TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Shakeup in
showbiz union
THE leadership of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 665 has been largely replaced in a hotly contested Sunday election overseen by the League of Women Voters of Honolulu.After 13 and a half years, Al Burns has been voted out as business agent of the union representing about 345 theatrical stage employees, motion picture technicians, artists and allied crafts workers. He would only discuss the vote outcome pertaining to his office, declining to release other results to the Star-Bulletin.
The top four newly elected officers, calling themselves the "Reform Party," were led by President-elect Dean DesJarlais, who replaces Vance Gage.
DesJarlais, a union member since 1977, is a principal of Hawaii Media Inc., a lighting equipment rental company on Sand Island Access Road.
Business agent-elect Scott Wong will replace Burns; First Vice President-elect Kevin Kersting replaces Michael Van Arkle; and Secretary-Treasurer-elect Kay Carter replaces Eric Minton.
Other officers who have been re-elected are: Kenneth Sato as vice president for production; Allan Omo as vice president for stage; and Robert Barnett as vice president for projection. George Akana is the newly elected vice president for allied crafts.
"We are attempting to democratize the organization and make it serve the members," said the Yale University- and University of Hawaii-educated DesJarlais, "because that really is what we're all about."
Burns, who is uncertain about his next move, said, "I'm looking at some things -- looking at a few things that were kind of questionable (about the election)." He said he lost by a 15-vote margin. The new officers will be installed Sunday.
Scotty B. scores
Heide & Cook Ltd. President Earle Matsuda bid $1,000 in a benefit celebrity auction to have "Star 101.9" FM morning show host "Scotty B." Blaisdell on his golf team over the weekend.The choice became a highlight of the Sam Choy Poke Festival Charity Tournament when he scored a hole-in-one on the seventh green at the Hapuna Prince golf course.
"I'm still shocked," Blaisdell said. "A lot of folks will play forever and never get a shot like that in front of people in a tournament."
"But you know it's not skill," he said. "There's so much luck involved, it's a humbling thing."
Crosswinds were gusting to about 40 mph and he was going to use a seven-iron. "But the wind stopped for a second, I dropped it and picked up an eight-iron. I think I got lucky with the wind," Blaisdell said. It was a 138-yard par 3, and he hit an 80 in the tournament.
On the radio Monday morning the subject was raised, "But (co-host) Hudson's so not the golfer," he said. She asked if he "won a car or something."
As is virtue, sometimes a hole-in-one is its own reward.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com