Asian Hassan joins Teach For America

Asian Hassan, a Wintersville native, has joined Teach For America, the national corps of top college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools in low-income communities.

Hassan, a 2006 graduate of Indian Creek High School and 2010 graduate of the Ohio State University, will teach in Detroit beginning this fall.

Teach For America says it received a record-breaking 46,000 applications this year, and admission was more selective than ever before, with an acceptance rate of 12 percent.

Teach For America recruits on more than 350 college campuses, seeking top graduates from all academic majors and backgrounds who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, perseverance and leadership.

This fall, more than 8,200 first- and second-year Teach For America corps members will be teaching in 39 urban and rural regions nationwide. They will reach students in more than 100 school districts in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

Cake decorating contest planned

The Best of Fall Home Show will be the site of the second-annual Amateur Cake Decorating Contest Sept. 12 in Columbus.

Three winners will be chosen by a panel of judges, Ace of Cakes' Mary Alice Yeskey and Geof Manthorne and Robin Davis, Columbus Dispatch food editor.

Grand prize is $300; second place, $200; and third, $100.

Amateur cake decorators are encouraged to enter by mailing one or more photos and a description of a past cake masterpiece by noon Aug. 23 to Thera@WeirickCommunications.com or mail them to best of Fall Home Show Cake Decorating Contest, Attn: Thera Wright, Weirick Communications, 7792 Olentangy River Road, Suite Fl-1, Columbus, OH 43235. Prints must be at least 4 inches by 6 inches. Entrants should include their name, mailing address, e-mail address, date of birth and daytime phone number. Five of the most creative decorators will be selected to compete before a live audience at the Best of Fall Home Show Sept. 12.

Theme for the contest is "Go Bucks!" Complete rules and details are available at www.dispatchevents.com.

Mingo clothing bank to be open

The clothing bank at the First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction will offer low-priced, quality clothing to the public Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This mission offers struggling families a chance to buy gently used clothing at nominal prices, Dee Kovach, mission leader, said.

"Things are tough for some families in our area. Many people aren't working and face hardships in keeping a family properly dressed," Kovach said. "We take great care in offering quality articles, and our aim is to treat everyone with dignity. We are all in this together, and this church has had its share of people hit hard by tough economic times."

The store will be open at the church's 650 Mc- Lister Ave. location.

Prices are nominal and sale proceeds go to other local charities.

The church also is accepting donations of gently used or like-new clothing. Clean clothes in good condition in all age and size groups are accepted. They can be dropped off during clothing bank hours or at the church office. Arrangements for pickup also can be made by calling the church.