ORCHID: To the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. for its new plans to build three duplexes in the 3000 block of Glenwood Avenue with a premium on energy efficiency. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom duplexes at 3013, 3021 and 3031 Glenwood will be the first YNDC has constructed with solar panels. Ian Beniston, YNDC executive director, said that feature will enable tenants in the all-electric housing units to have no power bills during most months. The Glenwood Corridor development is the latest in a string of affordable housing construction in the city that is helping to revitalize and repopulate Youngstown. We salute YNDC and hope that its momentum just keeps on building.

ORCHID: To Eric Ryan, president of JAC Management Group, which operates three downtown entertainment facilities for Youngstown, and his staff for logging a highly successful 2024. Financial reports for last year recently were finalized, and they reflect well on the leadership team of the city-owned Covelli Centre, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Wean Park. The complex had its sixth best year in history and its best year since 2019 with an operating surplus of $285,488. The stellar financial performance is even more noteworthy because of the absence in 2024 of the annual Y-Live concert in Wean Park. That concert with superstar headliner Tim McGraw had to be postponed due to the explosion at the Realty Tower downtown. The Y-Live concert that typically generates about $100,000 for the city now will take place this year. With a strong bill of concerts and other attractions — plus the mega Y-Live event — we’re confident 2025 will go down in the books as one of the best years for the facilities since the Covelli Centre opened 20 years ago.

ORCHID: To the Youngstown State University women’s bowling team for making striking history last weekend by winning the NCAA national bowling championship in Las Vegas. The Penguins knocked off No. 1 seed and defending national champion Jacksonville State 4-3 in a best-of-seven Baker match last Saturday at Suncoast Bowling Center to secure the program’s first national championship, and the university’s first national title in any women’s sport. The championship brings honor to each and every member of the team and strengthens the university’s reputation as an athletic powerhouse in the state and nation.

ORCHID: To Vanessa Livi and Jason Stanford and their Frontline to Field nonprofit for donating $2,500 to Boardman Professional Firefighters Local 1176. Livi of Boardman met Stanford during a veterans’ golf outing in Florida last year and the nonprofit blossomed from their mutual concern and praise for military personnel and first responders. As Livi put it, “It is near and dear to my heart to support those who protect us every day. Both Jason and I have soft spots for our military and police and firemen.” The money from the new nonprofit will be put to excellent use. It will be channeled into a fund to help firefighters who may need help in dealing with mental issues brought about by trauma from the hazards of their selfless service. Those who wish to see the good works of Frontline to Field continue can help by volunteering or donating to the cause. Email Livi and Stanford at FrontlinetoField@gmail.com or call 520-404-9234.

ORCHID: To teachers, staff and students at Austintown Elementary School for their significant improvements in reading comprehension, grades and test scores as a result of using the phonics-based Science of Reading curriculum. The suburban elementary school has been on the cutting edge of the innovative and successful reading instruction program for the past six years, long before Gov. Mike DeWine touted its usefulness in his State of the State address last month. He and first lady Fran DeWine honored the school’s accomplishments in literacy with an in-person visit last week. And that honor was well deserved. According to school officials, the number of students reading below grade level is shrinking dramatically and the number of students passing state reading tests is zooming upward.

ORCHID: TO John John Ostapowicz, editor of Youngstown State University’s Jambar newspaper and his talented staff, for their first-place performance in overall excellence in the Ohio News Media Association’s Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition earlier this month. The Jambar staff also earned recognition in seven of the competition’s 10 categories, including sweeping all places in the headline-writing category, and placing first for its sports coverage. The honors are all the more sweet considering the Penguin communications students were competing against many much larger programs in the state including those at The Ohio State University and Ohio University. The awards not only bring honor to the individual recipients but they also add prestige to the growing communications and journalism program at the four-year public university.