Herrick Center – Jerry Kishpaugh is a veteran of the Civil War, having seen three years’ service at the front as a member of the first Pennsylvania cavalry.  At the battle of Brandy Station he was captured and taken to Libby prison, Richmond, Va., where he remained but a short time, being exchanged at Annapolis, Md.  He returned to his home near Uniondale and the next election he voted on age.  If he lives until the fourth of May next he will be 75 years of age.  He is living a retired life, having disposed of his farm for a cozy home in this quiet little village.

Harford – As Frank Forsythe was carrying the mail from Harford to Kingsley, he met with a serious accident while going down Kingsley hill.  Three teams were coming up the hill, the road was very icy, and as he undertook to turn out, the sleigh shot across the road, the box tipped up and he was precipitated down the embankment, over 25 feet, mail bags, bread boxes, etc., following. The men coming up got to his horses and with considerable trouble prevented them from going down the bank.  It is a very bad place at that point, as no fenders are there.  Mr. Forsythe was helped up the embankment and taken to Aqua Inn.  His son and a doctor from Harford were summoned and on examination it was found that three ribs were broken, his arm badly bruised and his head lacerated.  He was taken home and is unable to lie down at this date, but is improving as well as can be expected.

Place Unknown – The monthly meeting of the K. K. K. was held Feb. 23.  The meeting was called to order by the President.  The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.  The constitution and by-laws were read by the Secretary and other matters were discussed and after a few musical numbers by the pianist supper was served.

Montrose – Rev. Wm. R. Thomas, who has been the pastor at the A. M. E. Zion Church for the past few months, has resigned and left town, saying that his services did not seem to be appreciated by his flock and that he was obliged to sleep in the church.  While it is nothing unusual to hear of laymen sleeping in a church, a parallel to the case above, we believe is without known precedent. ALSO  The barns connected with the Tarbell House and Montrose House have been opened to the public.  It is also rumored that the hotels will soon be re-opened to the public. Even the hotelmen are skeptical of the proposition of keeping a dozen “steady boarders” at six dollars per week, and allowing a hundred two-dollar-a-day men to get away. [As the result of the Judge not allowing the sale of liquor in a number of hotels.]

Clifford – The basket ball games at Royal seem to be attracting a good deal of interest when the Royal and Clifford teams frequently clash.  The Clifford boys seem to be a little too light for the Royalists.

Uniondale – O. T. Rounds, county superintendent of highways, has been at Montrose the past few days examining the records as to roads, their width, when laid out and changes made.  In his search he found that a road had been laid out more than a century ago from the Newburg turnpike to David Lewis’ saw mill.  The road referred to is the upper road between Herrick Center and Uniondale, and the saw mill mentioned as the terminal was located on the site of Douglas and Yale’s planning mill.  The road was marked out when Uniondale was in Clifford township before the erection of Herrick township and while we were still part of Luzerne county.

Heart Lake – Remember the “Broken Heart” Social at the parsonage, Friday evening, March 2, for the benefit of Ladies Aid.  All cordially invited.

Forest City – Onions and potatoes are higher in price now than ever known.  People are placing them on the too expensive list.  The following bulletin appeared in T. J. Pentecost’s store window: “The undersigned will exchange 5 bushels of potatoes and 2 bushels of onions for real estate in Brownsdale or will trade even for a poultry farm if located near a railway. Call early.”  T. J. Pentecost, Allen block.

Ararat – One day last week, George Caffrey met with a serious accident.  In stepping out of the way of one train he stepped in the way of another and was hurled some distance, receiving severe cuts on both sides of his head, nearly severing the top of his head.  Dr. McNamara was summoned and made him as comfortable as possible.  He was obliged to take 18 stitches.  The accident occurred in front of the depot at Ararat.

New Milford – The New Milford orchestra held a dance at the town hall on Tuesday evening.

Great Bend – Owing to the extreme cold and deep frost, water mains have bursted in Hallstead, and frozen pipes to residences in both places are causing some trouble.  The hot language some of the householders used didn’t seem to thaw them out.

Susquehanna – Robert J. McCarthy, who until Feb. 1 conducted a wholesale liquor store in this town, has opened a dry goods store.  A change from wet to dry.

Rush – The Rush House, which has been closed to the public for a month, re-opened yesterday.  Proprietor Kintner is sane enough to believe he can run a paying hotel without a bar.  All hotels will be running without bars in a few years.  Might just as well break in now.

Friendsville – The general store, conducted by William T. Moran and C. J. Lake, was totally destroyed by fire, about midnight, on Friday, Feb. 23  Although the fire was discovered before it had gained great headway and a general alarm sent out, to which scores of men responded promptly, the flames spread so rapidly that nothing could be done.  The entire stock, as well as the building, was consumed.  The building, which was part of the Robert Winters estate and owned by Rev. P. C. Winters, of Scranton, is believed to have been uninsured. 

News Brief: Springfield, Mass., Feb. 18.  Henry Safford, aged 77, believed to be the last survivor of those present at the deathbed of Abraham Lincoln, died yesterday.  Mr. Safford was a roomer in the Paterson House, opposite Ford’s theater, and on the night of the assassination, hearing a noise in the street, went to the door.  He saw some men carrying the wounded president, and one of them exclaimed: “Where shall we take him?”  Mr. Safford called; “Bring him in here.”

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, March 1, 1817.

*The subscriptions for the Susquehanna Bank have been filled, and a Charter has been granted.  The Directors are to be elected at Wilkesbarre on the 22nd inst.  How abundantly blessed with curses this State is!

*The Senate, it is understood, have before them a Treaty of Commerce & Navigation, said to have been concluded between our late minister, Mr. Russell, and the government of Sweden.  As on these subjects the Senate acts with closed doors, we are not of course apprized of the terms of the treaty, nor the proceedings of the Senate thereon.

*The Hon. DeWitt Clinton, we understand, has been nominated by the republicans of New York for Governor, to fill the vacancy of the present Governor of that state, he being elected Vice President of the United States.

On October 3, 2015, there was a two vehicle collision near Mt. Airy Casino Resort.  During the course of the investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police obtained a surveillance video from one of the Casino’s that captured the collision.  Jaegeun Kim, through his attorney, filed a “Right to Know” request with the State Police seeking a copy of the Casino’s surveillance video.  The State Police denied the request contending that the video was part of a criminal investigation and exempt from the Right to Know law.  Upon review, the Office of Open Records determined that the video was not exempt from the Right to Know Law and the State Police had to provide a copy to Kim.  In making this determination, the Office of Open Records determined that a private party surveillance video was similar to dash camera videos used in patrol cars, which the court have determined are not exempt from disclosure under the Right to Know Law.

The Pennsylvania State Police appealed to the Commonwealth Court.  The Commonwealth Court reiterated that dash camera videos are not exempt under the Right to Know Law.  In particular, the Commonwealth Court again stated that these dash cameras or body cameras “capture [the trooper’s] activities and transactions on a daily basis [and] contain non-investigative content relative to [the State Police’s] performance of its agency functions.”   Because the use of dash cameras and body cameras capture all daily activities – not simply something focused solely upon a specific criminal investigation – the Commonwealth Court refused to find that such videos are exempt records under the Right to Know Law

In this case, however, the surveillance video was not produced in the daily and ministerial functioning of the Pennsylvania State Police.  It was produced by a private third party and obtained only as a result of a criminal investigation.  As such, it only became a “record” of the Pennsylvania State Police as a result of the criminal investigation into the accident itself, which resulted in the issuance of a traffic citation.  Based upon the undisputed facts that this surveillance video was obtained as a result of a criminal crash investigation, the Commonwealth Court determined that it was a record that was exempt as it was “related to” a criminal investigation.

Moreover, the State Police also argued that it was prohibited from disclosing this record under a separate statute, namely the Criminal History Record Information Act.  This statute prohibits the Commonwealth from disseminating “investigative information” that has been “assembled as a result of the performance of any inquiry, formal or informal, into a criminal incident.”  The Commonwealth Court noted that the definition of “assembled” was to “bring or gather together into a group or whole.”  Because the state police had gathered this information as part of the investigation into the accident, the Commonwealth Court also found that the surveillance video was likewise exempt from disclosure as it constituted investigative information under the Criminal History Record Information Act.

Thus, the decision of the Office of Open Records was reversed by the Commonwealth Court and Kim will be unable to obtain a copy of the video surveillance tape from the Pennsylvania State Police.  There is nothing to prevent Kim from asking – just as the State Police had done – the Casino for a copy of the surveillance tape.  If Kim is fortunate, the Casino has preserved a copy and will provide it to Kim voluntarily.

“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” -Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You.

The Annual Magazine Sale is in full force at the Montrose Main Library location. Back issues of magazines, mostly from 2014 and 2015, are for sale for 10 cents each.

This includes regular periodicals as well as children’s magazines. A list of titles may be found at the library website, http://www.susqcolibrary.org . So if you are looking for specific topics, craft ideas, or ideas in a wide range of subjects, you’ll find some familiar and some new varieties at a very reasonable price.

Please note that the following magazine titles are sold out: “Antiques”, “Cooking Light”, “Cook’s Illustrated”, “Fine Gardening”, “Health”, “Mentalfloss”, “N.Y. Times Magazine”, “Old House Journal”, “Quilter’s Newsletter”, “This Old House” and “Threads”.

Do you feel lucky? Well, do you, readers? If so, stop in the Susquehanna Library location and take a chance on the “Lucky 21” Raffle being presently held. You could win a filled-to-overflowing basket of 21 books (Worth $200.00+) of various genres, including fiction, women’s fiction and cozy mysteries. The raffle will continue until March 24th and tickets are priced at 1 for $1.00 and 6 for $5.00.

All proceeds to benefit the Susquehanna Library Branch in purchasing needed items that, due to budget cuts, they would not ordinarily be able to afford. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Kensington Publishing Corporation and Penguin Random House for their kindness and ongoing generosity. It is sincerely appreciated. Don’t delay—You can’t win if you don’t play!

The Susquehanna Library Branch Reader’s Group had to cancel their February 9th  meeting and will discuss this month’s selection, “Love Walked In” by Maria De Los Santos along with the March selection at their March meeting. “Love Walked In” is set in a Philadelphia coffee shop. This is the first novel by award-winning poet Marisa De Los Santos. She has invoked classic movies to highlight the mystery and the endless wonder surrounding love in all of its splendor and how it affects Shop Manager, Cornelia Brown, her new-found love, Martin Grace and what part 11 going on 25 year old Clare Hobbs, will play in the overall scheme of things.

The Group will be meeting on March 9th, at 2:00 PM. to discuss the selection, “The Anatomist’s Wife”, (Book#1) in the Lady Darby Mystery Series by Anna Lee Huber. Set in 1830’s Scotland, we meet Lady Kiera Darby, who is taking up refuge at her sister’s estate following the death of her beloved husband and finds solace by painting. All is well until a huge party for the London elite is thrown and Kiera is unable to hide herself away from those who believe her to be as strange as her late husband, an anatomist who used her artistic talents to suit his own macabre purposes. When one of the house guests is murdered, and she is asked to aid in the investigation through her knowledge of the human anatomy, Kiera is determined to protect her family and further prove her innocence. If you would like to join the Susquehanna Branch Reader’s Group, please stop in and speak with Laura, Pam, Deb or Elizabeth and they will be more than glad to welcome you. The group meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 PM with the exceptions being July, August & December.

As I get prepared to sow marigold seeds (March 17th) for transplanting in late May, I leave you with this thought:

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.” ~Doug Larson

Irish Soda Bread—Patches of Green Grass—Returning Robins

Enjoy!!

You are “when” you eat

Roy, 45, came into the pharmacy and said to the pharmacist, “Do you have any products that will help me lose weight? Even though I skip breakfast, I still am putting on weight. And my doctor said my diabetes is becoming uncontrolled. Any advice, doc?” The pharmacist explained to Roy that skipping any meal, especially breakfast, is probably contributing to his metabolic problem. As many as 30% of American adults routinely skip breakfast, a habit that has become increasingly common in recent years as more people snack throughout the day instead of sitting down for 3 square meals. But recent evidence shows that when we eat may be as important as what we eat in terms of our health. 

As the tendency to eat 3 standard meals per day has declined, a new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that when and how often you eat may affect your risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. Meal timing and frequency have been linked to risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and insulin sensitivity. In fact, the decline in breakfast consumption has been associated with an increase in obesity rates. It has also been connected with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and other chronic diseases. Therefore, regular eating patterns not only lead to a healthier lifestyle and easier weight management, but may also reduce one’s risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The AHA has reported that irregular eating habits – that is, skipping any meal – appear less favorable for achieving a healthy cardiometabolic profile. Eating meals with attention to the timing and frequency of eating could lead to a healthier life. One can do this by putting into action the following 2 steps: 1) Plan both what you will eat for your meals and snacks, and when you will eat them. This will help you to develop regular eating patterns, as well as to avoid emotional eating, which can lead to excessive caloric intake and weight gain. Meals should be spaced about 4 to 6 hours apart. If you include snacks, plan for one healthy snack midway between meals, and one evening snack. 2) Start consuming the majority of your calories earlier in the day. This will provide your body with the energy you need for your daily activities, and allow your body to burn calories more efficiently. Your body does not need a lot of energy, and cannot use it up, later in the day when you are no longer active.

Also, fasting as a means of losing weight may work in the short-term. However, over the long-run, this practice may backfire and cause your body to harbor the food it is fed as dangerous belly fat. Recent studies have revealed that obesity – which plagues almost 50% of Americans – is linked to meal skipping, as well as overeating. A recent Japanese study shows that the values for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were higher for participants who ate dinner less than 3 hours before bedtime than for those who ate more than 3 hours before bedtime.

The bottom line is to not skip breakfast and eat a lighter dinner earlier in the evening. Roy admits to sitting in front of the computer at night, wolfing down a couple sandwiches. But now that the pharmacist explained to Roy how the timing of meals can lead to lower blood pressure, better glucose control, and weight loss, he vowed to start eating in a regular way if he wanted to achieve his cardiovascular goals.

Ron Gasbarro, PharmD, is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Visit him at www.rx-press.com