Macomb County, you can catch a Michigan version of that runaway smash it, High School Musical, tonight and several more times during the month of April.

If you haven’t heard the story by now, or seen it on the Disney Channel, or watched High School Musical on Ice, then we won’t spoil it, but we can say that the story takes place at a high school and that is involves high school students. (There, that wasn’t too much was it?)

Here’s a little more: It is a story about hidden talents, breaking away from the status quo, and what happens when you try to step out of your comfort zone. Of course things don’t go as planned, but they do work out for the best, with some unexpected, but pleasant surprises along the way.

All tickets are $10 and you can call the Athens Theatre Box Office at 248-823-2914 or visit www.athenstheatrecompany.com to learn more.

In addition to tonight’s 8pm show, you can all see in on April 12 at 2 and 8 pm; April 13 at 3 pm; April 18 at 8pm ; April 19 at 2 and 8 pm and April 20 at 3pm.

Michigan’s own Jeff Daniels will be performing at The Whiting this Saturday and you don’t want to miss out on a chance to see a hometown boy who made good.

You may remember him from movies like "Dumb and Dumber" or "The Goodbye Girl", but did you know that he is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and musician as well?

A lot of people go to New York or Hollywood, get successful and then stay there. There is nothing wrong with that. It is just nice when someone decides to come back home and share their talents. Especially when you know they have done so out of a genuine affection for the area.

Daniels is also the founder and director of The Purple Rose Theater Company, also located in Michigan. Daniels founded the theater to provide a home for actors in the Midwest and to perform great shows to Midwestern audiences. In keeping with this mission, the theater keeps ticket prices low because its philosophy is that theater is for everyone.

Some come out at 8pm to hear Jeff Daniels sing funny and touching songs and support a guy who is doing great things for the arts in Michigan.

Call The Ticket Center at 810-237-7333 or go to www.thewhiting.com to learn more.

Last month, the federal government launched a new online tool to help families predict whether they'll qualify for federal financial aid. Called the FAFSA4caster, it's modeled on the government's official aid application, the FAFSA (which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

The percentage of American families with heads age 55 or older with debt reached a startling 61 percent in 2004, almost 5 percentage points higher than in 2001, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

The new Aging Well, Living Well Web site provides large-print resources on topics from heart disease to safety and abuse. The site address is www.4woman.gov/ow/?style=large.

Al Caicedo, CSA
Asset Preservation Consultant
Macomb County Money Expert

Preparing a personal data record

Once you've opened the lines of communication, your next step is to prepare a personal data record.  This document lists information that you might need in case your parents become incapacitated or die.

Caring for your aging parents is something you hope you can handle when the time comes, but it's the last thing you want to think about. Whether the time is now or somewhere down the road, there are steps that you can take to make your life (and theirs) a little easier. Some people live their entire lives with little or no assistance from family and friends, but today Americans are living longer than ever before. It's always better to be prepared.

Conventional wisdom says that what goes up, must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when it's your money at stake. Though there's no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following common sense tips can help.

There is a New Refund: Telephone Excise Tax

The New Telephone Excise Tax Refund is a one-time refund of telephone excise taxes paid by individuals on telephone bills for long distance or bundled services. The IRS estimates that over 150 million individuals-those persons who paid the telephone excise tax between February 28, 2003, and July 31, 2006-are affected by this refund. Traditional landlines, as well as cell phones and even Internet phone packages, can qualify for this refund.

Because April 15, 2007, falls on a Sunday this year, and Monday, April 16, 2007, is a legal holiday (Emancipation Day) in the District of Columbia, the general due date for filing a 2006 federal income tax return is extended to Tuesday, April 17, 2007. (Certain individuals outside the U.S., including members of the military, are automatically entitled to additional time.)