Oddball home, eclectic collection make Hammargren a Halloween natural

Nevada Day and Halloween fall on the same day. Talk about a freaky Friday.

Nothing says spooky like a trip to Dr. Lonnie Hammargren's amazing home. This guy puts Robert L. Ripley to shame.

The irrepressible former lieutenant governor opens his house at 4318 Ridgecrest Drive near Flamingo and Sandhill for the 13th year, and visitors will be floored by the historical artifacts and astounding junk. Vegas memorabilia abounds, and this year there's a focus on items related to Howard Hughes and Benjamin Siegel's Flamingo. The "Howard Hughes Engineering Office," complete with documents and photos, is ready.

From Bugsy's toilet to, well, the one used by NASA astronauts, Hammargren's abode has no shortage of entertaining crap. The best part is, the $5 donation at the door goes to the Living Grace Home for pregnant teens. The open house runs from 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

DAD'S 'COSTUME': Six-year-old Leila Shiblaq knows what her dad, Ziad, is going to be for Halloween -- bald.

Recently diagnosed with leukemia, Leila is having her dad make good on a promise to shave his head at 11:30 a.m. today where he works at The Pepsi Bottling Group at 6500 W. Sunset Road.

The Shiblaqs have sold raffle tickets. The winner gets to do the cutting honors. Proceeds will be matched by The Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation and will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada.

OSCAR'S LETTER: There's nothing scarier than a popular politician. Mayor Oscar Goodman, arguably the most popular elected official in local history, has pulled out all the stops for his City Council pal Democrat Larry Brown in an attempt to ensure victory in the County Commission District C race against Republican Valerie Weber. Goodman's letter is being used in a mass mailer that defends Brown's record and reputation.

"Personally, I hate to lose Larry's leadership, knowledge and experience on the City Council," Goodman concludes. "But as a County Commissioner, I have no doubt he will make us tremendously proud."

DEAD POET: Live ghost? Dead Poet Books owner Linda Piedescalzi isn't the only one who has sensed an apparition at the used book store at 937 S. Rainbow Blvd. Paperbacks have flown off shelves -- in a couple cases more than 10 feet -- in full view of witnesses who aren't even fans of supernatural fiction.

ALIEN INVASION?: No, something even scarier. Super-conservative, 80-proof Republican activist George Harris is pushing his new Alien Tequila brand. The high-end hooch beams down tonight at nightclubs and restaurants around the valley.

If the Republicans take a beating on Tuesday, Harris can always use his cactus juice to dull the pain.

PORTER SUPPORTER: Now for something creepy. This week's column on Rep. Jon Porter's misleading but effective political ads drew numerous reader responses, including this one from one of the congressman's ardent followers.

John Medley wrote, "Any liberal bastard who does a hatchet job on Jon Porter deserves to have a physically impaired child. However, the child does not deserve to have the moronic brain cells from her father transferred to her."

How's that for a Halloween howl?

SNOW ON STRIP: Jon Snow, that is. The dapper and astute news "presenter" of Britain's Channel 4 news was at Planet Hollywood on Thursday getting the scoop on life in Las Vegas during a recession and the prospects of change in the coming election.

Among those interviewed: Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, developer Irwin Molasky, political guru Billy Vassiliadis, radio talk show hosts Heidi Harris and Alan Stock, and documentary filmmaker Stan Armstrong.

ON THE BOULEVARD: CNN had a complimentary segment on Southern Nevada's creative early voting sites. (Nothing like a polling place in a supermarket to bring out the TV cameras.) Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax should be proud -- unless, of course, it all falls apart on Election Day. ... Nevada's Democrats are being helped by party loyalists from out of state to help get out the vote. ... Meanwhile, Republicans continue to work to ensure the safety of state Senate seats currently occupied by Dr. Joe Heck and Bob Beers by testing the limits of the U.S. Postal Service.

BOULEVARD II: Speaking of spooky, the one and only Magickal Marissa continues to send voodoo dolls to local business types in time for Halloween. Frankly, I wouldn't mess with her. Look what's happened to local casino stocks since she started her supernatural campaign.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295.