"And I did it by myself,'' said Breon, leaving out the part about his mother, Bridgette Jones, helping him.

Keyila Dorsey, 7, bragged to the judges that she painted the biggest house of all. Her twin sister, Keyasia, was proud of her drawing of a penguin.

The children are part of Patchwork Kids, a free summer program for children ages 4-14.

Each Friday, about 115 kids spread out over the area. Parents, volunteers and artists help them decorate their sidewalks with chalk.

"The theme for today is inside and outside houses,'' said Mary Jean Weber, executive director. "This program is based on the idea of each kid provided a patch. Then it is all joined together just like a quilt. It is presented to the children as their summer job of beautifying their neighborhood.''

The children actually learn a little about art from such artists as Albert Andrews and Ann Harrod.

"We are having fun with and at the same time, passing along a little knowledge about art," Andrews said.

Weber said the kids earn points that can be converted into gift certificates.

The project is run by the Cincinnati Art Club and supported by several corporations, organizations and private individuals.

"The idea started one day when I left my office and a group of kids gathered around my car, wanting to help me load my equipment,'' said Weber, an artist with an office in the Pendleton Art Center in Pendleton. "I came up with this idea of a patchwork club. Each child who came every day last year earned about $120 (in gift certificates).''

YWCA board names Booth

Cynthia Booth, president and CEO of COBCO Enterprises, which operates four McDonald's franchises, has been appointed chairperson of the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati board of directors.

Charlene Ventura, president and CEO of the YWCA, said the appointment was made at the board's 136th annual meeting last week.

Others appointed to the executive committee included Jackie Davis, Sharon M. Draper, Susanne Halmi, Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Karen L. Kranak, M. Denise Kuprionis, Marianne Rash Rowe, Barbara Stonebraker and Carol B. Striker.

Sister Cities cite work

The Munich Sister City associations in Cincinnati, Louisville and Indianapolis received the Innovation Award for Economic Development from Sister Cities International.

The award was given at the group's annual conference in Forth Worth, Texas, July 17.

The three cities produced a color brochure written in English and German to show some of the tourist attractions in the three cities and developed a Web page. Their goal was to increase the number of German visitors to the area and promote partnerships.

GIVING BACK: Kiwanis scholarships

The Greenhills-Forest Park Kiwanis Foundation is giving scholarships to students based on their community service, leadership and grades.

Winners of the foundation's scholarships include Jason Boeckman and Kelly Sirk, Roger Bacon High School, and Megan Lorenz, Winton Woods High School. Each received $1,000 scholarships.

Kathryn Wright was the winner of the $2,000 Stephanie Lawler Memorial Scholarship. This award was established through donations from friends and colleagues to honor the late Stevie Lawler, a teacher and speech therapist at Winton Woods.

Kathryn plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania as a pre-med student to become a pediatrician. She is the daughter of Doug and Connie Wright, Forest Park.

Jason is the son of Jerry and Jennifer Boeckman, Forest Park. He plans to attend Miami University/Hamilton and study journalism and drama.

Kelly is the daughter of Larry Sirk, Springfield Township, and Donna Cavalon, who lives in Florida. Kelly will attend Northern Kentucky University and study public relations.

Megan, daughter of Joseph Lorenz, Forest Park, plans to attend the University of Cincinnati and study nursing.

Only students who live in the Winton Woods School District are eligible for the scholarships.