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ORCHID: To the Anthony J. Fox Family Foundation for its generous and civic-minded donation toward construction of an expansive children's garden in Mill Creek MetroParks' Fellows Riverside Gardens. Park officials recently cut the ribbon on the exciting new fun- and education-filled space that will enable Mahoning Valley children to play while learning about nature and horticulture. Though the foundation funded the bulk of the $3 million project, other donors are to be commended as well for completing the project without one red cent of taxpayer funds.
ONION: To the growing ranks of fraudsters posing as Microsoft customer service representatives who are bilking hordes of people out of millions of dollars. Earlier this month, a Boardman woman fell victim to the scam after being targeted by a swindler posing as Microsoft and Federal Trade Commission representatives. The elaborate heist cost the woman $1.8 million. She is not alone. The scam, facilitated through cold calls, fake search engine ads and fraudulent browser pop-ups, has evolved into a massive and worldwide hoax. Microsoft and law enforcement officials offer this sage advice: Do not respond to any such unsolicited alerts. Real Microsoft or Windows technicians will never call, email or message you out of the blue to report a computer problem.
ORCHID: To Dr. Chander M. Kohli, a former chair of the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees, for his compassionate gift of $1.25 million toward enhancing the quality of nursing education at YSU. The prominent Valley neurosurgeon made the donation in honor of his late wife, and the second-floor east wing of the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services will now be named after her, Karen L. Kohli.That wing will comprise three nursing classrooms and one nursing laboratory. We join YSU President BIll Johnson in his commendation: "Dr. Kohli's generosity is a powerful testament to his lasting commitment to Youngstown State University and to the community he has served for so many years."
ONION: To community leaders in the Mahoning Valley and across the nation who have failed to properly report and spend all American Rescue Plan funds by the end of this year. The federal government distributed about $350 billion to state and local governments in 2021 for use in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Any funds not spent by year's end must be returned to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Hundreds of local governments, mostly smaller communities, risk losing those dollars available for a variety of long-term projects. That's what we call a colossal case of looking a gift horse in the mouth.
ORCHID: To the Canfield Rotary Club for boosting access to technology in Canfield schools' classrooms. The Rotarians recently presented a $10,000 check to the district's school board to purchase dozens of Chromebooks for students. That recent gift continues a long tradition of support for the school system. It also more than lives up to the praiseworthy motto of Rotary International of "Service Above Self" and its mission of providing community service, promoting integrity and advancing goodwill.
ORCHID: To the Board of Mahoning County Commissioners for naming the soon-to-be home of the county Board of Elections in honor of Joyce Kale-Pesta. The elections board finally is preparing to relocate from the problem-infested Oakhill Renaissance Place to shiny new quarters in the former Williamson Elementary School in Youngstown. The Joyce Kale-Pesta Election Center will rightly honor the long and treasured legacy of the longtime county elections director who died last year. Her service to the board spanned four decades and was punctuated by uncanny knowledge of the election process and protocols as well as her willingness to help all voters of all political stripes. As Commissioner Anthony Traficanti put it, "She was like the mother of boards of elections."