Glad news and sad news today . . . Excited to report that Jaime and Bryan MacLeod will be adding to their family about April 15 or so. Jaime will probably finish the school year on maternity leave . . . Longtime residents of the neighborhood will remember "Timmy" Marahoris who lived above the restaurant at North and Susquehanna Streets. He was interred today at Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery having won a bronze star in the Korean Conflict. Tim was 80. His family had owned a chain of movie houses in the Eastern part of the state at one time and Timmy had a huge collection of movie memorabilia that must have been worth thousands. Wonder whatever became of that . . . Eric and Sarah Battisti climbed and climbed stair after stair this morning and were rewarded with a fantastic view of The Mall from the top of our nation's Capitol. So glad they shared it with us. Splendid . . . The shift is on: merchandise is moving from table to table as we prepare for the holiday season. The first wreaths are up over the archways, thanks to Bob . . . a former teacher, Bob has been disturbed by the suicides of a number of teenagers across the nation and especially by the local boy who stepped out onto the highway in front of truck to end his life. Bob was moved to write the following: I don’t get on a soapbox about too many things, but the recent suicide of a young teen from Snyder County has stirred me to comment. Being a teenager is difficult enough, but being a teenager who is gay—or presumed gay—is an almost impossible situation, especially in a rural area of Pennsylvania where anyone who does not conform to the norm is suspect, whether it is by dress, interests or mannerisms. It’s these kids who are labeled queers, faggots, lesbians, etc. . . . The rural teen has nowhere or no one to turn to. He sees himself alone. He is afraid to talk to parents out of fear of rejection; he can’t talk to his minister who thumps the Bible and cites Leviticus, and most school guidance counselors are guide-less. Most kids try to appear to fit the “mold” and pray for the day they can get out of this hell hole; a few see no way out. They are the ones who die . . .
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