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West Pittston Hose Company holding rose sale for Valentine’s Day in front of Driscoll’s Home Center Feb. 12-14

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Joe Parks and Sharon Thomas-Parks: Expand First Aid to include mental health

<p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to promoters of National 211 Day. Held annually on Feb. 11 (aka 2/11), the awareness-raising campaign reminds people about the availability of crisis counseling and other support by calling the telephone number 2-1-1. Locally, <a href="http://www.helpline-nepa.info/" target="_blank">Help Line&#8217;s caseworkers</a> pick up the phone, listening to people&#8217;s concerns and frequently referring them to mental and physical health professionals, social service providers and vital programs. This year, dozens of King&#8217;s College students and others literally stood up for the cause, promoting 211 Day by assembling in formation on the gymnasium floor in the shape of the digits 2-1-1. For anyone feeling desperate and low on options, the call &#8211; and a caring voice &#8212; can be a lifeline.</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to Valentine&#8217;s Day dawdlers. You might be able to postpone candy and card purchases to the 11th hour, but dinner reservations? For this holiday? On a weekend, no less? That&#8217;s pushing it. Regardless of whether you celebrate Sunday&#8217;s holiday, remember to, at least occasionally, let all the people you care about know how you feel. You might think it &#8220;obvious,&#8221; but it&#8217;s not. (Which reminds us: Love you, Mom.)</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to area residents rallying to preserve the Irem Temple in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Ditto for people strategizing to save Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s high school buildings. It remains to be seen if either effort is possible, or even prudent for financial and other practical reasons. But it&#8217;s admirable to show passion, especially passion for a place that is dear to you.</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to heartless &#8220;caretaker&#8221; Sharon Mae Jacobosky. The Luzerne resident, 72, this week pleaded guilty to ripping off a nearly 100-year-old Dallas woman to the tune of more than $255,000. The thievery occurred between 2009 and 2011, according to police. Jacobosky is scheduled to be sentenced in late April.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to writers of love notes, poems, stories, term papers, work assignments and any piece that convincingly conveys emotion, meaning or both. For anyone who struggles with the written word, take heart. The Writing Center at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, formerly open only to LCCC students, will as of Feb. 19 offer its free services to anyone who seeks guidance. Stop by the center in Room 903 of Building 9 during the center&#8217;s weekday hours. Or connect by visiting <a href="https://studentportal.luzerne.edu/writingcenter/" target="_blank">https://studentportal.luzerne.edu/writingcenter</a>. Punch up your prose skills, because sometimes emoticons just won&#8217;t cut it. (Frowny face.)</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to a spiteful Jack Frost, for pitching our region into a deep freeze. Expect &#8220;bitterly cold wind chills&#8221; this weekend, the National Weather Service cautions. Saturday night&#8217;s temperature could dip between zero degrees Fahrenheit and 10 below. Toss in the wind chill, and it might feel more like 25 below. Until temps rebound next week, pull on your heaviest sweater and think warm (loving) thoughts. Have a happy Valentine&#8217;s Day.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">In a show of support for National 211 Day this week, King&#8217;s College students and members of the Luzerne County Community Suicide Prevention Committee assembled on the gym floor in the shape of 2-1-1 &#8211; the phone number that connects callers to vital services. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_211day.jpg</photo0><caption0>In a show of support for National 211 Day this week, King&#8217;s College students and members of the Luzerne County Community Suicide Prevention Committee assembled on the gym floor in the shape of 2-1-1 &#8211; the phone number that connects callers to vital services. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>

Our Opinion: Dialing 211 connects callers in need with caring voice