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Nanticoke Boy Scouts travel to DC to celebrate 20 years

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State considering death penalty for mom of dismembered teen found in Luzerne County

<p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to, well, diamonds &#8212; and spades and hearts and clubs &#8212; dealt and played while The Woodlands hosted the American Contract Bridge League <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/639866/bridge-tournament-attracts-hundreds-to-plains-township-hotel-complex" target="_blank">District 4 Regional Tournament</a> earlier this month. It is surely one of those hidden gems of our region, coming to town every other year and bringing up to 400 players to our neighborhood &#8212; not to mention all the potential puns, including how it <em>suits</em> us, what a <em>grand slam</em> it is for area hotels and how much we hate to <em>bid</em> adieu. This is the sort of event that can quietly bring attention and money to our area &#8230; if we play our cards right.</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to the person or persons responsible for a <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/640107/pedri-luzerne-county-building-closed-due-to-emergency-situation" target="_blank">fire bomb</a> tossed through a window at the Luzerne County human services building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Wilkes-Barre. The apparent target: Children and Youth Executive Director Joanne Van Saun&#8217;s office. Such contemptible behavior does nothing for the person or any grievance that may have spawned the despicable &#8212; and cowardly &#8212; act. Most egregiously, if this was about a dispute regarding the fate of children, the actor proved he or she should be no where near youngsters.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/639603/mimmos-pizza-a-fixture-on-wilkes-barres-public-square-for-35-years" target="_blank">Mimmo&#8217;s Pizza &amp; Restaurant</a> owner Mark Bronberg and his wife for their 35-year commitment to Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s Public Square. The couple have endured substantial changes and persisted in serving the downtown, and it is that kind of belief in a city&#8217;s center that can make it work. Here&#8217;s hoping Mark&#8217;s knees hold up as well as his spirit so he can continue to serve up slices of both pizza and city life.</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to area residents for our collectively <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/640566/no-credit-due-for-credit-ratings-in-northeastern-pennsylvania" target="_blank">low credit scores</a>. A recent analysis by WalletHub determined average credit scores for Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre were blah at best. While credit ratings are a complex calculation, the path to better scores is not rocket science: Pay off credit cards, don&#8217;t borrow more than you can afford, and don&#8217;t keep taking out credit cards to live a lifestyle you can&#8217;t afford.</p><p><strong>Diamonds</strong> to the Hazleton Area High School boys basketball team for an impressive 21-4 season capped by winning the inaugural District 2 Class 6A boys <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/sports/hsbasketball/640620/hazleton-area-defeats-delaware-valley-for-d2-6a-boys-basketball-title" target="_blank">basketball championship</a> Tuesday. The team concluded the season with a 64-56 victory over Delaware Valley at Wyoming Area High School, but here&#8217;s the rub: The team finished a strong season with a district title, yet it turns out that the title was the finish to their season. Thus &#8230;</p><p><strong>Coal</strong> to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association for creating convoluted state playoff rules that let a team of talented athletes like the Hazleton Area Cougars win a district title but still not get into the state playoffs. Only a group of out-of-touch autocrats would concoct a format that leaves a group of inspired and aspiring athletes scratching their heads in frustration, wondering how far they might have gone if, you know, things worked as expected and a district title meant there was at least one more playoff in their future.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">People gather in the ballroom for a bridge tournament at Woodlands Inn in Plains Township on Saturday, March 4. 3/4/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030517Bridge1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>People gather in the ballroom for a bridge tournament at Woodlands Inn in Plains Township on Saturday, March 4. 3/4/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>

Our view: Tournament is a real winner for players, area