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IF YOU CAN’T WALK due to bad knees or hips, you know how devastating that is for quality of life. But there is help and hope, thanks to Operation Walk Chicago, a private, nonprofit medical humanitarian organization blessed by co-founders Drs. S. David Stulberg and Victoria Brander.

THEY ARE RAISING FUNDS at a spectacular evening reception and dinner Nov. 16, which will include a brief concert by the talented violinist Rachel Barton, to provide free knee and hip replacements to the poor in Chicago and Kathmandu, Nepal. Famous chef Charlie Trotter is preparing a seven-course feast paired with Amarone wines from Max Cooper’s private collection. There will also be a live auction of valuable theater, sports and rare wines packages.

“HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS WALK AGAIN,” is the group’s slogan, and the Richard H. Driehaus Museum at 50 E. Erie St. is the magnificent site for this meaningful benefit, which is chaired by the Roger Carlsons. Tickets at $1,500, and you are invited. Call Jane Scanlon at 312-475-5613 for information.

WHO IS THE RICH CEO who came home unexpectedly and found his trophy wife in bed with her best girlfriend? He demanded a divorce although she swore it was a one-time, experimental union. So they parted. Six months later she learned he was dating her ex-best pal. Now she’s wondering if they “set her up” so he could get a cheaper divorce with her as the “bad guy.” Hmmmm. We wonder too.

SORRY TO SAY the hard feelings at the John Hancock condo aren’t being soothed. There is much to sort through with a new board, allegations of weird letters sent to members, and more.

THE CELEB SHOW at the Wyndham Hotel in Rosemont was a zero, complained some visitors. “All the old stars were interested in was getting you to pay for autographs, and they weren’t friendly, just barely civil,” complained one fan. “Tippi Hedren of The Birds and Ernest Borgnine were the best of the lot ... Others there were Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman, Mickey Rooney, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark.”

GOOD NEWS: HBO’S fine-tuned series In Treatment will be back in 2010 with shrink Gabriel Byrne.

CLEAVAGE CULTURE CREATES The D-Cup Diatribes, a sassy musical evening by songstress Melody Swink, and it premieres Nov. 27 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee. This pretty Miss has penned two songs, “The D-Cup Theme” and “Unfasten Me,” and she warbles them during this one-woman show with Sarah Tode. It is only fitting that a portion of the sales benefit the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, formerly Y-ME.

OUR FAVORITE ACTOR JEREMY PIVEN is promoting his new movie, The Goods, and looking for a condo in New York City.

“AFTER 53 YEARS, it is time to retire,” smiled Nena Ivon, who is hanging up her fashion baton at Saks Fifth Avenue. There’s a champagne reception today from 6 to 8 at Saks, and her devoted models and pals toasted and roasted her at a Palmer House Hilton party. In the crowd: Marilyn Miglin, Shelley MacArthur Farley, Terri D’Ancona, Dori Wilson, Eleanor Montesano, Shauna Montgomery, Zarada Gowenlock and Jeanuche Wopinski. During her tenure, every major fashion designer made appearances at Saks to meet Chicago fashionistas.

BASEBALL FANATICS, the men who adore the sport and never want to lose their place in the sun, are rabid about joining the Men’s Senior Baseball League, which plays in Scottsdale and Florida. Rich Melman, Ben Hollis and lawyer David Schultz are veterans of their game as are policeman Dan Gorris and Frank DiMaria.

WE TOLD YOU THAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT is going to hear the fraud appeal that concerns Conrad Black of the Chicago Sun-Times in a very unusual case. Now we learn that the same argument (that convictions should be overturned) will be used for white-collar criminals Black, Enron CEO Jeff Skilling and former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens because they were found guilty under a controversial “honest services” fraud statue. The point is these men were not seeking personal gain but acted on behalf of their corporation and management. Higher-ups are to blame, they maintain, but were there “higher-ups” for Black? Experts say these three men have a good chance of going free.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE CHRIST KAMBEROS FAMILY on the death of this charismatic CEO of Treasure Island Foods.

INSIDE EDITION’S DEBORAH NORVILLE, once a Chicago anchor, has a new book out, The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success. She’s got a strong point. Who gets and gives respect these days? Ugly name calling, lack of basic civility, and so on have created a climate of violence and disrespect.

READERS WERE SHOCKED AT OUR Dr. George Tiller murder story. Several who had late-term abortions called to say they had the procedure only because “my fetus was found to be Tay-Sachs, which meant a few brief agonizing years of life,” “I needed heart surgery,” “If I didn’t have chemotherapy I would have died,” and “I was pregnant with my stepfather’s baby.” Nobody has any abortion for the fun of it. And women deserve the right to choose depending on individual circumstances.

THE SOUP NAZI of Seinfeld fame, Al Yeganeh, has developed 50 varieties of his delicious broths and they are being offered via The Original SoupMan cafe-style franchises. The first opens in Connecticut and features a New York Soup Kitchen look. When will they come to Chicago?

After watching the Seinfeld drool, we are eager to taste the lobster bisque.

BURT NATARUS, OUR FORMER ALDERMAN, has a new career as a leading man. And his fans insist he’s a great actor. With vivacious Cathi Watson, Burt will read Love Letters at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at Zanie’s in a benefit for Ogden International School. Tickets are $20.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO PLAYWRIGHT/AUTHOR Bruce Smith on the death of his mother, Jane Smith, 94. She was executive secretary to two directors of the Newberry Library and soothed writers T.S. Eliot, Saul Bellow, Carl Sandburg and others. When Bruce brought friend and client Tennessee Williams to read there, Jane orchestrated the amazing event. She was secretary to the Newberry’s Caxton Club. She is also survived by her daughter Susan. A memorial service will be Jan. 14 at the Newberry. It would have been her 95th birthday.

HULK HOGAN met fans and signed his book, My Life Outside the Ring, at Borders on Michigan Avenue. According to the trashy tabloids, it was quite a life. Everyone is relieved that this Borders will be open for another year.

BOWSER AND BABY CLASSES, to prepare your dog for that little bundle, are at Northwestern Memorial Hospital beginning Nov. 24. Call 877-926-4664 for details.

GRAPHICS GENIUS LEE KAY, who once immortalized moi in a window display, had a wicked Halloween setting at the adult store Batteries Not Included with model Leza Cantoral.

WRITING DOWN WHAT YOU EAT can double your weight loss, insists personal trainer Jim Karas. He got actor Hugh Jackman in shape.

FASHION DESIGNER MARILYN LEWIS, WHO BROUGHT US HAMBURGER HAMLET on Rush Street where Hugo’s now reigns, donated her fashion collection, Cardinali — 85 glam garments — to a California public TV station for auction. Marilyn, who knew her hamburgers and her ham and great actors, dressed stars like ex-Chicagoan Marlo Thomas, Lana Turner and Marilyn Monroe.

ALAN STONE, well-known philanthropist, will be honored for his business leadership and generosity at the Nov. 18 Strictly Business Networking Luncheon of JVS Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Guest speaker is Jack Ablin of Harris Private Bank.

JIM TYREE, JOLI BURRELL, JOHN CULLERTON, VINCE FOGLIA AND MARIA PINTO will be honored tonight at the La Rabida benefit at the Four Seasons. Co-chairing the event are Howie Alper, Bob Arthur and Pat Lynch.

THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project on Nov. 19 in Millennium Park will see Arny Granat and Lane Alexander honored for their support. Theatrical stepping group Step Afrika will be featured.

WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS. On Nov. 19 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Little Black Pearl, which provides art opportunities for youth and adults, and the Apparel Industry Foundation will present designers and their perfect little black dresses for auction. Whitney Lasky chairs with host Rolonda Watts.

CONGRATS TO DOUG PECK, nephew of Judge Rhoda Sweeney, who won a Jeff Award for musical direction of Caroline or Change.

NELL MINOW, co-founder of research firm The Corporate Library and daughter of “TV is a vast wasteland” voices the Newton Minows, is the subject of a six-page article in the New Yorker magazine about obscene CEO compensation. Nell is an expert on fiduciary obligations of executives. In 1965, CEOs averaged 24 times as much as the average worker. In 2007, it was 275 times as much. She has initiated shareholder campaigns exposing underperforming firms and forcing reforms. She was shocked when the public learned the outrageous terms of General Electric CEO Jack Welch’s employment contract: free use of a Boeing, tickets to sports events, a Manhattan apartment, a helicopter, fresh flowers, dry cleaning, doorman tips, postage stamps, etc. It was exposed when his second wife sued for divorce. Nell supports a “compensation fairness bill” and the right of shareholders to remove directors. It is a complex problem and her views in the article are illuminating.

BABY, YOU’RE STAR QUALITY, and you can prove it and have lots of fun at the Victory Gardens Theater 28th casting couch auction Nov. 14 at 2433 N. Lincoln. Scratch your itch to be onstage with a role in Anything Goes. It is a hoot. Call 773-328-2140 and go for it!

“SOMETIMES ALL A PERSON NEEDS is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.” — Andy Rooney

Mail news and photos to 5036 Fairview Lane, Skokie, IL 60077, e-mail annbgerber @gmail.com or call 847-677-2232.

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