Lunch honors teachers

Parents hosted a gourmet lunch during Teacher Appreciation Week last week at Mercy Montessori School, East Walnut Hills. The parents whipped up their favorite recipes for the special occasion, said Maureen Babbitt, a parent and staff member. "Parent volunteers chaperoned the children in the classroom so that all teachers and staff could eat together at the same time," Babbitt said. "The parents prepared a wonderful meal. We have some great cooks among the parents.'' She said about 25 parents took charge of watching the kids and another 50 participated in preparing the food, or sending in donations. The teachers were presented with a hand-made sack made out of patriotic blue-and-white stars that contained hand-decorated T-shirts. The T-shirts were red, white and blue. Students signed their names and added their thumb prints in ink on the T-shirts. The school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1969 under the leadership of Sister Mary Jacinta Shay. The school is based on Maria Montessori's educational theories on individual learning that were developed in the early part of this century.

George Verkamp and Christine Schoonover of Huff Realty's Hyde Park office helped to add trees of love to the Liberty Garden project in Eden Park.

In celebration of their marriage April 16 in Rome, the couple announced their gift to the city of Cincinnati and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful of $100,000 for completion of the Liberty Garden project.

They made the announcement Tuesday during an Arbor Day tree planting at the garden.

Verkamp is vice president and branch manager at Huff Realty's Hyde Park office. He has shown a passion for restoring a strong residential presence in downtown Cincinnati.

Schnoonover also is a vice president of Huff's Hyde Park office and has been one of the leading authorities in downtown Cincinnati residential development.

"We make our living in downtown development and this is a way of giving back to the community,'' Schoonover said.

Other sponsors and contributors to the project include he Procter & Gamble Fund; Human Nature Inc.; Kolar Design; Cincinnati Park Board; Prus Construction; Jeffery Allen Landscaping; Mill Valentine; Evans Landscaping; Ready Mix Concrete; The Home Depot; PaveStone; St. James at the Park Condominium Association.

Appalachian awards

Students from predominantly Appalachian communities will be recognized at an awards banquet kicking off Appalachian month at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Junior League Building, East End.

The event is the 2004 Appalachian Awards Banquet.

"May is Appalachian month in Cincinnati Public Schools,'' said Melissa English, information officer and training coordinator for the Urban Appalachian Council. "We will also recognize adults who contribute to the educational enrichment of East End youth and those who enhance the quality of life in the community.''

Awards will be presented to students in grades 6-12 in academics, attendance, art, citizenship, most improved, poems, essays on Appalachian Heritage and the importance of staying in school.

For more information, call 251-0202.

Doctor is in

A doctor who still makes house calls will be among the honorees at the 12th Annual Outstanding Achievement in Aging Awards banquet May 13 at the Bell Event Centre, Verdin Bell and Clock Museum, 444 Reading Road, downtown.

Dr. Ahsan Khan of the Visiting Physicians Association will receive the Outstanding Individual Providing Service in the Field of Aging.

Carol Merek, director of the Department of Human Services for the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, is the recipient of the Outstanding Leader Award in the Field of Aging.

The Caregiver Assistance Network will be honored as the Outstanding Project in the Field of Aging.