February 14 , 2007 Release

Wade Preston Performing at The Washington

BANGOR- Fresh off of a three-year run of the Tony Award winning Broadway show Movin’ Out and several performances worldwide, “Piano Man” Wade Preston and members of the Movin’ Out Band will perform Saturday, February 17 at The Washington (formerly Washington Township Fire Hall). Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased prior to the show at Steckel’s Jewelers, Ruggiero’s Market, Heard’s Meat Market, Bangor Shop Quik, and Mt. Bethel Shop Quik. Tickets can also be purchased at the door while supplies last. Food will be available throughout the night and those 21-years-old and over may BYOB. Doors open at 7:30 PM and the show begins at 8:30 PM. The band will perform classic Billy Joel songs, old and new rock, as well as songs of their own. The show begins at 7 PM and all proceeds benefit the Bangor High School’s music program. The Washington is located at 920 Washington Boulevard (Route 191) in Washington Township.

Pen Argyl High School Kicking Off Artist in Residence Program

PEN ARGYL- Pen Argyl Area High School’s art department will kick off its annual 10-day Artist in Residence Program on Friday, February 16. This year the school will be hosting Bethlehem fiber artist Claire Marcus who will work closely with a core group of 25 art students. The program begins with a virtual field trip to learn about the historical and current significance of cloth and fibers and be introduced to the art of felting. The students will apply the knowledge to create individual felt designs for wall hangings throughout the school. The program is sponsored by a grant through the Monroe County Arts Council, the Pennsylvania Arts Council, and the Pen Argyl Area School District.

Green Knight Economic Development Corp. Sponsoring Agricultural Education

The Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, a division of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB), will be bringing agriculture education to Plainfield Elementary school from February 12 to February 15 to provide agricultural education and training to the third grade students.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s Mobile Agriculture Education Science Lab creates an opportunity for students to learn about agriculture (Pennsylvania’s number one industry) in a fun and hands-on way.

“With fewer children having a tie to farming, we created the Ag Lab to help teachers educate more students about the importance of agriculture,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer.

Once stationed at a school, students enter the lab to perform science experiments that teach lessons focused on farm, food, fiber and the environment. Mobile Lab visits to schools are coordinated with the preparation of teachers and their classes for the science experiments. A certified teacher travels with the lab to lead each class in the science experiments. The lab is equipped with all the materials and supplies needed for the experiments.

Examples of the experiments that are taught in the lab include: germinating seeds under different conditions, creating crayons from soybeans, and testing the water capacity of different soils.

The visit of the Ag Lab to the Plainfield Elementary School has been made possible through a community grant by the Green Knight Economic Development Corporation.

Plainfield Township Elementary School is located at 539 School Road in Nazareth. For more information on the activities at Plainfield School, contact Adrienne Snik at 610.746.4436, Ext 425.

Bangor Area High School Board February Meeting Dates

The Bangor Area School Board will hold their monthly meetings for February on Tuesday, February 20 (Work Session) and Monday, February 26 (Business Meeting). All meetings begin at 7:30 PM and will be held in the Slater Conference Room of the Bangor Area School District Administration Building, located at 123 Five Points Richmond Road in Bangor.

Blue Valley Farm Show Hosting All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast

BANGOR- The Blue Valley Farm Show will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 AM to 1 PM on Sunday, February 18 in the Farm Show Auditorium. Breakfast offerings include homemade cream chipped beef, pork sausage, turkey sausage, ham, scrapple, Kielbasa, pancakes, French toast, and homefries. Donuts, cakes, pie, pudding, and desserts as well as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and orange juice will be available. The cost is $7 for adults, $3 for kids over age 6, and kids under 6 eat free.

Relay for Life Slate Belt Team Selling Pizza

Relay for Life Slate Belt team, Angels in the Field, is selling Joe Corbi’s Pizzas. The fundraiser benefits the team and offers a variety of pizzas. To order, call Linda or Tanya at 610.599.9038.

Ladies Auxiliary of Second Ward Fire 3rd Annual Appraisal Fair

The Ladies’ Auxiliary of Second Ward Fire Company will hold its 3rd annual Appraisal Fair on Wednesday, April 4 from 5 to 7 PM at the fire house. Guests have their items appraised for $5 each by Hartzell’s Auction. Light refreshments will be served.

Faith Christian School Holding Silent Basket Auction

Faith Christian School’s Booster Club will hold a silent basket auction from 6 to 9 PM on Friday, March 9. The auction will be held in the Forks Gym and is the school’s largest fundraiser. Volunteers are needed in the areas of auction announcers, setup and clean up, concession stand donations of food and baking, and basket making. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Debbie Medernach at 610.86.8054 or djm58@epix.net.

Washington Twp. Fire Company Ladies Aux. Sponsoring Atlantic City Bus Trip

Washington Township Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring a bus trip to Resorts in Atlantic City on Thursday, March 14. Anyone interested in participating should call Roberta at 610.588.3984 or Ruth at 610.588.7402.

Five Points Inn Hosting Slate Belt Chamber Winter Business Luncheon

The Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce is holding its Winter Business Luncheon at 12 PM on Tuesday, February 27 at Five Points Inn and Deli. Marilyn Rettaliata will be the guest speaker and lecture on records management. The cost of the luncheon is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Attendees will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business or service. Those wishing to attend must contact the chamber at 610.863.0315 by February 20. Five Points Inn and Deli is located at 1003 Route 512 in Mt. Bethel.

Knights of Columbus Upcoming Events

The Fr. De Nisco Council #3862 Knights of Columbus will hold the Home Association Grand Drawing of the 200 Club on Sunday, February 25. The drawing will be held from 3 to 5 PM at the council home. All ticket holders are encouraged to attend. The monthly Knights of Columbus meeting will be held at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, February 27 at the council home.

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Donut Sale

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church is holding a donut sale on Tuesday, February 20. The homemade donuts will be available plain or powdered. The cost is $4.50 per dozen and orders should be received by Sunday, February 18. Orders can be picked up between 11 AM and 1 PM on February 20. For more information or to place an order, call Blanche at 570.897.6612 or Evelyn at 610.588.7047.

Exchange Club Eagle Scout Appreciation Dinner

The Exchange Club of Bangor is holding the Eagle Scout Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, February 27. The dinner will be held at the Blue Valley Farm Show Auditorium. The cost of the dinner is $13.

Winter Carnival 2007 at Bangor Area High School

Bangor Area High School will hold its annual Winter Carnival on Friday, February 23. The event will be held in the high school gymnasium from 6 to 8 PM. A snow date of Monday, February 26 has been scheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Big Wheel Skating Center Hosting Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser

The Big Wheel Skating Center is gearing up for the Juvenile Diabetes skating fundraiser scheduled for Sunday, February 18 from 4 to 10 PM. Participants must have a minimum of $10 on a sponsor sheet or pay $12 at the door the day of the event. Prizes will be awarded to anyone who collects sponsors based on the amount of money they collect. Sponsor sheets are available at The Big Wheel Skating Center and must be submitted with the money by Saturday, February 3 to be eligible for prizes. The event will feature live bands, DJ’s, door prizes and raffles. Stop by The Big Wheel Skating Center with any questions or call 570.424.5499 or email questions@bigwheelskating.com.

Slate Belt Senior Center Awarded Grant for Dishwasher Equipment

Rep. Rich Grucela (D-Northampton) and Craig Dally (R-Northampton) announced that a $4,000 state grant has been awarded to the Slate Belt Senior Citizen Center to purchase a commercial dishwasher.

“This is an important investment for the center as offering hot meals for clients is important to the success of the center,” Dally said.

“The assistance these centers provide to our seniors is invaluable and it’s important they have the equipment they need to be efficient and sanitary,” Grucela said.

The money came from the Senior Center Community Grant Program which legislators included in the state budget for the current fiscal year.

The center on American Bangor Road is open from 8:30 AM to 4 PM and offers clients a broad range of services, including nutritious meals, health screenings, consumer education, creative arts, exercise programs, and special events.

Safe Haven for Monroe County Pets

Monroe County dogs and cats now have a Safe Haven. There are too many unwanted, abandoned and abused animals in Monroe County and now there is a new animal rescue organization dedicated to finding these neglected animals a loving home. Safe Haven is an animal rescue organization based in Blakeslee that consists of experienced and dedicated animal rescue volunteers and has successfully placed many animals for adoption in the short time it has been in existence. Since the organization does not have a shelter to house these pets, foster homes are urgently needed. If you would like to take care of an abandoned dog or cat until it can be placed in a loving home, please contact Safe Haven. Donations are always needed to help care for these pets until they can be placed in a home. For more information, and to see animals available for adoption, please visit our website at www.safehavenpa.org or email safehaven@epix.net.

Heartbeat of the Family Luncheon at the Best Western Pocono Inn

The Christian Women’s Connection is holding Heartbeat of the Family Luncheon on Tuesday, February 20 at the Best Western Pocono Inn. The luncheon features guest speaker Barbara Vernoski of Blairstown, NJ, music by Sally Shutter of Bangor, and a special presentation from the Monroe County Recreation and Park Commission. To make reservations call Elsie at 570.421.8166 or Betty DeHaven at 570.629.1731. The Best Western Pocono Inn is located at 7th and Main Street in Stroudsburg.

Order Sons of Italy in America Forms Brodheadsville Lodge

Order Sons of Italy in America has formed a lodge in the Brodheadsville area. The group is the largest organization representing the nation’s Italian-Americans. The group will hold its next meeting at 2 PM on Sunday, March 4 at the Chestnut Township Community Center located on Route 715 in Brodheadsville. New members are welcome. For more information, call Joe Pini at 570.992.2678 or email joeyzzz@epix.net or visit www.chestnuthillinfo.com/osia.

NCC Offers New 2007 International Building Code Course

The Center for Business and Industry at Northampton Community College is offering a new evening course detailing the 2007 International Building Code and PA Uniform Construction Code beginning in February. The new course is ideal for municipal officials, contractors and tradespeople.

"Fundamentals of the PA Uniform Construction Code and the International Building Code" covers critical concepts of the 2007 International Building Code (IBC) and the basic principles, design and impact of the PA Uniform Construction Code. Code application in enforcement situations and code compliance decisions will also be covered.

The course will meet Wednesdays, 6- 9 PM from Feb. 21 to May 23 at the Main campus in Bethlehem Township. Registration deadline is February 14.

For more information please contact Carol Frace at 610.861.5080. For a complete course description or to register online, visit www.northampton.edu. To register over the telephone using a credit card, please call NCC toll-free at 1-877-543-0998.

The Cat Returns to the Civic Theatre

More than 3,000 people attended Civic Theatre of Allentown's mainstage production last season of "Seussical," the Dr. Seuss musical. The Civic plans to bring the show back for a special two-week presentation for young audiences, February 23 through March 4.

"Seussical" celebrates the spirit, the characters and the lunacy of Dr. Seuss, whose 103rd birthday is March 2. The show features some of Dr. Seuss's most beloved characters, including the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz and the Whos of Whoville (including a cameo from the reformed Grinch). Much of the cast of last season's mainstage production will reprise their roles in this production, including Traci L. Ceschin, as the Cat in the Hat, Kate Oswalt as Mayzie LaBird, and Kirsten Mikkelsen as Gertrude McFuzz.

Tickets cost less for this special presentation than for the Civic mainstage: $14 for children, students and seniors, and $18 regular admission.

The show is the work of the Tony Award-winning team behind "Ragtime" and other Broadway hits: lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty. Sanders worked with the duo on the Broadway production of "A Man of No Importance," which he directed this season for the Civic mainstage.

While incorporating some signature Seussian flourishes, Sanders has determined to create a character-driven, story-centered production -- to "keep it simple," as the composers have suggested to him. He wants patrons to experience Dr. Seuss's stories anew -- not just as a "warm soup of childhood nostalgia," but as they relate to today's world.

The performance on Saturday, Feb 25, will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Tickets and information are available at (610) 432-8943 or online at www.civictheatre.com.

Klecknersville Rangers Ladies Auxiliary All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast

The Klecknersville Rangers Ladies Auxiliary is holding an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 AM to 12 PM on Sunday, February 18 at the Klecknersville Fire Hall. The menu consists of pancakes, sausage, bacon, ham, eggs, French toast, hash browns, and much more. The cost is $6 for adults and $3.50 for children ages 5-12. Children under age 5 eat free. Klecknersville Rangers Volunteer Fire Hall is located at 2718 Mountain View Drive in Moore Township. For more information, call 610.837.0307.

Muhlenberg College Offering Free Dance Classes

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Muhlenberg College will offer free dance classes on Saturday, February 17. Classes meet on the Muhlenberg College campus at the times below.

*Intermediate Modern with Company members
9:30 – 11 AM in the Dance Studio Theatre, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance (High school aged and older)

*Intermediate Jazz with Company members
11:30 AM – 1 PM in the Brown Dance Studio, Brown Hall (High school aged or older)

*Advanced Modern with Charlotte Boye-Christensen
11 AM – 1pm on the Empie Stage, Center for the Arts (Advanced college students and adults)

Pre-registration is encouraged, as space in each class is limited. To register for any of these classes, call 484.664.3335 or e-mail Tracy Kline at kline@muhlenberg.edu.