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Natavia Lowery, 26, the assistant of real estate agent Linda Stein, was arrested on November 9, 2007

A Manhattan personal assistant has told investigators that she bludgeoned her boss, the well-connected real estate agent Linda Stein, in the woman’s opulent Fifth Avenue apartment because Ms. Stein swore at her, waved a stick at her and blew marijuana smoke into her face, the police said today.

The assistant, Natavia Lowery, 26, of Brooklyn, was arrested this morning. At an afternoon news conference, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said Ms. Lowery had told the police that she struck Ms. Stein six or seven times on Oct. 30 with a four-pound exercise stick.

Mr. Kelly said that in Ms. Lowery’s account, Ms. Stein had used “profanity and derogatory language” and refused to stop blowing smoke at her even though the smoke was making her sick. Ms. Lowery had worked for Ms. Stein for about four months, but said Ms. Stein had not verbally abused her until the day of the killing.

Ms. Stein, 62, a real estate broker at Prudential Douglas Elliman, had a varied and storied career. Born in the Bronx, the daughter of a Jewish caterer, she was a pioneer on the punk-rock scene and became a manager for the Ramones. Later, she turned to real estate, working with celebrity clients like Madonna and Billy Joel.

The singer Elton John is preparing a memorial concert in Ms. Stein’s memory.

Citing friends of Ms. Stein, The Daily News reported that the real estate broker might have met Ms. Lowery when the younger woman worked as a secretary at the Rogers & Cowan public relations agency in Manhattan.

The News, citing unidentified sources, reported that Ms. Lowery had been arrested in December on misdemeanor charges of identity theft and petty larceny. She was accused of using a friend’s name to open up a $300 T-Mobile account and a $300 Target account and that Ms. Stein did not know about the arrest.

Ms. Lowery had been accused of stealing a high school friend’s identity and using it to open accounts at Target and T-Mobile and to make additional purchases in Virginia. The charges against Ms. Lowery were eventually dropped and the case was sealed.

On Linda Stein’s Prudential Douglas Elliman real estate web site posted following message.

We are filled with sadness that Linda Stein, our colleague for over 20 years, our friend, and an icon in the industry, passed away in the early morning of October 31. She was a bright light who quickly rose to fame once she entered the real estate business and became known as the “Realtor to the Stars”. Linda loved the challenge of working in the competitive housing industry. Described as feisty, talented, charming, and relentless, she used her many skills and talents to forge a place in this business like no other. And she made a difference, not only to her customers but to everyone who worked with her. More than anything though, Linda was full of life – and to those who had the pleasure of knowing her personally, she was much loved for her wit and humor. We will miss her terribly and our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.

Linda Stein’s ex-husband Seymour Stein is credited with discovering Madonna, who would become one of Stein’s first clients.

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Michael Jackson might lose Neverland Ranch after being delinquent on $23 million loan payments.

Michael Jackson, once “King of Pop” is at risk of losing his 2,800 acres Neverland Ranch in California due to delinquent loan payments.

Jackson owed $23,212,963.00 on a $23,000,000.00 loan he took out in April 14, 2006, according to a foreclosure and notice of default report posted online by the California branch of Fidelity National Financial insurance company.

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Neverland Ranch is 2,800 acres, is located in Los Olivos, Santa Barbara county about 125 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Notice of Default in California are usually issued when a homeowner misses their third payment.

The eccentric music legend has been struggling to rebuild his career following his acquittal for child molestation charges in 2005.

Jackson left the property in June 2005 after being acquitted of the child molestation charges and has been living in Bahrain, Europe and Las Vegas in the western US state of Nevada.

In mid-July, Jackson was ordered to pay more than $256,000 dollars in overdue fees to a California law firm he employed for work connected to his sex abuse trial.

Technorati Tags: Michael Jackson, Neverland Ranch

Slide Fire (Running Springs, near Lake Arrowhead) still not contained.

Slide Fire updates:

Burning more than 10,000 acres with 5% contained. Already distroyed more than 300 homes. Mandatory evacuation still in effect from Crestline to Snow Valley. More than 15,000 people forced to evacuate. In the west, In the west, the Grass Valley fire had burned 1,000 acres and destroyed 113 homes and businesses, but fire officials said it was 30% contained. About 10 miles east, the Slide fire had burned 4,000 acres and more than 200 homes. Firefighters worried that the wind could blow the fires together.

Ken Larson, a fire behavior analyst with the U.S. Forest Service, said, however, that he thought the worst was over. The winds are expected to shift Thursday and Friday, coming from the west rather than the northeast, increasing humidity levels and reducing the fire threat.

Grass Valley Fire Updates:

LAKE ARROWHEAD – The fire’s western flank has been significantly slowed due to the winds “dying down.” Officials while still concerned with the fire reaching Dart Canyon (Eastern Crestline, Lake Gregory) to the West, they are continuing to watch for spot fires and gas line fires in the burned areas. The Santa Ana Winds have died down and we should return to our usual on-shore flow to cool things down and bring the humidity back up from 12% to normal levels, about 30%. Mandatory evacuation remains in effect from Lake Arrowhead to Crestline. Valley of Enchantment and Cedar Pines Park are still under voluntary evacuation.

Mountains Community Hospital is also being evacuated.

Northeast of Running Springs, in Green Valley Lake, a small mountain town of about 750 people, at least 55 homes surrounding the picturesque alpine lake were destroyed.

Technorati Tags: Grass Valley Fire, Slide Fire

Where and how fire victims can pick up their mail

California Wildfire evacuations and road closures have disrupted mail delivery and shut down post offices throughout Southern California. In areas where air quality is deemed a health threat, mail service may be delayed. If you live in the area affected by California Fires Disaster, following information will provide detail information. It applies to Malibu, Orange County, San Diego County, and San Bernardino County

Where you can pick up mail:

If you have had to evacuate your home or if your local post office has been closed, you can pick up your mail at designated post offices outside of the evacuation areas. You will need photo identification, such as a California driver’s license or a state-issued identification card.

Orange County:

The Silverado Post Office has been evacuated and remains closed, affecting 550 post office box customers and 550 rural customers. Mail can be picked up at the Orange Post Office, 1075 N. Tustin Street, Orange, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The Trabuco Canyon Post Office has been evacuated and remains closed, affecting 700 post office box customers and 10 carrier routes in ZIP Code 92679. Mail can be picked up at the Rancho Santa Margarita Carrier Annex, 29862 Avenida De Las Bandera, Rancho Santa Margarita, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Mail for Camp Pendleton can be picked up at the San Clemente Post Office, 520 E. Avenida Pico, San Clemente, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

San Bernardino County:

Mail for Blue Jay 92317, Cedar Glen 92321, Crestline 92325, Lake Arrowhead 92352, Rimforest 92378, Running Springs 92382, Skyforest 92385, Twin Peaks 92391 and Green Valley Lake 92341 can be picked up at Norton Air Force Base, 195 Del Rosa Ave., the same building used during the 2003 wildfires. Mail will be available today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and — if regular service has not resumed by then –Saturday.

San Diego County:

The following post offices will be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and — if necessary — Saturday.

Mail for Jamul 91935, Potrero 91963 and Tecate 91980 can be picked up at El Cajon Main Post Office, 401 W. Lexington, El Cajon.

Mail for Ramona can be picked up at the Carmel Mountain Post Office, 11251 Rancho Carmel Drive, San Diego, in Room 117, located at the south end of the Margaret Sellers Processing and Distribution Center.

Mail for Bonsall 92003 and Fallbrook 92028 can be picked up at the Murrieta Carrier Annex, 39571 Los Alamos, just off Interstate 215 in Murrieta. The annex is at the west end of a shopping center.

Malibu:

Mail for the section of the Pacific Coast Highway between Las Flores Canyon and Webb Way, which remains closed, can be picked up at the Colony Annex Post Office, 23648 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.

If you can’t get to a post office:

The Postal Service will continue to hold your mail; it will not return any mail as undeliverable. Once the evacuation orders are lifted, home delivery will resume, and any mail that has been held will be delivered.

If you face fines for late payment of bills:

If you are fined because of late payments on bills that were delayed or destroyed, you can contact a Postal Service consumer affairs office for your district: Orange County residents, 714-662-6215; San Diego and San Bernardino county residents, 858-674-2670; Malibu residents, 323-586-1250.

The office will provide you with a letter explaining that the fires delayed delivery of your bills and asking your creditors to forgive penalties. In past fires, creditors have been understanding, said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Mike Cannone. You can also write your own letter.

If your mail was destroyed in a fire, contact your district consumer affairs office for a letter to explain the situation.

Technorati Tags: California fires, mail pick up location, fire evacuees pick up mail, mail service california fires

If you have been affected by California Fires Disaster, following websites will provide a way for you to register yourself as “Safe and Well.” You can also search someone and communicate to your family members.

Following websites will help people get in touch with family members and friends in times of crisis. You can list or search the database.

American Red Cross, Safe and Well List:

List yourself as Safe and Well

Search your friend or family members

LA Times Evacuees Search:

Firesearch LA Times.com

Contact Loved Ones:

Connecting Family and Friends in times of crisis. Visit ContactLovedOnes.org

Technorati Tags: California Fires, Contact friends, Contact family, connect family in crisis