web1_Mytych_Steven_t.jpg

Steve Mytych tabbed to run Keystone College’s wrestling restart

web1_TTL032416sabsbeer1.jpg

Sabatini crafts unique batch of beer at Sierra Nevada suds school

<p>Should Glen Lyon&#8217;s 1,740 residents be indignant about being labeled Pennsylvania&#8217;s <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/523509/glen-lyon-residents-upset-by-distressed-status-report" target="_blank">&#8220;most distressed&#8221; ZIP code</a>?</p><p>Probably so, though that doesn&#8217;t mean there is no worth to local findings in the Economic Innovation Group&#8217;s latest &#8220;Distressed Community Index.&#8221;</p><p>Let&#8217;s start with some perspective:</p><p>&#8226; The ratings are relative, with ZIP codes measured against each other rather than against a fixed standard. In the words of the report: &#8220;A ZIP code &#8230; is considered distressed if its distress score falls in the highest 20 percent of its peer group. &#8230; &#8216;Most distressed,&#8217; when used, refers to the highest 10 percent.&#8221;</p><p>So, at least theoretically, even if every ZIP code had low scores, 20 percent of those ZIPs would still be labeled &#8220;distressed,&#8221; and 10 percent would still be &#8220;most distressed.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; Frankly, being &#8220;most distressed&#8221; in Pennsylvania isn&#8217;t all that bad. Overall, only 12 percent of our population lives in &#8220;distressed&#8221; ZIP codes. Compare that to some neighboring states: 13 percent in New York, 17 percent in Ohio, and a whopping 32 percent in West Virginia.</p><p>&#8226; Lastly, if you live in a ZIP code with fewer than 500 people, forget about it. Your ZIP wasn&#8217;t used in the report. This is a common and justified statistical tactic; when the numbers get too low, percentages (used in the rankings) can skew wildly. But it still means there might be some ZIPs that are far more &#8220;distressed&#8221; than Glen Lyon.</p><p>All that said, there are lessons here; not necessarily new, but still worth remembering.</p><p>For starters, although the rankings are relative, they show real disparities that residents of the region, state and nation need to address. Glen Lyon got its unwelcome rating because 19 percent of adults have no high school degree, and 53 percent are not working, according to the report. The little community has a 31 percent housing vacancy rate, and a 48 percent poverty rate.</p><p>The poverty rates and lack of education are persistent woes in our region. Efforts to address them remain among the most important initiatives we can support.</p><p>Two examples: Broader access to low-cost higher education &#8211; something Luzerne County Community College is well-suited to provide &#8211; and the United Way of Wyoming Valley&#8217;s new focus on helping low-income children get the pre-school and afterschool help they need, a proven way to increase graduation rates.</p><p>The report also notes &#8220;population growth correlates closely with prosperity.&#8221; So efforts to emphasize the region&#8217;s attractions and advantages merit support.</p><p>And the report found that &#8220;cities that specialize in innovation-intensive, technology-based and high end services industries&#8221; score well on the index, suggesting there is real value in initiatives like the &#8220;Innovation Center&#8221; in downtown Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Bottom line: If your community has been dubbed &#8220;distressed,&#8221; don&#8217;t be disheartened; be emboldened.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_glenlyon03-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Based on an analysis of data by ZIP code, Glen Lyon tops the list as Pennsylvania&#8217;s &#8216;most distressed&#8217; place. But the statistical snapshot doesn&#8217;t do justice to this Newport Township community. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_glenlyon03-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Based on an analysis of data by ZIP code, Glen Lyon tops the list as Pennsylvania&#8217;s &#8216;most distressed&#8217; place. But the statistical snapshot doesn&#8217;t do justice to this Newport Township community. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>

Our Opinion: Glen Lyon’s ‘distressed’ label should serve as incentive, not indictment