Her Heart Will Go On, Thanks To Leonardo

Seattle's Karen Santa thinks of herself as the real Santa Claus. Although a dyed-in-the-green Sonics fan, Santa sold her seats to last night's game with the L.A. Lakers. She explains, "I did it as a surprise for my friend, Deborah Juarez."

Why sell the seats? So Juarez could sit near the hottest film star in the world, "Titanic" titan Leonardo DiCaprio.

Deborah Juarez is not only a fan of DiCaprio's, but she and her husband, beauty-salon czar Gene Juarez, also are dedicated basketball fans, customarily seen in their courtside seats.

Gene reports, "They asked Kevin Calabro (Sonic broadcaster) what he does during his down time, and he said he spends it looking at Deborah. She's become famous as a blonde. Don't know what will happen if she goes back to brunette."

Parting company: Listed among the top residential sales in this week's Puget Sound Business Journal is a five-bedroom Capitol Hill home formerly owned by Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper and Lisa Stamper. The house sold for $535,000.

Stamper yesterday explained the sale came about partly because of the breakup of his marriage. He said, "We've been going about it slowly and have been mutually respectful."

The chief said his former wife, a research psychologist, has moved to a house on Queen Anne Hill. He found a condo in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. He says, "Being able to walk to movies and coffee appeals to me."

Paul's past: For those who don't care about watching the "Seinfeld" finale, Paul Dorpat, originator of The Seattle Times' "Now & Then" feature, will lecture on the history of the University District tomorrow night at the Safeco Building, Northeast 45th and Brooklyn.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for viewing a historic exhibit that includes 400 photos of the U District through the years. At 7 p.m., Dorpat will spin tales about the community once known as "the village of Brooklyn."

Dorpat's promise: "I'll do my Seinfeld comedy routine."

Fictional revenge: What do you do when vacation plans are trashed just days before departure? Ask Bellevue mystery writer J.A. Jance, who expected to lead a tour group on a European cruise aboard the Grand Princess.

Last week she learned the cruise, scheduled to leave this Thursday, had been canceled by Princess Cruises.

The cruise ship is being rehabbed and isn't ready.

Luckily, Jance knows how to bounce back. She and her husband, Bill Schilb, invited 40 members of the tour group to their Bellevue home for a wake and ceremonial burning of travel documents.

Jance may also exact fictional revenge. She said, "That's what I did to the dentist . . . who didn't believe in Novocaine."

Sound bite: After Saturday's Poncho gala, auctioneer Dick Friel was chatting with Alaska Airlines President John Kelly and his wife, Maggi. The couple had placed the winning bid on an adorable golden retriever puppy.

John said, "We're going to name her `Poncho.' We've been wanting a watch dog."

Friel's response: "If I'd bought a puppy for $3,000, I'd name her Rolex."

Jean Godden's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Local News section of The Times. Her phone message number is 206-464-8300. Her e-mail address is: jgod-new@seatimes.com