Welfare reform, as controversial as it is, has at least one positive aspect.

        Debbie Holmes, a work force development assistant for the Urban Appalachian Council (UAC), thinks it is responsible for many people seeking more education.

        She said 57 people, the highest ever, received GED diplomas this week in a graduation ceremony at the Salvation Army Building, 3503 Warsaw Ave., East Price Hill.

        “I think more people are getting more education to get jobs that are unavailable to them without a high school education,” Ms. Holmes said.

        UAC began offering GED programs in 1985 when it realized that a large number of dropouts were people from Appalachian communities.

        “More than 80 percent of the 2001 graduates are of Appalachian descent,” Ms. Holmes said. “Many of them came to the program from word-of-mouth referrals.”

        For Billie Jo Harris, 49, of Carthage, getting a GED will be a tool she plans to use to help direct her 11 grandchildren.

        “I grew up on welfare, but luckily have not had to be on it as an adult,” Mrs. Harris said. “I had to quit school 36 years ago to help out with the family.”

        She said she also plans to use this education as a stepping stone to get nursing assistant training.

        “My goal is to work with the elderly,” she said.

        NORWOOD — The Safety and Human Resource Committee has changed its monthly meetings to the first Thursday of each month, starting July 5 at 7 p.m.

        The meetings will be at the Pace Telecommunications Studio in Norwood High School, 2020 Sherman Ave.

        The July 5 agenda will include topics on slowing down speeders, cameras and breathing apparatus for the fire department.

        MILFORD — Ridge Road, a group of local high school and college students, will celebrate the release of its first CD with a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Faith Evangelical Free Church, 5910 Price Road.

        Band members are scheduled to be the musical worship leaders of the Get Away portion of the Annual Campus Crusade National Conference, in Fort Collins, Colo., July 18-25. Along the way the band is scheduled to perform in Colorado Springs and at a concert in Lincoln, Neb.

        SILVERTON — Peace, unity and love through faith is the theme of the 17th Anniversary Celebration at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Olivet Baptist Church, 6838 Montgomery Road.

        “We are trying to stress peace and unity because of the turmoil we are having in our communities now,” said Euvie Rankin, chairman of the program.

        The Rev. James H. Cantrell, pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Avondale, is guest speaker.

        Do you need to toot your horn about Cincinnati? You can talk about Cincinnati and Americaand learn about foreign countries by hosting an international student.

        Mike and Carol Schiering, International Exchange coordinators, are looking for interested families in the area to host a high school age foreign exchange student.

        The students come from 26 countries, are fully insured, and have their own spending money. And they speak English. For more information, call 741-4627.

       Allen Howard's column runs Saturdays. Call: 768-8362. Mail: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

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