Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To MLK Elementary School and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for partnering for a federal grant that will install 18 Flex Farms across the school district. A Flex Farm is a mobile hydroponic farm that grows lettuce, greens, herbs and other foods on-site in a relatively short time and amount of space. Students hosted their first harvest of fresh greens this week. Students have been learning about agriculture, science, nutrition and sustainability. Now they can consume fresh greens they have been growing for the past month. What a wonderful project with lessons that will last a lifetime.
ORCHID: To Boardman native and filmmaker Aaron Massey of Columbus for bringing his first feature-length film “Mid West” to a Boardman theater for a screening Friday night. The 1999 Boardman High School graduate premiered his movie in April at the 2023 Cinema Columbus Film Festival. Friday’s screening starts the second stage of distribution, Massey said. He is booking some screenings in hopes of attracting the attention of a streaming service to pick up the project for distribution. For a man who named his company Steel Valley Productions, setting up a screening in his hometown was a no-brainer. Bravo for his success and for never forgetting his roots!
ONION: To adults who fail to lock up their firearms away from children. There have been a rash of instances recently in which children got their hands on a weapon, brought it to school, or worse. De’Vonte Ja’Ton Housely Jr., 7, was shot to death at a home on Marmion Avenue on the South Side Oct. 22. On Nov. 11, Logan Taylor, 14, was shot inside a South Side Youngstown home and later died. Negligence is suspected. Also, Jessica Wolfe, 33, of Lowellville, was charged with misdemeanor child endangering after a boy, 8, brought a gun in his backpack to Lowellville Schools on Oct. 31. The weapon was found by a metal detector. Firearms are ranked the leading cause of death for U.S. children under age 18. Having firearms in the home increases the risk of unintentional shootings, suicide and homicide. Keep your guns unloaded, locked and away from kids.
ORCHID: To Niles City council for considering legislation to loosen regulations and make it easier for family entertainment-oriented businesses, such as an arcade, to open within the city. Council already has had first reading of legislation to amend codified ordinances that regulate the use of mechanical amusement devices and “unintendedly restrict modern businesses from operating within the city of Niles.” Unfortunately, government often gets so wrapped up in attempting to regulate and tax business that it becomes detrimental to encouraging new growth. We are pleased to see this community be forward-thinking and potentially more welcoming to business growth. We encourage the legislation’s passage.
ORCHID: To local high school band directors who were among the 400 nationwide chosen to march in Thursday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Lowellville band director Mellissa Husosky, her husband Tyler, who is the band director at Lakeview, Michael Summers from Liberty, and Warren John F. Kennedy’s lower campus band director Kyle Zimmerman all were selected to play as part of the Saluting America’s Band Directors project. Alaina Cornfield and Chas Miller from Columbiana, Jennifer Mollenkopf from East Palestine and Emily Bowling from Southern Local also were set to participate, along with Tim Carlson, a retired Grand Valley Schools band director, is in the group as well. We salute these fine educators and musicians for their dedication to this important art. We were thrilled to see the Valley so well represented!
ORCHID: To Canfield Middle School student Nyah Navarro, who also represented the Valley in the Big Apple on Thanksgiving Day. The 13-year-old was selected to be one of 200 members in the Spirit of America Cheer Team, which also marched in the Macy’s parade. The young cheerleader and dancer said she has been cheerleading since 1st grade — and watching the annual parade every Thanksgiving since even before that.
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To Ravenna-based social services agency Family & Community Services, which is creating “Veteran’s Haven,” a temporary housing facility for men and women veterans who are homeless and need a hand up. The new facility also will offer social workers, mental health experts and independent case managers on site. Ground was broken this week on Youngstown’s South Side. We are pleased to see so many people working together to make this project a reality to assist those men and women who have given so much for our nation.
ORCHID: To the United Auto Workers and General Motors for being the first of the Big Three to ratify the new labor pact. We are pleased to know the pact approval means a new contract with large pay increases for the workers at our local Ultium Cells plant, which will be good for them and for our local economy because of increased expendable income. It also means many workers who lost their jobs when the Lordstown GM assembly plant closed in 2019 now will have a much anticipated opportunity to come back home.
ONION: For the continuation, once again, of the trial of Robert L. Moore, accused in the 2009 disappearance and presumed murder of Glenna White, 16. Moore’s previous trial ended in a mistrial after a jury deadlocked on the charge of murder. A fourth attempt to seat a jury this week ended in mistrial after a pool of 50 jurors was exhausted. Another court proceeding was halted last month because of an issue with a witness and a juror. Now, another attempt will be made in January. This time we hope the court starts with a much larger jury pool. The repeated delays have been a travesty to all involved. As they say, justice delayed is justice denied.
ORCHID: To Boardman High School and, specifically, members of the school’s National Honor Society, Student Government and Emerging Leaders, for joining forces for a fundraiser featuring a Lego Spartan T-shirts. Funds are to help BHS sophomore Alex Perry, battling bone cancer for the second time. Kudos to everyone in his Spartan family who jumped in to help assure Alex that he is not fighting alone.
ONION: To Mike Peppel and his Ohio Clean Water Fund for what the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost are calling “fraudulent activities” created to tug at heart strings of donors wanting to help East Palestine. The Ohio Clean Water Fund claimed it would use donations to offer emergency aid and bottled water via the food bank. However, an investigation revealed Peppel and his associates diverted at least $131,000 of the $141,000 raised from more 3,000 donors for personal gains, the food bank said. Since then, the food bank recovered some $138,982, after its investigation and a lawsuit filed by Yost’s office.
ORCHID: To all those involved in the new public-private partnership between The Ohio State University and American Honda Company to create a new battery cell research and development center in Columbus. The project is expected to accelerate domestic production of battery cell materials and manufacturing technologies. With the Valley’s growing focus on EVs and battery cells, we all should get behind any effort to improve operations, sustainability and other progress of the future of EV batteries and automaking in general — especially when it’s right here in Ohio.
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To all the organizations and communities that put together wonderful services, parades and events honoring our military veterans who have given so much for their country. Orchid, also, to the residents who turned out at these events to help recognize our servicemen and women. Sadly, many of these veterans did not experience the kind of reception they so deserved when they arrived back home in years past. We hope the annual Veterans Day events in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, and everywhere, help to send a message of how much we all honor and salute their commitment and service.
ONION: To Canfield Board of Education for taking the first steps to getting its bond issue back on the ballot in March. The move came just one day after voters defeated a bond issue by more than a 60% majority — and this wasn’t the first time voters have sent a resounding message to school officials. We understand the need for improvements to aging buildings, but the voters have spoken. Let’s be realistic. It’s very unlikely that repeatedly asking for bond issues is going to change the outcome. Instead, school officials need to accept that and start thinking outside the box about repairs, budget cuts and other ways of tackling this enormous problem.
ORCHID: To retired Youngstown police officer Donald Scott who this week received the distinct honor of induction into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. Scott was among 20 Ohio veterans inducted this year and was the only local inductee. Scott is a career law enforcement officer, attorney and 30-year veteran who has dedicated his life to public service. He volunteered as a police representative at the Youngstown Veterans Treatment Court. After completing an active duty tour in 2006, he served in the Army Reserve until honorably retiring in 2012 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is the recipient of the Silver Star for Bravery (Valor), the Excellent Police Duty Award, the John Edgar Hoover Memorial Gold Medal, the Distinguished Police Service Award, was recognized by the National Association of Chiefs of Police and has been inducted in the American Police Hall of Fame. We salute him on this Veterans Day for his service and dedication to our nation and our community.
ONION: To Hubbard Township police Chief Ronald Fusco for using township resources to endorse incumbent township Trustee Frederick Hanley in his reelection bid. The endorsement included the police chief using township letterhead in a letter of support for Hanley and then posting it on Hubbard Township Police Department’s official Facebook page. Endorsing a candidate in his personal capacity is one thing, but township resources like official letterhead and official social media pages must never be used for political purposes. As a result the Ohio Auditor sent Fusco a cease-and-desist letter for these political actions. Fusco should have known better. Hanley ended up losing the election this week to challenger Jason Tedrow.
ORCHID: To workers at Ultium Cells in Lordstown for raising and donating nearly $10,000 for Joanie’s Promise, a program at the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center that ensures anyone who needs diagnostic breast services can have access to care regardless of ability to pay. Ultium hosted “Paint the Plant Pink” T-shirt fundraiser. The shirts were worn by team members on Fridays in October to raise awareness and show support for those affected by breast cancer. Pink safety glasses also were sold for $5 each and personal donations further contributed to the cause. Kudos to all who participated in this wonderful effort.
ONION: To Trumbull County officials who fell short on following a plan that would have kept the 911 dispatch center in line financially for years. Now, to make up for the shortfalls, Commissioners Denny Malloy and Mauro Cantalamessa voted to approve the new county 911 director’s recommendation for 10% increases per year for three years. Commissioner Niki Frenchko was correct in voting no. She said the large and unanticipated increases will create hardships for Trumbull County communities that foot the bill. Frenchko didn’t disagree that some increases are needed; however, she argued that townships and other communities should have been brought together for a public meeting to discuss the increases, especially when some townships are in “crisis.” She’s right. The rate hikes should be delayed until their community partners are looped in with more public discussion.
ORCHID: To Premier Financial Corp. for being named to the Piper Sandler Sm-All Stars Class of 2023, a list of the top-performing, small-cap banks and thrifts in the country. To earn the status, companies needed to have a market cap below $2.5 billion as of Sept. 15 and clear numerous hurdles related to growth, profitability, credit quality and capital strength. The Youngstown-based financial institution is one of only 31 banking institutions, just 9% of all banks screened, that met the demanding criteria for inclusion in the list.
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To a group of Austintown vocal music students for proving their amazing musical versatility. The students in middle school through high school recently recorded two songs with the hard rock band Apocalyptic Lovers for its next album, tentatively titled “And the World Tomorrow.” On Nov. 17, the same group will be part of Opera Western Reserve’s production of “Carmen.” We’re certain music lovers of polar-opposite genres will appreciate and take note of these talented vocalists, under the guidance of Austintown Middle School teacher Megan Keown.
ORCHID: To Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. for his lead role in borrowing 13 pieces of masterful artwork valued at more than $100,000 from the collection of the Benjamin Franklin Wirt Family Trust of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. Wirt was a leading attorney and political figure in Youngstown in the early 20th century. The artworks, some of which depict colorful pastoral scenes, are now on public display in public access areas of Mahoning County Probate Court downtown. As the judge aptly pointed out, “It’s amazing what he collected, and it’s a great gift to the community that he left for the citizens of Mahoning County.”
ONION: For those responsible for the recent epidemic of animal abuse cases in Campbell. Police and humane agency officials said at least 16 new cases of such abuse were reported in October in that small community. Campbell police Officer Jim Conroy expressed frustration at people not sufficiently held accountable for cruelty, neglect, hoarding, backyard breeding, failure to spay and neuter their pets. We agree with Conroy who argues that laws in Ohio against animal abuse and neglect need to be toughened.
ORCHID: To Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., named to the 2023-24 list of “Best Companies to Work For” in the utility industry by U.S. News and World Report. According to the publication, the recognition reflects FirstEnergy’s commitment to team members through quality pay and benefits, career opportunities, professional development and more. FirstEnergy ranked sixth highest-rated utility company in the nation.
ONION: To Mahoning Valley Congressman Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, for this week voting against expelling U.S. Rep. George Santos from the House of Representatives. The unsuccessful expulsion effort led by Santos’ fellow Republican House members from New York came on the heels of Santos’ campaign treasurer Nancy Marks pleading guilty to fraudulently inflating the congressman’s campaign finance reports. Santos also has been charged with 23 counts including misleading donors, fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits and lying on House financial disclosures. We realize Santos remains innocent until proven guilty, but his pattern of bald-faced lies about his life and career alone should qualify him for ouster. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, the Valley’s other congressional representative, did not vote on the expulsion.
ORCHID: To the Youngstown Business Incubator and BRITE Energy Innovators in Warren, among recipients of a $500,000 planning grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to create an economic hub for eco-friendly green-product manufacturing and a regional supply chain. The one-year project of those two agencies and other regional members of the Green Building Alliance aims to prepare northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to meet demands for residential and commercial products, materials and services needed to build and maintain energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure. The expertise of the Mahoning Valley’s two leading and award-winning business incubators will serve this promising project well.
ONION: To parents and guardians who cannot keep firearms out of the hands of their children. Once again this week, a local child was discovered armed with a gun. This time, an 8-year-old third grader had a loaded gun confiscated at the entrance of the child’s school in Lowellville after the student passed through a metal detector. Fortunately, this time, the gun did not have a bullet in the chamber and no one was injured. Nonetheless, we hope the investigation into that incident results in stiff punishment for whoever failed to ensure the gun was securely locked up and out of easy reach of the child.
ORCHID: To Amanda Parker of McDonald and 7-year-old Alex Lucas of Youngstown for their recognition at the American Heart Association of Tri-County Ball at Eastwood Event Centre on Thursday. Parker, a stroke survivor, was recognized as recipient of the Live Fierce Award. Alex was honored as the 2023 Heart Child. We’re pleased the ball again was a rousing success as the major fundraiser for the AHA, the organization that provides sorely needed funds for research, education, and services for heart patients and others throughout the Mahoning Valley.