Elian’s surrogate mom moves on

Miami Two years after losing the custody battle for Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy’s cousin and surrogate mother says she has moved on with her life and is fulfilling her dream of owning her own beauty salon.

Marisleysis Gonzalez told television station WSVN she has wanted to be a hairdresser since she was in high school and would have opened her own salon earlier, but her family’s campaign to keep Elian in the United States delayed her plans.

Gonzalez’s salon is on Calle Ocho, a thoroughfare that runs throughout the heart of Little Havana. It opened for business Friday.

Hootie singer honored

Charleston, S.C. The lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish has been honored with the city’s first Darius Rucker Day.

Rucker grew up in Charleston and has donated more than $1 million to local charities.

“Charleston is just home for me,” said Rucker, whose first solo album, “Back to Then,” was released last week.

Rucker lives across the Cooper River from Charleston in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Beth, and 15-month-old daughter, Dani.

Health hinders Ross tour

Cerritos, Calif. Diana Ross has canceled the California leg of her North American concert tour because of health problems, her talent agency announced.

The 58-year-old pop diva was scheduled to appear next weekend at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

However, the center said last week that it was informed by Creative Artists Agency “that the state of Ms. Ross’ health makes it impossible for her to fulfill her touring obligations.”

A call to the talent agency was answered by an operator who was unable to comment.

Ross voluntarily entered the Promises drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Malibu for 10 days beginning around May 20 for an undisclosed condition.

Magnate a bobble-heads star

Salisbury, Md. Poultry magnate Frank Perdue has become a star among bobblehead dolls.

The 6-inch dolls were given away recently by the Delmarva Shorebirds, the minor league baseball team whose stadium was financed by Perdue Farms Inc., and have fetched as much as $75 on eBay the same as a Willie Mays 1966 bobble-head doll.

The figurine shows Perdue holding a baseball and wearing a Shorebirds batting helmet.

“Frank is really modest about the whole thing,” said Tita Cherrier, a spokeswoman for Perdue Farms. “To him, he doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.”