Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Lisa Bryant, transportation supervisor for the Boardman Local School District, and the Ohio Safety Council for organizing a training session for the district's bus drivers on responding to active aggressors on or near their vehicles. In this day and age where guns run rampant and tempers flare easily, this new training no doubt benefited the school system's network of workers charged with ensuring the safety of their most precious cargo -- their students. Given that the safety council offers the training free, other school districts in the Mahoning Valley would be remiss not to take advantage of its potentially life-saving lessons.

ONION: To operators of Belmont Pines Hospital in Liberty for failing to keep their patients under control, which led to a recent fracas at the behavioral hospital. Earlier this month, three teens there were arrested after several staff members were assaulted and portions of the hospital were severely damaged. Earlier this year, police had to quell an aggravated riot at the facility. In that March uprising, multiple staff members were physically assaulted and one had blood spit on her. This string of violent disturbances, along with allegations of sexual abuse at the hospital and the recent sudden resignation of the hospital CEO, should raise some eyebrows and spur a thorough investigation of the facility by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addictive Services.

ORCHID: To Nadia C. Zarbaugh, a 2024 Poland Seminary High School graduate, for her appointment by Gov. Mike DeWine to serve as the newest student member of Youngstown State University's Board of Trustees. Zarbaugh, a member of the university's prestigious Sokolov Honors College, aims to become a physician in Mahoning County. She has a stellar academic and community service record and strikes us as an excellent choice for the voice of the students on the university's policymaking board. We join YSU President Bill Johnson in looking forward to the insight and perspective she will bring in her new and important role.

ONION: To witnesses of violent crimes -- or any crime for that matter -- who fail to cooperate with police and other authorities to apprehend guilty parties. Yes, we're familiar with the "snitches get stitches" adage that providing valuable information to police will lead informants to become targets of retaliatory violence. In the name of justice and public safety, however, those fears should be set aside (and police protection requested in exchange for valuable witness accounts). Recently, Warren police reported "near zero" assistance from the public in a fatal shooting at a convenience store this month, despite surveillance footage showing multiple people present. In Youngstown, Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro recently reported a rash of uncooperative crime witnesses. Apathetic and tight-mouthed witnesses only run the risk of giving criminals a get-out-of-jail-free card and making their communities more dangerous.

ORCHID: To Austintown Eagles Club Lodge 3298 for its generous $5,000 donation to the township's fire department for the purchase of ice and water rescue equipment. That new equipment -- one ice rescue board, two rescue slings, four ice rescue suits and four life vests, along with ropes, helmets and other accessories -- will fill a void in the department's arsenal of life-saving skills. Fire Battalion Chief Fred Marcum praised the Eagles and noted the equipment will now give firefighters and EMTs a much stronger ability to rescue anyone unfortunate enough to be trapped in any of the township's multiple recreational lakes.

ONION: To the shameless hooligans who have been breaking into vehicles in Boardman and other Mahoning Valley communities recently, and to the senseless auto owners who fail to properly lock and secure their vehicles as a strong deterrent to theft. Numerous Boardman residents recently called police after discovering their cars had been broken into overnight. In at least one of the cases, the culprits got away with a large stash — a driver's license, prescription medication and $1,000 in gift cards - from an unlocked vehicle. Though not foolproof against determined criminals, locking your car regularly significantly reduces the risk of theft, particularly from simple break-ins or quick grabs, as it gives some would-be criminals time to have second thoughts.

ORCHID: To four members of Canfield Scouting AmericaTroop 8025 -- Paige Cooley of Austintown, Audrey Gensburg of Weathersfield, Lily Rich of Canfield and Gabriela Wilson of Youngstown -- for earning a whopping 23 merit badges during a weeklong session recently at the James C. Justice National Scout Camp in Glen Jean, West Virginia. Those esteemed badges covered such diverse skill areas as archery, climbing, crime prevention, forestry, journalism, lifesaving, nature, programming, rifle and shotgun shooting, weather, welding and whitewater rafting. Those hard-earned awards should help elevate the Scouts ever closer to the coveted Eagle Scout status.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Austintown Fitch High School softball standouts Abby Toth and Kaliana Ray for recently being recognized nationally by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association as first-team All-Americans. Ray, the Falcons' centerfielder, is now a two-time All-American after similarly being named one of the three best outfielders in the country as a freshman. Toth, a University of Detroit Mercy verbal commit, exhibited talented diversity last season as a first baseman and catcher. The two also distinguished themselves as the Falcons' top hitters in 2025. Their superlative play continues the Fitch squad's glorious legacy of achieving multiple district and state championships.

ONION: To U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., for violating the code of conduct of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a formal reproval against him recently by the lower chamber of Congress' Ethics Committee. A multi-year investigation involved allegations his wife engaged in insider trading with a company in his district. Though the panel said it did not find evidence that Kelly "knowingly or intentionally caused his spouse to trade based on insider information" or that such a grievous offense even occurred, it did admonish the congressman representing the Shenango Valley for "failure to acknowledge the seriousness of the alleged misconduct." We trust Kelly is following the stern advice of the committee that he and his wife divest themselves of any stock in the company in question, Cleveland-Cliffs.

ORCHID: To the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio for hosting a flea market in Canfield last week for teachers throughout the region to take advantage of low-priced classroom set-up supplies. The second annual event gave teachers and retired teachers an easy outlet to sell excess or unneeded materials and supplies at bargain-basement prices. Considering it's estimated that many teachers spend upward of $1,000 from their own pockets to properly set up their classrooms each fall, it's not surprising that the market attracted scores of dedicated but budget-minded educators. Other ESCs in the state would do well to follow the Eastern Ohio center's lead.

ONION: To public officials who fail to meet their responsibility to their constituents to regularly attend planned official meetings. Recently, in Youngstown, for example, action on a contract for a major multimillion-dollar interceptor sewer project to rid Mill Creek Park lakes of wastewater was stalled due to the absence of two city council members. A follow-up emergency meeting to expedite the contract also resulted in an absence that stymied contract approval even more. While we recognize that personal emergencies will arise from time to time, repeated absences can't help but make constituents wonder just how committed their representatives are to their interests and the interests of the community they serve.

ORCHID: To Hynes Industries of Youngstown for winning the Platinum Supplier Award recently from Wabash, a manufacturer of commercial truck-trailers and related products. The award honors top suppliers nationwide for excellence in innovation, quality, delivery, cost and service. Hynes bested 37 other companies in the U.S. for the award, amazingly its third such honor in as many years and its eighth overall. The respected Wabash honor is the perfect cherry on the top of the company's proud centennial this year.

ONION: To those errant taxpayers who failed to meet the Aug. 1 deadline in Mahoning and Trumbull counties for making their second-half 2024 property tax payments. Not only will their delinquency cost them up to a 10% additional penalty, it can also contribute to public funding shortfalls for the local governments and schools those taxes are designed to support. Though there has been much talk lately about property tax reforms and a ballot measure to abolish them altogether, nothing is yet set in stone, and full payment of your bill is still expected and mandated under the force of law.

ORCHID: To the Girard Historical Society for reaching its milestone 50th anniversary. Society members organized a frolicking "Cheers to 50 Years" celebration in the city last weekend that featured bands, vendors and many enlightening historical displays. It all began in 1975 when a group of concerned residents redeveloped the historic Barnhisel House on State Street, which became the headquarters of the society. We congratulate the GHS for its success in preserving the city's past, in educating the public on key moments in the city's development and in fostering a stronger sense of community identity.

Editorials

Orchids and onions

ORCHID: To Jim Scharville, a veritable Superman of Poland Township, for his more than five decades of solid leadership and stalwart service to his beloved hometown. The township's Park Board recently recognized as much by purchasing an engraved honorary bench in his honor. Its inscription reads: "James Scharville, the people of Poland Township extend appreciation for your 51-year tenure, characterized by relentless passion as a police officer, clerk, trustee and administrator." As if that weren't enough, this township superhero also donned many other capes such as coach, trustee and manager of the Poland Little Bulldogs youth football team and at Poland Community Baseball, as well as serving on and chairing the park board. His unbounded community service legacy will endure proudly in the annals of township history.

ORCHID: To Carol Baird, grande dame of The Youngstown Connection, for her 35 years of steadfast service and distinctive leadership to scores of young people whom she took under her wing in the highly acclaimed all-city schools' choir. While supervisor of creative and performing arts for five Youngstown high schools in the 1980s, Baird envisioned a citywide high school performing group as a means to lessen hostilities and rivalries among students from different high schools. In the ensuing decades, the group went on to receive acclaim as it traveled the nation and world as talented goodwill ambassadors from Youngstown. Sadly, the Connection and many of its alumni gathered for one last rousing concert at Fitch High School last week. We're hoping some motivated musician will rise to the challenge of taking the reins of the group. That is one Connection we'd hate to see forever broken in our community.

ORCHID: To Skin Suite Spa in Boardman and HD Growth Partners of Youngstown for collecting more than 200 backpacks chock full of new school supplies for Youngstown students heading back to class. The spa hosted a special event recently at its Glenwood Avenue location that offered a variety of activities for children and skin-care services for adults. The spa's Glow and Give Back day serves as a great model for other small businesses to emulate to help ensure no child will be unprepared when that first school bell rings later this month.

ONION: To public servants who fail to adhere to the high standards of conduct expected of them from those they serve. One day last week, for example, this newspaper reported on the same page a local judge charged with OVI and a felony firearms offense, a local court bailiff charged with drug possession and a former deputy sheriff accused of obstruction of justice. Though all of those individuals must be provided the presumption of innocence unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law, they should also recognize that even the appearance of impropriety will reflect negatively on them and contribute to staining the image of not only themselves but of all public servants.

ORCHID: To Buckeye PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) for opening senior day centers this week in heavily remodeled former Rite Aid drugstores in Youngstown and Warren. The centers will provide daytime activities for seniors as well as medical care, transportation and social engagement with the primary and laudable goal of keeping mature adults in their own residences and out of nursing homes. In addition to the vital health needs the centers will fill, they also should be welcomed with open arms for turning a potentially blighted white elephant into an active and vibrant community asset.

ORCHID: To The Youngstown Foundation for recently making the largest donation to date in Youngstown State University's fundraising campaign to massively renovate the Kilcawley Student Center. The foundation last week pledged a whopping $5 million contribution to the highly successful campaign. That gift places the foundation in YSU's Penguin Pinnacle, university's highest recognition for giving societies. We enthusiastically second campaign Chair Scott Schulick's praise of the foundation: "The Youngstown Foundation's vision and dedication will leave a lasting legacy for both YSU and the broader Youngstown community."

ORCHID: To Gateways to Better Living and the Beyond Expectations Barber College on Youngstown's South Side for partnering in an innovative and invaluable program called "Cutting Barriers." Gateways, which provides programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from throughout the Mahoning Valley, brought 35 of its clients to the college recently where the barber trainees learned valuable skills in interacting effectively with people with disabilities and the clients walked out looking great and feeling better as well. Other personal service providers in the region interested in enhancing their inclusivity skills should consider welcoming Gateways clients as well.