and
cool your home. They
emit no carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide or
other greenhouse gases,
which are considered to
be major contributors to
environmental air pollution. They are simply a
natural, green heat

pump.
Lower Operating Cost:
The low cost can also be
a comfort. A geothermal
system from WaterFurnace operates more
efficiently than ordinary
heating
and
airconditioning
systems
because it can deliver an
astounding five units of
energy for every one
unit of electrical energy
used. By combining
stored earth energy with
safe electric power,
many homeowners who
have this system realize
savings of up to 70
percent for heating,
cooling, and hot water.
For further comforting
facts and stats, you can
visit www.waterfurnace
.com or call 1-8004367283.

furnishings from UV
rays. For example, 3M
Sun Control Window
Films can reduce cooling costs by up to 25
percent by rejecting
solar heat. They also
help block up to 99
percent of harmful UV
rays to minimize fading
of furniture and carpet.

The films are available

in several varieties that
do not change the
appearance
of
the
window, so theres no
obvious tinted look.
To find how much
energy you could save
check out the Cooling
Savings Calculator at
3m.com/windowfilmsolar.

Hello fellow readers,

I saw the first of the
season, as did Tom of
Mt. Bethel, who asked if
he should hang the Japanese beetle traps you
find at the hardware
store. The subject opens
up a can of worms or
should I say grubs. Studies have shown that
these pheromone lures
attract
many
more
beetles than they trap. In
fact, when you hang a
Japanese beetle trap in
your yard, you're inviting the neighborhood of
Japanese beetles to your
garden. Youll trap a
bunch, but the rest will
enjoy the call to dinner.
Japanese
beetles,
Popillia japonica, are a
nuisance even before
they become a goodlooking beetle sporting a
green and gold iridescent shell. Their crescent
shaped
grayish-white
larvae, called grubs, live
in the soil and feed on
the roots of grasses and
plants. If theres a dead
area of grass that you
can easily lift up, you
will probably find Japanese beetle grubs as the
culprit. On top of which
critters love beetle grubs
and rip up the turf to
feed on them.

Adult beetles begin to

emerge in late June and
feed and mate into
September then lay their
eggs back in the soil.
Clearly controlling Japanese beetles requires a
two-part strategy: one
for the grubs and one for
the beetles.
Biological
control
using milky disease
spores called Milky
Spore is a safe, all natural bacteria lethal to
grubs but harmless to
humans, pets and beneficial insects. Dispense
about a teaspoon every
four feet. Grubs ingest
the spore, die, then
spread the bacteria into
the soil. The bacteria
live in the soil for 10 to
15 years providing a
long-term solution and
can be applied anytime
the ground is not frozen.
Yes, there are chemical
pesticides if you are so
inclined that can be
applied in July or
August when young
grubs are feeding, but
please dont tell me
about it. Id rather you
gather Japanese beetles
as good old mom hired
us to do at five cents per
Jiffy jar filled.
Beetles can be shaken
from branches easily.
What to do after the
catch depends on how
squeamish your stomach. Mom tossed them
in a pan of hot water, but
a bucket of soapy water
works, too.
Recently I heard if you
puree their bodies in a
blender and add water to
create a spray for plants
they chomp, it will
infect more grubs with
the disease. Just dont
invite me for a margarita
after.
Garden dilemmas?
askmarystone.com

The New Jersey State

Board of Education
recently
re-adopted
curriculum standards in
seven K through 12
subject areas, including
the adoption of the Next
Generation
Science
Standards.
Standards
reflect the Christie
Administration's goal of
ensuring
that
all
children graduate from
high school ready for
college and career,
regardless of where they
live.
"I applaud Governor
Christie and the State
Board of Education for
taking the steps necessary to ensure that our
students are gaining the
knowledge and skills
that will allow them to
successfully compete in
a global economy and
contribute to the growth
and well-being of our
communities,"
said
Acting Commissioner of
Education David Hespe.
"I also thank the dozens
of representatives from
the state's education
community, the business
sector, higher education,
and interested citizens
for their participation
and suggestions."
State Board President
Mark W. Biedron said,
"New Jersey historically
has adopted curriculum
standards that establish
a high bar for student
learning. [The recent]
re-adoption
of
six
content areas and the
adoption of the Next
Generation
Science
Standards maintain the
state's commitment to
providing schools with
curriculum frameworks
that convey higher-level
skills and advanced
learning. The Next
Generation
Science

Standards will enable

schools to take science
to the next level and to
challenge and inspire
students to embrace
scientific inquiry both in
and out of the classroom."
Every five years, the
state Department of
Education conducts a
review of the standards,
which describe what
students should know
and be able to do by the
time they graduate from
high school. The process
includes naming statewide panels in various
content areas and holding public hearings
around the state to
collect feedback from
citizens and stakeholders. The review also
takes into account the
latest research in the
content areas.
NJ has identified nine
distinct content areas in
its K through 12 Core
Curriculum
Content
Standards that must be
taught in public schools.
The State Board readopted standards in
seven of the areas:
Visual and Performing
Arts;
Comprehensive
Health and Physical
Education;
Science;
Social Studies; World
Languages;
English
Language Arts; and
Mathematics.
No
changes were proposed
to the English Language
Arts and Mathematics
standards, as the State
Board of Education had
fully reconsidered these
standards in 2010 and
elected to adopt NJ Core
Curriculum
Content
Standards in these areas
that reflect the Common
Core State Standards.
As part of the five-year
review process, the State

Board also re-adopted

revisions
to
the
Preschool Teaching and
Learning Standards. The
preschool language and
math revisions now
match the Common
Core standards for
kindergarten;
include
greater clarity regarding
what children should
know by the end of the
four-year-old preschool
year; incorporate additional examples of
teaching
practices;
provide an aligned
framework
that
is
consistent through third
grade; and embed the
use of technology in
teaching
practices.
Added to the preschool
standards
were
"Approaches to Learning," which include
behaviors such as
initiative and persistence that show how
children learn, not just
what they learn.
The two K through 12
content areas not voted
onTechnology and 21st
Century
Life
and
Careers Standardswill
be put through a review
process later in the year.
The Next Generation
Science
Standards
(NGSS) were developed
by a consortium of 26
states, including NJ. The
NGSS were established
after research found a
solid foundation of math
and science is needed to
build the nation's capacity for economic growth,
and the current level of
science instruction, if
not improved, may leave
millions
of
young
Americans unprepared
to succeed in a global
economy.
The
NGSS
are
designed to promote
hands-on
experience
and experimentation to
deepen students' understanding
of
core
concepts, rather than
reward students simply
for memorizing facts
and
formulas.
For
instance, while students
previously would have
been given an established model or experiment and taught how to
use it to observe scientific phenomena, the
new science standards
may ask students to
design a model on their
own. More about the
NGSS can be found at
nextgenscience.org.

The NJDEP Division

of Fish and Wildlife is
informing the public
that the NJ Fish and
Game Council voted to
propose several amendments to the 2015 - 2016
Game Code at its July 8
meeting. The Game
Code governs the activities relating to the taking
of wildlife classified as
game animals, game
birds, or furbearers.
The Council's decision
begins the rule-making
process for amending
the Game Code. A legal

document with the

proposed amendments
will be prepared and
published in the NJ
Register, probably in
early 2015. The publication will be followed by
a sixty-day public comment period and a public
hearing.
After the public hearing and close of the
comment period, all
comments are compiled
and reviewed by the
Fish and Game Council.
The Council may or may
not make changes and a

final vote will be taken.

After a second publication in the NJ Register
the amendments that are
accepted by the Council
will be legal.
To view the list of
proposed amendments,
see njfishandwildlife.
com/pdf/2014/gamecod
e15proposal.pdf (pdf,
150kb).
For information on the
process of amending the
Game
Code,
see
www.njfishandwildlife.
com/codechange.htm on
the Division's website.

(NAPSI)The
kids
are out of school, which
means parents are out of
time to plan fun family
activities
for
this
summer. As the days get
longer,
engage
the
whole gang with easy,
educational
activities
that encourage quality
family time and may
impart some important
life lessons.
Tips for Summer Fun
Take a Road Trip and
Explore Local Landmarks: Buckle up for a
short family road trip to
explore landmarks in
your local area. Whether
at a public park,
museum, or hiking path,
kids and parents will
relish the opportunity
for exploration and
discovery. At the end of
the day, everyone will
feel a little bit smarter
and a little more
awesome.
Encourage Your
Child To Be a Master
Builder:
Watching
television can easily
become a passive activity, but not if parents
turn it into an experience
that engages children off
screen. The LEGO
Movie, from Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment and Village Roadshow Pictures, is a
family-friendly
tale
about following the
instructionsand
breaking away from
them! Available now on
Digital HD. Own it on

Blu-ray Combo Pack

June 17. After the credits
have
rolled,
challenge
kids
to
master build their own
creation, using only
products from around
the house. This exercise
is a great way to bond
with the kids while
instilling a powerful
lesson about the importance of being yourself.
Make Farm-to-Table
Meals: Everyone can be
a chef this summer,
thanks to an abundance
of readily available fresh
produce. Teach your
children the importance
of sourcing local ingredients by making a
family outing to the
neighborhood farmers
market. Select a few
healthy
fruits,
vegetables and grains
that are part of a wholesome diet, and assign
each family member to a
salad, side or main
course for a delicious
farm-to-table meal.

Host a Family Arts

and Crafts Night: Break
out the paint and glitter
for arts and crafts night
with
the
family.
Whether you create
toothpick picture frames
or macaroni art, be sure
to display the completed
projects in your home
for all to admire.
The LEGO Movie,
starring the voices of
Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell,
Liam Neeson and more,
is an original, 3-D,
computer-animated
story about Emmet, a
perfectly
ordinary
LEGO minifigure who
is mistakenly identified
as the key to saving the
world, and drafted into a
fellowship of strangers
on an epic quest to stop
an evil tyrant. Perfect
for viewing in the living
room on home video or
loading onto your tablet
to watch while on the
road this summer, The
LEGO Movie is a
tale the whole family
will find awesome!

(NAPSI)After
a
grueling winter, summer
is finally here and
Americans across the
country are trading their
heavier layers for lighter
wear. Whether your idea
of fun in the sun is a
picnic at the park,
hiking, volleyball on the
beach or grilling in the
backyard, its important
to be mindful of one
outer layer in particular:
your skin. As seen on
ABCs Good Morning
America and NBCs
TODAY,
boardcertified dermatologist,
Dr. Jeanine Downie,
offers these easy tips to
help protect your skin
while you embrace
warm weather activities.
1. Apply sunscreen
with SPF of 30 or higher
at least 30 minutes
before sun time. Make
sure to reapply every
two hours.
2. Add sunscreen to
tips of ears, part lines of
scalp and tops of the
knees and feet-areas that

(NAPSI)When the
mercury soars, its wise
to learn the signs of
heatstroke and how they
differ from those of
stroke.
Heatstroke can happen
when youre exercising
outside on a very hot
day or simply by getting
overheated.
Certain
heart
medications
including beta-blockers,
angiotensin
receptor
blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel
blockers and diuretics,
which deplete the body
of sodium, can exaggerate the bodys response
to heat.
Symptoms
of
heatstroke include body
temperature of 104 F or
greater; lack of perspiration; hot, dry, flushed
skin; nausea; vomiting;
rapid, shallow breathing; headache; confusion; unconsciousness;
muscle cramps or weakness; and strong, rapid
pulse.
Heatstroke is life
threatening. If you
suspect someone is
suffering
from
heatstroke, you should
immediately try to cool
him or her down and call
9-1-1, advised Rani
Whitfield, M.D.
Stroke warning signs
should also prompt a
9-1-1 call immediately.
The American Stroke
Association
says
remember F.A.S.T. for
stroke: Face drooping,
arm weakness, speech
difficulty, Time to call
9-1-1. Additional signs
can include sudden
trouble seeing, dizziness, confusion, severe
headache, or weakness
on one side of the body.
To learn more or to get

often get forgotten.

3.
Always
wear
UVA/UVB sunglasses
to avoid suns radiation
and potentially longterm damage to eyes and
the skin around them.
4. Wear tightly woven
clothing and wide-brim
hats for more sun
protection. Look for
UPF clothing above 30.
5. Do not scratch! Bug
bites will take longer to
heal, may heal in a dark
mark and could get
infected. Instead, pack
Cortizone-10 Intensive
Healing Formula, which
contains the #1 doctorrecommended
medicine* for treating itchy
skin. The extra-creamy
formula
goes
on
smoothly and relieves
itch quickly while helping to heal the skin
issue. It is proven to
moisturize
for
24
hours** with 7 moisturizers and 3 skinnurturing vitamins.
6. Skin needs hydration. Drink water regularly, especially in the

involved, call 1-8884STROKE or visit

strokeassociation.org.

heat. Plan ahead and

freeze water in reusable
water bottles. As the day
goes on, the ice will melt
and the water will stay
cold and refreshing.
Before
stepping
outside, be sure to
follow these easy steps
to help protect your
skin. After all, summer
months may come and
go but your natural glow
is available year-round.
Learn more by visiting
www.cortizone10.com.
*Data on file, Chattem,
Inc.
**Refers to the ingredient hydrocortisone

Dr. John Harrington of

Sunrise Nutrition Center
will be presenting a free
health seminar on lyme
disease and alternative
medicine at 7pm on July
29th at the Catherine
Dickson
Hofman
Library in Blairstown.
Dr. Harrington will

answer the commonly

asked questions about
lyme disease to help you
best understand the
symptoms and treatments. The three most
important things that
will be covered at the
seminar are: Can you
have symptoms of lyme

disease despite normal

blood tests? What is the
best diet for someone
with lyme disease? Can
nutritional support be
effective?
Seating
will
be
limited, so if you wish
to attend, call 908-3626868 to reserve a seat.

(NAPSI)Fairgoers
looking to beef up
their understanding of
the
economics
of
agriculture, including
the risks and costs of
bringing commodities to
the marketplace, will get
their chance at 120 state
and county fairs this
summer. National 4-H
Council
and
CME
Group are again bringing their Commodity
Carnival, an educational
fair experience, to 11
states in year two of
their partnership.

New this year, the

Carnival can be experienced
beyond
the
fairgrounds, as Commodity Carnivals Risk
Ranch app can be
downloaded onto desktops and smartphones.
Risk Ranchat the
fair
or
on
your
screenallows young
people to learn about
the risks farmers and
ranchers face every day
by growing a steer
and bringing it to
market.
They can choose the
amount of feed, medicine and equipment
costs to invest in their
steer, then take it
through the Plinko
style Risk Ranch to see

if they can avoid market

risks to make a profitand take home that blue
ribbon.
Commodity Carnival
resonates with our
4-Hers and young
people visiting the
fairs, says National 4-H
Councils President &
CEO Jennifer Sirangelo.
4-H youth respect the
challenges in getting
food from farm to table,
and this partnership
allows them to serve as
teachers to their peers.
Were proud to bring
this important concept
to them in a fun and
accessible way.
As the worlds leading
futures exchange, we
havent lost sight of the

fact that our roots have

always been in the heart
of this country with
farm and ranch families, says CME Group
Executive
Chairman
and President Terry
Duffy. Understanding
the
economics
of
agriculture is critically
important for all of us,
and this partnership
gives us the unique
opportunity to interact
with the next generation
of our nations food
producers in their own
communities.
To see Risk Ranch in
action or to find participating fairs this summer
and
fall,
go
to
http://www.cmegroup.c
om/4Hcarnival.

Five and six-year-old

children who are interested in music are
invited to participate in
the new Musikgarten
program offered by the
Childrens Chorus of
Sussex
County
on
Wednesdays,
from
4:30pm to 5:20pm, at
Christ
Church
in
Newton. Classes are
scheduled to begin in
early
September.
Parents are encouraged
to participate in the last
ten minutes of each
class. The program will
be directed by professional pianist and early
childhood music and
movement
specialist
Diana Greene.
Musikgarten is an early
childhood music and
movement
program
which teaches the funda-

mentals
of
music
through singing, movement and guided listening. Simple instruments
are incorporated into
each lesson.
The
Musikgarten program
provides a foundation
for children to grow
musically as well as
cognitively, emotionally
and socially, notes
Greene. The curricula
teaches active listening,
develops
balance,
control and coordination, encourages social
interaction and stimulates imagination. It is a
developmentally appropriate activity for young
children, and also a
great start for children
who may wish to progress into choral and
instrumental programs."
Diana Greene, was

recently elected First

Vice-President/
President-Elect of the
Early Childhood Music
& Movement Association (ECMMA) at their
2014 biennial convention. ECMMA seeks to
promote the best practices in all areas of early
childhood music and
movement and supports
early childhood music
and movement practitioners with resources,
advocacy, professional
development,
and
collaboration opportunities. Ms. Greene holds
Level 2 certification
from ECMMA and is a
licensed and certified
Musikgarten instructor.
The
Musikgarten
program will be offered
as a new component of
The Childrens Chorus

of Sussex County, a
comprehensive choral
music program which
serves
school-age
children in and around
Sussex County, New
Jersey. Three separate
ensembles
perform
under the umbrella of
the Childrens Chorus of
Sussex County:
Bel
Canto for beginning
singers in grades one
through four, Bella Voce
for intermediate singers
in grades five through
eight, and Concert
Choir for advanced
singers in grades seven
through 12. Auditions
are not required for the
Musikgarten program,
although
they
are
required for participation in the three choirs.
All rehearsals for the
Childrens Chorus of

Sussex County, as well

as the new Musikgarten
program for children in
kindergarten and first
grade, take place at
Christ Church, 62 Main

Street in Newton. To
register a child or schedule an audition for the
Childrens Chorus of
Sussex County, visit
ccscsings.org.

Blairstown Property
Owners Sound Off on
New Water Charges
At the Blairstown
Township Meeting, July
9th, 2014, property
owners of multi-unit
structures voiced their
objection to a new
ordinance that takes
buildings with more
than 1 unit (apartment,
office, shop, etc.), and
forces upon the owner, a
separate charge for each
unit in his building, not
necessarily forcing them
to put in separate water
meters. Under the original water ordinance,
Chapter 190-4A, the
quarterly water charge
was based on the
number
of
meters
serving a building, not
the number of units
within the building. For
example, a 4-unit structure with one meter was
billed for total water
usage. Now, because
there are 4 units within
one structure, 4 additional water charges
(one for each apartment)
will be billed per quarter. What was a
$75.00/quarter bill is
now a $300.00/quarter
bill.
Committee
member
Paul Avery, conceiver of
the new ordinance, errs
when he equates users
in the original ordinance
to units in the new

ordinance. Committee
member Susan Price is
mistaken when she says
a meter is a unit. Each
user is a water
measuring device, or
water meter. Neither
user, or meter is a
unit. This is an error
and the new law is
unfair because of the
mistaken way the word
user is being determined. It goes beyond
the bounds of common
sense and legal principle
to base water rates on
number
of
units
instead of total water
consumption measured
by meters the township
provided properties.
Blairstown Committee
members believe if one
divides his building into
4 apartments, 4 quarterly
charges should be
billed, one for each
apartment or unit. If a
landlord divides a building into apartments and
decides for himself each
tenant should pay for
their own water bill, and
consequently, a meter is
installed to measure
water usage for each
apartment
he
has
multiple users. Hence,
he pays multiple charges
because he chose to
have multiple meters.
That is different from
government imposing
its will upon us the
citizenry. That is not
what our Founders
intended. They looked
at government to serve
people, not the other
way around.
Facts appear not to

support the Committees

pitch the new ordinance
levels the playing
field. Property owners
feel its more like
raising the paying field.
According to Blairstown Tax Assessor
records, approximately
66 multi-unit structures
receive township water.
Only about 5 (or 7.5%)
are billed for more than
one meter. The new
ordinance raises water
charges on 92.5% of
properties. Whats fair
about that?
It appears the Committee is trying to invent a
way to create more
revenue to help cover
cost of providing water,
in spite of the fact
revenue from water
accounts exceeded cost
of providing township
water
since
2012
according Chief Financial Officer Rolef.
The real question,
however, is it fair?
Some people will be
whacked, while others
will be untouched. It is
unequal. It targets a
particular group of property owners to increase
revenue - only those
owners of multi-unit
buildings, and that is
unfair, discriminatory,
and violates the Equal
Protection Clause of the
14th Amendment of the
U.S.
Constitution,
which prohibits denying
any person, within its
jurisdiction, equal application of laws. In other
words, laws must treat
individuals in the same
circumstance or condition in the same manner.
This is an issue of
utmost concern because

the
result
is
an
ordinance that discriminates against a specific
group, the same way
employers may deny a
person
employment
because someone is of a
particular race. In this
writers opinion, the
ordinance and elected
officials that support it,
whether through ignorance or otherwise,
discriminate against a
specific
group
of
individuals based on the
type of property owned,
and that violates the
Equal
Protection
Clause,
crucial
to
protection
of
civil
rights.
If the Township Attorney did not see this, we
have a real problem
because it adds to the
townships
potential
liability. How many
lawsuits are pending ?
How much was Blairstown billed to prepare
this ordinance ? Blairstown received bad
advice. Will this Committee find that out only
after they get sued ?
How much more money
will their arrogance
ultimately cost taxpayers than was needed ?
This is wrong on many
levels. The Committee
showed its obstinacy
when it rejected the will
of the People and
reaffirmed
their
ordinance.
Citizens
harassed by government, local, state and
federal. The Equal
Protection Clause is out
the window. Blairstown
needs to get back to
principles of human
equality first embraced
by the Framers and
reiterated by Lincoln in
the Gettysburg Address:
government of the
people, by the people,
for the people . . . . Its
democracy, but they
cant apparently tolerate
it.
Sylvia Zika
Blairstown, NJ
sylviazika235@gmail.
com
Views and opinions
expressed in letters to
the editor do not
necessarily reflect those
of The PRESS or its
staff.

By Denise Eaton

(NAPSI)With road
trips, fireworks and
thunderstorms, summer
can be a tough time for
some pets. Fortunately,
there are several steps
you can take to ease
your animals stress,
whether at home or on
the road.
First, provide a comforting, loving environment for your pet.
Next, according to the
experts at the ASPCA,
when you travel, you
should use a wellventilated
crate
or

carrier that is large

enough for your pet to
move around in. Have
him or her spend some

time in the crate before

the trip.
Make frequent stops
in parks and other green
spaces so you and your
pet can stretch your legs.
Remember to pack a
bag for your pet, too,
including food, water,
bowls, leash, plastic
bags and grooming
supplies. Dont forget
that favorite toy or
pillow.
If your pet still shows
signs
of
stress,
veterinarianrecommended
drops
formulated to help with
a wide range of pet
problemsincluding
anxious behaviors from
travel,
changes
in
routine and fear of loud
noisescan help. Four
drops of RESCUE
Remedy Pet* in the
food or water bowl, on a
treat or favorite chew
toy can help ease pet
stress naturally.
For further information, call (800) 3199151 or you can visit
www.RescueRemedy.co
m/pets.
Ms. Eaton is a Bach
Foundation Registered
Animal Practitioner.
* The claims for this
product are based on
traditional homeopathic
practices. They have not
been reviewed by the
Food and Drug Administration.

Thor is a big handsome

orange and white fellow
that was born January
25th,
2011.
(approximately). This
good looking guy was
found wandering in
Allamuchy in the freezing cold. Thor was obviously
someones
discarded pet left to
fend for himself. He
hasnt let his abandonment affect his sunny
attitude because he is
gentle, friendly and
loves attention. What
had happened to him
while he was wandering
is anyones guess but
Thor has tested positive
for Feline Aids (FIV).
FIV can be inactive for
years. An infected cat
can have the life span of
uninfected cat if they
are an INDOOR ONLY
pet, fed a nutritionally

balanced diet, and arent

exposed to other infections. This is a condition
that humans or dogs
cannot get, but it can be
spread to other cats
through a deep bite
wound.
Pet Adoption League
was going to send Thor
to a sanctuary for FIV
cats, but we all feel that
he is just too special a
cat to be placed
anywhere but a loving
home. Please consider
adopting Thor and
giving him the life he
deserves!
For more information
on FIV please check out
Cornell
Universitys
FIV brochure at www.
vet.cornell.edu/fhc/broc
hures/fiv.html. For more
information on Thor, or
any of our kitties needing a home please visit

www.palpets.org, call
973-584-0095 or email
us at info@palpets.org.
Meet Paul who is a
happy
10
pound
Pomeranian who has
recently been taken in
by
Pet
Adoption
League. He was found
as a stray, matted and
very
hungry
and
required a haircut. Once
his hair grows back he
will be more handsome
than he already is. Paul
always has a smile on
his face and loves to
play. He will make a
wonderful and affectionate companion. Paul
is eight years old and is
neutered and vaccinated. For more information on Paul, please
visit our website at
www.palpets.org, email
us at info@palpets.org
or call 973-584-0095.

With several prominent

sightings of black bears
in Central and South
Jersey over the past few
weeks, the Department
of
Environmental
Protection is reminding
residents in all 21 counties to take a few basic
precautions this summer
to reduce the potential of
encounters with black
bears, and offering tips
on co-existing with the
creatures.
You can reduce the risk
of interactions with
bears by taking a few
simple steps. Most
important, do not feed
bears, intentionally or
unintentionally. Bears
that learn to associate
food with people, and
their homes and living
areas,
can
become
nuisance bears that
forage in neighborhoods
looking for easy sources
of food.
It is illegal to intentionally feed black bears in
NJ and punishable by a
fine of up to $1,000. But
a more common problem is unintentional bear
feeding by homeowners.
Secure your trash and
eliminate
obvious
sources of food, such as
pet food on decks,
easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residues left
in barbecue grills.
The following tips to
can help minimize
conflicts with bears this

summer:
Use certified bearresistant
garbage
containers.
Wash garbage containers frequently with a
disinfectant solution to
remove odors.
Avoid feeding birds
when bears are active. If
you choose to feed
birds, do so during
daylight hours, bring
feeders indoors at night
and clean up spilled
seeds and shells daily.
Immediately remove
all uneaten food and
food bowls used by pets
fed outdoors.

Clean outdoor grills

and utensils to remove
food and grease residue.
Store grills securely.
Do not place meat or
any sweet foods in compost piles.
Remove fruit or nuts
that fall from trees in
your yard.
Properly
installed
electric fencing is an
effective way of protecting crops, beehives and
livestock.
If you encounter a bear
remain calm and do not
run. Make sure the bear
has an escape route.
Avoid
direct
eye

contact, back up slowly

and speak with a low,
assertive voice.
Report bear damage,
nuisance behavior or
aggressive bears to the
Wildlife Control Unit of
the DEPs Division of
Fish and Wildlife at
908-735-8793. To learn
more, visit njfishand
wildlife.com or nj.gov/d
ep/fgw/bearpolicy10.htm