Letters to the Editor Policy

In Memory Of Whitey

How many people passed this humble man in their car or on foot during their everyday life? Probably the number is too many to count. I passed him, Monday through Friday at least twice a day during my working hours as I traveled to Main Street, Susquehanna to my job. I often wondered about his life. If he waved at me once, he would wave again in five minutes if I passed him in my car a few minutes later. Sometimes I would tell myself, if nobody speaks to me today, that wave is all I need to get through the day. As people began to talk about his sudden passing, they referred to him as David. I did not know at first who they meant. I only knew him as Whitey. He had many fans. Some would let him charge some food items because they knew he was a man of his word. “I will pay you back.”

As I would sit in my office he would wave at me and my boss every time he passed by our office window. When I passed him in my car, usually with a very wide swing because he would be in the road going down Broad Avenue, I would ask God to make sure that he has a good Heaven someday. He was sweet and gentle in his personality. Some day, I hope that God will tell me how much he liked how I waved at Whitey. I paid for some food items that he had charged, one day at a local food market after he left the store. Some of his other fans bought him boots for the winter weather, handed him the occasional $10.00 for whatever he needed at the time. Some fed him a meal and I am certain that there were more fans of Whitey that I never knew about.

So, Whitey, I know you are in a good place now. Thank you for waving at me every day. Knowing you was like being touched my an angel. Who knows, maybe God placed Whitey here in Susquehanna to test us. I believed in my heart, that we passed.

Sincerely,

Name Withheld

Take A Deeper Look

I recently retired to Susquehanna County from out of state. Many years ago, my parents also retired to the area.

During my visits for approximately 20 years, often I heard various horror stories of Barnes Kasson Hospital. Neighbors, friends and strangers still advise "when ill, never go to Barnes Kasson," always go to the hospitals in Scranton.

Every year I suffer from seasonal pneumonia. The bouts are highly intense and usually require weeks of hospitalization. Recently, I was feeling ill and visited a nearby clinic. An inept Nurse at the clinic, prescribed an antibiotic and an x-ray. Although she could not accurately provide a diagnosis, she advised if I did indeed have pneumonia not to go to Barnes Kasson Hospital. Several days later my symptoms worsened. I called the clinic for help and did not receive a call back until several days later. I decided it was not a safe decision to return to this clinic.

I went to the emergency room at Barnes Kasson Hospital. I was quickly and warmly greeted by a receptionist and seen immediately by a physician. During the evaluation, I discovered the physician was from out of state. I discussed my concerns with the hospital and the impending rumors. While comforting me, he advised I would receive better and more personal care at Barnes than the "Big 3" hospitals in Scranton.

I was admitted with pneumonia and bronchitis. Due to my condition, I was placed in a private room. Within five minutes, a nurse appeared to administer drugs. She was friendly, professional and attentive. She explained about the drugs that were being administered into the IV and their purpose. Immediately thereafter, a nurse's aid stopped by and asked if I had any needs at all to let her know as soon as possible. She also advised that dinner would be served at 5:30 p.m.

After surviving many admissions to large hospitals out of state, this time I felt like I was in a hotel! I could write a biography of horror stories from various major hospital stays in NJ.

I would like to acknowledge my thanks to the staff. I received expert attention and care from Beth Callahan. Beth is an excellent nurse and as intelligent as any physician. Her knowledge of medicine is outstanding. Linda Bennington, a/k/a Florence Nightingale can administer an IV quicker than a magic act. Nancy Hadden, nurses aid, is credit to the profession. Always smiling and goes above and beyond to accommodate every patient's need. Special thanks to Karen and Rita, too. The night shift is incredible! During the evening I rested comfortably knowing I was in good hands. Andrea Carange manages a efficient and professional team. These nurses should be acknowledged and rewarded for their dedication to their profession.

The Utilization Manager, Sara Armetta addressed all issues concerning my insurance. Sara was at her desk when I awoke in the a.m., and when I retired in the evening. Sara would leave her day shift and return in casual clothes to continue working. Even bringing an occasional pizza to the staff! She should be commended for her expert knowledge of hospital administration and insurance. Sara Armetta would be an excellent candidate for Sally Iverson's vacant position.

Barnes Kasson is a not for profit organization. This hospital is vital to the community! If you suffer from an illness, this hospital can immediately stabilize if you need further care from a larger facility.

I urge residents to take a deeper look at an institution that has served local residents for many, many years. If the area was to lose this hospital it would be a disgrace and a major loss to the community. Please consider this hospital for treatment, or make a donation today.

Although my hospitalization at Barnes Kasson lasted 6 days, my gratitude to the staff and institution will be forever.

Sincerely,

Nancy Panzera Jackson

Thompson, PA

Great News

More great news was reported July 8 about the unemployment rate now being 9.2, and that since Obama has been President, 2.5 million people have been unemployed under his watch. Another report on Fox News July 8 said the Obama Administration doesn't think that unemployment is going to be a factor in the 2012 presidential election. What planet are those people living on? It sure as hell isn't this one! I don't know what they're drinking, but whatever it is, I'll have the same!!

Sincerely,

John Hollenback

Greenfield Twp., Pa.

Please Help Endless Mountain Health Care

As I am sure most of you know, Montrose has been trying to build a new hospital.

Every time it looks like it’s going to happen another roadblock gets in the way.

They were quite sure this last time they would be getting a federal grant; they didn’t get it.

So, I am asking you folks to help by calling, writing, faxing your Congressman and Senators to ask for their help.

This new hospital will not only be for you and me, but your children and future generations. If enough of us ask, Congress may just be able to find the money and help we need.

Your Congressman is Tom Marino, 410 Cannon Office Bld., Washington D.C. 20510. Phone 1-202-225-3731.

Your Senator is Pat Toomey, B40B Dirksen Senate Office Bld., Washington D.C. 20510. Phone 1-202-224-4254.

Your Senator is Bob Casey, Dirksen Senate Office Bld., Washington D.C. 20510. Phone 1-202-224-6324.

Sincerely,

George Hettiger

Montrose, PA

With Regret - You Bet

A local newspaper coverage of the June 22, 2011 County Commissioners meeting states, “they motioned to accept, with regret, the resignation of Betty Van Winkle, the end of day July 1, 2011, per the recommendation of Thomas Button, Chief Assessor.” And, “there were new faces making public comment about some of the above motions.” Perhaps more people are starting to listen? I do not want to mislead you; there were other motions! This particular motion is of interest to me because the Susquehanna County Commissioners, the Assessment Office and Mrs. Van Winkle were all named as plaintiffs in a law suit (Susquehanna Court of Common Pleas 2008-1100 C.P.) that allegedly contained numerous false allegations that deprived an individual of rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, the law of the United States and the laws of this Commonwealth (US District Court 309-CV-01285).

Now that the weight of employment no longer bears on the subject, maybe Ms. Van Winkle could tell the rest of the public how she came to be involved in this tangled web.

You may ask why I care about something that happened in 2008? Because our taxpayer dollars paid for it, by means of the “risk pool.” Tell me where the letters RISK - POOL spell insurance!

Prior to April 20, 2011 very few people outside the legal community had knowledge of it. It was one of the least talked about subjects in the county until then. Now, a little more than two months later, the first thread has started to unravel. More will surely follow. Soon, everyone will know who has behaved themselves, or not.

Sincerely,

David H. Walters

Hop Bottom, PA

The Normalcy Bias

I have just sent another request to my Senator and U.S. Representative asking them to pursue Articles of Impeachment against President Obama. I believe there are more than sufficient grounds for such action but, towering above even this drastic move, is the deafening silence emanating from the American people. I have been sounding the alarm for over two years now and yet, I sometimes feel that my words are falling on deaf ears. Why is this in the face of the anti-American (distain for our Founders and Constitution) stance which is exhibited by the White House on a daily basis? The answer came to me via a friend (Doug Engren) in an email dated July 3. It is a psychological phenomenon dubbed the Normalcy Bias. I’d never heard of it before. It explains why people are not in the streets fighting what is going on in Washington. It explains why the Jews did not leave Germany when Hitler was coming into power and why people did not leave New Orleans when all things pointed to the levee system collapsing. The Normalcy Bias causes smart people to underestimate the possibility of disaster and its effects. In short, people believe that since something has never happened before…it never will. “After all, this is America.”

The Normalcy Bias seems to be an incredibly powerful force preventing action when disaster is staring you in the face. I have done a little reading on the subject and, unfortunately, there didn’t jump out at me an easy or even possible remedy to this force. I haven’t seen much of a reaction due to my hammering on the subject of our present Administration for two years now. Oh sure, I do get some “Great letter, Joe’s” but that is a whole lot different than hearing that this or that reader has actually told his Senator and Congressman to put a stop to what is going on. You would think that in the face of a Category 5 calamity coming down upon us, there would be more alarm and action. But, there is not. Therein lies the rub.

Sincerely,

Joe McCann

Elk Lake, PA

Dust In The Wind

Four-hundred-thousand people will die from radiation induced cancer from the three crippled nuclear reactors in Fukushima, Japan, said Dr. Christopher Busby, Ph.D in nuclear chemistry. Absurd, say some. Radiation has not claimed one life since the March 11 tragedy that shot clouds of radioactive debris into the air.

But Busby should not be dismissed out-of-hand. His prediction is based on a 16-year study of the mortality records in the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and extrapolated to what could be expected in Japan.

Whether Busby is correct or not only time will tell. Radiation seldom kills outright; it is death by a thousand cuts. Fukushima, according to Busby, will parallel Chernobyl, some will succumb in months, others in years, and still more in decades to come.

Nor does it matter how small the exposure is; there is no safe level. The U.S. Department of Energy has testified that no level of radiation is so low that it is without health risks. The National Academies of Science wrote in a report titled, Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation, “There is a linear no-threshold, dose-response relationship between exposure to ionizing radiation and the development of cancer in humans.”

A “no-threshold” relationship means that as the dose goes down so do the effects, but they never disappear. Why, then, do we repeatedly hear of safe exposures? For three reasons.

First, the media compares a given amount of radiation with natural background radiation. A false comparison on two bases. The “natural” background radiation is no longer natural. Since the mid-40's there have been more than 2,400 nuclear explosions that have elevated background radiation to artificial highs.

Second, there is the implied assumption that natural means benign. It is not. All ionizing radiation is harmful.

And third, the media does not distinguish between external and internal exposure. Take this example. Radiation from Japan has made its way into California's milk. But Rachel Kaldor speaking for the Dairy Institute of California said, “You would have to drink 5,000 glasses of milk a day to have real concerns.” Not so.

Applied topically the radioactive particles in only 100 glasses of milk would be negligible. If, however, these same radioactive particles were ingested, the calcium, potassium, and iodine, radionuclides would become permanently incorporated in bones, organs, and tissues.

The Fukushima nuclear complex has seven major leaks discharging radiation into the atmosphere, four from spent fuel storage pools and three from damaged reactors. The U.S. can expect more extensive and higher contamination in the air, water, ground, and food chain (view Youtube: Michio KaKu, They lied to Us).

The Environmental Protection Agency continues to find increasing levels of radioactive particles in milk and water supplies across the U.S. As of mid April, 16 states and 23 water supplies have tested positive for radioactive cesium and iodine.

While iodine has a half life of only eight days, the really worrisome radionuclides are cesium with a half life of 30 years, uranium with 4.5 billion years, and plutonium with 24,000 years. Yet, cesium, uranium, and plutonium are not being monitored.

Plutonium is the most poisonous substance known to man. The Fukushima complex contains tons of plutonium. If plutonium is exposed to air - and it might be - it can self-combust. That would be like Chernobyl in overdrive.

Three questions loom large: (1) How long will the toxic winds from Fukushima waft across the Pacific to the U.S.? The most optimistic forecast takes us into early next year. At this time the flow of radiation will have been stanched (they hope) and a decades-long task of entombing the reactors in concrete sarcophagi will begin.

(2) How will this affect the U.S.? Excepting severe exposure, the health consequences of radiation are insidious and reach far into the future. We can anticipate an increase in cancer, leukemia, and heart disease. Because radiation weakens the immune system any number of other chronic ills will be manifested.

Last, (3) How can we protect ourselves? Avoid medical X-rays as much as possible. Dr. John Gofman in his massive 700-page study blames 75 percent of cancer cases on medical radiation. Limit the use of wireless phones and microwave ovens. And avoid airport scanners.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

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