In a scene reminiscent of the movie “Annie Hall,” Shawna Standoff screamed when she saw a cockroach in her North Park condo.
She was alone and just couldn't contain herself.
Someone in the building heard her and, fearing domestic violence, called police.
Two SDPD officers soon arrived at Standoff's door. As they listened to her explanation, the offending cockroach skittered across the floor as if on cue. The officers then went beyond the call of duty and quickly dispatched the creature to its happy hunting ground. Case closed.
Thinking the police wouldn't be so accommodating the next time around, Shawna's boyfriend, Austin Copeland, bought some bug spray.
Stopping traffic
A contingent of San Diego business leaders made the rounds in our nation's capital this week to discuss border, transportation and other issues. Among them was San Diegan Herbert G. Klein, the former communications director for President Nixon.
As Klein left the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and was walking toward the White House with Phil Blair, Mel Katz and other Regional Chamber of Commerce members, Vice President Dick Cheney's motorcade appeared. Cheney perfunctorily waved as his car rolled by. To the onlookers' surprise, the motorcade suddenly stopped. Cheney got out and walked back to greet Klein and chat. Turns out, the men met in 1971 when Cheney was a Nixon White House assistant, and they have stayed in touch since.
Klein, retired editor in chief of Copley Newspapers, says the Chamber group received a verbal assurance from Cabinet officials that another border entry gate will be created in Otay Mesa. When it materializes, that will be big news for San Diego.
Years shaved off
It's gone. County Supervisor Greg Cox has shaved his new beard. He had vowed that the beard and mustache, an outgrowth of his vacation in August, would stay until the state adopted a budget.
True to his word, after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the budget Tuesday, Cox wielded the razor. When he emerged cleanshaven at the annual “State of Bonita” address Tuesday night, the consensus was he looked younger without it.
San Diegans Ink
She wasn't walking the red carpet on Sunday evening, but former San Diegan Gina Vecchione picked up a 2008 TV Emmy in New York on Monday as the awards presentation continued.
The daughter of Mission Hills physician, Tom Vecchione, and stepdaughter of his wife, Sylvia, has her own editing/production company in Los Angeles. She was editor and music coordinator for the Emmy-winning History Channel documentary “A Distant Shore . . . D-Day Invasion by African-American Soldiers.”
Martin Wygod, chairman of WebMD, and his wife, Pamela, have donated $250,000 to a new thoroughbred Breeders' Cup charity fund. The Rancho Santa Fe couple are longtime horse owners and racing enthusiasts.
Hollywood South
People-watching at the Q may have been more riveting than the Chargers' 48-29 blowout win over the Jets Monday evening.
Actor Dennis Quaid, who stars in the new football film “The Express,” about college sports hero Ernie Davis, was getting his football fix – or perhaps his attraction was the chance to promote his movie on ESPN during the game.
“The Green Mile” actor Michael Clarke Duncan, who has befriended several Chargers, including Kassim Osgood, came down from Los Angeles. As a native Chicagoan, Duncan admits he remains a Bears fan, but told one Chargers executive that he has adopted the Chargers as his “second team.”
Hank Azaria was there, too, but don't expect a repeat visit. The actor was a guest of Jets owner Woody Johnson. Comedian Ray Romano also was reportedly in the crowd.
Diane Bell's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fax items to (619) 260-5009, call (619) 293-1518 or e-mail to diane.bell@uniontrib.com.
