A giving spirit can be contagious, said Gale Oehler of White Oak.

She said that there were so many people, churches and organizations that helped them while her husband, Joe, was in the Burns Unit at University Hospital, that it would be impossible to thank all of them personally.

"It seems that everybody helped us - they cut grass, bought groceries, you name it and they did it," Oehler said. "We decided to pass forward and help the children at the Shriners Burns Hospital."

Girl Scouts at St. James School in White Oak are collecting donated items for Shriners Burns Hospital. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

After visiting the burns unit , her daughter, Kelsey, a seventh-grader at St. James School, White Oak, organized her Scout troop to collect items for the children at the hospital.

Girl Scout Troop 1766 at St. James has started a collection drive. They spent the lunch hour Thursday collecting money and items at the school.

"The troop is planning on collecting enough money and supplies to send the children to camp next year," Oehler said.

Football and food aid

Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback, is joining other NFL players in the Athletes First program that will team with Feed The Children to distribute 75 tons of donated products to families in seven National Football League cities.

Operation School Bell

The Assistance League of Greater Cincinnati has distributed back-to school clothing and supplies to 830 students in 17 public and parochial Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky schools.

The program is called Operation School Bell, a national project to provide clothing for schoolchildren.

Golden years: Celebrating 107 years

At 107 years old, Lottie Schoenemann doesn't ask for much from the staff at the Alterra Sterling House, an assisted living facility in Fairfield - just comb her silver-gray hair each day and decorate it with a bow.

Schoenemann turned 107 earlier this year and had a big celebration with friends, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

"She doesn't talk, but has a great appetite," said her daughter-in-law, Jan Miller of Hamilton. "A good day for her is mostly watching television all day and going to the dining room."

Schoenemann's 107 years span back to Berlin, Germany, where she was born in 1896. She lived in London for a while.

Miller calculates that her mother-in-law arrived in Cincinnati about 1940.

"She was a seamstress and worked at Gidding-Jenny," Miller said. "She also lived in New York for a while."

Miller said Schoenemann uses a wheelchair, but is in excellent physical condition for her age.

"She probably could walk if we insisted on it,'' Miller said. "When she is coaxed by the nurses, she will say a few words.

"The greatest joy of being around her is just to be able to see and touch someone who has lived that long."

Academic All-Stars: Student art exhibition

A drawing, titled "Wanted Alive," stands among 29 pieces of art work on display at Xavier University by students at Oak Hills High School.

The drawing, by senior Ellen Thomas, is one of the winning entries of artwork. Ellen, 17, is the daughter of Richard and Susan Thomas of Bridgetown.

Other students from Oak Hills who submitted paintings, drawings, books, sculptures and batiks in the competition are:

Meredith Christopfel, Francis Muse, Mark Tepe, Christopher Komnenovich, Linda Ding, Kelly Piller, Tony Gambetta, Laura Baker, Ross Bicknaver, Lindsey Hemberger, Katie Hoeper, Bryan Houser, Andrea Lalley, Kristi Marsh, Clay Mastin, Sarah Miyagawa, Alex Newman, Andrea Sisson and Kelli Zimmerman.

Photographs on exhibit are by students Tom Hutchinson, Claire Ekardt, Christine Cain, Lindsey Fowler, Kim Mensing, Lisa Distasi and Aaron Brettschneider.