On Saturday, Melissa and David Folzenlogen of Mason are having a party, and everyone is expected to bring a gift. But the siblings, ages 5 and 7, aren't the ones who'll be receiving the presents.

Instead, the "giving" party is designed to collect Christmas presents for kids at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Siblings David and Melissa Folzenlogen (left), shown with friends Christine and Nick Wagner, will be collecting Christmas gifts for hospitalized children (Photo provided)

"We're giving presents to the people at Children's Hospital so they don't feel sad at Christmas," Melissa said. "I'm learning it's good to help other people."

Their mother, Rhonda, 33, sent out more than 75 invitations to her children's classmates, friends and children in the neighborhood for two separate parties divided by age group.

"I got tired of hearing my kids saying, 'I want, I want,' " she said. "I wanted them to learn it's not all about receiving."

Donating time to the cause are Julie Perelman of Stampin' Up, performers from Mad Science of Cincinnati and clowns from ClownFlower Alley and ClownParty.com. And businesses such as Wendy's, Cosco, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Snappy Tomato Pizza, Kroger and Meijer have donated supplies for the party.

Orchestra conductor named

The man who led award-winning bands in such prestigious events as the Orange Bowl, Kentucky Derby and Indianapolis 500 parades is waving the baton again.

Retired music educator David Burchfield was named associate conductor for the Hamilton Fairfield Symphony Orchestra.

"As our annual season has grown to 12 concerts, it becomes necessary to have a second conductor standing in the wings," said Bill Groth, president of the HFSO.

Burchfield is former director of bands with the Fairfield City Schools and a teacher in the Talawanda School District, Butler County and the Madison County school system in central Kentucky.

Activists honored

Four local activists will be honored with the 2003 Maurice McCrackin Peace & Justice Awards at 3 p.m. Sunday at Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 William Howard Taft Road.

They are the Rev. Duane Holm, director of Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati; Louise Lawarre, organizer and director of Greater Anderson Promotes Peace; Michael Maloney, founding director of the Urban Appalachian Council; and Marian Weage, founder of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Art teacher awarded

Jan Harbolt Wiesner, a first- and fourth-grade teacher at Summit Country Day School, received the Outstanding Art Teacher of Southwest Ohio Award last month at the Ohio Art Education Association convention in Toledo.

She also is an active artist at the Pendleton Art Center Studio, Over-the-Rhine.

Volunteers: Love France? This is for you

A group of volunteers, working under the umbrella of the Alliance Francaise of Cincinnati, is networking and sharing resources pertaining to French culture and education.

A committee of the group, headed by Thierry E. Lorthioir, a board member of the Alliance, is planning an "EDU-fest: Open Windows on the Francophone World" today at the Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park.

Lorthioir said the free holiday celebration will begin with visual arts, singing, school exchange programs and teaching from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"A teacher forum will take place from 2 to 3 p.m.," Lorthioir said. "French educators will have an opportunity to meet and share their experience among themselves and the community."

Lorthioir said the alliance was started in Cincinnati in 1901 by Auguste Fredin, the French honorary consul in Cincinnati.

"It is a cultural, nonprofit organization, and its activities are open to everybody," Lorthioir said.

Kathryn Lorenz, director of basic languages at the University of Cincinnati, said the alliance allows French-speaking people to get together outside a classroom.

"It also encourages the use and study of French in countries outside of France," Lorenz said.