ORCHID: To the Trumbull Tourism agency for winning two Citation of Excellence Awards recently at the Ohio Conference on Travel. The local agency, funded through a county lodging tax, shared top honors with some of the leading Buckeye State destinations, including Experience Columbus and Destination Cleveland. The conference particularly singled out the local agency’s expertise in its digital marketing campaigns. Clearly Trumbull Tourism is on the ball as a recent study shows that every dollar the agency spends on tourism marketing brings back $286 in visitor spending, luring in more than 76,000 trips and pumping more than $80 million into the local economy. Congrats to Trumbull Tourism, and keep that impressive momentum building.

ONION: To those already planning to spoil the spirit of the Halloween season over the next week by engaging in “tricks” that cross the line into criminal activity. Activities such as egging houses, smashing pumpkins or “toilet-papering” trees can seem harmless enough, but their perpetrators must realize that such stunts can and do lead to serious charges of vandalism or property damage. We’re all for tricks and pranks on our family members and friends, but please respect the boundary between good-natured fun and mischievous hooliganism.

ORCHID: To the Warren John F. Kennedy High School boys golf team for driving home its third consecutive state championship at the 2025 Division III tournament in Sunbury last week. Warren JFK won the title by a whopping 23 strokes over its nearest competitor. Additionally, this 2025 title marked JFK’s sixth state championship in program history. It also strengthened the team’s legacy as the No. 1 powerhouse team to be reckoned with among the 212 boys teams in its division. Title winning clearly is par for the course for this exceptionally talented squad.

ONION: To all who disobey the rules of the road when riding electric scooters and e-bikes throughout the Valley. Recently, Girard City Council members discussed the potential public safety hazards of their unsafe and irresponsible use. With reports of e-scooter accidents on the rise throughout Ohio — some of which have caused fatalities — riders should be reminded they must generally follow bicycle-style traffic rules. The devices are limited to maximum speeds of 20 mph, and no one under 16 is allowed to operate them without parental supervision. With the rise in e-scooter use, we call for increased surveillance of them by local law enforcers throughout the Valley to ensure maximum safety for those riding them and for those who could be unlucky enough to cross paths with them accidentally.

ORCHID: To Jason Altobelli of Altobelli Real Estate of Niles for leading the charge to develop Maplewood Estates, a new housing development in Girard with 32 residential lots. Altobelli recently shared with Girard officials plans for the new neighborhood off U.S. Route 422 and noted he is finalizing permits and other needed paperwork toward a winter 2025-26 groundbreaking and completion later next year. We commend Altobelli for his initiative and hope that others follow suit as all signs point to increased affordable housing needs in the Valley as large new employers such as the Kimberly-Clark plant in Warren and the Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense in Youngstown get off the ground.

ORCHID: To state Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, for rightfully receiving the 2025 Legislative Leadership Award from the Ohio Educational Service Center Association. the statewide organization that provides leadership, advocacy, and professional development for Ohio’s 51 Educational Service Centers including those centered in Canfield and Niles. The honor recognizes exceptional commitment, innovation and legislative leadership in advancing education policy and service excellence across Ohio. It comes on top of other recognition he has received as an advocate for schools in workforce development, fiscal support, local control and teacher advocacy.

ONION: To Angelo Elia, a Youngstown State University graduate and Struthers native, for displaying an American flag altered to include an optical-illusion image of a swastika at his desk in the office of U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Amelia. Photos of Elia, a legislative correspondent for the Ohio congressman, went viral online and created a national uproar. To his credit, Rep. Taylor ensured the image was removed from the workplace and in no uncertain terms denounced it as offensive: “The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms.” We just wish Elia would have recognized as much before displaying it directly below a proud YSU logo.