Comedians to hold charity event

In memory of comedian Chris Farley, who died of a substance overdose, a charity event is being planned to raise money for substance abuse programs. “Comics Come Home” is set for Dec. 1 in Madison, Wis., and will include Tom Arnold, Tim Meadows and Jim Breuer.

Boston Symphony gets new director

James Levine, New York Metropolitan Opera artistic director, was chosen as the new music director for the 120-year-old Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine is the first American named to the position.

Beginning with the 2003-2004 season, Levine will take the place of current director Seiji Ozawa, who led the orchestra for 28 years.

Levine has numerous qualifications, including winning the U.S. National Medal of Art and directing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Ravina Festival for 20 years.

Timberlake book deal scrapped

Citing too many other projects in the works, ‘N Sync-er Justin Timberlake won’t release his first literary attempt, “Inside Drive: A Novel of Basketball, Life and Love” as expected this fall. Ballantine Books’ vice president Kim Hovey says the pop star wouldn’t have enough time to promote the book “out on the road,” according to the Associated Press.

Antique violin sells for $4 million

Violin sensation Joshua Bell has purchased a 300-year old Stradivarius violin for a reported $4 million.

The violin has a unique history. The Stradivarius was stolen a few times during its century-spanning existence. In 1919 it was stolen from the hotel room of Bronislaw Huberman, a Polish violinist. The instrument was almost immediately returned.

In 1936, it was stolen again from Huberman, this time from his dressing room, while he was on stage at Carnegie Hall in New York.

It was missing until 1985, when a jailed musician admitted on his deathbed to stealing the Strad almost four decades earlier. It was returned to its insurance agency, which eventually sold it to Bell.

-News gathered by Bethany Kohoutek from yahoo.com and eonline.com