ROCK CLUBS PLAN A GEM OF A SHOW.

Byline: KAREN THACKER

LANCASTER - Free field trips to local rock and mineral hunting spots are just part of the activities available April 27 and 28 for the annual Desert Gem Roundup at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.

Parking is free and so is the show, cosponsored by the Antelope Valley Gem and Mineral Club and its Palmdale counterpart. Olan Flick and Fred Ebel are co-chairmen of the event again this year.

The show will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 27 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Field trips will leave the parking lot at 9 a.m. each day.

Eighteen dealers will sell a variety of gems, minerals, high quality rock and slabs, lapidary supplies, jewelry findings and lapidary equipment.

Demonstrations will be given in lapidary and silver work, scrimshaw, bead enameling and stringing, faceting, jewelry channeling and highlight painting.

A silent auction table will be filled with rough semiprecious stones and other rockhound items. There also will be a table of large rock specimens to touch.

Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. Other food can be purchased throughout the day, including fresh homemade pies baked at the site - a gem show tradition.

PALMDALE - Numerous awards went to artists at the Palmdale Lilac and Art Show.

In the adult division, special honors went to Myron Robb for the best-of-show painting and to Margit Melicher for the best lilac painting.

Other categories:

For lilac paintings, first went to Karen Levi, second to Sallie Thatcher, third to Mikail Abolfathi and honorable mention to Marge Thompson.

For foil paintings, first went to Al Miller, second to Sallie Thatcher and third and an honorable mention went to Sally Oliver.

For watercolor paintings, first went to Dennis Calaba, second to Mary Sault and third and an honorable mention to Judy McKell.

For acrylics, first and second went to Georgia Smith, while Evelyn Kohler won third place and an honorable mention.

For pastels, first place went to Karen Levi.

For mixed media, first went to Cynthia Hale, second and third to Robert Bennett, and honorable mentions to Judy Bennett and LaRue Alegria.

For drawings, first went to Dawn Guild, second to Myron Robb, third to Cheryl Holt, and honorable mentions to Myron Robb and Dawn Guild.

For china paintings, first went to Rena Patel, second and third went to Billie Halstead, and honorable mentions went to Mary Finberg, Gaby Olson and Donna Shearer.

QUARTZ HILL - Father Serra Parish will hold an annual festival May 4 and 5 at the parish grounds on 60th Street West at Avenue M.

The parish's seventh annual May Festival will include carnival rides, games, a petting zoo, pony rides, international foods, bingo, a country store, raffles and mariachi music.

The festival raises money for buildings, said publicity organizer Jane Vignoni. ``It's become our largest fund-raiser of the year,'' she said.

The current multipurpose building has been used for worship services and social functions, but funds are now being raised for a church.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 4 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 5.

For more information, call the parish office at [phone].

LANCASTER - A benefit concert, titled ``For the Love of Children,'' will be held at 4:30 p.m. May 4 at the Lancaster Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Proceeds will go to the Children's Center of the Antelope Valley, which provides intervention, prevention, education and treatment of child abuse.

The concert will include several children's vocal groups, according to organizer Janet Meier. Choirs will include the Antelope Valley Children's Choir, a children's choir from Tehachapi called the King's Kids and an Antelope Valley Adventist School choir.

Walter Arties, a Christian recording artist, will be a featured soloist.

Donations will be accepted at the concert. The church is at 43824 30th St. W.

For information, call [phone] or [phone].