Mohegan Sun Pocono casino now in top 10 highest Luzerne County commercial assessments

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City Hall for a Day draws sparse attendance

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The need is constant, the demand is high and the supply is &#8220;dangerously low,&#8221; according to Mike Quint, director of the Geisinger Blood Center in Pittston.</p><p>&#8220;Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals as quickly as donations come in,&#8221; said Beth Toll, external communications manager for the American Red Cross.</p><p>Geisinger Blood Center and the Red Cross are urging blood donors to help prevent a summer shortage by making an appointment to roll up a sleeve this summer. Blood donations are currently lower than what is needed to maintain a sufficient blood supply.</p><p>Donors of all blood types, especially those with type O negative, B negative and A negative are asked to schedule an appointment.</p><p>&#8220;Blood transfusions help to save lives,&#8221; Quint said. &#8220;Blood is perishable and cannot be created in a lab. It&#8217;s up to all of us to donate blood.&#8221;</p><p>Quint said to keep pace with the local need for blood, Geisinger Blood Center must see more than 2,000 donors each month. He said a major goal of the blood center is to keep blood local and fully meet the blood product needs of Geisinger Health System hospitals that serve more than 2.6 million residents throughout 44 counties in central and northeastern Pennsylvania.</p><p>&#8220;While blood donations are traditionally lowest in June, July and August, the need for blood increases during these months,&#8221; Quint said. &#8220;You never know when blood will be needed and that&#8217;s why having a ready blood supply is so vital to our community.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Hospital patients don&#8217;t get a summer holiday from needing blood and platelets,&#8221; Toll said. &#8220;The need is constant.&#8221;</p><p>Toll said vacation plans and summer activities often cause donors to be less available. She said many schools where blood drives are held are out of session during the summer months, making it especially difficult to collect enough blood to meet the needs of hospital patients.</p><p>In Northeastern Pennsylvania, Toll said approximately 200 donations are needed each day from area blood donors. She said blood and platelet donors can feel confident that by donating blood through the Red Cross they are helping to ensure blood products are available for patients in 20 hospitals throughout the NEPA region.</p><p>Quint said the increase in demand far outpaces the increase in blood donations in the NEPA community. He said Geisinger needs 2,000 donors each month during the summer just to keep pace with demands of patients.</p><p>Kathy Coslett, Director of Community Affairs at Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, said a blood drive is being held Wednesday with Geisinger Blood Center, Communications Test Design, Inc. (CTDI), Comcast Business, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services and Mericle&#8217;s community of CenterPoint&#8217;s 38 tenants/4,500 employees. The second annual blood drive begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. at 149 CenterPoint Blvd., Pittston Township.</p><p>&#8220;Now is a great time for a blood drive,&#8221; added Quint. &#8220;The summer season is the most challenging time for us to collect blood. Summer brings an increase in demand for blood to treat trauma patients, but a decrease in the availability of donors.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Connor Stone, 18 of Larksville, gets his blood drawn by nursing tech Brenda Hauer at the American Red Cross in Ashley on June 8. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL060916clarkedrive1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Connor Stone, 18 of Larksville, gets his blood drawn by nursing tech Brenda Hauer at the American Red Cross in Ashley on June 8. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062216bloodneed1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A sign inside of the American Red Cross. 6/21/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062216bloodneed1.jpg</photo1><caption1>A sign inside of the American Red Cross. 6/21/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>How to donate blood</strong></p><p>&#8226; A blood donor card or driver&#8217;s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.</p><p>&#8226; Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.</p><p>&#8226; High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.</p><p><strong>Upcoming blood drives</strong></p><p>&#8226; Wilkes Barre Blood Donation Center, 29 New Commerce Blvd, Ashley; Mondays, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Noon- 6 p.m.; Wednesdays &amp; Thursdays: closed; Fridays-Sundays, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.</p><p>&#8226; June 22 &#8212; 12:30 p.m. to 5 :30 p.m.; Christie Bonnice State Farm, 1118 Highway 315, Wilkes Barre</p><p>&#8226; June 24 &#8212; Noon to 5 p.m.; Thomas P. Saxton Medical Pavilion, 468 Northampton St,., Edwardsville</p><p>&#8226; June 24, 25, 26, 27, 28; July 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 &#8212; 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Wilkes-Barre Blood Donation Center, 29 New Commerce Blvd., Ashley</p><p>&#8226; June 27 &#8212; 1 pm. to 6 p.m.; The Woodlands Inn, 1073 Highway 315, Plains Twp.</p><p>&#8226; July 12 &#8212; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; VFW Post #4909, 403 Main St., Dupont</p><p>&#8226; July 15 &#8212; Noon to 5 p.m.; Wyoming Valley Motors, 126 Narrows Road (Route 11), Larksville</p><p>To donate to the Geisinger Blood Center, go to: www.geisingerbloodcenter.org to search for local blood drives.</p><p>To schedule through the Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).</p><p>&#8226; Blood can be safely donated every 56 days.</p><p>&#8226; In preparation for their donation, donors are asked to eat well, stay hydrated and arrive with proper identification.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Centers say region’s blood supply ‘dangerously low’