Columnists

Dimock – On account of the big snow storm there is but little travel, and much of that is being done through fields, as the main roads are blocked in many places. Consequently, there is but little doing and little news. [This comment about sums up the news for this week. Snow removal relied heavily on manual labor or horse-drawn equipment.]

New Milford – The state road between Montrose and the Lackawanna Trail at Summit Bridge, a distance of about 10 miles, has been blocked for a week, ending tonight. Heavy drifts, some twelve to fifteen feet deep, are reported in places. Two snowplows and tractors operated by the state highway employees were put out of business, but yesterday Superintendent Morrin, who was at Heart Lake working towards Montrose, reported that he hoped to have the road open today.

Montrose – A unique wager grew out of an innocent conversation at Hotel Donovan as to how far and quickly a person could walk a distance in deep snow. Harry Kilts, dispenser of many household remedies and extracts, and familiarly known as "Doc," made the venture that he could walk to South Montrose – about two and one-half miles – that morning, in one hour. He was immediately taken up by Ben Wruble, well-known stock buyer, and the wager was on. A South Montrose store was notified to be on the lookout for the pedestrian and the correct time on watches was verified, and "Doc" set out. He made the distance in 54 1/2 minutes, which is considered by expert walkers as wonderful time, considering the depth of the snow.

Brooklyn – Owing to the heavy snowfall, on Wednesday, only one of the school sleighs was able to bring the children in from the districts, hence the attendance was small on Thursday and Friday.

Clifford – Because of the snow storm, falling to a depth of 18 inches with drifts reaching enormous heights, the milk had to be drawn with horses and sleighs to Carbondale, where trucks were waiting to carry it to Scranton, 214 cans in all.

Little Meadows – In spite of the severe storm and intense piles of snow, the traffic in this vicinity was tied up but for a very short time, owing to the fact that everyone got out and did his part in re-opening the roads.

Birchardville – Men have been busy in all directions clearing the roads of drifts that piled up during the storm. The mails have been tried up for two days. The Birchardville and Griffis Hill schools have been closed for the same time. AND Anna May Dayton, little daughter of Mr. & Mrs. F. W. Dayton, is ill with measles.

Thompson – Alexander Rounds, of this place, who has been calling on Montrose friends, keeps track of the snowfall. He gives us the following record for January and February. Feb. 4th, 29 inches of snow fell; Feb. 6, 2 inches; In January, 15 inches, or a total since the first of the year of 46 inches. With our 15 inch snowfall the 10th of October, it would run for the winter something over five feet. All in all, however, it has been a fairly decent winter from an atmospheric and climatic point of view. If the miners had been working we would all have enjoyed it better.

Rush – Mr. Powers, of Elmira, has been "storm stayed" since the deep snow at Rush.

Forest City – The dance conducted by Local Union #1035, United Mine Workers of America in the borough hall for the benefit of the striking miners, was a success, both socially and financially. There were over 200 people in attendance, The music was furnished by Masky's orchestra. It is estimated that $100 will be added to the relief fund which is considered a handsome sum considering the depression of this region. ALSO Vandling was given the benefit of the doubt Tuesday evening and evened the basketball game with Forest City, 24-23. It was a tight game from first to last. During last three minutes of play, Vandling decided that the game should be changed and accordingly started to pay pushball.

Herrick Center – Russell L. Craft left for Urbana, Illinois, to resume his duties as instructor in the English Department of the University of Illinois.

Franklin Township – J. J. Murray, of this place, tells that his father, James Murray, who is 86 years of age, is in quite feeble health, incident to his many years. He came to this country from Ireland when a young man, being accompanied by Peter Mahon, now deceased, and father of John and Leo Mahon, of Montrose. They came to Montrose to see John Doyle, who came from the same town in Ireland that they did. On their way by stage from Alford Station on the Lackawanna railroad, they met Azur Lathrop, who hired them to work for him. Both men liked the country and remained here. Mr. Murray is a fine type of our "old men" and it is a pleasure to meet and talk with him.

Uniondale – This place was visited by one of the worst snow storms in years. Some of the drifts were many feet high. Raymond Bloxham was hired to plow the streets and he certainly did a fine job.

Susquehanna – Clifton Potter, aged 28 years, a Susquehanna young man, was killed by inhaling monoxide fumes from a running gasoline motor in a garage in that place. He had been working on an automobile, the door of the garage being open, and it is supposed the wind blew the door shut. Not realizing his danger, he continued work and was found by Arthur Kishbaugh, in whose garage he was at work, lifeless. He was night engineer in the back shop of the Erie. He is survived by his wife, whom he recently married; three sisters and one brother.

Alford – Seventy-eight passengers came up from Alford on the Lackawanna train Monday morning. Forty passengers were left at the station there because the combined passenger and baggage car could not hold more. These were brought up later by the "flanger" engine, with a car attached. Thus "old time" passenger traffic was brought back, due to the bus lines not being in operation, on account of the snow blocking the Montrose and Lackawanna Trails.

Harford – Japhet Richardson, a life-long resident of North Harford, died in the hospital in Binghamton, Saturday morning. His body will be brought to Harford for burial.

News Brief: This county shows 690 farmers have running water in their residences or 20% of the farm owners. Seventeen percent have bathrooms.

Mrs. Homer B. Johnson, Montrose DAR, compiled an Honor Roll of Revolutionary Soldiers of Susquehanna County. From time to time, with space allowed, their records will be recorded here.

PUTNAM CATLIN – Pensioner. His application for pension gives his rank as fifer and drum major. Married Polly Sutton. Had children: Charles, Henry, Clara, Juliette, George, Eliza, James and Mary, who married Asa Hartshorne, and died in Hamilton, NY, June 9, 1848, aged 47; Julius and Lynde died young; Sarah, Richard, John & Francis P. REF. Woodruff's Genealogical Register of town of Litchfield, CT, from which town he enlisted to serve in Connecticut Continental Lines. He was a man prominent in the pubic affairs of this county in its early history. His son, George, was an artist of note, and an author.

CAPT. ELI CATLIN – Pensioner. Served in Connecticut Continental lines. Came from Windsor, NY, in 1809, with his son, Putnam, and settled in Brooklyn Twp., where he died. Weston, in his History of Brooklyn, states that he is probably buried in the old cemetery, but location of grave is unknown. He was a native of Litchfield, CT.

Mark Cohen served as a representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for many years. In 2007, Cohen created a Facebook page on which he made regular posts to communicate with his followers and constituents. In 2018, Cohen was elected to the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia County. Judge Cohen maintained his Facebook page – and updated the information to note that he was no longer a state representative but was now serving as a judge for the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. Judge Cohen continued to allow his Facebook page to be accessible by any member of the public, i.e., he did not use any privacy settings that would have limited public accessibility to his posts. As to his Facebook account, Cohen had 5,000 friends and 1,000 followers.

In 2021, the judge in charge of overseeing the family court section received a complaint regarding one of Judge Cohen's Facebook posts. Upon further investigation, the judge determined that Judge Cohen's Facebook account had some problematic postings, including one where Judge Cohen had bragged about receiving a poor rating from the National Rifle Association while he served in the legislature. The supervising judge met with Judge Cohen to discuss the ethical limitations imposed on sitting judges that prohibited commenting on political activities. Judge Cohen rejected the concerns about the propriety of his posts – and he continued to post material to his public Facebook page.

One of his fellow county judges then filed a complaint with the Judicial Conduct Board against Judge Cohen, and the investigators for the Judicial Conduct Board began to track and monitor Judge Cohen's public Facebook page. The Judicial Conduct Board notified Judge Cohen that he was under investigation regarding potentially inappropriate posts on his public Facebook page – and Judge Cohen continued to post material even after being informed that a judicial disciplinary agency was investigating him.

Eventually, the Judicial Conduct Board filed a disciplinary complaint against Judge Cohen which identified over 60 Facebook posts in which Judge Cohen had openly or tacitly endorsed a political position or a political figure. Unapologetically, Judge Cohen contended that his posts were protected by the First Amendment – and there was nothing the Judicial Conduct Board could do. The matter proceeded to a hearing before the Court of Judicial Discipline, which determined that Judge Cohen had violated the ethical rules which prohibited judges from engaging in political activity. Thereafter, the Court of Judicial Discipline scheduled a hearing to determine the sanction to be imposed – and Judge Cohen again took to his Facebook page wherein he posted information concerning the sanction hearing, he solicited letters of support and, when questioned as to who was behind the complaint, Judge Cohen explained: "Conservative people who want judges to be scared of their own shadow and completely silent on issues of societal improvement and social justice."

In assessing what sanction to impose on Judge Cohen, the Court of Judicial Discipline noted that it had "no other case in [its] history [that] involved such defiance post decision." On October 7, 2024, the Court of Judicial Discipline entered an order immediately suspending Judge Cohen without pay for the remainder of his term, which ended on December 31, 2024. Judge Cohen then filed an appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court again asserting that he possessed a First Amendment Right to make posts on his Facebook page.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court conceded that "judges do not give up all First Amendment rights upon assuming the bench. However, judges do accept certain restrictions on their right to speak." When a person runs for a judicial position, they understand that there are "certain limitations upon speech and actions in order to serve the greater good," which includes avoiding any partisan political activities. In assessing Judge Cohen's behavior, the Supreme Court concluded: "Judge Cohen did not just put his own reputation at risk. When, as here, a sitting judge adopts the persona of a political party spokesperson and abuses the prestige of his office to advance that party's interests, he detracts from the reputation of the entire judiciary. The Commonwealth has not just a right, but a duty, to regulate that behavior. . . . [W]e conclude the Commonwealth's interest in protecting the efficiency of the administration of justice outweighed Judge Cohen's interest in posting partisan political content on Facebook where the volume and tone of his posts cast him as little more than a spokesperson for the Democratic Party." Judge Cohen's suspension without pay was affirmed.

Good day dear hearts, I love you. I hope you are all surviving and staying warm throughout one of the coldest winters in history. Love warms our heart and this is a good time to heat up. As Valentine's Day approaches, our culture turns its attention to love, flowers, cards, chocolates and romantic gestures. These expressions have their place, but Scripture invites us to look deeper. Beyond emotion, beyond attraction, beyond the fleeting warmth of a holiday, the Bible paints a picture of love that is rugged, restorative and relentlessly faithful. It is the kind of love that changes people. It is the kind of love that heals families. It is the kind of love that reflects the very heart of God. Two passages in the Bible, Luke 15:11-32 and 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 stand as towering reminders of what real love looks like. One is a story. The other is a definition. Together, they offer a timely message for a world hungry for something more than Valentine's Day sentiment.

When you have time read Luke 15:11-32. This is one that many of you are familiar with. In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a young man who demanded his inheritance early, left home and wasted everything in reckless living. When the money dried up, so did his friends. He found himself feeding pigs, starving, ashamed and alone. In that moment of desperation, he remembered home. He remembered his father. And he wondered if there might still be a place for him. What happens next is one of the most powerful images of love in all of Scripture. Here are some of the words from Luke's Gospel concerning the "Prodigal Son." "While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion." The father didn't wait for explanations. He didn't demand repayment. He didn't rehearse the son's failures. He ran, ran to meet him. He embraced him. He restored him. He celebrated with him. This is love that moves first. Love that refuses to keep score. Love that sees the person before failure. Love that opens the door before the apology is even spoken. In a world where relationships often fracture under the weight of disappointment, the father's response is a radical reminder: love has the power to restore what pride, selfishness and sin have broken.

If Luke 15 shows love in action, 1 Corinthians 13 defines its character. Paul describes a love that is patient and kind, not envious or boastful, not proud or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It keeps no record of wrongs. It rejoices in truth. It bears, believes, hopes and endures all things. This is agape; self-giving, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the love the father showed to his returning son. It is the love God shows us every day. And it is the love we are called to show one another. Paul makes it clear that without this kind of love, even the most impressive spiritual gifts or religious accomplishments amount to nothing. Eloquence, knowledge, generosity, even acts of sacrifice without love, are empty. Love is not an accessory to faith, it is the evidence of it.

When we hold these two passages together, a powerful truth emerges. Love is not merely something we feel, it is something we choose. It is something we practice. It is something we extend even when it is difficult. The father in Luke 15 didn't love his son because the son deserved it. He loved him because love was his nature. Paul's description in 1 Corinthians 13 isn't a list of emotions, it's a list of actions, disciplines and commitments. In Valentine's season, often dominated by romantic ideals, Scripture calls us to something deeper; love that forgives quickly, love that listens patiently, love that refuses to give up on people, love that restores dignity, love that celebrates truth and love that keeps the door open. This kind of love strengthens marriages, heals friendships and rebuilds communities. It softens hardened hearts. It bridges generational divides. It reflects the love God has poured out on us.

As Valentine's Day approaches, perhaps the greatest gift we can give is not purchased in a store. It is the gift of Agape love, love that mirrors the father who ran toward his son and the Savior who runs toward us. Imagine what our homes, churches and neighborhoods would look like if we practiced the love Paul describes. Imagine the healing that could take place if we extended grace as freely as the father in Jesus' parable. Imagine the witness we could offer to a world longing for something real. Love is more than a feeling. It is a force. It is a choice. It is the greatest of all virtues. And when we live it out, we reflect the heart of the One who loved us first.

God Bless. Lord, we give you praise, honor and glory. We pray for our little town and its people. We pray for healing and peace. Join us Saturday, Feb. 21st 12:00pm to 1:00pm for a complimentary dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup with a side of rice and dessert. Pastor Vince, 570-853-3988.