West Auburn ­– Thomas Hoag, while returning home from the W. A. creamery, Saturday, some strap broke about the harness, causing the horse to run, throwing him out of the wagon, breaking one arm between the shoulder and elbow, and bruised his head and body. Dr. Fry was called and took him to the Sayre hospital for treatment. AND At Auburn 4 Corners, L. Greene found a bee tree in Benton Lathrop’s woods. They cut the tree down and got 140 lbs. of real nice honey. Benton and Leigh will be sweet this winter.

East Kingsley – Mrs. Wilber Richardson and her aunt, Mrs. Henry Coutant, having a birthday occur the same day, invited a few friends to meet with them at the home of Mrs. Richardson. There were 16 present and they concluded to turn the affair into an old fashioned quilting party, which was well enjoyed by all present. A sumptuous dinner was served.

Lenoxville – Lenoxville, for several years back, would have been a good location for a doctor and a harness maker. Let’s arrange a board of trade or, at least, a Village Improvement Society that we may keep the fact persistent before the people of surrounding neighborhoods that we are still on the map of Susquehanna county.

Harford – Reuben Rushworth won the first prize of $40 in the corn growing contest inaugurated by the Third National Bank of Scranton. S. B. Hartley & Son, of Lenoxville, won the first prize of $25 in the Flint variety and the second prize of $15 in the Dent contest. ALSO Struck on the head by a falling tree while working at the Loveland mill, near Harford, Dewitt Felton was injured so badly that death resulted a few hours later. The man’s skull was fractured and he never regained his senses. The victim was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Felton.

Susquehanna – A consolidation is to be made of the recent Susquehanna County Electric company, who have been operating a water power plant in Susquehanna, Pa. for several years, furnishing electric light and power to the Erie Railroad company’s shops which employs about 900 men. The proposed merger is to cover the consolidation of the Susquehanna property together with the electric light plants at New Milford and Montrose, both of which have been operated by steam. A high voltage transmission line of the most modern construction is to be built between Susquehanna and Montrose, by way of New Milford, and all of the power is to be obtained from the large water power plant at Susquehanna. This Susquehanna company owns a dam about 700 ft. long across the Susquehanna river, at Susquehanna, and also has a modern steam plant, consisting of high pressure boilers and turbine generators, which can be run condensing to take the entire load or any part of it by steam when necessary.

Montrose – The Anthony property on Lake avenue has been purchased by a stock company of which G. C. Com stock, of New York city, is president. It is the plan of the company to convert the mansion house into a modern hotel. The extensive gardens and lawn in the rear as well as front make the arrangements most complete for a summer hotel. The name selected for the new hostelry is “Shadow Lawn Inn.” ALSO The Subway Lunch has started in its second holiday season with a rush that is a credit to the proprietors, Mack & Jenkins. The business, which started out under rather acorn-like conditions, is fast working up to oak-like conditions. The lunch business is on the increase and Mrs. H. B. Benedict and Mrs. Anna Jenkins furnish the homemade baked stuffs for The Subway.

Forest City – Building operations will shortly commence on a new vaudeville house that Julius Freedman will erect on Main street. The hew house will have a seating capacity of 1,000 and will be of fireproof construction throughout. The building proper will be 50 ft. wide and 150 ft. deep. Two stores will be located on each side of the arcade entrance, and there will be 8 offices on the second floor. The cost of the new theatre will be $40,000.

Uniondale – Mrs. Lena Lockwood and Geo. Douglas were united in marriage on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at White’s Mills. The bride was formerly a resident of this place.

Bridgewater Twp. – While Mr. and Mrs. William A. Clark were returning from Montrose to their home in Forest Lake, Saturday afternoon, they met with an accident which resulted in three broken ribs for Mrs. Clark and badly bruised her husband. Nearing the home of Perry Goff, a short distance out of town, a dog ran out and his barking frightened a colt that was being led behind the carriage. The halter in some manner caught the edge of a wheel and the carriage was overturned, throwing both occupants out. Mrs. Clark was picked up unconscious and carried into the Goff residence and Dr. E. R. Gardner summoned to care for her injuries. Mr. Clark was more fortunate and received no broken bones, but it was impossible to take Mrs. Clark to her home for a number of days after the accident. The horses ran for some distance, being stopped at L. H. Ball’s farm, having circled around towards Montrose in their mad run. Neither horses or carriage were injured to any appreciable extent. Mrs. and Mrs. Clark are in the neighborhood of 70 years old.

Ainey, Springville Twp. – Frank W. Taylor and wife attended the oyster dinner for the old soldiers at the home of Dyer Taylor at Lynn. Those present were T. W. Tiffany and son Samuel and wife, of Tunkhannock; W. A. Welch and wife, Charles Smith and wife, of Lynn; O. E. Reynolds, of West Nicholson; James Decker and wife, Byron Oakley and wife, of Strickland Hill; D. D. Layton and wife, Miles E. Compton and wife, Ira Ward and wife, of Springville.

Rush – The correspondent was busy gathering violets and counting the dandelions in bloom last week, and was preparing a poetical prognostication of a year without a winter, when the vacillating thermometer suddenly dropped to freezing and the clouds dropped snow last Sunday night. However, the prophecy will have to be kept over for another year.

News Brief: According to an exchange, a certain editor started in business 25 years ago with $50 in cash. He is now worth $100,000. He owes this accumulation of wealth to frugality, good habits, strict attention to business and the fact that his uncle recently died and left him $99,999.

Last week, Susquehanna County Sheriff Lance Benedict brought up a correspondence received by a local resident concerning property tax rebates for senior citizens.  The correspondence was sent by the “Senior Advisory Center,” which the correspondence states is a “non-government agency” based in Harrisburg.  The correspondence goes on to suggest that the recipient of the letter might be entitled to a property tax rebate up to $975.00.  Thereafter, the “Senior Advisory Center” offers to assist the property owner with completion of the application process for a fee of $39.

In the past, I have written about these mail solicitations to suggest that a property owner proceed with caution.  Sheriff Benedict provided me with a google search result that highlighted the concerns raised by these letters.  The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has specifically addressed these letters that have been sent out by the “Senior Advisory Center.”  The BBB has informed consumers that the “Senior Advisory Center” is actually a California-based company using a Harrisburg post office box that creates the appearance of being not only a Pennsylvania company, but one with close ties to the state government.  The BBB has advised consumers that the letter is misleading because it seeks to obtain a processing fee of $39, but never discloses that the property owner may apply for the rebate for free.  The “Senior Advisory Center” has an “F” rating with the BBB.

In reviewing the webpage for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, there is a section devoted to the Property Tax/ Rent Rebate Program.  The section starts out with the following statement in bold letters: “Property Tax/Rent Rebate application forms and assistance are available at no cost from Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.”  In other words, the Department of Revenue is telling people not to pay anyone for the application process – it is free.

The Department of Revenue went further to warn people as follows: “The department is aware that a company is contacting older Pennsylvanians by mail, offering to prepare Property Tax/Rent Rebate application for a fee.  While it’s unfortunate that a company is charging for a service that the government and other government agencies provide for free, there appears to be nothing illegal about the offer.”

If you are interested in the specifics of the rebate program, the Department of Revenue has described the eligible applicants as “Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older.”  In terms of the income eligibility, the Department indicates that “the income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.”  The total amount of the rebate is determined on the income level of the applicant – as well as the level of local taxes that the resident pays.  The rebate has the potential to reach as high as $975.  If you believe you may qualify, the application must be submitted by December 31, 2013.

If you are interesting in applying, I would suggest that you utilize the free services that are already made available to you by contacting the local Area on Aging at 570-265-6121, or your local state legislators’ office: Representative Sandra Major, 570-278-3374; Representative Tina Pickett, 570-934-2557; Senator Gene Yaw, 570-265-7448; or Senator Lisa Baker, 570-675-3931.  Finally, the Department of Revenue has a toll free number for the rebate program: 1-888-222-9190. 

If you utilize these free services, you may be not only eligible for the rebate program, but you can also avoid paying an unnecessary fee to a California company that the BBB has given a failing grade.