Anchorage Daily News

FRANCHISE? . . . Does Sarah know that an organization called "The Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute" is using her name to raise money?

"One of the country's most impressive conservative leaders -- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin -- is under vicious attack," the "Dear Friend" letter says. It offers a pre-written "Note of Support" you can sign and send to the institute, presumably for forwarding to Palin. And please enclose a check. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are also accepted for donations to fight "liberals" who attack Sarah because they "hate articulate, conservative women." And, "Your gift is fully tax-deductible."

LOVE STORY . . . Some married people stop wearing their rings while they're still hitched. Earwigs can name a couple of those. Then there are the officially divorced people who still wear their wedding ring. Vic Kohring is one of those. He told reporter Rich Mauer the divorce between him and the Russian love of his life became final in January. But he still loves her and hopes to put the relationship back together.

However, he has no plans to move to Oregon, where she lives. Romantic Ear wishes him luck.

And Ear was wrong about the hair. He looks great with it cut off. He says he got it done by Sarah's hairdresser.

LOVE RUMOR . . . Speaking of elected couples, there's a whole new wave of gossips about a legislative romance, supposedly going hot and heavy. Not the one mentioned here a few months ago. Only half of this alleged couple is married.

Frankly, although the rumor is fun, Ear has doubts.

GET WELL . . . APD spokesman Dave Parker reports he's recovering well from his prostate cancer surgery and hopes to be back at work, on light duty for a while, later this month. His message: Get tested.

OUT AND ABOUT . . . Spotted shopping Thursday at City Market, Ted and Catherine Stevens. Friends say Ted is in a good place these days, relaxed and enjoying life. Which seems like a good thing to Ear.

• Seen having coffee Friday at the popular new Fireweed bakery at 14th and G Street, John Hendrickson. He and wife Mary Lou Whitney were in town visiting -- and trying not to grin too broadly at their recent horse racing success. They own the great Birdstone, daddy of both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont winners. Think "stud fees."

FLYING FACTOID . . . The Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar Association has decided that lawyers can publicly brag about being selected for listing in references like "Super Lawyers," "Best Lawyers," etc., but they can't pay to get selected.

However, once selected, they can pay for the listing.

Huh?

Guess you have to go to law school to split that hair.

DO SEND A FONDU . . . to Katherine Mannheimer, oldest daughter of Alaska Court of Appeals Judge David Mannheimer and Carol Moonie. Katherine married Joshua Gewold, a N.Y. lawyer, on June 13 at the Queens Museum of Art in NYC. She teaches 18th-century British lit at the University of Rochester. Former Temple Beth Shalom rabbi Harry Rosenfeld did the honors.

Compiled by Sheila Toomey. E-mail ear@adn.com. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear.

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