• Editor’s note: The deadline for submitting election and candidate-related orchids and onions was 5 p.m. April 24.
Orchids to …
• Judy Secrest for 33 years of beautiful costumes for the Lincoln Center Skate Club Ice Show.
• Coach Miller and the Columbus East JV baseball team on a great start to a wonderful baseball season; you are a fun team to watch, from a fan.
• Matt at Raft to Rafters for a nice Customer Appreciation Day and for your support in hosting a fundraiser for a great organization, and to Micah for organizing the fundraising event.
• Lee, the great pharmacist at Marsh, who a couple of minutes after closing helped me to get my dogs’ pills anyway.
• the person who found my wallet Saturday afternoon in Menards, thank you so much.
• Columbus Regional Health telephone operators for great customer service.
• Monica Sederle for bringing our wandering dog home, from the Shehan family.
• the Lincoln Center Skate Club skaters, parents and coaches on an awesome ice show this weekend.
• Cintas for outstanding service on Friday afternoon.
• Nathan for the mushrooms, from the Smiths.
• Maestro David Bowden, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus and guest vocalist Mary Claire King for another outstanding concert Saturday evening, from a fan at Four Seasons Retirement Center.
• the nice lady who gave us tickets to the ice show Sunday, from a grateful mom and daughter.
• Marr Road rehabilitation center for honoring us with a luncheon and gift cards, we love volunteering for you, from your volunteers.
• Camilla Gehring and the Philharmonic Chorus for their powerful, stellar performance of the Easter Hymn from Cavalleria rusticana by Mascagni.
• Hope Star Journal online for a wonderful online newspaper.
• St. Peter’s Celebration Choir, Pastor Mark’s uplifting message and the always great music led by Lisa.
• all the skaters, coaches, parents and helpers that made this year’s ice show a hit.
Onions to …
• the city for doing the minimum job required to avoid power lines when tree trimming and leaving our pear tree looking unsightly, causing us to fix the job.
• our neighbor who damaged our fence last year and still have not replaced it.
• the newlyweds with the little black dogs who leave them outside to bark for over 45 minutes at 5 a.m.
• the rude manager of the restaurant who would not accommodate our large party from out of state.
• people who drink and drive and have no license.
• the negligent pet owner who allowed their dog to be in the road to be hit, killed and die alone.
• those who think morale is a personal choice.
• the newspaper carrier that cannot manage to get the paper in the yard or on the front porch.
• feminist women who hate men.
• the people responsible for making Columbus a great place to visit but not a great place to live.
• the television host that only explored downtown Columbus and didn’t see the rest of Columbus.
• the nursery that never answers its business phone.
• the store that uses charities to boost sales.
• the manager who continues to show favoritism by continuing to allow a worker to ask other workers to work in their place.
• the company that charged me $300 and thinks an apology is good enough.
• parents who continually try to take advantage of volunteer leaders.
• the beautician with poor business habits like gossiping and talking behind a customer’s back; if you want to keep your customers, keep your opinions to yourself.
• those who plant Onions each day as I make amazing onion rings from your constructive criticisms; and you’ve helped me re-recognize the importance of pulling the positive from each negative in this world.
Happy Birthday to …
• Jeff Brown.
• Helen Pheral, from Bethal Baptist Church.
• Annette Kimberlain, from Pastor Lewis and The Who So Ever Will Community Church.
• Tristan Wilkins, from Pastor Lewis and The Who So Ever Will Community Church.
• Stormy Butler, from Mom, Dad, Donnie, Chuck, Haylen, Memphis, Paul and Janet.
• Clara Claycamp, from Mary and Elsie.
• Julie Line, from Shag Brown.