Vol. 12, Issue 158 - Thursday, June 7, 2007

News from Disney's Morning Light crew, now stationed in Newport Beach, is that they just returned from their two-week break and are preparing for their first official competition tomorrow through Sunday. The Hoag Cup involves five races in three days on a closed course. Jeremy Wilmot, unanimously selected as the group's captain, will skipper the Transpac 52 during this weekend's event. "It's a great chance for him to get his leadership position established," said spokesperson Michiko Wada. "He's had the most long distance experience."

Morning Light will be one of 15 boats on a tight race course meant to promote spectating from shore. "It's the first time to test their skills against boats of the same class," said Wada. Should be a good rehearsal for the young sailors before next month's main event: The Transpacific Yacht Race.

Two Hawaii residents are featured in a special Army "Best Ranger" Competition to air on the Military Channel at 10 p.m. June 17. First-time competitors Capt. Andrew Farina, 27, and Capt. David Uthlaut, also 27, placed second. They represent the 25th Infantry Division.

Established in 1982, the competition was held at the United States Army Ranger Training Brigade in Fort Benning, Ga. It focuses on stamina -- physical and mental -- as well as confidence and competitiveness. Participants' skills are tested in 16 endurance events over 60 consecutive hours, one event after another, with little or no sleep and nutrition on the go.

Of the 39 two-man teams that entered, only 21 finished. And awards? Forget trophies and restaurant gift certificates. Winners took home engraved 9 mm Beretta pistols. Many of the competitors recently returned from tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.

We've received a few e-mails about whether or not we will continue writing about Lt. Andy Baldwin, star of "The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman." Don't get us wrong, we love his smile, impressive physique and sometimes goofy charm, and we hope that he and Tessa Horst will live a long and happy life together. But the media exposure associated with that reality show was enough to allow us a long break before we catch up with the couple down the road.

While Kelly Preston was in Honolulu last month, she attended "Gigi" at Diamond Head Theatre and asked to see star Candes Meijide Gentry backstage following the sold-out performance. "That was really a treat," reported Candes' mom, Nora Meijide Gentry.

Kenneth Martinez Burgmaier's documentary about Keola Beamer snagged an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences last month in San Francisco. Musicians featured in the film include Beamer, his wife Moanalani and mother Nona Beamer, George Winston, Ledward Kaapana, Cyril Pahunui, Cindy Combs, Ozzie Kotani, Willie Nelson and John Kolivas.


"Screen Time" is an occasional feature in the Today section. E-mail knichols@starbulletin.com.