ORCHID: To the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library for promoting the joy of reading at its Family Book Day celebration last weekend at its main branch in Warren. The event attracted some 500 children and teens at which library officials offered a variety of fun activities, most of which focused on reading. The event placed a premium on reading for pleasure among all family members, including parents who serve as valuable models for their children. We commend the attendees and library officials for going the distance to promote the value of literacy.

ONION: To the cruelly irresponsible person or people responsible for lacing at least three bowls of tuna cat food with antifreeze and bleach recently at a mobile home park in Warren Township. At least three cats died from the toxic mix, according to police. “This was a senseless and disturbing act of cruelty,” said Charlene Pedrolie, president of Alley Cat Allies. “We urge anyone with information to come forward before more animals are harmed.” And even though the Maryland-based cat advocacy organization is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the killer, the disgusting nature of this crime should encourage cooperation with authorities regardless of any monetary bonus. We strongly urge anyone with information about the poisonings to contact the Trumbull Animal Welfare League’s Humane Investigations Department at 330-539-5300 or humane@AWLTrumbull.com.

ORCHID: To Maria “Mars B” Bustard, a LaBrae High School freshman, for winning a nationwide competition in designing soap dispensers. SC Johnson Professional, sponsor of the competition, announced that Maria was selected winner for the grades seventh to 12th division as part of its “Happy Hands” contest, which encourages students to unlock their creativity while emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene in schools. Her design of a yellow duck in soap suds with the caption “Wash Your Wings” bested about 300 other competitors from throughout the U.S. With a few strokes of creative ingenuity, Maria has brought honor and national recognition to herself and to her school. Now that’s just ducky!

ONION: To the vandal or vandals who are heartlessly targeting the Warren Family Mission to ply their despicable trade. The mission reported last week that its food service trailer was stolen from the mission’s parking lot on Tod Ave. NW in Warren. The trailer has been used for more than a decade to distribute hundreds of thousands of meals at parks, shelters and underserved neighborhoods. The loss is devastating to the county’s primary hunger-relief agency. “This trailer was our lifeline for mobile feeding, especially during holidays,” said Dominic Mararri, spokesperson for the mission. Fortunately, the trailer was found abandoned earlier this week in Youngstown and was retrieved just in time for Easter. Police nonetheless should spare no energies in investigating and apprehending the callous individuals responsible for this purely evil offense.

ORCHID: To Gustavus resident Loyd Marshall for his deserved statewide recognition stemming from his deep love of nature and for his volunteering the past 15 years at Mosquito Lake State Park. Marshall, 81, recently won the Cardinal Conservation Award from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for his significant volunteerism at the lake and the various projects he has spearheaded there, mostly for cavity nesting birds who live in birdhouses. Marshall also received the Blue Feather Award from the Ohio Bluebird Society, which recognizes an individual for promoting the value of bluebirds to the public. Park ranger Jamison Conley praises Marshall for engaging visitors as well as teaching park rangers about cavity-nesting birds. That praise and those statewide honors have been well earned.

ORCHID: To the Mahoning Valley delegation in the Ohio General Assembly for their unity and strong show of support for the hundreds of laid-off workers from Insight Health facilities in the Mahoning Valley. The delegation, led in this effort by state Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, wrote a letter to Insight officials urging them to do all possible and seek the help of Gov. Mike DeWine’s office to help resolve problems that led to the closing of its general care hospital in Warren and its rehabilitation hospital in Howland. Santucci said he has taken steps for Dr. Jawad Shah, Insight’s founder and president, to contact Gov. Mike DeWine’s office “to ensure open lines of communication and to explore potential solutions.” Others signing the letter were state Reps. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown; Tex Fischer, R-Boardman; David Thomas, R-Jefferson; Monica Robb Blasdel, R-Columbiana and Sarah Fowler Arthur, R-Ashtabula.