The team, MasonMaginaton, won first place in the elementary level of the GuessDImate Challenge at Miami University March 20.

"Our team was one of 96 teams from Region 14 that competed," said Elizabeth Kennedy, an adult team leader. "Mason had 17 teams in the regional competition. Two other elementary level teams are going to the state competition."

Destination ImagiNation participants form teams and are given a challenge to overcome. No adult help is permitted.

"We can only help to get them there. The students have to do it all," Kennedy said.

The Mason elementary level had to design a structure using only wood and glue. Then they had to guess how much weight the structure would hold. They also had to write a skit involving the wooden structure. For once, termites came in handy.

Destination ImagiNation was started in the early 1980s and has developed into one of the largest creative and problem-solving programs for youth.

Kennedy said the idea is to teach children to solve complex problems by working together.

Donations say thanks

Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, which moved to Northern Kentucky in 1996, donated $25,000 each to the Erlanger and Point Pleasant fire departments Thursday for extraordinary assistance during emergencies. Joni Soale, general affairs manager at Toyota, said that most of the responses have not been fires, but that the two departments formed a partnership and helped out in emergency situations.

Soale said when a sprinkler line froze and burst, teams of firefighters from both departments were there, picking up boxes, moving furniture and pushing water out of the building to limit damage.

"The departments have responded quickly to our calls," Soale said. "In fact, they have thanked us for ensuring that we are following the proper procedures for an emergency situation."

Since moving to Erlanger, Toyota has built a lab, expanded the administration building by 80,000 square feet and is expanding its lab.

Summer camps

Seventeen summer camps will be offered by McAuley High School this year.

Camps in basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball with be offered for students in Grades 3-5.

Camps on arts and crafts, baby-sitting, basic study, clay, ceramics, future Mohawks service, Harry Potter Day, knit and fit, musical theater, scrapbook and Web page design will be offered for K-8 children.

GIVING BACK: Principal's family helped

The Ferrari's Little Italy Restaurant in Madeira was the gathering place for loads of generosity last month when the restaurant donated 25 percent of its profits for four nights to help the family of Roger Slagle.

Slagle, who was principal of Sellman Middle School in Madeira, died last October.

Friends, co-workers, parents, school staff and neighbors gathered at the restaurant in an event called "Love Feast."

The event was chaired by Sellman staff members Toni Purcell, Amy Friedman, Clark Eads, Laura Riedel, Carol Ladrigan, Melissa Fleming and interim principal Jack Buchholz.

They raised $7,117.56. Restaurant owner Tony Bassano presented the money to Slagle's wife, Heather Slagle, and their children, Rebecca and Leighann.

Cancer Society benefits

Four girls, who held bake sales and operated lemonade stands last summer to raise money for the American Cancer Society, have delivered their proceeds to the local chapter.

Kelsey Gabbard, 10, Katelyn Gabbard, 12, Sarah Buhler, 13, and Natasha Buhler, 11, all of Union, Ky., raised $150. Last month, they took the money to the American Cancer Society office in Florence. "When they came in here with the money, it brought tears to my eyes," said Pam Gerding, office assistant. "I gave them a tour of the office to let them see where there money would be used."