Jackson – Melvin V. Larrabee, aged 82 years and 11 months, died at his home in the township, April 30, 1917.  Deceased was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of Myron French Post, G. A. R.  He is believed to be the last survivor of Co. K, Sixth Pa. Reserves, which was largely recruited in Susquehanna, Harmony and Jackson. He was a brother of the late County Superintendent of Schools, Alfred Larrabee, of Uniondale, who was run down and killed by a    D & H passenger train about 16 years ago.

Montrose – Captain George E. Hall is having the tract of land on Scenery Hill, donated by W. M. Post to the citizens for food production purposes, plowed this week.  The two local troops of Boy Scouts, it is stated, will work a portion of the plot, and there will still be considerable land for others who may wish to take it up.  Apply to the captain for a plot before they are all taken up.  There seems to be a steadily growing desire to plant every available acre in Montrose, scores of business men, clerks, professional men, etc., planning to grow gardens large enough to keep their families supplied with vegetables.  There will be little waste land. [This is being done for the war effort.]

Harford – The Senior girls in our High School went into the rooms occupied by the town library and overhauled the books, disposing of all truck and leaving the place in a more healthy and wholesome condition.  Now is the time for some live individual, or individuals, to take hold of the library and bring it back to its proper place in the community.

Rush – John Harford, a graduate of the class of 1910, R. H. S., has proved a very capable civil engineering during his two years’ experience with the Binghamton branch of the DL&WRR.  He has now accepted a position with the Philadelphia & Reading railroad and will take up the new duties at the Philadelphia office, on May 1.

Dimock – Mrs. Betsey Calby, aged 96 years, died at her late home in Dimock on April 21, 1917.  Deceased was born in Ireland, coming to this country when a young woman, and was one of the best known and most beloved women of that township and retained a remarkably clear mind, despite her unusual age, until the very last.  Her husband, the late Lawrence Calby, died about 20 years ago and her only daughter, Mary, died the preceding Monday.  Two sons, James and Michael Calby, survive.  The funeral was held in St. Bonaventure church, Auburn.  Interment in the church cemetery.

Forest City – A number from this place went to Scranton to secure their final citizenship papers.  Being of Austrian birth they were notified in Judge Witmer’s court they were not to receive their papers owing to the fact that Austria had broken off diplomatic relations with the United States and that no Austrian or German need apply until peace is declared. ALSO  The “Bowery” section of this town is surely entitled to the pennant when patriotism is concerned.  The section before the declaration of war had six men of military age, four of whom have responded to the call to arms.  We doubt if there is a section in the country that has responded so quickly to the call to arms, and every home floats a flag.

Uniondale – The Suffrage Club has postponed its meeting from Friday evening to a later date.  The change was made in order that the members might attend the Red Cross meeting. ALSO Shubael Carpenter, 86 years young, recently sold what potatoes he could spare.  They were of his own raising.  Few men have better gardens than he, and he does the work.

Ararat – Married at Scranton Pa., April 17, 1917, by Rev. W. E. Webster, pastor of the Court Street M. E. church, Miss Delcie Wademan and Elmer C. Glover; also Miss Ida May Bryden and Hobert Davis.  The young couples returned to this place where they will reside and received the hearty congratulations of many friends.  Other Ararat people, “Newly Weds,” also receiving congratulations are Mr. and Mrs. Carl Morgage and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Warner. ALSO Fiddle Lake – Now that the snow banks are gone and the mud nearly dried up, stock buyers and rag peddlers seem to be just the order of the day.  As high as three in one day have called on us.  Let them come, the more the merrier.

West Clifford – Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hasbrouck have moved into their new house which is nearly completed.

Birchardville – Jacob J. Ely departed this life from his late home here.  He was 83 years of age and had lived in this vicinity for more than 50 years.  He was a veteran of the Civil War.  One son, Stanley Ely, of Dimock and daughters, Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Rolles of Binghamton, and Belle, of Birchardville, survive him.

Friendsville – School has been closed for the past three weeks on account of the illness of the teacher, Miss Elizabeth Connell.  Our doctor is convinced she is suffering from a light form of scarlet fever, while another doctor believes the malady is German measles.  The people of Friendsville, very naturally, object to the school re-opening until they know positively that no danger from scarlet fever contagion exists.  Thus far very little is known of the case.

Hop Bottom – The Universalist Ladies will give a merry-making, fun-provoking, laugh-contagious entertainment at the church, Thursday evening, May 17, under the direction of Miss Clara L. Moyer, of Cleveland, Ohio.

New Milford – James Florence, who brought action against the DL&WRR for damages to his farm by the building of the cut-off, which resulted in him not being able to reach a large portion of his land, received a verdict for $2300.  The case was hotly fought.  Mr. Florence claimed his farm was worth $8,000 and after the cut-off went through the larger part was practically worthless.  J. H. Oliver, Esq., of Scranton, and A. B Smith, Esq., of Montrose, counsel for the railroad, and John Ferguson, Esq. of Susquehanna, and J. M. Kelly, Esq. of Montrose, for the plaintiff.

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, May 3, 1817

*DISTRESSING.  A daughter of Samuel Scott of this township [Bridgewater], living on the Chenango road, who has for some time been deranged, on Wednesday night last left the house unknown to any one, and has not been heard of since.  Some of her cloathing [their spelling] we understand has been found in the wilderness, some miles from home.  The alarm has spread and the people of the township generally are now searching the country round about to find her.

*NEW CASH STORE. Isaac Post Has again received a general assortment of GOODS direct from New York, which he offers to sell for Cash or Country Produce, at less prices than goods have ever been sold in this place, as he proposes to sell for ready pay only (for his own good and that of his neighbors.)  He solicits a share of public patronage and assures those that trade with him, that every exertion will be made to accommodate them, whether they call personally or send by another person.  He has also received a general assortment of patent and other Medicines for Family uses.  Montrose, April 19th, 1817.

*E. H. MANSFIELD, Gold & Silver Smith, Clock & Watch Maker, Has commenced business in the village of Montrose in the room lately occupied by Maj. I. Post, as a Store, where he will repair Clocks and Watches in the best possible manner, on the shortest notice.  He has on hand and for sale a quantity of new English Watches, warranted.  Also, a general assortment of Gold and Silver work, which he will dispose of at reduced prices.  He solicits the patronage of the public.  May 3, 1817.

A local teacher contacted me with a question from students: If you and your friends are using drugs together, and one of your friends experiences an overdose, can you call 911 without fear of being prosecuted?  This seems like something of a ridiculous question unless you have some familiarity with those persons who use of illegal controlled substances who harbor the constant fear of being caught and prosecuted.  How do you weigh your own personal liberty and freedom from arrest against a friend’s need for medical assistance in connection with an overdose?  It is not uncommon for drug addicts to abandon a “friend” in such circumstances simply to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Apparently, this situation is so common that the Pennsylvania legislature took action in 2014 by creating statutory immunity for those who call 911 in order to get assistance for a “drug overdose event,” which is defined as “an acute medical condition, including but not limited to, severe physical illness, coma, mania, hysteria or death” which resulted from the consumption of a controlled substance.  During a drug overdose event, a person may call for emergency medical assistance and avoid any potential criminal prosecution for his or her participation in the use of the controlled substances with the victim. 

In order for the immunity to apply, the statute imposes several requirements: (1) the person making the report must act in good faith and the report must be based “on the reasonable belief that another person was in need of immediate medical attention and was necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury due to a drug overdose;” (2) the person must provide his or her name and address to the 911 operator and then continue to cooperate with medical or law enforcement personnel; (3) the person must also remain with person suffering from the drug overdose until emergency personnel arrive on scene.  This immunity statute covers not only new criminal acts, but also provides immunity from probation or parole violations. 

The statute also provides that the person experiencing the drug overdose also cannot be charged provided that the reporting person obtains immunity under this statute.  This provision provides some assurances to the reporting person that their overdosing friend will not be charged by law enforcement after the drug overdose is reported – provided the reporting caller complies with the immunity act and cooperates with emergency personnel and law enforcement.

The immunity statute, however, does not cover felony offenses, i.e., delivering or distributing the controlled substance to the person who was suffering the drug overdose itself.  Further, in the event that law enforcement has independent evidence not acquired as a result of responding to the drug overdose event, a person may be charged through the use of that independent evidence.  In such a prosecution, no evidence acquired through the response to the drug overdose event may be utilized.  This prohibition against the use of evidence only applies to persons who have complied with all of the requirements of the immunity act.  If one of the friends simply took off and did not seek to render aid and cooperate, then the fleeing friend can be charged and prosecuted.

To put it simply, if you report and cooperate with emergency personnel and law enforcement in connection with a drug overdose event, you are generally immune from prosecution unless you have engaged in conduct that constitutes a felony offense.

“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.” ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

With the birth of April the Giraffe’s calf on Saturday, April 15th, the whole world is more interested than ever about the natural world and its inhabitants. What better place to find out all sorts of facts than your local library? Did you know that giraffes have 12 upper and 12 lower molars in the back part of their mouth as well as 8 additional teeth in the front of their mouth-bottom jaw only, for a total of 32 teeth? Giraffes spend almost their entire day (16 to 20 hours a day) eating, and sleep in 10 minute naps. When they are not eating new food, they chew their cud like cows do. Giraffe hooves grow much like your fingernails and must be maintained. Many parks use natural substrates and materials to allow natural trimming like they would in their natural environment. Did you know that a giraffe’s heart is approximately 25 lbs and is the powerful muscle that sends blood up the head? A giraffe can run up to speeds of 35 miles an hour, outrunning some horses. Now that I have your interest peaked, stop in and learn more about these fascinating animals and so many more just waiting for you on the library shelves. You won’t be disappointed.

On Friday, April 28th, at 10:45 AM, “Pennsylvania One Book For Every Young Child” will present an author visit with author/illustrator Micha Archer at the Montrose United Methodist Church, located at 526 Church Street, Montrose.

What a wonderful way to spend an April morning with your youngsters.

The 2017 Spring Pottery and Art Sale will be held on Saturday, May 6th, from 10:00 AM until 4:00PM and on Sunday, May 7th, from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM. at the Montrose VFW, 16972 State Route 706, Montrose, Pa.  This event will be sponsored by the PA Beyond Pottery Artisans with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association.

If you have attended the sale in the past, you know what beautiful and unique items will be on display and for sale. Many would make fantastic gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and, especially Mother’s Day. You may even find an addition to that nook in your own home. In addition, please check out the Used Book Sale being held at the same time and in the VFW as well. One never has too many books. You never know what you might find, perhaps a tome you have been seeking?

As I admire more and more daffodil blossoms unfurling, I leave you with this thought:

“Our spring has come at last with the soft laughter of April suns and shadow of April showers.” ~Byron Caldwell Smith, letter to Kate Stephens

Goldfinches—Crocus—April Showers

Does this look infected?

Frank, 58, came into the pharmacy and showed the pharmacist his hand. “Look, Doc, does this look infected?” The pharmacist looked at Frank’s index finger. It was red and apparently had bled. The finger looked raw with a whitish edge to the cut, a sign of infection. Lacerations of the finger can be simple, involving only the skin, or complex with injury to tendons, nerves and/or blood vessels. With tendon lacerations there is weakness of the finger, and with nerve damage numbness is experienced beyond the laceration. The pharmacist asked Frank, who was a farmer outside of town, how he got the injury. “I was in the barn cutting some rope, about 3 days ago,” he responded. As with anyone who works in a barn, or as a mechanic, or is a child who plays in the sandbox, dirty hands are a way of life. However, once the skin barrier is broken, the coast is clear for an invasion of germs, some of which can kill you.

The fact that Frank waited for 3 days before he did anything about his cut is a dangerous way to go. Skin lacerations should be thoroughly washed immediately with plenty of warm – or even cold – water and soap. You should continue to wash your hands for about 20 seconds, or the length of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.” Then dry them with a clean towel or air-dry them. Everyone should have a tube of triple antibiotic cream or ointment in their medicine cabinet to apply to cuts. Then, bandage the area; some bandages now come with an antibiotic already infused into them. If you are not near clean water, use a hand sanitizer. But remember that these cleansers do not work well if hands are greasy or dirty.

What can happen when hand or foot cuts become infected? Disease can occur. For example, tetanus is caused by bacteria known as Clostridium tetani, which is commonly found in soil, dust and animal feces. Because of its presence in soil and manure, gardeners and others who work in agriculture are particularly at risk for exposure to this bacterium. Also known as lockjaw, tetanus is an infection characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body. These spasms usually last a few minutes each time and occur frequently for 3 to 4 weeks. Spasms may be so severe that bone fractures may occur. Other symptoms may include fever, sweating, headache, trouble swallowing, high blood pressure, and a fast heart rate. Onset of symptoms is typically 3 to 21 days following infection. It may take months to recover. About 10% of those infected will die.

Vaccines are available that can help prevent tetanus. There are 4 kinds of vaccines used today to protect against tetanus, all of which are combined with vaccines for other diseases: Diphtheria and tetanus (DT) vaccines, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines, tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines, and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends tetanus vaccination for all babies, children, teens, and adults. DTaP and DT are given to children younger than 7 years old, while Tdap and Td are given to older children and adults.

In addition to tetanus, other bacterial diseases such as anthrax and botulism are present in soil, which contains dead insects and other rotting carcasses. Certain fungi can be inhaled from soil as well and such infections are particularly dangerous in people with compromised immune systems. The pharmacist fixed up Frank’s finger and Frank promised he would get a tetanus shot from his prescriber ASAP.

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

You would think they would've learned. They haven't. They're still writing to me. As any recent reader of my writings knows, I am no fan of Penelec or their parent company FirstEnergy. After Penelec's letter announcing its intent to retrofit my analog meter with their RF-emitting smart meter, I promptly provided notification such an idea was anathema to me. I considered any attempt to access my property for such purpose to be a trespass, a violation of my property rights. Penelec and FirstEnergy attempted to reach out to me by phone to explain the wonders of smart meters, but I left them to wander through the wonder of voice mail. Beyond that, they've reconsidered their position to the extent that they've not put anything in writing to me concerning smart meter placement on my property.

No, instead they've moved on to their next "scam." FirstEnergy wants to "pick up your [my] working fridge or freezer and responsibly recycle it." According to their postcard to me, I can schedule today, get $50, and save money on my electricity bill. I thought about that. Hmm! Yes, I suppose I could save a lot of money on my electricity bill if I have the utility pick up two major appliances, thereby leaving me without any electrical appliance to keep my food cold or frozen. Seems awfully inconvenient though. I like the idea of eating fresh, but I DO have leftovers from time to time, and I like to do long-term meal planning also. So my first reaction was that this isn't a lifestyle choice tempting to me.

The back side of the post card pictured a refrigerator being wheeled away on a dolly. Attached to the pictured fridge were post-it notes saying, "I'm an energy HOG," $50 Reward," and "Recycle Me." A cold shiver went up my spine. Let me use deductive reasoning and make some inferences here. The utility is essentially making an ad hominem attack on geriatric appliances, placing a bounty on them, and pushing their imminent demise. It all looks so strikingly similar to Obama's cash-for-clunkers program, or dare I say it, Obamacare for appliances.

If readers thought a newly elected President Trump would put an end to such nonsense, think again. The suddenly far-left-wing Republican majorities in Congress can't even put a stake through Obamacare-the former president's legacy "accomplishment" which almost simultaneously consigned millions to federal control and dependency, but utterly failed to deliver anything like high quality, affordable, and accessible health care for the average Joe. Ah, but I digress from the topic at hand.

Returning to FirstEnergy's lust for my refrigerator, let me say, "From my cold, dead hands, Mr. Big Electricity!" My refrigerator was manufactured, here, in America, in October 1986-according to the nameplate inside the door. It's given me 30 years of top-notch service, and I'm expecting at least another 20. This particular refrigerator had an older sister, born in 1959, in America. She gave up the ghost in 2010. Had I not already recycled the '59 model, I would have been willing to sell her to FirstEnergy. But then again, I note that FirstEnergy only wants to recycle WORKING fridges and freezers, not those already deceased. Seems a tad unfair, I think.

Ah, I have it! What is unstated on their postcard, and what they want consumers to do, is buy NEW appliances! That's the American way; spur consumerism! Take a perfectly fine product and junk it before its service life is finished. Keep up with the Joneses!

Oh, wait a minute, I know! That part about energy HOG; that would seem to intimate that my refrigerator is consuming too many kilowatt hours of electricity, at least in the eyes of Big Electricity's bizarre obsession with "energy efficiency and conservation programs." The goal of these government-mandated programs is to "save" the production of billions of kilowatt hours of electricity by not having to build new electricity-generating plants, even while shuttering older (especially coal-fired) plants. The goal of the entire degrowth movement, as set in concrete by the federal government, is to ensure a 12% reduction in projected electric production by 2030.

The really stunning thing about the whole degrowth agenda is that everybody wins, except the consumer, of course. How do I know? I read the fine print on FirstEnergy's post card, "The costs of energy efficiency programs are recovered through customer rates in accordance with Pennsylvania Act 129 of 2008..." Let me translate that: YOU, electric ratepayer are paying for this $50 reward for your refrigerator. We, FirstEnergy, are just giving you back a miniscule portion of your own money that we already harvested from you in the form of higher rates-higher rates quietly imposed over years, to pay for this, and other energy efficiency and conservation programs, and the automatically built-in smart meter cost recoup-fees everyone pays for on their monthly utility bills. (Hint: Big Electricity can't lose, whether or not you surrender your "antiquated" appliance. If you keep your old fridge, it will live on to consume more kilowatt hours of electricity, for which you will pay dearly-and most certainly in the years ahead, including a new smart meter every 5 to 6 years, which you will have to pay for again. If you get a new fridge, you'll have to cough up the up-front cost for the purchase. And if electricity demand ever drops too significantly, the PA PUC will most assuredly okay rate increases to see to it that Big Electric doesn't lose money.)

Who else wins, while the consumer loses? Well, manufacturers of new fridges and freezers win. New fridges, so I've heard, have a life-expectancy of 17 years. Of course that could be quite exaggerated. Anecdotally, I've heard that some make it only to the six-year point before falling apart. Planned and apparent built-in obsolescence seem widely (and wildly) popular, especially among Asian manufacturers of exports.

The technocratic movement is also a big winner whenever an "obsolete" appliance is replaced with a new model. There is huge and building momentum to get consumers to acquire new appliances everywhere possible. What is coming in the near-term future is 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). The whole purpose of these technologies is not only to put into place a ubiquitous surveillance "cloud," but to have every "thing" communicate with every other "thing" by way of microwave (MW), radio-frequency (RF), or other electromagnetic fields of radiation. In this regard smart phone usage and smart meter deployment saturation are necessary precursors, even while leveraging commercial applications and domination, and full-spectrum domination of populations ("monitoring of the hive" as techies say). (Readers should also take note electromagnetic fields always have biological effects on organisms, including humans, even if those effects are not externally observable. Studies indicate EMFs probably are contributing to the loss of bees, the pollinators of food crops.)

If this sounds like science fiction, you haven't been keeping up with technological advancements. Advanced metering technologies are advancing at a rapid clip. The dream of the technocrats is to constantly have their fingers on the pulse of the people (surveillance), even as they monetize all the data collected from every appliance you own or use. Why consumers will accept these ongoing developments is driven mostly by convenience, although technocrats will offer negligible-to-modest monetary incentives from time to time to ensure consumer compliance.

I'm NOT writing back to FirstEnergy to inform them I decline their offer to haul away my refrigerator; I'm just going to keep using it till it dies like the 1959 model. My advice to readers, unless you really need a new fridge, keep yours too. At a minimum, call FirstEnergy and haggle for a better price. After all, they're just paying you your own money from the higher rates you've already paid.

In a future column I'll tell you about light bulbs. It's a sorry story which, unless you continue to sleep, will surely outrage you. The drive for cost savings and energy efficiencies has taken on monstrous, even scandalous, proportions.