Rush – Jehile Kirkhuff, the little blind son of Will Kirkhuff, has a new organ.  He plays the violin and organ from the phonograph.

Brooklyn – Rev. T. J. Vaughn and six of his Boy Scouts were in Montrose on Tuesday, having hiked on foot from Brooklyn.  The Scouts are required to make a 14 mile hike and write a description of it in order to become first-class Scouts.  They camped near Lake Mont Rose, where they ate their lunch and in the afternoon tramped back.  The boys in the party were: LaVerne Kinney, Lisle Rozelle, Luther Ely, Jr., Francis and Robert Larkin and Lawrence Tewksbury.

Montrose – Miss Lillian Martin, for some years a saleslady in D. L. Robinove’s store, announces in today’s issue the opening of a shop for ladies wearing apparel exclusively.  The new business will be located in the Farmers’ National Bank building.

East Kingsley – During a severe thunder storm on Wednesday of last week, a bolt of lightning entered the chimney of Williston Oakley’s new house, making a general havoc in knocking off the plaster, burning the telephone wire in the cellar, etc.  Mr. Oakley and his young son received slight shocks, but nothing was set on fire.

Little Meadows – Miss Emma Sleeper has moved her household goods into the home of D. L. Minkler and expects to take a situation in Binghamton taking care of an elderly couple.

Springville – While automobiling on Friday evening with a party of young people, Miss Margaret Reynolds was quite painfully injured.  In making a sharp curve the car, which was driven by Guy Johnson, plunged off a sluice, throwing the occupants out.  Miss Reynolds was thrown against the windshield, cutting a deep gash in the leg, just above the knee and severing an artery.  Medical assistance was secured as soon as possible and she is getting along nicely.

West Lenox – Three of our boys were in Co. L, which left Scranton Monday morning for Atlanta, Ga.  They were Curtis Shoup, Ward Carey and Milton Potter.

New Milford – Main street in this place is to be concreted.  State men are expected this week to make a survey, preparatory to opening bids for the work, which will start at once.

Gibson/Susquehanna – A group of Red Cross ladies from Susquehanna came to this place on Friday to instruct the ladies of this place in the work of the order.  A society was organized with Ms. W. R. Mackey as president and Mrs. Elmer DeWitt as secretary.  Now all are cordially invited to join and help in the good work, presently on Thursday afternoons.

Dimock – Miss Margaret O’Brien, of Montrose, will be the principal of the new Dimock Vocational High School.  She is a graduate of Syracuse University and has ranked high as a teacher, having taught in the Dimock school prior to being elected to the principalship.

Forest City – H. P. Johns has purchased of Davis & Brothers timber on 440 acres of land located at Elk Hill, this county.  It is estimated that there are over 3,000,000 feet of chiefly chestnut, oak, ash and some hemlock.  He has also purchased a 63 acre farm closely located to the tract for teams and men, good buildings to be convenient, and plenty of good water. 

Harford – The home of the old Franklin Academy and later the Soldiers’ Orphans’ school, is to have a vocational high school.  The new high school building is being fitted up to meet the requirements of the state.  The vocational school is rather new in Pennsylvania, but it is going to fill a long felt need in rural districts.  In order to carry on a vocational work it requires a four-year course of nine months term.  Graduates from a vocational school entering colleges are given [the] same credit as from other schools.

Williams Pond, Bridgewater Twp. – The Stephens-Williams’ reunion was held at the home of Miss Jennie Stephens on Saturday.  Ninety-four partook of a most bounteous dinner and enjoyed the social hours that followed.

Elk Lake – The Ladies’ Aid meets with Mrs. Mary Shelp on Wednesday, Sept. 5.  The ladies are requested to bring needles and thimbles, as the Patriotic club will furnish Red Cross work.

Friendsville – Friendsville, Little Meadows and Middletown Center Granges will hold a joint picnic and field day, at Friendsville, on Saturday, Sept. 8th.  Hon. E. B. Dorsett, Hon. Allan D. Miller and Rev. C. E. Cook will deliver addresses.  A baseball game, Middletown vs. Laurel Lake, is scheduled.  Dinner will be served.  All are invited, whether members of the Granges or not.  Those who come are requested to come early and to bring baskets, picnic commencing at 10 a.m.

Clifford – While  returning home from the Chautauqua at Carbondale, an auto party from Clifford had a narrow escape from death or injury, when a seven-passenger touring car, owned and operated by Ira J. Weatherby, crashed into a protecting wall at the side of a 20 ft. culvert near the farm of Albert Snyder near Finch Hill.  The party, consisting of Mr. Weatherby, Mrs. Allen Finn, Mrs. William Baldwin and son, left Carbondale in a heavy rain storm.  When the foot of Finch Hill was reached a flash of lightning confused Mr. Weatherby and the car crashed into the side wall over the culvert, demolishing the wall and sending the front part of the car part way in the ditch. The car was badly damaged and the occupants thrown out, but all escaped injury.

Hallstead – Hon. James T. DuBois has been appointed a member of Herbert Hoover’s speakers’ bureau and will devote his time for the next six months touring the country.  He will speak in the north for one month and then tour the southern states.

News Brief: Charlie Chaplin’s popularity is proven by the fact that he is to receive over $1,000,000 for eight, two-reel comedies, under a recently signed contract with a new film corporation of which S. L. Rothapfel, a former Forest City boy, is a member.  The first run of these comedies will be seen at the Family Theatre.

200 Years Ago Today from the Centinel, Montrose, Pa, August 30, 2017.

*MARRIED. In this township [Bridgewater] on Sunday last, by David Post, Esq., Mr. Thomas H. Doyle to Miss Myra Conner, daughter of Ira Conner.

*A FARM FOR SALE, SITUATE in the township of Bridgewater, about 4 ½ miles from Montrose, and the same distance from the Newburgh Turnpike, containing 100 acres, one half under improvement with a new framed barn.  Said farm is well watered and timbered.  Terms of payment will be easy.—Enquire of the subscriber living on the premises.   JOHN PHINNEY.

N. B. The person who took two Axes from me in April last is requested to return them immediately.  J. P., August 29, 1817.

*Yesterday afternoon the elegant sloop of Ontario, Capt. Biddle, got under way from her anchorage off the West Battery, and proceeded as far as the Watering Place—It is said she will go to sea the first favorable wind.  New York, Aug. 14.

Jury service is an important civic responsibility that fulfills the constitutional mandate that a criminal defendant is entitled right to a trial by a jury of his or her peers.  While jury service may be an inconvenience for some jurors, it is an experience that many people find to be both interesting and rewarding.  Admittedly, there are also cases that involve terrible and horrific facts that are difficult and painful for jurors to emotionally process.  I can remember a few occasions as a prosecutor where I actually saw a juror crying during the course of my closing argument.  There are occasions when jurors respond to emotional facts with visible emotions.

In a recent case, Commonwealth v. Rush, the Pennsylvania Superior Court considered a defendant’s claim that he was denied a fair trial because a juror cried during a portion of the trial.  In that case, several police officers were attempting to arrest the defendant on an outstanding warrant in connection with probation violations.  The officers had a police canine named Rocco.  As the officers were looking for the defendant in the basement of an apartment building, the defendant dashed out and struck Rocco several times before also engaging in a fist fight with the other officers.  It took three officers physically wrestling with the defendant along with a fourth officer using a taser to finally subdue the defendant.  At the conclusion of the struggle, it was discovered that one of the officers and the canine, Rocco, had been stabbed.  Rocco died from the stabbing injuries. 

In addition to other criminal charges, the defendant was charged with killing Rocco.  The defendant was convicted of all the charges against him and received a sentence of 14 years and 10 months to 36 years and 6 months in a state correctional facility.  The defendant appealed and contended that he was denied a fair trial based upon the emotional response one of the jurors had to the testimony.

During the trial, Rocco’s handler was testifying on the stand and the 911 tape was played back to him.  After hearing the 911 tape, Rocco’s handler began to cry which prompted one of the jurors to cry as well.  Thus, the defendant argued that he had been denied the right to a fair and impartial juror as the juror’s tears demonstrated that the juror was prejudiced against the defendant.

When confronted with this issue, the trial court had simply noted that the juror had cried “during extremely emotional testimony during which the witness also cried” and that the juror’s emotional response, standing along, was insufficient to conclude that the juror was incapable of being fair and impartial.  Indeed, the trial judge noted that she cried “at weddings and funerals of people I don’t know, because I respond to other people’s sorrow.”  In other words, it is not uncommon for people to respond to someone else’s emotional response with a similar personal response.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court agreed with the trial court and concluded that a normal emotional response by a juror to difficult facts presented during a trial is insufficient to support the conclusion that a juror is harboring some prejudice or bias.  Instead, the Superior Court noted that the defendant failed to demonstrate any facts, aside from the juror’s tears, that would suggest that the juror could not uphold her oath to be fair and impartial and decide the case solely upon the facts without regard to any bias, prejudice or emotion.  The defendant did not request the trial court to question the juror, no record was created as to what caused the juror’s emotional response, and it was pure speculation that the juror was somehow prejudiced against the defendant simply because she demonstrated some emotion during the trial.

“Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog.”  ~Doug Larson

“School Days, School Days, Dear old golden rule days”—such excitement! Counting down the days until the school bus rumbles to your stop, new-to-you teacher and homeroom, different classes, textbooks, a blank tablet, and, perhaps, renewing old friendships and making new ones!  I swear there’s a certain scent in the air when the first day of school is due—mixed with the first indications of autumn and the cheering at football games—too bad it couldn’t be bottled, for it is a heady blend. We wish all of our area’s students an amazing new school year filled with challenges, awe-inspiring revelations and a yearn for non-stop learning.

If you purchased raffle tickets on the stunning 2017 quilt, “Bluebells on the Green”—made by “The Kaffettes” and Free motion Quilted by Barbara Somers Merritt, we thank-you for participating, as with all of our events, your generosity is key to your local library location providing the programs and services that you and your family have come to expect and enjoy.  The quilt was won by Diane Bath, who lives in Virginia, but her family lives here in Susquehanna County. Congratulations Diane! We wish you many dream-filled nights snuggled under your beautiful quilt and hope you will fondly remember the 2017 Blueberry Festival.

If you were not aware, Internet Access is now available at the new Montrose location. We wish to thank-you for your patience during the recent inconvenient time.

September is around the corner and so is the 2nd Annual “October Raffle”.  By purchasing even one ticket for five dollars or six for $20.00 you have 31 chances to win a beautiful prize. Prizes change daily and the winner will be chosen by a library patron at 10:00 AM each day the library location is open. Multiple drawings will be held for days that the library is closed. A winning ticket will not be re-entered into the drawing.  Money earned from this project will be placed in the general fund to support all six components of the association. These include the four library locations, the Historical Society and the Outreach Program. Raffle ticket calendars may be obtained at any of the library locations, so you can keep track of the daily prizes. If you would like a sneak-peek at some of the prizes, please go to the library website, http://www.susqcolibrary.org/october-raffle

Winners will also be listed on the website.

The 10th Annual Local Author’s Luncheon to benefit the Forest City Branch of the Susquehanna County Library System will be held at the Elkview Country Club at Crystal Lake on Wednesday, September 20th, 2017. This year’s featured author is Susan Campbell Bartoletti, who resides in Moscow, Pennsylvania and writes Children’s Literature as well as non-fiction books.  The author graduated from the University of Scranton and was an eighth grade English Teacher before pursuing her writing full-time. The author has received numerous awards for her writing, including the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Non-Fiction,  the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Non-Fiction, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award and the Newberry Honor Medal. The annual luncheon is sponsored by the Novel Women Book Club and the program will include the author’s book signing. The tickets are $25.00 and checks may be payable to the Forest City Library and may be mailed to 531 Main Street, Forest city, Pa. 18421. If you have previously attended one of the luncheons, you know how informative and entertaining they can be—not to mention delicious! If you have been meaning to attend in years past, please consider joining us in September. You will not regret it. We hope to see you there!

Congratulations to all the lucky winners of the 9th Annual Library Lottery. We do appreciate your generosity and a list of the winners will be posted on the library website very soon.

As I, with a great read in one hand and a hot cup of tea with lemon in the other, enjoy the last remnants of August, I leave you with this thought:

“Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher. That is, I used to, until she got an unlisted number.” ~Author Unknown

Goldenrod and Wild Asters—New Backpacks—Football Games

ENJOY!!

What the pharmacist refused to sell them

A woman, who was new in town, came into the pharmacy and handed the pharmacist a prescription for birth control pills. “Sorry, we do not sell contraception here,” said the pharmacist. “Why is that?” asked the woman. “My religion forbids me to reverse the Lord’s work,” replied the pharmacist. “Can you direct me to a pharmacy that will dispense my pills?” “Sorry, I cannot be complicit in that matter” stated the pharmacist.

A man came into the pharmacy, apparently in a hurry, and asked the pharmacist where the condoms were located. “Sorry,” said the pharmacist, “We are a family shop and do not sell such things.”

Two young women came into the pharmacy looking very distraught and one had been crying. One of the women asked the pharmacist if he could sell them an emergency contraceptive. “You mean like Plan B®?” he asked them. “I’m afraid not. Maybe you gals ought to take responsibilities for your actions,” he smirked judgmentally.

Adults have the legal right to prevent pregnancy following birth control failure, sexual assault, or unprotected sex, and, in the case of condoms, to protect themselves from sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). Emergency contraception (EC), also known as the "morning-after pill," is FDA-approved and prevents pregnancy after sexual intercourse. But it is time-sensitive; it only works if the woman is able to obtain it without delay. Unfortunately, pharmacists are refusing to dispense EC based on their own religious or moral beliefs, thereby overriding women's decisions about their bodies and lives.

The laws governing pharmacies vary from state to state. States that provide guidance about when pharmacies or pharmacists may refuse to dispense limit the reasons for safety concerns – such as potentially harmful contraindications, interactions with other drugs, improper dosage, and suspected drug abuse or misuse – as opposed to personal judgments, such as religious beliefs.

Pharmacists in at least 24 states have refused to sell birth control or EC to women. Some hospital emergency rooms refuse to provide EC to rape victims. Furthermore, 6 states – AZ, AR, GA, ID, MS, SD – have laws or regulations that specifically allow pharmacies or pharmacists to refuse for religious or moral reasons without critical protections for patients, such as requirements to refer or transfer prescriptions. Five other states – CO, FL, IL, ME, TN – have broadly worded refusal policies which means pharmacists can theoretically refuse to fill without sanctions. Current policies in most states say that if a pharmacist does not want to fill a contraceptive prescription for personal reasons, it should be transferred to another pharmacy.

Refusal to fill contraception orders have resulted in embarrassment, shame, unwanted pregnancies and lawsuits, actions that have resulted in pharmacies being fined for their poor judgment. The National Women’s Law Center in Washington DC offers guidance to the consumer as to how to respond to a refusal to fill a prescription: 1) File a complaint with your state’s pharmacy board to get sanctions against the pharmacist or pharmacy; 2) Communicate your story to the press; 3) Ask the state pharmacy board or legislature to put in place policies that will ensure every consumer’s right to access legal pharmaceuticals; 4) Alert the pharmacy’s corporate headquarters; many of the major pharmacy chains have policies that protect women’s right to receive contraception in their stores, without discrimination or delay, and 5) Get EC today, before you need it! As for the young man who was hurriedly searching for condoms, the pharmacist had no problem with filling his prescription for Viagra.  

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