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Shields weds for real after faking April nuptials

According to gossip columnist Liz Smith, Shields and Henchy did not really wed until last weekend, when they had a Roman Catholic ceremony at a fancy Palm Beach, California, estate. But the pair, who even dressed in designer matrimonial duds and had their "wedding" photos splashed in several magazines, had previously swindled everyone with an early but fake ceremony. 

The April gala, which was a so-called surprise affair on Catalina Island in Southern California, was staged to throw off paparazzi and Shields' stalker, Smith reports. The false wedding was elaborate, with mannequins and faux reception news fed to the unsuspecting press. Even Shields' rep, Lisa Kasteler, didn't really know what to say, first denying and then confirming the pair's marriage. Mark Bailey, 41, has been charged with stalking Shields for nearly 15 years. The actress was apparently anxious to prevent Bailey, who has called her his "mail-order bride," from showing up on her special day. Shields and Henchy met on the set of now-defunct sitcom Suddenly Susan. It's the second marriage for Shields, who had her vows to tennis star Andre Agassi annulled in 1999. Shields (who turned 36) and Henchy, 38, were engaged during a Mexican resort vacation last July. 

Baldwin's 'Devil'ish dispute

Now Variety's Michael Fleming reports that Baldwin is refusing to get involved in post-production on the updated tale of a man who sells his soul to the devil until he's sure that producer Cutting Edge Enterprises has enough money to finish the film. 

The money stopped flowing even before principal photography wrapped on March 13, Baldwin tells Fleming. Baldwin says he recovered his salary after hiring a lawyer but has yet to secure the dough to finish the film. Baldwin stars as a writer who makes a deal with the devil (played by a red-haired Jennifer Love Hewitt), and Anthony Hopkins co-stars as the silver-tongued lawyer who attempts to save Baldwin's soul. 

Cutting Edge's David Glasser tells Fleming that one investor fell out but that "all the crew members and actors have been paid," adding, "The edit bay is open in New York, with our editor cutting every day." 

Baldwin's producing partner, Jon Cornick, denies that any editing is going on, claiming that neither he nor Baldwin has given notes on the current rough cut of the film. 

Glasser says, "The only reason Alec isn't in the editing room is that he's been in Hawaii and he had personal issues." 

Baldwin is out promoting Pearl Harbor, in which he plays Col. Jimmy Doolittle. The personal issues Glasser refers to are likely related to Baldwin's split from his wife, Kim Basinger. One thing Baldwin and his financier agree on is that the final result will be worthwhile, reports Fleming. "The response to the trailer and footage at [the] Cannes [Film Festival] were unbelievable," said Glasser. "That's more than enough money to cover what's outstanding, which is why Alec's comments are so shocking." 

J-Lo's lover pops the question

Music-movie diva Jennifer Lopez scored a hit with the flick "The Wedding Planner", but in real life she can't make up her mind about her own wedding plans. The superstar's dancer boyfriend Cris Judd popped the question during the weekend of May 5, pals say. A thrilled and misty-eyed Jennifer replied she loved him deeply....... but would have to get back to him. "There's so much going on in her life right now that Jennifer realises she needs to step back and think seriously before becoming a bride'', an insider said. 

"But everyone close to her knows just how crazy she is about Cris. And the smart money says it's just a matter of time before she takes the plunge." At the moment, exhausted Jennifer is lensing the new flick "Enough", promoting her new album and the new movie "Angel Eyes". "Cris saw she was on the verge of collapsing and told her she should take some time off", said a source. So Jennifer took his advice and missed the press junket for 'Angel Eyes'." 

It was while she was resting in bed at home that Cris proposed. Added a close friend. "Jennifer is on her way to being one of the great entertainment queens of all time, but Cris is content to live in the shadows and wait on the sideline for her". "She likes that he's there for her at the end of the day and whenever she calls. And he's confident in knowing that he's her man."

Gary's lucky to be alive 

Building a bridge of knowledge, friendship and peace

By Chamintha Thilakarathna 

Since the inception of this programme in the '80s, over a hundred Lankan students have visited Japan. Now several years older, the scholarship students have formed a club to contribute their mite to the system that helped them excel. 

Membership of their club is very selective - it all depends on obtaining good results at the Year Five scholarship exam. 

Some of the club's members are in universities, some are still in school. Their membership keeps growing with every batch of students sitting the exam. 

And if you think that they are a bunch of book worms or nerds, think again. At a time when there seems no hope for world peace, these youngsters have taken the task of spreading the message of peace into their own hands. As members of an international peace movement where students from countries the world over have joined hands through a "Bridge Club", they believe they have a big responsibility. 

The Bridge Club is an association made up of the participants of the Asia Pacific Children's Convention. Thousands have joined over the years and it includes 4196 Junior Ambassadors, 500 chaperones, and over 3000 Japanese host families. 

The Junior Ambassadors who visited Fukoka, Japan aged 11, now advocate the APCC message of peace and co-existence to the world. The function of the Bridge Club is to help promote communication between members of each BC branch, the APCC members and their associates, to promote international exchange among the BC branches, to promote the APCC concept and keep its spirit alive. 

The Bridge Club Sri Lanka was established in June 1998 with the intention of bringing friendship among the Junior Ambassadors of Sri Lanka to a much higher plane. The first get-together of the club was held on July 4 in Colombo. Fifty-five members of the 80 members including the JAs who participated in the 10th APCC took part. Since then the club has been growing rapidly. 

"Each year we accompany the new batch of students who attend the APCC. Our message is one of peace and friendship. Our Sri Lankan club consists of members from all over the island. We have students of all ages, races and religions. This has made it easy for us to actively spread the peace message," said Vice President of the Sri Lanka club, Dulanjan Lokupathirage (16), of Royal College. 

According to the club President, Darshini Rajkumar (17) of Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya, their projects have mostly concentrated on outstation students and schools. "In addition to our peace projects, we try to help under-privileged schools and students achieve what we have been fortunate to achieve," she said. 

One such project involved 500 students at a rural school in Vigamuwa, Tangalle. Clothes, text books and other essential stationery and necessities were distributed to these students. The club members also conduct workshops to help rural students with their education. 

"It is a great advantage having members spread around the island as they let us know how and where we should focus our attention and help. We have members even in the North and East. We send students in those areas rations whenever possible," they said. The Moraweva Tamil village was one of the villages they managed to reach out to. 

They are now preparing for the Asia Pacific Children's Convention that will be held in Sri Lanka on June 30. Ambassadors from other member countries in the Asia Pacific Region will visit the island for the convention. 

"Of course none of this would have been possible if not for the Japanese government, APCC officials and the Ministry of Education, especially our liaison officer, Ms. Kumari Pirisyala at the Ministry," they said. 

The experience has been simply great. "Often we can't speak another member's language and they can't speak English. But we manage to communicate and become friends as time goes on. We hope that all students who sit the exam will be encouraged to do their best. Most importantly we hope they will have the chance to be members of our club," they said. 

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