ORCHID: To Warren Municipal Court Judge Natasha Natale for instituting a program in her court to help those individuals with suspended driver’s licenses. The program, “Steering Clear Warren Suspended License Intervention Workshop,” helps people with suspended licenses understand why their licenses have been revoked and assists them in getting them reinstated. The workshop provides one-on-one counseling support and also links participants to other vital community resources, such as Ohio Means Jobs and Community Legal Aid. The lack of a valid driver’s license creates hardships and barriers for those unable to transport themselves to jobs and other places. We’re pleased that Judge Natale plans to operate the workshop on a regular quarterly basis and hope judges in other jurisdictions follows her lead.

ORCHID: To Warren City Council for authorizing a project to improve public safety by installing Cyclops cameras throughout the city. The devices are designed to detect vehicles in real time, to identify license plates as well as small dents and other identifying details on them. That work can expedite criminal investigations and speed the wheels of justice. Additionally, the mere presence of the cameras has been credited with deterring crime in the first place.

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 Howland Boy Scouts John and Josh Reble for completing an Eagle Scout project to benefit the Howland Historical Society and the entire Howland community. The twin brothers who are active with Troops 122 and 28 at Howland Community Church constructed a new sign and walkway for the Yellow House, the former Brown Mackey Home that is the oldest structure in the township, dating to 1836. The brothers raised $18,000 to finance their project and donated the remainder to the historical society. The sign with detailed information on the history of the home and the walkway with a moving tribute to Warner Taiclet, a founding member of the society, make this township treasure all the more meaningful.

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.