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Each year, The Enquirer recognizes a select group of area women for their contributions to our community through its Women of the Year program.  The Enquirer honors its 2012 Women of the Year class today at a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency.

Ruby Crawford-Hemphill earned the nickname “Cassius Clay” in the ninth grade after she stood up to bullies tormenting a classmate.

It’s a fighting spirit the Mason nurse would carry with her all her life as she works to care for women, children and the indigent.

Born the oldest daughter of a working class family of six, Crawford-Hemphill was used to being a caretaker. So when the prom queen and drill team captain earned a full college scholarship, she knew she wanted to become a nurse.

As the assistant chief nursing officer of the Women’s Health Center at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Crawford-Hemphill has been instrumental in expanding the hospital’s medical services to 13 community-based health centers across Greater Cincinnati.

She’s a charter member of Queen City Links, which she helped found eight years ago to improve the quality of life in Lincoln Heights, and helped launch the Women’s Health Fund, which has improved access to underserved women and their children.

She also serves on the boards for the Center for Respite Care, a 14-bed facility that provides medical care to homeless people recuperating from illness, and Every Child Succeeds, an organization that helps first-time, at-risk mothers provide an optimal start for their children.

Crawford-Hemphill is active with Delta Sigma Theta, a philanthropic group of professional women, and Bridges for a Just Community.

She also mentors at-risk girls through Rise Sister Rise.

“Ruby has a determination and fire in her belly that drives her to help our community,” said Nancy Barone, chief operating officer of University Hospital. “Her motivation is infectious and it is truly her life mission to help those in need.”

More about Ruby

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Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: assistant chief nursing officer, babies, charity, children, enquirer women of the year, mason, nurse, philanthropy, ruby crafword-hemphill, university hospital, university of cincinnati medical center, volunteer, volunteerism, women, women of the year, women's health center

John Cook gives his wife Harriett a gentle kiss as she falls asleep on the couch at their West Chester home on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. The Enquirer/Leigh Taylor

This Christmas morning, John Cook will wake early as he normally does. He will set aside his wife Harriet’s medications – six pills in the morning and six in the evening – and get her up and dressed. He will prepare and feed her breakfast, check her blood sugar and give her insulin .

He will remind Harriet – or Hatsy, as she’s known by friends and family – several times throughout the day that he is her husband, that they have been married for 53 years, that they have a daughter and that he loves her.

Then, on Thursday, he will endure the most difficult decision he’s ever had to make throughout their more than half-century together: to move Hatsy from their West Chester home into a nursing facility at The Emeritus at Long Cove Pointe in Mason.

“It’s been the hardest job that I’ve ever had,” said Cook, 74, of the 10 years he’s spent caring for Harriet since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 63.

It’s a process Cook says has been made easier by a complimentary home visit program offered by Emeritus Senior Living, which operates the facility in Mason and another in Edgewood.

The Seattle-based company launched the free service in 2009 at each of its more than 470 assisted-living and memory care facilities nationwide. Emeritus staff donate their time and services to the program.

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Posted in: Business, Community, News |

Tags: Tags: emeritus at long cove pointe, emeritus senior living, home visit, pro seniors, senior citizens, seniors, volunteer

Kings High School Seniors where volunteering to do landscaping around the grounds of the high school as part of a National Day of Service and Remembrance of 9/11. (Tony Tribble for the Enquirer)

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Kings High School student Luke McLelland started his senior year with all 75 hours of his required community service hours finished.

But it didn’t stop the teen from joining his school’s Community Service Club, where he lines up service projects for classmates.

And that willingness to keep giving, said Superintendent Valerie Browning, is what the goal of the service requirement is all about.

“When I first came here I was really surprised – you don’t see that too often in public education,” Browning said. “As I became more and more exposed to it I realized how important service is for the kids, their growth and development.”

It also allows the community to see teenagers in a positive light.

“All too often we get into that mode of ‘Kids these days …” Browning said. “This allows people to see the positive side of our students.”

McLelland lined up three Habitat for Humanity houses his classmates could volunteer at during the senior class’ participation in the National Day of Service and Remembrance in September.

His was one of nine projects planned by seniors for seniors, who began the school day with a brief assembly before leaving for their work sites.

“The goal of community service is teaching kids the value of being active members of the community, not passive,” said Tim Guilfoyle, service club adviser. “I want kids to have the opportunity to lead other kids.”

Another service day – this one open to students in all grades – is being planned for spring by the service club.

“We spent the day building walls – hammering nails. We had 10 kids in each of three houses in Hamilton,” McLelland said.

“I love it. It’s super fun. I would much rather be outside spending time with my friends working than inside the classroom learning.”

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Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: 9/11, brady vanover, community service, habitat for humanity, jake caito, kings, kings high school, luke mclelland, national day of service and remembrance, nick handorf, tim guilfoyle, valerie browning, volunteer

Applications are being accepted for Mason’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

The volunteer program of the Mason Fire Department trains residents to assist in cases of large-scale disasters that may overwhelm professional response.

CERT volunteers are trained in basic response and organizational skills, such disaster preparedness, CPR and first aid, light search and rescue operations, disaster psychology and team organization.

The five-week training programs begins Sept. 19. Classes are held from 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 17 at Mason Fire Station 51, 4420 N. Mason-Montgomery Road.

Class space is limited. Applications available online at www.masoncert.org and can be picked up in person at the Mason Fire Department. For more information, call Pam Eickenhorst at 513-229-8540.

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: applications, cert, city of mason, mason, mason fire department, training, volunteer

The Kings Food Pantry is looking for a volunteer coordinator.

The position requires about 20 hours service each week, with hours on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Responsibilities include overseeing and training volunteers, maintaining pantry and storage area and completing client paperwork.

The pantry, a 26-year all-volunteer organization at 26 High Street in South Lebanon, serves families in the Kings Local School District.

For more information, call Dolcee Hoffman, RSVP coordinator, at 513-695-2252.

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: kings food pantry, kings local schools, south lebanon, volunteer

The Enquirer

Mason High School senior Thomas Probel spends a lot of time making music.

Along with playing in his school’s wind symphony, marching band, pit orchestra, pep band and symphony orchestra, Thomas is in his second year playing with the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.

“Performing is a part of my life which I can never let go,” Probel says.

Yet he also makes time to volunteer through his Heritage Presbyterian Church, the Flying Pig Marathon, Matthew 25 Ministries, and the Interfaith Hospitality Network.

When he goes off to college to study engineering, Probel says he will still look for opportunities to play his clarinet.

How did you get involved in playing instruments?
My father used to play clarinet and saxophone when he was in high school. My parents encouraged my siblings and me to become involved in music. I used to play my dad’s clarinet around the house and then eventually took piano lessons. In sixth grade I chose to play clarinet with the school band. I also saw how much fun my older brother Matthew had with marching and concert bands.

What has been your most exciting moment so far that involved playing music?
My entire senior has been exciting for me. I have been given so many opportunities I’ve taken advantage of, like having a solo in my marching band show that placed in the Top 10 in the Grand National Finals. All of the honor ensembles that I have been a part of this year were also rewarding, from principal clarinet in All-State Orchestra to being a part of the Honor Band of America.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: cincinnati symphony youth orchestra, community service, flying pig marathon, heritage presbyterian church, interfaith hospitality network, mason high school, matthew 25 ministries, music, orchestra, symphony, thomas probel, volunteer

Louie Sharalaya

Louie Sharalaya of Mason has joined Executive Service Corps of Cincinnati (ESCC) as a volunteer consultant.

The nonprofit organization provides management consulting services to other nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas.

Sharalaya recently retired after 35 years with Frisch’s Restaurants.  He most recently served as regional director in which he directed a division of 2,000 employees at 35 reataurants with $70 million in sales.

Sharalaya earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Pune University and is a board member of Kettering Health Network.  He and wife, Riz, live in Mason.

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: consultant, escc, executive service corps of cincinnati, louie sharalaya, mason, nonprofit, volunteer

Sheila McLaughlin reports:

A sense of noblesse oblige propelled Virginia Araujo through her life.

As a young mother, she founded the Mason Literary Guild and laid the groundwork to bring a public library to the then-rural community.

She volunteered as a local program chairman at the PTA, offered piano lessons, headed a non-profit teen center in Mason and even until about 10 years ago served as a mentor to children decades her junior in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Warren and Clinton Counties.

“She was a grandmother Big Sister, I guess,” said son Russell Araujo, of West Chester Township. “A big part of what drove her was a sense of wanting to give back and help others.”

Mrs. Araujo died Nov. 29 at the home of another son, where she was receiving hospice care.

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Posted in: Uncategorized |

Tags: Tags: big brothers big sisters, charles araujo, mason, mason literary guild, mason times community newspaper, obituary, raymond walters college, russell araujo, virginia araujo, volunteer, warren county

More than 100 Mason High School students participated in a Sept. 10 Day of Service project as a way of honoring those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The event was organized in conjunction with Kings High School and the Mason Kiwanis Club.

Since the terrorist attacks 10 years ago, the Mason community has held services annually to honor two of their own lost that day.

Wendy Faulkner, 47, the mother of then Mason students Ashley and Loren, and Robert D. Peraza, 30, a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald, both died in the World Trade Center.

“This year, we attempted to step it up a notch,” explained Lorri Fox Allen, Student Activities director.  “In addition to our annual collection to support the foundations of these two individuals, we created an entire day of service opportunities.”

Mason students began the day with a pre-service pep talk by Cincinnati Bengals chaplain Ken Moyer.

The group then split, with some taking part in the Buddy Walk held downtown, which raises funds and awareness for Down’s Syndrome, and others to City of Mason’s parks and recreation department to paint, mulch and pick up litter.

• Family of Mason toddler walks to support “extraordinary people” in Buddy Walk

“The local parks and recreation department has suffered many losses as a result of the economic times.  When the students contacted them, they were thrilled to have as many volunteers as we could give them to get some of the projects they no longer have the staff to address.” said Fox Allen.

Other students volunteered at City Gospel Mission to serve breakfast and lunch to homeless and people in need.  Another group assisted in building a corn maze at Evendale’s Gorman Farm.

Some students are extending their volunteerism beyond the day of service.  A group of students is working with the Leukemia Lymphoma Association to organize several Light the Night Walks, while another will spearhead the school’s annual Pennies for Heaven collection, which runs from Sept. 12-16.

“I was really excited to participate in the National Day of Service,” said Meghan Holzmacher, a senior at Mason.  “I was tired of doing community service that wasn’t hands-on, and thought ‘What better way to make a difference in my community than by getting out and getting my hands dirty?’”

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: 9/11, ashley faulkner, buddy walk, city gospel mission, day of service, down's syndrome, homeless, kings high school, leukemia and lymphoma association, light the night walks, loren faulkner, mason high school, mason kiwanis club, parks, rake, robert peraza, sept. 10 national day of service, students, terrorist attacks, victims, volunteer, wendy faulkner

Volunteers are needed to mentor grade and middle school students in the Mason school district.

The program, now in its fifteenth year, pairs adult volunteers (ages 21 and up) with students in fourth through eighth grades for one hour each week during the school day.

“There are a lot of kids out there who need a little extra encouragement,” said Sue Shackleford, program director.  “Mentors are just a little more support in these students’ lives.”

For more information or to volunteer, call Shackleford at 513-777-7207.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: adult, education, mason city schools, mason intermediate, mason mentoring program, mason middle school, mentor, schools, students, volunteer