KEEPIN’ IT LIVE! Last Sunday afternoon, Jazz Heritage Center (JHC) under the creative leadership of PETER FITZSIMMONS, Executive Director, planned the New Orleans Celebration in remembrance of the 5-years Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. August 29th was a tragic day for New Orleans and the world who watched the horrific sight on TV.

The celebration honored the resiliency of the people and culture of New Orleans. The event kicked off with the marching MJ’s BRASS BOPPERS signaled the spirit of the BIG EASY as the musicians marched on the sidewalk up Fillmore Street from Marcus Bookstore to Yoshi’s front entrance where folks had gathered.

There was renown artist SATO swinging a large umbrella, blowing the whistle, led the procession of musicians, for the SECOND line kinda’ thing. The smell of popcorn from the small vendor machine operated by a gentleman in the community who works with kids, doing a swift business.

The procession moved into Koret Heritage Lobby continued for an hour with New Orleans music, about an hour; before they departed on the street swinging up Fillmore. The action moved into the JHC Media Education Center to hear noted photographer LEWIS WATTS and Historian ERIC PORTER reflect on the 5-year anniversary, and recent visit to the Big Easy, showed pictures of the City and landscape as seen today. Interesting to hear the two talk about the TREME neighborhood, discuss their in progress book project, NEW ORLEANS SUITE.

After a reception held in the LUSH Life Gallery where the marvelous Art of MICHAEL RIOS is on exhibit, returned to the screening room to view the film ‘FAUBOURG TREME - The Untold Story of Black New Orleans.’ The film depict a rich and sad history about ENSLAVED people.

I will NEVER forget those scenes on TV, horrified to see the destruction; people of color and poor Whites were treated - ignored as they yelled from roof tops, water high below, crying to be saved! Lives lost, torn apart, separation. Those who survived -.many scattered throughout the country!

The following year, on my birthday, December 7, 2006, there in THE BIG EASY TO VIEW the LOWER 9TH WARD, to the LEVEE WALL. - walk and rode (escorted by an aide to a city councilman) through the eerie, abandoned area. Painful to see homes destroyed, blocks and blocks of houses toppled, crushed, some standing, ripped off their foundations. Wrote about the experience. The Lower (Lower) 9th STILL has not been rebuilt!

According to statistics, prior to Katrina, African Americans comprised 60% of the city and fueled a large number of small Black businesses. The city will never be the same BUT will come back! The resiliency of its people will see to that! .

LET’S GO GIANTS! The season is almost over; CY YOUNG Star pitcher TIM LINCECUM off his game of late! The team has hustled all year to survive with good offense and defense players, trying to make the play-offs. As of this writing they still have a chance IF they win most of their remaining games against some strong teams; tonight ending the home stand ,3 games with the Colorado Rockies, last game tonight, then on the road . The team don’t seem to fare well away from home cookin’ and adulation of fans!

Last Wednesday, a gorgeous hot day, out at AT&T Park trying to be cool in the Working Press Box, watching dramatic, tense game played between GIANTS and the Cincinnati Reds! Reds were in town for 3-days; two night games that saw the GIANTS beat up on the Reds - 11-2, 16-5, threatened to send manager DUSTY BAKER and team home in shame! Wednesday was a GAME CHANGER that ended in 12 innings - the REDS WON, BUT then you GIANTS fans already knew this a week ago!

There are WINNERS and there are LOSERS! A heartbreaker to see the team lose; DUSTY’S CHEST STUCK OUT, as he told me prior to the game, chatting with him in the Visitor’s locker room (always, if possible say hello) prophesied they would WIN,. BUT I’m sure he didn’t expect a dragged out struggle! Reds scored big time, Giants trailing way behind through 7 innings, turned it around in the eighth; COMEBACK PLAY that saw them tie 10-10; Reds got 11-10 all over after 12!

EVERY Wednesday morning (11:30a) give the 411 entertainment and community announcements on radio station KPOO’s popular Blues jock NOEL HAYES’ show - my man spins the best bluesy sounds between 9 -12 noon. Last Wednesday called him from AT&T Park after chatting with Dusty - NOEL LOVED IT!

Prior to the game, made the rounds within the Press area - FIRST STOP lunch in SAM SKINNER Media Lounge. DELIGHTED for the opportunity to congratulate broadcaster JON MILLER, ‘THE VOICE OF THE GIANTS’ chillin’ in Bermuda shorts, in line selecting food items. Startled him, saying “Jon, you have NICE LEGS! “ He turned around , graciously smiled, responded in charming voice, “thank you”. FLATTERED him more when praised what a great acceptance speech he gave, honored at the National Sportscaster and Sportswriter Association Annual awards in July, inducted into its Baseball Hall of Fame, honored with the Ford C. Frick Award. PRIOR week honored by the Giants’ organization at AT&T Park.

Miller also share play by play coverage on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball with analyst JOE MORGAN - love to hear the two sports gurus relate baseball stories They are a great match-up - BOTH TALKERS!

PEEPED in to say hello to Comcast broadcasters KUP AND KIK - KUIPER AND KRUKOW, Recently the two were SPECIAL Guests at San Francisco City HALL, HONORED at the Board of Supervisors meeting for 20 years in broadcasting (Krukow told me he liked the city hall layout); While in the area, espied OUR pretty Media Lady - MARIA JACINTO, Senior Director, Broadcasters Services, pulled her into conversation.

Also conversed with Comcast Reporter JAYMEE SIRE (the day celebrated her birthday)..., ANN GILLIAN, former sports writer San Jose Mercury News, now with Sports Illustrated; as always, HAPPY to chat with CARLOS NUNEZ, Director, Latin Sports News Network.

WELL lets turn to POLITICS! DISTRICT 10 in particular attract my attention because of the overwhelming candidates running for Supervisor - OVER 20! The District is NOT my voting precinct, BUT interested in what's going on out there! The area embrace neighborhoods in Bayview Hunters Point; parts of Mission Bay; Visitation Valley; Sunnydale, Little Hollywood, Dogpatch, Potrero Hill, Portola, and Silver Terrace.

Bayview Hunters Point, once a strong black community inhabited by homeowners, entrepreneurs on Third street - noted for TWO legendary nightclubs - EMMIT AND DOROTHY KENNEDY’S (both deceased) CLUB LONG ISLAND, and SAM JORDAN’S (Sam and Ruth Jordan deceased but family keep it going on). I might note respected businessman MR. CLARENCE purchased and remodeled Club Long Island , ready for business, BUT CAN NOT GET A LIQUOR LICENSE ...WHAT’S THE DEAL???

Supervisor SOPHIE MAXWELL has represented the district and will term out of office in January. As far back as I can remember there’s been a Black Supervisor.(DORIS WARD served ) The area has changed, now multicultural !
.
Tuesday night, AUGUST 24, attended the HARVEY MATTHEWS Bayview Hunters Point Democratic Club’s “Meet ‘n’ Greet” at VELMA’S Nightclub (ALWAYS open to community groups and beyond to hold their events),. Billed as CONCERNED CITIZENS of the Southeast Sector, joined together to host an event that introduced candidates running for Supervisor District 10 to the STAKE HOLDERS of the Southeast Community. I must say a good turnout!

The club looked like a mini convention - small cocktail tables reserved for candidates and their material. AMERICAN Flag, campaign posters hung on a back wall. VELMA LANDERS, welcomed the group. President LEAH PIMENTEL, introduced each candidate, 2 minutes allowed to give their spiel, audience invited to converse individually with at their perspective table to ask question. Candidates included: DR. JAMES CALLOWAY, ERIC “DOC” SMITH, LYNNETTE SWEET, THE GODMOTHER OF DIST. 10 - Independent ESPANOLA JACKSON - A WRITE-IN; DEWITT LACY, CHRIS JACKSON, MARIE FRANKLIN.

A tasty buffet was served, sponsored by restaurants in the Bayview - Monte Carlo, Laplama, April’s, Old School Cafe, and Velma’s.

CALENDAR NOTE: MY GIRL - SASSY VOCALIST MARLENA SHAW in town tomorrow night through Saturday at the RRAZZ ROOM!

HEY, IT’S NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE ... LOOK FOR ME ... I'LL BE THERE ...
E-mail Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net