Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To Shannon Arcade of Austintown for single handedly taking on the robust responsibility of resurrecting the Special Olympics program in Mahoning County. Arcade, an executive at RaeArc Industries that provides services for adults with disabilities, was disheartened when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the county’s longtime Special Olympics competitions. With the help of volunteers, last year she launched bowling and basketball competitions. Now she plans to expand programming. Those possessing skills in coaching or working with people with disabilities are urged to contact Arcade to volunteer for this noble cause.
ONION: To those individuals who choose not to take the necessary precautions to avert falling victim to the flu or other respiratory diseases this winter. Ohio health officials report flu illnesses and deaths have risen significantly in recent weeks. In addition to vaccinations recommended by local and state health experts, preventing spread of respiratory illnesses should include staying at home when sick, washing hands thoroughly and coughing into your elbow, according to Erica Horner, director of nursing and community health at Mahoning County Public Health.
ORCHID: To the Poland Board of Education and school district administrators for respecting voters’ wishes and abandoning plans for new construction. At a recent meeting, board members discussed options for moving forward using existing buildings after voters resoundingly defeated a 12.1-mill bond issue and a 0.05-mill additional tax levy for massive new school construction in the suburban school district. New plans only to renovate district facilities is a refreshing change from some districts that try and try again at levy efforts despite overwhelming voter mandates against such costly projects amid declining enrollments.
ONION: To the Ohio state Senate for overriding Gov. Mike DeWine’s responsible veto of a bill banning gender-affirming care in the state. The new law bans gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies and restricts mental health care for transgender individuals under 18. The governor reasonably explained that his veto was designed to protect parents and children from government overreach on medical decisions. Such extremely personal family decisions have no place in the halls of state government.
ORCHID: To the Struthers High School cheerleading team for its commitment to community service. Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller issued a proclamation to the squad recognizing and commending its wide swath of outreach and volunteerism, including participating in annual city cleanup days, conducting youth cheerleader camps for girls in kindergarten through sixth grade and volunteering for Build-a-Bed, in conjunction with the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. Such difference-making volunteerism merits three cheers.
ORCHID: To the Friends of the Mahoning River organization for proposing to Girard City council that the canoe / kayak launch pad on the river in the city be named in honor of Don Rex, who died two months ago at 78. Rex served many years on city council and was a member of the Friends group seeking to clean and revitalize the river and its environs. The organization has allocated $1,000 for the memorial to include a tree, plaque, bench and engraved rock. Rex, who also served as a longtime teacher and principal in Girard schools, richly deserves this community memorial.
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence and the 26 teachers to whom the organization recently awarded mini-grants for innovative class projects. The BSFEE has dispensed more than $130,000 in grants since its inception in 2009. The money, which is raised through fundraisers and private donations, enables educators to go above and beyond their call of duty by creating projects that otherwise would not be possible using only school district funding. This year’s projects range from purchase of equipment to enhance students’ understanding of robotics to buying books and other materials for an in-class library. The group and its mission serve as excellent models for other school districts in the Mahoning Valley to emulate.
ORCHID: To the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee for once again providing a robust set of events to honor and learn from the late civil rights leader on his holiday earlier this week. On Sunday, the committee sponsored a two-hour celebration of King’s life through praise, worship, music and readings from some of King’s most impactful speeches. On Monday, it organized a workshop that focused on human trafficking. That was a fitting way indeed to remember King’s mission of exposing injustice as a starting point to wipe it out.
ONION: To derelict dog owners in Mahoning and Trumbull counties who forgo purchasing dog licenses for their pets. Licensing is a requirement of Ohio law. The license, attached to your dog’s collar, will prove invaluable by identifying you as the owner should the dog be lost. The number of dog licenses sold has been falling dramatically in recent years. In Trumbull County, the number of dog licenses sold has decreased from 18,207 in 2019 to 15,432 in 2023. The licenses also serve as a primary revenue source for county dog pounds. As they handle record numbers of lost and abused animals, this is no time to harm our already fiscally strapped pounds.
ORCHID: To Youngstown native and 1991 East High School graduate Lawrence Brownlee for being honored nationally as a nominee for a 2024 Grammy Award. The internationally acclaimed operatic tenor is nominated in the category of best classical solo vocal album for his 2023 release of “Rising,” which The New York Times called one of the year’s best albums. Brownlee credits some of his success to his involvement in The Youngstown Connection musical ensemble and the guidance its then-director Carol Baird provided. We wish Brownlee good luck at the Grammy ceremony Feb. 4, but in our book, he already is a winner for the honor he brings to himself and his hometown.
ONION: To the individual or group responsible for hacking the security system of the Ohio Lottery over the holiday season. The lottery earlier this month reported that an unauthorized third party had gained access to information belonging to lottery customers and retailers. Lottery players and retailers are advised to be vigilant in monitoring any fraudulent or irregular activity on their account statements. It is a shame that such irresponsible hackers turn what should be a fun activity into one that engenders fear and worry among its many potential victims.
ORCHID: To Campbell City Council for adopting another pet protection law with real teeth in it this week. The ordinance is aimed at sparing dogs abuse and neglect. Among its many praiseworthy taut provisions are requirements that dogs and other companion animals be taken indoors when temperatures fall below 35 or above 85. The new law also institutes minimum size standards and cleanup requirements for doghouses and other outdoors shelters. With passage of this ordinance and an anti-tethering law last June, Campbell leaders have gone far in making the city one of the most pet-friendly in the Mahoning Valley.
ORCHID: To Brent Williams, facilities maintenance supervisor at the Lordstown Foxconn plant, for his award this week from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization for his commitment to providing employees flexibility needed to serve in the National Guard. Williams of Warren was nominated for the Patriot Award for his efforts, including providing flexible schedules, time off before and after deployment, care for families and military leaves of absence if needed. Williams finds himself among an elite group of honorees. The organization, an office of the U.S. Department of Defense, has given out only two prestigious Patriot awards over the past year.
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To five new full-time Youngstown firefighters sworn in this week by Mayor Jamael Tito Brown. They included Les Horvath Jr. of North Jackson, Joe Koziel of Youngstown, Jackson Iceman of Girard, Zachary Hagerty of Poland and Frank Bero of Springfield. We salute these young men and all who choose to pursue a career in safety forces, a needed and noble public service role that, unfortunately, often does not receive the respect it deserves.
ONION: To the two men, related through marriage, who this week got into a knife fight during a family argument at a home on Ridge Avenue, Youngstown — in front of the kids, no less. We fully understand the complex challenges that sometimes accompany relationships with in-laws, but to allow an argument to escalate to an armed fight, leaving them bloodied and hospitalized is ridiculous. What kind of lesson does this teach the small children who witnessed it?
ORCHID: To those involved in securing federal funding that will send 15 new zero- or low-emission school buses to Youngstown City Schools, and one each also to the Struthers and Campbell school districts. These 17 buses are among 49 earmarked for Ohio. Youngstown is getting the most buses of the six Ohio districts awarded grants this week, all made possible in the Infrastructure Law.
ONION: To those involved in the request and decision to, once again, delay the Mahoning County murder trial of Robert L. Moore, in the 2009 disappearance and presumed murder of Glenna White, 16. The latest delay stems from illness. While that’s understandable, why wait until April to try again — especially considering the case’s repeated delays. Moore’s previous proceedings ended once in a mistrial; once the jury pool was exhausted before a jury was seated; and once the case was delayed when a juror’s outburst may have tainted the jury. It’s up to the judge to find a way to keep it from going off the rails again. Remember, justice delayed is justice denied.
ORCHID: To Leonard Kirtz School, a special needs student facility, for its plans to erect new playground equipment, already delivered and awaiting assembly at the Austintown facility. Previous plans had to be delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities Superintendent Bill Whitacre. The new playground is expected to be more therapeutic and educational for students. Bravo!
editorial@vindy.com
Orchids and onions
ORCHID: To Gov. Mike DeWine for wasting no time in setting the date of the primary election to fill the unexpired term of outgoing U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson for March 19, the same day as the regular primary election. DeWine also had the wherewithal to move up the date of a special general election to June. With his swift action, the 6th Congressional District will go unrepresented for a shorter period than first anticipated. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely a better scenario than most of us expected.
ONION: To those involved in defrauding ETI Technical College in Niles. Those involved cashed illegal checks for a combined total of about $40,000. No doubt, this had an impact on the education of ETI students, who were attending with hopes of bettering themselves. Maybe the defendants should take a lesson. The latest defendant, of at least seven, was sentenced this week, ordered to pay restitution and write a letter of apology. And just for the record, we think that sentence was way, way too lenient and won’t go very far in teaching any lessons.
ORCHID: To Boardman Township for implementing ambulance service for the first-time ever. Boardman, this week, put into service its first ambulance in an attempt to improve the community’s medical coverage by supplementing the contract service it has with private ambulance operator Lane LifeTrans. With the ongoing struggles everywhere to find EMTs and to financially support private ambulance providers, this is an excellent step to prevent a lack of responders in this high-population and high-traffic township.
ONION: To Trumbull County Commissioners Denny Malloy and Niki Frenchko for, once again, devaluing the importance of this county office with ridiculous arguments during 2024’s first public meeting. Frenchko, angry that Malloy was re-elected as board president, began taking personal shots at Malloy, including questioning his commitment to the Republican Party. Rather than taking the high road, Malloy responded that giving Frenchko the gavel would be like “giving Jeffrey Dahmer a fork.” Such a crass, offensive statement has no place in a public meeting, let alone coming from the mouth of the newly elected president of the county board of commissioners.
ORCHID: To those involved in passage of Ohio’s new Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act, set to take effect Jan. 15. The new state law will guarantee parents have the necessary oversight of their children’s use of social media websites as well as online services and products aimed at children. Don’t get us wrong, it always is the responsibility of all parents to know what their kids are doing online. This new tool will help make that responsibility just a little easier.
editorial@vindy.com