A pious busybody, Rep. Rick Saccone, has introduced something called the National Motto Display Act (Res. 1728), whose purpose is to display "In God We Trust" in our public schools. It's too bad that he needs to be informed of a few things:

1) Our original National Motto, from the start, was "E Pluribus Unum".

2) "In God We Trust" was not made the National Motto until the 1950's, as a gesture against Godless Communism.

The motive for this was religious.

3) The motive for the NMD Act is also religious. Lacking a secular purpose it is therefore unconstitutional.

And those who deny its religious purpose are being disingenuous. (That's a fancy way of calling them liars.)

Further evidence of Rep. Saccone's religious purpose is the fact that he's written a revisionist book titled "God in Our Government" that denies church-state separation, which was the Original Intent of the Founders. I haven't read it, but I suspect it has all the academic merit of a David Barton book (meaning none).

Apparently Rep. Saccone thinks that having the word "God" visible to abecedarians and teen twerps alike will have a salutary effect on them. But obsessing about God hasn't benefited jihadists. Nor has it benefited our own domestic terrorists who kill doctors and vandalize abortion clinics.

Instead of Res. 1728, I suggest we get back to Original Intent and bring back our original motto, E Pluribus Unum. Once you foist God into the government, Unum is no more. And I suggest that Rep. Saccone drop out of government and become a preacher.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

If you do not watch the news, where it is not even always commented on,  you may have missed a very sad reality.  Heroin addiction has reached epidemic proportions in Pennsylvania, and Vermont is even higher.  The saddest part of this reality is that many turn to heroin when their prescription for a highly addictive pain killer, oxycodiene has reached a point where it becomes too expensive.   I learned from a dear friend that oxycodiene was prescribed due to a terrible accident which left a member of her family in great pain and when the prescription ran out they were so addicted to oxycodiene that they, in desperation, turned to heroin which is much less expensive and can easily be obtained.  This explained how perfectly innocent people can become addicts.  It is my understanding that there are two other drugs which are far less addictive and, for many, work just as well as oxycodiene. Toradol is a noninflammatory drug and can only be taken for 5 days but works in many situations. Tramadol is an opiate and far less addictive than oxycodiene.  So I suggest that if you are seriously injured talk to your doctor and if possible dodge use of oxycodiene. If it becomes necessary be well aware of the dangers and know the consequences of turning to heroin.

Sincerely,

Annette Corrigan

Jackson Township

Kathy Ackley and her husband, Tom have served this community for the last 24 years. In March of 1992, they decided to purchase The Hometown Cleaners in Susquehanna and with much perseverance, faith, and hard work, the two became successful business owners in this community. I was 12 at the time and I remember how excited and perhaps a little worried my parents were. They didn't have a background in business nor any piece of paper that made them necessarily qualified. Yet for the rest of my childhood they put food on my table and a roof over my head with their business.

I spent a good amount of time at my parent's shop as a kid. Little did I know how much I was learning by watching my mom. She has a gift. If you know her, you know she is an excellent seamstress, but it was more than that.  My mom has a gift for people.  She didn't make customers, she made friends.  Folks would come through her door to drop off their repair work or their dry cleaning but they would stay to chat with mom. When you walked through my parent's shop door there was a cheerful and welcoming air that greeted you.  You see mom and dad knew the secret to success is not selling, it's serving. If you have ever been in my mom's shop, to have your favorite pants hemmed,  your wedding dress carefully preserved, or perhaps to rent your prom tux, you know what I am talking about. On the other side of my mom's counter was a kind smile and a listening ear. Even when my dad passed away she got up early, made the coffee, and headed in to the shop. Her work ethic and talent inspire me daily. She has called me several times over the past few months and expressed that what she will miss the most in her retirement is her customers. She grew her sense of purpose by serving this community one mended pair of britches at a time.

As I grew into an adult I realized the entrepreneurship bug had bit me. I went to college and got a business degree.  Many thousands of dollars later with a fancy piece of paper hanging on my wall I can say with 100% certainty that mom taught me more about business than anyone has. To say I am proud of her and my dad is an understatement. I know their lessons have inspired me to be the very best I can be. They have also made a wonderful business for this community for so many years, both in Susquehanna and then later in Hallstead.

Kathy is retiring at the end of April after a successful and long run. How many business owners can say have had that kind of longevity? If Kathy has ever mended something for you, pressed a dress, dry cleaned a suit, or just been a listening ear on a hard day, please congratulate her on a job well done.

Kathy will still be doing seamstress work in her home studio part time, she wants to keep herself busy in her retirement. But not too busy mom, there's a whole world of exciting, new things awaiting you and you have earned it.

Sincerely,

Laura Martin

Susquehanna