Silver Lake – Many here are enjoying the good sleighing.  The jingle of the bells makes Christmas music.

Clifford – Glenn Bennett and wife leave on Thursday of this week for New York, where the Professor has a lucrative position in an old established private school for boys.

Bridgewater Twp. – Chandler Stephens, aged 85 years, died at his home near Williams’ Pond, Dec. 27, 1914.  The deceased was a member of Co. D, 50th Regt., Pennsylvania Volunteers, during the Civil War.  The survivors are two daughters, Miss Jennie, who resided with him, and Mrs. M. F. Bissell, of Binghamton, also three grandchildren, Mrs. Roy W. Devine and Miss Christine Bissell, of Binghamton, and Floyd Bissell, of Rochester.  Funeral was held at the home Wednesday afternoon with burial in Williams’ Pond cemetery.  A delegation from Capt. H. F. Beardsley Camp, Sons of Veterans, attended the funeral and acted as bearers. Those attending were: C. L. VanScoten, B. W. Rifenbury, Arthur Freeman, G. D. Ayres, W. W. Nash, H. M. Melhuish and Daniel Searle.

Factoryville, Wyoming Co. – Charles Cox, formerly of Montrose, but now Mayor of Factoryville, is one of the regular commuters on the Lackawanna or Northern Electric.  Charlie, who is employed on the Scrantonian [newspaper], comes down every day to the Scrantonian but returns home at night.  He prefers Factoryville to Scranton as a dwelling place because it reminds him of Montrose when the blizzards roar in winter time.

Montrose – Ice, a foot in thickness, is being harvested on Lake Montrose.  It is exceptionally clear in quality and free from slush formation.  Also Miss Murial Dunlap, while coasting on Nash’s hill at the end of South Main street, last Saturday evening, was quite seriously injured, receiving a badly cut knee and several other bruises.  The party—Miss Hazel and Dorothy Ayres, Mary Chase, Mary DeWees, Marion Corfield, and Messers Robert Wood and Frank Felker, were coasting on Foundry hill with Miss Dunlap steering, then later went on Nash’s hill.  It was the first ride down when the accident happened.  Miss Dunlap says the front sleds struck a rut in the road and she lost control and, in striking the bank, she and Mr. Felker were violently hurled headlong.  The other members of the party escaped uninjured.  Dr. Preston is in attendance.

Hallstead – Warren F. Simrell, who retires as postmaster as soon as the Senate confirms the nomination of Daniel E. Hanrahan to the position, has been post-master for twelve years.  Needless to say to those who know the faithful official, he has given patrons of the office an exceptionally able and business-like administration.

Auburn Corners – I. S. Cogswell has been appointed a mail carrier on the rural free delivery route from Forest City.  Mr. Cogswell, through the medium of handbills, advertises a public sale on his farm, one mile southeast of Auburn Corners, on Thursday, Jan 7th, commencing at 10 o’clock a.m.  High-grade cows, horses, turkeys, chickens and many farming implements will be disposed of at this big sale.

Uniondale – The fishermen are having much sport catching pickerel on Lewis Lake.  Since the lake froze over, 140 pounds have been taken. 

Heart Lake – The creamery ice house here is now being filled and the lake is being cleared of snow preparatory to filling the large company ice house at that place.

South Gibson – C. W. Lewis’s new hotel building is nearly completed and he expects to occupy it January 1.  The building is a fine one, furnished with all the latest, modern improvements.

Great Bend – Mrs. Charles Emerson, on her way to Scranton last Wednesday, to spend the holidays with her son, had a narrow escape from death at the Erie crossing.  Her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Von Bergen, were taking her in a sleigh to Hallstead, to the D. L. & W. station, when the gates closed down on them at the Erie crossing here and a freight train coming from the east struck the horse and killed it.  The occupants of the sleigh jumped clear of the train, but were shaken up and badly frightened.

A Tribute to the Cow- Of all the animal creation the best friend to man is the homely cow.  As a food producer she is our mainstay and dependence.  From the new born babe to the aged invalid we are all more or less dependent on her for our very existence.  Her produce commands the highest price in all the best markets of the world.  Without her we would be deprived of many of the luxuries of life and not a few of its bare necessities.  Without her the infant would cry in vain for sustenance while the nations of the earth, deprived of her life sustaining products, would become impoverished and disappear.  In prosperity and in adversity the cow is ever man’s best friend.  She can be depended upon to do her share in lifting the mortgage from the old homestead.  She piles the tables of the rich with rare and costly viands.  She paves the way for many a poor farm boy to enter the high school and the agricultural college.  She tides the farmer over the hard times and helps boost him into prosperity.  When he has fallen into a rut and “a friend in need is a friend indeed” she can be relied upon to come to the rescue and with her produce set him on his feet again.  Indeed, it may be truly said that of all the animals that contribute to the support of mankind none rewards us to promptly and so liberally for kindness and food and care as the homely cow.

Told The Truth for Once – An Illinois editor who became tired of wielding the whitewash in the matter of obituaries decided to reform and tell the truth just once.  He commented as follows upon the death of a well-known citizen:  Died—Aged fifty-six years, six months and thirteen days.  Deceased was a mild-mannered pirate with a mouth for whiskey and an eye for booty.  He came here in the night with another man’s wife and joined the church at first chance.  He owes us several dollars for the paper, a large meat bill, and you could hear him pray six blocks.  He died singing: “Jesus Paid it All” and we think he is right; he never paid anything himself.  He was buried in an asbestos casket, and his many friends threw palm leaf fans in his grave, as he may need them.  His tombstone will be a favorite resting place for hoot owls.

News Brief:  The mercury was reported to register 22 below zero at Rush on Saturday morning and 15 to 18 below in Binghamton.  In Montrose the thermometers only pulled down a record of 6 to 8 below.  While not liking the old town to fall behind, in these instances there is not much cause for lament.  Also the scarcity of water is a real menace to farmers all through the county.  Many of the creeks and springs are dry and stock in many cases has to be driven long distances to be “watered.”  The slight thaw of Tuesday, however, afforded considerable relief.  A remarkable fact is that the ground is not frozen, although we have had lots of zero weather and have fourteen inches of ice on the lakes.

I can still remember the first time I heard Ally’s heartbeat – my wife and I were at her very first doctor’s appointment after learning that she was pregnant.  I guess she was probably about 6 to 8 weeks along in her pregnancy because part of the appointment was a confirmation pregnancy test.  We were both so excited – and nervous – though I know that she was understandably experiencing a far wider spectrum of emotions.  At the end of the initial appointment, her doctor asked us if we wanted to hear the baby’s heartbeat – though he stressed that he was not sure that we would be able to hear it because it was so early in the pregnancy. 

At first, I was surprised by the question – I knew that a baby’s heart began to beat within 3 weeks from conception because I had read pro-life literature that talked about the developmental stages of an unborn baby.  But I never really thought that you would be able to hear that tiny, little heart beating so early in the pregnancy.  The doctor got out a machine and began to maneuver it along my wife’s abdomen and he stopped suddenly – and a miraculous sound was coming through the speakers – a quick, strong whooshing sound – and I have never heard anything so amazing in my life.  When I looked at Maggie, she was radiant with a beaming smile and tears in her eyes.  I could feel my own heart begin to beat a quicker as if it were trying to catch up to Ally’s little heart – and then the doctor smiled one more time and turned off his machine.  As the sound disappeared, I found myself wanting it to come back so I could listen some more.  We got our chance on subsequent appointments to hear Ally heartbeat – and the wonder never disappeared.

Then, there was the ultrasound where we actually saw Ally for the first time and that was another life changing experience.  We have all seen the pictures through the media, advertisements and from relatives and friends.  But there is something profoundly different about seeing your own child – the little fingers, toes, nose, eyes, and ears – and then when they turn on the sound – you hear life as well as see it – the whooshing of the fetal heartbeat.  As I sat there watching the screen coupled with the joy in my wife’s eyes, and listening to Ally’s heartbeat, my understanding and respect for the miracle of life grew just like Ally was growing every single day.  I sat there humbled, inspired and overwhelmed by the majesty of it all.

Ally grew bigger – and soon she was kicking – or as I said last week, she loved to hop, so maybe she was hopping.  To feel those kicks (or hops) and to watch my wife’s belly ripple were moments of profound wonder.  When it happened, Maggie would rush over to me to try to put my hand on just the right spot – and I would feel such disappointment if I missed any chance to “feel” my daughter’s dance.

We did the classes, we read the books, we made all the appointments – and we prepared for Ally’s arrival.  But I am not sure if you are ever really ready – most of the training was lost in the emotions of the delivery process.  To put it simply, I have never witnessed anything as powerful – emotionally or spiritually – as the births of my daughters.  I knew what was going to happen – I had even seen films on it in science class – so I had some idea of what it was going to look like.  But nothing could prepare me for the moment that Ally (and later Lauren) came into the world – I lack the ability to adequately describe the joy in my heart, the feelings of awe and wonder that spun in my head, the love that I had for my wife and newly-born daughter, and the overwhelming thankfulness to God for granting us such a precious gift – and allowing me to witness it.

As many of you know from previous columns, my mother raised me to respect life – to cherish it, protect it and defend it – and I am so thankful for her guidance and support in a world that too often espouses different values.  After being blessed with two beautiful daughters – and experiencing their early heartbeats, their activity in the womb, and watching them come into this world, my mother’s wisdom has proved itself as absolute truth.  Life is miraculous and precious – and should only be celebrated, not destroyed.

If you share those values, I invite you to our annual Breakfast for Life on January 17, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. at the Montrose Bible Conference.  We have some great speakers lined up and there is no cost to you though you may make a donation if you wish – and any proceeds from the Breakfast benefit a scholarship fund created in memory of my mother – and her pro-life values.  For the past four years, we have given a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior in Susquehanna County who has written an essay that demonstrates how pro-life values have impacted his or her life.  We have read lots of amazing essays – and met some impressive young people who are passionate about protecting life.  We would love to have you join us this year!

Please make your reservation by emailing us your name, phone number, and requests for seating at right2lifeccf@gmail.com.  If you are unable to do this, you may leave your name and phone # with the Evangelical Free Church of Montrose (570-278-4500) and Martha Cuomo will return your call to set up your reservations for the Breakfast for Life and answer any questions.

“New Year's Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.” ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

A New Year, a new beginning, filled with hope, promise, and endless possibilities. Your local Library Branches would like to take this opportunity to send you their New Year’s wishes.

The Main Montrose Branch sends this message to all of its patrons and friends: We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We will put words on them ourselves. The book is called “Opportunity” and its first chapter is “New Year’s Day.” We wish you… 12 Months of Happiness, 52 Weeks of Fun, 365 Days of Success, 8760 Hours of Good Health, 52600 Minutes of Good Luck, and 3153600 Seconds of Joy.

May 2015 bring sunshine to your life and embrace you with happiness, love and warmth. Best wishes for a Happy New Year.

The Susquehanna Branch would like to extend warm wishes for a healthy and happy 2015 and they look forward to continuing to serve you in the New Year. There are many new titles and Authors just waiting for you and your family members to peruse and enjoy.

The Staff of the Hallstead/Great Bend Library Branch would like to wish all of their Patrons and Friends the happiest of holidays and a sparkling New Year. They would also like to take a moment and thank everyone for all of their donations—from paper products, recycled bags, books and magazines to recycled ink cartridges and goodies—not to mention the snow shoveling. Their generosity of time and items help us so much. We look forward to another year of their smiles as they come through our door.

As for your tattered cover, dog-eared page Columnist, I wish for peace, the end of hunger for food with the hope that the hunger for knowledge, no matter what age, will continue to burn brightly within each of us and that Library Systems are never figured as obsolete—for there are untold riches within those walls and kindness and caring by those who tend them and help us. Wishing you and yours a Bright and Beautiful 2015.

Toasts—Kisses at Midnight—Confetti

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

ENJOY!

Do You Need The Pneumonia Shot?

Marie, 65, came into the pharmacy for some vitamin C and cough syrup “just in case I get bronchitis like I do every year!” The pharmacist asked her if she ever had a pneumococcal vaccine and she replied “The pneumonia shot? I thought that was for infants. And anyway, if I get pneumonia, my doctor will just treat it with antibiotics, right?”

Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. The vaccine can prevent this leading cause of illness and death.  Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are at greater risk than others, such as individuals 65 and older, the very young, smokers and people with certain health products like COPD or those with a weakened immune system. Pneumonia can lead to more serious life-threatening infections of the lungs, blood, and the covering of the brain. The website adultvaccination.org states that the complications that come with pneumonia have a mortality rate of at least 30%.

Treatment of pneumococcal infections with penicillin and other drugs used to be more effective. But some strains of the disease have become resistant to these drugs. This makes prevention of the disease, through vaccination, even more important. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria, including those most likely to cause serious disease. Most healthy adults who get the vaccine develop protection to most or all of these types within 2 to 3 weeks of getting the shot. Very old people, children under 2 years of age, and people with some long-term illnesses might not respond as well, or at all.

How long does the effect of a pneumococcal vaccine last? While the jury is still out as to the effectiveness of the vaccine over time, the general rule of thumb is 5 years. Those over age 65 who received PPSV23 before age 65 need a booster shot if it has been more than 5 years since being vaccinated. A booster may be recommended for persons 19 to 65 who have a damaged spleen or no spleen, kidney disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS and those who have a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy or long-time steroid use.

Marie was surprised to hear this information and decided to get the vaccine. After a quick call to her doctor, the pharmacist was able to administer the vaccine right in the pharmacy. And later, she called all of her friends and told them about the vaccine.

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