Forest City – You have heard the story of Finnigan, the conductor, who having sent in a long account of a wreck was told by the superintendent to shorten his reports and the next time a train left the track [he] wired headquarters, “Off again, on again, gone again. Finnigan.” Some time ago Julius Freedman contracted to purchase the Osgood lot on Main Street. Before he got a good warrantee title it got into the hands of the sheriff, was sold at sheriff’s sale and purchased by J. A. Hoole, the Carbondale contractor and Mr. Freedman was out in the cold. Little things like that do not stop Julius, however, and yesterday he closed a deal with Mr. Hoole and is again in possession of the property one of the town’s choicest building sites. Depend on “pop” to land on his feet.

Montrose – Prof. H. P. Young’s class in agriculture in the High school visited the blacksmith shop of Dr. C. W. Brodhead, where Dr. Brodhead gave the class a couple of hours’ demonstration of practical horseshoeing, welding iron and like matters of a practical nature in connection with farm work. The class in agriculture is doing well under the instruction of Prof. Young, who is giving a course that particularly adapts young men to the practice of modern and progressive methods of farming. ALSO The ladies of the A. M. E. Zion church will serve a “Feast of the Seven Tables” in the basement of the church on May 19th. Supper 25 cents. All are invited to help the pastor and his people.

Uniondale - Our street commissioner, Ira Churchill, has a force of men out repairing streets and making ready with the expectation that our good neighbors of Clifford township [will] loan us their up to date traction engine to put on the finishing touches. Ira is a hustler and we have confidence in him. Thanks to O. T. Rounds in helping us to secure the outfit to repair the streets. Also Grant Stevens has purchased, of J. N. Corey, the famous horse, Billy S. C. Glad he has fallen into kind hands. Mr. Corey purchased a nice Ford car of Douglas & Yale last season—the only reason for his parting with him.

Little Meadows – The dance that was held in the Hall here, Friday evening, was largely attended. The proceeds were $50. Also Edward Butler made a flying trip to Endicott, N. Y. last week. He reported the roads quite muddy.

Lynn, Springville Twp. – The Lynn baseball team has received their new uniforms, which present a very neat appearance. ALSO A band of Gypsies passed through this place, Friday last, on route to Montrose.

Choconut – The house of John Dean was destroyed by fire Monday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Dean were away attending the funeral of a relative. One son, who was home, was in the barn at work, did not discover the fire until it was too late to save anything.

Harford – Friday evening, April 24, a merry company of friends and neighbors, about 40 in number, gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Emmet Flint to help celebrate his birthday. Mr. Flint served in the Civil War, enlisting in Co. H. of the 50th N. Y. volunteers. After the war he came to Harford and joined the Harvey S. Rice Post, when organized, and is one of the very few members who are still living and his many friends were glad to do honor to his 70th birthday. Music and games helped the time to pass, Mr. Flint being as lively as anyone and helping all to have a good time. E. C. Harding, another of our venerable soldiers, presented Mr. Flint with a purse of money as a token of good will and esteem, to which Mr. Flint very feelingly responded, after which the company departed to their various homes, wishing him many happy returns of the day and feeling that a very pleasant evening had been spent with one of our few remaining old soldiers, and sad that soon only a memory of their noble deeds will be all we shall have to revere.

Gelatt – Harold Daniels is rejoicing over a pair of twin goats. Also the teachers’ training class passed their final examination and will graduate in the near future. The class consists of the following: Verna Daniels, Abbie Thomas, Marion Lowe, Ruth Gelatt and Ruth Holmes.

Susquehanna – Rev. Fr. Harry A. Mooney, of Buffalo, has been visiting at the home of his mother, Mrs. Mary Mooney.

New Milford – Charles Kenyon died at his home in New Milford, April 4, after a long illness, aged 74 years. He was one of New Milford’s best known and most highly respected citizens. He enlisted in Co. H, Fourth Pennsylvania Reserves, being one of the last men of that company to be discharged. This regiment was part of the Army of the Potomac, and saw much hard service, being engaged in 38 battles, among which are Mechanicsburg, Gains Mill, Charles City Cross Roads—where 32 % were lost—Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. These were fought in ’62. They did no fighting in ’63, but in ’64 they endured some severe hardships of the war. Of the 100 men of this company that went forth at the country’s call, only five are now living; M. H. VanScoten and James P. Gay of Montrose; Elvin S. Gay, of Ohio; Abel P. Sweet, of Harford [passed away May 7, notice next week] and John Anderson, in the West [Nebraska].

Clifford – Pastor German, of the Methodist church, preached a very instructive sermon on the subject “Sleepy Christians.”

Brooklyn – Dana Brink, a prosperous farmer living near Lindaville, dropped dead while plowing on Friday. The horses, attached to the plow, remained motionless after their master had expired. The body was discovered by Mr. Brink’s son who noticed that the team had been standing for some time.

Great Bend – Henry Ackert’s store was entered Saturday night and a large quantity of cigars, tobacco, a ham and two pies taken. The goods were worth about $25. Local talent is suspected.

Brookdale - A large band of gypsies have been camping on the old school grounds near the State line, and were quite an attraction. They were also reported to be encamped near the lake, in Montrose, for several days this week. Outside of horse-trading and fortune-telling, they cut no great figure while here.

Fair Hill, Jessup Twp. – Martin Smith is busy buying eggs. He makes a shipment once a week, pays the market price, and calls and gets them.

Silver Lake – Mrs. Donovan has gone to Binghamton to reside. On Tuesday evening Misses Kathryn Murphy and Kathryn Donovan, of that city, gave a housewarming in her honor. About 35 guests were present.

I received a letter from a reader with a number of great questions that probably a lot of people out there ask themselves.  Some of the questions, I have tried to address in other columns, and those columns are archived at the website for the Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office.  But I will take another crack at them here as well as addressing those issues that I have never written about previously.

First, the reader asked: “How are sentences determined?  Some get probation, some go right to jail for seemingly the same offense.”  Under Pennsylvania law, sentences are determined by two factors: the offense gravity score (how serious is the offense for which a defendant was convicted) and prior record score (what is the defendant’s criminal history).  If two defendants are sentenced for the same offense, they may get very different sentences if they have prior histories that are different.  A first offender may get probation, while a repeated offender may go to jail for the same offense. 

There are other factors that go into it – cooperation provided by a defendant, restitution made prior to sentencing, position of the victim, recommendation from the prosecutor, work history of a defendant, mental health issues, addiction issues, military service, family history, character witnesses presented by a defendant and any other mitigating or aggravating factors involved in a particular case.  There is no cookie cutter approach to sentencing – a judge weighs a lot of factors before deciding on a sentence – and the mere fact that you are convicted of the same offense as another person does not mean that you will get the same sentence.  While the offense is the same, each defendant is a different person and a court must consider the individual characteristics of every offender in making a sentencing determination.

The reader then asked: “When the sentence is 10 days to 18 months, who determines what the actual time is?”  When a person is sentenced to a county facility, the minimum period of incarceration is just that – the defendant must serve the minimum before being eligible for parole.  In the example provided by the reader, this would be 10 days.  At the end of 10 days, an offender may petition for parole and the court would decide whether to grant parole.  Prior to parole, an investigation is done to determine whether an appropriate home plan exists, whether the defendant has exhibited good behavior while incarcerated, whether the defendant has completed any treatment programs, and any other factors relevant to the question of whether an inmate may safely be released from custody.  Moreover, the Commonwealth and the victim are given a chance to voice an objection to any parole.  Ultimately, the court must determine whether to parole a particular inmate after reviewing all of that information.

The reader then asked: “Why is the phrase 2 years minus one day significant?”  The reader is right to note that the wording is significant – it determines whether an offender will be housed in a county or state facility.  Generally speaking, any sentence that is 2 years or more is served in a state correctional facility.  So, when the court uses that terminology, it means that the court is providing a maximum sentence in a county facility.  There are a few exceptions to this rule, but that provides the general rationale for a sentence with a maximum of “2 years minus one day.”

Finally, the reader asked about restitution – and whether defendants have to make restitution.  The answer to that question is that restitution is an important part of the rehabilitation process – and victims have a right to have restitution included in a sentencing order.  The reader went on to ask who pays for restitution if the defendant does not pay for it.  First, we always hope that victims have some insurance that will cover the loss – and then the insurance company is entitled to restitution from the defendant, but the victim does not have to wait for it.  Second, there are some offenses that the State, through the Victim’s Compensation Fund, will pay restitution directly to the victim, and the defendant then reimburses the State for those monies.  These offenses generally involve crimes of violence and personal injuries. 

If there is no third party to pay restitution to the victim, then the victim is left in the position of waiting for the money – and usually having to wait a long time – and oftentimes victims do not get the full amount of restitution.  We get calls every week from frustrated victims waiting for restitution money – and bench warrants are issued, defendants are brought in, and the court must determine whether a defendant has the ability to pay something.  The court can put them in jail in the event that they have willfully failed to make payments towards restitution (and fines and costs).  More often than not, the defendants are unemployed, have other obligations (like child support) and there is a long line of people waiting for money.  It is a frustrating process – and infuriating for crime victims.

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/. 

“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.” ~ Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

I’m so pleased to say “I’m back!. I’ve missed writing the column for the past month and I wish to thank-you all for the wonderful cards, messages, thoughts and Prayers. They certainly helped with my healing process. I’m doing well and enjoying our beautiful springtime unfolding with my new gift of sight. A lot has happened in my absence, so allow me to try to catch up on things.

The Library Auction Night (held on 4/12/14) was a huge success! As I write this, the total profits realized have not been finalized, but it is understood to be well over $10,000. Many, many thanks to all who donated items, for those who created such a delicious buffet, everyone who worked so hard, before, during and after the Auction, and of course, all of the generous bidders who made this event a resounding success.

The Art, Pottery and Book sale, held on a recent weekend (4/26-27/14), drew large crowds of folks, perhaps looking for a special gift for Mom or Grandma, or just a new delight for themselves. Again, profits have not been totaled, but it is reported to have been another successful event and we would like to thank all of those tireless souls who give so much of themselves to make the sale run smoothly and special thanks to all who purchased

items, thus helping us to provide the programs and services you and your family enjoy.

We would like to extend a large thank-you to “Proctor and Gamble” for their generous donation of paper goods. With State Budget cuts being what they are, money does not always cover the necessities that the Branches need. Their generosity helped all four Library Branches and is very much appreciated.

Having guests in for Mother’s Day Weekend and no time to bake with your busy schedule? No problem!

The Susquehanna Branch will be holding a Bake Sale at Schneider's Market on Saturday, May 10th, from 9:00am-11:00am. All proceeds will go to the Susquehanna Branch Library.

If you see a flurry of activity at the various Library Branches in the next week or two, it will be due to some new additions—new public computers! Grant money is responsible for the much needed electronics which, hopefully, will be installed soon.

The Susquehanna Branch Readers' Group will be meeting on May 15th at 4:00pm to discuss "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson. The winner of a 2005 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, “Gilead” is an intimate tale encompassing three generations, from the Civil War to the twentieth century, within a timeless story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist Minister John Ames, “Gilead” reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life.

Please get your calendar out and circle Wednesday, May 21st—the Sixth Annual Author Luncheon.

The Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association is pleased to announce that the guest for the luncheon will be a local Author of Young Adult Fiction, Jeanne Moran. The luncheon, sponsored by the “Library Friends to Benefit the Association”, will be held at the VFW, Rt. 706 in Montrose, commencing with a hospitality hour at 11:30am, luncheon will be served at 12:30pm, and Ms. Moran will speak at 1:30pm. The menu includes lasagna, (meat or vegetarian options will be available) complete with a tossed salad and home-made desserts. There is a cost and as has been the norm with all of the previous Author Luncheons, the tickets tend to go quickly, so stop by your local Library Branch soon to make a reservation.

Originally from New York City, Jeanne Moran now calls Northeast Pennsylvania home. When she’s not writing, Jeanne works as a physical therapist and is a member of the Early Intervention Evaluation Team, which works with children with special needs. Jeanne Moran’s debut novel, “Risking Exposure”, features a young heroine growing up in Munich, Germany in 1938. Fourteen year old Sophie Adler is a talented photographer and a member of the “Hitler Youth”. Sophie’s path takes an unexpected turn when she contracts polio, causing her to fall from the good graces of the perfection-obsessed Nazi party. The inspiration for Jeanne’s novel was developed from her childhood experiences. Jeanne spent her youth surrounded by the rich heritage of her grandparents, all of whom emigrated from Germany between the world wars. Her younger sister, Joyce, (to whom “Risking Exposure” is dedicated) was diagnosed with multiple disabilities, which inspired Jeanne’s life and her writing as well. “Because of what I learned from her about joy, patience and the value of human dignity, I became a physical therapist,” Jeanne says. “ I’ve worked most of my career with children with disabilities. Supporting them and their families is a life-long passion for me.” Please come and join us and meet this talented Author, make new friends, renew old friendships, enjoy a delicious lunch, and help the Library Association as well. Sounds like a win-win to me! Hope to see you there!

Check out our updated website (susqcolibrary.org) for exciting news from the Branches, events, and the latest titles by your favorite or new Authors. Don’t forget to find us on “Facebook” (Susquehanna County Library). Look us up on “Pinterest” for lots of interesting nooks and crannies to explore. If you “Tweet”, follow us on Twitter (@susqcolib) to check out event information, local scoops and much more.

As I admire God’s handiwork in the beautiful daffodil blossoms, I leave you with this thought:

“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

A Mother’s Touch—May Baskets—Goldfinches

Enjoy!!