LensCrafters, through its Gift of Sight program, started testing the children Monday in the company's vision van at the Evanston Recreation Center, 3204 Woodburn Ave.

The testing will be done each day this week through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Keon Melton, 9, a second grader at Silverton Paideia school, tries on his new glasses. (Gary Landers photo)

"The children have already been screened," said Pamula Thomas, Cincinnati Public Schools ombudsman. "This means they have failed two eye tests with vision of 20/40 or higher."

The children will be tested by an ophthalmologist in the vision van before being fitted and given glasses, Thomas said.

She said LensCrafters' Gift of Sight program operates in three phases.

First, some of the students were taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical center in October to be tested and fitted with glasses as part of a Cincinnati Public Schools' health care initiative.

In December, the same procedure took place in LensCrafters stores.

"This week is the third phase," Thomas said.

"The Gift of Sight Program also travels to several foreign countries, testing and outfitting children with glasses at no cost. I have been to Mexico and Costa Rica with the program."

Thomas said this is the 11th year LensCrafters has partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools.

For more information, call 623-2342

National Library week

Kenton County Library staff members invite everyone to explore the world during National Library Week, Sunday through April 24.

"Explore The World at Your Library" is this year's theme for the weeklong observation, emphasizing that the library offers more than just books.

It also features computers, Internet access, the latest software applications and music and movies on CD and DVD.

A few of the programs include Stuart Little at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mary Ann Mongan Library, Covington; a matinee featuring a Judy Garland movie at 2 p.m. Sunday at Erlanger Branch Library; Wonkamania at 4 p.m. April 19 at the Mary Ann Mongan Library; and painting faces from 10:30 a.m. to noon April 19 and 3:30-5 p.m. at the Erlanger Branch Library.

For more information, call (859) 962-4083.

Hit Stoogefest

A celebration of National Humor Month in April will be turned into a fund-raiser for the Pleasant Ridge Community Learning Center.

"Stoogefest," which includes short films of the Three Stooges, will be shown 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 23 at the Pleasant Ridge School auditorium, 5945 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge..

Doug Newberry said admission is $2.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is limited to 300 people.

For more information, call Newberry at 885-1373.

Positively kids: Bound for West Point

Benjamin Showman has accepted an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. The Fairfield High School senior is a member of the National Honor Society and the varsity cross country team. He is also a competitive cyclist and was a past representative of the United States at the Tour de l'Abitibi in Quebec, Canada, a race known as a smaller scale Tour de France for junior cyclists.

The son of Mary and John Showman of Fairfield plans to study engineering at West Point.

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Stephanie Gittinger has met qualifications and has been named a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. She also was named to the fall semester dean's list at Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, Ky.

The Calvary Christian School graduate is the daughter of Janet and Steven Gittinger of Taylor Mill.

Winning essay

Cody Elliot of Bellevue is the Campbell County winner of the 2003 AARP/Kentucky Retired Teachers Grandparent of the Year essay contest. He was also the district winner and will compete in the state finals.

Cody, a fifth-grader at Southgate Elementary School, wrote why he thought his grandfather, Tommy Bush of Newport, should be named Kentucky's Grandparent of the Year.

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