ORCHID: To the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley for exceeding its 2012 fundraising goal of $2.5 million. The organization raised $2,504,224. Meanwhile, ONION to the United Way of Trumbull County, which cut its charitable disbursals by 10 percent across the board, for not joining forces with its more successful Mahoning County counterpart.
ONION: To Warren police Chief Tim Bowers for constantly reminding, complaining and whining about the number of officers at his disposal. Commenting on the recent increase in heroin use locally, Bowers said, ''It's a battle that we're fighting with limited manpower, finances, resources.'' Bowers using approximately six months of accumulated vacation in the seven months, or thereabouts, before his retirement, contributes to any shortage of workers.
ONION: To the Trumbull County Republican Party for failing to produce a single candidate in the May primary. Even the Green Party produced two - probably in an attempt to stymie the oil and natural gas industry. Trumbull County's Republicans must be completely satisfied with how county and local government is operating.
ORCHID: For a unique project involving rain barrels. A presentation on the barrels was held at the Raymond John Wean Foundation Building, hosted by Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District. More than 45 people attended. The barrels can be placed by the side of a home and connected to downspouts to handle stormwater runoff, which is good for the environment.
ORCHID: For the formation of a group promoting downtown Youngstown. It's called the Downtown Business Alliance of Youngstown and will serve as a conduit between downtown businesses and city government.
ORCHID: To about 40 female farmers who attended an informational program on women in agriculture in Cortland recently. The program was hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and included speakers from that agency, The Ohio State University Extension and the U.S. Farm Service Agency on topics such as seasonal high tunnels and farm loans.