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COLUMNS: CLIFFORD: Eber A. Burns, one of Clifford Township’s most prominent citizens, died on Tuesday, aged 44 years. Death was due to sugar diabetes his decline was rapid. Mr. Burns was magnificently proportioned and until disease took hold of him was an unusually strong man. His ill health dated from three years ago when he had a fall in the barn and received injuries to the back of his head. For the past 18 months he had realized that life for him was rapidly drawing to a close yet he continued calmly in his usual vocation and put his house in order. He was a man of keen intelligence and one of the early promoters of the North Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone company, and was largely instrumental in getting the Rural Free Delivery of mail in his locality, took a prominent part in securing the division of Clifford township, and was a member of the grange. In politics he was a Republican and at the time of his death was Justice of the Peace. He was the son of Homer and Emeline (Burdick) Burns, born in Clifford Twp., March 5, 1867. The family came from New England several generations ago and was among the first to settle that section. Eber resided on the old homestead. He married Annie Lillian Crandall in 1887 and she and their child, Homer Milton, survive him. His mother, Emeline Lyons, who resided with him and one step-brother, Walter Lyon, also survive him. His funeral will take place at his late home, near Elkdale. [David Burns came to Clifford Twp. about 1800 and settled about two miles east of where Dundaff now stands, on the road leading to Belmont. Little Eber Burns was born about 1802 and in his fourth year, while out in the woods with his father and sisters, started for home to fetch his shoes. When the father and sisters returned home that evening Eber was missing and presumed lost. Neighbors and family members searched the woods and blew horns and shot guns, to no avail. Eber was thinly clad and the weather turned cold, with a thunderstorm and flooding streams, and added to that wolves and other wild beasts roamed the woods. No trace of Eber was ever found. Two years later his mother died, his father remarried and much later removed to the State of Ohio, from thence to Indiana. This story, written by Eber’s sister, Mrs. Thomas Burdick, was published in the Montrose Republican, in 1866 and perhaps was the reason the subject of this obituary was named Eber, born just one year later in 1867.] FOREST CITY: Miss Pearl Freedman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Freedman, one of the most popular of Forest City’s young people, was united in marriage to Jacob Levy, of Scranton. The ceremony took place in the parlor of the bride’s home on Main Street and was witnessed only by the relatives of the contracting young people. Rev. Tannerbum, of the Hickory Street Temple, officiated. Mrs. Levy is an accomplished young lady, a graduate of Forest City High School, and Mr. Levy is to be congratulated on winning her for a wife. Mr. Levy is a member of the firm of B. Levy & Son wholesale shoe dealers of Scranton. FLYNN, MIDDLETOWN TWP.: It has been rumored here that Flynn came near having quite a sensation the past week when by mere chance it leaked out that a couple were about to take their departure for parts unknown, which was prevented by a mere accident, by a friend of one of the parties interested. They should receive a severe talking to and if that does no good, he ought to be spanked. LYNN, SPRINGVILLE TWP.: W. P. Sheldon has severed his connection with the firm of Fish and Sheldon and has accepted a position with the Stony Brook Lumber Company, at Lopez [Bradford Co.], as general manager of its company store in that place. Mr. Sheldon has conducted the store in this place for the last two years, giving complete satisfaction to its many patrons. He is a young man of sterling character and good business ability and we are sorry to lose so popular a young man from our midst. ALSO, in Springville - Brown and Fassett are preparing to erect large coal chutes in connection with their flour and feed business. MONTROSE: The entertainment at Colonial Hall last evening, under auspices of the Base Ball club, was an unqualified success from start to finish. Special mention is due Mrs. Wirt H. Conklin and Mrs. Harry Patrick for the splendid drill work incident to giving “Fourteen Little Indians,” in which the little folks outdid themselves; and to Miss Virginia McClintock, for the fine number by the boys High School Glee club. The “Three Birchard’s” were great and Messrs “Dick” Stroud and Paul Clark were “all to the good” in comedy work. Young Charles Flannagan sang a pleasing solo, “Call me up Some Rainey Afternoon.” The receipts were about $1.65 or $165 [depending on whether a period was after the 1, as in 1.65, or if it was a smudge on the old newspaper]. EAST BRIDGEWATER: Horton Reynolds, the proprietor of the East Bridgewater saw mill, has very lately installed a new and up-to-date steam engine, which he will use in conjunction with his water power. The engine equipment came from that well known machinery dealer, William Bright, of Scranton. HARFORD: Live Oak Lodge I.O.O.F. entertained on Saturday evening, Feb. 18, a sleigh load of brothers from Susquehanna. After some degree work an oyster supper was served in the lower hall. A very pleasant time was enjoyed by all. FRANKLIN FORKS: There was a donation for the pastor of the M. E. church last Friday evening, Feb. 17. Precedes $18.00. It was a very bad night. ALSO, The G. A. R. celebrated Washington’s birthday by a dinner at the Alliance Hall, and a speech at the church by Mr. Seldon Munger. UNIONDALE: Anyone ought to pity a dog that sleeps out this weather; so farmers, see that your barns and hog houses are snow tight. How would you like a snow bed? Well, I’ve run out of tobacco, so guess I’ll quit smoking until next week, and then you’ll hear from me again. [So says the author of this article]. BROOKLYN: The Odd Fellows of this place, together with their wives and the members of the Rebekah degree, spent a social evening at the Austin House on Feb. 17, and all did ample justice to the excellent oyster supper and enjoyed the music furnished by the orchestra. FOREST LAKE: The Birdsall Brothers are holding the reins over a fine team of colts.
From the Desk of the D.A. A few weeks ago, Vestal High School in New York State made the national news as a result of a student organized event called “Kick a Jew Day.” Based upon media reports, the students molded this event after an episode of the adult cartoon, South Park, which dealt with “Kick a Ginger Day.” Approximately 37 students actually kicked other Jewish students at Vestal High School as part of the day’s festivities. The question now becomes what should be done with these students. School administrators have indicated that they do not believe that there was anything “malicious” about the event and that it was intended to be a joke. No students were physically injured, though I suspect that many Jewish students experienced some level of emotional response to being targeted and kicked. Apparently, the “Kick a Ginger Day” phenomenon has run across the social network sites and morphed nationally into the “Kick a Jew Day.” Some school administrators are opining that this was simply an incredibly insensitive juvenile prank. It is not clear at this point from the different media reports exactly what administrative discipline the school district has imposed upon the offending children. One would hope that it would involve some educational component that includes a history lesson - something the kids are clearly not getting from social networking, texting, twittering, television shows or whatever else they are wasting their time and energy doing. But is this something that could fall into the category of a criminal act? Some pundits have been questioning whether this is a “hate” crime. I cannot speak to New York law, but it would not appear that these actions would be criminal under Pennsylvania’s Ethnic Intimidation statute. First, this statute requires that the actors violate other provisions of the Crimes Code and that the separate criminal acts were done with a malicious intent motivated by hatred toward the victim’s “race, color, religion or national origin.” Well, it would certainly appear that certain students were targeted based upon their religion, but the question becomes whether the offending students were motivated by religious hatred - or simple stupidity and ignorance. The other problem with the Ethnic Intimidation statute is that it enumerates only certain criminal offenses that qualify - and physical assaults are not included in the definition section. The only criminal offenses for which an Ethnic Intimidation statute applies are property crimes and criminal trespasses. Given that the students destroyed no property and never trespassed on any victim’s property, Pennsylvania’s Ethnic Intimidation statute would not apply to this conduct. For example, Pennsylvania’s Ethnic Intimidation statute would apply to a racially-motivated trespass on the victim’s property and burning a cross in the victim’s yard. In that scenario, there is a property crime (an arson in connection with the burning cross) and a trespass crime (unlawfully entering private property) motivated by racial hatred. It would also apply to throwing a brick through someone’s window disparaging their religion. This scenario would include a property crime (criminal mischief) motivated by religious hatred. But strangely, the Ethnic Intimidation statute does not cover physically beating someone in a public place even if the beating was motivated by hatred toward the victim’s “race, color, religion or national origin.” So would the conduct be criminal? Assuming that no one was hurt and that the “kicking” never rose to the level of potentially causing bodily injury, the conduct would probably only constitute a criminal harassment. The harassment statute makes it unlawful for any person to kick a victim (or threaten to kick the victim) with the intent to harass, annoy or alarm the victim. Obviously, the students were kicking other students - so the question would really only become whether the intent was to harass, annoy and alarm them. Regardless of the “prank” nature of the stunt, it seems rather obvious that this conduct would be considered annoying and alarming by the Jewish student body. Frankly, even if it was a true prank, the intent was plainly to harass other students and target them based upon their religion. In short, the kids could be charged here in Pennsylvania if the events had occurred here. 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'm suffering from sleep apnea? About 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. It’s much more common in older adults and men. Apnea is Greek for “without breath.” People with sleep apnea stop breathing for as long as 30 seconds at a time. These interruptions can happen hundreds of times a night. The breathing cessations may wake you and prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. These awakenings usually are so brief that you don’t recall them. The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include: excessive daytime sleepiness; loud snoring; observed episodes of breathing stoppages during sleep; abrupt awakenings with shortness of breath; awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat; morning headache; problems associated with sleep deprivation such as forgetfulness and mood changes. About 90 percent of sleep-apnea victims have a windpipe blockage. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. These muscles support the soft palate, tonsils, tongue and uvula - that doohickey that hangs in the back of your mouth. When the muscles relax, your airway is narrowed and breathing is cut off. A blockage can also be caused by a lot of fatty tissue in the throat. Q. I seem to be anxious more than usual. Is this something that increases with age? Because the stresses of health problems, losses and and other major life changes build up as we get older, we tend to become anxious. Some surveys suggest that one in five older adults suffer anxiety symptoms that require treatment. In addition to psychological causes, medical disorders common in older adults can be directly responsible for the anxiety we feel. These include heart disease, neurologic illness, thyroid and other hormone problems. In addition, anxiety can be a drug side effect. And seniors take a lot of medicine. Anxiety disorders in seniors have been underestimated. One of the main reasons is that older patients are more likely to emphasize their physical complaints and downplay emotional problems. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 40 million American adults. They all involve excessive, irrational fear. Anxiety disorders are chronic and can worsen if untreated. Anxiety disorders are treated with medication and psychotherapy. Both approaches can be effective for most disorders. Anxiety disorders are not all treated the same, so it is important to determine the specific problem first. Although medications won't cure an anxiety disorder, they can keep the symptoms under control and enable people to have normal lives. Q. I seem to pass gas a lot. What's normal? For the record, most people pass gas about ten times each day. Twenty times daily is still considered normal. Most people produce between a pint and a half-gallon of gas each day. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen from swallowed air make up a large part of gas or “flatus.” Fermenting foods in the colon produce hydrogen and methane as well as carbon dioxide and oxygen. The unpleasant odor of some flatus is the result of trace gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, indole, and skatole, which are produced when foods decompose in the colon. We release gas upwardly by belching and downwardly by flatulence. When we swallow air and don’t release it by belching, the air will work its way down and out the rectum. About half the gas passed from the rectum comes from swallowed air. If you have a question, please write to fred@healthygeezer.com.
Library Chitchat Have you ever thought of the connection between light bulbs and reading? That connection is Thomas Alva Edison, who was born 154 years ago on February 11, 1847, and who fashioned the first light bulb 131 years ago with carbonized thread from his wife’s sewing kit. In some respects, Edison was an unlikely inventor. At an early age, he developed severe hearing problems, which made attending school difficult and so he had limited formal education. His mother recognized his inquisitive nature and taught him reading, writing, and arithmetic. He devoured books. One report I read stated that he read every book in his father’s library starting with the bottom shelf. Then, when Edison was only 23 years old, the light bulb was born. No more reading by candlelight. He is sometimes referred to as the father of the modern age of electricity. He held, either singly or jointly, the world record of 1,093 patents and developed the world’s first industrial research laboratory. From this laboratory came the phonograph, efficient generators, and the first commercial electric light and power system. He was the founder of General Electric. Yet, he never stopped reading throughout his lifetime. Reading opened the doors for him and was often the source of his ideas. Inspired by Edison’s example, we should urge our children to read a variety of materials and, as adults, we should continue this form of self-improvement. Remember it is the goal of the Susquehanna County Library to be your resource for lifetime learning.
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