Lynn – Dean Baker is making some decided improvements on his house by adding new porches and bringing water into the house.

Choconut – Thomas Donley went to Buffalo, Saturday, with a drove of cattle. Also Chas. Kerr, lieutenant of the police department of New York city, motored from New York last week and spent ten days with his former partner, B. R. McCahill.

Uniondale – The Uniondale cornet band will hold an oyster supper at the home of George Bayless this week, Saturday evening. Also Smaller towns than ours have electric lights and why should we remain in the “dark.” We have abundant power that ought to be utilized. Why not organize a stock company. Who will set the ball a rolling.

Hallstead – On Saturday, at her home, Pleasant View farm on Baptist Hill, a short distance from Hallstead, occurred the death of Mrs. Ann Allen, relict of the late John Allen, after a lingering illness caused by a general breaking down of the system incident to old age. Mrs. Allen was about 85 years of age, and is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Michael Dolan, of Brookdale, and Mary Allen, who resides at home and three sons, John, of Elmira, Peter W. and Bernard Allen, of Hallstead, and a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, besides a large number of relatives and personal friends, all of whom will be grieved to learn of her death. She was born in Ireland and came to this country at an early age and settled in the vicinity of Hallstead when it was nothing more than a wilderness and where by industry and prudence, she and her husband gained a competence and made a comfortable home. For several years she had been an invalid and unable to leave her bed.

Jackson - D. D. Dunn and son have purchased an automobile.

Birchardville – Mrs. Anna M. Baldwin, who has been visiting her parents near Birchardville, has returned to Rochester to finish her training in the Rochester General Hospital.

Herrick Center – Gabe Parks, Clarence Springstein and Will Cawrse spent Thanksgiving hunting at Elk Hill, results one rabbit.

Alford – A foreign laborer, on Tuesday morning, was run down by one of the small engines on the cut-of work, and was severely injured, one of his lower limbs being severed from the body. He was rushed to the Binghamton hospital. His name could not be ascertained. Also Church services Sunday evening at a quarter of seven during the winter months so the minister can return to his home on the 7:45 train.

Montrose – The Browny Band Cantata is to be given by about 150 of the children from the first eight grades of the Montrose Public School, Dec. 13th. The music and the costumes are both most attractive and the whole operetta is one which is sure to please those who attend. Tickets on sale at Morris Drug Store. ALSO I. N. Austin was in Montrose Friday morning, renewing acquaintance with our older citizens. Mr. Austin has resided in Berwick a great many years, but is now visiting his son-in-law, Fred Lyman, of Springville. Mr. Austin was raised in Montrose, living here until 30 years of age, and at that time was one of the leading carpenters and builders, having erected many of the finest residences in Montrose and which remains a monument to his workmanship. Although he is 85 years old, he is remarkably active.

Fairdale – While Reid Very was returning home from Montrose, last Friday afternoon, his team became unmanageable and he fell from the wagon, the wheels passing over one of his legs breaking it three times below the knee and otherwise badly splintering the bones. He was found by David Roe and Frank Bolles and removed to his home. Dr. Gardner was called, who did everything possible to alleviate his suffering. While it was first thought that amputation might be necessary, he is making such good progress that fears of losing his limb are not apprehended, although he may have a stiff knee.

Parkville – Will Holderman is hauling dynamite from Dimock over to the cut-off by Hop Bottom. [Because of an explosion caused by dynamite near Vestal, N.Y., a few years prior, dynamite was no longer allowed to be shipped by train and ordered to be carried by wagon. The accident resulted in the loss of life and an entire train.]

Forest City – Frank Flecher was caught by a falling roof in the Stillwater mines at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and instantly killed. The remains were taken to Connelly’s undertaking rooms to be prepared for burial. The deceased was a native of Austria and had resided in Forest City for a number of years. He was about 30 years of age. The sad ending will cause his affianced, who is on her way from Austria, having sailed a few days ago, much sorrow. They were to have been married at Christmas time.

Brooklyn – One of the finest stretches of road in this county is being built between Hopbottom and the state road recently built in Brooklyn township. It is built under the Sproul law to be paid for by the state. Good roads from Scranton to Binghamton are promised.

Susquehanna – The state police here found a man on the verge of starvation on the island [Canavan], the former headquarters of a gang of thieves. The gang had taken their departure. He had spent the summer in disposing of the spoils, secured by the gang that infested the island. Also Thomas Tobin, seventh-five years of age, was struck by a switch engine in the yards on Monday and instantly killed. He was taking a rain coat to a friend.

Thompson – The traveling library has been moved to the home of Mrs. A. E. Wilmarth, Main street. A new supply of books has just been received and the library will be open to the public every week day, except Monday and Tuesday, between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m.

Clifford - W. C. Baldwin, of the Clifford creamery, was a contestant in the butter contest conducted by the dairy husbandry department of Pennsylvania [state] college. Many of the leading dairymen of the state entered the contest and the rivalry for first place was spirited. Mr. Baldwin succeeded in reaching second place, his score being 92 1/2, a high showing.

“What is Truth?” Pilate asked. (John 18:38). This past week at Mass, the gospel reading ended with this verse. Our priest indicated that the “official” reading had actually stopped just short of that verse, but he believed it was so important that he continued the reading through that verse. Well, that short verse has certainly stuck in my heart this past week. Johnny Cash asked the same question in 1970 with his “What is Truth” single that captured the different views between battling generations of Americans. Cash crooned “And the lonely voice of youth cries what is truth.” Being a fan of Cash, I suspect that placed an added emphasis on Pilate’s question. The importance of the question pales in comparison to the magnitude of the answer itself - the truth will set you free. (John 8:32).

Outside the Christian framework, however, the question has equal gravity and the answer itself has the same liberating power. Lies, deceit, and false information serve only to confuse and confound us. In The Republic, Plato used the Allegory of the Cave to explain this phenomenon – a person chained inside a cave for his whole life only watching shadows that were reflected on the wall from the opening of the cave. The shadows became that person’s world. When freed from those chains, the person had to confront reality – the truth – not the shadows that he had always perceived to be reality. This is a difficult proposition – differentiating between shadows and reality is no easy task – and accepting the truth after living in a world of lies is even harder. It is far easier to simply run back into the darkness of the cave.

Rational thought depends upon truth to drive it. Good decisions require good information. Do we get that in today’s society? Do we want that information? Are we simply Plato’s captives living in the cave looking at shadows that someone else is feeding to us? Do we even bother to ask the question: “What is truth?” Do we have the time to search for the truth? Do we even care to look for it? How do we know what it is when we find it? Do people even believe in truth?

I was thinking about all of this as I watched the ongoing debate surrounding the “fiscal cliff” and the manner in which the media is reporting on the partisan battling over how to handle it. Why do both political parties and the media use the term “fiscal cliff?” Do you ever hear the media actually explain the true fiscal problems that America confronts? The media suggests that the “fiscal cliff” can be avoided by a “last minute deal” between the parties involving more revenue (higher taxes) and less spending (cutting government programs). Do any of the proposed solutions do anything at all to avoid a “fiscal cliff?” Or do they merely result taking your foot off the accelerator so as to simply delay the inevitable crash? For me, the “truth” is that Thelma and Louise are driving us over the “fiscal cliff” and it is simply a question of how long will it take us to hit the ground.

It seems that truth is an endangered species in America. No one really wants to know the truth – they hear what they want to hear, they see what they want to see, and woe to the person who tries to drag them out of their cave into the sunshine of reality. Both sides of the political spectrum play fast and loose with facts, figures and information – this is not a problem that has been created by one political party – and no political party has a monopoly on truth. Frankly, truth and politics go together about as well as fire and gasoline. We all know that – especially those of us who are politicians!

Then again, the question comes back: What is truth? After all, I may be the one howling at the sunlight and fighting to get back to the shadows of my cave. I know some liberal friends who have suggested that to me – that I am the one fighting their attempts to teach me the truth. I also know that I am not infallible so they could be right I suppose. But in the end, we each have to make our own determination on what constitutes the truth.

For me, it is a truth that you cannot continually spend more money than you have without going over a “fiscal cliff.” For me, it is a truth that you cannot borrow more money than you can pay back. For me, it is a truth that you should not be adding a garage to your house when you are in the middle of a mortgage foreclosure with no foreseeable financial means to get out of it. These seem obvious to me – but perhaps they are simply shadows dancing on the wall of my conservative cave.

After all, both parties in Washington have spent us to the brink of the “fiscal cliff” time and time again - and then they feed us platitudes about solutions to the fiscal problems that they have created. Would you trust the bank robber to come up with a plan to get the stolen money back into the vault? Reducing the deficit is not a real solution – it simply means you are borrowing less money at a time when you cannot afford to borrow any money. Is there not a single person from either party with enough fortitude to stand up and speak the simple fiscal truth? And if there was such a person, would we be willing to listen?

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/.

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My Goodness how the time has flown. How did it get so late so soon?” ~Dr. Seuss

Ahh, the big countdown is on! Children checking their lists and hoping that Santa will realize how good they have been all year. Meanwhile, adults agonize over the perfect present for everyone on their list. We all have “those people” who seem to have everything and are impossible to buy for. I’d like to make a suggestion. Have you ever considered purchasing a book, perhaps about something a person you know and love is passionate about and donating it to your local Library Branch? It can be done and your volume will have a designation inside that your gift was given in honor of your special one and by whom. What a lovely way to help them share their hobbies, interests, etc. with others of like tastes. As a reminder, this can also be done “In Memory” of someone near and dear. Please, due to limited space, consult with the library concerning your selection so multiple copies do not occur. The Library Staff will be more than happy to assist you with this. Many items are needed for the future Library building facilities as well, and donations designated to go for a certain area would be a lasting gift honoring someone you cherish. No gift wrapping or bows required for any of the above, so it will make holidays more simple for you. Between the cookie baking, list making and holiday specials on the television, be sure to make some quiet time for reading stories with your youngsters. What a memorable time for all! Your local Library branch has many titles to choose from and for all age groups. I know the staff members will be more than happy to assist you with your choices.

Some titles available in Hallstead/Great Bend are:

“Clifford’s First Christmas” by Norman Bridwell. Everyone’s favorite big red is a small red puppy who gets into mischief on Christmas Eve.

“Merry Christmas Amelia Bedelia!” by Peggy Parish. Amelia Bedelia decorates the house before Aunt Myra arrives—but we know it’s going to be fun with Amelia Bedelia in charge!

“The Christmas Box Collection” by Richard Paul Evans. Three magical stories—“The Christmas Box”, “Timepiece”, and “The Letter” are all ones your whole family will enjoy.

Among the many offerings at the Susquehanna Branch are:

“Countdown to Christmas” by Bill Peet. Santa adapts a toy sack and paints his sleigh psychedelic colors then learns he has destroyed some of the magic of Christmas.

“The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy” by Jane Thayer. Petey the puppy has just one wish for Christmas this year, he wants a boy of his very own. But will he find one who is just right?

“The Family Read-Aloud Christmas Treasury” by Alice Low. A wonderful collection of Christmas poems, short stories, songs and carols that all of the family can enjoy.

Within the countless volumes are these titles in Montrose:

“The Christmas Bus” by Melody Carlson. The people of Christmas Valley always celebrate to the fullest degree, but when things start going downhill, will they be able to? And just when it can’t get any worse, a young couple expecting a baby any moment pulls up in their bus! But, maybe this is just what Christmas Valley needs.

“The Christmas Pony” by Dorothy McCully. A charming tale the whole family will enjoy.

“A Tree Full of Stars” by Davis Grubb. This is a story of the Dance family who kept their Christmas lights on all year, much to the dismay of some of the townsfolk who didn’t understand its meaning.

These and many of the old favorites, Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frosty, Disney Characters and their friends with their adventures, plus many that will regale you with the true meaning of Christmas, Hanukah, etc. are available for your family’s enjoyment.

There are some new volumes by your favorite authors which will soon be available at all locations. Some titles include:

“Threat Vector” by Tom Clancy, “Nano” by Robin Cook, “Shadow Creek” by Joy Fielding, “Private London” by James Patterson, “Prodigal Son” by Colleen McCullough, and “Shiver” by Karen Robards to name a few. . To get on the waiting list for these new arrivals, please call, stop by or email your local Library Branch. There are many more titles which will be available in January and February, so please keep watch of the column for titles.

May we each take a moment on December 7th and give quiet thanks to all of those brave men and women who valiantly fought and who perished to protect our Country at Pearl Harbor.

Within the hustle and bustle of the season, take time for yourself, and your family. Children grow up too fast and life is short. Set some stress aside and enjoy the simple pleasures of each other’s company.

"My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read" ~Abraham Lincoln

Have a Merry December!!