Recently in Melissa Nann Burke Category

The Jonas Brothers lead a list of top celebrity fundraisers compiled by Charity Folks, an organization that operates online auctions with entertainers to raise money for nonprofit causes.

Charity Folks says the pop trio, Kevin, Joe and Nick, garnered $450,000 for their charity, the Change for the Children Foundation, with an auction that sold VIP tickets to concerts and chances to meet the band.

Second place went to Billy Joel, who raised $400,000, and Bruce Springsteen took third with $300,000.

Before you tire of the same ol' Christmas carols this season, re-write them. To enter our Twisted Carol contest, compose your own lyrics to a familiar Christmas tune.
Include your name, age, municipality and a daytime phone number, and e-mail to mburke@ydr.com by Dec. 5. Limit one entry a person.

Don't forget to tell us which song your lyrics would be sung to. We'll enter your name in a drawing for tickets to Hershey Sweet Lights or Christmas Candylane.

"Twilight" hit theaters last weekend and took a $70.5 million bite out of the box office. Local teens were excited to see the big screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novels. Some of the ladies at YDR were just as excited and shared their thoughts on the vampire saga.

I was home sick with a fever today, and, while it broke in the late morning, it might have resurfaced tonight when I logged on to the Entertainment Weekly magazine's homepage.

This weekend EW will publish collectors' covers previewing the new "Twilight" film due out Nov. 21. They've got a **hot** Edward (Robert Pattinson) cover sneak peek at their site, plus an Edward/Bella cover sneak peek here, which is the site of the author of the four-book Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyer.

Oh yeah, there's an article, too. Though fanatics won't learn much -- except that the "Twilight" screenwriter is working on the sequel "New Moon" (of course, the production company, Summit Entertainment, won't greenlight the project until after it sees how well "Twilight" does in theaters).

"The Exorcist" is one of the scariest films I've ever seen. I left the theater 20 minutes into a showing of the 2000 re-release and then watched the DVD in 20-minute increments at home with every light in my apartment shining brightly. (The breaks every 20 minutes were so I could calm down and brace myself for the next scene.)

Anyway, the Sci Fi channel will feature four hours of "real" exorcisms tonight with the premiere of the Rev. Bob Larson's new reality show, "The Real Exorcist." Just in time for your Halloween pre-party.

Check out a quirky interview from Religion News Service with an Episcopal priest who might look familiar to you old-school "90210" fans:

When we first met Ann Gillespie back in 1990, she was playing Jackie Taylor on "Beverly Hills, 90210." Her first scene found her snorting cocaine in the women's room during a mother-daughter fashion show. It wasn't pretty.

Microbrew fans passing through my hometown in Chester County make a point to stop at the home of Victory Brewing Co.

Hidden in an industrial block in Downingtown, the brewery isn't very pleasing to the eye from outside, and the parking lot leaves much to be desired; however, recent renovations to the restaurant, bar and menu make Victory worth the hour-and-a-half trip from York County.

A North Codorus Township woman who overcame years of panic attacks will be featured on "Secret Lives of Women" at 10 p.m. Tuesday on the WE channel.

Melissa Straub, 46, (above, at left) struggled with panic and agoraphobia for years. At times, she ventured no more than a mile from her home, dreading situations that might trigger her panic. She had stopped working, traveling and, eventually, leaving the neighborhood.

Using a technique that included elements of visualization, hypnosis and conditioning (the modification of thinking patterns), Straub overcame her fear, and has been panic-free for two years.

In addition to Michael Jackson, Prince and my Auntie Bev, the original Material Girl hits the big 5-0 this year.

On Aug. 16, Madonna joins the ranks of AARP-eligible seniors everywhere.

The Washington Post has a great Madonna appreciation here.

Reporter Hank Stuever compiled a few of her thoughts on "growing up":

News of Bernie Mac's death hit comedy fans hard Saturday.

The 50-year-old stand-up comedian, film and sitcom star died of pneumonia Aug. 9 in Chicago, where he lived. He had suffered from sarcoidosis.

Not everyone was a fan of Mac's audacious humor, but I loved hearing him talk about family life and its ills. He made my sides hurt laughing. Rest in peace, Bernie.