Hazmat Situation Closes Telegraph

  Hazmat crews are on the scene at Telegraph and Wilson between Ford Road and Cherry Hill to clean up a petroleum spill that occurred just after 8 pm Friday night. A tanker truck reportedly hit a patch of ice, collided with a pair of cars and flipped to its side (click above picture for detailed view of the scene).

  Hundreds of neighboring residents and businesses were briefly asked to evacuate the area as a safety measure. The sharp odor of gasoline remained in the air Saturday morning.

  Northbound Telegraph remains closed at Ford Road and traffic is snarled throughout the district as Dearborn DPW has blocked access to the area.

 We ran into the owner of La Cantina as he stocked his store for the weekend. "I just hope they get this cleaned up so I can do business." 

  A nearby Hazmat worker in a bright yellow vest was not immediately optimistic. "This could take a while," he said. "It's a real mess."

  Channel 7 Action News reported the driver of the tanker was taken to an area hospital. His condition is not known. No other injuries were reported.

The Bar is More Than Just 'A Bar'

  Four years ago, Christopher and Megan Soroka started with a simple premise: Take a classic, old Dearborn watering hole and turn it into something they could be proud of. A true neighborhood gathering place where old-timers could rub elbows with thirty and forty-somethings. Where everyone would feel welcome. Something they could call their own.
  “It’s small ‘Mom and Pop’ places like this that built this economy,” notes Mr. Soroka. “The corporate world has gotten so big we tend to forget that. We wanted to bring back a simpler time.”
  They certainly kept things simple when choosing a name. The old tavern had been called The Holiday Bar, McFadden’s and, most recently, JP Kelly’s. Megan decided on something even more elemental: The Bar.
  “Megan came up with that to get people talking,” Mr. Soroka recalls. “Usually people say, ‘We’ll meet at the bar.’ In our case, they really were.”
  Megan also managed at Cheli’s Chili and had experience running places throughout Dearborn. Between she and Christopher, they worked together and built that place they dreamed of. A spot where you could find a great burger, fantastic fried fish and even a fried bologna sandwich. If you were lucky, you’d get a great conversation, too. The walls were lined with pictures of Dearborn past and present. The Bar felt like home.
  Unfortunately, things didn’t stay simple. On a cold January morning two years ago, Megan and a co-worker were murdered at Cheli’s downtown by a disgruntled ex-employee. That’s when time stopped for Christopher and for Megan’s family and friends.
  How do you recover from such unbearable loss? Well, the sad fact is you probably never do. You struggle through each hour and every day. Which is what Christopher Soroka has done for the last two years.
  But here’s the remarkable thing, that barest glint of light amid such darkness: Megan and Christopher’s dream lives on. Mr. Soroka has, with the help of an extraordinary staff, kept The Bar going. Surely, it hasn’t been easy, but The Bar is still that special spot where neighbors go. They still drink and eat and laugh and joke and leave happy. It still feels like home.
And that’s all Christopher and Megan ever wanted in the first place.

The Bar is located at 16o1o Michigan Avenue, west of Greenfield.  Stop by Super Bowl Sunday for raffles, drink specials and a burger. We'll have the fried bologna sandwich.

Pete Seeger at Arab American National Museum Sunday

  Legendary folk singer and activist Pete Seeger will take part in a free panel discussion on Activism Through the Arts from 1 pm-2:30 pm this Sunday at the Arab American National Museum. For those unfamiliar with Seeger, his music and political activism have touched millions and influenced everyone from Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen and Bono. 

  The panel, focusing on the history and practice of profiling from the McCarthy era to the present, is presented in conjunction with the museum's current exhibition, 'A Yemeni Community: Photographs from the 1970s' by Milton Rogovin.

  Joining Seeger, who turns 90 this May, will be Ismael Ahmed, director of the Michigan Department of Human Services, activist/educator/poet Dr. Gloria House of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Mark Rogovin, the photographer's son and co-founder of the Peace Museum. Dr. Francis Shor, professor of history at Wayne State University, is scheduled to moderate the event.

  The Arab American National Museum is located across from Dearborn City Hall at 13624 Michigan Avenue.

'Dearborn Aglow' Winners Honored Tonight

  The Dearborn City Beautiful Commission will honor the best and brightest at 7 pm tonight in a ceremony recognizing the winners of the commission's Dearborn Aglow holiday decoration contest at The Council Chambers in City Hall.

  While some City Beautiful Commissioners noted that several neighborhoods appeared slightly less decorated than in years past, many families still showed enough holiday spirit to earn an award. Overall, there were 64 winners. 11 new households achieved 'Hall of Fame' status, and over 150 families received a holiday ornament for their efforts.

  A CDTV camera crew will tape the evening's events and the winning homes may be seen on the city's cable channel.

Plante-Moran Releases Study on Dearborn Schools

  At their January 26 meeting, the Dearborn Board of Education heard the results of a four month benchmarking study completed by Plante-Moran with assistance from Rahmberg Stover and Associates. The study is part of an overall plan by Superintendent Brian Whiston to review district programs, operations and expenditures.
  "This is only phase one in the process. The next phase will be to find out why the numbers look the way they do and, if needed, how can the district make improvements," Mr. Whiston said.
  The study points out that across most cost categories, Dearborn's costs as a percentage of expenditures are less than the overall average for other similarly sized districts used in the study. However, opportunities for savings may be found in areas such as natural gas cost, school bussing and other areas of transportation as well as staffing levels. What the district will do to address these issues has yet to be revealed.
  "I feel that the report has provided us with good information that will allow the district to make the types of changes needed to cut costs, improve efficiencies and implement a better reporting system," Mr. Whiston added. He also made it clear that the study is not a step toward privatizing services, but will be used to investigate how the district can save money and resources, an important issue given a projected $10.5 million deficit for the 2009-10 school year. The full Plante-Moran report can be viewed here.

Language of Gaza Resolution Revealed

  Below is the language the City Council finally adopted for the resolution Councilwoman Sareini proposed regarding the crisis in the Gaza Strip. It appears that many of the details other Council members objected to when this measure was originally proposed on January 20th have been substantially revised:
WHEREAS: The citizens of Dearborn represent a diverse population with a strong interest in upholding principles of democracy and respect for all peoples, and
WHEREAS: The Dearborn City Council affirms its support of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, principles of international law and of peaceful alternatives to war, and
WHEREAS: Access to humanitarian aid is essential to all people who are victims of catastrophe whether from natural or human acts and they should never be denied aid and assistance, particularly by those responsible, and
WHEREAS: The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution calling for an immediate and durable cease-fire between Hamas and Israeli forces in Gaza and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has called for a permanent cease-fire, and
WHEREAS: The new President of the United States, Barak Obama, has announced that the guiding principles for U.S. engagement in international affairs will be the justness of our cause, the force of example and the tempering qualities of humility and restraint, and
WHEREAS: President Obama cautioned leaders around the globe that their people will judge them on what they can build and not what they destroy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Dearborn City Council hereby goes on record recognizing the grievous impact of the loss of lives in this conflict on families and communities, and mourning those lives lost on both sides of the conflict, now condemns the attacks on civilians, the massive loss of life and the destruction of property, and asks that the U.S. immediately intervene to build a lasting and just peace in the Middle East that recognizes the rights of sovereignty and self-determination for all people; be it further
RESOLVED: That the Dearborn City Council urges the United States government to press for: access to Gaza for journalists; access to Gazans to humanitarian aid; a long-term truce and an end to the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip and an increased flow of goods and people between Gaza and the outside world particularly including Egypt and Israel, a long-term negotiated peace and a two-state solution that acknowledges the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and freedom.
  Council members Abraham, Darany, Hubbard, Sareini, Shooshanian and Tafelski voted for the resolution in a closed session late last week. Councilman Thomas was absent.

Police Warn of Scam Artists

  The Dearborn Police Department advises citizens to beware of scam artists who are currently working in the area to get money or financial information from unwitting victims. Senior citizens can be especially vulnerable to these swindlers.
  A method these scammers commonly use is to approach an elderly person in a public place, telling him or her that they’ve just found a large sum of money. Sometimes the con artist will flash a stack of bills to support the claim. Then the scammer will try to trick the victim into withdrawing money from the bank, with a promise that a portion of the “found” money will be shared with him or her. Anyone approached in this manner should immediately contact the Dearborn Police Department at 943-2241.
  Many con artists will also contact potential victims on the telephone and pose as officials from a financial institution in an attempt to get credit card or bank account numbers. Do not provide any personal information. Instead, ask the caller for the name and number of the company or financial institution he or she claims to represent. Then call the company or financial institution using a published customer service number–not the phone number provided by the caller, which could be a fake number to a partner scammer.
  The bottom line is to remain vigilant at all times to protect yourself from fraud. Be on guard, as well, for older neighbors and family members who are particularly susceptible to such crimes.

Free Tax Prep Available to Needy Residents

  Free help preparing tax forms is available for low to moderate income Dearborn residents, with special attention for those 60 and older. This service is offered by the City of Dearborn’s Senior Services Division, and begins the first week of February.
  Assistance is available in completing the following 2008 tax forms: Michigan Home Heating Credit, Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credit, state income tax and federal income tax. 

  Help will be provided at the locations, dates and times listed below. No appointment is necessary.

• Dearborn Senior Center (inside Ford Community & Performing Arts Center) 10 am-2 pm, Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 3–April 15 (closed Good Friday).

• Kennedy Plaza (5111 Bingham) 10 am-2 pm Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12 and 19.
• Hubbard Manor West (22077 Beech) 10 am-2 pm Fridays, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27.
• Townsend Towers (7000 Freda) 10 am-2 pm Thursdays, March 5 and 12.
  Please bring the following: your 2007 tax returns, 2008 tax forms and records of all income (including Social Security, earned interest, dividends and pensions); also bring receipts for health care costs, medical insurance premiums and tax payment receipts for city, school and county taxes. No complicated forms will be accepted. Dearborn Senior Services is not responsible for tax preparations.

How to Leave Comments

  We've received lots of e-mails from new readers lately expressing frustration with our commenting system. We realize it's less than perfect and continue to search for a solution that will make everyone happy.
  Until then, you can work around this glitch in our system, as many readers have already proven. If you wish to post under your own name or a 'handle' you create for yourself, simply choose 'Name/URL' from the pull-down menu when making your comment (we'd prefer you not comment as 'Anonymous'-these posts may be removed). Put your chosen name in the 'Name' bar and leave the 'URL' section blank or link to a related web page by inserting the page address. After pressing 'Post Comment' you will get an alert in red type that reads, 'Your request could not be processed. Please try again.' Hit 'Post Comment' again and your post will magically appear.
  We know it's a hassle and appreciate how many of you have continued to leave comments here, despite this minor problem.

Big Weekend at Player's Guild

  With all the productions that shuffle through the glitzy Michael Guido Theater every year, it’s regrettably easy to overlook the amazing shows that our neighbors regularly put on for us just across town at The Player’s Guild of Dearborn.
  The Guild is a cultural landmark that deserves both our attention and our attendance. Since 1927, they have worked tirelessly to entertain our community while struggling to keep the doors open and the stage-lights on during lean times.
  Of course, The Guild is no charity case and has always been a showcase for some of the best actors, musicians and directors in the state. George Peppard, Tom Skerritt and Chad Everett all walked the boards of The Guild before gaining fame in Hollywood.
  This is the closing weekend of The Guild’s production of Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The performance is directed by local theater legend Paul Bruce. Mr. Bruce, an Edsel Ford graduate and educator, has written and directed Off-Broadway shows and his own successful musical “Madame X” held its first performances on the Guild stage.
  Check out “The Importance of Being Earnest” today and tomorrow at 8 pm. A final Sunday matinee starts at 2:30 pm. The Player’s Guild of Dearborn is located at 21730 Madison. Call 313-561-TKTS for tickets.

Special Trash Drop-Offs Begin Saturday

  Dearborn residents can dispose of a variety of items not acceptable for curbside trash pickup by bringing them to the DPW Yard (2951 Greenfield Road, south of Rotunda) from 8 am to 2 pm this Saturday.
  Among the items acceptable for drop-off: furniture and other non-hazardous household materials from large move-outs; dirt, sod, sand, concrete and bricks; firewood, logs and stumps; bathtubs, laundry tubs, sinks and toilets.
  Please note the following items will not be accepted at the DPW Yard: fuel, tires, ammunition, refrigerators, microwaves or other appliances. Hazardous materials of any kind will also not be accepted Saturday. To check if your materials are acceptable for disposal, please call DPW at 313.943.2085.
  The city will continue to provide this special service monthly throughout 2009 on the following dates: Feb. 21, March 21, April 25, May 23, June 20, July 25, Aug. 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 21 and Dec. 26.  Contractors and non-residents cannot use this service. Please be prepared to provide proof of Dearborn residency.

Council Meeting Notes

  With Council President Tafelski out, Councilwoman Nancy Hubbard presided over Dearborn’s City Council meeting last night. Councilman Thomas was also absent, but all other council members appeared along with Mayor O’Reilly. Among the resolutions adopted during this week’s meeting:

- $694,160 to Halt Fire, Inc. for the purchase of four 2009 medium-duty Type 1 Fire Rescue vehicles for the Fire Department.

-$54,698 awarded to a variety of vendors for ammunition for Dearborn Police.

-$23,239 contract to Poco for a Dump Vehicle Crash Trailer. This addition will help city workers safely make repairs on busy County roads. Councilman Abraham lamented the state of Wayne County roads that run through Dearborn and warned that future expenditures to help maintain these roads can be expected.

  

  The meeting took a slightly awkward turn when Councilwoman Sareini asked Council to adopt a resolution decrying the current violence in the Gaza Strip. The resolution, clearly prepared in part by publisher and editor of the Arab American News, Osama Siblani, who briefly spoke, raised questions among several Council members and was ultimately tabled until later.

  The Council also offered condolences to the families of Jeanne Champagne, Jane Fellrath and Dr. Raymond Hutchens.

It's Official: City Sues Burton-Katzman

  As reported here over the weekend, the City of Dearborn has filed a lawsuit against the Burton-Katzman Development Co., Inc. and key personnel for failing to complete a commercial and residential project on the west side, and for failing to reveal that the company had filed dissolution documents in March of last year. The official court documents can be viewed here.
  The suit alleges breach of contract and silent fraud arising from the 2003 development agreement signed with the City of Dearborn. That agreement legally binds Burton-Katzman and its affiliates to build two mid-rise buildings on West Village Drive, and complete 48 condos between West Village Drive and the railroad tracks in the area known as West Village Commons.
  The development agreement outlined specific time frames for the completion of these projects. All of the deadlines passed a year or more ago.
  The silent fraud is alleged because executives of Burton-Katzman continued to represent the company in negotiations with the city throughout 2008, despite Burton-Katzman filing a Certificate of Dissolution with the State of Michigan last March.
  The city discovered the company’s status on January 9, 2009, as it was preparing the breach of contract lawsuit against Burton-Katzman.
  Dearborn is asking the court to require the company to fulfill the terms of the 2003 development agreement by building two mid-rise buildings worth at least $20.2 million, and ordering its affiliate, Abbey Homes, to complete the 12 remaining condo units, which were supposed to have a value of $2.5 million.
  It is also asking the court to require Burton-Katzman to pay damages of more than $349,000 for unpaid taxes, plus penalties and interest; and pay damages of $16.4 million to cover the city’s costs for two parking decks.
  Based on the 2003 development agreement, the City of Dearborn built the two 300-spot parking decks on West Village Drive near Military in large part to serve Burton-Katzman’s residential and hotel projects, which the company has failed to construct.
  Under the agreement, the City was to be significantly reimbursed for the cost of the parking decks through the property taxes to be generated by Burton-Katzman’s projects, as well as monthly parking permits purchased by the development’s tenants.
  Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said, “The lawsuit was filed only after more than 18 months of pro-active discussions with Burton-Katzman to find suitable alternatives that were reasonable given the changing economic climate. But it became apparent a lawsuit was our only avenue. That has become even more clear after we discovered that the parties weren’t honest with us.”
  Named in the lawsuit along with Burton-Katzman Co. are West Village Commons, LLC; Abbey Homes, LLC; Peter Burton, a partner and president of Burton-Katzman; Robert Katzman, a partner in Burton-Katzman; Charles Dimaggio, vice president of project management for Burton-Katzman; and Daniel Share, an attorney for Burton-Katzman.

DPS Details Budget Deficit

  Dearborn Public Schools has released a video that provides general information about this year's district budget. The video, shown above, features Superintendent Brian Whiston and Director of Business Services Robert Cipriano as they outline the projected $10.5 million budget deficit for the 2009-10 school year.
  In addition, DPS announced that Mr. Whiston, Mr. Cipriano and other district administrators will be visiting with staff members at each Dearborn school to deliver the budget presentation, participate in a question/answer session and solicit any cost-saving suggestions. Parent groups or community organizations interested in scheduling a live presentation or wishing to provide input can contact the Superintendent’s Office at 313-827-3020.
  "Easy fixes are long gone," Mr. Cipriano said, citing a number of reasons for the budget shortfall, including a $100 per pupil cut in state aid.

  This is the eighth straight year that the district is looking to make budget reductions. District administrators have been discussing a budget plan for the 2009-10 school year since late November and are scheduled to bring a balanced budget plan to the Board of Education by the end of February. State law requires the Board of Education to have a balanced budget for the 2009-10 school year in place by June 30, 2009.

1968

  The evening before he was assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave this powerful and prescient speech to striking garbage workers in Memphis, Tennessee.
  We thought it a fitting way, on this special day, to introduce Dearborn News Online's new video component.

Crowley Park Neighborhood Association Meets Wednesday

  We believe Dearborn's network of Neighborhood Associations are a huge asset to our city. We're clearly pleased Mayor O'Reilly's administration has made a determined effort to rebuild and reinvigorate this system, and will do our best to help Neighborhood Associations throughout our town communicate important information on meetings and other events.

  With that in mind, we're proud to announce the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Crowley Park Neighborhood Association this Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria of Long Elementary. 

  Residents will hear a presentation from the Dearborn Police Department and get an opportunity to learn more about their new Neighborhood Association as well as volunteer opportunities.
  The boundaries of the association are south of Michigan Avenue, north of Dartmouth Street, west of Telegraph Road and east of Gulley Road.
  For more information about Dearborn’s many neighborhood associations, call City Hall at 943-2216. To have information about your Neighborhood Association appear here, simply click 'CONTACT' on the lower right column.

Dearborn Schools: No Ban on Arabic

  The Dearborn Public Schools dismissed reports that appeared in Detroit newspapers Thursday claiming they were considering a recommendation to eliminate the use of Arabic and other languages in Dearborn classrooms, particularly Fordson High School.
  “The district will continue to do what we have always done, teach students in English, and when necessary and appropriate, use native languages to help students understand a specific concept so they can be successful in the classroom,” Superintendent Brian Whiston said in a statement released by the district. “In addition, if we need to speak with parents about a school issue, and they are not proficient in English, we will use their native language to explain the issue.”
  The district pointed to a long record of success in transitioning English language learners  to mainstream classrooms faster then the norm. They also cited classes that teach English to parents so they can be more involved in the schools and their child’s education.
  “The goal of the district is to build a culture of learning in each school so that students, staff, parents and community members are focused on the academic success of students and feel welcome in our buildings,” commented Superintendent Whiston.
  Thanks to our readers for bringing this story to our attention. The original Detroit News article can be read here.

OPINION: Communities Must Come Together

  Over the past decade and more, it seems our city has gradually moved from a multi-cultural area to a bi-cultural area.  From our perspective, Dearborn's Arab-American and Anglo-American communities have increasingly separated into distinct camps that interact only when necessary. We think it’s a divide that hurts everyone in Dearborn.
  This discussion is nothing new to our city. It goes on daily in bars and restaurants, and in coffee shops and fruit markets. It resonates throughout our living rooms and our schoolrooms. It makes many uncomfortable to speak of and, certainly, to write of. But we feel ignoring it is an option that’s not very palatable, either. So we humbly offer a few meager, but obvious truths.
  Old Dearborn is gone. There are many who seem stuck in a Dearborn that’s forever idealized in memory. We’re not sure that time or place ever existed. For those who do, we urge you to begin looking forward instead of back. It’s time to celebrate the growing diversity around you. Your Arab and Muslim neighbors bring a rich and vital culture to our city that will inevitably add to what previous generations of Poles, Italians, Germans and Irish established here generations ago. Any good city is always in flux, absorbing the best parts of those who make it their home, changing day by day.
  Conversely, Dearborn is not the Middle East. There are many here who yearn to make this small American city a reflection of Lebanon or Yemen or Iraq. But it can never be, and we urge you, too, to look ahead. While you should always honor your heritage, no place on the planet offers the bounty and freedom found in the United States. No one here will ever ask that you abandon your culture or religion, but it is time to truly adopt this country and its language.
  Simply put, Dearborn will not work and cannot succeed as a city divided. Let's come together finally and celebrate our differences while working to expand the common ground we share. It’s a message that’s especially important at a time when our city’s diversity is broadening with a growing influx of African American and Hispanic neighbors. We don’t offer easy solutions because none exist. We offer only this rather clumsy call for people across our city to work harder to bridge this gap.
  That’s our opinion. Let us know yours.

'SNL' Reunion This Saturday Night

  Those less charitable than ourselves might call them ‘The Past Their Prime Time Players,’ but there’s no denying Saturday Night Live alumni Joe Piscopo, Victoria Jackson and Father Guido Sarducci will be hitting Dearborn right in the heart of prime time with a performance at the Michael Guido Theater this Saturday at 8 pm.
  Piscopo was renowned during his tenure with the show for his cutting impersonations of Frank Sinatra and David Letterman, Jackson for her ukelele-playing, Betty Boop-inspired comedy and Sarducci, of course, has long been known as the gossip columnist and rock critic for the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. Sarducci is the alter ego of actor, writer and comedian Don Novello.

  Tickets for the performance start at $24. For more information, call 313-943-2354.

Superintendent Whiston Lauds School Board

  January is School Board Recognition Month and is celebrated by 552 local and 57 intermediate school districts in Michigan. At the January 12 School Board meeting, Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston took time to honor the seven School Board members for their dedication to school governance.
  “I appreciate the time and effort our Board members dedicate to their job and the students in the district,” said Superintendent Whiston.
  In Dearborn, School Board members develop policies and make decisions that impact more than 18,000 students, almost 2,100 employees, 35 district buildings, and an annual budget of $190 million. In addition, Dearborn School Board members serve as trustees for Henry Ford Community College.
  The Dearborn Board of Education began the new year with a brief organizational meeting prior to the start of the regular Board meeting. The Board selected new officers to serve for the 2009 year. Veteran Board member Joe Guido was selected to be President, replacing 22-year veteran Sharon Dulmage. Dulmage was unsuccessful in her bid for re-election in 2008. Aimee Blackburn was named Vice President, Darrell Donelson, Secretary, and Jim Schoolmaster, Treasury. Board members serve in their officer position for one year but are elected to serve on the Board for a four year period.

New Options for Yard Waste Disposal

  While regular curbside disposal of yard waste does not begin until April 6, residents can take advantage of a limited curbside yard waste disposal program being offered in February and March.
  During the first Public Service Days weeks in each month (the weeks of Feb. 2-6 and March 2-6), residents may put out yard waste on their regular trash pickup day. Crews will collect the yard waste as soon as possible. Be aware that pickup may not necessarily take place on your trash day.
  Dearborn residents may also dispose of small amounts of yard waste at Dearborn’s DPW Yard (2951 Greenfield Road, south of Rotunda) through the end of March on Mondays through Fridays from 7 am to 4 pm. Please be prepared to provide proof of Dearborn residency. This service is not available to contractors and non-residents.

New York Times Writer Hits Home

  We're fans of New York Times columnist and ex-Detroiter Lawrence Ulrich. Throughout the last several weeks, he's been on the front lines with people like Mitch Albom defending the city, its people and (to a lesser extent) the auto giants that loom over both to a nation that is struggling to understand what Detroit is and what Detroit does.

  In Sunday's Times, Mr. Ulrich described his complicated relationship with our region and our region's complicated relationship with the industry that helped build it. It's a fine piece of writing, and he mentions a few people and places you may know.

Read it here.

Mayor to Speak at Clean Energy Conference

  Environment Michigan will release a report addressing the
question: How much pollution could America prevent by boosting our
economy with clean energy and green investments? The report
details the environmental benefits of the group's economic recovery
recommendations to Congress and the incoming Obama administration while highlighting examples of current 'ready-to-go' clean energy projects here in Michigan.
  Mayor O'Reilly will discuss Dearborn's own ready-to-go clean energy projects as well as the city's overall commitment to the environment. Shelley Vinyard from Environment Michigan and Ed Bagale of the Rouge Gateway Partnership will also speak.
  The conference will take place tomorrow at 10 am in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Macy Monday at Henry Ford Museum

  The Henry Ford Museum hosts the first in its 2009 series, Macy 2nd Mondays today. The program is held on the second Monday of each month from 10 am-noon, and features activities especially geared toward young children.
  This month, kids can enjoy the last gasp of the holidays with games, crafts, readings and a scavenger hunt all based around the book/movie ‘The Polar Express.’
  Admission to the museum is free for children under five. For more information call 313-982-6001 or click here.

Local Restaurant Hosts Celeb Chef

  Celebrity chef, writer and general bon vivant Anthony Bourdain visited the Detroit area last week to tape segments for his acclaimed Travel Channel series 'No Reservations.' With thousands of different restaurants to choose from, Bourdain and his producers picked Dearborn's own Al Ameer restaurant as one of the area's best.
  Bourdain's program has often featured small, family-owned enterprises that consistently churn out great food. Al Ameer certainly fits the bill, and has long been one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in a community that is rife with them. The show, which will also feature Hamtramck's Polonia restaurant and Cadieux Cafe in Detroit, is scheduled to air in early summer.

  We suggest beating the rush. Visit Al Ameer on Warren Avenue near Greenfield or their Ford Road restaurant in Dearborn Heights. To find out more, click here.

Scholarship Offered in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

  High school seniors with Arab or Chaldean backgrounds are encouraged to enter an essay for a chance to win the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Program.
  Applicants must submit an essay of 750-1,000 words by January 15th explaining what the teachings of Dr. King mean to them. All submissions should be written ‘exclusively from an Arab or Chaldean perspective.’
  Winners will receive an award of $500 or more that may be applied to college tuition. A banquet will be held for honorees on January 30th at Greenfield Manor in Dearborn.

For more information, call the ADC at 581-1201.

Snow Emergency Declared

  The City of Dearborn has declared a snow emergency effective at 9 pm this evening. You must remove your parked vehicles from the street or you could be ticketed and your vehicles may be towed. Police do not issue warnings. Keep streets clear of parked vehicles until plowing has been completed in your neighborhood.
  Take this opportunity to be a good neighbor by allowing an extra car in your driveway or helping dig out a senior citizen or even that guy working double shifts down the street.
You can call the snow emergency hotline at 943-2444.

Dearborn Public Schools Wins Literacy Award

  Dearborn Public Schools was awarded the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (PCL) Award at the 2008 Arkansas Reading Recovery and Comprehensive Literacy K-8 Conference. Out of 150 eligible school districts from across the country, Dearborn was selected to receive the award.
  The annual award is given to an exemplary school district that has implemented the PCL model for at least 5 years. The award is based on three criteria. First, the administration has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the use of highly trained literacy coaches as agents of school change. Second, the district has shown an ongoing commitment to Reading Recovery as a research-based intervention for struggling first readers. Third, the district has demonstrated literacy improvement in significant ways, including measurable gains in student achievement.
  The district began using the model in the fall of 2001. The partnership schools include Maples, Salina Intermediate, River Oaks, Lindbergh, McDonald, Nowlin, Whitmore Bolles, DuVall, Geer Park, Howard, Haigh, and Henry Ford Elementary.

Acting Classes Start Saturday

  Budding Meryl Streeps and Robert DeNiros take note: The Dearborn Recreation Department’s theater program will hold acting classes from 1 pm-3 pm beginning this Saturday at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. Classes are tailored to all age groups, from pre-schoolers to adults.
  Registration is required for the 10-week class and all levels are filling up fast. Call the Cultural Arts Department at 313-943-2190 for further information.

K-Dow Kaput

  K-Dow Petrochemicals, the proposed joint venture between the Kuwait government and Dow Chemical, has officially been abandoned this week.
  The partnership was to be based in Detroit, and Dearborn’s large Arab American community was cited as one of several reasons the new company chose the area. There was also hope that K-Dow would provide much-needed job opportunities throughout the community.
  When the cooperative effort was initially announced, Hassan Jaber, executive director of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Justice, hoped it might spur stronger economic ties between the state and the Middle East.
  "Maybe this Kuwaiti company is only the beginning of ... a huge partnership between Michigan and the Arab world," he told reporters. "I think that Michigan can be the obvious and most qualified in terms of bringing these investments to the U.S."
  Ultimately, though, Kuwait’s cabinet cited the worldwide economic climate and falling oil prices among reasons for pulling their $7.5 billion investment.

One Student Hospitalized, Another Arrested at Edsel Ford

  One student was taken to Oakwood Hospital with minor cuts and abrasions following an altercation after the first lunch period Wednesday at Edsel Ford High School. A school resource officer was in the building and arrested one student for assault and battery and ticketed two others for disorderly conduct. School administrators suspended the students involved, pending a formal hearing. 
  Dearborn Public School District Communications Coordinator David Mustonen said in a statement, “The staff and students at Edsel Ford continuously work to maintain a safe and orderly atmosphere that promotes teaching and learning. This isolated incident does not reflect the typical behavior of Edsel students and is not acceptable in any Dearborn Public School.”

Presentation on Digital TV Switch Saturday at HFCL

  You may have heard about the upcoming switch to digital TV that’s happening on  February 17, but aren’t sure what it means to you. If so, you're invited to a free public presentation entitled “Transition to Digital Television: Are You Ready?” being offered at        2 pm Saturday in the auditorium of Dearborn’s Henry Ford Centennial Library.
  By law, all “full-power” television stations in the United States must broadcast TV signals exclusively in digital format starting February 17. Although cable and satellite TV customers will be mostly unaffected by the switch to digital, residents should make sure their TVs can receive digital signals in order to keep viewing after that date. 
  During the presentation, Mike Katona from WDIV-TV will discuss what the public needs to know about preparing for this transition, including why it’s happening and what, if anything, you need to do to upgrade your TV set.   

Dearborn Memories: Michael D. Albano

  We invite our readers to give us their unique take on our city. Mr. Albano is a regular contributor to the Dearborn Press and Guide and DearbornNewsOnline.com.

  For those of us who grew up back in the Fifties and Sixties, being raised in Dearborn was a real treat and we were among the most privileged generations in America. Ford Motor Company kept Dearborn’s coffers full, so we had pools, parks and programs you couldn’t find in other communities. I also believe that Mayor Hubbard, who knew that idle hands and minds were not particularly a good thing, made sure we kids had plenty to do to keep us out of trouble
  I remember my daily trips to Summer Stephens pool to swim, then later play paddle ball and baseball with my friends. If we were really lucky, we’d get a ride down to Dearborn’s famed Seashore Pool. Anyone who had the chance to visit Seashore at Levagood Park will never forget that pool. Wonderful water slides in the shallow end, three levels of diving boards in the deep end and a pool that was round and huge.
  Going to the Youth Center, a place that was truly extraordinary for its time, was another treat. Rollerskating in that giant dome, playing board games checked out from the coat room, shuffleboard, ping pong, pool and more. All for free with a Dearborn ID card.
  When we wanted to mingle, we walked to Westborn shopping center (it wasn’t a covered ‘mall’ back then) and hung out at the soda fountains within Kresge’s or Cunningham’s Drugs. For a real treat, we’d all head down to Sander’s. Believe it or not, there were plenty of places to shop in downtown Dearborn, too. We had Crowley’s, Hughes & Hatcher, Ted’s, Price’s, Jacobson’s, Muirhead’s and more.
  And who can forget Camp Dearborn? I still remember staying in those creative, barrack-type tent cities. Swimming and tanning on that wonderful beach was a must, of course, and we always finished the day with those great evening dances at the Canteen.
  To this day, I cannot think of a better city to grow up in than Dearborn. We were all truly blessed.

We’d love to hear your point of view, too. Send submissions to editor@DearbornNewsOnline.com or simply click ‘CONTACT’ on the right side of this page.

Council Meeting Notes

  Dearborn’s City Council convened a quick and efficient first meeting of 2009 on Monday evening. Councilwoman Sareini and Councilman Thomas were absent, but all other council members appeared along with Mayor O’Reilly. Among the resolutions adopted during this week’s meeting:

-$300,000 to renew contract with NLS Lawn Service, Inc. NLS helps keep grass on vacant lots and foreclosed or abandoned homes mowed throughout the year. Much of this money, according to Council President Tafelski, is reimbursed by the homeowners or banks involved.

-$196,880 to Bell Equipment Company for a rear loading refuse collection vehicle (we’re guessing that’s fancy talk for ‘garbage truck’).

-$25,305 to University Lithoprinters for the design, printing and mailing of ‘Back Fence’ newsletter.

  The council also offered condolences to the families of the late Frank Bewick, James Vincent Fundaro and Bernice McCray.

Fire Damages Home at Greenfield Village

  A fire caused major damage to the Sarah Jordan Boarding House at Greenfield Village Monday. The house was once home to the many bachelors who worked for Thomas Edison's nearby Menlo Park Laboratory complex and, as such, was one of the first buildings in the country to be lit with electricity
  No one was hurt in the fire, and the cause is under investigation.

City Crews Will Take Yard Debris Throughout Week

  Due to the recent windstorms that ripped through parts of Dearborn, the city will be picking up household yard debris the week of Jan. 5-9.
  Residents may put fallen branches and displaced brush to the curb on their regular trash pickup day this week only.
Dearborn Department of Public Works crews will collect the storm debris as close to residents’ regular trash pickup day as possible. Dearborn residents may also call the DPW at 313-943-2085 to request a pickup of storm debris, which must be placed at the curb. Note that this service is only for yard waste caused by the recent high winds.

The Revolution of 1914

  On this day in 1914, the Ford Motor Company announced its plan to pay workers five dollars a day. It was an astronomical raise from the current wage of $2.34.
  “The Ford Motor Company, the greatest and most successful automobile manufacturing company in the world, will, on January 12, inaugurate the greatest revolution in the matter of rewards for its workers ever known in the industrial world,” Henry Ford proclaimed. “The commonest laborer who sweeps the floor shall receive his $5 per day. We believe in making 20,000 men prosperous and contented rather than follow the plan of making a few slave-drivers in our establishment millionaires.”
  It was a policy that radically changed the industrial landscape and altered the faces of Dearborn, Detroit and surrounding communities forever. Immediately after the announcement, over 10,000 men gathered outside the Highland Park plant. Over the following years, thousands more would migrate to the area, hoping to gain from Ford’s largesse.
  Not everyone would benefit, however. Women were not eligible for the new wage, and men were required to abide by Mr. Ford’s strictly enforced moral code that frowned on drinking, gambling and general untidiness.
  Still, it was a monumental decision that continues to resonate throughout our town to this day.

Public Service Days Week Begins

  January 5th through 9th is a Public Service Days Week in Dearborn. Residents and their visitors are advised to keep parked vehicles off the street from 

7 am to 4 pm on their trash pickup day this week. Also, trash containers and recycling bins should be placed on the easement.
  Keeping roads clear allows city crews to safely and effectively provide services like street sweeping, tree trimming and sewer maintenance. Dearborn Police may ticket cars parked on the street during these Public Service Days.
For more information, call 313-943-2886.

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  That said, we also realize our commenting system is less than perfect, and will introduce other options as the weeks progress. Until then, you can work around this glitch in our system, as many readers have already proven. If you wish to post under your own name or a 'handle' you create for yourself, simply choose 'Name/URL' from the pull-down menu when making your comment. Put your chosen name in the 'Name' bar and leave the 'URL' section blank. After pressing 'Post Comment' you will get an alert in red type that reads, 'Your request could not be processed. Please try again.' Hit 'Post Comment' again and your post will magically appear.
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Health Department Offers Flu Shots

  The Dearborn Health Department will offer flu shots for both Dearborn residents and non-residents. Flu shots are available from 9 am to 4 pm each Tuesday and Wednesday until supplies are exhausted. No appointment is necessary.
  Shots will be given at the Dearborn Health Department, located inside the Henry Ford Centennial Library (entrance on west side of building).
  The cost is $10 per person for Dearborn residents and $15 for non-residents. Please bring photo identification.
For more information, call 313-943-2090.

Florist Finds New Home on West Side

  If you’ve driven down Grindley Park on Dearborn’s west side recently, you may have encountered a familiar site in an unfamiliar location. Harry Miller Flowers, a Dearborn institution for over 70 years has moved from its longtime home on Michigan Avenue.
  “The community at the old location obviously changed over the years, and we changed with them,” said owner James Matlock, explaining the move. He’s been open in the new location since November 1, and the change appears to have breathed new life into his business. “It’s like we stepped back in time to what the old shop was 20 years ago. In a good way. Now we’re back doing what we do best. We’re in our comfort zone, so to speak.”
  Mr. Matlock took over the space previously occupied by Park Flowers and then expanded into the adjacent space. "I wanted to stay in Dearborn and move into an area with an established florist, and this fit the bill nicely. It’s all working out very well."
Visit Harry Miller Flowers at 1832 Grindley Park or call 313-581-2328.