Rush Township – “Report of the Lawton Fair” – Despite the rain in the early morning, all the forenoon a good crowd from Rush and Jessup, Auburn, Middletown and other places, went to the fair and enjoyed themselves.  Even the politicians and candidates from Montrose improved the opportunity and oh, how heartily they did grasp the hands of those sturdy citizens.  To see some of them one would think they were meeting their long lost brother. But in spite of the politicians everybody had a good time.  Lawton is bone dry and there was not a drunken man or boy to be seen.  What about the exhibits, do you ask? Why no one seemed to be worried about that.  There were some well-bred Jersey cows.  A squawking goose tried to drive Evangelist Ackley off the speaker’s stand, but couldn’t do it.  Exhibition hall contained a generous supply of canned goods and some excellent canned music in Mr. Gamble’s Victrola; also pies and things, but it was so jammed full of maids and matrons, visiting with neighbors and sweet hearts, that you could not see the show for the people.

Hallstead – The Hallstead-Susquehanna road, near DuBois drive, is in an almost impassable condition, the worst known in years, numerous automobiles getting stuck in the deep holes, and it has been reported that damage suits are liable unless the official of officials, whose duty is to see that the roads are kept in proper order, remedy the existing condition.

West Harford – Harford fair passed off as usual.  Theodore Stanton, the driver of the Wilmarth large auto truck, won the $5 prize for bringing the largest load of grown people to the fair, there being 36 in the truck and 45, including children. The South Harford Dramatic club gave an entertainment entitled “Friday Afternoon at a District School,” at West Lenox on Friday evening.

Fair Hill, Forest Lake Twp. – Sometimes it rains and then it rains again.  We have had 25.20 inches of rainfall since the first day of April up to the first of September.  One inch means 100 tons to the acre.

Silver Lake – Martin Hogan, for many years one of Silver Lake’s best farmers, has reached the allotted “three score and ten,” and, with the near impossibility to secure farm help [because of the war], advertises his fine farm for sale.  The farm contains 100 acres of friable land, and 41 acres of hemlock timber.  This would seem a splendid opportunity for some young man.

Burnwood/Uniondale – While riding to his work in Uniondale, Thomas Costello, aged 55 years, of Carbondale, was thrown from an automobile and received injuries which proved fatal, while he was being removed to the Emergency hospital in Carbondale.  Costello was employed as a laborer, at Burnwood dam, near Burnwood, and was on his way to work when he was picked up by a motorist, who happened to be traveling in the same direction.

Jackson – Among the 450 eligible young men of our county called to Montrose this week, before the county examining board to complete the quota for army service, the following are from Jackson: M. C. Whitney, Guy Shay, R. L. DeWitt, Emory Schemerhorn, Rev. L. B. Bryden, Harry Benson, D. H. Bonner, H. D. Washburn and E. H. Everett.

Montrose – On Tuesday the James millinery shop was purchased by the Misses Strous, who immediately assumed possession.  This shop has been established for a considerable period of years and has enjoyed a good trade.  Misses Mollie and Margaret Strous will conduct the establishment, Miss Annah James being retained as trimmer. ALSO N. C. Warner was in Scranton on Monday to witness the departure of the Thirteenth Regiment, of which his son, Kenneth R. Warner, is a member, for Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia.

Franklin Twp. – Horace Townsend, of Franklin, has purchased a Chevrolet touring car from L. H. Sprout & Sons.  Mr. Townsend is one of Franklin’s oldest and most progressive farmers and in adopting the automobile as a pleasure and business vehicle he is demonstrating, still further, his lifelong methods of constant advancement.  Ready also for preparedness, he has sown a substantial acreage of spring and winter wheat.

Forest City – The high school ended its first week of the 1917-1918 term, with an enrollment of 109.  In 1912, when the school opened, enrollment was 44.  Of the number enrolled this year, 16 are non-residents.  Some out of town students have not enrolled because they have been unable to secure boarding places. Total enrollment in the high school and in the grades is 1198. ALSO William Burns, one of the best known men of this place, dropped dead while at work in the Clifford mine, about 11 this morning.  He was leaning against a car and fell.  When picked up life was extinct.  His body was removed in the ambulance to his home on North Main Street.  Besides his wife he is survived by children: Mrs. Florence Evans, Binghamton; Mrs. Thomas Burnett, Wilkes-Barre; William, Thomas, Daniel, and Veronica, at home.

200 Years Ago from the Centinel, Montrose, Pa., September 13, 1817.
*DIED—In this Township [Bridgewater] on the night of the 11th inst., Jedadiah Hewet, in the 69th year of his age.
*R. B. LOCKE—Respectfully informs his friends and the public that he has taken a room in the Montrose Hotel, where he intends carrying on the TAYLORING BUSINESS in all its various branches.  He assures those who may please to favor him with their custom that no pains shall be spared to have the work done in the best manner and in the newest fashions and as reasonable as at any shop in the country. Montrose, Sept. 13, 1817.
*NOTICE.  PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY Given, that by order of the Orphan’s Court of the County of Susquehanna, will be sold by public vendue or out-cry, on Thursday the ninth day of October next, at ten o’clock in the forenoon of that day, a certain lot or tract of land, situate in the township of Great Bend & county of Susquehanna, containing one hundred acres be the same more or less, bounded by the Susquehanna River on the East, by land of Ichabod Buck on the South, by wild land on the West and by land of Almon Monson on the North, late the estate of John I. Way, deceased.  The sale will be held on the premises and the terms made known by William Thomson, administrator of said estate. By the Court.  JABEZ  HYDE, Jr. Clerk.
Clerk’s Office, Montrose, September 8th, 1817.
*NOTICE. Taken out of the bar of the subscriber in Montrose on Thursday the 4th inst. a light colored Broad Cloath [cloth] GREAT COAT.  Whoever will return it to me or give information where it may be found shall be rewarded for their trouble. E. FULLER, Montrose, Sept. 10, 1817.

Darren Brown is the mayor of Chambersburg Borough, which is the county seat of Franklin County, Pennsylvania.  Mayor Brown maintains an “official” Facebook page, which he maintains through his own personal efforts outside of the Borough’s computer network.  The Mayor used this Facebook page to discuss a dispute in the Borough over a request to paint a mural on a retaining wall. 

In June 2017, Noel Purdy made a right to know request to the Borough seeking any of Mayor Brown’s emails or Facebook posts concerning the retaining wall controversy.  The Borough responded by forwarding the Mayor’s emails, but did not provide any Facebook posts as the Borough indicated that they had no control or supervision over the Mayor’s “official” Facebook account and that such Facebook posts were not Borough records.

Purdy appeal the denial of the request to Pennsylvania Office of Open Records and argued that the Mayor’s “official” Facebook account was a public record.  During the course of the appeal, the parties stipulated that the Mayor maintained both a “public” and a “private” Facebook account.  As to the “public” Facebook account, the Borough had posted a link to that Facebook account on the Borough’s webpage and listed the “public” Facebook account as a means of contacting the Mayor.  During the appeal, Purdy made clear that he was only seeking copies of the posts that were made on the Mayor’s “public” Facebook account – not anything posted to the Mayor’s “private” Facebook account.

Records that are possessed by a public agency are presumed public unless specifically exempted under the Right to Know Law or protected for some other lawful reason.  Under the law, the Borough had the burden of demonstrating that the Mayor’s “public” Facebook page was not a public record subject to disclosure.  The Borough’s argument was pretty simple: it did not possess the records as Facebook is a private entity, the Borough had no part in the creation of the Facebook account, and the Borough did not administer it in any manner so as to allow for retention of Facebook “posts.”  The Borough also noted that its office computers block employees from even using Facebook in connection with their employment, i.e., the Mayor was using his personal computer to make the Facebook posts.

As to whether the Facebook posts constituted a public record, the Office of Open Records noted that there is a two part test: (1) did the Facebook “post” document a transaction or activity of the Borough; and (2) was the Facebook post created in connection with Borough business.  In this regard, the Office of Open Records stated: “It is immaterial whether or not the Borough has oversight over the Facebook page or authorized the Mayor to maintain such an account.  It is also immaterial that the Borough’s computer network blocks the use of Facebook.”  The fact that the Mayor’s Facebook page was linked to the Borough’s website with the words “Find the Mayor on Facebook” was particularly significant as the Borough itself was encouraging people to use Facebook as a public tool to access the Mayor.   The Mayor’s Facebook page also contained discussions regarding Borough business as well as additional contact information for other Borough representatives. 

Based upon these facts, the Office of Open Records determined that the Mayor’s “public” Facebook page was a public record subject to the Right to Know Law.  The Office of Open Records concluded that the “Facebook posts and associated comments, including messages sent via Facebook messenger, regarding the mural” were public records and that the Borough had to produce those records within 30 days.  The Borough has the right to appeal this determination to the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County. 

The interesting impact of this decision is the manner in which public officials now use social media as a communication tool.  If the Mayor had met with his constituents individually or collectively and made verbal comments to them or if he had called them on the telephone and spoken with them, there would be no “public” records subject to disclosure.  Because the Mayor used a social media platform that he designated as his “official” page, and the Borough endorsed its use, the Mayor’s communications with his constituents through social media posts became “public” records” subject to disclosure under the Right to Know Law.

“There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank,  office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.” -Andrew Carnegie

You have faithfully purchased raffle tickets, attended many, varied events over several months and years. Now is your chance to view the New Main Library Location and see what all of your generosity has built. Even though, as with any new “House”, there are still odds and ends to be completed, we want extend a huge “Thank-you” to all who have made this idea come to fruition. We also hope that you will enjoy the new facility for many years to come.

You are invited to attend the New Library’s Open House which will be on Saturday, September 16th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM., at 458 High School Road, Montrose.

There will be a multitude of activities for all ages to enjoy. They will include a story time, crafts, locally and nationally enjoyed “Susquehanna Rocks” (rock painting), building block challenges, face painting and so much more. As an added bonus, e-book training sessions will be offered. Live Entertainment will be by “Mountain Aire Brass”. A Luncheon will also be served, starting at 11:00 AM.

Please plan to come and tour the 21,000 square foot Susquehanna County Library and see how it will answer your Family’s needs and those of local students, community and businesses. We hope to see you on the 16th at the Open House!

As the leaves start to turn their Autumnal hues, I leave you with this thought:

“As a child, my number one best friend was the librarian in my grade school. I actually believed all those books belonged to her.” -Erma Bombeck

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ENJOY!

Is it too early to get a flu shot?

Mike stopped by the pharmacy and asked the pharmacist if he could get a flu shot. “Or is it too early in the season?” he wanted to know. The pharmacist explained that there are a number of factors at play in determining when to get immunized against influenza.  Even though it is still summer, pharmacies and supermarkets are beckoning people to get your shot now. What are the advantages of getting a flu shot so soon?

Availability. The influenza vaccine is a made-on-demand business. The viruses it protects against change all the time, so the killed viruses in the vaccine must be changed too. That is why the flu vaccine is reformulated every year, and why flu shots need to be given annually. Vaccines left over from the 2016-7 season cannot be used for the 2017-8 season because the strains used to make the vaccine have changed. Also, vaccine manufacturers make only as much as countries say they want for that year. Once they deliver their orders, the manufacturers cannot make more for 2 reasons. First, it would take too long. The manufacturers made this winter’s vaccine over a period of weeks during the spring and summer of 2017 based on the strains they predicted to be most likely prevalent during the 2017-8 season. Second, the manufacturers are presently focused on preparing vaccines for the winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, shortages of the vaccine in the Northern Hemisphere are possible as in 2009. That year’s flu pandemic was a surprise to vaccine researchers because it included the rare H1N1 influenza virus, a strain manufacturers did not include in that year’s shot. 

The 2009 flu pandemic or “swine flu” was the second of the 2 pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus; the first of them being the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic which killed up to 100 million people worldwide. The death toll was epic – 3% to 5% of the world population wiped out – and there was no vaccine at the time. Even with the vaccine available in 2009, people panicked and demanded more flu vaccines than ever before. Because of the excess demand and healthy adults often had to forfeit their vaccine so it could be given to those at extreme risk: the very young, very old, and very infirm. 

Virus strain is also a consideration as to when to get a flu shot. There are 2 groups of influenza: A and B. The A strains can cause global pandemics, whereas the B flu strains cause severe illness but they do not produce large outbreaks. In Northern Hemisphere flu seasons, A starts early, causes most of the cases and then winds down. Most late-season flu is caused by B strains. A series of recent studies revealed that flu vaccinations are not lasting as long as doctors thought. After 3 or 4 months, the effectiveness of the shot drops dramatically. If you get it too early, you may be protected from the early A strains and lose coverage later in the season when the B viruses emerge more vigorously.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older before the end of October, if possible. The bottom line is to get a flu shot whenever you can. It is a gamble as even in the best years, the vaccine is only 70% effective. When the TV weather guy says there is a 70% chance of rain, do not be surprised if it rains. If 10 people get the shot, 7 will sidestep the flu, and the other 3 may have a milder case. The pharmacist gave Mike his shot and he was off. Because as the pharmacist told him, the only thing predictable about the flu is its unpredictability.

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