ORCHID: To the candidates who filed to run for office in the 2013 primary election. Too many qualified citizens prefer to refrain from this level of civic engagement.
ORCHID: To the many Mahoning Valley athletes who signed national letters of intent to play college sports next fall. The level of commitment and work it takes to reach the next level sets a positive example for others.
ONION: To the Newton Falls officials responsible for former City Manager Harry Benetis receiving $14,000 of pay for nine hours of work before firing him in January of 2012. Benetis was hired to start work on Jan. 1, 2012, but after a different faction came into the majority on that day, they voted to fire him. He sued and last week reached a settlement with Newton Falls Village County for $1,583 for every hour he was on the job.
ORCHID: To Dr. Jeff Williams on his appointment as the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County board president.
ORCHID: To Trumbull County officials who managed to complete a sanitary sewer project for Kinsman that will cost residents only $30.38 per month. A combination of local, state and federal grants and loans made it possible.
ORCHID: To Dale Foerster of Howland, vice president of Star Manufacturing in Vienna, who received the 2013 national Women In Manufacturing STEP Award. STEP (science, technology, engineering and production) is being given by the Manufacturing Institute, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the University of Phoenix and Deloitte.
ORCHID: To the six McCauley siblings - Lucille (Lubawski) of Newton Falls, Delmas of Lordstown, Jim of Hollyridge, N.C., Leonard of Richland, Va., Darrell of Champion and Junior of Grafton, W.Va. - who have been married for more than 50 years. Their parents were married for 49 years when their father died. Several other siblings are approaching 50 years of marriage.