People and Events

With only 23 days until Christmas, most Los Angeles residents are getting in the spirit of things--but not everyone.

Los Angeles Police Officer Charles J. Stubeck and two comrades were delivering barricades to Hollywood’s Christmas Parade when they encountered motorists who allegedly had grinch-like attitudes and some non-yule-like packages in their car. The plainclothes officers were traveling north on Arlington Avenue in a flatbed truck when they became stalled behind Clifford Ross, 19, of Los Angeles, who stopped to buy flowers from a street vendor. Stubeck honked. Ross and his passenger, Raymond C. Jackson, 19, yelled unpleasantries, police said.

At the next intersection, Ross pointed a gun at them, police said. Jackson, suddenly noticing the small “police” sign on the truck’s door, reportedly gestured futilely for his friend to put the gun away.

Officers say they found two small packages in the car, one containing a leafy green substance, and the other some white, rock-like material. Ross was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and Jackson, for drug possession.

Geoff Edwards, host of California State Lottery’s “Big Spin” program, did his shopping while serving as master of ceremonies at the recent Asthma and Allergy Foundation charity event. He and his actress wife, Michael Feffer, had to negotiate their way on stage past two racks of fur coats that were to be auctioned. Feffer spied a brown and black, three-quarter-length fox number. Edwards handed over $6,000. Feffer wore the coat on a trip to New Mexico and sneezed the entire weekend. Edwards told her, “If you are allergic to it, you better get used to sneezing.”

Numerous Los Angeles women will receive a pair of lace undies in the mail each month for the next year. The Panty of the Month gift includes red satin lingerie for Christmas, black satin for Halloween, a mint-colored set with matching top dubbed Happy St. Panties and Erin Go Bra for March 17, and apricot-colored bikinis with furry detachable bunny tail for Easter.

Entrepreneur Lila Williams, who two years ago stood on New York street corners in a pink kitten costume handing out fliers about the lingerie, said sales of the $198 item is 10 times better in Southern California than they are in the Big Apple. In fact, Californians are her biggest customers. “I’m not sure why,” she said, “but I guess it’s because they are more fashion conscious.”

Unveiled Tuesday night at a Neiman-Marcus gift show in Beverly Hills was a $120 item for those who are not only fashion conscious, but concerned about creature comforts after the Big One.

Actor-waiter Michael Ryder explained that he and partner Toby Iland had been wracking their brains for a way to make money. Iland suggested an earthquake kit. “I said it was a boring idea. But a few days later we were talking about Yuppies, and we had it,” Ryder said.

The YUPPIE (Young Urban Professional Prepared for Intense Earthquake) attache case contains a basic first-aid kit, crescent wrench, flashlight and transistor radio. Also included are items definitely not suggested in the American Red Cross manual: Romanoff caviar, Ile de France pate, Aulsebrooks water crackers, Stolichnaya vodka and shot glass, Dunhill cigarettes and lighter, and a will.

Occidental College Chaplin Doug Gregg wants shoppers to browse for gifts for the world’s needy. Today at the campus chapel in Eagle Rock, participating philanthropic organizations will man booths offering--for those who want something to take home--Third World crafts, but also featuring examples of what monetary donations will buy: bricks, 50 cents each; a roof, $450; blankets, $5, and flour, $1 for 15 servings. United Methodist Committee on Relief volunteers suggest that a $1 donation will buy a chicken and $18 a water buffalo. Their booth features the live chicken. The water buffalo, shoppers will have to imagine.