web1_TTL100816FloridaFolo3.jpg

As Florida residents deal with Hurricane Matthew, Wilkes-Barre’s first responders honored

web1_Rowney.jpg

Pittsburgh sends Carter Rowney, Jake Guenztel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

<p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to supportive students and faculty members at Wyoming Valley West High School. Many people at the Plymouth school went out of their way this week to welcome newcomers and to accommodate big changes resulting from a new split-schedule format that allows middle-schoolers to share the building. The district recently closed its middle school, at least temporarily, because of mold. Faced with the predicament, certain high school students showed their maturity and empathy, volunteering to help usher the middle schoolers around the campus and answer questions. Teachers and other staffers also seem to be taking this month&#8217;s disruption in stride. Nicely done, Spartans.</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to the devilish sorts who steal or damage people&#8217;s fall decorations. Smashing Pumpkins should be a musical selection, not an activity that results in hurt feelings and heaps of broken rinds. Respect other people&#8217;s property, including their Halloween displays, and report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood to the police.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Another expansion &#8211; this time, a $40 million project that will add critical-care beds &#8211; will begin within about 30 days, according to officials with the health-care facility on North River Street. A ceremonial ground-breaking event was held Tuesday. The pending project builds upon the hospital&#8217;s $53 million Emergency Department and Heart &amp; Vascular Institute addition, which opened in July 2014. Investments like these are encouraging for the region&#8217;s long-term health, speaking both medically and economically.</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to area drivers who don&#8217;t make allowances for dark roads and the special risks posed during Pennsylvania&#8217;s pending deer-mating season. In its annual rankings for the &#8220;likelihood of collision with deer,&#8221; State Farm insurance puts the Keystone State in third place &#8211; behind only Montana and, in the unenviable top spot, West Virginia. State Farm&#8217;s data suggest the odds of striking a deer in this commonwealth are about one in 67. When you get behind the wheel during October and November, take it slowly in deer territory.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to state Rep. Tarah Toohil. A bill she sponsored that reduces the wait time to obtain a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania was signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Tom Wolf. Under Act 102, which will go into effect in about 60 days, couples can proceed with a no-fault divorce after a separation of one year, not two. &#8220;By reducing the waiting period to one year, the emotional trauma is far less for children,&#8221; Toohil, of Butler Township, said in a news release. &#8220;In addition, the shorter waiting period allows the couple&#8217;s financial situation to be resolved more quickly and at less expense, so they can tend to their children&#8217;s well-being.&#8221;</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/2016/10/web1_SchoolForOpinionPage.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_SchoolForOpinionPage.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>

Our Opinion: Wyoming Valley West students show class by rolling out welcome mat