My friends at the American Heart Association are working hard to keep our kids healthy.  Childhood obesity is rising at an alarming rate–and it’s up to us, the moms and dads, the grammas and grandpas, aunties and uncles, friends and neighbors to step in.  But it’s also up to the kids…and that’s the idea for the upcoming forum we hope you and your kids can attend. We’re joining the AHA and the Detroit Lions for a Youth Forum at the Detroit Public Television station on Tuesday, September 29th from 5:30p to 8:30p. I am moderating, my son is one of the panelists and will confess to the world his junk food habits. Much of it should be on Detroit Public TV and on YouTube. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with many of the panelists, all youngsters who care about this issue. Some have had or have weight problems, some just want to be healthier and help other kids do the same.  In this world of supersizing and so many activities that involve sitting in front of a computer, video game or tv –we need some creative solotions. These kids are so much more challenged to stay healthy than we ever were.  Healthy doesn’t have to be boring…let’s get together and share ideas for our kids’ sake! Call the American Heart Association at 248-936-5826 or e-mail Alicia.Hoge@Heart.org for more information…you’ll also want to visit this cool website just for kids http://www.empowerme2b.org/

Looking forward to a Detroit tradition today.  Jazz on the River! My colleague George Moore tells me it was off the hook yesterday.  Kimmie Horne, Alex Bugnon and Nelson Rangell to name a few!  Later this afternoon I’ll be bringing on The Gentlemen of the Night with three stellar sax players, Marion Meadows, Michael Lington and Paul Taylor…also some of my my local favs including Randy Scott and Gwen and Charles Scales! 

Meanwhile in Canton, Rayse Biggs had us jammin’ in Canton on Friday…can’t wait for next week with Thornetta Davis –especially the black draws song! We’ll be in the IKEA parking lot. We’ve also started a new series in Dearborn called “Jazz on the Ave” on Wednesdays  in front of Dearborn City Hall, had a blast watching David Myles and the Mylestones.last week…and stopped for some Fattoush salad across the street.  The next show is Aug 12 with Jesse Coleman.  Now, if all that’s not enough…we’ve got a series in Birmingham starting on Thursdays.  Come out for Alexander Zonjic and Friends this Thursday in front of  Community House! The River Raisin Fest is next weekend and there’s also a cool concert in Romulus next Saturday.  We can enjoy our summer for little or no money…now that’s what I’m talking about!  Click this link for all the happenings!

Meanwhile on the radio, we’re enjoying some great new music from folks like Rick Braun, Jessy J and Whitney Houston.  Love her comeback release “I Look to You!” Whitney has always put the power in power ballad!  I got lots of postive feedback on the track, including some posts on my facebook page telling me how truly moved and inspired they were by the lyrics…go Whitney!  I hope your future is bright.

As always, write me with your favorite concert and music experiences either by posting here, on my FB page or emailing at sandy.kovach@cbsradio.com

Dancing for Chene Park tickets in Canton

Canton Color Tour crowd jams to Alexander Zonjic!

Thanks to everyone who came out for week one of our Canton Color Tour Jazz Series.  Who would have thought you could throw a party in a store parking lot, but we do it every summer and have fun on Friday nights.  Last Friday’s estimates ran from 600 to 800 in the parking lot at Kohls!  Alexander Zonjic and Friends were awesome as usual and our dancers during intermission (Dance for a Chance to win concert tickets) were so entertaining!  Next week, Kimmie Horne in The Home Depot Parking Lot.  Join us Fridays throughout the summer in parking lots along Ford Road…it’s cool, free and family friendly…oh, and very very smooooth.

So far all the feedback I’ve gotten about our three day bash at Chene Park over the weekend has been 95% good.  People seem to really enjoy themselves out there on the Detroit River jamming to some incredible music.  Many people have called, written or posted on my Facebook Page. Tons of folks have said they LOVED Boney…yes, me too…probably my favorite.   But, it’s close…watching Brian McKnight on Saturday was nothing short of amazing and the incredible energy that all the performers gave was awesome.  I did miss seeing (but not hearing) all of the show because I was either broadcasting or backstage on other business…so I need you to fill in the blanks…I hope you’ll send me some of your favorite Smooth Jazz Fest moments and pictures if you have them.  Tell me everything….the good and bad.  I’ll post them, pass them along or both!

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could hang out with Brian McKnight, Boney James or Jonathan Butler backstage at Smooth Jazz Fest this weekend.  Well, this year by making a tax dedcutible contribution to  Gleaners Food Bank you can do just that!  Gleaners has done great work for years in our community, but with our economic crises it’s even more important to get behind them if we can.  The money you donate goes to feed kids who won’t have those school breakfasts and lunches for the summer.  Your donation of $100 feeds 100 kids 3 meals! And with that donation you get a ticket and invite to a backstage meet and greet.

I had a chance to tour Gleaners and meet the exceptional people who have committed themselves to find the most economical and best system to get the hungry fed.  They supply soup kitchens, food pantries and other non profit organiztions large and small who feed the hungry. Their work is more important than ever!  We all know people (if not ourselves) effected by the economic crisis and many are in desparte need!  Log on here for more info on how you can help!

The news hit me like a ton of bricks when our promotions director, Maureen walked into the studio and told me the news.  How could Wayman Tisdale have passed, he had been through so much, but he was beating cancer…touring and making music.  His hot new single climbing the charts.  It’s never easy to pass the news along to everyone on the air that someone has passed.  But I had to be the bearer of bad news. 

 Since then I’ve received many calls and heard from many people via email and facebook, all stinging from the loss. The man packed so much into his short 44 year life.  A professional musician, a pro basketball player…a family man and a man of God.

We all miss you Wayman, and we’re so glad we have your music! 

 Please pray for his family especially his wife and kids. 

 Chcek out a Wayman Tisdale tribue and pictures of him playing here in Detroit at http://www.wvmv.com/pages/4405954.php

 and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments.

So what are we gaining amidst all this apparent loss in tough economic times? The last blog I wrote focused on remembering that the most important things in life are not “things” but people and relationships.  Many people have told me they have a new appreciation for friends and family. May we not forget this when the economy rebounds.  But may we also not forget another lesson:  be smart with what we do have.   We always like to think we do the best making the most  of our money, but the reality is many times we are just too busy to be bothered .  That is actually a very realistic challenge. I am no expert on this, so I often seek advice from those who are.  The net is full of great sites that offer money saving tips and tools.  One site financial advisor, Gail Perry Mason, recommends is www.mint.com. It’s a calculating tool for all your accounts to keep you in touch with where you are financially.  It seems safe and secure and I certainly trust Gail’s recommendation, but it is something you should make sure you are comfortable with yourself.  I’m about to give it a go. It is supposed to give you a finger on the pulse of your economic health.  One of the things I’ve heard from so many people is we need to know exactly where we are financially — for the good or bad.  It’s like knowing your weight when you diet. It’s the best way to judge your progress. So whatever way you do it, a good realistic picture is important.  On a more basic level, it helps if you can save on your everyday expenses. There’s a great site on AOL’s food feature called “frugal feasts” where you can feed a family of four for under $10–now that’s what I’m talking about! See http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts

My point is there is help to make it easier for folks who suffer from not only insufficient funds, but insufficent time.  As always, be careful who you trust…and don’t give out your personal information.  Unfortunatetly there are people preying on our area because they know so many people are desparate.  The experts say NEVER give out your information to someone who calls or emails you.  If they say they are from your bank and it’s regarding your account, hang up and call your bank.  Chances are it’s a scam.

I guess it comes to down to being grateful — and careful–with what we do have.  Let that resonate with us now and when times are better…and they WILL be better! 

This is not another blog about MSU, but in my last one,  I talked about the fighting spirit of the Spartans and how I thought their perserverance was a great example for us all.  Since then they won one more big game that most people said they couldn’t—but of course they lost one (the big one!) too.  Now I don’t think anyone would suggest what they did was anything less than remarkable and inspiring and a great boost for our area. And guess what, many are picking them to be next year’s champs. 

They were up, then down…and hopefully coming back again!  And isn’t that just how life is sometimes you’re up–way up…then suddently… not so much.  So many of us are in the”not so much” phase right now because of the economy.  But I’ve had some experts tell me that it is precisely how we handle this time that will affect our future.  I’m not talking about the government or society in general—although that is obviously important.  It is all of us, each individual.  What are each of us thinking and doing? Here are some of the things people have told me.  “I no longer take my job for granted”, “learning to live with less is making me appreicate simple things more”, “having lost a job I thought I’d have til I retire has forced me to re-invent myself and now I am doing what I really want to be doing” and “I have become more grateful for what I do have”–and many many people tell me that they are learning to value more what is most important of all –thier personal relationships, their family and friends.  Even better, we see people extending a hand to others–friends, neighbors and strangers– who have even less.  Despite our economy, our area remains one of the most giving in the country…that really speaks to the character of our citiizens.

No one is saying this is a breeze if we just have the right attitude. But of the several authors and motivational speakers I’ve talked to, they are all telling me that there is a blessing in this somewhere.  I found a quote from Norman Vincent Peale that said the following:  “In every difficult situation there is potential value.  Believe this, then begin looking for it.”  If we can find it, name it and hold on to it, it will make us stronger.

In the midst of a hostile crowd and a formidable foe (the #1 team in the tournament!), the Spartans fought and fought and fought and fought….until they won.  As someone who generally comes into the college basketball season around this time of year, I’m not going to comment on anything about the game or how it was played…other than to say it’s been awhle since I saw anyone (team, individual, group) look like they wanted something so badly and would do anything in their power to get it.  How cool that they are coming home to play in the final four!  And how cool for us that we get such a great example of how to go after a dream. 

I’m reading a book by John Maxwell who I will have the privelege of interviewing next week for my Sunday Morning Public Affairs Talk Show, Motor City Review. The book is called: “Put Your Dreams to the Test: 10 Questions to Help you See it and Seize It.”.  In the chapter entitiled “Am I Willing to Pay the Price For My Dream?”, he says “Never once in my conversations with successful people have I heard the words, “Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated.” I can’t imagine it was easy for MSU on the court today–and even more importantly throughout the season and even before then…all the time, practice, preparation and sacrifice these young men, the coaches, families and thier organization have had to make of the past months and years.   Kudos to the Spartans for  playing with heart, courage and unending desire to fight for their dreams.  It’s a great example for us…now let’s get out their and fight too!