A ‘Pisces Town’ Fishes for Funds

It all began when astrologer Jenny Nicholson of La Grande, Ore., told the local newspaper that the stars were in a great position for the county to obtain federal and state grants. If Nancy Reagan consults an astrologer to arrange her husband’s activities, commissioners in Union County reasoned, why couldn’t they? So they voted to appoint Nicholson to help determine the right time to make their grant application1932402754develops astrological charts for a living, said the resulting publicity generated so much business that she had no time for the post. She was skeptical about the seriousness of the appointment anyway. “This is a Pisces town, two fish swimming in opposite directions,” she said, by way of explanation. She added that she would like to do astrological charts for communities and states as a public service. About her home state, she said: “Oregon is an Aquarius state and has a peculiar chart. Ours is not an easy destiny.” And the nation, she said, is headed for tougher times. “We’ve got major hairy, hairy aspects coming up beginning in March of 1989.” You read it here first.

--It was former Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan who first disclosed Mrs. Reagan’s predilection for astrology in his book “For the Record.” But his successor, Howard H. Baker, who resigned June 30, said he has no plans for a “kiss and tell” book about his 16 months in the Reagan White House. Instead Baker has signed an exclusive contract with the Harry Walker agency, a New York-based lecture management firm that also represents Regan. His first speech will be to an investment conference next week on “What the Next President of the United States Needs to Know.”

--It was all a “Ms. take”, and the federal judge apologized to an attorney he had scolded and threatened with jail when she insisted on using her maiden name in his Pittsburgh courtroom. “I have always referred to married women by their married name. This is the way my generation was taught,” said Senior U.S. District Judge Hubert I. Teitelbaum, 73. He said he wasn’t kidding when he told Barbara Wolvovitz, who is married to University of Pittsburgh law professor Jules Lobel, she would “sleep in the county jail tonight” if she refused to be addressed as Mrs. Lobel. “I unfortunately lost my temper and the matter then got out of hand,” Teitelbaum said. “I was wrong. I made a mistake.” His apology was officially entered into court records. Wolvovitz refused further comment on the matter.