The December 2008 Archives for the Benton News

New Year's Eve, December 31, the final day of 2008.  Happy birthday to Silvia Vincent, Frank Gould, Marie Castrogiovanni and Richard Savage.  Happy anniversary to Deb and Scott Jones. Blaine Long was transferred from Bloomsburg Hospital Tuesday to the Bloomsburg Health Care Center, 211 E 1st Street, Bloomsburg.  He does not have a phone in his room.  Sally Brewington is in the hospital, following a fall and a broken leg early this morning. Add Nancy Kline to your prayers.

Be prepared for hit and miss snow today. Temperatures could hit 15° by Thursday morning to bring in the new year. Piffard, New York, has six inches of snow on the ground at 7 AM.

Quiz question:  What is a small word that when read forward is a weighty word, but read backwards is not.  Answer at end.

This has always been an important day in history; i.e., in 1879, Thomas Edison demonstrated incandescent lighting for the first time; in 1946, Harry Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II; in 1955, General Motors Corporation became the first U.S. corporation to make over a billion dollars in one year; in 1983, the AT&T Bell System was broken up; in 1999, Boris Yeltsin resigned as President of Russia and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin became the acting president; in 1999, control over the Panama Canal and land adjacent to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone was turned over to Panama.

This year was just awful in almost every way And when will we recover? it's too early to say

The first New Year's Eve celebration in what is now known as Times Square, then known as Longacre Square, took place in 1904.  But just for grins and giggles, lets look at New Year's eve in 1920 when our nation formally went "dry."  The beginning of "Prohibition" found forces banning highly suggestive language such as "the cat's pajamas" and the "cat's meow," the "clam's garters," the "sardine's whiskers" and the "snake's hips."  Moral guardians began a campaign to banish "blue" and double-meaning lyrics from the market and vaudeville shows were cleansed of shimmy and jazz dancers.  During Prohibition, the U.S. outlawed the manufacture, transport and sale of alcoholic beverages under the Volstead Act (1920-1933).   The result was increased alcohol consumption in America and the act was repealed in 1933.

Variety  magazine in 1925 noted that Times Square had about 2,500 speakeasies; before Prohibition there had been about 300 saloons. In 1925 in the entire country, there were about three million "booze joints." In the pre-Prohibition days, cafes numbered about 177,000.  Our  nation of moderate drinkers turned into a nation of obsessive alcoholics with criminals establishing a black market that would affect the nation's economy for decades.  Life for many was carefree and fun, characterized by gaiety, abandon, dancing, hot-cha-cha, and gin mills, speakeasies and joints.  With that life came killings, sickness, fraud, repression and the corruption of city halls, governors and whole states.

 

Quickies...

   •  A reader asked about the availability of "free" fax service.  Good luck!  I have spent more time looking for "free" than I care to think about.  My suggestion:  forget free and go for "good."  I use MaxEmail at www.maxemail.com for internet fax service and find it works just fine.  The "light" or "least expensive" service is the "MaxEmail Lite Non-Local service," good for occasional use.  You will get a non-local phone number (Chicago area, an A/C 815 number), and you can receive 100 faxes a month before you have to pay $.05 for additional copies.  You can send faxes from your computer at $.05 per page, which is certainly cheaper than buying a fax machine.  The service is $24 a year, with a one-time activation fee of $10.

   •  The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is warning fans of the Pitt Panthers, the team that plays Oregon State in the 75th Sun Bowl today in El Paso,Texas, not to travel across the border into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, because of drug trafficking along border towns where the number of homicides for 2008 is approaching 1,600.  The murder rate in Juarez is a matter of concern.  In December, 150 homicides were reported. Last Friday, two men were shot 25 times while sitting inside a vehicle. Dean and Laura Christian, Maple Grove, remember watching Pitt play Texas A&M in the Sun Bowl on December 31, 1989, when Laura was pregnant with son Sean--who finished last semester at Pitt with a perfect 4.0!

   •  Take a look at Ford's most advanced assembly plant in operation in rural Brazil by going to http://info.detnews.com/video/index.cfm?id=1189.

  •   Congratulations to Edward L. Cole, Jr. for passing a state-board exam to become a barber manager.  Passing this exam will enable him to own, manage and operate a barber shop of his own anytime and any place he wants.  His previous role was as a barber, and he had to work under the instruction of a barber manager--his father. Now that he is a barber manager, he can work on his own and run a shop freely. Edward, a member of the Dean's List at Bloomsburg University, looks forward to start bossing his father around more than he has in the past.

 

Answer to today's quiz:  "Ton" is a small word that when read forward is a weighty word, but read backwards is not.

 

At midnight tonight, a new year begins.  This new year will be given to you by God to use as you will.  You can waste it or use it for good.  What you do each day is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.  When tomorrow and a new year comes, today will be gone forever, leaving in its place something you have traded for it. May your new year be for gain, not for loss; good, not evil; success, not failure.  

Happy New Year, whether you are watching bologna drop in Lebanon or a pickle drop in Dillsburg or Waterford crystal drop in Times Square!  See you next year.

Later this evening as you watch the ball fall Wish yourself all the best And Happy New Year to All

 

December 30, 2008.  It is the wedding anniversary of Chris & Pam Young and Roy and Betty Kilczewski.  It is the birthday of Tiger Woods and Matt Laurer.

Quote of the Day:
"I think you'll see (oil prices at) $150 a barrel by the end of the year."
--T. Boone Pickens, June 20, 2008, when oil was about $135 a barrel. By late December it was below $40. The fact is that crude oil will probably double or triple in price over the next few years.  Current events in the middle East are not helping...

It isn't easy to trace the origin of any custom that has become universal.  The habit of wishing everyone a "happy New Year" has been practiced in Germany for years.  It is not uncommon in Germany at the stroke of midnight on the 31st day of December to see windows of houses thrown open.  Everyone leans out, glass in hand, and shouts the toast, "Prosit Neujahr!" (Happy New Year!"). The same untraceable tradition is found in Scotland where the baker adds "A Happy New Year" and "A Merry Auld Yule" to his cakes.  The Chinese use this greeting on the first day of the new year:  "Kung hi Kun hi!)  ("I humbly wish you joy!")  

Here are some New Year's Eve traditions...
  • in some parts of Poland, dishes are broken at midnight.

  • the Scotch practice "first-footing" shortly after midnight. Scotsmen wear their kilts and enjoy their whiskey. Neighbors visit each other and leave shortbread or a bottle of whiskey and a lump of coal--signifying nourishment and warmth. It's considered especially lucky if a tall, dark and handsome man is the first to set foot in the house since the first person to walk in the door signals the year ahead. The Scots often select a well-intoxicated handsome man, and send him to the door.

  • in the Netherlands, the Dutch burn their Christmas trees on the streets and launch fireworks to get rid of the old and welcome the new.

  • the Japanese begin to laugh at the stroke of midnight to bring themselves good luck. They also forgive previous year's grudges and misunderstandings.

  • the Vietnamese believe there is a god in every home, and when the New Year arrives the god travels to heaven and reports how good or bad each family member was in the previous year.

  •  in British Columbia, the traditional polar-bear swim unites people of all ages who plunge into the icy water surrounding Vancouver. The swim takes place at 2:30 PM on the first day of each new year. The 2008 swim will be the 89th on record.

  • the dropping of the Waterford crystal ball for the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration at 11:59 PM is our most famous tradition. Thousands gather to watch the ball descend during the last minute of the old year, while millions watch on TV. The tradition began in 1907, with a ball made of iron and wood.  The 2008 Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is a 12 foot geodesic sphere weighing 11,875 pounds.  Covered in 2,668 Waterford crystals and powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDS, the new ball is capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns.

  • the Germans have a tradition called bleigiessen. A candle is lit, and small chunks of lead are melted in a spoon held over the candle. The molten lead is then quickly poured from the spoon into a bucket of cold water, where it hardens almost immediately. Each person tries to determine what he or she sees in the hardened lead figure. Often the lead figure is held up to a candle or other light, and the shape of the shadow it casts aids in this decision. The shape of the lead determines the future of that person for the year to come. An old woman, is bad. A heart or a ring means a wedding. A ship means a journey and a pig means plenty of food.   

• The Chinese New Year lasts about 15 days, beginning some time between January 17 and February 19 depending on the moon's phase. During the Festival of Lanterns, a street procession lights the way for the new year. This Chinese New Year, Yi Chou, by the Chinese calendar is the year of the ox and begins January 26, 2009.

And, finally, here are some New Year's Day traditions...
  • in Greece, the Festival of St. Basil is celebrated. Basil was one of the founders of the Greek Orthodox Church, . A braided-sweet bread called vassilopita (VAS-ee-low-pea-tah), is decorated with almonds and baked in the name of St. Basil with a silver or gold coin inside. Whoever gets the coin in their piece of cake will be especially lucky that year. If you think Grandma's chocolate cake got diced apart quickly, stand back for this one!

  • in Germany, eating herring and serving carp on the first day of the year is traditional.

  • Back home in Benton, PA, tradition calls for pork and sauerkraut in the New Year's Day dinner, thought to bring good luck for the upcoming year.

Quickies...

   •  North Carolina-based Wachovia Bank will be acquired by San Francisco-based Wells Fargo Wednesday.

   •  The theme of the 2009 Farm Show January 10-17, 2009, is Keeping Pennsylvania Growing, and will feature nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 270 commercial exhibitors. Exhibitors will take home more than $550,000 in prize money. There will be a Celebrity Milking Contest, the PA Preferred Best Chef in Pennsylvania Contest and the Sheep-to-Shawl competition.

   •  Today's Benton News comes to you from Piffard, New York, where several have told me that it is time for Caroline Kennedy to show her commitment or take her name out of the hat to replace Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

   •  Our Commonwealth's new Right-to-Know law comes into effect Thursday.  The law is headed in the right direction for the public.  The public will no longer have to prove why it has the right to see a piece of information.  The presumption will be that most government records are open.  The agency from which the information is requested will have the legal duty to prove that a record should be withheld.  The person seeking the information will no longer have to prove why he needs the information.

The end of a happy, healthy and prosperous year is coming to a close. Have the best of everything in 2009.

 

 

December 29, the fourth day of Christmas, the 363rd day of the year with two days remaining until the end of 2008, will be sunny but cooler. Amber Mae Holoman turns 16 today. It is the wedding anniversary of John and Shirley Hittle.  It is the birthday of inventor Charles Goodyear, born in 1800. Rubber once was messy stuff which froze bone-hard in winter and turned glue-like in summer. Goodyear accidentally dropped a mixture of rubber and sulfur on a hot stove, and that led to the development of the process of vulcanization, which made the invention of the automobile possible.

 On the Subject of Natural Gas...

   •  Head here to find out more the global natural-gas market, about natural-gas reserves and production, consumption, prices and trade movements.

  •  The Marcellus Shale Committee has launched a new web site at www.PaMarcellus.com to provide information about natural gas development in Pennsylvania.

   •   A friend who would know of matters like this told me that senior citizens are more valuable than younger generations because of the silver in their hair, the gold in their teeth, the stones in their kidneys, the lead in their feet and the natural gas they carry with them.

 

Now that Christmas is over and television is less crowded with department stores peddling their wares, the "sucker" ads begin appearing, including one which was read on the Paul Harvey radio show and appeared in the Wall Street Journal advertising a "new advanced portable heater that can cut your heating bill by up to 50%."  The manufacturer is marketing magnet BioTech Research, which sells other promise-filled products, including the extra strength AbGone Pill, which according to the claims will have you losing "pot belly fat" 20 minutes after you take the first pill, Instant Facelift, the "Smellkiller Air Cleanser," "FlexComfort Complete" to "alleviate joint problems in days," and the "Original Slim & Cleanse Complete" to "turn you body into a fat burning machine naturally."  BioTech Research is a division of Suarez Corporation Industries, a "leader in Direct Marketing" jewelry to collectible coins to health products." The company website noted they had "sales of over 100 million dollars annually, but somehow the company has alluded the Wall Street Journal where I was unable to determine any information about the company.

My ears arch a bit whenever I hear of a manufacturer who claims a heater will slash heating bills.  It is true that lowering your thermostat a single degree will save 3% on heating bills.  If you turn on the heater in the room you are in and turn down the furnace in the rest of the house, you can save big.  It works out that in order to save half on your heating bills, you would have to turn down your thermostat about 17° F.  According to Consumers Reports and based on national average fuel prices, it costs half with a central-heating natural-gas system of what the same house using electric-space heaters would cost.  The only way to potentially save money is to use a heater in one room and leave the rest of the house cooler.

I checked on how long these marvels of heating last and found a problem immediately. There is no place to repair them without the costly expense of returning them to the factory.  The life of the heaters, based on googled results, is limited to a year or two.  At a purchase price of $400 or so, a five-month life seems a bit short.  Moving to Florida might actually be a less costly investment...

 Quickies...
 •  Firefighters in Millville and Benton have their own web sites to keep the public informed about their activities.  We'll add an easy link to reach these sites in the near future and in addition will list them on the BUSINESS section on the left side of the the Benton News web site.  For now, head to www.millvillefirecompany.org/ to get the Millville Community Fire Company and to www.bentonfirecompany.com/ for the Benton Volunteer Fire Company & Ambulance.

   •  The Ruby Window website at www.therubywindow.com is a collection of silver-gelatin fiber prints created in a chemical darkroom by occasional Jamison City resident and Bucks County photographer Heather Radick. The gallery of her website includes photographs taken in the local area.  A photograph Heather donated to the Northern Columbia Community & Cultural  Center proudly hangs in the showcase of the upper Fishingcreek valley.  If you haven't seen the photograph, take the time to locate it and admire it.  The process Heather uses on her web site involves developing film with tanks and reels, exposing light sensitive paper with an enlarger, and running the exposed paper through a series of baths to produce the final print. The photographs are shot using available light with a variety of older single lens reflex, folding and box type cameras.   

  •  The Commonwealth will institute a new home-repair fraud act July 1 in order for consumers to check on the background of registered home-improvement contractors before hiring them.  Contractors will need to disclose any criminal violations, court orders or license suspensions in jurisdictions when they register. A toll-free number will be available for consumers to check on registered contractors.  The law will require a written contract between the contractor and homeowner for work that exceeds $500. The contract will spell out the work to be done, start and finish dates and costs involved.

  •  Indiana Highway 135 between Morgantown and Nashville is the home of a place called Bean Blossom, known to every bluegrass fan in the world as where Bill Monroe started his annual June bluegrass music festival in June 1967.  The festival is now the oldest continuously running bluegrass festival in the world. Tex Logan, an old-time fiddler, started a Bean-Blossom tradition by preparing a free barbecued bean dinner for all ticket holders, much as the traditional Thursday night dinner is run at the O.A.T.S. Festival Back Home in Benton, PA.   A web site for the 43rd Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass festival June 13-20, 2009, is at www.beanblossom.com.  

 •  New York state faces a possible budget deficit of $47 billion in the next four years, and cost-cutting measures are on the table, including consolidating school systems with fewer than 1,000 students. New York Gov. David Paterson is now studying the state Commission on Property Tax Relief report, which recommended consolidating roughly 200 districts.  Earlier this month, the Guv here in Pennsylvania announced that the projected budget shortfall is $1.6 billion, an amount that could grow by the end of the fiscal year in June.   

Sophie Estelle Kocher (October 4, 1990-December 28, 2008), 30 Mill St., Benton, a senior at the Benton Area Schools who planned to attend Luzerne County Community College majoring in nursing, was pronounced dead at the scene of a single-vehicle accident on Route 93 in Orange Township early Sunday morning.  She was 18 and was born in  Pisa, Italy.   Sophie was the daughter of Wayne Arthur Kocher and Katherine Irene Yost.  Sophie had a brother, Simon Eugene Kocher, killed in a gun accident on February 7, 1997. Sophie was a granddaughter of Dorman and Grace Marqurite Wegst Kocher. Surviving, in addition to her parents, are three sisters: Sara Elizabeth, wife of Miquel Lara, Lebanon; Samantha Elaine Kocher, Nanticoke; and Susanna Evonne Kocher, Williamsport, and her maternal grandmother, Janice P. Yost, Orangeville. Several aunts and uncles also survive. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 AM in the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Benton. Interment will be in Zion Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday from 6-8 PM.

December 28, 2008.  It is the birthday of Rev. Dr. Donna Laubach Moros, and the anniversary of Dr. Edgar and Rev. Dr. Donna Laubach Moros. Please keep Becky Green in your prayers. She was admitted to the Geisinger Hospital today.  It is the birthday of Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, born in a two-room log cabin in Raleigh in 1808. Johnson grew up in poverty, was apprenticed to a tailor as a boy, but ran away. His wife, Eliza, improved Johnson's reading ability at the age of 17 following their marriage. He once said, "It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." With the assassination of Lincoln, the Presidency fell upon this old-fashioned southern Jacksonian Democrat of pronounced states' rights views.

The former Kunkle House, Jonestown, was severely damaged by a fire Saturday afternoon which apparently began in a chimney of the building.  The residents of the house were Alice Morris, her son Mike and his wife, Bobbi.  Alice was in the house at the time the blaze began along with the family cats Tiger and Jaden. All three got out of the burning building, although Jaden was not found until after the firefighters extinguished the blaze. Firemen covered Christmas presents on the first floor with a tarp. The presents were undamaged. The fire was mostly in the second floor and attic, plus burning through the roof.

The building became known as the Kunkle House during the residency of Eli Kunkle when he operated the building as a hotel and dining room. The building was a stopping place for hungry and weary travelers. It was built about 1870.

The Kunkle House was prominent in the history of Jonestown because of its location on the Susquehanna & Tioga Turnpike at the bottom of what residents call the "Jonestown Mountain." Fresh teams of horses were positioned at the bottom of "the mountain" during the operation of the stagecoach route in order to pull stagecoaches to the top on their way to Berwick and "Nescopeck Falls."  The Wilkes-Barre Times reported in its edition of July 8, 1904, that R. S. Bowman, Berwick's postmaster, and W. E. Linville, secretary of the Berwick council, started walking to Albany, New York, from Berwick and the first night stayed and dined at the Kunkle House.  The two men expected to average a pace of three miles an hour.  Their goal was to arrive in Albany in three weeks.  The two men only had a "blueprint" of the route, so the walk would have been a real experience.  (Go here to determine the original route of the turnpike.) The men intended to return to Berwick in August of that year.

 

The history of Jonestown is being written by Jonestown resident Dawn Dominy and the Kunkle House is a prominent part of the book. Regretfully, the fire will add a new chapter.

 

Thank God who seasons thus the year,
And sometimes kindly slants his rays;
For in his winter he's most near
And plainest seen upon the shortest days.
--Henry David Thoreau

 

Quickies...

   •  The Trojans of Southern California are a 9½ point favorite over Penn State in the upcoming Rose Bowl.  Both teams finished the regular season with an identical 11-1 record.  Our favorite team is up to the challenge!

   •  We mention the following each year at this time, in case you think you have heard the question before.   We meandered onto a name of a place that we didn't know. We saw a reference to a road survey from Port Nobe to a mill and aqueduct at Benton. We recognize that prior to 1800, the local language and spelling and meaning sometimes gets lost in the translation, so these words may not mean exactly what we think they mean. Any help from readers?

   •  Do you have a need for speed?  If so, don't miss the video here.

   •  Gas prices in Camp Hill average $1.549 for regular, unleaded.

   •  There may be a message here somewhere:  the year 2009 is the year of the ox, also known as the bull.  

 
  •  Congratulations to Erin Kile for scoring 24 points in the Benton Basketball Tournament and to Hannah Seely for scoring 12 points. Hannah was named most valuable player in the tournament.

  •  Sunday's Press Enterprise includes an article on the so-called "Fishing Creek Confederacy," as written by Ted Fenstermacher.

The Benton News attempts to concentrate first on the upper Fishingcreek valley and second on things relating to the great Commonwealth in which we live.  When nothing pops into mind to write about, I venture into the rest of the world.  I have said this numerous times--and get yelled at each time I say it--everything in the Benton News is of interest to me, but not necessarily to the reader.  

A video at http://blogsci.com/ shows a building project of the relative size and complexity of building the Great Wall of China. To construct what you'll see if you watch the video required each load of dirt to be carried approximately half a mile.  Each load weighed four times the weight of the carrier. The entire project was constructed underground with an air-conditioning system to exhaust the carbon monoxide and ventilation systems to bring in fresh air.  There is a landfill underground and a complete society. Millions built the community--but none was human.  When you are finished watching the video, take a look around at the site Blog of Science, http://blogsci.com/.   

 

The local temperature could reach 60° Sunday, which gets us thinking.  We don't mean to sound down this morning, but we are starting to think about the "F" word.   Yes, it is time to think Florida!  It may be unseasonably warm today, but we have to think back to the winter of 1994. I were just getting over a death in the family that happened the last day of 1993, following a three-year bout of cancer, and the terrible weather and my general state of gloom that followed was something that would never be forgotten.

On the east coast, rivers froze solid during the third week of January, 1994, locking in place much-needed river barges carrying coal and oil. Nine power plants on the east coast were locked out from deliveries by truck became of ice on the roads. By Wednesday, January 19, the mayor of Washington, D.C., closed the city down declaring a power emergency. Blackouts of up to 30 minutes were necessary up and down the east coast. In Allentown, for example, temperatures plummeted to -15F, -35F in Berwick, -21F at Wilkes-Barre. The cold even spread to the Midwest. Indiana recorded an all-time low of -35°F. The Lake Superior shoreline froze. PPL asked all customers to turn off unnecessary lights and appliances, and requested that dishwashers and dryers not be run.

By noon on the 19th of January, Lt. Gov. Mark Singel announced a state disaster emergency and asked all businesses and commercial operations to close. Early in the morning of Thursday, January 20, Unit Two at PPL's Susquehanna plant shut down because of high temperature readings in the generator cooling water system. Later that day, the crisis passed as warmer weather slowly returned to the area.

So, yes, we are thinking the "F" word. We can't agree with the sentiment that there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. We believe that the sun is shining in the Sunshine State! I should be getting around to start my Christmas shopping, addressing belated Christmas cards and writing to friends and relatives and watching my diet, but I am thinking more and more about hitting the high road...

I don't want to end up like the man who went to Florida and unfortunately died there. When his body was shipped home, someone said to his widow that he looked wonderful. His widow nodded approvingly and said something to the effect that his two weeks in Florida had done him a world of good.

December 27, 2008.   It is the birthday of Nancy Leh, Harry Schlichter and Chris Dawson.  

Quickies...
  •  For fans of the social-networking site Facebook, a group has formed for Benton, Pennsylvania.  It is no longer necessary to join a Scranton or Williamsport group.  Simply log on www.facebook.com/ and follow the instructions.  There is no cost or obligation.

  •  Hats off to State Rep. Ed Staback, Lackawanna County, who intends to introduce a bill in January that would substantially increase the penalties for poaching.  Offenders exceeding the deer-kill limit would face a misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine up to $3,000 and six months imprisonment and loss of hunting privileges for at least a year.  More serious offenses would be treated as felonies and the fines could go as high as $15,000 with three years in jail and a loss of hunting privileges up to 15 years.

Quote of the Day:

"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that."

--Tom Lehrer

The weather will be mild today and Sunday, but there has been enough winter for sportsmen to fish on the ice on Lake Jean, Painter Den and Lopez ponds in Sullivan County.  The ice is a reported six-inches thick.

 

If you are fond of angling and don't mind something like a bit of raw weather you can head to the mountains with your tip-ups and some bait, an ice auger and perhaps a little something that will get your blood flowing.  Most of the ponds and lakes in Sullivan County have been frozen over for the past week and the sport of ice fishing is now on.  Please don't interpret what I just said as implying that the ice is safe, I am simply reporting that others are doing it.  

 

I also didn't say there was a lot of "sport" involved in using tip-ups, but other avenues of fishing are gone until spring.  Pickerel is the big catch for ice fishermen, although for most the meat is gamy. Perch were frequently caught at Painter Den pond over the years. The fish will give your tip-up and you an exciting few minutes.

 

In the lakes of our area where pickerel can be found, there is usually a story about a huge "pike." Fishermen huddled in the middle of a frozen lake love to tell stories about when it will be caught and how many hooks and spoons it will have in its mouth when they pull it from the water.  For those who venture onto the lake and sit with the ice fishermen, there will be stories about how the fish got away during the warm, summer months when they were fishing from their boats.  It doesn't matter how large or small the lake:  the size of the fish is always the same, weighing from nine to ten pounds, with an estimated age of eighteen.  Of course, fishermen have been known to stretch the truth at times!

 

It is the fascination about this kind of fishing which make the fishermen somewhat delirious and completely impervious to the frigid temperatures and the wind and snow whooshing across the lake at warp speeds.

 

The lakes where I have done my ice fishing in Sullivan County are at an elevation of about a thousand feet, and many have woods of hemlock, cherry and beech surrounding the icy water. There is always a rushing sound around the lakes, a sound of wind through the trees.  It never seems that I am in the quiet woods in the winter! The ice is often well over a foot thick and a fisherman at Painter Den pond once augered a hole in the ice 30" without hitting water.

 

There always seems to be a contest of some sort to get the first person to venture onto the lake. "I left my ice-pick on the lake. Would you walk out and bring it back for me.  I don't want to put on my coat," was a line I once heard to get someone to test the ice. Eventually, a person--either brave or foolish, depending on who is telling the story--takes a walk on the ice.  If he returns safely and dry, everyone suddenly wants to ice fish or simply play on the lake.

 

Fishermen seem to enjoy ice fishing when it is cold enough that the lines through the ice freeze up and the hole has to be frequently chopped out.  

 

The fishing equipment can be very simple or very complicated. First, one needs an auger--very unlike the hand augers of a hundred years ago.  The present-day augers have something akin to a lawnmower engine on them to make the job easier.  Usually the tackle is simple:  stout lines, from four to eight feet long, ending in a piece of wire to which a hook is attached, with a tip-up for each line.

 

Tip-ups can vary, but are often just a piece of wood three inches or so wide and a foot and a half long.  Shingles were once popular as tip-ups and the shingle mill in Lopez supplied the material for many of the lakes in Sullivan county.  These tip-ups had holes bored through two or three inches from the center, so that one end was heavier than the other, then a stick a foot or so long was run through the hole.  To the light end of the tip-up, the line was attached.  A round hole with a diameter of a foot or two was chopped or augered through the ice.  The hook was baited with a live minnow according to stories from a hundred years ago.  The minnows were caught in wire nets in the streams by local boys, and a diary records that the boys were paid a dollar a hundred for the minnows.  The hook was lowered after it was baited into the frigid water through the hole in the ice.  The stick running through the tip-up rested on either side of the hole.  The heavy end of the shingle rested on the ice to prevent the minnow from pulling the other end down.

 

Most fishermen will have a dozen or two tip-ups set on the ice.  The fisherman shuffles around in a circle to keep warm and to keep his eyes on all of his tip-ups.  When a pickerel seizes the bait, the tip springs into the air and flutters around as if to say, "Look at me, look at me."  Some fishermen like to hunker down on the side of the lake and build a fire, but that isn't possible on state-game lands. These fishermen simply stay on the lake until fishing limits are reached--either in the number of fish or the end of endurance. Fishermen sometimes wear ice skates to travel between their tip-ups, but this usually means that some sort of chair will be needed to rest the ankles.

 

When the fish are biting, there is a lot of excitement as the fisherman patrols his tip-ups.  There may be several tip-ups in the air at the same time.  That isn't to say that the fishermen bring a lot of fish home.  Some fishermen lose their cool as the fish is pulled through the hole in the ice.  The fish gives one of its fatal flops in an attempt to get off the hook.

Slowly and steadily the fish is tugged to the hole and the opening in the surface of the lake.  The spiked jaws of the fish suddenly appear in the hole in the ice.  Then in one swift and steady movement, the fish is pulled through the hole and flopped on the ice, where it immediately makes the same "flop" that it made in the water in a desperate attempt to get rid of the hook.  The fishing is successful.

A drawing from about a hundred years ago of ice activities as part of hauling in fish from a frozen lake.

A three-pound pickerel is a good catch, but a six-pounder isn't uncommon.  Tip-ups owned by one fisherman may be busy all day, while adjacent tip-ups of a different fisherman may not move all day. For the fisherman who finds the fish biting, there is no need to suffer from the cold and the wind. The constant movement of the tip-ups will keep him warm.

There are a lot of tip-up designs, some imported directly from China.  The favored ones are often simply two pieces of wood. When the fish bites, the slightest nibble will be enough to move the stick from its position.  

 

As kids, we simply took a stick, stuck it into the ice near the hole. To the top of the stick we tied the line and from nearly the same point dangled an old sleigh bell.  When a fish took the hook, the bell gave a little warning sound.  When a pickerel worth its salt got the hook between its teeth, the bell began ringing until the monster fish was pulled in.  No expert "pike" fisherman would ever claim to be an expert if he didn't have in his bag of stories one about the big one that got away while breaking the tip-up into pieces while cracking the ice.  A real fisherman has lost his entire tackle at least twice!

 

Finally, there is the simple approach of a stick stuck into the ice at the side of the hole.  A flag is tied at the top.  When the pickerel bites, the flag bobs up and down.

I should mention that I broke my ankle from a slip on the ice when ice fishing twenty years ago. That is the reason why I am telling you about it, rather than doing it myself.

 

December 26, 2008.  It is the birthday of Ray McCourt.  There will be some afternoon rain today, following by some more of that pesky ice this evening and a continued barrage of on-again/off-again winterish weather.  Saturday and Sunday will find temperatures in the low to middle 50s.

In Great Britain, Canada and Australia today is known as Boxing Day, but it has nothing to do with Rocky Balboa or pugilistic competition of any kind. The name of the holiday comes from the Old English custom of giving Christmas "boxes" to tradesmen, postmen and servants. The original boxes, once made of earthenware, contained money retrieved by breaking the boxes open.  

The day after Christmas is sometimes known as the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death. If the name St. Stephen sounds familiar, think of the Christmas carol and the words about good King Wenceslas made to a poor man whom he observed struggling through the snow "on the Feast of Stephen."

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.

"Second Christmas" in early Pennsylvania was celebrated the day after Christmas as a secular holiday. The day's activities included shooting matches, games of chance, and wheelbarrow races.

A crisis was averted yesterday on Christmas Day when a cherished recipe for peanut butter fudge turned up along with a plate of the delicious candy, compliments of Sharon Little.  Sharon had shared the recipe with me years ago, but I was unable to find it.  I spent an hour or so searching for it in my well organized-filing system (the one with the poor-retrieval system).  I finally gave up and asked Sharon for it the second time.  The fudge, which daughter Katie called "budge" when she couldn't say her "F's," was wonderful.  I don't intend to lose it again.  I intend to file the recipe in the white folder marked "Important Stuff," just as soon as I can find the folder.

Every organization--from the Treasury to the Fed to the incoming Obama administration to governments around the world--has thrown its heavyweights at the problem.  Back in September, Secretary Paulson convinced Congress of the need for a $700 billion rescue package which six weeks later was awash with problems.  A drop in interest rates to next to nothing produced a stock market rally for 48 hours.  A week ago today, the $17.4 billion to the auto makers caused the market to surge--for seven hours.

I am perfectly capable of choosing the car I drive, the house I live in, the groceries I purchase.  I want to choose the same way with my medical insurance.  I have been at crossed swords recently with some Government decisions about interest rates, loan qualifications and other actions preliminary to the current recession.  So why would I want a bunch of Guvvies managing our medical and health insurance industries?

Now here is the part I don't understand.  The incoming administration wants to "fix" the health-care crisis but we don't seem to be cooperating.  The statistics are that two-thirds of all Americans are overweight and about half that number obese.  Most of us don't exercise.  Many of us smoke.  Americans spend an average $7,000 annually on "health care," more than any other country in the world.  Our spending is twice the per capita spending of Japan, where life expectancy is 83 years, compared to our 77.9.

So why would we want health care run like bailing out poorly run banks and automobile-manufacturing companies with taxes raised to help out the loose-as-a-goose companies?  Where is the good in robbing from the well-run companies to subsidize the poorly run companies?  Why not pay a lower premium if you don't smoke, much like a lower automobile premium if you demonstrate that you are a careful driver.  What about a reduced premium if you are not 300 pounds overweight?  Remember how the USPS speeded up when UPS and FedEx came on the scene?

There are an estimated 45 million people in this country without health insurance. Some young adults simply don't buy it.  Some are illegal immigrants. Many are working poor who can't afford it.  For all of them, the choice should be broadened by allowing insurers to compete across state lines, participate in pools, give credits for keeing well, screen health eligibility by requiring physicals.  What the government wants to contribute can be paid directly to the person requiring the insurance and let Americans purchase their own insurance--just as it is done for life, car and home insurance.

Ah, the joys of women--and of the kitchen...
An English horticultural journal in 1832 noted that in the United States, "It is chiefly among the Dutch and German settlers that vegetables are cultivated; and the overplus beyond their family wants is occasionally offered for sale." The Pennsylvania-German garden has long been under the direct control of the woman in the house, although men in the family enclosed the garden with fence, tilled the earth and spread the manure on the beds. The women and children planted, weeded, watered and picked. The woman of the house also had control of a key room of the house (if not the entire house).

The fruit and vegetables from the gardens were taken directly into the nerve center of the household, a place for preparing food, for entertaining and for family discussions, a location warm in the winter and warmer in the summer, large enough to hold the entire family of gawkers as the hungry farm workers waited for mashed potatoes to be ready for serving. A Pennsylvania kitchen years ago was the conductor for the symphony that was the home. Doors from the living room, the dining room, the pantry, the back hall, and the back door all converged in the kitchen.

The old Pennsylvania kitchens that I can remember from my youth had a wood or coal stove with a curved stove pipe that not only kept the family warm in summer and winter, but was always in use for making homemade bread and pies, and for cooking vegetables and meat. Unlike where the men removed their barn boots, the kitchen was the "good" smelling part of the house and I betcha right now some readers are thinking of the smell of their mothers' homemade bread, or her rice pudding, homemade candies like peanut butter "budge," or thinking of her turkey and "fixins." Food bound for the kitchen and the dining room stayed in queue in the unheated pantry or back room. A white refrigerator (sometimes called a "figeator") was usually the ugliest appliance in the room, although the black telephone and the white porcelain sink were not far behind in the lack of beauty. The kitchens of some of the great Pennsylvania kitchens I can remember didn't even have cabinets. Cabinets were reserved for the pantry where cookware and food were kept at the ambient temperature. The most battle-worn pots and pans were shielded from view under the sink by a cotton curtain hanging from a rod. A windup-up wall clock hung on the kitchen wall, a "Regulator" in many homes, timing the minutes until the men came "in from the fields" at exactly noon. A white porcelain table provided the same surface as kitchen islands do today. In the ceiling was a small opening to let heat rise to the bedrooms above and to issue a "come hither" communication with those lingering on the second floor.

There were some kitchens that included a wooden stool used when the kids helped peel the potatoes or make pies. Some kitchens had a daybed and many had a rocking chair for when Grandma got tired and need to "rest a spell." Mother liked to weave her braided carpets in the kitchen, occasionally getting up to stir the lima beans or check the pot roast. This is the room in which we bundled up before we braved the winter weather when we went ice skating on Paul's pond,

The kitchen was where the endless baking of Christmas cookies took place, where the scattered family would reunite at the "piled-high" table at Christmas time and where the gaily wrapped presents would be exchanged in front of a small Christmas tree. Coming from somewhere outside the house were sounds of Church bells. Although usually associated with the New Year, many families ate sauerkraut and turkey on Christmas Day. A Carlisle Spirit of the Times article from January 19, 1819, noted "With him and de qwack toctor Mealy kame back from eating roast durkies and sourkrout on krismas dey made a bargin."

I have been in many homes with "great rooms," but few matched the great kitchens I have known over the years, decorated as from a by-gone era, colorful as feed-sack material could make them, under the firm control of the lady of the house. Ah, yes, a childhood without Christmas in the kitchen would be as empty as a sky without stars or--well, as empty as a world without a Savior!

December 25, the 360th day of 2008 with 5 days remaining in the year and 85 days until the official start of spring. The next full moon (Full Wolf Moon) will be January 10.  It is the birthday of that old Silver Fox, Ralph Ford, Huntington Mills.  

It is Christmas, a word which comes from the words Cristes maesse, or Christ's Mass. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus for members of the Christian religion. On this date in 1818, Silent Night was performed for the first time, in Austria; in 1776, Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces; in 1946, comedian W.C. Fields, 66, died in Pasadena, CA; in 1977, comedian Sir Charles Chaplin, 88, died in Switzerland.

 

Please remember...

   •   Blaine Long in your prayers. Blaine has cancer, is in the Bloomsburg Hospital and will be going through surgery after Christmas. Let us all pray for him to pull through his surgery.

   •  Beth McMichael is a patient in Health South, an arm of Geisinger Hospital, Danville.  She is recovering from a broken ankle and a fall.

 

the night started simply:
three richly robed men,
set out in search of hope,
guided only one by the other,
and by the glow of an extraordinary star
shining in the sky . . .
that light brightened,
and then, the three magi kings realized that
they did not have far to go,
since the hope that is Christmas lives in our hearts. . .

The Gospel of Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary had to travel to the city of Bethlehem for a census and to pay taxes. And while there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son whom they named Jesus. So, as prophesied, Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a descendant of King David. There were shepherds watching over their flocks at night. And the angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very frightened. Then the angel said, "Don't be afraid: for I bring good news of great joy, for all people. Today a Savior was born for you which is Christ the Lord." And the child grew, becoming strong in spirit; and the grace of God was on Him. Jesus matured, increasing in wisdom and in favor with God and man.

St. Francis of Assisi had the story acted out by setting up the Nativity scene in 1224 with the baby Jesus in the manger and the animals standing by, a practice that soon became a Christmas ritual.

I heard the bells, on Christmas Day,
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

On Christmas Day, much of what is considered the western world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a global celebration! The traditions and foods associated with Christmas vary with climate, culture and country, but the spirit of the day transcends all differences. Eating too much at the dinner table, displaying Christmas lights, exchanging gifts, and burning the Yule log are traditions that date back to the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia and various winter solstice rituals.
• In Japan, Christmas is a precursor to New Year celebrations. On Christmas Eve, lovers treat each other to lavish gifts and children await Uncle Chimney.
• In Finland, people go to the sauna and listen to The Peace of Christmas on national radio. It is also the time of year when they visit the graves of departed loved ones.
• In Yugoslavia, the second Sunday before Christmas is "Mother's Day." Children demand presents for ransom, taunting their mothers with "It's Mother's Day, it's Mother's Day, what will you pay to get away?" The next week they do the same thing to their father. Yugoslavians celebrate Christmas on January 7, following the old Julian calendar.
• In Venezuela, roller-skating teens make their way to church and a special early morning Christmas mass. Skating home, they stop for Christmas breakfasts, featuring cornmeal pastries filled with spicy meat, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled.
• In Australia and South Africa, December 25 falls in the middle of the summer and Christmas is celebrated frequently in the great outdoors with "another shrimp on the barbie." The Aussies also use Christmas trees, mistletoe, holly and gift giving.
• In China, the Buddhists celebrate Christmas by lighting decorated paper lanterns and decorating their "Trees of Light" with paper decorations. Children wait for a visit from the "Christmas Old Man."
• In Zaire, Rumania and Poland, folk plays are performed in villages around Christmas time to dramatize the Christmas nativity story.
• In Spain, children leave shoes on the window sill filled with straw, carrots and barley for Balthazar's donkey, a Wise Man believed to leave them gifts.
• In Greece, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, and ships rarely leave port without an icon of St. Nicholas and his beard drenched with seawater on board.
• In Mexico, children use sticks to break open a piñata filled with candy and money.
• In Brazil, on Christmas Eve people attend Midnight mass, called the Mass of the Rooster, because mass ends the next day, which is announced by the rooster. Father Christmas wears a silk suit because of the heat.
• In Jamaica and some other Caribbean islands and some African countries, Christmas is celebrated as masquerade performances and parties.

December 24, 2008.  It is Christmas Eve. Logan Ackerman and Rodney VanPelt celebrate their birthdays today. Joe Griffith, Newark, Delaware, a member of the Benton High School Class of '57, was Back Home in Benton, PA, Tuesday.  He stayed long enough to have a cup of coffee.  We look forward to his next visit.

In the old days, the Christmas holidays began on Christmas Eve and ended on January 6--the Twelfth Night.  During this period there was feasting and merrymaking carried out on a much more elaborate scale than it is today. The eves of great ecclesiastical festivals were historically times of fasting and penance. In the case of Christmas Eve, it seems that rulers who were high muckety-mucks decided that the night before the celebration of the birth of the Child should be one of merriment.

Early in the Christian era, Christmas Eve became almost as important as Christmas Day. The importance of Christmas Eve has prevailed in Germany much longer than in other countries. Children sat up half the night waiting for Saint Nicholas to come and trim the tree which their parents had set up. The parents had food and drink in honor of the Christ Child who was born "on the morrow."

The Mummers, often called "Kris Kringles," came from the English Christmas Eve of centuries ago. Men and women would dress in fantastic costumes and masks, then go from house to house telling coarse jokes and singing songs. Church fathers feared that the disgraceful scenes of the old Roman feasts were being revived and they introduced miracle plays in which the Mummers played a part. These dramas continued for centuries and have evolved into our Christmas charades and pantomimes.

The Lord of Misrule is another Christmas Eve custom. On that day, the Mayor of London appointed a man to lead the revelers of Christmas Eve and be known as the "Lord of Misrule." Often he was the king of the festival until Twelfth Night when he abdicated.

Christmas Eve had a supernatural side in many countries, perhaps because the Church has hallowed the night above all others of the year. The shepherds keeping watch over their flocks announced the message of His birth and this is possibly the origin of the midnight mass of Christmas Eve celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church.  

In some locations in Europe, milk was set outside the houses while the midnight mass was being sung as food for the Christ Child and His mother. This custom had its origin in the Feast of Juul.

At one time, it was believed that animals had the gift of speech on Christmas Eve. The custom probably had its origin with the legend of the cattle bowing in adoration before the Child in the manager at Bethlehem.

Spain had a beautiful tradition which accounts for the fact that in nearly every room of the Spanish home, one finds a picture of the Savior. This is because of the belief that when the hour of midnight strikes on Christmas Eve, the Virgin brings blessings to every house where she can find an image or portrait of her son.

Italy had a large flesh-colored doll as a representation of the Christ Child. This figure was supposed to possess miraculous powers in healing the sick on Christmas Eve. In France at one time, there was a belief that while the midnight mass was being chanted, hidden treasures were revealed. In Russia, the people believed that the waters of springs were turned to wine and those who didn't accept the miracle would die. In Germany, a representation of the Christ Child would appear on Christmas Eve--usually a girl with golden hair who left presents for the children.

The idea of hanging up one's stockings on Christmas Eve dates back many centuries to Italy, where the children hung up their stockings and prayed to the Holy Kings who were on their way to the newborn King. In Spain, the children always left a little hay or straw outside the door for the horses of the Wise Men.

The celebration of Christmas Eve began many centuries ago. However you choose to celebrate your Christmas Eve, we wish you a Merry Christmas tomorrow as you celebrate in the fashion of your family whether it be Back Home in Benton, PA, or elsewhere. Our wishes are with you for Happy Holidays and a Healthy New Year.

Now take the time to watch the birth of the baby Jesus by going here.

Quickies...

•  Japan Airlines Corporation (JALSY)  provides air-transport services through its 225 subsidiaries and 82 associated companies. The company CEO is Haruka Nishimatsu, 60.  He rides a city bus to work and like all other employees of the airline he has his desk in the middle of an "open office."  He stands in line at the cafeteria just as do most of the other employees.  He has eliminated all of his corporate perks, including his annual salary of $90,000 (U.S.), less than many of JAL's pilots. There are corporate executives in this country whose compensation package runs into hundreds of millions of dollars.

•  Oh, pshaw, you say!  Well, didja know that 116 banks received the taxpayers' bailout money?  These banks which needed to be rescued paid out $1.6 billion in compensation and benefits to 600 executives last year (Associated Press).

•  Long-haul carriers and most who do any amount of travel in their motor homes know Flying J, Inc., the auto-fuel retailer and truck-stop operator, based in Ogden, Utah.  The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection December 22 in order to to reorganize and pay creditors back over time.  The company operates five locations in Pennsylvania and more than 250 gas stations and travel centers in the U.S. and Canada. All Flying J travel centers will remain open.  

Kathleen Arcuri takes over a writing assignment today.  Her article is entitled FLORES DE NOCHE BUENA:  Flowers of the Holy Night.

What a beautiful name. However, we in the English-speaking world are stuck with the moniker in honor of the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Mr. Poinsett. As an amateur botanist, he introduced the poinsettia to this country in 1825. The horticultural nomenclature, euphorbia pulcherrima, isn’t much better, named after a first century AD Greek physician, Euphorbus.

A folk legend suggested the poetic Mexican name for this holiday plant. Pepita, a poor peasant girl, had only weeds to present at the nativity scene in her village. But because she offered them with love, they burst into brilliant red blooms. Thereafter this shrub, native to Mexico and Guatemala, has been associated with the Christmas season.

Early Christians in the region are of course responsible for the legend, but pre-colonial Aztecs also used this winter-blooming plant in their festivities. The infamous Montezuma had poinsettias carted into Mexico City by caravans from their coastal habitats. In addition to their decorative use, his subjects processed the bracts for a reddish-purple dye and ingested them for fever control.

Which raises the issue of toxicity. Perhaps we shouldn’t use Montezuma as a guide for food safety, but research at Ohio State University has debunked the myth that poinsettias are poisonous. As with all euphorbias, their milky sap may cause slight skin irritation for some; but accidental ingestion, or use for fever control, will reportedly not cause harm.

And another clarification is in order. The colorful “flowers” are actually bracts, modified leaf clusters. The real flowers are yellow and embedded in the center of each bract. In cultivation, the most common shades of bracts are red, white, and pink. But some new varieties run to orange, lime green, cream, and even marbled specimens.

Because they are tropical perennial shrubs, growing to 16 feet in their native habitat, they can be grown outdoors in USDA zones 9 to 11, where temperatures generally don’t dip below freezing. But those of us in northern climes can still carry our holiday poinsettias over from year to year with some TLC (see sidebar). Their reblooming may not be quite as dramatic as Pepita’s miracle, but with a little love you too can force a weedy-looking plant to burst into flaming glory for the season of the Holy Night. Felice Navidad!

Here’s a quick guide for poinsettia care: •  Protect with a large bag when bringing your new plant home. •  Provide indirect sunlight, with ideal room temperatures between 68 to 70 degrees. •  Water when dry to the touch. Add humidity with a pebble tray or mister. •  Fertilize every two to three weeks. •  In April, cut stems back to 8”; pinch back as needed up until September 1. •  After all danger of frost, place outside in light shade. •  Water and fertilize as above; transplant to larger pot as needed. •  Bring indoors as night temperatures drop below 55 degrees. •  Starting October 1, provide complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. •  Through the fall, daytime light should be direct, for 6 to 8 hours. •  By mid-December, look for colorful bracts to emerge, and repeat care described above.

--Kathleen Arcuri. Original date of publication:  December 16, 2007, The Danville Daily Item. For more of Kathy's garden writing, go here.

December 23, 2008.  It is the birthday of Rob Stuehrk and Donna J. Remley. Monday was frigid in the hills of Pennsylvania with morning temperatures in the borough of 2° and wind chills well below zero.  Today should be slightly warmer, and Wednesday and the rest of the week winter tolerable. Please keep Gisela Demko in your prayers following skin-cancer surgery, Mary Gaye Kline and Marcia Worley recovering at home following surgery, Beth McMichael recovering in the Bloomsburg Hospital from a fall and a broken ankle and Bea McMichael at the Orangeville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Watch the school children on our slippery streets. They get out of school at 12:30 today.

The customary spirit of Christmas giving, which often is characterized by expecting something in return, appears to be changing this year to a true spirit of generosity.  People seem to be enjoying the pure joy of giving and receiving in return for an enriched meaning of Christmas.  Human sentiment will come to its own in a richer and better way.  A case in point is an unexpected present of New York Sharp Cheddar Cheese from a man in Jamestown, New York, a man I have never met and only know because he is a reader of the Benton News and from time to time offers an email comment.  I am truly touched, because I am in my Scrooge mode and not helping the economy by doing a lot of Christmas buying.  

Christmas Eve services will be celebrated Wednesday evening as follows...
•  Benton Christian Church, 7 PM
•  Bible Baptist Church, Benton Township, 6:30 PM

•  Benton United Methodist Church, 7 PM
•  Christ the King Catholic Church, Benton. Christmas Eve Mass will be celebrated  at 7 PM.  Christmas  Day Mass will be at 9 AM.
•  New Testament Assembly of God, Greenwood Township, 7 PM
•  St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Sugarloaf Township, 6:30 PM
•  St. John Lutheran Church, Unityville, 7 PM
•  First United Methodist Church, Shickshinny, 9:30 PM
•  Orangeville United Church, 7 PM
•  Stillwater Christian Church, 6 PM and 8 PM
•  Zion United Church of Christ, Forks, 7 PM

Christmas greetings for 2008...   There are people who still think of the origin of Christmas and its traditions. Others think of it simply as a holiday, an occasion to gather the family and exchange presents, to wish others a "Happy Holiday" and continue on their busy way with a possible aside of "Hope that your cold is better."  But Christmas means more than an occasion for the remembrance of one's family and close friends.  If the spirit of Christmas means anything at all it means charity, kindness and consideration for all mankind, not just with one's family.  The baby born in Bethlehem on that silent night did not belong to the shepherds or to the wise men from the East or even to Mary his mother.  He belongs to every generation.  The good news that was proclaimed on that Judean hillside twenty-one centuries ago is still meaningful on this Christmas.   What is that good news?  That God came into the world with all the limitations of an ordinary man to live, suffer and die among men in order that they might see for themselves how much He loves them and learn to love Him in return. The Wise Men from the East followed the Star of Bethlehem to a manger holding the infant Savior of the World.  The anniversary of the birth of the Founder of the Christian religion is not only the most holy festival in Christendom, but the greatest and most joyous holiday in the civilized world. It is a day in which the very best in human nature asserts its sway in every corner of the globe and among all races; when the spirit of "Peace on Earth, Good Will to men" stills for the day the bickering of individuals and nations and the desire to make others happy reigns supreme.  It leads to a wonderful day, the day of Christmas.  There is nothing else that can compare with it among the institutions of men. Lets devote ourselves to making the kids happy; to welcoming Santa Claus as he was never before welcomed; to devastating the turkey, the Christmas ham or whatever you feed your family this Christmas day.  Attend the church service that is in tune with your personal beliefs.  Join in the Christmas chorus and listen to the Christmas sermons.  Attend to all things that make the day significant to you, but make it a joyous day. May this be your best Christmas ever Back Home in Benton, PA, or wherever you might be.

Didja ever know the meaning of "Noel?"  It means that Christmas is a time for  ove, for fami y, and mis etoe.

 Here are some shopping tips for the men who haven't started/finished their shopping...
  • Get up with the chickens and shop early in the morning or two hours before closing (when Desperate Housewives is on is a good time) when the stores are generally less busy. You won’t have the long lines or need to fight crowds. Some larger stores are remaining open 24 hours a day from now until Christmas to accommodate the men who up to now have forgotten about Christmas.

  • Get your money or debit/credit card ready for checkout. Don't dig in your pocket for small change or for your debit card. If you write a check, have it partially filled out as you begin the transaction.

 

   • Don’t apply for a store-credit card to save 10% on your first purchase. The terms, rates and conditions of these cards won't be in your favor. Apply for one of these cards only if the store is one in which you consistently shop and you have checked the fine print for hidden fees.

  • Clerks are not paid to do your thinking. Don't ask, "Which is better?" when you compare 90% rayon and 10% polyester with 40% something and 60% something else. Don't ask which SD card you should buy for your digital camera. The clerk doesn't know. Write it down before you leave home. Don't get to the check-out counter and ponder "Now what else was I supposed to get?" Again, the clerk doesn't know and doesn't care. Neither do the customers behind you.

• Things are "picked over" pretty well this late in the shopping season. If the item doesn't have a bar code on it, don't take it. Get another of the same size. Check-out clerks get cranky when they call for assistance--and so do customers in line behind you.

If you don't know where to find what you want, consult the BUSINESS section on the side panel. These are fine local businesses and have the special gift you need during your moment of crisis when you realize that you haven't bought anything for that special someone.

Happy shopping, and happy holidays! I am heading off now to do my shopping before most of the men begin to do theirs.

 Quickies...

   • The home-video format VHS has reached the end of the road.  Distributors are now giving away or throwing away remaining stocks in their warehouses.

   •  It is entirely possible that the second week of January, just before the Inauguration, could be the start of a honeymoon rally on the stock market.

    •  Pennsylvanians appear to be buying more alcohol, according to the PittsburghTribune-Review.  Sales for fiscal year 2007-08 by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board recorded total sales up 4.7% from the previous year.  The big increase came from purchases by individuals compared with licensees; i.e.,  people are cutting costs by drinking at home.

   •   A surprise 90th birthday party was held Sunday, December 21, at the Benton Community Center for Mary Janney, 90.  She is the mother of 12 children, 29 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.  Despite the weather, there was a good turnout of family and friends.

December 22, 2008.  Today is the first day of Chanukah (Hanukkah), an eight-day Jewish festival in which the lighting of the Menorah takes place.   It is the birthday of Mary Janney and Dick McHenry.

The accolades kept coming Sunday afternoon as the community, his church, his bank, his beloved Lions Club and members of the Rodeo Association gathered to begin the formal retirement process for Dean Kelchner, 70, from his everyday duties at the First Columbia Bank, Benton.  Dean in turn noted that he spent an estimated 192,000 miles driving between Millville, where he lives, to Benton, where the bank offices are--once driving it in ten minutes when he heard on the scanner that the bank was being robbed.

Dean graduated from Nescopeck High School in 1956 and immediately began work at the Montgomery Ward’s store, Berwick. He worked there until 1966. Dean then started working at The Berwick Bank, which later became the United Penn bank. Dean began as a loan teller, working his way up to Assistant Cashier. When he left the bank in 1976, Dean was a loan officer.

Dean came to the Benton office of the Columbia County Farmers National Bank on December 1, 1976, as the assistant to Art Wenner, the branch manager. In 1981, upon Mr. Wenner’s retirement, Dean became the Benton branch manager and vice president.

Dean has a long list of service to the community.  He was church secretary for twenty years.  He was one of three--with Dan Stoneham and Charlie Litwhiler--who helped form the Benton Rodeo Association.  He has remained active with the Millville School Board and his hometown carnival at the snow-cone stand.  He joined the Lions Club in 1990 and has been with the largest service organization in the world in many ways, including President of the Benton Lions Club.  He served the Oriental Masonic Lodge, Orangeville, in numerous capacities, including secretary and the organizer of the yearly Fun Fair.  He is retiring to take on the job as District Governor of the Lions Club, International, in an area which includes 12 Pennsylvania counties consisting of 65 clubs.  He is a recent recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award in recognition of his commitment to humanitarian work.   The fellowship is the highest honor of the Lions Clubs and represents humanitarian qualities of generosity, compassion, and concern for the less fortunate.

One of the honored guests was son Tim Kelchner, sports anchor and reporter for WCBI, Columbus, Mississippi.  Dean wife, Peggy, was instrumental in preparing the delicious food served to the guests. 

Jean MacDermott recalled the 22 years that she worked with Dean, "most of it good," although she did take the opportunity to tell Dean that she never liked working on Saturdays.

Various speakers told how Dean would do anything in his power to help customers he liked, but that he disliked anyone who was disrespectful to one of "his girls" and that he had difficulty running the office when he had a "crying woman in his office."  Bank President Lance Diehl recalled that Dean was the first banker he met when he joined the bank 23 years ago.  Lance said "Dean is and always has been an excellent manager of his people."  He cited Dean's "willingness to change and adapt" and to take a "lead role" in whatever the bank was doing, whether it meant getting a "little odor on his shoes" from tramping through a barnyard or just from hard work day in and day out.  Lance said he "would not be in banking today if it were not for Dean."

Dean's last official day of work in the office is January 16, but as numerous speakers attested he is likely to continue his long-standing practice of heading to the sub shop at 11 until then.  His long-established goal of "moving to Florida and getting a job as a driver on the monorail at Walt Disney World" may never come to fruition, although Dean said he intends to go in June.

Dean was one of the constant forces in the local bank; he was always there encouraging the employees to do their best for their customers.  He will be very much missed.

Quickies...
   •  The Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. plans to expand the capacity of its "300 gas-transmission line" across  Bradford County, according to the Daily Review.  The  company plans to install a 30-inch line next to the existing line which carries gas from wells in West Virginia to markets in the northeastern United States. Approval is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  The company hopes to begin construction in the second half of 2010 and have the project in service by November 2011.

   •  Keep the cards flowing to Hannah Garman, 4, 704 Orchard Road, Lititz, PA 17543,  who has a rare form of inoperable brain cancer.  Meet Hannah by going here.

Christmas will be here in four days.  Our ancestors would say that Christmas is the merriest day of all the year, a day for wonderful recollections, a day set aside for instilling the concept of charity and good will into the minds of children, a day when parents truly understand how much better it is to give than to receive.

Only four short days are left in which to plan and decide and execute, four days in which to determine what you will buy and to do the shopping. Phone lines and email are busy with the question, "What can I get you for Christmas?" "What does Cousin Clarita need?" "What size shirt is Buxom Bernice up to now?" With some, the question of what to buy involves a fixed sum, which is not large this year, the economy being what it is. With others, the only question to decide is what will be most appropriate and what will please the most.

What follows next in this diatribe is for the men, and so you women who have your Christmas shopping finished can go back to the wrapping of presents and the baking of cookies and the setting of the sheets just right in preparation for the return Back Home to Benton, PA, of loved ones for the Christmas holiday. Christmas shopping is left pretty generally to the female members of the family, which is the reason sharp-witted mall owners usually have benches where the men can sit and wonder what they should buy while the women go out and actually do it.

Women seem to have studied the art of pleasing more thoroughly than men and are better judges of what should be purchased. Women are more patient and spend more time on a selection, while men rush in, make their selections quickly without invoking any thought whatsoever. When the men get home, they immediately discover their mistakes and realize they bought something they and no one else would ever in their right minds want. To men, Christmas shopping is a bore. It is a care to the women, too, but they seem to make sacrifices on the part of those they love more willingly than men.

Many store clerks say that women are entirely too deliberate. On those rare occasions when Marcia Kay and I shop together, I fill my shopping cart while Kay decides whether the 16 oz. or the 24 oz. size is more economical, which color of dish-washing liquid will look best inside the cupboard, or whether there are fewer calories in frozen Brussels sprouts or in a can of spinach.

Mother used to decide on an article of clothing, ask that it be set aside (for reasons unclear to me, to the store keeper and probably to Mother) for a period of time, and then later decide that it wouldn't do at all, while the owner of the store had half a dozen opportunities to sell the item. At times, Mother would come back two or three days after the holding period had expired and complain that the item was gone.

But, men, what I am trying to say is "get with it." It is time to begin your Christmas shopping! If you put off your Christmas shopping until one or two days before Christmas, everything will be done in a rush and you won't be happy.  Christmas shopping is one of the things that must be done if you are to remain a hero in the eyes of your significant other and if you put it off too long you will regret it.

"String Theory" in their Sunday night Christmas Concert
at the Benton Presbyterian Church

December 21, the 356th day of 2008.  Happy anniversary to Joe and Loraine Feola. There are four shopping days remaining until Christmas and 89 days until the official start of Spring.

 Winter begins this morning at 7:04 EST with a cold blast.  Snow should begin about daylght and continue into the morning hours. Go here to see an illustration of the tilt of the earth's equatorial plane relative to the sun which is responsible for the seasons. The dates of maximum tilt of the Earth's equator correspond to the summer and winter solstice, and the dates of zero tilt to the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox. The winter solstice is one of the two times each year when the sun is at its farthest point from the equator and appears to stand still. Days will again grow longer--while the days grow colder.  

On this date in 1620, the "Mayflower" and its passengers, known as "Puritans," landed at Plymouth Rock and later that year founded Plymouth Colony as a holy Commonwealth in New England, stressing the importance of personal religious experience. The Puritans felt the English Reformation had not gone far enough in reforming the doctrines and structure of the church. These people wanted to purify their national church by eliminating every shred of Catholic influence. Puritans insisted that affairs should be conducted according to God's will as revealed in the Bible, arguing that Christians should only do what the Bible commanded. Anglicans contended rather that Christians should not do what the Bible prohibited. The Puritans were "Bah, Humbug!" people as relates to Christmas.

The colorful but controversial American general, George Smith Patton (either "Jr." or "III"--he used both), commanded in North Africa, Sicily and the European Theater of Operations.  He once slapped a soldier recuperating at a hospital, prompting General Eisenhower to relieve him of command.  He was eventually given command of the U.S. Third Army and led it in breaking out of the hedge rows of Normandy and across France.  When the war was over, Patton continued to open his mouth simply to change feet.  His politically incorrect statements clouded his brilliant military reputation.  

He once was stripped of his Bavarian command for refusing to remove government leaders who had been Nazi Party members (he argued the Communists were the new threat), and told friends he might resign from the Army. His decision, he said, would come after he went home for Christmas. There were rumors of a political committee being formed for the purpose of running him for president.

 

On December 10, he invited his chief of staff to go pheasant hunting. As the two men sat in the back seat talking, Patton's driver missed a left turn signal on an on-coming "deuce & a half." The truck turned and the staff car smashed into it. Everybody in the truck was okay. Patton's driver was okay, as was his chief of staff. Patton said he was okay but couldn't feel his legs. Eleven days later, December 21, 1945, the distinguished and controversial U.S. Army officer. on learning he could no longer ride a horse, went to sleep and never again woke up.

Quickies...
  •  Penn State's student body is asking Lion fans to wear white for the big game at the Rose Bowl. Penn State fans have been asked to take their Beaver Stadium White Out on the road to the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day when the Lions face Southern Cal.

   •  The Pennsylvania Manual has been a comprehensive guide to Pennsylvania's government for more than 200 years.  It is a valuable reference for schools, libraries and the general public.  The manual includes Pennsylvania history, the constitution and elections. The executive, judicial and legislative branches are covered, including information on the powers, functions and duties of those offices.  

   •  The Rev. Al Lumpkin will present the annual music program at the Benton Presbyterian Church tonight at 7 featuring the musical group, String Theory. Jeanie Lumpkin will play banjo and guitar and Rev. Lumpkin will play guitar and mandolin. Jeremy Lumpkin will play bass. Warren Fisher is a retired professor of Economics at Susquehanna University. and built the autoharps Rev. Lumpkin plays. Warren will play guitar and autoharp. Ann Fisher, Warren's wife, is a retired economics professor at Penn State and plays mountain dulcimer and autoharp. Judy Ellis plays hammered dulcimer. Judy is retired from Admissions at Bucknell University. The program is free and open to the public and represents Rev. Lumpkin's Christmas gift to the citizens of the northern Fishingcreek area. It will be a fine evening. 

•  Didja ever think that the most overused poofy word in some people's vocabulary is "India?"  Twice Saturday, someone said hello to me, then announced, "this is the second time today I have run India."

From time to time we head back in the history of the local area, and we'll do that today. We chose 1964 for today's topic. Here are some of the things that happened locally while on the national level Annie Get Your Gun opened on Broadway, the Republicans took control of both houses of Congress and President Truman formally proclaimed an end to all hostilities in World War II.

Establishment of Green Acres...
Many will remember that 1946 was the year that the development of Green Acres, just north of the Benton Borough line, began to take shape. The project was started by the Little Lumber Company and when announced envisioned sixty-four lots of approximately 15,000 square feet each. The subdivision is near the Benton Elementary School and the Administrative building of the Benton Area Schools. For those who don't remember the Little Lumber Company, it was founded by Otto Little as a sawmill in Sullivan County in 1941. In 1947, Otto purchased the Benton Lumber Yard and formed a partnership with his son, Miles. Within ten years, the company had a hardware store of 4,000 square feet which today houses the Benton Volunteer Fire Hall.

The Opening of the Tasty Crème
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sones, Millville R.D. 2, who formerly operated the "Brown Cow" at Montoursville, opened what they called a Tastee Crème shop toward the end of June, 1946, in the former Ray B. Keeler store near the Northeast end of the bridge over Fishingcreek in Benton Borough. Mr. Keeler's old jewelry store was "remodeled and attractively repainted inside and out before opening," according to the Argus of June 25, 1964. The couple also "installed the finest type of equipment for the production of soft ice cream and the usual sodas, shakes and sundaes," according to the same article. When a "For Sale" sign appeared on the building, Budd Fritz zipped over to the Derrs area where the couple lived and asked about buying it. Mrs. Sones, according to Budd, said that "a fellow over at Berwick wants it, but if you want it you can have it." An agreement was worked out and Mrs. Sones helped Budd and Betty for part of the first year.

The bridge over Fishingcreek prior to 1971.

In 1971, the state widened the bridge by removing the right side and added several feet of width to the roadway and changed the height and construction so that vehicles entering from Colley Street could better see oncoming traffic. The abutment on the left side was changed. The building was condemned at its location and it had to be moved or torn down. The Tastee Crème shop was loaded on a "Low Boy" and moved across the creek to its present location on land sold by John Mather to the Fritz family. During the summer months, the Tastee Crème continues to be one of the most popular spots in the Borough. The Fritz family still owns the stand.

Fireman's Carnival
The Firemen's Carnival opening night featured the Pet and Toy Parade and closed on Saturday night with a firemens' parade with 25 companies participating with state-of-the-art equipment back to equipment dating to 1861. Music for the parades came from the Keystoner's Drum and Bugle Corps and the Benton Joint High School Band. Wayne Yorks was in charge. Music at the carnival came from groups like "The Diamonds" from Berwick, the Range Riders, and the hit of the week Doc Williams and his Border Riders, Wheeling, West Virginia. Some readers may remember Doc Williams from his WWVA Jamboree days entertaining with his wife Chickie, so named because Doc thought that the girl who wrote him his first fan letter, Jesse Wanda Crupe, was a "cute chick." He later married her. Some readers may remember when Doc sold 200,000 guitar courses on the air.

December 20, 2008.  It is the birthday of the First Lady of PA, Judge Marjorie O. Rendell. Do you realize how many days remain before Christmas? On this date in 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed. In 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union, and in 1980, the Soviet Union got around to mentioning that former Premier Alexei Kosygin had died a couple of days earlier at the age of 76.  The Borough received seven inches of snow yesterday, followed by sleet and freezing rain and a drop of temperature into the low-20s. Saturday morning travel will be a disaster.  Sunday isn't going to be a lot better. Drive with caution.

Here is a pop quiz for today.  What did all these songs have in common?  Answer at end.

• Auf Wiedersehen (Sigmund Romberg, music; Herbert Reynolds, lyrics)
• Keep the Home Fires Burning (Ivor Novello, music; Lena Guilbert Ford, lyrics)
• The Old Grey Mare, She Ain't What She Used to Be (Frank Panella)
• Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag (Felix Powell, music; George Asaf, lyrics)

• Don't Bite the Hand That's Feeding You (James Morgan, music; Thomas Hoier, lyrics)

In the Wilkes-Barre Times of December 20, 1906, Captain James Bowman recalled his Christmas confinement in a Confederate prison during the Civil War. Captain Bowman wrote his story about half a century after the episode happened, yet the picture in the mind of the former soldier of that Christmas Day in a Virginia prison was "just as strong, vivid, and impressive as though it were but yesterday."

Bowman was part of the Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves captured in the fight at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864. Bowman was confined in an old abandoned tobacco warehouse in the suburbs of Danville, Virginia. Part of the roof was blown off and the windows broken out by storms. Bowman and others were confined during the winter of 1864 and 1865 and suffered terribly from the cold in that fireless, damp, chilly and cheerless prison.

Bowman wrote in his memoirs about "Sunday, 25th December, 1864." He remembered that "it happened so long ago that we had entirely forgotten the incidents of the day," and had to refer to his diary to see how the soldiers spent Christmas Day in a rebel prison, "inside the Confederacy, far away from home, loved ones, and the Flag we loved so much."

Bowman continued, "We had no Christmas services, no Christmas carols, no Christmas presents, no Christmas entertainments and no Christmas social gatherings that makes Christmas day the day of all days, the most blessed of all religious festivities. We, however, extended to each other Christmas greetings and then gathered together in groups and discussed our environments, and talked about our homes and loved ones, and wondered what they were saying, and what their thoughts were concerning us in our far away Confederate prison."

He continued, "We had no extra rations or allowances for Christmas dinner. It was the same old sparing thing. Half pound of musty corn-chop bread and watered soup. We were all grievously disappointed, because we expected some extras. If anything, the soup was poorer than on other days. We were supposed to have a pint of soup. It was made out of black Virginia field beans, about as large as early June peas. For Christmas dinner we anticipated at least a couple quantity of beans in our soup, but in these were disappointed. It was the same old quantity, about six beans in a pint of soup. It was about one-third soup, the balance water, dirt, bugs and weevils. We were glad, however, to get the soup, bugs, weevils, dirt and all. Nothing seemed to turn our stomachs, because there was nothing in them to turn."

The forlorn and cheerless surroundings in which Bowman found himself did not cause Bowman to lose track of the real meaning of Christmas. He and the others worshipped "the Christ of Bethlehem" and silently said their prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude that they were still alive in an environment that meant death to so many of his comrades.

Remember Captain Bowman and all servicemen and servicewomen as you gather at your well-laden tables at this holiday season. Thank your blessings for that which is yours.

The 2009 celebration of the civil war dissent in the northern part of Columbia County, often referred to as the "Fishing Creek Confederacy," has received a $4,700 County Commissioner Tourism Fund grant from Columbia County.   The Columbia County award ceremony will take place at the Inn at Turkey Hill on January 9. The event will receive wide publicity through the summer.  If you don't know much about the anti-war attitudes of Columbia County citizens in 1864, read www.bentonnews.net/Features/civilwar.htm now or read the Sunday edition of the Press Enterprise.

Columbia County Commissioners also distributed money this week to Stillwater Borough for its annual Poetry and Music Festival ($5,000), the O.A.T.S. Bluegrass Festival ($5,000) and the Benton Volunteer Fire Department to advertise its gun shows ($4,000).

Quickies...
  •  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries slashed its daily production by a record 2.2 million barrels Wednesday,  its biggest production cut ever.  Oil prices have fallen more than 52% over the past three months, as many countries around the world have slipped into recession, leading to a sharp decline in demand for oil.  OPEC will again meet March 15 in Vienna, Austria.

  •  Don't forget the big dance tonight 7 to 10 at The Center.  There will be a gift exchange, food and fellowship.  It is open to the public.  Call 925-0163 for more information.

• "A Night in Bethlehem" was cancelled for Friday because of the weather. The Benton Methodist Church will again welcome visitors tonight at 6.

  •  A song about immigration, Don't Bite the Hand That's Feeding You, words by Thomas Hoier and music by Jimmie Morgan, was one of the popular songs in 1915.  Gene Autry recorded it.  Judy Garland recorded the song for the film For Me and My Gal in 1942 (although it was cut from the movie).  Click www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_Z5adiMG8 to listen to the song. Auf Wiedersehen, Keep the Home Fires Burning, The Old Grey Mare and Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag were other popular songs in 1915.

December 19, 2008.  It is the birthday of Alyssa Kramer.  There are two days remaining until the official start of Winter, although all of us know it sneaked in early this year. On this date in 1843, A Christmas Carol was first published in England. It is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge learning the Christmas spirit of generosity from three ghosts who show him his past, his present and his future. Charles Dickens got the idea for the book in late October, 1843, and finished it in time for Christmas that year. It became a huge bestseller. The "S" word is in the forecast through Monday.

Today and December 17 and 20 are Ember Days. Folklore has it that the weather on each of the three days foretells the weather for three successive months; that is, today ’s Ember Days forecasts weather for February, Wednesday forecast January, and Saturday predicts March. Historically, Ember days have been times of public prayer and fasting. Some think that Ember days were so-called from a German word signifying abstinence; other that they are derived from embers, which signifies ashes which were used when it was customary to accompany fasting with sprinkling ashes upon the heads of the faithful.

 

Didja ever wonder how Route 239 south from Benton became known as "the dug?"

Bob Sands recalls that in 1927/28, the Lane Construction Company "dug" a new road from Harry Laubach's farm (where the old dirt road turned behind his house and went "behind the hill" until it arrived at the present Benton Township building, then followed the present route 239 east and south). This construction deviated from other area roads in that it was dug out the side of the hill rather than following former animal trails, Indian trails and dirt roads going from point A to point B. A young laborer worked on that job by the name of J. Paul Laubach, and a man by the name of David Floyd made his entry into Benton to work on that road. Bob and Dayne Kline both recalled the size of the machinery used for the road construction, large at the time in the eyes of small kids.  

We loved listening to the little boy singing "Olive the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names."

Benton Fire Company officers for 2009 are President, Ed Musser; Vice President, Fred Westover; Fire Chief, Harold Morris; 1st. Asst. Chief, Carl Spiece; 2nd. Asst.Chief, Ron Robbins; Ambulance Chief, James Albertson; Recording Secretary, Jocelyn Wagner; Financial Secretary, Cindy Matthews; Treasurer, Missy Morris; Trustees, Gary Elliott, Andrew Funk, Rob Conner.   Elizabeth Stewart, granddaughter of rapidly recovering Betty Lou Stoneham, went to the Columbia Mall where she recognized the Marine "Toys for Tots" barrels.   Elizabeth went to the barrels and looked in, then uttered in disbelief, "the barrels are empty.  The barrels need toys."  Elizabeth is right.  Lets give someone else a wonderful Christmas.  As the Amish would say, "make the barrels full."

 

Do you like juggling?  Here is a guy who knows how: http://robwell37.multiply.com/video/item/12. (You may have to scroll down.)

 

A reader asked if I stand by my statement on December 2; i.e., "The market could turn worse in the coming few weeks, and it is possible that we could see a bottom of the market within the next thirty days. The bottom of the economy and the bottom of the market do not run concurrent."  I frankly thought that the Standard & Poor's 500 Index would take a nosedive larger Thursday than the 2.1% it took as it reached support levels of 895 then 885 and 860.  A few more points down and I suspect there would have been a stampede of explosive proportions.  As soon as that happens, dig up your coffee can and consider purchasing what you feel should be in your future.  Sure, I'll be the first to say I was wrong if I turn out to be.

 

The Council of the Borough of Benton will hold a special meeting open to the public on January 7, 2009, at the Borough Building, 150 Colley Street, Benton, for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on three requests for variances from the requirements of the Borough's Outdoor Furnace Ordinance in accordance with Section 3.D and the applicable provisions of the Local Agency Law.  The names and addresses of the applicants for the variances are as follows:

   Brad and Karen Reed, 200 Main Street, Benton

   Rodney Pennington, 20 Sunny Hillside Road, Benton

   Rodger English, 245 Main Street, Bento

Formal charges in the shooting of the yearling albino button buck east of Maple Grove on December 11 were filed with the District Magistrate in Millville about 12:20 PM Thursday by Conservation Officer George Wilcox. The charges were brought against Eric Benjamin Crebs, 70 Wesley Street, Stillwater. The six charges outlining the unlawful acts result in fines totaling $2,500. The charges range from shooting in a safety zone and unlawful acts relating to motorized vehicles and firearms. Officer Wilcox confirmed that the small deer was a true albino and was the first "true" albino the conservation officer had seen locally, although several others are reported in the area with some areas of brown on their body. If Crebs pleads guilty to three of the six charges, he can have his fine reduced. Complete details will be published in the Press Enterprise in its edition of December 19.

 

December 18, 2008.  It is the birthday of Wendi Wolford, Mark Travelpiece and R. B. Powell. On this date in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was declared in effect. On this date in 1957, The Bridge on the River Kwai" opened and went on to win seven Oscars.  Please keep V. Blaine Long in your prayers as he faces major surgery following Christmas.

Here are some things to think about as you approach the New Year...

   •  Try living without concentrating on yesterday and the things that made you unhappy with the past.  Put it behind you, make peace with the past and enjoy the future without the encumbrances of what went before.

   •  Don't hold a grudge toward those who have done something wrong involving you.  President Reagan said "Trust, but Verify!"  Forgive those who have done something wrong to you.  They are still responsible, but forgive and move on. "Forgive, but hold accountable."

    •  You are the one responsible for making yourself happy.  Happiness is the real quest of life.  When you are not happy, don't blame that fact on someone else.  If you are unhappy, figure out what can be done to correct the situation.

   •  Don't ever give up on the lifetime project of education.

  •  Take people for what they are and the way they are.  Don't wish what you want for them.  If you have to fix a life, fix yours--not the life of someone else.

   Didja hear that the Illinois state motto is being changed to "Where our governors make our license plates?"

From the "So Much For That" Department comes this...
Rand McNally claims that its online maps and driving directions site has more than 1,000,000 more addresses and 22,000 miles more roads than Google, MapQuest and Yahoo!. I decided to try it out.  I know the shortest route to Camp Hill from Benton; I have made the trip hundreds of times. It is exactly 100 miles and I usually drive it in less than two hours. The Rand McNally "More Roads-Better Directions™" did its whirly-gig and concluded the shortest route would take two hours and twenty-five minutes driving time to cover the 133 mile trip.  So much for that.

   Didja ever think that since God doesn't propose to judge a man until he is dead, why should you?

The Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) program produces monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services. The U.S. Department of Labor announced that on a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased 1.7% in November after declining 1.0% in October. If that decrease continued for a year, we would be in a 20% deflation or twice the plunge in consumer prices experienced in The Great Depression.

Ben Shalom Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve, slashed benchmark interest rates to levels former President Carter would never understand and said it would buy large amounts of debt and securities to flood the financial system with money.  Rates are as low as .25% to zero! Excuse me?  Cheapening the currency would, by nature, inflate the costs of those goods and services it purchases. No one accused the country of having interest rates too high or that we had too few debts. We are in this mess because of too much debt, because we are canceling purchases.  The market initially reacted with confidence and the stock market went up, then Wall Street thought about it and prices fumbled around until they fell again.  What is wrong?

What is wrong is the lack of confidence.  Banks don't have it and they won't lend money.  You and I and the small business down the street don't have it and we aren't resuming spending.  If you have any thoughts on giving the country a huge boost of confidence, let me know.

Confidence keeps banks afloat.  Confidence prevents universal loss and confusion.  A currency based on the promise to redeem on demand in gold and silver, unless backed by confidence in the ability to pay, will always collapse with the loss of confidence.  

The Federal Government in 1864, when the issue of the war hung over everything, found its paper notes so low in credit that it took $2.85 to buy a dollar.  As danger passed and confidence increased in the ability to redeem the promise, they rose in value until they were worth virtually as much as gold.

Confidence wins battles, builds fortunes, insures happiness.  Nothing great can be accomplished without it. It was the confidence of the allies in ultimate victory that defeated the best-equipped nation that had ever set out for world conquest. It was confidence that gave America to the world, starting with the great inventions that produced everything that makes mankind better and happier.  Confidence is founded on ability and experience.  

As you watch the fools that rush in where angels fear to tread, remember that they are fools, nevertheless.

The picture shown above is the original Yost's Restaurant, the restaurant that preceded the Hoboken Sub Shop. Owner George D. Yost is in the picture. The picture is courtesy of Geraldine Yost Laubach, George's granddaughter. There was a sprinkling of mounted animal heads on the walls, a large fan by the kitchen doors circulated the sweet smells of the kitchen, tables were covered with white-linen tablecloths. George's son, Frank, and Frank's wife, Carrie, ran the restaurant beside the old routes 115 and 239 for a number of years, then sold the restaurant to Bill and Madge Brewington Yost, Lee and Martha Yost and Emerson and Louise Stoneham. The name "Yost's Restaurant" remained. Today, the site is as shown below and to most is simply known as the "Sub Shop." Learn more about this favorite restaurant by heading here.

 

December 17, 2008.    Orville and Wilbur Wright really took off 106 years ago today.  Deb Dressler is missed at the Bloomsburg Health Lab behind Ed Cole's Barber Shop as she recovers in Bloomsburg Hospital.  Come Back Home to Benton, PA, as soon as you can, Deb!  Snow began falling abut 8 PM Tuesday and quickly turned into freezing rain, with rain and ice on the roads at daylight.  Wednesday's high should be about 38°.

Excel users often share spreadsheets with other users who potentially could make unwanted changes.  To preclude unwanted changes, consider making the spreadsheet "read-only."  When someone other than the person responsible for the spreadsheet opens the file, changes can only be saved by giving the file a new name.  Here is how to make an Excel file read-only in Excel 2003 and 2007...

   •  With  Excel open, click File, then click Save As.

   •  Click Tools (upper right-corner) and then click General Options.

   •  Click "Read-Only Recommended."

   •  Click OK.

   •  Click Save.

   •  If prompted, click Yes to update the existing file with the new read-only setting.

Quickies...

    •  Former Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa will serve the Obama administration as agriculture secretary according to the New York Times and will make that announcement later today.  Millville native Dennis Wolfe was actively seeking the nomination.

   •  CNX Gas Corp. (CXG.N) reported Monday that one of its first Marcellus Shale natural gas wells in Greene County is producing 6.5 million cubic feet of gas per day, more than any other well in the history of the company.  CNX Gas has raised its 2008 production outlook and plans to start fracturing its second and third horizontal well in the region in the near future.  Shares of the company closed at 30.64 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

   •  Regular, unleaded gasoline sold for $1.549 in Camp Hill Tuesday.  Prices in Benton were $1.769 and $1.809.

   •  Take a look at the new state website where Pennsylvanians can find information on employment, family services, housing, older Pennsylvanians and economic development.  This website puts many beneficial programs together to help families get through tough times.

   •  Congratulations to Bob Parks for the publication of his article about the local twin bridges.  The article, "Trials and Tribulations of a Historic Pair of Covered Bridges," appears in Volume 3, Number 2, of the Wooden Covered Spans publication of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania.  You can see pictures of the reconstruction here.

   •  The talented group of Benton wrestlers and their coach, Russ Hughes, were featured on Channel 16 evening news Tuesday.

Peg Krum heads up about 30 volunteers at the food bank at the Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center.  The volunteers from local churches unpack food pallets, divide food into bags, set up tables and distribute the food to families.  Other local groups and individuals contribute time and money. Students in the Benton area school district donate canned goods.  Individuals make monetary donations and donate tissues, paper towels and toothpaste. The Benton Council of Churches serves as treasurer for the food bank.  Tuesday, the food bank hosted its annual Christmas party at which it served refreshments and distributed Christmas presents to the children. The gifts, labeled by age and sex for each child, were donated by local church groups, school children and individuals. This year, about 200 people were involved in the festivities.  If you would like to donate time or money to the Benton Food Bank, please contact Peg Krum, 925-6416.  Donations to the food bank can be mailed to P.O. Box 63, Benton, PA 17814.

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will travel to Washington D.C. by train beginning with a send-off in Philadelphia on January 17. Many thought that the President-elect would follow in the footsteps of Abe Lincoln and spend the night in Harrisburg before traveling on to Washington.

Lincoln spent the night at the "Jones House," Harrisburg, on February 22, 1861, on the way to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration.  He spoke to a large crowd gathered near Market and Second streets from the portico of the hotel and later went by carriage to the State Capitol Building to address the Pennsylvania Legislature.

 

How Mr. Lincoln came to be in Harrisburg deserves some explanation.  Rumors began in early 1861 that there was a conspiracy to capture Washington, seal off all roads (the term "road" in this sense meant railroad) leading to the capitol and prevent the inauguration of Lincoln.  The rumors were that if that didn't work, Mr. Lincoln would be captured and murdered "and thus inaugurate a revolution which should end in establishing a Southern Confederacy to unite the slave states and divide the north."

 

The rumor specifically had it that bridges would be burned in case Mr. Lincoln came over certain roads or in case Federal troops were moved in Washington to protect the inauguration festivities.  As the bridges burned, the train would be attacked and "Mr. Lincoln put out of the way."

 

The Government set out to whitewash bridges, putting "on some six or seven coats saturated with salt and alum" in order to make the bridges as fireproof as possible.   The bridges were then closely guarded.  The route to Washington was changed so that he would come to Harrisburg from Philadelphia, then take the Northern Central to Baltimore and then into Washington.  During the time Mr. Lincoln was moving, all telegraph lines were to be cut.

 

Mr. Lincoln prepared his first inaugural address based on the writings of Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, Daniel Webster and the Constitution.  The inaugural address was safely tucked away in a special satchel and guarded by Robert T. Lincoln who was traveling with his father.  As the train was about to leave the station in Harrisburg, Robert realized the satchel was missing.  He thought he had given it to a waiter at the hotel, but it could not be found.  Lincoln was at first annoyed and that feeling led to anger--and finally desperation.  There was only ten days to inauguration--and every minute was filled.  There was no time to write another speech.  Lincoln did not even have his notes.

 

The despondent inaugural party headed to the Harrisburg train station.  Lincoln went to the baggage-room, and spotted a satchel he thought was his.  The key even worked, but in the satchel was only a soiled shirt, some paper collars and a bottle of whiskey.  Finally the satchel was found buried under piles of baggage.

The lost satchel incident prompted Mr. Lincoln to tell a humorous story which is fitting today.  The story was that Lincoln once knew a man who saved fifteen hundred dollars and placed it in a "private-banking establishment."  The bank soon failed, and he received only ten percent of his investment.  He then took his one hundred and fifty dollars and deposited it in a savings bank, where he was sure it would be safe.

It wasn't long that this bank also failed and he received at the final settlement ten percent on the amount deposited.  When the fifteen dollars was paid to him, he held it in his hand and looked at it thoughtfully, then said, "Now, darn you!  I have got you reduced to a portable shape, so I'll put you in my pocket."

When Mr. Lincoln safely arrived in Washington on Saturday, the 23rd of February, telegraph lines were again joined and the first message flashed across the lines was "Your package has arrived safely, and has been delivered.  Signed, William."  Mr. Lincoln was safely inaugurated, the detective force discharged, the semi-military whitewashers were sent home.  

It was only a matter of months until a distant booming was heard from Fort Sumter and aroused the population of the states loyal to the union.  Seventy-five thousand men were summoned and they were promised that their presence would only be required for three months.  Again the rumors of burning bridges and destroying railroads began circulating.

Hindsight being the great teacher that it is, President Lincoln can thank some dedicated people who kept rebels from burning the bridges across the Susquehanna and who placed Baltimore under military rule. The Baltimore Sun of Monday, February 25, 1861, noted that if President Lincoln had taken the Northern Central directly from Philadelphia and had reached Baltimore by the Calvert Street depot, he would "undoubtedly have been murdered in cold blood."

 

December 16, 2008.  It is the birthday of Robert Keller, downtown Dotyville, Anna Pennington, Green Acres and Kris Letteer. Today is the anniversary (in 1773) of the Boston Tea Party. In 1944 on this date, the World War II Battle of the Bulge began as German forces launched a surprise counterattack in Belgium.  Following Monday's warm weather came near-freezing temperatures overnight, with snow--one to three inches--heading our way by Wednesday morning.

Benton United Methodist Church will present A Night in Bethlehem on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 18-20.  The red brick church on Main Street will be transformed into the town of Bethlehem on the night when our Lord was born. Come with your family and friends to this very special time and place.  Enjoy the free sights, sounds and tastes.  Experience the crafts in the Lower and Upper Marketplace.  The most precious gift of all awaits at the end of your journey.

Signs of the season are popping up around the area...
• a disposal service wishes you Happy Haul-a-Days!
• the door of a festively decorated gift shop in town: "Please open before Christmas!"
• a health club: "Merry Fitness and Happy New Rear!"

 

George Washington finished his second term as the first President of the United States in 1797. He returned to his beloved Mount Vernon, but within three years--two hundred and nine years ago--died in mid-December at the age of 67 following what he thought was a mild case of the flu had left his throat swollen and infected. The cure for his flu was at the time thought to be thinning the blood.  Remember that it wasn't until 1897 when German chemist Friedrich Bayer produced the first stable form of aspirin.    George Washington's blood wasn't thinned by aspirin; blood was thinned by drawing it from the body.  Doctor after doctor arrived to treat the patient, and each asked that blood be drawn.  You can read more about this event in history by going here.

 

With great satisfaction, I note that the flu is no longer treated in this fashion. It sounds like the cure would be worse than the condition.  And I can attest that the flu ain't no fun!  Now that I am getting better, Marcia Kay has come down with pink eyes and running nose, "the same and more of it," she says.  It was for this reason that the Monday, December 15, 2008, edition of the Benton News was not published in web or email version.

Unless you are in a public office where it would be inappropriate to see a grown person cry, take the time to head here and watch the video until you understand why everyone is laughing so hard.  It comes a minute and forty seconds after it begins, when the microphone is put to the mouth of the man in the middle.  I laughed so hard, I had to dry my eyes .  Appropriate for all ages.

   Didja ever notice that some people retire from politics and some retire from ethics?

So you think that English is easy!
We'll begin with a box and the plural is boxes.
But the plural of ox should be oxen, not oxes.
The one fowl is a goose but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may found a lone mouse or a whole set of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of a foot and you show me your feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why should not the plural of booth be called beeth?
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say Mother, we never say Methren,
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine she, shis and shim.

December 14, 2008.  Happy birthday to Chase Kline.

Heavens to Murgatroyd!  A reader asked for more examples of some of our words.  At the risk of boring you, here are two...   .

A reader asked for more examples of the source of some of our words.

   •  Apple of one’s eye.  The phrase appears in Deuteronomy in the King James version of the Bible and in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream.   The pupil of the eye was at one time called the apple, and the phrase described the pupil. The necessity for sight is precious to all of us, and slowly the term took on the literal meaning it has today.

    •  Gussied Up is something made attractive in a hokey way.  The term comes from various sources, but the most fun derives from Gertrude “Gorgeous Gussie” Moran, an American tennis star who played at Wimbledon in 1949 at the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, a closely controlled club which allowed only the wearing of white. "Gorgeous Gussie” arrived on the court in a short-tennis dress with ruffled, lace-trimmed knickers slightly below the hem and broad trimming of lace around the leg.  Ladies' knickers!  On  public display!  Members were outraged for putting "sin and vulgarity into tennis," but her saucy frillies were a bonanza at the cash register. For more, watch the 1952 movie Pat and Mike, in which she played herself to a backdrop of Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.

Didja ever think that to the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world?  

There is a lot thrown into the plot of Rachel Getting Married, a drama about the return of daughter Kym from rehabilitation.  Kym is the apple of her father's eye, an estranged member of the family and a recovering drug addict returning to the family home for her sister's interracial wedding. Kym brings some long-simmering tensions to the surface.  Let's see!  We should disclose there are some words normally not used in the local sewing circle.  There is no nudity but the camera does get turned on a few minutes after there must have been some.  That out of the way, there is a mixture of self-loathing, frayed nerves, skeletons in the closet, 80s hipster music, gussied-up wedding guests, revealing conversations, a motley assembly of wedding guests and some very fine acting, especially from Anne Hathaway.  The emphasis of the wedding shifts from Rachel to Kym as the wedding gets closer and you former brides know that just won't work. Director Jonathan Demme, who did Silence of the Lambs, directs the movie as if it were a home video and the audience just happened to walk in on the Buchman family in Connecticut and their lovely estate as Rachel prepares to marry some sort of hotshot from the music business.  There is a talented cast, the strangest wedding you ever watched and one that, like a trip to Tijuana, Mexico, you might wish that you had made one time in your life.

There probably was never a wedding movie quite like this one, the rehearsal dinner was one not to miss and the reception beats some of the Polish receptions I have attended, some of which I remember.  It was almost like director Robert Altman was filming.  Debra Winger returns to the screen as the mother.  Anne Hathaway is probably going to be Academy Award material for this, and Director Demme might make it too.  On second thought, I strongly suspect he will.

Our sympathy goes out to the Bob Green family in Jamison City, following a nagging chimney and attic fire Sunday afternoon.

The Year in Review, a Breakdown of What Troop 51 has been Doing for the Past Year.

The year 2008 was busy for the troop of 28 boys--and that kept the leaders stepping.  Scout leader Jack Schoup had the help of several Assistant Scoutmasters and Junior Assistant Scoutmasters. Under the guidance of Mark, John, Andy, Ron, TJ, Sean, and Brandon, the troop had many adventures.  Graduation of two seniors left a little void but the crossover of seven Webelos soon filled that hole.

Throughout the year there have been many advancements.  Parents can be proud of the efforts of the scouts and the awards they have received.  In the year 2008...
•  Fifteen scouts advanced one if not two ranks.
•  One scout received his Eagle and one scout has received his third palm.
•  The troop had a first-–a dual Eagle ceremony.  TJ and Sean received their highest awards together, just as they had done so many of their scouting achievements together.         
•  One scout attended Brownsea training and his leadership skills are called into play as the troop SPL.
•  Twenty-two boys went to camp.  In that week, 89 merit badges and 18 partial merit badges completed.   
•  One of the leaders, Mark Wech, was named Assist. Scoutmaster of the Year.   
•  One Assistant Scoutmaster attended Woodbadge training

As of this date, in the active Troop, there are eight boys Scout Rank, two boys Tenderfoot Rank, one boy Second Class, six boys First Class, three boys Star Rank, one boy Life Rank, one Eagle Scout.

The scouts have had a busy year with Troop activities; i.e., six scouts went to Klondike, nine scouts participated in Scout Sunday, two scouts went skiing at Crystal Lake, two teams--10 scouts total--went to the Council first-aid meet with eight other teams and placed first and sixth.  Thirty scouts, parents and friends went to a hockey game in Wilkes-Barre, eighteen scouts recertified or learned CPR and eight adults recertified in CPR.  Six scouts and six adults spent an enjoyable and educational day at Bill’s Cycle Museum, Berwick.  Seven scouts spent a weekend at Soap Stone cabin in the spring, ten scouts spent a weekend camping, hiking, and swimming at Lamoreaux Grove, six scouts, two siblings and nine adults spent an awesome weekend canoing and camping.

The scouts had an end-of-the-year picnic that included an Eagle Ceremony at Lamoreaux Grove with lots of good food and interesting awards and a great slide presentation of the events of the year.  Eight scouts hiked in the rain up to Soap Stone and spent the weekend doing skills. The scouts learned how to “divine” for water.  

The local Boy Scout troop not only have fun but give back to the community; i.e., thirteen scouts served breakfast at the firemens' breakfast; nine scouts and seven adults collected the food bank items through "Scouting for Food."  Ninety-three bottles of hand soap were collected for the Food Bank.  Boy Scouts had two spaghetti suppers and served 389 at the first one and 277 at the second one.  Five boys and four adults helped the Rodeo Association by handing out flyers at the July 4 parade in Millville. The troop adopted a family for Christmas, providing needed clothing and food. The troop families collected needed items for 38 Christmas stockings for the Veterans Boarding Home, Orangeville.  The troop bought 38 gifts for the children of the Food Bank families.  All of the scouts and family members either parked cars or worked a Rodeo stand for the Rodeo Association.

Throughout the year the Scouts have hopefully learned skills they will remember.  Many have shown leadership skills that have been an asset to the troop.  Many have become role models for the younger boys.  They have had fun and will have more learning experiences and fun in 2009.

The leaders thank the parents for their support and help.  Scout leaders are here for your sons and appreciate your assist. Please volunteer or say “yes I can“ when asked.  

It does not take leaders to make a Scout, it takes a good troop to make a Scout.

 

December 14, 2008.  Happy birthday to Chase Kline.

Heavens to Murgatroyd!  A reader asked for more examples of some of our words.  At the risk of boring you, here are two...   .

A reader asked for more examples of the source of some of our words.

   •  Apple of one’s eye.  The phrase appears in Deuteronomy in the King James version of the Bible and in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream.   The pupil of the eye was at one time called the apple, and the phrase described the pupil. The necessity for sight is precious to all of us, and slowly the term took on the literal meaning it has today.

    •  Gussied Up is something made attractive in a hokey way.  The term comes from various sources, but the most fun derives from Gertrude “Gorgeous Gussie” Moran, an American tennis star who played at Wimbledon in 1949 at the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, a closely controlled club which allowed only the wearing of white. "Gorgeous Gussie” arrived on the court in a short-tennis dress with ruffled, lace-trimmed knickers slightly below the hem and broad trimming of lace around the leg.  Ladies' knickers!  On  public display!  Members were outraged for putting "sin and vulgarity into tennis," but her saucy frillies were a bonanza at the cash register. For more, watch the 1952 movie Pat and Mike, in which she played herself to a backdrop of Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.

Didja ever think that to the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world?  

There is a lot thrown into the plot of Rachel Getting Married, a drama about the return of daughter Kym from rehabilitation.  Kym is the apple of her father's eye, an estranged member of the family and a recovering drug addict returning to the family home for her sister's interracial wedding. Kym brings some long-simmering tensions to the surface.  Let's see!  We should disclose there are some words normally not used in the local sewing circle.  There is no nudity but the camera does get turned on a few minutes after there must have been some.  That out of the way, there is a mixture of self-loathing, frayed nerves, skeletons in the closet, 80s hipster music, gussied-up wedding guests, revealing conversations, a motley assembly of wedding guests and some very fine acting, especially from Anne Hathaway.  The emphasis of the wedding shifts from Rachel to Kym as the wedding gets closer and you former brides know that just won't work. Director Jonathan Demme, who did Silence of the Lambs, directs the movie as if it were a home video and the audience just happened to walk in on the Buchman family in Connecticut and their lovely estate as Rachel prepares to marry some sort of hotshot from the music business.  There is a talented cast, the strangest wedding you ever watched and one that, like a trip to Tijuana, Mexico, you might wish that you had made one time in your life.

There probably was never a wedding movie quite like this one, the rehearsal dinner was one not to miss and the reception beats some of the Polish receptions I have attended, some of which I remember.  It was almost like director Robert Altman was filming.  Debra Winger returns to the screen as the mother.  Anne Hathaway is probably going to be Academy Award material for this, and Director Demme might make it too.  On second thought, I strongly suspect he will.

Our sympathy goes out to the Bob Green family in Jamison City, following a nagging chimney and attic fire Sunday afternoon.

The Year in Review, a Breakdown of What Troop 51 has been Doing for the Past Year.

The year 2008 was busy for the troop of 28 boys--and that kept the leaders stepping.  Scout leader Jack Schoup had the help of several Assistant Scoutmasters and Junior Assistant Scoutmasters. Under the guidance of Mark, John, Andy, Ron, TJ, Sean, and Brandon, the troop had many adventures.  Graduation of two seniors left a little void but the crossover of seven Webelos soon filled that hole.

Throughout the year there have been many advancements.  Parents can be proud of the efforts of the scouts and the awards they have received.  In the year 2008...
•  Fifteen scouts advanced one if not two ranks.
•  One scout received his Eagle and one scout has received his third palm.
•  The troop had a first-–a dual Eagle ceremony.  TJ and Sean received their highest awards together, just as they had done so many of their scouting achievements together.         
•  One scout attended Brownsea training and his leadership skills are called into play as the troop SPL.
•  Twenty-two boys went to camp.  In that week, 89 merit badges and 18 partial merit badges completed.   
•  One of the leaders, Mark Wech, was named Assist. Scoutmaster of the Year.   
•  One Assistant Scoutmaster attended Woodbadge training

As of this date, in the active Troop, there are eight boys Scout Rank, two boys Tenderfoot Rank, one boy Second Class, six boys First Class, three boys Star Rank, one boy Life Rank, one Eagle Scout.

The scouts have had a busy year with Troop activities; i.e., six scouts went to Klondike, nine scouts participated in Scout Sunday, two scouts went skiing at Crystal Lake, two teams--10 scouts total--went to the Council first-aid meet with eight other teams and placed first and sixth.  Thirty scouts, parents and friends went to a hockey game in Wilkes-Barre, eighteen scouts recertified or learned CPR and eight adults recertified in CPR.  Six scouts and six adults spent an enjoyable and educational day at Bill’s Cycle Museum, Berwick.  Seven scouts spent a weekend at Soap Stone cabin in the spring, ten scouts spent a weekend camping, hiking, and swimming at Lamoreaux Grove, six scouts, two siblings and nine adults spent an awesome weekend canoing and camping.

The scouts had an end-of-the-year picnic that included an Eagle Ceremony at Lamoreaux Grove with lots of good food and interesting awards and a great slide presentation of the events of the year.  Eight scouts hiked in the rain up to Soap Stone and spent the weekend doing skills. The scouts learned how to “divine” for water.  

The local Boy Scout troop not only have fun but give back to the community; i.e., thirteen scouts served breakfast at the firemens' breakfast; nine scouts and seven adults collected the food bank items through "Scouting for Food."  Ninety-three bottles of hand soap were collected for the Food Bank.  Boy Scouts had two spaghetti suppers and served 389 at the first one and 277 at the second one.  Five boys and four adults helped the Rodeo Association by handing out flyers at the July 4 parade in Millville. The troop adopted a family for Christmas, providing needed clothing and food. The troop families collected needed items for 38 Christmas stockings for the Veterans Boarding Home, Orangeville.  The troop bought 38 gifts for the children of the Food Bank families.  All of the scouts and family members either parked cars or worked a Rodeo stand for the Rodeo Association.

Throughout the year the Scouts have hopefully learned skills they will remember.  Many have shown leadership skills that have been an asset to the troop.  Many have become role models for the younger boys.  They have had fun and will have more learning experiences and fun in 2009.

The leaders thank the parents for their support and help.  Scout leaders are here for your sons and appreciate your assist. Please volunteer or say “yes I can“ when asked.  

It does not take leaders to make a Scout, it takes a good troop to make a Scout.

.

December 13, the 348th day of 2008. There are 18 days left in the year. It is the birthday of Joe Griffith, Ruth (Letteer) Schmidt and Jane Sutton.  Happy birthday to the computer mouse.  Learn how the mouse got its name by going here.  Go here to see the first demonstration of a mouse.

Barbara Walters called the wife of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich a potty mouth--which reminds me of a famous story about a Missouri regiment which was responsible for state defenses in 1862. The Thirty-third Missouri out of St. Lewis was a regiment commanded by a General Fisk.  One of his first orders was to post a sign saying "Swear not at all.  Attention is called to the third commandment and the third article of war." General Fish said that he would do all the swearing for the regiment.

A year or so later, as General Fish recalled in the Kansas City Times in its edition of August 19, 1886, he was sitting in his "tent door on a beautiful bluff overlooking a pretty river just about sunset."  Almost immediately he heard some "classic swearing down over the bluff somewhere.  Curious to know who could have done this, I went and looked down through the trees."

There he saw a teamster from the Thirty-third regiment with a stubborn team of mules and a wheel off his wagon load of forage.  He was cursing the rebellions "at a round rate, all the way from Jefferson Davis down to somewhere else."  The General waited until the man passed his tent. Then he called to the man and told him about hearing the swearing.  The man admitted he had done it and that he did remember the covenant that the General was the only person allowed to swear from the regiment. The man, still upset about the problem with the mules, said, "But you were not there to do the swearing so I had to do it myself."

The story doesn't end there.  General Fisk was called to the White House by President Lincoln, but once there could not see the President.  As he waited, he saw a man who wanted to see the president to ask for a pardon of his son who was to be hanged the next day.  The General listened to the story of the father.  The secretary to the president explained that the president was going to secretly leave for Annapolis in fifteen minutes to meet "about the confederacy as a matter of closing the war."  The General hastily scribbled the story the father wanted to tell the president and had it sent to the president.  When the president read the card in the privacy of his chambers, he recognized the General and remembered his telling the story of the swearing.  Mr. Lincoln called for the father, asked some questions and received satisfactory answers.  Then he stood to leave and with his quill pen wrote on the papers brought by the man "Please pardon this man at once."  Had it not been for the swearing story, the president would not have seen the father that day and it would have been too late.  In this case a life was saved by the swearing story.

I suspect that a swearing story won't pardon Patti Blagojevich, 43, the foul-mouthed Catholic first lady of Illinois for a few more days.  She is the wife of Gov. Rod Blagojevich whose salty speech apparently consists primarily of the word "bleep" and who loved real-estate deals with convicted felon Antoin (Tony) Rezko.

Swearing, as Father would say, "like a trooper," isn't new.  When Jacobinism was the in thing during the middle of the eighteenth century, swearing by women was the rule rather than the exception.

The story is told of the Duchess of Marlborough who called on a Lord Mansfield when the lordship happened to be out.  When he returned, he asked the doorkeeper the name of the visitor.  "I cannot tell you," replied the man, "but I know she swore like a lady of quality."  Charles II taught the ladies of his court to swear and history records that "one's breeding was determined by the way in which he curses."

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the ladies of her court at their breakfast of steak and beer used language that would be considered "rough" today.  On the other hand, St. Paul's cathedral was built "without one oath or one offensive word being uttered by the workmen during the process of construction."  King Henry VI was said to never swear.

Swearing and cursing were once supposed to be a necessary accompaniment of good-breeding. The English loved their swearing.  Henry VIII had his share of divorce problems and booted the Catholic Church out of England and often used swear terms like--at this point, the tender, young readers should cover their eyes--"By Saint Lewis" or "By Saint George."  Once the Catholic saints were banned from England, swearing continued in a shortened version,"By George."  Henry VIII's daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, was no slouch at swearing, either.  Her rages were peppered with "God's Death!" and "God's Teeth!"

After Queen Elizabeth passed away, swearing got a bit expensive. Parliament passed an act in 1623 simply making swearing illegal.  Offenders were fined a shilling which went into a fund for the poor. If the transgressor couldn't pay, he was sentenced to the stocks.

The torch then passed to Oliver Cromwell and his band of Puritans in the 1650s and that den of profanity known as the theater was banned, just a generation after Shakespeare.  Later these Puritans sailed for the new world and settled in New England.

We don't have to go back to Merry Old England to find swear words.  Father used plenty of them. Cover your eyes or skip to the next paragraph if this is too graphic.  "What in tarnation," Father often said when the unexpected happened.  "Gee for mighty," has been heard around town, although I don't know the exact definition of this.  A person had "foot-in-mouth" disease if he talked too much.  A "vegetarian" was someone who went to the hunting camp  to eat, but didn't measure up in the amount of time he spent actually hunting.  The term "grandboss" came from the ACF years ago and referred in a negative way to the boss of the boss; used somewhat akin to the way Geraldine skirted the real truth when she said the "devil made me do it."  Someone who was a "Joe Sixpack" drank more than Father thought that he should.

The new year is less than a month away.  When we mull over in our minds what we should "swear off" as a New Year's resolution, maybe we should all swear off the swearing habit.

 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has won a restraining order that stops several sellers of "scareware" which, once installed, issues false alerts about viruses and illegal porn.  The companies behind the fake security software won more than a million customers via adverts on many popular websites.  Anyone clicking on an advert was taken to the web pages run by the fake security firms which then ran a "scan" looking for security problems.  Every scan found a host of security problems and urged visitors to buy software to fix them. Typically the scans found evidence of viruses, spyware and, in some cases, illegal pornography.  There was no truth to the scans. The fake security products the firms were peddling were: WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus.  

Didja ever think that women are a little like teabags?  You don't know just how strong she is until you put her into hot water.

 

Quickies...

   •   Mill Race gift boxes are still on sale at the pro shop from 10 to 3.  Please call first.    

   •  The current edition of the Lancaster Farmer, http://lancasterfarming.com/, includes part three of three dealing with reading the small print in natural-gas leases. 

In tomorrow's edition, we'll review the many accomplishments of Boy Scout Troop 51 during the year about to end.

 

December 12, 2008.  It is the birthday of Peg Root, Ann Marie Nesbitt, Cheyenne Geffken, David Arthur Powell, Dennis Threlkeld and Harry Ritter. Marcia Worley has been released from the Hershey Medical Center and is under the care of home-health nurses. The "Full Cold Moon" will be out tonight.  Don't you hope that you'll be able to see it! This moon is bigger and brighter than other full moons this year. The moon is both in its full phase and at a point in its orbit that is nearest earth, called its perigee. When these events occur together, the moon is closer to earth than usual. Look at the horizon at sunset when the moon will appear especially large. Go outside at midnight and look at the view you get then, too.

Picture this.  It was December 12, 1917.  French generals wanted to get home for the holidays and wanted to boost sagging troop morale for a thousand or so soldiers from the front in northeast Italy.  Getting home meant a trip over the French Alps.  The standard trains to make such a trip consisted of nine cars and it would take two of these trains to get everyone over the Alps.  The generals had enough of this war stuff and directed that 18 cars--two standard trains, plus one more car to get everyone loaded--be banded together and pulled by the single 4-6-0 engine under the control of the one engineer who was available.  The engineer refused, citing safety conditions.  He undoubtedly feared for his own well being as well as for the troops.  The first three cars on the train had brakes (automatic air brakes controlled from the engine), the remaining coaches were either unbraked or had hand brakes operated by brakemen.  The generals advised the engineer that he would be shot if he didn't obey instructions.  

 

The train made it up without incident.  Coming down in a series of gradients as steep as 1 in 33 would be the hard part.  When the engineer first applied the brakes for the trains, the wheels locked, causing sparks to ignite the wooden-floor boards on some of the cars.  Then the brakes snapped.  Faster and faster, until the train reached a speed down the Alps estimated between 70 and 90 miles an hour.  I have often wondered if John Unbewust thought about this situation when his milk truck careened out of control down the 18% grade of Red Rock mountain.  

 

By now, the wind had whipped the floor boards under the troops into a raging inferno.  The train continued like this for four miles.  Dead ahead was a sharp turn which the train approached at warp speed.  The engine made the turn, but in rapid succession the cars left the track and smashed into a wall just outside of town.  The train became a human bonfire.  About 600 soldiers were killed and about 500 badly burned, crippled or otherwise impaired.  The final death toll is somewhat in dispute.  The troops burned with such intensity that of the 800 or so who eventually died, only 425 bodies could be identified.

 

Quickies...

   •  Bravo to the Sullivan County Kiwanis, Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative, the Forksville Volunteer Fire Department and the Forksville Borough Council for illuminating the historic Forksville covered bridge.  The bridge can be seen from Route 87 and Route 154.

   •  Pick up for this month's Angel Food order Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 at the Benton U.M. Church.

   •  The small albino yearling button buck which has been giving the people of Maple Grove so much pleasure was killed Thursday morning as it lay sleeping in a designated safety zone in the area of four houses, the Pennsylvania Game Commission confirmed Thursday afternoon.  According to reports, the driver then left the area in his van with the defenseless deer dead in the grass.  Consult Pennsylvania Title 34 to learn of some of the charges which could be brought against the person who did this.  We will release the name of the individual as soon as formal charges are complete. A related story by Michael Lester appears in the Friday edition of the Press Enterprise and will appear in the 5 PM segment of the WBRE Friday Night News by former Central High School student Jeremy Deebel.

   •  The leadership of the Columbia County Traveling Library Authority passed from Derl I. Derr, Millville, Wednesday night to James Patterson, Bloomsburg.  Derl will give up his role on the Board of Directors during 2009,  The new officers include Jim Patterson as president, Kay Kuryloski as vice president, Judith Ann Lease as Secretary and Derl Derr as Treasurer.  David Kline was reappointed to the board until 2012.  There is one vacancy on the board, with a term expiring in 2012.  The new owners of the Little Tiger Teachery, Main Street, are using the services of the CCTL.  The headquarters of the CCTL is 99% certain (Commissioner Young's figure) to move to Sawmill Road during spring of 2009.

   •  The Northern Columbia Community and Cultural Center invites you to visit and appreciate the art work of Benton Mayor Jan Swan and her late husband, Chuck Swan. The art show runs from Dec. 9 through January 31, 2009 at The Center.  The exhibition comprises a series of oils and mixed-media artwork. The subject matter ranges from wildlife, natural structures, and flowers, to still life and abstract selections.  These paintings are part of a revolving art collection that The Center sponsors on a regular basis. Visit The Center in Benton, enjoy the current art display, and see why it has become such an integral part of the area.

•  Thursday's Benton News recommended the purchase of an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) known as UltraShort Real Estate ProShares, trading with the symbol SRS.  This inverse ETF deals with real estate, housing and construction.   Want to know how the ETF fared in Thursday's trading?  It was up $18.90 per share, an increase in value for the day of 24.64%. And the stock market?  The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended down 196.33 points, or 2.2%, at 8565.09.

  •  Didja know that six months ago, natural gas futures hit $13.51 on July 1? Fourteen days later, crude oil futures stretched to $145.16 per barrel. Today, the spot price for natural gas is about $5.68 and the spot price for oil is about $43.52. And those prices may go lower still.

   Oh, what a goodly and a glorious show;

   The stately trees have decked themselves with white,

   And stand transfigured in a robe of light;

   Wearing for each lost leaf a flake of snow.

   –Richard Wilton (1827–1903)

 Didja notice that banks don't seem to trust the corporations and won't lend to them and the corporations don't trust the banks? The situation with the financial markets is far from over.

Are you a fan of the Grand Ole Opry?  Didja know that the live Friday- and Saturday-night Opry performances are on XM Channel 11 along with classic broadcasts of the Opry and archival performances?  "The Eddie Stubbs Show" on WSM-AM is featured five times a week on SIRIUS XM.  This Saturday night marks the 4,328th consecutive edition of the Grand Ole Opry.  Want to know more?  Richard Sutliff publishes a weekly guide to the Opry lineup.  If you are nice to him, he might add you to his mailing list.  His email is rhsutliff(AT)yahoo.com.

 

Two related questions were asked and I'll try to answer them together.  The first involved how I put out a Benton News when I am not feeling well, and the other asked if I ever use "cloud computing" programs. Cloud computing is accessing files, software and computing services through the internet instead of on your personal computer. One of the primary benefits of cloud computing is the ability to create, update and store your files online through any computer that has access to the web.  

If the software you are using isn't on your computer, you are using cloud computer services.  The "cloud" is simply the "internet." A major benefit is that I am able to access and update anything anywhere there is a computer connected to the internet. Hotmail, Gmail and Google Docs have used the concept for years. If you're storing your photos online via Flickr or Photobucket, watching video on YouTube, or backing up your hard drive with Carbonite, you are doing cloud computing.  The new version of QuickBooks is cloud based. Software developers are using it more and more in the development of new applications. In 2009, web versions of Word, Excel and other programs in the Microsoft Office suite plus Exchange and Sharepoint will go online.

Get on the internet, create a file, and store it in a cloud-based application.  How very simple and easy.  There are no programs to buy, no clutter on your hard drive.  The computer of the future very well might not even have a hard drive, or it could become an option.  It doesn't even matter if you are running the operating system for the Mac, for Linux or for Windows.  Many cloud-computing applications are free, but some could end up costing as much (or more, perhaps) as owning the software.

There is also the concern of not being able to work on your files when you do not have access to the internet. Business travelers may have to take this into consideration when deciding to use software online or offline.  Security is often raised as a concern.  Your data is always protected by a user name and password, and so far I find it safer than a home computer which can easily download viruses, spyware and botnets.

The daily edition of the Benton News is always created with cloud computing.  If I am in the Osterhout Library, Wilkes-Barre, I simply turn on the computer, do my research, send the results to my account, exchange pleasantries with the librarians, and come home.  Pretty easy.  I use a program called EverNote, which is located at http://evernote.com/.

Sally N. Dodson (October 2, 1937-December 9, 2008), a member of the Benton Schools graduating class of 1955, has passed away at the York Hospital after a short illness.  She had family and friends at her side at her passing.  Sally was the daughter of William and Ruth Dodson and a member of the Benton Christian Church when she lived in Benton.  She served in the U.S. Air Force.  After the conclusion of her Air Force career, she worked for Donnelly Advertising Corporation, McDonald's Corporation and at one time owned and operated three McDonald's Restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area.  For the past ten years, she has been a manager for Arbitron of Baltimore, Maryland.  She was a generous and fun-loving person with many friends.  Her interests included sports, novel writing and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She leaves behind a sister, Sharon Gottshall (Bart), Benton, and several nieces and nephews. She had lifetime friends, Dee Stewart and Karen Verfaillie and their shared children, Lyn and Jon Paul, and grandchildren Emily and Ian.  A memorial service will be held in her memory January 3, 2009, at 2 PM at the Stillwater Christian Church, Stillwater.
--Obituary courtesy of Sharon Gottshall.

 

December 11, 2008.  It is the birthday of Wilbur Kocher.  Betty and Ray Weston celebrate their wedding anniversary as they enjoy a cruise in the Caribbean.  Please keep Marcia Worley, Dover, in your prayers.  Marcia is back in the Hershey Medical Center following the reversal of a colostomy.   Marcia is the daughter of Marcia Kay Kline.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on getting rid of my cold or flu.  It does seem to be true that a cold "lasts for a week if you treat it, seven days if you don’t.”   Bob Thomas growled at me for not washing my hands before I sent the Benton News.  He claims he caught a "dang cold" from the daily report.  He also gave me the best (?) advice for getting rid of the cold, "Take the juice of a quart of good rye whiskey and then go to bed with a nurse."

The post office at one time held a great deal of charm in my life; after all, my father worked for the post office for nearly half a century.  But yesterday, walking through the rain to get my mail and to find out more about home delivery service in the borough, I think the post office lost its charm.  First, the rain and the forecast...

   Yesterday produced less than an inch of rain locally before turning dramatically colder overnight.  The system is expected to stall along the East Coast today and could produce ice this morning and snow tonight.  The weekend is expected to be sunny, dry and cold.

   A matter involving delivery of the U.S. Mail has some borough residents of the Northeast District, including Benton, in a tiff.  The local district was one which has not been complying with postal regulations relating to delivery service.  If a patron lives within the direct route of a carrier, that person is entitled to free delivery by the carrier, but would no longer be permitted to pick up from the post office's "no-fee" box within the post office.  The "no-fee" boxes were originally intended to provide the one free form of mail delivery that we are guaranteed by the USPS.  If you lived within a quarter mile of the post office, you got a free post-office box.  The postal department has now realized that a lot of the customers who get the free post-office box actually could be receiving free delivery.  Mark Hnasko, a Communications Specialist for the USPS, cited a post-office regulation which has been in effect for "at least ten years" as the basis for the change.  As long as the patron is in the "line of carry" for the carrier he is eligible to receive free delivery and therefore no longer eligible for the no-fee box in the post office.  The customer can still keep the post office box but he will have to pay for it.

The reinterpretation of the post office regulation will affect all of Main Street (Fishingcreek bridge to Valley Pizza), and  parts of Market Street (the "500" block to Main Street), Fifth, Colley, Third and Everett (between Fifth street and Main street) in the Borough of Benton.  It will not affect the borough of Stillwater, which does not have its own post office.  Mifflinville will have a big change in its delivery.  If a Mifflinville patron changes to carrier delivery, which comes from the Nescopeck post office and not from a post office in Mifflinville, the patron will get a new Nescopeck address.  The Press Enterprise reported in its Wednesday edition that the Millville owners of the Quakerette restaurant have the option of installing a mailbox outside their restaurant, which would put it directly in front of the post office, or pay for a fee-box inside the post office.

A reader sent this picture of a mailbox he wants to install. USPS mailbox regulations are detailed here. There is no mention of using a Tidy Cat container.

It appears that parking would have to be curtailed in front of mail boxes, and that subject was brought up to the Benton Borough Council in October, although there is no record of any action taken in the Council minutes.  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court actually ruled that a mail box can be put up on someone else's property. The fee for renting a box in the post office in Benton?  $49 every six months for a large box; $19 every six months for a small box.

    It is interesting to watch the action on an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) known as UltraShort Real Estate ProShares, trading with the symbol SRS, which topped the list in late trading Wednesday for "Buying on Weakness," which tracks stocks that fell in price but had the largest inflow of money.  This inverse ETF deals with real estate, housing and construction.  Was this double talk?  Well, here it is in plain English...

     Smart investors are buying an inverse ETF expecting another collapse in real-estate markets. Volume on this ETF surged to 20.28 million shares, its largest in history.  Smart money seems to be predicting a real-estate disaster ahead.  Look at the price of steel, down about 30%.  Lumber prices are at an 18-year low.  One out of ten households is delinquent or foreclosed on their mortgage. Four out of ten families owe more than their homes are worth. Foreclosure rates are now at their highest levels in recorded history. Commercial vacancy rates are skyrocketing.  The impact of the current unemployment figures has not yet registered with us.  Expect very harsh days on the stock market in the near future.

Didja know that homeowners spend something like 20% of their annual water-heating costs to keep the water in their storage tanks hot? I installed an electric tankless water heater in our Camp Hill house this summer and am happy to report that I am very happy with it. Propane or electric tankless water heaters heat water only when it is needed, reducing standby energy loss by up to 20%.  In low-usage situations, they can  cost up to 60% less to operate.

When hot water is called for, the tankless model begins the heating process.  I haven't actually pulled out my stop watch, but I suspect that I have boiling hot water in thirty seconds. The water flows through a heat exchanger and is heated to the temperature I choose. When the need for hot water is finished, the heater automatically shuts off until hot water is demanded again.  The size of my hot water heater saves space--H: 30½" W: 17.875" D: 11¼"

My tankless water heater provides eight gallons per minute of hot water. Because the unit is less subject to corrosion, the life expectancy is 20 years--twice as long as most storage-water heaters.  Learn more by heading here.

Quickies...

   •  Congratulations to Shickshinny resident Larry Wolfe and seven of his friends who ten hours later and without a heart attack got a 677-pound bear out of a woods in Luzerne County after shooting it December 4.  

   •  The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that it is currently reviewing public comments on proposed rule changes to the Clean Air Act. The agency now says it will not propose a “cow tax” as a way to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as reported earlier this week by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

      •  Men--stay out of the doghouse this Christmas.  Take the time to look at the video at http://bewareofthedoghouse.com/videoPage.aspx.

      •  Need Christmas stamps?  The Benton post office has about a week's supply left.

      •  The Guv came up a little short, about  $1.6-billion short, give or take.  But, hey, what is a billion dollars these days--or half a million if you live in Illinois? The Guv plans to dip into the state's rainy-day fund, nip $36 million from here and there, take what was put into the general fund from gas-drilling revenue from the Marcellus, plow back $101-million the boys didn't get spent from prior year budgets.  The rest--$464-million--will come from wage freezes and budget cuts.  Isn't a knowledge of accounting a wonderful thing to possess!

   •  A good way of saving money if you plan to do any traveling is to subscribe to the free service provided by www.travelzoo.com/.  Here are some examples:  fly round trip from the east coast to Vegas from $160 to $198; Paris 4-star hotel, $141, with breakfast; Hampton Inn, Philadelphia, $89; American Airlines flights to Europe, $198, and up; Jamaica, all-inclusive resort, $129.  Much more.

   •  Brian and Wendy Wolford are going to Guatemala on February 20 to serve in a nondenominational Christian ministry.  The Benton Christian Church will hold a hoagie sale from December 28 to January 17 to raise money in support of Brian and Wendy's trip.  Hoagies will be delivered January 28.  Contact a church member to order.

We hope that you won't think this morbid and certainly readers not from the Benton area will be scratching their heads on this one, but here from over the years are some death notices, as written:

• 1960. Doyle Sutliff, 62, died at Geisinger Hospital of cancer.

• 1961. Mary B. Klase, Main Street, died at Bloomsburg Hospital. Her husband, F. L. Klase, died in 1948.

• 1960. Paul Freedly, 74, died at the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Hospital. He was taken sick September 8. He was the son of Casper and Clorine Packer Freedly.

• 1962. Maude Beishline, 73, Stillwater R. D. died at Nanticoke Hospital after being ill for three months. Mrs. Beishline was the widow of Dayton Beishline, former principal of Huntington Mills High School.

• 1961. Joseph Brooks, 72, died in Bloomsburg Hospital of a heart attack.

• 1961. Alton Diltz, 54, Maple Grove, died at Geisinger Medical Center. He had been painting the Post property on Main Street when he became ill. He walked to the office of a physician next door and was taken to the Geisinger by ambulance.

• 1963, February. L. Ray Appleman, 78, died in the Bloomsburg Hospital. The retired educator had been in failing health for the past two and a half years but was able to be about. He suffered a heart attack in his home. Mr. Appleman retired in August, 1952, after serving almost a half century as an educator. He was head of the Benton schools for forty years.

• 1963, August. Rev. Harry McGowan, 75, died at the Bloomsburg Hospital. He had been in ill health for some time.

• 1963, October. Guy C. Miller, 77, died at the Bloomsburg Hospital.

• 1963, November 4. T. Carl McHenry, 75, retired banker and long prominent in Free Masonry, died at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Theron Wenner, Camden, NJ.

• 1963, November. Mrs. John G. McHenry, 88, died at Char-Mund Nursing Home, Orangeville. She had been a guest there for a number of years. She was the widow of Congressman John G. McHenry. Her entire married life was spent in the Benton area, except for their stay in Washington, DC.

• 1964, January. Ray B. Keeler, 84, died at the Bloomsburg Hospital. He underwent surgery the day before Christmas for a heart ailment.

• 1963, October. Harry E. Cole, 68, Leonard Street, Bloomsburg, died at the Bloomsburg Hospital of a coronary occlusion.

• 1964, January. Cleon Baker, 82, died at the home of his son, Dallas. Death was attributed to a heart ailment.

• 1965, April. Arley Meeker, 84, died at his home. He had been ill for sometime and death was due to pneumonia. He was chief of police of Benton for thirty years, retiring ten years ago.

• 1964, December. Harvey F. Doe, M.D., 68, an Edgerton, Ohio, physician and surgeon died at the St. Joseph Hospital, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

• 1964, October. George Ritter, 55, Maple Grove, chief of the Benton Fire Police, died suddenly of a heart attack while assisting Catawissa police in directing traffic for the Halloween parade.

• 1964. Rev. Spencer Adamson, who served the Christian Churches of Benton, Stillwater and Derrs through the years 1938 to 1944, died at the University Hospital in Iowa City, following surgery for a malignant brain tumor.

• 1965. Lena L. Perry, 93, died at the Bloomsburg Hospital due to a stroke she suffered July 11. She was in a coma from then until time of death. Mrs. Perry was born in 1871 near Nordmont and resided in that area until 1916 when she moved to Benton R.D.

• 1965, November. Howard Stiles Brewington, 60, prominent town man and a former sheriff of Columbia county died at his home of a pulmonary embolism.

• 1966, February 11. Jay W. McHenry, town mortician, at age 76.

• 1966. Benjamin J. McHenry, 83, Market Street, long an employee of the U. S. Department of Internal Revenue died at his home. He had been in ill health five years and had suffered a stroke.

• 1966, October. Barbara S. Franklin, died at Bloomsburg Hospital. She was the wife of A. Paul Franklin and had been in ill health for the past seven and one-half years.

December 10, 2008.  It is the birthday of Larry Paul, 68.  Larry is an early-morning person behind the main desk at the Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center.  It is the anniversary of David and Theresa Hilley,  Two years ago, the snow accumulation in Benton Borough exceeded 8" and higher amounts were recorded in outlying areas. The Benton Area Schools were closed. Mary Gaye Kline continues her recovery at the Bloomsburg Hospital.

From the bedroom on the second floor, December 10.

A cold to most sensible people is hardly worth noticing.  Rarely is it of significant consequence to be doctored religiously until cured. For that reason, there are people never free from offensive sniffles and an irritating cough. They also wonder why they never feel or look exactly well.  

 This isn't the season when I normally come down with colds.  The "in-between" season is when I usually get sick--when the weather is one thing and the clothes I have on are another.  My colds have always been helped by my poverty.  If you don't like to spend money, the doctor always cures you faster.  I figure that I am sound as a dollar--but I need to get a lot better.

 

Because of the shortage of doctors in Benton, I am treating my flu-like symptoms. I am so sick, when I go to the health club, I have to use the rear entrance.  Don't feel sorry for my flu, for judging the progress it has made in the past few days, no flu or cold has ever received better treatment.  I've had a lot of antibiotics lately.  When I sneeze, I cure somebody!

 

Everything I use to make the flu better has made the flu flourish.  The sniffle it started out to be has developed into a multi-touchdown ailment.  Marcia Kay has proclaimed it the worst cold I have had since we married.  

 

Today's Benton News may only get a "D" for content, but should receive an "A" for effort.  You try lying on your back and balancing a laptop on your chest and stomach--something shaped like an over-sized turnip and never designed as a computer table.  My eyes are focused on my eyelids or the ceiling, I can't see the keys, my fingers change keys when I sneeze, I get a stiff neck when I try to look at the monitor.  I am writing blind.  I just looked at the first paragraph I typed and it appears that I was typing in some sort of code.  I laid the laptop on the mattress, but because I am a very fast typist (I usually just type until I can think of something to say) the laptop insists on bouncing up and down so hitting the right keys is a little akin to shooting grouse--you may get one once in a while, but you miss more than you get.  My current position is with the laptop on the floor. I am now on my stomach on the bed, but I can feel all the blood rushing to fill the empty spaces in my head and I have lost the feeling in my fingers.  I expect some relative of rigor mortis to arrive any second.

 

My summer cold is of the winter variety.  So why did I get sick?  I suppose because I was too lazy to keep well.  I am always looking for shortcuts to good health.  I certainly hope that I get better soon.  There is hardly a drug that can be mentioned, hardly a substance discovered which is capable of either being swallowed or inhaled that has not been recommended as a remedy for colds.  I have tried them all.

 

Most colds are mild infections which run their course after the body has time to produce an antitoxin or antibody to stop their further progress. This is the mother of all colds.

 

Nothing would be more effective in "knocking" a cold than the advice dispensed by the Wheeling Register of September 1, 1876.  The advice?  "Cure a cold in the head by shoving a lot of nitroglycerin up your nostrils and then hit your nose with a sledge-hammer.  It knocks a cold every time."

 

Here is another solution to the problem of colds.  The October 1884 edition of the Wheeling Register included this article...

   "Have you any pure cod-liver oil and a No. 1 whiskey?" he asked, entering a drug store.

   "I am sorry to say, sir," said the druggist, "that my stock of cod-liver oil is very low, and I am afraid that what is left is not very pure."

   "How about the whiskey?"

   "I am equally unfortunate in that.  I sold the last of my A No. 2 whiskey this morning."

   "Well, give me the best you can. I've go a hard cold and the doctor says that if I don't arrest it at once I may have trouble."

   "Will you have a little of the cod-liver oil, too?"
 "Not if it is not pure."

A row of bottles on my shelf Caused me to analyze myself. One yellow pill I have to pop Goes to my heart so it won't stop.   The red ones, smallest of them all Go to my blood so I won't fall. The orange ones, very big and bright Prevent my leg cramps in the night.   A little white one that I take Goes to my hands so they won't shake. The blue ones that I use a lot Tell me I'm happy when I'm not. The purple pill goes to my brain And tells me that I have no pain. The capsules tell me not to wheeze Or cough or choke or even sneeze. Such an array of brilliant pills Helping to cure all kinds of ills. But what I'd really like to know... Is what tells each one where to go!  --Author Unknown

Quickies...

   •  Airman John A.Andrezze has graduated from basic-military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.  During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, core values, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.  In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate in applied science degree relating through the Community College of the Air Force.  Andrezze, a 2005 graduate of Benton High School, is the son of Pam and John Andrezze and the grandson of Ray and Jean Foust and Pat and Jasper Andrezze.  He leaves December 18 for Ramstein AFB, Germany, to study air transportation to become an air-transportation specialist.

   •  There were 419 bears taken during the extended bear season last week in certain parts of the state.  The preliminary estimate of the, Pennsylvania Game Commission kill is 3,436 bears, which moves this year’s harvest into second place in state-bear harvests.   

• Columbia County Land Owners Coalition's December 10 meeting is cancelled, because of the the holidays and the leasing activity at a low until the new year.  A meeting will be scheduled in January.

  •  Stacy (Kitchen) and Russell D. Deibert, Hegins, announce the birth of a son Regan Russell Deibert, born December 3 at Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.  Grandparents are Tim and Joan Kitchen, Benton, and Russell and Sandra Deibert, Hegins.

--A note on the birth of Regan Russell Deibert.  The news item was forwarded by Linda J. Schylaske, managing editor of the Citizen-Standard, a newspaper serving Schuylkill, Dauphin and Northumberland counties from Valley View, PA.  Linda wrote, "I receive the Benton News every morning.  Something just came across my desk and I thought I would share it with you."  The thought that an editor would take time from her busy schedule to share some news relating to someone with ties to Benton is very gratifying.

   •  A thumb up for the Guv's spending cuts including salary freezes for 13,000 state employees and give-backs of cost of living increases.  A thumbs down to Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich who may end up staring at cell bars from the inside out.

   •  Dan McGarigle reminded us during the arrest of the Governor of Illinois of the streaming live-action coverage on the CNN LIVE web site.   At least with a high-speed modem, after January 17, 2009, you'll still be able to watch national news on your computer

 

The Monday meeting of the North Mountain Historical Society will find perennial favorite Bob Webster behind the lectern.  His subject will be Holiday Traditions. In Bob's standard delivery style, he will talk about the "origin of where things  started and how they came to be, all the customs and traditions that we celebrate at Christmas:  decorating, Santa Claus, singing Christmas carols and sending Christmas cards and the getting together with family and friends."  The discussion will be a reaffirmation of how these traditions came to be part of our Christmas celebration.  The buckwheat cakes will be on the table about 8 AM and Bob begins about 9 AM.  The meeting is free and open to the public. 

December 9, 2008.  This will be a short report.  I am not feeling well and am not up to writing the Benton News in any depth.  

One of my favorite stories was one that Father loved to tell of one of Benton's finest who in his courting days would walk with his girlfriend through the pastures and the "bottom" land on our farm. Courting in those days--the year was 1933--was done far differently from the way it takes place today. Tandem bicycles were popular then--Father called it "courting' on a tandem." 

Father frequently told the story of the well-educated man worrying about the early days of the FDR Administration and his girlfriend who would ride his bike from "town" to Father's farm south of the borough. The couple would then head out the lane from the macadam highway toward Fishing Creek. The very-much-in-love couple would park their bike. They would take a book to read, a hand towel on which to sit, some bread to nibble and would walk through the pasture to where they could sit and look over the "eddy." It was "their spot." They were "thick as thieves," Father always said in a kindly way.

 

Special costumes were worn by both the man and the woman for these forays into the woods. Today many of us "dress down," but in those days everyone "dressed up." The most conservative women wore a short skirt, the length varying from knee to halfway between knee and ankle. Casual for this man was a three-piece suit.

 

As I remember the way that Father told the story, the man was someone who still thought that the car would never supplant the horse. His use of a bicycle was a compromise between the two.

 

On one special day, the man confided in father that he was going to ask for her "hand" in marriage. Mother and Father watched from the security of their front window as the couple walked to the eddy hand-in-hand. After what seemed like a very respectable period of time, the couple walked back toward the house, the question having been asked and the acceptance quickly made.

 

  You did it in the kissin' game,

  That's how it came about;

  But still you kissed me, just the same,

  And you can't rub it out.

  And, Lindy, ever since that night,

  I haven't been exactly right.

--Found in a 1916 Collier's Weekly. Poem by C. L. Edson

 

Times were tough back then in those "the only thing to fear is fear itself" days and the prospects of marriage was a huge undertaking. Remember how Keats expressed it:

 

  "Love in a hut, with water and a crust,

  Is--Love, forgive us--cinders, ashes, dust."

 

Father and Mother walked out of the house as if they didn't know anything of what was going on and approached the man and his "intended." The couple bubbled over with joy. Details of the offer of marriage and the acceptance quickly emerged. It wasn't until the couple mounted the tandem bicycle that the whole story was known. The man had spread his towel and carefully helped lower her to the ground when they were by the eddy. He, anxious over his upcoming proposal of marriage, wasn't as careful when he sat down in the pasture--squarely on a fresh cow flop! Both were so elated that neither noticed the load in the back of his pants!

 

I would love to tell you the names of the man and the woman. I may do that sometime, but not in this issue. There are too many NRA members among the ancestors of this couple.

 

Now lets quickly run the projector forward to today.  The Federal Environmental Protection Agency has taken cow maneuvers to a new low.  A program some bureaucrat who sits behind a desk in Washington, D. C., has dreamed up is going to end up being a flop.

 

Basically, the EPA feels that Bossy belching and flatulence from pigs contributes to the creation of greenhouse gases.  A Washington bureaucrats decided that if cows couldn't be cured of belching and pigs couldn't be cured of passing gas, the owners should be taxed. American farmers are making a stink over the proposed "cow tax" that would penalize them for owning belching and flatulent cattle and pigs which apparently raises the level of emitted methane and other polluting nitrous gases.  The EPA is considering placing a fee of  up to $175 a cow and $20 for each pig  which belch and--as Father always said,--"carry-on." Efforts by farmers to tell the cows about the charges they soon would be charged for ruminating were passed off as just so much hot air.

 

The American Farm Bureau Federation calculated that any farm or ranch with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 pigs would emit more than 100 tons of carbon equivalent a year, and would be required to pay for a "pollution permit" if the  new rules are adopted.  Charging to raise farm animals could eventually extend to chickens.  It is possible that eventually the program will drive up the amount of imported meat.  Exact charges have not yet been finalized.

 

The EPA is currently reviewing public comments.  Want to know what made the EPA take the stand they took?  Read their side of things by going to http://www.epa.gov/rlep/faq.html.

 

   Didja ever think that a  fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.  

 

Quickies...

   •  The parent company of The Allentown Morning Call newspaper filed for bankruptcy protection Monday.  Media conglomerate Tribune Co. filed for bankruptcy protection as the owner of the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, 23 television stations and the up-for-sale Chicago Cubs in an attempt to get out from under $13 billion in debt.  The Cubs are exempt from the filing.

•  A bear-market rally took place Monday, which made an excellent time to unload stocks which have climbed over the last two trading days.  The Dow Industrials added nearly 300 points, or 3.5%, a small consolation since five full year's worth of wealth creation has been completely wiped out in just over twelve months.  Stocks are up 6.7% over its two-day streak.

    •  Please consider the environmental impact before printing a copy of this newsletter.

    •  The Columbia County Covered Bridges Association will invite Santa to the Twin Bridges at Forks Sunday, December 14, from 1 PM to 3 PM. Bring your children to talk to Santa. There will be a round-trip hay rides from the Twin Bridges to the Josiah Hess bridge.  The bridge will be decorated. Food and hot drinks will be available on the Twin Bridges including a big pot of hot bean soup and baked goods. There is no charge. Bring your cameras and take their photo with Santa.  CCCBA Members are asked to come early to help prepare for Santa's visit.

Doris Elizabeth Hassert (January 15, 1908-December 7, 2008), an employee of the Bloomsburg Hospital for 50 years and the former head medical-records librarian, died Sunday at her home at 1117 Lightstreet Road, Bloomsburg, after being in declining health for several years. She was 100.  She was a daughter of the late John and Loretta (Smith) Fritz and was born in Benton.  Doris was a 1925 graduate of Benton High School and also graduated from the former Bloomsburg Normal School, where she majored in elementary education. At the time of her death, she was the oldest member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Bloomsburg, which she joined in 1950. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Doyle B. Hassert (December 26, 1995), and by her only sister, Hilda ( Fritz) Chamberlain, in 1974.  Surviving is her only daughter, Joan Zarr Derr, Bloomsburg; a grandson, Rev. Mark A. Shellenberger, (Lee Ann), Millville; a granddaughter, Dr. Eve C. Shellenberger (Jimmy Moore), Bellefonte; eight great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was the last of her immediate family. Funeral services will be held on Thursday morning at 11 AM in the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.  Friends may call from 10 AM. Interment in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy.  
--Obituary courtesy of the Kriner Funeral Home, Bloomsburg. A complete obituary will be published in the December 9, 2008, edition of the Press Enterprise

 

December 8, 2008.  It is the birthday of Kim Notestein and Anna Dressler. Anna and Kim celebrate their birthdays with a distinguished American who made his first violin when he was 12, graduated from Yale, taught school for five years, made and sold nails during the Revolutionary war, and made 25,000 muskets under a firearms contract to the Federal Government. Oh, yes, this special man, Eli Whitney, also invented the cotton gin. 

Keep Nick Chabra, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in your prayers today as he faces hip-replacement surgery, and continue to keep Mary Gaye Kline in your prayers as she recovers from her third surgery.  She remains in ICU at the Bloomsburg Hospital.

On this date in...
  . 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed as he stood outside his New York City apartment house, the Dakota. The "fan" was quickly apprehended. Mourners listened to Give Peace a Chance, as a tribute to the musician and songwriter. Yoko Ono, Lennon's wife, and others set up a permanent memorial to her husband in an area of Central Park called Strawberry Fields.

    . 1941, the United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Japan, the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor.  The "sleeping giant" had awakened.

Quickies...
    •  The Robinson Oil/Gas Group is still accepting lease agreements for landowners in Fishing Creek, Benton, Huntington, Fairmount, Jackson and Sugarloaf townships and Stillwater and New Columbus borough.  Please contact Danni Fogg at 570 925-6867 for more information, or to make an appointment to complete the lease documents.  The deadline is December 20, 2008.

   •  So you don't look as good naked as you once did?  You aren't alone.  Go here and see someone else in the same shape.

   • You say you can't think of the perfect gift for that perfect someone this Christmas, or for a birthday, graduation, or whatever?  Head here and you'll find it easily and quickly.  You don't know what is out there until you try this site.

   •  Didja know that you can search millions of photographs from the Life magazine photo archives.  The photos range from the 1850s to today.  You'll find them here.

   •  Yes, Christmas can be celebrated in Saudi Arabia: The consequence is a trip to jail if it is done in public. The public practice of any religion other than Islam can result in "arrest, imprisonment, lashing, deportation, and sometimes torture."

   Oh, what a blamed uncertain thing
  This pesky weather is.
  It blew and snew and then it thew,
  And now, by jing, it's friz!
  --Philander Johnson

The Canticle of Christmas Cantata, under the direction of Alan J. Hack with piano accompaniment by Steven K. Lindenmuth, was presented Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Bloomsburg.  The choir is made up of people from area churches. This is the fourth year that Alan Hack has organized and directed it.  The choir is known as the Jubilate Choir.

John Luther wrote this about character:
"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece--by thought, choice, courage and determination."

Richard and Janet McHenry moved back into their Alabama home on September 15 following the tornado that struck their home on March 1, 2007.   They are going to take a much-need vacation Back Home in Benton, PA, arriving in Stillwater December 14 and will stay until December 22.  They look forward to seeing their many friends and relatives.

 If I had the Power
If I had the power to turn back the clock
To Go back to the house at the end of the block
The house that was “home” when I was a kid
I know that I’d love it more, now, than I did

If I could be back at my mother’s knee
And hear, once again, those things she told me;
I’d listen as I never listened before
For she knew, so well, what life had in store.

 All the advice my dad used to give
His voice I’ll remember as long as I live.

But it didn’t seem really important then;
Oh what I’d give to live it all over again.
--author unknown

December 7, 2008.   At dawn that Sunday, with only 17 more shopping days left to Christmas 1941, Japanese planes from the bleak wastes of the North Pacific attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, in an attempt to cripple the fleet and hinder U.S. intervention in other Japanese targets in the South Pacific. The Japanese intention was to control the Pacific.  Airfields, port facilities and warships were severely damaged and two battleships, the Utah and the Arizona, were destroyed,  The West Virginia took six torpedoes and two bombs.  She sank almost immediately.  The Oklahoma capsized when hit by three torpedoes.  The California was hit by two torpedoes and a brace of bombs.  She attempted to get underway, but sank in shallow water.  

		The USS Oklahoma is capsized at right as the USS West Virginia, torpedoed and bombed by the Japanese, begins to sink after suffering heavy damage, center.
The USS Maryland, left, is still afloat in Pearl Harbor in this Dec. 7, 1941.
U.S. Navy photo

The Arizona was the unluckiest of all.  Either a torpedo or bomb struck her forwarded magazine, blowing off the bow.  Then in a million-to-one shot, a Japanese 500-pound bomb went down her stack and exploded in the fire room.  There were ultimately 2,390 Americans killed at Pearl Harbor and 1,178 wounded. Two days after the attack, the Navy passed out postcards to the survivors and told them to write to their families, but not to describe what had happened. Some families did not get their postcards until February.   A "sleeping giant" awoke from that attack  The attack mobilized the United States and marked its entry into World War II.   

   "We hear that the fighting is finished,

   And that is the way it should be.

   Remember Pearl Harbor--they started it then.

   We're warnin' 'em never to start it again.

   For we have a country with millions of men

   Like Nimitz--and Halsey-and me.

--Read by Admiral Nimitz.  Written in September 1945 by Gordon Beecher, later Captain, USN.

 

       More than 65 hardy players, composed of members of the Christ U. Methodist Church and the North Mountain Community, presented the fourth annual production of Breath of Heaven, an outdoor Christmas pageant featuring live animals, elaborate costumery, dancing and singing.  They donned antique and sometimes fantastic dress representing Roman soldiers, angels, shepherds, people of the village of Bethlehem, tax collectors, messengers, kings of the East, Joseph and Mary, and Jesus himself.  Live animals attending at the birth of Christ included horses, ponies, donkeys, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens,  and this year a small fawn.  Three sages who had followed a star to the manger arrived in magisterial array, two riding horses and one brought in an ornate chair carried by four attendants.  Their heralds carried flaming torches and precious gifts for the child.  The production collapsed the Nativity story together with the story of the Resurrection, so that toward the closing, the audience saw the grown Jesus performing miracles for which he is reviled, arrested, and taken to the cross.

       The play is outdoors under lights and set to music and a script broadcast over a new sound system.  Reverend Howard Leh acted as host.  Musical director Gail Stark led the company, with Henrietta Erney and Helen Stackhouse in charge of costumes.  Joseph Stackhouse, Edd Sidinger, Lou Kwasny, and Debbie Popp formed the light crew. Frank Newhart, Jr., served as sound director and manned the new sound system and his father did the video in the snow.   Elwood Erney, Robert Schlichter, and Ed Vandegrift assisted with set construction. 

       Members of the cast included Jessica Wolfe as Mary, Chris Ackerman as Joseph, Steve Fritz as the grown Jesus, Zack Popp as the Angel of the Lord, Alex Wolfe, as the singing angel.  Village people were played by Helen Fritz, Chandlee Stowe, Sierra Wolfe, Marylou Wickizer, Edith Craft, Diane Buzalewski, Ellie Wise, Taylor Wise, Gale Fetscher, Cheyenne Geffken, Jessie Geffken, Terrie Sidinger.  Lorraine Schlicter played the blind adult, while Savannah Geffken played the dead child.

       Other performers were Chase Brooker, donkey leader; Stephanie Brooker, horse leader; Harold Ackerman, tax collector; Bob Schlichter, Art Kling, Ethan Fritz, and John Simock, soldiers.  Larry Crawford, Joe Popp, Nichlaus Geffken, Ed Walk, and Arthur Hess played sheperds, while the kings were Elwood Erney, Gary Buzalewski, and Forrest Fronheiser.

       The band of angels were Kayla Newhart, Erin Newhart, Patty Newhart, Sarah Fetscher, Kamiah Frey, Leanne Bear, Alison Wickizer, Emily Wickizer, and Cheryl Mack.  Morgan Heaps and Caitlyn Heaps played the angels standing over the child in the manger. 

       Those playing sedan attendants, torch bearers, and gift bearers were Dennis Wickizer, Paul Heaps, Tyler Hartman, John Geffken, Chris Warnig, Lester Baker, Tara Warnig, Kasey Wise, Aiden Wise, and Joey Wise.

       The Saturday production, attended by more than 60 people, was wrapped in a light blanket of snow.  One family came from Mt. Carmel to teach their children "the whole Christmas story and the real reason we celebrate it."

Thanks to area businesses that supported the production:  Buck Lumber, Braces Stables, Lehets Mobile Homes, Sibley Farm, North Mountain Fire Co. and the Jessica Exley family.
--Contributed by Harold Ackerman, Jamison City

Do you have your phone numbers blocked so telemarketers don't bother you? The National Do not Call list,  www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/04/dncfyi.shtm, should keep your phone free from telemarketers once your number has been on file for 31 days.  Go to https://www.donotcall.gov/ to register today.

Dr. Anthony J. Mussari of Dallas, producer of Windsor Park Stories, will hold a book signing for his newly-published book titled Step Into My Heart, Heart Disease and Open Heart Surgery My New Best Friends on Saturday, December 13, starting at 2 PM. at Barnes & Noble in the Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre. For more information on Barnes & Noble book signing go here.

Kathleen Arcuri takes over the writing assignment for the Benton News on the first Sunday of each month.  Today, her article is entitled, Please Have Snow and Mistletoe.

What would Christmas be without mistletoe? Featured in song and ritual, it has become a curious part of our holiday tradition!

Mistletoe has figured in mythology for centuries, from the Greeks to the Romans to the Celtic Druids. Its name and history derive from a simplistic understanding of its botany, as early cultures attempted to make sense of and use the magical world of nature.

There are over 900 species of mistletoe around the world, with some of the most beautiful specimens growing in the tropics. The Christmas mistletoe familiar to Americans is found in temperate parts of the United States, growing as a semi-parasitic plant in mostly hardwood trees.

Obscure for most of the year, embedded in tree branches high above the ground, it makes its appearance in autumn nestled in its denuded deciduous host.  Then the evergreen leaves of mistletoe, and its translucent white berries, take center stage.

Parasitism is rare in the plant kingdom; but this is how mistletoe survives, sinking roots beneath the bark of its host for water and nutrients. The semi-parasitic Christmas variety also engages in some photosynthesis, thus its evergreen status.

Its mode of implantation into the host tree by birds, who excrete the sticky seed of the mistletoe berry while roosting in tree limbs, suggested the Anglo-Saxon name – “mistel” for dung and “tan” for twig. Far from the romantic connotation of contemporary usage, the name literally describes what early peoples observed.

But fanciful legends quickly followed, as different cultures attempted to explain this unusual and seemingly mystical plant, growing unanchored to the earth and emerging during the winter solstice when all else appears barren.

An Old Norse myth associates mistletoe with the power to bring peace to enemies, who lay down their weapons and embrace when under its bower. The Druids used it in their winter solstice rituals as a symbol of fertility and immortality. They also believed that, once cut, it should not touch the ground, or it will lose its potency. Scandinavians are credited with the obligation to kiss under the mistletoe, possibly as an offshoot of the older Norse fable.

Only in the nineteenth century did it emerge as a Christmas decoration and gradually become part of our holiday tradition. Mistletoe etiquette requires a man to kiss any woman found standing under a sprig, and then to remove a berry. Once all the berries are plucked, its power dissipates.

Complying with the prescribed kiss brings good luck--a long and happy marriage for a couple, and wedlock within the year for a maiden. Some girls took the myth so seriously that they tucked a sprig under their pillow at night, inviting dreams of their Prince Charming.

So, while a Christmas without snow may be acceptable, a holiday season without mistletoe would be a loss of opportunity indeed, for all those who seek peace and love and perhaps even fertility during this otherwise barren time of year.

--For more of Kathy's garden writing, go here.

December 6, 2008.  It is the birthday of Nina Ford, Corinne Houseweart Fornwald Hess, Bob Green and Nicholas Geffken. Jim and Elaine Laubach celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today.  An Alberta clipper will influence our weather for the foreseeable future, plus a significant storm moving out of the Mississippi Valley toward the East Coast could affect our area Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Depot of Charts and Instruments was created 178 years ago in 1830 to care for the U.S. Navy's chronometers, charts and other navigational equipment. Today, the location is known as the U.S. Naval Observatory, the preeminent authority in time keeping, celestial observing and in determining and distributing the timing and astronomical data required for accurate navigation and fundamental astronomy.  Not impressed?  You try measuring the velocity of something which flies so fast that it will race around the earth seven and a half times in a single second.

The seventh annual coyote hunt in coming up courtesy of the Huntington Mills United Sportsmen.  Hunting can begin Friday, January 16, 2009, at 6 AM.  The application fee is $25.  Register by mail to United Sportsmen Camp 271, PO Box 85, Huntington Mills, PA 18622.  Contact the organization by email at huntingtonmillsunitedsportsmen(AT)yahoo.com, or you can call 570 256-3933 or 570 683-5472.  On Sunday, January 18, a breakfast buffet will be served from 9 AM to 1 PM.  The weigh-in station is located at the club house, located at the corner of Waterton Road and Cann Road, Huntington Mills, PA.  Dates and times for weigh-in: 

    •  Friday, January 16, 2009, 6 PM to 9 PM.

    •  Saturday, January 17, 2009, 3 PM to 9 PM

    •  Sunday, January 18, 2009, 9 AM to 1 PM

Quickies...

•  The U.S. recession deepened last month as the unemployment rate rose to its highest level in 15 years.  The figures suggest the year-old recession will approach or even exceed the 1981-1982 downturn in severity.   Federal Reserve officials are considering lowering interest rates to levels not seen in a half century.

    •  The news of the economy based on unemployment figures was putrid Friday (even as the stock market mustered a bear-market rally).  Surging unemployment, deflation  and a contracting economy are moving housing-market troubles caused by bad mortgages going sour to the background. Ugly days are ahead.

  •  Willie Nelson is coming to the F. M. Kirby Center and bringing with him "Asleep at the Wheel," showcasing songs from the new album, Willie & the Wheel.  The show is February 12, 2009.  Tickets are $75, $60 and $45 plus fees.  Ticketmaster will have tickets beginning December 12.

   •  Listen to the opening statement and questioning of the CEOs of the auto companies by Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski, Chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee of the House of Representatives, by going to  http://kanjorski.house.gov and view the video in the top-right corner.

•  Drilling company Chesapeake Appalachia was denied permission to use up to 20 million gallons of water per day from 14 counties in Pennsylvania and six counties in New York for use during hydraulic fracturing of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.  Chesapeake Appalachia will be allowed to use up to 7.5 million gallons of water per day in Tioga, Sullivan and Wayne counties.

    •  David Laubach, now an English professor at Kutztown University, once wrote that "nations are only small boys playing in a sandbox."  He was illustrating how the need for power corrupted both the little kid on the block and the big kid.  A similar thing is happening in New York state, following an episode in the Pittsburgh area in our own state.   New York's largest natural gas producer chose Chemung County for its headquarters for drilling in Marcellus Shale, but to date there is no  drilling going on in that area because of a moratorium in New York pending an environmental review which is expected to continue into next year.  Fortuna is threatening to pull out of the area, much as Atlas Energy Resources LLC did out of Pennsylvania saying our Commonwealth's drilling requirements are "confusing and inconsistent, and permits are slow in coming."   This is more of a swing toward a "let's get on with it" approach and the environmental aspects of drilling be damned.

    Didja ever think that happiness is good health and a bad memory?

The Benton Farmers' Market will hold a Christmas fest today from 10 AM to 4 PM.  First the barn will be filled with trees from Stoney Acres Garden Center and decorated for Christmas. There will be warm mulled cider. Bernie from Inn to the Seasons will be providing hot sausage sandwiches, pirogies and baked goods. Worthington Acres Farm will be there with their Alpaca clothing--which makes great Christmas gifts. Marion Welliver from The Farm Basket will have her salad dressings and home-made crafts. The wonderful goat cheese and soaps from Everview Farm will be there. The soap is the BEST for dry skin. The sleigh is now down on the barn floor to provide a Christmas photo opportunity for anyone bringing a camera. The Antanitis granddaughters will be singing and playing Christmas music. Plus anyone attending can make and take a pine-cone bird feeder. Stop in and enjoy the sights and learn how to make a natural bird feeder. Their freshly pressed cider will be for sale, too.  Cider won't be around for long.  It will be pressed on December 8 and possibly the week following.  The cider will be sold at the barn on Saturdays and if anything is left over will be sold in front of the Antanitis home at the beginning of the week.  It appears that it is time to buy enough cider to freeze.

December 5, 2008. It is the birthday of Arla Mae Miller, Linda Lee Kline, Bob Kelsey and Joseph Grenewich. Joe is 66 today, a Benton Foundry employee. Joe has lived in Benton for 20 years. He loves hunting, trapping, fishing, camping and going to all the fairs that come along. He loves wood working and makes bird houses, chairs, tables--anything made out of wood. Joe's girlfriend, Anna Marie Nesbitt, says he "enjoys fishing more now because he always tries to 'out-fish'" her. Seventy-five years ago today Utah ratified the 21st Amendment and brought the United States' dark age of Prohibition to a close. Beginning Monday, temperatures will not get above the freezing mark for a few days.

Quickies...
    • The Phillies divvied up $351,504 per player Tuesday for winning the 2008 World Series. The Tampa Bay Rays didn't do badly either, earning $223,390 per player.

    • Watch the progress of Foruna Energy's effort to pump wastewater back into the ground in Tioga County with the oversight of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Drilling waste from fracking contains metals and brine (and possibly elements of radioactivity), which is being considered for storing in unproductive wells.

    •  Please keep Mary Gaye Kline (complications from surgery) , Jeanne Walters (Geisinger Hospital) and Betty Lou Stoneham (undergoing surgery in the Geisinger) in your prayers.  Thanks to the doctors in the emergency room at the Bloomsburg Hospital who have now fashioned a brace from my ankle to my hip in the continuing battle with Arthur Ritus. I told the doctor that I wanted a second opinion on the need for the brace.  The doctor said, "All right!  I'll tell you again."  I also have a new batch of pills, one of which apparently does nothing but give me new side effects.  Most everyone in the emergency room seemed to be there with the flu.  The way I see it, you either get the bug or you don't.  If you get the bug, you get two chances--you get the sickness or you don't.  If you get the sickness, you have two chances--you live or you die.  If you die, you still have two chances...


Most investors look at the stock market with caution. The market goes up for a few days, sometimes rapidly, then sinks in moments, then rises, but the trend of the market continues to be down. Stocks are low at the moment amid fears of a worsening recession. Thursday, the Dow industrials were down 2.5% (215.45 points). The time is now to have a watch list of stocks to buy when the bottom of the market arrives. Almost no one buys at the bottom of the market (or sells at the top of the market), but it is probable that we are getting close to the bottom. At least, I believe that for some stocks there is money to be made in the next thirty days and for many stocks there is considerable money to be made over the next few years if you begin the process of selecting good stocks now. Buy under the 10,000 level; you will be very happy when it reaches the 30,000 level in about the same amount of time it takes to age good whiskey.

Oil settled at its lowest level since January 2005 on Thursday but you'll see it soar above $100 a barrel in a relatively short time. The low prices over the next month are going to look good. Oil supplies are currently low partly because of the collapse in the financing of exploration and production. Keep focused on oil and energy shares, food processors, wood-product manufacturers and selected stocks traded in India and China.


The Benton borough council meeting November 10 was attended by Allen Hess, Dan Jankowski, Jan Jankowski, Mike Klem, O Grant Little, Joshua Price, Mayor Swan, Bryan Getz, Ed Kocher and Kay Yankovich, with president Grant Little presiding. Others in attendance included Lila Allen, Roger English, Dan and Sharon Hess, Bill Lenhart, Chris Luttrell, Rod Pennington and Karen Reed. Actions included...
    •  Council will continue police hours at 35 per week.

    •  The Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center requested that the Borough contact PennDOT for permission to place two directional signs on route 487 informing drivers to turn at Colley Street for The Center. The northbound lane sign should be placed before the bridge over Fishing Creek, and the southbound lane sign should be placed at least 175 feet prior to Colley Street. Motion carried.

    •  Grant Little provided budget spreadsheets for the general fund, park fund and liquid-fuels fund. Each included information on the 2007 budget figures, 2008 year-to-date figures, and budget figures for 2009. Each budget-line item was reviewed with suggested changes discussed by council. Motion approved.

    •  Council approved payment to Kay Yankovich for health insurance to be purchased through her spouse’s place of employment beginning December 2008.

    •  Grant reported that DCNR will provide no grant funds for the Park as long as any part of the Park property has a lease agreement. Grant has spoken with Gary Powlus, Benton School Superintendent, regarding the school’s lease for the use of the athletic fields located in the park. The school is willing to work out an amiable solution to this problem. Grant assured Mr. Powlus that Council does want the school to have continued use of the athletic fields.

    •  Rodger English submitted a written request for a variance hearing for his outdoor furnace. A special meeting will be held for all parties interested in a variance for their existing outdoor furnaces with council being the decision maker. A stenographer will be present and paid for by the borough. There will be no operating permit fee for owners of existing outdoor furnaces and no variance fee. The permit fee for new outdoor furnace operators will be $50.

    • The Emergency Operations Plan was approved as submitted.  A proposed Benton Emergency Flood Plan will be discussed at the December meeting. This plan will be in conjunction with the Emergency Operations Plan. The plan is to have an Emergency Operations Board (bulletin board) located in the Borough, possibly in the post office. This would be updated during emergency situations to provide residents with necessary information. Council approved this request.

    •  An information sheet and office-layout sketch for a proposed borough building was presented. Council agreed to table action on this matter until the December meeting.


The reorganization meeting of the Benton area School Board was held Wednesday, December 3, at the Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School. Phillip Edson was reelected President and Gerri Newhart became Vice-President. The board approved a parent-notification system. In other actions, the school board...

    •  Approved Tim Lontz as a volunteer junior-high wrestling coach, pending receipt of clearances. Approved Allison Cross as eighth-grade boys-basketball coach. Approved Nate Schlichter as seventh grade boys-basketball coach, pending receipt of clearances. Approved Scott Jones as a substitute teacher for second grade beginning January 5, 2009, for six to twelve weeks. Approved Aaron Turner as an additional part-time technology assistant for the previously approved maximum of 1,000 hours per year. Approved Vanessa Yoder as a long-term special-education substitute beginning on or before December 15 through May 4, 2009.

Coyle E. Martin (August 21, 1931-December 2, 2008), Gretna Springs, died Tuesday at his residence at 236 Maple Avenue, Manheim. He was 77.  Born in Elizabethtown, he was the son of the late Coyle S. and Mary Koser Martin. He served in the U.S. Air Force and worked for Cleaver Brooks in Lebanon. He enjoyed nature, spending time outdoors and maintained a summer home in Jamison City for many years.  He was the husband of Doris Pautz Martin.  Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters and two sons, plus two sisters. He was preceded in death by four brothers.  Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 9, at 11 AM from the North Annville Bible Church, 4590 Hill Church Road Annville. Interment with be in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery with full military honors. Viewing will be held on Monday night from 6-8 PM at the Kreamer Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 618 E. Main St. Annville. There will also be a viewing from 10-11 AM prior to the service at the church. A complete obituary can be found at www.kreamerfuneralhome.com/index.cfm.

December 4, 2008.  Chester Greenwood (December 4, 1858-July 5, 1937), an American inventor and manufacturer of earmuffs, was born 150 years ago today.  I was three years old before my parents knew if I would fly or walk, thanks to protruding ears, which always bordered on frostbite when I went sledding.  Old Chester solved the ear-frostbite problem when he was 15 by coming up with beaver-fur pads on a wire frame.  He patented the idea at the age of 19, gathered funds to build a factory, hired eleven workers and produced something like 50,000 earmuffs, which increased to 400,000 pair by the year he died. In Maine, December 21, the first day of winter, is designated the annual Chester Greenwood Day.  Yesterday, I wore one of his inventions.  Today, I gave you an earful on how good his invention felt in this cold weather.

Quickies...
    •  The Patriot-News reports 170 warnings to establishments have been issued since the state's indoor smoking ban took effect, but no bar or restaurant has been fined or lost a liquor license for violating the smoking ban. 

    •  The Upper Fishing Creek community will hold a Christmas party at the Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center on Saturday, December 20, from 7 to 10 PM.  There will be good food, music and cheer.  Music will be provided by the Silver Fox and The Center will provide the holiday treats and refreshments.  There will be a gift exchange where everyone brings a present valued under $5 for someone of the same age and sex as you.  Please mark the present accordingly; i.e., young girl, boy, teenage boy, girl, adult man, woman, etc.  Tickets are $3 for members of The Center and $5 for non-members.  Tickets are available at the front desk and additional information available at 925-0163.  All ages are welcome. 

    • The Jubilate Choir, under the direction of Alan Hack and Steve Lindenmuth, piano, will present its fourth annual Christmas Cantata entitled Canticle of Christmas.  Performances will be held on Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market Street, Bloomsburg.  Admission is free and a time of fellowship and refreshments will be held following each performance.  For additional information, contact the church office at 784-4515.

Quote of the Day:
"Janet's perfect for that job," ... "Because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19, 20 hours a day to it."
--The Guv opening his mouth to change feet about Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano

Didja ever think that taking your children or grandchildren into Toys 'R Us is like playing Russian roulette with your bank balance?

Here is a short history of some of the mills in the Benton area.  For a much more detailed look at mills, turn to the FEATURES section.

    • In November 1895, the Benton Flour Company mill burned to the ground. The loss of $12,000 was covered by insurance according to the Philadelphia Inquirer in its edition of November 12, 1895.

    •  Budd Fritz, operating a bulldozer years ago behind the present Kozy Korney restaurant, remembers hooking into large trees laid under the parking lot of the restaurant as if to dam water.  The trees were used to construct the dam for a long-forgotten mill dam.

    •  There was a mill dam across from Benton Park.  Traces of the mill race were found in 1929, according to William Heacock, whose article appears in the FEATURES section.  The mill race flowed to the Parvin Masters shinglemill, built in 1870 as a planing mill and furniture factory.  William Heacock once worked at the mill "bolting" logs and frequently got dunked trying to run the slippery logs.  The mill was later changed to a buhr-process flourmill by A. W. Wilkinson and John P. Chapin. In 1898, John G. Kimble and John J. Mather bought the property and changed it to a fifty-barrel roller-process mill. In 1904, they installed another unit for buckwheat flour and that year Mr. Mather became the sole owner. He ordered new machinery which was ready to install when the mill burned in 1918. The Wilkes-Barre Times reported that the fire began on the fourth floor of the mill. At the time of the fire, about 10,000 bushels of grain were destroyed resulting in a monetary loss of an estimated $25,000.  At the time of the fire, the mill was powered by both steam and water.  Mather rebuilt the mill and resumed operation in October, 1918. He continued ownership until his death in 1928. At that time, his son, R. Bruce Mather, succeeded him. When Bruce Mather died, the mill was operated by his widow until his son John took over in 1947. John operated the mill until 1986 when the mill was sold. For additional information on this subject and for pictures of the early mill, go here. 

    • Not all mills in Benton were planing- or grist mills. The Philadelphia Inquirer in its edition of December 25, 1920, reported that the silkmill in Benton would resume operations several months after it closed for lack of business. "The announcement came in the form of a delightful Christmas present to the 200 people employed before the shutdown," the paper reported. The day shift began work almost immediately and the night shift started two weeks later. The "Harbred" mill was built in the fall of 1915 by S. H. Seely, William J. Hartman, and M. S. Bredbenner, all of Berwick, and placed in operation November 10, 1915, with a "few hands."  S. H. Seeley ran the daily operation, according to the Wilkes-Barre Times. The Harbred company also ran a similar factory in Shickshinny.  These three men were also at the same time purchasing the Benton electric-light plant and the Benton water works from J. C. Stone, Coudersport, according to the Wilkes-Barre Times of September 9, 1915.

The local mills also included cidermills. Advertisements for the Benton Cider Mill in the October 30, 1918, and the September 1, 1919, Wilkes-Barre Times stated "Sweet Cider for sale by the barrel. Order early. Address Benton Cider Mill, Benton, PA. Bell Phone 3-26." Harry Knouse, Box 232, Benton, was the proprietor of the cidermill located at that time on the north side of Colley Street. He delivered cider by truck to Wilkes-Barre twice a week.

Some reports laid the blame for the disastrous fire in Benton on July 4, 1910, squarely on a political fight waged in the town. The Philadelphia Inquirer in its edition of July 6, 1910, noted that "on several occasions an effort was made to secure water in the town and thus secure protection from fire, but the project was always defeated. Councilman have been elected and defeated on water or no water platforms and friends of years became bitter enemies." The article contained, "No water" continued to win, and when the fire broke out there was no way to fight the flames. The postmaster of Benton when the fire broke out was John J. Mather who opened a temporary post office in his mill and managed to get the rural carriers out on time.

Benton had little more than a bucket brigade. The town water obtained from hand pumps was soon exhausted. The Bloomsburg Fire Department eventually arrived on scene with an engine to pump from nearby Fishing Creek, although by the time help arrived "the fire had practically eaten itself out" to use a term from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Dams at Benton have been important to the economy and health of the Borough following the 1910 fire and because of their association with mills. The Benton dam has long been a functional necessity and a scenic attraction.  With the exception of the ice jam on February 22, 1918, when the Borough was underwater as a result of an ice jam on Fishing Creek which tore out part of the Benton dam and backed the water into the business section of the town, the dam has been an asset to the community.  

Many think of Millville with its grist mill built in 1785 and its woolen mill as the location in the state most generally associated with the word "mill."  It is interesting to review the towns and cities in the Commonwealth which have the word "mill" in their name.  They include...

East Millsboro, Fayette County, PA Franklin Mills (neighborhood), Philadelphia County, PA Glen Mills, Delaware County, PA Gulph Mills, Montgomery County, PA Guys Mills, Crawford County, PA Huntington Mills, Luzerne County, PA Jones Mills, Westmoreland County, PA McGees Mills, Clearfield County, PA Milford (borough), Pike County, PA Milford Square, Bucks County, PA Mill Creek (borough), Huntingdon County, PA Mill Creek (township), Lycoming County, PA Mill Creek (township), Mercer County, PA Mill Creek (neighborhood), Philadelphia County, PA Mill Hall (borough), Clinton County, PA Mill Village (borough), Erie County, PA Millardsville, Lebanon County, PA Millbach, Lebanon County, PA Millbourne (borough), Delaware County, PA Millbrook (neighborhood), Philadelphia County, PA Millcreek (township), Clarion County, PA Millcreek (township), Erie County, PA

Millcreek (township), Lebanon County, PA Miller (township), Huntingdon County, PA Miller (township), Perry County, PA Millersburg (borough), Dauphin County, PA Millerstown (borough), Perry County, PA Millersville (borough), Lancaster County, PA Millheim (borough), Centre County, PA Millport, Potter County, PA Millsboro, Washington County, PA Millstone (township), Elk County, PA Millvale (borough), Allegheny County, PA Millville (borough), Columbia County, PA Millway, Lancaster County, PA Milroy, Mifflin County, PA New Milltown, Lancaster County, PA Osceola Mills (borough), Clearfield County, PA Parrs Mill, Columbia County, PA Potters Mills, Centre County, PA Spring Mills, Centre County, PA Thomas Mill, Somerset County, PA Thomas Mills, Cambria County, PA Upper Mill, Cumberland County, PA --Data courtesy of www.epodunk.com/

The grist mills in what is now the Benton area included...
• the Swartout Mill on Fishingcreek, a short distance below Coles Creek.
• the West Creek Mill given the name of a later owner, Norton Cole.
• The Benton Mills, later called the Benton Roller Mills.
• The Ezekiel Cole Mill on Coles Creek, the first mill in northern Columbia County.
• The Shannon Mill

Marie Ann Grendzinski (May 22, 1941-November 30, 2008), Wapwallopen, died Sunday at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. She was 67. She was a daughter of the late William and Katherine McNelis. She was born in Larksville. Surviving are her husband John J. Grendzinski, Jr. and her children Maryann Grendzinski, Benton; Tina Grendzinski, Bloomsburg; John Grendzinski, Wapwallopen; Joe Grendzinski, Long Island, New York plus nine grandchildren. Private services will be held at the convenience of her family. Arrangements are private under the direction of the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., Benton.
--Obituary courtesy of the McMichael Funeral Home. A complete obituary will be published in the Thursday Press Enterprise.

Angela Sue Hunter (October 12, 1968-December 2, 2008), Raski Road, Benton, died Tuesday at Hospice Community Care at Geisinger South, Wilkes-Barre.  She was 40.  She was a daughter of Gary R. and Faith R. (Dewald) Hunter, Benton.  She was born at Muncy Valley Hospital.  Surviving, in addition to her parents, are her brothers and sisters Stephen L. Hunter (Sue), Lightstreet; Michael S. Hunter (Amy), Catawissa; Crystal R. Iddings (Roger), Stillwater; Katrina D. Bigelow (Doug), Emmittsburg, Maryland; her paternal grandmother Margaret Hunter, Montoursville, and nieces and nephews Andace and Blake Barnes and Hunter and Parker Bigelow. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family at the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., Benton.
--Obituary courtesy of the McMichael Funeral Home.  A complete obituary is published in the Wednesday Press Enterprise

December 3, 2008.  It is the birthday of Betty Kelsey Miller, Grove, Oklahoma, and the wedding anniversary of Paul and Barbara Henne.  Today's edition was written at Painter Den Club and I am learning what it is like to wear someone else's pants!  About 4:30 this morning I rolled out of bed and fumbled around in the pitch black bedroom for my clothes.  I struggled to get my clothes on--I'm eating too much--and didn't realize until I sat down in front of the laptop to write today's Benton News that I had a can of Copenhagen in the back pocket of my pants.  I have someone else's pants on and someone else's left shoe.  I'll wait until the light of day to go upstairs and return these pants and the shoe.  Today's edition won't make it in time for your morning coffee.  I have to return to Benton in order to send it.  I'll do that in my own pants, thank you...

Recovering.
Joe Helwig, at home, from a broken arm; Elaine Lameroux Rogers, in Orangeville Rehabilitation Center, following surgery.

A Site to Bookmark...
The Commonwealth Libraries hosts "Ask Here PA,"  www.askherepa.org/,  an online chat reference and information service.  It is free to all residents of Pennsylvania.  Information and answers to questions are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask Here PA provides accurate and unbiased information and is verified by a commonwealth librarian.  Ask Here PA librarians use live chat to provide research assistance and answers to questions .  More than 70 libraries contribute staff time to answering questions from Pennsylvania citizens and have as their goal to do it in 15 minutes or less.

An article begins in today's Benton News which required the answer to the question "How many cities and towns in Pennsylvania have the name 'mill' as part of their name.  Ask Here PA provided the answer in less than three minutes by referring me to the appropriate location in www.epodunk.com/, a resource to find information on cities, counties, airports, cemeteries, colleges, libraries, museums and newspapers. 

In answer to the question asked, there are 44 towns and cities in Pennsylvania with the word "mill" as part of the name.  "Millville" is one of them.  For a free subscription to the Benton News, be the first to tell me the name of the second city or town in Columbia County which uses "mill" as part of its name.  The answer is provided at the end of the article, but you will have to wait until tomorrow to get it..


Don't go away mad, but if you need a get-away consider flying from Harrisburg International Airport to Orlando. You can do it for $99 each way if you book by December 11 and fly by March 11, 2009. You need to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to get this rate. Head to www.airtran.com/Home.aspx?CMP=EMC-netescapes to book your flight.


German Christkindl Market in Mifflinburg on December 11 through 13 is a very authentic outdoor market with illuminated huts and vendors with wonderful items, from Bratwurst and Stollen, to items the historical society is selling. The website is www.mifflinburgchristkindlmarket.com/. It is a very traditional market that is growing and growing. It is very German. Make this one of your treasured traditions to celebrate Christmas. If you attend, go around 4 in the afternoon. As it gets dark, it becomes very much like Germany.


Hunting is part and parcel of living in the upper Fishing Creek valley.  Over the years most farm families have owned beagles or bird dogs to facilitate the hunt, but tracking evildoers with dogs is a subject not that well understand in the upper Fishing Creek valley. Kevin Kocher is a cousin--a couple times removed--of local Kochers. With his wife, Robin, they love the hunt, but not for the rabbit or the bird, but for the person. And the older the scent the better. They own and train bloodhounds. Learn more at the National Bloodhound Training Institute's web site, http://bloodhoundtraining.com/ where you can find a number of free downloadable books and pamphlets with information on trailing- and tracking dogs.

Bloodhounds are large dogs specifically bred to track humans through scent rather than sight.  The bloodhound gets its reward by pleasing its handler and doesn't give a hoot about whether it is tracking a child or an escaped killer. The dog is in it for the long haul; hours and hours of chase are nothing to the dog. The dogs are kept on a lead or they will bound off to track like Wal-Mart shoppers chase bargains on Black Friday. Obedience training interferes with tracking and is rarely used on these dogs.


It was a matter of necessity that our early settlers engaged in a wide variety of activities--in the woods, on the streams, in their farm homes or their town shops, or in tilling the soil.  Whatever the formal occupation of our early settlers--school teachers, ministers, doctors--most relied on farming to make or supplement a living.  The milling of flour was the industry most closely associated with agriculture.

The first mill constructed in Pennsylvania (1643, Cobb's Creek) is in present Philadelphia (Seventy-Third Street and Woodland Avenue).  William Penn for a time reserved to himself the right to own all the grist mills and saw mills in his new colony.  He set up a corporation and reserved all the state-water rights to him and a few of his buddies.  In 1682, he even brought all the equipment from England needed to set up a gristmill and a sawmill.  Penn had bad luck with his venture--the mill kept breaking--and the idea was abandoned in 1698.  Gristmills suddenly sprung up everywhere in the state.

The first gristmills in our immediate area, the logical move from grinding by mortal and pestle, were in Wilkes-Barre and Sunbury, according to Edwin Barton writing in his Colombia County Two Hundred Years Ago, published in 1976 by the Columbia County Historical Society.  In his book, Barton tells of Abram Kline taking his first load of grain to the Sunbury mill in 1788 from his home in the Orangeville area.  His load was carried by pack horses to the Susquehanna where it was transferred to a boat.  There isn't any record of how the grain was returned up the river after grinding, but you can bet it wasn't an easy trip!

Early gristmills were made of logs with a peaked loft for lifting the grain with a rope.  Mills that came along later were made of stone.  A slimy overshot or undershot waterwheel adjacent to the mill slowly turned providing the power.  Early millstones ranged from three to seven feet in diameter.  Most internal workings were made of wood.  Whole-wheat flour was the product of the mills and for the early settlers the finished product was used only on special occasions.  The miller generally received a tenth of the finished product for his time and trouble.  Connecticut law permitted millers to charge Connecticut settlers in the Wyoming Valley three quarts out of each bushel ground, which may have been the basis for the saying, "A miller's hogs are always fat."

Of equal importance to the early settler with having food on his table was having shelter.  The sawmill took on importance and Penn's Woods was an ideal place for sawmills.  Owning or operating a sawmill provided extra income to farmers during the winter months.  The Swedes built the first sawmill in Pennsylvania in 1663, twenty years before William Penn arrived in 1683.

A gristmill became indispensable to the economy of each small settlement and early history records these settlements--Benton, Jonestown, Jerseytown, Millville, Lightstreet, Bowman mill outside Orangeville, Iola, Hughesville and hundreds more--as mill towns, perhaps from the same term applied to textile-manufacturing mills earlier in the United Kingdom.  Each of the mill towns had one thing in common--they depended on water power to power the mill.  Millville even took their name from the mill in that town.

In tomorrow's edition, we'll tell you about the Benton Flour Company, Parvin Masters shinglemill, the silkmill, the Mather gristmill, the Benton Cider mill and more.  We'll also publish the Thursday edition on time and in our own pants.

 

 

December 2, the 337th day of 2008. There are 19 days until the official start of Winter. It is Bradley Allen Kocher's birthday. He celebrates his birthday with Britney Spears, 27.

December 21, 2008.  The Rev. Al and Jean Lumpkin will present their annual Christmas musical program on Sunday evening at the Benton United Presbyterian Church. The music will begin at 7 PM.  This year's program features  "String Theory,"  a musical group formed during the past year. Jeanie Lumpkin plays banjo, guitar, and celtic harp, and Al plays guitar, mandolin, bouzouki and autoharp. Warren Fisher, a retired Susquehanna University Economics professor, plays guitar and autoharp (Warren Fisher built all the autoharps used in the program). Ann Fisher, a retired Penn State University Economics Professor plays the mountain dulcimer and autoharp.  Judy Ellis, retired from Bucknell University's Admissions Department, plays hammered dulcimer. All five of these instrumentalists provide vocals for the program. Jeremy Lumpkin plays bass. Members of the public are cordially invited to share this musical celebration of Christmas.

Come all you good people and
Listen while we say
Only twenty-two shopping times
From now till Christmas Day.
--from the Wilkes-Barre Times on this day ninety years ago

The Pennsylvania Game Commission reports that 2,946 bears were harvested during the 2008 three-day bear season and 68 were harvested during the two-day archery season, the fifth highest statewide season. This total will go up during the extended bear season in some Wildlife Management Units during buck season. County harvests for the three-day season, followed by the three-day 2007 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are Sullivan, 93 (22); Bradford, 52 (38); Luzerne, 46 (35); Wyoming, 30 (10); Columbia, 11 (20). The largest bear was shot in Tobyhanna Township and weighed an estimated live weight of 716 pounds. I happen to know that in Sullivan County not all the bears were shot. I saw three Monday during deer season.

Quickies...
• If your salary comes in part from the Commonwealth, you might trim your sails a bit in anticipation of the Guv's need to curtail the state's spending. It appears as though there are lots of cuts coming.

• Republican State Senator Joe Scarnati of the 25th Senatorial District will formally become the state’s 31st lieutenant governor Wednesday because of the death earlier this month of Catherine Baker Knoll.

• Businesses in Benton and the Ol' Country Barn are holding Christmas open houses this weekend.

The National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed Monday what most of us have known about the state of the economy: the country is in a recession--thanks to the housing downturn beginning in 2006, skyrocketing federal debt, growing annual budget deficits, an almost nonexistent personal savings rate, and our current trade deficit. The recession, already the third-longest since the Great Depression, could linger through the middle of next year. The news, here and abroad, is grim. The massacre in Mumbai may signal the beginning of regional problems. Pakistan is economically crippled and bordering on national bankruptcy. The Thailand government looks shaky. Economic problems are troubling China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, following the anticipated Thanksgiving-week rally of nearly 17%, tanked 7.7% on Monday and 39% for the year. The market could turn worse in the coming few weeks, and it is possible that we could see a bottom of the market within the next thirty days. The bottom of the economy and the bottom of the market do not run concurrent. If you invest, get ready to dig up the cigar box in the back yard, possibly within the month.

This is the weekend for the Breath Of Heaven, a Christmas-musical production by the North Mountain Community in the village of Central at the North Mountain Fire Co. grounds. I had a chance to take a look at the outdoor set for the live nativity production Monday. When combined with beautiful music, live animals and original costumes, this free production should be very enjoyable. And our fine upstream neighbors are throwing in complimentary hot chocolate, cookies and bonfires. Gather your family, friends and neighbors to witness the Christmas story first hand! It takes place December 5 and 6 at 7 PM. For more information, call 925-2034.

The cold North wind blowing fierce;
The snowflakes falling fast.
But more than enough wood on the porch
to last, and last, and last
--Louise Bryon

The German Heritage Society of the Susquehanna Valley will hold its December monthly meeting on Thursday, December 4, from 7 PM to 9 PM at the Degenstein Library, 40 South Fifth Street, Sunbury. The public is invited to join members and guests as they celebrate the Christmas Traditions of the Germans and the German-Americans. Members and guests are asked to bring ornaments to hang on a tree, decorations to set around the room, treats and recipes to enjoy, music to sing or play, and stories of Christmas traditions to share. Come help transform the meeting room into a German-American Christmas wonderland. Christmas refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact GHSSV President Jeff Sheaffer, 374-7730.

December 1, 2008.  The opening day of buck season began locally at 6:42 AM and runs until December 13.  The Brass Pelican, the Kozy Korner and a few other restaurants were open from 4:30 AM for the hunters.

It was just a year ago that the announcement was made about the merger of equals of the  CCFNB Bancorp, Inc. and the Columbia Financial Corporation. 

On this day in 1913, the first U.S. drive-in automobile service station opened on Clair Street, Pittsburgh, operated by the Gulf Refining Company. The station, open 24 hours daily, featured free air, water, crankcase service, restrooms and a lighted sign featuring Good Gulf Gasoline. The station sold 30 gallons at 27 cents per gallon on opening day. By the first Saturday, Gulf sold over 350 gallons a day thanks to word-of-mouth advertising.

Have you ever wondered how the term "Indian Summer" came about? Baer's 1828 Farmer's Almanac, printed in Lancaster, gives us a clue. Although the explanation was written in Pennsylvania Dutch, we trust the translation is accurate; i.e., "The reader must be reminded that during the long-continued Indian wars the settlers enjoyed no peace except in the Winter season during which the Indians were unable to raid the settlements."

"The onset of Winter weather was therefore hailed as a jubilee, a time at which the settlers could come out of the forts and not be subjected to the danger of Indian raids.

"It sometimes happened that after the apparent onset of Winter the weather became warm. This was Indian Summer because it gave the Indians an opportunity to make surprise raids on the settlements and wage destructive warfare.

"The melting of the snow in Indian Summer saddened every countenance and the genial warmth of the sun chilled every heart. The fear of Indian attacks again gripped the little settlements."

Indian Summers should be over for this year, according to the current definition. The generally accepted definition is "any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in October or November."   The end of November weather was cold and rainy, with periods of snow.

We owe the deer population in part to the first stocking of deer in Pennsylvania in 1906, when 50 deer were brought in from Michigan.  Additional "Michigan Deer" were brought in about 1911. Guy Kocher, now deceased, once recalled that he was about eight years old when the deer arrived in Jamison City. School was dismissed when the train came into town. About a dozen deer arrived in crates, then loaded on horse-drawn sleds and taken up Blackberry Hollow at the north end of Jamison City and released "pretty well up the old lumber road."

Frank Edson and Francis Reed, both now deceased, once told about the stocking of about two dozen Michigan deer. The crated deer were loaded on horse-drawn sleds, taken up Grassy Hollow to Lewis Falls, following the Quinn Trail to the Jordan Lumber Camp (today known as Kinney's Clearing), where the deer were released.

Roy Evans once recalled seeing about twelve deer in individual crates loaded on railroad cars near the train station in Benton around 1915. The train continued to Jamison City where the deer were transferred to horse-drawn sleds and taken up Blackberry Run for release. Roy said J. C. Knouse was one of the first in this area to get a buck following the opening of a legal season after the deer were stocked. J. C. got his deer in the West Creek Gap area. With J. C. on that hunt were Josiah Ash, Harold Hartman (then 12 years old), Jacob Knouse and Ray Coleman.

The Benton Argus reported that the first 25 of 200 deer from Newport, New Hampshire, were received in Jamison City in March, 1916. "When they arrived," Keith Schuyler reported, "there was three feet of snow on the ground, and the deer were held over for an extra day." We have also found newspaper clippings that indicate the first stocking took place in 1913. In addition to the deer previously mentioned, domestic deer from preserves were released according to the following years and numbers supplied by the Game Commission: 1923-24, 8; 1924-25, 21; 1925-26, 8; 1926-27, 12; 1927-28, 12; 1929-30, 3.

Term of the Day: "Son of a Gun."
Sailors in the West Indies would sneak native women on board Naval ships and have their way with them between the cannons. Some of the women the sailors left behind would have boys, sons conceived between the guns.

Many enjoy listening to Paul Harvey. Paul Harvey is hard to hear for those of us who live Back Home in Benton, PA. Don't worry any longer if you aren't near a radio to get your daily Paul Harvey fix. Tune to www.abcrn.com/harvey/playernew/index.html and you can hear the stream via Windows Media Player or Real Player. He can also be heard on WILK 980 AM, WILK 105.1 FM, WBZU 910 AM, WILK 103.1 FM and WKZN 1300 AM.