ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - Do you know the proper way to answer a telephone? When a thank-you card is appropriate?

Jennifer Renfro, 36, of Newtown does, and she's passing that knowledge on to the younger generation.

"Manners were a really big part of my family. That was the way I was brought up," Renfro said in a Southern accent. She's from Lexington.

She's teaching those manners for a second year to second- through sixth-graders in the Forest Hills School District at Mercer and Maddux elementaries.

"For me, it's almost turned into a kind of job because now other schools are interested," said the mother of four, two of whom attend Mercer.

It's a six-week course that covers everything from using please and thank you to table manners, taught just before Thanksgiving.

They keep on giving

Twenty-three blood donors from across the Tristate received recognition from the Hoxworth Blood Center for reaching the 10-gallon milestone in donations (or higher) during the last half of October:

Donald C. Wesley of Delhi was at the top of the list with 36 gallons. Robert E. Pugh, Colerain Township, donated 26 gallons, Charles D. Bryan, Delhi Township, 22, and Richard V. Manoukian, Terrace Park, 19.

Tommy G. Parrish, Florence, and Thomas P. Maly, Price Hill, gave 17 gallons each, and Virginia L. Brezinski, Sharonville, has donated 16.

Thomas F. Morrison, Montgomery, and John M. Cafferky, Winton Place, each donated 15 gallons. James J. Babey, Westwood; Gordon A. McNeill, Corinth, Ky.; and Hannah Hattenbach, Amberley Village; have each donated 14 gallons.

Gerald R. Ayer, Anderson Township; Robin Y. Buckner, Sycamore; and Gregory J. Grewe, West Chester, each reached the 12 gallon mark.

And Klaus P. Birk, Bridgetown; Robert J. Danemeyer, Westwood; Michael F. Erion, Lakeside Park, Ky.; Robert W. Fogler, West Chester; and Glenna F. Hammons, Hamilton; each donated their 11th gallon.

Ten-gallon donors were: Michael E. Groh, Cleves; Francis A. Kurtz, Greenhills; and Robert E. Sehlhorst, Delhi.

To donate, call 451-0910.

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

In Golden Key

Kelly Rae Lane accepted membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society, and has graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning with a bachelor's degree in art history. This fall, she is in Costa Rica working with the Cross Cultural Solutions volunteer program.

She is the daughter of Gloria and Doug Lane of Sharonville.

New Alpha Chi

Lori Merkle was elected to membership in the Indiana Beta Chapter of Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society at Huntington College, Ind. Election is by the faculty on the basis of scholarship and character.

The Simon Kenton High School graduate is the daughter of Donna and Tony Merkle of Walton, Ky.

Given scholarship

Amanda Young, a senior music education major, was awarded the Rose & O.C. Stewart Music Scholarship at the Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Music Scholarship and Awards Celebration 2003.

The Lakota East High School graduate is the daughter of Carolyn and Russ Young of West Chester Township.

To submit an item, call 755-4165.

OUR KIDS

In their freshman year, five Princeton High School girls started the HOPE club, which stands for Helping Our Planet Earth. Now, in their senior year, the girls - Kathleen Johnson, Ashley Burkert, Christine Liao, Amy Sprong and Karen Marcotte - have raised enough money to adopt 260 acres of rain forest.

"When I look at the environment now, it means a lot more to me that I'm doing something to help make it better for this generation and the next," Burkert said.

The rain forests, in Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico, were adopted through an Earth Foundation and Nature Conservancy program. The club hopes to adopt another 100 acres through its annual T-shirt sale in January, said Pam Farrell, the club's adviser.

"These kids are beyond phenomenal. They are unbelievable," she said.