Banner Graphic, Volume 18, Number 282, Greencastle, Putnam County, 6 August 1988 — Page 3

People in the news Back to school Benson’s role COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Actor-director Robby Benson is going back to school. This time, though, he will be teaching. Benson will spend the 1988-89 school year as an artist-in-residence at the University of South Carolina, where he will teach movie-making and make a feature film, the school said. Benson, 32, will be paid $60,000, university spokesman Debra Allen said Friday. “My wife and I have been waiting to get out of Los Angeles,” Benson said. “My life has been completely surrounded by the business end of show business It’ll be fun to get out and be a regular person.” Benson’s films include “Ode to Billy Joe” and “One on One.” NEW YORK (AP) Music legend Ray Charles says that as he was learning to cope with blindness he vowed never to own a guide dog, a cane or a guitar? “Why, it seems every blind blues singer I ever heard played a guitar,” Charles, 57, said in an interview published in the Aug. 7 issue of Parade. “In my mind, they each meant blindness and helplessness.” Charles credits his mother, who died when he was 15, with steering him toward the piano. He began traveling the South with hillbilly and rhythm-and-blues bands after his mother’s death, but “in most cases, I’d play the piano, because they already had singers.” • HOUSTON (AP) Houston Rockets basketball player Akeem Olajuwon is being sued by a woman who says he broke his promise to marry her after she became pregnant. The suit, which seeks an unspecified amount of damages, was filed in federal court Thursday by Lita Spencer, identified as a longtime companion of the Nigerian-born Olajuwon. Ms. Spencer, who gave birth last month to a daughter, said Olajuwon promised in July 1987 to marry her. The lawsuit claimed that because of Olajuwon’s Moslem beliefs, he demanded that she prove she is capable of bearing children as a condition of their engagement. After Olajuwon’s marriage proposal, the lawsuit said, Ms. Spencer became pregnant with his child. When Olajuwon refused to keep his marriage promise, Ms. Spencer suffered “humiliation and disgrace,” the lawsuit said. Olajuwon could not be reached for comment. A message left with his business, Akeem Inc., was not returned Friday.

Dear Abby

Nice girls finish last, too, she now believes

DEAR ABBY: My personal life is a mirror of my professional one. I spent 10 years being understanding, compassionate and appropriate with the first man in my life. His parting comment was: “You always not only did the right thing, but always in the right way at the right time.” I spent another seven years being patient, passionate, loving, understanding and appropriate with man No. 2, who had been previously married to a simple but nice “bitch” for 10 years, and fathered the three daughters I would love to have had. He departed saying, “Thanks for being so patient with me. You helped me realize how emotionally immature I really am. The problem has never been you; it’s always been with me.” About two years ago a friend of mine told me I needed to go to “bitch school” because being bitchy is the only way you win in this world. I was amused at the time. I have finally fallen off the edge of cynicism and would now like to locate an educational program where I can learn to become a bitch. I want to learn how to use and abuse people, and blame it on my own “immaturity.” I want to develop the skills to manipulate people like J.R. Ewing on “Dallas.” I want to learn to creatively nag and gain sympathy through tears and feminine ploys. I’m not talking about an assertiveness training program. I simply need to learn to get rid of all this moral fiber that has ruined my life. If you could help me locate a

THE FAMILY CIRCUS® By Bil Keane

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ROBBY BENSON Tries teaching

LOS ANGELES (AP) Teen singing sensation Debbie Gibson says she sent fellow pop star George Michael a fan letter, but it wasn’t filled with typical mushy prose. She asked Michael to co-produce a song with her. He never answered. Gibson, 17, says she is not deterred. “I’ll meet him some day,” she said in a recent interview. “I think he’s the best pop writer of our time, and (I) would love to work with him.” Gibson, known for such hits as “Shake Your Love” and “Out of the Blue,” graduated in June from Calhoun High School in New York state. Five days later, she left for her first tour of the United States. Gibson began her career in kindergarten, where she wrote and performed her first song, “Make Sure You Know Your Classroom.” • LOS ANGELES (AP) Comedian Lucille Ball is celebrating her 77th birthday Saturday with family members, a spokesman said. Miss Ball, her husband Gary Morton, daughter Lucie Amaz and three grandchildren were to get together to celebrate the milestone, said spokeswoman Wanda Clark. Ms. Clark was unsure whether Miss Ball’s son, Desi Amaz Jr., would attend because he has been out of town. Miss Ball starred in the 1951-1957 television comedy “I Love Lucy,” one of the most popular TV shows of all time, with her late, former husband Desi Amaz. The comedy is still seen in syndicated reruns. • LOS ANGELES (AP) Ralph Meeker, 67, an actor whose role as the macho Hal in the original Broadway production of “Picnic” led to a 50-movie career and his own television show, died Friday of a heart attack. Before “Picnic,” Meeker starred in such plays as “Dough Girls,” “Strange Fruit,” “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Mr. Roberts.” He also replaced Marlon Brando in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Meeker’s movie credits include “The Dirty Dozen,” “Brannigan” and “The Naked Spur.” He also starred for two years in his own ABC-TV series, “Not for Hire.”

Abigail Van Buren

program where I could learn how to become a bitch, I’d be eternally grateful. ME NO. 2 DEAR ME NO. 2: My Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines “bitch” as a “malicious, spiteful, domineering woman.” If there are any educational programs for “bitchery,” I’ve never heard of them, and if there were, I would not recommend them. People who use and abuse others and have no desire to attain maturity are both unattractive and miserable. The same goes for phonies who nag and try to gain sympathy through tears and feminine ploys. Hang on to your moral fiber. You need to find a therapist who will help you see that your patience, honesty, loving, understanding all the positive qualities you possess are

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DEBBIE GIBSON Message for Michael

pluses. You must also learn why you always seem to become involved with the kind of men who do not appreciate those qualities. The old saw, “Nice guys finish last,” is not true and the same can be said of nice girls. DEAR ABBY: I need your opinion on something that has been bothering me for a long time. Shouldn’t a widow be remembered with an anniversary card on the day of her wedding anniversary even though her husband has died? My children stopped sending me cards three years ago when their father died. They still expect me to send them cards and gifts on their anniversaries, but they don’t do the same for me anymore. Is that fair? HURT IN PRESCOTT, ARIZ. DEAR HURT: Sending a “Happy Anniversary” greeting would be inappropriate, but it would be a very thoughtful gesture if your children remembered that day by inviting you out for a special lunch or dinner. * * * Everything you’ll need to know about planning a wedding can be found in Abby’s booklet, “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and address, clearly printed, plus check or money order for $2.89 ($3.39 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, 111. 61054 (postage and handling included).

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August 6,1988 THE BANNERGRAPHIC

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