Bronze people will mill around Hamilton

HAMILTON - Courthouse square will be filled with people hugging, looking through binoculars, eating ice cream cones and reading a newspaper this summer - and they won't move for three months.

Twenty life-size sculptures by J. Seward Johnson Jr. will be on display during "Sculpture on High" July-September, said Trudy Marcum, president of Hamilton's nonprofit City of Sculpture committee.

The internationally known sculptor made "First Ride," showing a father helping a young girl riding a bicycle, that is in front of the Fitton Center for Creative Arts downtown.

The 400-pound bronze artworks depict people in a variety of daily activities - tying shoes, walking a dog, raking leaves, painting, eating a sandwich. All 20 statues are listed on the Internet at www.cityofsculpture.org.

Top nurses win Nightingale awards

Seventeen nurses were recognized Wednesday in the annual Florence Nightingale Awards for Nursing, given by the University of Cincinnati.

Seven nurses received top prizes of $1,000 each for their outstanding work: Terri Bogan, St. Elizabeth Medical Center; Sandy Cooney, Mercy Hospital Anderson; Shirley Brook Gumm, Crossroad Health Center; Michael Fitzpatrick, VA Medical Center; Sister Phyllis Kemper, TriHealth; Cindy Phillips, Shriners Hospital for Children, and Robin Melton, Douglass Elementary School.

Ten other nurses were given $400 awards.

Paxton's invites veterans, families

LOVELAND - Soldiers who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Loveland area families who have loved ones serving there, are invited to a free dinner April 27 at Paxton's Grill, 126 W. Loveland Ave.

Seatings are scheduled at 7 and 8 p.m., and reservations can be made by calling 683-7195 or by e-mailing paxtondinner@cinci.rr.com.

The second annual event is sponsored by Paxton's and David Miller Photography and Digital Imaging. Last year's dinner drew about 90 people.

Las Vegas Night benefits memorial

ANDERSON TWP. - A community garage sale here over the weekend raised $5,000 for a firefighters memorial.

Another benefit is this weekend, hosted again by the Anderson Township Fireman's Association. A "Las Vegas Night" will be 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday at the American Legion 318 Anderson Post, 7551 Forest Road.

Anderson firefighters want to erect a 7-foot-high bronze firefighter statue at Beech Acres Park. Counting last weekend's fund-raiser, they have raised $65,000 for the $200,000 memorial.