Recycling expands in Detroit

Recycling container - Photo by Frank Nemecek

The City of Detroit offered free containers for the curbside pick-up of recyclables to all who attended a recycling workshop last month. Those containers are beginning to appear at local homes, including mine.

All of this, of course, is part of the City's on-going effort to expand curbside recycling in Detroit.

The next recycling workshop will be on Monday, April 11 at Ss. Peter and Paul Church (7685 Grandville). Full details for this workshop are available here.

As with the previous one, all residents who attend the upcoming recycling workshop will receive their own free containers.

Rest in peace Ray Tomlinson, inventor of email

Ray Tomlinson - Photo by Andreu Vea

Ray Tomlinson passed away this past Saturday at the age of 74 from an apparent heart attack. Back in 1971, he invented the modern system of email.

He was, according to those who knew him, a very kind, decent, and humble man; one who left his mark on the world, even if most people never knew who he was.

The passing of Ray Tomlinson brings me a certain extra sadness since most of the people who read this blog do so as a result of email alerts that they receive when I publish something.

Earlier this morning, I decided to pay tribute to him by simply sending an email to a few people that I haven't spoken to in awhile. I mention who he was and essentially used it as an icebreaker to say hello to a few souls where time and distance have gotten in the way of our friendship; all sent in a message to their Ray Tomlinson-invented in-boxes.

The responses that I have gotten back have been nothing but touching. Every one of them has brought a smile to my face.

Therefore, as a tribute to the man who invented email, I want to challenge everyone who reads this to send an email to someone who has slipped out of your life. Feel free to mention Ray Tomlinson and his story and just say hello to them.

Because everyone can use an extra smile or two in their day.

Tip of the week: 3 tips to prevent buglaries

Editor's note: this column was sent in by Commissioner Ricardo Moore, who represents the Warrendale and surrounding areas on the Detroit Police Commission. It was originally authored by Investigator Brian Fountain of the Detroit Police Department.

Being proactive is the key to preventing home break-ins. There are only two ways to enter the home - a door or a window.

Tip 1: Secure the doors

Photo by Brian Lary

First and foremost, all exterior doors should be made of solid wood or metal. Hollow doors can be punched out.

The best locks to attach on the doors are deadbolt locks with a one inch bolt. Shorter bolts can be pried out of the door jamb.

The strike plate and the hinges are the keys to your doors not being forced open or kicked in. The strike plate and hinge screws should be long enough to reach the wall studs (usually, three to four inches).

This will help to protect the doors against a forced entry attack.

Tip 2: Secure the windows
All windows should be alarmed or have bolt locking devices attached. Window bolt locks can be purchased for under $20 at the large home improvement stores.

You can put a nail between the two sashes on double hung windows or put a block of wood in the window to keep them from being forced open.

Security bars are an option, but keep in mind one set should be installed inside the home and a child should be able to unlock them and get out in case of a fire.

Basement windows should be alarmed or changed over to glass block windows.


Tip 3: Watch for suspicious people
Burglars will always knock on your door before they break in. Watch for suspicious persons or cars and report them to 9-1-1 as soon as you are sure they are casing the neighborhood.

IMPORTANT: Your safety is law enforcement's first priority!

Detroit to crack down on scrappers

Scrapped house - Photo by Frank Nemecek

Last night, during his annual State of the City address, Mayor Mike Duggan promised that if residents called 9-1-1 to report a vacant property where scrapping was in progress then the Detroit Police Department would respond. More importantly, he promised that they would arrest the scrappers.

Quite frankly, I would like to see the Warrendale neighborhood take Mayor Duggan up on this. Therefore, I ask everyone that if you see a home or business being scrapped in the Warrendale neighborhood, please call 9-1-1 to report it immediately.

Also, please leave a comment here or send me an email. I would like to let everyone know what kind of response you saw from the Detroit Police Department.

I'm excited by the Mayor's announcement. I believe it's an important step forward for Detroit.

Recycling workshop comes to Warrendale

I previously posted about a recycling workshop that will happen at Don Bosco Hall this Friday from 1 - 2 p.m. Since many people cannot attend due to work obligations, a second one has been added for Monday, April 11 from 6 - 7 p.m. in the Activities Building of Ss. Peter & Paul Church.

Eligible residents who attend either workshop will receive a free recycling bin. This will enable them to participate in the City of Detroit's curbside recycling program.

A flyer for this workshop is located above. Please share it with your neighbors.

My final visit to Gracie See Pizzeria

Last time at Gracie See from Frank Nemecek on Vimeo.
Gracie See Pizzeria has been an institution in the Warrendale neighborhood since they opened in 1969. For almost half a century have been what sociologists like Ray Oldenburg call "the third space" - places that are neither work nor home; places where neighbors can gather to catch up on each other's lives and share stories.

Places like this are part of what makes Detroit - or any other city - a truly livable community. For the past few years, it has been an honor to have Gracie See Pizzeria as a sponsor of this blog and a joy to host a monthly pizza party there.

It was with no small amount of sadness, therefore, that I walked into Gracie See Pizzeria for the final time before they closed. I will miss them. I will miss every single one of the people who made it a special place for decades.

While it doesn't diminish my sadness about losing Gracie's, I also remain thankful for Chick's Bar, Tijuana's Mexican Kitchen, Nick's and the dozens of other such places that remain in the Warrendale neighborhood.

The Warrendale (Detroit) Blog will return in earnest on Monday, February 1.

Last Party at Gracie's EVER

Pizza party at Gracie See Pizzeria - Photo by Frank Nemecek

I have hosted monthly pizza parties at Gracie See Pizzeria (6889 Greenfield Rd.) since 2008. They've been a great opportunity for friends and neighbors to come together to talk and share our lives. Unfortunately, they will soon come to an end.

Gracie See Pizzeria has been sold. The business will close on January 31. That location as well as the vacant liquor store north of there will be demolished for a new strip mall.

While it's sad to see an institution like this come to end, I feel it appropriate for us to gather one last time. My final pizza party at Gracie See Pizzeria will be on Wednesday, January 27 at 6:30.

I expect a large crowd for this one. Many former residents of the neighborhood have indicated that they will travel many miles for one last visit to the place that has been a Warrendale institution for nearly half a century.

RSVPs to the Facebook page are appreciated, but by no means necessary. I hope to see as many readers of this blog there as possible.

The Warrendale (Detroit) Blog will return in earnest on Monday, February 1.