Matt Rivers joins CBS 3, a 'Bachelor'-ette weds

CBS3 AND CW57 add reporter Matt Rivers to their ranks beginning today. Rivers might hail from New Jersey, but he's spent recent years in the Lone Star State, working in San Antonio and El Paso, covering border politics and even being detained by the Mexican military while reporting on border violence in the town of Reynosa.

Another recent CBS3 hire, reporter Ileana Diaz, is also a Spanish speaker.

South Jersey's Helene Eksterowicz finally gets her man. Eksterowicz "won" the second season of "The Bachelor" when banker Aaron Buerge got down on one knee, only to dump her five weeks later.

But Eksterowicz tied the knot this weekend with IBM senior technology consultant Andrew Goodman in Gloucester. Eksterowicz announced her engagement to Goodman in January, showing off her Max Weiner (805 Sansom St.)-purchased ring to People StyleWatch.

I hear that North Philly-born boxer and 1984 Olympic gold-medalist Meldrick Taylor is shopping around a movie version of his self-published memoir, 2 Seconds from Glory, with celeb boxing promoter Damon Feldman attached to produce. Who does Taylor want to play himself? Another Philadelphian: Kevin Hart. It's not such a stretch; Hart has been looking quite buff in recent Instagram posts.

Voorhees' Mike Epstein tried every diet imaginable . . . Atkins . . . something called the cookie diet. He even decamped to a health institute for three weeks to eat only raw food. The diets would work for a time, but then he would yo-yo back, getting as high as 453 pounds, quite the heft for his 5-foot-10-inch frame.

"They all worked and they were able to have me lose weight, but they weren't a lifestyle," Epstein said. "That was my problem. I needed a healthy lifestyle."

Epstein turned to "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition," where he worked with celebrity trainer Chris Powell for a year. Epstein also began seeing Haddonfield-based therapist Fran Broder, who specialized in obese patients.

Epstein spilled the beans about the massive amount he lost, on the condition I keep mum, but let me tell you, the numbers (and pictures!) were shocking. See for yourself tomorrow at 8 p.m. on 6ABC.

Epstein's wasn't the typical transformation. At 49 during filming, Epstein was the oldest "E.M." trainee. He also failed initial medical exams to make sure he was healthy enough to attempt the weight-loss regimen.

But Epstein insisted on staying with the show, if only for his kids Ethan, 18, Gabby, 15, and Aidan, 10, and his wife, Nancy.

Now Epstein wants to inspire others with his progress. "I want to pay this forward, and I want to help kids with childhood obesity. I want to help older folks who don't think they can transform themselves," Epstein said. But he's already achieved his main goal: "I just wanted to be a superhero for my kids."

Congrats to WXPN music director Dan Reed, named Music Director of the Year, Non-Commercial radio stations at the radio-trade publication FMQB's Triple A Conference in Boulder, Colo.

Reed not only hosts the "Afternoon Mix" on WXPN from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, he also founded the NON-COMMvention, the premier gathering of noncommercial Triple A radio pros, when he was at WFPK in Louisville, Ky. Reed has been at WXPN since 2004.

* Former Mayor John Street and state Sen. Anthony Williams were spotted at a table together at SugarHouse Casino last week.

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