Just call him Professor Lehane
Even with Ben Affleck in town making a movie based on one of his books, Dennis Lehane's been keeping a low profile. In part, we're told, that's because the Dorchester native is hard at work on his next book. But it's also because he's busy with a new gig. Lehane has quietly joined the faculty at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, teaching wannabe writers enrolled in the school's low-residency MFA program. (Low-residency merely means you don't have to give up your day job to attend.) This isn't the first time Lehane has been paid to be a professor. The man who wrote ``Mystic River" spent last year teaching creative writing at his alma mater Eckerd College in picturesque St. Petersburg , Fla. We couldn't reach the ``Gone, Baby, Gone" author, but Pine Manor's peeps had a minute. ``He's such an amazing writer and a very generous teacher," said Meg Kearney, director of creative writing programs at Pine Manor. ``It's thrilling to have someone with his name recognition and talent. It's certainly a big draw for students." Wondering about Lehane's next book? He'll preview it Saturday, when he reads at Pine Manor.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s SuperBen
Forget Brandon Routh. Judging from the just-released trailer for ``Hollywoodland," Ben Affleck may be the real man of steel. In the movie, the Cambridge-bred actor plays George Reeves, the TV star who jumped tall buildings in the '50s. Based on the true story of Reeves's mysterious death, director Allen Coulter's noirish movie costars Adrien Brody, Bob Hoskins, and Diane Lane as our leading man's love interest. (View the trailer -- at movies.yahoo.com/feature/hollywoodland.html -- to see Ben's big, open-mouth kiss with the lovely Lane.) Weirdly, Affleck's face is all over the trailer, but you only hear his voice once. Rated R, the movie will be released Sept. 8.Sox exec’s sister gets new perspective
A packet of clippings prepared by the Red Sox and distributed recently to the media included an interesting item from the Jerusalem Post. The article, about the immigration of 240 Americans to Israel, included a quote from Sox exec Charles Steinberg, whose sister is one of those who's switched teams. (Steinberg accompanied his sis, Golda Shira Aaron, on the flight to Israel.) ``For all the elements of life we've seen in America," the Sox VP is quoted as saying, ``we know it pales in comparison to the ultimate spiritual ascent. When you are sitting here with these families, my sister among them, you know it's coming from the holiest of places. It's emotional. It's spiritual. It's remarkable to feel and to observe." Amen.Kennedys’ sibling rivalry surfaces at fete
The White House fete for Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver included this funny moment: Shriver thanked President Bush for his many contributions to Special Olympics, and then credited the commander-in-chief for going above and beyond the call of duty. ``In addition to all that," Shriver said, ``you have managed to control Teddy -- at least some of the time." Seated at a table nearby, Shriver's younger brother Senator Kennedy waved a white napkin in mock surrender.Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 
