Abby S. Schwartz, regarded as the cornerstone of art education at the Taft Museum of Art, has received national recognition for her work.

She has received the National Art Education Association's (NAEA) 2003 Art Educator Award for the Western Museum Education Division.

The award recognizes one outstanding NAEA member from each of four regions for exemplary contributions, service and achievement.

Ms. Schwartz is curator of education at the museum, a position she has held since 1990. She has given lectures on the museum's art collection and has written exhibition catalogs and brochures. Ms. Schwartz led collaborations with ArtWorks, a summer art employment program for teens, and Theatre IV, the museum's children's theater company.

She expanded the Galleries on the Go outreach program, developed Taft Tuesdays for Teachers programs for area educators and initiated Families Create, a series of weekend programs for young children and their families.

Ms. Schwartz won the Ohio Art Education Association's Museum Educator of the Year award in 2000. She holds a bachelor's of arts degree in history from the University of Rochester and a master's of arts in art history from the University of Cincinnati.

Deena Pinales, associate curator of docent and school services at the museum, said Ms. Schwartz has established one of the most outstanding art education programs in the state.

"Her creativity is evident in every program at the museum, and her belief that art should be infused into the experience of every student is illustrated in the many ways she makes the museum accessible and inviting to all," Ms. Pinales said.

A handcrafted ornament by artist Jonie Merrick of West Chester has been selected as part of the Governor's Residence permanent holiday decoration collection.

She was one of 51 winners around the state in the Treasures for the Tree holiday ornament contest. The winners were chosen by five regional centers.

Each center chose one winner from its region and will present that person a $200 prize at a reception Saturday at the Governor's Residence. Five grand prize winners will be announced at the reception.

A group of television personalities volunteered to help serve a Thanksgiving meal to 500 people at CRI (formerly Cincinnati Restoration Incorporated), 1322 E. McMillan St., East Walnut Hills.

Dishing out 200 pounds of turkey with all the trimmings were: Jack Atherton and Kimberly Moening, Fox (Channel 19); David Rose and Shannon Kettler, WCPO-TV (Channel 9); Angelique Frame and Greg McKinney, WLWT (Channel 5); and Layne Mason and Jude Redfield, WKRC-TV (Channel 12).

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