People

MR. MAYOR SAYS NATION WAS NOT PREPARED

Over the weekend, the former mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, told a group of mayors visiting the Big Apple that this country did not heed warnings about possible terror attacks. Speaking to a group from the national mayors' conference, he noted that America was deaf and blind to the threats being made by Hitler in the 1930s until it was too late. He blasted the White House of past years for being so supportive of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a time that he says Arafat was helping to train terrorists. The meeting marked the first time that the mayors' group held sessions in two cities at the same time. Others were meeting in Washington. By the way, there is still speculation that Giuliani will move his residence to nearby New Jersey and eventually run for the Senate from that state.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY WORKING ON 3RD CD

The meteoric country group Montgomery Gentry reports that it's just finished its first set of recording sessions for what will eventually become its third CD. The group tells country.com that popular local backup players were hired for the sessions. Included are guitarist David Grissom, keyboardist Chuck Leavell, drummer Greg Morrow and steel guitar player Al Perkins. Eddie Montgomery has been highly complimentary of the musicianship of many of the studio performers who have been working on his group's project. He calls the current additional members "heavy." The new CD is being produced by veteran Music City entrepreneur Blake Chancey. No word on when the project will be completed.

MAYOR OFFERS TO CUT HER OWN SALARY

The new mayor of Atlanta, Shirley Franklin, says she intends to practice what she is preaching. She tells the Atlanta Journal and Constitution that she is preparing to slash her own salary as she announces cost-cutting measures and salary cuts for others in city government. Franklin is the same energetic mayor who offered to go out and fix city potholes herself if city workers couldn't get the job done. The mayor's salary is currently $140,000. Franklin says she will give $40,000 back to the city and take an even $100,000. Meanwhile she is asking for a complete audit of city expenditures and a closer look at the use of all vehicles and cell phones.

CHRISTIAN MEDIA EDUCATOR DIES

There are few people connected with Christian media and education in this country who did not know or learn from Alfred Edyvean Sr. at some time. He was one of the best known teachers of media in the Midwest. The Indianapolis Star says that Edyvean taught communications at the Christian Theological Seminary for more than 45 years. During his years working for that and several other Christian schools he helped produce a variety of nationally distributed TV and radio shows, including "Focus on Faith," Television Church" and the popular "Timothy Churchmouse" programs for children. Edyvean also served as director of an Indianapolis theater company, which now bears his name, for nearly a quarter of a century. Alfred Edyvean Sr., was 86.

IMMIGRANTS STRIVE FOR IDENTITY

For as long as immigrants have been coming to this country, they have gathered in their own neighborhoods. As their populations grew, they slowly attained an identity and, in many cases -- while becoming part of the larger American culture -- have retained their own traditions and festivals. In Houston, for example, the Russian-American community there has increased in recent years by such numbers that the Chronicle says the growing influence of the community might well be called "The Russian Evolution." More than 30,000 Russian immigrants now call Houston home. Among the businesses catering to the new Americans are several Russian food markets. One elderly émigré told the publication that seeing foods and goods that are genuine bring a tear to the eye. Houston even boasts a Russian-language newspaper and a Russian-language radio show.

THE BAND OF RENOWN IS BACK ... AGAIN

The Stardust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas says that a previous appearance by the Les Brown Band of Renown was so successful the act aggregation has been asked back. The band, now under the baton of the legendary bandleader's son, will be back at the Stardust on Feb. 9 for another series of big band dance parties. The orchestra, by the way, is in the Guinness Book of World Records has being the musical group which has been in existence for the longest time with the same name and family leadership. Two members of the group have been with it for more than 55 years. Throughout the 1940s the band's leading singer was Doris Day.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 256

Today we are asking: "What is the oldest item in your clothing wardrobe that you still can wear and love to do so?" Put CLOTHING in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 251 (STORAGE)

Last week we asked about your housecleaning and pack rat experiences. Here are some of the replies: MW reports that she loves Spring cleaning because she always finds money in pockets that she had forgotten about. She says that the prospect of "hitting gold" drives her onward. She once found two 20s in one session. Brenda T says her packrat husband drives her nuts. She says that once when he cleaned out his closet he found a box of canceled checks that were a decade old. BC from Louisville reports that she once found some already wrapped Christmas gifts she had hidden, forgotten, and never mailed out. She also found 500 8-track tapes she had forgotten she had. "Thank God for eBay," she reports. N Shepherd in Cincinnati says that "it doesn't do me any good to clean my junk up, 'cause I find junk that I haven't found in years and forgot about cleaning." Debra has some sage advice on the subject: "Do not save anything!!" Linda reports that she still have a dozen unopened boxes in her basement that were put there by the movers five years ago. Finally, Loretta is among those who live in a double-wide mobile home. She reports the family only has a small outbuilding for storage. "The trashman is my best friend," she quips. GBA.