Now, 25 years later, Working In Neighborhoods - the organization she started to help the working poor with life issues such as home ownership - is in 18 neighborhoods, has refurbished 112 homes and provided help to 2,152 people last year.

"I became very interested in pulling people together to make better decisions in their own lives," said Busch, 56, of Winton Place. "I'm a great believer that if you give people the tools, they'll make their own situations better."

WIN, which has 17 staff members and 759 volunteers, has contracts with CG&E to make 1,000 home visits to give tips on energy efficiency. The organization also provides home ownership training for both Provident and Fifth Third banks.

At WIN's center, the former St. Pius Catholic Church in South Cumminsville, the organization provides computer education classes for people in the neighborhood on everything from credit management to having a will.

"We do complete community development from early age to senior citizens, dealing with life's needs in every age group," Busch said.

Part of the St. Pius renovation is also going to include converting a school building into an 18-unit senior apartment complex.

Rescuers honored

Crescent Springs firefighters who used a thermal imager to locate and rescue a man in a house fire last month will be honored today, and the department will be inducted into the Bullard Save-A-Life Club - the first in Kentucky and 34th nationwide.

Chief Stephen Rauch said the thermal imager made by Bullard saved the man's life.

"Due to the heavy smoke, without the cameras during search and rescue, it would have taken much more time to find the resident, and I don't believe he had much more time," Rauch said.

Firefighters Frank Hicks, Bob Wiseman and Matt Dahlenburg searched the main floor of the house while other firefighters used the camera to guide them through heavy smoke to extinguish the fire.

The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse, 777 Overlook Drive.

Food and flowers

The Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly delivered 175 meals and violet flowers to nursing homes Thursday.

The group is nonprofit.

Our Kids

Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken honored 11 members of a Westwood flag football team for saving lives during a rescue from a Harrison Avenue apartment fire Oct. 18.

Led by 11-year-old Edward Tarrance, the players banged on doors and shouted warnings. Then, with some quick thinking, they took a mattress from a nearby trash bin so third-floor residents could jump to safety.

They saved a 4-month-old girl by holding open a blanket as her parents dropped her out of a window.

Luken proclaimed Nov. 26 "Edward Tarrance Day" in the city. He shared the day with his teammates: LaDontaey Blanton, TaJaei Blanton, Marquez Ferguson, Cornelius Henry, Chris Lowe, Lamont McCall, TaVontae Mitchem, Aaron Smily, Greg Smily and Marquez Webber.

The group also received a standing ovation from City Council.

Their football coach, Paul McDole, said he thought the kids were "knuckleheads" when he first met them, but added that they've become a more mature group.

"When I heard what they did, I didn't believe it," he said. "I never thought I'd have a day to have so much pride."