Pennsylvania's Rape Continues: A CALL TO ARMS

     
These are entries from the journals of the officers and soldiers of Major General John Sullivan's Expedition against the Iroquois in 1779:

From the Journal of Dr. Jabez Campfield ( Surgeon 5th NJ Regiment ) - June 14th, 1779:

"Wyoming is a beautiful place, through which runs the Susquehanna, in a swift delightful course. The Lands here are exceedingly good and fertile; The river abounds with various fish in the Spring, it is full of the finest Shad, trout and pickerel are also plenty here."

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From the Journal of Lieut. Col. Henry Dearborn - June 23rd, 1779:

"...we are now incamp'd on the bank of the Susquehannah river - this river is at this place about 50 rods wide and abounds with fish of various kinds Such as Shad Bass, pike, trout &c..."

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From the Journal of Dr. Ebenezer Elmer - June 24th, 1779:

"Spend chief part of the day in fishing - Salmon trout, Succers, Bass & common trout are pretty plenty in the river."

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From the Journal of Lieut. William Barton - June 12th, 1779:

This branch is an exceeding fine, pretty river, and opposite the town in midsummer five or six fathom of water, as clear as it can be; ..."

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Imagine that. The Susquehanna loaded with shad, salmon and trout, and clear to depths of 30 feet. Right in the Wyoming Valley. And what do we have now?

Not even close.

Since 1779, Pennsylvania's primeval forests were cleared for the profits the lumber would bring. Pennsylvania's land was ripped open for the profits its coal would bring.

And now, the Susquehanna's waters are being sucked from its most pristine ( what's left ) headwaters for the profits it will bring to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the natural gas industry.

And many are simply content to sit idly by and watch this happen.

Whoever you are, even if you don't know enough to speak on the issues, please plan on attending the SRBCs public hearing on Thursday, December 15th at the Best Western/East Mountain Inn in Wilkes-Barre, PA  - beginning at 8:30 a.m. - in support of those who stand in defiance to protect this watershed from those who wish only to profit from its defilement.

We cannot let this happen again.

Be there, and bring a friend...or three.
   

   

CBF's Campbell: PA Flying Blind!

     
The Chesapeake Bay Journal may not cross too many radar screens out there, so I thought I'd pass this recent article along for consideration.

My only comment is that the title should read: Marcellus Shale drilling may will take huge chunks out of PA forests.

See the pic below taken from Wyalusing Rocks. In addition to the actual drilling pad in the distance at the end of the road, how much acreage is taken up by the access road itself, or the cleared utility area to the left at the beginning of the road? Multiply that by 30,000...or 200,000; and imagine the impact that will have on our state forests currently leased for drilling.

Photo by Don Williams

    

SRBC & Water Quality: You Tell Me

        
In putting together my thoughts for the upcoming SRBC meeting on December 15th, I tripped across a prior post that contained the exact information I needed.

Check out my May 18th post here.

Of course, the SRBC claims otherwise. Go figure.

BTW - the nine Atlas THON kids from Penn State that we hosted had an excellent fundraising weekend. Thanks to all who contributed.

 
These young adults were exceptionally polite and well-behaved, and other than apparently liking my wife's "from scratch" mac-n-cheese better than my buffalo tongue chili...they were perfect guests.

Later.
 

1770-1783: The Revolutionary Peace?

   

Gee...I wonder where we would be today - as a nation - if the founders of this country decided to lead a peaceful revolution?

 

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.  

- Thomas Jefferson

PSU THON - They're ba-a-a-a-ck...

  
 

My wife and I are once again hosting some Penn State students from State College as they hit the streets @ sunrise this morning ( with temps at 28 degrees F ) to collect money for kids ( and their families ) struggling with the fight against cancer.

One of the parents suggested we get the kids some high visibility vests to wear, and we were more than happy to contribute to the cause.

Great job!

So as you're traveling around the streets of PA today, and you see the PSU kids with cans at intersections or in front of stores - please be generous. It's for the best of causes...helping kids with cancer in the fight for their lives.





Plus...as the THON'ers will be treated to my world famous (?) buffalo tongue chili tonight ( shhhhhhh... ), they may not be able to hit the streets tomorrow.

Breakfast...just not @ Tiffany's

     

Ode to the Susquehannock

    
For those that have visited my blogs for the past decade, you know that I always focus the majority of my December posts around the Susquehannock Tribe and the Conestoga Massacres of December 14th and December 27th, 1763. To my knowledge, it's possibly the only blog on this planet that does.

This year will be no different, with one exception.

And for that...stay tuned.