DANVILLE - Geisinger Medical Center has confirmed its first death caused by the H1N1 virus, according a hospital news release.

The medical center is not releasing the person's name, citing a privacy policy.

"Because of the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guidelines, we cannot discuss any additional information," according to the release. "The Geisinger family sends our thoughts and prayers to the patient's family."

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POTTSVILLE - Borders is closing the book on a local retailer.

The Waldenbooks location in the Fairlane Village mall is one of 200 Borders Group Inc. locations closing as part of corporate "right-sizing."

In a statement released Thursday, Borders Group, Waldenbooks' parent company, announced an effort to close under-producing stores and emerge with a smaller, more profitable mall chain in 2010.

"America has a number of malls that continue to do well and draw customer traffic even in the current economy," Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall said in a press release. "We believe there remains an opportunity to profitably operate a much smaller Waldenbooks segment that complements our core Borders superstore business and continues to serve readers in their communities. Through this right-sizing, we will reduce the number of stores with operating losses, reduce our overall rent expense and lease-adjusted leverage and generate cash flow through sales and working capital reductions."

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Noteworthy

Free concert

MOUNT CARMEL - Paul Koleske will be in concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Koleske offers a unique combination of fresh, uplifting contemporary Christian music and inspirational spoken word for the Catholic church.

Office hours reduced

ATLAS - Due to budgetary restraints, the Mount Carmel Township Municipal Office will be open from 8 to 11 a.m.

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MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Music Department will present its first junior high school musical, "Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.," at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the Richard F. Beierschmitt Auditorium of the Mount Carmel Area Junior-Senior High School. 

The show is directed by Sharon L. Styer. Director assistants are Samantha Allen, Diane Gidaro, Hayley Stepp and Amber Reed. Stage crew consists of Nicole Horsfield, Shawna Facer, Bridget Wagner, Cheyanne Kramer, Adam Joraskie, Tirus Twyne, Jordan Watkins, Jonathan Thomas and Samantha Yuschock. Lighting and sound technicians are Robin Hampton and Amy Besser.

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SUNBURY - Susquehanna Emergency Health Services Council elected new officers for its board of directors at the council's annual meeting on Oct. 21.

Scott Lynn, executive director of Danville Ambulance Service and Montour County coroner, was elected president. Also elected were Barry Mutschler, first vice president, Chuck Haertter, second vice president; Peggy Haertter, decretary and, Jim Catino, tr

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Friday night's football scores: Shamokin Area 13, Loyalsock 35; Lourdes 27, CMVT 6; Mount Carmel Area 7, N. Schuylkill 27; Line Mountain 35, Pine Grove 21; Southern Columbia Area 38, Milton 0

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Trying to explain why a comedian or humorist is funny is as difficult as attempting to describe a sunset to a person blind from birth.

Articles that theorize why Jack Benny or Laurel and Hardy or Jackie Gleason and Art Carney are funny usually have the readability of a phone book. This holds true for humorists as well as comedians.

For example, P.G. Wodehouse and Robert Benchley were two of the best and funniest comic writers in the 20th century, but I simply can't convey their humor when I try to share my enthusiasm for their works with friends.

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All Saints Lutheran

All Saints Evangelical Lutheran Church, 12th and Scott streets, Kulpmont.

Pastor - The Rev. Alfred J. Bashore.

Worship - 9 a.m.

Participants - Rose Marie Kovach, organist; Richard Kovach, lector; Perry Adams and/or Marsha Karnes, communion assistants; Shirley Tomtishen and Marsha Karnes, altar guild.

Ash Grove UMC

Ash Grove United Methodist Church, Lilac Road, off Route 61, Paxinos.

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