Home → Columnists ( March 25, 2026 )
Geese are flying northward, with flocks being reported almost daily; the robins, song sparrows and phoebes are again singing on bare branches; boys are playing marbles and snow drifts are melting into streamlets and all nature indicates a return of spring.
Forest City - The town has been in the grip of a mild form of influenza for the past two weeks. Most every house has had the unwelcome visitor and in some it has held as a victim nearly every member of the family. While not in the virulent form that visited this vicinity during the war when the high school building was turned into a hospital, it has been distressing to its victims, beginning with a fever and accompanied by aches and pains. The doctors and druggists have been exceedingly busy.
Susquehanna - Recently, four deer were seen on the streets. Monday night a deer leaped through a window in the Erie Round House and scampered across the turn table and out an open-door. ALSO Robert Roberts, who recently returned from Florida where he spent several weeks working as an auto mechanic, drove from Miami to Susquehanna in just six days. He made the trip in a Ford car at an expense of $1.20 for car repairs.
Choconut - The Regan brothers are ill with flu. The Stanley boys are helping them while they are sick. The mail man on this route, Thos. V. Byrne, is also sick. ALSO The death of Miss Teresa Sweeney, 26 years old, occurred March 18 at the home of her parents, Mr. & Mrs. John Sweeney.
Lenoxville - The entertainment entitled, “The Man Haters,” given at the church, was a success, socially and financially. Proceeds $79.
South Gibson - Gaylord Pritchard, son of Mr. & Mrs. F. M. Pritchard, of this place, and Miss Effa Marietta Jackson, of Harford, were united in marriage on March 15, at Utica, NY.
New Milford - Mrs. Helen Walworth VanCott, aged 27 years old, passed away at her home, Sunday morning, March 21. Besides her husband, Homer, she is survived by a five weeks’ old daughter, Marjorie; son, Bruce; stepson, Kermit; parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Walworth; sister, Mrs. Clarence Summers, of Johnson City; two brothers, Paul and Ray Walworth. Burial was made in the New Milford cemetery.
Montrose - L. A. Perron and Mrs. Hattie Stone, elderly Montrose people, were quietly married on Monday. Their desire to keep their marriage as secret as possible resulted in a number of friends organizing a serenading party that evening, and all passed off as “merry as a wedding bell.” ALSO The Symphony Male Chorus has accepted the invitation of the executive committee of the Associated Glee Clubs of America, to participate in the joint concert at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia. It is intended to have 2,000 trained male voices sing in concert, on Nov. 27, under direction of some noted chorus leader.
Brooklyn - The Brooklyn Musical Club was most pleasantly entertained on the afternoon of March 17, at the home of Mrs. Wm. S. Tiffany, with Mrs. Hunter and Miss Alderson as assisting hostesses. It was voted to send delegates to the State Federation to be held in Philadelphia. One of the songs presented by Mrs. Gere was, “That Old Irish Mother of Mine.”
East Rush - Hermon Hollister is working in the mines, at Scranton, at present, but expects to return to his farm here as soon as spring opens up. ALSO Mrs. John Wood has recently adopted a baby girl from a family at Clark’s Summit. The mother died when the infant was only ten days old.
South Auburn - The remains of Mrs. B. L. Taylor, who died 25 years ago, was taken from the South Auburn cemetery and placed by the side of her husband, in the Lacey Street cemetery.
South Montrose - Ellsworth Carey, agent for the Erie radio, is busy installing them in homes here.
Binghamton - The Stickley-Brandt Furniture Co. has filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy. It is contended that 17 suits were pending against the company and the petition was filed to conserve the company’s assets. This company was, at one time, the leading furniture establishment in Binghamton, but for some years has been losing prestige. [Born in Wisconsin, the Stickley brothers were sent to work for their uncle, Schuyler Brandt, in Brandt, Susquehanna County, PA, where he ran a chair factory. By 1874 Gustav was the manager of the company. In 1883 they moved to Binghamton and opened Stickley Brothers Company, as an outlet for Brandt’s furniture. In 1904 brother, Charles became a partner with Schuyler Brandt and the firm was called Stickley & Brandt Chair Co. In 1909 Charles introduced his first line of Arts and Crafts furniture. By 1919 it had failed. Apparently it was still running in 1926, when it went into bankruptcy.] Information compiled from on-line sources.
Dimock - The surveyors have finished their work here. The roads still remain in a bad condition. A large gang of men are at work today, trying to shovel out the snow, hoping to be able to drive cars after several days work. The road was cleared already from Tunkhannock to Springville, yet they have not had the enormous amount of deep snow to contend with that the people around Dimock have had.
Thompson - A new line of spring hats at the millinery store this week.
North Bridgewater - Murl Strang is driving a span of grey horses, recently purchased from W. A. Harrington, of Montrose.
Fair Hill, Forest Lake Twp. - The mail carrier, on RFD 2, was over the hill the 16th of March, the first time since the third of February.
Honor Roll of Revolutionary War Veterans: ANDREW HANDRICK - Pensioner. Received allowance of $96 annually. Enlisted from Washington, Conn. in 1776 and served one year as private under Capt. Joseph Hoyt and Col. Charles Webb. Engaged in battles of Long Island, White Plains and Harlem. Wounded in leg. His grave stone inscription, in Stone Street cemetery, Forest Lake Township, reads: “In memory of Andrew Handrick, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who died October 15, 1819, aged 67 years.” His wife, Elizabeth, died Nov. 19, 1834, aged 89 years. They were natives of Litchfield County, Conn.
News Brief: Plan to plant a tree. The day designated as Arbor Day, in this latitude, is Friday, April 23. The beauty of a town, the delight of home property, the attractiveness of a highway, is enhanced greatly by numerous, well arranged, properly cared for shrubbery, shade and fruit trees.
We are much pleased to announce the passage, by the Legislature, of the Susquehanna railroad company. It will be of immense benefit to the people of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Luzerne counties, by bringing capital into their country, in exchange for a portion of the exhaustless beds of coal. We have said before, let the north only have a chance of getting to market, and their industry and ingenuity will turn their resources to the best advantage. Penn Intel.
On November 11, 2022, two Pennsylvania State Troopers were on patrol in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. At around 2:00am, they observed a vehicle approach them from behind without lowering its high beams which impacted on the ability of the trooper driving the patrol car to see clearly. Then, the operator of the motor vehicle decided to pass the patrol car - going approximately 70 miles per hour is a 55 mile per hour zone. Guess what happened next? Bingo - the troopers initiated the patrol car’s lights and siren and pulled over the offending vehicle.
As the troopers approached the vehicle, they noticed that there was only one occupant, the driver, who was moving and gyrating from side to side. When the troopers reached the point of contacting the driver, James Brooks, he continued to move about and would not sit still. When questioned as to what he was doing, Brooks contended that he was looking for his wallet. The troopers told him to put his hands on the wheel and remain still. The troopers then noticed that Brooks’s pants were unzipped, his belt was undone, and the pants were pulled down to his thighs. One of the troopers stepped back and looked through one of the rear windows and was able to see a handgun under the driver-side seat.
Brooks was ordered out of the motor vehicle and the firearm was seized. The troopers discovered that it was loaded with a round in the chamber - and Brooks explained that the firearm belonged to his wife. Brooks did not have a concealed carry permit that would have permitted him to carry the loaded firearm in his motor vehicle, and it was further discovered that Brooks had felony convictions that prohibited Brooks from possessing any firearm whatsoever. Brooks was charged with a felony offense of unlawfully possessing any firearm.
Brooks filed a motion to suppress the evidence contending that the troopers improperly seized the firearm from his motor vehicle without a search warrant. The trial court denied the motion to suppress concluding that the firearm had been in plain view when the trooper first observed it so now search warrant was necessary. The matter proceeded to trial, Brooks was convicted, and he was sentenced to a period of incarceration of 8 ½ to 17 years of incarceration in a state correctional facility.
Brooks appealed to the Superior Court reiterating his argument that the firearm had been unlawfully seized without a search warrant. Brooks conceded that the plain view doctrine creates an exception to the search warrant requirement but argued that the plain view doctrine did not apply in this situation because there was nothing about a firearm, standing alone, that suggests criminality, i.e., people can lawfully possess firearms.
The Superior Court agreed “that the mere presence of a firearm, without more, is not suggestive of criminal activity.” The record, however, demonstrated that the troopers did not seize the firearm merely because it was a firearm; rather, the troopers concluded that the firearm was probably criminally possessed based upon the other circumstances that occurred during the traffic stop. In affirming the trial court’s refusal to suppress the firearm, the Superior Court concluded: [T]he troopers did not base their determination on the mere presence of the firearm in Brooks’s vehicle. Rather, the troopers’ decision was based on additional observations, including Brooks’s furtive movements, the location of the firearm on the floorboard, Brooks’s extreme nervousness, and Brooks’s pants being unbuttoned and down to his thighs. Under these circumstances, the incriminating nature of the firearm was immediately apparent and thus ... the plain view doctrine was satisfied.”
Good day dear hearts, I love you. As Christians enter the solemn journey of Lent, our attention naturally turns toward the cross, toward the final hours of Jesus’ earthly life and the words He spoke as He hung suspended between heaven and earth. These seven sayings, recorded across the four Gospels, are not random fragments of speech. They are windows into the heart of God. They reveal what matters most to Christ, not only in His dying moments, but for our living ones today. Lent invites us to slow down, to examine our hearts, and to draw near to God with honesty and humility. There is no better place to do that than at the foot of the cross, listening again to the words Jesus spoke as He gave Himself for the world.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Luke 23:34. The first word from the cross is not condemnation but mercy. Jesus looks upon those who betrayed Him, mocked Him, and nailed Him to the wood and He intercedes for them. Forgiveness is not an afterthought of the Gospel; it is its opening note. In a world quick to judge and slow to forgive, Jesus calls us to a different way. Lent becomes a season to ask, is there someone I need to forgive? Is there bitterness I need to release?
“Today you will be with Me in paradise,” Luke 23:43. A dying criminal, with nothing to offer but a plea for mercy, receives a promise of eternal life. This moment reminds us that salvation is not earned; it is given. Christ meets us not at our best but at our worst and still offers hope. For anyone who feels unworthy, too far gone, or spiritually exhausted, this word is a reminder that grace is always nearer than we think.
“Woman, behold your son... Behold your mother,” John 19:26-27. Even in agony, Jesus sees the grief of His mother and the loneliness of His disciple John. He forms a new family at the foot of the cross. This is more than a tender moment; it is a declaration that the community of believers is meant to be a place of care, belonging and shared responsibility. Lent invites us to consider: *Whom has God placed in my life to love, support, or encourage?
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46. This cry of anguish is the most haunting of the seven. Jesus quotes Psalm 22, entering fully into the depths of human suffering. He experiences the weight of sin, the silence of heaven and the loneliness of abandonment. For anyone who has ever felt forgotten by God, this word assures us that Christ has walked that valley too. Our faith is not sustained by pretending everything is fine, but by trusting that God meets us even in the dark.
“I thirst,” John 19:28. The One who offered living water now experiences human thirst. This simple statement reminds us of the full humanity of Jesus. He knows physical pain, emotional strain and spiritual longing. Lent calls us to acknowledge our own thirsts, our need for meaning, for healing, for God Himself. Christ’s thirst points us to the deeper truth that only God can satisfy the human soul.
“It is finished,” John 19:30. This is not a cry of defeat but a declaration of victory. The work the Father gave Him to do revealing God’s love, bearing the weight of sin, opening the way to salvation is complete. Nothing can be added to it. Nothing needs to be. In a culture that constantly demands more achievement, more effort, more striving, Jesus reminds us that the most important work has already been done. Lent becomes a time to rest in the finished work of Christ.
“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit,” Luke 23:46. The final word is one of trust. Jesus dies as He lived, in complete surrender to the Father. This is not resignation but confidence. It is the trust of a Son who knows the Father’s heart. For us, this becomes a model of faith: to place our lives, our fears, our futures and even our deaths into God’s hands.
Taken together, the seven last sayings form a portrait of Christ’s heart: forgiving, welcoming, caring, suffering, longing, completing and trusting. They reveal a Savior who meets us in every corner of our humanity and invites us into a deeper relationship with God. During Lent, these words call us to reflection. Forgiveness. Are we holding onto wounds that Christ is asking us to release? Grace. Do we believe God’s mercy is truly for us, even in our failures? Community. Are we caring for the people God has placed in our lives? Honesty. Are we willing to bring our pain and questions to God? Longing. Do we recognize our deepest thirsts and bring them to Christ? Rest. Are we living as though the work of salvation is finished? Trust. Are we placing our lives into God’s hands with confidence? The cross is not merely a historical event; it is an invitation. An invitation to return, to repent, to rest and to renew our relationship with God. As we journey through Lent, may these seven last sayings draw us closer to the One who spoke them and to the life He offers through His death and resurrection. God bless.
O Lord, we ask your blessings and mercies in our little town. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.