For those of you who still rank as AMATEURS in the world of bourbon, Woodford Reserve to the Rescue. They'll be offering their third annual Bourbon Academy with Chris Morris, Woodford Reserve Master Distiller. (Dates available in January, February, and March.). For registration and fees, call Kate Wesley, at 859.879.1934.

In honor of this week's Wedding Guide, did you know that "WIFE" was co-founded in 1988 by San Diego financial advisor Ginita Wall, with investment manager Candace Bahr? BUST Magazine says, "…inundated with female clients in turmoil after divorce [and] frustrated by how few reliable unbiased financial resources they could find feared toward the needs of these clients, the pair joined forces to create a non-profit with the motto 'A man is not a financial plan.'" WIFE is an acronym for Women's Institute for Financial Education (inspired by the Gloria Steinem quote, 'Every woman needs a wife'). You can learn more at WIFE.org and sister site Moneyclubs.com.

Clooney-licious. Lexington-born George Clooney made the cover of Esquire's annual "Meaning of Life" issue. In it, he says, "My uncle George had the world by the balls. But he had one problem: He was a drunk. A bad drunk. We once found him sleeping in the tack room at River Downs racetrack in Cincinnati. I learned a lot about death from Uncle George because I spent his dying days with him. And what I learned is that death is the most personal and private thing you can do. People throw out certain arguments: Don't you want to have kids (which I haven't wanted to do.) Aren't you afraid of dying alone? You die alone. Period. It's private and personal, and when Uncle George died, he was looking somewhere else." n

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Mail: 486 West Second St , Lexington, Ky 40507
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The westbound lane of Euclid between S. Martin Luther King and Blazer will be blocked through January 6. West Main will be blocked at Price Road/Leestown Road through January 7 to install a water main. The Rupp Arena area will be clogged Sunday January 9 for the 4:30 basketball game. The Leestown Rd/W. Main bridge is undergoing utility work. Flagmen will be present. Slow down. Eastbound Rose Lane at Aylesford Place will be blocked through Thursday January 14 for installation of underground cable.

United Way International, United Way of America, and local United Ways affiliates in affected areas are working together with disaster response partners to assess and address the wide range long-term response and recovery needs of communities in southern Asia severely impacted by tsunami waves in recent days. United Way of the Bluegrass is accepting local donations to forward internationally for long-term relief efforts in the affected communities. “The United Way South Asia Response Fund has been created to support these long-term recovery efforts and will be administered by United Way International,” said Kathy Plomin, president and chief professional officer of United Way of the Bluegrass. “We encourage unrestricted donations to this fund because it will allow us to direct the funds to where the need is the greatest.”Local individuals and corporations interested in donating funds for long-term recovery can make a contribution by mailing a check or money order to:

United Way South Asia Response Fund
c/o United Way of the Bluegrass
2480 Fortune Drive #250
Lexington, KY 40509

On Saturday, January 8th from noon to 10pm, Mollie’s Frozen Custard, 2901 Richmond Road, will be donating 50% of all sales to the American Red Cross International Response Fund to help victims of the recent tsunami and earthquake in South Asia. The International Response Fund is providing immediate relief and long term support through supplies, technical assistance,and other support to those in need.

During the day, Mollie’s Frozen Custard will also host the Dunbar High School Red Cross Club; the Red Cross Club will be selling arts and crafts along with coffee and hot chocolate. All proceeds from this sale will go directly to the Red Cross International Response Fund. For info on the American Red Cross or the International Relief Fund, please contact Sara Sanders or Cara Perch at 253-1331. American Red Cross volunteers will be present to answer questions and accept monetary donations as well.

Check out the HYPE

The fourth annual KHSAA HYPE Student Leadership Conference, sponsored by First Corbin Financial Corporation and Fifth Third Bank will be held next Wednesday, January 12 at The Stadium Entertainment and Conference Complex in Lexington (off Reynolds Road behind Meijer’s). Some 300 students and 50 adults are expected to attend and will participate in the one day seminar that will have breakout sessions on teamwork, respect and sportsmanship and a town hall open forum.

Cameron Mills, former University of Kentucky and Paul Dunbar basketball star, will open the conference. Josh Shipp will be the closing speaker. Shipp has performed on stage with Bill Cosby and appeared on Comedy Central.

Additional Information is posted on the Association website under the leadership conference information link, www.khsaa.org.

Meet and eat

The January meeting of the Greater Lexington Chapter of the Kentucky Self Advocates for Freedom will be held Thursday, January 6th at the Panda Buffet Restaurant located on South Broadway near St. Joseph Hospital & the Lexington Clinic, 5:30 pm - 7:15 pm.

Repeat Offenders

Officials with the Health Department announced earlier this week that the number of smoking ban violations requiring a written citation are decreasing. From December 13, 2004, to January 4, 2005, compliance officers from the Health Department issued 16 citations.
"Our compliance officers have identified 13 to 17 establishments that are frequently in violation of the ban. The vast majority of establishments in Fayette County are in compliance,” said Chris Atkinson, acting Consumer Protection Director, Division of Environmental Health.

To submit an advocacy/activism activity or event for Quickies, email rkirkland@aceweekly.com, or editor@aceweekly.com.