Thank you for your story on Carole and Julie Sund and Silvina Pelosso. As I've watched the news updates regarding these three precious lives and seen the horrible story unfold, I feel a terrible sadness. I have always felt that you were safer in numbers. This story proves me wrong. I pray that the animals who are responsible for this unthinkable crime are found and that justice is served.
Susan Lemus, Sacramento
No one can condone such a vile, sickening act as this. Many of us are praying for Jens Sund, the Carrington and Pelosso families.
Patty Wall, Modesto, Calif.
Scoop
I enjoy watching the Oscars every year, and especially enjoy the pre-shows, showcasing what the stars are wearing. It is, however, bittersweet knowing that these stars, who make million-dollar salaries and are among the few who could actually afford these outfits, receive them free! To top this off, in your Academy Rewards article you stated that each presenter received $10,000 in party favors. Must be nice! For $10,000, I'd drag a horse out onstage!
Colleen Martin, Lethbridge, Alta.
Why do multimillionaires need $175 champagne glasses or another camera? Why not give the monetary value of the goody bags received by the Oscar presenters to charity? Maybe some hungry child can have a healthy meal, instead of well-fed actors getting free chocolate they won't eat anyway because it's full of fat? Our values are going down the drain.
Sharon Schechter, New York City
As a proud Longaberger independent sales associate, I was displeased to see that PEOPLE misrepresented our quality American handcrafted baskets, which were given to Oscar presenters, with the basket—not a Longaberger—in your Academy Rewards picture. This basket was a poor imitation.
Bonnie K. Scott, Odessa, N.Y.
It's too bad you mentioned the brands of many of the gifts bestowed on the Oscar presenters, but not the beautiful handwoven Longaberger baskets that held them. I hope you will pay tribute to Dave Longaberger, the company founder, who passed away March 17 after a gallant fight against cancer. He was truly the winner in the categories of Best Sense of Humor, Friend, Father, Grandfather, Employer, Visionary and Caring Man.
Margie Remelman, Fremont, Calif.
Sorry, Richard Keogh and Harry King. I created the hairdo that Monica wore during her 20/20 interview. After walking to school in a wool hat, my hair looked just like that for the rest of the day!
Heather Shaw, Spencerport, N.Y.
Dr. C. Everett Koop
In 1946, as a medical student, I was assigned to Dr. Koop for surgical instruction. At first I thought he was terrible. He was always half-asleep and looked as if he was about to fall down. I soon found out that he was operating day and night on children, without relief, because nobody else could do what he did. His patients were always in better shape than he was.
Betram Kummel, M.D., Morristown, N.J.
So, Dr. Koop misses the formality and protocol of years gone by when [nurses] "looked beautiful" in their "stiff, starched uniforms and those hats." You can bet he never had to wear them. I expect Dr. Koop also remembers fondly when nurses did all the housekeeping, laundry and feeding of patients, as well as bowing and scraping for doctors. We now wear functional clothing to go along with our functional minds—which we now are allowed to use instead of being handmaidens to the medical world. Not only have there been great strides in the medical field, there have been great strides in the nursing profession!
Jane Powell, R.N., Paola, Kans.
My doctor, John Beecher, is a Dr. Koop clone. He sees you the day you call and listens to his patients. One time, while I was thanking him for seeing me on a few hours' notice, he stopped me short and said, "It is your right as a patient to be seen as soon as possible."
James Fruen, Minneapolis
Michelle Kwan
Michelle Kwan has shown us all what a true champion is. I still remember that this little girl came in second to Tonya Harding at the nationals in 1994 but stepped back gracefully to allow Nancy Kerrigan, who had been injured, to skate at the Olympics. When Nancy refused to skate at the world championships that year, and Tonya was not allowed to, Michelle stepped in and did us proud. Thank you, Michelle, you will always be world champion in our hearts.
Jenise Bramblett, Sedona, Ariz.
I enjoyed the story on Michelle Kwan. But really, what message are we as a society sending to our youth when we refer to the incredible feat of winning a silver medal as an "Olympic loss"?
Sharon Scott, Montague, N.J.
Elia Kazan
The McCarthy era was a horrific and shameful time in our nation's history. Elia Kazan placed his own self-interest above that of his friends, whose lives he helped to destroy. To paraphrase the courageous Lillian Hellman, Kazan readily cut his conscience to fit the fashions of 1952. Shame on Oscar for honoring such a betrayal.
Rebecca M. Kirk, Abbeville, La.
Hats off to Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro for their courage in presenting Elia Kazan with his well-deserved Oscar. As for Nick Nolte, Amy Madigan, Ed Harris and others who self-righteously chose to protest this recognition of artistry by refusing to applaud—I hope they made themselves feel better. Perhaps in choosing their next roles they should select a character who exhibits some compassion. Such a stretch might win them an Oscar of their own.
Mike Donnelly, South Euclid, Ohio
The Hollywood community shuns actors and directors who exposed Communists in the film industry while they embrace Jane Fonda, who made propaganda broadcasts for North Vietnam. There should be an Academy Award for hypocrisy.
Joe Zeloof, Edison, N.J.
Lynn Redgrave & John Clark
Let me get this straight: John Clark had an ongoing affair with his assistant. He produced a child out of this affair. He allowed his wife to treat his assistant like a daughter. He allowed his son to marry this woman and treat the child as his own. And his response to Lynn Redgrave is "lighten up"? If you hadn't named the celebrities in this story I would have thought you made the whole story up. Thank God Ms. Redgrave didn't stay with him. She is truly a class act.
Connie Ajay, Elk Grove, Calif.
Poor John; it's just not fair. "She's now on top of the world, and she's dumped me for no good reason." Is this guy on drugs, or what?
Anne Paul, Allentown, Pa.
I can only say, "Thank God for small favors" in regard to John Clark's "dysfunction." I guess we're all a lot safer now that all he can raise are some eyebrows!
Diana Martone, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.
Monica Lewinsky
I read your article about Monica Lewinsky's book tour. So, poor Monica has a "relentless" schedule? Yeah, I can see where touring Europe would be tedious work. I'll try to remember that the next time I put in a 60-plus-hour workweek and am too tired to clean my house or play with my kids. She also wants people to "love" her? She should've picked another avenue to fame then. I find it hard to feel positive toward someone who thinks without using her brain. As for not having a clue about what she'll do next, it doesn't sound as if she ever had a clue to start out with!
Jeni Lepper, Spencerville, Ind.
Joe DiMaggio
I met Joe DiMaggio in 1985 when I was a volunteer at a celebrity golf tournament he played in. That evening he sat with me in the clubhouse bar and charmed me with his quiet humor. He was kind and happily signed a baseball for me. This was not a myth, a legend or an enigma I met—it was a gentleman.
Janet Patrick, Burke, Va.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
