Dimock – A good day, good roads and public interest brought a record breaking crowd to the old Camp ground last Sunday. Teams, trains and automobiles, largely the last named—there were 695 parked on the grounds during the day—brought more than 5,000 people to the encampment. Three states were represented, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Rev. Geo. O. Beers has the unique distinction of having attended every session of the Dimock camp meeting since its founding, 43 years ago. For 30 years he has been the official bell-ringer, and has never failed in his duty.
New Milford – John A. McConnell, one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of this place, died at his home on the Montrose road on Aug. 12, 1917, of heart trouble, aged 76 years. He was born in Ireland and when he was 12 years of age the family came to this country and located in Harford township. About 50 years ago he married Miss Ellen Aldrich and moved on the farm where he died. For many years he specialized in growing berries and small fruit. He is survived by his aged widow, one son, Elmer McConnell, one daughter, Mrs. Joseph Matthews, and six grandchildren; also one brother and one sister. Interment in New Milford Cemetery. ALSO Fred J. Dexter, manager of the New Milford poor farm, was operated upon for appendicitis on Aug. 9th. He has been in a serious condition but is now much improved.
West Auburn – I. L. Possinger and son, Eldred, took in the Sousa band concert in Johnson City. Merton Bolles returned with them for a visit with West Auburn friends. In South Auburn an auto load, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Vandervort, Mrs. John Cooper and three children, Miss Westbrook and Miss Wall, all from Laceyville, were guests at Wm. N. Judson’s, on Saturday evening, a night blooming cereus being the attraction. Seven beautiful flowers were open that evening and twenty were opened during the last week, filling the air with their fragrance, besides making a fine porch display.
Friendsville – Rev. Father James has returned to St. Ann’s monastery, Scranton, after conducting the forty hours’ devotion in each of the three churches of the Friendsville parish.
Forest Lake – One hundred and thirty-five were present at the 15th annual reunion of the Canfield Stone descendants, which met at Forest Lake on Aug. 4, at the Bradshaw camp, coming from New York city, Binghamton, Utica, Endicott, Johnson City, Scranton, Towanda, Meshoppen, Susquehanna, LeRaysville, Montrose, Birchardville and vicinity. The decorations were flags, flowers and ferns.
South Montrose/Montrose – Owing to the shortage of male help, the slat factory is making plans to employ women and girls in operating the wood-working machines and doing such labor as is usually the work of men. G. R. McKeage, of the Beach Manufacturing Co., in Montrose, is also seriously considering employing young women to operate such machines in his new plant as can be readily done. The large number of young men who have enlisted in the army and navy from this section and the usual labor shortage will make it necessary to employ female help if the plants are to be run at their normal capacity.
Clifford – While L. E. Lee was coming across a private bridge belonging to E. G. Greene, with a load of hay, one of the girders gave way and the team was precipitated into the water. Fortunately no damage was done to the team or driver. The hay had to be reloaded. ALSO Rev. Ackley will give his famous lecture, “Booze or Beef?” in the Baptist church, next Monday evening. Several people from a distance will be present and some good music has been arranged.
Towanda – A reunion of the survivors of the 141st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, will be held here on Wednesday, August 29th.
Forest City – The Independents vanquished Dick Monaghan’s Carbondale Pets by a score of 15-9. There were many rooters from Carbondale who returned deeply chagrined at the defeat administered. Wargo and Payne were the battery for the locals and the opposing battery were Lynch and Kelley. The collections, as usual, were far from what they ought to be.
Herrick Twp. – Miss Pearl M. Price the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Q. Price, and Stanley S. Jones, of Kenten, Delaware, were united in marriage at Binghamton on Tuesday of last week. They are stopping at the home of the bride’s parents for a short time. They will reside in Delaware where the groom has large landed interests. The bride has been a member of the school faculty of Kenten the past three years and formerly taught in this county.
Uniondale – Born on Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. John Burdick, a son. They are ow the possessors of six sons and two daughters. Mrs. Burdick is being cared for by her mother, Mrs. S. S. Coleman, of Binghamton.
Fiddle Lake – Leonard Walker and wife, of Elmira, NY came out to attend the reunion which was held at the home of his mother, Mrs. Jones Walker, on the Summit. Nathan Walker, of Vandling, also James Walker, of Carbondale were present.
News Brief: All records for oleomargarine licenses in Pennsylvania have been broken during the past six months and the close of July found 3,310 licenses granted as compared with 2,534 at the same time last year. As there is a big rush for licenses during September and October, it is expected that the total for 1917 will be close to 4,000.
200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, August 23, 1817.
*LARGE SNAKE. (From Erie newspaper). On the 3d inst., 30 miles below this place and three miles from land, the crew of the schooner, Gen. Scott, saw a serpent 35 or 40 feet in length, and its neck, which it put out of the water a few yards from the vessel, 10 or 12 inches in diameter. Its color was a dark mahogany, nearly black. The lake was smooth and they had a perfect view of it for more than a minute.
*NOTICE. The Democratic Republicans of the township of Bridgewater are requested to attend a meeting to be holden at the Montrose Hotel, on Saturday the 23 Inst.,* for the purpose of choosing two delegates to represent said township in the County Convention to be holden on Court week. By order of Committee, Aug. 16, 1817.
[*Inst. means the week of. Alt means the week previous.]
The Allentown Morning Call just printed a story about a new courthouse addition in Lehigh County – a 2-year old black Labrador Retriever named Ramona who is working as a comfort dog. Romano works in the victim services office and it is hoped that she will help victims, especially children, deal with the stress, terror, anxiousness and nervousness that arises when being called to testify in a court proceeding. The newspaper article reported that there are now 141 comfort or therapy dogs working in courthouses in 35 states to assist victims and children to deal with the emotional difficulties that arise in different court proceedings.
But should a court allow a comfort dog to come into the actual courtroom with a witness to assist them in getting through their testimony? Some defense attorneys perceive it as prejudicial, i.e., the jury will sympathize with the witness when they see the comfort dog sitting near the witness stand. After all, dogs are man’s best friend.
This particular issue was addressed by a New York appellate court in 2013. In the case of People v. Tohom, the defendant was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl over an extended period of time. Prior to the trial, the prosecution notified that defense attorney that “Rose,” a Golden Retriever comfort dog, would be in the courtroom with the teenage victim while she testified. When the defense would not agree, the prosecution filed a motion seeking the court’s permission to allow the comfort dog to be present with the victim as she testified in front of the jury.
The trial court developed an extensive record regarding the uses of comfort dogs, their training and education, and their therapeutic effects on emotionally distraught victims. The record further developed that the victim’s emotional state demonstrated a need to have “Rose” present with her when she testified. The trial court granted the prosecution’s motion and “Rose” was permitted to accompany the victim into the courtroom. At the time of the trial, the judge specifically instructed the jurors that they could not allow the presence of the comfort dog to influence their assessment of the victim’s testimony. At the conclusion of the trial, the defendant was convicted of sexually abusing the victim and sentenced to 25 years to life.
On appeal, the defendant argued that he had been denied a fair trial because of the presence of the comfort dog. The appellate court noted that courts have permitted victims to take comfort “items” up to the stand when they testify, i.e., things such as a teddy bear, provided the trial court had properly weighed the potential prejudice to a defendant against the child’s need to have the comfort item with them to assist in their testimony. Was a live comfort animal different than an inanimate object?
The appellate court found that there was very little difference between a teddy bear and a living comfort dog. It was the child’s need to have the comfort dog present that was the most important consideration for the trial court – and the record amply demonstrated a true emotional need for the comfort dog in the courtroom. Moreover, trial judges have wide discretion in controlling and monitoring their courtrooms – and the appellate court determined that this trial judge handled the problem appropriately by allowing the comfort dog to be present but carefully instructing the jury that no special consideration could be given to the victim’s testimony simply because the comfort dog was present. Finally, it was significant that the defendant was unable to demonstrate any actual prejudice from the comfort dog’s presence; rather, he was simply speculating as to the potential impact.
In the end, the trial court established a very good record to demonstrate that the victim truly needed the comfort dog to be present while she testified during the trial. In the absence of such a need, it would have been improper to allow the comfort dog to appear merely as a “prop” for the prosecution. Further, the trial judge’s decision to carefully explain the comfort dog’s presence to the jury and the special instruction were likewise important to assure that the defendant’s right to a fair trial was protected.
Why eating bacon is evil
Buzz, 60, came into the pharmacy to get his cholesterol medication refilled. “Hey, Doc, I need my statin,” he said to the pharmacist. “Is your cholesterol still high?” the pharmacist asked. “Oh yeah, my doctor says I eat too much fat. But I sure do love my bacon.”
No matter how you slice it, Americans have a life-long love affair with bacon – smoked, boiled, fried, baked, or grilled. Mixed in with eggs, lying next to eggs, sitting on top of eggs, nestled inside a cheeseburger. Americans scarf down almost 6 billion pounds of pig strips each year. There is a bacon-lovers dating app that is brought to you by Oscar Mayer®. Bacon-flavored vodka. Bacon-scented dryer sheets. Bacon-infused after shave. Oh, the smell and sound of cured pork belly in a frying pan!
Now for the bad news. About 68% of the calories in bacon are fat, with half of that fat being saturated. The amount of saturated fat in bacon explains why one ounce of bacon contains 30 milligrams of cholesterol – the bad kind of cholesterol. Research has shown that eating foods with high levels of saturated fat can lead to a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Still thinking about that smell of bacon, aren’t you?
A study done at the University of Zurich found a link between bacon and higher risks of dying from heart disease or cancer. Processed meat contains nitrates, preservatives that, when absorbed by the human body, convert into N-nitroso, a compound that could cause cancer. Also, a Columbia University study revealed a direct link between consuming cured meats and developing chronic pulmonary disease. Now you are in the fridge making sure you have bacon, aren’t you?
Well, men, listen up. Bacon could be linked to a lower sperm count. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed semen samples from 156 volunteers and studied their food intakes. Those who ate a lot of processed meat — including bacon — were associated with lower sperm concentrations. No problem because in a survey conducted by Maple Leaf Foods, a Canadian packaged meat company, 43% of the respondents said they would rather eat bacon than have sex. Also, when asked to rank the aromas of the two activities, 23% chose bacon. Good news! You can have sex with bacon.J&D Foods of Seattle, Washington, a company devoted to including bacon in every aspect of life, have created bacon condoms. But, before you ask the pharmacist where the bacon-flavored prophylactics are, listen to this.
“Processed meats, including bacon, have a very high salt content and the act of processing itself is associated with an increase of heart disease, bowel cancer and stroke,” says Michael Mosley, MD, a British scientist and author of many diet books. “One esteemed scientist I know told me that if you crunch the numbers, every bacon sandwich you eat knocks half an hour off your life.”
Yes, there are statin drugs that can decrease your cholesterol. Maybe Oscar Mayer should infuse some Lipitor® into their bacon just for good measure. Okay, you finally agree to the concept that bacon is bad for you. But why would it be evil? Go to YouTube and type in “Bacon Lovers Meet Baby Pigs.” It’s an OMG moment and you will never think the same way about bacon again.
Nevertheless, Buzz shrugged and said to the pharmacist that “you have to die of something.” And he probably will die – from bacon.
Ron Gasbarro, PharmD, is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Read more at www.rx-press.com
