Television Personality Mary Hart To Receive Next Star On Walk Of The Stars

Television personality and part-time local resident Mary Hart will receive a star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars next month, it was announced Wednesday. Hart co-hosted the syndicated celebrity news program "Entertainment Tonight" for nearly 30 years, from 1982 to 2011, and is known locally for being the longtime mistress of ceremonies for the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s awards gala. "I am so thankful to receive the wonderful recognition and I can’t wait to celebrate this exciting milestone and the joy of the holiday season with my family, friends and the entire Coachella Valley!," Hart said in a statement released by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. Hart’s star will be located next to that of Harold Matzner, the film festival’s chairman, who said her "work as a philanthropist is legendary." "I am proud to have worked with her at the Palm Springs Film Awards for the past 16 years, where she has been our star. People don’t come better than Mary Hart. She is as good as it gets," Matzner said. Hart’s public star unveiling ceremony is set for Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. in front of Plaza Mercado at 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, on what city officials have dubbed "Mary Hart Weekend." It was announced last week that the onetime Miss America finalist will be the grand marshal of the 27th annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, also set for Dec. 7, and will serve as the celebrity tree lighter at the city’s holiday tree lighting the night before at Frances Stevens Park. The star dedication, organized by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, will be emceed by NBC Palm Springs news anchor Gino Lamont and Chamber CEO Nona Watson. "Mary is a true television icon who has helped keep the Palm Springs destination and our International Film Festival on the world stage and she will always be much loved in our city," Watson said.