ORCHID: To Brookfield fire Chief David Masirovits and his crew for launching and leading the department’s Junior Fire Academy last weekend at a township fire station. The event drew 20 children in third through fifth grades who learned about fire safety, first aid, CPR and careers in firefighting. One goal of the academy was to stir interest in careers in public service, particularly firefighting. But regardless of what career path the elementary students choose, the critical lessons and knowledge they learned last week just might prevent injuries and save lives. As such, we hope the program becomes an annual event in Brookfield and in fire departments across the Mahoning Valley.

ORCHID: To U.S Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher M. Lopez in Houston for approving the sale of Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital to Insight Health System of Michigan. He signed the order last week that considers the transaction between bankrupt Steward Health Care and Flint, Michigan-based Insight “free and clear” of any liens, claims, encumbrances and interests. The action paves the way for a restoration of normalcy and stability at the key Mahoning Valley hospitals after a harrowing six-month roller coaster ride of ups and downs that at one point had both hospitals preparing to close for good. We welcome Insight and wish it a long, prosperous and health-enhancing presence in our community.

ORCHID: To the Hubbard Township Police Department for erecting a speed-radar sign that has been placed on key township roads. The sign benefits the police to alert them of speeders while also serving as a deterrent to speeding for drivers. The sign also provides important information to the township road department on usage trends on streets. With so much going for them, speed-radar signs should be considered by other Valley police departments to crack down on those traveling fast as lightning without the highly questionable practice of unstaffed speed cameras.

ONION: To those parents of children involved in organized sports who resort to harassment and sometimes violence against their sons’ or daughters’ coaches. Just last week, Youngstown police reported a physical assault against Carl Pellini, head coach of the Cardinal Mooney High School football team, by the parent of a player that the coach had reportedly disciplined earlier. Such out-of-control parental behavior provide precisely the wrong example for responsible conflict resolution.

ORCHID: To Girard-based VEC Inc. for its recent expansion into Tennessee with two cutting-edge projects. That move positions the national provider of electrical and general contracting services to better service its customers in the Southeast. The projects include contracting services for a new Ultium Cells battery plant in Spring Hill and for a Ford battery park plant in Memphis. With the electric vehicle battery industry growing by leaps and bounds, we look for continued growth and success for VEC.

ORCHID: To the Trumbull Career and Technical Center and the Trumbull County Educational Service Center for their successful launch of a drone and aviation program at TCTC. The state-of-the-art curriculum includes training on live drones and simulator demos. The two-year coursework provides all facets of the technology to enable students to get their drone pilot license upon completion. Leaders of the program and former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan who won federal funding for it deserve some high-fives for puttingTrumbull County in the fast lane of this rapidly growing industry.