ORCHID: To the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge 155 in Canfield for reaching its milestone 175th anniversary this year. The lodge has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1850 under the leadership of Elijah Whittlesey, who served as Secretary of the Treasury under President Zachary Taylor. The lodge has long been in the forefront of charitable giving in the community and it continues its mission to honor with dignity and decorum deceased military members and veterans. The lodge and its auxiliary, Rebekkah’s of Lodge 155, show no signs of slowing down, In fact, they just keep growing. This year the lodge received two trophies for having the most new members. The lodge has 47 members and the Rebekah’s have 30. We congratulate the lodge and wish it well as it continues to put a decidedly positive spin on the adjective “odd” in its community service and charitable giving.

ORCHID: To the U.S. Department of Defense for recently delivering a shiny new $110 million C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. The state-of-the-art cargo plane is the second of eight for the Vienna air base, home of the esteemed 910th Airlift Wing. Compared to the Valley base’s previous C-130H model, the C-130J reduces manpower requirements by two personnel per aircraft, lowers operating and support costs, flies faster, is more fuel efficient and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier models. The modernization of the major fleet of YARS underscores the federal government’s commitment to the great work that goes on there. It also ensures the base will remain one of the largest and most important cogs in the Mahoning Valley economy for many years to come.

ORCHID: To students in the Youngstown State University Sokolov Honors College who participated in a monthslong fundraising campaign for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. Students painted YSU designs on the driveways of faculty, staff, students, alumni and others with connections to the university over about five months last year. When completed, they had raised $10,000 that recently was donated to the community service organization. The level of community outreach displayed in the UW fundraising venture also aligns with YSU’s overall efforts to further reach out to those in need throughout the region. We congratulate the honors students for their ongoing commitment to scholarship and for their proven community-service commitment to the betterment of the Youngstown-Warren area.

ONION: To pet owners who irresponsibly and inhumanely leave dogs and cats unsheltered during periods of extreme cold. In the last round of subfreezing conditions in the Mahoning Valley, pounds and animal welfare organizations throughout the area reported many such cases of abuse. Animals can lose their limbs and their lives by overexposure to freezing conditions. Dog houses are insufficient for adequate protection. They must be brought inside. Ohio law prohibits leaving pets outside in extreme weather without adequate food, water, and shelter. Violators can and should face significant fines and jail time.

ORCHID: To Jim and Melissa DiBacco, longtime supporters of Youngstown State University, for recently making a $100,000 contribution to the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign to renovate the student center on campus. “Jim and Melissa’s support of Youngstown State University is a testament to their unwavering commitment to this community,” said Scott Schulick, chair of the campaign. “We are deeply grateful for their leadership and their investment in the future of our university.” Such generous philanthropy is nothing new for the DiBaccos. They have contributed generously to other major successful campus programs, including the Rich Center for Autism and the Family Leadership Center in Stambaugh Stadium. Their good works will leave indelible imprints on the university for decades to come.

ONION: To individuals who rely too heavily on space heaters for heating their homes. When used improperly they can start home fires that can prove deadly. Space heaters were believed to have played a role in the home fire on Youngstown’s West Side earlier this week that tragically claimed the life of a 5-year-old boy. Space heaters should only be used to heat a small area. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimate that portable heaters are involved in about 1,700 fires per year, resulting in about 80 deaths and 160 injuries annually. If they must be used, CPSC highly recommends keeping them at least 3 feet away from any potentially flammable material. That’s advice all should live by.