ORCHID: To Art Dunn, 88, of Lordstown and formerly of Newton Falls, for setting an example for all senior citizens — and all Mahoning Valley residents for that matter — on the value of walking. Since Dunn turned 70 nearly two decades ago, he has logged more than 3,000 miles walking the entire perimeter of Ohio, a jaunt to Washington, D.C., and back plus many other lengthy foot treks. As he did, he also soaked in the many health benefits they provide such as strengthening the heart and circulation, managing weight effectively and enhancing mental well-being. We congratulate Art on his foot feats and wish him the best as he seeks inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.

ORCHID: To Warren City Schools officials and community partners for their success in significantly reducing the district’s chronic absenteeism rate among students. Those officials report an 8% to 9% reduction in chronic absenteeism this past school year from a rate that had hovered near 50%. Programs implemented including the “Stay in the Game” initiative and the “Attend Today Succeed Tomorrow” that focus on community partnerships and special in-school services have been credited for the dramatic decline. Other Valley districts, most notably Youngstown with a current 61% chronic absenteeism rate, should consider consulting with Warren leaders on the specific secrets to their success.

ORCHID: To the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program for providing invaluable funding assistance to fire departments in the Mahoning Valley. Champion Township recently received a $1.1 million award to facilitate the hiring of three new firefighters to its department. The core mission of SAFER is to help departments maintain an adequate number of front-line trained firefighters to protect their communities. Given the critical shortage of firefighters — particularly volunteer firefighters — across the nation, the SAFER grant program has provided needed lifelines and should be spared from any penny-wise pound-foolish federal budget cuts.

ONION: To the growing ranks of shady scammers out there terrorizing victims with lies, fake alerts and high-pressure tactics to steal money and personal information in digital wallet hoaxes. ConsumerAffairs magazine recently reported a noticeable rise in reports involving such shenanigans, particularly those impersonating trusted brands like Apple and major banks. The criminals send fraudulent text messages or emails claiming a suspicious transaction occurred, your account is locked or immediate action is required. Once returning the call, the hucksters try — and often succeed — in acquiring your personal information and bank account numbers. Your best advice should you become a victim: Never call a number from a text: Apple and major banks will not send unexpected, urgent text messages pressuring you to call a phone number.

ORCHID: To Girard City Schools Superintendent Bryan O’Hara for his selfless actions to go the extra mile for the district’s fiscal stability. O’Hara has agreed to freeze scheduled pay raises during the final three years of his five-year contract, a move the district treasurer estimates will save the district $40,000. In addition, O’Hara also has agreed to contribute on his own toward his health care insurance and take fewer vacation days during the remainder of his contract. At a time when school operating costs keep rising and state support keeps falling, such generous sacrifices by school leadership not only brings in cost savings but also fosters public trust and embodies needed shared sacrifice during tight budgetary periods.

ORCHID: To the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force for its stellar work in cracking down hard on the scum of the earth — the johns who facilitate human trafficking and prostitution. According to a report released last week by outgoing Attorney General Dave Yost titled “The Drivers of Demand,” a whopping 762 arrests of sex buyers were made between 2019 and 2025 in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. That’s more than one-third of the total arrests throughout Ohio’s other 85 counties. Most of those arrests resulted from the skilled investigative diligence of the task force, whose members represent a cross-section of law enforcement agencies in the Valley led by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office.

ORCHID: To the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition for its success in landing a $250,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development’s Industry Sector Partnership Grant program for expanding its youth outreach campaigns and programs. The coalition, which includes 75 business members and 25 associate members, strives hard to ensure school students throughout the Valley are aware of manufacturing and the critical role it plays in the local economy. It does so through school programs, active participation in Junior Achievement’s BizTown at Eastwood Mall, as well as specialty preapprentice and internship programs. Clearly, the coalition is doing a lot of things right as it continues to be recognized and praised by state leaders. In fact, the 2026 award marks the fifth time the MVMC has garnered the grant.