ORCHID: To representatives of Insight Health for calling a meeting for later this month with Trumbull County and Warren city leaders to get the ball rolling toward reopening its Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull and Insight Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital that have been closed for about four months. According to County Commissioner Rick Hernandez, Insight officials should have their licenses to accept Medicare and Medicaid payments approved by the July 22 meeting. This is perhaps the clearest sign yet that Insight is serious about reopening the much needed health care facilities for the long term after their disastrous closing due to messy financial issues with the hospitals’ former operator, Steward Health Care.

ORCHID: To Brenda Freeman for besting 10 other candidates to become chief of police for Hubbard Township. Freeman was sworn in recently as the new top law enforcement officer in the township in a ceremony that filled the township hall with ardent supporters. Such fanfare for Freeman is certainly no surprise as she’s hardly a rookie to the Greater Hubbard community, having served over the past 13 years on both the township and city police departments. In addition to that invaluable experience and knowledge of the community, by all accounts she has established a record of exemplary service. We’re also pleased to see Freeman become the second female to rise to the level of chief in a Mahoning Valley police department this year. In that role, she’ll no doubt serve as a solid role model for girls throughout the community.

ONION: To those heartless and irresponsible pet owners who leave their pets outdoors during insufferable heat waves such as the one that baked the Mahoning Valley recently. Animal welfare agencies in the region have reported a disturbingly large increase in dogs that have died after being left outdoors in 90 degree-plus heat without needed water and shade. Animal Charity of Mahoning County, for example, last week reported the deaths of about 10 dogs from such neglect, including one that hanged himself from a porch railing in a desperate attempt to find water and relief from blistering heat. A Facebook post from Animal Charity minced no words about such tragedies: “We’re shattered. We’re angry. We’re exhausted.” Anyone who sees such cases of inhumane abuse this summer should contact their nearest animal welfare agency immediately.

ORCHID: To Stericycle, a division of Waste Management Healthcare Solutions, for making a major investment in Warren to help ease recurring flooding problems. Mayor Doug Franklin recently presented a plaque to Stericycle officials for the company’s inclusion in a public-private partnership to modernize the flood-prone drainage system along Pine Avenue, which abuts their property. The flooding has been a recurring headache to many motorists because heavy rains on many occasions forced closing of a section of Pine Avenue, a major artery into and out of the city. In thanking the company, Franklin said, “They have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to public health and environmental stewardship. We appreciate their investment in our community.” We robustly second the mayor’s kudos.

ORCHID: To the Vienna Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3521 for its 38 years of devoted patriotic service to the township. The post last week announced its closing effective Monday as a result of declining membership and inability to meet its operational requirements. Such problems sadly are nothing new to many veterans organizations throughout the country. Vienna residents nonetheless will long be indebted to the post for its many community services such as the township’s annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances and the post’s placement of flags on graves of township veterans.

ORCHID: To the Women’s Auxiliary at Trumbull Memorial Hospital for recently donating more than $80,000 to Kent State University at Trumbull’s nursing program. The gift will establish a new scholarship endowment to aid nursing students from Trumbull County. It also will help finance equipment and technology enhancements for its skills lab, as well as professional development opportunities for students and faculty. This recent gift is but one of hundreds in its more than century-old commitment to community service with other gifts having gone to such worthy organizations as Northeast Ohio Adoption Services, Trumbull Mobile Meals, Niles Community Services, One Step Ahead Ohio (Trumbull) and the Howland Tigers Food Backpack Program. We wholeheartedly concur with Kathy Dwinnells, nursing program coordinator at KSU at Trumbull, in congratulating the auxiliary for its gift that will leave a meaningful legacy benefiting the community for years to come.