As Kroger, St. Vincent de Paul and Fox19 Television kick off the Food From the Heart Drive, they are faced with a dramatic increase in requests for food.

"We have seen a 37 percent increase over last year of people needing assistance at the Bank Street Food Pantry" in Over-the-Rhine, said Liz Carter, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul.

The food pantry, one of several through which the agency distributes food to the needy, served 13,805 people last year.

The food drive began Wednesday at the Hyde Park Plaza Kroger with a $2,000 donation from Kroger.

This year's goal is to collect 189 barrels of canned goods, or 65,000 pounds of food, to be distributed during the holiday season.

The drive runs through Dec. 31. For more information, check www.fox19.com or www.svdpcincinnati.org.

Frailey among honored

For his unwavering support of children, Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Alton Frailey received the Westheimer Medallion Award Saturday.

Frailey was among eight people receiving the award from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati.

Other recipients were: Albert Buzz Brown, former national president of Big Brothers Big Sisters; Mandi and Sean Casey, participants in the agency's Couples for Kids program; Dennis Cuneo, supporter and innovator for early childhood development programs; Kent Little, local entrepreneur; and Joe and Susan Pichler, co-founders of the Greater Cincinnati Scholarship Association.

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

In honor society

Susan Hyams has been elected to membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honor society of business and management. She is a junior majoring in sports management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The Sycamore High School graduate is the daughter of Donna and Ken Hyams of Symmes Township.

At West Point

Joe Gratton, a graduate of Princeton High School, is attending the U.S. Military Academy, at West Point, N.Y.

He was also a winner of President Bush's Award for Academic Excellence and the Ohio State Board of Education Award of Merit for 2003.

On dean's list

Senior Caryn Creamer was named to the School of Music's spring semester dean's list at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.

The Lakota West High School graduate is the daughter of Cindy and Ron Creamer of West Chester Township.

To submit an item, call 755-4165.

OUR KIDS

Young entrepreneur

It didn't take long for Randy Weneck to put into practice what he learned in the Milford High School marketing education program.

He used it in his parents' business, R&R Construction. Not only has it meant being a model son to Dennis and Donna Weneck of Milford, but Randy has won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

The award was given by the Milford-Miami Township Chamber of Commerce for Randy's entrepreneurial spirit and business experience/training.

Randy, a senior, is developing a business plan for the Ohio DECA event called Entrepreneurship Participating Event.