LexCall will hold its second annual "Government Call Center Roundtable" April 18 & 19. LexCall was established in 1997 as an easy and direct way for citizens to access the local government. It is representative of a type program which has gained popularity around the country. These roundtables give citizens from cities such as Jacksonville, Chattanooga, Louisville, Alexandria, VA, Columbus, GA, and Birmingham a chance to share ideas and information about management, training, and technology of other call centers. The conference will be held at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and learning at 251 West Second Street, beginning at 8:30 am both days. For more info, call Cookie Hall or Marianne Blodgett at 425-2255. -TS


Pony Up

Saturday, April 20 is Open Stable Day 2002. Participating stables invite you to tour their facilities, learn about different breeds of horses and riding styles, and watch trainers do their stuff. You also have the chance to win door prizes. To learn more, and to get a free list of participating stables, contact the Kentucky Horse Council by calling 1.800.459.4677 or check www.kentuckyhorse.org.


Downtown Ambassador: Sign up and audition.

Here's a unique opportunity for high school/college students. Talent required (song and dance). Duties include working Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm, Thursday nights from 4:30 to 7:30pm, and serving as a goodwill ambassador in Downtown Lexington. Among the responsibilities are: entertaining passersby with song and dance; creating an awareness of fun in Downtown; distributing information as needed being a resource for people who work, live, play and visit Downtown. (Press info didn't say anything about mimes.) An application must be completed and returned to the Downtown Lexington Corporation by April 17. Download a copy at www.downtownlex.com. Auditions and interviews will be held on Sunday, April 21 at the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's Ballroom, 200 East Main Street. 1:30 is sign in.


Who's THAT Girl???

The 6th Annual Falsies Awards will be handed out Tuesday April 23 at the

Kentucky Theater. The theme of this year's event will be A Tribute to Chelsea Pearl. Ceremonies will begin at 8 PM and tickets will be available at the door for $10. Chelsea Pearl will be presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of Drag Arts & Sciences. Other awards will recognize outstanding achievements in Hair, Makeup, Best Dramatic Performer, Best Comic Performer, Best Bartender, Best DJ and more. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Court's charities including Moveable Feast Lexington.


Grrrls wanna have fun

April 25 is the national Take Our Daughters to Work Day. For more info, visit http://www.ms.foundation.org or call 800/676-7780.


More Grrrl Power

Join some of Kentucky's female political leaders on April 26-27, when the Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Commission on Women present "Making a Difference: Kentucky Women in Politics and Government."

Panelists include Martha Layne Collins, Kentucky's first female governor, Georgia Davis Powers, Kentucky's first African American state senator, as well as four members of the Kentucky House of Representatives, local officeholders and appointed officials.

Keynote speakers will be Crit Luallen, who as secretary of the Governor's Executive Cabinet is the highest-ranking appointed official in Gov. Paul Patton's administration; and historian Dr. Linda Kerber, May Brodbeck Professor in the Liberal Arts and professor of history, Department of History, University of Iowa, who will place the role of Kentucky women into a national context.

Info: 502-564-1792, ext. 4438 www.kyhistory.org


Only 5 billion years left, let's take care of the place

Kissed once again by Kentucky spring, Lexington's warm temperatures, blooming trees, and fragrant flowers have come in the nick of time, just when many had concluded that humans have finally brought on a never-ending atomic winter. In celebration of the Northern Hemisphere's rebirth, the world will hold the 32nd annual Earth Day on Monday, April 22. First celebrated in Washington in state in 1970, the goal of Earth Day is "to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, just, sustainable world." Let's face it, with one-tenth of the world's population, the United States consumes a third of the world's resources, producing a comparable amount of the world's pollution - all at an unsustainable rate. So, this coming Earth Day, try recycling some of those plastic bottles or forgoing the SUV for a nice walk to work. The University of Kentucky will celebrate Earth Day from 11 to 3p.m. on April 22 at the Free Speech Area next to the Student Center. Activities will include a ceremonial seed-planting, henna painting, and a live, on-site broadcasting by Z-103 – plus free food. For more information about Earth Day activities around he state, check out the Earth Day Network at www.earthday.net. -JR


Showcase showdown

The Decorators' Showcase 2002 will be having a preview party Friday, April 19 at Providence Place. Admission is $10 per person and lunch is $10 per as well. What's the purpose? Well, all funds will benefit the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass. What's an ombudsman? Well, that's a person who investigates complaints, reports findings and can mediate disputes. Very important in light of news stories in which nursing home residents are reportedly being abused. For more info on the showcase, call 859.223.9117. (Also, Lissa Sims will be covering the showcase for next week's On The Block.)


Horse cents

This Sunday, April 21, Furlongs will be hosting a benefit for former jockey Randy Romero. During his 27-year career, Romero has suffered approximately 23 operations, 13 broken bones, a fire, which burned over 65 percent of his body, and not to mention constantly having to make weight come race day. All of the medications for the abuse to his body and diuretics have taken their toll on Randy's kidney to the point where he needs a transplant. Tickets to the fundraiser are $100 per person and includes dinner, cocktails, and a live auction. All funds will go to the Randy Romero Foundation and will help defray the costs of his transplant. Call 859.312.5611 for tickets.