Eric Henn, a muralist, is busy scraping and removing plastic covering, piece by piece, in preparation for restoring a part of history in Middletown.

Henn will paint the Middletown Mural series, which depicts a historic farmers market scene in Middletown dating to 1914.

"It is pretty interesting, and I am excited about doing it," said Henn, 38, who has done work on water towers, the Newport Aquarium and many other surfaces across the country.

"The murals show horse-drawn carriages and farmers bringing their produce to the market," Henn said.

The paintings will take place on the south wall of the downtown parking garage that spans Broad Street.

The best view for the public will be the Central Avenue intersection at Broad Street.

Judy Bober, Middletown Mural committee chairwoman, said a second mural will be applied to the opposite side of the parking garage, and other murals will be created as money becomes available.

Ropin' with Hope

Christine Emerson, coach and physical education teacher at North Avondale Montessori, took her jump-rope team to national competition and came away a winner.

But her team's participation in the Smart and Sober Celebration next month in Columbus, as a guest Ohio first lady Hope Taft, is extra special.

The Ropin' Rockets will be donating free time alongside such notables as Henry Winkler and Bow Wow. The event is free to the public.

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

MADD scholars

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has awarded 2003 Matthew Jay Anderson Scholarships to:

Griffin Aufranc of Hamilton, a Ross High graduate studying criminology and sociology at Capital University in Columbus; Kristen Brown of Springboro, a Springboro High graduate majoring in elementary education at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus; Nicholas Dome of Wilmington, a sophomore pharmacy student at Ohio State University in Columbus; Christopher Flick of Hamilton, a sophomore architecture student at Tulane University in New Orleans; Neico McClain of Roselawn, a Walnut Hills High graduate studying biology at Norfolk State University in Virginia; Cody Morton of Morrow, a Little Miami High graduate majoring in engineering at the University of Cincinnati; Denise Mullins of Northside, a social work student at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College; Heather Riley of Monroe, a Lakota East High graduate who will attend Ohio University in Athens; Christine Schoen of Milford, majoring in early childhood education at Miami University-Hamilton; Thaddeus Stall of Morrow, a Little Miami graduate majoring in construction management at Northern Kentucky University; Elyssa Westrich, of Loveland, an Ursuline Academy graduate who is a junior organizational communications/public relations major at Ohio University; Jacob Westrich of Loveland, a St. Xavier High graduate who will attend Ohio University; and Ashley Davis of Dayton, Ohio, an economics and international studies major at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

For submission information, call 755-4165.

OUR KIDS

When it's snack time at Shriners Hospital for Children in Avondale on Sunday afternoons, Sarah Schuetz, 15, a sophomore at St. Ursula Academy in East Walnut Hills, wheels the tray around.

"I am enjoying volunteering for this," she said. "I get to serve the children, plus it is a pleasure talking to them and helping to cheer them up. Most of them are really upbeat and stay in good spirits."

Sarah is the daughter of Tom and Heidi Schuetz of Monfort Heights. She is a member of St. Ursula Orchestra and made first honors on her grades. She maintained a 3.67 grade-point average last year.

"I have plans of going on to college, but I have not decided on a major, yet," she said.