Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Mercy Health Youngstown for appropriately recognizing the critical and often life-saving services of emergency medical technicians and paramedics last week during National EMS Week. One appreciative EMT passed along his thanks for the snacks, continuing education opportunities and recent improvements to EMT quarters at Mercy hospitals. While we, too, tip our hats to Mercy Health, we join the health services company in handing out beaucoup bouquets of orchids to those selfless and tireless EMTs themselves during their special week and every week of the year.

ONION: To those thousands of motorists in the Mahoning Valley who routinely drive without first buckling up their seat belts. The Valley, part of District 4 of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, reports the lowest seat belt compliance rate in the state at 78% compared with the national compliance rate of 92%. In Mahoning County alone, that rate is even more alarming at 72%. Although the patrol's annual Click It or Ticket campaign officially ends Sunday, we hope troopers and other law enforcement agencies crack down on the state's many seat-belt sluggards and that state legislators finally answer Gov. Mike DeWine's call to make failure to buckle up a primary traffic offense. After all, the proof is abundantly clear that seat belts save lives.

ORCHID: Aimee Fifarek, director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, for testifying before the Ohio Senate Education Committee in Columbus recently in defense of sustained library funding. She carried the same message to state senators that we presented in a recent editorial: Restore the Public Library Fund that the Ohio House-passed version of the state's 2026-27 shamelessly axed. That deletion will cost our state's respected public library system millions of dollars in operating revenue, according to the Ohio Library Council. The Senate should do the right thing by restoring the effective funding system that has been in place for decades.

ORCHID: To the Lowellville-based Will McCaughtry Foundation for going above and beyond the call of duty to bring awareness and constructive action to those facing mental health struggles. Foundation members recently sponsored a rubber ducky race on the Mahoning River to benefit the group that helps to fund mental health services in Lowellville schools. The fundraiser's results were clearly something to quack about. With more than 1,600 ducks sold -- 500 were hoped for -- and proceeds from a basket raffle, the event should go far toward the foundation's noble mission to expand mental health services to other school districts in the area.

ONION: To those thoughtless individuals who make first responders' dangerous work all the more treacherous by interfering at the scene of an emergency. Last week, for example, a woman was arrested by Youngstown police on charges of misconduct after she refused to permit city firefighters on her property to battle a raging fire, according to a police report. Cases of interference such as this serve only to hamper the already stressful work of law enforcement, firefighters and medical personnel while greatly heightening the risk of endangering public safety.

ONION: To those tax-exempt nonprofits and other agencies that look a gift horse in the mouth by failing to pay their required special assessment fees on their forgiven property tax bills. According to county Auditor Ralph Meacham, 83 agencies with tax-exempt status have failed to pay their required assessments that cover such expenses as 911 service and weed cutting. If they don't pay up soon, Meacham said their tax-exempt status may be revoked. We urge Meacham to follow through on that threat to help lower the county's unseemly high delinquency rate of 18%, which translates into about $72 million in uncollected public funding.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown Foundation for recently awarding more than $450,000 in grants to 14 organizations in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Among the largest gifts were those to the Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley to help meet its growing demand for services and to Meridian Health Care to add much-needed administrative staff. The respected foundation has awarded $2.76 million in charitable funding over the past year and more than $100 million since its inception in 1918. We also thank the foundation's many generous donors for making its mission to sustain a vital and prosperous community a reality.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert Rusu Jr. for ruling last week that details of a wrongful death settlement stemming from the May 2024 explosion at the downtown Youngstown Realty Tower will not be sealed. We commend the judge for rightly basing his decision partially on Ohio Supreme Court precedents that determined judicial proceedings meet the definition of public records under the state's Public Records Act, and that the law leans heavily toward "broad access in disclosing probate settlement records." Considering the tragic explosion last May generated colossal public interest, details of its aftermath in court merit public access. Clearly, Rusu's ruling represents a victory for openness and transparency in the judicial branch of government.

ONION: To all those sloppy and thoughtless individuals who do not take proper care of their properties by leaving out heaps of trash and letting the grass on their lawns grow unacceptably high. A group of frustrated residents recently sounded off at a Girard City Council meeting about cats, rats and skunks defiling their properties, many as a result of neighborhood slobs leaving trash and other debris unattended on their properties. Mayor Mark Zuppo said that the city is working to crack down on such zoning code violations. It should not, however, take the long arm of the law to motivate such slovenly schmucks to clean up their acts and show a morsel of respect to their neighbors. If it does, however, we urge authorities to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

ONION: To careless motorcyclists and drivers of ATVs and other vehicles who get their cheap thrills by popping wheelies. Recently, Youngstown police have witnessed several instances of motorcycle antics, including the highly dangerous practice of popping wheelies or lifting the front wheels off the ground for a prolonged period of time. Such motorcycle acrobatics, however, alters the vehicle's balance, making it harder to control and increasing the risk of accidents. Such accidents, particularly collisions with other vehicles, can lead to serious injuries and death.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown State University men's and women's track teams for winning the 2025 Horizon League season championships recently. The teams' sweep in the league's Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Farmers National Bank Field at YSU earlier this month wasn't surprising -- or even close. With 190.5 points, the YSU women topped runner-up Milwaukee, which finished with 148 points. The YSU men won by a whopping 140-point margin, beating runner-up Milwaukee 281-141. The recent titles add to the legacy of superiority YSU men and women track stars have acquired over the years. It also closes a most successful spring season for YSU athletics, with its bowling team winning the national NCAA championship and golfer Neeranuch Prajunpanich winning the Horizon League individual golfer championship as well.

ONION: To the man who recklessly shot up a house on South Avenue while 12 innocent children were playing in its yard last week. Fortunately, none of the children were injured in the wanton attack. We urge city police to spare no energies toward apprehending and throwing the book at the culprit. And as the long hot summer of 2025 nears, we also urge police and their many crime-fighting partners in Operation Impact to double down on preventing random and senseless gun violence in the city. We remember only too well this time frame in 2024, when the city logged a total of six homicides between May 29 and June 18, which accounted for nearly one-third of the total 19 homicides recorded in the city for the entire year.

ORCHID: To state Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, for introducing this month legislation to assist veterans across the state. McNally's bill would require the state Department of Commerce and the state Department of Veterans Affairs to create informative posters directed at veterans at no cost to employers who request them. The posters would include information on programs provided by veterans services, veteran-focused assistance for substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, tax benefits and exemptions, legal services as well as education, workforce and training resources. Unlike efforts last year when she introduced the same legislation, this year state representatives and senators should waste no time to carry this valuable legislation to the finish line.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Austintown Police Chief Valerie Delmont and township trustees for their optimism in kickstarting a fundraising campaign for the department to ensure its highly valued K-9 program will not be discontinued this summer. At its meeting last week, the board of trustees reluctantly agreed to terminate the police dog program July 6 in the aftermath of serious problems with police funding in part due to defeat of a police tax levy last fall. The value of K-9 programs in law enforcement departments of all sizes has been well documented. The sheer presence of K-9 units on patrol enhances community security. A keen sense of smell helps them to detect items that a human officer might miss, especially drugs and bombs. We therefore urge community businesses, organizations and individuals to generously rally around the noble fundraising campaign.

ORCHID: To William A. Cafaro, co-president of The Cafaro Company, and his family for making a most generous $3 million contribution to the ongoing campaign to renovate and modernize Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University. This new gift carries on a long and proud tradition of the Cafaros' support, dating back to the 1960s when William M. Cafaro backed Youngstown University's effort to become a state public university. Over the decades, they have made many donations to the university and have served on the YSU Foundation, fundraising campaigns and other university groups. YSU President Bill Johnson aptly put the Cafaros' generosity in perspective: "This gift reflects their dedication to YSU's student community and further acknowledges their belief in the critical role YSU plays in the social, cultural and economic vitality of our region."

ONION: To the Ohio Republican Party for acting prematurely and secretly to endorse a candidate for governor in the May 5, 2026, primary. Members of the party's state central committee met last week in Columbus and endorsed billionaire entrepreneur and Donald Trump loyalist Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted for Senate. Though Ramaswamy and Husted may emerge as the best candidates in their races, it is far too early to make such important judgments because potential candidates still have months to throw their hats into the ring. Among those Republicans who could join the governor's race, for example, is the much-admired Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel. Not only was the endorsement meeting the earliest on record, it also was unorthodox in its secret balloting. The misguided timing and process of that endorsement meeting stains the image of a party that prides itself on transparency and accountability.

ORCHID: To Canfield City Public Works Superintendent John Rapp for going above and beyond the call of duty by recently assisting a city resident who struggled unsuccessfully to repair a broken chainsaw. The resident, Dave Wilson, took the chainsaw to Rapp who not only put the blade back on the tool but also showed Wilson how to fix it should the same thing happen again. His praise came at the same city council meeting last week in which it also was reported that a handicapped man contacted police after he was unable to lift a heavy toolbox onto a truck. Two officers responded and provided the needed assistance. City Manager David D'Apolito hit the nail on the head when commenting, "We have great employees who really care about the community."

ORCHID: To Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley for its generosity and community service by sponsoring and underwriting its School Day Game at Eastwood Field last weekend for some 4,000 youngsters from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties and elsewhere. The Mahoning Valley's leading pediatric health care provider paid for all of the tickets to the Youngstown State University baseball game for the children and provided them plenty of free hot dogs, popcorn and beverages. The annual fun-filled event, which first took place in 2011, clearly illustrates the hospital's supersized commitment to community partnerships.

ORCHID: To winners of this year's Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board awards for their service in responding to crises and in improving mental health services. The featured honorees included Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti, the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley and Cathy Grizinski -- the longtime director at the Help Network of Northeast Ohio (Help Hotline), who died in December. UW took a leading role in relocating and providing moral support for more than 100 downtown residents left temporarily homeless after the Realty Tower explosion. Rimedio-Righetti was a prime leader in the successful effort to build the Campus of Care social services village in Austintown and Grizinski received much deserved recognition for her lengthy service to the crisis counseling service. MCMHR board should be lauded as well for giving these and other low-profile but highly deserving community heroes the public recognition they deserve.

Editorials

Orchids and Onions

ORCHID: To Penguin City Brewing Company in downtown Youngstown for its newest exciting addition: a lasting tribute to The Vindicator's longstanding impact on the Mahoning Valley. Just last weekend, representatives of the newspaper and the brewery cut the ribbon to open The Vindicator Vestibule, a foyer at the entrance to the brewery decorated with many oversized reproductions of famous historical front pages of the newspaper spanning its glorious 156-year history. Also included in the vestibule are QR codes to treat visitors to what the newspaper is working on today. Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owner of Penguin City, called the partnership with The Vindicator "the perfect fit. Being in the heart of Youngstown, we're proud to host this fun homage to The Vindicator in a space that welcomes close to 150,000 people a year." We thank Penguin City and hope the Vindicator Vestibule remains a staple in the downtown for decades to come.

ONION: To John White for his history of criminal activity and a set of alleged new criminal actions that we believe should disqualify him from being formally certified on the November ballot as an independent candidate for Youngstown mayor. According to police reports, White was charged last weekend with felony domestic violence after a disturbance in a Liberty Township home. The charge is a felony because of his many previous felony convictions for crimes such as breaking and entering and assault. Though Ohio law does permit in some cases felons to run for public office, Youngstown voters deserve better choices for the city's top leadership post. Fortunately, a technical flaw in White's voting record has officials questioning his eligibility for the ballot. Though White must be presumed innocent until proven guilty on the latest charges in a court of law, he nonetheless should do the right thing and drop out of the race before the Mahoning County Board of Elections meets to certify independent candidates this summer.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown Press Club for its poignant program marking World Press Freedom Day last Saturday. Fifteen members of the club recited the names of 103 journalists killed in the profession in 2024. That number is the highest since tracking began 33 years ago. The event served as a timely reminder of the dangers many journalists face in their passionate quest to preserve the right to know for their readers, listeners or viewers. As participant Dennis Mangan, a former Vindicator reporter, city editor and editorial page editor, aptly put it: "It is a day to think about the importance of press freedom, of having it and preserving it when it is under attack."

ONION: To bartenders and store clerks who fail to check IDs before serving or selling alcoholic beverages to customers. Recently, Youngstown police cited a bartender at a downtown Youngstown club for serving a 19-year-old a mixed drink. Failing to verify a customer's age and subsequently selling or serving alcohol to a minor can lead to serious consequences, including fines, license suspension, and even criminal charges. Worse, it can also lead to minors drinking too heavily, driving and getting themselves or others seriously injured or killed.

ORCHID: To the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center for breaking ground last week on a health and wellness center on its Canfield campus and to the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Program for awarding MCCTC a $5 million grant to finance the bulk of the construction. When completed, the building will serve as a center of instruction, an outpatient mental and physical health clinic for those in the community through Cadence Care Network and Mercy Health and a school-based health clinic for students and staff members. Officials estimate the center will serve more than 6,500 people annually. At a time when health care options in the Mahoning Valley appear to be shrinking, construction of this new community and school resource is welcome news indeed.

ORCHID: To state Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, for recently introducing legislation to require employers in the construction business to use the federal E-Verify program to ensure all workers hired in Ohio are legally authorized to work in the United States. The bill is designed to protect Ohioans from competing against illegal workers, who often undercut wages and produce lower-quality work, according to Fischer. Of course, it would also help ensure businesses abide by the guidelines of federal immigration laws. It deserves a quick smooth sail through the Ohio General Assembly and a speedy signature into law by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To the Youngstown State University tennis team for defeating Cleveland State University to capture the women's 2025 Horizon League championship Sunday in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and thereby gain an automatic bid into the NCAA championship tournament. The league title is YSU's eighth in program history, the second-most in the history of the Horizon League. YSU aces seized the day with a superlative performance in singles matches at the tourney. Orchids, too, must go to YSU women's golfer Neeranuch "Tiam" Prajunpanich for winning the individual title at the Horizon League Women's Golf Championship last month. These league championships, on top of the national championship for the YSU women's bowling team, truly make spring 2025 a season to remember.

ONION: To those irresponsible motorists who attempt to get cheap thrills through reckless street-racing. Recently, a 19-year-old man was arrested in Youngstown after police allege he was part of a relatively new phenomenon called "takeovers," which are defined as illegal gatherings where drivers perform reckless stunts and block intersections often in front of rowdy crowds. Another recent street-racing episode near downtown Youngstown involved two four-wheelers and two street bikes speeding and careening onto sidewalks. Unfortunately, those careless hooligans got away. For the safety of other motorists and innocent pedestrians, we urge all police agencies to enforce laws against these life-threatening hijinks as aggressively as possible.

ORCHID: To Youngstown firefighters Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs and Joseph Koziel, as well as Travis Birch of the Brookfield and Fowler fire departments, for their above-the-call-of-duty heroism that has earned them Fire Service Valor Awards from the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office and Ohio Department of Public Safety. The three Youngstown firemen rescued many trapped inside the Realty Tower downtown that exploded last May. "Amid significant destruction, the three individuals risked their lives to initiate daring rescue efforts and save the lives of others," the state fire marshal said. Birch is credited with saving the life of a woman from a fire at her Vienna home last July. Clearly these men's keen life-saving skills merit the honor and recognition they will receive at the 44th annual Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Fire Awards ceremony May 14 in Columbus.

ORCHID: To Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries and Aim Transportation Solutions for their strong and critically needed partnership recently observed at a 30th anniversary celebration. Aim, a Liberty-based family-owned truck and trailer leasing company, has been providing crucial services to transport donated clothing, household goods and numerous other items to Goodwill's 10 regional stores. The support and collaboration between the nonprofit and the trucking business have made for a perfect marriage over the past three decades in compassionately serving the needs of thousands of Goodwill's vocational rehabilitation clients.

ONION: To Republicans in the Ohio House of Representatives for taking a meat cleaver to a valuable environmental program in its version of the 2026-27 biennial budget for the state. Specifically, the House cut Gov. Mike DeWine's H2Ohio program by about 45%. H2Ohio has helped restore over 16,200 acres of wetlands, provided habitat for wildlife, reduced flood risks and created new recreational and educational opportunities across the state. Some 3,200 state farmers have enrolled in the water-quality program. From our perspective, its clear results deserve the full funding proposed by DeWine and not the axing of nearly half of its good works for the state's lakes, rivers and streams.

ORCHID: To Bernadette Bilick of Warren for winning the prestigious Hope Award for Lifetime Achievement for 2025 from the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley in Canfield recently. Bilick, a 41-year worker at the Northeast Ohio Children's Rehabilitation Center in Howland, clearly advances the mission of the foundation to assist chronically and terminally ill children with hope and support through her compassionate services as a physical therapist. Other finalists for the award also duly recognized were Pamela Brown of Youngstown with the Community Corrections Association, John Crowder of Newton Falls with Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools, Cheryl Ryan of Struthers with Struthers City Schools and James Sutman of Youngstown with Golden String Inc.