ROYAL, CLIFFORD TWP. - Our base ball game last Saturday was a one sided affair, as the Carbondale team that was expected, failed to appear.

BROOKLYN - Dr. F. B. Miller has a new Flanders automobile.

FLYNN, MIDDLETOWN TWP. - Some people think Flynn is a dull place and not much doing, but such is not the case as there was lots of things doing that the Democrat will not publish when the facts are given truthfully, only a little modified. It pays to be careful. Also Now let the young men that took the flagpole from the school grounds bring it back within a very few days or there will be more to it. If some of those boys parents knew the seriousness of this charge they would not take it so cool.

HOP BOTTOM - The Shakespeare Club presented Mrs. E. M. Tiffany with a handsome memorial volume of poems, a tribute to the memory of Mr. E. M. Tiffany, deceased.

The volume is specially prized by Mrs. Tiffany, not alone for its beauty and literary worth, but for the fact that the volume is a compilation by the club members. The exquisite cover was the handiwork of Miss Lee, of Brooklyn. (Eva Lee was an artist).

FOREST CITY - Dominick Scagello, aged about 21 years, is at Emergency hospital, Carbondale, with a bullet in his chest, near the heart, inflicted from a revolver in the hands of Anthony Pite or Betro, also of Forest City, who made his escape following the shooting. The shooting occurred about 5 o’clock last evening, on Delaware street, near the Clifford colliery. The two men were standing talking, when Pite (Betro) drew a revolver from his pocket and without warning or cause fired into Scagello’s chest. He then made his escape into the woods nearby. A large crowd of people joined in the chase after him, but were unable to locate him. Pite (Betro) is an Italian, aged about 25 years. He wore a light suit, light hat and tan shoes. The bullet has not been located and owing to the region it entered, its seriousness will not be known until after an X-ray is taken today.

MONTROSE - The electric light, which for many nights has hung over the entrance of the Fire Engine House, has been moved, thanks to Edward G. Foote, to the Lake Avenue corner of the Court House and thereby serving two excellent purposes, its original one and the lighting of the avenue at this point for pedestrians. Another such light in front of the school house would be as deeply appreciated by pedestrians despite the fact that it might impair and greatly discommode the trystings of Phyllis and Corydon. ALSO John Ralston reports several contracts this spring for the moving of buildings. Mr. Ralston knows how to handle them too, having had years of experience and is better equipped than ever, with a new outfit.

NORTH BRIDGEWATER - Dr. A. E. Hollister, who has returned from his course at the veterinary school the past year, is now prepared to receive calls. They had a phone installed in their home last week.

WEST BRIDGEWATER - Quite a large crowd of young (and older) people turned out to the demonstration given in honor of the Green-Seely wedding here, the evening of May 1 and the morning of May 2. Twenty-five were present at the first organized “demonstration,” and a second bunch of 20 young people, from South Montrose, arrived later in the evening. But it was for a small band of militant suffragettes to capture the groom some time after midnight and escort him on an enforced moonlight walk, putting the finishing touch on the “chiveree.” The serenaders were all very properly provided with refreshments, which were enjoyed. Mr. and Mrs. Green have been on a wedding journey to Philadelphia, Atlantic City and West Chester, Pa.

LAKESIDE - Mrs. A. L. Shay has moved back to the farm, but Mr. Shay will still follow railroading.

UNIONDALE - The air is resonant with the sound of the carpet whips and the query is when will my dinner be ready? Also Frank Westgate is preparing to move his house across the road onto the Davis lot.

SOUTH HARFORD - Wedding bells were ringing here last week when Flora Parmalee, of this town, and G. Manzer, of S. Gibson, were united in marriage.

SALT SPRINGS, FRANKLIN TWP. - James Calvin Wheaton’s death occurred at his home Sunday evening, May 5th. He was born in Franklin township, Oct. 10, 1844, and at the age of five years the family moved to the present home at Salt Springs. Mr. Wheaton received his early education at Wyoming Seminary, paying especial attention to surveying and civil engineering, which he practiced until the past few months. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Montrose for 45 years. In 1882 he received the nomination for the State legislature by the Democratic party. For the past 40 years he had been justice of the peace of Franklin township and also held the office of school director. Besides his wife he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Howard Reynolds, of Factoryville, and Miss Julia Wheaton, of Pocatello, Idaho, and three sons, Philip, Arthur and Ezra, also one sister, Mrs. L. M. Kenyon of Montrose.

FRIENDSVILLE - The death of Christopher O’Byrne, of Friendsville, is announced. He lived at Lakeside, near Camp Choconut, and is the father of Sister M. Rosina, whose book of poems, “Idylls of Lakeside,” have given such pleasure to Susquehanna County people.

SUSQUEHANNA - Joseph McMahon has gone west after another carload of horses. Also Mr. and Mrs. R. I. Westcott attended the “Red Window” at the Stone Opera House, Monday night.

LAUREL LAKE, SILVER LAKE TWP. - We are glad to have Wm. J. Rodgers with us again. He came this spring from his far western home in Wyoming and is staying with his sister, Mrs. A. L. Martin. ALSO Last Saturday morning G. C. Hill caught ten bullheads from the lake and returned home in time to help with the milking.

BIRCHARDVILLE - Fred W. Dayton has had a fine flock of sheep killed by dogs.

When I was a kid, I was a little difficult when it came to the “Hallmark” holidays, i.e., holidays that I opined were created for pure marketing purposes. In my juvenile wisdom, I determined that Mother’s Day was one of those bogus holidays manufactured to create revenue for card companies, floral shops, restaurants, and retail establishments. I can remember laying out in detail my “corporate greed” theory as it related to Mother’s Day to my Mom and suggesting to her that we should not buy into it. My Mom used to encourage my “independent” thinking as she seemed to enjoy it. And she still had a little of the 60s radical in her which made an interesting complement to her conservative philosophies. She loved to argue with me about any issue – and Mother’s Day was one of our little arguments.

When it came to Mother’s Day, she was a true believer in having a special day to honor mothers. She pointed out that she only got one day a year - while the kids got the rest. I responded by telling her that I was the gift that kept on giving year round and everyday was really Mother’s Day for her because she had the privilege of being my Mom. I would then follow that comment up by asking whether she was done with my laundry, or whether she had baked any cookies, or what was for dinner or some other inquiry about the countless things that she did for me that I simply expected her to do for me.

Yes, I was a charming lad. I always dutifully did something for Mom on Mother’s Day, even if I was grumbling about it. I suspect my Mom enjoyed the grumbles as much as any gift we got her because it opened up the door for us to have a little verbal spar one more time. I never seemed to win an argument with her - and I never really met another person with the same uncanny ability to always win an argument until I met my wife, but that is another story altogether.

As I grew older, my views on Mother’s Day changed gradually. I now suspect that some of my opposition grew out of my own inability to select the right gift. I find shopping a tortuous experience – and these special “Hallmark” days seem to dictate some retail component. How do you express gratitude to your mother for all she has done for you through a card or flowers? It all seems so inadequate.

For those who follow the column, you know that my Mom died of Lou Gherig’s Disease back in March 2010. It is a horrible disease and she suffered terribly. For the family, the knowledge of a terminal illness provides the opportunity to say good-bye, make amends, express gratitude or simply say what you should have said a long time ago. Mom’s illness gave me that opportunity.

Shortly before she died, as a “birthday present,” I wrote Mom a letter trying to express to her just how much she meant to me - and I tried to say all the things I never said that she really needed to hear. The letter never really got there for me - it was drafted and revised repeatedly - and it never really captured what I wanted it to say. But I knew that time was running short - God was only leaving the window open for so long. So, I simply stopped writing and I gave her the letter about a month before she died.

In the letter, I recalled various memories with her, thanked her for each one, apologized for countless incidents involving my poor behavior, and expressed my fears of how I would ever match up as a parent to what she had done for me. She asked me to read it to her as she could no longer move to even hold the letter in her hands. As I read, we cried, we laughed and we loved like we had never really done in the past. The letter was an indictment of my behavior, a confession for my transgressions, a plea for her forgiveness, and a testament to her parenting. It was filled with things I should have told her every single day - but we were never that kind of family.

After I was done with the letter, I looked at her with the tears on her face that she could not even wipe on her, and she simply said to me - partly mouthing the words and partly making them out through the ventilator - that she wished that she could give me a hug. I think about that moment often - there she was immobile and breathing with a machine, and dying - and she wanted to comfort me. The divine and unconditional love of a mother for a child never stops - and for me, that is what Mother’s Day means now.

I wish that it had not taken me so long to get to this point, but I also thank God for giving me the opportunity to get there while Mom was still alive. This Mother’s Day take that opportunity, even if it has been foisted on us through corporate marketing, to tell your Mom just how special she is - share some stories, make some memories, laugh, cry and hug each other - because life is too short to wait any longer.

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/.

Libraries have been important locations in communities throughout our country since its founding. History shows us that in many frontier towns “lending libraries” were established so that books, then so few and costly, could be exchanged. Reading has always been fundamental.

Libraries have changed with the times, but libraries remain a great resource to their patrons. Libraries have embraced technology, but they are still a resource for learning. You can use a computer at the library or you can just borrow a book instead of buying one or take out a new DVD.

Libraries are meeting places. Libraries are places where people interact. Libraries are important repositories of knowledge. Libraries need your support.

For a number of years now, the Susquehanna County Library system has been working toward a goal of building a new library building in Montrose. I like to refer to the main building in Montrose as the “mother ship” of the system. The current building is more than 100 years old and we have outgrown it. In addition, when the new library is built, the building on the Green will allow for the expansion of the Historical Society and the display of many items now in storage.

To help us reach this goal, we will have our fourth Library Lottery drawing on July 21st at the free picnic hosted by Cabot Old & Gas at the Harford Fairgrounds. Applications and more information are available on line www.susqcolibrary.org or at your local location in Montrose, Susquehanna, Hallstead or Forest City.