Elkdale – On Sunday morning, while the family of George Snedeker were at breakfast in the basement of their house, one of their neighbors ran in and told theme that their house was on fire. On rushing out they could see the flames already breaking through the roof. Calls for help were sent out on the telephone and soon men came from all directions, but it was seen that it would be impossible to put out the fire, so they began at once to save what they could. At this time Mr. Snedeker must have thought of something which he felt he must save from the upper floor, for he rushed into the house and up the stairs without being seen by anybody. As soon as he was missed some of the men tried to get up the stairs, but the heat and smoke made it impossible. When the fire began to lessen all that remained of the body was taken from the still burning building. The fire, it is supposed, was caused from an overheated stove. The Snedeker family moved here from Wayne county two years ago and have made many friends who are doing everything possible to lighten the terrible blow. Mr. Snedeker was 45 years old and leaves a wife and eight children, the youngest but one year old. Funeral services were held on Thursday, with interment in the Elkdale cemetery. The house, on which there was no insurance, was owned by G. G. Wells, the Snedeker family working the farm on shares.
[Jane Burr, whose grandmother was Laura Snedeker, wrote to us that the story told to the family was that her great-grandfather went in to get Laura's wedding dress. Laura married Homer Collum on March 12, 1913.]
Harford – At a meeting of the Harford Agricultural Society it was decided to incorporate the Society and 12 directors were elected. A charter will be applied for at once and everyone is requested to become a charter member. Also Dr. A. T. Brundage is very low—a general breaking down from old age.
Birchardville – Mrs. W. D .Gould got 431 eggs from 25 pullets during the month of January.
Springville – Mr. and Mrs. Leo Lake have moved to Friendsville, having purchased the hotel property at that place. ALSO Rumor says our orchestra will make its appearance at an entertainment in the near future. The boys have practiced faithfully under the leadership of Dana Taylor, and should receive the support of the townspeople. [Dana Taylor was the father of Maurice Taylor, well-know band director and author of band books at Montrose High School, from 1927 to the latter part of the 20th century.
Forest Lake – A number from this place attended a dance at the Choconut Valley Inn on Monday evening and all report a fine time. Music was furnished by E. M. Kane and E. B. Birdsall.
Highlands, New Milford Twp. – About 26 relatives and friends met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lynch, last Wednesday, to make them a surprise party, as they are soon to leave their farm near East Lake and make their home in Binghamton. A sumptuous dinner was served and a purse of money was given Mr. and Mrs. Lynch as token of esteem and remembrance. They will be greatly missed by all, as they were always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy or sick.
New Milford – Tuesday, the 18th of February next, 1913, will be the 50th anniversary of our marriage. We are in favor of noticing such an event but we have not the health and strength to entertain a company as we would like to, so our relatives and friends, who would like to take dinner with us that day, will be expected to furnish the dinner on the “picnic” plan, and are hereby invited to do so, and those of our relatives and friends who merely wish to make a call without taking dinner will be considered in good form and just as welcome. No presents will be expected or desired unless a large number of relatives and friends are willing to make a small contribution, not over 25 cents in any case, in some cases less, and so purchase one article which may be kept as a memento of the occasion. Amos B. and Mary C. Kent. [Amos died on Dec. 5, 1913 and Mary died Dec. 18, 1913 and are buried in the New Milford Cemetery].
Susquehanna – George Thibault, general foreman of the Erie shops, has been in New York for a few days. Also The chemical engine [fire] company is planning to hold a fair in the near future for the purpose of building a permanent home for its engine.
Bridgewater Twp. – The ice on Charles J. Post’s pond [on Post Pond Road] has been purchased by parties in Wilkes-Barre, and the work of cutting will probably be started next Monday. Mr. Post will have charge of the cutting and loading of the ice on their cars at his switch, the Lehigh Valley tracks running almost to his pond. Ice in the Wyoming Valley is scarce and probably all that can be supplied will be rapidly taken.
Montrose – Montrose was visited by a severe colds snap during the week which was greatly appreciated—by the coal and ice men. This is really the first cold weather of the winter. Quite a little snow fell Monday and the sleighing has been much enjoyed. On the last day of January, last Friday, considerable plowing was done in this vicinity, something very much out of the ordinary, for this climate.
Hallstead – At the supper given Thursday at the Presbyterian church parlors by the high school scholars, to purchase supplies for a laboratory in the school, $65.75 was taken in.
Forest City – Enterprise Hose Co., No. 2, held their annual banquet in the parlors, Thursday evening. About 50 members and invited guests were present. Chicken was served. Oliver Coyle, the company’s cook, was chef of the evening. The supper he served decidedly preserved his reputation with the Enterprise boys. The supper was preceded by cards. A very enjoyable time was the evening’s verdict.
Flynn – The month of January has been an unusually fine month as it is seldom that a young couple can hold hands with comfort on the porch, evenings, during this month.
Fairdale – There will be a shadow social at the Grange hall, Friday evening, Feb. 7th. The proceeds are to purchase an organ for the school.
Lynn – The ground hog has brought a change in the weather, at least we are having a little sleighing at last which is much better than mud.
News Brief: Scranton merchants intend publishing a monthly bulletin of “deadbeats.”
A reader sent me an interesting editorial from the Wall Street Journal relating to the trend toward legalizing marijuana use. It was written by Dr. Mitchell Rosenthal, a child psychologist, who runs Phoenix House, which is a large substance-abuse treatment organization. Dr. Rosenthal’s premise was straightforward: the negative effects that marijuana has on an adolescent brain have largely been left out of the legalization debate.
Dr. Rosenthal noted that the human brain does not stop its development until a person reaches his or her mid-20s. The last portion of the brain to fully develop would be the area of the brain that assists in judgment. On the other hand, the “pleasure seeking” portion of the brain is fully developed by the time a child hits puberty. Dr. Rosenthal noted that this creates situations were some teenagers and young men and women are simply wired to make bad decisions if placed in the wrong situations. When you add the use of marijuana to this equation, then there is little chance that the kids will make good decisions. If you ever wondered why a child would pick up a needle to shoot heroin into their body, Dr. Rosenthal’s analysis of the adolescent brain tells the tale – especially where the adolescent brain is already muddled by the effects of marijuana. There is a good reason why marijuana is considered a “gateway” drug – most addicts never even consider using things like methamphetamine, heroin or cocaine until after they have started the use of marijuana.
Dr. Rosenthal cited studies that showed that the younger a person begins the use of marijuana, the more likely that they will become addicted to it. This runs counter to the more recent cultural suggestions that marijuana is not addictive or habit forming. This is utter nonsense – we all know that people become dependent on marijuana. Dr. Rosenthal noted that the largest percentage of adolescents treated at Phoenix House suffered from a marijuana addiction – and that many of those kids had never even gotten to the point of using a “harder” drug. Dr. Rosenthal properly criticizes the cultural suggestion that marijuana should be legalized coupled with the suggestion that it was “safe.”
After receiving Dr. Rosenthal’s editorial, I saw another study that determined that teenagers who regularly smoked marijuana had a lower IQ than those who did not do so. Yet, the juveniles that we deal with will tell us that there is nothing wrong with marijuana. The treatment providers that I have spoken with express the same frustrations – kids think there is nothing wrong with marijuana because the media is telling them that it should be legal. The most common response from juvenile marijuana users is the statement that it is “practically legal.” Culturally, we have miserably failed these children in providing a clear message regarding the dangers of marijuana use.
Of course, the efforts to legalize marijuana will likely seek to prohibit its sale to persons under 21years of age. The simple fact that it is legal will lead many children to conclude that it is “safe.” When the synthetic marijuana made its appearance, we had a lot of juveniles tell us that they thought it was “safe” because they could buy it in the store. The legal sale of marijuana will only heighten the belief that it is a “safe” substance regardless of the age at which you are allowed to purchase it. We all know just how well laws limiting the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors have worked – and the legalization of marijuana will follow that trend.
Dr. Rosenthal concluded his editorial by noting that the legalization of marijuana is no longer the real issue. Instead, he stated: “The issue is the danger that marijuana poses to kids, how parents can protect their children from that danger, and what the rest of society – absent the criminal justice system – can do to support them in that fight.” When the criminal justice system is removed from the enforcement formula, our children will suffer – and their suffering will cause painful ripples across the entire societal pool. We need to get back on message with our kids and tell them the simple truth: marijuana is a dangerous drug and it is no good for them.
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 word February is believed to have derived from the name 'Februa' taken from the Roman 'Festival of Purification'. The root 'februo' meaning to 'I purify by sacrifice'. As part of the seasonal calendar February is the time of the 'Ice Moon' according to Pagan beliefs, and the period described as the 'Moon of the Dark Red Calf' by Black Elk. February has also been known as 'Sprout-kale' by the Anglo-Saxons in relation to the time the kale and cabbage was edible." - www.mystical-www.co.uk/time/febi.htm.
February is also the month where hearts soar with anticipation and hope. So many classrooms festooned with hearts and young ones’ big decisions about what type of valentine to buy or create and who the receiver(s) shall be. Do you remember the line of paper bag or shoebox “mailboxes” we fashioned in class to hold our treasure trove of greetings? Red and pink construction paper hearts and snippets of lacy, white paper doilies everywhere? What a wonderful, magical time in our lives. Now, perhaps, instead of handmade greetings, we wish for a floral offering that shows how much we are loved. Having been a florist for close to thirty years, I have seen many floral trends come and go. One thing is for certain—you don’t need an armload of blossoms to get your message across, just a few which have been carefully-chosen. I’ve often been quoted as saying, “One Rose says volumes, where a dozen doesn’t say anything”, especially if all you’re going for is the “Wow” effect instead of relating what’s truly in your heart. It all depends on the color (Red for love, Pink for youth and beauty, orange for fascination, purple for enchantment, white for purity, etc.) and if the rose is in bud or in full-bloom, for each have a specific meaning. A single rose does not signify frugalness on the part of the giver, on the contrary, it shows he or she was thoughtful and they know that you are a “One in a Million” love match. I learned about the meaning of roses and so much more, while reading the wonderful novel, “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. If you haven’t read this heart-tugger, please check it out from your local Library Branch. It is mesmerizing! In Victorian days, a man shyly relayed what was in his heart and mind by the meanings of the flowers he gave to his lady fair. For example, white Roses and Orange Blossoms signify “Your pure heart equals your loveliness” where a meadow gathering of Queen Anne’s Lace, Goldenrod and ferns sends the message, “Sincere and careful encouragement for a fantasy life with you.” Someone is seeking forgiveness if they givc you a gift of purple hyacinths. Your Library Branch is able to supply you with informative books on the language of flowers, including “The Illuminated Language of Flowers” by the late talented Author, Kate Greenaway among others. Your local Library Branch also has a wonderful selection of romance novels and Valentine stories sure to stir the heartstrings of the young and the young at heart. Those titles include: “Love in a Bottle” by Zoe Archer, “A Passion for Him”, “Bared to You” and “ Reflected in You” all by Sylvia Day, “The Dwelling Place” by Catherine Cookson, “On the Night of the Seventh Moon” by Victoria Holt, “The Ring” by Danielle Steele and “The Love Talker” by Elizabeth Peters plus many more. A heart-wrenching tale I have read recently has not hit our Library bookshelves yet, but I know it will in the near future—it is entitled “Sand Dollar, A Story of Undying Love” by Sebastian Cole, , and the author is very generous, as he is sending four copies, one for each branch. If you enjoy novels by Nicholas Sparks, you won’t want to miss this first offering by Mr. Cole. It is fantastic and I gave it five stars with my review.
Please, take a moment and stop at your local branch so you and your children can choose books to enjoy around this ruby-red special time of the year. There are several to choose from, including: “Max’s Valentine” by Rosemary Wells, “The Day it Rained Hearts” by Felicia Bond, “Clifford’s First Valentine” by Norman Bindwell, “Super-Fine Valentine!” by Bill Cosby, “Henry and the Valentine Surprise” by Nancy Carlson, “Love Splat” by Rob Scotton, “Fancy Nancy Heart to Heart” by Jane O’Connor, “Minnie and Moo: Will you be my Valentine?” by Denys Cozel and “Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine” written by Herman Parish and “Bingo Brown and the Language of Love” by Betsy Cromer Byers.
If you are in the Susquehanna Area and can pop into the Branch Library—please do so and give our new Librarian; Laura Van Cott, a warm welcome. She will be assuming the role from our beloved and now-retired Amelia Paterno. Laura resides outside of New Milford and is a graduate of Kutztown University. Besides her new post, she’s busy making plans for an upcoming September wedding, but makes time for her Fiancé’, her close-knit family, her zany Basset Hound named “Ruby” and her love of reading. She enjoys a wide variety of genres, including historical fiction, science-fiction, young adult fiction, children's books, and non-fiction, especially true life survival/adventure stories from history.
Her favorite books are the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace, and right now she’s reading "The Longest Tunnel: The True Story of World War II.'s Great Escape" by Alan Burgess, which is the true story behind one of her favorite movies, "The Great Escape." Welcome Laura!!” Great titles, a terrific staff and many new friends await you. You will also be seeing the smiling faces of Pam Bagnall, Elizabeth Hanrahan and Deb Cavanaugh, who are more than happy to help you find the book or books you’re looking for as well as acquaint you with the other goodies the Branch has to offer. For Valentine's Day, they’re asking their patrons to help decorate the library. They will provide heart cut-outs for patrons to decorate. You can also write what you love about the library or
Something about your favorite book on your heart for other patrons to see. They will hang the finished hearts all around the library. The Susquehanna Branch Book Club is reading “A Walk in the Woods, Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail” by Bill Bryson. Mr. Bryson is an entertaining guide who introduces us to the history of the trail which stretches from Georgia to Maine and he speaks of its breathtaking beauty, rough terrain and the people (and animals) he encounters along the way. At present, there is just one copy available at the library with more due to be delivered soon. The book discussion will be held on Thursday, February 21st at 4:00 pm. If you would like to join the Book Club Group, please stop at the Library and speak with Laura, Pam, Elizabeth or Deb and they will be happy to help you sign up.
Up in Montrose, the Outreach Librarians will be doing several Valentine’s programs with toddlers, preschoolers and the community options group. Special Valentine’s Day selections of children's books are set up in the children's room. If your child would like to join in the activities, please contact the Montrose Branch and speak with any of the following staff members; Karen Braker-Reed the Children's Librarian. Mary Beth Manns, the Outreach Services Librarian or Donna Horn, the Assistant Outreach Librarian who will answer any questions you may have.
Due to the changing weather, the Hallstead/Great Bend Branch has postponed the start of their Story Hour until March and the program will run for six weeks. Please keep an eye on this column for the starting date and time. We hope you will mark it down on your calendar. What a wonderful way to start a child in the wonderful world of reading. It has been written that the more a child laughs, the more he or she will read. Currently Val is reading lots of children's books to her grandson and also trying
to finish "One last thing before I go" by Jonathan Tropper (a fun, entertaining author), and also "My Journey to Heaven" by Marvin Besteman, among other goodies!
Due to tight quarters, you’ll find the book cart filled to the brim with information-packed tax books and forms, but a wealth of Valentine’s Day/Romance novels are just an arm’s length away and the helpful staff will be glad to assist you. Staff Members Angie and Valerie would like to send a huge heart-shaped, rose-covered, chocolate-scented Valentine to two special friends of the Hallstead/Great Bend Library—Trudy and Dale Henry!! Through their kindness, generosity and love of golf, they have helped the Hallstead/Great Bend Library in many ways. Plans are underway for their sponsored 2013 golf tournament which is tentatively slated for July. More information will be provided in this column as it becomes available.
And as I close for this edition, I offer this bit of whimsy in honor of Groundhog Day which was on February 2nd and a tip of the Mayor’s hat to “The Old Fellow” himself, “Punxsutawney Phil”. Did he see his shadow in your vicinity? The calendar still says 6 more weeks of winter!
"Away in a meadow all covered with snow
The little old groundhog looks for his shadow
The clouds in the sky determine our fate
If winter will leave us all early or late."
ourworld.cs.com/DonaldRHalley/ghdsongs.htmDon Halley
Curl up with a good book~ Stay warm~ Think Daffodils!
