A sixth-grade art class at the New School on Burton Woods Lane in North Avondale reached out to involve children at the Lighthouse Crisis Center as part of a class service project.

They finished painting a mural on a wall in the Lighthouse Community Room last week. The large mural depicts a beach scene taken from ideas the children wanted to see.

"We wanted the children at the Lighthouse Center to experience working with children in the outside world," said art teacher Robin Hartmann. "I think the tropical scene gave the children an idea of what it would be like to imagine this kind of scene and to put it into art.''

New School sixth-graders, front row, from left, Steven Miller, Ben Fricke, Esper Nadih and Jake Allison. Middle row, from left, Amira Siddiqi, Sam Bedree and Matt Muller. Back row, Natania Hoffman, teacher Robin Hartmann, Alexis Nelson, Joseph Norris and Cathy Fogelson, community outreach director for Lighthouse Crisis Center. (Meggan Booker/The Cincinnati Enquirer)

The New School is an independent Montessori school for children 3 to 12.

The Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization that supports troubled adolescents.

Cathy Fogelson, community outreach coordinator for the Lighthouse, said the project involved about 30 kids at the center.

"It was a great project for both sides - those less fortunate and vice versa,'' Fogelson said.

On with the quilt show

Elaine Plogman has sewn up a spot at the 2004 American Quilter's Society Quilt Show & Contest April 21-24 in Paducah, Ky.

Plogman, of Montgomery, has been named a semifinalist in the competition and will compete with 425 other quilters around the world for a share of $100,000 in total prizes.

Her quilt was selected from an initial field of more than 767 quilts. Plogman's work will compete for the Hancock's of Paducah Best of Show award and a $20,000 cash prize.

"I have been competing in this event for about 15 years,'' Plogman said. "This is an honor. I have won the top prize twice.''

Benefit for Rickey Biggs

A benefit for Rickey Biggs, who has Lou Gehrig's disease, will be held today at the T.G.I Friday's Northgate at 9719 Colerain Ave., Bevis.

Mike Hamberg, coordinator of the benefit, said 10 percent of purchases, excluding tax, will go to the Race Against Lou Gehrig's Disease benefit next month.

The effort is to raise money for a handicap-equipped van for Biggs, Hamberg said.

The Race Against Lou Gehrig's Disease is set for 2-11 p.m. April 3 at the Nathanael Greene Lodge, 6394 Wesselman Road, Green Township.

For more information, call 741-7110 or 470-0922.