ORCHID: To township trustees and fire officials from Bristol and Mecca for initiating discussions about forming a joint fire district between the two communities. A committee is being formed to explore the concept and meetings on such a consolidation are planned between the two townships. For smaller communities, joint fire districts make eminently good sense as they have more funds to hire staff and have better chances of securing grants and funding for fire equipment. The economies of scale they produce also could produce stronger service at no additional cost to taxpayers. We urge officials from both communities to seriously consider the value of such a joint venture.

ORCHID: To Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1090 Auxiliary in Warren for reaching its milestone 100th anniversary this month. The auxiliary has long been in the forefront of service to veterans in Trumbull County. Their volunteerism stretches from helping to plan events for Veterans Day and Memorial Day to visiting veterans in area nursing homes to preparing meals for funerals of veterans to organizing parties for children of veterans. At 168 members strong, our community is fortunate indeed to have such a robust, active and patriotic group at the ready to serve the many needs of those who served their nation honorably in the armed forces.

ORCHID: To state Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, and state Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, for acting expeditiously to introduce legislation early in this session of the General Assembly that is designed to bring much needed property tax relief to Ohio residents. The two lawmakers, each of whose districts include Trumbull County, offer concrete reductions in skyrocketing property tax bills. O’Brien’s bill would recalculate payment formulas on school millage that would result in an estimated $300 million tax reduction over the next three years. Thomas’ legislation would double the amount of savings for property owners participating in the Homestead Exemption program. Both deserve to get fast-tracked through the legislative process toward swift enactment.

ONION: To Trumbull County Republican Party Auxiliary Chair Niki Frenchko for disruption that resulted at a recent party meeting in Howland. Though several witnesses reported that the former Trumbull County commissioner tossed two lemons at party Secretary Marleah Campbell, Frenchko vehemently denies that allegation. Nonetheless, her behavior at the meeting appeared to be downright raucous. According to attendees, it included repeatedly interrupting Campbell as she was attempting to speak, recording everyone at the meeting while laughing and refusing to sign a statement that she would “accept consensus, be agreeable and not say anything inappropriate.” We thought the shenanigans that Frenchko often orchestrated in county government would end once she was out of office. Sadly, we were mistaken.

ORCHID: To LaBrae High School freshman Maria “Mars B” Bustard for becoming a finalist in a national soap dispenser design contest to promote hand hygiene in public schools. Maria was named one of 10 finalists out of 300 nationwide in the “Happy Hands” contest from SC Johnson Professional. The contest is designed to help students unlock their creativity while emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene. Bustard’s entry features a yellow duck romping in soap suds that says “Wash Your Wings.” We urge readers to catapult Maria’s duck to the winning spot by casting a vote for her work through Feb. 28 online at happyhands.scjp.com/en-us/cast-your-vote.

ORCHID: To the Cleveland Clinic for its plans to open five new satellite offices in the Mahoning Valley. The facilities formerly were operated by the now-bankrupt Steward Health Care group. Through negotiations with Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull, new operators of the former Steward-owner Trumbull Regional Medical Center, facilities in Austintown, Howland and Kinsman will reopen this month under the prestigious Cleveland Clinic brand. Many of the primary care physicians who used to be part of Steward Medical Group are now employed by Cleveland Clinic Foundation, so the expansion should be seamless. It also ensures that health-care options for Mahoning Valley residents will not be diminished.