Dec. 4 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
That is the first lady's section. “I have seen a space where my office will be,” says Winter, Michelle Obama's deputy chief of staff for nearly two years and who will continue in that role.
Melissa Winter was a fan of the TV White House saga “The West Wing,” but she is headed to the East Wing.
More Diane Bell Columns
Dec. 2 (UNION-TRIBUNE)Aguirre aide doesn't wait for changing of the guard: City Attorney Mike Aguirre's No. 1 assistant, Don McGrath, left the City Attorney's Office yesterday a week before Jan Goldsmith officially takes over. Nov. 27 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Leaders are grateful for plenty: This past year has been a tumultuous one of highs – electing our first black president – and lows – a roller-coaster stock market and an avalanche of foreclosures. Nov. 25 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Hospital staffers sending colleague to inauguration: Even after surgery on both knees, Sammy Brooks, 58, returned quickly to his cleaning job at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Nov. 22 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Actor wants more civics in schools: Mr. Holland, of movie fame, has moved to San Diego, and his opus is civics. Actor Richard Dreyfuss, nominated for an Academy Award as the inspirational music teacher in “Mr. Holland's Opus,” is using his well-known voice, not only to entertain, but also to inspire Americans to restore civics to the school curriculum. Nov. 20 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
'64 S.D. State ring's owner stays a mystery for finder: More than 40 years ago, Frank Leinhaupel was diving in La Jolla Cove and found a college graduation ring beneath the cliff formation known as The Clam. Leaping off The Clam was once a popular pastime for daredevil high school and college kids. Nov. 18 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Woman, 83, who always helped others now in need: An e-mail plea is making the rounds to local animal rescue groups with the story of an 83-year-old Ramona widow who is losing her home of more than 25 years to foreclosure. Nov. 15 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Key player for Obama isn't moving: Local businesswoman Christine Forester makes her living guiding startup companies, fine-tuning marketing strategies and designing logos. For more than a year, though, she has put her clients on hold to jump into Barack Obama's presidential campaign, bringing along her energy, enthusiasm and organizational skills. Nov. 13 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Finleys asking $21.5 million for beach house: Former Padres outfielder Steve Finley and his wife, Amy, have put their Del Mar beach house on the market for $21.5 million. Nov. 11 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
A Veterans Day story of rescue and reunion: Urban Miyares was stuffed into a body bag in Vietnam and lived to tell about it. What Miyares, then a 20-year-old Army platoon sergeant, remembers of that day in August 1968 outside Saigon was advancing single file across rice paddy dikes when the silence was pierced by yelling, screaming, gunfire and mortar shells. Nov. 10 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Word has it: Diane Bell: Newspapers were a hot item last week, with people collecting copies that reported the historic presidential win of Barack Obama. Nov. 8 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Donors help restaurant replace its memorabilia: Caps, shirts, military memorabilia, old license plates – it didn't take long for decor-minded San Diegans to come to the aid of the Kansas City Barbeque downtown. Nov. 6 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Political parties earn their names: While many Republican candidates on election night rented hospitality suites in the ritzy Westgate Hotel across from the San Diego Community Concourse and Election Central, local Democratic candidates gathered at the House of Blues nightclub on Fifth Avenue.
