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Flyers left wing Scott Hartnell holds Jack while Robin Ackerman (left)and Allison Lamond of the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society hold the $1,500 check he donated to the shelter. (See "Flyers and charities.")

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Inqlings: Free Library puts the fun in 'un'

By Michael Klein

Inquirer Columnist

Your dry cleaner might not like what the Free Library of Philadelphia has planned for its annual fund-raiser, but "for us, it's the right thing to do," says Siobhan Reardon, president of the cash-strapped library.

This year, it's called the Borrowers (un)Ball.

Instead of filling the Central Library with fancy food and patrons dressed to the nines, the library has chosen to allow people to purchase (un)tickets and (un)tables and stay home this Saturday night.

"We asked ourselves, 'How can we continue to raise money while being respectful not only of our resources but our donors' resources?' " Reardon says, noting that the state and city each cut its library subsidy by 20 percent.

Key donors - such as Gretchen and Steve Burke; Tobey and Mark Dichter; Wendy and Derek Pew; LF Driscoll; the Phillies; and Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young - have sent in $5,000 for (un)tables.

As you'd imagine, the supply is limitless. Reardon says trustees will host smaller dinners in their homes.

As for the economics: This year's goal is $80,000, she says, while last year's ball netted $95,000 on $300,000 in ticket sales and donations. She says everything will directly benefit library programs because the (un)Ball requires minimal staff work.

Those who donate ( www.freelibrary.org ) will get bookmarks, books, and hot chocolate to enjoy Saturday. Reardon adds that the ball is not gone forever.

On a J-Roll

That Jimmy Rollins can be quite a cutup. The Phillies shortstop appeared Monday on Jay Leno's show in the "10@10"; segment, in which Leno shoots 10 questions at a newsmaker. Rollins told Leno that he'd fancy an acting career and that he once cleaned streets in his native Oakland, Calif. Asked to name the best switch-hitter in history, Rollins selected (c) Elton John over (a) Mickey Mantle and (b) Pete Rose. On a personal note, Rollins and his girlfriend, teacher/fitness instructor Johari Smith, are counting down to their Jan. 23 wedding on Grand Cayman. The wedding invitation mentions a beach ceremony requiring "beach casual" attire (but no shorts, please). Among J-Roll's groomsmen will be former teammate Bobby Abreu, now with the Angels.

The circuit

The steak house Barclay Prime was a hotbed of Penn-connected celebrity activity last weekend. Sunday's table included undergrad Jack Cortese with his Roxborough-bred mother, actress Kim Delaney, and two of his friends. Saturday's Quakers crew involved Cecilia Becker, who dined with her parents, designer Vera Wang and Arthur Becker, and younger sister Josephine. Also in the Penn celeb-kid circuit is Malcolm Washington, hoops-playing son of actor Denzel Washington. Philly.com's Jonathan Tannenwald asked Quakers coach Glen Miller about the 5-foot-9 Washington's chances of making the squad. "He needs to be an energy guy, a sparkplug guy, and I think to this point in the preseason, he's done that," Miller said.

While the Phillies' Scott Eyre and Raul Ibanez were at the Spectrum awaiting Pearl Jam to perform Friday, band bassist Jeff Ament was at the Wachovia Center watching the start of the Sixers game with announcer Matt Cord, a friend. During Wednesday's show, front man Eddie Vedder stopped to point out an ad for Atlantic City's Borgata. He announced that the next song, "Gone," had been written in a room at the hotel.

Flyers and charities

A $1,500 check accompanies the Gene Hart Award, given by the Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club to the player who plays with the most heart. Last season's winner, Scott Hartnell, gave his check to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, near his Old City home, on Friday. Hartnell, who with wife Lisa adopted two cats from another local shelter, says he stops into PAWS "once a week to check on them. . . . They break my heart."

Jeweler Steve Lagos has designed a limited-edition sterling-silver dog tag showcasing a raised Philadelphia Flyers logo. The pendant - one in silver, one with a gold Flyers emblem, and one with the Flyers logo in orange and black gemstones, and priced from $195 to $2,500 - is a fund-raiser for the Comcast-Spectacor Foundation. After the unveiling at a private event Wednesday, they'll be sold at Lagos' shop at 18th and Walnut Streets and at the Flyers Charities kiosks in the Wachovia Center.

Contact columnist Michael Klein

at 215-854-5514 or mklein@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/insider. He's also on Twitter: @phillyinsider.

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