[ KUP'S COLUMN ]

Written with Stella Foster

I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest thanks tothe media, my family, friends, fans and colleagues who made myturning 90 years old on July 31 a real pleasure, so much so that I'mlooking forward to another 90 years. (Ha!)

MY THANKS also to Dr. Warrick Carter, the board of trustees andstaff at Columbia College for hosting a beautiful birthday luncheonfor this reporter in the Empire Room of the Palmer House, whichraised money for the school's scholarship program named in my honor.Bill Kurtis did an outstanding job of emceeing the program and Gov.George Ryan, Studs Terkel, Wally Phillips, Roger Ebert, my son,Jerry, the TV director, and my grandson, David, all spoke eloquentlyand truthfully.

PRESIDENT Bush and former President Gerald Ford sent wonderfultelegrams of congratulations, as did broadcast diva Barbara Walters.There were video greetings from Mike ("60 Minutes") Wallace, TonyBennett and former Chicago broadcaster Lee Philip with hubby BillBell. Also, a big thanks to the co-chairs of the luncheon, attorneyPhil Corboy, restaurant giant Rich Melman and businessman Sid Port.Howard Mendelsohn and his scholarship committee, worked tirelessly tomake this event a success.

LAST, but not least, my thanks to Channel 7's Joel Daly for hisinterview with this reporter that aired on Sunday. Unfortunately, Ican't mention everyone who helped me celebrate my special day, butplease know that I am most appreciative of all the support. Well,enough about me.

BACK ON THE BEAT:

LIBRARY Commissioner Mary Dempsey is just thrilled that masterfulnovelist Joyce Carol Oates will be honored by the Chicago PublicLibrary Foundation at a gala dinner Oct. 10 at the Harold WashingtonLibrary Center. Oates, whose novel We Were the Mulvaneys was onOprah's book list last year and adapted into a movie on Lifetime,will be presented with the prestigious Carl Sandburg Literary award.

Previous awardees include authors Kurt Vonnegut and DavidMcCullough. Civic-minded Cindy Pritzker is the chairperson. For moreinfo call (312) 201-9830.

ARNE DUNCAN, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, is slated to speak atthe City Club of Chicago's public policy luncheon Aug. 21 atMaggiano's Banquets. Duncan will be talking about the new "SchoolOptions" program, which is now a part of the public school system.

HEADS UP: The New Israel Fund's dinner benefit is set for Dec. 5at the Palmer House. The organization will honor civic leadersMarjorie Craig Benton and Bettylu Saltzman. The guest speaker will beformer Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.

THEATRE HAPPENINGS: The premiere of playwright Ann Noble's newdrama "Ariadne's Thread" opens Sept. 23 with previews starting Sept.13. . . . The broadway hit "Aida" opens Aug. 21 at the CadillacPalace. . . . Singer/composer Oscar Brown Jr.'s musical "Great NittyGritty" starts Aug. 9 at the South Shore Cultural Center. . . . ActorGeorge ("Cheers") Wendt stars in Northlight's debut comedy "RoundingThird" opening Oct. 9.

ACTOR Tim ("Shawshank Redemption," "The Player") Robbins will co-star along with Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon in the new movie "MysticRiver" directed by actor Clint Eastwood.

SIGHT SEEN: Prominent attorney Ed Reda celebrating his lovely wifeKathy's 50th birthday with close friends at the palatial home of Pegand Don Barry in Michigan. . . . The Phillies' Jason Michaels andJeremy Giambi partying at Jilly's Retro Club.

JIMMY RICHARDS, president of Showtime Enterprises in suburban OakLawn, and his partner Robert Pineda have teamed up with AltoviseDavis, the widow of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., to producea musical "Mr. Bojangles" based on the star's illustrious career. "Mr. Bojangles" was one of Sammy's signature songs along with otherhits including "Candy Man" and "I've Gotta Be Me." They plan tostart casting very shortly.

CANDLES & Cake: Actor Dorian Harewood, Catherine Hicks and my co-writer and assistant the "Stellar" Stella Foster.

On Wednesday: Garrison Keillor, Art Hellyer, June Travis Friedloband anniversary greetings to Tom Selleck and Jillie. And belated birthday greetings to Fox-TV anchors Robin Robinson and WalterJacobson, WVON radio president Melody Spann-Cooper and MonsignorIgnatius McDermott.

Have a great day!