Bangor Celebrates Spring on March 31

Fish Fest 2007 and Sidewalk Sales Among Events Planned

BANGOR- Bangor Borough will kick off the spring season on Saturday, March 31 with several activities sponsored by the Bangor Business Association, Bangor Main Street Program and Bangor Borough. The events include a visit by the Easter Bunny to Merchants National Bank, an egg hunt, the Easter Parade, the 2007 Fish Fest and sidewalk sales.

Event Listings

10 AM to 4 PM- Bangor’s annual fishing tournament, Fish Fest, is open to anyone 16 years of age and older possessing a valid fishing license. Little Martin’s Creek will be stocked from Red Bridge to Bangor’s viaduct by Greenwalk Trout Hatchery. There is no registration fee and prizes will be awarded. A $75 prize and the title of “Bangor Angler” will be awarded to the person who catches the largest fish. Second place receives $20 and third place receives $10. A weigh station will be located in the Merchants Bank Administration parking lot located at South Main Street and Broadway from 10 AM to 4 PM.

10 AM to 12 PM- The Easter Bunny will visit and be available for pictures at Merchants National Bank, located on Broadway. Pictures cost $5.

10 AM to 1 PM- An Easter Egg Hunt will open to children under the age of 18. Participants must be accompanied by an adult. Prizes and candy will be awarded. This event will also be held at Merchants National Bank.

1 PM- The Bangor Easter Parade will form at Bethel Park, located at the corner of Market and North First Streets. The Bangor Police Department will lead the parade from First Street to Broadway to Main Street and back up Market Street to Bethel Park. Judges will award prizes following the parade. In case of rain, the event will be held at the Bangor Beehive on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Sock Hop to Benefit Relay for Life Slate Belt

WIND GAP- Relay for Life Slate Belt team, There’s Always Hope, is sponsoring their Sock Hop on Saturday, March 31. The event begins at 7 PM and will be held at Hope United Church of Christ in Wind Gap. The cost is $10 and all proceeds benefit the team. Dust off your poodle skirt and saddle shoes and come out to dance to the music of the Sock Hop era. For more information, call Duane 610.863.5469 or Hope UCC Church at 610.863.4474. For more information about the American Cancer Society, contact Rosemarie at 610.921.2329, ext 3109 or rmurphy@cancer.org.

Slate Belt Guardian Angels Holding Orientation

BANGOR- The Slate Belt Chapter of Guardian Angels is looking to grow and be on the streets by this summer. The chapter has rescheduled its orientation event to 7 PM on Friday, March 30 at the Bangor-Roseto Presbyterian Parish. The event is open to all Slate Belt residents who would like to join the chapter. All members must participate in a twelve-week training program that includes CPR, first-aid and self defense. To be eligible, members must be at least 18 years of age and agree to a background check (cost of $10). The Bangor-Roseto Presbyterian Parish is located off Route 512 behind the Medic 9 building at 322 Kennedy Drive in Bangor. Questions concerning the Slate Belt Chapter of the Guardian Angels may be sent to Dwayne Mullikan at duaneandjoyce@epix.net. For more information about the Guardian Angels, call Jim Ezzo at 862.266.6345 or Robert Champy at 201.396.2483, both of the Sussex, NJ chapter.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Holding Lenten Fish Fry

Our Lady of Good Counsel & St. Vincent DePaul Churches will hold a fish fry at 5 PM on Friday, March 30. The menu includes deep-fried Cod, fries, cole slaw, cookies and ice cream, coffee, tea, soda and milk. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children under age 12. For more information, call 610.588.5445.

Pen Argyl Police and Fire Department News

The Pen Argyl Police Department responded to 347 incidents during the month of February 2007. Of the 347 incidents filed, 25 were criminal incidents. There were 9 people arrested or cited and 1 juvenile was handled by the department. Lookout Fire Company Number 1 responded to 3 calls and 44 hours on calls and 142 hours of training.

Minsi Lake Reopens March 31

Minsi Lake will be open to fishing on Saturday, March 31 for the first day of the 2007 fishing season. A 2007 license will be needed to fish.

Second Ward Fire Ladies Auxiliary 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 can have their items appraised for $5 each by Hartzell’s Auction. Light refreshments will be served.

Bangor Fire Department Seeking Aluminum Can Donations

The Bangor Fire Department is seeking aluminum can and loose aluminum donations to assist with their fundraising. The aluminum is taken to local recycling companies with the funds going toward the purchasing of new firefighting equipment and the exhibit housed at the Slate Belt Heritage Center. Aluminum may be dropped at Liberty Fire Company (67 North 8th Street), Rescue Fire Company #1 (Route 191), or 2nd Ward Fire Company (Northampton and Messinger Streets).

Curves of Bangor Sponsoring Relay for Life Benefit

A Relay for Life benefit dance sponsored by Curves of Bangor will be held from 8 PM to 12 AM on Friday, March 30 at the Bangor Elks. Tickets can be purchased at Curves for $10 or $12 at the door. Music will be provided by D.J. Bill Nagy. There will be a cash bar, refreshments, snacks, raffles and 50/50. For more information, call 610.588.4030.

Attend a Bangor Block Watch Meeting

The Bangor Block Watch meets at 7 PM on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Slate Belt Heritage Center located at 30 North First Street in Bangor. The next meeting is planned for Tuesday, April 3. For more information, call 610.588.7028 or email BlockWatch@epix.net.

Portland United Methodist Church Holding Rummage Sale

The Portland United Methodist Church will hold its annual Spring Rummage Sale on Friday, March 30 from 9 AM to 4 PM and Saturday, March 31 from 9 AM to 2 PM.

St. John’s United Church of Christ Pastie Pickup April 4

Pasties will be available for pick up at the church between 12 and 2 PM on April 4. St. John’s United Church of Christ is located at Third and Market Streets in Bangor. For more information, call 610.588.1782.

Slate Belt Chamber Sponsoring Breakfast Seminar

The Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the PCI Insurance Breakfast Seminar on Wednesday, April 11 at J & R’s Smokehouse. Breakfast begins at 8 AM and information about Medicare will be available. J & R’s Smokehouse is located at 1420 Jacobsburg Road in Wind Gap. For information, call 610.863.0315.

Lookout Fire Company Easter Egg Hunt

The Lookout Fire Company Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, April 7 at Weona Park in Pen Argyl. Participants will be placed into the following age groups: 0-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, and 9-10 years. Three prizes will be awarded to each group. Anyone interested in donating eggs for the hunt may stop by the fire hall on Friday, April 6 between 6 PM and 7:30 PM. For more information, call the fire company at 610.863.4121 or email David Mutton at tntmutton@epix.net.

Relay for Life Slate Belt’s Team Hope Holding Tricky Tray

Team Hope, a Relay for Life Slate Belt team, is holding a tricky tray from 1 to 4 PM on Saturday, March 31 at Little Ray’s Day Care. There will also be 50/50, free coffee and baked goods with proceeds benefiting Relay for Life Slate Belt. Little Ray’s Day Care is located at 28 North Main Street in Bangor.

Trinity United Church of Christ Church Rummage Sale

Trinity United Church of Christ Church will hold a rummage sale from 8 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, April 28. Food will be available during the sale. Crafters are welcome and tables can be reserved for $10. For more information, call Carla Shrout at 610.588.5190.

Blue Valley Garden Club to Resume Monthly Meetings

The Blue Valley Garden Club will resume its monthly meetings at 7 PM on Monday, April 9. The meetings are held the second Monday of each month. For more information, contact President Carol Akam at 610.599.6216.

Plainfield Riding Club Holding Rummage & Bake Sale

The Plainfield Riding Club is holding a rummage and bake sale from 8 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays, April 7 and 14. The sale offers slightly used clothes, household items, furniture, sporting goods, holiday decorations and homemade baked goods. The event will be held at the club’s facility on State Park Road in Wind Gap. For more information, call 610.863.4547.

GFWC Bangor Collecting DVDs for U.S. Troops

GFWC Bangor is collecting DVDs for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait. Troop Commander CM Sgt. Nelligan is trying to establish a DVD library for over 1,000 troops who work 12 hour days, every day, and don’t have TV service available to them. The DVDs can be new or previously viewed. Donations can be dropped at Merchant’s National Bank of Bangor, The Bangor Public Library and Patt-White Realtor.

Governor Rendell Awards $150K Grant to NCC

Governor Edward G. Rendell recently awarded $150,000 to the Electrotechnology Application Center at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Northampton County, to help small businesses, principally manufacturers, implement new electron beam technology to reduce air pollution.

“This grant will help our small manufacturers be more competitive and grow, adding jobs as they find new, affordable ways to meet air quality standards,” Governor Rendell said. “My administration continues to support the development of innovative technology that helps existing businesses reduce pollution, and also positions Pennsylvania as a national leader in high-tech research and development.”

The Small Business Demonstration of Air Pollution Control Program grant comes from the Clean Air Fund, which is funded by fees paid to obtain air permits. The grant is administered by the Department of Environmental Protection and it will fund demonstrations of state-of-the-art technologies using electron beams to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that are used in heating, drying, coating and curing processes.

Lab tests show electron beam technology can destroy many VOCs and do so using less energy than other methods. This grant will test the applicability of electron beams in actual factory environments.

Controlling these emissions is particularly important to companies using paints and other coatings on various manufactured products. Volatile organic compounds are precursors to the formation of ground level ozone which can cause breathing difficulties for people with existing conditions such as asthma, and can exacerbate other health problems.

The Electrotechnology Application Center is the only not-for-profit organization in Pennsylvania that has an operating mission to help small businesses reduce VOC emissions to comply with federal and state government air quality standards.

For more information on air quality issues, visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Air Quality.”

Monroe County Garden Club April Meeting

The Monroe County Garden Club will meet on Wednesday, April 11 at 11:45 AM at the Hughes Eastern Monroe Public Library on North 9th Street/Route 611 in Stroudsburg. The program will be "Bonsai," presented by Dan Ferguson, former president of the New York Bonsai Society. The design for the month is "A New Beginning," a line design (vertical or horizontal) using forsythia and any other spring flowers. The Horticulture display will be a flower cut from any bulb- 1 stem. Entries should be submitted before 11:15 AM for judging. Check your memberyearbook for rules. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome. The Monroe County Garden Club is a member of District II-III Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania and National Garden Clubs. For more information, call Cindy Anglemyer at 570.629.2822 or visit www.gardencentral.org/pa/monroecounty.

Art Show To Be Held at NCC

Northampton Community College (NCC) will present a 3-part art show March 12 to April 20 at its Fowler Family Southside Center located at 511 E. Third Street in Bethlehem.

In one room Brenda McCandless, a quilt artist, will exhibit "A One-Woman Show of Quilts." McCandless, a resident of Moore Township, PA, teaches quilting at several venues, including NCC. Inspired by a love of fabric combined with endless patterns and design possibilities, she is fascinated with the art of Ancient Egypt and the Far East, as well as interpreting current events.

Another room will hold an installation piece by four artists working in or near the Lehigh Valley: Clorinde Peters, Daniel Wendlek, Luke Schantz, and J.P. Jordan. The piece, titled "When I'm Bad I'm Better: In Bits and Pieces," expands the historical legacy of portraiture by going beyond depiction of an individual to more deeply exploring the influences that created that person.

In a statement about the piece, the artists say, "This piece proposes that in order to create a portrait, the artist is charged with being an investigator, understanding not only the subject, but also the subject's subjects. The tasks become not invention but innovation*the originality of each person is rooted in inheriting, borrowing and recycling."

As another component of the exhibit, two rooms will display the juried work of members of the Arts Community of Easton, an organization of artists and businesspeople that offers arts education programs, exhibitions, workshops, information dispersal, and networking.

An opening reception will be held April 6, from 6 to 9 PM to coincide with First Friday, at the Fowler Family Southside Center. Music will be provided by Sheep Bamboo, a 4-piece group specializing in music that combines experimental, ambient, jazz, folk, and rock styles.

Nazareth Holding Annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 1

Nazareth Borough will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt at 2 PM on Sunday, April 1 at Nazareth Park. The hunt is sponsored by Vigilance Hose Company No. 1 and is for Borough children through 8-years-old. The rain/snow date is Saturday, April 7 at 1 PM.