ORCHID: To the Brookfield Police Department and Chief Dan Faustino for considering starting a senior citizen check-in program to oversee the welfare of its elderly residents. It would be similar to two other programs in the area, Weathersfield's ''Are You Okay?'' and Liberty's senior watch program, which has been in operation since 2008.
ORCHID: To the Howland Park Board for its improvements at the township's park. A pergola has been built at the northeastern corner, and a walkway and garden will be installed later this year. The plan is to sell bricks that can be purchased in honor of someone for a walkway area near the pergola, as well as to add a 1,500-square-foot flower garden area.
ONION: About this time every year, it seems contagious: vehicles with one headlight out. This year, it seems worse than usual. It poses a danger to oncoming motorists as well the driver. And another ONION to motorists.
ORCHID: To the Mill Creek Park Foundation as it was awarded a $6,439 grant from the Thomases Family Endowment, a component of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, to purchase play equipment for the new Children's Play Area at the James L. Wick Recreation Area. The grant will be used to acquire the Peak Natural Climbing Rock for the Tot Play Area. Part of the new play area should be open this spring.
ORCHID: For a grant allowing the opening of a minority business center in Youngstown. The Ohio Development Services Agency awarded a $75,000 grant to the Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership to open the center at the MYCAP office. The grant also will provide local minority and disadvantaged or underutilized businesses with the opportunity to expand global economic opportunities and to generate funding.
ORCHID: To Dale Foerster, vice president of Vienna's Starr Manufacturing, who will be among 122 female manufacturers nationwide honored next month in Washington, D.C. Foerster was chosen for the Women in Manufacturing STEP Award given by the Manufacturing Institute, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the University of Phoenix and Deloitte. STEP stands for science, technology, engineering and production. Starr Manufacturing produces custom industrial equipment and machinery for industries including mining, material handling, waste management, energy and more.