WE ARE ALL HORRIFIED and frightened to learn about bombs in packages from Yemen meant for Chicago. And we should be scared, and vigilant, and brave. We cannot let the bastards win.

BUT AS WE FEAR FUTURE ATTACKS, there is a brave young mother, 20, who has the worst job, the most terrifying job in the world, right now.

SHE IS THE AMAZING, FEARLESS Marisol Valles Garcia, the new police chief in a Mexican border town where 2,500 drug-related murders have made it the most violent area in all of Mexico. The horrific bloodshed as decent people tried to fight the powerful drug cartels, left the job vacant and no one else stepped forward, knowing the deadly problems.

MARISOL, A COLLEGE STUDENT STUDYING CRIME, and with a baby son, is determined to lead her town to become the peaceful center it once was. The town has 9,000 residents and slaughter is an every day happening. Her city, bordering Texas, is Praxedis Guadalupe Guerrero, part of the Juarez valley region, now famous for its bloody history.

IT IS A PRIME SMUGGLING CENTER FOR NARCO-BANDITS and gangs fight to the death for dominance. The last mayor and some of the meager police force were all murdered in drug related activities. Marisol has only 13 in her force, nine are women, with only one police car, and three rifles and one pistol in their arsenal.

“PRINCIPLES AND VALUES ARE OUR WEAPONS,” SHE HAS DECLARED. “WE ARE STRIVING TO PREVENT CRIME.”

WHO DARES SAY THERE ARE NO HEROES AMONGST US?

WHO ARE THE THREE SOCIALITES who have notified those they love that there will be no frivolous Christmas gifts this year because all their disposable income is going to feed and help the homeless and returning injured servicemen? … Bravo!

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO A SOBBING child, 5, that the person who stole his bike was desperate, maybe hungry, certainly not coming back to commit more pain, asked a Gold Coast mom who had left her child’s cycle outside their condo “for 4 minutes while I got him a warmer sweater?” He will get another bike but the damage to trusting is done. It is a sad lesson for a little boy.

“ONCE MY PAYCHECK WAS DOUBLE MY HUSBAND’S, WE HAD TROUBLES,” confided a successful career girl on the way to her divorce lawyer’s offices. “He couldn’t handle my being Alpha dog … so it’s over.”

CATFIGHT STILL HEATING UP the social scene. Dahlings, the atmosphere with the dueling divas is so cold global warming is on hold. It could be called “The Girls with the Draggin Tutus,” with apologies to Stieg Larsson, ‘cause both fashionistas are digging in their heels — and they were once best buddies. Oh, well, we are all yawning.

A SENSATIONAL, OVER-THE-TOP GALA for the Service Club was held Friday at the Four Seasons. It was transformed to MGM movie set authenticity as the 1893 World’s Fair, and it even boasted a Ferris wheel! Theme was “The Devil in the White City” taken from author Erik Larson’s thrilling book and he was present to meet the 491 guests. MOST GLAMOROUS GALS AT THE BALL INCLUDED: TINA WELLER, NATASHA ISAACS, MAMIE WALTON, PEGGY MARTAY, LYNDA SILVERMAN, SUSAN GOHL, SUE CAREY, SYLVIA MULLER, CYNTHIA KARNES, LAURIE DAVIS, DUSTY STEMER, DR. STACIE MC CLANE, EILEEN HOWARD-WEINBERG, KIM GLEESON, CAROL DAHL, SHERRILL BODINE, COOKIE COHEN, CHAIRS VONITA REESCER AND SALLY JO MORRIS, DONNA LA PIETRA, CAROL DI FRISCO, LESLIE ZENTNER.

WELL KNOWN CIVIC/BUSINESS LEADER DOMINIC DI FRISCO underwent hip surgery Monday and is doing well.

SAD NEWS ABOUT KIM NOVAK, 77, THE BLOND MOVIE STAR FROM CHICAGO best remembered for her roles in “Picnic”, “Vertigo,” and “Bell, Book and Candle.” The former local model has been diagnosed with breast cancer and she’s undergoing treatment. Her prognosis is good because it was found early and she’s in great shape, exercising and riding her horses on her Oregon ranch. She has been married for 34 years to veterinarian Dr. Robert Molloy … YEARS AGO WE INTERVIEWED KIM when she was staying in a suite at the Ambassador East Hotel. Tired from her trip, she stayed in bed and greeted us wearing a skimpy nighty. Oh, how we wish we could have once looked a zillionth as sexy as this blond goddess....It is a Hollywood legend that Sammy Davis Jr. lost an eye when he was beaten up by movie brass-sent gangsters because he was going to marry their snow white screen star. The injury and threats ended their romance.

PALM BEACH SOCIALITE BROWNIE MC LEAN, who once refused the Hope diamond, orchestrates a Crystal Ball each fall in New York City to benefit higher education. It is Nov. 12 at the swank Doubles Club and Sarena Weil and Sue Carey are among the gorgeous femmes who will attend.

DESIGNING MAN NATE BERKUS’ new TV show is high on content but light on viewers and it is a crying shame. Nate deserves millions watching his great ideas in interior design, plus celebs and regular people for a potent mix. Tune in and applaud this Chicago bred talent, co-produced by Harpo Studios and Oprah.

HE TRIED SUICIDE BY HANGING, BUT THE ROPE BROKE, was the story that rocker Rick Springfield shared with fans that came to meet him at Border’s recently. His desperation 15 years before he gained fame in 1981 is revealed in his memoir, “Late, Late at Night” (Simon & Schuster). He was 17 and felt “as ugly as the ass end of a female baboon.” Thankfully, the rope broke and Rick came tumbling down into a life where music prevailed.

SEXY BOW TIES FOR $59.50 created by charming designer K. Cooper Ray debuted at Brooks Brothers, N. Michigan, to cheers from Annie and Dan Barlow, Kate and J.T. Fitzgerald, Samantha and Jonathan Gaunt, Christian Leone, Wentworth Caldwell, John Mc Govern, Meredith and Patrick Wood-Prince. They sipped cocktails and marveled at the exciting patterns that are all reversible. Ray’s neck goodies always sell out.

JENNY MC CARTHY, our darling star of TV and films, has the thrill of knowing her book, “Love, Lust & Faking It” is number 3 on the New York Times best seller list.

She’s reported “over” her long affair with Jim Carrey and is now loving and lusting over fitness model Jason Toohey. And probably still faking it!

ORCHESTRA LEADER STANLEY PAUL is excited about the special Kelly Cruise to the Mediterranean Aug. 14-26, 2011, on the luxury Crystal Serenity featuring his unique musical performances. It all starts in Rome, visits Porto Venere, Florence, Portofino, San-Tropez, Monte Carlo, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Barcelona. Many Chicagoans are planning to go on this luxurious vacation. Crystal Cruises president Gregg Michel and his wife Adriana will sail with the group.

SAT NEXT TO JEFF SANKEY, hair stylist at Anita Russum salon, at a recent benefit and he was a hoot! Hottest conversation in eons from a charming madman.

COMIC JERRY SEINFELD’S WIFE, Jessica, has a second cookbook, “Double Delicious! Good, Simple Food for Busy, Complicated Lives.” It offers recipes for families and falls back on faves like lasagna, mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs — all Jerry’s special desires and dishes kids like too. The Seinfelds have three kids: Sascha, 10; Julian, 7, and Shepherd, 5.

PAWS FOUNDER PAULA FASSEAS hosted a luncheon at Joe’s Stone Crab, one of her favorite eateries … AVERILL LEVITON was seen lunching at the Four Season’s lobby restaurant, where she orders the yummy salmon burger.

“THE FINAL CURE,” a thriller by local author Cody Thomas Chandler is a can’t-put-down read.

ROOTS, A PIZZA PALACE AND BLEEDING HEART BAKERY AND CAFE, open next year at Chicago and Winchester, thanks to Greg Mohr and Scott Weiner of The Fifty/50.

LADY GAGA (OR A FACSIMILE) will spark the Chicago Children’s Theatre gala Nov. 12 at the Chicago Illumination Co. co-chaired by Jacquie Amacher, Krista Gallagher and Rita Mirman.

DR. BARBARA BOWMAN received the Ben Gingiss Award from the Bright Promises Foundation at the Arts Club. Bowman is with Erikson Institute and was honored for her work with children.

CHEF JOHO OF THE SWANK EVEREST ROOM, will host a luncheon there Nov. 18 to introduce Joan Nathan’s new book, “Quiches, Kugels, Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France.” Spertus Institute will benefit. Tickets are $60. CALL 312-663-8920.

THE MCA ART AUCTION was a blast with artwork from Yves Klein, Luc Tuymans, Mark Bradford, Eric Fischl among the auctioned treasures.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO RONI SIEGEL on the death of her husband, Phillip, after a long illness. Roni is one of the most popular members of the Service Club and other philanthropic groups.

SEXY GERMAN SOPRANO NADJA MICHAEL who created a memorable Lady Macbeth for Lyric Opera, has two children and is concerned about the plight of orphaned youngsters. Nadja and her daughters had volunteered at an Italian SOS Village where long term foster care for children in need is provided. During her stay here, Nadja invited Barbara Gaines, whose vision brought us a new version of the Shakespearian opera, to visit the SOS Children’s Village on our south side and see its new community center with CEO Tim McCormick. This local center houses 65 kids. Gaines, founder and artistic director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, shared Nadja’s enthusiasm for the work of the SOS Villages that boast their own “parents” for the homes of the children.

WHO IS THE TOXIC BRUNETTE determined to ruin the marriage of her cousin to one of the nicest, and richest men in town? Friends are rallying around the couple and warning the wife.

PLAYBOY OF THE WORLD, our Hugh Hefner was here for the preview of a documentary about him --- “Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist, Rebel,” at the Siskel Theater. So of course he was accompanied by some beautiful women, his current squeeze, Crystal Harris and a Playmate, Anna Berglund. What did we expect? Betty White?

HUGH HEFNER’S TWO SONS, Cooper and Marston, who flew here with their famous dad, have been left the majority of his stock in Playboy enterprises and so their interest in all things Playboy is justified, not just reading the articles. Ha! The two were well mannered and respectful, and did their father proud.

“DON’T SMOKE TOO MUCH, drink too much, eat too much or work too much. We are all on the road to the grave — but there is no reason to be in the passing lane.” —ROBERT ORBEN

CONTACT: annbgerber@gmail.com or 847-677-2232