For 40 years, Donald Seltz was in and out of veterans hospitals, rehabilitation centers, dialysis clinics and social service agencies, selling hope.

Last month, the retired medical social worker received the lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Social Workers at the University of Cincinnati Faculty Club.

"It was like selling a product, but I guess you really can't call it a product,'' Seltz said. "When I was talking to people who were on dialysis, two and three times a week, I had to convince them that they still had a chance at achieving a better quality of life."

Although the Deerfield Township man is retired at age 67, he is still doing the same thing. He is delivering Meals on Wheels, making home health visits, helping to conduct workshops of visual health care and looking in on rehab training.

He refers to his work as: "Helping people to help themselves."

Seltz is a graduate of Walnut Hills High School. He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and a master's in social work from Ohio State University.

He worked for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Cincinnati for 31 years. He has worked at VA hospitals in Chillicothe, worked at the old Longview State Hospital in Cincinnati and traveled throughout Appalachia working in rehabilitation training.

"I feel good about receiving the award, although you don't do this kind of work for that purpose," Seltz said.

A four-day mattress and furniture drive will be promoted Friday through Monday, by The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Kenwood Lazarus Furniture Gallery in Sycamore Plaza.

Lazarus customers will receive a $90 certificate when they donate gently-used mattresses and furniture to St. Vincent de Paul.

Tax receipts will be given when the donated items are picked up.

The oldest continuous German Day in Ohio will be celebrated from noon to 9 p.m., June 8 at Donauschwaben Park, 4390 Ridge Road, Colerain Township.

German food, music, gift items, cultural exhibits with information on German heritage will be featured. The event is sponsored by the German-American Citizens League.

For more information, call 851-9549.

Firefighter Oscar Armstrong III, killed March 21 while fighting a fire in Bond Hill, will be among those honored Monday in the 33rd annual Evanston Memorial Day parade.

Rita Martin, coordinator, said the neighborhood parade will draw about 100 people, including representatives from the Old Negro Baseball League, Masons, and Shriners.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.