Jeff Alte Jr. Roofings first install of a free roof to a deserving member of the community through No Roof Left Behinds national program has been completed. Mary Lou Sherrer of the Mountain Lake section of Liberty Twp. received the most votes in an online vote and was named winner of a new roof. The install of the new roof

and gutters was completed in September. Some rotted roof decking was also found once the tear off was taking place, and plywood was replaced as needed. Sherrer was delighted with the new look, and with the help or her daughter, Tara Rader, is also doing some yard clean up, painting and siding work and other repairs. The roof was just the start of the issues, but has given Sherrer the springboard needed to accomplish the other tasks. Sherrer was nominated for

the new roof by Rader, who never dreamed she would actually win.My moms new roof is a

true blessing! Rader said. Rader went on to thank Jeff

Alte Jr. and his crew, No Roof Left Behind and others.You have all come together

to do a wonderful thing for someone who truly needed it. I couldnt be more grateful, Rader said .Sherrer suffers from a

degenerative nerve disease, was injured at work not too long ago and had to take additional time off from her job due to a car accident. She fights through the pain every day working to keep the electric on, but the needed maintenance had mounted and she wasnt able to keep up with the many repairs. The home has been in the family for four generations, and Rader says it is now well on its way to being restored

to its former glory. We are very pleased with

the success of this initiative. This is the first year we have participated in the No Roof Left Behind program and we are excited to see the differ-ence this gift has made in Sherrers life. We wish her all the best going forward. said owner, Jeff Alte Jr.For more information about

Jeff Alte Jr. Roofing, or their No Roof Left Behind program, please call 908-850-8558 or visit alteroofing.com or noroofleft behind.com/program/nj/1196.No Roof Left Behind is a

nationwide program that gives folks in the community a way to help their good neighbors that have fallen on hard times. The No Roof Left Behind program provides a local contractor the framework to provide a new roof at no cost to a deserving homeowner in need.

By Bob HalberstadtSixty three years ago a

Blairstown, NJ resident and neighbor became ill and had to wait two hours for an ambulance. That was one of the main reasons a group of townspeople decided to institute a better response system to service the surrounding rural farm coun-try.Their current location on

Stillwater Road off of Route 94 broke ground in 1953. Its small quarters and ambulance bays were fine in the begin-ning. The first ambulance the squad used was a 1942 Pack-ard hearse. As the town grew and the population multi-plied, storage for medical supplies, ambulances, rescue vehicles and the space the squad needed to train its EMTs and members of the community who wished to learn CPR, the building has become obsolete.The new location, located

behind the townships munici-

pal building on Route 94 has three double bays and a large bay for a rescue truck. There is squad ready room, kitchen and a training facility.On hand for the ground

breaking at that time were Captain Scott Durlester, then President Sue Lothian, who now is on the committee handling the grand opening ribbon cutting, and current President Joe DiGrazia. On Saturday, October 24th the new building will have an open house and tour of the new facilities.The Blairstown Ambulance

Corps. handled 44 calls that first year. During the last 10 years they handled almost 10,000 calls. This year there have been over 5,000 volun-teer man-hours accredited to the squad. Their territory is nearly 100 square miles covering Blairstown, Hope, Hardwick, Columbia, Freling-huysen with mutual aid given to Knowlton, Allamuchy and Stillwater Township.

The Salvation Army, located at 301 West Main Street in Pen Argyl, will be accepting Christmas appli-cations now through Octo-ber 23rd from 9am to 3pm, and November 9th and 10th from 9am to 3pm, and 5pm to 8pm. All applicants will need to have their current driver's license/state ID, proof of address, and proof of age for children 12 and under.The Chandler Estates are

looking for vendors for their fall celebration on October 24th from 9am to 4pm. For more information, call Tina at 610-863-3503 or email Tina@chandler estate.com.Christ Lutheran Church

will be holding a pastie sale on October 27th, from 11am to 1pm. Christ Lutheran Church, is located at 703 S. Delaware Dr., Mt. Bethel. Call Chrissy at 610-588-0809 to order.The Bangor Area School

District will hold Ski and Snowboard Club sign-ups on October 28th and 29th for students in fifth through 12th grades. Sign-ups will be held in the middle school auditorium at 7pm. This is the only time for students to sign up for the club. A parent and child must attend one of these nights in order to participate in the club. If you cant make it, you must contact the advisors before

the meeting date, not after. All online payments must be completed on time; no excep-tions. Information packets are available on the high school, middle school and DeFranco websites. Questions regarding the club can be directed to Mrs. Diane Lobb, at 610- 599-7011, ext. 1027.East Bangor United Meth-

odist Community Church is holding a Gertrude Hawk fundraiser. Orders must be in by November 15th. For more information or to order, call Diane at 610-588-2397.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. For more information or tickets, call Bill Ruggiero at 610-863-6297.The Slate Belt Heritage

Center has commenced a new project and is asking for volunteers to assist them in reading and summarizing over 4,000 letters written by Slate Belt World War II soldiers. These letters were written to Horace and Mona Strunk, who were editors and founders of the Homefront Magazine. This magazine was distributed throughout all the different war areas and kept local boys in touch with home. Working hours for this project are Mondays, 9am to noon, and Tuesday through Friday, 1pm to 4pm. If inter-ested, or for additional infor-

mation, email blau.marc@outlook.com or call 610-588-8615.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 610-588-6161. Volun-teers must be at least 16 years old.The Ladies Auxiliary of

the Mt. Bethel Volunteer Fire Company is seeking new members and volun-teers. If you are interested and would like further infor-mation, contact Gail at 570-897-6293 or Kris at 610-392-7975.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. Dona-tions can be sent to Carol Hummel c/o St. Johns Cem-etery, 136 Messinger Street, Bangor, PA 18013.

The Frelinghuysen Town-ship Recreation Committee and Municipal Alliance will be holding Halloween together at Town Hall on Saturday, October 31st from 4pm to 8pm. The hayride will be from 4pm to 6pm. Refreshments will be served. There will also be a Halloween lighting contest for Frelinghuysen Township residents. Please pre-register before October 25th at Town Hall. Judging will be on October 30th for spookiest, and most original decorations. On Saturday November

14th, Blairstown township will be holding a public land clean-up day. Blairstown volunteer groups, such as scouts, school groups and church groups, can earn money while helping the community. Each group must contain six people, including an adult, with a maximum of two groups per organization. If you are interested, meet at the recycling center located on Lambert Road at 8:30am to fill out paperwok. For more

information, call Maureen at 908-310-2910. Religious education classes

at the Unitarian Universal-ist Fellowship of Sussex County have begun. Chil-dren ages three through 12 will participate in a program called Sing to the Power, which includes lessons and activities that help children explore ways they can use their different forms of personal power to effect positive change in the world. The classes are held every Sunday from 10:30am to noon in the fellowship hall, located at One West Nelson Street in Newton. For further information, call 570-828-2732 or visit www. UUNewtonNJ.org.Free exercise classes will be

held for adults at town hall in Johnsonburg. Classes are an hour long on Monday and Wednesday at 10am, and Saturday at 9am; or Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 4:45pm. For more informa-tion, visit www. frelinghuysennj.us/aerobics.htm, call Cathy at 908-852-7426, or email cathy@cathy baobean.com.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.The Warren County Com-

munity Singers are looking for new members. The singers are a non-audition group. Rehearsals are Tues-days, 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 accor-

dance 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: Novem-ber 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 accor-

dance 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 Non-Fiction: Kidder, Tracy: Strength In What Remains; Kingsland, Rosemary: The Secret Life Of A Schoolgirl; Oberle, Cheryl: Knitted Jackets 20 Designs; Pogue, David: Windows 10 The Missing Manual; Macomber, Debbie: Knit Along With Debbie Macomber A Turn In The Road; Smith, Dennis: A Song For Mary.Junior Fiction: Herman,

Gail: Fira And The Full Moon; Thorpe, Kiki: The Troublewith Tink.Fiction Audio Books:

Coben, Harlan: Six Years; Kellerman, Jonathan: Dr. Death; Lescroart, John: The Keeper; Saul, John: Comes The Blind Fury; Rice, Luanne: Secrets Of Paris.Non Fiction Audio

Books: Dyer, Wayne: The Essence Of Being In Balance.

At the monthly meeting of M a r t o c c i - C a p o b i a n c o American Legion Post No. 750, in Roseto, PA, held on October 6th, Stephen DeFranco, in his capacity as 30th District commander, informed the local post that as of January 1st, 2016, the National American Legion will increase the yearly dues

by $5. DeFranco stated that The Department of Pennsyl-vania American Legion voted against the increase, but there were enough votes from the other states to pass the measure. The dues for the Roseto Post are currently $25. Of this amount, the local post sends $22 to be divided between the Depart-

ment and National Organiza-tion. The local post keeps only $3 per member. As of January 1st, the Post will have to send $27. DeFranco said that neither Roseto nor department has any control over this. Unfortunately the local post will most probably have to increase its dues to $30. The officers are trying

to come up with some way to alleviate this, but as of yet have not. DeFranco suggested that anyone who has not yet paid their 2016 dues should pay them as quickly as possible so that they can be sent to Department/National before December 31st.It was noted at the meeting,

at which Jr. Vice Com-mander Ken Werner presided, that the local Post has 164 paid members so far for 2016. DeFranco said that the 30th District is in 6th place in the State for mem-bership. He said that anytime you are in the top 10, it is good.It was further announced

that the Roseto Post will have the honor of hosting an Eastern Sectional American Legion meeting on Sunday, November 15th. An Eastern Sectional meeting has never been held locally, so this is somewhat of an honor. The Department of PA Com-mander will be in attendance at this meeting. All Legion-naires from the area are invited to attend.

Apple Festival: October 23rd, 4pm-7pm. Hope UCC, 2nd St., Wind Gap.

American Legion Aux. Coach Bingo: October 24th, 11am. Bangor VFW, 202 Veterans Rd., Bangor. FMI, call Laura at 570-897-6442.

Comunales Italian Market Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting: October 24th, 11am-5pm. 1 Mt. Bethel Plaza, 2165 Mt. Bethel Hwy, Mt. Bethel.

Free Movie Night: October 24th, 7pm. Cross Road Baptist Church, 2nd & Chest-nut St., Bangor. Movie: Gods Not Dead.

Haunted Hayride: October 24th, 7pm-9pm. Blooming Grove Vol. Firehouse, 484 Rt. 739, Lords Valley (Hawley). FMI, call 570-775-7355.

St. Peters UCC Vera Brad-

ley Purse Bingo: October 24th, 11:30am. FMI, call Sheila at 610-837-1533.

Brunch w/ the Author Karen Shoemaker Katchur: October 24th, 10am. Bangor Public Library. Registration req'd. FMI, call 610-588-4136.

Annual Multi Family Yard & Craft Sale: October 24th & 25, 9am-3pm. Ginder Greenhouse & Garden Center, 588 Lake Minsi Dr., Bangor, PA. FMI, call 610-588-0222. Certain items for sale will help support the Slate Belt Santas Elves Committee.

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

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 570-350-4977.

Spaghetti Dinner: October 25th, 12pm-5pm. St. Josephs Episcopal Church, Verona Ave., W. Bangor.

Weona Park Pool Pals Fundraiser: October 26th, 6:30pm-7:30pm. Detzi's Tavern, 570 N. Lehigh Ave., Wind Gap.

Bangor Women's Club Fall Card Party: October 29th, 11:30am. FMI, call Ellen Prudenti at 570-897-5787.

Rummage & Bake Sale: October 30th, 8am-4pm & October 31st, 8am-2pm. St. Johns Lutheran Church, 12 N. Westbrook Ave., Pen Argyl. FMI, call Dawn at 610-863-7498.Halloween Party: October 31st, 1pm-3pm. Upper Mt. Bethel Fire House, Rt. 611, Mt. Bethel.

Northampton Comm.

College Open House: Octo-ber 31st, 10am-12:30pm, Monroe Campus; & Novem-ber 21st, 10am-2pm. Bethle-hem Campus. FMI, visit northampton.edu/openhouse or call 610-861-5550.

East Allen Twp. Vol. Fire Dept. Bingo: November 1st, 11:30am. 5354 Nor-Bath Blvd., Northampton. FMI, call 610-767-7140.

Weona Park Pool Pals Meeting: November 2nd, 7pm. St. Johns Lutheran Church, 12 N. Westbrook Ave., Pen Argyl. Those interested in having a com-munity pool in Pen Argyl without raising taxes come.

Bangor High School's "Bandorama" Concert: November 4th, 7:30pm. M. Craig Paine Performing Arts Theater. Indoor performance by the BAHS Marching Band complete with our 2015 Half-time Show. FMI, visit www. bahsbands.weebly.com

Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club Meeting:

Blairstown Seniors Trip: November 20th. Sign up by October 22nd at Town Hall at 1pm. FMI, Call Mickey at 908-362-8919.

Hardwick Seniors Seminar on Medicare Fraud: Octo-ber 22nd, 1pm. Hardwick municipal building, 40 Spring Valley Rd., Hard-wick. Any persons over the age of 55 who lives in Hard-wick & wishes to become a member may visit that day, or call President Laura Randazzo at 908-362-8920.

Free Employment Readi-ness Training: October 22nd, 10am. NORWESCAP Career & Life Transitions Center for Women. Regitsration reqd. FMI, call 908-835-2624.

Blairstown Ambulance Corps. Open House: Octo-ber 24th,10am-6pm. 108 Rt. 94, Blairstown.

St. Jude Ladies Guild Bingo: October 24th, 6:30pm. McNulty Hall, 7 Eisenhower Rd., Blairstown. No one under 18 is admitted. Proceeds will go to local charities, scholarships, the needy &the Parish. FMI, call Bev Kerrigan at 908-362-7393.

France at a Glance: Mon-days, Now-November 23rd, 3:15pm-4:30pm. Blairstown Elementary School Library. Classes are for boys & girls grades 1st-3rd. FMI, visit www.blairstown-nj.org.

Rummage Sale: October 23rd, 9am-4pm & October 24th, 9am-noon. Franklin Twp. Vol. Fire Dept. Aux.,

37 Second St., New Village. FMI or to donate, call 908-689-3677.

Rummage Sale: October 23rd, 9am-4pm. Yellow Frame Church, Rt. 94 & 1 Yellow Frame Rd., Fredon. FMI, call 973-383-5364 or 973-383-9840.

Warren Co. Community Singers Cabaret Caf: October 24th, 7:30pm. Grace Lutheran Church, Roseberry St., Phillipsburg. Tickets avail. at the door.

Horror, Hounds & Hallow-een Dog Walk of the Dead III: October 25th, 11am-3pm. Waterloo Village, Byram. FMI, email Anthony at deaddogwalk@gmx.com.

North Warren Democratic Club Meeting: October 28th, 7pm. Catherine Dick-son Hofman Library, Lam-bert Rd., Blairstown. FMI, contact Fred Cook at 908-362-6808 or fpchistory @yahoo.com.

Free Historic Main Street & Cemetery Walking Tour: October 31st, 1pm. First Presbyterian Church lobby, 1 Main St., Blair-stown. FMI call the Blair-stown Historic Preservation Committee at 973-997-0920.

Walpack Historical Society 4-Mile Loop Hike: Novem-ber 1st, 11am. Rosenkrans Museum in Walpack Center, Walpack Twp. No children under 10 years old. No stroll-ers. FMI, call 973-948-4903.

Pancake & Sausage Supper: November 7th, 4:30pm-7pm. Walnut Valley UMC, Vail Rd. at Rt. 94, Blairstown. FMI, contact Christie at christiebende @yahoo.com.

Free Holiday Bazaar for Caregivers: November 8th, Noon-3pm. The Manor/ Belvidere Firehouse, 689 Water St., Belvidere. FMI, call Robin at 973-993-1160 ext. 305, or email Robin.Ennis@UnitedWay NNJ.org.

The Raptor Show: Novem-ber 13th, 6pm-7pm. North Warren Regional H.S., 10 Noe Rd., Blairstown. Advance Ticket Sales Avail. FMI, Call 908-362-8211, ext. 1303.

November 5th, 7:30pm. Bethlehem Twp. Comm. Center, 2900 Farmersville Rd., Bethlehem. FMI, visit www.dlarc.org or call 610-432-8286.

Annual Holiday Bazaar: November 7th, 9am-2pm. United Methodist Church of Matamoras, Ave. H & Third St., Matamoras.

Spaghetti Dinner: Novem-ber 7th, 4pm-7pm. St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, 12 N. Westbrook Ave., Pen Argyl. FMI, call 610-863-5365.

Ciao Amici, Growing up in an Italian

home, the phonetic sound of food items is just beauti-ful. This poem by Shel Silverstein demonstrates what I am talking about. Gather the children and

grandchildren and recite it; it is a guaranteed smile. Italian FoodOh, how I love Italian

food.I eat it all the time,Not just 'cause how good it

tastesBut 'cause how good it

rhymes.Minestrone, cannelloni,Macaroni, rigatoni,Spaghettini, scallopini,Escarole, braciole,Insalata, cremolata, mani-

cotti,Marinara, carbonara,Shrimp francese, Bolog-

nese,Ravioli, mostaccioli,Mozzarella, tagliatelle,Fried zucchini, rollatini,Fettuccine, green linguine,Tortellini, Tetrazzini,OopsI think I split my

jeani.

~ Shel Silverstein A tavola non si invecchia.You dont age while seated

for a meal. Con cordiali saluti,JoeGrowing 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 JDe-FrancoAnd Daughters.com, click on mailing list and enter your email. Send your Roseto stories, recipes and comments to portipasto@epix. net or call 610-588-6991. 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.

The five singers who com-pose the acapella singing group LYRA from St. Petersburg, Russia, will return to St. Lukes Church in Hope, New Jersey, Friday evening, October 23rd at 7pm. They return by popular demand for their 10th performance there.The historic interior of St.

Lukes, with its wonderful acoustics, will again resound to the pure sound of these exceptional singers.The first part of the

program will be Russian church music. Some mem-bers of the LYRA group have sung in the choirs of famous churches of St. Petersburg, such as our Lady of Kazan, and most have been trained in this music in the St. Petersburg academies of music, where these tradi-tions have been carefully preserved.Although the Russian

Orthodox Church has inspired vocal music of incredible beauty, we in America rarely get to hear it properly performed by expert musicians trained in the Church Slavonic it

employs and in the techniques of Russian unac-companied vocal singing.The church music that will

be heard in Hope dates mostly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when various composers sought to return a largely westernized musical tradition to its Slavic medieval roots. The restora-tion of Russian chant gained momentum in the early 20th century, partly due to the influence of Slavic national-ism, and several works of

leading composers of this time will appear on the Hope program. These same early 20th century masters also provided many of the choral arrangements of the secular songs which will be sung in Hope as Part 2 of the concert.Russian church music stems

from a very ancient tradition brought to Russia over a thousand years ago when the country was converted to Orthodox Christianity (988 A.D.). Over the centuries the Byzantine traditions, which

originally dominated Russian music, were gradually changed by the influence of specifically Russian elements, particularly the Old Slavonic language used in church (as opposed to Byzan-tine Greek) and various developments in Russian folk and secular music.The Russian songs that

comprise the second half of the program have proved to be enormously popular with audiences at St. Lukes.This concert, one of a series

sponsored by Music at St. Lukes, is supported in part by the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Com-mission.Tickets will be available at

the door before the perfor-mance. St. Lukes is located at 346 High St, Hope, NJ 07844. For information and reservations contact Tanya at 908-818-9661.

By Jennifer LivelyWe are well aware that the

American culture puts a great deal of emphasis on being a winner. Vince Lombardi, the well known football coach, was famous for saying, Win-ning is everything. It may come as no surprise, there-fore, that for a small number of individuals (among the many who gamble for fun and

entertainment), the need to win turns into an addiction. For this group, gambling

takes over their lives, some-times destroying their marriages and ruining them financially. Some warning signs that your gambling may be a problem are: gambling alone, giving up most other activities, continuing to gamble to try to gain back

losses, hiding your gambling habits from others, and gambling until all your money is gone and then borrowing more to continue gambling. If you are experiencing any

of these signs, consider talking to the staff at A Clean Slate, located at 100 S. 1st St., in Bangor, PA or call 610-452-9348 for more infor-mation.

The benefits package your employer offers is a valuable part of your total compensa-tion.Making the right choices is

critical and its worth spend-ing the time to get it right. Use the Open enrollment season as an opportunity to

review plan options, ask important questions and make informed benefits choices youll feel good about all year. It isnt uncommon for many of us to simply check the boxes to continue our current benefits. Maintaining the status quo

takes less time and is a subtle way to validate the choices weve made in the past. Those who have gone through a major life event, such as a marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or a child leaving the nest, are more likely to make changes. Yet these benefits should not be taken lightly. Here are some key areas you should consider during your open enrollment period:Health benefits: Insurance

coverage is a top priority for most of us. Think about your

own health and what your anticipated medical needs are in the coming year and pick an appropriate plan. You might want to choose a plan with lower deductibles if you expect to address specific medical issues. A high deductible option may be best if you dont anticipate any major medical issues (although we never know when such issues will occur). If you go the high deductible route, look into a Health Savings Account (HSA). It allows you to set money aside on a pre-tax basis that can be used to meet current eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses, but can also be invested to grow and help pay future medical costs.Flexible spending accounts

(FSAs): Your employer may offer you the ability to use pre-tax dollars to fund spend-

ing accounts to help pay for medical and child care expenses. In effect, this reduces your out-of-pocket expenses in each area. In 2015, individuals could put $2,550 toward a health care FSA and $5,000 toward paying depen-dent care expenses for children under age 13. Retirement savings plan:

This is a prime time to boost your retirement plan contribu-tions and assess your invest-ment choices. Individuals under 50 years old could contribute $18,000 to their 401(k) or 403(b) plan in 2015, while those ages 50 and older could contribute $24,000. Also consider a Roth 401(k) or 403(b) if it is offered as a way to build up retirement savings that may qualify to be withdrawn on a tax-free basis when you retire. Its important to note that the 2016 limits for both FSAs and retirement savings plans are indexed to

inflation and have not been set yet (as of October 2nd, 2015).Other types of insurance:

Many employers offer disability income coverage. This is a valuable benefit to provide an income stream to you if an accident, injury or illness prevents you from working for an extended period. Any option to purchase additional coverage is worth considering to have more complete protection. Some employers also offer the opportunity to purchase long-term care coverage with a group discount. Compare the costs with coverage you can purchase on your own to determine where you will get the best value.Open enrollment season is a

good time to talk to your employers benefits adminis-trator if you have questions about your options. It also makes sense to consult with

your financial advisor for perspective on how your benefits fit with your overall financial plan.James Fahey, AAMS,

LUTCF, CLTC is a Financial Advisor and Vice President with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Bedminster,NJ. He special-izes in fee-based financial planning and asset manage-ment strategies and has been in practice for 26 years. To contact him, please visit ameripriseadvisors.com/james.fahey.Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

and its affiliates do not offer tax or legal advice. Consum-ers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situa-tion.Ameriprise Financial

Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. 2015 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

The North Warren Relay For Life team, Keep Calm And Fight On, would like to invite you to the third annual 5K to benefit the American Cancer Society. This year they will also be having a noncompetitive one mile walk. The event will be on November 28th, rain, snow or shine. Registration will open at 7:30am at the Knowl-ton Lions Club Pavilion, behind Smittys on Rt.46. We will be starting both the race and the walk at 8:30am. The cost to participants who

register by November 13th is only $25, or group registra-tion at $15 per member, but you have to register by November 1st to be guaran-teed a t-shirt. Registration after November 13th is only $30 with group registration being $20 per member. You can register by visiting active.com and searching for

Keep Calm and Fight On, or by contacting Mark Klouda at 908-283-3025 or markk 1013@gmail.com. All proceeds raised will go

to help the American Cancer Society, the official sponsor of birthdays. The American Cancer Society needs your help to continue all the many things they do. From ground-breaking research that helps everyone win the fight against cancer, to free rides to and from a patients treat-ment, to providing lodging near treatment, to helping patients and caregivers find answers to their many ques-tions. No single nongovernmen-

tal, not-for-profit organiza-tion in the United States has invested more to find the causes and cures of cancer than the American Cancer Society. Since 1946, the American Cancer Society has

invested over four billion dollars in research grants that has made possible almost every major cancer research breakthrough. Facing cancer is hard,

having to travel out of town makes it even harder. The American Cancer Society has a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can find help and hope when home is far away, called Hope Lodge. Each lodge offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when their best hope for an effective treatment may be in another city. Every day, thousands of

cancer patients need a ride to treatment but do not have any

way to get to there. The Road to Recovery program provides transportation to and from treatment for people who do not have a ride or are unable to drive them-selves. In 2014 alone, more than 341,000 rides were given to cancer patients. The American Cancer Soci-

ety Patient Navigator Program connects a patient with 24/7 support year round to a cancer treatment center. Cancer patients have a one-on-one contact to help in understanding their diagno-sis, treatment options and possible side effects, help dealing with insurance issues that may come up and being there in their time of need.

(NAPSI)Falling leaves and dipping temperatures signal the turn of the season and with that comes the need to prepare your home for winter. Your outdoor living space is no exception; its an area you spent months enjoy-ing with summer barbecues and gatherings. All that foot traffic wear and tear and direct sunlight can take a toll on any deck, but with a few easy tips, you can safeguard this area of your home and prepare it for the harsh winter weather ahead. Protect Your Deck-

cessories: Excess moisture and freezing temperatures can bring a host of problems for the items in your outdoor space, including furniture, grills and planters. Its important to guard these investments and make sure they stay protected for years to come.For areas that experience

extreme weather, its best to store furniture and cushions indoors to prevent snow accumulation or cover them with a water-resistant mate-rial to prevent damage from

the elements. For milder climates, protect smaller outdoor wooden items, such as garden boxes, birdhouses and wooden benches, by sealing with Thompsons WaterSeal Waterproofing Wood ProtectorClear Aerosol.Before the first freeze,

move plants that can be easily transplanted indoors. Outdoor planters that are too big to bring inside can be wrapped with a heavily insulated material, like burlap, and moved to an area of the space that will allow them to still get enough direct sunlight. Clean Your Grill: Thor-

oughly clean the racks of your grill with a grill brush and coat the burners and other metal parts with cook-ing oil to repel moisture and prevent rust. If its a gas grill, turn it on and let the last of the gas burn off. Remove the tank from a propane grill and store outdoors, away from the house. Tape a plastic bag over the gas line opening to keep curious critters from nesting there. No matter the

grill type, a heavy-duty vinyl cover should keep it safe and dry all winter long. Defend the Surface:

Heavy foot traffic, barbecue grill stains and exposure to the elements can not only ruin the decks appearance, but also create the perfect environment for the growth of mold and mildew. HGTV/DIY network star Jeff Wilson notes that these conditions make it important to thoroughly clean the remnants of a summer well spent and get your deck ready for winter. And its the perfect time of year to tackle this outdoor project with the heat of summer giving way to cooler fall temperatures.Coating your deck with a

premium product like Thompsons WaterSeal Penetrating Timber Oil not only nourishes and beautifies wood with a unique triple blend of fast-absorbing oils, but it also includes water-proofing protection against ice, snow and sleet that can penetrate an unprotected

surface and cause splitting and cracking of the wood.Taking the time to winterize

your outdoor living space will not only protect your investment, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that your decorating and designing efforts made during the warmer months will not go to waste because of harsh winter elements.Both Thompsons

WaterSeal Waterproofing Wood Protector-Clear Aero-sol and Thompsons WaterSeal Penetrating Timber Oil are available at The Home Depot. Thompsons WaterSeal Penetrating Timber Oil is available in five colors: Natural, Teak, Pecan, Walnut and Redwood.For further facts, tips and

helpful hints for your outdoor living space, please visit www.thompsons waterseal.com. For even more ideas and inspiration, see Thompsons WaterSeal on Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

Hello, fellow readers!Recently I met with Andrea

of Morristown, NJ, whose property is graced with grand old ash trees, one of which has died. Dave Dubee, arbor-ist, shared that while the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is getting close to home, Andrea's ash was not a victim but others should be protected.EAB, Agrilus planipenni, is

an invasive wood-boring insect that kills all species of ash trees. EAB has been found in five counties in NJ, as close as Bergen and Som-erset counties, and has invaded much of PA, 52 counties in fact, and is now as close as Bucks County. It was first discovered in Michigan in 2002, likely imported from overseas cargo, and is now in 23 states. Ash trees are found in a

quarter of all forests and are commonly seen in land-scapes, along streets, and in parks. Tens of millions of ash trees have been lost to this pest. While EAB beetles can fly a half mile, much of the spread is believed to be through the movement of infested firewood. There are now quarantine laws prohib-

iting firewood between coun-ties and states to prevent further spread.The adult Emerald Ash

Borer is a half-inch long metallic green beetle with a copper red abdomen. Larvae of this beetle feed under the bark of ash trees, which is what kills them. The inch-long larvae are white or cream and have ten bell-shaped segments. EAB adults emerge in May or early June, creating D-shaped exit holes. They first infest the top of the trees crown, which makes them hard to see. Wood-pecker activity can be an initial sign and, as EAB populations increase, crown dieback will occur. Trees will only live three or four years if untreated.Of the insecticides that can

effectively control EAB, trunk injections work best; specifically Emamectin benzoate, also known as Tree-age, which is injected into a tree's vascular system. Because it is not sprayed on the bark or leaves, animals or insects that do not feed on the tree will not be affected. Most effective insecticides

are systemic and must be applied by a professional. However, there are protective cover sprays that homeown-ers may apply. But is the case of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, it would be much wiser to do more than just cover your ash. Garden Dilemmas? askmarystone.comTip: Theres an official EAB

website at, www.emeraldas hborer.info, created by authorities of our impacted states and Canada that provides continually updated information on the invader, advice on what you can do, and what authorities to contact should you suspect you have EAB.

The Pocono Garden Club will hold a general meeting on Tuesday, November 10th, at 1pm. The meeting will be held at the Kettle Creek Envi-ronmental Education Center, located on Running Valley Road, in Bartonsville, PA.The program will be a group

event making a holiday wreath. Members are asked to bring a glue gun and/or floral wire. Materials for the wreaths will be supplied by

the club.The monthly design is

suitably titled Harvest

Home. There will be a choice of design using an assortment of fresh or silk

materials of natures bounty. and arrangements will be nestled in or on a basket with no accessory.The horticulture entry is a

berry stem or branch a maxi-mum of 24 inches, in a clear container. The houseplant entry is a potted begonia that may be flowering or not.Anyone interested in plants

and gardening is welcome. For more information please call 570-977-613l.