ORCHID: To the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for awarding the Trumbull County Sheriff’s office a $1.75 million grant to help finance the long-delayed and gravely needed repairs to the roof of the county jail. Sheriff Mike Wilson said the county received more than any of the other 88 counties in the state, indicating grant applicants did a fine job conveying the dire need for the repairs this year. “We’ve done our part to be fiscally sound and be a team player.” Two months ago jail Administrator David Bobby reported to commissioners, ” Every time it rains, officers are forced to deploy trash cans and old blankets simply to control the water leaking into the building.” Let us hope other maintenance problems at the downtown jail can be resolved just as quickly and just as fiscally responsibly.

ORCHID: To Santino DeFalco of Burghill for coming to the rescue to preserve and strengthen a vital piece of Trumbull County history. DeFalco, along with business partner Vinnie Propst, recently purchased the Fowler General Store, an institution in the township since 1863. After several weeks of whirlwind remodeling, it opened to the delight of throngs last weekend. Many were no doubt pleased that DeFalco had restored the store to its down-home roots that includes fresh produce, local honey and maple syrup for sale, a deli counter with cold items, fresh hot food from an Amish kitchen, ice cream and daily essentials, such as aspirin and napkins. We join community members in thanking DeFalco for reopening the general store and wish him and his partner success in keeping its legacy alive for decades to come.

ONION: To overzealous participants in pursuit of jackpot riches in the Newton Falls Treasure Hunt who have ignored basic safety guidelines and signs posted to stay out of certain areas of the village. While we applaud leaders who organized the promotional event this month that provides tens of thousands of dollars in prizes to participants who use clues to find the booty, some have fallen off the beaten and legal path. Village officials said they have received calls of people climbing on and under the covered bridge, by the water tower and in the historical room at the Newton Falls Library that are off-limits to treasure hunters. As the hunt continues, we urge all participants to play safely and by the rules.

ORCHID: To Charlotte Carpenter, her Girard Community Co-Op and employees of Margherita’s restaurant for their community service and compassion in organizing a benefit for a couple and their baby left homeless by a devastating fire last month. Thousands of dollars were raised to help Donald Durkin, Brittnee Bullen and their 8-month-old son Daniel find a new permanent home. Employees of the Girard restaurant donated their time and talents to serve about 200 attendees Sunday. Bullen was overwhelmed with gratitude: “We appreciate it so much what everyone has done to help us. We lost everything.” Those who would like to help the Girard family will have another opportunity at a benefit noon to 5 p.m. March 29 at East Side Civics in Youngstown

ORCHID: To state Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, for introducing legislation in the Ohio General Assembly this week to restrict cities and villages in the state from tacking on more than a 25% surcharge to surrounding communities for water or sewer fees. Cutrona’s legislation would tackle a longstanding problem in the Mahoning Valley, where the cities of Youngstown and Niles charge markups of 40% and 50% respectively to townships they supply. As Cutrona put it, “This legislation will ensure that citizens and business owners across the Valley and eastern Ohio receive fair treatment.” Though cities argue that surcharge reductions could translate to rate increases, at least those increases would be applied more evenly between city and township customers.

ORCHID: To the scores of charitable Mahoning Valley residents planning to participate in the St. Baldrick’s Day annual shave-off at Penguin City Brewing Co. in downtown Youngstown 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday to raise funds for battling childhood cancer in this country. Timed in conjunction with this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities, the event will feature a variety of fun activities for children and adults. By early this week, about $60,000 of pledges already had been received toward the local group’s $91,700 goal. Consider taking some off the top this weekend to carry the local group over the top in its fundraising goal.

ORCHID: To the Ohio Department of Development for recognizing the growing need for new housing in the Mahoning Valley by awarding it $3.35 million in grant funds to construct 526 new housing units. Through DOD’s Residential Economic Development District program, Youngstown is awarded $2.5 million and Warren is getting $851,000 to jumpstart the new housing construction needed to provide shelter for scores of new residents heading our way to take advantage of new jobs available at Kimberly-Clark Corp.’s new production facility and distribution center, as well as growth at Vallourec and other Valley enterprises.