Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Capt. Anthony Jones of the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department for winning the 2024 Mahoning County Firefighter of the Year award from SERVPRO and The Vindicator. Representatives of the two companies recognized Jones at a recent Jackson Township trustees meeting. Capt. Jones joined the force in 2015 and has been a vital member of the department. "Anthony's involvement in department training, fire inspections and school visits make us better prepared if an incident occurs," Brenda McDougal, the department's battalion chief, heaped rightful praise on Jones in her nomination letter: "Our businesses are safer, leading to fires (being) prevented. The students and their families in our community are safer because they know what to do in an emergency.

ORCHID: To the Canfield Police Department for establishing and maintaining a memorial park in Fair Park to honor and memorialize the dogs that have served admirably on the force. Earlier this month, more than two dozen K9 units from Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties and the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined a caravan from the Canfield Fairgrounds through the city to Fair Park to pay tribute to Rocky, a Dutch Shepherd who died this month after a battle with cancer. He served the city for seven years, working with Officer Chad DeBarr. The well-attended memorial complete with a plaque and tree in Rocky's honor demonstrated the value of K9 units in 21st century policing.

ORCHID: To Huntington Bank for donating $45,000 to the Lake to River Economic Development agency for job creation efforts across the Mahoning Valley. Lake to River is the seventh network region of JobsOhio, the state's private economic development corporation comprising Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties. Huntington's generous gift will assist Lake to River in its aggressive mission to expand job creation and business development. The gift also epitomizes the importance of public-private partnerships in successful economic development. We urge other prosperous Valley businesses to follow Huntington's lead.

ONION: To Youngstown City Schools administrators for cheapening the meaning of the word "scholar" by referring to each and every student in the district as such. Though the two words have on limited occasions been used interchangeably, the term scholar most commonly refers to a learned or well-educated person, especially one who excels in a particular field or subject. The gross misapplication of the word by the city district over the past several years hit home last week when a city schools spokeswoman reported a disturbing case in which a 14-year-old entered East High School with a loaded firearm thusly to parents: "A scholar possessed a gun, which was not wielded at any time." True scholars typically do not get charged with felonies of carrying a concealed deadly weapon in a school. What's more, giving all students the label of "scholar" devalues the legitimate hard work of high-achieving students who earn scholarships, and yes, truly merit the honor of the label "scholar."

ORCHID: To Austintown Township trustees for their prudent decision not to immediately place back on the May 2025 primary ballot a property tax levy that failed at the polls earlier this month. The 2.4-mill levy that would have generated $2.26 million annually for police services in Austintown lost on Nov. 5 by a margin of 52% to 48%. Trustees and police leaders say they will implement cutbacks in operations, freeze new hiring, leave vacancies unfilled and use funds from the township's general fund to deal with any possible shortfalls. Too often, public bodies have tended to snub their noses at the will of the electorate and immediately act to try, try again. We're pleased Austintown has taken the responsible route by making sacrifices and avoiding doomsday threats.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown City Health District for creating a board to help enforce the removal of the harmful lead products from the city's aging housing stock of rental properties. "We have more than 1,000 residential rental properties that need to come into compliance," said Tara Cioffi, administrator for the city health district. The seven member Lead Advisory Council will recommend improvements to the city's lead policies and procedures, report on a quarterly basis the progress and status of the city's lead-safe certification and other prevention-related efforts. Young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead and can suffer permanent adverse health impacts. That's why we urge the board to act aggressively to ensure the city meets its goal of ensuring all residential rental properties be lead-free within five years.

editorial@vindy.com

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Youngstown city officials, led by city Finance Director Kyle Miasek, for recently receiving a clean audit with no findings for recovery of misspent funds. This audit covering all of 2023 represents the third audit in as many years that the city has had an exemplary report from the state. We're confident Miasek and his staff can continue that trend in the audit of 2024 finances. If it comes out clean as well, the city would move from "high risk" status to "low risk" for the first time in more than 30 years. That's real progress.

ORCHID: To Capt. Rod Foley, head of the Youngstown Police Department's planning and training, for convincing representatives of the Ohio Attorney General's Office to permit it to expand its annual five-week tactical training exercises to include other nearby law enforcement agencies in the Valley. The expanded training, which the AG's office also funded, included about 20 other agencies in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Considering the work of police agencies often crosses jurisdictional boundaries, the unified training in how to handle active-shooter scenarios and other crime scenes makes eminently good sense.

ONION: To the group of neo-Nazis who marched through a section of Columbus last weekend for spewing messages of racist hatred and waving swastika flags. It rises as yet the latest disgusting example of white supremacist events, which last year hit a new high of 283 in the U.S., according to the Anti-Defamation League. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine quickly condemned the demonstration in no uncertain terms: "There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism or violence, and we must denounce it whenever we see it." Amen, governor.

ORCHID: To the ABC (Austintown, Boardman, Canfield) Stormwater District for successfully securing a monumental $35 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a major flood-control project in Boardman. That $47 million project will overhaul the entire stormwater management system in and around the Cranberry Run and Boardman Plaza area of the township. The results should reduce or eliminate flooding during heavy rainstorms, a nuisance that has plagued too many Boardman residents for too long.

ORCHID: To Mercy Health Youngstown and its partner Tennessee-based Liifepoint Rehabilitation for constructing and opening this week a new 66,000-square foot, 72-bed rehabilitation hospital in Liberty Township. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to fill unmet needs in our region for acute inpatient rehabilitation. The new hospital not only improves the overall quality and accessibility of health care in the Valley, it also briings fringe benefits for the Liberty community. As township Trustee Arnie Clebone aptly put it, "This facility serves as a model of what we can achieve in Liberty Township, demonstrating our commitment to quality (economic) development."

ORCHID: To students and staff at all three of Boardman's public elementary schools - Robinwood Lane, Stadium Drive and West Boulevard - for collectively ranking highest in the Mahoning Valley on U.S. News And World Report's recently released rankings of the top-producing elementary schools in Ohio and the nation. This prestigious nationally recognized honor is icing on the cake after the three elementary schools also earned highly impressive marks of A (4.5 stars) and A+ (5 our of 5 stars) on this fall's annual state report cards. Kudos, too, to other elementary schools in Mahoning County that made the top-producing schools list: South Range Elementary, Springfield Elementary and C. H. Campbell Elementary in Canfield

ORCHID: To Howmet Aerospace with its sprawling plant in Weathersfield for its meteoric growth this year. Its third-quarter revenue of a whopping $1.8 billion represents an 11% increase over 2023 levels. Net income for the company fared even better, skyrocketing from $188 million in 2023 to $322 million this year, a 71% increase. What's more, continued growth in the aerospace industry is forecast throughout 2025, meaning Howmet's operations will remain a vital cog in the Mahoning Valley for the foreseeable future.

ONION: To toymaker Mattel for its outrageous and inexcusable error on packaging for its special edition dolls based on characters from the newly released movie "Wicked." A URL on the boxes that was intended to link users to the official "Wicked" movie site instead took them to a x-rated adult pornography site. Though the company apologized for this egregious error, it could easily have been avoided had company employees carefully proofread and verified the accuracy of the URL.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To the Youngstown chapter of Inspiring Minds for its many success stories in developing responsible life skills among hundreds of young people in the Mahoning Valley. The group recently marked its ninth anniversary with a Sneaker Ball in Austintown. IM works with young people in five impact areas: education, college and career readiness, personal development, exposure to new experiences and health and wellness. Its perfect 100% graduation rate among its more than 1,000 students over the past decade testifies to the priceless value of this community gem.

ORCHID: To the leaders and parishioners of Zion Lutheran Church in New Middletown on the church's 175th anniversary this month. The church plans a special service and dinner Nov. 24 to celebrate the historic milestone. Clearly they have much to celebrate. The church continues to stand as one of the longest surviving houses of worship in the Mahoning Valley. The congregation is known throughout the community as a magnet for strong and responsible volunteer group for community service. Its members also have worked diligently and successfully to attract and recruit young members. As such, Zion Lutheran stands to continue its strong impact on religion and service in the community for years and decades to come.

ORCHID: To Hynes Industries, the Austintown-based fabrication and roll form metal manufacturer, for winning the Excellence in Manufacturing Award from the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber recently. The company has shown its steadfast commitment to the Valley economy by recently investing millions of dollars into its Henricks Road operations. The well-earned recognition comes at a propitious time for the company as it stands on the threshold of its 100th anniversary in 2025.

ONION: To the new breed of online flim-flam bandits for scamming job seekers out of thousands of dollars. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, schemes in which con artists impersonate employment recruiters have skyrocketed across the country in recent years. Too often, they succeed in tricking gullible people into giving them money or personal information that amount to identity theft. Wise job seekers should avoid any unsolicited job offers and limit their searches to using applications found on the websites of potential employers or by visiting potential job sites to fill out applications in person. You may not get the job, but you won't get swindled either

ORCHID: To the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley for committing $50,000 to match local donations made in its Giving Tuesday And Beyond campaign on Dec. 3 (Giving Tuesday day nationally) and also from Dec. 2-8. Donors can choose among dozens of worthy charitable and service organizations in the Valley to target their gift. These groups range from Angels for Animals to Thrive Mahoning Valley Welcoming Fund. With such great incentives, there's no reason why last year's noteworthy $90,000 raised in the same campaign from more than 1,000 donors cannot be topped.

ORCHID: To Dr. Patrick J. Bateman, distinguished professor of management and director of the MBA program at Youngstown State University, for earning the prestigious Lariccia Endowed Professorship Award bestowed on him recently. Bateman has accumulated a long and impressive career in the private sector and as an educational leader in the WIlliamson College of Business Administration. As YSU President Bill Johnson put it, "'His contributions within his field and at WCBA underscore his dedication and merit of this recognition."'

ONION: To the callous and heartless individual or individuals who robbed a young Warren boy of his lifeline by stealing his custom wheelchair, valued at $11,400, at his home. The cruel and insensitive theft, which occurred last week at the home of 6-year-old Jaymeson Starkey, understandably threw the boy and his family into a state of panic. Jaymeson, who has cerebral palsy, has been unable to walk, play with his siblings or attend school since the sordid crime occurred. As of this writing, the culprit had not been apprehended. We therefore implore anyone with any information on the theft to call Warren police at 330-841-2512.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Mahoning County commissioners for awarding $100,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to the Youngstown Lifeguard Academy. Kevin Tarpley, executive director of the academy, attended a recent commissioners meeting to thank them for the donation to support and expand this sensational skill-building and character-building program for city youth. Accompanying Tarpley was Anthony Jones, a graduate of the program who has become a certified professional lifeguard, a certified scuba diver, a candidate for dive master and a member of the Mahoning County Sheriff's Dive Team. His multiple accomplishments serve as a compelling microcosm of the value of the academy.

ORCHID: To Lucy Papini, a senior at Boardman High School, for being one of two high school students from across Ohio to win a state watershed grant to establish a rain garden in the courtyard of the home of the Spartans. The garden, now complete, helps filter out pollutants in runoff and provides food and shelter for butterflies, songbirds and other wildlife. The grant award serves as a fitting tribute to Lucy's passion for gardening and environmental science.

ONION: To Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost for overstepping his authority by rejecting a voting-related ballot petition solely because he objected to its title, "Ohio Voters Bill of Rights." The initiative petition launched by a coalition of civil rights organizations in the Buckeye State responded to Ohio's enactment last year of tougher photo ID requirements and other changes in voting law. The Ohio Supreme Court last week sided with the civil rights groups ordering Yost to revisit his decision. The attorney general's initial decision was particularly curious given that his office had certified nearly identical title language for a "Nursing Facility Patients Bill of Rights" in 2021 and an earlier "Ohio Voters Bill of Rights" in 2014.

ORCHID: To JoAnn Truax for overseeing Western Reserve Methodist Church of Canfield's Helping Hands Closet and for coming to the rescue of a Youngstown family of 10 left homeless by a house fire on Boston Avenue last month that is a suspected arson. Truax responded immediately to the dire needs of the family, John and Alecia Forester, and their eight children ranging in age from 7 to 17. Her church's charity gave the family a strong helping hand by providing all of them items of clothing at no charge. Such exceptional outreach serves as a model for all church charities and helping organizations in the Mahoning Valley.

ORCHID: Posthumously to Bessie Veck for leaving Youngstown State University a gift of $2.3 million as part of her estate. The donation will support scholarships of more than $80,000 annually. Bessie, a 1950 graduate of Youngstown College (the predecessor of YSU), left a 30-year legacy of quality teaching as an educator in Youngstown City Schools. As YSU President Bill Johnson put it, "This generous estate gift is a testament to Bessie's enduring commitment to education and the students of Youngstown State University." Her monumental gift should inspire others to also consider YSU in their estate planning.

ORCHID: To the Trumbull Career and Technical Center for receiving a perfect five-star rating in the recent state report cards for the 2023-24 academic year. The vocational school has scored particularly well in career technical assessments, overall academic achievement and for its high percentage of students who earn bona fide industry credentials. This singular honor reinforces the career center's record of excellence over the past five decades.

ONION: To negligent vehicle owners who fail to lock their parked cars, thereby inviting thefts of items inside them and, worse yet, theft of the car, truck or SUV itself. Over the past couple of weeks, about 20 auto-theft reports have been reported in Boardman Township, many of which were facilitated by careless owners who left doors and / or windows open to their vehicles. Boardman Police Detective Sgt. Glenn Patton has this sage advice as the holiday season and prime time for upticks in such crimes approaches: Keep car doors locked, keep valuable items out of sight of would-be scalawags, and keep a close eye on your neighborhood for any strangers who appear to be scoping out their potentially ill-gotten gains.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Evan Sweder, a 2024 graduate of Boardman High School, for recently earning his Eagle Scout award for his project constructing eight bluebird houses along a trail in Springfield Forest in Mill Creek MetroParks. The carefully constructed and attractively designed bird houses required considerable time, effort and talent. To make the project more meaningful, Evan affixed information on the houses about several features of the birds such as habitat, food sources, predators and more. Evan, like his brother Jason before him, truly earned the highest and most prestigious honor in the Scouting movement.

ONION: To registered voters in the Mahoning Valley who fail to vote on or before Election Day and thereby shirk one of the most vital responsibilities of citizenship. All votes matter, and in some local races, a mere handful of additional votes, would have changed outcomes. Such apathy toward playing a role in our participatory democracy also forfeits the missing-in-action voters from rights to complain about the type of leaders others have elected for them. Don't be one of those people. Vote Saturday or Sunday at county boards of elections or at your local poll site from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

ORCHID: To Sarah Boyarko, vice president of economic development for Lake to River Economic Development, for her recent induction into the Association of Ohio Commodores, an organization that helps the state with economic development growth. Gov. Mike DeWine appointed her in recognition of her outstanding contributions to economic development in the Mahoning Valley and the state. Since taking on the post at Lake to River, Boyarko and her team have already generated $72 million of pending investment throughout the region that could result in the creation of 200 jobs. Such a short term record of achievement bodes well for long-term progress in the Valley under Boyarko's astute leadership.

ONION: To comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, a Youngstown native, for the crude and racist joke he delivered at a Make America Great Again rally in New York City's Madison Square Garden last weekend. Hinchcliffe has made a name for himself nationally by disparaging Puerto Rico as "garbage" but it is notoriety that likely will harm his career more than help it. We are at least pleased international reports on the joke did not sully the reputation of his hometown. It appears today that the joke's on him.

ORCHID: To Phantom Fireworks owner Bruce Zoldan for donating $5 million to support programming at the Youngstown State University Dana School of Music. Zoldan, a philanthropist extraordinaire for YSU, reversed his earlier decision to withhold donations to the university over its hiring of President Bill Johnson one year ago. We applaud Zoldan for putting community betterment above politics with this donation. Kudos, too, for his plans for another fundraiser for the internationally acclaimed music school that he hopes will raise $10 million.

ORCHID: To Warren-based 717 Credit Union for launching a $1 million initiative to assist small businesses in downtown Youngstown that were adversely affected by the explosion at Realty Tower and road detours over the past few years. For every auto loan refinanced through 717, it will give up to $250 in gift cards to support downtown businesses. 717 has taken a special interest in revitalizing the downtown as a primary sponsor of the recent celebration, The Open. We're certain businesses in the central city are fortunate to have 717 to bank on as they revive their livelihoods.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown Model Railroad Association for its honor of being selected for an eight-page presentation in the January 2025 issue of Model Railroader magazine, the largest magazine in the nation devoted to the hobby. The feature will focus on the impressive HO scale train scene layout at its headquarters on Four Mile Run Road in Austintown. Fortunately, those of us in the Mahoning Valley can get a closeup view of the layout during the association's open house scheduled the first two weekends in November and December.