Today, the agency will rededicate its services after having to relocate when Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority demolished the agency's Laurel Homes site.

        The ceremony will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the agency's new office at 425 Ezzard Charles Drive, West End. It will include volunteers from the Wise-UP program at Isaac M. Wise Temple in Amberley Village, reading to children and giving them books.

        “It is a dual celebration — DCS/VISIONS' rededication and National Children's Book Week,” said Linnea Lose, marketing communication director.

        The agency was able to remain in the West End after receiving a grant from the Charlotte G. Schmidlapp Foundation.

        DCS/VISIONS provides early childhood education services for children and support services that help their single-parent mothers to graduate.

        “By moving into a new center last month, Dominican Community Services/VISIONS opened a new chapter on caring for West End children so they can care for their own,” said Robert Johannigman, board of trustees president.

        Child care is provided for nearly 80 children. Fifty young low-income mothers receive assistance with finishing high school, earning a GED or enrolling in job training.

        The ballad of the Underground Railroad will be told through music, dance, drama and visual artwork by students from six Cincinnati public schools from 10:30-11:30 a.m., today during the opening ceremony of the American Orff-Schulwerk National Convention at Albert B. Sabin Convention Center, downtown.

        The students, about 300, attend North Avondale Montessori, South Avondale, Fairview German Bilingual, Millvale, John P. Parker and Washington Park schools.

        Dr. Rene Boyer-Alexander, renowned Orff guru at the University of Cincinnati, will direct the performance. German composer Carl Orff developed the method for teaching children music.

        The ceremony starts three days of training for more than 3,000 educators from around the world.

        About 100 horse owners, their families and friends raised $8,000 for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund during a “Horsemen for Heroes” event held at Steppin' Hi Stables in Walton last week.

        They rode through wooded, creekside terrain and returned for barbecue and bean soup. Gifts and certificates, donated by individuals and companies were auctioned off.

        Melissa Jaquay of Hebron won the grand prize, the David Stocklein Equine Series, titled, “Running In Snow.”

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Monday-Friday and Sundays. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are performing acts of kindness that are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at (513) 768-8362; at ahoward@enquirer.com; or by fax at (513) 768-8340.
       

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