Hallstead - The overturning of a canoe in Harmony creek, at Hallstead, on the afternoon of Memorial day, resulted in the death of for young people: Herman Gathany, aged 19, son of Eugene Gathany, Della Preston, aged 17, daughter of Lewis Preston; Kenneth Sheak, aged 18, son of A. J. Sheak; and sister, Mildred Sheak, aged 17.  The young people started out in high spirits to go canoeing, leaving at about 2:30 o’clock.  When they reached a point called “Ox-Bow,” which is an eddy full of deep holes, the canoe became unmanageable in the swift current, swollen and foiled by rains, and capsized.  It is stated that three of the young people could swim, but either the swift current or the struggles of the young women resulted in all going under within a few moments. Young Gathany and the Sheak girl were sweethearts.  Their bodies were found a few minutes after the task of recovery started, each clasped in the other’s arms.  Attempts to restore life were unsuccessful.  The town has never been visited by a sadder affair than that which turned the Memorial day celebration into one of poignant grief, and the shock of the terrible drowning accident will long be felt in many homes where the young people were known and loved. [Another report states that an attempt to switch seats caused the accident.]

Harford – Didier Masson, of Los Angeles, one of the oldest of living American aviators of the days when the aeroplane was a county fair novelty, is training American pilots for the Lafayette Escadrille in France.  Some of his top students are Charles H. Dolan, of Boston; Robert L. Donze, of Santa Barbara, Cal, formerly of Philadelphia; J. P. Doolittle, of New York City, a former Chicagoan; Dabney Horton, of Cambridge, Mass; and Henry Sweet Jones, of Harford, Pa. [a son of Senator E. E. Jones).  “These boys learn to fly in about 8 days,” Masson said.  “Sometimes it takes students of other nationalities eighty days, but Americans, as a rule, are quick at the aviation game.  Jones and Horton, especially, took to the air like ducks to water and made records which will be hard to beat.  All of the men will be in the war game soon.”

ALSO The Memorial sermon preached by Rev. H. W. Johnson, in the Congregational church, Sunday morning, was exceptionally good.  The ranks of the old veterans was very small, but two being present, William Patterson and Emmet Flint.

Clifford – Mrs. Frances Rivenburg, of Carbondale, is stopping in our midst.  Her nimble needle is much sought by our people. ALSO Harold Taylor has discontinued his school for a time—measles.

Susquehanna – The Women’s Relief Corps of this place entertained the members of Moody Post and about 35 of the National Guard stationed here and at Lanesboro, on Tuesday of last week, for supper.

Montrose – Robert Wood, bookkeeper in the Farmers’ National Bank, went to Scranton yesterday to take examinations for entrance into military service.  He took his first examination the first of the week, but was two pounds under weight.  The medical examiner told him to return after sleeping heavily and eating heartily, and he would probably pass.

Little Meadows and Vicinity – Avery Johnson and family motored to Wysox, Pa., on Sunday, in their new Maxwell and spent the day with A. Woodruff and family.  N. Murphy and family called on friends at Silver Lake, Sunday, making the trip in the new Cheverolet.  It runs fine.  J. E. Hickey is the owner of a new seven passenger Chandler Six.  Madaline makes a fine chauffeur.  Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Newman have traded horses with J. E. Hickey.  “Jess” is ready to pass everything on the road now.  He made a business trip to Owego, one day last week, in as short a time as a Ford could do it. Peter Bergin has purchased a new horse.

Bridgewater Twp. – Florence and Doris Devine have gone to Lincoln, Neb., for their health.

Forest City – The Forest City White Sox will play their first game as a member of the Mid-Valley league on the Independents’ grounds at Simpson on Sunday. ALSO John Welter met with injuries that will compel him to remain idle for some time.  He was caught in a fall of rock while at work in the No. 2 mine of the Hillside Coal and Iron Co.  His left arm was broken, the other badly lacerated.  Eight stitches were required to place the left hand in shape.  His right leg is also broken and his head and face badly lacerated.  His escape from death is considered miraculous.

Uniondale – Only 9 members of Mathew McPherson Post, G. A. R., are now with us and several of them were able to assist in directing the Memorial rites over graves of their departed comrades.  Two veterans have passed to the great beyond during the past year.  The two who for the first time failed to answer when their names were called this year were John F. Bass and Alva Corey.  The 9 surviving members of the post are: T. B. Dimmick, Charles Coleman, Richard R. Davis, Morris B. Davis, F. Z. Carpenter, W. E. Gibson, [all of] Uniondale. J. J. Campbell and Jerome Kishpaugh, Herrick Center.  A. G., Lewis of Johnson City, Tenn. [National Soldiers’ Home]. Mr. Lewis was one of the first to enlist from Clifford township in the Civil War.

None are under 70 years of age.  Two are over 80.  R. B. and M. B. Davis are brothers, 78 and 77 respectively.

Silver Lake – Ignatius Landon, John and Will Quinlivan are among those who have gone to Indiana to work for Uncle Sam.

Hop Bottom – A flag pole has been erected in honor of the Boy Scouts, who have done such gallant work fighting local forest fires.  The flag will be raised Memorial Day morning with appropriate exercises.

News Briefs: “Ford Jokes:  A man went to a week-end house party, drove up to the front door, didn’t see any garage, hopped out of his car and asked his host where he could put u the car.  The host asked him what make it was.  “Oh, a Ford,” “Take it right up to your room.”  ALSO  The Nicholson Examiner reports that of the once flourishing stone industry that gave employment for years to 100 to 150 men in the vicinity, hardly enough is left to remind one of the old busy days when Shields, Williams, Tiffany, Pratt, Carlucci, Squires and others were working quarries.  At the present time Al. Jayne and his son, Jay, are working a quarry on his farm and the Franklin Stone Co. and Carlucci are operating in a limited way—the Lathrop quarries.

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, Montrose, Pa., May 31, 1817. 

*The second quarter of vol. 11 of the Centinel has commenced, and as yet, we have received very little remuneration for our labor.  Our patrons must be sensible that a Printing establishment can not long exist, without funds; and in this new country, a printer must fare hard, even though he gets pay for all his labor.  It is true we have as yet made shift to live; but, unless punctuality is more observed by our patrons, we must inevitably discontinue business.  We are not ashamed to confess we are poor; and that we depend upon the “sweat of the brow” to procure us a livelihood but to be compelled to “sweat” without receiving a livelihood, is quite too hard.  Have we not been diligent in furnishing you with news? Have we not given you the news of our country, and, in fact, the whole world, from week to week?  If so, ought we not to receive your pay?—We ask but a small recompense, and even that is denied us! We are constantly on the alert to give the earliest information of the sufferings of our fellow creatures; and when we are detailing to you the poverty of England and Englishmen, we ourselves feel the iron grasp of that unrelenting tyrant. We sincerely hope our patrons will take our case into consideration, and relieve our wants immediately.

I received an interesting inquiry from a reader seeking some clarification on how executive sessions at municipal meetings are handled.  An executive session is part of a public meeting where the officials adjourn the meeting to allow them discuss a particular matter in private. Executive sessions may only be used for certain categories of discussions, i.e., such things as personnel matters or litigation issues. 

In particular, the reader was frustrated over his experience that municipal entities provide very little explanation to the public as to the reason for an executive session.  The reader had actually done a little bit of legal research and referenced the case of Reading Eagle Co. v. Council of City of Reading, which was a Commonwealth Court decision from 1993. 

In that case, the City Council had called an executive session to discuss matters “of litigation” without providing any more specificity.  A local newspaper filed a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration that such generic explanations of the need for an executive session were insufficient.  The trial court agreed and directed the City Council to specifically provide the names of the parties, the docket number of the litigation, and the court in which the litigation was filed prior to entering into any future executive session involving pending litigation.  The City Council appealed.

The City Council argued that the trial court’s directive was too burdensome and threatened to impinge upon the ability of City Council to have meaningful private discussions regarding litigation strategies.  In rejecting this argument, the Commonwealth Court noted that the Pennsylvania Legislature had enacted the Sunshine Act for the purposes of assuring “open government” where the public had a right to understand what its municipal officials were doing.  While this understandably placed some burdens on the governing officials, these burdens were necessary to achieve the overall intent of transparency in government.

The Commonwealth Court also quoted with approval the Supreme Court of Mississippi’s explanation of the importance of providing the public with sufficient information to understand the reasons for an executive session:

“The reason given, of course, must be meaningful.  It must be more than some generalized term which in reality tells the public nothing.  To simply say ‘personnel matters’ or ‘litigation’ tells nothing.  The reason stated must be of sufficient specificity to inform those present that there is, in reality, a specific, discrete matter or area which the board has determined should be discussed in executive session. . . .  When a board chairman tells a citizen he many not hear the board discuss certain business, he is taking liberties with the rights of that citizen, and the reason given for this interference must be genuine and meaningful, and one the citizen can understand.  To permit generalized fluff would frustrate the very purpose of the [Sunshine] Act.”

After agreeing with the reasoning of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, the Commonwealth Court concluded: “By requiring that the executive session can only be held when reasons are given, the General Assembly intended that the public be able to determine from the reason given whether they are being properly excluded from the session. . . .  [I]n order to effectuate the purpose of requiring that reasons be given, the reasons stated by the public agency must be specific, indicating a real, discrete matter that is best addressed in private.”  To the extent that this made government “too open,” the Commonwealth Court noted that the City Council should take its complaint to the Legislature – not the courts.

The tanning bed and the prom

The pharmacist has a 16-year old daughter, Sandy. Sandy gets good grades, is very responsible and just got her driver’s license. The other day she got asked to the senior prom by someone she likes. She asked the pharmacist about getting a tan for the prom so she could look fantastic in her new strapless dress. The pharmacist nixed that idea. “Mom, the other girls are getting tans and if I don’t sign up now, I will never get on the tanning schedule at the spa.” The pharmacist said “no” and the daughter asked “why?” 

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States, and most cases are preventable, says the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Persons with certain genetic risk factors, including having a lighter natural skin color; blue or green eyes; red or blonde hair; a large number of common moles; and skin that burns, freckles, or reddens easily or becomes painful after time in the sun, have increased risk for skin cancer. Persons with a family or personal history of skin cancer, especially melanoma, are also at increased risk. Although these genetic factors contribute to individual risk, most skin cancers are also strongly associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Most UV exposure comes from the sun, although some persons use UV-emitting indoor tanning devices (e.g., beds, booths, and lamps).

One study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that the younger one is and the more frequently tanning beds are used, the greater the chance of one getting skin cancer. This study followed over 73,000 female nurses for 10 years and revealed that those subjects who used a tanning bed more than 6 times a year were 73% more likely to get some form of skin cancer than those subjects who never used a tanning bed. The study also found that the younger one is when first using a tanning bed, the more likely that person developed skin cancer compared with older subjects in the study.

In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the whole UV spectrum and tanning beds as carcinogenic to humans, placing them in the same category as asbestos and tobacco. Despite this, the trend for indoor tanning continues. A growing body of evidence has now associated indoor tanning with an increased risk of malignant melanoma and non-malignant skin cancer, both of which can be fatal. As a result, there has been an upsurge in regulations in the tanning industry ranging from age restrictions to complete bans on commercial tanning. In fact, many states now require that one must be 18 or older to use a tanning bed. Good but not good enough!

People tan to look healthy, but looks can be deceiving; UV radiation causes all types of skin cancer. Melanoma, a tumor of the cells that produce the skin pigment melanin, is the rarest but deadliest type, accounting for 75% of skin cancer deaths worldwide. According to the National Cancer Institute, melanoma incidence among US whites – who develop the disease more often than other races – rose from 8.7 cases per 100,000 people in 1975 to 28 cases per 100,000 in 2009 – a 300% increase. While anyone can get skin cancer, melanoma rates among white females aged 15–39 rose by 3.6% per year between 1992 and 2006, compared with a 2% increase per year among males of the same ages.

The pharmacist thought that Sandy, with her red hair and blue eyes, was perfect the way she was. Sandy decided a tan was not worth all the trouble of skin cancer. She had a great time at the prom!

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

Memorial Day commemorates the men and women of America's armed forces who gave their last full measure of devotion in defense of freedom. Each one of those men and women took a sacred oath of fidelity to uphold the Constitution. 

The present day oath taken by every service-member upon enlistment, and each subsequent reenlistment, reads as follows: 

“"I, XXXXXXXXXX, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” 

Surviving family members of those who made the ultimate sacrifice best grasp the honor and respect in which we hold America's fallen. Memorial Day, for them, and for all Americans who hold their liberty dear, is a time for contemplation—Freedom is not free. Freedom is won and kept only through the eternal vigilance of the resolute who refuse to bow their heads to tyranny. 

The torch of freedom has been passed from our fallen heroes to those who now serve on active duty in the United States Armed Forces. They serve in ships and stations around the world, in places often exotic, but more often desolate. Yet they know that by their service America's citizens can sleep safely at night without fearing attack from powers that may not have our best interests at heart. 

In this day and age relatively few have to serve in our Armed Forces. Those who do, have volunteered to put themselves on the line. No mere column could ever describe the full extent of their sacrifice, or express the thanks of the American people for their duty. But it is my honor to share with you, my Readers, the exploits of one sailor to whom the torch has been passed. 

His name is George L. S. Wilkes. George enlisted in the Navy on August 12, 2012. Now a (PO3) Petty Officer 3rd Class—Naval Aircrewman Helicopter Third Class—Wilkes is here in Lanesboro on PCS (Permanent Change of Station) leave, en route to his next command, HSC-11, home-ported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. PO3 Wilkes will be reporting for duty in Virginia in later June, for some well-deserved shore duty—time to rest up, refuel, recharge, and learn new skills before returning to the rigors of 'sea duty'.

Those rigors of 'sea duty'--that's where he's been for the last three years—are arduous. Petty Officer Wilkes completed six different deployments (each 3 – 4 months in length) while assigned with HSC-12, home-ported in NAF (Naval Air Facility) Atsugi, Japan. Those deployments consisted of high-tempo operations in which Petty Officer Wilkes routinely worked 18-hour days (or longer). The primary mission of HSC-12 was to serve as plane guard in support of jet operations for the air wing. The squadron's aircrew team continuously stood at the ready for emergency air rescue and immediate water entry.

Dropping into high seas to rescue others, at a moment's notice, sounds like a something only a superbly trained and extremely fit person could do. And it is. Were Petty Officer Wilkes called upon to execute such a maneuver it would be all in a day's work for him. Near-continuous drilling and practice have prepared PO3 Wilkes for these duties.

PO3 Wilkes helping Mrs. Pence (VP’s wife) off ‘Navy 2’

Because of that extreme level of training and proficiency, Petty Officer Wilkes performed service as a member of HSC-12's Det 1, embarked in USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19), flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. on the helo aircrew team responsible for ferrying numerous DVs (Distinguished Visitors) within the Pacific Fleet's AOR (area of responsibility). Among the dignitaries Petty Officer Wilkes had occasion to ferry or brief were Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus; Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott; and Vice-President and Mrs. Mike Pence.

PO3 Wilkes saluting V.P. Pence.

Petty Officer Wilkes shared with me some of the anecdotes of his meetings with dignitaries. Not surprisingly, he's been awarded a few challenge coins during the course of dignitary visits, as well as while providing service to various fleet units. He related that Vice-Admiral Robert Thomas, Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet, told him, “You've done a heck of a job, kid,” while slapping the 7th Fleet's challenge coin into his hand, before his return to the United States. Vice-President Mike Pence also took time to chat with PO3 Wilkes, and to present him with his personal challenge coin.

VP Pence in photo shot with Aircrew of ‘Navy 2’. PO3 Wilkes is to the far left.

Of his growing challenge coin collection, Petty Officer Wilkes said, “Every one of them has a different story and every one of them is a story and a memory. It's kind of like, which story would you like to hear? There's a story behind every single one of them. I love every story behind every single one of them.”

This generation of military service members have been passed a legacy of honor and bravery by those who preceded them. The words of Petty Officer George L. S. Wilkes on this point are most eloquent, “This Navy is moving in the right direction. We are becoming a much stronger force, and we have a lot of motivated men and women who are in there—as cheesy as this may sound—who are ready to be on call for America. They are America's 9-1-1 force. They're the tip of the spear and they're ready to go. They're trained up. They're proficient. And they're hungry.” 

Reassuring words, are they not? While we honor our fallen warriors this Memorial Day, let us not forget the baton has been passed to truly remarkable young men and ladies who stand watch worldwide so that America can dream dreams and sleep safely each night. God Bless America, and God Bless those who stand watch over her.

P.S.: Just as this story goes to press, this paper is reliably informed that Petty Officer Third Class Wilkes received a late-night phone call—his test results are in and he's being promoted to Petty Officer Second Class. Well done! And a well-deserved promotion indeed!