Roger Bacon High School Science teacher Katie Hoekzema and English teacher Bill Stone (see Zoom view) will be running the New York City Marathon this coming Sunday. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

Katie Hoekzema has never run a marathon, and Bill Stone ran his first last year.

But Sunday, the two Roger Bacon High School teachers will be among 30,000 people to run in one of the biggest - the ING New York City Marathon.

"Since the end of June, basically all I've been doing is running," said Stone, 38, who teaches English and coaches wrestling and football. His first marathon, he said, "was a painful experience, but I want to do better this time."

Hoekzema, 24, has always run to keep in shape, but has never competed. The second-year science teacher heard Stone was entering the lottery to be in the New York City Marathon and decided to add her name.

Although the two have been training together on their long runs, they don't expect to run the 26.2-mile race together. Stone is shooting for a four-hour time, and Hoekzema is hoping to be at about 4 hours and 20 minutes.

"I just don't want to walk, and I want to finish," she said.

Recycling effort honored

Green Township received Hamilton County's Communities Achieving Recycling Excellence Most Improved Award. Fred Schlimm, director of public services for the township, said because of limited funding, the township has no formal recycling program, but stresses recycling in its regular newsletter.

The township also hosts yard waste collection for all of the western part of the county at Kuliga Park, 6717 Bridgetown Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 23 and two Saturdays in January.

As part of its reward the township will receive flower planters and trash cans made from recycled materials to use in its parks.

Academic all-stars

AK awards scholarships

These students are recipients of AK Steel's Sons and Daughters Scholarships:

Cinnamon Baker of Hamilton, a graduate of New Miami High School; Lauren Blanton of Middletown, a Madison High School graduate; Jeff Day of West Chester Township, a Lakota East High School graduate; Ashley Esselman of Middletown, a Middletown Christian High School graduate; Matthew Hill of Hamilton, a Lakota West High School graduate; Kathryn Lehman of Middletown, a Middletown High School graduate; Aaron Motley, a Carlisle High School graduate; and Katie Scherer of Ironton, an Ironton High School graduate.

Kevin Ellerbrock of Hamilton, a St. Xavier High School graduate, was also selected, but subsequently received a full ROTC scholarship - making him ineligible to get the AK Steel award.

Italian society grant

Tara Fehrenbach was the recipient of a high school scholarship sponsored by the United Italian Society of Cincinnati.

The daughter of Gina and Tom Fehrenbach of Symmes Township attends Ursuline Academy.

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Our kids

Three Middletown teens have started their own chapter of Rock for Life, to bring awareness of anti-abortion issues to young people.

On Oct. 18, the chapter held its first successful event.

Cody Madonna, 17, Johnna Roark, 17, and Jessica Corrill, 16, organized a six-band concert, raising more than $700 to spend on future events and RFL merchandise, such as T-shirts, buttons and patches to spread their anti-abortion message.

"The purpose of this rally is not only to spread the message of Rock for Life and the pro-life choice, but that of Jesus Christ - it is a spiritual ministry and not just an activist event," Cody said.

Rock for Life is a division of the Youth Outreach Program of American Life League, the largest anti-abortion educational organization in the nation.

RFL has 34 chapters in 19 states.