Balbi Enterprises, Inc. announces the opening of their new Recycling Center, open to the public six days a week at their Route 521, Blair-stown, NJ headquarters. The new Recycling

Center will provide Warren and Sussex County residents and small businesses, regard-less of town residency, with a convenient location to drop off all kinds of materials for recycling. From junk mail to empty paint cans, metal swing sets to electronics are accepted and be assured, all of it will be recycled respon-sibly and correctly.

The Recycling Center is accepting glass, paper, gable top containers, junk mail, magazines, and number 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 plastics co-mingled together. Card-board, newspaper and

metal are also accepted and need to be separated. Electronics are accepted for a very small fee if they are whole and unal-tered, regardless of whether or not they are in working condition.

The new Recycling Center is located at 48 Hope Road, Blairstownand is open to all,Monday though Friday8:30am to 5pm andSaturday from 8:30am to noon.Balbi Enterprises is a

family owned and oper-ated company, inbusiness since 1969, andcontinues to offer residential and commer-cial garbage collection services to Warren andSussex Counties. Please call 908-362-

5690 for more informa-tion or with any ques-tions you may have about materials to berecycled.

Todd Cramer, Execu-tive Director of Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association, Inc. will be presenting a program for the Presbyterian Women at the First Presbyterian Church of Blairstown, 1 Main Street on Saturday, January 14th at 9am in Fellowship Hall on the first floor. The public is

welcome to attend.Todd will be speaking

about innovative programs at Noah’s Ark, the running of an animal welfare association as well as his experiences working with the ASPCA on disaster relief programsTodd was involved in

the pet rescue and reuni-

fication efforts follow-ing the tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri and other areas of natural disasters. He will also be bringing a few adopt-able pets. This should be a very interesting program. For more information,

please call the church office at 908-362-7887.

North Warren Regional High School’s Brittany Lee was announced as Tournament MVP on December 29th, 2011. The Lady Patriots

basketball team played a great final game of their

Holiday Tournament against Notre Dame East Stroudsburg.North Warren domi-

nated their opponent, 60-32, and became the Holiday Tournament champions.

After the game, North Warren Athletic Direc-tor John Simonetti presented Brittany Lee with her award as the tournament’s Most Valu-able Player.Check out this week’s

edition of The PRESS to view photos of the game. Photos from this game and others can also be viewed and purchased online at www.printroom.com/ pro/thepress.

American Legion Post 446 in Alpha, will be holding a meeting at the Alpha Fire Com-pany Building, West Central and Lee Avenue, on Monday, February 13th at 1pm. All war era veterans are invited to attend. For more information, call Joe Becker at 908-995-7896 for more informa-tion.The next regular

meeting of the North Warren Democratic Club will be held at 7:30pm on Wednesday, January 25th, in the meeting room of the Catherine Dickson Hofman Library on Lambert Road, Blair-stown. They will be discussing the new

Legislative Districts and possible candidates to run against Scott Garrett. At each meeting items are collected for local food pantries. Guests are always welcome. For more information please contact Fred or Carol Cook at 908-362-6808.Relay For Life of

North Warren Kick Off event will be held on February 2nd, 2012 from 6-8 pm at the Evangelical Free Church of Blairstown. Please come see what Relay For Life is all about and sign up your team. Snow date will be February 3rd. Please RSVP by January 27th to Brandie Engelberger at brandie.engelberger

@ cancer.org or call 973-285-8029. Save the date for the 2012 Relay For Life will be held on June 9th and 10th at North Warren High School. Please visit the website to register at www.relayforlife.org/northwarrennj.Country music fans

can enjoy a night of entertaining fun when Country Comfort takes the "stage" at Hunter's Lodge on Saturday night January 21st. Country Comfort, one of the region's top country bands, is scheduled to play from 8pm to 11pm. Hunter's Lodge, which has an expensive menu of specialty burgers as well as sandwiches, steaks, fish and chicken dishes, is on Route 46 in Knowlton Township (next to the old Knowl-ton Riverfest site). For further information, call 908-475-0060.Bring your old,

broken, mismatched or simply unwanted Gold and Silver (Jewelry, Coins, Watches) to the Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch, 4

Lambert Rd., Blair-stown, on Saturday, January 14th, between 10am and 2pm. Mobile Gold will be on hand offering the most cash on the spot. They are licensed, bonded, and all scales are registered with the Department of Weights and Measures. For more information, call 908-752-3275.On Wednesday,

February 22nd at 7pm, the Warren County Library Headquarters welcomes you to Pajama Storytime. This is a half-hour program featuring a selection of stories for the whole family. Don't' forget to wear your PJs. Sign-up is not neces-sary. For further infor-mation, please contact them at 908-475-6322 or visit at www.warrenlib.org.We love hearing from

you! Send your birth-days, anniversaries, and other tidbits of informa-tion to:

The PRESSPO Box 430,

Blairstown, NJ 07825thepressnews@enter.netthepressnewsonline.com

The following is a list of books recently added to the Warren County Library collection.Non-Fiction: Tasting

Freedom: Octavius Catto and the Battle for Equality in Civil War America, By Daniel R. Biddle. From Temple Univ Press; One from the Hart, By Stefanie Powers. From Gallery; A Promise at Sobibor: A Jewish Boy's Story of Revolt and Survival in Nazi-Occupied Poland, By Philip ""Fiszel"" Bialowitz. From University of Wisconsin Press; How to Make Your Car Last Forever (Motorbooks Work-shop), By Thomas Torb-jornsen. From Motor-books; and The Abacus and the Cross: The Story of the Pope Who Brought the Light of Science to the Dark Ages, By Nancy Marie Brown. From Basic Books.Personal Growth:

Winning the Battle Against Prostate Cancer: Get the Treat-ment That is Right for You, By Gerald Chodak. From Demos Health; The Big Book of Family Eye Care: A Contempo-rary Reference for Vision and Eye Health, By Joseph DiGirolamo. From Basic Health Publications, and Thun-der of Heaven: A Joshua Jordan Novel (End Series, The), By Tim LaHaye. From Zonder-van.Fiction: Dead Reckon-

ing (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 11), By Charlaine Harris. From Ace Hard-cover; 10th Anniversary (Women's Murder Club), By James Patter-son. From Little, Brown and Company; A Drop of the Hard Stuff, By Lawrence Block. From Mulholland Books; Sixkill (Spenser Mys-tery), By Robert B. Parker. From Putnam Adult; and The Infor-mant: An Otto Penzler Book, By Thomas Perry. From Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.Children: Let The

Whole Earth Sing Praise, By Tomie dePaola. From Putnam Juvenile; Biscuit and the Lost Teddy Bear (My First I Can Read), By Alyssa Satin Capucilli. From HarperCollins; Forever Fingerprints: An Amazing Discovery for Adopted Children, By Sherrie Eldridge. From EMK Press; The Magically Mysterious Adventures of Noelle the Bulldog, By Gloria Estefan. From Rayo; Five Little Chicks , By Nancy Tafuri. From Little Simon; Madeline at the White House, By John Bemelmans Marciano. From Viking Juvenile; and I Wished for You: an Adoption Story (Mom's Choice Award Recipient, Book of the Year Award, Creative Child Maga-zine), By Marianne R Richmond. From Mari-anne Richmond Studios.

The Bongo Boy Rock n’ Roll show is an enter-taining, informative and locally produced TV show. Their first show was aired back in Octo-ber 2011, with the assis-tance of Dick Craig; now only a few months later it has gained an increasing growing audience and have an exciting new upcoming season planned. Monique Grimme said; who is the producer/director of the TV show. The Bongo Boy Rock n‘ Roll show airs on Channel 21 on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30pm. The upcoming January

and February shows will cover an exclusive inter-view with songwriter, guitarist & vocalist Gar Francis aka blues musi-cian Plainfield Slim. Bongo Boys TV host

Wayne Oliver is funny and direct. His inter-viewing style leads you through years of music history and some great surprises. It covers the music scene from the early 70' at CBGB's , as they talk about The Rockids, Oliver Wilde, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Ricochet, The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Billy Idol, The Gar Francis Band, Plainfield Slim, The Doughboys and much more. Most of you know Gar Francis from his band, Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs, which has performed at the Warren County Farmers Fair with the Tri State Equine Riding Team d uring their different style of riding horse demo in August each year. You may have seen him also at the Washington Festival In The Borough in October or at the first Mini Blues Festival in the Chapel at Centenary College with Peter Tork In Hackett-stown?Learn more about the

music business and hear about how a great origi-nal song called "Black Sheep” made The Doughboys Little Steven Van Zandt's favorite Garage Rock band today. Watch how Gar Francis was a part of what is now history and displayed in muse-ums around the world.

While staying with cousins in Staten Island in 1995, 7-year old Christina Speciale knew something different-- and dangerous--was going on when a window blew open and the family raced into the basement as gusting winds churned outside."It was a tornado,"

Christina recalled. "I was scared, but that day I got hooked on the weather."A year later, the

Blizzard of 1996 left piles of snow outside her East Brunswick home. That, she says, "was the icing on the cake."When her sixth grade

teacher, Miss Vogel, at Hammarskjold Middle School asked Speciale what she wanted to be when she grew up, she didn't hesitate. "I want to be a meteorologist," she declared.The 2011 graduate of

Rutgers University's Meteorology program

Tornado, Blizzard Combined To Inspire Meteorology CareerFor Christina Speciale, East Brunswick High Shool Graduate

(one of only a handful of women in her graduat-ing class) has reached that goal. She recently joined the staff of Hack-ettstown based Weather-Works, New Jersey's largest privately owned weather consulting forecast firm, also among the largest in the Northeast. She is the only woman meteorolo-gist at WeatherWorks. "You could say that

I've always been fasci-nated with weather," said Speciale, a 2007

graduate of East Bruns-wick High School. Ironically, Speciale's

first day of training at WeatherWorks was cancelled, due to the weather! She was supposed to start on the day of the "freak" snow storm in late October."Christina clearly has a

love for the weather," said Frank Lombardo, founder and president of WeatherWorks. "She's really enthusiastic about it and isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and delve

into whatever we needher to do."At WeatherWorks,

Speciale has an assort-ment of duties, includ-ing preparing daily forecasts for clientsthroughout the North-east, answering emer-gency inquiries, prepar-ing updates for radiostations, and collecting data for weather-related forensic cases.Over half of New

Jersey's county road departments, fromSussex in the north to Atlantic in the south, depend on reports from WeatherWorks to help coordinate their roadclearing efforts andeffectively manage bothequipment and person-nel. Other Weather-Works clients includethe Connecticut Depart-ment of Transportation,professional football teams, and the NewYork City Sanitation Department.For more, visit weather

worksinc.com.

Comcast Cable Picks UpNew TV Show, The Bongo

Boy Rock n’ Roll ShowThis show has some-

thing for everyone! You will find yourself glued to your TV set. Just remember there

are no commercial breaks, so embrace yourself for 30 minutes of pure entertainment, education, lots of fun and laughter, as you watch these two seasonal professional musicians take you on an journey of musical treasures with an occa-sional stop for some honest great live music performances clips. Producer /Direc tor /

Editor of the Bongo Boy Rock n’ Roll Show is Belvidere’s native Monique Grimme and she is calling out for other interesting topics, people or artists that like to be the next guest on the TV show. Recording of the show

takes place at SHOW-TIME Boutique in Belvidere, NJ.Please contact

Monique at mgrimme @aol.com for details.

Hope Township base-ball, softball and tee ball registration will be held from January 17th to 27th. Forms can be downloaded at www. hoperec.com. You can mail the forms in or drop them off at the munici-pal building, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.Forms will not be

acceped after January 27th unless teams are not full.If you have any ques-

tions, please contact Kim Tighe at 908-459-4989.

Hope Twp.Recreation

Registrations

The Hope Area Cham-ber of Commerce's Janu-ary meeting will focus on one of the newest forms of marketing - QR Codes. The January 25th meet-

ing will take place at the Inn at Millrace Pond, at 7pm. Food and bever-ages will be available for purchase. Christine Rusin, owner of Para-shoot Productions and a

The Headquarters and all branches of the Warren County Library will be closed Monday, January 16th in obser-vance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.Regular hours will

resume on Tuesday, January 17th with facili-

Hope Chamber MeetingFocuses on QR Codes

member of the chamber, will be doing the presen-tation. QR Codes are quickly

becoming one of the more important forms of marketing, particularly targeting people with Smart Phones. Find out how QR Codes can help your business. For further information

about the chamber, call 908-459-5100.

Warren County LibraryAnnounces January Closings

ties opening at 9am.Library patrons who

wish to access their accounts, view the library catalog, or search electronic databases can do so by visiting the library's website at www. warrenlib.org.

Which of their pieces would an artist choose to show others if they could pick only a few from all their current work? Without the restrictions of the curator’s theme, with no limitation on size or medium, and no one but themselves to judge, which works of art would the artist want to exhibit? Would the artist pick what he or she believes is their best work, the piece that is outside the norm and never quite fit into other shows, or maybe one that’s a favorite for a personal reason?These are probably

good guesses, but the real reason why an artist would choose one

Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council Hosts Artist’sChoice Show and Reception

artwork instead of another is known only to him or herself. Maybe the reason doesn’t matter, since it’s the artwork you’ll be look-ing at in the “Artist’s Choice Show” at the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council Gallery.This is the first time the

Council is presenting

this kind of exhibition, and from the response from the artists and quality of the works of art, it might become a yearly event. For those of you with

inquisitive minds who want to know the why behind the artwork, or the how, or the when, you can ask the artists about their choices at the

opening reception on January 14th from 4pm to 6pm.All artwork will be for

sale and light refresh-ments will be served. The gallery is located

in the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council’s office at 133 Spring Street, Newton, NJ. The show continues through February 4th and can be viewed Tues-day through Friday from 9am to 3pm and Satur-day from 12pm to 4pm.More information

about other gallery shows, community events, and becoming a member of the council can be found on the council’s Website at www.scahc.org, or by calling 973-383-0027.

Belvidere’s Bryan Mason looks to drive to the basket during the game on January 5th. Belvidere lost to Pen Argyl, 66-59.

Dale Young/The PRESS

We have lived in Hardwick for twelve years and our son Kyle is currently a sophomore at Blair Academy. In early December Kyle was injured while competing in a wrestling tournament. His final prognosis is not yet known but we are surely aware that the injury could have been far worse than it seems to be at this point.As word of the incident spread through our

appreciably small community we were over-whelmed by the outpouring of concern, support and well wishes. We received numerous emails, phone calls, cards, gifts, offers of help and even unex-pected visits. We heard from former classmates and teammates, coaches, neighbors and friends. In this season of giving we would like to express

our sincerest thanks to everyone for their love and kindness, their prayers and thoughtfulness. We would like to wish all of them and their families a very Happy New Year.

Thank you all,The Jacksic Family

To the person or persons responsible for the theft of the Blairstown Police Department Banner in front of 26 Main Street between 12/17 and 12/19/2011. It's inconceivable what joy you can get out of stealing. You are the scum of the earth. When you are caught and you will be caught, you will be prosecuted to the max. A $100.00 reward is being offered for information leading to your arrest. Anyone with information please contact Detective Nicholas Falciccio of the Blairstown Police Depart-ment at 908-362-7668. Jon Thomas Cramer

Warren County Com-munity College’s newest program, Floriculture Design and Merchandis-ing, has its first gradu-ates! Joni Pollock, Chris Chiu, and Jennifer Lynn Perry recently com-pleted the 10-week, 200-hour course, giving them the skills and back-ground to break into the expanding floriculture design and merchandis-ing field. Held at the new Phillipsburg Educa-tion Center, students learn everything from the fundamentals of floriculture, identifica-tion of flowers and plant materials, and terminol-ogy of the floral indus-try, to principles of design and color, and how to create unique floral designs. The program focuses on the six basic floral designs: Mass, Line, Vertical Line Mass, Horizontal Line Mass, Weathered Wood, and Fruit and Vegetable Design. The course also instills

WCCC Graduates First Floriculture Design and Merchandising Class

students with the finan-cial and managerial know-how to increase business growth and establish a strong customer base. During the program, students visit flower distribution centers and floral shows. All three graduates have

big plans. Pollock, from Phillipsburg, has started “Creations By Joni”, offering an array of seasonal items and with hopes of someday open-ing up a green house. Chiu, of New Village, focuses her attention on earthy all natural floral designs under the name, “Earth’s Splendors.” Lynn Perry, a resident of White Township, is specializing in the bridal

industry. Her company name is “La Belle Fleur”. The next offer-ing of this course begins Friday, March 16 and will subsequently run four days a week from Monday through Thurs-day. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Thursday classes will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The final class will

take place May 24. Prerequisites for the class include High School Diploma or GED, and also proof of car insurance. Students will also be responsible for providing certain supplies including a tool kit costing approxi-mately $40-$50, an apron with pockets, design scissors, calcula-tor, and portfolio album. Flowers, containers, and all other materials and supplies are included in the cost of tuition. This class will adhere to OSHA and Worker Protection Standards through the duration of the course. To register for this, or any other CE classes, or to get addi-tional information, call

the WCCC Department of Continuing Educationat 908-689-7613. Warren County Commu-nity College offers a wide range of certifi-cate, continuing educa-tion, and degree programs designed tohelp students enter theworkforce or transfer to a four-year college or university. Providingstudents in WarrenCounty and thesurrounding areas with aconvenient and cost-effective way to further one’s education andcareer goals, WCCC istruly committed to"Learning WithoutLimits." For more infor-mation on WCCC, visit www.warren.edu or call 908-835-9222.

Blairstown Recreationis offering WackyWednesdays for gradespre-first through thirdon Wednesday, February22nd and 29th from3:15pm to 4:30pm in theBlairstown ElementarySchool gym.Wacky Wednesdays are

filled with exercise,laughs and socialization.Children are invited towork off steam from ahard day at school byparticipating in fun games and activities. Registration is

currently accepted at theRecreation Office onTuesdays and Thursdaysfrom 8am to 1pm.Mail-in and drop-off box registrations areaccepted. The fee is $18 for

resident children. Regis-tration will not beaccepted after theprogram is filled.

The Washington Busi-ness Improvement District wants the community's input as they honor the top Borough businesses at its annual Business Recognition Reception on February 10th.

Kids EnjoyWacky

Wednesdayswith

BlairstownRecreation

WBID Needs Input on Best BusinessesResidents are encour-

aged to vote for the People's Choice Busi-ness Awards! Tickets are $25 each. The voting categories

are Beauty/Barber; Automotive; Retail Shop; Food & Drink;

and Service. The dead-line for entries is Janu-ary 20th. Voting forms can be

found at washington bid.org. Fax your selec-tions to 908-689-8444, or email admin@ washingtonbid.org.

(NAPSI)—Three out of four taxpayers received a refund from Uncle Sam last year, averaging $2,805. This year’s amount should be about the same, thanks to a few major tax law changes expiring or added during 2011. Although your bottom

line may change little, there are changes you should be aware of for this year’s tax return. “Unless lawmakers extend them, this will be the last year to claim several well-known tax breaks,” according to TaxACT spokesperson Jessi Dolmage. “Take advantage of them while you still can. With 2012 being an election year, it’s anyone’s guess as to what changes could be in store for next year’s return.” Before you do your

taxes, read this summary of the more notable changes that may affect your federal return this year.• The filing deadline is

Tuesday, April 17, 2012, because April 15 is a Sunday and Washing-ton, D.C., is recognizing Emancipation Day on April 16. Don’t use the later deadline as an excuse to procrastinate, though. When you rush, you’re more likely to make mistakes that could cost you money and time. Furthermore, filing, paying or provid-

The Tax 411: Changes Impacting Your Tax Return This Yearing information late will result in IRS penalties that have increased this year.• Your 2011 tax return

could be your last chance to claim one of the credits for energy-efficient home improve-ments as well as deduc-tions for tuition and fees, educator expenses, mortgage insurance premiums, and the option to include your state and local sales taxes paid as an itemized deduction (in lieu of state and local income taxes paid).• The Making Work

Pay Tax Credit and Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit (unless it was a new fuel-cell vehicle) that you could claim last year have expired. The Making Work Pay Tax Credit was essentially replaced by the payroll tax holiday for 2011, which employees and the self-employed already received in 2011 paychecks through a reduction in FICA-OASDI Social Security taxes. Unlike the Making Work Pay Tax Credit, employees who benefited from the payroll tax holiday don’t need to claim it on this year’s tax return. • The amount of the

Health Coverage Tax Credit decreased to 72.5 percent for qualified health insurance cover-

age received between March and December 2011. • If you converted a

traditional IRA to a designated Roth IRA in 2010 or rolled over a qualified retirement plan to a Roth IRA, but did not report the taxable amount on your 2010 tax return (due April 2011), you must report half the amount on this year’s return and the other half on your 2012 return. Details are avail-able in IRS Publication 575 at www.irs.gov.• Amounts for standard

mileage, standard deductions, personal exemptions and the Alternative Minimum Tax have increased. Note that there are different standard mile-age rates for miles driven before July 1 and after June 30. Details about all increases and other tax law changes can be found in IRS Publication 17.Online and download-

able tax preparation programs make navigat-ing tax law changes easy. When choosing your software, Dolmage reminds you to carefully weigh your options, especially if you’re using a free solution. “Make sure it covers your tax situation. Many free federal products only cover simple returns, like Form 1040EZ returns. Most

taxpayers need forms and schedules that are only included in over-priced solutions.” Dolmage says TaxACT

Free Federal Edition is for simple and complex returns, including those with itemized deduc-tions and income from s e l f - e m p l o y m e n t , investments, rental properties and farms. TaxACT also includes free federal e-filing, guarantees for maxi-mum refund and accu-racy, and unlimited free tax help via e-mail.For more information

about tax law changes, visit www.irs.gov and www.taxact.com/taxinfo. Learn more about TaxACT Free Federal Edition at www.taxact.com.

People of all ages should have a well-established understand-ing of how to best manage their money, particularly seniors who generally live on fixed incomes. With this idea in mind, CPAs Deirdre Hartmann and Marcia Geltman of Nisivoccia LLP, will present “Tax Savings For Seniors” at The House of the Good Shepherd Continuing Care Retirement Com-munity in Hackettstown on January 23rd. The House is located at

798 Willow Grove Street. The program begins at 2pm.Hartmann and Geltman

will cover a wide variety

House of Good Shepherd WillHost “Tax Savings for

Seniors” Seminarof pertinent tax savings

topics. Discussionpoints will include taxorganization using Defer Income and Accelerated Expenses,Retirement Plan distri-bution, Gifting consider-ations, the tax benefitsof allotting charitabledonations via retirementplans, tips on how to avoid tax audit, strate-gies for handling highcost medical expenses,and an overview onestate planning.The event is free, how-

ever prior RSVP is required. Interestedparties are asked tocontact Christine Garo-falo at 908-684-5722 by January 16th.

Country music fans are invited to enjoy a night of entertaining fun when Country Comfort takes the stage at Hunter's Lodge on Saturday night, January 21st.

On January 17th, Blair Woman's Club will meet at the library on Lambert Road at 12:30pm. This month's speaker will be the Postmaster who will talk about the U.S. Postal Service.The meeting is open to

Postmaster to Speak atBlair Woman’s Club Meeting

Hunter’s Lodge Presents Country ComfortCountry Comfort, one

of the region's top coun-try bands, is scheduled to play from 8pm to 11pm. Hunter's Lodge, which

has an expansive menu

of specialty burgers as well as sandwiches, steaks, fish and chicken dishes and more, is located on Route 46 in Knowlton Township (next to the old Knowl-ton Riverfest site). For further informa-

tion, call 908-475-0060.

community women who are curious about the club and would enjoy listening to the speaker. The snow date is Janu-ary 24th. Ladies are asked to bring a food item to share with the local food pantries.

( N A P S I ) — S m a l l decisions can make a big difference over time on your carbon footprint, and some of the “green-est” decisions you can make begin at home.Fortunately, there are

several easy, affordable ways to lead a greener lifestyle at home. 1. Get some fresh air.

From the cleaning supplies you use to the off-gassing of new furniture, carpet and paint, your home carries airborne toxins that can cause health problems if they become trapped and increase in density. Counteract this by bringing fresh air inside. Your green action:

Intermittently open windows on opposite sides of a house to encourage a cross-breeze. In a two-story house, open a window downstairs and a window upstairs. As warm air rises, it will exit the top-floor window. In places like kitchens and bathrooms, where moisture can accumulate and trigger mold growth if left unaddressed, spot venti-lation can be achieved with exhaust fans. It’s also important in rooms with gas appliances to offset carbon monoxide. Exhaust fans can be noisy. Look for those rated 2.0 sones or less. 2. You hold the power.

Being money smart may mean rethinking the way you use gas and electric-ity in the home.Your green action:

Take care of your appli-ances for maximum energy efficiency. Plugged-in appliances consume energy even when they are turned off

Home Hints: Healthy, Money-Smart, Sustainable Living

Take A Break From Home Improvement, Chores

or in standby mode. This phantom load, particu-larly from power adapt-ers, computers and TVs, can account for as much as 10 percent of your home’s energy consumption. Place power strips throughout the house and shut down power at the outlet versus on the appliance. Also, make sure your

appliances are operating at maximum efficiency. Clean your dryer’s lint trap after every load and scrub it with an old toothbrush once a month to get rid of the film left behind by dryer sheets. Clean your refrigerator coils, which can accu-mulate dust, at least once a year. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug it. Then remove the cover panel on the back to expose the coils and use a long-handled brush or handheld vacuum to remove dust.

3. Be water wise. According to the U.S. Environmental Protec-tion Agency, a family of four in the United States uses about 400 gallons of water daily--70 percent of which is for indoor use. Your green action:

Install low-flow plumb-ing fixtures. High-efficiency clothes wash-ers and dishwashers are ideal but they can be expensive. An alterna-tive is installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. A low-flow showerhead can save a household up to 2,300 gallons of water a year. A faucet aerator attaches to the end of a faucet and slows the water flow, while adding air to maintain water pressure. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends aerators with a maximum flow rate of one gallon per minute.

You can find more good energy- and money-saving ideas online at KellerInk.com or Facebook.com/ GreenYourHome.

(NAPSI)—Prun ing shrubs helps produce new and healthier growth plus keeps them at a manageable size.Here are a few tips:1. Cut at an angle a

quarter of an inch above a bud. If the cut is any closer, the bud may not survive and the branch will die. 2. Prune flowering

shrubs in late winter or early spring, before they flower, or, for spring-flowering shrubs, after they flower.3. Every few years,

remove about one-third of the branches-including dead, weak and diseased branches. 4. Winter-hardy shrubs

die back to the ground each year. In the spring, cut off all dead branches

Your Garden: 5 Pruning Tipsto about six inches

from the ground. 5. Start with the right

cutting and collecting tools. For example, The Gardener’s Hollow Legis a handy recycledpolyester sack with abelt attached that canreduce the need to bendover. Worn around thewaist, the sack leaves hands free to collecttrimmings and debris,deadhead or harvest, making it safer forladder tasks, too. Com-fortable and ergonomi-cally correct, the sackeliminates luggingaround a bucket or creat-ing piles of clippings that must later be pickedup. A strap on thebottom makes it easy todump debris when the job is done.

(NewsUSA) - For the young homeowner, each year presents a new set of home improvement projects. The year 2012 is no different. As each task -- from

kitchen remodeling to hardwood floor installa-tion -- is completed, you can feel the momentum building. Inching your way ever closer to the ultimate dream-home goal, you keep pressing. But too much of one thing is rarely good. That's why 2012 is the year to supplement your home improvement pace with some fun filled activities designed to reduce stress.Here are five ideas that

can help you feel renewed while you continue your home improvement dream:1. Get out of the house.

Whether you are simply going for a walk or taking a weekend camp-ing trip with the family, some time away from your canvas can rejuve-nate those creative juices. Trips to art galleries can be espe-cially helpful as new themes spark creative ideas that make your

home improvement job more enjoyable. 2. Watch a funny

movie. Sometimes all you need is a good laugh to rebuild your spirits and relax your tired brain.3. Start a weekly game

night. If you have a family, board games are a great way to

strengthen that bond. If you are a single bach-elor, grab some cards and poker chips. A Texas hold 'em poker night will be a great way to ease some stresses and can also bring some buddies who can help with larger projects in your house.4. Keep up with your

favorite hobby. Even if you think that your home improvement project is your hobby, you need to find some-thing else to take your mind off of it for a while. 5. Have a party. Break

up your home improve-ment projects into weekly tasks. As each task is completed, throw yourself a small bash to celebrate. When the festivities subside, regroup and refocus.

Put down that hammer and take your mind off that latest home improvement project.

Page 12 The PRESS January 11, 2012

The headquarters of the Warren County Library system will move in about a year under a plan advanced by the Board of Chosen Freeholders with the purchase of a new location. The freeholders voted

unanimously on a $7.48 million acquisition of two existing buildings, located on 12 acres next to the County’s complex on Route 519 in White Township. The purchase is “a very

cost-effective way to resolve the library issues that we’ve had in the past,” Freeholder Direc-tor Everett A. Chamber-lain said, adding that county residents will benefit from the move.Property owner Branch

Packaging Group will finish the interiors of the two buildings, which are 15,000 square feet each, and provide a “turn-key” project to the county.One building will be

home to the new library headquarters, replacing the current cramped space in the Courthouse Annex in Belvidere, while the other will house divisions of the county Department of Human Services, includ-ing the Division of Administration and the county Adjuster located in the Cummins Build-ing in Belvidere, and the

Division of Temporary Assistance and Social Services, which also is in the Courthouse Annex.The facility is next to

the county Road Depart-ment headquarters and near the Wayne Dumont, Jr. Administration Building and other County facilities.“This has been a long

time coming,” said Free-holder Richard D. Gard-ner, who explained, “The library has been ‘temporarily’ located in their space for approxi-mately 38, going on 39 years. This is going to be a great improvement to the library system over-all.”Freeholder Jason J.

Sarnoski said county citizens will be proud to know the freeholders undertook a detailed process to decide on the purchase, and consid-ered many options.“We had the discus-

sions continuously until we felt comfortable and,

going forward, were proceeding in the right way,” Sarnoski said. “That’s going to result

in a better price for the people of Warren County, a better facility, and a better project over-all. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished project.”“I think our patrons are

going to be as excited and delighted to use this facility as the patrons of the new Northeast Branch,” Gardner remarked, referring to the branch in Indepen-dence Township that relocated to a larger facility in May and has seen usage surge since then.Gardner noted that

parking and ease of access at the new location are “just supe-rior” to the current facil-ity in Belvidere.The freeholders first

began considering the locat ion two years ago, after plans for new construction to accom-

modate the library, Human Services and other county functions were put aside due to the high cost. “It’s been a long

process,” Chamberlain said, noting the freeholders also looked at other buildings around the county after realizing it was not financially feasible to build a new facility.“One of the most

important things is we’re not bonding, we’re not going into debt,” Chamberlain said, explaining the project will be paid for out of capital fund dollars that have been set aside over time.

“I think the taxpayers of Warren County willbe very appreciative of that. We’re being verygood stewards of theirtaxpayer dollars,” hecommented.Robert Van Volken-

burgh, president of Branch PackagingGroup, said his company was in discussions overthe course of two years before finalizing thedeal to finish the build-ings and sell them to theCounty in move-in condition.“I’m happy that we

were able to come up with a product that I believe the County willbe very happy with,” hesaid.

Freeholder Director Everett A. Chamberlain and Robert Van Volkenburgh, president of prop-erty owner Branch Packaging Group, shake hands on the deal for the County to acquire twobuildings from Branch Packaging to use for the Warren County Library headquarters andDepartment of Human Services offices. With them are Freeholder Richard D. Gardner andFreeholder Jason J. Sarnoski.

Warren County Library Headquarters Plans To Move From Current Location

Board of Chosen Freeholders will purchase 12 acres in White TownshipOur Lady of Mt.

Carmel School will host its annual Open House on Sunday, January 29th, from 11am to 2pm. The Open House, which is a prelude to Catholic Schools Week, will provide an opportunity for prospective students and their parents to tour the school, meet with teachers and administra-tion, and visit with current students and parents. Our Lady of Mt.

Carmel School also welcomes community members to visit the school.The Open House will

also provide attendees with an opportunity to view a few of the many activities in which the students participate. Art work will be on display as well as other works created by current students. Entertainment provided

by the students will include performances by the Recorder Club mem-bers and the choir. The entertainment will occur between noon and 1pm.Our Lady of Mt.

Carmel School is a Catholic School located in the Allentown Diocese. The school offers a faith-based education for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. If you are unable to

attend, call 610-588-2629 for a personal tour.

OLMC School Plans Open House

Hardwick's Dana Named Chair of WCCC Board of Trustees

Craig Dana of Hard-wick Township was recently named the new Chairman of the Warren County Community College Board of Trust-ees at the board's reorga-nization meeting. Dana, a Trustee for the

past five years, is a long-time attorney with years of experience represent-ing school boards throughout Warren and Sussex counties. He is now semi-retired

although he is still the judge of the Joint Municipal Court of North Warren. "The college is on an

absolute roll over the past five years," said Dana. "It is accomplish-ing a lot of good things not only for the students but for the larger com-munity." Dana pointed to the

opening of the college's new Phillipsburg Educa-tion Center as an example of being there for the community. "The ripple effect (of

the Phillipsburg Educa-tion Center) will be of great benefit throughout the region," and for students of all back-grounds, he noted. "We make educational

opportunities available for people so that they

can help themselves," Dana said. "The college is offering

endeavors that in the past were not available. We are making it easier for people to reinvent themselves if they need to." "Craig is a natural

leader," said Dr. Will Austin, President of WCCC. "He has a feel for not only the educa-tional system in the county but perhaps more importantly, the needs of the community." While Dana may be the

"Chair", he insists that it is a team effort, from the board on down. "It's a collaborative

effort," he said. "I'm just the coordinator you might say. The board is made up of a really good group of people with a wealth of diverse talent who are there for one reason - to make the college better. But the real success of our college is because of the people in the trenches everyday - the staff, faculty and administra-tion." Looking into the

future, Dana is looking forward to efforts to open up the proposed health center at Hackett-stown Regional Medical

Center. A former senior partner

with Morris, Downing & Sherred in Newton for 35 years, Dana was also quite active in a number of other endeavors. He was the former

General Counsel for First Hope Bank, he is past chair for Newton Memorial Hospital, and is also a former Trustee at Blair Academy. A graduate of Colgate

University and later William & Mary Law School, Dana spent three and a half years in the Navy with the JAG Corp. He has been married to

his wife Mary, a realtor, for over 40 years. They have two grown children and two grand-children. Originally from Hack-

ensack, they moved to Hardwick in 1981. Dana replaced David Boone as Chair. WCCC has been

serving Warren County since 1981, providing an affordable, high quality education in a broad range of fields of inter-est. For more information

about WCCC and its degree and non-degree programs, visit www.warren.edu.