Warrendale on SciTech Now

Back in October of last year, I reported that a crew from the show SciTech Now on PBS was coming to Warrendale. They did a report on how some of the vacant lots in our part of Detroit are being used bioretention gardens as well as the impact that these garden have.

Detroit Public Television interviewed Barb Matney of the Warrendale Community Organization and myself on behalf of the show. They also spoke to several other people in the area and included lots of footage from our neighborhood.

I'm thrilled that this episode of SciTech Now has aired on PBS. It is available to watch on Detroit Public Television's website or by clicking the embedded video above.

As cities around the nation continue to look for better ways to meet environmental challenges, I'm excited that Detroit is able to showcase one solution. I'm also grateful to Detroit Public Television and the rest of the PBS family for shining such a positive spotlight on the neighborhood.

I was only featured in this episode very briefly. However, SciTech Now also used several photos that I provided them that showed what my basement looked like after Detroit was hit with record rainfall in August of 2014.

That flood was a painful - and expensive - moment for everyone in Detroit. I'm glad that it seems to have served as an impetus for improvements to our water and sewage system. 

Job fair this Saturday in Warrendale

Job opening - Photo by Frank Nemecek

The City of Detroit will have a job fair this coming Saturday, March 3 at the Edison Branch of the Detroit Public Library (18400 Joy Rd.). This event will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The City is hiring seasonal workers to maintain our parks during the warmer months. They have two categories that they will hire for this Saturday.

The first job category this is open is Laborer A/Park Maintenance Helper, which pays a starting wage of $10.04 - $10.40 per hour. Applicants must have the ability to understand and follow oral directions as well as a valid drivers license, Michigan identification card, or an identification card issued by the City of Detroit.

The second job category is Vehicle Operator I, which pays a starting wage of $14.35 - $17.12 per hour. Applicants must have a valid commercial drivers license with an air brake endorsement as well as a valid medical examiner's certificate that certifies the applicant's physical fitness for driving.

In order to attend this job fair, all applicants must do the following:

1. Apply online before the fair for the job that they wish to be considered for. Start here for vehicle operators and here for park maintenance helpers. For both jobs, click the green "apply" button in the upper right corner.
2. RSVP ahead of time by visiting Eventbrite here and selecting "register."
3. Come dressed for success. Interviews will happen on site.

Additional job openings within the City of Detroit are posted at detroitmi.gov/employment.