Welcome readers of t
he Oakland Press. I am proud to say this outstanding collection of on line blogs now includes the City of Bloomfield Hills. By way of introduction, it never occurred to me to write a blog. I always thought blogs were "not ready for prime time" boring things that nobody, especially friends, neighbors, or relatives wanted to read. Around Valentines day, I read somewhere that , "I'm going to put this conversation in my blog," was the on the top ten list of worst things you could tell a spouse, a lover, or for that matter anyone.
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| Sill two acres available on Pembroke |
Epping LaneI wanted to do something positive. Maybe something for my community .The "crazy" character in
Thomas Wolfe's famous short story,
Only The Dead Know Brooklyn who attempts to "learn Brooklyn" by wandering around with a map, came to mind. Like him I had "learned the City of Bloomfield Hills" by reading a map, walking the the dog in new neighborhoods and passing out handbills at election time. I was delighted to discover that my walks corresponded nicely with my wife's passion for real estate in the city. They also put aside all unpleasantness about leaves not being raked or storm windows not being applied. I'd plan my strategy on the walk and burst indoors and announce, "two acres for sale on Pembroke!" My wife would say those two acres had always been for sale. So I'd say, "yes but what about Epping Lane," with the thrill of somebody beginning to master a foreign language. "Epping Lane..." she'd say slowly, considering, before speaking. "Epping Lane," she would say beginning a twenty minute discourse on the pros and cons of living on Epping Lane with such attention paid to the most excruciating details that I wondered how I could have possibly passed muster some twenty odd years ago. "Epping Lane. " I'd say in awe of it all.
When it came to writing something, my wife wasn't so sure. For one it wouldn't entertain the dog.
I wasn't a city official nor did I have master's degree in Urban Planning. What would I write about ? I didn't exactly know but when all else failed I could aways tell jokes.
What's the Catch ?
When I first heard about the various Community Media Programs available at the Oakland Press, I thought they must be joking or there had to be catch. Maybe they needed bodies to attend time share vacation presentations. Maybe there would be a charge for the expertise and service they would provide. Maybe you have to sign a ten page disclaimer which said that in the event of a dispute you would forfeit everything including all rights and incur other penalties to determined by a court of law in an as yet to be named off shore island empire.
A complementary blog writing workshop
There was none of that at The Oakland Press workshop, I attended on Thursday May 19th. I learned that software I need to produce my Blog (Google Blogger or Word Press) was available on line for free and it wouldn't clutter up my computer. It exists in cyberspace and I can access it from any computer. The only fly in the ointment was me. In my eagerness I had somehow managed to misspell "Bloomfield". I am no good at "i" before "e". So the Oakland Press utilizing what, I incorrectly assumed would
be army surplus Mir space stations was initially unable fetch my blog floating into the far reaches of the cyber universe
While we waited for the eventual space roundez vous and docking procedure to occur, my wife ventured, "maybe they don't like your blog. I mean you are not writing about Botanical tours at Cranbrook are you ?" I admitted I wasn't. If I was, my lack of any sort of degree in Botany wouldn't have prevented her from telling everyone that I had suddenly taken it upon myself to go "legit" and write about plant and flower tours that sounded wonderful.
On Friday June 25th the
City of Bloomfield Hills blog debuted on line at the Oakland Press . I would like to thank Glenn Gilbert, the executive editor of the Oakland Press, who's forward thinking makes this newspaper a true community resource. If you would like to get involved by writing a blog or otherwise report on your community or another area of passionate interest, look at the last entry in the "blog" drop down menu. It's listed as
Community Media Programs and starts with a movie with explains more less everything and includes comments from current bloggers. For further information you may call or E mail Glenn Gilbert. If you call, like I did, be advised that the people at the Oakland Press answer the phone, live and in person. No voice mail.... press "one" for more information, or being told that your call is very important but.... So prepare. The person you want to talk to may be picking up on the second ring.
I would also like to thank Paul Kampe who covers the Oakland University Grizzlies for the Oakland Press and writes the
Grizzly Den Blog listed under Sports Blogs. He helped me with design and mechanics of laying out my blog. That brings us to Stephen Frye the online editor for the
www.theoaklandpress.com which is where you find this blog. He also writes a blog.
Frye on News, which appears in news section of the blog drop down menu. The encouragement and support these two individuals was most appreciated.
Last but not least, I would like thank all our readers in advance for any comments they many have.
The City of Troy likes to call itself "The City of Tomorrow"...Today. If what is happening in Troy today is our future I shudder to think of it. Thomas Wolfe, the author of You Can't Go Home Again, and Look Homeward Angel wrote that "Single selfishness and compulsive greed" would be our downfall. That is what is happening in Troy. There is a leadership problem and those who should lead decline to or are choosing to add fuel to the fire. Groups that claim to represent the residents publish lists of presumably over paid city employees and say there is no need to pass a millage because there are millions of dollars in "saving costs" for the city just waiting to be found.. The "No" vote requested by such groups is a "Trojan Horse". The only way for the library to continue is for the millage to pass. If it fails nobody will asking what money if "found" might be possibly used to restore the library. The City Council doesn't care . The allegedly overpaid officials don't care.. The information allegedly "being withheld until after the election" will never revealed because what would be the point ? As in all confrontations where such pettiness and divisiveness dominate there are no winners. Just losers and the people lose the most.
