Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Now Available Year Round at SOCRRA

Starting this Friday July  1st, City of Bloomfield Hills residents may call  SOCRRA  at 248-288-5133 to request  an  appointment to drop off hazardous wastes any time of the year. The charge per visit is $30.00. SOCRRA, "Community partners  in recycling  and waste" does not accept payment. Instead  you simply show your drivers license and the city is billed. The City will pay for your first two visits. If you require additional ones you will be billed by the city for the $30.00 fee. You  may also use the  Recycle drop off center which is open to public for ordinary recycles free of charge. No appointment necessary.Complete details are now available on the city website by clicking here. In addition you will find the SOCRRA brochure. below. This replaces the annual "four day only'' third week of September  hazardous waste collection the city used to  hold. That service never attracted more than 400  residents. If 400  people use the SOCRRA  service the city's saving will be substantial. While not a SOCRRA community, the City is an adjacent community like Bingham Farms. SOCRRA  provides such services to adjacent communities through a contract not unlike a library contact, as a way of being helpful.

To enlarge click on picture

Brave New World.

Welcome readers of the 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.

Sill two acres available  on Pembroke

Epping Lane

I 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.

Good "Neighbors" doing business in the city.

The line up in front of my house.

The other day, I walked to the mail box and discovered that   my  neighbor was  having  a party. My  tip off  was  the  large number of cars being parked in front of my house and none being parked in front of the party's host. So I went over to the Valet  parking company and inquired.  They said it was going to be a big  party and and eventually they would be parking cars  at my neighbor's house  as well. I suggested they take the cars in front of  my lot and put them in front of party  house now. When the host's road and his expansive circular drive way filled, they could then park cars in front of my lot. They looked at me as though I were  mad.

No cars in front of party house.

 I conceded the possibility but added "Humor me." I explained that my wife was coming home in a two ton Van/SUV  and I didn't want her to drive with baited breath down a now, one lane street lined with other wide two ton vehicles.I also explained that that my experience with companies operating in the city had been quite positive and most companies indicated a willingness to be cooperative with adjacent home owners. I asked if  anyone had a card. None did but they did have a sign with a phone number and they moved  the cars as I requested. Then I noticed that the gentlemen from the valet company were wearing gold and black golf shirts and the valet sign had a depiction of what I  took to be the Lahser Knight. I guess they do a lot business in town. Must be good.

On a similar note I recently found a few piles leaves  and  yard waste dumped on the wooded portion of our lot  from, presumably by the landscape company of a new  neighbor. So I inquired and they came running with wheel barrows and shovels and cleaned up more than I asked for. It seems no one  had indicated a property line. I  could also see from the neighbors yard that they do good work. I asked for card but no one had one. So I took a picture of the truck.

Gonzalez rates a "like" in my rating.

 The moral of the story  is forget the neighbor who quite often isn't there,  dosn't care,  doesn't know, or who says he will take care of it next time if you remind him. Talk to the people who who have a financial interest in being good "neighbors."Don't forget to pass on the good words and the bad.

Very little gets by this guy who is currently supervising a nut clean up.

Civics Lessons as "Seen on TV"

You may  recall in  previous post entitled "Mayor elected..." numerous citizens and three former mayors, to put it politely, appeared fuzzy on the subject of the City Charter. Since none of them mentioned the Charter in the context of the matter at hand (electing a mayor) that's putting it very politely.Maybe they hadn't heard that The Adventures of Robin Hood with Richard Greene  is back on on television. It is on RTV. Channel 7.2 at 5pm Monday through Friday. There are many versions of the Robin Hood. saga but critics consider this one which comes in 145 half hour  episodes that aired from 1955 to 1960, as one of the best. My wife and I, growing up in different parts of the country remember it from  the first grade.  My wife still remembers all the words to both verses of the theme song. I remember playing Robin Hood in school. Not surprisingly  modern day critics who remember the show say it's the kind program they'd  enjoy watching with the grand kids. Younger critics tend to be more critical. They say graphics are  little weak perhaps because there are none.

In 1955 commercial television  was barely seven years old. Robin Hood was a British Eastern to compete with American Westerns.  Like every show of that era, Robin Hood, was shot in black and white. Fight scenes  that do not include a bow and arrow are staged only a little  better than we able to do on school yard.. The same castle, village, and countryside scenes get reworked constantly. Character development ? Forget about it. Everybody knows or is supposed to know who Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the evil Prince John are or were. The power of the show 50 years later is in the writing. Surprisingly for 1955 women a play strong role in the series. Without Maid Marian getting inside info from the castle Robin's plans for righting the wrongs of the world would have gone nowhere.

Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, and Robin Hood

The show was produced by one Hanna Weinstien. She was a  left leaning socialist  who found Sherwood Forest where "good men are  forced to become outlaws" the  perfect setting for her point of view. She then hired writers who had been blacklisted in  Hollywood during the just ending McCarthy Era.  Thus the quality of the writing and a role for women beyond what may have been the reality of the 13th Century. Some critics have gone as far as to pair the writers (all of who were writing under assumed names )with  the various Robin  Hood episodes they wrote, and what they wrote before  and after the series.Of the forty or so episodes I've seen, only one was overly preachy. Most just  revolve around the rights of the individual and the tendency some governments  to at best overstep and at worst to completely usurp the rights of the people.

The Robin Hood revival, has nothing to do with the marriage of Prince Will and Kate, but everything to do with the fact the show is now entering the realm of Public Domain. For awhile it will turn up everywhere. Currently Robin Hood  in the Detroit Area, is on Channel seven's second station (7.2) RTV which is broadcast over the air. It is also available on the Internet at Hulu and You Tube. The boxed set containing all 145 episodes on eleven DVD's can be special ordered from Borders or Barnes Noble. Last week Borders was slightly cheaper at $22 including shipping and tax.

Naturally the charter is hidden in a candle stick holder

 If  a 1957 episode of Robin Hood (appropriately titled The Charter )is to be believed.Robin knew all about charters.It seems that one that had been lost, suddenly turned up,  and then disappeared again. Everybody wants it.  Price John wants to destroy it. The Sheriff of Nottingham wants the charter  to blackmail the Prince. Robin wants it because as an agreement  between a Government (in the 13th century a Sovereign) and it's citizens, The Charter may give the people more rights.

Real people in the 13th Century also knew about charters as well. History tells us so.The nobles of that time forced  King John to sign one called Magna Carta in 1215. It is viewed as one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy. Winston Chuirchill said of Magna Carta "here is a law which is above the King and which even he must not break. This reaffirmation of a supreme law and its expression in a general charter is the great work of Magna Carta; and this alone justifies the respect in which men have held it,"

So without further ado, I am happy to assist our "charter challenged"  friends with a direct link to The Adventures of Robin Hood The Charter which debuted in 1957. There are  three segments which appear on You Tube. The links also allow you allow you explore You Tube's website as well. Each Robin Hood segment is approximately ten  minutes long and  listed in order.You get 25 minutes of program and five minutes of promotions.


The Charter Part 1
The Charter Part 2

The Charter Part 3