This summer, Ava Levin, who is a student at Fredon Elementary School, will compete for the national title

of USA National Princess, as well as thousands of dollars in college scholarship money. Along with outstanding young women from across the U.S., Ava Levin, who is the reigning NJ, will travel to Daytona Beach, Florida June 24th through the 28th for the highly anticipated USA National Miss Scholarship Pageant. Representing the state, Ava Levin will compete in evening gown, role model (academics/volunteering /charities), media relations, talent, interview and a runway fashion show event in order to claim the honor of being crowned the national winner. Ava Levin, is a bright, ambitious nine year old! She has maintained grade A or better and is in the G.A.T.E (Gifted and Talented Art) program in her school. She is involved in numerous competitive sports, school clubs and community volunteering through the Girl Scouts. She is also a proud advocate/volunteer for O.S.C.A.R (One Step Closer Animal Rescue)

based in Sparta, NJ. She wants to share with everyone that your dreams can be possible if you set realistic goals, prioritize and do what you love to do! Success only comes to those who really want it. If you fail, just get up and do it again. Over the years, Ava has been involved in many activities within her school and community as well as a candidate for her schools vice president position. She has participated in various school clubs such as G.A.T.E, National Geography Society, Newspaper Club, Harry Potter Club, plus her schools annual talent show. She has won the drawing competition for her schools directory cover as well as the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. She is a USAIGC Bronze Level gymnast and is a competitive summer swimmer for the Kittatinny Barracudas Swim team County Champions for the last four years. She also studies the piano with Laura Morrow on a weekly basis for the past two years. Ava also finished this past fall season with recreational Cheer Miss NJ contd pg.7

Hang up the snow shovel and break out the garden gloves its time for all things spring! -at the annual Springfest Garden Show, March 13-16th at the 18th in the sun-drenched Conservatory at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. The areas foremost landscape companies have been busy all winter designing their displays, forcing flowers from winter dormancy, and building the glorious gardens that will inspire you to imagine your own property improved by the latest

outdoor- living trend or perhaps a new planting to enhance your homes curb appeal. If youre considering an outdoor project, visiting a local garden show is a great way to meet with various wellestablished, respected landscape companies and actually chat with the owners and peruse their portfolios. Springfest President and garden exhibitor David Wright says, Springfest was created to help showcase the horticultural community. Many of these landscape com-

panies, chosen for their quality work and reputation, have been exhibiting at Springfest for up to 18 years. In addition to David Wright Landscape Architect LLC, visitors will see diverse gardens created by Hautau Landscaping, Inc., Three Seasons, Inc., Garden State Koi and Aquatic Center, Farmside Landscape & Design, Erik Enterprises Landscaping LLC, and Anthony Group Installers. It wouldnt be a Garden Show without these displays, so each

year these awardwinning exhibitors gather their resources and invest weeks of time and truckloads of materials to produce a beautiful venue all for the 4-day show. It is their hope that it inspires visitors to consider the vast options available in gardening and landscaping today. Bring a camera to capture the many ideas, and find help in planning to get the most from your property. As you stroll through the gardens and pathways at Springfest, be sure to check out the more than 75 charming shops and horticultural services and even take in a lecture or two. Bring the kids to the Kids Plant Your Own Zone, and relax in the beautifully decorated Caf. Springfest Garden Show bursts into bloom March 13-16th 10am5pm Daily, at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Rd. Augusta, NJ. Admissions: Adults $12., Seniors (65+) $9., Kids under 15 free. For more information visit: www.springfestgardens how.org or call 973948-9448.

Attention Parents of future Knowlton Twp. Elementary Kindergarten Students: Kindergarten registration is going on now for kindergarten in September 2014. To be eligible for kindergarten, a child must be five years old by October 1st, 2014. If you have not already done so, call the school at 908-475-5118, ext. 200, as soon as possible. Knowlton Twp. Elementary School is accepting four-yearold children for a high quality, comprehensive and fun-filled preschool inclusive education program for the 2014-15 school year.

Children must be four years old by October 1st, 2014 and must be toilet trained. The program begins in September, Monday through Friday from 9am to 11:30am when school is in session. Space is limited. For more information, call 908-475-5118, ext. 200, or visit www.knowlton school.com. You could win prizes from Watch Over Me Pet Sitting, Angels Tailwaggin Training, or Blairstown Pet Sitters! See page 6 for details! It sure is a cold, stormy winter! Call Fuel-Rite Petroleum,

your hometown fullservice oil company and warm up! Contact them today at 908-362-8910 or visit www.fuelrite petroleum.com for more information. Eat too much Valentines Day candy? Work it off at Fitness Empire, where you can earn free personal training sessions! See the Fitness Empire ad in this weeks edition for details. Happy birthday to Denise Baarda, owner of Baarda Farms and Denises Designs in Mt. Bethel, PA! She will be celebrating on February 19th. Happy Sweet 16, Lilly Rutherford! She will be celebrating her 16th birthday on February 20th! Have a great day! Happy birthday wishes are also sent to Liz Krafty, February 20th; Eric Ransom, February 20th; Brandon Werner, February 21st; and Gindy Hanyon, February 21st. Have a great day, everyone! Say Happy Birthday to your loved ones in The PRESS!

Send us your loved ones name and birthday and well print it here for free! Want to go the extra mile? You can send us a photo and a birthday wish and well publish it in the paper for a small fee. Call 610-599-1952 for more information. The PRESS would like to sincerely apologize to Bob Halberstadt for unintentionally omiting his byline and photo credit in last weeks front page article, Blair Academy Student Hosts Family Fun Day for Special Needs Children. Bob is a reporter and photographer for The PRESS. His hard work and dedication are truly appreciated. Thank you for everything you do, Bob! We love hearing from you! Send your birthdays, anniversaries and other tidbits of information to: The PRESS PO Box 430 Blairstown, NJ 07825 thepressmail@ gmail.com thepressnews online.com Like Us on Facebook!

The following is a list of books added to the Warren County Library collection this past week: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy), from Lionsgate. Killing Kennedy, from 20th Century Fox. Serena: A Novel (P.S.), by Ron Rash. The Hundred-Foot Journey, by Richard C. Morais. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume. Happier at Home: The Days Are Long, but the Years Are Short, by Gretchen Rubin. The Sasquatch Escape (The Imaginary Veterinary), by Suzanne Selfors. Crimson Veil (An Otherworld Novel), by Yasmine Galenorn. The Witness, by Nora Roberts. Axis of Upheaval, by Lou Dobbs. The Bootlegger (An Isaac Bell Adventure), by Clive Cussler. Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin, by Tim Siedell. Anyas Ghost, by Vera Brosgol. NYPD Red 2, by James Patterson. The Famous and the Dead (Charlie Hood) (Electronic Format), by T. Jefferson Parker. Blossom Street Brides: A Blossom

Street Novel, by Debbie Macomber. When Shadows Fall (A Samantha Owens Novel), by J. T. Ellison. The Hidden (Hollow Trilogy), by Jessica Verday. Chestnut Street, by Maeve Binchy. Missing You, by Harlan Coben. Tempting Fate, by Jane Green. The Accident, by Chris Pavone. The Cairo Affair, by Olen Steinhauer. An Unexpected Grace, by Kristen Von Kreisler. High Seduction (Adrenaline Search & Rescue), by Vivian Arend. Blindfolded Innocence, by Alessandra Torre. My Sweetest Escape, by Chelsea M. Cameron. The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality, by Gahan Hanmer. Archie: The Married Life Book 2, by Paul Kupperberg. Star Wars Dark Times Volume 2: Parallels (Star Wars: Dark Times), by Mick Harrison. Star Wars Tales, Vol. 1, from Dark Horse. Star Wars Tales, Vol. 2, from Dark Horse. Star Wars: Dark Times: Path to Nowhere (Star Wars), by Welles Hartley. Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison, by Haden Blackman. Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command, by Haden Blackman. The Archie Wedding: Archie In Will You Marry Me?, by Michael Uslan. You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack: Cartoons, by Tom Gauld.

By Dr. Paul Kengor

I learned only yesterday that Shirley Temple, the iconic child actress, died earlier this week at age 85. Reports on her death were easy to miss. I went through my usual scan of various websites and saw nothing. I fortunately caught a buried Shirley Temple, R.I.P. by a writer at a political website. I was dismayed by the sparse reaction to the loss of this woman who lived a great American life. Had Shirley Temple died 50 years ago, or even 30 years ago, the country would have stopped. People everywhere would have paused to give Temple her due. It would have been the lead in every newspaper. But not today. Our culture is too obsessed with Miley Cyrus and gay marriage to give proper recognition to a woman who was one of the most acclaimed, respected, and even cherished Americans, a household name to children and adults alike. When I caught the news of Temples death, I groaned. I braced myself to tell my two young daughters. Theyve watched Shirley Temple movies for years. To them, shes a contemporary, another innocent little girl. When I informed my 11-year-old daughter, she frowned and said, Oh, thats terrible. She was about to cry when I quickly explained that Shirley was 85 and had lived an extraordinary life. There was no reason to be sad. For years, as my daughters, wife and I watched Temples old movies, wed check her date of birth, do the math, and realize that Shirley probably would be with us a while longer. That while has finally closed. I never met Shirley Temple, but a good friend of mine who died in August knew her. Bill Clark, who was Ronald Reagans close friend and crucial adviser in taking down the Soviet Union, met Temple at

the height of her popularity, when both were children. Clarks grandfather was a literal sheriff, cowboy, and California trailblazer, known throughout the Los Angeles area. Some Hollywood publicity folks contacted the senior Clark around 1936 for a local promotion. The promotion featured four-year-old little Bill pinning a badge on Shirley Temples vest as she was officially deputized by Marshal Clark. Bill Clark always fondly recalled that moment, captured in a photo that he kept

framed and that we put in his biography. He would later have pictures with the likes of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II, but here was one photo he kept close to heart. Fifty years later, Clark and Temple served together again, this time in the State Department, where Clark alas held the higher rank: he, as second in command; she, as foreign affairs officer. Temples old Hollywood friend, fellow Republican, and political ally, Ronald Reagan, had appointed her. She became an ambassador. But Shirley Temple was, of course, known for film rather than politics. I cannot do justice to that storied career here, but indulge me as I share one of my favorite Shirley Temple movies. In the 1934 classic, Bright Eyes, Shirley played a five-year-old who lost her father in an airplane crash and then lost her mother. She is comforted by loving people who would do anything for her, including her godfather, who is identified as just that. The godfather behaves like a true godfather. The movie includes

constant, natural references to faith, never shying from words like God, Heaven, and even Jesusverboten in Hollywood today. Todays sneering secular audiences would reflexively dismiss the film as Norman Rockwell-ish. To the contrary, the movie is hardly sugar-coated. Just when your heart is broken from the death of sweet Shirleys dad, her mom is killed by a car while carrying a cake for Shirley on Christmas day. What such cynics really mean is that the film isnt sufficiently depraved for modern tastes. Shirley doesnt pole dance or twerk. She doesnt do a darling little strip tease for the boys while singing Good Ship, Lollipop. The references to God are not in vain or in the form of enlightening blasphemy. And the movie has a happy, not miserable, ending. Come to think of it, maybe this isnt a movie for modern audiences! For 80 years, Shirley Temples bright eyes brightened the big screen. They reflected what was good and decent in this country. She embodied what made America great, and she brightened our lives in the process.

CO MMUN ITY EV ENTS

Send your Event to thepressmail@gmail.com with the subject NJ Community Events
Historic Blairstown Theatre. FMI & tickets, visit thehbt.com. Blairstown Committeeman Paul Avery Available to Meet with Residents: Saturday, February 22nd, 11:30am to 1pm. Blairstown Town Hall. No appointments necessary. All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet: Sunday, February 23rd, 7am through 11am. Franklin Twp. Vol. Fire Dept., 37 Second St., New Village. FMI, call 908319-0379. Becoming You: Writing Careers Free Seminar: Thursday, February 27th, 6:30pm to 3pm. Project SelfSufficiency, 127 Mill St., Newton. Call 973940-3500 to register. The North Warren Democratic Club Meeting: Saturday, March 1st, 1pm. The meeting room of the Catherine Dickson Hofman Library on Lambert Road in Blairstown. They will be electing officers and discussing the 2014 elections, especially Roy Cho's campaign against Scott Garrett. Also candidates for the Blairstown Township Committee will be discussed. Refreshments provided. FMI, contact Fred Cook at 908-3626808 or fpchistory@ yahoo.com Knights of Columbus Annual St. Patricks Charity Dinner Dance: Saturday, March 1st, 6:30pm to 11pm. St Lawrence Parish Hall, Chester. FMI, call 973584-2083 or 862-4322159. The Chester Lioness Club Dinner Meeting: Thursday, March 6th, 6:30pm. 190 West Main Street, Chester. Art Association in Roxbury Meeting & Pottery Demonstration: Thursday, March 6th, 7:15pm. Roxbury Senior Center, 72 Eyland Ave., Succasunna. Newton Rotary Club Annual All You Can Pasta Power Cooking Program for Children: Wednesdays, February 19th through March 12th, 3:15pm4:30pm. Blairstown Elementary School cafeteria. Open to kids in grades 4-6. FMI, visit blairstown-nj.org/recre ation.html. Wacky Wednesdays: Wednesdays, February 19th & 26th, 3:15pm to 4:30pm. Blairstown Elementary School gym. Open to kids in grades K-3. FMI, visit blairstown-nj.org/ recreation.html. Self-Discovery Workshop: Friday, February 21st, 7am to 9pm, & Saturday, February 22nd, 9am to 2pm. St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Hope. FMI, call 908-496-4797 The Quimby Mountain Band: Saturday, February 22nd. The Eat Pancake & Sausage Breakfast: Saturday, March 8th. First United Methodist Church, 111 Ryerson Ave., Newton. Cabinet with Special Guests Bovine Social Club: Saturday, March 8th. The Historic Blairstown Theatre. FMI & tickets, visit www.thehbt.com. St. Jude RC Church St. Patricks Dinner Dance: Saturday, March 8th, 6:15pm11pm. Snow date: Sunday, March 9th. Corned beef dinner will be served. For tickets, call Robert Ho at 908382-1525, or Lorraine at 908-459-5114. 18th Annual Springfest Garden Show: March 13th through 16th. Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta. FMI, visit springfest gardenshow.org or call 973-948-9448. Hope Twp. School Tricky Tray: Friday March 14th, 6pm. Hope Twp. School, 320 Johnsonburg Rd., Hope. Benefits Class of 2014. Having a Free Community Event? Hosting a Fundraiser? Send Your Info to thepress mail@gmail.com.

Blairstown, Knowlton & Hope A & P, Alpine Meats, Animal Mansion, Ash Plumbing, Asian Combat Arts, A-Tech, Auto, Blair Tile, Blair Tire & Auto, Blairstown Chiropractic, Blairstown, Country Florist, Blairstown Municipal Building, Blairstown Eye Associates, Blue Ridge Lumber, Buckwood, Building Specialties, Burgdorff, BuzzWorks, Caffe Nelle Cucine, Cannon Country Real Estate, Columbia Post Office, Custom Colonial, Dale's Market, David Krawski Dentist, DogHouse, Dominick Pizza, Dr. Magalio: Dentist, Ellias Restaurant, Finish Line Auto, First Hope Bank, Fitness Empire, Fountain Mall Laundromat, Frank's Pizza, Fun & Games, Gallery 23, Geo's Pizza, Gourmet Gallery, Grand Rental Station, Hair Company, Hairs 2 You, Historic Blairstown Theatre, Hope Deli, Hope Haircutters, JD Liquors, John Deere, Kozimors Upholstery, Knowlton Municipal Building, Lakeland Bank, Lebduska Accounting, Majestic Cleaners, Marksboro Deli, Mark D. Nelke: DMD, Medical Associate, Mediterranean Diner, Napa, Nature's Harvest, New Beginnings, New HoHo, North Warren Farm & Garden, North Warren Pharmacy, North Warren Truck Repair, Old Stillwater General Store, Physical

Therapy, Pizza Express, PJ's, PNC Bank, Post Office (Both Locations), Post Time Pub, Prudential, R. Keiling, Race's Farm Market, Radio Shack, Remax, RunWay Caf, Shell Gas Station, Skyland Bank, Smitty's, Sophia Nails, Studio 94, Sunrise, Nutrition Center, Sun Velocity, Sunoco, The Auto Shop, The Inn at Millrace Pond, Tile Warehouse, Tractor Supply, Tramontin Harley-Davidson, US Gas, Voulas Hairway to Heaven, Village Green, Warren County Library, Wells Fargo, Wilbur's Country Store, Wine & Spirits, Woman to Woman Belvidere A & P, Al's Pizza, ACI Truck Stop, Bagel Smith, BelPike Lanes, Belvidere Diner, Belvidere Spa, Clucas Farm, Curves, Dee Doo's, Dr. Amannda Richline, Food Mart, Four Sisters Winery, H&R Block, Hearth Shop, Hickory Mortgage, Little Johns Pizza, Mediterranean Riverside Designs, Riverton Hotel & Restaurant, Rosal Jewelers, Short Stop, Skee's Busy Bee, Skoogy's, Steckel's Shell, Station, Thisilldous, Uncle Buck's Diner, US Gas, Vincent Haircuttery & Plus, Zack's, Zeeks Washington A & P, Bagelsmith, Fliegauff Jewelers, Home Instead Senior Care, Kaffe Kaprys, Lost Ladies, Mediterranean Bistro, MWC Racing, Pride-N-Groom, Quick Check, Rossi, Second Time Around, Shopper Stop, Silver Stars Bagel, Smith Dodge, Stanley's Pizza, Town Market, Washington Diner, Washington Shoe Newton A&G Pizza, Back in Motion, BMW Dealership, Charm, Co. Seat, Dunkin Donuts, Hampton Diner, Ho Hos, HobbyTown, Holiday Inn, Home Furniture, Warehouse, Kathy's Restaurant, Newton News Stand, Optical Center, O'Reilly's, PB&J, Quick Check, Shop Rite, Skylands Sport Shop, Springboard Shoppe, Superior Shower Doors, The Chatter Box, VW-Audi Dealership, Weis Hackettstown A & P, Bachs Home Healthcare, Cozy Corner, Golden Skillet, Hacktettstown Free public Library, Hackettstown Guns & Ammo, Hackettstown Sandwich Shoppe, Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Mama's Pizza/Cafe Baci, O'Neill's Jewelers. Prickley Pear, Quick Check #2, Riverstar Diner, Tranquility General Store, Valley Bagel, Weis, Willow Caf Columbia Ayers, Hunters Lodge, Roses Cafe

Hello fellow readers, Mr. Wooly Bear Caterpillar sure predicted this winter spot-on! Jane from Bangor, PA asked if our single digits and snow cover will help reduce bugs. Wouldnt that be a well-deserved outcome after all of this! Brrrrr! They say invasive insects may be more susceptible to death due to freezing depending on where they originated. But native insects are resilient little buggers that have adapted amazing coping skills. Many are able to withstand temperatures well below zero! Some insects survive by migrating to warmer regions or by waiting out the winter using warming techniques combined with sheltering by entering houses, often hidden from view, and burrowing into the soil. Others tolerate freezing temperatures by producing an antifreeze-like substance to stop ice from forming in their cells and then enter into diapause, a type

of hibernation. What about the tick population? asked Tom from Newton. Unfortunately snow cover helps insulate insects that live in the ground or under leaf litter, keeping temperatures stable and protecting them from predators. It is winters with little snow and freezing and thawing temps that can impact insect population, causing soil to heave, making for easy pickings by birds. Warmer variable winter temperatures can also awaken insects from diapause, triggering them to become active, which uses up their fat reserves and may cause starvation. The good news is steady cold winters are good for honey bees, our important pollinators, who survive by staying in the hive, eating stored honey and fanning their wings to stay warm. If the winter weather gets warm enough, they look for flowers wasting energy, causing them to eat more. And if they deplete their winter supply, the colony will starve. We long for an early spring. But in fact, when mild weather causes overwintering insects to emerge ahead of schedule, their numbers can increase quickly, making them a detriment to tender young plants. Have patience; spring will come, hopefully with a few less invasive little buggers. Garden dilemmas? askmarystone.com

(NAPSI)The quality of the air in your home should always be a priority, but during the colder months its particularly important to monitor it. The Problem: One of the most common airquality problems in an indoor environment is particles in the air, such as allergens, viruses, bacteria and other contaminants. You have longer exposure to these particles when youre inside for a long time in the winter, and just because you cant see these pollutants, it doesnt mean theyre not there. These lightweight particles can stay suspended in midair unless properly

removed, and smaller particles can sometimes cause the most adverse health effects. The human bodys immune system is able to deal with a certain level of contaminants. However, once allergens or other airborne pollutants reach a threshold, negative health effects and allergic reactions can occur. When the temperature drops, people tend to spend more time indoors, which means more time sharing air in a confined area, said Kent Kuffner, indoor air quality product manager, Carrier. What Can Be Done: Fortunately, by reducing the contaminant levels

of airborne particles through proper indoor air-quality technologies, these problems may be alleviated. Here are some hints on how: Air purifiers clean harmful microscopic airborne pathogens from the conditioned air and some even capture and kill them to prevent them from re-entering the home. Another common issue during the winter is dry air. Installing a humidifier can help maintain proper humidity during heating season and help you avoid itchy, cracked skin, dry nasal passages and static electricity. It

may even reduce the drying that can damage wood furniture and flooring. An added benefit to properly humidified air is that it feels warmer than drier air, Kuffner said. When the humidity is right, you can actually lower your thermostat during heating season and stay more comfortable while saving on utility costs. Air infiltration is also a big concern. Todays homes are built for better energy efficiency, with tighter construction and less air infiltration. While thats great for maintaining temperatures, it means air can become stagnant and stale in your home, especially when you and your family are spending more time indoors. You need fresh air in your home and thats where a ventilator helps. It works with your heating and cooling system to allow clean, fresh outdoor air into your home without jeopardizing your comfort. When evaluating your homes air quality, its important to discuss it with a certified heating, ventilation and airconditioning contractor.

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

nutritionally balanced diet, and arent exposed to other infections. This is a condition that humans or dogs cannot get, but it can be spread to other cats through a deep bite wound. Pet Adoption League was going to send Thor to a sanctuary for FIV cats, but we all feel that he is just too special to be placed anywhere other than a loving home. Please consider adopting Thor and giving him the life he deserves! For more information on FIV, check out Cornell Universitys FIV brochure at vet. cornell.edu/fhc/brochur es/fiv.html. For more on Thor or other kitties, visit palpets.org, call 973-584-0095 or email info@palpets.org.

through KMFL. Lastly, she has just signed with Wilhelmina Model and Talent agency to help her dream of acting and modeling. She wants to share with others on her achievements to impress upon them that if you set realistic goals and enjoy what you do, dreams can be possible! Ava is available for grand openings and events to help any upcoming business. She

would also love to help any organization that is in need of her support! USA National Miss provides young women ages four to 24 with the opportunity to combine their love of pageantry with other optional elements to custom design their pageant experience, whether their focus is on fashion and modeling or talent, education, community service and mentorship. Awarding six prestigious national titles, USA National Miss will award thousands in scholarship money to

each national winner, as well as a growing prize package. Delegates can also earn titles, crowns and prizes in optional competitions in areas of interest to them, including academics, community service and talent. USA National Miss combines all the beauty and excitement of pageantry with the glamour and energy of a runway fashion show, while recognizing the personal achievement, community involvement and academic excellence of young women all across the USA,

USA National Miss Executive Director Jackie Watson said. Our program is designed to award young women for their accomplishments and to mentor them to reach their goals and unleash their true potential. Gina Santoro, NJ State Director, can be reached at nj.usanatioanlmiss@ yahoo.com or 201-5631211 for information on the USA National Miss NJ Competition. For more information on USA National Miss, go to usanational missnj.com

Bipartisan legislation Assembly Republican members Alison Littell McHose and Parker Space sponsor a bill that would allow for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the development of the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery. I recently advanced in the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. Allowing taxpayers to contribute to the establishment of a veterans memorial cemetery in Northern New Jersey is an excellent way to honor the men and women who valiantly served our country, said McHose. Currently, taxpayers may choose to give a portion of their tax refund to a variety of funds, including breast cancer research, drug abuse education and child abuse prevention. Providing a resting place for veterans from the northern part of our state which is currently underserved is just as important. Northern NJ does not have a designated veter-

ans' cemetery. The state-operated Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, located in Wrightstown, Burlington County is at least a two hour drive for most residents of Northern NJ. In addition, the only national cemeteries in the area, maintained by the Veterans Administration, are located in Beverly, NJ and in Pennsylvania and New York. The other veterans' cemeteries in the state - in Atlantic, Cumberland, Cape May, Gloucester and Salem counties - are all operated by their respective county governments. This is a great opportunity to not only honor our veterans, but ease a burden on their surviving families who currently must travel long distances to bury and visit the grave site of their loved one, said Space. I commend the veterans who initiated this movement to build a graveyard exclusively for their fellow colleagues of the armed forces, and believe our residents will overwhelmingly support this very worthwhile cause

when given the chance. The bill, A-126, establishes the Northern NJ Veterans Memorial Cemetery Development Fund and provides for a designation on the state gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund. The monies will facilitate the development and operation of the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery. There are about 100,000 veterans in the Northern NJ region. A group of veterans initiated the movement to build the cemetery, will be the state's first nonprofit cemetery, and have secured a 66-acre parcel of land in Sparta, Sussex County. The NJ Cemetery Board approved the application in January. Once complete, there will be a section in the cemetery for about 16,000 graves and another section for remains. Sussex County, which donated the land, has pledged $50,000. Once the cemetery is operating, organizers of the project expect it to be self-sustaining.

The free parenting courses offered at Project Self-Sufficiency during February have been rescheduled, announced the agency recently. Courses will be offered for families of all shapes and sizes. Parents are invited to learn about the different stages of physical and emotional development during childhood, as well as techniques for positive discipline and improved communication. The sessions are free and open to the public and childcare will be provided. With the exception of the Mothers in Recovery course, all classes will be held at Project Self-Sufficiency from 6pm to 8pm. The agency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton. Advance registration is

required. Classes for Mothers in Recovery will be offered at Sunrise House on Thursdays, February 13th through May 1st. Sunrise House is located at 37 Sunset Inn Road in Lafayette. Parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolaged children and parents of school-aged children are invited to attend separate classes on Tuesdays, February 25th through May 13th. Classes for expectant parents will be offered on Wednesdays, February 26th through April 30th. Project SelfSufficiency is a private non-profit communitybased organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New

Jersey. The agencys mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to achieve personal and economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and to improve their lives and the lives of their children. Since 1986 Project SelfSufficiency has served more than 19,500 families, including more than 30,000 children. To register for the free parenting workshops, discuss your parenting needs, or find out more about other programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500, or visit projectself sufficiency.org.

Cabinet is a band with roots firmly planted in the Appalachian tradition. They wear their influences like badges, honoring the canon of roots, bluegrass, country and folk, weaving these sounds into a patchwork Americana quilt. But this music isnt romanticizing or rehashing the past. Cabinet makes its mark on today. The steady aim of their harmonies soars straight onto target each time, the soaring vocals giving voice to the story of each song. Their music takes the long way home, treating its listeners like passengers on a ride through scenic back roads. Their live shows are inclusive, celebratory and communitybuilding. Everyone will want to get on the wagon with Cabinet. Members Pappy Biondo (banjo, vocals), JP Biondo (mandolin, vocals), Mickey Coviello (acoustic guitar, vocals), Dylan Skursky (electric bass, double bass), Todd Kopec (fiddle, vocals) and Jami Novak (drums, percussion), all live and love music, and their polished sound belies their young age. Cabinet is a band that has outgrown any "regional favorite" tag and has progressed to a broader fanbase, all while retaining their

signature sound. Not only did the band put together their very own celebration of music and art this past spring with The Old Farmers Ball Music Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but plans are in the works to do it again in 2014. Continuing in the "named after a Cabinet song" tradition, this year's festival is going with the new name Susquehanna Breakdown Music Festival. Taking the name from a track on the bands most recent album, a nearby river and a noisy, energetic American country dance, 2014s fest promises to be even bigger and better than the last, adding a second stage, family friendly camping and

much more. Cabinet has also played many great venues and festivals across the land. Cabinet has shared the stage with Yonder Mountain String Band, Allman Brothers, Pokey LaFarge, Yarn, Delta Rae, Zac Brown, Infamous String Dusters, Railroad Earth, Rusted Root, Hoots and Hellmouth, Blackberry Smoke, Hot Buttered Rum, Cornmeal, Dark Star Orchestra, Keller Williams, Hackensaw Boys, 7 Walkers, New Riders of the Purple Sage and many, many more. The bands latest offering, This is Cabinet - Set II, a seven song effort six originals and a cover of The Byrds Mr. Spaceman

was recorded in March of 2013 at Stage One in Fairfield, Connecticut, and Club Metronome in Burlington, Vermont. The set is diverse yet cohesive, ranging from the melancholy of Caroline, which unfolds into a purposeful jam, to the modern Americana rock of Heavy Rain, which closes the album. Along the way, we have the ambling Doors, the upbeat and fun Poor Mans Blues -- which would not sound out of place at an Old And In The Way show -- the snaky, reggae-tinged The Dove and the instrumental Susquehanna Breakdown, another Cabinet contribution to the tried-and-true blue-

grass tradition. The groups take on Mr. Spaceman is relatively faithful, but with some Cabinet flair, and offers a glimpse into the bands myriad influences. By now, Cabinets ability to get a festival crowd dancing and rip tasty instrumental breakdowns is a given. With Set II, the band displays its continuing development not only as players, but as songwriters who know how to get to the point and have some fun going down that road. Cabinet formed in 2006, bringing together players from various musical and personal backgrounds. Some of the members were barely old enough to drink legally, but their thirst for older music was unquenchable. Whether its rustic "American Beauty"-era Grateful Dead or oldtimey bluegrass, Cabinet has digested it all. But that is not to say that Cabinet recreates older styles. No, this is music that might have its roots in the past, but it is current and vibrant, with a sense of celebrating the now. The Historic Blairstown Theatre on Main St. in Blairstown will host Cabinet on Saturday, March 8th at 8:30pm. For more information and tickets, visit www. thehbt.com.