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COLUMNS: HALLSTEAD: Last Friday afternoon Hon. & Mrs. James T. DuBois were given a great welcome by between 2 and 3 thousand friends on their arrival home from Singapore, Malay Peninsula, where Mr. DuBois has been the United States consul for the past two years. Upon their arrival at the station they were met with hearty cheers and warm handclasps and a parade was formed with automobiles, a company of young men on horseback, school children dressed in white carrying flags and hundreds of people on foot. Proceeding to the park on the riverbank, Rev. A. B. Herr, pastor of the Hallstead Presbyterian church, delivered an address of welcome on the return of Susquehanna’s distinguished citizen and his beloved wife. Mr. DuBois responded giving many interesting experiences met with in the consular service and travel in distant lands and expressed his joy in returning to his native heath in words that brought tears to the eyes of many. HEART LAKE: The following people have opened their cottages for the season: Mrs. Safford, Miss Spencer, of Pittston, Mr. & Mrs. A. W. Lyons, of Montrose, and Levi Campbell, of Binghamton. ALFORD STATION: The Lackawanna station was burned to the ground Tuesday night. No one was in he building at the time, the night operator not coming on duty until midnight, and as the town has no means of fighting fire the flames had gained such headway when discovered that it was impossible to save it. The building was a substantial, commodious structure and was erected about 20 years ago when the Montrose branch was put through. It is believed that the crossing of an electric light wire with a telegraph wire, in Montrose, caused the conflagration, the electricity being carried over the wire into the station and igniting the woodwork. At Nicholson the effects of the wire being charged were shown, the operator in the tower being hurled across the room by the force of the current, but not seriously injured. An investigation in Montrose showed the electric lines to be in contact with telephone and telegraph wires. BROOKLYN: Mrs. E. M. Lowry was in town this week in the interest of the New York Tribune fresh air fund. She desires that a number of the good people of Brooklyn will open their homes and hearts for some of these poor children of the tenements in New York city. AND, June 18 marked the 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Gere. SILVER LAKE: In the storm recently three grand old hemlock trees were struck by lightning and totally destroyed. This will make quite a bland space on the lakeshore. The crash and tearing of the wood was heard at some distance. AUBURN: Thomas Cadden killed a black snake that was 6 feet 10 inches in length. The reptile was dispatched in the vicinity of the Cadden chicken coops and was engaged in inspecting the quality of Spring chickens being raised. AND, in West Auburn chauffeurs are to take notice! Be sure to light the lamps on your autos before it gets dark, or you will be reported and prosecuted. HERRICK CENTER: Jud Walker had seven cows killed by lightning during the recent storms. BROOME COUNTY, N.Y.: They boast of 68 miles of macadamized roads outside the cities and borough. By the end of the year, with the road building, the mileage will increase to 81. ELK LAKE: Messrs. Russell Mink, Max Thorpe and Roger Lane, students at Yale, are guests of Frank E. Morris, a student at that college. They have been spending the week at the Morris cottage at Elk Lake. SCRANTON: The 45th G. A. R. encampment was largely attended, more than 600 being present. Among them from our county were Comrades Ainey and Doloway, of Brooklyn Post, Comrades J. W Palmer and G. P. Stockholm, of Franklin Post and Resseguie and Michel, of Gibson Post. Scranton did herself proud in entertaining the boys in blue. Perhaps the last G. A. R. parade was held here, as the comrades are getting feeble and the officers think it is time to give it up. The next encampment will be held at Gettysburg. Among the resolutions was one calling upon the Grand Army of the Republic to investigate the records of deserters who had been placed on the pension rolls, and to take steps to weed out the men who by political influence have been reinstated. “The Spirit of ‘61” There’s only a few of us left, boys, But what there is, is prime, With the same old spring and the same old swing That we showed in Old Abe’s time. We stepped to a lively tune, boys, When he called for volunteers, And we’ll step that same to the end of the game, Though we last a thousand years. Then here’s to the youth of ’61, That never grows old, but lives Safe from harm in the homage warm That a grateful country gives. And they talk of an auto for us, boys, To carry us ‘round the street, Are we weaklings - we - that in ‘63 Jeered at a hell of heat? Must we loll like babes in arms, boys, And follow our flag by car - We that trod at the call of God When Grant went forth to war? Nay, stick to the trusty pegs, boys, And tramp like soldiers free, To the tunes that stirred when Sherman spurred From Atlanta to the sea We are coming again, good Abraham, As we came in days long gone, For the spirit of Brown shall not go down His soul still marches on! Then here’s to the youth of ‘61 Who never grows old, but lives Safe from harm in the homage warm That a grateful country gives Emerson D. Owen
From the Desk of the D.A. Several weeks ago, I noted that a reader had questioned how government officials were monitored to guard against public corruption. In the criminal justice system, there are countless mechanisms that attempt to prevent against injustice and corruption. The players themselves provide checks and balances against each other just by virtue of each person’s function. First, criminal defendants have a right to legal counsel. If they cannot afford legal counsel, then the county pays for legal counsel. This is no small thing. The criminal justice system is a complicated place - and it has many procedural rules that can leave a defendant feeling confused and perplexed. A defense attorney provides a criminal defendant with the knowledge and assistance required to understand how the case proceeds to some kind of resolution. The defense attorney also provides an independent set of experienced eyes to critically observe the actions of the prosecutor and the judge. The defense attorney is an advocate to protect a defendant’s rights as well as seek an appropriate resolution of the case. Where the defense attorney believes that something inappropriate has occurred, he or she can file an appeal seeking to vindicate the defendant’s rights or reverse the alleged error committed by the prosecutor or judge. When serving his or her function properly, a defense attorney is a critical player in the criminal justice system and provides the public with the assurance that an accused individual was afforded due process prior to any conviction. While many people believe that a prosecutor has one job, i.e., getting convictions, the real job of a prosecutor is much more complicated. A prosecutor is ethically bound to seek justice. Admittedly, what constitutes justice oftentimes depends upon where you are looking from. A prosecutor, however, is expected to weigh all relevant factors together before making prosecutorial decisions, including consideration of the needs of a particular criminal defendant. There are occasions when a prosecutor is expected to step up and assure that a defendant’s rights are protected. For instance, if the judge fails to properly questioned a defendant prior to a guilty plea, the prosecutor is required to remind the judge that there needs to be a record made to establish that the defendant understands what rights are being given up and that the decision to enter a guilty plea is a voluntary one. There are also times when a prosecutor has to tell a crime victim that a particular resolution is not appropriate - despite the objections of the crime victim. These are difficult discussions to have with crime victims as it results in victims feeling as if the system itself just victimized them again. A prosecutor cannot shy away from making these hard decisions - but should also make certain that the victims understand the prosecutor’s reasoning for making the decision. If the criminal justice system remains transparent, people will understand that decisions were made for legitimate reasons, not illegitimate ones, and this helps to instill some level of confidence in the public even when they disagree with the ultimate outcome of the case. Finally, the judge is there to assure that a criminal defendant obtains due process and that every right and privilege is protected. Where the judge fails to honor the constitutional guarantees afforded to criminal defendants, both the prosecutor and the defense attorney are expected to address and correct the violations. In other words, in every court proceeding, there are three different players interacting to assure compliance with constitutional and statutory guarantees - a judge, a prosecutor and a defense attorney. Where one of the players fails, there are two other players there to step up and make sure things are done the right way. For the entire system to fail, all of the players have to fail to honor their professional and ethical obligations. Unfortunately, we know that there have been circumstances where this has occurred, but the rarity of such misconduct speaks to the genius of the system itself. 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. What increases my chances of breaking a bone? For several reasons, seniors are in danger of breaking a bone. As we age, the power of our senses, reflexes and coordination diminishes. Maladies and the medicines we take for them can contribute to balance problems, which can lead to falls. Then there's osteoporosis - a disease that makes bones more likely to snap. You may be in danger of having weak bones and should check with a doctor if you: smoke, are in poor health, are over 65, fractured a bone after age 50, have a close relative with osteoporosis, are underweight, started menopause before age 45, never got enough calcium, have more than two drinks of alcohol several times a week, are inactive. The following are medical conditions that can weaken your bones: hyperthyroidism, chronic lung disease, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver or kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The following also put your bones at risk: oral glucocorticoids (steroids), radiation, chemotherapy, thyroid medicine, antiepileptic drugs, gonadal hormone suppression, and immunosuppressive agents. Because of the way bones are made, they also get stronger with regular but not excessive exercise. If a person is active, bones will become stronger and more dense. The bones of an inactive person are often not as strong and may fracture more easily than those of an active person. For this reason, older people should try to remain physically active. Q. How dangerous is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (chemical symbol CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that can kill you. CO is a byproduct of combustion. It comes out of car tailpipes, gas ovens, fireplaces and heating systems. Red blood cells absorb CO more readily than they pick up oxygen. If there is a lot of CO in the air, the body may replace oxygen in blood with CO. This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, which can hurt you and eventually kill you. People with chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems are more susceptible to the effects of CO. And many seniors fit into one or more of those categories. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, irregular breathing, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. You should go outdoors and breathe some fresh air immediately if you suspect CO poisoning. If you stay in the house, you could become unconscious and die. Then get medical attention right away. Next to preventing the production of CO, the best defense against this lethal gas is a CO alarm. CO gas distributes evenly and quickly throughout the house. A CO detector should be installed outside bedrooms to alert sleeping residents. Q. My doctor said I have good carotids. What did she mean? Your doctor checked your carotid arteries on the sides of your neck to see if the blood flow was blocked. Apparently, she felt your carotids are in good shape. Carotid arteries run from the aorta - the main trunk of the arterial system - up to your brain. When these vessels become blocked, you have carotid artery disease, which can cause a stroke. The chances of developing this disease increase with age. About one percent of people in their fifties have significantly blocked carotid arteries, but ten percent of people in their eighties have carotid artery disease. As you age, a sticky substance called plaque, which contains cholesterol, can accumulate on the inside walls of your arteries. The process is called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The amount of blockage in a carotid artery determines the risk of having a stroke. If the blockage becomes severe enough, you may need surgery to open the blood flow to your brain. If you have a question, please write to fred@healthygeezer.com.
Library Chitchat We are between two national holidays that recall the past history of our country and the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom. It is important to remember the past, because I firmly believe that we learn from history. The Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association’s goal is not only to be your resource for lifetime learning but to be the depository for history of our past. For more than 100 years, the Historical Society has been doing its best to preserve history for future generations. 2011 is a milestone year in history for our county. It marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War and battles fought at Gettysburg are considered the war’s turning point. To commemorate this anniversary, the Everhart Museum in Scranton currently has two Civil War exhibits: “With Bullets Singing All Around Me: Regional Stories of the Civil War” and “Medics in Action: Caring for the Wounded.” Many of the items on display at these exhibits through July 17 are “on loan” from our own Historical Society. I always urge you to make visits to the SCHS&FLA part of your children’s summer activities. However, in this anniversary year, I also suggest you take the time to learn more about Pennsylvania’s role in the Civil War. Take a field trip to the updated Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center. Then come back to Montrose and continue your study of the Civil War at the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association.
Rock Doc Killer Mushrooms On Your Plate? It’s a classic plot device of murder mysteries: an evil killer slips poisonous mushrooms into the frying pan of an unsuspecting victim who dies an agonizing death. But in real life, poisonous fungi typically sicken and occasionally kill people for quite different reasons. Recently I learned a lot about what can go wrong in the world of mushrooms from Dr. Denis Benjamin, a medical doctor who is also a fungi and poison expert. As the weather improves over so much of the nation, this seems like a good time to review how you can avoid having yourself or members of your family join the ranks of those who eat the wrong mushrooms. Very young children (think toddlers) and dogs are two groups that mange to poison themselves each year. What three-year olds and Fido have in common is that they are natural omnivores, moving around and putting most everything they find into their mouths. Often they have the sense to spit out odd-tasting objects with unfamiliar textures, but not always. Luckily, most mushrooms that grow in places like your backyard are not highly toxic, so a large majority of both toddlers and canines survive their experiments with fungi. But parents and dog owners sometimes get quite the scare when they see the objects of their love chewing blobs of fungal material. Older kids can get into trouble because they dare one another to eat mushrooms they stumble across. Being brave in such games can lead to a stomachache or even serious medical problems. Immigrants also run real danger of eating the wrong mushrooms. While they may know safe mushrooms overseas, here in the U.S. some similar-looking fungi can be quite poisonous. A variation on this theme are mushroom pickers who hail from one part of the U.S. but use a mushroom field guide for another part of the country. That mistake is sometimes made even by experienced mushroom experts who fail to think through their methods. In a related vein, it’s worth emphasizing that matching a photo in a field guide or internet source with what you pick isn’t a good way of guarding your life. Many poisonous fungi are look-alikes for safe ones. Sometimes only microscopic differences separate the two - so don’t go by photos as you decide what to eat for supper tonight. Then there are the truly careless adults who end up each year in emergency rooms courtesy of mushrooms. It’s no surprise that campers who are drinking heavily while spending time in the woods sometimes fry up what they pick among the trees. As the police blotter says about a variety of emergency situations, “alcohol was a factor.” Even sober, professional chefs make mistakes with mushrooms. The expensive Morel mushroom is a case in point. It must be cooked to decrease the toxin in its flesh. Unfortunately, from time to time, even professional chefs fail to remember this point, inadvertently poisoning their patrons with raw Morels in salads. I once picked a whole hatful of what I hoped were Morels that had sprung up literally overnight next to the building where I worked. I’m no gourmet, so I knew if what I had were really Morels, I wouldn’t fully appreciate them. I therefore took them to a friend who really cares about food (and wine). He was delighted to get them, but I made it clear as I handed him the fungi that I took no moral responsibility for my gift. Still, overnight I had plenty of time to question my judgment in giving someone mushrooms I was in no position to truly identify. My friend cooked and ate the mushrooms in the company of another gourmet the same day I picked them. The mushrooms were delicious, he told me the next morning, and I was relieved the meal had led to no ill effects. That brings up an interesting question Dr. Benjamin highlighted in my mind. Why do we always wonder, when we see a mushroom, if we (or our friends) could eat it and live to tell the tale? Maybe we’ve all been reading too many murder mysteries. 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, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University.
EARTH TALK Dear EarthTalk: Recently the UN voted to declare access to safe and clean water a “human right.” Isn’t that a no-brainer? What are the ramifications of this declaration? ~P. James In July 2010 the United Nations (UN) agreed to a new resolution declaring the human right to “safe and clean drinking water and sanitation.” One hundred twenty-two nations voted in favor of the resolution; 41 (primarily developed) countries abstained; and there were zero “no” votes. The agreement comes on the heels of a protracted effort on the part of Bolivia and 30 other (mostly developing) nations determined to improve access to clean water and proper sanitation systems for the poorer human residents of the planet. Bolivia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Pablo Solon, cheered passage of the resolution that he had campaigned hard for, and stressed the need to recognize access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right as global supplies of fresh water get fewer and farther between. “Approximately one out of every eight people does not have drinking water,” Solon told reporters. “In just one day, more than 200 million hours of the time used by women is spent collecting and transporting water for their homes.” According to the declaration, approximately 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water. “The lack of sanitation is even worse, because it affects 2.6 billion people [or] 40 percent of the global population,” Solon said, citing a 2009 World Health Organization and UNICEF study which found some 24,000 children in developing countries were dying each day from preventable causes like diarrhea resulting from polluted water. “This means that a child dies every three-and-a-half seconds,” added Solon. The resolution itself carries no regulatory weight, but backers view it as important to raising awareness of the problem and engendering support for solutions. “We are calling for actions… in communities around the world to ensure that the rights to water and sanitation are implemented,” said Anil Naidoo of the Council of Canadians, a group that has been crucial in the international struggle for the right to clean water. “Governments, aid agencies and the UN must take their responsibilities seriously,” he added. Some developed countries - including the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several European nations - tried to block passage of the resolution in hopes of minimizing their future obligations. As one official from the United Kingdom put it, these countries “don’t want to pay for the toilets in Africa.” Also, six African countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania and Zambia) and two in the Caribbean (Guyana and Trinidad/Tobago) - all former European colonies - joined efforts to try to kill the declaration. But when it was time to vote, these nations abstained so as not to go on record as opposing it. “This matters because we are a planet running out of water,” said Maude Barlow, an expert affiliated with the Council of Canadians as well as the Blue Planet Project and Food and Water Watch. Indeed, a still-growing human population, global warming and other factors combine to make fresh water supplies scarcer around the world. A recent World Bank study predicted that demand for fresh water will exceed supply by some 40 percent within just two decades. While the UN resolution may not move any mountains, it is a step in the right direction for the world’s increasing number of have-nots. Dear EarthTalk: Were Japan to close all its nuclear plants following the recent damage and radiation leaks from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, what could its energy mix look like? Would it be able to provide all of its power in other ways? ~Richard Most experts agree that Japan would be hard pressed to close all of its 54 nuclear reactors anytime soon, especially given that these plants provide over a third of the nation’s electricity supply and 11 percent of its total energy needs. Japan relies so much on nuclear power because it has so few other domestic sources of energy to draw upon. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Japan is only 16 percent energy self-sufficient, and much of this comes from its now-wounded nuclear power program. Despite producing only trifling amounts of oil domestically from fields off its west coast, Japan is the third largest oil consumer in the world behind the U.S. and China, as well as the third largest net importer of crude oil. Imported oil accounts for some 45 percent of Japan’s energy needs. Besides bringing in a lot of oil, Japan is the world’s largest importer of both coal and liquefied natural gas. Against this backdrop of imported fossil fuels, it’s no surprise that Japan has embraced nuclear power; worldwide, only the U.S. and France produce more nuclear energy. Factoring in that it would take decades to ramp up capacity on alternative renewable energy sources - right now hydropower accounts for three percent of Japanese energy usage and other renewable sources like solar and wind only one percent - and that Japan must import just about all its fossil fuels, it becomes obvious that the country will need to rely on nuclear power for some time to come, despite the risks. “Supplying the same amount of electricity by oil, for example, would increase oil imports by about 62 million metric tons per year, or about 1.25 million barrels per day,” says Toufiq Siddiqi, a researcher with the nonprofit East-West Institute. He adds that at the current price of oil per barrel (roughly $100), switching out nuclear for oil would cost Japan upwards of $46 billion per year. “Further, it would take almost a decade to build enough new oil, coal or natural gas-fired power plants to provide the equivalent amount of electricity, and tens of billions of dollars per year would be required to do so,” he concludes. In the short term, the easiest way for Japan to make up for its reduced nuclear output is by importing more natural gas and other fossil fuels, sending its carbon footprint in the wrong direction. What’s less clear is whether Japanese policymakers’ pre-existing plans to increase the country’s nuclear capacity - the stated goal is to generate half of Japan’s electricity via nuclear power within two decades as part of a larger effort to trim carbon dioxide emissions - will still be followed following the Fukushima accidents. The Fukushima plant failures are likely to impact the always evolving energy mix worldwide as well, not just within Japan. Many analysts expect the nuclear disaster in Japan to cause a shift toward the increased use of natural gas worldwide. Of course, the downside for the environment is that natural gas is a fossil fuel and its use contributes significantly to global warming. While solar and wind power can take up some of the slack, these and other renewables are at least decades away from the scalability needed to power a significant share of a modern industrial society’s energy requirements. EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com.
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