To Dairymen – The milk fight is over and the price established; better still the principle of collective selling is recognized. The Dairymen’s League aims to perfect its organization to such an extent that another strike will be unnecessary. The members of the League are to be congratulated in that not one failed to answer the call. To the non-members we say if you held your milk during the strike you have upheld the cause. Thank you; but you still owe it to us to join the League. Join us and attend the meeting at the Library Building, Saturday night. If you don’t care to join, come and tell us why. We have 25 members, 1,375 cows. Chas. B. Dayton, Sec’y, Montrose Branch.
Forest City – The borough council of this place has received a visit from a large delegation of property owners who reside on Maple and Lackawanna streets urging the council to take some action looking to the installation of an adequate water supply in that section. The present service is entirely inadequate to the needs to that section of the town. The council promised to consult with the local office and if necessary take the matter up with the head office of the company in Scranton.
Little Meadows – The New York and New England Association of Railway Surgeons held their 26th annual session at Hotel McAlpin, New York city, on Wednesday and Thursday. Dr. George Chaffee, of this place, was the founder and first president of this organization. He at present holds the active office of corresponding secretary,
Montrose – It is said that Zion A. M. E. church, in Montrose, is one of the oldest colored churches in the state of Pennsylvania. Bethel church was so considered in its day, but it has been converted from a place of worship into a dwelling house.
Susquehanna – George Albee, aged 78 years, died at his home in this place, Oc. 9th. He is survived by his wife, one son, and two daughters. The deceased had an extensive business as painter and paper hanger for a number of years, from which he retired owing to poor health.
Harford – Wallace Lord Thacher, educator, author, historian, born March 28, 1841, died October 12, 1916. The editor of the Republican has not a doubt but that the late beloved W. L Thacher and his beloved wife, who sent the above brief notice, would be content to let that stand as a memorial tribute to the life of the deceased, while we, knowing his worth, feel that many columns could well be devoted in telling of his laudable qualities. He was a fluent and able writer, and his exhaustive history of Harford and the “Nine Partners,” who settled that township, and from one who he is descended, is generally accredited with being the best authentic record of that township’s early days. He wrote a history of the Harford Agricultural Association [Harford Fair] in 1907. Prof. Thacher was known to hundreds of county people. He was beloved by former scholars; he wrote and received letters from friends who left to join the army during the Civil War [which are now in the possession of this Society] and he was the first President of the Susquehanna County Historical Society and took a great deal of interest in furthering its welfare. He was a man who devoted his life to others—placing self last. The county has produced few better men.
Springville – The “chicken-car” was evidently doing business in this vicinity this week as the noise of the chickens could be heard as the auto was in town at about 2 o’clock in the morning, Wednesday. This is not the first year the country people have been robbed of their poultry, and while some of the thieves are well known, yet the old adage, “practice makes perfect,” fits this case, and as yet they are stealing all available poultry the same as in previous years. The wise man will lock up his hen house and have a good dog ready to welcome such callers. Or a shot gun well loaded.
Brooklyn – New windows have been placed in the M. E. church at a cost of about $400. They are memorial windows on the north side of the church. The windows are in memory of the Young Ladies’ Guild, Dr. and Mrs. A. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Sterling, J. S. Wright and wife, Amanda, the Tewksbury family. On the south side, the Ladies’ Aid, Rev. and Mrs. D. C. Barnes, Hon. and Mrs. J. W. Adams, the Epworth League and Fred Hohn. They make a great improvement in the church.
Dundaff – The Dundaff post office has gone out of business and it will be missed.
South Montrose – E. W. Lott, of Springville, decided to go fishing Tuesday, and left his auto by the roadside, just below this place, while he went down to the brook to get some bait. A boy, George Chamberlain by name, spied the machine and felt sure he could manipulate it just as well as others. He managed to start it and went sailing down the pike, headless not only of his own danger, but to travelers. He suddenly ended up in a bank with the machine smashed. About this time Mr. Lott returned and followed the crooked tracks a short distance and discovered his damaged auto. The boy had abandoned the car, but was soon captured and brought to Montrose, before Justice of the Peace Davies, where his old and crippled father came to his rescue and agreed to pay for the repairs on the car and Mr. Lott withdrew prosecution for the present.
Clifford – Miss Bertha Rivenburg has gone to Philadelphia, where she has secured a position. ALSO – I. J. Wetherby has joined the ranks of the motorists and purchased a new Hupmobile.
South Ararat – We understand that Angus Tinklepaugh, of Jackson, but a former resident here, is soon to move in the neighborhood. We are always glad to have good old neighbors return.
Silver Lake – Miss Hazel Conklin entertained the following in honor of her 18th birthday, Oct. 10th: Miss Ruth Buckley, Katherine Mahoney, Grace McEnaney and Ellen Scallon and Messrs. Floyd Conklin, Carl Sloat, Harold Hogan, Thomas Conroy, Tim and Ambrose Mahoney, Walter and Arthur Buckley.
200 Years Ago, from the Centinel, Montrose, Pa., Oct. 22, 2016.
*Married – In the township of Bridgewater, on the 10th of Sept. last, by the Rev. Davis Dimock, Mr. Joshua Smith to Miss Peggy Young both of Bridgewater.
*Married – On the 16th, by the Rev. D. Dimock, Mr. Josiah Lord, of Waterford, to Miss Sally Hall, of Bridgewater.
*Married – On the 19th, by the Rev. D. Dimock, Mr. Elias Palmer, of Bridgewater, to Widow Abagail Tupper, of Middletown.
*Married – On the 24th, Samuel Thatcher, of Middletown, to Eunice Tupper, of Rush.
*Married – On the 16th inst., Robert Day to Lucy Bush, both of Bridgewater.
*NEW GOODS. The subscribers respectfully inform the public that they have just received a fresh supply of Dry Goods, Groceries, Hard-Ware, Tin-Ware & SALT, which they will dispose of cheap for Cash or Country Produce, at their store ½ mile south of Montrose. WILSON & GREGORY. Bridgewater, Oct. 22, 1816.
The Protection from Abuse Act provides a victim of domestic violence with the ability to obtain a protective order that prohibits the abuser from having any contact with the victim. Some people refer to the protective order as a restraining order – but whatever name you use for the order it accomplishes the same purpose: forbidding the abuser from having contact with, or even contacting in any manner, the victim.
Petitions seeking protective orders are filed with some regularity. In Susquehanna County, we dedicate a specific time each week just to hear these petitions. This past week, we had 6 different petitions seeking protective orders and it is rare for a week to go by without someone filing a petition. The Protective from Abuse Act is designed to make it as easy as possible for domestic violence victim to file – there are no filing fees or costs imposed on the victim, there is a prepared form that can be filled out with ease, and some limited assistance is also provided in assuring that the victim has provided all the necessary information.
Many people do not understand that the Protection from Abuse Act itself only applies to a limited category of people. If you are having a dispute with your neighbor and you fear for your safety, the mere fact that you are neighbors does not qualify you for a protective order. If a third party has repeatedly threatened you on social media, the undisputed fact that this third party has threatened you does not alone assure that you have the ability to get a protective order. You can – and should – call law enforcement to address those threats if you fear for your safety, but it does not mean that you can petition the Court to grant you a protective order.
Who may petition for a protective order under the Protection from Abuse Act? It is important to remember that the Act is designed to protect victims of domestic violence – and the key word being “domestic.” As such, the Act specifically indicates that a court may only grant protection to a victim who is a “family or household members.” This is defined in the Act as spouses or persons who have been spouses, persons living as spouses or who lived as spouses, parents and children, other persons related by consanguinity or affinity, current or former sexual or intimate partners or persons who share biological parenthood. To break this down a little further, the courts have determined that “intimate partners” includes romantic dating relationships.
If the requisite relationship exists between the victim and the abuser, the Court must also determine whether there is “abuse” within the relationship. The Act defines “abuse” as any serious criminal violation that causes (or could cause) serious bodily injury, any sexual assault, any conduct that places the victim in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, false imprisonment, and stalking behavior. It is important to note that the Act does not require any actual bodily injury to occur only that the victim was reasonably in fear of bodily injury.
As to the component that allows for a protective order based upon stalking behavior, this relates to an abuser knowingly engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts toward the victim under circumstances that places the victim in reasonable fear of bodily injury. The courts have found that repeated telephone calls, text messages, social media posts can constitute a course of conduct sufficient to qualify as stalking under the Act provided that the nature of the conduct placed the victim in reasonable fear of bodily injury.
Before a protective order can be granted, the Court must first verify that the relationship between the parties allows the Court to even consider the petition, i.e., that the victim and abuser fall under the definition of “family or household members.” Second, even if there is a sufficient relationship between the parties, the Court must then assess the gravity of the allegations to determine whether they rise to the level of “abuse” as set forth in the Act. Mere disagreements, arguments, shouting, hollering and general discord by itself is not considered abuse under the Act unless such activities rise to the level of placing a reasonable person in fear of bodily injury.
The dangers of the morning after pill
The young woman came into the pharmacy looking distraught and worried. She rushed to the counter and asked the pharmacist if the pharmacy carried an emergency contraceptive – also known as the morning-after pill. The contraceptive was in stock and the pharmacist rang up the sale. She explained to her how to use the pill and to use it ASAP. The woman left the store but the pharmacist knew there were bigger problems than just having unprotected sex the night before. She did not know this woman. Yet, she wondered what the circumstances were that would lead her to believe she might have gotten pregnant. For example, was she high? Was she drugged? Was she assaulted? Did she know her partner? Was she on birth control already?
Emergency contraception (EC) involves hormones intended to short-circuit fertilization of the egg by the donor’s sperm. EC and "abortion pills" are not the same. EC works by preventing or delaying ovulation and therefore preventing pregnancy, not by abortion. EC is not 100% effective, whereas oral contraception, if taken correctly, is 99.9% effective. If you take EC within 24 hours, it is about 95% effective; if taken 72 hours after intercourse, it is 89% effective and the chances of pregnancy increase from there. EC does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). That’s what condoms are for. Not all pharmacies have chosen to carry the morning-after pill. This could mean while you are searching for a place to buy it, the fertilized egg is getting ready to attach to the uterine lining. Then, bingo! You are pregnant.
There are discussions about making EC over-the-counter, between the cough syrup and toothpaste. Is that so bad? Said Donna J. Harrison, the executive director of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “(EC) does not reduce the number of unintended pregnancies or abortions. Aside from being ineffective, over-the-counter access to emergency contraceptive is harmful to women’s health. It isolates the most at-risk women (teenagers and those in unstable relationships) from getting the medical care they need to diagnose STDs and access appropriate contraceptive counseling.” In addition, these drugs have been tested for safety only in women 18 to 45, and under conditions where these women use the drug only once in the cycle. Over-the-counter (OTC) availability of Plan B puts powerful hormones in the hands of the youngest teens, in whom its safety has never been studied. At a stage when their reproductive organs are maturing, these girls will be exposed to unknown doses of hormones, for an unknown duration, under no medical supervision.
The percentage of sexually experienced women who have ever used EC has increased over time. According to the latest statistics from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2006–2010, among sexually experienced women aged 15–44, the use of EC roughly tripled during that time, up from 4% in 2002. Nevertheless, studies have shown that the availability of OTC EC in other countries, such as France, Sweden, China and Britain, did not lower the abortion rate. One theory is that the women waited too long to use EC and its efficacy failed.
So is EC worth the fuss? If you are a woman who has had unprotected sex, then, yes, because EC will prevent pregnancy in some women some of the time. And if you do not want to get pregnant, anything is better than nothing. Should it be sold OTC? The pharmacist decided to have this discussion with her own daughter, who is 17, and will ask her opinion.
Ron Gasbarro, PharmD is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Write him with any ideas or comments at ron@rx-press.com.
