Orchids & onions
ORCHID: To students and staff at Austintown Intermediate School for carrying on their noble tradition called “Hoops for Hope.” The annual hoops game between school staff and fifth-grade basketball team members took place again last week as a major fundraiser for fourth grade AIS teacher Chelsea Kachelries and her family. Kachelries has been battling a series of cancer diagnoses over the past year and the Hoops for Hope event raised significant funds to help her defray expenses. The benefit not only assists the highly respected teacher, it also reaps rewards for students who gain a personal understanding of the importance of working together and giving back to a compassionate community-centered cause.
ORCHID: To Canfield High School art standouts Mia Tisone, Zoe Dillinger and Annelise Noble for having their works accepted as part of the 2026 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower or in an accompanying online “cameo” exhibition. These winners faced extremely stiff competition in the prestigious competition as nearly 6,000 art entries were submitted from across the state. Kudos must also go the way of their art instructor Kevin Hoopes, an instructor that Josh MacMillan, a regional contest director, said deserves rugged placement on “The Mount Rushmore of art educators in the Mahoning Valley.”
ONION: To individuals who disobey general solicitation rules and those who go door to door to disturb and sometimes scam residents out of hard-earned dollars. Last week in Campbell, Mayor Bill Valentino introduced a proposed ordinance to prohibit unregulated soliciting and tighten regulations on the practice within city limits. The mayor cited the example of a man who received an unwanted solicitor at night who supposedly came to his home on behalf of the high school’s wrestling team. But here’s the rub: That community has no wrestling team. Communities without tough rules governing the hours and registration requirements for solicitors would do well to follow Campbell’s exemplary lead.
ORCHID: To the Western Reserve Port Authority for scheduling the start of demolition of the former Thomas Humphries Hall of Eastern Gateway Community College and its attached parking deck in downtown Youngstown for September. That slight delay will enable a multitude of festivals and special events — including the immensely popular Greater Youngstown Italian Fest and the Panerathonbenefit road race — to play out unencumbered by pesky detours and road closings. Those annoyances had become far too common in recent years downtown and took their toll on foot traffic and commercial business in the central city. Once demolition is complete, estimated by December, we hope construction of the new county government center can proceed expeditiously so as not to create yet another embarrassing empty lot in the heart of downtown.
ORCHID: To Mike Iberis, executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, for his 25 years of stellar, responsible, productive and compassionate leadership over this region’s No. 1 food assistance agency. Iberis announced his upcoming retirement last week, and his impact on assisting tens of thousands of food-insecure residents of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties will sorely be missed. During his long tenure, Second Harvest expanded programs, tremendously increased distribution and built a strong cohesive network of supporters, volunteers and community partners. Clearly incoming Director Renee Fuller will have some mighty big shoes to fill. Those wishing to honor the service of Iberis can do so appropriately and meaningfully by contributing to the food bank’s Harvest for Hunger campaign through mid-May.
ORCHID: To Christina Saenger, Ph.D., for her well-earned appointment effective April 1 as dean of Youngstown State University’s renowned Williamson College of Business Administration. Saenger, who has served as interim dean for the past nine months, brings a wealth of experience in academic leadership, strategic planning and business education to the key position of one of the university’s largest and most respected colleges. In overseeing some 50 full-time faculty and about 2,200 students in the college, we’re confident she will continue to expand on its ongoing missions of providing state-of-the-art learning and strong and productive partnerships with businesses throughout the Mahoning Valley.
ONION: To the increasing number of careless and irresponsible drivers in the Mahoning Valley. According to data midweek from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, OSHP arrests and citations have increased markedly so far this year over this point in 2025 in the number of crashes, operating a vehicle impaired citations, speeding and other violations. In Mahoning County, for example, the number of OVI citations issued by the patrol increased from 39 during the first three months of 2025 to 94 during the first three months this year. That’s an astounding 141% increase. Considering drunken driving crashes are responsible for 30% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is imperative that anyone who’s had a few adult beverages surrender their keys to a designated driver or call a handy-dandy ride-share service. The life you save may be your own.
ORCHID: To Boardman High School freshman Katie DePinto for winning the Boardman Optimist Club’s township-wide essay contest. In her essay on the topic of acts of service, she eloquently expressed how volunteering in many ways, including serving as a reader at her church service, helped her to become a stronger member of the community and strengthened her self-worth and outlook. We wish Katie the best as her essay advances to the Ohio Optimist District Level for a chance to win a $2,500 scholarship.
ORCHID: To Eric Ryan, Samuel Miller and Jan Prisby Bryson for winning prestigious 2026 awards from the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber for their outstanding community service and contributions to a vibrant Mahoning Valley economy. Ryan, president and CEO of JAC Management Group, will receive the Spirit of the Valley Award for his success in revitalizing major entertainment venues in the Mahoning Valley, including the Covelli Centre, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Packard Music Hall. Miller, recipient of the Spirit of the Chamber Award, serves as president of Trumbull Industries. He has overseen national expansion of its commerce as a manufacturer and distributor of waterworks products. Prisby-Bryson, recipient of the Valley Champion Award, has shattered gender and racial barriers as chairwoman and founder of BenchMark Management, an Atlanta-based engineering and construction services firm. Make it a point to join in the celebration honoring them April 16 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield. Visit regionalchamber.com to register.
Orchids & onions
ORCHID: To William and Linda Roemer for donating a masterpiece painting by famed 20th century German-American artist Josef Albers to the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown. The Roemers donated the 1957 oil-on-Masonite work titled “Homage to the Square: Now” in memory of William’s parents, James and Helen Roemer. James Roemer, many will recall, was a leading industrialist in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys as president of the former Sharon Steel Corp. The colorful abstract work is a splendid addition to the Butler’s permanent collection. Through their gift, the selfless generosity of the Roemers will enrich the acclaimed gallery for years to come. Check “Homage” out for yourself on the first floor of the Wick Avenue museum.
ONION: To the seemingly growing ranks of slovenly and lazy low-lifes who have no qualms about dumping tires, mattresses and other large-scale pieces of junk in neighborhoods throughout Youngstown. Bob Burke, litter and recycling coordinator for Green Youngstown, recently reported a growing epidemic of tire dumping in the city, with more than 700 of them found littered in the first two months of this year alone. Tire dumping in neighborhoods creates significant public health hazards, such as serving as breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors, creating fire risks and contaminating soil and water with toxic chemicals. That’s why city leaders should aggressively pursue the culprits and punish them to the maximum extent of the law.
ORCHID: To Michael James Murphy and Colleen Collins Boyle for rightly earning Irish Man and Irish Woman of the Year honors for the gala St. Patrick’s Day festivities that took place Tuesday at St. Patrick Parish Hall in Youngstown. The Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (the classical name for Irish people) made the selections last week. And how appropriate those honors are. Murphy, a former longtime member of the Youngstown Board of Education, helped found the AOH Luck of the Irish basketball tournament, supported the post‑parade celebration and played an instrumental role in securing a meeting hall for the organization. Boyle, a former city Finance Department worker and longtime director of Faith Formation at St. Christine Parish, is perhaps best known for her leadership in founding Dorothy Day House of Hospitality in Youngstown.
ORCHID: To Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo and Struthers Mayor Catherine “Cat” Cercone Miller for joining forces to bring primary health care clinics to their cities. Zuppo and Miller are working together on an initiative aimed to build brick and mortar facilities to provide free health care to residents. The collaboration makes eminently good sense on two fronts: The two cities share similar sizes and demographics, and both cities are home to an increasingly aging population. We hope their collaboration with KO Consultants and QuickMed bear fruit toward finding grant funds for the project. Such regional cooperation on projects of mutual value should serve as a model for other endeavors and other communities in the Valley.
ONION: To Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for breaking a vow to Ohio residents about one of the most prominent and controversial issues in the state: capital punishment. Three months ago in December, DeWIne said he would make a formal statement on the future of the death penalty in the state early in the new year. “I’m going to spend a little time at Christmas writing my statement,” DeWine told reporters at the Ohio governor’s mansion. “We’ll be talking to you in January.” Well, January, February and more than half of March (as of presstime midweek) have passed without that long-awaited statement. Considering capital punishment has languished in a state of limbo and informal abolition for eight years now in Ohio, it’s high time the governor proposed or implemented a clear course of action. His failure to speak up as promised has rightly angered many.
ORCHID: To Liberty Township safety service personnel for their heroic and professional work in responding to a fatal house explosion in the township last June. At last week’s township trustees meeting, fire Chief Doug Theobald presented meritorious service honors to police Sgt. Dave Rankin and officers Tyler Beck, Kenny Griffin and Colin Trayes as well as firefighter/EMT Alec Coman and firefighter/paramedic Erik Lyszaz. Theobald also presented fire lieutenants Ronnie Simone and Matthew Gray with the Medal of Courage for their assistance during the explosion “The firefighters demonstrated exceptional bravery, decisive action and unwavering commitment to duty,” the chief said. Township residents are fortunate to have such keenly professional safety servants watching over them.
ORCHID: To the 2026 inductees into Women’s Hall of Fame of League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown. Each of the nine inductees clearly meet and beat the standards for induction that include exceptional leadership, professional excellence and a lasting commitment to improving their communities. Cheers to all of them: Marie Dockry, Amanda Fehlbaum, Julie Green, Lisa Lee Kohler, Jessica Lev, Sarah Lown, Brandi Shamara, Cheryl Saffold and Jorine Stone.
ORCHID: To Genevieve Ramey, a Lincoln PK-8 School student in Warren, for winning the 93rd 21 WFMJ Regional Spelling Bee last weekend at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown. Genevieve bested about 60 other school-champion contestants from elementary, middle and junior high schools from throughout Mahoning and Trumbull counties. “I was nervous, but I was happy to do my best,” Genevieve said immediately after the competition. We are confident she will continue to do her best and represent the Mahoning Valley excellently at the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., two months from now.
Orchids & onions
ORCHID: To Austintown Township trustees and Police Chief Valorie Delmont for acting quickly and responsibly in response to voters’ approval in November of a new, five-year renewable 2.22-mill tax levy that will generate about $2 million annually for the police department. Last week, three new officers were sworn in to the township’s men and women in blue. During the campaign for the additional property tax, promoters emphasized its major goal would be to increase the ranks of the force, which has been cut severely in recent years because of retirements and resignations. We’re pleased to see township leaders follow through on that commitment so quickly. Such responsible community service can’t help but sit well in voters’ minds when it comes time to renew that levy.
ORCHID: To the Poland Historical Society for its recent decision to launch a scholarship program for a deserving student from the community’s high school. In so doing, the society not only shines as a respected community institution devoted to Poland’s rich historic roots. It also emerges as a vital resource that invests in the community’s future. To enable the PHS to continue the noble scholarship program in future years, consider donating to it by sending a check to the Poland Historical Society, Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 5052, Poland, OH 44514. Other historical societies throughout the Valley should consider following PHS’s lead.
ONION: To Reg Martin, the ousted receiver for SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC, for having the audacity to seek the princely compensation of $35,246.20 in fees and expenses for less than three months of subpar work and oversight of the heating and cooling utility servicing 28 downtown Youngstown buildings. During those tumultuous months, the troubled utility company failed to provide basic services and kept many downtown buildings cold — and some closed — during subzero conditions. Such a handsome reward for such nonproductive work would be a slap in the face to those who suffered hardship the bulk of those three months. Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Donofrio should therefore reject those premium compensation requests as grossly out of line.
ORCHID: To state Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, for introducing legislation in the Ohio General Assembly this week to restrict cities and villages in the state from tacking on more than a 25% surcharge to surrounding communities for water or sewer fees. Cutrona’s legislation would tackle a longstanding problem in the Mahoning Valley, where the cities of Youngstown and Niles charge markups of 40% and 50% respectively to townships they supply. As Cutrona put it, “Placing unfair burdens on residents and businesses in neighboring townships just to have access to water is a detriment to our communities. This legislation will ensure that citizens and business owners across the Valley and eastern Ohio receive fair treatment.” Though cities argue that surcharge reductions could translate to rate increases, at least those increases would be applied more evenly between city and township customers.
ORCHID: To the scores of charitable Mahoning Valley residents planning to participate in the St. Baldrick’s Day annual shave-off at Penguin City Brewing Co. in downtown Youngstown 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday to raise funds for battling childhood cancer in this country. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has become the nation’s largest funder of childhood cancer research grants, with donations of more than $326 million. Timed in conjunction with this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities, the event will feature a variety of fun activities for children and adults. By early this week, about $60,000 of pledges already had been received toward the local group’s $91,700 goal. Consider taking some off the top this weekend to carry the local group over the top in its fundraising goal.
ORCHID: To the Ohio Department of Development for recognizing the growing need for new housing in the Mahoning Valley by awarding it $3.35 million in grant funds to construct 526 new housing units. Through DOD’s Residential Economic Development District program, Youngstown is awarded $2.5 million and Warren is getting $851,000 to jumpstart the new housing construction needed to provide shelter for scores of new residents heading our way to take advantage of new jobs available at Kimberly-Clark Corp.’s new production facility and distribution center, as well as growth at Vallourec and other Valley enterprises.
ORCHID: To the five honored teachers at last week’s Mahoning Valley Educators of the Year Honors Dinner at Eastwood Event Centre. Some 42 teachers in the tri-county area were nominated among the hundreds of outstanding educators throughout the Valley. Those taking home top honors included Nicole Mathias, Sebring Local Schools; Kayla Welsh, Hubbard Local Schools; Carol Pantelis, Niles City Schools; Christine Meeks, LaBrae Local Schools; and Maria Mangine, Lordstown Local Schools. You’ve richly earned those golden apple awards.
Orchids & onions March 7-8
ORCHID: To the Youngstown Skatepark Association for its grit and determination to build a state-of-the-art skate park in the city. It most recently demonstrated that commitment by hosting a “Pop-Up” portable skate park in the expansive Penguin City Brewing Co. in downtown Youngstown. Clearly, the association proved its point for the need as more than 150 riders and 300 spectators turned up for the somewhat impromptu event last weekend. Additional pop-ups are now planned through the fall. We hope YSA and its association with the Youngstown Parks and Recreation Department can finalize plans and funding for the facility as soon as possible. They may well want to consult with neighbors to the north in Lorain who just two weeks ago finalized plans and funding for a $1.3 million, 17,000-square-foot skate park in that city.
ORCHID: To the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and the Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce for finalizing plans this year for a formal affiliation between the two economic development and civic organizations. The linkage is a natural fit as it enables the larger Regional Chamber to assist in development efforts in Columbiana County, which with Mahoning and Trumbull counties is an essential part of the Mahoning Valley metro area. It also preserves some local autonomy for the Columbiana chamber. As its Executive Director Zach King put it,” This affiliation keeps decision-making local while adding resources, stronger connections and capacity to serve the business community. It allows us to deliver more value for businesses across the Columbiana area.”
ONION: To CoreCivic, operators of the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center on Hubbard Road in Youngstown, for failing to adequately address repeated cases of physical violence among inmates at the private prison. Just last week police were called to the lockup after a prisoner reportedly stabbed his cellmate, a stabbing that took prison employees four hours to discover, according to media reports. That stabbing was the third within one month and reportedly the 20th at the private prison since 2024. On top of that, an inmate reached a private settlement last month in a $25,000 lawsuit against the prison operator for failing to prevent multiple beatings and sexual assaults by other inmates last year. The U.S. Justice Department, which is investigating another CoreCivic-managed prison in Tennessee after reports of excessive violence there, would do well to now turn its attention to NEOCC.
ORCHID: To the Boardman Police Department for earning the prestigious accreditation into the new Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Program last month. Gov. Mike DeWine created the program in 2024 to recognize law enforcement agencies that voluntarily meet or exceed roughly 36 rigid state standards that address various core responsibilities such as professional conduct, bias-free policing, crisis intervention and community engagement. The honor buys bragging rights for the department as it is now one of only 24 out of some 900 law enforcement agencies in the state to achieve the rigorous standards needed for accreditation. (In the Valley, the Mahoning Sheriff’s Office and Beaver Police Department also had earlier achieved accreditation.) A special shoutout must go, too, to Boardman Lt. Mike Sweeney and officer Bill Woods who, according to Chief Todd Werth, worked tirelessly throughout the process to ensure the Boardman men and women in blue met the program’s demanding standards of stellar law enforcement and community service.
ORCHID: To Mahoning County Job and Family Services Director Audrey Morales for her four decades of commendable service to county government operations. The Mahoning County Board of Commissioners celebrated Morales last week after rehiring her for another three-year stint as director of the critical community service arm of county government that provides a lifeline to tens of thousands of residents. Morales’ department oversees services for Mahoning County’s 40,000 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients and 77,000 Medicaid recipients. In reflecting on the praise and her reappointment during Black History Month, she was characteristically modest. “As I reflect on Black History Month and the African American women who paved the way before me, women who endured unimaginable obstacles so that doors like this could be opened, I recognize just how blessed I am.” County leaders and clients of JFS would argue they are blessed to have Morales at the helm of the agency.
ONION: To the Enbridge Gas Co. for mistakenly inflating the bills of thousands of Struthers’ users of the utility by nearly triple the correct amount. Last month, the gas company charged approximately 2,600 of its customers in the city $8.84 per MCF as opposed to the negotiated rate of only $3.74 per MCF. Though Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller said the error was an innocent mistake, we hope Enbridge nonetheless learned a lesson about double checking the accuracy of all of its bills before it sends them out to customers throughout Northeast Ohio. Such mistakes as that one in Struthers does little to build trust from sticker-shocked consumers.
ORCHID: To the cheerleading squads from Girard and Jackson-Milton high schools for winning state championships recently in the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators’ annual competition in Columbus. Girard’s team took top honors in the Division 4 nonbuilding category, and Jackson-Milton’s squad was crowned state champions in the Division 6 game-day nonmounting category. We give three cheers to these new titleholders and to all school cheerleaders in the Valley who excel by acting primary ambassadors of school spirit, boosting crowd morale and creating a positive, unified atmosphere at athletic events and school functions.
ONION: To state Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Lake County, for introducing legislation in the Ohio Legislature that would cut state funding to school districts that oppose the massive growth in the state’s EdChoice private school voucher program, including several districts in the Mahoning Valley. In June 2025, Judge Jaiza Page of Franklin County ruled that the expanded EdChoice program was unconstitutional, but the state has since appealed the decision. Though Callender now reportedly says he will amend House Bill 671 to lessen the funding cuts, “The bill will still penalize school districts and continues to be unconstitutional. Whether it is a dime or $1 million, it’s unconstitutional,” Eric Brown, former chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, aptly stated. Moreover, the not-so-subtle threats inherent to Callender’s legislation also represent a direct challenge to the free-speech rights of school districts throughout Ohio.