Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Birds in Flight sanctuary for its good work treating and rehabilitating injured birds and animals for more than 30 years. The organization, previously located in Howland, recently relocated to Canfield to expand with space for new structures for injured and rescued animals. Heather Merritt, executive director and a wildlife rehabilitator, said the organization plans to construct 20 octagon-shaped exhibit buildings. Five are nearing completion. Its good works include rescuing 4,752 animals from 42 Ohio counties and 13 Pennsylvania counties in 2022. Visit its website at birdsinflightsanctuary.com.

ORCHID: To FirstEnergy Corp. for donating 300 trees to Mill Creek MetroParks and 400 trees to Poland Municipal Forest to celebrate Earth and Arbor days this month. Since April 2021, the energy company donated and planted more than 40,000 trees throughout its six-state service territory. The initiative is part of FirstEnergy's efforts to reduce the carbon footprint and promote responsible use of natural resources.

ONION: To Mill Creek MetroParks leaders and board members for failing to properly research the legality of hunting deer in Youngstown's portion of the park system before adopting a plan April 10 to do that to reduce what they say is deer overpopulation. However, Youngstown prohibits gun and bow hunting in city limits. As Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian said, "Mill Creek Park is not the Vatican. Hunting in those areas of the park in Youngstown are subject to Youngstown ordinances." From a practical public safety standpoint, we also agree with Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, who argues too much stray gunfire already exists in the city.

ORCHID: To the Austintown Fitch High School Jazz Band for bringing home a gold medal last week when it participated in the Virginia International Music Festival at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, Virginia. The prestigious competition featured high school bands from throughout the Northeast and Midwest in intense competitions. Austintown also raked in several other honors in the large school category, including silver medals for both symphonic and marching bands and third place for concert choir. This most recent medley of high-honor hits keeps Fitch's musical-powerhouse reputation marching on.

ONION: To Austintown Township leaders and trustees for failing to properly notify families of loved ones buried in township cemeteries of effective dates of new rules that permit township removal of items at the grave sites. New rules began being enforced after Easter. About a dozen angry residents showed up at this week's trustees meeting to voice displeasure at finding landscaping torn out, military medallions removed, flowers ripped away and family mementoes tossed out. To their credit, however, trustees voted to ensure nothing more is removed from grave sites until a public meeting is held 6:30 p.m. May 9.

ORCHID: To Cub Scout packs 22, 101, 55 and 4050 from the area for volunteering at the 41st annual Mill Creek MetroParks Earth Day parkwide cleanup last weekend. The troops gathered in cloudy, rainy conditions that no doubt kept other would-be participants away. The resilient Scouts conquered the elements and succeeded in collecting many bags of litter throughout the Wick Recreation Area and Lily Pond Circle Trail in the park.

ORCHID: To speech and debate teams from Mahoning Valley high schools that placed in the Top 25 in Team Sweepstakes competition at the statewide debate and speech tournament finals recently in Austintown. Canfield High finished in fifth place, Austintown Fitch ranked 16th, Howland High finished 17th, and Boardman High ranked 22nd. Congratulations to all of these participants for their hard work and talent invested in earning these honors that too often go underrecognized.

ONION: To Michael P. Emery of Austintown for stealing $38,827 from a Vienna church over a six-month period last year. Emery pleaded guilty to the unbelievably insensitive crime this week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. According to Vienna United Methodist Church officials, Emery forged his signature on several church checks for work never completed. In addition to paying back every cent of the misgotten money, we hope the court sentences him to a maximum sentence for his egregious crime.

ORCHID: To the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, its three supporting foundations (Trumbull Memorial Health, Western Reserve Health and William Swanston Charitable Fund) and donors for awarding nearly $700,000 in grants to dozens of worthy Mahoning Valley projects this month. Some projects are restrooms in Boardman Park, a mobile market, soup kitchen operations, housing for disadvantaged women, summer youth programs and many more. Shari Harrell, foundation president, is right in saying, "This work is much needed and vital to building a Mahoning Valley that's the best it can be for all of us."

editorial@vindy.com

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Pogo, Poland Township's new K-9 officer, and her handler Officer Ethan Moncilovich for working to get Pogo in shape for her crime-fighting duties ahead. Unlike most K-9 officers, Pogo is a mixed-breed rescue dog picked up as a stray at a construction site in Tennessee. Through weeks of hard work with Moncilovich and trainers there, Pogo passed basic training with flying colors. We hope other local police departments will take note and consider swearing in rescue dogs to beef up their forces as well.

ONION: To Gerald E. Reichert, 65, and Adam M. Reichert, 36, father and son, for using the pavement marking company they run as a means to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars from state and federal governments in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Those owners of Norwalk-based Oglesby Construction Inc. solicited striping contracts from state and federal governments, but did not use the promised amount of paint for each job, shortchanging governments, according to court records. The scammers pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay restitution of $579,014 plus fines.

ORCHID: To organizers and participants in the 2023 Men's Rally in the Valley last weekend at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown. More than 1,500 mostly men attended the Christian-themed event at its new location. Inclusion of inspirational speakers and numerous religious activities reinforced the reputation of the event as a constructive opportunity for men from all walks of life to unite for spiritual renewal.

ONION: To motorcyclists who refuse to wear protective helmets when riding. Too often, the lack of protection translates into severe injuries and deaths. In Mahoning County, for example, eight motorcyclists died last year in accidents, a whopping 100 percent increase over the number of fatalities in 2021. Public safety officials say helmets clearly save lives, as most fatal injuries stem from head and brain injuries. States with mandatory helmet laws typically have 33 percent fewer motorcycle fatalities than those without them. We urge all those on two wheels to exercise extreme caution and wear sturdy helmets.

ORCHID: To U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, and Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, for working to get the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport designated as a "primary airport" by the Federal Aviation Administration in order to make it eligible for additional federal maintenance funding for a variety of improvements. They introduced legislation this week mandating the designation if any U.S. airport has an adjacent air reserve station. Youngstown-Warren is the nation's only commercial airport with an air reserve station lacking commercial service -- and the upgraded designation. We hope House leaders will push this measure through rapidly this year as a similar effort last year sadly failed to get off the ground.

ONION: To the Ohio Clean Water Fund and its founder Michael E. Peppel Jr. of Leetonia for what appears to be dirty tricks in trying to profit from the derailment disaster in East Palestine earlier this year. In filing suit against the fund this week, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost called it "a phony charity" that falsely claimed it was collecting donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley to help needy village residents following the disaster. Yost says it collected $141,183 from 3,269 donors as of March 20, but only $10,000 was given to the food bank. Yost who minced no words: "I'm mad as hell about this, and we're going to make sure this sham charity gets shut down."

ORCHID: To Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost for leading a group of states' attorneys general in fighting the Joe Biden administration plans to cancel billions of dollars in student loan debt. In a friend of the court brief filed recently at the U.S. Supreme Court, Yost rightly calls U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cordona's plan nothing more than an egregious power grab that tramples all over the separation of powers doctrine.

editorial@vindy.com

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Sonny Vaccaro, a 1962 Youngstown University graduate, for his work that led to creation of a major motion picture in which A-list actor Matt Damon plays Vaccaro. He became heavily involved in basketball, promotions and marketing after his graduation, eventually leading him to orchestrate a deal between Nike and then-NBA rookie Michael Jordan, revolutionizing pro sports deal making. It helped make Nike among the most recognizable and elite shoe brands worldwide. Vaccaro now lives in California with his wife Pam, a Boardman native.

ORCHID: To Covelli Enterprises for making the Ohio Department of Development's Top 100 Major Employers in the state list for 2022. The Warren-based company is the largest franchisee of Panera Bread restaurants with an estimated 7,100 employees and ranking No. 46 on the list. The company's big numbers are matched with a big heart as Covelli invests generously in myriad worthwhile community causes and events.

ONION: To those police officers in local communities and statewide who insist on talking on handheld cellphones while patrolling the streets. In so doing, they now are in gross violation of Ohio's new distracted driving law outlawing any electronic device in a driver's hand, lap or other parts of the body. We recognize these law enforcement scofflaws are in the minority, but nonetheless their flouting of a highly publicized new law sets the wrong example for civilian drivers in their paths.

ORCHID: To the Ohio General Assembly for acting swiftly and with bipartisan support to approve a new state transportation budget containing new measures to strengthen railroad safety. As Gov. Mike DeWine said last week, "We are ensuring that Ohio's railroads follow the best practices in monitoring railroad equipment and holding them responsible for their actions." Legislators' rapid and unified response to the Feb. 3 East Palestine derailment stands as a welcome contrast to partisan infighting that often stalls valuable measures.

ORCHID: To longtime firefighter Joe Morell for his 45 years of committed service to the Canfield community. The Cardinal Joint Fire District Board of Directors recently honored him on his retirement. Morell contributed greatly to the district's growth and sophistication. No doubt many others on the force and many in the Canfield community who were helped by Morell share the sentiments of fellow firefighter Josh Grossman: "It was a joy to work with you."

ONION: Once again to Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko for playing a highly inappropriate April Fool's Day joke on the community. On that day, the county leader posted on social media a message that many believed intimated she would be leaving her position in county government. Considering that controversy seems to follow Frenchko wherever she goes and considering that some have called seriously for her resignation, such a childish prank likely will fire up unnecessary community scorn toward Frenchko.

ORCHID: To Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley leaders and particularly all donors who played a role in the $31 million expansion to the facility's Boardman emergency room. The new addition, which provides three times more space and ability to handle more than twice its current patient load, opens officially April 19. Topping the long list of donors is Lenny Fisher, chairman of the board of Handel's Homemade Cream, who contributed $1 million. The phenomenal growth of the hospital over the past two decades is a testament to the trust and respect the Greater Mahoning Valley community has placed in it.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. for winning a competitive grant of $1.11 million enabling the organization to make significant headway in its ongoing mission to revitalize city neighborhoods. This latest grant will enable the agency to make improvements to 373 housing units affecting 1,007 people in the city. It is the latest feather in the cap of the award-winning community development powerhouse.

ORCHID: To Monarch Tractor and Foxconn for their successful launch this week of the electric-powered MK-V series of tractors. The first five rolled off Foxconn's Lordstown assembly line to much fanfare. "Getting to this point really is the start of a massive ramp to scale," Mark Schwager, Monarch president, said. Thousands are expected to have been produced here by year's end. We're pleased with the success of Monarch and Foxconn in revolutionizing farming and with the role our burgeoning Voltage Valley has played in it.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Sonny Vaccaro, a 1962 Youngstown University graduate, for his work that led to creation of a major motion picture in which A-list actor Matt Damon plays Vaccaro. He became heavily involved in basketball, promotions and marketing after his graduation, eventually leading him to orchestrate a deal between Nike and then-NBA rookie Michael Jordan, revolutionizing pro sports deal making. It helped make Nike among the most recognizable and elite shoe brands worldwide. Vaccaro now lives in California with his wife Pam, a Boardman native.

ORCHID: To Covelli Enterprises for making the Ohio Department of Development's Top 100 Major Employers in the state list for 2022. The Warren-based company is the largest franchisee of Panera Bread restaurants with an estimated 7,100 employees and ranking No. 46 on the list. The company's big numbers are matched with a big heart as Covelli invests generously in myriad worthwhile community causes and events.

ONION: To those police officers in local communities and statewide who insist on talking on handheld cellphones while patrolling the streets. In so doing, they now are in gross violation of Ohio's new distracted driving law outlawing any electronic device in a driver's hand, lap or other parts of the body. We recognize these law enforcement scofflaws are in the minority, but nonetheless their flouting of a highly publicized new law sets the wrong example for civilian drivers in their paths.

ORCHID: To the Ohio General Assembly for acting swiftly and with bipartisan support to approve a new state transportation budget containing new measures to strengthen railroad safety. As Gov. Mike DeWine said last week, "We are ensuring that Ohio's railroads follow the best practices in monitoring railroad equipment and holding them responsible for their actions." Legislators' rapid and unified response to the Feb. 3 East Palestine derailment stands as a welcome contrast to partisan infighting that often stalls valuable measures.

ORCHID: To longtime firefighter Joe Morell for his 45 years of committed service to the Canfield community. The Cardinal Joint Fire District Board of Directors recently honored him on his retirement. Morell contributed greatly to the district's growth and sophistication. No doubt many others on the force and many in the Canfield community who were helped by Morell share the sentiments of fellow firefighter Josh Grossman: "It was a joy to work with you."

ONION: Once again to Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko for playing a highly inappropriate April Fool's Day joke on the community. On that day, the county leader posted on social media a message that many believed intimated she would be leaving her position in county government. Considering that controversy seems to follow Frenchko wherever she goes and considering that some have called seriously for her resignation, such a childish prank likely will fire up unnecessary community scorn toward Frenchko.

ORCHID: To Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley leaders and particularly all donors who played a role in the $31 million expansion to the facility's Boardman emergency room. The new addition, which provides three times more space and ability to handle more than twice its current patient load, opens officially April 19. Topping the long list of donors is Lenny Fisher, chairman of the board of Handel's Homemade Cream, who contributed $1 million. The phenomenal growth of the hospital over the past two decades is a testament to the trust and respect the Greater Mahoning Valley community has placed in it.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. for winning a competitive grant of $1.11 million enabling the organization to make significant headway in its ongoing mission to revitalize city neighborhoods. This latest grant will enable the agency to make improvements to 373 housing units affecting 1,007 people in the city. It is the latest feather in the cap of the award-winning community development powerhouse.

ORCHID: To Monarch Tractor and Foxconn for their successful launch this week of the electric-powered MK-V series of tractors. The first five rolled off Foxconn's Lordstown assembly line to much fanfare. "Getting to this point really is the start of a massive ramp to scale," Mark Schwager, Monarch president, said. Thousands are expected to have been produced here by year's end. We're pleased with the success of Monarch and Foxconn in revolutionizing farming and with the role our burgeoning Voltage Valley has played in it.

editorial@vindy.com

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Rayen Early College Middle School students Kane Pickard and Madison Keys, honored recently as Ohio Ambassadors for participating in the "Do the Write Thing" program, a nationwide program in which students write about impact of violence in their communities. In all, 10 Youngstown City School District students were honored for their work intended to raise awareness and help reduce local violence. In all, 120 local submissions were received. The honored students took part in a Youngstown luncheon this week with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and other officials from the school district.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown Playhouse for its long history of providing quality entertainment to our community. The Playhouse recently announced its 2023-24 season, which includes expanded Main Stage offerings. Incredibly, the community theater located on Youngstown's South Side will enjoy its 99th year. Bravo for the continued community support leading to the theater's longevity.

ONION: To scam artists that routinely cause significant harm to the economy by engaging in illegal acts against businesses - particularly small, local entrepreneurs. Such scofflaws steal identities of Ohio businesses, make fraudulent business filings, and send out deceptive correspondence. Legislators, including Ohio Sen. Mike Rulli, R-Salem, introduced new reforms to help end these types of fraudulent practices.

ORCHID: To Otis Winston, who grew up in a Youngstown housing project and never thought he would amount to much. That was proven incorrect! Winston, 32, today is a Screen Actors Guild actor with more than 30 TV and film credits for acting, directing, writing and stunt work he accumulated in a 13-year career. Through it all, he never lost sight of his roots. "Every time, I'm always humbled and gracious for where I am and where I'm going. I see myself doing this until the day I die," Winston recently told our reporter. We salute Winston for his hard work and for his humility.

ORCHID: To Boardman High School senior Jason Sweder, who recently completed his Eagle Scout project at Camp Frederick in Rogers, by installing signage along a 5K trail and improving a fire ring with some sturdy seating. It's a project he and hundreds of others will be enjoying as spring weather takes hold in the Valley. We applaud Jason and his parents Jeff and Christie Sweder, and the value of scouting.