Orchids and Onions
l ORCHID: To Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and to Youngstown native Ursel McElroy, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. The two were appointed this week by Gov. Mike DeWine to participate in a newly created minority health strike task force that will focus on why novel coronavirus disproportionately impacts African Americans.
l ORCHID: To OH WOW! The Roger and Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology for expanding its online offerings to encourage independent thinking through an interactive STEM-based “EDutaining” program. The increased online offerings will be extremely useful while COVID-19 has closed the downtown Youngstown museum and all Ohio K-12 schools for the rest of this school year.
l ONION: To area residents ignoring the urgings of health officials to avoid mingling with relatives beyond “household circles” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mahoning County Health Commissioner Ryan Tekac last week said, in tracing COVID-19 infections, his organization has found contact by individuals with others beyond their immediate family — including with other relatives. “Our circle should be small,” Tekac said of the people we invite into our homes and visit.
l ORCHID: To Campbell Municipal Court, for seeking and receiving a $15,854 grant from the Ohio Supreme Court to enable it to upgrade technology and facilitate video court appearances and remote access. Unfortunately, it took a global pandemic to push the court to seek funding to make these important technology upgrades. Orchid also goes to Struthers Municipal Court for allowing Campbell court to use its existing video setup in the interim.
l ONION: To Boardman Township trustees for failing to schedule time for public comments during their recent public meeting, held by conference call due to social distancing guidelines. Just because public meetings cannot be held in person these days, public bodies still are required to conduct business as they would have previously. If public comment periods were previously a routine part of trustee meetings, they should remain a part of the remote meeting agenda.
l ORCHID: To the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and all its generous donors. The mission has reached its $5.5 million goal in the #MoveOurMission campaign, and now is beginning a #SupplyOurShelter campaign seeking another $1.5 million for kitchen equipment and furnishings for dining, bedrooms and chapel. For decades this incredible organization has been serving the neediest in our area, with much help from generous donors.
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To Canfield teen Reagan Nevels, a motivational speaker and author, who is spreading encouragement to the nation’s youth in the wake of COVID-19. Reagan says she simply wants to encourage her generation to have hope, especially in light of the millions of U.S. children who are unable to attend school these days due to stay-at-home orders. She also previously has spoken to children and youth groups and organizations throughout the United States. And she is an entrepreneur who has designed her own eyeglass wear; she is a child and youth leader; and she is a Sunday school teacher. All this at age 14!
ORCHID: To “Go Team Therapy Dogs” for driving around Mahoning and Trumbull counties in decorated vehicles earlier this week to give their dogs some work during this period of inactivity due to COVID-19, while spreading cheer to area residents, friends and families. They paraded around, honking horns and waving to people.
ONION: To the United States Postal Service for not being more forthcoming with information about workers in the Youngstown and Girard post offices who tested positive for COVID-19. Yes, the postal service acknowledged the information when asked by our reporter, but only after we received tips from members of the community. COVID is frightening, and that’s why the dissemination of information is so critical. We are disappointed that these two cases of COVID in local USPS offices were brought to our attention by workers and community members, not first by management.
ORCHID: To Kent State University for scheduling a “virtual” commencement on the day of the originally scheduled May 9 graduation date so graduates won’t have to wait to be recognized for their accomplishments. KSU officials, including the university president, will speak, and students’ names will be called during the conferral of degrees and tassel-turning ceremony being streamed online. Those who want to participate in an in-person commencement still may participate on campus when it is deemed safe.
ORCHID: To Youngstown-area McDonald’s restaurant franchisee Herb Washington for obtaining and donating hundreds of much-needed surgical masks this week to Youngstown police and fire departments, Youngstown city and to some doctors and an area medical facility.
Orchids and onions
• ORCHID: To area churches and houses of worship for using creativity to find ways for the membership to worship together — but apart — during these days of social distancing. We need one another during this holy time of year, and so the churches that are offering drive-in services, online streaming, televised services and other forms of worship that adhere to social distancing guidance should be commended.
• ORCHID: To clinical counselor Sarah Thompson of Austintown, who started a volunteer grocery shopping program to help the elderly and vulnerable get necessary supplies without leaving their homes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service operates in the Boardman, Poland, Mineral Ridge, Austintown and Canfield areas. What a wonderful idea!
• ONION: To those who continue to gather in large groups, despite the governor’s stay-at-home orders during this health crisis. Several people in Youngstown were charged in separate incidents last week after being warned by police about house parties occurring on East Boston Avenue and Millet Avenue. Really? This is not a joke. Stay home!
• ORCHID: To volunteers at the United Service Organizations of Northern Ohio who are working to make 500 cloth masks for troops stationed at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Orchid also to Joann Fabrics for donating the needed materials. The Department of Defense is requiring all military service members to wear masks while on the base, and the USO wants to help. The military support organization still needs volunteers to help with the project. Call 419-908-8441 if you want to help.
• ORCHID: To the many area businesses that have been donating time, money and products to help in the fight of the novel coronavirus. In just the past week, The Vindicator carried stories about donations and assistance from Belleria Pizza, Joann Fabrics, GLI Pool Products, Whitetails Unlimited, Haus Auto Group and many others.
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To Austintown Township trustees for taking logical steps, even if unpopular, to ensure that enough first responders and laborers remain on the job amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Trustees voted to exclude police, fire, dispatchers and road department employees from some aspects of the Federal Family First Coronavirus Response Act. These employees will remain eligible for 80 days sick leave if they are quarantined or experience COVID-19 symptoms, they will not be granted leave under the other conditions listed in the act. Those include if they are caring for an “individual” under quarantine, displaying “any substantially similar condition” to COVID-19 or if they have a minor living in their home. Trustees called the language of the federal act vague, and said they must ensure enough workers are available to cover township needs.
ORCHID: To three Mahoning Valley foundations for their collaborative effort in assisting local non-profit organizations seeking COVID-19 grant funding. Together, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Raymond John Wean Foundation and Youngstown Foundation are simplifying their grant processes by creating the “COVID-19 Crisis Relief Application” grant request process for nonprofits addressing impacts of the health crisis. Indeed, we all must work together in this critical time of need.
ONION: To residents and others who increasingly are using latex and rubber gloves these days, but can’t seem to find the trash cans when they remove them. Discarded and possibly contaminated gloves are beginning to pollute parking lots, roadsides and other public areas, assumingly after users rid themselves of them. When you’re done, please dispose of the gloves properly.
ORCHID: To JuggerBot 3D, a Youngstown 3D printing company, for using its expertise to help keep frontline medical workers safe during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The company is 3D-printing visors needed for face shields and then assembling the components — visor, elastic head band and shield, the latter two it purchased — to donate to health care workers in need of personal protective equipment.
ORCHID: To Boardman High School English teacher Dana Safarek, who has been awarded a diversity grant worth nearly $1,000 from the Ohio Education Association. Safarek says she will use the money to add two books and a DVD into her curriculum in order to give students a deeper insight into tolerance and compassion.