ORCHID: To the Pride and Joy Foundation of Warren for hosting a successful fundraiser recently toward its noble mission of improving childhood literacy among city school students. The event in Quinby Park on the Southwest Side included a car show, live music, food and basket raffles. The foundation sponsors an innovative summer reading program for children at Highland Terrace in the city. The funds raised will help defray costs of electronic tablets for children to use during the program. According to Sher-ee Glover, president of PJF, “We want to help children so they are not behind and can make the state standards.” Kudos to the foundation and its many volunteers for this most productive display of assistance to this community’s most precious resource, its children.

ORCHID: To the Braceville Historical Society and the Mary Chesney Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for their patriotic America250 project that celebrated this nation’s formative years and that community’s noteworthy role in it. Representatives from both groups dedicated a bench early this week at Braceville Cemetery to honor the 18 Revolutionary War veterans buried there. Special shout-out recognition must go to Janice Kistler, Karen Andrus and the Rev. Dave Luther for their extra efforts in placing flags at veterans’ gravesites and cleaning and restoring the headstones of the local heroes in the American War for Independence.

ONION: To door-to-door vendors and salespeople in the Mahoning Valley who fail to follow legal protocols — let alone common decency. In Boardman, for example, township Administrator Mark Ragozine recently reported canvassers for a private company had been knocking on neighborhood doors as late as 9:45 p.m. in clear violation of the community’s 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. restrictions. It and others also had failed to properly register and pay for a permit for such solicitation, the official said. Reputable solicitors should have no problems following such reasonable guidelines to protect residents. Those who do should face the music — including charges for trespassing on private property.

ORCHID: To Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for promptly signing into law this week the state’s $3.7 billion capital budget for vital community projects across the state. It includes $3.1 million for many needed economic development and quality-of-life endeavors in Trumbull County. We’re also pleased DeWine signed the budget as an emergency measure — cutting time-wasting red tape — so that funding can flow to those critical projects as expeditiously as possible.

ORCHID: To John Anthony, guitarist for the Valley’s phenomenally popular The Vindys and rock music educator for Austintown Local Schools, for his inclusion in a ceremony last week in New York City renaming a portion of West Eighth Street “Jimi Hendrix Way” in honor of the legendary and highly influential musician who died in 1970. Anthony’s invite recognized his contribution to preserving the legacy of Hendrix through the Valley teacher’s creation of a lesson on the 1960s guitarist on Teach Rock, an online STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) curriculum. To treat yourself to your own Jimi Hendrix experience, simply go to teachrock.org.

ONION: To all who disobey the rules of the road when riding scooters and e-bikes throughout the Valley. Earlier this month, Girard City Council members discussed a recent rise in resident complaints about e-bike riders not following traffic rules and not wearing helmets. 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 scooter and e-bike use, we call for communities to follow Girar’d example of increased surveillance of them. Doing so will help ensure maximum safety for those riding them and for those who could be unlucky enough to cross paths with them accidentally.

ORCHID: To U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, for reintroducing legislation recently to help reduce opioid overdoses in American public schools by expanding school access to Naloxone, a proven effective overdose antidote. Joyce, who represents all of Trumbull County, said, “Naloxone has proven to be a safe and effective opioid reversal medication, and expanding access to it could save countless lives.” Clearly, he’s right, and the legislation has merit, considering health officials report a sharp rise in adolescent opioid overdoses. Sadly, the last time Joyce introduced this legislation, it languished in committee until it died. Members of Congress must not let that neglect happen again this year.

SCRIPTURE

I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants–but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

Psalm 85:8-9 NIV