Dan's Papers - March 28, 2008 - South O' the Highway (and the North too)

Rumors of Tiger Woods and his wife Elin purchasing a $65 million estate on Gin Lane in Southampton are not true. The New York Post was the first to report that the golf phenom bought the home, which was once owned by film producer Marty Richards, but the listing agent said, "There's not an ounce of truth to it."

The late Roy Schieder was honored at the 4th annual Stella by Starlight gala benefit held at Cipriani 23rd Street on March 17. The evening also marked the inauguration of the Roy Scheider Scholarship Endowment Fund, for which Steven Spielberg has pledged a challenge grant of $50,000 to launch. The fund will provide scholarships for inner-city students to study at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. For more information, contact Nina Capelli at (212) 689-0087 x27 or nina@stellaadler.com.

"Today" show host and Southampton resident Matt Lauer has agreed to be roasted by the Friars Club at their annual lunch on October 24. Al Roker will serve as roastmaster of the event, and it is expected that Meredith Vieira and East Hampton's Katie Couric will participate in the "roasting."

Hamptons residents John and Margo Catsimatidis are co-chairing the annual Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund dinner that will be held at New York's Marriott Marquis on May 10.

In William Morrow's latest book Mother Nature: Life Lessons from the Mothers of America's Best and Brightest, Steven Spielberg's mother Leah Adler says, "I never dreamed he'd become the director of movies like Jaws and Schindler's List...I thought maybe he would get a job in a supermarket as a carryout boy."

Quogue resident Dr. Roger Rosenblatt has been elevated to the highest rank in academia, a State University of New York Distinguished Professor.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony received $6 million for the pictures of their twins that appeared in People Magazine. The photo shoot took place at the couple's Long Island home, where they've been hiding out since the babies were born.

Hamptonite Denise Rich, losing Super Bowl quarterback Tom Brady (go Giants!) and model Tyson Beckford attended the unveiling of Audi's new diesel-powered Concept car, which the automaker donated to benefit the G&P Cancer Foundation, at the Audi showroom on Park Avenue.

Southampton producer Patricia Watt has returned from Paris, where her film Liszt for President won best English speaking film at the European Independent Film Festival. The film's cast features a bevy of Hamptons residents including Count Alexandre DeLesseps, Eli Wallach, Paul Hecht, Cornelia Sharpe Bregman, Larry Pine and Yancy Butler.

The South Fork Commuter Connection train service, which was implemented by the Long Island Rail Road and the Town of Southampton last October to decrease congestion on County Road 39 during the construction to add an extra eastbound lane, is scheduled to cease on May 23. But due to the high number of school district employees who ride the trains, local officials have met with LIRR officials to discuss the possibility of extending the service through the end of the school year.

Unfortunately, because of the high costs and the LIRR's summer schedule, New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele Jr. said it is unlikely that the trains will continue through July and August, but that he hopes they will continue in the fall.