Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber and the 52-member delegation of business, government and nonprofit leaders who spent two days in the capital last week for the fifth annual Washington, D.C., Fly-In, an event put on by the chamber to bring awareness to local projects and place them in a better position to receive federal funding. Previous fly-ins have resulted in tens of millions of dollars for the Mahoning Valley, including funding for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station — Trumbull County’s largest employer and among the top employers in the region — a $20 million grant for downtown Youngstown development and other money to revitalize the Mahoning River. Although it won’t be known for some time whether this most recent trip will bear similar funding fruit, just coming together to speak as one Valley voice is a big step away from the parochialism that has hurt this community in the past.
ORCHID: To Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, Youngstown Business Incubator chief executive Barb Ewing and John Miles, president / CEO of Steelite, for their work to help the New Castle, Pa.-based supplier of hospitality items relocate its headquarters and 75 or so employees to the Taft Technology Center. Steelite has a 60-day exclusivity agreement with building owner YBI to work out some funding details, and we sincerely hope things come together because it would be a tremendous economic shot in the arm for the downtown. Steelite, which has more than 100 factories across the globe and several showrooms in major U.S. and international cities, not to mention its largest already in Youngstown, picked Youngstown because of its presence and the relationship it already has with the city. It isn’t hyperbole to say this is the biggest announcement for the downtown in at least 50 years.
ORCHID: To Heather Helmer, who also goes by Heather Buehner, of Berlin Center, for handling the winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, a bloodhound named Trumpet, the first bloodhound ever to win best in show at the prestigious event. Helmer, co-breeder and co-owner, said she was shocked at the win on Wednesday night, noting “sometimes I feel the bloodhound is a bit of an underdog,” but not on this night, a night Trumpet and Helmer showed just how special they both are.
ONION: To Lordstown Board of Public Affairs members Michael Sullivan and Christopher Peterson for refusing again to make a decision on whether Warren will provide water to a proposed power-generating facility in the village. The two Tuesday voted to table a vote on water service and supply agreements for two weeks, time they say they want for a second outside legal review. What else could they possibly want to know? Do they really think two weeks is enough time to advertise for and select the right attorney? And do they really think two weeks is enough time for that attorney to review years worth of documents and come to a conclusion? Here’s what they do know: further delay may very well be the end of the $1.1 billion — that’s right, billion — project that would result in $600,000 a year to the BPA and $85 million the village would realize in taxes and fees all for doing exactly nothing. That’s because Warren has guaranteed the water, pressure and volume, plus maintenance and repairs of the line.
ORCHID: To Youngstown State University for quickly pivoting to meet the growing demand for nurses by bringing back an associate degree in nursing program for the fall semester. Health care needs, especially in the Mahoning Valley with its aging population, are growing, especially in nursing care, and YSU’s action is a move to help fill some of the highly in-demand roles. Take this, for example: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 194,500 average annual openings for registered nurses between 2020 and 2030, with employment projected to grow 9 percent. We believe the program is much-needed and will be well-received by people interested in entering the challenging, but rewarding field of health care.
editorial@vindy.com
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To the organizers and the nearly 200 young men who participated in this year’s Respect Basketball League in Youngstown. The league, which wrapped up its second season last week, isn’t going to rid the city of violence, but it’s a huge step toward curbing it by having a positive impact on players and in the community through job training, employment assistance and life-skills training programs available through the league. We truly hope it returns for a third season.
ORCHID: To Austintown Local Schools for expanding its food pantry, a move that allows anyone in need to come anytime for food or hygiene products. The outdoor pantry at Austintown Middle School has gotten tremendous support from the community, including from Lisa DeVito John, a mother of an Austintown student. John also deserves kudos for her effort to keep the pantry stocked. She already has moved to organize a food drive for local businesses to collect items to fill the pantry and has agreed to hold onto extra items and refill the pantry each week. The football team has also agreed to pitch in by collecting the items donated during the drive from business, making this collective effort a touchdown for residents who need the help.
ONION: To residents in Girard who have resorted to posting harassing signs in their yards showing the world how vulgar, biased and rude they are. Specifically, two neighbors have become so entrenched in this battle of words that it’s now drawn the attention of city council members who are seeking ways to put an end to it. We suspect Law Director Brian Kren was correct when he said the First Amendment probably protects their ability to post these reprehensible signs. But that doesn’t make it ethically right. Americans must stop this type of embarrassing behavior and raise the bar on what we think is acceptable treatment of our neighbors.
ORCHID: To the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion posts in Austintown for properly retiring 3,500 U.S. flags Tuesday on Flag Day. Disposing of the flags correctly shows due respect for the symbol that represents, as VFW Post 4237 commander John Balint read at the ceremony, a nation “devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy.” After the flags were burned, the ashes were collected for burial.
ORCHID: To former Liberty resident Jesse Reed, an artist now living in Brooklyn, N.Y., who returned to the Mahoning Valley last week to paint uplifting messages on the walls of the West Front Street underpass in downtown Youngstown. The 14-foot letters read “You Can. You Will.” and “You Did. You Have.” Economic Action Group, a Youngstown nonprofit organization that encourages economic and community development, Youngstown Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, also deserves recognition for helping coordinate such an inspiring project in a downtown on the turn-around.
editorial@vindy.com
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, which will mark the 30th anniversary of its museum with a block party noon to 4 p.m. today at the West Wood Street, Youngstown, facility. Activities include museum tours, lawn games and other events from the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, the Melnick Medical Museum and the Youngstown State University Archives. We salute all those who work hard to preserve history and, like the Center of Industry and Labor, help tell the important story of our region’s past.
ORCHID: To Youngstown State University, which was honored recently for its extended outreach and services it offers to student veterans. The university was among 33 Ohio colleges and universities to receive the Collegiate Purple Star designation for having fulfilled a series of requirements.
ONION: To the parents of the 3-month-old boy who tested positive Wednesday for cocaine. The boy’s mother called for an ambulance after she awoke from a nap and observed her son, who was in a car seat near her, had vomited and was not breathing normally. The child later was listed in stable condition at the hospital. The woman told police someone had stayed at her house a couple of nights and might have had cocaine on his fingers and touched the baby. Really? Parents always must be laser-focused on who enters their homes and ensure their children always are safe.
ORCHID: To Century Container LLC and Label Aid Inc., which donated 100 new buckets with custom Students Motivated by the Arts, or SMARTS, branding for use by Community Art School students. The new 5-gallon buckets, topped with Remo drum heads, will become an iconic sight across the Mahoning Valley. SMARTS utilizes bucket drums to serve hundreds of students through the SMARTS Rhythms and SMARTS Beats programming. Bravo!
ONION: To Trumbull County commissioner Niki Frenchko for her crude comments and unprofessional conduct at a public meeting this week. Frenchko lashed out at fellow Commissioner Frank Fuda with vulgar language. The meeting further devolved when she attempted to have a resident removed for objecting to Frenchko’s behavior. Frenchko also attempted to mute callers attending the meeting remotely after they used similar language. This type of behavior sets a horrible example and must not be permitted at a meeting of our elected leadership. Since Frenchko is an elected official, it is up to the constituency to demand better.
ORCHID: To local military veterans J. Lori Stone, Air Force, and Kenneth P. Jakubec, Marines, both of Mahoning County, and Thomas M. Humphries, Air Force, of Trumbull County, who were recognized this week by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services at an in-person enshrinement ceremony for the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. The last three classes of Ohio enshrinees were honored Tuesday because previous in-person events had been canceled due to COVID-19. We are pleased to see the Department of Veterans Services give these veterans and 57 others their due with a downtown Columbus event.
editorial@vindy.com
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To the Rich Center for Autism in Youngstown and the Potential Development School, which last week showcased at Youngstown State University the computer projects students developed this school year as part of a National Science Foundation research study into autism. The students’ programs were on display at Kilcawley Center. The underlying idea was to implement and test an accessible computer curriculum and computational thinking for those on the autism spectrum. Bravo to everyone involved in helping these students always to reach their full potential.
ORCHID: To organizers that planned and participated Friday in the Chalk Over Hate program at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown. The event was planned to help fight antisemitism through public art, a campaign by Artists 4 Israel, encouraging creativity to counteract antisemitism and all forms of hate. JCC Early Learning Center students, Youngstown Area Jewish Federation staff and local synagogues and other faith groups participated in this very worthy cause.
ONION: To the Youngstown City Police patrol union for refusing to allow city leaders to add part-time or auxiliary officers because the department has so many full-time police vacancies. We understand the union’s desire to preserve labor contract terms and to protect full-time positions. But in this post-pandemic era when seemingly every employer in America is struggling to fill vacancies, and at a time when violent crime is rampant, cooperative efforts could better protect the city. If empty positions can be more quickly filled by part-time officers, why not do it, at least temporarily? Wouldn’t that help better protect the community as well as existing police officers on patrol?
ORCHID: To organizers who planned and to everyone who will participate in today’s 19th annual Scleroderma 4K Family Fun Walk, going on 8:30 a.m. to noon at Boardman Park. The event includes a walk and other festivities intended to raise funds for the National Scleroderma Foundation and to raise awareness.
ONION: To the Girard Board of Education for its plans to complete a retire-rehire agreement with school district Treasurer Mark Bello next month. Bello served 33 years as a treasurer, with 28 years in Girard. We consistently have disagreed with retire-rehire programs, which allow public officials or employees opportunities to double dip at the taxpayers’ expense. We believe if it is time to retire from public employment, then retire! Doing so would open doors for new employees with fresh ideas.
ORCHID: To U.S. military officials, especially those in the Navy Casualty Office, for declassifying World War II records making it possible for family members to officially learn the fate of Navy SSML3 Angelo Anthony Sudano of Niles. The Navy serviceman was on board the USS Indianapolis, which sunk July 30, 1945. Sudano’s designation now has been officially changed from “unaccounted for” to “buried at sea.” Although it’s almost 77 years later, the official designation will give some peace to the family who lost their loved one so many years ago.
ORCHID: To organizers of all the beautiful and patriotic tributes to our fallen service men and women hosted locally during Memorial Day weekend. The tributes held in towns all over Mahoning and Trumbull counties, coupled with the good attendance, showed the enduring respect our community holds for those who served.
editorial@vindy.com