NEW YEAR'S PAST

www.publicdomainpictures.net

"The house wa​rming held at Fred Reinh​a​rdt's future home on New Year's eve was well attended by all the young p​e​op​l​e of Montague. The music wa​s​ ​furnished​ by t​he Montague ba​n​d."  ​​

 JANUARY 3, 1901 THE TRI=STATES UNION 

FYI This home still stands on River Rd.

"There will be a mite social and union watch service at the Montague Reformed church, new year's eve, and Rev. E. L. Patterson and Rev. H. Bockmyer will have charge of the service."

DECEMBER 9, 1915 THE EVENING GAZETTE

Some New 

Year Customs

"THE sole record of the observance of the New Year by the pilgrims in the new world, named New England, was most prosaic, most brief. "We went to work betimes," said Alice Morse Earle, the famous investigator of old-time American customs. Many of the good Puritan ministers thought the celebration or even notice of the day In any way savored of improper and unchristian reverence for the heathen god Janus. Yet they came from a land where New Year was second in importance and in domestic observance only to Christmas. Throughout every English county New Year's eve was always celebrated. In many it was called by the pretty name of Singing E'en, from the custom which obtained of singing the last of the Christmas carols at that time.

In Scotland the last day of the year was called by the uglier name of Hogmanay, a name of unknown and inexplicable derivation, and in Scotland It was regarded as the most popular of all the "draft days," as the Christmas holidays were termed. Scotch children of the poorer class In small towns still ask on that day from door to door at the house of wealthier families for a dole of oat bread, calling out "Hogmanay" or some of the local rimes which are given in Chambers' "Popular Rimes of Scotland," such as: 

Hogmanay, 

Trollolay. 

Give us of your white bread And none of your gray! 

They also ask for cheese, which they call "nog money," and Brand's "Popular Antiquities" gives this begging rime used by Scotch children: 

Get up, gude wife, and binno sweir 

Deal cakes and cheese while ye are here, 

For the time will come when ye'll be dead 

And neither need your cheese nor bread. 

As the children on these forays are swathed in great sheets formed Into a deep bag or pouch to carry the oatcake, they form quite a mumming and fantastic appearance."

 DECEMBER 31, 1917 THE EVENING GAZETTE

www.publicdomainpictures.net

"The beginning of the real growth of Port Jervis came with the opening of the Erie Railroad. On New Year's Eve, 1847, the first engine to come to Port Jervis was pushed over the tracks by man-power, so that the railroad might be open before the dawn of the New Year, 1848."    

JULY 6,1918  THE EVENING GAZETTE

Wreaths Across America in Normandy

The last survivors of WW2 still honor their fallen comrades.

There is a time for us to Remember, Honor and Teach,

 as this year's theme is "Be Their Witness"!

 236 years ago: 

Below text is excerpted from 

pages 903 & 904 of the 

History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania

                     by Alfred Mathews                     

{Capt. Bonnel was stationed with the militia in Montague.}

Get into the spirit of

 an Old-Fashioned Christmas!

Stop by the

Foster-Armstrong House! 

Courtesy of the Facebook page of
Montague Assoc. for the Restoration of Community History
(MARCH)

Located at 320 River Road &

open 1- 4 PM today and tomorrow  ( 12/8 & 12/9 )

Today the Montague Elementary School Bell Choir

 performs at 2:00 pm, along with their music teacher,

 Mrs. Jody Taylor.

On Sunday,  Pop in to listen to some caroling by

Harmony In Motion 1:30-3 PM.

House tours of the decorated  rooms on the first floor 

will be held before and after the performances. 

 

This is the historical society's last weekend, 

so don't miss out.

No tickets for the play. Just show up and get ready to laugh. 

Montague to show off 

life-size firehouse plan at festival

By Eric Obernauer New Jersey Herald

Posted: Oct. 18, 2018 12:01 am

MONTAGUE -- Residents will have the opportunity to walk through a full-size floor plan of the proposed firehouse and community center from 1-4 p.m. Sunday {10/21} at the township's Fall Festival and New Firehouse/Community Center Expo.

The township will have the floor plan laid out in the parking lot in front of the municipal building at 277 Clove Road with the firefighting vehicles parked in the proposed firehouse area.

Montague Township Committee members will be on hand to provide a fact sheet concerning the proposed firehouse/community center, for which residents will vote on a proposed $2.175 million bond referendum in the general election on Nov. 6.

The bond ordinance, which the Township Committee approved in a 4-0 vote last December, was put on hold after nearly 200 township voters signed a citizen-led petition to force a referendum on the proposal.

Proponents of the project argue that the current firehouse, which was built in 1950, is in need of replacement by a facility capable of storing all the township's fire trucks under one roof. The new facility, they say, would double as an emergency shelter during storms and natural disasters, and as a community center for Scouting, senior citizen and nonprofit organizations.

Township officials who support the project say that if it is approved, its cost will also be offset by other debt that the township is about to retire, which would result in no net increase in taxes.

Members of the Montague Volunteer Fire Department will be on hand to greet the public at Sunday's event, where they'll be serving hamburgers and hot dogs. Cider and doughnuts will be available as well.

Representatives of several other groups will also be present to talk about their organizations and how they envision using the new firehouse and community center, including the Montague Recreation Committee, Montague Grange, MARCH (Montague Association for Restoration of Community History), Montague Seniors, Boy Scout Troop 98, Cub Scout Pack 98, Girl Scout Troop 71072, Montague Little League, Minisink Garden Club, Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, and a representative of the Clean Communities Program. 

Other activities will include a scavenger hunt, hayrides, games and crafts, and an apple cider pressing demonstration.

This story & an image of the projected floor plan are posted at:
https://www.njherald.com/20181018/montague-to-show-off-life-size-firehouse-plan-at-fest?fbclid=IwAR1f2V1J-kCm4PRY-zUeIXbvodG0Up674VObR2Y0MkBKDvTE4eqjl6za_FU#//

Upcoming work begins by Neversink Bridge 

 in Port Jervis, NY.

This will affect those travelling to access Bon Secours Community Hospital or other locations in Port.

Today's Middletown Times-Herald Record relates 

that ground was broken yesterday, Oct. 9th, to start work to replace the 1926 bridge.

Reporter Jessica Cohen relates:

".. bridge replacement has evolved into a larger project that includes widening of East Main Street with a third lane, realignment of three major intersections, and building Safe Routes to School sidewalks.

Intersections with Main Street at Maple Avenue., Kingston Avenue., and Hamilton Street will all be realigned. Sidewalks will be added along East Main, Kingston, and Hamilton, between the middle school and high school.

 “The biggest inconvenience will be in summer, when traffic will be reduced to one lane alternating sides, when a lane is closed, but only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Before and after that, there’s too much traffic”.

 Demolition will begin on Oct. 22 to make way for the temporary bridge. "

Here is the list of trophies awarded

to Montague participants at the 

98th annual Sussex County Firemen’s Association

 Inspection Day and Parade, hosted by the 

Ogdensburg Fire Department marking its 100th anniversary.

Photos Courtesy of 
www.facebook.com/Montague-Volunteer-Fire-Department-652512374857182/

 CONGRATULATIONS to

 Station 35's Fire & Auxiliary Members 

& Troop 98's Boy Scouts!

Firemen’s Parade Trophy

1st Place Best Appearing Boy Scout Troop 

Montague, Troop 98

Troop 98 was the color guard for Montague Fire Department

in the Annual Sussex County Firemen's Parade.

County Trophies

1st Place Best Appearing 

Medium Company — Montague

Best Appearing Overall Auxiliary — Montague

2nd Place Best Appearing 

Engine 1-6 Years — Montague

Visit the Montague Vol. Fire Department Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/Montague-Volunteer-Fire-Department-652512374857182/
&
the MONTAGUE RECREATION Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/Montague-Twp-Recreation-1573979582833187

7 Surprising Ways 

the Dutch Influenced Modern America

1682 made by Nicholas Visscher  - Courtesy of
www.gilderlehrman.org/content/late-seventeenth-century-map-northeast-1682

If you're curious to learn more, 

read about it at this Arcadia Publishing website link.

PS not all those who came to the part of the New World referred to as Niew Nederland, while it was governed by the Dutch,

were from Holland.

Parish of St. James the Greater observing its 75th Anniversary

     

[With corrections to the initial newspaper release of the story, and with additions, 
as noted by Alicia Batko & shown in bold]

Also readable, with corrections to the original  story run in the 7/15/18 Sunday NJ Herald, via the updated online version at
http://www.njherald.com/20180715/st-james-the-greater-roman-catholic-church-to-observe-its-75th-anniversary


By JENNIE SWEETMAN    

MONTAGUE -- From a humble beginning of Mass observed in a private home, St. James the Greater Roman Catholic Parish has grown to an active Roman Catholic community. Now, plans are being finalized for the observance of the 75th anniversary of St. James the Greater Roman Catholic Parish in Montague. The special occasion will be observed at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 22 at the church with a Mass.  A luncheon will follow at the Banquet Center located at High Point Country Club.

Church historian Alicia Batko kindly furnished information about the congregation and its history. The first recorded history of a Catholic priest in Sussex County dates back to 1759, when Rev. Ferdinand Farmer (Steinmeyer) traveled throughout the State of New Jersey and southern Orange County, N.Y., "who administered to his scattered flock in New Jersey during the perilous times before and during the Revolutionary War and despite the religious intolerance of the colony."

Father Farmer is recorded as setting out on horseback, between 1759 and 1781, each spring and fall, often traveling in disguise, as when under the British rule, liberty of conscience was to be permitted to all except Papists and Jews.

Following Father Farmer, there wasn't a record of a priest in Sussex County until Nov. 25, 1821, when it was reported that Rev. Richard Bolger, of Newark, preached in Newton. In the early 19th century, Newton was a regular Mass station from Madison. 

In 1854, Bishop James R. Bayley established St. Joseph's as the first parish in Sussex County, with the first church built in 1855 on Jefferson Street in Newton.

In 1940, when St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church in Sussex Borough was created as a separate parish, with Father Henry Zolzer as its first resident pastor, the newly created parish covered nearly 150 square miles and included Sussex Borough and the townships of Montague, Vernon and Wantage.

According to Batko, it was through the efforts of the Staudt family that Mass was able to be held in Montague with Rev. John E. Hewetson saying Mass in the living room at the Staudt home on River Road. A sunroom on the side of the house, together with an extension, was later added specifically to hold an Altar for the Masses.

Incidentally, in 1998, at an annual July picnic of St. James the Greater Parish, 100-year-old Ernest Staudt was honored as his family provided a site for the parish's first services held during World War II.

In the news article it was recorded that, "in July, 1943, the Staudt home hosted about 45 families when the new parish of St. James the Greater was formed. The parish grew out of a need to serve local Catholic families in Montague, Hainesville and Walpack during the gas rationing of World War II. The congregation first met at the Staudts, frequently hearing Mass on the sun porch at the poultry farm. The founding pastor was the Rev. John Hewetson. The congregation continued to meet at the Staudts through 1944, when they moved to Rock View."

Batko advises that plans for the actual parish began to be developed when Rev. John E. Hewetson was assigned as the administrator for the Western Sussex Missions and was stationed at the newly created St. Bartholomew Mission in Lafayette. In 1943, the Mission of St. James the Apostle was inaugurated under the direction of the Most. Rev. Thomas H. McLaughlin S.T.D., the Bishop of Paterson.

Both the Missions of St. Matthew's in Walpack and St. Thomas the Apostle in Hainesville, newly opened in 1941 and administered by St. Jospeh's in Newton, were then also placed under the administration of Rev. John Hewetson.
The Mission at Walpack would close by 1971, due to the Tocks Island Dam project acquisitions.

On Nov. 23, 1945, a Certificate of Incorporation was recorded in the Sussex County Hall of Records for the Church of St. James the Greater, Montague. Thomas H. McLaughlin, Bishop, John J. Dauenhauer, Vicar-General, Rev. Francis Warlikowski, Pastor and Lay Trustees Joseph J. Pratschler Jr. and Stephen Liptak signed the Incorporation papers.

With the congregation outgrowing the Staudt home, especially during the influx of summer residents and visitors, Masses were then held at Rock View Hotel. Members of the Reinhardt family donated property for a church.

The land given for the church was situated in the upper left hand corner of the aerial view shown in this postcard of the former, highly popular, resort.

A newspaper clipping provided by Bakto reported that "ground was broken Sunday, Sept. 2, 1945, for the first new church to be erected in the over mountain section in many years, when the Rev. Msgr. Michael Donnelly, of Newton, turned the first spadeful of earth and blessed the ground on which will rise the St. James Roman Catholic Church of Montague.

"The site, in a grove of pine and oak, is situated about a quarter of a mile below Rock View House, on the Jersey road. Land for the new edifice was contributed by the Reinhardt family, of Montague." Gallo Bros., Inc. of Netcong, N.J., constructed the church.

The first Mass held in the church was the midnight Christmas Eve Mass in 1945.

The church was officially dedicated June 30, 1946, with Most. Rev. Thomas H. McLaughlin, Bishop of Paterson participating in the dedication and laying of the cornerstone. The church was described as, "The church building is in itself simple in design. It is a combination building consisting of the church, accommodating two hundred persons and a basement hall most practically constructed for social affairs. Most of the beautiful furnishing and appurtenances have been donated by the parishioners and friends of the parish." Sen. Alfred Littell had attended both the groundbreaking and the dedication.

During the 1950s, a rectory was added by Rev. Sylvius Mancini, the first pastor to reside in Montague.

From 1977 to 1996, Msgr. James Gacquin served as pastor of both the St. James the Greater and St. Thomas the Apostle in Sandyston. Following the demise of Msgr. Gacquin, the doors in the vestibule leading into the main portion of the church were redone and dedicated to his memory. Inscribed on the left door is "Reverend Monsignor James F. Gacquin, Jan. 8, 1935 to March 31, 1996. Inscribed in Gaelic on the right door is "Ar dheis De' go raibh a anam" which translated signifies, "May his soul be at the right hand of God."

Rev. Wayne Varga has been serving as the church pastor for both St. James the Greater and St. Thomas the Apostle since 2007.

Much has transpired since the turbulent years of the Revolution when a priest traveled twice a year on horseback to visit Catholics in Sussex County where he said Mass, baptized babies and married couples. It was during WWII that Mass was held in the sun room of the Staudt home. When the congregation outgrew the private Staudt home, during a period of year when guests and summer visitors abounded,  Mass was held in Rock View. The parish has grown over the years and on Sunday, July 22, the congregation plans to observe its 75th anniversary.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To show how early Catholicism's roots existed in Montague :

“Father Senez was sent to Madison [NJ] in 1846 by Archbishop Hughes. He was tireless and unwearying in searching out the faithful scattered throughout Morris and Sussex and even Warren counties.

.... In one of his journeys he discovered a Catholic family in Montagu, near the Delaware River, and baptized their infant son, now the Rt. Rev. Monsignor O'Grady of New Brunswick. “

“Rt. Rev. B. J. McQuaid, succeeding Father Senez at Madison, imitated him in his zeal, and by his repeated trips became acquainted with every nook and corner that gave shelter and a home to Catholics. And, indeed, in every quarter of the county Catholics were to be found.

….. In Montague a happy cluster always welcomed the priest; … “

Excerpted from The Catholic Church in New Jersey by Flynn, Joseph M., 

published in 1904.

1850 Federal census lists the O'Gradee family with son, John, age 2 in Montague.

Rev. Edward P. Liptak, SDB (Salesians of Don Bosco), is the only young man we know of, who was ordained from this parish - back in 1959. His parents, Stephen and Rose Liptak, had served as presidents of the Holy Name & Rosary Societies. He was Rector at Don Bosco Seminary College [now SCCC] in Newton, NJ before going to serve the missions in Africa, and is currently assigned to the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Memorial Day 

2018

Members of Troop 98 & Pack 98

Group photos - courtesy of S. Smith

At the Memorial Day service, Scouts from both Troop & Pack 98
 offered a program which reflected on the significance of  Memorial Day.
They recognized all veterans in attendance - handing each a flower
that had been made by the Girl Scout Troops #70840 & #71072.  

Sussex County Station 35's annual Chicken BBQ Dinner is

 this Sunday, June 3rd, from Noon - 4PM. 

 Eat in or Take out. Cost of  $12. per dinner 

includes 1/2 chicken, baked potato,  corn on the cob, roll, and ice cream. 

The event is held rain or shine. 

Both images courtesy of the MVFD Facebook page

See any member for tickets, call 973-293-7441, or email info@montaguefd.org.

Tickets may sell out.

Support our local firefighters!

Courtesy American Gold Star Mothers

http://montaguenj.org/public_access/information/2018MemorialDay.pdf

Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring the military personnel 

who died in the service of our country, particularly those who had died in battle 

or as a result of the wounds they sustained.

Honor the Brave Memorial Day, May 30, 1917. Poster, 1917. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3g08122
Library of Congress

"  To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579, creating the 
White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. 
The commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance. "


" The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans 
to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day 
for a minute of silence to remember and honor 
those who have died in service to the nation. "

Click here to learn of the origin of Decoration Day in 1868, 
which was later renamed as Memorial Day. 

Rain again postponed 

the township's yard sale to June 9th,
raindate on the 10th.

However, across the ocean,

 the sun shone brightly for the wedding of

Image Source: Getty / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

 now titled as the 

Duke & Duchess of Sussex.

Our county, when formed in 1753,

was named for Sussex, England. 

Due to the anticipated inclement weather 

 this has now been postponed til Sat., May 19th

 Weather or Not?

Ever wonder about  weather patterns?? 

      We recently had 70 degree temps and then it dipped back to cooler, more wintry temps. Last night, the Wallpack weather station recorded the surprising low of 21 degrees!

Here's a historical perspective on Spring weather:

The Reading Times newspaper reported this about Milford, PA - that on June 7, 1876 - "This section was visited by a heavy frost last night."

Rafting of lumber on the Delaware River was weather contingent, as reported by The Times from Philadelphia on an April 21st  in 1880:

Two years later, on the 20th of April 1882, the Reading Times again reported on this area and said:

 ".. the heavy rain showers of yesterday afternoon  extinguished the forest fires which have been burning the last three days."

This time a dry spell destroyed forests and impacted lumbering.

Today's snow showers were hopefully the last 

& a short-lived heatwave is ahead!

It's time to bring bird-feeders in overnight, as bears are now out 

&  diligently check for miniscule deer ticks after spending time outdoors. 

Doing any Spring Cleaning??  

The township cleanup is scheduled for the afternoon of Friday,  May 18th &  also for Sat.,  May 19th.

Town residents must first pickup a permit from the township office & only those with a NJ Disabled Person's ID can request curbside pick-up - (973-293-7300).

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, 1875

A DAY THAT WILL NEVER BE FOR-

GOTTEN IN PORT JERVIS.

Ushered In The Great Ice Flood, Which

Wrecked and Inundated Many Homes.

Carried off Bridges and Left Mountains

of Ice In its Track Along the River.

The sun shines brightly on Port Jervis

today , the anniversary of the birth of St.

Patrick, and the "wearing of the green"

is in evidence in many homes where the

good old saint is held in reverence. The

scenes through which Port Jervis and her

sister village of Matamoras have just

passed and tho fears of impending danger

serve to recall the scenes which were witnessed

in this village twenty-nine years

ago on March 17th, 1875 when the breaking

loose of the rivers from their icy fetters

caused terrible devastation all along

the Delaware and great destruction of

property in this village.

In the front windows of THE GAZETTE

are displayed a number of the scenes witnessed

in the ice flood of 1875, in which

are shown the blowing up of the gorge

with nitroglycerine, the carrying off of

bridges, houses wrecked and ruined

families fleeing to the high ground, and

other incidents connected with that event.

The flood had its beginning the day before

St. Patrick's at Deposit, 90 miles up

the river.

The torrents of ice and water traveled

only five miles an hour, but every mile

of its progress was watched and telegraphed

to Port Jervis. The telegraph office

 and river banks were crowded all

through the night. From Port Jervis,

extending up the river, was a solid mass

of ice four miles, piled high with blocks

of ice.

Everybody was astir on the morning of

St. Patrick's Day. At 1 o'clock the police

were sent through the town from house

to house, warning everybody that the

flood was but 20 miles above, and that its

speed was accelerated every minute. Fifteen

minutes later the streets were filled

with hurrying, frightened throngs of men,

women and children. In the meantime

an engine was despatched to the railroad

bridge, four miles above here, and there

the men awaited the coming of the tide.

Gradually the ice in the river began to rise

and within an hour had reached the

spans that supported the structure. Still

there were no violent indications of danger,

but suddenly the bridge trembled

and moved visibly to one side. The engineer

jerked back the bar and the engine

moved off the bridge. Three minutes

later the bridge was borne down the

river with the flood which had become a

raging torrent of tumbling ice blocks.

Under a full head of steam the engine

reached this village in time to issue a

final warning.

As the locomotive came into Port Jervis

some half a dozen other locomotives sent 

forth a shrill scream that defies description.

In less than fifteen minutes

two thousand persons were on the streets,

soon wagon alter wagon came rattling

down the flats, and such a tumbling out

of furniture was never before seen in Port

Jervis. Men were seen loaded with goods

and women and children running, all

seeking places of safety. The hillsides

were lined with spectators, while the continual

shrieking of locomotives and the

ringing of bells added to the confusion

and sent terror into the hearts of many.

Near 7 o'clock a great blast was made

of 50 pounds of nitroglycerine. This had

been previously placed under the ice at

the strongest point of the dam to await

the critical moment when the rise of 

water would make the weakening of the

structure advantageous. This had the effect

of weakening the mass. It threw

large fragments 500 feet into the air and

destroyed the real point of resistance. At

half-past eight o'clock the flood was at its

height. The Barrett bridge withstood

the terrible battering of the ice until the

railroad bridge from above was borne

down against it when its stays snapped like

pipe stems and it passed off in company

with, the other; then the dam gave way

and a shout of satisfaction rent the air,

further danger having passed.

A New York paper commenting on the

flood and the use of explosives to break

up the gorge said, "Had the resolution to

try the effect of blasting been resorted to

a week earlier than it was it is quite

probable that Port Jervis would have escaped

the calamity." 

Reported in The Evening Gazette on March 17th, 1904

Circa 1909 Source: Missouri History Museum

In 1876, The Tri-States Union 

on

March 17, 1876 stated:

- St. Patrick's day this year will have a double celebration, as it

(the 17th of March) is not only the anniversary of the birth of Ireland's 

patron saint, but also of the evacuation of Boston by the British. 

These back to back storms delivered a One - Two punch.
As it's best to prep ahead - here's suggestions to plan ahead:

SUGGESTED EMERGENCY KIT CHECKLIST
At a minimum your kit should include: 

Bottled water (one gallon per person/per day for at least three days)  or at the minimum have water set  aside if you have a gas stove you can poil it on.

Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods that do not need cooking (ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables, or juices, protein or granola bars, cereal, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, baby food, comfort foods) - keep these in an easily accessible place - maybe in a storage tub.

Manual can opener

Radio (battery-powered or hand crank), NOAA Weather Radio, and extra batteries

Flashlight or lantern, with extra batteries 

Cellphone and charger (also an auto, solar, or crank charger in case power is out) 

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities and other basic tools 

Prescription medications (two-week supply) 

Garbage bags, soap, sanitizer, and other personal hygiene items 

Extra eyeglasses, contact lenses, and dentures 

Extra batteries for hearing aids, wheelchairs, or other medical equipment 

Change of clothes, ability to dress in layers,  and sturdy shoes / boots

Copies of insurance policies, bank account records, identification cards (IDs), medical information, and other important documents  - if you need to be evacuated or can't access internet.

Extra cash and traveler’s checks (ATMs may not work during a power outage) Banks may not be open

First-aid kit  

Whistle to signal for help 

Waterproof matches or lighter  - gas stoves hooked to electric need matches to light burners.

Local area maps  

Diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and supplies, if needed 

Water purification tablets

Set water in buckets or large empty plastic soda bottles near toilet to use when you can't flush.

If it's cold enought overnight to freeze, have small plastic bottles or plastic containers filled no more than 2/3 to stick frozen into refrigerator/freezer to help keep food cold longer. Or if there's snow = fill large storage containers with snow instead.

Have critical Power Company & any other utility numbers stored in your cell phone.

Also consider adding:
Watch or battery-operated clock
Household chlorine bleach, which can disinfect drinking water
Camp stove or grill with fuel or canned heat, neither of which should be used indoors
Disposable plates, cups, and utensils
Duct tape, plastic sheeting, or tarp
Seasonal items such as warm clothes for winter and sunscreen for summer
Sleeping bags or blankets
Books, games, puzzles, and other comfort items

Pet collar, leash, harness, crate, food, bowls, current photo, license and medical info 

Info courtesy of Upper Delaware FB page and
 https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/09/od/emergency-kit-checklist.pdf

BEARS ARE OUT 

After an erratic winter in terms of temperatures, minimal snowfall and warm temperatures  popping up – black bears are already being seen.

Be Bear Aware!

Bear Facts for Homeowners

                     Support local talent and our MONTAGUE GRANGE!

                                            clipped from

                                     Tri-States Union May 11, 1911

                   

UNCLE SAM'S ADVICE ON THE FLU

 Excerpted from a Oct. 14, 1918 edition of

 The Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY 

Courtesy of   The Evening Gazette newspaper
& an article it ran during WW1

"Epidemics of influenza have visited this country since 1647. It is interesting to know that this first epidemic was brought here from Valencia, Spain. Since that time there have been numerous epidemics of the disease. In 1889 and 1890 an epidemic of Influenza,  starting somewhere in the Orient, spread first to Russia and thence over practically the entire civilized world. Three years later later there

was another flare-up of the disease. Both times the epidemic spread widely over the United States.”

 ....

"When crowding is unavoidable, as in street cars, care should be taken to keep the face so turned as not to inhale directly the air breathed out by another person.  It is especially important to beware of the person who coughs or sneezes without covering his mouth and nose. It also follows that one should keep out of crowds and stuffy places as much  as possible - keep homes, offices and workshops  well aired, spend some time out of doors each day, walk to work if at all practicable – in short, make every possible effort to breathe as much pure air as possible.”

CDC 2018 Summary of Weekly FluView Report

"You’re contagious from 1 day before you have any symptoms. 

You stay that way for 5 to 7 days after you start feeling sick. 

Kids may be able to spread the virus for even longer, until all of their symptoms fade."

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/how-long-flu-contagious

"What are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness?

In children

Fast breathing or trouble breathing

Bluish skin color

Not drinking enough fluids

Not waking up or not interacting

Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Fever with a rash

In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:

Being unable to eat

Has trouble breathing

Has no tears when crying

Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal

In adults

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

Sudden dizziness

Confusion

Severe or persistent vomiting

Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough."

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm