Consider this: four handsome guys dressed appropriately for the day, show up at the workplace or home of the recipient, sing two (2) beautiful love songs, present a red rose, and watch the person cry for joy and love you greatly for such a wonderful gift. They will say, “The Best Valentine Gift Ever.”

Interested? Contact JOYFUL NOISES QUARTET:   Bob Rosenberger 570-223-7076 (home),  570-236-4734 (cell) or Tom Salmon 570-730-8497 (cell) to reserve your time slot.

Use the links below to view samples of Joyful Noises Quartet:

Video Link #1 | Video Link #2

Price for this wonderful experience is just $50.00.   We will travel within a 25 mile radius of Stroudsburg, PA.  The dates are Monday, Feb. 13, from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M., or Valentines Day, Feb. 14,  from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M.

Please Note:  A portion of the earnings will be given to charities:  youth missions and local food pantries.

SCE Public Safety Watch Commander Ed Hammond recently returned to employment at Saw Creek Estates after a year-long deployment in Iraq. Ed Hammond, who received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq, was a senior non-commissioned officer in a Military Police unit. His unit trained Iraqi Ministry of Justice, as well as regional police and correctional facility personnel, by developing unified correction, prison facilities as well as implementing a judge and jury system.   Saw Creek Estates General Manager David Martin, states “Saw Creek Estates is proud to participate in the National Security and Protecting Liberty and Freedom program.”

Saw Creek Estates Community Association, Inc. is a member-focused homeowner’s association, representing the nearly 3,000 property owners in this premier residential community located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains region. Members and guests in this private, gated community enjoy the rugged mountain environment and a host of four-season fitness, dining, entertainment and recreational facilities that are second to none!

For more information on Saw Creek Estates please call 570- 588-9329 or visit them online at www.sawcreek.org.

The support, for the AN/TPS-59 (V) 3 Long Range Surveillance Radar and the AN/TPS-63B Medium Range Surveillance Radar, is in addition to the AN/TPQ-46 Firefinder support mission that began last year.

The TPS-59(V)3 provides coverage for all air traffic as well as tactical ballistic missiles in the area and, at 30 feet tall, is the largest radar system in the Marine Corps.  The mobile radar supports anti-air warfare operations, enroute traffic control to a distance of about 300 nautical miles and theater missile surveillance to about 400 nautical miles.

The AN/TPS-63B radar automatically detects aircraft in heavy ground clutter, heavy rainfall and electronic interference.  The mobile radar provides air surveillance in three selectable ranges of 80, 120 and 160 nautical miles with a time-shared display of radar and Identification Friend or Foe data.

“We will repair and test all the RF (radio frequency) equipment, including transmitters and receivers, and power supplies,” said Electronics Engineer Rick Bekanich of the Production Engineering Directorate (a resident of Dupont). “Tobyhanna will also repair mechanical components as well, such as motors, gearboxes, antennas and antenna drives.”

One of each system is here now and once they are repaired, they will be tested at the depot’s new radome and tower facilities on Powder Smoke Ridge.  Bekanich said the depot will repair and test two TPS-59s and three TPS-63s per year.

“We will also repair and test what are called ‘secondary depot repairables,’” said Orefield resident Ed Panner, an electronic integrated systems mechanic in the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Directorate. “Those are radar components, but not entire radars.”

Four technicians spent months at Maintenance Center Barstow (MCB) at Barstow, Calif., for on–the–job training on the systems and trained other technicians when they returned.  Panner noted that the new mission is not difficult for technicians, but establishing processes has proved challenging.

“Everything has to be First Articled,” he said, referring to the process by which depot personnel show customers that they can repair a system or component correctly, called First Article Testing.

“We’ve also ordered new test, measurement and diagnostic equipment, and the Engineering Lab made test fixtures,” he added.

A hot mockup, a working system used for testing, will be used to assist in troubleshooting AN/TPS-63B system and components.

Once systems are tested, Tobyhanna personnel will provide fielding support for Marine Corps units.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department’s largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network.  Tobyhanna’s missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.

About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.  Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command.  Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., the command’s mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.

CAPTION: Jessup resident Ryan Armezzani, an electronics mechanic at Tobyhanna Army Depot, verifies operation of the Plan Position Indicator of an AN/TPS-63B Medium Range Surveillance Radar ‘hot mock up’.  The mock up is a radar system that will be used to test TPS-63B components.  Armezzani works in the depot’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Directorate.  (U.S. Army photo by Steve Grzezdzinski)

The group will be facilitated by Megan Baumann, certified physician assistant. Baumann specializes in pulmonology and sleep medicine. She works with Sean McVeigh, MD, pulmonologist. Other facilitators include Donna Decker, RN, Wayne Memorial Community Health Manager, Jean Tuttle, WMH Community Relations and Linda Vose, a sleep technologist at Wayne Memorial’s Sleep Disorders Center. Facilitator training sessions and materials were funded by the Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Patients learn about COPD in their doctors’ offices, but many need the reinforcement of a support group. “In the office, there’s not always time to go over everything, and patients get a lot thrown at them,” said Baumann, adding, “This support group will offer them tools to enhance their quality of life, along with opportunities to meet other people with similar breathing issues.”

More about this exciting new support group was published in the January 28^th edition of the Wayne Independent in the weekly Wayne Memorial Hospital Notes column.

Baumann said the hospital is also starting up a pulmonary rehabilitation program, which involves many disciplines, including nutrition and behavioral health. More information can be obtained about this, the Better Breathers Support Group and other WMH support groups related to diabetes, stroke and Alzheimers disease by calling (570) 253-8990.

Photo: Megan Bauman, PA-C, is facilitating a new support group at Wayne Memorial Hospital for people with breathing and lung issues, especially those with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD).

The ceremony and breakfast was held at Mount Haven Restaurant in Milford. Attorney John Stieh installed the Chamber’s Executive Committee: Philly Viscardo, Dingman Delaware Insurance, President; Aileen Kolvenbach, Pike County Light & Power, 1^st Vice President; Simone Palmer, The Dime Bank, 2^nd Vice President; Lee Oakes, Secretary; and Paul Brislin, EA, Treasurer.

Geraldine Dziak, Milford Health & Wellness Center, Erwin Guberman, CellularOne of NEPA, John Hollister, Rodgers, Olver, Polley, Inc., and Barbara Wortmann, Sussex County Community College were inducted as new Directors; Davis R. Chant, Chant Realty, Beth Nikles, Nikles Realty and Ken Winters, Eastern Propane were inducted as Honorary Directors and Adriane Wendell, Harrington House as the Milford Business Council Representative.

Those new Directors join the existing Board of Directors who represent other area businesses and community representatives:  Amy Bridge, The Milford Journal,  Mary Ann Butler, Times Herald Record,  James Campistrous, J-Angelo Event Planning, Coulby Dunn, Mountain View Homes, Eric L. Hamill, Esq, David Hoff, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Kathy Hummel, Tish Leizens, Our House Publications, Ed Nikles, Sr., Ed Nikles Custom Builder,  and MaryAlice Petzinger, Wayne Bank.

The mission of the Pike County Chamber is to accelerate business growth in Pike County, Pennsylvania, by representing business in promoting economic development while preserving and enhancing our community’s quality of life, by providing value-added programs and benefits to promote membership and to help members achieve success and by building partnerships and coalitions for business to effectively work with community, government and educational organizations in the shaping of public policy.

In order to continue to carry out that mission, the Chamber continues to search for ways to provide more, complete and up-to-date information, services, and benefits to Chamber members and the community.  Becoming a Chamber member will provide an individual or business with benefits and advantages only offered to members. The annual investment fees of members provide the funding necessary to continue and expand the many programs and activities that, which are designed to benefit local business as well as the community.

For more information about joining the Pike County Chamber of Commerce please call 570-296-8700, or visit www.pikechamber.com.

The Council is now charged with writing a report to indicate this position to the Secretary of Labor and Industry by July 2012.

In addition to three years of relief, the RAC voted to send a recommendation to the legislature to amend the UCC Act to extend the code change adoption cycle from every three years to every six years.

According to Paul Szostak, president of the Pike County Builders Association “We see this decision and the resulting recommendation as a huge victory for Pennsylvania homebuyers. With fewer new codes, fewer added costs are involved in the building and purchase of new homes—while safety is not compromised.”

The UCC is the statewide building code in Pennsylvania that, along with a set of regulations, works to balance their impact on health, safety and welfare of Pennsylvania homebuyers with their economic and financial impacts and technical feasibility. One of the duties of the RAC is to ensure that any financial impacts of new codes and changes are considered prior to adoption. Extremely costly standards make it difficult for low to middle-income consumers to afford a new home, oftentimes keeping them in older, noncompliant and less-safe homes.

Last year, PBA fought hard for the passage of Act 1 of 2011, which removed the costly sprinkler mandate from Pennsylvania’s building code and lead to the reform of the adoption process for building codes in Pennsylvania.

“We, as an organization, see this not only as a Governmental Affairs victory for our members, but—just as importantly—as a victory for Pennsylvania’s homebuyers. Without costly added mandates, consumers are freer to build the homes they dream of, at prices they can better afford for three more years,” explained 2012 PBA President Warren Peter.

PBA will continue to work with industry experts, members and legislators to develop and support cost-effective and affordable building codes, standards, regulations and legislation while fight for the rights of new home buyers throughout the state of PA. The organization strives to remain a constant advocate for the industry and its consumers. For more information on building codes and other legislation, visit www.PaBuilders.org.

About PCBA

The Pike County Builders Association is one of more than 800 state and local professional organizations of people in the building trades and related industries. The Association is committed to providing their members and the consumer with quality standards while living up to their code of ethics. The PCBA was formed in 1978 and serves a membership base in Pike County and some surrounding areas of New York and New Jersey.  For more information on the Association contact the PCBA office at 570-296-5589 or visit the PCBA website at www.pikecountybuilders.com

About PBA

Chartered in 1952, the Pennsylvania Builders Association is a nonprofit professional trade organization representing more than 6,400 member-companies from across the commonwealth. PBA members and their employees include builders, remodelers, material suppliers, subcontractors, consultants, lending institutions, utilities and others involved in the housing industry.

PBA serves its membership by providing proactive leadership on state regulatory and legislative issues and by offering products and services to its 38 local associations and chapters that enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of its members. PBA serves Pennsylvania communities and consumers through its steadfast efforts to protect homeownership rights and advocate for affordable housing options. PBA is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders.

IN PHOTO -  Paul Szostak, PCBA President

Schreck is a 38 year veteran of the Madisonville Independent Fire Company and currently serves as Assistant Chief and Treasurer. He has been on the Madisonville Planning Commission since 1982 and is Caretaker for the Madisonville Henry Drinker Estate.

Cramer’s Home Building Centers are headquartered in East Stroudsburg. The Pocono Summit location was opened in 1947 by Berne Cramer, fourth son of company Founder Russell C. Cramer. It is located at the intersection of Route 940 and Spruce Drive and is open 7-5 Monday through Friday and 7-3 on Saturday. The store can be reached at 570-839-7126 or poconosummit@cramers.com.

Dawn Lepkowski and her staff offer delicious home-style cooking seven days a week.  The Belmont Café is now serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Breakfast is available all day, at no extra charge. Stop by and enjoy their homemade food and desserts with menu items such as: sweet potato pancakes, paninis, homemade soups and much more! The Belmont Café is open Monday, 6:00 am to 4:00 pm; Tuesday & Wednesday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm; Thursday through Saturday, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm; and Sunday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.  For more information please call (570) 488-9740.

A number of local business representatives were on hand to celebrate and participate in the ribbon cutting.

Pictured left to right: David Murray (Varcoe Insurance), Jane Varcoe (Waymart Borough), Donna LaBar (Wayne County Chamber Executive Director), Dawn Lepkowski (Owner), Jack Millard (Waymart Mayor), Cristine Cistulli, Lillian Rollison (Waymart Borough) and Mary Ann Koerick.