George and Michelle James of Loveland, representing the Coast Guard Academy, chaired this year's ball.

"The ball is sponsored by the parents' clubs of the five service academies,'' said George James. "This is the first time the Coast Guard has chaired it. Our son, Todd, graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1994 and our son, Ryan, is a second-year student there now.''

The five service academies are the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Merchant Marine, U.S. Military and U.S. Naval.

The ball included a parade of cadets and midshipmen in full dress uniforms.

Lt. Col. Edward Koslow, a decorated Air Force officer stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, gave a speech to the cadets and midshipmen.

London Street and DJ Dennis Richter provided music for a dance that followed.

Inspirational cards

Darla Watkins, who was forced to retire from teaching at Mason High School last year because she has cancer, is regaining strength through sets of healing affirmations and Scripture cards she makes.

She also sells the cards to raise funds for cancer research and prevention programs.

"The cards are what keep me going,'' said the 45-year-old Mason mother of two teenagers. "I miss my students, but I had to quit teaching because it wasn't fair to them when I didn't know how much I would be there.''

Watkins takes weekly chemotherapy treatments. She has had four recurrences since she was diagnosed in the spring of 2001.

A card on affirmation she wrote reads: "Being in the valley is circumstance. Staying in the valley is choice.''

Another reads: "Each day is a new day to begin again.''

Watkins started writing the cards to help her sister, Pamela Spicer-Kirk, through treatments for skin cancer.

Spicer-Kirk died in October 2002.

Watkins said her sister told her that the cards brought peace and hope.

In memory of her sister, Watkins makes the cards to give others hope through whatever challenges they face.

For more information, visit www.simplegiftsbydarla.com or call 754-8497.

Toy drive succeeds

The Cincinnati Black Firefighters Association toy drive was a success. The group collected enough toys to pass out at Millvale Elementary and Winton Hills

"We even had enough toys left over that we called the radio stations to give away them away at our office,'' said Kenyatta Smith, a member of the group.

Giving back: Blood donors honored

In the spirit of giving back, blood donors continued to respond to the Hoxworth Blood Center request for blood in December.

Eighteen people were honored by the center from Dec. 1-15 for donating more than 10 gallons of blood each over their lifetimes.

Leading the donor list was Richard A. Griffiths of Montgomery, who donated 20 gallons.

"To donate blood is not a big deal, but it is important," said Griffiths, a research scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency. "I wonder why more people don't do it."

Other donors included Tom H. Ohren, Amberley Village, 19 gallons; Norbert C. Hehman, Cold Spring, Ky., 17; and Corrine Yaeger, Mount Washington, 16.

Robert Tait, Woodlawn, and Daniel L. Dennis, Mount Washington, each donated 15 gallons.

Four people donated 14 gallons. They are Louis G. Wartman, Fort Wright, Ky., David D. Toennis, West Chester, Edwin E. Tibbe, Russelville, and Paul J. Hartfiel, Price Hill.

Jerome M. O'Connell, Mount Washington, Donald F. Leopold, Fort Wright, Ky., and Lee Czerwonka, Blue Ash, each donated 13 gallons.

Dennis J. Meyers, Harrison, and Francis X. Gastright, Fort Mitchell, Ky., each donated 11 gallons.

John R. Snape, Cheviot, Joseph A. Smith, Alexandria, Ky., and Mark E. Sharpshair, Sharonville, each donated 10 gallons.