Former astronaut John Glenn, the first American in space, sent these books to The Little Auction That Could (Michele Sandberg/Special to Page2Live)

The list of those who signed their favorite childhood books and shipped then to Stuart for a charity auction reads like a pop culture Top 100: Poet Maya Angelou; The Apprentice’s Donald Trump; golfer Tiger Woods; former First Lady Barbara Bush; her son, former Gov. Jeb Bush; chimp lover Jane Goodall; former Miami Heat star Shaquille O’Neal; Pres. Barack Obama; Nike’s Phil Knight; Hollywood stars Sean Connery, Steve Martin and Robert Wagner; TV news readers Katie Couric and Brian Williams; Palm Beach musician Jimmy Buffett; and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, among others.

In all, a total 60 A-listers contributed. It took time, nearly two years, said organizer Karla Preissman. The first to respond to her requests was Jeb Bush, who shipped her The Travels of Babar. The last? The prez. Obama rush-mailed a pop up book of the White House two weeks ago.

Dubbed The Little Auction That Could (after the children’s book The Little Engine That Could), the event ends Nov. 20 with the auctioning of the books at the Lyric Theatre. Proceeds go to the Hibiscus Children’s Center, a shelter for abused and neglected children. Until then, the books are exhibited at Stuart’s Elliott Museum.

For more info about the auction and the celebs, and what they liked to read, check out this website.

And see Page2Live’s photos by Michele Sandberg of Thursday night’s preview of what’s for sale:

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Norman (AP Photo)

Double bogey for Jupiter Island golfer Greg Norman!

Not only is he dealing with his separation from new wife Chris Evert, the Boca Raton-based former tennis star, but now he’s got a ticked off ex-wife to deal with.

Palm Beacher Laura Andrassy says the Great White Shark stiffed her in his yearly payment of their divorce settlement.

She contends in new paperwork filed in the Martin County courthouse in Stuart that his $2 million wire transfer to her June 15 was about $72,000 short. She asked a judge to force Norman to pay up, or order arbitration.

According to their contract, the missus, a former flight attendant, will be $103 million richer by 2023 as a result of the agreement they signed when they were divorced two years ago.

So, what’s $72,000?

“It’s a substantial sum of money,” said Andrassy’s lawyer in West Palm Beach, Jack Scarola. “I have no desire to annoy Mr. Norman. But he has an obligation to meet his contractual commitments. If someone owes $72,000, just pay up.”

Andrassy, leaving a divorce hearing with lawyer Jack Scarola in 2007 (The Palm Beach Post archives)

Norman’s divorce attorney, Jeff Fisher, declined comment. But in his response filed in court, Fisher wrote that Norman and his ex promised they’d seek arbitration for disputes instead of the court system.

Andrassy’s recent motion to enforce is nothing more than a “method to feed information (usually of a disparaging nature) about the former husband to the media.”

The $72,000 alleged shortfall, according to court papers, comes from the calculation of Andrassy’s share in Norman’s Colorado ranch, Seven Lakes Lodge. She’s supposed to get close to $780,000 a year for the ranch, but got much less.

Incidentally, Norman recently put the property on the market for $55 million.

The motion reopens the saga of golfer/vintner’s divorce, which was filed in June 2006 after Andrassy accused him of cheating on her with tennis champ Evert. Although Norman and Andrassy were officially divorced when he married Evert in June 2008, they’ve been ironing some of their differences since.

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Palmer at Wednesday's party, with wife Susan and Spencer (Meghan McCarthy/The Palm Beach Post)

It was surprising to run into baseball Hall-of-Fame pitcher Jim Palmer out in Palm Beach, just minutes before the first pitch of last night’s Game 6 of the World Series.

Jim, shouldn’t you be in your Jockeys and on your couch watching the Yankees duke it out with the Phillies?

“Well, I’ll be home, but what we’re doing here is more important,” he said. He wouldn’t call a winner of the series (the Bronx Bombers whooped the Phillies to win their 27th title). “All I’ll say is that (Philly’s starting pitcher) Pedro Martinez is tough. Doesn’t matter that he’s 38!”

Palmer, the former Baltimore Orioles standout, lent some of his star appeal to draw a crowd to Nick & Johnnie’s for a fund-raiser for the Renaissance Learning Center. The West Palm Beach charter school caters to autistic children, and it so happens that Palmer’s new wife, store owner Susan, is the mom of a 12-year-old student at the school, Spencer.

In the end, the group raised well over $25,000, thanks in part to the autographed baseballs that Palmer, an Orioles TV analyst, collects during the season.

“I brought 12 of the balls and they did well,” he said.

One signed by Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia went for $500.

Gary Carter, the retired New York Mets star catcher and Palmer’s fellow hall-of-famer, Florida Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad and golfer Ernie Els also showed up.

Schmidt threw out the first pitch of the Phillies' World Series game against the New York Yankees Saturday (AP Photo)

Hall-of-fame third baseman Mike Schmidt has put on the market his home in the fancy Admiral’s Cove in Jupiter.

Schmidt bought the 8,500-square-foot home pre-construction in 1991 — just two years after he played his last game. He paid $425,000 for the land then another $1 million to build.

Now, he wants $4.5 million for it.

Realtor Rob Thomson, who has the listing with Admiral’s Cove Realty’s Dick Capozzi, said Schmidt, 60, and his wife, Donna, are looking for another home in Admiral’s Cove.

“They just want a change,” said Thomson, of Waterfront Properties. “The house was perfect for them and their two kids. Now the kids are gone, they want something that fits their lifestyle.”

With 548 career homers, Schmidt is No. 14 on the list of the top Major League homerun hitters.

Visit Schmidt’s home by clicking here, or check out the gallery below, courtesy of Waterfront Properties:

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– Pensacola model Samantha Burke sold the first picture of her with Cold Mountain star Jude Law’s lovechild, but at least she’ll donate part of the proceeds — rumored to be around $1 million — to the Pensacola Ronald McDonald Houses. The British magazine Hello, which also circulates in the United States, landed the checkbook journalism exclusive. Baby Sophia was born Sept. 22. She’s the beautiful product of a brief but hot fling that Burke, 24, had with Law while he shot the new Sherlock Holmes in New York. The flick, in which Law plays Dr. Watson to Robert Downey Jr.’s Holmes, is scheduled for release on Christmas Day.

Lewis. You sure you wanna mess with the guy?

– Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis was spotted doing tequila shots in a private suite at Land Shark Stadium last weekend. I guess he couldn’t bear watching his alma mater, the University of Miami, lose to Clemson. But then some skinny knucklehead in the suite found nothing better to do than taunt Lewis. Why? Simply because Lewis quit throwing down. Even if the Ravens were off, Lewis is still in-season. “What’s with you?” the unconscious (and drunk) fan asked. “Are you a pussy or something?” Lewis, who’s 250 pounds and once was believed to have killed someone (he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge), looked at the dude in the eyes and told him: “And you’re a real funny guy!” Believe it or not, Lewis walked away. No one was hurt.

Behind Blue Eyes, Roger Daltrey (Courtesy AP)

– The Who’s frontman, Roger Daltrey, is hanging at the Palm Beach Ritz-Carlton. He arrived Sunday afternoon and already has been spotted in the cooling, fall surf. Daltrey, who’s — gasp … 65! — is taking a break from his solo tour, his first in North America since 1985. In addition to catching some rays, Daltrey has been spotted at Bice restaurant in Palm Beach and was scheduled to go on a deep-sea fishing expedition this afternoon. Daltrey is scheduled to play the Seminole Hard Rock Resort in Hollywood Nov 29.

– Jupiter Island golfer Greg Norman is trying to unload his giant Colorado ranch for a whopping $55 million — five years after he bought it for $18.5 million. The reason for the sale wasn’t announced, and his Jupiter lawyer didn’t comment. But Norman is still paying his $103 million divorce settlement to his ex-wife, Laura Andrassy. Norman is currently married to Boca Raton tennis legend Chris Evert, but the two are separated. What does $55 million buy you these days? The Seven Lakes Ranch is located inside the White River National Forest, near Meeker, and features 11,600 acres of pristine rivers, mountains, valleys, lakes and forests. It’s prime land for fly fishing and big-game hunting, according to the real estate Web site zillow.com. The main lodge has 13,000 square feet with an adjacent dance hall!

Pam Anderson

– Baywatch babe Pam Anderson, who earlier this month donned her old bathing suit from the show for a Miami Beach fashion gig, returns to SoFla next week. This time, she’ll be fully dressed to emcee Ocean Ridge resident Al Malnik’s yearly Make-a-Wish Foundation gala. The affair is scheduled for Nov. 7 at downtown Miami’s Intercontinental. Gov. Charlie Crist returns as a guest of honor.

Sam Faria

Until last week, no one outside of the Benjamin School had ever heard of Sam Faria.

The 17-year-old junior with the looks of a model was a not-so-good defensive back on the school’s average football team. His parents, unlike many at the chi-chi north county private school, aren’t on anyone’s who’s-who list.

But when the school’s administration forced the mid-season resignation of beloved head coach Ron Ream, Faria’s life changed. Faria and his family were blamed for the 30-year coach’s removal, a decision the school later reversed under pressure from powerful alumni.

“No one feels worse about the coach’s resignation than my grandson,” said Jane Larkin, the boy’s grandmother. ” Sam talked with Coach Ream on Tuesday and he told me it went well.

“We don’t have enough influence in the school to have anyone fired. We have no celebrity appeal or money to donate.”

An argument between Faria and assistant coach Tom Flynn on the sideline of a Benjamin game at King’s Academy on Oct. 9 ended with Faria pummeling the coach in the face with his fists. Flynn, 52, sustained a grossly deformed, broken nose. He’ll need plastic surgery.

Within hours, though, Ream was a goner. Ream admitted to placing his hands on Faria to discipline him during practice Sept. 30. No one was injured.

Faria, meanwhile, was arrested Monday and charged with felony assault on Flynn. He’s off the team but attends school.

His family, who was rumored to have requested Ream’s removal, has remained below the radar. But Faria’s grandmother, reached by Page2Live in her home in Delaware, said Wednesday she was too emotional to stay silent.

“We’re very upset,” Jane Larkin said. She is the mother of Faria’s mom, Wendy Faria, a United Airlines pilot who hasn’t been home in Juno Beach this week. “None of us is saying that Sam’s reaction (toward Flynn) wasn’t overblown. But he has suffered great humiliation as a result. He’s been crying. He’ll be scarred for life.

“He’s a fine, upstanding young person who’s very compassionate. If he notices an outsider in a group, he’ll do everything to bring that person in. He didn’t deserve this.”

For more, and the poll, look below or click (Read more…)

– More Bernie Madoff jailhouse news. The Palm Beach swindler is now living in a cell with a drug offender, according to new court papers, and the poor thing Madoff has been relegated to the lower bunk. He’s reduced to eating pizza cooked up by a sex offender. A big change from Chez Jean Pierre, non? As for recreation, Madoff is allowed to use the North Carolina federal prison’s running track after dark, but he’s apparently just walking. As for his buds, he’s spending quality time with the aging Colombo crime family boss Carmine Persico and traitor Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted of spying on the United States for the Israeli government. The info comes through a new filing in a class-action lawsuit brought by investors and cited in today’s New York Post. Also juicy: The papers tell how Madoff, back in the 1970s, would dispatch an employee to fetch cocaine for him and workers at his firm. The office eventually was given the nickname North Pole, in reference to the mounts of coke used.

– SoFla wrestler Hulk Hogan considered suicide in 2007, when his gilded life of media superstar took a nasty turn. His wife, Linda, had just filed for divorce and his son Nick was looking at jail time for his role in a car crash. “There were times when I thought that a whole bottle of pills would go down easy,” Hulk writes in his soon-to-be-released book, Life Outside the Ring. “Then I noticed the gun in my hand. I was careless with it . . . I kept my finger pressed right to that trigger . . . and if I moved that finger an inch in the right direction . . . I would have blown my brains out.” The tome comes out next week.

Ellington (Copyright Jason Myers)

How short a memory does Palm Beach County have?

A convicted felon and lawyer who resigned to avoid disbarment is being inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.

He’s been off probation for barely three years.

Richard Ellington was nailed for his attempt to cover up a corruption scandal that rocked the county’s Housing Finance Authority in the late 1990s. Ellington was sentenced in 2004 to four months in prison, four months of house arrest and two years of probation for his fraud and conspiracy conviction.

He was accused of trying to cover up illegal payments for votes. His voice ended up on wiretaps telling an authority official not to leave a paper trail.

Still, the 61-year-old Ellington will be inducted in the spring alongside the likes of baseball great Hank Aaron, a West Palm Beach resident, New England Patriots running back and Glades Central High grad Fred Taylor, former Miami Dolphins team chaplain Leo Armbrust and Olympic equestrian Margie Engel.

So, what gives? Find out by looking below or click (Read more…)

Miami Heat President Pat Riley, team superstar Dwyane Wade and retired Heatster Alonzo Mourning at the Miami Children's Hospital Gala (Michele Sandberg/Special to Page2Live)

The sideshow of Dwyane Wade making it sorta official that he’s dating C-list actress Gabrielle Union didn’t distract from the true nature of Friday’s fund-raiser for the famed Miami Children’s Hospital, a traditional kickoff of SoFla’s social season.

More than 400 well-heeled South Floridians plunked down $1,000-per for the black tie at the Biltmore Hotel. They watched Wade getting inducted into the hospital’s Hall of Fame for his work with children. And they heard Oprah Winfrey protege Charice, a 17-year-old singer, perform in a voice that puts Whitney Houston’s to shame.

Hard to believe, but the gala was scaled down from last year, when the party on the floor of the AmericanAirlines Arena in downtown Miami featured pop superstar Beyonce.

Still, the guest list this time around wasn’t too shabby. It included Miami Heat head honcho Pat Riley and retired Miami Heat tall-head Alonzo Mourning, who flashed a photo of his month-old son Alijah to anyone who’d offer congratulations.

Organizers already knew they wouldn’t be able to equal last year’s loot, a SoFla-record $12 million. But they tried hard, with clever things like the $1,000 lemonade glass (Frangelico, Stoli, lemonade — and a diamond).

For a slew of pictures of the gala by Michele Sandberg, look below

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Ball chairman Juan Carlos Mas and wife Vivian