By Patrick Crowley
Enquirer staff writer

The Kenton County Democrat Club will hold its annual picnic Aug. 29 at Goebel Park in Covington's MainStrasse Village. Emma Hollis, who has served on the Covington Board of Examiners for Police and Firefighters since 1970, will be honored.

Tickets are $20 a person, $10 for senior citizens and members of the Young Democrats and free for age 16 and younger. The picnic runs from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a presentation to Hollis at 4 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m.

The picnic is the main fundraiser for the club. Most of the party's candidates on this fall's ballot are expected to attend and address the crowd.

Reservations are due by Aug. 22 and can be made by contacting Steve Hoffman at (859) 292-8883 or sljhoffman@fuse.net.

The club will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Walt's Hitching Post at Madison Pike and Kyles Lane in Fort Wright. Dinner is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Nick Clooney, who is running against Republican Geoff Davis in the 4th Congressional District, is scheduled to speak.

For information, contact Hoffman.

CLOONEY FUND-RAISER: Clooney's campaign is holding a fund-raiser Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the home of Kay Crist, who lives in Richwood's Triple Crown community.

Information, (859) 426-1471.

CAYZE-GUIDUGLI RECEPTION: Bellevue City Council candidate Brenda Cayze-Guidugli is holding a fund-raiser and reception Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at Christopher's Bed and Breakfast, 604 Poplar St. She is the operator of the bed and breakfast, which is housed in the former Bellevue Christian Church at Ward and Poplar streets.

Information: (859) 491-9438.

FIRE FIGHTERS ENDORSE GROOB: State Senate candidate Kathy Groob, a Democrat and member of Fort Mitchell City Council, has been endorsed by the Erlanger Firefighters Local 4206 labor union. Groob, who is challenging Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, was endorsed earlier by Covington Firefighters Local 38.

"Kathy Groob's support on local issues supports and is consistent with her pledge to protect family values, the economy, economic development, education and (prevent) the deteriorating of our health care system," Robert Hucker, president of the Erlanger local, said.

WESTWOOD GOES WEST: Westwood was recently in Seattle to make a presentation on his civic literacy initiative at the national conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Westwood's initiative is designed to increase government and civic education in Kentucky schools. It was adopted as a Senate Joint Resolution during the 2004 Kentucky General Assembly.

The resolution created a committee that is convening a Summit for Civic Literacy at Northern Kentucky University in October. Those attending will "evaluate the current voluntary and required civic literacy programs within Kentucky schools and then establish long-range goals for civic education."

"Encouraging the development of civic skills and attitudes among young people has always been an important goal and education and was the primary impetus for originally establishing public schools," said Westwood, a retired teacher and a member of the Senate Education Committee.

To submit an item to Political Notes, contact Patrick Crowley via e-mail, pcrowley@enquirer.com; fax, (859) 578-5565;or mail in care of The Kentucky Enquirer, 226 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell, Ky., 41017.