The Jeff Brown Fund is approaching $17,000. The account will be closed this week and all funds will be taken to Jeff by his family members, who will travel to New Jersey to support the fundraiser being held for him by his many friends. The Brown and Douglas families thank everyone for the support they received from everyone in our community.

    If anyone  wishes to send a donation, they may do so by sending it directly to Jeff. He welcomes cards from his many supporters. His address is:  Jeff Brown,  10 Gazelle Court Mulica Hill, NJ 08062. Jeff, your many friends back home send their thoughts and prayers to you as you continue your valiant battle against ALS. I will be writing about the fundraiser being held in New Jersey in my next column.    

    The Essex County Sheriff’s Department will host a free car seat safety check on March 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the AuSable Forks Ambulance Station. They will also offer free child identification cards.    

    My condolences to the family of Richard “Dick” Wyman, 85, of Jay, who passed away on March 5 at his home following a battle with cancer. He was born on Feb. 16, 1925, in Saranac Lake, son of George and Vera (Moody) Wyman. A celebration of Dick’s life will be held at the Whiteface Community Methodist Church in Wilmington on April 3.    

    Congratulations to Margaret McGannon of AuSable Forks who was named to the dean’s list at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia for the fall 2009 semester.

    Congratulations to Richard Lawrence of Jay who received a Post Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program in Science Education degree from Western Governors University. The online, non-profit university awarded more than 120 graduates degrees at its semi-annual commencement ceremony held on Feb.20.    

Birthdays this week

    March 15 – Mike Snow and Chip Pulitzer celebrated 

    March 16 & 17 – No birthdays  

    March 18 – Sherry Walton and Keegan Snow get cake and candles 

    March 19, 20 & 21 – No birthdays   

    Happy anniversary to Ned and Joey Strong on March 18.    

    Welcome to our world Juliana Helene David, daughter of Steve and Lisa David of Clifton Park. Juliana was born at St. Peter’s Hospital on March 3, 2010. She weighed in at 7 lbs. and measured 19 1/2 inches. She joins her big sister Alexa Elizabeth at home. Grandparents are Abe and Betty David, of Glens Falls, and Cef and Helene Marshall, of Jay and the late Joseph K. Casey. My best wishes to the David family and their brand new bundle of joy.    

    If you are starting your spring cleaning and want to get rid of any bicycles, frames, wheels or any parts, please consider donating them so volunteers can fix them up and donate them to the children for Christmas through the Christmas Bureau. Contact John Ryan at 647-5984 for any donations.    

    “Story Time” is being held at the Au Sable Forks Free Library on the second and fourth Saturday of the month through April 10. Holly Carey is in charge of this event and welcomes all children to attend this fun -filled program which begins at 10:30 a.m. and continues for 30 minutes with a variety of stories, poems and folktales. This program is free of charge but all children must be accompanied by an adult. Please call the library at 647-5596 for more information.  

    Congratulations to Brody Douglass member of the AVCS Varsity Basketball team who was the winner of the WPTZ contest for the Best Shot of The Week . Brody tallied more than 1,000 votes to capture the title of winner with his awesome winning shot. Great job Brody and best wishes for continued success in your basketball career.    

    The Essex County Sheriff’s Scholarship Committee will host their fifth annual Sgt. Eric Loiselle Memorial Scholarship Basketball Tournament April 30 – May 2 at the Town of Jay Community Center. in AuSable Forks. Entry fee is $100 per team. All participants will receive a tournament T-shirt. The committee is in the process of hiring referees for this event. Anyone wishing to enter a team or apply for the job of referee may contact Chris Thwaits or Lloyd LaMotte at 873-6988.    

    The 18th annual AVCS Lift-A-Thon will be held on March 27 in the weight room at AVCS from 9 to 11 a.m. This event is a bench press and all AVCS students are invited to participate or volunteer. Anyone who raises $25 or more will recieve an official T-shirt and those raising $100 or more will recieve an official sweatshirt The  participant raising the most money will be awarded a $75 gift card to Champlain Centre Mall. All AVCS Football Team members are urged to participate. For more information contact Mike Maloney at 834 -7224.    

    The AuSable Valley Pee Wee Wrestling Tournament will be held on April 10 at AVCS. Weigh-ins are scheduled from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Age divisions will be as follows: ages 4 and under, 5 & 6, 6 & 7, 8 & 9, 10 & 11, 11 & 12, and 13 & 14. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place and medals will be awarded for fourth and beyond. For more information on this event contact John Dukett at 527-1755 or via e-mail at jhouseplus9@aol.com.    

Special thoughts and prayers for the ill residents of our community

    David Snow, Jimmy Bombard, Frank Lovely, Althea Miller, Diana Hathaway, Francis Gero, Luke Randy Garcia, Peggy Sue Hart, Helen Snow, Bud Snow, Jari Snow-Thwaits, Bobby Wilkins, Jean Pulsifer, Margaret Trumbull, Janet Bombard, Lynda Denton, Gabby Lincoln, Walt Dubay, Karen Baker, Joan Pray, Cindy Thomas, Ann Aubin, Linda Gilbert, Bob Rondeau, John Santor, Bev Devost, Marvin Hildreth, Evie Dockum, Allison Crahan, Pauline Dumas, Carol (Bombard) Quigley, Laura (Joyal) Razzano, Rikki Kane, Joe Dubay Jr., Walter Fournier Sr., Edna (Votraw) Bombard, Martha Frenia, Marge Savage, Terry Nollette, Colleen Otis-Whisher, Charlie Cornick and anyone I may have forgotten.    

    Till next time have a great week and “happy reading.”