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Happy birthday to Travis J. Crispell!

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United Way of Wyoming Valley honors its ‘helpers and heroes’ at luncheon at Westmoreland Club

<p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to the newly adopted Brittany Ann Ogurkis and her parents. Having spent 11 years in foster care, Brittany, 21, celebrated this week as she officially became the daughter of Conyngham residents Michael and Lorine Ogurkis. The couple had invited Brittany into their home and lives several years ago, after Brittany turned 18 and &#8220;aged out&#8221; of the county&#8217;s foster care system. At Wednesday&#8217;s court proceeding, she waived her right to privacy in order to publicize the need for caring adults to mentor and possibly adopt youths. &#8220;For the parents out there who are afraid to adopt the older ones, I&#8217;d say: &#8216;Open up your heart, look into it.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to the West Side Career and Technology Center&#8217;s new potty policy. Only two students at a time are permitted to enter school lavatories, leaving certain people at the Pringle institution cross-legged and languishing in line for up to 15 minutes or more before they can relieve themselves, the students say. School officials apparently adopted the occupancy restriction in response to a potentially dangerous incident in one restroom. Since then, at least one young man who urgently needed to go and violated the bathroom quota got suspended, a student <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/513773/in-focus-students-at-west-side-career-technology-center-in-pringle-say-theyre-being-forced-to-wait-when-they-have-to-go" target="_blank">told the Times Leader</a>. Hundreds of students reportedly have signed a petition opposing the policy; the petition likely will be presented next week to the school&#8217;s directors. We understand the need for school officials to sometimes lay down the law. However, this &#8220;solution&#8221; defies good sense &#8211; and nature&#8217;s call.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to Hanover Township police. At Chief Albert Walker&#8217;s discretion, the department&#8217;s officers earlier this year began carrying Naloxone &#8211; an antidote used to try to revive victims of heroin and opioid overdoses. Each of the force&#8217;s eight police cars will be equipped with one of the potentially life-saving kits. Hanover Township&#8217;s ambulance company will ensure the kits, which have an expiration date, are replaced as needed.</p><p><strong><strong>Coal</strong> </strong>to the Graniteville House of Recovery&#8217;s over-eager directors. Their mission is divine: to help women who recently completed drug treatment programs maintain their sobriety and better their lives. But it appears nearly a dozen women began staying at the communal-living home on Carey Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, before the program received an OK from zoning officials. Wouldn&#8217;t that be like holding a restaurant grand opening before a health inspector toured the kitchen?</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to Dallas resident Miguel Rivera. Last weekend, he noticed a friendly stray dog near his yard and patiently coaxed it into reach, then into his vehicle. Rivera delivered the pooch, which lacked a collar or other identifying item, to Blue Chip Farms Animal Rescue in Franklin Township. The dog&#8217;s owner ultimately contacted the shelter and was reunited with his Vizsla named Murphy. Thanks, Miguel, for being concerned enough to retrieve this wayward retriever.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Brittany Ogurkis, 21, seen here with her adoptive parents Michael and Lorine Ogurkis, says, &#8220;Yes, I am an adult, but I still deserve a family. Everyone deserves someone. &#8230;&#8221; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_adoption02-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Brittany Ogurkis, 21, seen here with her adoptive parents Michael and Lorine Ogurkis, says, &#8220;Yes, I am an adult, but I still deserve a family. Everyone deserves someone. &#8230;&#8221; </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>

Our Opinion: Older foster children don’t outgrow desire for ‘forever’ family