Forest City – The high school graduated a class of twenty Friday night. Those graduating were: Anthony Planishek, Mary Yanchitis, John Callaghan, Anita McCumber, Thomas Edwards, Joseph Muchitz, Liguori Fleming, Patrick Sheridan, Mae Watkins, Daisy Muchitz, Edna Taylor, Edward Hullah, Marion Taylor, Claude Horton, Rose Telban, Herbert McCumber, Mabel Jones, James Wolfert, Marion Carr, Harriet Curtis. ALSO John Opeka died at Emergency hospital, Carbondale, of a complication of diseases. He was 60 years of age and a native of Austria, but had resided here for a number of years. The following children survive: Mrs. Anthony Saver, Mrs. John Polonic, Mrs. Louis Benchine, Mrs. John Yanezec, and a son, Anthony, who is in the United States army.

Uniondale – Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Tinker and Miss Edith Smith attended the dedication of a new Free Methodist church at Melrose on Sunday.

Clifford – The Supervisors of this township unloaded a new stone crusher at the O. & W. depot at Forest City. It is a No. 3 Champion and guaranteed to crush from 80 to 100 tons per day, and will be put in use at once to remedy some of the bad holes in the roads.

Herrick Center – The supervisor is doing good work on our highways, using a tractor engine in place of horse power.

Thompson – Horatio Allen and family, of Newark, NJ, registered at the Jefferson House and remained overnight. Mr. Allen drove the first locomotive that was ever run in this country, the famous "Stourbridge Lion," across the Lackawaxen at Honesdale, and was one of the engineers who laid out the railroad and canal of the Delaware and Hudson Company.

Harford – A new concrete bridge is being built on the state road, near Mr. Flint's at South Harford. ALSO Do you hear the "whistle" blow? The saw mill is running these days and four of the men board at Bail Peck's.

Susquehanna – Hon. George A. Post, of New York, has accepted an invitation to deliver the address to the Susquehanna High School, June 25th.

St. Joseph – Serenus R. O'Connell, of St. Francis Seminary, Loretta, PA, is spending his vacation with his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth O'Connell. ALSO Cards have been received announcing the marriage of Miss Anna Quinlivan to William Bailey, of Rochester.

Montrose – A car load of re-enforcing steel has been received by the Coon Construction Co., which is doing the paving here, and it is likely that the work of mixing and laying the concrete will be taken up the first of the week. This part of the work, after the grading and draining have been finished, goes along quite fast. After the concrete is laid it is 12 to 14 days before the street can be used for traffic and work will most likely start on South Main Street. The prospect of having the streets open again, but with attractive pavement, instead of expanses of mud holes and hummocks, is a highly pleasing matter. During the week large iron pipes have been laid at several points on Church St., to take care of the water.

Fair Hill, Forest Lake Twp. – G. L. Shelp lost his horse last week and that leaves him no way to get to the stores or to cultivate.

Auburn 4 Corners – LeRoy Woodruff and James Bishop sat up with Abe Mericle last Tuesday night. He is very sick. ALSO In Auburn Twp., Everett Carney, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Carney, left for Camp Meade. He writes that so far he has enjoyed the experience. An Auburn correspondent states that although the only son of a farmer of advanced age, he did not claim deferred classification, which he could doubtless have secured.

Little Meadows – J. E. Hickey has won the honor of champion runner of the borough, with A. D. Brown as a close second, on a five-rod dash. Jesse Newman officiated as umpire. ALSO "Mickey" Reardon is speeding around town on his new Harley Davison, while the young ladies are waiting patiently in turn to try out the comforts of the side car.

Gelatt – A young lady from Ararat was in town Saturday night giving an exhibition in turning an automobile around.

News Brief: The Civil War pension increase bill was passed by the Senate last week. It amends the house bill by increasing the minimum monthly pension to those who served 90 days from $25 to $30, and provides pensions of $32 to $40 per month according to length of service for those 72 years or older.

Old Methods of Advertising: While looking over some old papers in the Avery residence on Monument Square, Montrose, an old "Register" of 1840 was found and an advertisement was thought to be worthy of republication. It mirrors in a slight degree the conditions of that period and is indicative of the temper of the stalwart men of that time. Here is the advertisement and its sarcastic answer: Ran Away. Ran away from the subscriber on Sunday the 6th inst. an indented apprentice to the Tanning and Currying business, by the name of SAMUEL NUTTING. Said apprentice is about 20 years and 6 months of age, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, light hair, rather stout built. He wore away a black broadcloth coat and striped Buckskin cassimere pantaloons, white vest, black hat. This is to forbid all persons harbouring, trusting or employing said apprentice under the strict penalty of the law. S. P. AVERY. Dundaff, Sept. 7, 1840. And Samuel's answer…."Ran away" yourself!!! WHEREAS, S. P. Avery of Dundaff, Tanner, Currier, Shoemaker, Harness maker, horse jockey, etc., has advertised me as a Runaway, I take this method of setting forth the true facts of the case. Now as every body who is acquainted with him knows, he is but a poor workman & the undersigned took legal advice when he left Avery, because Avery could not, and would not, as he had bound himself to do, learn him the trade.  This is to caution any person desirous of learning either the trade of Tanning, Currying, Shoemaker, Harness making or horse jockeying, etc., from applying to him "under the strict penalty of "getting sucked in," as he is a bungler at them all; though he follows them occasionally. He was 27 year old, last grass, is tall, spare, and has brown hair, and has an uncommon large mouth. He wears a grey coat that used to belong to me, and pantaloons of the same piece. SAMUEL NUTTING. Montrose, Sept. 16, 1840. N. B. Avery did not forbid any person from harboring and trusting me on his account, for he knew there was no danger of that.

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Gazette, June 13, 1818.

*MILFORD & OWEGO TURNPIKE. Notice is hereby given to the subscribers for stock in the Milford & Owego Turnpike Road company, that agreeable to several resolutions of the Board of Managers, the whole of the installments have become due and payable. Those who have not paid are requested to make payment to the subscriber at Montrose by the 15th day of July next; rigorous measures will be taken immediately after that day to enforce collection from all such as shall be delinquent. By order of the Board. PUTNAM CATLIN, Treas'r. Montrose, June 4, 1818. N. B. Contracts are made for finishing the whole distance of this important road the present season, (except about ten miles) and the work is now progressing with a fair prospect of its completion.

Last week, the United States Supreme Court decided the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd., v. Colorado Civil Rights Division.  The case involved the question of whether a Christian baker could be penalized by the government for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple where the baker raised a conscientious objection to performing the work based upon his religious opposition to same-sex marriage.  Under Colorado law, it is unlawful for any business to deny service based upon sexual orientation.

The Colorado Civil Rights Division rejected the baker's claim that the First Amendment protected his decision to refuse to bake and decorate a wedding cake for an event that violated his sincere religious beliefs.  Indeed, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission seemingly took the position that the First Amendment provided no protection whatsoever – and it was this cavalier approach to the First Amendment protections that offended the justices.

In terms of voting, the case was not close as it was a 7-2 vote.  The justices focused upon the open disdain and hostility that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had displayed when addressing the baker's religious protection claim.  Justice Kennedy, writing for the 7-justice majority, noted that one of the Commission's members told the baker that he could believe whatever he wanted to believe but that he was prohibited from acting on those religious beliefs when came to doing business in Colorado.  At another point, another Commission member referred to the baker's religious objection as "one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use."

Justice Kennedy concluded that the Commission's use of such openly hostile language attacked the baker's faith on two grounds: (1) calling his honestly held religious conviction as being despicable; and (2) characterizing religious doctrine as merely rhetoric.  Justice Kennedy also noted that other bakers had been permitted to refuse to bake cakes containing messages that opposed same-sex marriage where the bakers found the message conveyed by the cake to be personally offensive, i.e., cakes with messages or images that were derogatory to same-sex marriage.  Thus, Justice Kennedy found that the Commission applied a double-standard in allowing some bakers to refuse to bake cakes with messages that opposed same-sex marriage while penalizing the one baker who refused to bake a wedding cake based upon his religious opposition to same-sex marriage.  Thus, the 7-justice majority concluded that the baker was denied fair treatment by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and reversed the Commission's determination that the baker had engaged in unlawful discrimination.

The justices, however, avoided making a broader ruling as to whether the baker's religious views were a sufficient legal justification to support his refusal to bake the wedding cake.  Justice Kennedy indicated that "it can be assumed that a member of the clergy who objects to gay marriage on moral and religious grounds could not be compelled to perform the ceremony without denial of his or her right to free exercise of religion."  But Justice Kennedy also noted that the ability to utilize a religious objection to providing services for a same-sex wedding becomes more problematic as different forms of services are considered: Justice Kennedy cautioned as follows: "Yet if the exception were not confined, then a long list of persons who provide goods and services for marriages and weddings might refuse to do so for gay persons, thus resulting in community-wide stigma inconsistent with the history and dynamics of civil rights laws that assure equal access to goods, services, and public accommodations."

The Supreme Court did not annunciate any bright line test as to how court should resolve these cases in the future.  Justice Kennedy only cautioned that "these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue respect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market."

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." ~Gertrude Jekyll

Congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2018! May you never fill the hunger for knowledge, and always be on the quest for more. Y-O-U are our future and we are all proud of your accomplishments. Never forget that your local library branch is here to help and guide you along life's highway.

Have you registered your children for the Summer Reading Program at your local library location? Registration begins on June 12th. The program's theme for this year is "Libraries Rock" and will be filled with stories, crafts, and lots of other adventures and surprises. It's a sure cure for the dreaded "Summertime Blues".

If you are unable to visit your local library branch, please call them—they will be more than happy to help you register. The phone numbers are: Montrose - 570-278-1881; Hallstead/Great Bend - 570-879-2227; Susquehanna - 570-853-4106; Pratt Library/New Milford - 570-465-3098.

The 10th Annual Library Lottery drawing will be held on August 18th, from noon until 4:00pm at the Montrose VFW, 16972 State Route 706. This is your chance to win big bucks and help the Library Building Fund at the same time. Price is $100.00 per ticket and only 2000 tickets will be sold. Each ticket is eligible for every prize. Remember, you can't win if you don't play. For a listing of the 2017 winners, please go to the library website: www.susqcolibrary.org.

With the 39th annual Blueberry Festival scheduled for Friday and Saturday, August 3rd and 4th this year, donations will be accepted for the White Elephant Sale starting on June 19th—and continuing until July 26th – from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Have you been doing some spring cleaning and found items you no longer use or want? Why not donate them for the sale? One of the highlights of the festival is the White Elephant Sale, where everything from jewelry to pottery, collectibles to dishes and so much more can be found. A new drop-off location has been established—Lake Montrose Mall, 16749 State Route 706, in the space next to Smokin' Joe's Tobacco Shop. Please look for the signs. Please do not leave items outside of the building. We are not able to accept appliances, electronics, or exercise equipment. We are also unable to accept clothing—please consider donating clothing articles to Interfaith. If you have books to donate, please drop them off at your local library location. We wish to thank Rudy Scarfalloto for his generosity in allowing us to use his space for the White Elephant donations.

As I pour myself another cup of tea and dive back into an exciting book chapter on this gray day, I leave you with this thought:

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the blue sky, is by no means waste of time." ~ John Lubbock, "Recreation," The Use of Life, 1894

Last Day of School—Buttercups—Family Vacations

ENJOY!!

The lunch that kills – literally

Pharmacists usually eat lunch on the fly. Patients are waiting for their medications. Phones are ringing. There is little or no time to have a sit-down meal, let alone to eat healthily. Yet, one must refuel the machine. That is why the pharmacist has his lunch delivered each day to the pharmacy. Yes sir, a cheeseburger, French fries (supersize it!) and a Diet Pepsi. The lunch of champions?

As a healthcare professional, the pharmacist is always giving advice about nutrition, weight, cholesterol, and dieting. Yet, he is his own worst patient. Hypertensive, overweight, risky cholesterol levels. Could his diet be to blame? The World Health Organization has determined that dietary factors account for at least 30% of all cancers in Western countries. Studies done at Harvard Medical School show that daily meat eaters have approximately 3 times the colon cancer risk, compared to those who rarely eat meat. Burgers can be high in sodium, with a double hamburger with mayo containing 1,081 milligrams. A high-sodium diet can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Diet soda does not fare much better. A report published in the journal Diabetes Care found that people who drank diet soda every day had a 67% greater risk of developing diabetes. Why? The artificial sweeteners in diet sodas raise blood sugar levels higher than sugary sodas do.

However, the greatest mortal sin one can commit nutritionally is indulging in French fries. President Thomas Jefferson is credited with serving the first American French fry in 1802 at the White House. People have been loving them ever since, especially the pharmacist. A recent 8-year study of over 4,400 people has revealed a link between frequent eating of French fries and an increased risk of premature death. The study analyzed the dietary habits of people ages 45 to 79 and focused on how often participants ate potatoes — fried or not. Researchers found that people who consumed fried potatoes — whether French fries, tater tots or hash browns — at least twice a week could more than double their risk of premature death. Those who ate potatoes that were not fried did not have this risk.

Most likely, the people who died during the study did not die from eating French fries alone. Most likely, the habit meant they also indulged in other high-risk eating behaviors and had an overall unhealthy lifestyle. Why are they bad for us? French fries are extremely high in fat, oil, and starch, and so they can cause obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart ailments. French fries can also cause cancer. The study's research team has found that a substance called acrylamide is formed when potatoes are fried. Acrylamide is produced when starch-rich foods like potatoes are cooked in oil at a high temperature. This substance is a cancer-causing agent, according to the US government health agencies. French fries that are oven-baked do not form acrylamide. Thus, fried potatoes can cause the development of tumors in the lungs, stomach, thyroid glands, and other organs. This is not the happiest of Happy Meals. 

Do you want some good news? Eat your vegetables! Green vegetables should be part of a well-rounded diet that also includes whole grains, fruits, and lean proteins. Vegetables contain fiber, which helps you feel full for a longer period and aids in reducing hunger spikes between meals. Vegetable eaters have a lower risk of colon cancer and heart disease. As for the pharmacist, it is OK to have an occasional cheeseburger, fries, and a soda, but not every day. Practice what you preach!

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