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COLUMNS: HARFORD: The Harford Fair, to be held Sept. 27-28, with its beautiful grounds and splendid buildings, full of fine exhibits, make the day one of greatest pleasure and profit to everyone. The united bands of Hallstead have been secured for music. People cannot afford to miss the fair, for its influence makes better farms and happier homes. The new premium lists are out and can be had for the asking of the Secretary, E. E. Jones. GREAT BEND: Vacant houses are a scarcity here, owing to Erie shop men locating here. The trains run so as to accommodate the employees to and from Susquehanna. SILVER LAKE: The school in this district opened last Tuesday. No school in the Sheldon school house for lack of pupils. AUBURN TWP.: The Meshoppen & Auburn Telephone company have the holes dug for a line to connect this place with Meshoppen. AND: The Ladies’ Aid of the Methodist church of Auburn Corners will give a “Yellow Tea” at the home of Mrs. C. E. Voss, Friday evening. Price 10 cents. Louis Lathrop will have his fine Phonograph there to help entertain the guests. Proceeds for pastor’s salary. DIMOCK: A party of Springville people recently spent the day picnicking at Cope’s pond. Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Cope left for their home in Philadelphia last Monday. Their many friends regret the necessity which compels their return at so early a date. THOMPSON: Newton Pepper, while reaping for a neighbor with a three horse team, left his team and went for a drink to a nearby spring and while he was gone the team, disturbed by flies or for some other cause, got uneasy and in the melee one of them got a foot into the reaper and cut his foot and leg so badly that the animal is ruined, notwithstanding great effort has been made to save it. SUSQUEHANNA: Many old soldiers attended the reunion of Co. B. 17th Pa. Cavalry at Wm. Lake’s. Sept. 6th. Of the 151 enlisted men but 27 are now living, 11 answered to roll call, 5 of whom live in Jackson. RUSH: Dr. Lee Hickok put in a busy day last Monday. Four lusty newly arriving infants and 25 miles of driving occupied his time for 11 hours, to the exclusion of rest and reverie. We deem this a local record of its kind. AND: The Lawton fair last week drew its usual crowd, who enjoyed a pleasant day of meeting with old friends. The exhibits of produce, livestock, needlework, bake stuff, etc., formed a constant subject of conversation. Only one accident was reported for the day: A horse frightened by a South Montrose automobile, plunged out of the road near L. Terry’s and wrecked the carriage which it was drawing. LITTLE MEADOWS: Dr. Clarence Klear, who has been located [here] for the past two years, received a flattering offer to succeed to an old and established practice at Covington, Pa, has accepted it and has departed to his new field of work. We are sorry to lose him, both as a physician and as a man. It is hoped that the vacancy caused by his removal may very soon be acceptably filled. NORTH JACKSON: T. W. Kennedy attended the funeral of his daughter, Mrs. L. J. Wells, at Dundaff. Mrs. Wells was a victim of typhoid fever and one of a number who have died from the disease during the epidemic of the past few weeks. WEST LENOX: Our ball team played East Lenox team last Thursday. They stood 9 to 0 in favor of our boys and they were well pleased by the sound when they arrived at home. AND: E. W. Brundage is so as to wear his shoe again. He has been suffering with a bad abscess in the ball of his left foot. SPRINGVILLE: Rev. J. O. Spencer, who has been spending his vacation at his old home at Lynn, returned to Baltimore, where he resumes his duties as President of Morgan College. BROOKLYN: Charles Kittle, a former Brooklyn boy, was seriously injured near Binghamton. His horses became frightened at an automobile and ran away. He was thrown from the wagon and his skull was badly fractured. There is little hope of his recovery. Mr. Kittle was driving the team of Frank Robinson, of Slawson & Robinson, Birchardville. FLYNN, Middletown Twp.: Miss Lizzie McCormick is teaching the Gillin school this term, starting with 30 scholars, with prospects of 40. Miss Catheryn Degnan is teaching the Baldwin school and Miss Mary O’Brien, the Stone school. AND: One of Mrs. Daniel Reed’s children, a boy of 7, got his leg broken by getting his foot caught in the wheel of a wagon that he was catching on to. Dr. Hickok is attending him. FRIENDSVILLE: Camp Choconut closed on Friday last after a very successful season. FOREST CITY: Sept. 15th, at the Davis Opera House, the well-known melodrama, “Tony the Convict,” will be given by local talent. Cast of characters: Tony Warren by George Doolittle; Weary Wayside by Terrance Anderson; James Barclay by John Kilnoski; Philip Warburton by Joseph Anderson; Judge Van Cruger by Hiram Watkins; Warden Burrows by Joseph Kaffo; and in other roles, Joseph Caffery, Lillian Doud, Sadie McCusker, Evalgeline McCloskey and Lucy Meddleton. MONTROSE: The 59th annual Susquehanna County Agricultural Society’s fair was held Sept. 13 and 14th. The weather was all that could be desired and at an early hour the people from the surrounding country commenced to arrive and before noon the grounds were well filled with pleasure seekers. It is estimated that about 4,000 people were present, making the gate receipts $870, exclusive of the stands. There was the largest exhibit of gasoline engines ever on the grounds--ten engines being in operation. The Japanese fireworks were “all to the good.” When the bombs burst high in the air and out floated butterflies, animals, geese, roosters, fishes, serpents, etc., they created outbursts of pleased surprise. It was something entirely novel and an entire success. There were 24 entries in the baby contest. Winners: for baby not over 1 year-Mrs. W. H. Tanner, Elk Lake; 2nd, Mrs. Martha L. Cronk, East Rush. For baby between 1 & 2 years-1st, Jean Merritt; 2nd, Mrs. Emma Brown.
Along the Way...With P. Jay
Last week I wrote a column about gasoline prices. I was able to cull a few interesting stats from the boilerplate on the internet, blend in a bit of humor, and was quite satisfied with the result. Not exactly a Pulitzer Prize effort but it was easy to read and easy to understand. I don’t think the paper was on the newsstands an hour when I got my first call. A fella who described himself as an “avid reader” asked me if I enjoyed my vacation. I told him I was not on vacation and he said my column was lousy. “Like that little old lady always said on television, 'Where’s the beef?'" he asked. “I buy your paper and read your column to get the latest gossip in the county and you give me gas prices.” I tried to explain that not all news has to be bad news but he wanted no part of that logic. Bottom line is that caller will hate this week’s effort even more than last week because, as the late Gabriel Heater used to say, “There’s good news tonight!” From the county courthouse... ...we learned that the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts offices received a matching grant of $15,000 from the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission and will use the money to have historical records for the period from 1813 through 1919 put on microfilm. Sue Eddleston, who holds the titles of Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts, said her department has the required $15,000 to match the grant, so the microfilm project will be completed at minimum cost to the county. Sue also heaped praise on Jan Krupinski, one of her capable employees, who was instrumental in securing the grant. And from that same department comes word that Peggy Farrell, who works in the Prothonotary’s side of things, is now a grandmother. Grandma Peggy’s first grandchild and first grandson , Cohen Hayden, weighed in at eight pounds, thirteen ounces. Congratulations Peggy! And in Forest City... ...I had the privilege of participating in the rededication of that borough’s Coal Miners Memorial Wall on its tenth anniversary. The beautifully engraved bronze plaque can be seen at the William Penn Apartment grounds on Main Street, where it offers mute testimony to the trials and tribulations of life when coal mining was the principal industry in the borough. Billed as the world’s largest memorial honoring coal miners, the plaque was the result of a project that started with an idea by Harry Newak, a lifelong resident of that area, and concluded with a highly successful fund raising effort by the Forest City Rotary Club. While in Montrose... ...folks are still buzzing about the honor awarded to the Montrose Minutemen, recently named Pennsylvania Rural EMS of the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Service Council. A plaque commemorating the occasion was presented to the Minutemen on August 19 at the organization’s annual dinner at State College. My friends, if anyone ever deserved to be recognized it is the Montrose Minutemen. And, in case you were not aware of it, the honor was bestowed upon them during a year when the organization is observing the 50th anniversary of its founding. I chatted a bit with Justin Tyler, one of the Minutemen, and learned some surprising things. For example, the Montrose Minutemen have four ambulances and a wheelchair van along with a combination of paid employees and volunteers. The highly qualified and capable crew is headed up by Captain Jim Krupinski and Mike Hinds is chairman of the Board of Directors. There isn't enough room in this newspaper for all the accolades that the Montrose Minutemen have earned during their 50 years of service in the Montrose area. I can only conclude by adding my words of praise to the list. Thank you Montrose Minutemen! Best of everything during your next 50 years. Well, there you have it... Some kind words for great people doing good things. As said in the beginning of this week’s column, not all news has to be bad news.
When I initially considered why a man facing thyroid cancer (as well as a serious and painful back problem) would continue to struggle to work each day to cast one vote out of nine, I concluded that the allure of power held him fast, like a moth to the flame, unavoidable and irresistible. Upon further contemplation, I realized what a severe disservice such thoughts did not only to Chief Justice Rehnquist, but to all of the other justices who have served on the United States Supreme Court. It is not power that holds them fast, but a devotion to our constitutional principles that is rarely matched. Regardless of what you hear, there is a national “religion” – a secular religion but powerful all the same. Our shared religion is freedom, our national faith is democracy, and our blessing is liberty. If these principles form the very fabric of this nation’s soul, then the constitution itself is a sacred document designed by the framers to protect and preserve this nation from the evils in the hearts of men. As noted by James Madison, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” We are not angels – and our government, indeed our constitution, would not be safe without a protector – thus the creation of the Supreme Court – a small omnipotent body of justices sworn to uphold and defend the constitution. And so they have for over two centuries of history – and so did Chief Justice Rehnquist for 33 of those years. As with all human institutions, the court itself is not perfect – but the genius in its creation and the way in which it balances and checks the power of the other branches of our government has withstood the test and strain of time. What would cause an 80 year old man ravaged by cancer, pain and a failing body to continue to don the robe and contemplate the application of constitutional principles? I would suggest that it results from devotion and reverence to the constitution, to federalism, to democracy, to liberty and freedom – a devotion that grows deep roots into the very soul of the justice – a reverence that blossoms forth into countless opinions espousing the very nature of the Constitution itself. In this secular state, these justices are the closest thing we have to national clergy – and they provide guidance and insights that become part of the very fabric of our national character. Do we always agree with their interpretations of the constitution? Of course we do not. How could we when they often fail to agree themselves? If you agree or disagree with the decisions, I have no doubt that there is no better method of government. They say that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. How fortunate are we that the founding fathers understood the necessity of limiting power by bifurcating and dividing power into different governmental units. There are those that decry the lifetime appointments, that say the justices are out of touch with real life, and, in the extreme case, contend that the Supreme Court is destroying this nation with its unlimited power. To those critics, I say if you could only trust one branch of government with your life, your liberty, and your property, which would you choose? The answer was clear to the framers, and remains clear today. The Supreme Court is the only choice because of the service of justices like William Rehnquist. Please submit any questions, concerns, or comments to Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 218, Montrose, Pennsylvania 18801.
First, you have no reason to be embarrassed. And I definitely get your drift; I’m going to guess that you don’t mean you’re forgetting to put the toilet seat down. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is very common. Depending upon how you define ED, there are 15 million to 30 million men who have it. ED ranges from complete impotence to unsatisfactory performance. But it doesn't have to be a part of getting older. As you age, you may need more stimulation and more time, but older men should still be able to get an erection and enjoy sex. The incidence of ED increases with age. Between 15 and 25 percent of 65-year-old men experience this problem. In older men, ED usually has a physical cause, such as a drug side effect, disease or injury. Anything that damages the nerves or impairs blood flow in the penis can cause ED. The following are some leading causes of erectile dysfunction: diabetes, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), prostate surgery, hormone imbalance, alcohol and drug abuse. And, of course, there are your emotions. It should be no surprise that, if you’re having a relationship problem with your sex partner, you can suffer from ED. Here are some other psychological influences: anxiety over a previous failure, everyday stress, depression, and feeling unattractive to your partner. If you’re suffering from ED, you should see your doctor for a discussion and physical exam. Monitoring erections that occur during sleep can help the diagnosis. Healthy men have involuntary erections during sleep. If nocturnal erections do not occur, then ED is likely to have a physical rather than psychological cause. Tests of nocturnal erections are not completely reliable, however. The cause of the ED will determine the treatment. Some ED medicines are injected into the penis. Other medicines are taken orally. In addition to medicines, there are vacuum pump devices and surgery. Millions of men have benefited from three drugs that treat ED. These three, which are advertised endlessly, are Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. All of them increase blood flow to the penis, which produces an erection. Viagra, Levitra and Cialis improve the response to sexual stimulation, but they do not trigger an automatic erection as injections do. Oral testosterone can reduce ED in some men with low levels of natural testosterone, but it is often ineffective and may cause liver damage. Nitroglycerin, a muscle relaxant, can sometimes enhance erection when rubbed on the penis. Research on drugs for treating ED is expanding rapidly. If you have ED, you should ask your doctor about the latest advances. If you have a question, please write to fredcicetti@gmail.com.
Monica Schmid, Seattle, WA Given different types of weather and terrain – as well as historical economic and developmental trends – comparing bicycle usage in different parts of the world is tricky. What is clear, however, is that China dominates the world bike scene: A whopping 60 percent of the world’s 1.6 billion bicycles are used daily by some 500 million riders in China, who choose bikes over other modes of transport over half the time. Meanwhile, in Europe’s hotbed of commuter bicycling, Amsterdam, residents choose their bikes 28 percent of the time, according to the International Bicycle Fund (IBF). In other European cities, the stats are also impressive: Commuters choose bikes 20 percent of the time in Denmark, 10 percent in Germany, eight percent in the United Kingdom, and five percent in both France and Italy. In stark contrast, the IBF reports that American city dwellers choose bikes less than one percent of the time. Meanwhile, estimates of the number of American adults who commute by bicycle regularly range from a low of 400,000 (based on U.S. Census data) to a high of five million (according to the Bicycle Institute of America). Unlike their American counterparts, Europe’s urban planners are working to increase bicycle ridership, according to Janet Larsen of the Earth Policy Institute, an environmental think tank. Copenhagen, for example, has 3,000 bicycles in the city, available for short-term use for a small fee. Amsterdam provides covered bike parking at bus stops, encouraging both bike riding and mass transit at the same time. In Muenster, Germany, bus lanes can be used by bikes but not by cars. Special lanes near intersections feed cyclists to a stop area ahead of cars, and an advance green light for cyclists ensures that they get through the intersection before cars behind them begin to move. Thanks to government programs to ease traffic congestion in Germany, bicycle use has increased by 50 percent over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has developed a plan to quadruple bicycle use by the year 2012. And in the European Union, bicycles have been included for the first time in the comprehensive transportation plan. "European cities are much less suited to motoring and much more suited to short-distance bicycle transportation than are American cities," says transportation analyst John Forester. He cites historical reasons, including that European capitals were designed as walking cities served by rail, while America instead embraced cars. Unfortunately for the world’s air quality, a similar trend is developing in China, where people are ever more turning to cars and abandoning their bikes. Beijing, for instance, has been converting hundreds of bike lanes into car lanes and parking areas, as a recent influx of motor vehicles is maxing out existing roads. And with increased car traffic and fewer bike lanes, bicycle riding is getting more hazardous. "Nowadays there are just too many accidents, with a lot of cyclists getting hurt," says Zhang Lihua of the China Cycling Association. "Riding bicycles is becoming too inconvenient and too dangerous," he adds. CONTACTS: International Bicycle Fund, www.ibike.org, Earth Policy Institute, www.earth-policy.org. Dear EarthTalk: Can asphalt roof shingles be recycled? Kate Prendergast, Warwick, NY Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material used for residential homes today. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates that up to 60 percent of dwellings use them. Each year, the re-roofing of homes in the U.S. generates about 11 million tons of waste shingles – at a cost of more than $400 million in disposal fees alone. Meanwhile, more than 60 manufacturing plants generate up to one million tons of new material every year. This enormous glut has led to the relatively new practice of shingle recycling. Asphalt roofing shingles have great recycling potential because they are easy to isolate. Shingles are then ground into small pieces, and can then be reused in a variety of ways. Currently, almost all recycled asphalt shingles are used in paving, because of the costs savings they can yield. But they can also be used for new roofing and for fuel oil, according to the California Integrated Waste Management Board. The Construction Materials Recycling Association has joined with the University of Florida, the National Roofing Contractors Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on shinglerecycling.org, a website that answers questions about how and where to recycle asphalt roof shingles. Along with a wealth of other resources, the site offers a state-by-state listing of environmental and permitting issues related to asphalt shingle recycling, including how to deal with potential asbestos content. According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing Association, asphalt shingle recycling facilities are available in at least 15 states, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. For more information, NAHB publishes an informative booklet entitled From Roofs to Roads: Recycling Asphalt Roof Shingles into Paving Materials. Written primarily for waste generators, processors and regulators, the booklet details potential end uses for recycled shingles, summarizes the issues that recyclers face, and lists resources and equipment manufacturers, including for equipment that enables demolition companies to shred and prepare shingles for recycling themselves. CONTACTS: California Integrated Waste Management Board, www.ciwmb.ca.gov; National Association of Home Builders, www.nahbrc.org; shinglerecycling.org, www.shinglerecycling.org; Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing Association, www.asphaltroofing.org. GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
In the last issue of “The Weekly Almanac,” dated September 8, ’05, page 4, a news weekly for Wayne County and environs, it stated that under the “Help America Vote Act” voting machines throughout the county must be replaced by January 1, 2006. These new voting machines are about the size of a suitcase and have a computer screen with candidates and issues to consider. Voters can make their choice by touching screen or push button. After voting in the district is over, results will be electronically delivered to Honesdale where they will be tabulated. What a blessing this will be to our Judge of Election, who had to drive to Honesdale to deliver the votes. This, too was better than having to walk to Honesdale, as in former times. Progress comes slow but revocable. Another item in the same paper urges residents of the county to pick up a free copy of the “Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide” from the Wayne County Emergency Management Office, located in the basement of the Courthouse. Harriet Gardner, who fell and broke her hip several weeks ago has been transferred from Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale to Barnes-Kasson Hospital. This will make it much easier for her family to visit her. Her son, Kevin, is making steady progress toward healing. Todd Hadden, son of Ralph and Barbara Hadden, Boyertown, PA spent Labor Day weekend with his grandmother, June Downton. Barb and Roger Glover entertained their western guests by introducing them to the anthracite coal mine in Scranton and the railroad viaduct in Lanesboro, both of which brought awe to the viewers. Peggy Soden says she is feeling good and can walk now after being kicked by a cow six weeks ago. Hopes to be back to work in a week or so. We have missed Carol Brownell in church, but her son-in-law tells us she’s been in the hospital with pneumonia, is home now and I hope by this time she’s feeling up to par. Last weekend son, Nelson and wife, Phyllis spent the weekend with me. Nelson will be operated on September 27 to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung. Enough of the bad news. Isn’t it a beautiful day? And more to come. Cheerio!
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Not all news has to be bad news
In over 215 years, there have only been 15 others, and William Rehnquist was the 16th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court – as compared to the 43 presidents over the same historical period. The court itself provides one of the most static and stable governmental institutions, just as the framers of the constitution intended. William Rehnquist spent 33 years as a member of the United States Supreme Court, and 20 years as the chief justice. Justices are appointed for the term of their natural lives, but nothing prevents them from retiring from service earlier than their death. History demonstrates that few justices are able to walk away from the halls of the Supreme Court until their very last days – and, in Rehnquist’s instance, his term ended only as a result of his death.
Q. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I’m getting low scores in the husband department, if you get my drift. Is this happening just because I’m getting older?
Dear EarthTalk: What is the status of bicycle use in the United States, compared to other parts of the world like, say, China or Europe?