Eva Lande began to have an impact on her community when she opened a preschool in 1940.

She remains an active leader in the Democratic Party, an advocate for the League of Women Voters and founder of the Emergency Money Fund.

Others who made the list for their community stewardship are: Karen Grantz, active with the Literacy Council; Mari Louise Hubbard, a dedicated teacher; Wendy Hushak, founder of Impact 100, which funds charitable organizations; Kitty VanCamp Wells, known as a Christmas Angel who volunteers to provide Christmas for children at One Way Farms.

The Women of Excellence Awards Dinner and Gala was held at the Manor House Banquet & Conference Center in Mason.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will fund women's scholarships for postsecondary education.

Charity has impact

Tender Mercies, which provides shelter for mentally ill people, will receive $184,000 next week from Impact 100 to be used for infrastructure improvements of the agency's seven properties.

Impact 100 is made up of 100 volunteer women who contribute $1,000 each annually to be used for a charitable purpose.

Boothe given award

Dr. Leon E. Boothe, former president of Northern Kentucky University, received the Sister Benedict Bunning Award for his dedication to hospitality, stewardship, respect and justice.

The award was given by Madonna Manor, a nursing home in Villa Hills, last month.

New Eagle scouts

Herth twins

Twin brothers Brandon and Chris Herth, of Boy Scout Troop 408, sponsored by the Harrison Knights of Columbus, have attained the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America: the Eagle award.

Brandon's community service project was building a gravel walkway leading to the upper practice fields at Harrison Community Center. Chris' project was the building of a playhouse/sandbox at the Harrison Junior Baseball Complex.

The La Salle High School juniors are the sons of Peggy and Duane Herth of Harrison Township.

Clarke Brinn

Clarke Brinn, of Boy Scout Troop 502, sponsored by Indian Hill Rangers Boy Scout Camp Inc., has earned the Eagle Scout Award.

His community service project involved taking an oak tree that was felled for a home renovation and making it into benches for Green Acres, a nonprofit learning center in Indian Hill.

Clarke, a senior at Indian Hill High School, is the son of Debbie and Stuart Brinn of Indian Hill.

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Our kids

Jose Santos acted quickly when the home he was sleeping in caught fire Aug. 7. The 11-year-old woke three sleeping adults in the burning house.

Last week, Florence Mayor Diane Whalen and Fire Chief Jim McMillen honored Jose for his actions.

"It's encouraging to see a young man like this," McMillen said while presenting Jose with a citation. "His actions saved three occupants from serious injury or death."

The blaze broke out at 3:40 a.m. at a two-story, single-family residence in the 300 block of Center Park Drive.

Jose, the son of Anel Garcia, is a student at R.A. Jones Middle School, but he learned about fire safety in a program called "Learn Not to Burn" at Florence Elementary School.

In addition to two plaques from the city, the Florence Freedom minor league baseball team gave Jose season tickets, hats, T-shirts and a bobblehead.