On December 20, founder of L.A.'s Circle West theater company and member of the off-Broadway Circle Repertory Company in New York, playwright and screenwriter John Bishop passed away from cancer during his stay at a clinic in Bad Heilbrunn, Germany.

Marshall W. Mason, founding artistic director of the Circle Repertory Company is quoted as saying, "John was one of our major writers. I think next to Lanford Wilson, he was our most prominent writer; he wrote many plays for us. Bishop had a remarkable insight into the dark side of human nature, which he saw in both a comic and satiric way. All this served him very well when he came to Hollywood because of that sardonic view, and also he was very into action. He made a good screenwriter as a result."

Bishop's credits are many, both as a playwright and screenwriter. Plays produced on Broadway included The Trip Back Down, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Elmer Gantry, Borderlines, The Great Grandson of Jedediah Kohler, Winter Signs and The Harvesting. He directed The Beaver Coat, El Salvador, Florida Crackers, and Empty Hearts. His screen credits included Drop Zone, The Package, Sliver and Beverly Hills Cops III. Described by the New Yorker as "one of our best dramatists," Bishop was 77.

Preston Barden, the father of nine and grandfather of eight, told his family he will be back home at Christmas.

On June 20th, Barden began his walking odyssey to break the Guinness World Book Record for the fastest time crossing the US on foot for a round trip total of 5,900 miles. While he is doing this, he is asking for donations to benefit the National Children's Cancer Society -- and he hopes to raise $30 million dollars with his effort.

Barden, who began in New York City, said, "If I do the round trip I will be the first person to do the round trip, and then it will also be America's longest walk-a-thon."

Barden, a welder by trade and a martial arts instructor with four black belts, totes a 55-pound backpack with tokens of inspiration from those who have died of cancer. You can watch WGEM's video of the television interview they did with Barden here. For information on how to donate to the National Children's Cancer Society call Barden at 1-888-411-KIDS. For more information about Barden visit World Walkers.

Five years ago, Mimi Barker, a young woman in her 20s, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her younger sister Lela, intent on understanding how her young sister could develop breast cancer, began researching possible breast cancer causes. What she found prompted her into reading ingredient labels of all the beauty and bath care products in her bathroom, and she was stunned to find most had the paraben ingredient researchers were suggesting increased breast cancer risks for women.

Lela advised Mimi to get rid of everything that contained paraben, and she did the same. Faced with the reality that the market did not offer many appealing natural and organic personal beauty care products, Lela began making her own in her kitchen. She shared what she made with her sister and her friends. Lela found she enjoyed creating soaps, bath salts and lotions that rivaled the commercial products in aroma and texture.

If you are a Major League Baseball fan -- better yet -- if you are a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, and looking to add to your collection of sports memorabilia -- all in the name of breast cancer charity -- there are only two days left to bid on the Los Angeles Dodgers Team 2006 Mother's Day Commemorative Home Plate at the Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer auction.

Signatures include: Danys Baez, Jo Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, Eric Gagne, Derek Lowe, Franquelis Osoria, Odalis Perez, Takashi Saito, Aaron Sele, Jae Seo, Brett Tomko, Sandy Alomar, Russell Martin, Willy Aybar, Nomar Garciaparra, Cesar Izturis, Ramon Martinez, Bill Mueller, Oscar Robles, Olmedo Saenz, Jose Cruz, J.D. Drew, Andre Ethier, Kenny Lofton, Dave Jauss, Mariano Duncan, Eddie Murray, Rick Honeycutt, Dan Warthen and Manny Mota.

All proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Hurry, the auction is almost over. Go here to bid.