Dimock – The fortieth session of the Dimock campmeeting opened very auspiciously on August 12th and to date has exceeded all previous years in attendance and in general interest. The fact that 4,500 people, the largest crowd in the history of the campmeeting attended the services on Sunday, is definite proof that a new era has dawned for the historic camp. Nearly 300 automobiles were inside the camp on that date. Persons were there from the north, south, east and west, coming from great distances.

South New Milford – C. Shay and men commenced work on the cut-off around Roe Hill, from near the Manzer house to W. Spoor’s, saving a very hard pull. It should have been done years ago. New Milford Twp. – The tannery has been shut down for some weeks and it was expected to resume work last Monday, but owing to the European war, which makes it impossible to get foreign hides, they are unable to start at this time.

Franklin Twp. – Tuesday evening, during the thunder shower, a barn owned by Geo. P. Stockholm was struck by lightning and burned. The barn was used for storing hay and about twelve tons were burned.

Rush – John Marbaker, who was recently shot and badly injured by his cousin, Luther Marbaker, and is being held for trial in the Bradford county court, has sued the latter for $10,000. He claims that he has been maimed for life. The two cousins reside near the Susquehanna and Bradford county line, not far from Rush, and they quarreled over a line fence, resulting in the shooting. ALSO Improvements have begun on the East Rush church. The church is being raised and a basement put under the entire church.

Susquehanna – Saturday night Charles W. Sutton, of Susquehanna, employed as a flagman on the pushers between Susquehanna and Gulf Summit, was struck by a pusher at Gulf Summit and his right leg was cut off near the hip. He was taken to the Barnes Memorial Hospital, at Susquehanna, where he died at 1:00 Sunday morning. Sutton was about 23 years of age and had lived in Susquehanna for a number of years. [Another article gives his age as 21]. Also There will be a meeting of the ladies interested in the Women Suffrage movement, in the Hotel Oakland, Wednesday afternoon. It will be conducted by Miss Helen Lynch, of the Pennsylvania Women Suffrage Association.

Glenwood – We are very glad to report that Bert Cameron is able to get out around again. He enjoyed an auto ride to South Gibson and back last Wednesday. Floyd Carpenter very nicely remembered him recently with a box of very fine huckle berries. Floyd bought a huckle berry orchard at Ararat and is busily engaged with the fruit and reports a large crop. ALSO Harry Maloney, of Elizabeth, N. J., who has been visiting at Larey Maloney’s, shot five skunks with two shots that were after chickens. Good for Harry.

Hop Bottom – C. W. Fulkerson, of Carbondale, recently placed a fine auto piano in the Foster House.

Harford – The many friends of Prof. W. L. Thacher, for past few years an inmate of Hillside Home at Clark’s Summit, will be pleased to know that he is a favorite with those in charge of that institution and teaches a Bible class there. Under the quieting influences at the Home, Mr. Thacher remains rational and converses very intelligently with those calling on him. His memory is still acute and he delights to go over the past events of the county, particularly matters associated with the Susquehanna County Historical Society [Mr. Thacher was the first president of the Society in1907]. Mr. Thacher was an extensive writer, a book on Civil
Government perhaps being more widely read than any other of his literary efforts and he frankly says that over-work was the cause of his mental breakdown. He remains an inmate of the Home at his own volition and resents the imputation that he was placed there against his will. He realized that his mind was giving way and desired to be placed where he could do no one possible harm during an unrational period. [Wallace L. Thacher was the author of Harford’s Centennial History, 1888 and Harford Fair, 1907. Wallace Lord Thacher, A. M., educator, author and historian, was born March 28, 1841 and died October 12, 1916].

Fairdale – Fairdale church will resume its services on Sunday, August 23rd, after having been closed during the past three Sundays for the summer recess. The pastor expects to return from his vacation sometime during this present week in time to be in the pulpit on the 23rd. A sermon will be preached intended specially for the young men entitled “A Farmer’s Son Who Went to the Dogs.” In the afternoon the pastor preaches at Fair Hill.

Little Meadows – The Misses Marie and Celia Downs are going to Owego to attend school.

Montrose – In the lower part of Monument Square there is a tree which to you people and strangers has no more significance or interest than any other tree in the public grounds. This is because of ignorance of its history. It grew on the first homestead taken up in this country. It has historic interest which will greatly increase in the coming years. Like the Charter Oak at Hartford, the Elm at Concord, under which Washington drew his sword on taking command of the army, it is destined to become famous. This tree should be marked and protected. Let the citizens of Glenwood get as large a boulder as possible from the Grow homestead and place it a little below the elm. [A boulder was placed adjacent to the Elm. A plaque was attached to the boulder and reads: “From the farm of Galusha A. Grow, Glenwood, Pennsylvania, commemorates his Homestead Bill of 1862. The nearby Elm grew on the farm of the first homestead taken under his act. It was brought here by the first homesteader, Daniel Freeman, of Beatrice, Nebraska, at the time of the oration given Mr. Grow by the people of Susquehanna County, June 9, 1903.” Erected 1915 by the Montrose Chapter DAR. On the opposite side another plaque reads: “The Green Ash adjacent, flown from Nebraska’s National Homestead monument, was planted Arbor Day, April 27, 1973. It replaced the 1903 Elm, victim of disease. Cooperation between Susquehanna County Commissioners, Nurserymen K. H. Van Cott, The National Park Service, and The State of Nebraska, brought this tree from the first Homestead Farm as memorial to Galusha A. Grow.”

Forest City – The Forest City Independents defeated the Romeos—Carbondale’s best team—by a score of 11-1 on the latter’s grounds on Sunday.

Clifford – Dr. William Galbraith, of Omaha, is visiting friends at Dundaff. He is a former resident of Clifford township. He went west, studied medicine and has become famous in his chosen profession.

Several years ago, I prosecuted a case involving an acquaintance rape scenario where the victim contended she was unconscious – the victim (a young woman) was only 19 years of age and the defendant (a male) was around 37 years old or so, and the defendant was a close friend of the family.  In fact, he was such a close friend that he was allowed to “crash” at the residence if there were ever circumstances where he was at a local bar and had too much to drink – the family allowed him to sleep on the couch.  Prior to the alleged rape, there had been an incident where the defendant had entered the victim’s room, sat on her bed, and attempted to touch her inappropriately.  She told him to leave her bedroom – he did so – and the family instructed him to stay out of the victim’s bedroom.  The first incident occurred when the victim was in high school.

The second incident – and the one that led to the trial – occurred after the victim had graduated from high school.  Her parents had left her and her brother home while they went on a family camping trip several hours away from the residence.  It was a Friday night – and the young woman was cleaning her parents’ home – and consuming rum while she cleaned.  She became intoxicated and passed out on the floor.  About this same time, the defendant stumbled into the residence on his way back from one of the local bars – he found the victim passed out on the floor, and he helped her brother take her to her bedroom on the upper floor of the house.  The defendant went to sleep on the couch (middle floor) and the brother went to his basement bedroom.

The next morning, the victim indicated that she woke up and the defendant was on top of her engaging in sexual intercourse.  When she began to cry, the defendant stopped, got up and left the room.  The victim then called her mother – who cut short her vacation – drove back to Susquehanna County, and went later in the day with the victim to the hospital.  At trial, the defendant testified that the victim had gotten up, given him a “look,” he followed her upstairs and they engaged in consensual intercourse.  During cross-examination, the defendant admitted that no words were exchanged – and that the victim simply gave consent by her “look” and her physical responses. 

The jury ended up finding the defendant not guilty of the rape of an unconscious person.  The day after the trial one of the jurors called the office to speak to me – the juror was very upset and asked that I apologize to the victim for the verdict.  The juror indicated that the deliberations ended up with a conclusion that the victim “unconsciously gave consent.”  I remember those words very clearly – because the entire case rested upon the fact that the victim was unconscious when the sexual intercourse began.  The jury apparently agreed that the victim was unconscious as well – but that in her unconsciousness, she responded in a manner that suggested to the defendant that she was consenting to sexual intercourse.

I was thinking about this case when I read a news report about California considering legislation that would require colleges to establish an “affirmative consent standard” for sexual relations on campuses.  If a college received public funds, California was going to require them to institute sexual assault guidelines that would require “an affirmative, unambiguous and conscious decision” by each party to enter into sexual intercourse.  As one media report quipped, the legislation essentially changes the standard from “no means no” to a higher standard of “yes means yes.”  The reason that California is contemplating this legislation is two-fold: (1) the high rate of alcohol abuse on college campuses; and (2) the increasing number of sexual assaults connected with alcohol abuse that occur on college campuses.  The proposed legislation would have nothing to do with a new criminal standard – only an internal disciplinary standard on college campuses for alleged sexual assaults committed by students.

Critics contend that California is radically changing the landscape of sexual assault law – especially in the context of sexual encounters between intoxicated college students.  In one news report, Ada Meloy, the general counsel of the American Council on Education critiqued the new proposal as follows: “Frequently these cases involve two individuals, both of whom maybe were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and it can be very tricky to ascertain whether consent was obtained.”

I suspect that is what the jurors in our Susquehanna County case struggled with and how “unconscious consent” made its way into the jury deliberations.  In other words, the victim may have been unconscious, but the defendant believed the victim wanted to have sexual relations because her body was responding to his sexual advances – and these unconscious verbal cues provided enough wiggle room to create reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury.  These cases are definitely tricky – but it might not be such a bad idea to start stressing that not only does “no mean no,” but that sexual relationships should also include some semblance of a “yes means yes” communication.

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/. 

“In August, the large masses of berries, which, when in flower, had attracted many wild bees, gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue, and by their weight again bent down and broke their tender limbs.” ~Henry David Thoreau

As summer winds down, that familiar thrill associated with the first day of school fills the air. Before long, the rumble of school buses, high-pitched squeals of excitement, hands clutching a new backpack and heads filled with the anticipation of a new classroom, teacher, opportunities and possibly, some new friends march their way through the welcoming doors. We wish students near and far a wonderful school year jam-packed with everything your heart is dreaming of. We will always be here to lend you a helping hand, no matter what the topic or problem.

We hold our favorite Authors in high esteem, enjoying their work and looking forward to their next volume—but, did you ever stop to think that before they became famous Authors, writers had to pay bills just like you and me? Believe it or not, the following ten famous scribes were busy at these little-known, other jobs before they became the household names they are now. You will note that they didn’t stray too far from their craft. What do they all have in common? The majority of their works can be found at your local Library Branch!

Suzanne Collins –“Hunger Games” – was a writer for the Nickelodeon show “Clarissa Explains It All”.

 George R.R. Martin –“A Game of Thrones” – was a scriptwriter for the well-loved “Twilight Zone” series.

Neil Gaiman – “American Gods” – Authored a biography on the group, “Duran Duran”.

R.L. Stine – of “Goosebumps” fame – was the head writer for the Nickelodeon show “Eureeka’s Castle”.

Margaret Mitchell – “Gone With the Wind” – was the Gossip Columnist for “Sunday Magazine”.

Ray Bradbury –“Fahrenheit 451” – Wrote for the famous “Burns and Allen Show” (Starring George Burns and his Wife, Gracie Allen).

David Levithan – Author of “Nick and Norah”s Infinite Playlist” – was a ghostwriter for the timeless “Baby-sitters Club” series.

L. Frank Baum – Beloved Author of  the, loved by generations, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” --Authored a book about rearing chickens.

Truman Capote – “In Cold Blood” – was an Editorial Assistant for “Mademoiselle” Magazine.

Jeanette Walls – of “The Glass Castle” fame – has been employed as a Gossip Columnist at msnbc.com.

As I prepare to visit the 157th Annual Harford Fair, I will leave you with this thought: “Every year, August lashes out in volcanic fury, rising with the din of morning traffic, its great metallic wings smashing against the ground, heating the air with ever-increasing intensity.”
~Henry Rollins

Sun-Ripened Tomatoes—County Fairs—Queen Anne’s Lace

ENJOY!!

What would happen if we did not get our children vaccinated?

Megan, 27, came into the pharmacy and told the pharmacist she was 10 weeks pregnant which was good news. However, she asked the pharmacist about vaccinating her child when he is born. Her sister told her that kids do not need to be vaccinated. She said they cause autism and, besides, most of the childhood diseases for which there are vaccines have disappeared because vaccine-preventable diseases have been virtually eliminated from the US, so there is no need for her children to be vaccinated.

The pharmacist explained to Megan that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put out a list of the greatest health advances in the US during the 20th century and immunization was number one. Vaccination has resulted in the eradication of smallpox; elimination of polio in the Americas; and control of measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and other infectious diseases in here and in other parts of the globe. These are diseases that have killed hundreds of thousands of babies, children and adults.

The need for vaccinating a child is two-pronged: vaccines protect you as well as others. Most vaccine-preventable diseases are spread from person to person. If one person in a community gets an infectious disease, he can spread it to others who are not immune. But a person who is immune to a disease because he has been vaccinated cannot get that disease and cannot spread it to others. The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread.

So, just because vaccines have contained many diseases does not mean they have disappeared. There are pockets around the world where vaccination does not occur and it is possible for someone who visited such a region to carry a disease back to the US and transmit it to others. Those who were not vaccinated for that disease may be out of luck.

Regarding the association between vaccinations and autism, the Journal of Pediatrics published a report about parents’ concerns about getting too many vaccines too soon and autism. The report concluded that no relationship between today’s vaccines and autism existed. Also, while the preservative thimerosal has been blamed for autism, a large study involving over 1 million children suggest that thimerosal is not associated with the development of autism. Nevertheless, putting this mercury-based preservative into vaccines has either been greatly reduced or eliminated completely.

The pharmacist was able to allay Megan’s fears about vaccinations and she looked forward to the birth of her baby, which turned out to be twins!

Ron Gasbarro, PharmD is a pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Write him at ron@Rx-Press.com.