The IMPORTANT Rob Lowe and Wendy McCaw

The Velvet Rope. Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006. At this time of year one of the nice perks of working for one of the larger outfits in town is the company holiday party. Employees who aren't married can usually bring a date, right? Not so with the News-Press. The invitation to this year's annual holiday party stipulates that admission "is limited to . . . full time employees and their spouse (or live-in partner). Please note that photo ID's will be checked at the door." So its official, the News-Press' has more names on its "no fly" list than the TSA.

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Wendy McCaw isn't the only one who's trying to limit admission to one of her events. Her Thanksgiving day hosts, Rob and Sheryl Lowe, are seeking to keep cameras out of the courtroom when their motion for a preliminary injunction goes to hearing Wednesday morning in Santa Barbara Superior Court before Judge James Brown. The case is believed to involve a dispute the Lowes have with one of their Padaro Lane neighbors.

* * * *from Craig Smith's blog