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Employee charged with molesting resident at Kingston group home

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WWII warbirds visiting Hazleton today and Thursday

<p>Judy Clark&#8217;s brother, George Metroka, Jr., 75, is a patient at White Haven State Center.</p><p>Like many relatives and guardians, Clark is extremely concerned about plans announced by the state last week to close the facility within three years.</p><p>&#8220;These patients can&#8217;t get the same level of care anywhere else that they get at White Haven,&#8221; said Clark, a Plymouth resident. &#8220;The families are unable to adequately care for their loved ones. They can&#8217;t let it close &#8212; it&#8217;s a heaven-sent facility.&#8221;</p><p>On Monday, a meeting was held at the center for self advocates, family members, guardians, and substitute decision-makers of residents to discuss transition into the community issues, among other things.</p><p>Their overwhelming consensus? That the facility should not close. They also know they have a tough fight ahead.</p><p>Maureen Jorda&#8217;s sisters, Michelle and Georgine, are among those backing that fight.</p><p>&#8220;We want to keep them home in their own environment where they feel comfortable and are well-cared for,&#8221; Michelle said. &#8220;My sister is brain damaged and she has never walked or talked. There&#8217;s no way we can take care for her. We need to fight to keep this center open.&#8221;</p><p>At Monday&#8217;s meeting, Georgine said many of the family members attending walked out on the state&#8217;s presentation.</p><p>&#8220;They told us it was pointless to try to keep it open,&#8221; Georgine said. &#8220;They said the governor has made the decision and the centers will close. They told us the meeting was to only discuss post-closure options.&#8221;</p><p>Georgine said the families were allowed to &#8220;vent,&#8221; but it was clear tha the state officials only wanted to discuss options on placement once the center closes.</p><p>Last Wednesday, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller announced the plan to close the White Haven State Center in Luzerne County and Polk State Center in Venango County.</p><p>That decision immediately came under fire from state Rep. Gerald Mullery, and families of patients. Both centers are intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.</p><p><strong>Board president learned by phone</strong></p><p>Gregory Smith, president of the White Haven Center Board of Trustees, said he learned of the state&#8217;s decision via a phone call from Mullery&#8217;s office.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve predicted six months ago that this would happen,&#8221; Smith said. &#8220;And you see that these decisions are never made during an election year.&#8221;</p><p>Smith said the state needs to find the money to keep the centers open.</p><p>&#8220;This is very emotional and upsetting to the families and everybody else,&#8221; Smith said. &#8220;I know these individuals and they will be facing very tough times ahead.&#8221;</p><p>Tom Kashatus of Glen Lyon said his daughter, Maria, 50, has resided at the White Haven Center since she was 12 years old. Kashatus said his daughter can&#8217;t talk or walk or feed herself.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re not happy,&#8221; Kashatus, 79, said last week when the announcement came down. &#8220;We now have to prepare ourselves for the road ahead.&#8221;</p><p>Kashatus said his daughter was in a group home when she was young before being placed at the White Haven Center. He said Maria fell, got hurt and the family couldn&#8217;t get any answers.</p><p>Kashatus said his daughter has always received excellent care at White Haven.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re afraid for their longevity and their quality of life,&#8221; Kashatus said. &#8220;We don&#8217;t want to see any decline.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Mullery hopeful</strong></p><p>Mullery said he remains hopeful the state will reconsider its decision to close the center. He said he&#8217;s begun planning for the formal Sept. 12 hearing, set for at 1 p.m. at the Hazleton One Community Center, 225 E. Fourth St, Hazleton.</p><p>&#8220;We cant lose sight that the most important factor is the quality of care for the residents of the White Haven Center,&#8221; Mullery said. &#8220;The stress associated with any move will certainly be detrimental to their health and well-being.&#8221;</p><p>Mullery said there remains no doubt in his mind that the best option for the residents is to remain at the White Haven Center.</p><p>State Sens. John Yudichak and Lisa Baker, along with Rep. Tarah Toohil have voiced loud opposition to the closing and have vowed their support for the families, patients and employees.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The White Haven State Center is seen on Monday. State officials last week announced plans to close this facility and the Polk State Center in Venango County within three years. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082019whitehavencenter2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The White Haven State Center is seen on Monday. State officials last week announced plans to close this facility and the Polk State Center in Venango County within three years. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082019whitehavencenter3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gregory Smith, president of the White Haven State Center board of trustees, speaks with a reporter on Monday following a meeting at the facility. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082019whitehavencenter3-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Gregory Smith, president of the White Haven State Center board of trustees, speaks with a reporter on Monday following a meeting at the facility. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Relatives, others raise concerns about plans to close White Haven Center</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle and Aimee Dilger</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Relatives concerned about White Haven Center plans