ORCHID: To Emily Metheny for her appointment last week as the Champion Local School District’s first woman athletic director in the history of the school system. Metheny’s robust background in Champion sports — soccer and track coach and soon to become assistant coach for flag football — more than qualifies her for this responsible, high-visibility yet challenging role. Metheny’s ascension to the ­­­director of sports programs breaks yet another glass ceiling for women in our region as only one-fifth of all school district ADs in the country are women, according to a national survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The school board’s unanimous vote of confidence in Metheny also is a fitting move, coming as it does during the observance of Women’s History Month this March.

ORCHID: To the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments for facilitating grant awards totaling nearly $1.5 million to the village of McDonald for a wide swath of community improvement projects. Mayor Ray Lewis informed village council last week that ERCOG informed him of approval of the state grants. Those funds will fund a wide variety of substantial park, sidewalks and street projects. It’s no wonder why Lewis is appropriately beaming these days. “This is a big deal for the village. This is the most grant money we have ever received and a great opportunity for the village,” he told council last week.

ONION: To the increasing number of careless irresponsible drivers in the Mahoning Valley. According to data midweek from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, OSHP arrests and citations have increased markedly so far this year over this point in 2025 in the number of crashes, operating a vehicle impaired citations, speeding and other violations. In Trumbull County, for example, a whopping 352 more citations for speeding were made through March 24 compared with the same period in 2025. Considering that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports one-third of all traffic deaths result from speeding, it’s time for all drivers to remember the life-saving importance of obeying posted speed limits.

ORCHID: To LaBrae High School art standout Truly Jacops for having her works accepted as part of the 2026 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower and in an accompanying online “cameo” exhibition. These winners faced extremely stiff competition in the prestigious competition as nearly 6,000 art entries were submitted from across the state. Kudos must also go the way of their art instructor Kate Kistler, an instructor that Josh MacMillan, a regional contest director, said deserves rugged placement on “The Mount Rushmore of art educators in the Mahoning Valley.”

ORCHID: To Mike Iberis, executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, for his 25 years of stellar, responsible, productive and compassionate leadership over this region’s No. 1 food assistance agency. Iberis announced his upcoming retirement last week, and his impact on assisting tens of thousands of food-insecure residents of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties will sorely be missed. During his long tenure, Second Harvest expanded programs, tremendously increased distribution and built a strong cohesive network of supporters, volunteers and community partners. Clearly incoming Director Renee Fuller will have some mighty big shoes to fill. Those wishing to honor the service of Iberis can do so appropriately and meaningfully by contributing to the food bank’s Harvest for Hunger campaign through mid-May.

ORCHID: To Christina Saenger, Ph.D., for her well-earned appointment effective April 1 as dean of Youngstown State University’s renowned Williamson College of Business Administration. Saenger, who has served as interim dean for the past nine months, brings a wealth of experience in academic leadership, strategic planning and business education to the key position of one of the university’s largest and most respected colleges. In overseeing some 50 full-time faculty and about 2,200 students in the college, we’re confident she will continue to expand on its ongoing missions of providing state-of-the-art learning and strong and productive partnerships with businesses throughout the Mahoning Valley.

ONION: To individuals who disobey general solicitation rules and those who go door to door to disturb and sometimes scam residents out of hard-earned dollars. Last week in Campbell, Mayor Bill Valentino introduced a proposed ordinance to prohibit unregulated soliciting and tighten regulations on the practice within city limits. The mayor cited the example of a man who received an unwanted solicitor at night who supposedly came to his home on behalf of the high school’s wrestling team. But here’s the rub: That community has no wrestling team. Communities without tough rules governing the hours and registration requirements for solicitors would do well to follow Campbell’s exemplary lead.

ORCHID: To Eric Ryan, Samuel Miller and Jan Prisby Bryson for winning prestigious 2026 awards from the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber for their outstanding community service and contributions to a vibrant Mahoning Valley economy. Ryan, president and CEO of JAC Management Group, will receive the Spirit of the Valley Award for his success in revitalizing major entertainment venues in the Mahoning Valley, including the Covelli Centre, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Packard Music Hall. Miller, recipient of the Spirit of the Chamber Award, serves as president of Trumbull Industries. He has overseen national expansion of its commerce as a manufacturer and distributor of waterworks products. Prisby-Bryson, recipient of the Valley Champion Award, has shattered gender and racial barriers as chairwoman and founder of BenchMark Management, an Atlanta-based engineering and construction services firm. Make it a point to join in the celebration honoring them April 16 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield. Visit regionalchamber.com to register.

ORCHID: To the Western Reserve Port Authority for scheduling the start of demolition of the former Thomas Humphries Hall of Eastern Gateway Community College and its attached parking deck in downtown Youngstown for September. That slight delay will enable a multitude of festivals and special events — including the immensely popular Greater Youngstown Italian Fest and the Panerathonbenefit road race — to play out unencumbered by pesky detours and road closings. Those annoyances had become far too common in recent years downtown and took their toll on foot traffic and commercial business in the central city. Once demolition is complete, estimated by December, we hope construction of the new county government center can proceed expeditiously so as not to create yet another embarrassing empty lot in the heart of downtown.