The classic tale of the ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan continues to be a smash.

A back-to-school project created by five Little Miami High School students who came up with their own version of the story, complete with pictures, will appear in the Kenwood Towne Center K Magazine, due out next Sunday.

When asked to create a real experience, developing a storyline that featured clothing and accessories for back to school, they used the ugly-duckling model.

Zach Ball, Trena Ingram, Lila Polen, Brian Hicks and Samantha Crutchfield went far beyond the assignment, said David Casper, senior marketing manager for Kenwood Towne Center.

"These are students who had backgrounds in advertising and marketing,'' Casper said. "They jumped at the idea and did a terrific job.''

First the students created a socially awkward nerd, modeled by Stephen Pritchard, a Little Miami junior.

Pritchard asked the most popular girl in the school for a date, modeled by Crutchfield. She refused.

The students then transformed Pritchard from social outcast into a stylish hunk after questioning their peers to get the latest fashion trends.

"We sort of redid his hairstyle from a crew-cut nerd style to a frizzy style - sort of like what your hair looks like when you wake up in the morning,'' said Ball, a football player headed for Ohio Northern University this fall. "We added updated clothing styles.''

A T-shirt, jeans and trendy sneakers and other accessories did the trick. The new-look Pritchard was able to get a date on a canoeing trip on the Little Miami River.

Leukemia fund-raiser

First Watch restaurants in Ohio and Kentucky raised $5,200 on July 12 for Team in Training, the major fund-raising arm of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America.

First Watch was celebrating its 14th anniversary in the Ohio and Kentucky region. It donated proceeds from the day's sales this past Monday to the cancer organization.

The celebration included First Watch stores in Symmes Township, Norwood, Madeira, Springdale, Downtown Cincinnati, Kettering, Dublin, Worthington, Fairborn, Upper Arlington, Covington and three in Columbus.

Free Christian concert

The works of composers such as James Moore, Leonard Bernstein and Jason Robert Brown, will be featured in a free concert called Sing to the Glory of God at 2:30 p.m. today at the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 3545 Clifton Ave., Clifton.

The church choir and instrumentalists will join singers from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the direction of G.W. Dastillung, music director for the parish.

For information, call 861-1295.

Christian music festival

ERLANGER - More than seven years ago, Mike Buckingham and the members of the Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show were looking for a place to perform their unique music - classic rock with the words changed to Christian lyrics.

That search for a venue evolved into Goodstock, a free outdoor Christian music festival that has become one of the largest such events in the country.

"We just started playing music and we enjoyed it and wanted to play an outdoor concert," said Buckingham, 53, of Lakeside Park, who plays guitar and sings in the group.

Last year, the festival attracted between 2,500 and 3,000 people to hear music ranging from contemporary Christian worship music to Christian rap, ska and rock.

Saturday, the Lloyd High School Amphitheater on Grave Avenue in Erlanger will host Goodstock VII from noon to 9 p.m.

"We want to present something to this community that families can come to and it be non-threatening," Buckingham said. "We bring people, play music for them and hope they get a message out of it."

The concert also provides free food and drinks through donations from local businesses, individuals and churches.

"It's a Christian venue, but it's also a great afternoon. You can bring your family, spend no money and be entertained and fed," he said.

Despite interest from groups from as far away as Australia, Goodstock remains a chance to highlight local Christian groups. Most of the nine groups performing are from Greater Cincinnati.

For more information, check www.brotherlovetss.com or call Buckingham at (859) 344-9908 or band member Pam Rouster at (859) 344-0246.