The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 16

C-2 Saturday, October 21, 1995 BQpiS Unexpected friendship shows Mom was right Compiled from wire reports by Dorene Jackson Caudill Simpson back on course, denies house-hunt rumor PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLA. Just two weeks after mopping up from Hurricane Opal, the Florida town of Panama City Beach is monica. Roseanne said, "He also plays the piano and sings. He organizes slng-alongs and makes sure patients are brought out of their rooms by the aides to Join in." Harmonica-playing is a bond When 1 began to play my harmonica, John turned to Roseanne and said, "He is a professional." I took that as a high compliment. I stopped playing.

John said, "Don't stop, you are Just getting warmed up; each song sounds better." I play with my eyes As I played Red River Valley, the room was filled with humming. It was a neat sound! John wasn't just an Omar man: "I was transportation man- ager and we had a fleet of 700 vehicles." I that put the lat content in the 20 to 23 percent range, a tad more than the 11.2 percent claimed on the packages. McCartney, whose meatless credentials also Include a veggie cookbook, is said to be "very upset," said a spokesman in London. We'll be seeing less of feisty Duchess of York LONDON Fergie, cruelly taunted by British tabloids as the Duchess of Pork in her pudgier royal days, has managed to finally drop 14 pounds after five years with a personal trainer. "Everybody goes through ebbs and flows and people tend to be more disciplined at certain times of their lives and less disciplined at other times," trainer Josh Salzmann told TV's Extra "You can only do so much with a person when you see them for three hours a week." Two CuEkin siblings chat with judge on custody NEW YORK Macaulay Culkin and his kid sister Quinn have had their first meeting with the state judge over: seeing their parents' custody battle.

The 15-year-old star of the Home Alone movies and his 11-year-old actress-sister slipped into a side entrance at the Manhattan courthouse Friday to meet with Judge David Saxe, the New PUBLIC BROADCASTING will lead fund drive dren's books, videos, toys, audio, computer programs, television and magazines. Doherty admits bad press true at least sometimes LOS ANGELES Bad press is a matter of percentages for Shannen Doherty. The actress admits that past rumors about a barroom fight, a bad check and her brief marriage to Ashley Hamilton had some truth to them. "I can't say it's all false, because that would make me out to be a liar," she told The Orange County Register. "Only a small percentage was true, and the rest was blown way out of proportion.

Even the truths were always buried among a mountain of lies," she said. Trini Lopez says he didn't batter former girlfriend PANAMA SPRINGS, Calif. Breaking his silence on a charge he beat a former girlfriend, Trini Lopez proclaimed his innocence. The entertainer withdrew from a celebrity golf tournament after battered women and others objected to the City Council. "I make money singing," Lopez said Wednesday.

"What do I know about violence? I haven't even had a traffic ticket in 15 to 20 years." Rose Mihata, 55, told police Lopez beat her five times over the past 10 years. for WFYI ating budget. That's slightly less than the 14 percent national average. Everyone in public broadcasting knows that cutbacks in federal support are coming, and many, especially viewers and executives at smaller stations, are worried about their future, Wright said. "There are a lot of stations around the country, both television and radio, that rely on federal funding for a much larger portion of their operating budget," he said.

The good news is that donations to the stations were up during the most recent on-air fund-raising campaigns. Members of Congress also have begun talking about finding enough cash for a trust fund for public broadcasting. The one-time cash infusion, in theory at least, would then generate operating funds in the future. Exploring alternatives "One of the whole things this discussion has allowed is a real healthy self-examination of the entire public broadcasting industry," Wright said. Some stations are turning toward greater use of commercials, while others, like WFYI, are hoping that more individuals will support public broadcasting if Congress eliminates its support.

Tobias is confident that corporations and individuals will step forward once they understand what services WFYI provides and how badly the money is needed. "I see tnis more as a communications job (than a sales Job)," Tobias said. "This is a relatively small amount of money relative to the good that public broadcasting does in this community." York Daily News reported today. 'The Judge may want to discuss their preferences as far as living arrangements with their parents are concerned," the paper quoted an unidentified source as saying. The hourlong meeting was arranged by Mara Thorpe, the children's court-appointed guardian.

Neither of the parents nor their lawyers was present. The parents, Patricia Brentrup and Christopher "Kit" Culkin, go to court Dec. 4 to fight for custody and professional control of the seven children they had during a 20-year relationship. The children range in age from 5 to 19. Youngheart Music high on parents' list for kids LOS ANGELES The 1995 Parents' Choice Awards were announced Friday with Youngheart Music artists capturing four awards for high entertainment, educational and production values in children's music.

The Gold Award went to rock 'n' roll duo Greg Steve for We All Live Together Volume 5 and to Jack Grunsky for Dream Catcher. Silver Honors were awarded for Hoyt Axton's first children's album, Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog, and an Approval went to Grunsky for his home video CelebrateJack Grunsky Live. The Parents' Choice Foundation was established in 1978 as a nonprofit consumer guide to chil important recording and control room equipment often balk at key moments. "During the course of the past 25 years, we have always managed to do pretty well in maintaining the operations from an income standpoint. But we've never done so well that we've been able to get ahead of the game to have a systematic approach to replacing the equipment," Wright said.

Difficult to maintain As a result, the television and radio stations often teeter precariously close to going off the air when equipment breaks down, said Edward A. West, spokesman for Lilly and a member of WFYI's board. "The'major pieces of equipment that are really the life's blood of broadcasting are so old that it's almost impossible to find replacement parts for them. These things have been repaired and patched together for so many years that that's a genuine concern," West said. West suggested Tobias take on the campaign, his first major civic involvement since returning to Indianapolis in 1993 to take the top Job at Lilly.

Tobias had worked in Indianapolis from, 1964 to 1977 as an Indiana Bell executive. "I really do want to play a leadership role in the community, and this is really the first thing I've agreed to do, and I've agreed to do it because I think it's very important to the community," Tobias said. "Public broadcasting in central Indiana provides a service that, were it not provided by public broadcasting, would not likely be provided at all." For 1994, federal dollars represented 13 percent of WFYI's oper COURT now awash in the media glare of Hurricane O.J. Wednesday brought another Simpson sighting at the Hombre Golf Club, where the ex-football hero chatted with reporters before O.J. Simpson hitting the course for a second day.

JD.J. denied rumors that he's hQuse-hunting with his lady love. Pgula Barbieri. in Panama City, a Conservative, blue-collar commu-i n'lty. vThe mention of another rumor that he and Barbieri had tied the knot brought a loud laugh from Simpson.

"That would be a trick, to get married and nobody will know." Cuisine police accusing McCartney of big fat lie LONDON I Diligent fat-counters are beef-; Irig about Linda McCartney's line bt veggie burgers. The rock wife's lirle of beef-free, burgers was re-: palled Wednesday after" a TV program weighed in with an analysis Lilly chief By David J. Shaffer STAFF WRITER FYI is worn out. The Indianapolis i public television sta-w tion fChannei 20) and radio station (90.1 FM), which will vcicuicuc a jui duiiivcisciiy iu- night with a gala at Thomson Consumer Electronics, is limping along with vacuum-tube cameras, the oldest UHF transmitter in the state and other antiquated equipment. Lloyd Wright, WFYI's president and general manager, would love to replace everything.

But with Congress intent on cutting spending, including funding for public broadcasting, he knows that going to Washington with hat in hand Is uie quesuun. Instead. Wright is counting on Randy Tobias. chairman and chief ex- ecutive officer of Eli Lilly and has atfrppri tn IpaH WFYI's firsr- 0 ever capital fund drive, which has a goal of $10 million. It's an interesting partnership.

wniie loDias has long supported public broadcasting dating back to his days as an Corp. executive, when he helped increase sponsorship for the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour he believes strongly that government spending must be curbed. "The federal government in Washington is totally out of hand. For the good of society, we really need to reprioritize the role that the government plays," he said. At the same time, though, those who would reduce government's role must help pick up the slack.

or me community win suner, 10- in necreas ne sumjori irom i i Daniel E. Miller, 58, is an Indianapolis route salesman who has published poetry and prose. Our 83-year-old mother passed away Nov. 1, 1QQ9 Mv fnur clc- ters, two of whom a live in aDolis. were dev- 4 astated.

I spent my Saturdays feel-1 ing sorrv for mv- Llfe se'f ard asking, "Why did she have to go?" My sister, Rose- Daniel E. Miller anne Pittman, on the other, hand, had cared for a former neighbor at Hoosier Village Retirement Home for a number of years. I would get aggravated when Mom would tell me about Roseanne and the home. I thought It was depressing. And when Mom would say, "Roseanne wants you to come to Hoosier Village to meet John Norton; he worked at Omar Bakery, like you did," I always gave the same cross answer, "No! I ain't going to meet some old Omar man that I don't know! And I wish she would stop telling you about the depressing place!" Roseanne had been doubly devastated as her friend at Hoosier, Helen Bastain, passed away, shortly after Mom's passing.

One Saturday, I called Roseanne and said (out of guilt), "I'm ready to meet your John Norton. Do you want to take Willie (our cocker spaniel) and Hans (her schnauzer)?" "Do you think they will get along in the same car? Hans is territorial." "I think so. Willie isn't a fighter," I responded. Dogs go over well On the way to Hoosier Village on West 96th Street, we stopped at the Pie Safe in Zionsville for lunch. When we returned to the car, both dogs were taking a nap.

The Hans and Willie show was a big hit with the residents. The place was rather solemn and quiet, until John Norton walked over from his residence. He was 93 going on 30! And tall. I shook his hand and he sat down and began to tell many Jokes, in a patrician accent. As he finished a story, he would chuckle, and his enjoyment of life was infectious.

I said, "John, what is your accent?" He said, "My accent is from Wales. I came to this country in 1913." Then he began to play his har TV CREWS Continued from Page 1 switched back to regular programming. Did they give us probing crisis coverage? No long-winded speculation. WTHR's Jeremy Rogalskl speculated that the released bank employees must feel "an awesome sense of frazzleness." Joyce: Tm guessing that the police are In contact with the man inside." Doran, on footage of the employees leaving the bank: "Boy, you can guess from their expressions what those people have been through." WRTVs Diane Willis asked family therapist Jonni Gonso to speculate what Montgomery had been thinking the first of several similar studio interviews with therapists and domestic violence experts on WRTV and WISH. Combine those with the Cut-singer interviews, and there was a strong feeling of Montgomery being tried in absentia in the court of public opinion.

Such terms as "nut case" were used to describe The most remarkable thing about John Norton was the care and affection he provided to each woman. As I played, he would go to each woman, take her hand and ask after her health. All were! his family. After Hans and Willie had en- tertained those in the sitting room and cafeteria, Roseanne said," I want you to meet Mrs. Davidson.

She is 101 years old." We visited all the open doors down a wing of special care pa- tients. Roseanne introduced me to I Mrs. Davidson and said. "Danny 1 wants to hear your poem. "I can't remember.

You'll have to give the first line." I left the! room when a woman called for. Willie to come to her mother's room. When I returned, Roseanne said, "She remembers It was a beautiful poem about the soul never dying. The poem was even more beautiful as It rolled out on Mrs. Davidson's thick Scottish tongue! How I wish I had taken along a tape recorder.

The first time I went to meet John Norton out of guilt. Trie 'next trips we made because Hans and Willie liked all that petting frpm those nice people. As we loaded the dogs in the car, I felt good. And I could hear Ma you you would like John Norton!" Right. Ma! We want to hear the stories of yoor life.

Send essays to Life Lines, The Indianapolis Star, P.O. Box 145, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206-0145. Entries must be typewritten, double-spaced and no mbre than two full pages. Include name, age, occupation, address, phone number and reason for writing.

Writers selected will receive $25 and replicas of their published essays. Unpublished essays pan-not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. him on the air. It was not local television's finest hour. But WRTVs coverage in general seemed sharper and more focused than in the past.

Jack- led coverage at the scene Willis was the first on the airwith Donna Montgomery's petition for divorce, and the station had the best footage of key moments in the ordeal (employees coming out, cops going in). Ironically, WTHR which prides itself on staying live at the scene of breaking news restricted Itself to studio shots during some of the police movement at authorities' request. Perhaps the criticism that its cameras and lights helped egg on the civil disturbances at 42nd and College In late July still smarts? Incidentally, the day's most navel-gazing moment came when WISH's Pamela Kramer noted that neighborhood residents were offering coffee and soft drinks to the people who needed It most. The 27 bank employees? The police? No the media. "This neighborhood really came through for us," she said.

Thursday Pumpkin Party, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., ages 3-4, $5. A pumpkin rolling contest and tasting party also encourages kids to come dressed as a pumpkin for a special surprise at Eagle Creek Program Center, Eagle Creek Park. Friday and next Saturday Search for the Great Pumpkin, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., all ages, $3.

On Friday, head for Garfield Park, 2450 Shelby to search the pumpkin patches for the big one, then enjoy crafts and snacks. On Saturday, the same event will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St.

Indy Parks also offers Camp Boo at five parks on Thursday and Friday for ages 6-11, $35. For information on all Halloween events, call (317) 327-0000. of I art show Friday in the Leah Ransburg of Indianapolis. Peggy Brown captured first place from 121 entries with her watercolor and graphite work File Photo CAMPAIGN LEADER: Randy Tobias to raise $5 million for WFYI. a government source, I think those of us who believe that public broadcasting plays an important role in our community really need to step up to the need and provide leadership and support to see that it gets done," he said.

Right now, the greatest need is WFYI's capital campaign, Tobias said. How the money will be used The campaign is broken into two parts. In the first, Tobias needs to raise $5 million to replace the stations' aging equipment. Of the remaining money, $2 million would go toward renovating the two buildings WFYI owns along Meridian Street and $3 million would be set aside to start the WFYI Foundation. That foundation would provide a steady stream of cash to replace equipment on a regular basis, so that the stations don't get so far into the hole ever again.

That hole is deep, according to Wright. The station's TV transmitter is 25 years old, and most UHF transmitters conk out after about 15 years, he said. The TV cameras operate using vacuum tubes, and FAMILY who don't obey their parents would be locked up, and this would be tragic." Didn't help, mom says The friends-of-the-court brief is one of about five the ACLU of Illinois files each year to present its view of legal issues pending before the court. The ACLU rarely gets Involved at the appellate level, Wolf said, but it felt compelled to act now because "it's not appropriate for the criminal Justice system to get kids to obey their parents. "It's not good for the court system, which already has Its hands full; it's not good for families; and it's intrusive and harmful to the children." The girls' mother, Kathy Marshall, has argued that Kuhar's decision made things worse for her daughters, who have alleged that their father mentally abused them.

Their father, Sheldon Nuss-baum, has denied their charges. The Judge "was trying to assume the parental role," Marshall said. "Our court system has too much control in domestic affairs." Kuhar has declined to comment. But Nussbaum defended Kuhar and said the court has a right to intervene when parents can't work things out. "The Jail was an extreme mea Judge criticized for jailing girls in visitation dispute Indy Parks offers no-fright sites sure, but it wasn't that the Judge didn't try other measures," Nussbaum said.

'This was the end of IV2 years of exploring other measures." Hard to draw line The case began shortly after Nussbaum and Marshall divorced in 1993. Marshall was given custody of the girls and Nussbaum was awarded a visitation schedule that Included summer trips to his Charlotte, N.C., home. After the girls started refusing to go, Marshall, who lived in Bo-lingbrook, 111., at the time, asked the court to modify the schedule of visits. Her request was denied and the girls went through counseling and talks with Kuhar. The standoff culminated in Kuhar's get-on-the-plane-or-be-sorry offer.

To attorney Jonathan K. Baum, who helped write the ACLU brief, the contempt order was inappropriate because "it involved the Judge taking on the parental role where you have fit parents. They may be divorced, but that doesn't mean they aren't fit." Baum added, "The court should have said, 'You are a family; you may be divorced, but you should work this out. I am not going to use the power of the The children also didn't have By Darlene Gavron Stevens CHICAGO TRIBUNE hicago Judge Ludwig Kuhar had no right to lock up two Lisle, 111., girls for -refusing to visit their dad as ordered in their parents' divorce, civil liberties advocates argue. And the Will County, 111., judge broke the law when he sent the 12-year-old, who wasn't a party to the divorce and had committed no to a Juvenile jail in leg shackles, says the American Civil 1 Liberties Union of Illinois and Northwestern University's Chil--dren and Family Justice Center.

They have filed a friend-of-the-court brief to the Illinois Appellate "Court on behalf of the children. The higher court is weighing whether Kuhar overstepped his bounds when he held the girls In contempt in July. The highly publicized and widely criticized order was stayed, but not before the 12-year-old spent a night In jail and her 8-year-old sister was grounded with no TV. "We have already heard from other families who are concerned that if this case is upheld, other judges will use Jail as a (family) remedy," said Benjamin Wolf, an attorney for the ACLU of Illinois. "If the courts permit this kind of intervention, other children an opportunity to defend themselves and weren't given a court-appointed lawyer soon enough, Baum said.

Kuhar's action was illegal because under a federal Juvenile act, children who aren't delinquent and haven't violated any laws can't be Jailed, he said. They can be Jailed if they violate a valid court order, but Kuhar's order wasn't valid because the children weren't parties to the divorce proceedings, Baum said. Bruce Boyer, supervising attorney for the Children and Family Justice Center of the Northwestern University School of Law, said it can be difficult for a Judge to draw lines in trying to resolve such disputes. But he thought Kuhar's action was "far afield" of appropriate Judicial behavior. "Before you can even contemplate (such an order), the children have rights and interests that need to be protected," Boyer said.

Kuhar, who has kept Jurisdiction of the case while his ruling is appealed, recently appointed a new counselor for the girls. Marshall said the first few sessions, which have not included Nussbaum, have been going well. But the children have not changed their minds about visiting their father." Staff Report andy Parks has come up with a treat bag of "hauntless" Halloween events for children who want to have fun In a non-scary atmosphere. Today Creepy Capers. 6 p.m.

to 9 a.m. Sunday, ages 7-12, $20. This overnight at the Kran-nert Family Center. 605 S. High School Road, features movies, swimming, pumpkin decorating, games, storytelling and more.

Wednesday and Friday Spooktacular Halloween Happenings, 10 a.m. to noon, ages 3-5, $5. Crafts, games, snacks and Ice skating will be offered Wednesday at Ellenberger Park, 5301 E. St. Clair St.

Also. Friday at the same time. Perry Park. 451 E. Stop 11 Road.

Brown headlines Staff Report The annual fall show of the Indiana Artists Club, featuring 63 exhibits, continues through.