pon spring 2014 ointe - grosse pointe public...

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OnPointe

A Pointe Media Incorporated publication focused on the issues most affecting the Pointes

Recycling • Lake St. Clair • Green Schools/Cities • Geothermal/LED

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to nurture to challenge to inspire

Montessori Early School (age 2 1/2 - K)

Grades 1-8Before and After Care Programs

171 Lake Shore Road ◆ Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 ◆ 313.886.1221

gpacademy.org

Call the Admissions Office for a Tour!313.886.1221

Discover the magic of MontessoriOn Pointe Magazine_May 2014:Layout 1 4/11/2014 3:43 PM Page 1

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In this issue10 Fun Facts Interesting trivia about the lake you know and the greener

side of things 12 The Housing Market - A Follow Up

Jim Stickford gives us an update on last issue’s housing market feature, including the latest trends and what it means for

Grosse Pointe

14 Earth Day Every DayLocalMotionGreen at the Ecology Center offers tips on observing Earth Day every day

16 Green Landscaping: Bringing Luck to Your GardenThe importance of making a safe habitat for butterflies

20 Green CitiesA look at our community’s ecofriendly efforts

24 Circle the Lake TourGrosse Pointe communities partner with Circle the Lake Tour signage program

26 State of the LakeAn in depth status report on Lake St. Clair

30 LED LightingCompanies save money and energy with new lighting

34 Residential RecyclingAn analysis of Grosse Pointe’s household recycling trends

38 No Taste for WasteWild Birds Unlimited owner Rosann Kovalcik lives green at

work and at home

42 Green SchoolsGrosse Pointe schools make enormous ecofriendly efforts

46 Geothermal LivingGeothermal energy in Grosse Pointe homes

48 The Road to MadagascarRosann Kovalcik’s amazing journey and local bird walks

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3-day admission $10 per person

Tickets available at eventbrite.com

The 30th Annual Christ Church Grosse Pointe Antiques Show

May 29 - June 1, 2014

Guest SpeakerDr. Kenneth MyersCurator of American ArtHead of the Department of American ArtDetroit Institute of ArtsLecture: Growing the DIA’s Great Collection of American ArtFriday May 30 10 amSeparate ticket required

Guest SpeakerCurt DiCamillo, Architectural HistorianLecture: Lords, Ladies & Mummies: The Story of Highclere Castle, the Real Downton Abbey*Saturday May 31 1 pmSeparate ticket required

*Downton Abbey is a registered trade-mark of Carnival Film & Television Ltd.

Silent Auction Signature Item2014 Lincoln 2 year/24,000 mile leaseDonated by Crest Lincoln

Preview Party & Silent AuctionThursday, May 297 pm – 10 pmseparate ticket required

Alumni EvensongSaturday May 31 4:30 pm(Sung by Current and Former Choristers of the Christ Church Choirs)

Festival Eucharist with Choir and OrchestraSunday, June 1 10 am Join the Christ Church Choir & Orchestra for a Festival Eucharist Featuring Mozart’s Mass in C major, “Coronation,” K. 317

Show HoursFriday, May 3010 am – 5 pm

Saturday, May 3110 am – 5 pm

Sunday, June 1 11:30 am – 5 pm

61 Grosse Pointe Boulevard, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 • 313.885.4841ad2014.indd 1 4/11/14 10:20 AM

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Michelle Balconi is a contributing writer primarily focused on economic issues and social entrepreneurs. she has recently co-authored a family-friendly economic guide with leading U.s. economist and former presidential economic advisor, Dr. Arthur Laffer.

Jim Stickford has more than 20 years of experience as a reporter and covered the grosse pointes for almost a decade for the grosse pointe news. He currently works as an automotive reporter for springer publishing, covering Detroit’s automakers and suppliers.

Amy Andreou-Miller is a grant writer for the non-profit river raisin Centre for the performing Arts in Monroe, Michigan. she worked at Dte energy Co. for 10 years in media relations and as an executive speech writer. Following graduation from Michigan state University, she was on staff at major daily newspapers; trade publications; and local weekly newspapers.

Lauren McGregor is assistant editor of pointe Magazine and On pointe. she earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan state University, where she was editor of the Offbeat literary series and served on the editorial board of Red Cedar Review. she also co-authored two Arcadia publishing books.

Meet the Writers

Patti Theros is a freelance writer and pr/media specialist from grosse pointe Farms. theros was formerly a media specialist for Lawrence technological University, Albert Kahn Associates and Blue Cross and Blue shield of Mi. she is married to Louis and has two teenage sons.

Elizabeth Vogel is a lifelong pointer. she puts her degrees from Albion College and Loyola University Chicago to work by researching and writing about grosse pointe’s unique history and current community affairs. she is presently serving on the Library Board.

Editor & Publisher: John Minnis

Assistant Editor: Lauren Mcgregor

Business Manager: terry Minnis

Account Representatives:Diane Mcintyre

Marilyn Waldmeir

Contributing Writers:Amy Andreou-Miller

Michelle Balconiedward Cardenasted everingham

Beth QuinnMargie reins smith

Jim stickfordpatti theros

elizabeth Vogel

Contributing Photographers:the portrait place

Bruce Hubbard photography

On pointe is published by pointe Media incorporated

18530 Mack Ave. #106, grosse pointe Farms, Mi 48236.

Phone: (313) 640-8955E-mail: [email protected]

On pointe reserves the right to reject any advertising. Copyright 2014 pointe Media incorporated. Complimentary delivery to

all grosse pointe homes.

POINTEOn

Spring 2014

photos by the portrait place

Beth Quinn is a Master gardener and a former newspaper reporter. she lives with her husband, tom, in grosse pointe park.

Edward Cardenas is a life-long eastsider who has covered everything from community events to the super Bowl for the Detroit news and patch.com. He also done communications for former Mayor Dave Bing and U.s. rep. Candice Miller.

Ted Everingham is the founder of everingham & Associates, a business law practice on the Hill. An avid sailor, he often writes about activities on and around Lake st. Clair. ted and his wife, Marcia, live in grosse pointe park.

Margie Reins Smith retired after 19 years with the grosse pointe news as reporter, photographer, features editor and assistant editor. the University of Michigan graduate and former teacher works now as a freelance journalist. Her blog, “the newfangled gramma,” can be found at margiereinssmith.weebly.com.

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Go Green!

I am a Michigan state alumnus, but that is not what this issue of On Pointe magazine is all about. This is the “green” issue of our more newsy, issue-oriented

publication. When we approached businesspeople and leaders about this “green” issue, we were met in some cases with suspicion. some felt we were going to mention those words that must not be uttered in polite company. Many feared we were going tell

people that our only recourse is to revert to a preindustrial culture. We’re not going to tell you that, but we are going to show how we, as

a community, are already doing “green” things, including initiatives by our cities, schools and businesses, that you may not have heard about. i certainly was pleasantly surprised.

As we were preparing to go to press for this “green” issue of On Pointe magazine, i was told of a wonderful report, Green Infrastructure Vision for Southeast Michigan, put out by seMCOg, the southeast Michigan Council of governments. My informant was grosse pointe Farms Councilman Lev Wood, who was a member of the green infrastructure Vision task Force that put the report together.

“green infrastructure,” according to the report, is defined in two broad categories: 1) ecosystems that are present in the natural, undisturbed environment, such as wetlands, woodlands, prairies and parks; and 2) constructed or built green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, bioswales, community gardens and agricultural lands and urban gardens.

According to the seMCOg report: • green infrastructure provides social,

environmental and economic benefits. it reduces the amount of polluted storm water runoff entering our rivers and lakes. in cities with combined sewer systems, including some of the pointes, green infrastructure is being used to reduce runoff into the combined sewer.

• green infrastructure lessens flood risk by slowing and reducing storm water runoff. Harvesting rainwater is good for outdoor irrigation and some indoor uses. Water infiltrated into the soil recharges groundwater and increases flow into rivers.

• green infrastructure provides aesthetic benefits to the area by increasing the amount of a community’s green space.

• green infrastructure can provide recreational and tourism opportunities including increased access to hiking, hunting, fishing, and bird watching.

• green infrastructure encourages outdoor physical activity, which leads to a healthier population and reduction in chronic diseases.

• implementing techniques, such as green roofs, increased tree plantings around buildings, converting turf grass to grow zones and reclaiming storm water for use on site can reduce energy consumption and save money.

The report includes “regional policy” recommendations, such as use of green infrastructure to manage storm water runoff. One such technique is the use of “rain gardens,” and, as readers will learn in this issue of On Pointe, we have at least two such gardens right here in grosse pointe.

The report also discusses two of the alien scourges to grosse pointe

By John Minnis

and southeast Michigan: phragmites and the emerald ash borer. The non-native phragmites, such as those stands just south of the grosse pointe Yacht Club and just north of pier park, crowds out native plants and are unsightly. since 2002, the emerald ash borer has killed more than 30 million ash trees in southeast Michigan, including the pointes, and threatens 700 million ash trees throughout the state.

The task force also addressed the vital need of southeast Michigan communities to attract and retain young professionals, who “prefer places with a diverse range of outdoor recreational activities that are often associated with large recreation areas.” One “regional policy” is to use green infrastructure as a mechanism to attract and retain the knowledge-based workforce, exactly the same advice given by the head of the great Lakes initiative on Lake st. Clair Appreciation Day last summer at the

gpYC and discussed in this issue of On Pointe.There is good news to report on the “green”

front. i did not know, for example, that air pollutant emissions in southest Michigan have dropped in half from what they were in 2002. i also did not realize that one of the best, natural “air scrubbers” is a tree. trees intercept particulates and can absorb ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Additionally, trees and forests absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. A healthy, mature tree can produce some 260 pounds of oxygen every year.

to paraphrase Joyce Kilmer, i think that i shall never see a “green tool” as lovely as a tree.

neighborhood parks have been shown to increase residential property values within urban areas throughout the nation, including those areas in Michigan — and the pointes. Outdoor recreation — including bird watching, as discussed in this edition of On Pointe — also adds economic value — $4 billion statewide. Wildlife watching alone attracts some 3.85 million participants and

$1.6 million in expenditures in the state.We know we live in a great place, southeast Michigan, and grosse

pointe in particular, but it needs to be marketed, according to the seMCOg report: “One of the best ways for the public and other stakeholders to embrace the green infrastructure network is to have them appreciate and use the resource. A strong marketing campaign is needed that highlights southeast Michigan’s green infrastructure assets.”

The task force also made special tribute to an initiative by many grosse pointers: The greening of Detroit. since 1989, the group has planted more than 81,000 trees throughout the city. The greening of Detroit workforce development (adult and youth), assists in maintaining the green infrastructure that has been planted and provides training for future jobs in the landscaping industry. More than 212 adult trainees have graduated from greening’s adult training programs. greening of Detroit has placed more than 79 percent of trainees into full-time jobs that pay on average $11.75 an hour.

The report — which includes links to many related, helpful publications, such as The Low Impact Development Manual for the State of Michigan and The Great Lakes Green Streets Guidebook — can be found at www.semcog.org/giVision/index.html#/1.

We hope you enjoy and find helpful this “green” issue of On Pointe magazine.

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Factsfun

65%The Aluminum Association estimates that the aluminum can recovery rate increased

to just more than 65 percent in 2011. 430Total surface area in square

miles of Lake St. Clair

In early 1000 A.D. the Japanese began the

process of using recycled paper to create new paper.

Biocycle Magazine estimates Michigan’s recycling rate at 14.5

percent, behind almost all states in the Great Lakes

region.

The next two Wayne County Household Hazardous

Waste Collection days are Saturday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wayne

County Community College District Western Campus in

Belleville and Saturday, June 28, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Henry Ford Community

College in Dearborn.

Lake St. Clair was named after Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day the lake was discovered by

European explorers.

During our country’s Revolutionary and Civil Wars, when supplies and weapons were in higher demand, scrap metal, shipyard chains, cloth, paper, iron cookware and other materials were supplied for the wars.

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THE MARKET IS RED HOT!

SCOTT [email protected]

Call me to get moving in 2014!

313-550-1181

Put yourself and your family in the right home at the right time!

In 2013 I sold over $20 million in Grosse Pointe Properties

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I t’s a case of good news-bad news. The average cost per square foot of grosse pointe residential real estate is going up. A trend that started back in 2012 and continued in 2013. That’s good. The bad news is that values

are only beginning to reach levels previously achieved in 2006.realtor randy repicky has been tracking grosse pointe real estate values

for many years. His records show that as of March 24, the average cost of a square foot of residential real estate was $130. The median cost was $122.

That’s up 17 percent from 2012, when the average price was $105, which was an increase of 8 percent over 2011, when the average price was $98, repicky said. pointe residential real estate values are on the rise and look to continue to increase in the foreseeable future.

But when real estate prices took a dive during the last recession, they really took a dive. The prices people are seeing now are prices that they were

seeing a decade and half earlier, repicky said. His records show that in 1998 the average cost per square foot was $117 at the beginning of the year and $137 by the end of the year.

prices peaked in 2003 when the average cost of a square foot of residential real estate was $167. it was $164 in 2004, $162 in 2005 and $151 by 2006. By 2010, the price dropped to $99.

Things have picked up for a number of reasons, repicky said. First, the overall economy has improved. second, the economy in metro Detroit has gotten better, so young people who moved away for their first jobs and have decided to come back to the pointes can find jobs here that make that move possible.

And there’s been a shift in the way people want to live. ever since the end of World War ii, the real estate trend has been to move away from the large

Catching UpBy Jim stickford

Average cost per square foot continues to rise

Home Sales Update

Charts/data courtesy of Randy Repicky

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city center. That was bad news for Detroit, repicky said. But in the past few years, city centers, including Detroit’s, have become more popular as people have decided they want to live in areas where it’s possible to walk places.

And thanks to people like Quicken Loan’s Dan gilbert, among others, there’s been a lot of development downtown. This has led to some positive spillover for grosse pointe real estate prices. it’s possible for people to buy a

house here and walk or bicycle to places like the Hill or the Village.“There’s a shortage of quality residential property in Detroit,” repicky

said. “people want to be around centers of activity, and that helps grosse pointe. it’s exciting to see what’s going on in Detroit. The whole region benefits in general, but the pointes should do very well specifically.”

Average price per square foot, 1994-2013 and Units sold, 1994-2013

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LocalMotionGreen provides tips on decreasing exposure to toxins

L ocalMotiongreen, incorporated in 1999, began as a grass-roots non-profit organization, created to raise public awareness about the links between environmental toxins and cancer.

the lives, diagnoses and deaths of family members, friends and community members battling cancer encouraged founder elizabeth ellen Dance, of grosse pointe, to create LocalMotiongreen.

“she believed our environment and health were connected,” said Melissa sargent, who has worked for LocalMotiongreen for 13 years.

Many of our everyday products contain formaldehyde, toxic flame retardants and other chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive problems and cognitive impairments. through a print newsletter, small community workshops, lectures, website, resource center and grosse pointe’s earth Day Fair, the organization reached thousands of people with practical tips on life without these toxins.

“it was Michigan-based, with a heavy focus on the grosse pointes, because Betty (Dance) found the high rates of breast cancer and other cancers here to be alarming,” said sargent.

On May 1, 2013 LocalMotiongreen merged with the ecology Center, a membership-based nonprofit environmental organization based in Ann Arbor. together, their mission is to educate and empower communities, consumers, major institutions and corporations to develop new practices that will positively affect people’s health.

All LocalMotiongreen programs have been enhanced and expanded and are now known as LocalMotiongreen at the ecology Center. now supporters contribute to larger-scale efforts to protect families and communities from toxic chemicals through additional programs and policy reform. this policy reform includes updating and improving state and federal laws governing the use of toxic chemicals.

“We need change upstream,” said sargent. “the burden shouldn’t be on the consumers to find out if items on store shelves have toxins.

“Child cancer rose 28 percent between 1975 and 2004. the environmental protection Agency states that asthma doubled between 1980 and 1995. Common household items are linked to this crisis.”

Kicking the toxins outHere are a few tips from LocalMotiongreen at the ecology Center:

• Because of our belongings and the superb insulation and sealing of homes, the air inside your house is two to five times more polluted than the air immediately outside. this can be remedied by opening windows as often as possible.

• Don’t use air fresheners or artificial fragrances. these burn pollutants directly into the air you breath and attach them to your carpet, furniture and walls.

• Use healthy and environmentally safe wet cleaners, such as H2O Cleaners at Vernier and Mack Ave. it uses only an organic detergent and water to clean clothing.

• Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your home, instead of everyday cleaners filled with dangerous toxins.

• purchase items without flame retardants, as the chemical used in them is toxic to the human body and breaks down into the environment (and your home) over time.

• Use glass containers, as plastic can seep into the food it comes in contact with.

• purchase items, most often paints, that are labeled “VOC free.” Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. this means large numbers of molecules vaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. An example is the formaldehyde in paint.

Earth Day Every Day

Jeff Gearhart of the Ecology Center uses an XRF device to measure the amount of toxins in standard household items. He explains that 100 bits per million is an acceptable amount of lead in an object. However, the majority of the items on the table tested at above 1,000 bits per million, including the Fisher Price stackable rings toy to the left, which measured at over 5,000 bits per million - 50 times the safe amount.

Melissa Sargent of LocalMotionGreen leads a discussion on March 25 at the Neighborhood Club titled “Our Toxic Stuff,” about the toxins in our home, food and environment.

By Lauren Mcgregor

Photos by Lauren McGregor

For more information on how to avoid toxins, support policy reform and view upcoming LocalMotionGreen at the Ecology Center events, visit LocalMotionGreen.org or EcoCenter.org.

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F ew winged creatures are more popular than butterflies. They evoke a sense of playfulness and whimsy. Most people will stop and smile when they spot one fluttering around outside. Many cultures consider

butterflies to be a sign of good luck if one lands on a person. Unfortunately, many butterfly species are endangered as human

development and climate change are adversely affecting their natural habitat. The good news is that everyone who has access to an outdoor space can provide an environment conducive to their survival. not only will these creatures grace your yard but you will also have a garden filled with beautiful flowering plants.

to create a habitat for butterflies, it is best to provide food and shelter during their entire life cycle. Your goal is to provide a place where they will take up residence rather than merely pass through. The key is to provide butterflies with foliage and nectar they need as they develop from eggs into adults.

During the first two stages, it is important to provide host plants that are known to serve as a natural habitat for eggs and caterpillars. When butterflies lay eggs on the leaves of non-native plants, their offspring have trouble surviving.

When the eggs hatch, the larvae stage begins with emergence of caterpillars. Like teenage boys, caterpillars eat nonstop and will completely

By Beth Quinn

Bringing luck to your gardendevour the leaves onto which they were born. if they were hatched on a non-native plant with leaves unsuitable to eat, the caterpillars will not survive since they are unable to move to another host plant.

Don’t become overly concerned about butterfly larvae chewing up all your prized plants. predators such as flies and wasps will help to keep the caterpillar population under control.

Once caterpillars stop growing, they form into a pupa or chrysalis. While externally the pupa appears to be dormant, this is actually a stage of rapid internal change. This is when short, stubby wingless caterpillars transform into adult butterflies.

The location of both host and nectar plants is key to a successful butterfly garden. You want to make the plants very visible to butterflies. They will have an easier time spotting clusters of three or more plants than single ones scattered throughout the yard. it also helps to use the landscape principle of height dictating placement in a garden bed where the tallest ones are in back, medium height ones are in the middle and the shortest ones are in front.

Butterflies need a continuous supply of food during their entire adult lifespan so try to incorporate long-blooming plants into your landscape. Or try to have a group of plants that have staggered bloom times so when one stops blooming, another begins. (Continued on page 18)

A Monarch butterfly on Swamp Milkweed, a plant that serves as host to butterfly eggs and caterpillars

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HomeandGardenCalendarNovi Backyard, Pool & Spa Show at Suburban Collection Showplace3-9 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sat. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun. Adults, $8; children ages 6-14, $4;children ages 5 and younger, free. 46100 Grand River, Novi. (734) 398-9700.51st annual Livingston County Home & Garden Show at Howell High School Fieldhouse5-9 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun. Adults, $6; seniors ages 60 andolder, $5; children and students (accompanied by an adult), free. 1200 W. Grand River. www.living-stonhomeshow.com.

The Secrets to a Beautiful Lawn at EnglishGardensPresentation. 1 p.m. Sat. Free. All stores.www.EnglishGardens.com.Starting and Sustaining a School Garden atMSU Tollgate Educational Center Farm & Gar-densHow to start and sustain a school garden for en-hanced experiential learning, better nutrition andstronger environmental stewardship. Register athttp://tollgate.msu.edu/school_programs. 8 a.m. to4:30 p.m. Tues. $90. Ages 21 and older. 28115 Mead-owbrook, Novi. (248) 380-9100, ext. 232.Drying Up Your Basement: A Homeowner’sWorkshop at Hamburg Township Library6:30 p.m. Tues. Free. 10405 Merrill, Whitmore Lake.(810) 231-1771.Seasonal Bonsai Topics at Matthaei BotanicalGardensPresented by the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society. 7 p.m.Wed. Free. 1800 N. Dixboro, Ann Arbor.www.annarborbonsaisociety.org.

Spring Design Class at Art Van Furniture-Royal Oak6:30-8 p.m. Thurs. Free. 32301Woodward. Reservations required. (888) 619-2199.

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18 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

Color and form of a blossom are important when trying to lure butterflies. They are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple flowers that have flat or clustered petals, and have short flower tubs. However, keep in mind color alone doesn’t do the trick. For instance, red roses or pink geraniums do not provide nectar for butterflies.

grow these nectar-producing plants in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight and is shielded from strong winds. While some shrubs and trees can create unwanted shade, they can provide a safe haven for butterflies by providing shelter from wind and predators. Additionally, the leaves of some

shrubs and trees serve as caterpillar plant food. if you don’t have the shrubs or trees available, walls, trellises and fences can help block the wind.

if your yard is very shady, consider setting up a mini-butterfly garden in a container that you can place in a spot that fulfills these requirements.

sunlight also aids butterflies during migration. since they are cold blooded, they need sunlight to warm their wings for flight. Many species, such as Monarchs, fly thousands of miles so they use the sun’s position in the sky as a navigational tool to help them stay on course as they migrate cyclically north to south. provide a place for them to rest and sunbathe by placing a few flat stones in a spot that gets at least six hours of daylight.

Butterflies like to congregate on wet sand and mud to partake in behavior called puddling during which they ingest water, minerals and other nutrients necessary for their survival. Filling a shallow pan with sand and inserting it at ground level in the garden can create puddling stations. place it in an area where it can be easily spotted by butterflies and where it is sheltered from the wind.

While butterflies are prey to some insects, one of the biggest threats to their survival is the use of pesticides and insecticides in the garden. try to eliminate the use of potent chemicals or use natural products, such as vinegar to combat unwanted weeds and pests. if you can’t completely avoid chemicals, choose less potent sprays and use small quantities to spot treat problem areas.

White Vinegar: The Ultimate Multitasker

Every homeowner should have simple white distilled vinegar to help combat pests. Not only is vinegar cheaper than pesticides

and insecticides; it is harmless to children and pets.

How to use white distilled vinegar:

Ants and vinegar don’t mix. Pour vinegar directly onto anthills or any area where they congregate.

Spray slugs you want to eliminate with a mixture of one part water to one part vinegar.

Pour full strength vinegar directly on unwanted grass and weeds.

Place cotton balls soaked in vinegar around plants you want to keep rabbits from eating.This sunflower provides nectar, a

benefit for not only butterflies, but hummingbirds as well.Above, Wild Indigo is an example of a plant that serves as host to butterfly eggs and caterpillars. Others include Butterfly Milkweed, Pearly Everlasting, Spicebush Shrub, Tulip Poplar, Violet, Willow Tree, Aster, Dill, Fennel, Rue and Parsley

19O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

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20 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

Local governments of all sizes are implementing green initiatives, and the five pointes are leading the way. From streetlight conversions to green space expansions, we’ll take a look at the progress happening

here at home, pointe by pointe.Grosse Pointe Woods has been making environmentally friendly strides for

decades, but the past few years have been particularly busy with cost-saving and energy-efficient moves at City Hall and around town. in 2012, the Department of public Works garages and offices were upgraded from t-12 fluorescent fixtures and retrofit more energy efficient t-8 fluorescent fixtures. The main difference in fluorescent fixtures is their diameter, the smaller the diameter, the more energy efficient. Al Fincham, Woods city administrator reports, “The t-8 fluorescent system is more efficient because a greater portion of the power used it converted to usable light with a smaller portion converted to heat.”

These lighting upgrades were extended to Lake Front park in 2013, where compact fluorescent energy-efficient lighting was installed in the concession stand, bathhouse lobby, maintenance garage and gate house.

Curbing energy inefficiencies continues in 2014, where the Woods has replaced four outdated pool heaters with 89 percent efficient pool heaters. “This will result in

higher energy savings and better thermal control of our pool,” attested Fincham.

The Woods was also approved by the seMCOg, the southeast Michigan Council of governments, executive Committee for inclusion in the transportation improvement program. The Woods was officially awarded a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant to replace a 1992 10-yard dump truck with an international Model 7400 10-yard dump truck in fiscal year 2014-15. Fincham explained, “The CMAQ program was implemented to support surface transportation projects and other related efforts that contribute to air quality improvements ant provide congestion relief.”

residents will continue to see upgrades in their street lighting April through november of this year in two projects. The first project will

be circuit upgrades from mercury vapor to LeD. This includes 54 lights located on north renaud, south renaud and portions of Oxford. The conversion will include all new underground wiring, new LeD fixtures where deemed necessary and replacement of underground conduits. Where there may be disruption in lighting, residents should be assured that Dte will give plenty of notice through door tags, and thorough signage.

By Eizabeth Vogel

Common T8 fluorescent lighting fixture

Green Cities

21O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

The second project is also a mercury vapor-to-LeD conversion program that includes 54 lights along Mack Avenue, four lights in ghesquire park, 44 lights on Lochmoor and 17 lights on sunningdale for a total of 119 street lights converted.

The city estimates the payback on both of these projects at approximately two years, and moving forward the annual cost savings

for both projects at nearly $18,000.Grosse Pointe Farms has also been making

strides in streetlight conversions and has also been working with Dte to complete these projects. According to Farms City Manager shane reeside, “About 40 percent of the streetlights were converted from mercury vapor to LeD in 2012 and another 40 percent in 2013. The remaining

An unproductive area near the warming building at Pier Park now serves as a rain garden to capture snow melt and rain runoff from entering Lake St. Clair. The rain garden was designed by Farms Councilman Lev Wood.

Photos courtesy of Lev Wood

The dog park at Mack and Moross has been expanded by two-thirds, reducing the amount of pavement and resulting rainwater runoff. Photo by John Minnis

22 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

conversions will be completed this summer for a total of approximately 1,000 fixtures.”

While the Farms paid the incremental cost for the upgrade to LeD, reeside expects a payback within 2.5 years due to reduced energy costs.

The expansion of green space has also been a recent green development in the Farms. residents may already notice the changes occurring to the area of green space at Mack and Moross.

“The city expanded the dog park by two-thirds of an acre,” reports reeside, adding, “the green space reduces the amount of the impervious parking surface and reduces storm water runoff into the sewer system.”

After the two flooding events in 2011, Farms residents in particular should be pleased with initiatives that reduce storm water runoff into the sewer system. Farms Councilman Lev Wood concurs.

About five years ago, Wood designed a rain garden that was added to the area around the warming building at pier park with that very objective in mind: “The goal of a rain garden is to capture rain and snow runoff and encourage the water to absorb into the soils and plantings in the garden. if we can keep storm water out of the sewers, we have less chance of flooding (and going into our basements) and, if storm water does flow out of the garden, at least it has been filtered and is a little cleaner when it enters the lake or sewer.”

The plantings at pier park are all native plants. They include black-eyed susan, blue flag iris, blue-eyed grass, purple coneflower, nodding pink onion, arborvitae, obedient plant and orange day lily.

According to Wood, residents, too, can make their own rain gardens. But much like the rain garden at pier park, our local clay soil is problematic and needs to be addressed: “At the start of construction, we had to remove the clay and fill the site with two feet of good soil. rain gardens work best in a less tightly packed soil than the clays we have around here.”

Wood has guidance for any resident who is interested in incorporating a rain garden on their property. “There is plenty of literature showing how homeowners can do what we did but on a smaller scale. My advice to homeowners is do research, use appropriate plants and put the garden in a low spot where storm water will be captured.”

The City oF Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe shores may be the smaller of the five pointes, but they, too, are working steadily on energy efficient improvements that include upgrades to their street lights as well.

in the shores, there is a long list of improvements to the city offices through projects managed by Honeywell. The HVAC in Department of public Works and City Hall has been upgraded, along with the municipal complex lighting. Other improvements include the sewer lift station,

pool, and building envelope upgrades, according to information provided by Brett smith with the Department of public

Works.grosse pointe City Manager peter Dame reports, “in the City’s buildings, we sought

out and received a free energy audit from the state of Michigan and implemented its

recommendations, including introducing energy efficient lighting wherever possible at City Hall.” in addition, Dame reports that the City replaced

the boiler in the City Hall with a system that is expected to reduce energy usage.

The City of grosse pointe has elected to upgrade from mercury vapor to sodium vapor, which uses much less energy than mercury, but a little more than LeD.

Grosse Pointe Park has also updated their lights to sodium vapor, but the park also boasts a list of “green” improvements beyond lighting upgrades. “We’ve noticed a significant increase of ‘go green,’ particularly following the rose Bowl,” jokes City Manager Dale Krajniak.

But when it comes to keeping green, Krajniak reports more seriously that the park “continues to plant more trees each year than removed.”

The park encourages residents to compost as well as mulch. They also have an active disconnect roof drain program so as to direct water onto lawns, rather than into the sewer system.

Unlike the other pointes, the park has a unique program during the summer months that encourages its residents to get involved through a program called the “non-motorized initiative.” park residents who go to the parks by foot or by bike receive tickets at the gate houses. They collect their tickets, which are then drawn at the end of the summer for a variety of prizes that are donated. prizes range from bikes to restaurant gift certificates, and everything in between.

All pointers are welcome to get involved in the green movement by properly disposing of hazardous household waste. This event, known as Household Hazardous Waste Day, rotates throughout the pointes and Harper Woods, with the exception of grosse pointe Woods, which holds its own collection days in the spring and fall.

normally the event is hosted by a city, and in the past has been held at the Farms pier park; however, this year the event has been moved to Windmill pointe park in grosse pointe park and will be held on sept. 27 to accommodate planned spring construction.

Wherever you reside in the pointes, you can rest assured that your government officials are actively engaged in energy efficient upgrades and supporting green initiatives whenever possible. Keep a lookout for continued progress in these areas throughout the remainder of 2014 and beyond.

23O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

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24 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

W ith 440 square miles of freshwater surface and more than 160 miles of shoreline, Lake st. Clair is a treasure too often taken for

granted by many of the 8 million people in the United states and Canada who live within a one-hour drive of its coastline. in fact, the lake offers countless scenic views, great places to explore and fun things to do, many of them still waiting

to be discovered.The nonprofit Lake st. Clair tourism initiative (LsCti) was founded

in 2008 to create greater awareness of this priceless asset. Among several other projects, the organization soon created a “Circle the Lake tour”. LsCti executive Director Brad simmons and gerry santoro (Land and Water program Manager in the Macomb County Office of planning and economic Development) carefully plotted the tour around the lake, driving the entire distance themselves, to confirm exact routes along with

By ted everingham

25O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

the parks, businesses, cities and towns and stops that would make the best destinations and attractions on both sides of the border.

There already are more than 50 attractive Circle the Lake tour signs in Macomb County to guide visitors. simmons said, “We hope to have a plan in place within a year for Circle the Lake tour signage all the way around the lake, from bridge to bridge.”

As part of that plan, some 20-30 more of the familiar Circle the Lake tour signs will appear this spring in the grosse pointes, along Jefferson Avenue and Lake shore from Alter road to the edsel & eleanor Ford House. Additional signage will guide visitors on a business loop from the lakefront drive to The Village and The Hill.

Jennifer Boettcher, executive Director of the grosse pointe Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are excited that the grosse pointe communities will partner with the Circle the Lake tour signage program and that our signs will be the first outside of Macomb County.”

A free, informative “Lake st. Clair Circle the Lake tour Map of the top 99 Destinations and Attractions” provides a self-guided tour of major destinations extending from the Blue Water Bridge to the Ambassador Bridge. The 2014 edition of the map lists top destinations and attractions and suggests the best routes for navigating the roads, ferries and international border crossings that are part of the adventure. The new grosse pointe routing is included for the first time.

The map is complemented by the LsCti website, tourLakestClair.org, that lists even more not-to-be-missed attractions as well as current news of upcoming events and activities, including destinations in the grosse pointe communities.

We are excited that the Grosse Pointe communities will partner with the Circle

the Lake Tour signage program and that our signs will be the first outside of

Macomb County.

“

”

26 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

stAte oF the LAKe

Aerial photography by Bruce Hubbard

O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

t he great Lakes are coming off their worst winter in two decades — thank goodness! The increased snowfall and ice cover this past winter not only added much-needed volume to the lakes, but also

prevented a lot of evaporation — the greatest loss of water on lakes. The winter of 2013-14 saw the most great Lakes ice cover — 90 percent — in 20 years, causing at least six freighters to be stranded in the ice of Lake st. Clair and the Detroit river. Homeowners on Boblo island, many of them grosse pointers, found themselves iced in without ferry service several times last winter.

in its March 28 lake levels report, the U.s. Army Corps of engineers reported Lake st. Clair was 9 inches higher than it was a year ago. Further, the corps expected Lake st. Clair to rise another 5 inches in April. This comes as especially good news for the marinas and yacht clubs along Lake st. Clair following the record low water levels and one of the warmest and driest winters in Michigan history in 2012-13.

in a piece in science magazine, Drew gronewold, a hydrologist at nOAA’s great Lakes environmental research Laboratory, said “the record low water levels in Lake Michigan-Huron in the winter of 2012 to 2013 raise important questions about the driving forces behind water level fluctuations and how water resource management planning decisions can be improved.”

Most of the changes in great Lakes water levels over the past century, gronewold noted, closely correspond to changes in annual precipitation. The abrupt and sustained water level drop in the late 1990s, however, is more closely related to increased lake surface water temperature and greater evaporation, both of which coincided with one of the strongest el niño events on record, he said. strong el nino events typically lead to abnormally mild winters and warmer surface waters in the great Lakes. The important question today, according to the nOAA, is whether the recent water level drops are due to el nino or linked to engineering modifications of the great Lakes.

Last year’s low water levels forced clubs like the grosse pointe Yacht Club to expend precious funds to dredge their harbors. Over its 100-year history, the grosse pointe Yacht Club has weathered lower — and higher — lake levels and has always met the challenge. Lake st. Clair’s record high set in 1986 was more than 3 feet higher than today. While last year’s lake level was low, it would have had to fall another 2 feet to reach the record low set in 1934.

As was the case 80 years ago, the grosse pointe Yacht Club board is committed to providing boaters safe access to and from the lake. Last

stAte oF the LAKest. Clair on the rise after tough winter

By John Minnis

Aerial photography by Bruce Hubbard

28 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

year’s dredging project was on top of the just completed harbor renovations, which included the installation of five 95-foot boat wells. And, yet, grosse pointe Yacht Club members continue to enjoy excellent harbor amenities while keeping the cost of the boat wells down. This is made possible through wise stewardship by the board and club management.

Celebrating its centennial year, the gpYC is regularly rated a platinum Club of America, providing all the traditional amenities of a classic yacht club while keeping pace with 21st century lifestyles and standards. gpYC is the Detroit area’s most prestigious and widely recognized yacht club. recreational activities include boating, sailing, swimming, bowling, clay and heated platform tennis courts and a variety of other sports-oriented activities. gpYC’s social calendar is varied, stimulating and festive for members of all ages. The club has numerous dining and meeting rooms and can meet any culinary need, featuring an outstanding wine cellar and specializing in privately catered events.

Last July 31, “Lake st. Clair Appreciation Day,” the gpYC, with the grosse pointe and Macomb Chambers of Commerce, hosted a continental breakfast featuring guest speakers, John Austin, director of the great Lakes initiative for the Brookings institution, and Dr. Jim Jacobs, president of Macomb Community College.

Austin spoke on “Leadership in the Coming ‘Blue economy.’” “i’d like

to talk about how important water is to our economy as we move forward from here,” he said. “We need to re-identify our culture and make this a place where people want to live and relocate to.”

He compared Michigan to Maine. “The great Lakes are so magnificent, so wonderful. it makes us unique in the world.” The think-tank head

noted the many commercial products — pelts, lumber, iron ore, steel, automobiles and paper — that have been shipped on the great Lakes. “All of them use, and abused, water,” he said.

The great Lakes, though, continue to have great value to Michigan. “We have thousands of miles of coast, fresh water coast, right here. We’ll pay more for a room with a view.”

Further, he said, the great Lakes are worth investing in. “When we did a Brookings study two years ago,” Austin said, “we found for every dollar we invested cleaning them up, making them accessible, we got back $3.” He also noted that “young people want to work in areas where they can solve the problems of the world. We can do that here.”

“Leverage your waterfront,” Austin urged the gpYC crowd, “to market your community.”

-20.00

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2014

2013

3/27/20143/27/2014

599.1

600.1

601.1

602.1

603.1

182.6182.8183.0183.2183.4183.6183.8184.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

1 6Lake Michigan-Huron

Lake Superior

Great Lakes Water Levels (1918-2012)Monthly Mean LevelLong Term Annual Average

575.5576.5577.5578.5579.5580.5581.5582.5

175.4175.6175.8176.0176.2176.4176.6176.8177.0177.2177.4177.6

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

570.2571.2572.2573.2574.2575.2576.2577.2

173.8174.0174.2174.4174.6174.8175.0175.2175.4175.6175.8176.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

Lake Michigan-Huron

Lake St. Clair

244.5

245.5

246.5

247.5

248.5

74 474.674.875.075.275.475.675.8

met

ers

feet

570.2571.2

173.8174.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

567.6568.6569.6570.6571.6572.6573.6574.6

173.0173.2173.4173.6173.8174.0174.2174.4174.6174.8175.0175.2

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

241.5

242.5

243.5

244.5

245.5

73.673.874.074.274.474.674.8

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

met

er fee

The monthly average levels are based on a network of water level gages located around the lakes.

Elevations are referenced to the International Great Lakes Datum (1985).

599.1

600.1

601.1

602.1

603.1

182.6182.8183.0183.2183.4183.6183.8184.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers


Lake Superior


575.5576.5577.5578.5579.5580.5581.5582.5

175.4175.6175.8176.0176.2176.4176.6176.8177.0177.2177.4177.6

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

570.2571.2572.2573.2574.2575.2576.2577.2

173.8174.0174.2174.4174.6174.8175.0175.2175.4175.6175.8176.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

Lake Michigan-Huron

Lake St. Clair

244.5

245.5

246.5

247.5

248.5

74 474.674.875.075.275.475.675.8

met

ers

feet

570.2571.2

173.8174.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

567.6568.6569.6570.6571.6572.6573.6574.6

173.0173.2173.4173.6173.8174.0174.2174.4174.6174.8175.0175.2

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

241.5

242.5

243.5

244.5

245.5

73.673.874.074.274.474.674.8

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

met

er fee



U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Great Lakes Water Levels (1918-2012)

29O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

599.1

600.1

601.1

602.1

603.1

182.6182.8183.0183.2183.4183.6183.8184.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers


Lake Superior


575.5576.5577.5578.5579.5580.5581.5582.5

175.4175.6175.8176.0176.2176.4176.6176.8177.0177.2177.4177.6

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

570.2571.2572.2573.2574.2575.2576.2577.2

173.8174.0174.2174.4174.6174.8175.0175.2175.4175.6175.8176.0

1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

met

ers

Lake Michigan-Huron

Lake St. Clair

244.5

245.5

246.5

247.5

248.5

74 474.674.875.075.275.475.675.8

met

ers

feet

570.2571.2

173.8174.0

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1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

feet

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Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

241.5

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As a leader whose livelihood involves educating young people, Jacobs of MCC agreed. Further, he said of the importance of Lake st. Clair, “it’s not just a Macomb thing.”

He noted that a third of all sport fish taken in Michigan is from Lake st. Clair, which along with its 60-plus marinas, 128,000 boat slips and 5,700 related jobs has a $2 billion economic impact on its shoreline communities. “This is an important piece of the community,” he said.

Any community that is going to have growth, any future, Jacobs said, needs to attract young people and families. Quality of life matters to young people and access to water matters, he said. ninety-two and 91 percent said access to water and protection of the lakes is very important.

“What’s going to be important to the grosse pointe community is to attract young families,” he said, “and Lake st. Clair is part of that.”

education is a big part of making Macomb, grosse pointe and Lake st. Clair communities viable, said Jacobs, Macomb’s top educator. “We hope to produce the kind of professionals who will continue what we are celebrating here today.”

Jacobs also noted that the Lake st. Clair tourism initiative, organizers of Lake st. Clair Circle tour and the signs touting it, is a large part of promoting and safeguarding the lake. “There is no ‘Big Box’ solution that is going to transform this region,” he said. “it’s going to take a lot of small steps, a series of small victories.”

Great Lakes Water Levels (1918-2012)

Crescent Sail Club and Pier Park

30 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

Visitors to the eastpointe office complex where eco-green-energy, LLC, is headquartered can observe the difference between fluorescent and LeD lighting.

Hallways in the office complex are lit with fluorescent bulbs which create a dull, almost yellow light. A step into eco-green’s office showcases the difference. Desks are bathed in bright, clear light.

The LeD-lamps in the office provide enhanced light without the hum of fluorescent bulbs, at a lower wattage, and in a more environmentally-friendly method than earlier lighting systems.

similar transitions are occurring in office buildings, schools, parking structures, car lots and a number of locations throughout the Detroit area as business and civic leaders look to reduce their energy costs and maintenance while doing it in a “green” manner. Companies such as eco-green-energy, LLC, run by residents of the grosse pointes, and Americas green Line, owned by grosse pointe park residents, are leading this effort.

The new lighting systems which these companies are installing have been found to reduce energy costs by as much as 70 percent and utilize bulbs which are longer lasting, more durable and have little – or no – toxic mercury.

For years fluorescent tubes, which contain mercury, were used in businesses and schools. Metal halide lights, which are found in industrial buildings, also have

By ed Cardenas

Eco-Green-Energy and Americas Green Line lead Grosse Pointe in LED lightingLeD Lighting Usage sees exponential Rise

mercury, as do high pressure sodium street lights. The LeD lights which are sold and installed by eco-green-energy,

LLC, and Americas green Line, have no mercury. According to the Department of energy, LeD lights use a

semiconductor to convert electricity into light and emit light in a specific direction. Other lights, such as induction lights, have a very small amount of mercury and are encased in heavy glass which helps to keep the chemical from being released into the atmosphere.

Both companies were formed in the midst of the recession, and while the initial sales calls did not produce immediate sales, the groundwork was laid during that time to establish business contacts that led to today’s strong sales. Leaders for both companies did not share financial details,

but they did state that sales have as much as tripled in recent years.

These companies are leading the way in providing the new green lighting technology that use less electricity, are more environmentally friendly and provide more options to meet the needs of their customers along with guiding businesses through the process of obtaining discounts from power companies and government discounts.

Here is a look at both companies which are changing the way lighting is delivered.

Eco-Green-Energynearly five years ago grosse pointe park

resident Jim Vogt, who previously was a big

The new lighting systems which these companies are installing have been found

to reduce energy costs by as much as 70 percent and utilize bulbs which are longer lasting, more durable and have little –

or no – toxic mercury.

”

“Photos courtesy of Ec0-Green-Energy

31O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

box developer, and sheldon Wardwell, a retired Ford Motor Company executive “repurposed” themselves during the recession and started a business which they thought could be successful in 2009 - and beyond.

eco-green-energy started with one energy-saving product, an induction lighting fixture which was a mid-point product between the less expensive incandescent light and the more expensive LeD light. The big break for the company came in Dec. 2012 when the United states government outlawed the sale and production of t-12 fluorescent tubes. in addition to the change in laws, businesses coming out of the recession were looking for savings.

The business started like many start-ups – in Vogt’s garage with minimal money invested.

“The first year we made a lot of calls, not as much business. The second year we made a lot of calls and were starting to acquire business. The third year we started to receive phone calls,” said Wardwell, of grosse pointe Farms. “The fourth year we were getting both repeat business and phones calls. And in year five, our customers are spreading the word of our good work for us.”

Currently, their company has grown to include 15 representatives who present and sell their product. The men estimate they have sold several

thousand lights, and many more to come. “Almost every business we contact they are all looking at the low

hanging fruit of changing their lighting,” said Wardwell. “We can save hundreds of thousands of dollars for medium sized businesses by just changing their warehouse lighting from metal halide, to LeD or induction (lighting).”

One example is a typical warehouse with metal halide fixtures that use

466 watts. They can cut that in half with an induction light or about 230 watt LeD light. These not only use less electricity, but also turn on almost immediately and are cooler than halide lights which can reach up to 1,000 degrees.

Their work can be found in private businesses including Crest Ford, Christ Church, Fisher Dynamics, the Compuware executive garage, Detroit Athletic Club, gallagher-Kaiser, K & s services, pointe Dairy, Lear Corporation and general Motors.

in Wayne County’s First street garage, eco-green replaced more than 380 parking fixtures with LeD fixtures from Cree (an American company). These lights have a 10-year warranty, and according to a Wayne County release, will save more than $72,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs.

Before any work is conducted, potential customers can utilize energy analysis forms which help them understand the cost of waiting to change out light fixtures, cost of replacement, total savings and payback period.

“When the recession hit in 2008, most businesses began to look for a payback below three years (instead of five years before the downturn),” said Wardwell. “in almost all cases, our paybacks are within two to three years.”

Additionally the company retrofitted fluorescent fixtures in trombly elementary school with LeD tubes over winter break. school administrators communicated how much the teachers “love the lighting level” in the classroom.

Another product the company offers is a sun tracking skylight. Using a solar tracker and a gps positioner, the skylight allows some businesses to turn off lights for up to 12 hours. if there is limited sun, a sensor will automatically add lighting to a predetermined level. eco-green also offers wind or solar powered lights and induction grow lighting for indoor horticultural uses.

With this variety of products, Vogt stated, “the day of sending someone from your office out to buy lights has changed. today’s lighting is using highly technical equipment with central systems that are capable of saving business and homeowners up to 80 percent in their energy costs. This is a business that is growing exponentially.”

We can save hundreds of thousands of dollars for medium sized

businesses by just changing their warehouse lighting from metal

halide, to LED or induction (lighting).

“”

32 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

Americas Green LineAmong the skyscrapers in downtown Detroit, one Congress street

storefront illuminates the sidewalk with bright, crisp light.The light comes from the showroom of Americas green Line, which

is located in the same building as the London Chop House. While the lighting in the landmark restaurant is subdued, the showroom for Americas green Line is illuminated with a variety of lighting options.

LeD streetlights, adjustable parking lot lights and light tubes are just some of the products which are on display for customers and those passing. The cutting edge lights represent a sampling of just some of the products the company has installed in metro Detroit. CeO nico gatzaros, of grosse pointe park, said the company was founded in 2011 after he was approached by representatives selling LeD lights for use at his family’s commercial buildings.

After the LeD lights were installed in a couple of buildings, gatzaros said they saw “huge savings” not only because the lights used less energy but the low operating temperature of the LeD lamp itself saves on air conditioning costs .

By installing the LeD lights, he was also able to utilize rebates from the government.

“We saw there were some technologies out there that were very superior in longevity and light retention,” said gatzaros, who heard horror stories of other expensive systems that had failed quickly. “(We thought) we’ve got a high quality product.”

His company approached some fellow business owners that also used large amounts of energy. After speaking with roy O’Brien Ford and replacing its parking lot lights, gatzaros said the dealership was seeing a lighting related savings of over 80 percent a year. The new outdoor LeD lights also came with a 10-year warranty.

Further down 9 Mile road in st. Clair shores, Don gooley Cadillac replaced its lights. Upon seeing savings, the company also installed energy saving lights at the 10-story Book Cadillac parking garage and the

newly opened Crowne plaza.not only are they saving money, gatzaros said, but they are also

creating safer environments. The addition of this “camera-friendly spectrum of light” can increase camera resolution by 50 percent.

gatzaros said that after the lights were installed at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, the security guard asked, “When did you change our cameras?” Because of the detail she could see on the screens, “she thought we changed the cameras.”

Americas green Line, which is owned by Maria gatzaros and John economy, has grown to nearly 20 employees and has had its sales nearly triple.

“We’ve seen a huge growth in energy awareness among our customers,” said economy. “in the next two to three years we expect to see a surge in LeD lighting. it’s very exciting for us. We are excited to be in the city of Detroit, provide jobs

and a premium product.”gatzaros added that “it is a win, win, win,

win. it is a win for the manufacturer, it is a win for the salesman, it is a win for the end user and it is a win for the environment.”

Energy Efficiency Gains PopularityThe trend to replace older lights with

LeD is gaining popularity according to the Department of energy. The agency reports that in 2009 there were less than 400,000 LeD lights installed. According to the most recent figures available, there were nearly 49 million LeD lights installed in 2012, which resulted in nearly $675 million in annual energy costs.

Many times, these replacements are done without major renovations. Both firms are able to replace existing lights without replacing

wiring and fixtures, which reduces the cost and installation time for firms.

The popularity of LeD lights is expected to continue into the future. The Department of energy estimates that Americans will save $30 billion a year by using LeD lights.

In the next two to three years we expect to see a surge in LED lighting. It’s

very exciting for us. We are excited to be in the city of Detroit, provide jobs and a

premium product.

“

”

LED lighting outside Fishbone’s on Jefferson in St. Clair Shores.

Photo courtesy of Americas Green Line

33O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

Eco-Green is proud to supply state-of-the-art, energy-efficient lighting to businesses on the East side.Some of the smartest, most forward-thinking organizations have consulted with Eco-Green on ways which would improve their lighting environment and significantly reduce their energy and maintenance costs with an eye to long- term energy conservation. Visit www.eco-green-energy.com today to learn about the many ways we can deliver superior lighting and energy-saving technologies to your organization. Light, Bright and Green.

We invite you to contact us atwww.eco-green-energy.com

Toll Free 800-881-692517401 East Ten Mile Road / Eastpointe, MI 48021

James Vogt / Dan Follis / Mike Irwin / Janice DuMouchelle / John DeHayes / Jason Windes / Mike Ebbing Butch Wardwell / Joan Coyle / Ben Warren / Mark Weber / Vic Koppang / Al Fields / David Hohlfeldt / Jack Liang / Michelle Agosta

Nailing It For Over 25 YearsMakos has been helping Pointers enjoy their homes

more and improve their familyÕs quality of life.PHONE 313 821-5922 FAX 313 821-592315000 Charlevoix Ave. Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230

The Man Behind the HammerMaster Builder, Master Carpenter, lifelong Grosse Pointer, Steve Makos has over a quarter of a century of construction to his credit in the Pointes. His crews call him a relentless perfectionist. His customers call him back to do more work. His two kids just call him dad.When heÕs not building things, Steve is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys skiing, hunting and fishing. His favorite toys are his tools, his truck and his restored Dodge Challanger.Asked to describe himself professionally he is unhesitating. ÒI am, at heart, a craftsman. I take great pride in each of my projects and believe that the only satisfactory approach is to do it right the first time. The Pointes have their own unique architecture. Whether replacing a window or door, adding or renovating a room, doing a complete remodel or building a new home, we respect the character and tradition of where we live. Much of our work is on homes that were built to last. The quality of our workmanship needs to be done in that same tradition — built to last.Ó

34 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

I t’s trash and recycle pick up day and you’re rushing to gather the weekly collection. newspapers, cardboard, milk jugs, computer paper, water bottles, glass jars and detergent containers find their way into the recycle

bin, often hastily and just in time. By contrast, the effort to bring curbside recycling to the pointes was

deliberate and purposeful. The result of dozens of organizers volunteering hundreds of hours

over many years, curbside recycling in the pointes was the common goal of several community groups that came together to form grosse pointe Citizens for recycling (gpCFr). in the decades since the group’s origin, recycling has evolved from grass roots education and coordination to big business revenue and job creation. But what is commonly viewed as a modern-day green trend is actually old-school practicality.

For those who don’t know its history … The creation of the environmental protection Agency during president

nixon’s administration in late 1970 would appear to be a natural starting point to review recycling efforts, however the idea and practice are actually as old as the planet itself.

The decaying remains of plants and animals during millions of years form the basis of gas and oil, which are mined and then refined into petroleum, plastics and other products today. sanitary practices were referenced in religious and cultural laws 2000 years B.C. and the first municipal dump sites were organized in Athens in 400 B.C. emphasizing the need to reduce waste overall.

The very first paper production methods recorded are from the Han Dynasty circa 200 B.C. and utilized recycled fibers from mulberry, fishnets, old rags and hemp waste. it wasn’t until the use of wood pulp in the 1840s that paper production was no longer primarily made from recycled fiber material.

Historically, economic hardship and wartime dictate and drive recycling efforts across many cultures. The era of the great Depression was indeed a time when people used considerable energy and imagination to avoid spending money — because they had very little to spend.

During World War ii, the Office of Civilian Defense called upon all communities to help by gathering and donating materials. in one year, residents in Waterbury, Conn. collected more than 281,000 pounds of tin, 65,000 pounds of rubber, 225,000 pounds of rags and 372,000 pounds of cooking fat to make weapons, explosives and other needed supplies.

By Michelle A. Balconi

Green is the new blackRecycling in the Pointes

In the past, we have been diligent recyclers in times of great need, but what motivates us today?

What’s Old is New Againit should come as no surprise that our modern-day curbside recycling

service in the pointes comes to us, in large part, from the efforts of a self-described Depression-era child. Fran schonenberg is referred to by many in the community as the “recycling Queen.”

“We rationed and reused everything we could when i grew up in Andover, Mass.,” recalled schonenberg. “recycling has always made sense to me, long before it became the green thing to do.”

schonenberg was one of many area residents who founded the non-profit gpCFr in the late 1980s. At the time, area organizations were recycling

independently to support a variety of concerns. Among the groups interested in recycling were several grosse pointe garden Clubs, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, grosse pointe public schools and the grosse pointe Unitarian Church.

“it was a very cooperative venture,” Joan Hall, grosse pointe Farms resident, said of the founding of gpCFr and the resulting research and planning. “We all had different interests but we had recycling in common.”

Concerns centered around environmental issues, preservation of natural resources for future generations, effects of pesticides on pets and overuse of landfills and incinerators. gardeners, pet owners, young families and environmentalists all agreed that reducing what went into the trash could and should be reduced through recycling.

At the time, University Liggett school and grosse pointe Unitarian Church both offered drop off recycling services to the community, collecting newspapers and glass.

For a small fee, members of gpCFr received a newsletter advising on recycling statistics and could attend the regular meetings. The members were highly motivated, worked well together and volunteered a valuable skill set that was necessary in accomplishing the group’s goal of increased recycling in the grosse pointes and Harper Woods.

Amy Houghtalin, a resident of Harper Woods and member of gpCFr,

Recycling Queen, Fran SchonenbergPhoto by Michelle Balconi

35O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

remembers the cooperative spirit as well as the diverse talents of other volunteers.

“We were able to draw from the great wisdom of volunteers and the diverse backgrounds they brought to the effort,” said Houghtalin.

Members toured local recycling and waste disposal facilities, organized lectures, attended national conferences and shared best practices with other groups both in and outside of Michigan. They also received grants and traveled to north Carolina and California.

With community participation and support growing, gpCFr formed partnerships with great Lakes recycling and other companies to offer a more extensive recycling effort in the late spring of 1989 at grosse pointe south High school. Organizers sorted the material and captured data to make a case to city governments for a curbside recycling pilot program. residents donated more than 78 tons of recyclable material, more than double the national average of 30 pounds per family, in the first three months.

Volunteers sold cards and note paper made from recycled materials at the collection site to demonstrating tangible results of used products becoming new ones.

With solid data establishing community participation, gpCFr received a $10,000 grant from the garden Club of Michigan Fund to launch recycling education and Curbside test (reACt). The curbside pilot program operated between July and september 1989 and consisted of 613 households representing one street from each of the grosse pointes and Harper Woods.

Led by sheila Osan, the reACt program surveyed participants both before and after the eight week program and provided an 18-gallon red plastic container along with literature detailing how to recycle, reasons for recycling and dates of collection. gpCFr selected Waste Management as the collection company and hired a college student to ride in the back of the

truck to record quantities and categories of each item. After eight weeks, the material collected in the pilot program was baled,

weighed and sold. A gpCFr member with extensive research experience recorded more than 10 tons of paper, four tons of glass, a ton of metal and a half-ton of plastics, representing more than 30 pounds per household per month collected. Comparatively, the pilot program collected what full-scale community programs were collecting in one year.

“We were educating people about what was possible,” said schonenberg. “Ourselves, residents and municipal leaders.”

gpCFr presented comprehensive data and analysis based upon the reACt program to the six municipalities. The group made several recommendations to city decision makers, including that the local refuse disposal authority should hire a recycling manager and offer curbside recycling to at least one of the cities by July 1990; and that the pointes and Harper Woods should establish and maintain two drop off centers until curbside recycling began.

success for gpCFr always meant curbside recycling for each of the grosse pointes and Harper Woods and that goal was achieved. several years of sustained research, cooperation and volunteerism had paid off and the entire community was benefiting.

“We were extremely mission driven and the dissolution of the group meant the success of it,” recalled Laurie Arora, grosse pointe park Councilwoman and former gpCFr volunteer.

Karen (Opdyke) Feldman remarked on the necessity of community involvement over a sustained period of time to affect change.

“it’s important to look beyond yourself to get something done,” said Feldman. “There are just some things government won’t do on its own, so this was really needed.”

Residents donated more than 78 tons of recyclable

material, more than double the national average of 30 pounds

per family, in the first three months.

“ ”

Photo courtesy of Rizzo Environmental Services

36 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

Putting the ‘Why?’ in RecYcleshould we recycle because it’s good for the planet? should we recycle

because it’s good for the economy? Yes to both!preserving Mother earth is the reason most support recycling, but

specifically how does it make an impact? The simple answer is that by recycling more we put less into incinerators and landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. in 2009, the epA estimated that 75 percent of trash thrown away in the U.s. could instead be recycled and that about 61 million tons was recovered through recycling.

it takes less energy to make products from recycled materials than by harvesting raw, finite materials from the earth. More energy is required to extract, transport and produce products from new material than to manufacture from recycled material. Making an aluminum can from recycled material requires only five percent of the energy than using new material. recycling one aluminum can equates to the amount of energy required to watch three hours of television, according to the epA.

economically, the epA estimates that the recycling and reuse industry consists of approximately 56,000 establishments employing more than a million people and grosses over $236 billion in annual revenues, generating an estimated $12.9 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.

specific to Michigan, a 2006 public sector Consultants study reports there are 2,242 establishments in the recycle and reuse industry with revenue of more than $11 billion, a payroll of $2.06 billion and employing 61,700 – the study states “increasing recycling in Michigan enhances the economic benefit.” governor snyder set aside $1 million in early 2014 to increase the number of counties providing convenient access to recycling.

The Michigan Beverage Container Act was implemented in 1978 to reduce litter and conserve energy and natural resources. residents pay a 10 cent deposit – the highest in the country – on any airtight metal, glass,

paper or plastic beverage container under one gallon. Consumers reclaim their dimes at retail stores, while 75 percent of the unclaimed deposits

are allocated to the state for environmental programs and 25 percent to retailers. Of the funds collected by the state, 80 percent support specific environmental cleanup sites and 10 percent support educational programs to prevent pollution. The Michigan program has a reported 95.9 percent redemption rate, also the highest in the nation, making the 10 cent deposit a direct incentive to recycle.

Locally, recycling programs allow communities to be more cost effective because they pay less to waste disposal companies which have higher fees than recycling companies. Municipalities are incentivized to offer curbside recycling since it reduces trash in the waste stream resulting in lower

tipping fees. shane reeside, grosse pointe

Farms City Manager for 10 years, calculates his community saved 20 percent of its waste disposal costs last year through curbside recycling, estimating that 584 tons of paper products were collected and expects that it will increase.

“not only does recycling reduce city costs by diverting materials from the incinerator, it is an important part of good stewardship of our planet,” said reeside.

in the grosse pointes, even greater cost savings is achieved by leveraging collective bid pricing. grosse pointe Woods City Manager, Al Fincham,

reports saving $30,000 last year by obtaining a better price per ton than if bid independently.

Anatomy of Your Recycle Binin nearly three decades since curbside recycling was first offered in

the grosse pointes, much has changed. instead of loading newspapers, cardboard, milk jugs, computer paper, water bottles, glass jars and detergent containers into your car once a month, residents now have the more convenient 18-gallon or 64-gallon bins to fill and place curbside each week. An American Beverage Association study estimated that 74 percent of the United states population had access to curbside pickup programs in 2009 and expects the percentage to increase.

each of the grosse pointe municipalities provide 18-gallon bins free of charge or residents can opt for a larger 64-gallon bin, given for free or at a price range of $65 to $75. in grosse pointe Woods alone an estimated 30,500 pounds of recycled material has been collected and diverted from the landfills and incinerators. The program has become so popular that the city provides the first 64-gallon bin free to residents. Of the 6,700 households in grosse pointe Woods, just more than 2,600 64-gallon bins have been requested.

peter Dame, City Manager of grosse pointe City for seven years, encourages all residents to recycle. early on in his position, he worked with grosse pointe resident and recycling industry veteran MaryJo Vannatter to increase the list of acceptable materials in the area.

“every ton of recycling is another ton that we are not charged to throw into the landfill,” said Dame. “We can recycle unlimited amounts at no extra charge.”

At the time, Vannatter worked with great Lakes recycling after she

Not only does recycling reduce city costs by

diverting materials from the incinerator, it is an important

part of good stewardship of our planet.

“

”

What are Grosse Pointers Recycling?NewspaperGlassCorrugated cardboardMiscellaneous plasticother

24%

44%

5%

11%

16%

37O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

Rizzo’s list of acceptable recyclable items:• Cardboard & Paper Bags

• Paperboard Magazines & Catalogs

• Junk Mail

• Phone Books

• Newspaper

• Office Paper

• Steel & Tin Cans

• Clear Glass

• Colored Glass

• Kitchen Cookware

• Aluminum Cans

• Plastic Jugs/Bottles

• Household Plastic (#1 - #7)

• Plastic Bags

sold her paper recycling company to the organization. With more than 30 years in the recycling industry, Vannatter’s knowledge was key in helping Dame and the coalition of the grosse pointes expand the curbside recycling program into accepting a broader range of materials due to the growth of the recycled products market.

A board member of the Michigan recycling Coalition and now senior municipal sales executive for rizzo environmental services, Vannatter’s focus is on building and enhancing curbside recycling programs in the 29 municipalities the company serves.

“it takes a new mindset,” said Vannatter of increasing residents’ rate of recycling. “We are focused on educating the public on the benefits of recycling because it uses less landfill space, conserves energy in product manufacturing and creates more jobs.”

rizzo environmental services, the largest private hauler in southeastern Michigan, provides single stream curbside recycling in the grosse pointes as well as waste removal for grosse pointe park and grosse pointe Woods. The family-owned company operates and maintains a fleet of more than 200 trucks and collects and recycles 24,000,000 pounds of material annually.

placing all recyclables in one bin increases residential participation and sorting efficiency and decreases waste for the landfill and incinerator.

in addition to curbside collection, rizzo encourages recycling through community and elementary education programs and distributes easy-to-follow illustrated lists of acceptable materials to its partner municipalities.

so what exactly is in our recycle bins? Contrary to the popular myth that pointers’ most recycled items are wine bottles, the truth is actually a little more black and white. According to rizzo, newspaper is by far the most recycled item at 44 percent. Other items frequently found in our bins are glass (16 percent), corrugated cardboard (nearly 11 percent) and miscellaneous plastic (just more than five percent).

After being collected curbside, the recyclable items are transported to a materials recovery facility (MrF) owned by reCommunity. The Charlotte, north Carolina based company acquired great Lakes recycling’s single

stream processing plants in 2011. Material is dumped from the collection trucks onto a tipping floor and loaded onto a conveyer belt for presorting by hand, followed by a series of different screens and sorting machines including the use of rotating barrel magnets and optical sorters that shoot bursts of air designed to separate various forms of plastic containers. Afterwards, the sorted materials are baled into 3x3x4 foot sections weighing about a ton (2,000 pounds) and transported to manufacturers to make new

products. Approximately six percent of what ends up in recycle bins is considered trash and cannot be recycled at all.

The most recycled item in our bins, 73 percent of all old newspapers in the U.s. is recovered and recycled, according to the newspaper Association of America. That represents more than 9 million tons of old newspapers out of a total supply of more than 13 million tons. Of all recycled paper material in our country, 42 percent is exported to overseas markets while just more than 50 percent stays in the U.s. to make more than 5,000 different products including paper, masking tape, bandages, dust masks, coffee

filters, lamp shades and egg cartons. glass material does not decompose when dumped in a landfill yet can

be recycled an endless number of times. After glass items are collected at the curb and sorted in a MrF, the material is crushed and ground into tiny pieces called cullet. Cullet is melted and used to manufacture new glass products such as baby food jars, pasta sauce jars and beer bottles.

“recycling glass is ideal because it can be processed to make new products an unlimited amount of times,” said Doug ram of Dearborn-based glass recyclers, a third-party processor to the glass container manufacturing industry.

The next time you hear the clanking of bottles and cans as neighbors cart out their recycle bins and you rush to join them with your own, perhaps you’ll think of the landfill space saved, the jobs created or even the new products that will be made. Or, perhaps, you will recall the members of your own community who thought it worthwhile to come together over many years to demonstrate a point and make a difference in the lives of many for generations to come.

Recycling glass is ideal because it can be processed to make new products an unlimited

amount of times.

“ ”

Rizzo’s list of UNacceptable items:

• Paper Milk or Juice Cartons

• Garbage

• Propane Tanks

• Paint Cans

• Medical Waste

• Flammable Liquids

• Household Cleaners

• Chemicals (Dry or Liquid)

• Wood items

RECYCLING BIN FULL?Clear plastic bags can be used for additional items

if your bin is full.

38 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

o ne would expect the owner of a bird and nature store to live a relatively ecofriendly lifestyle. But rosann Kovalcik, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited on Mack Ave., takes her dedication to green living a

step further. Kovalcik moved to grosse pointe in 1981 and has lived in the Woods

since 1982. she has been the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited for 21 years.“i have profound respect for the earth and what we do to it,” Kovalcik

said, recalling an interest in recycling and greener living since the 1970s, when she was a teenager.

As education chair of the former recycling advocacy group, grosse pointe Citizens for recycling, Kovalcik taught students in the grosse pointe community about paper recycling and the importance of the three r’s: reduce, reuse, recycle.

“i was there to enlighten people in the community,” said Kovalcik. “The key concept we taught was to reduce first. if you reduce and reuse, you’ll have less to recycle.”

Kovalick learned the best of what she knows from Fran schonenberg, known as the Queen of recycling. “Fran schonenberg taught me so much,” said Kovalcik. “she was truly a fabulous mentor.”

Kovalcik lives what she teaches. she has ensured that Wild Birds

Unlimited never have (or need) a dumpster and its weekly garbage is minimal, usually including coffee grounds. even the coffee grounds, Birds & Beans, are ecofriendly.

The UsDA-approved, 100 percent organic, shade-grown coffee is sold at Wild Birds Unlimited. As a certified Bird Friendly product, Birds & Beans is grown by family coffee farms that provide habitat to migrating songbirds, warblers, orioles, tanagers and more, when they spend their winters in Latin America.

With only coffee grounds picked up on garbage day, what does Wild Birds Unlimited manage to reuse? Well, everything.

its packaging bags get repurposed as bags for customers. “sometimes we’ll even cut a hole in at the top, to create a handle,” she added. All paper, including mail, catalogs and bags, is reused or recycled.

“even material we print,” Kovalcik said. “We use both sides of all paper we have, or use it for scrap paper.” she noted cardboard is one of the easiest materials to reuse. “We see if anyone needs it first,” said Kovalcik. “Movers, people going to college, businesses, someone often needs our extra boxes. The last resort is recycling them.”

Kovalcik teaches her employees to reuse all business materials as well. Kathy Kurap, Certified Bird Feeding specialist at Wild Birds Unlimited,

No taste for WasteBy Lauren Mcgregor

At work and home, Rosann Kovalcik lives by the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle

39O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

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said, “she walks the walk and has taught us so much.”And Kovalcik wants to continue sharing her ecofriendly knowledge

with others. Her advice to other business owners is simple. “Make the right purchasing choices from the beginning. Use paper cartons and bags. Buy products in glass, because glass is easily recyclable.”

While Wild Birds Unlimited uses only paper and recyclable goods, they can’t prevent the plastics and harmful packaging material sent their way. to remedy this, Kovalcik saves all the bubble wrap for reuse, styrofoam peanuts are taken to local packaging stores for reuse. Blocks of styrofoam packaging are saved for trips to a recycling center in southfield. “Once a month, i go to greenfield and eight Mile, where they can properly dispose of it,” said Kovalcik, though she wishes there was a drop off location nearby.

While she does all she can to reduce her carbon footprint, Kovalcik knows that the pointes could do more to aid the process and encourage others to contribute. she suggested a few improvements that could be made in the community. First, the grosse pointes need a place to drop these materials off, without having to drive to southfield.

even if the city cannot pick the waste up, “Why don’t we have one big bin where businesses can drop it off? it’s currently hugely inconvenient to the average small business owner.”

she also has to pay employees to cut cardboard because the city won’t take the sizes that most businesses work with.

“There is also no recycling pickup in the alley for the businesses,” she added. “They take the bins i would use for recycling and put the contents in the trash. i’m forced to bring recyclables home, where they will pick them up.”

And Kovalcik is every bit as conscious at home.

“everything that i do here (at Wild Birds Unlimited), i do at home. in nice weather, i bike to work. i don’t like to waste anything. even the scraps from cooking, i reuse. For example, after chopping vegetables, i use the scraps in a vegetable broth.”

The outside of her home is green friendly as well. “My entire yard is lawn free, except one curved strip near a path,” said Kovalcik. “i have only native southeastern Michigan plants, so i never have to water or weed. They grow so well. The most i’ve ever had to do was spray vinegar water over mulch to keep the growth down.” For more information on replacing common lawn care products with vinegar, see page 18.

Kovalcik is even green when traveling, finding a way to give back what she has taken from the earth. “i figure out how many miles i’ve driven and how many miles i’ve flown, and then donate to global releaf to offset my carbon usage.” global releaf is her charity of choice, as they plant the correct trees in habitats around the world.

“i believe we have to give back,” said Kovalcik. “We can’t just take from the earth.” And what an earth this would be if everyone shared that sentiment.

Photos by Lauren McGregor

When Wild Birds Unlimited made the move to their new location at 20381 Mack Ave., Kovalcik used as many of the materials from the previous location as possible. These included the main counter, decorative trees and even the mural. “The flooring is 75 percent recycled plastic,” said Kovalcik. She also used a Habitat for Humanity ReStore for Wild Birds Unlimited furniture needs, a bathroom sink in particular.

Kovalcik explains how the store reuses its packaging materials. All seed bags, boxes and packaging materials are repurposed.

41O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

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s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

G rosse pointe schools and students are doing more than thinking green, they are putting it into action. not only are they recycling, reducing and reusing in their classrooms, lunchrooms and

playgrounds; they are implementing creative environmental programs to help students learn about leaving a greener footprint on the earth. These efforts are most often coordinated by a school’s “green” coordinator who might also be the school’s secretary, engineer or teacher. regardless of the coordinator’s background, all are dedicated and enthusiastic about the great strides their schools are taking to protect the environment.

to recognize their efforts, most of the schools in grosse pointe have applied for and earned the Michigan green school designation. This is an annual certification that is awarded by Michigan green school, a non-profit agency that is dedicated to assisting all Michigan schools (K-12), public or private, in achieving their environmental goals. schools achieve this green status by accumulating points for their educational environmental activities during an academic school year and then submit their annual application in March.

to help the grosse pointe public school District coordinate and achieve their green initiatives, they formed a “green team.” Volunteers from each school meet two to three times a year to share “green” ideas and partner on initiatives. “We also work through the annual application for Michigan green school status, sharing best practices, discussing green resources, and setting goals we could not accomplish separately,” said District spokesperson rebecca Fannon.

some district-wide green initiatives that have come from the green team efforts include an electronics recycling day. Brownell Middle school most recently hosted one. Open to the public, old computer and electronic equipment are gathered and then recycled by a local recycling company. The green team also hosts an annual “Lights Out” day event in April where, throughout the district, everyone is encouraged to turn off any lights and unplug any equipment not necessary for health and safety for at least one hour or class period. “This is a small reminder that every little bit helps and our collective actions make a big difference,” said Fannon.

in addition to the District’s green team’s efforts, listed below are some other creative ways students in grosse pointe schools are going green.

A Creative ‘America Recycles’ Day Projecttrombly elementary, one of the first grosse pointe public schools to

earn the Michigan green school designation in 2008, participated in the national “America recycles Day” on november 15 by hosting a recycled materials craft fair. “We sent out a flyer to parents and asked the children to collect recyclable items that would fit in a bag,” said trombly’s school coordinator Diane goodwin and a member of the green team. “We asked students to come up with ideas for the craft. The students worked in groups and had one hour to design and assemble their project,” she said. “it was amazing what they made. The kids had so much fun. We will do it again next year.” trombly also has a greenhouse where children plant vegetable seeds and a volunteer Master gardener helps the students maintain the plants. The plants are then transplanted to Full Circle’s local community garden.

By patti theros

Grosse Pointe schools contribute to an eco-friendly communityGreen schoolsA ‘One Bin’Recycling Program

st. paul Catholic school’s green program coordinator tricia Kesteloot researched programs two years ago to find the easiest and most cost-effective recycling program for the school. “i talked to rizzo environmental services and the City of grosse pointe Farms about what our program needed to include so it would be the most effective. rizzo and the City were both very helpful,” said Kesteloot, who eventually decided on ecorewards, a new “Commingled” recycling program that collects and recycles paper, plastic bottles, cardboard, aluminum and steel cans all in one large collection outside of the school for a service fee. The students raised money through Box top collections to get the program started

A Trombly Elementary School student’s project on America Recycles Day

St. Paul Catholic School students Dominik Lubanski and Lydia Beaton with green program coordinator Tricia Kesteloot

43O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

and ecorewards was implemented this year. “After Mass every Friday our 8th graders,” or “earth Ambassadors” as Kesteloot calls them, “go to each classroom and collect paper and other recyclable items.” The students then bring it to the outside bin. Kesteloot says the program has also helped reduce waste in the cafeteria since many of the items from the lunchroom can also be recycled in the same bin.

Maire Elementary & The Girl Scouts

“The kids are the ones that make these (recycling) programs work,” said george Flora of Maire elementary and a member of the district’s green team. The school’s lunch room has a recycling bin with information and pictures about what can be recycled. to help the students implement the program, members of the school’s girl scout troop volunteer every lunch hour to help students understand what can and cannot be recycled. “The idea is that the kids would make this work. it’s great to see the pride they take (in the program),” said Flora.

Maire elementary also conducts a trash “weigh in” day where, once a year, the school’s garbage is weighed. During the weighing process, the students discovered that there was a lot of fluids and food in the garbage. The students established an approximate dollar value to the food over a year that was being thrown out and asked students to think about what they could do with that amount of money. The children then shared ideas with the entire school during their morning intercom “announcements” about how to reduce waste. After a week has passed from the initial weigh in, Flora weighs the school trash to see if they have been successful in reducing waste. every year they have achieved their goal!

Flora was also instrumental in getting styrofoam recycled. “i called DArt (a local recycling company) and now they pick up styrofoam at our school twice a month and recycle it. if a business or other organization has large amounts of styrofoam, they can arrange with DArt to also have a pick up,” said Flora an engineer at Maire, a Michigan green school.

A ‘Teach Green’ Elective ClassThe grosse pointe Academy has a “teach green” elective where middle

school students research, create and then teach green lessons to first- to third-grade students. The school is a Michigan green school. Classes have adopted animals, learned about alternative energy, performed home energy audits and completed “green” lessons on their ipads. What are the school’s future plans? “We will begin composting on school grounds. We’re also in the process of building a new garden that will be home to many vegetable plants and Michigan native flowers,” said sasha Murphy, the school’s green program coordinator.

University Liggett School’s Green Cup Challenge“We are a Michigan green school and are very proud that we have

earned the organization’s highest status level, evergreen status. The evergreen status is given to a school that earns 20 or more points. We have been a Michigan green school for six years,” said school spokesperson Michelle Martin. students in the environment Club do a variety of community service projects, including trips to Belle isle and

St. Paul Catholic School students Dominik Lubanski and Lydia Beaton with green program coordinator Tricia Kesteloot

University Liggett School students participating in Blackout Day by wearing black and working in natural light

Above is a ground “groundbreaking” for The Grosse Pointe Academy’s Garden Classroom this fall. Below, first-graders Alex Wysocki, left, and Walker Bagby got their hands dirty planting sunflower seeds for GPA’s Garden Classroom. Photo by Nora Ezop

44 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

planting dozens of trees on Outer Drive in Detroit. During the green Cup Challenge, students, faculty and staff worked to

reduce electric use in the school for one month. The challenge kicked off with an all-school blackout day. On that day, students were encouraged to wear black, and everyone in the school worked to conserve energy by turning off the lights in the classrooms and cafeterias, and not using sMArt Boards and other technology when not necessary.

A Rain Garden at Northstudents at grosse pointe north High school have a unique

opportunity to work on a rain garden. “it’s an area that was once covered with cement steps that was a popular hangout for skateboarders,” said Chris skowronski, north’s green program coordinator, and Advanced placement (Ap) environmental science teacher. “Back when the science building was constructed in 2005, my predecessor, steve Booher, had the vision to create a ‘rain garden’ that would host native Michigan plants and attract native Michigan wildlife. since its construction, we have planted 60 species of native wildflowers and trees. We have seen ruby-throated Hummingbirds, American goldfinches, Monarch butterfly caterpillars, dragonflies and much more. Because of our diligent work with this area, we are certified by the national Wildlife Federation as a school Yard Wild Life Habitat.” grosse pointe north is a Michigan green school, recently achieving emerald status, the second highest designation from the non-profit organization.

Leaving a ‘Legacy’ at Southgrosse pointe south is a Michigan green school with science teacher

shawn Mcnamara serving as the school’s green program coordinator. At the end of each school year, senior students in his Advanced placement (Ap) environmental science class are asked to complete an environmental stewardship project based on a topic that was most meaningful to them during the year. Approved projects are intended to be left behind to help future students learn about environmental sustainability. examples include creating effective video shorts on making south’s campus more sustainable, creating children’s books to be shared with the student in other grosse pointe public schools and constructing physical projects, such as birdhouses and gardens on campus.

Top, Grosse Pointe North’s School Yard Wild Life Habitat built in an area that used to be a skateboard hangout. Right, a North student works in the rain garden, where 60 species of native wildflowers and trees have been planted.

45O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

When it comes to customer service, Joe Ricci believes that you don’t have to dazzle buyers with flash; you just have to impress them with excellent service. “Staying in business is about providing service,” Ricci said. “In

this town, you don’t last in the car business for more than 30 years unless you’re giving people what they need and what they want.”

Ricci lives in Grosse Pointe Farms, and for 20 years had a Jeep dealership on Mack. His business, Joe Ricci Automotive, now consists of Joe Ricci Auto Center in Clinton Township, Joe Ricci Auto Center in Taylor and Marlette Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. “I’ve been selling cars since 1979,” Ricci said. “I’d say about 90 percent of my business is referrals or previous customers.”

After having a dealership on Mack for so many years, many of Ricci’s customers are Grosse Pointers. He said they appreciate the extra service that Ricci provides at his lots. And they take advantage of all the changes that technology has brought as well. “When we talk about how things were done in the old days, the ‘old days’ were only a few years ago,” Ricci said. “But people appreciate that we’ve changed to make their lives easier.”

“Most people don’t like the process of buying a car,” Ricci said. “The way we do things now, people don’t even have to come to the dealerships to get a car.”

Thanks to the Internet, it’s now possible for Ricci to post his entire inventory at all his dealerships on one central site. Customers can go online — www.joericciauto.com — and see what they like. It’s now possible to get credit online as well. The end result is that customers don’t have to spend a lot of time going from dealership to dealership to see what’s available. They don’t have to spend a lot of time at the finance desk.

In fact, with Ricci’s “no muss, no fuss” concierge service featuring home or office delivery, buyers don’t even have to take the time out of their busy day to pick up their new car or take it in for service.

“And what really makes us stand out is our used car operations,” Ricci said. “Most new car dealers only keep cars that are no older than 4 years old on the used-car part of their lots.”

Ricci is able to sell a lot of used cars at his two independent dealerships. “That means I’ll give you a good deal for your trade-in,” Ricci said. “If I can’t use it at my franchise lot, I can sell at my other two dealerships. I spend

about three days a week on the road getting used cars. We know what they’re worth and what they’ll sell for. In this town, about 85 percent of my new-car customers get some sort of new-car discount. Whether it’s from an employee discount or a family discount or a vendor discount. So there’s not a lot of

negotiating that goes on with new-car sales. So that means that trade-ins and used-car sales become very important.”

Another way Ricci stands out is by selling high-quality scooters. He sells both the Vespa and Piaggio brands. “They’re the Cadillac of scooters,” Ricci said. “They are high-quality vehicles that keep their value and can be resold. They cost between $2,200 and $10,000.”

Many customers live in places like Birmingham and Grosse Pointe. The drivers like being able to take a scooter ride to the bank or the post office. They hold two gallons of gas and get 75 miles to the gallon. “So for eight bucks, you can drive 150 miles,” Ricci said. “Our customers are evenly split between men and women. That’s interesting because I would have thought that women would have made up most of our customer because men want the Harley.” But, Ricci said, you are either a motorcycle guy

or a scooter guy. Wives often give them as gifts. “Our strong sales months are April through September, with a holiday spike in December,” Ricci said.

It’s possible to buy less expensive scooters made in China or India for a few hundred dollars, Ricci said, but he calls them basically junk. After a year, a rider might as well throw them out. It’s difficult to get parts. “We had one customer drop one off to get fixed,” Ricci said. “When we couldn’t fix it, he didn’t even bother to pick it up. It wasn’t worth his time to even do that. We keep it around as an example to buyers.” In Michigan drivers don’t need a license to ride a scooter as long as its engine is under 50cc’s. Helmets are optional in the state, but Ricci recommends them.

During his three decades in the business, Ricci has learned a lot about customer service and all types of motor vehicles — new or used, on four wheels or two — and has passed on his knowledge to his two sons, Jay and Andrew, who are both partners in the business, thus providing the same great service to the next generation of buyers and customers.

For more information, visit www.joericciauto.com or call (313) 304-4268.

By Jim Stickford

Joe Ricci

Joe Ricci AutomotiveNew and used — on four wheels or two — for 30 years

46 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | O n p O i n t e

M ichigan had the coldest winter since the mid 1970s, including a polar Vortex that swept through in January. Yet, some grosse pointe homeowners weren’t eschewing the weather; they harnessed

it instead — specifically, the warm subterranean temperatures— to heat their homes.

Four grosse pointe homeowners have had geothermal heating and cooling systems installed in their houses within the past six years, with two just last year. Their energy cost savings were noticeable — an 11,000 square foot house in grosse pointe Farms heated consistently at a cozy 70 degrees boasted monthly heating bills under $250.

“Our clients are requesting geothermal because they are financially savvy, but also because they want to be good environmental stewards,” said grosse pointe resident Andrew Casazza, project manager with russell Development Company, a local company celebrating its 96th year. russell Development subcontracts to Michigan energy group to design and install the geothermal systems for their clients. Working with russell, Michigan energy has installed geothermal systems in three 10,000+ square foot grosse pointe Farms and park homes, Casazza said. two were installed into existing homes; one of the projects was in a newly-constructed house.

The technology is not new. “The technology has been around since the 1950s. An estimated 25,000 geothermal heating and cooling units are working in Michigan, with nearly a thousand installed every year,” said a spokesperson with The Michigan geothermal energy Association.

After purchasing the house at the corner of Lakeland and Kercheval in May 2011, grosse pointe City residents randall and Maureen Juip prioritized the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system.

The Juips selected executive Heating and Cooling Company (the geothermal experts in partnership with Andy’s statewide Heating and Air Conditioning) to tackle the difficult project.

“Like many older grosse pointe homes, the HVAC systems can be quite cobbled together,” Maureen said, adding that their home had “a little of everything.” At least 40 percent of the house lacked duct work. An old steam boiler, radiators, a natural gas forced furnace serving a part of the house, and baseboard heating in parts, struggled to provide heating needs.

“Add old windows, and little to no insulation, and you can imagine how badly this house needed to be buttoned up in terms of its energy audit,” Maureen said, adding that “we actually moved up tackling the HVAC needs of the house to top priority.

“And, we’re really really happy we did! This past winter, our house was an even, consistent, cozy 70 degrees. And the air conditioning that our geothermal systems provided last summer was

even more amazing!” Maureen’s chemical engineering background made her aware of

geothermal energy, and she really wanted to pursue using a renewable resource.

“randy and i realize that with our big family and our big house, we have a big global footprint. going with geothermal has been a win-win situation, both for the environment and for us as a family.

“i don’t think a lot of people in grosse pointe know about it, but might consider it if they did.”

By Amy Miller

Grosse Pointe families experience the enormous benefits of this ecofriendly systemGeothermal heating and Cooling

Grosse Pointe resident Andrew Casazza, project manager with Russell Development Company, shows a four-tank geothermal system his company installed in a Grosse Pointe home. The geothermal system provides homeowners with free hot water. Right of Casazza are 18 well meters controlling the geothermal system. Photo by Amy Miller

The Juip family next to their geothermal system in their Grosse Pointe Farms basement.

47O n p O i n t e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4

How it worksA geothermal unit, also called a ground-source heat pump, takes

the place of a furnace or air-conditioning unit, and is installed in the basement of a residence. A geothermal system looks like the average gas furnace, except that it replaces the fuel burner with a refrigeration system that converts heat from the earth into warmth for your home. geothermal systems use electricity, but only to move heat already available in the ground, so they use a lot less than other electric heating systems. Unlike natural gas-fired furnaces, geothermal units do not use fossil fuels.

geothermal energy works by digging wells to a spot in the earth where there’s a relatively constant core temperature of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. subsoil temperatures worldwide range from 50 to 70 degrees depending on latitude. (Well depths can vary from 15 to 400 feet depending on the type of configuration used for the geothermal unit to meet the requirements of the property on which it is situated). Water and an environmentally-friendly antifreeze solution is circulated to the spot through a closed loop of plastic pipes that are installed in the bored shafts or wells. The pipes that are installed in the ground as part of the system last for about 50 years. During the winter, the fluid in the pipes collects heat from the earth and carries it through the system and into the ground-source heat pump inside the house. During the summer, the system is reversed, and the house is cooled by pulling heat back into the ground.

Geothermal units’ cost effectivenessThe U.s. environmental protection Agency (epA) has called

geothermal the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning system available.

geothermal units are touted as cost effective because for every $1 you pay in electricity, you get $5 of heat. Think of it this way: A gas furnace may have an efficiency rating of 96%; this means for each unit of fuel, 96% is converted into usable heat ($1 worth of fuel gets you 96 cents of heat. The rest of the heat goes up the furnace’s chimney). geothermal delivers a 500% efficiency rating. Five units of energy are delivered for every 1 unit of electrical energy used. Compared to conventional systems, geothermal systems consume 50% – 70% less energy for heating, cooling and hot water.

geothermal systems can provide virtually free heating of water for a homeowner’s bathing and cooking needs, and home dehumidification.

Geothermal system configurations in spring 2013, executive Heating and Cooling Company designed and

installed geothermal heating and cooling systems for the Lakeland road home that grosse pointe City residents randy and Maureen Juip share with their five children, ages 1-7 years old. The Juips actually had two geothermal systems installed, said Charlie granzow, owner of executive Heating and Cooling Company. One system handles the first floor of the

6,000 square foot house, and one system handles the second floor, granzow said.

essentially, there are three types of geothermal system configurations, but only two are allowed in the grosse pointes. The accepted systems are those that involve digging wells and placing closed-loops of pipes either horizontally or vertically into these wells.

The Michigan Department of natural resources prohibits the use of Lake st. Clair as a factor in a geothermal system for a residence. in more rural areas of Michigan, the pond Loop configuration is allowed; it takes advantage of an existing body of water located on a property where the homeowner seeks to add a geothermal heating and cooling system. The coiled loops are floated into the pond, then filled with liquid and sunk to the bottom to extract energy. This option requires the least amount of excavation work.

One of Juip’s systems is a horizontal closed loop, wrapping around the stately white-painted brick house that sits on a triple-wide lot. A horizontal closed loop system features pipes set below the frost line, about 5 to 15 feet below the earth’s surface. This option is best used when there is a sizable lot, and the homeowner doesn’t mind the disruption to landscaping from the extensive trench digging on the property during installation. The second of the Juip’s systems is a vertical closed loop configuration. nine wells, lined up in a row, each about a foot or so apart, were bored more than 200 feet below the ground.

granzow said that a comprehensive, calculated plan for design and installation of a system includes a complete energy audit of the house, a thorough understanding of the sun’s path across the property, and the house’s heat load, for starters.

What is Geothermal? And which Geothermal systems are allowed in Grosse Pointe?

A geothermal energy system of wells in the earth where there’s a relatively constant core temperature of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Well depths can vary from 15 to 400 feet. Water and an environmentally-friendly antifreeze solution is circulated to the spot through a closed loop of plastic pipes that are installed in the bored shafts or wells. The pipes that are installed in the ground as part of the system last for about 50 years.

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Y ou have to go some to find a better place than the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House for bird watching. In fact, Wild Birds Unlimited owner Rosann Kovalcik did exactly that. She

traveled 9,000 miles — a 22-hour flight — to go bird watching on Madagascar, the “eighth continent” off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.

“It was a tough trip to recover from travel-wise,” said Kovalcik, who gave a slide presentation on the trip at the January meeting of the Grosse Pointe Audubon. She and her friend and customer, Michele Rambour, of Grosse Pointe Farms, made the 18-day trip in November. It was Rambour’s first bird walk.

“Why Madagascar? People ask me that all the time,” Kovalcik said. She got the idea after hearing a Tropical Birding guide speak at the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory in the Upper Peninsula. Tropical Birding is the premier company that conducts bird watching tours on Madagascar.

“Madagascar has an extremely high number of birds that are endangered and on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss as a result of over-population of humans,” Kovalcik said. “Madagascar has developed species of birds and mammals (including the

famous lemurs) that are unlike those on the mainland. They evolved on the island and are unique to Madagascar, making it a Wonderland. Madagascar may have more endemic species than any other country.”

Of Madagascar’s 295 bird species, Kovalcik identified 155 of them.

“It was an adventure,” she said. “Truly an adventure.”Back home, when not minding the store on Mack in Grosse

Pointe Woods, Kovalcik guides her own bird walks at the Ford House. For an hour and a half, “birders” at the Ford House marvel at a stunning cast of characters: black-capped chickadees, herring gulls, northern cardinals, dark-eyed Juncos, dozens of European starlings, pairs of great black-backed gulls, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, house finches and sparrows, the red-tailed hawk, blue jay, American crows and robins, white-breasted nuthatches, the tufted titmouse and Carolina wrens. On her March 22 Bird Walk at the Ford House, she reported spotting 29 species, “just a few more than the number of birding participants.”

“Our usual woodland birds were present in pleasant numbers including three species of woodpeckers, black-capped chickadees,

the road to madaGasCar

By John Minnis and Margie reins smith

Pointe birdwatchers travel 9,000 miles to see endangered species

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white-breasted nuthatches and lovely ground level looks of tufted titmice. They always look so much more dapper with a background of snow,” Kovalcik wrote in her blog post on the walk.

“Another spectacular looking bird with super scope views was a co-operative male merlin. This falcon sat perched high in a tree at the end of the peninsula for so long that again we were able to walk away after everyone had great looks. We also viewed the falcon in a better light situation once we cleared the house and walked along the cove.

“The lawn was covered with flocks of robins. Although many of us have seen them all winter, we had our first serenade of robin song.”

The Ford House never disappoints, Kovalcik said. “There’s always a ‘Ford House moment.’” In 2010, for an encore, a coyote, trotted purposefully across the frozen surface of Lake St. Clair between Gaukler’s Point and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The most memorable sight, Kovalcik said, is the time when her group saw two eagles, their talons locked, plummeting to the ground, in a courtship display.

“They were gorgeous. Breathtaking,” said scope carrier and birding assistant James Szelc, of Grosse Pointe Farms. “It was like looking at a picture in National Geographic.”

“In the spring, we often count 60 different species in a morning,” Kovalcik said. “Eagles are a favorite,” Kovalcik said. “Bluebirds are crowd-pleasers. For some reason, bluebirds don’t want to nest here, so they’re probably on their way to somewhere else. We see flocks of blue jays in the fall. The whole sky is just twinkling with their wing beats. People love it.”

Grosse Pointe Audubon offers its members spring bird walks at

Patterson Park in Grosse Pointe Park at 6:30 p.m. on May 13 and the Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms, April 29, May 6, 13 and 20. All CCD walks begin at 6:30 a.m. and end at 8 a.m. Wear waterproof footwear — knee-high if possible.

“Of all the lakefront parks in the Grosse Pointes, Patterson is best for birding,” according to Grosse Pointe Audubon. “We will see terns, swallows and orioles, and we could see tanagers, hummingbirds and hard-to-find warblers.”

Grosse Pointe Audubon also holds an annual “Grosse Pointe Birding Challenge.” Each of the five Grosse Pointe communities creates a team that goes out on one day to identify as many bird species as possible in its city. The Grosse Pointe Woods team has “won” the event for each of the past five years running. The ninth annual Grosse Pointe Birding Challenge is scheduled for May 7.

Last year, said Grosse Pointe Audubon President Bill Rapai, only 119 species were counted in all the Pointes, down from a high of 135. “The spring was so whacky,” he recalled. “We missed a lot of birds last year.”

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, some 51.3 million Americans are birders, the No. 1 sport in America. “Bird watching can be simple or complicated,” Kovalcik said. “Some people keep life-lists of birds they’ve seen; others just enjoy the chance to be outdoors with a group of like-minded people. There’s always something new, something to learn. And, once you invest in a pair of binoculars and a field guide, bird watching is inexpensive.”

For more information, visit the Grosse Pointe Audubon website, www.gpaudubon.blogspot.com, or the Wild Birds Unlimited website, grossepointewoods.wbu.com.

Wild Birds Unlimited Grosse Pointe owner Rosann Kovalcik, right, and Farms resident, customer and friend Michele Rambour took the 22-hour flight from Detroit Metro to Madagascar to view some 295 bird species, many of them endangered and endemic to the island nation. At right, the intrepid explorers pose by a baobab tree, also endemic to Madagascar.

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