For almost $49 million, “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest will close on the purchase of Ellen DeGeneres’ Bev Hills, 9,200 square-foot house with a separate 3-bedroom house.

DeGeneres’ property also comes with two guest houses. The transaction is reportedly taking place this week.

In an unusual move, the Truman Library and Museum will soon give $56.63 to a George Lund.  Lund, now 80, for years faithfully delivered The Independence Examiner to Harry Truman.  Truman left town, however, without settling up and now the 77 year-old bill (that includes interest) will finally be resolved. . .Freelancer Gloria Shur Bilchik, who edits OccasionalPlanet.org, may be happy at week’s end when the legislature ends.  She notes that “since casinos became legal in Missouri in 1992, we’ve seen one broken promise after another” so she opposes a now seemingly doomed proposal to let gamblers borrow from casinos. . .At 56, St. Louis native Christine Brewer “sounds in her prime, her enormous yet plush and lyrically pliant voice ideal for Wagner and Strauss soprano roles,” though lately, she “seems to prefer recitals and concerts with orchestras over opera, including one yesterday at Lincoln Center, according to the N.Y. Times. . .Noted nature photog Marian Brickner - whose work has appeared in National Geographic Kids, the Missouri Conservationist and countless textbooks and art calendars – will be speaking at several county library locations in weeks ahead. . .In a surprising stat, today’s USA Today notes that Illinois has the third highest Mexican-born population, with 711,000 (behind Texas and California but ahead of Arizona). . .At the Public Library of Science blog, writer Seth Mnookin reviiews “Meandering Mississippi” by Post-turned-Beacon scribes Robert Koenig and Mary Delach Leonard.

Tom and Becky Steuby with Susan Block and unnamed Clydesdale

Columnists making the rounds may become extinct like Lifebuoy soap, Ipana toothpaste, Nehru jackets (an incitement to riot) and Forest Park Highlands.  Philanthropy is never extinct here given the generous companies like Centene, A B InBev, World Wide Technology, Clayco, Emerson, Peabody, and Ameren.  Then, there are the zero heroes, minus pluses. St. Louis is still a better place to live than many other cities in the world.  Through hefty donations, Opera Theatre and the St. Louis Symphony survive. No thanks to the sometimes ridiculous coverage of the media, OTSL and the Symph have been made to appear a social bauble – and those who run it have not done enough to correct the image. Those thoughts flashed across my mind as I wandered through traffic on Broadway at Market Street Saturday night headed to the Hyatt Regency for the JDRF (Mo. Chapter of the war on type 1 juvenile diabetes). “The Garden of Hope Dream Gala” was underway when chair Susan Block estimated the auction/dinner would raise $1 million.  A center of attraction was a Clydesdale horse for which the highest bidder could christen the equine with the name of the donor. Another big item on the block was a party for 350 at Grant’s Farm.  Here ‘n there were: Marc, Nancy Sokolik with grandsons, Justin and Cameron Gellman; Tom and Becky Steuby; Angela andBrad Daubach with Lizzie Kurowski; John and Dorothy Sheahan; Sharon Bachman; Danielle and Taylor Campbell; Shirley and William Robertson; BJ and Janet Cranseen.

On the Town

Mark, Karen, Ali and Mark Hoeman, Jr.

A block away at Anthony’s, Ira and Bill DeWitt, III dined at the bar with their eyes riveted to the screen and flinching as the Braves’ prowess.

Ira and Bill DeWitt, III

Nearby, Pulaski prez Tom Reeves was feted on his birthday by his wife, Kathy, and his offspring Katie, Brian and Danny Reeves, who confided he’s bought six Justin Bieber toothbrushes for gift-giving.

Ken Bollwerk, Ken Bollwerk, Jr. and Bob Frischmann

At Tony’s Louis andGiovanna Buck honored their son, Chris on his graduation.  Ditto for Tony’s matire de Ken Bollwerk, who fed his son, Ken Jr., on his graduation, while Lindenwood prof Bob Frischmann joined in the festivities.  In Tony’s party room, Beth Pollnow 

Beth Pollnow flanked by her twin brothers, Slade and Trask

tossed her own natal day celebration with her twin brothers, Slade and Trask Bradbury and a crowd of celebutantes. On Mom’s Day at the Ritz Carlton,

Brett Syberg, Abigail Lopez

Brett Syberg, with his best gal-pal, Abigail Lopez, explained how his family’s namesake restaurant chain is expanding:

Katie, Tom, Kathy, Danny and Brian Reeves

“We’re tearing an entire block on Gravois in Affton to create a Fast Eddie’s;  we’ll build two beer gardens at Syberg’s in Chesterfield; we’re exploring the construction of Syberg’s venues in Arnold and Fairview Heights, Illinois.”

Brett noted both his parents, three brothers and two sisters are involved in the company, where he is head chef.

Panera Bread Company has picked a Chicago firm, Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago, as its new creative agency. . .On Friday, a discussion of our town’s local TV newscasts will happen at the James J. Eagan Civic Center in Florissant. Participants include former anchors Dick Ford, Julius Hunter, Don Marsh and Laurie Waters. . .Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley recently set up a Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on the state’s transportation needs.  In the coming weeks, that body, chaired byRod Jetton and Bill McKenna, will be holding public meetings.  But blogger Steve Patterson points out that the first meeting, set for this afternoon in Chesterfield, isn’t accessible by public transit.  He also notes that most panel members “represent businesses/industries that profit from keeping Missouri locked into the auto culture”. . .The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum reminds us that this weekend is the 85th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight.  The museum houses Lindbergh’s memorabilia and a reproduction of the Spirit of St. Louis’ cockpit.

All three Republicans challenging incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill are quoted in a page one story in today’s New York Times.  Under the headline, “Tea Party Focus Turns To Senate and Shake-Up,” the article says “a number of candidates for the upper chamber “seek to press an agenda that’s to the right of minority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell”. . .During a debate in St. Joseph, Sarah Steelman reportedly attacked John Brunner for his 2004 drunk driving arrest, according to a statement from the Missouri Democratic Party. . .Is there no one in the Ed Martin campaign who knows how to edit?  Stretching to inject President Obama’s personal view on gay marriage into the Missouri attorney general’s race, Martin challenges his opponent Chris Koster to “publicly say right now (if) he supports Obama’s position for same-sex marriage, or the position Missourians were one of the first states to take in 2004 by over a 10 percent margin.”

A new book, “The Family Coreleone,” is soon due in the marketplace.  Paramount Pictures has been in touch with the Mario Puzzo estate to produce it.  The tome will trace Vito Corleone’s rise to power in the Depression era.

There’s an unquenchable thirst and spirit in our town for baseball heroes. It was stirring Friday night at Busch Stadium for Tony La Russa at the retirement of the former Cardinals manager’s number 10  uniform. Surrounded by heroes of past and present at the ceremony, he stood at the lectern in the field to graciously acknowledge Vesuvian cheers from fans. Pulses rose wherever he went – both before and after praise from Adam Wainwright, team owner Bill DeWitt, Jr.; Joe Torre and a host of others. At a VIP reception in the Westin Hotel (where many rooms overlook parking lots), there were those upon whom we rested our hopes and half-aspirations. Joe Torre (Cardinals manager ’90-’95): “Tony brought in a new style of playing. The team is royalty.” Torre pointed out how he misses so much in our town including Giovanni Gallati at Dominic’s on The Hill. Andy Benes (’00-’02) on Albert Pujols’ lackluster start with the L.A. Angels: “He’s away from his family and with a different league.”  Dennis Eckersly (’96-’97) on Pujols: “Everybody goes through something, but he’ll be fine.” Mayor Francis Slay was huddled with Cardinals’ president Bill DeWitt, III and the team’s media master, Ron Watermon. Of Slay, DeWitt said, “We’re a big supporter of Francis.” Slay countered, “I only need $1 million more (for his re-election campaign).” In the Red Bird Roost were: Bob Gibson; Walt Jocketty; Jim Edmonds; Red Schoendienst; and Dave Duncan. Conspicuously no-shows at the festivities: Ozzie Smith and Whitey Herzog. Why? Only asking.