On “Bridge Street” Thursday, May 22nd

We’re number 44!  We’re number 44! 

What’s so great about number 44?

Syracuse is number 44 on a list of the 100 best places to raise a family.   According to research compiled by the editors of Best Life magazine.

Steve Kelley here, and I know what you’re thinking.  Number 44?  Whoop-dee-doo!

Hey…  first of all… we beat Rochester!  But here’s my point… I see these crazy lists about the ‘best this’ and the ‘best that’ for cities all the time– and Syracuse NEVER seems to even make the list. Either we’re too small or we just don’t rate.  So it’s cool to see we made it onto a good list, and didn’t do too bad at that.  They checked out stats relative to education, health, museums, crime– that sort of stuff.  Not too bad I say! 

Best place to raise a family on the list?  Honolulu… but who wants to wear a muumuu and slippers every day!?

These boys I work with are so funny - conjuring up images of themselves as ‘bad bikers’ makes me laugh!  The only bike I’ll get on is one you pedal - no leather chaps or animal skins necessary!

I can’t wait for tonights American Idol!!  I’ll try not to gloat too much when David Cook wins it all.  I hope they both perform their little hearts out and make it a great show.  We’ll have a lively chat about the whole thing tomorrow morning at 7:45, so join us for the fun!

At the risk of echo-ing Mike and Rick with regards to this weekend’s Miracle Ride…”well done” all those who took part, there certainly couldn’t be a better cause. Well, on second thought, Sunny 102 is involved in many causes, they’re all worthwhile, but the Children’s hospital is certainly a the top of the list. With that said, the last thing I need bouncing around in my head is the idea of Big Mike on a huge boss hog draped in animal skins and Lord knows what else!! Thanks Rick, for this weekend’s hard work…as for the “images”…not so much.

Thanks to all who rode in the Miracle Ride for the Golisano Children’s Hospital yesterday. Once again it was a rainy day..for the 8 years I’ve been involved, it has rained 6 times, snowed once and the sun shone on just one ride. Next year a new date!! Raffle tickets are still available for the Kawasaki 900 custom..second place, two airline tickets anywhere in the continental US. Raffle drawing is July 31st. Buy your tickets at any of the CNY Kawasaki dealers or send me a check made out to CMN for 40 dollars and I will send you 10 chances and a Rick Gary “Until We Eat Again” apron. Send to me at: Wsyr TV, 5904 Bridge Street, East Syracuse, NY 13084. Or if you see me 5 chances for $20. Thanks for your support and a special thanks to Big Mike for coming out to enjoy the barbeque at the Spinning Wheel Restaurant(start and end of the ride)and leaving me a little food. I think his Bigness should ride, he would look great on a “Boss Hog”(type of bike) wearing a helmet with steer horns, and maybe some type of animal skin draped over his muscular body, adorned with many tattoos of radio station call letters(he has worked for). He could be known as Big Bad *#* Mike!!!

On “Bridge Street” Tuesday, May 20th

Put all of your gorgeous flowers in one spot and make them really pop. It’s container gardening, and we’ve got the tricks to do it right. Also, Carrie and I predict who will win the mirror ball trophy on the finale of “Dancing with the Stars.” Plus, I’ve gone head to head with a group of youngsters for days, but can I finally prove than I’m smarter than a second grader? And why would I want to answer all the questions correctly, then I would look like a goof, beating sweet little second graders!! I tell ya I get no respect, I can’t win!!

I just got back from attending the Miracle Ride to benefit the Children’s Hospital, and what a great event in every way.  Riding up in front of hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts was my friend and your favorite afternoon DJ, the one and only Rick Gary!  Rick and his BW Toni spent tons of time setting up and organizing the annual event, which this year (at last count) raised OVER $60,000!!! Above all, I must say the hundreds of bikers who turned out for this ride, supporting a great cause. looked like they were having a good time and they deserved it. By the end of the ride it was damp and chilly, yet no matter what the weather, the bikers were there and raised a ton of money. You all did great!

So for many families this weekend was a big one….sons and daughters graduating from college. I was one of those people, I recieved my four year degree from Oswego State in Communications. Very nice ceremony in the Campus Center, for anyone has been in the building it is a great hockey arena and place for large gatherings.  The nice suprise for the Oswego Class of 2008 was a quick appearence by Senator Chuck Schumer.  It can be a crazy time with lots of emotions. I was convinced that my mom was more emotional than me, she was so proud and happy! Do you know what I mean moms?  There is the excitement of coming to the end of a long journey but also the fear of what lies ahead in the future. I actually like the college setting so much that I will be going on for my masters…so basically two more years of college for me!!! Today’s events allowed me some time for reflection, I was thinking about how far education has come, my grandparents never went to college, my mom went to college and now I’m going for a masters. Do you think PHD’s will be what the majority of students go for in the future? I think education is great, it gives you tools to be sucessful and help others and god knows there are many problems facing us in the United States and across the globe. I leave by saying that I encourage everyone to reach for the stars and if your thinking about going back to school, do it! And strongly encourage your children to go to a school they like and want to spend lots of time at.

Listen this Monday morning at 7:45 as we have an extra edition of Idol Chat (with me, Cindy and Melissa).  Lots to update and hear and Idol fans should not miss it!

Back when I was in high school, I met Governor Nelson Rockefeller and asked him about the secret to his success.  I think he told me, “Kid, never give up!  Dreams can come true, especially if you’re born rich.”

Rockefeller was a great governor, with massive road projects throughout the state and he is credited with building Route 81.  If that is true, he did a lousy job through downtown.  Well, at least his wife was Happy.  Seriously, her name was Happy.  Like one of the seven dwarfs. Rockefeller usually had a smile on his face.  He said that he was “always feeling Happy!” (By the way, these were my first jokes when I started radio in 1977.)