Kids between the ages of 12 and 18 who need volunteer hours for school or community projects - or are just looking for a way to spend the summer - can join the Library Teen/Summer Reading Program.

"So far, the program has been great,'' said Paula Brehm-Heeser, teen service coordinator for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Teen volunteers took advantage of the program last week at the Monfort Heights Branch Library.

Anna Eilers, Amanda Moser and Corrine Striker, all 15, volunteered to work in the "Pirate Sidewalk Chalk" program, helping reference librarian Diana Carter judge entries and assisting in handing out materials.

Such programs are available at the main library and branches throughout neighborhoods.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has summer opportunities for teen volunteers. Here (from front) Corrine Striker, Amanda Moser and Anna Eilers, all 15, help reference librarian Diana Carter with the "Pirate Sidewalk Chalk" program. Provided

Applications may be picked up at the main library downtown and at branches.

Scholarship winners

Two local students were among six recipients of the Lloyd J. Banks Scholarships this year.

They are Matthew Borths and Bernie Wen, who each received $5,000 scholarships as honorable mention winners.

The program is funded by the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation.

Matthew is a graduate of St. Xavier High School and ranked 16th in his class out of the 372 students. He plans to attend Ohio State University.

He holds the rank of Eagle Scout. He was active in theater and band and volunteered for tutoring at inner-city elementary schools.

Bernie is a graduate of Sycamore High School, where he ranked 20th out of 493 students. He plans to attend the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

Bernie was on the varsity tennis team, a member of National Honor Society and a volunteer at Bethesda Hospital.

Revival focus: street violence

The Baptist Ministers Conference will focus its 28th Annual City-Wide Revival on street violence through a Youth Summit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 26 at Southern Baptist Church, 5556 Reading Road, Avondale.

Admission is free.

"We chose this topic because street violence is a major issue in our city, and it doesn't appear to be getting any better," said the Rev. Jim Vickers, coordinator of the summit and pastor of Ebenezer Second Baptist Church, Lincoln Heights. "Many youth are closer to this issue than we are, and we believe they can provide ideas and solutions we may not have thought of.''

Boyd earns medal

The Department of the Army has awarded the Army Commendation Medal to Pvt. Christopher Boyd, a graduate of Dixie Heights High School from Crescent Springs. Boyd, of Alpha Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, was honored for meritorious service during combat operations in Iraq.

Daly gets highest honors

Midshipman Patrick Daly, a senior at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., was named to the fall term superintendent's and commandant's lists, the highest honors awarded at the academy. The Oak Hills High School graduate is the son of Elaine and Robert Daly of Delhi Township.

Basic combat graduates

These privates have graduated from Army basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.:

Shannon Osterfeld, a Finneytown High School graduate and daughter of Laura Szempruch of Finneytown and Dale Osterfeld of Covedale; Deborah Huff, the daughter of Lawrence Vilvens of Lockland; Carina Malveaux, Withrow Traditional High School graduate and daughter of Linda and Vincent Malveaux of Fairmount; Francheska Ovington, Sycamore High School graduate and daughter of Julie Ovington of Blue Ash; Elizabeth Crable, Mount Notre Dame High School graduate and daughter of Jack Crable of Reading; Kristen Schneider, Mariemont High School graduate and daughter of Marlene Jonas of Fairfax; Sabrina Harper, Oak Hills High School graduate and daughter of Becky Harper of Delhi Township; Julia Corbett, Archbishop McNicholas High School graduate and daughter of Teresa and William Corbett of Mount Washington; Timothy Engel, Amelia High School graduate and son of Sandra Barr of Withamsville and Timothy Engel of Loveland; and Kristin Campbell, Glen Este High School graduate and daughter of Angla Perry of Union Township, Clermont County.

To submit an item, please call 755-4165.