| He wants his MTV |
 Pulse: North Central College professors aren't surprised that graduate Kevin Manno will be hosting MTV's new daily program "Live at 5" beginning Sept. 20."When he was at (North Central radio station) WONC, he was filled with boundless energy and had a passion for music and for his listeners," said John Madormo, assistant professor of broadcast communication. "Since his graduation, Kevin has been a great representative of North Central by his willingness to speak to our broadcasting classes and inviting our students to Q101 for tours. His new opportunity with MTV is well-deserved." Top junior chef Move over "Top Chef," two young Naperville cooks are ready to hit the kitchen on TV.  Kevin Manno Brittney Heath, 13, who attends Madison Junior High School, and Jeremiah Wiggins, a student at Lincoln Junior High School, will join 14 other kids on the "Jr. Cuisine Cooking Show," which premieres at 11 a.m. Saturday on the Public Broadcasting Station WYCC (Channel 20). Heath said the show teaches kids how to cook safely. She can't divulge what she prepares on the program, but at home she enjoys making pasta, breakfast and dessert.  Brittney Heath, 13, who attends Madison Junior High School, will join 14 other kids on the "Jr. Cuisine Cooking Show," which premieres at 11 a.m. Saturday on the Public Broadcasting Station WYCC (Channel 20). Her advice for kids is "to have a parent by you to help you cook and to have fun with it, and try new things." Battle of the (state) Bands After winning the Naperville Park District's Battle of the Bands contest, local group Within Four Days took its sound to the Aug. 21 finals of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association competition and came away with second place. Now in its eighth year, the Battle of the Bands contest at the Illinois State Fair involved more than 130 bands from park districts across the state. "The competition was very tough this year," Within Four Days member Devin Jackson said. "But we enjoyed the challenge." For their second place showing, the band won a free guitar and a $100 gift certificate from Guitar Center. Within Four Days will play a free concert at noon Sunday at Naperville's St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Visit www.stapostle.org . Beetle fan Amanda Eckstein isn't bugged by the challenge of finding her way around. The Naperville resident was one of three recent July semifinalists who received new navigation systems in Fox Valley Volkswagen's LOVEbug 2 Contest, which asks Chicago-area residents to nominate someone whose good deeds have gone a long way to help inspire them or others. Eckstein and her fellow winners also qualify for a December contest that will award to the top vote-getter a 2010 Limited Edition Volkswagen Beetle, valued at $20,390.  Naperville's Within Four Days placed second in a recent state Battle of the Bands contest. A family friend nominated Eckstein for her stoic attitude and amazing accomplishments in spite of the physical limitations she has had since birth. The LOVEbug 2 contest runs through Dec. 19. Nominations are accepted at www.lovebugcontest.com. Monthly prizes include Sony camcorders, XM satellite radio receivers and portable DVD players. Monthly winners are eligible for the grand prize contest, which will ask Chicagoans to choose a standout citizen to win the car. Cast your vote at www.lovebugcontest.com/view-and-vote. Monthly winners and their stories can be found at vwloveblog.blogspot.com. A multi-dimensional tower The Millennium Carillon is getting to be more than one of the world's largest musical instruments. It's also been the site for everything from weddings to charity fundraisers, including dinner and tour packages; the Easter Seals of DuPage Carillon Walk, Climb, Give event; and the popular "Tour the Carillon with the Mayor." The carillon can be a romantic place, according to Chuck Seidel of the Millennium Carillon Foundation. Several weddings have taken place there over the years. Most of them are in the facility's ground level visitors center. But one couple's recent nuptials were held at the very top of the carillon's Moser Tower. The carillon also has launched a few engagements as well, Seidel said. In one case, a man arranged to propose to his girlfriend at the pinnacle of the tower while the bells tolled "Here Comes the Bride." "There's been some fun things," Seidel said. "We want to see (the carillon) integrated into the community as much as possible. It's a way to give back to the community." |
