The staff at Capitol Hill`s Roll Call newspaper used the House bank scandal to create a full-page ad for a fake movie called ”Russ”-a spoof on the House bank formerly supervised by sergeant-at-arms Jack Russ, mysteriously wounded while walking his dog near his Capitol Hill home. Reads the ad: ”A bank out of control, a Congress in anguish, a Speaker under fire, a diversion of funds to the contras, a downed Korean airliner, and a moonless night on a Capitol Hill grassy knoll. Only he knows what really happened. The story that won`t go away . . . Directed by Oliver Stone.”
REDFORD UPDATE Robert Redford is expected to try to get support in Washington next month for a review of the murder conviction of Leonard Peltier, the Native American imprisoned since the `70s for killing two FBI agents. Redford is executive producer and narrator of the documentary ”Incident at Oglala,” to be screened in D.C. for politicians as it opens in New York, Los Angeles and Washington. ”We`re not pointing fingers at anyone,” says a Redford spokesman of the South Dakota incident. ”We just want people in power to take another look and to think.” Bill Clinton recently sought an audience with the politically active actor, but Redford was said to be too busy directing. ”All the candidates seem to want his support,” a spokesman says.
EX-HOSTAGE`S MOM HONORED The mother of former hostage Terry Waite was the recipient of a Maundy Thursday purse of silver coins given her by Queen Elizabeth II in Chester Cathedral in northwest England. Lena Waite was among 66 men and 66 women receiving the gift for Christian service to the church and community. A man and a woman are chosen for each year of the queen`s life. Lena Waite said the queen, after asking about Terry Waite, a captive for more than six years in Lebanon, said, ”I think he`s wonderful.”
HOT OPPORTUNITY Mt. Etna`s hot lava has stirred entrepreneurs in Sicily even as the lava threatened homes in Zafferana Etnea. Souvenir shops in the town are selling ashtrays for $12 labeled: ”Made with lava from the current eruption.” Says bricklayer Stefano Guliti, ”Believe me, I`d rather not do it. But as the lava`s here, why not make the best of it?” So far, he`s made more than 200 ashtrays.
HELMSLEY`S LIGHTS Harry Helmsley not only ordered the decorative lights on the Empire State Building turned off Wednesday for his wife, Leona, new federal inmate No. 15113-054, he also ordered a blackout at the gold leaf-covered Helmsley Building on New York`s Park Avenue. The Empire State is managed by the Helmsleys, not owned by them as reported earlier by wire services. That building`s lights were back on Thursday.
