Ono strikes chord for peace

London — John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, opened his childhood home in Liverpool to the public Thursday, and said the famously peace-loving former Beatle would have opposed the current war with Iraq.

“I’m sure John would have been terribly upset. And he would have expressed his anger and told them (coalition leaders) off for how stupid it is to have to go through this,” Ono said in an interview with BBC radio before the ceremony.

Ono bought the house, called “Mendips,” for an unspecified price last year and donated it to the conservation group the National Trust, which has restored it to the way it looked when Lennon lived there.

Sheen protests in silence

Los Angeles — Martin Sheen covered his mouth with a piece of duct tape that said “peace,” then led about 60 protesters in a prayer vigil.

The star of the NBC series “The West Wing” carried a huge painted cross during Wednesday’s protest. He didn’t speak, but the Rev. Michael Kennedy of Delores Mission Catholic Church in East Los Angeles read a statement from him.

“Nationalism and militarism have become the gods of our idolatry at the expense of our humanity,” Sheen wrote. “By some demented form of logic the men, women and children of Iraq are relegated to ‘collateral damage’ as the dogs of war slouch toward Baghdad.”

The vigil was held to pray for the safe return of U.S. soldiers and to express solidarity with two priests and a peace activist who have been fasting on a liquid diet since March 5, organizers said.

Rocker going out with flourish

Los Angeles — As ailing singer-songwriter Warren Zevon faces death, three of his old albums are getting a new life.

The Capitol Records-Imperial label announced Wednesday it will reissue his first album, 1969’s “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” on May 6.

On the same day, Virgin Records plans to rerelease 1987’s “Sentimental Hygiene” and 1989’s “Transverse City” with new bonus tracks.

The terminally ill rocker, who announced in September that he has lung cancer, has spent much of his time with his grown children, working on songs for a final album and visiting old show-business friends.

Ripa touts alma mater

Blackwood, N.J. — Kelly Ripa is lending her name to fund-raising efforts by Camden County College, which she attended before pursuing a career in acting and television.

A letter from Ripa, co-host of the syndicated “Live With Regis & Kelly,” is included in the school’s fund-raising materials. Her father, Joseph, who lives in nearby Berlin, N.J., is on the school’s board of trustees.

“As someone familiar with Camden County College, you know firsthand how it has changed lives through education,” the letter says. “Hundreds of thousands of individuals — friends, neighbors, family and co-workers — have benefited from the many opportunities that Camden County College provides.”