Practice dummy "Scum Bag Bob" received his share of kicks and punches at the Landen Station Police Station Tuesday evening during the first Deerfield Township Women's Self-Defense class.

The training came from instructors such as DARE officer Don McGlothlin, a former Marine with hand-to-hand combat training; Warren County Sheriff's Deputy Ben Dunaway, a ninth-degree black belt; Trinity Davis, a corrections officer and military trained defense specialist; and deputies Shane Shakelford and Barry Riley.

"It was absolutely great,'' said Fran Klatte, a Deerfield Township resident who took the class. "It dealt with punches and kicks and being aware of where you are.''

Service scholar

The campus of Vanderbilt University provides a good forum for Stacy Tolos to carry on her work in community service.

The 2003 graduate of Sycamore High School is a freshman at the university where she acts as a mentor in inner-city schools. She also serves as the Washington, D.C., site leader for Vanderbilt's Alternative Spring Break program.

While at Sycamore, Tolos conducted leadership conferences for students from the School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Moeller High School, Cincinnati Hill Christian Academy, Ursuline Academy and Sycamore.

She is on a four-year Ingram scholarship, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement and commitment to community service. Part of the requirement for her scholarship is that she design and implement projects that address significant societal needs.

"I am developing a mentoring program to mix college students with inner-city youth to talk to them about life skills, studying and getting a job,'' Tolos said.

Chefs contribution

The $75,000 raised at the Chefs' Celebration gala last November has been donated to the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Trust, Oxford.

"It was very gratifying to see sponsors and attendees from throughout the hospital's service area come together to make Chefs' Celebration such a financial and culinary success,'' said Julie Nickell, development director at the hospital.

The event, which featured renowned chefs and attracted 250 guests, was held at the Elms Hotel in Oxford.

Canned food drive

Fraternities, sororities and student athletes at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights are sponsoring a community-wide canned food drive throughout January to help fight hunger.

Donations may be made at basketball games and at the office of Student Life, Suite10 in the University Center, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m..

Faith Matters

WYOMING - Tammy Bundy is a mother and a Christian, and she knows that requires faith and a sense of humor.

More than 10 years ago, she began sharing that wisdom with others through her writing.

"As I was rocking the little one to sleep, I would reflect on the day, and the English teacher inside me said, 'Write this down,' " she said.

Now the Wyoming mother of four, ages 8 to 16, is releasing her sixth book, Catholic Moms 24/7 - this one a daily devotional printed by Cincinnati-based St. Anthony Messenger Press.

"The two things that help me most in the crazy world of being a mom are my faith and my sense of humor, and I hope I put that into my book," she said. "I feel parented in my faith because I have this Holy Father there for me. I feel comforted to know God's with me and my children."

Some of Bundy's other books include The Book of Mom: What Parents Know by Heart; Of Popcorn and Prayer: Confessions of a Happy Mom; Recipe for a Happy Family, and Food for Thought About Life's Most Important Ingredients. They can be found in Catholic bookstores or ordered at retail bookstores or online at www.amazon.com and St. Anthony Messenger Press online at http://catalog.AmericanCatholic.org.