| |
| COLUMNISTS |
|
Business Directory Now Online!!!
Please visit our kind sponsors |
|
||||||
|
COLUMNS: EAST KINGSLEY: The ladies of Oakley and vicinity met at the home of Mrs. E. E. Titus, Wednesday, and made, tied and finished a comfortable for Mrs. Harry Miller, who lost all her bedding in the recent fire in Mrs. Osborne’s storehouse in Harford. CLIFFORD: B. F. Wells, a former, well-known and prominent resident of Clifford, died a few days ago at Sea Breeze, Florida, where he had resided for the past eight years. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Clifford and was widely known in that section of the county. LINDAVILLE, BROOKLYN TWP.: Since the mad dog scare here a few weeks ago, nearly everyone who owned dogs has had them killed. ALSO, the house of Ed. Lemon, near the Fairchild place in Brooklyn Twp., was burned to the ground last Tuesday night. The fire is supposed to have caught from a chimney. The contents were nearly all consumed, only a few articles from the cellar and second story rooms being saved from the flames. There was but a trifling insurance and the loss will be a severe one for Mr. Lemon. MONTROSE: The residence on the Library and Historical Society property on Maple St., occupied by Mrs. Calby as a boarding house, was mussed up by fire last Thursday evening, and had it not been for prompt attention by the fire company, it is almost certain that it would have been burned to the ground as the fire was making very rapid headway. The fire was caused by the explosion of a lamp in a small closet on the first floor and very fortunately the damage by fire and water was located chiefly to the northwest corner. The smoke was dense and one invalid lady had to be taken from a window to a place of safety. We understand the loss is protected by insurance. Mrs. Calby’s house was full of boarders and the fire at this time was a great inconvenience for her. CHOCONUT VALLEY: The Choconut Valley creamery company filled their ice house last week and report the ice as being very nice. John Mooney, of Hotel Mooney, filled his ice house about the same time. EAST RUSH: Basket Ball is the chief recreation among the young men at present. ALSO, Mrs. Ella Palmer wishes to thank all who have so kindly remembered her with Post Cards, etc.; they have helped to pass away many lonely hours. BIRCHARDVILLE: The E. C. Social, which was held at the home of the pastor, last Friday evening, was a success. Many came in garments worn fifty years ago. The evening was spent by singing some of the old songs, and recitations learned many years ago. This was the first old-time social we have had, and every one seemed to enjoy it THOMPSON: Leon W. Potter, who has been with C. C. Wilmarth in the Ready Pay Store for the past five years, has severed his connection there and will go into business soon for himself. We will tell you where later. HALLSTEAD: Walter Burton, who was head butcher for the Williams Live Stock Company, has accepted a position of fireman on the Lackawanna. LYNN, SPRINGVILLE TWP.: There will be a general tearing up and moving in the spring. Henry Dunlap will move from the Donald Tiffany place to Meshoppen. W. S. Bunnell from the Owens place to Meshoppen; Roger Edwards from the Baker house to Springville; Mrs. Mary Crisman from the Echard house to Springville, and still there are others to follow. ALSO, in Springville, M. B. Johnson has closed his meat market and expects to dispose of the goods in his grocery, not wishing to conduct the business any longer. FLYNN: Before the lecture here on Saturday evening there was a drill given by the young girls of the school. They were dressed in white and carried wreaths. It certainly was perfect and showed that much time and labor had been spent in the preparation. The young girls deserve much praise, also the teacher who drilled them. HEART LAKE: One of the most pathetic incidents it has been our duty to record in a long time is the death of Mrs. Abner Van Housen, which occurred at Heart Lake, yesterday morning, at one o’clock. Mrs. Van Housen had not been in robust health for a long time, and her weakened condition rendered her an easy victim to the dread disease, pneumonia, with which she was stricken. She leaves a husband and nine small children bereft of a mother. FOREST CITY: Michael Salijda will be placed on trial for his life next Monday, charged with killing John Politza in October, following a drunken altercation, the facts of which have already been given to our readers. [Politza was paying too much attention to Salijda’s wife]. Attorney’s W. D B. Ainey and F. M. Gardiner will appear for the defense and District Attorney Denny will be assisted in the prosecution by G. P. Little. LITTLE MEADOWS: We Little Meadows people have enjoyed very little sleighing so far this winter. Some of our young people, getting rather anxious to make the bells jingle, had to resort to the surrounding hills for their sleigh rides, but found to their sorrow that there were very dangerous places in the vicinity of Tracy creek. ALSO, owing to the inclemency of the weather, the installation of the Meadow Grangers was postponed until January 28. GIBSON: The house of Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Bailey was saddened Friday last by the death of their only child, little Marieta Bailey, age two years. Her funeral was largely attended at the M. E. church here, Sunday, Jan. 15. The floral pieces were both numerous and very beautiful. Elmer Whitney, of Harford, director. Interment at Harford. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have the sympathy of the entire community. SUSQUEHANNA: The Erie railroad is going to spend a million dollars in abolishing grade crossings, and some of the work the coming year will be done on the Susquehanna division. The Erie is also pursuing the right policy in encouraging its engineers to keep their engines in the best condition. Where conditions reach a certain degree of perfection, as to an engineer’s fitness, care taken of engine, etc., the Erie has the driver’s name bronzed upon the cab. It is a mark of honor for which the engineers will strive.
From the Desk of the D.A. I have been thinking about the recent complaints regarding the “vitriolic” political discourse in America today, and I was reminiscing about my days studying history at the University of Scranton. As I have said before, I loved American history and particularly early American history from the birth of the colonies through approximately the Civil War. I took both an undergraduate and graduate class on the Revolutionary period - and was really blessed with an amazing professor who was more storyteller than lecturer. I can remember him talking about the demonstrations leading up to the Revolutionary War - the Sons of Liberty had some interesting (and criminal) ways of making their points. The Boston Tea Party is plainly the most famous “political” act - it involved unlawfully entering a private ship and destroying valuable personal property to protest certain tax policies imposed by the Crown. But during this period, the Sons of Liberty also perfected the use of an effigy (usually of tax collectors) being hung and paraded down the streets where the celebration normally ended with the burning of the effigy. If the crowd was particularly riled up and the burned effigy did not satiate them, the mob would then go out to find a British official, drag him out of his house, strip him down, pour tar over him, and apply a nice coat of feathers. I can remember my history professor chuckling about the “mob” mentality that permeated some of the more violent colonial demonstrations. Of course, the rhetoric leading up to the American Revolution was increasingly strident. Every school child learns (at least they used to) Patrick Henry’s speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses, which ended with the following refrain: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” It is easy to forget that there were lots of folks during the period of time leading up to the Revolutionary War objecting to the escalating rhetoric and actions. The calls for independence (and war) were tempered by calls for peace and unity. Henry’s speech turned Virginia toward the cause of independence - his passionate rhetoric is part of our national lore. Henry is properly revered for the power of his words - not reviled for lacking a more civil and conciliatory tone. But Henry’s speech is just a small part of the political discourse that was occurring throughout the colonies leading up to the War for Independence. The Declaration of Independence itself is filled with hard “fighting” words. For instance: “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” The Declaration then sets out to list the abuses of power perpetrated upon the colonies by King George III. If you review the list of charges and compare it to historical reality, it is pretty easy to draw the conclusion that the Founding Fathers were “stretching” the truth. The Declaration stated that the King had “plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.” It accused the King of hiring mercenaries to complete “works of death, desolation and tyranny” and that the King’s cruelty was “scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.” In assessing the acts of the colonists, the Declaration provides: “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” The Founders conveniently forgot to mention the acts of rebellion that had been occurring throughout the colonies for many years that the Crown was struggling to address, albeit ineffectively. How does this relate to our current level of political discourse? Perhaps, it has nothing at all to do with it. Certainly, it is a different time and it is bit like comparing apples to oranges. On the other hand, it is silly to suggest that America has never experienced partisan, bitter political discourse at its current levels. Frankly, when you look across the pages of our history, our discourse is really remarkably civil - even when we stridently disagree with each other - when compared to other periods in our history. Please submit any questions, concerns, or comments to Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 218, Montrose, Pennsylvania 18801 or at our website www.SusquehannaCounty-DA.org or discuss this and all articles at http://dadesk.blogspot.com/.
The Healthy Geezer Q. How can I tell if I have an aneurysm? Aneurysms are dangerous artery bulges that can be lethal if they burst. Fortunately, aneurysms can be detected by a physical examination, x-ray, ultrasound and modern imaging systems such as a CAT scan or an MRI. The size and location of the aneurysm determines the treatment method. For example, aneurysms in the upper chest are usually operated on immediately. Aneurysms in the lower chest and the area below your stomach are watched at first. If they grow too large or cause symptoms, surgery may be required. The standard treatment for aneurysm once it meets the indications for surgery is replacement of that weakened portion of the aorta with an artificial graft. In recent years, a treatment has been developed to repair an aneurysm using less-invasive surgery. In the procedure, a stent-graft made of a polyester tube inside a metal cylinder is inserted into the bloodstream at the end of a catheter. The stent-graft is positioned to carry the blood flow instead of the aneurysm. Q. How safe is anesthesia today? Anesthesia is risky, but today it is safer than ever for all age groups. Your age is not as important a risk factor as your medical condition and the type of surgery you are having. Safer drugs and major advances in the monitoring equipment doctors use in surgery have reduced anesthesia complications. In the last decade alone, deaths caused by anesthesia have dropped 25-fold, to 1 in 250,000. In addition, shorter-acting drugs, more specific drugs and new intravenous drugs can minimize the nausea and vomiting that sometimes occur after anesthesia. Before your surgery, you can expect questions from your doctors regarding your anesthesia. The following have to be considered: medical problems you might have, medications you take, whether you smoke or drink alcohol, any allergies you have, previous negative experience with anesthesia, and adverse reactions to anesthesia by other family members. The information collected by your doctors guides them in their treatment. Q. Can pets make you sick? Animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans are known as “zoonoses.” Seniors are among the most vulnerable to zooneses. Psittacosis is a common bird disease known as “parrot fever.” It occurs frequently in birds such as parakeets and cockatiels. Bacteria in bird droppings and nasal discharges can be inhaled. Psittacosis can develop into pneumonia and other health problems. Cats can carry a parasite that causes the disease toxoplasmosis. You can get it from cat feces. Cat-Scratch Disease (CSD) may cause fever, fatigue, headache and swollen lymph glands. Most cat scratches don't develop into CSD. Worms can infect dogs, cats, and humans. Worms live in the intestines of animals and are expelled in the stool. Yards and homes can become contaminated from worm eggs that are passed in animal feces and hatch in the soil. People usually get salmonellosis by eating contaminated food. But it can also be transmitted to people through pets, particularly reptiles, baby chicks, and ducklings, which commonly pass the Salmonella bacterium in their feces. Rabies, a deadly viral disease, is transmitted through the saliva of a rabid animal, usually by a bite. Domestic animals account for less than 10 percent of the reported animal rabies cases. Mycobacterium is one of the main infectious germ families associated with fish and aquarium water. People should wear rubber gloves when cleaning a fish tank. If you have a question, please write to fred@healthygeezer.com.
Library Chitchat We are now two weeks into 2011 and I noticed that there are many postings on the internet about New Year’s resolutions. Apparently, getting fit is considered by retailers to be one of the most popular of the annual crop of New Year’s resolutions. At the Library, although we can find books and tapes that will help you towards your fitness goal, our main focus is to provide you with the essential tools for a lifetime of learning. We hope that you again will make visits to the Susquehanna County Library a regular part of your schedule. Remember we have four locations to serve you. Are you unable to get to any of the library locations? Books-by-Mail is available or you can borrow books at one of many “deposit stations.” Check the library’s website at susqcolibrary.org or call (570) 278-1881 for more details. Keep up with the many activities going on at the various library branches by subscribing to the Susquehanna County Library’s e-newsletter. When you visit the library’s website, you will notice a box on the right-hand side labeled “join our newsletter list.” Insert the information asked for and you will receive regular updates about upcoming library events. Re-addressing is now complete in Susquehanna County. Have you stopped in to your local library and updated your library card to reflect your new address? If not, please add that to your list of “to do’s” in the next few weeks. We hope to see many new faces in 2011!
Rock Doc Stunning Vistas And Recent Storms Here’s a classic poem that’s dear to me, both for its manic intensity and its meaning in the natural world. It’s so short you can memorize it right now and always have it at your disposal when you consider news of storms and their destruction. “Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand: Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!” The poet was Edna St. Vincent Millay. Her lines always come to my mind when heavy rains ravage the West and homes, bridges and roads are swept away by mudflows and flash floods. The poem seemed apt as California recently experienced torrential rains that triggered debris flows in canyons. Cascading down the steep hillsides, boulders, trees, mud and water flowed rapidly downhill, imperiling houses and those who lived in them. As usual, there were reports from the people who had built houses exactly where we geologists would predict the debris flows would be the worst. They had traded safety for the stunning views of living in the steep canyons of southern California. In so doing, they had not built upon the rock, but on the sands of impermanence. When the land above their houses started to move, they instantly knew the significance of their choice. “When you hear the boulders going ‘Bang, bang, bang,’ you know there’s going to be problems,” said canyon resident Steve Eighart to the Los Angeles Times. Rapidly moving boulders are, indeed, your first clue you’re in deep trouble. That’s because boulders and other large objects like logs are at the front or “head” of the flow as it comes downhill. Behind that comes finer material like sand, and then a great deal of muddy water. In some parts of southern California the authorities have built large depressions in the land called catch basins. They are meant to contain debris flows that reach them. Some basins have screens built into them to stop large objects like boulders while allowing the watery part of the flow to continue downhill. Mike Colgan, who has lived in Orange County’s Silverado Canyon for 30 years, was impressed by recent events. “This is only the second time I’ve seen this much debris flow, and it’s the first time I’ve seen it happen so quickly,” he told a reporter. But Colgan also had a refreshing sense of personal accountability concerning his situation. “When you live up here, you should accept the responsibility of dealing with nature.” The recent California flows were triggered by amazing rainstorms. By the end of the period, downtown Los Angeles was close to setting a record for the wettest December in 120 years, getting more than 7 inches of rain in seven days. For a dry part of the country, that’s a stupendous total. Actually, for pretty nearly anywhere it’s an impressive number! As the storm moved inland it brought many feet of snow to higher elevations. It continued further, providing white holidays to people more than a thousand miles away from California. The geologic factors that add to the dangers of debris flows in the West are steep slopes and loosened soils and rocks. Canyon walls are exceedingly steep, so it’s no surprise to geologists that they move downward when gravity overcomes a slope’s ability to hold itself up any longer. Bits of rock and soil then start heading downhill, and they can move as fast as a car on a highway. Other factors also increase the chance of debris flows. Forest fires remove vegetation that helps hold a slope together. So fires in the West in the summer add to the possibilities of mudslides and debris flows in the winters to come. Human activities like cutting down brush and trees do the same. Knowing where debris flow problems are likely, we could choose not to build on land that’s subject to frequent problems. That’s the logic of some zoning regulations. But people are often willing to risk the safety of their houses for the amazing views that canyons, bluffs and hillsides give them. They feel it’s better to have a “shining palace” that may not be permanent than a mundane house in a safer part of the world. Perhaps there’s a poet born every minute. Dr. E. Kirsten Peters, a native of the rural Northwest, was trained as a geologist at Princeton and Harvard. Follow her on the web at rockdoc.wsu.edu and on Twitter @RockDocWSU. This column is a service of the College of Agricultural, Natural and Resources Sciences at Washington State University.
EARTH TALK No Earth Talk This Week
Barnes-Kasson Corner No Barnes-Kasson Corner This Week
News
|
Living
|
Sports
|
Schools
|
Churches
|
Ads
|
Events
Military | Columns | Ed/Op | Obits | Archive | Subscribe © |
|||||||
