Simon's marriage isn't simple
SIMON SAYS Martha's Vineyard's most melodious inhabitant, singer-songwriter Carly Simon, talks about her "atypical marriage" in the new issue of Reader's Digest. Married to poet Jim Hart since 1987, Simon tells the mag she and Hart are still hitched, but they haven't lived together for more than a year and rarely see each other. "Maybe we'll actually find some way of living under the same roof together in a different environment," she says. And maybe not. Of her ex, James Taylor, whom she divorced in '83, Simon says their relationship is "nonexistent." "I talked to him going down the aisle, bringing [daughter] Sally to the altar [last year]. . . . It's not the way I want it."
FIELD OF DREAMS "Awesome," said 80-year-old Sox fan Mel Saftler as he walked on the outfield grass at Fenway with his son, Chuck, a BU grad who's senior VP of programming for the FX Networks. "Awesomely unbelievable." He was talking about the Red Sox Wives Picnic in the Park, which let diehards like him not only stroll around the field, but also meet and mingle with their heroes. When Nomar Garciaparra signed Saftler's Louisville Slugger, the old man could hardly believe his eyes. (In all, the event raised close to $200,000 for Jane Doe Inc., a nonprofit that combats domestic violence.) One wealthy fan ponied up $5,000 for a private pitching lesson from Curt Schilling, another bid $1,900 for guitar tutoring from pitcher Bronson Arroyo, and a third coughed up $20,000 for a hand-crafted quilt signed by the 2004 BoSox team. Musical entertainment was provided by Flipside, the Boston band that serenaded Suzy Wetlaufer and Jack Welch at their wedding as well as "Survivor" Elisabeth Filarski and her signal-caller, Tim Hasselbeck, on their big day.
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES Longtime social-service worker and Democratic activist Steve Collins was honored by his VIP friends last night, including former governor Mike Dukakis, state auditor Joe DeNucci, Senate prez Bob Travaglini, Democratic state committee chair Philip Johnston, former DNC chief Steve Grossman, AFL-CIO prez Bob Haynes, and dozens more union types, politicos, and advocates for the poor. Collins, who's battling cancer, couldn't attend the benefit at the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, but his wife, Mara, was there.
DIG IT Notwithstanding its unfathomable expense and questionable effect on traffic, the Big Dig is a "historic innovation in city building." At least, that's the judgment of Northeastern prez Richard Freeland, MIT president emeritus Paul Gray, executive director of the Museum of Afro-American History Beverly Morgan-Welch, Henry Lee of the Friends of the Public Garden, and Gloria Larson of the Mass. Convention Center Authority. The panel chose the construction project as a winner of the Boston History Collaborative's annual "History Maker Awards," an honor normally reserved for people and institutions. Go figure.
ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT Putting his oar in the water for a good cause, Pats coach Bill Belichick took part in the AccesSportAmerica Mayor's Cup Regatta last weekend. The canoe race on the mighty Charles raised $150,000 for the organization that helps children and adults with disabilities through sports.
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