Families with members who suffer mental retardation or other developmental disability should attend a family network planning session Oct. 17 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

“We are trying to develop a family network so that families can share with each other some of the problems they are having,” said Jenny Dexter, director of community relations for the Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities, the sponsor.

“This will be a support group and an information group. A lot of times families who have these problems feel that they are out there alone.”

She said 20 families have already signed up for the meeting.

Meetings will be from 10 a.m. to noon and 6-8 p.m.at the Cincinnati Children's Division of Developmental Disabilities, Location E, Children's Hospital, 4th Floor, Room 80.

Families attending should park in the Children's Hospital parking garage and use Location E elevators.

Anyone needing special accommodations should call Mel Brauninger at the Hamilton County Board of MRDD, 587-7302.

Joel B. Kaplan of Montgomery and Deborah Eckert of Indian Hill worry about friends living in Israel who live under a constant threat of terrorism.

Mr. Kaplan, executive director of Jewish Family Service, and Ms. Eckert, clinical social worker and director of Mercaz Yad L'Dorot (Center for Holocaust Survivors) are coordinating a support group for American Families with friends and relatives in Israel.

The opening session for the group is 7:30 p.m., Oct. 21 at the Jewish Family Service offices, 11223 Cornell Park Drive, Blue Ash.

Ms. Eckert once lived and studied in Israel and keeps in contact with friends she met there. “I understand what it is like to worry about people I care for and who live with the constant threat of terrorism in Israel,” Ms. Eckert said.

Mr. Kaplan studied in Israel. He and Ms. Eckert will help the support group deal with the fear of parents for the safety of their children, overall concern for the state of Israel's survival, safety of loved ones and the stress of those watching from Cincinnati.

“I have friends from the U.S. and Canada that have moved to Israel as well as native Israeli friends from my school and professional experiences,” Mr. Kaplan said.

The support group is sponsored by the Jewish Family Service and the Cincinnati Chapter of Yachdav, an organization for the parents of North American Israelis.

The Junior League of Cincinnati wants you to shop until you drop at its annual Rummage Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdayat the Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 7700 Vine St., Carthage.

Proceeds from the sale along with grants are used for shopping vouchers for 600 families at Washington Park Elementary School, Over-the-Rhine.

Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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