Homeowners group forming

West Side homeowners will meet tonight in Westwood to start what organizers hope will become a new citywide association that would lobby on behalf of homeowners. The Cincinnati Homeowners Association is the brainchild of Westwood resident Jim McNulty, 50, a letter carrier who says homeowners are the only group in the city that isn't represented on issues of housing, taxes, schools and crime. The meeting is 7 p.m. at St. Peter and St. Paul United Church of Christ, 3001 Queen City Ave., Westwood.

Tobacco cash aids groups, hospitals

Eight hospitals and health organizations will be using Ohio tobacco settlement money to help people with chronic lung disease and to serve uninsured pregnant women. The grants were awarded by the Foundation for Healthy Communities, an arm of the Ohio Hospital Association. Hospitals receiving grants for pulmonary rehabilitation programs are the Drake Center, $15,000; Good Samaritan, $15,000; Mercy Hospital Clermont, $7,500; Mercy Franciscan Mount Airy, $7,500; and Bethesda North, $7,500. Hospitals and groups receiving grants for programs for pregnant women are Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, $15,000; Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, $30,000; Mercy Franciscan Mount Airy, $15,000; and Middletown Regional, $15,000.

Event to benefit family nurturing

A Florence nonprofit will benefit from a fund-raiser at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Wilder. The Art Affair will include a live art auction and a silent auction of handmade gift items, gift certificates, entertainment tickets and gift packages from businesses. Proceeds benefit the Family Nurturing Center of Florence, an agency that promotes healthy families and aims to end child abuse. The Art Affair will take place at the Marquise Banquet & Conference Center, 1016 Town Drive. Cost is $30. Information: (859) 525-3200 or www.familynurture.org.

Children's signs on for 'spine staple'

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center announced Tuesday that it has signed a license agreement with E-Prime of Blue Ash to develop a "spine staple" that could eliminate the need for thousands of children to get surgery for curved spines. The spine staple is intended to correct scoliosis by preventing the spine from curving as children grow. The staples were invented by Dr. Eric Wall, an orthopedic surgeon at Children's, and Dr. Donita Bylski-Austrow, an orthopedic researcher there.

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