I want to call everybody's attention to a wonderful happening on the corner of Chili & Thurston today. I was able to catch part of it but unfortunately my camera's battery died 1/3 of the way through.

Kids from the Carlson Y and Miss Sweet Potato Pie's dance studio kids joined forces today to celebrate Michael Jackson's life and music. The energy and joy these kids have - and their incredible talent - is beginning to redeem that notorious corner. WOW. Just WOW.

Here are links to the tv news stories:

WHEC

WROC

13WHAM story

13WHAM video

(If you watch closely you'll see me with my camera bag in the background, wearing a red blouse.)

I never got into his music much (though I do seem to be able to sing a lot of lyrics), and he was never that big of an icon for me. But the joy expressed by these kids through dance helped me to understand better why he was such a big deal.

Miss Sweet Potato Pie is bringing a whole new, vibrant energy to what we all know as a notorious corner where way too many bad things have happened.

Stop by and pay her a visit -- you'll find her and the kids there many evenings and on Saturday. Catch the joy.