About 300 nurses were served breakfast May 6 at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center cafeteria by doctors in honor of National Nurses Week, May 6-12.

Participating doctors were Michael Nussbaum, chief of staff and a surgeon; Myles Pensak, otolaryngologist; William Martin, dean of the UC College of Medicine; Brian Gibler, chair, department of emergency medicine; Andy Filak, associate dean, College of Medicine; Lee Ann Coberly, internal medicine; and John Howington, cardiothoracic surgeon.

"I love things like this," said Coberly. "I even came in on my day off to help out."

Also, in honor of National Nurses Week, four nurses from Middletown Regional Health System received the Nursing Excellence Award May 6 at a recognition dinner at the Manchester Hotel in Middletown.

Doctors at University Hospital serve breakfast for the nurses during Nurses Week. Provided photo

Recipients were Vicki Monce, of cardiology; Kathy Brandenburg and Elsie Johnson of Main B Telemetry Unit; and Denise Goodlett of radiology. The nurses were nominated by peers.

The awards and recognition dinner were sponsored by the Orr Foundation, established by Beryl and Nadine Orr, to support nursing education.

Spencers at OU

Donald and Marian Spencer - two local giants in the civil rights movement - will participate in Ohio University's celebration Monday of the landmark school desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education.

The event will include a speech by Marian Spencer. Donald Spencer also will serve on a panel discussion.

"The decision in that case may not have given us all we wanted, but it set the tone for a lot of other advancements," Donald Spencer said. "A lot of other school desegregation cases developed from the Brown v. Board of Education case decision because it established the fact that separate was not equal. It set the groundwork for other civil rights victories in public transportation, public accommodation and fair housing."

Donald Spencer served on the Ohio University Board of Trustees from 1974 to 1983. He was president of the board from 1979-80 - the first African-American to serve in that capacity.

Spencer, former owner of Donald A. Spencer and Associates real estate firm, also taught in Cincinnati Public Schools for 18 years.

Marian Spencer was a vice mayor of the city of Cincinnati and served two terms as president of the Women's City Club.

Both are regarded stalwarts in the civil rights movement, including their involvement in the two local school desegregation lawsuits against Cincinnati Public Schools.

Grant helps Camp Joy

A $30,000 grant to the Camp Joy Outdoor Education Center will be used to expand its programs.

Camp Joy is a residential summer camp for boys and girls, ages 7-15.

The grant was given by Fifth Third as agent for the Ohio Valley Foundation.

Church turns 150 today

MOUNT HEALTHY - One of Hamilton County's oldest Catholic congregations will celebrate 150 years in Mount Healthy today.

The Church of the Assumption Catholic Parish was founded by about 30 poor German Catholic families, many of them farmers in what was then a rural area. They spent $1,500 to build their first church on donated land.

Today, the congregation has more than 1,400 families, and several other area Catholic churches have their roots in the congregation.

"It's a congregation that is still alive and well and thriving with 35 organizations and ministries reaching out into the community," said Tony Wagner, the church's communications coordinator for the anniversary celebration.

The celebration begins with a 4 p.m. Mass, presided over by Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, and continues with the burial of a time capsule in the oldest part of the property. The capsule is to be opened for the church's 200th anniversary.

The time capsule includes a letter from Mil Supe, 92, a lifelong member of the congregation, and a letter from Scott Wagner, a 14-year-old eighth-grade student at the church's 350-student school.

The congregation also plans a dinner and reception at 5:30 p.m. and a memorial procession to nearby St. Mary's Cemetery, where three priests from the church are buried.