With hammers, screwdrivers and paint brushes, residents in Kennedy Heights rolled up their sleeves and converted a 129-year-old building into a modern arts center.

The house was the former home of Louis Kennedy, who designed and built it. Kennedy later served as mayor of Kennedy Heights before the area was annexed by Cincinnati.

Last year, developers had threatened to bulldoze the 21-room historic landmark at 6546 Montgomery Road for a storage facility.

The gothic-style, wood-frame building sits on 2.2 acres in the heart of the Montgomery corridor, adjacent to the Silverton business district, said Mary Ray, a board member of the Kennedy Heights Arts Center.

"Area residents formed a nonprofit corporation to purchase the building,'' said Kathy Spoon, also a board member. "The city of Cincinnati contributed $50,000 toward the acquisition, and we had 40 neighbors personally pledge collateral to make the acquisition possible.''

Ray said phase one of the renovation project consists of refurbishing 10 rooms on the first and parts of the second floors. "Three rooms will be open today for an art class in gardening," Ray said.

She said the first floor will also eventually include a gift shop, tea room, public meeting space and a co-op art gallery. The second floor will include art studios available for rent and offices.

There will also be art studios on the third floor. The grounds will include gardens and an amphitheater.

Summit students on board

Two local students will head a list of 1,100 students participating in the Ohio Junior Classical League State Convention in Columbus today through Sunday.

Junior League State president Anna Ryan and state vice president Nicholas Faulkner are part of the 11-member board of students representing all regions of Ohio.

Ryan and Faulkner are seniors at Summit Country Day School, Hyde Park.

The Ohio Junior Classical League will celebrate its 54th anniversary this year. The convention features students from more than 60 Ohio schools who will compete in graphics, performing arts and academic contests related to the classics and the convention theme: "the greatest benefits are derived from friendship.''

"Latin and the classics have broadened my perspectives on many aspects of the educational process while having fun,'' Faulkner said. "Being involved in this organization has not only helped me build my leadership skills but also allows me to focus on giving back to our community which is a fundamental philosophy of our organization.''

Teens fight hunger

Teens at Christ Church, 965 Forest Ave., Glendale, received a taste of hunger as they participated in the 2004 World Vision 30 Hour Famine last weekend.

The teens joined World Vision's international youth movement to help fight hunger by going without food for 30 hours - consuming only liquids.

They made a poster consisting of 29,000 fingerprints, signifying the number of children who die every day of hunger-related diseases, and also made cardboard houses.

"They prepared sack lunches and took them to Washington Park Elementary School in Over-the-Rhine," said Lilly Lewin, youth director at Christ Church. "This was a great experience for them.

"They were able to experience what it means to be hungry. The cardboard houses let them see how some homeless people live."

The World Vision 30 Hour Famine is a program designed to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger overseas and in the United States.

Teens learn about poverty. They participate in groups through public schools, colleges, churches, youth groups and civic organizations.

More than 500,000 teens across the country participated in this year's 30 Hour Famine.