'Smoke on the Grill' Tickets Available

  There are still tickets available for Dearborn’s big “Smoke on the Grill” charity fundraiser from 4pm-7pm on Thursday, October 1st at Ford Field Park.
  The event, which includes dinner, drinks and entertainment, benefits Dearborn public school students through the Parent Teacher Student Associations and the Dearborn Goodfellows.
  With an important election just over a month away, "Smoke on the Grill" is also a great, informal opportunity to rub elbows with the city's movers and shakers. Mayor John B. O’Reilly will serve as honorary chairman for the event, but expect other city and business leaders to be on hand.
  The money raised at the event helps fund new technology, uniforms and other items students need but aren’t covered in our schools' ever-shrinking budget.
  Of course, some money also goes to help the Dearborn Goodfellows pay for all the great things they do in the community throughout the year, including buying holiday gifts for those in need.
  Tickets this year are just $30. To reserve yours, call Gary Kuhlmann at Park Place Catering at 313-274-4499.

Councilman Grateful for Support After Devastating Fire

  As many know, Councilman Robert Abraham's home suffered significant damage due to a fire that broke out last Saturday evening. Luckily, Councilman Abraham and his family were not hurt in the blaze, but the family’s dog, Dublin, perished in the fire.
  The Abraham family wish to extend their heartfelt thanks to all those throughout Dearborn who have made calls and other gestures of support. Many people have gone so far as offering gifts of financial assistance to the Abraham family. While those offers are sincerely appreciated, the Abraham family invites anyone interested in making such a gift to instead give a donation to the Dearborn Animal Shelter in Dublin’s memory.
  The Shelter can certainly use the support. Those interested in making a donation to the Dearborn Animal Shelter can do so online at www.dearborn-animals.com, by phone at 313-943-2697 or by mail to Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter.
  Our best wishes go out to Councilman Abraham and his entire family.

New Director, Fundraiser for Education Foundation

  The Dearborn Education Foundation will hold a golf outing and fundraiser this Sunday, October 4th at TPC Michigan.
  The Education Foundation is a licensed 501c3 non-profit organization that aims to enhance the education students receive from Dearborn Public Schools through grants to fund technology, equipment and innovative programs not funded by the school district’s budget. A full 100 percent of all funds raised by the Education Foundation are funneled into these grants.
  Sunday's fundraiser will be one of the first events with new Executive Director Eddie Fakhoury at the helm. This summer, the foundation conducted an exhaustive search for new leadership. After reviewing a number of candidates, the group finally selected Mr. Fakhoury from within its ranks. Fakhoury also works for PL Marketing as a Senior Sales Manager.
  The cost to participate in this weekend's outing is $225 per golfer and includes 18 holes with cart, lunch and a buffet dinner. Registration begins at 11:00am and a shotgun start takes place at 1:00pm.
  “There’s no better way to enjoy your love of golf than to play TPC; it’s a great course,” said Foundation President Brian Mosallam. “And it’s a wonderful feeling to know that while you’re having some fun you’re also doing your part to help make the education that Dearborn’s kids receive even better.”
  To reserve tickets, contact Eddie Fakhoury at fakhoue@dearborn.k12.mi.us or by phone at 313-827-8790.

Comedy Plays On at Guild

  The Players Guild of Dearborn is now in their 82nd season, and only two weeks remain in the run of their popular season opening production, “Inspecting Carol.”
  The show, a comedy originated by the Seattle Repertory Company, is a timely farce that has a local playhouse preening for a federal bailout, of sorts, from the National Endowment of the Arts
Brian Townsend is directing the show, with assistant direction by Mike Moseley and production courtesy of Sydnee Dombrowski. Dearborn's own Patrick Denyer, Lindel Salow, Nathan Booth and Margaret Winowiecki star.
  The show will run tonight through Sunday, and October 2nd-4th. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8:00pm. Sunday matinees begin at 2:30pm. Tickets are $15.     
  For more information, call the Guild ticket line at 313-561-TKTS, or visit their web site.

District Wants Input on School Start Times

  To us, 7:20am seems like an awfully early hour to ask kids to begin a day of learning, yet that's when students at Dearborn Public High Schools report five days a week. Now, the district is asking residents their opinion in a on online survey you can participate in here.

  In May of this year, a committee met for the first time to discuss the merits of changing the starting time for classes in Dearborn high schools. If the results of the district's survey reflect a strong interest in changing the high school start time, the committee will meet further to develop possible options for implementing the change.
  A change in the high school start time will likely require a change in middle and elementary school start times as well.
  Of course, any proposal developed by the committee will be presented for further public comment. Stay tuned to see if kids will get a little more sleep time in the 2010-11 school year.

Glass Academy to Host 'Pumpkin Fest'

  If you love hand blown glass and want the opportunity to select a unique pumpkin that will last long after November 1st, the glass artists of Furnace Design Studio invite you to attend the “Glass Pumpkin Fest & Sale” from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday, October 17.  
 “This is not your typical fall pumpkin patch,” said Michelle Plucinsky, glass artist and co-owner of Furnace Design Studio. “There will be no real pumpkins for sale, rather an amazing array of one-of-a-kind sparkling glass pumpkins.”
  According to Ms. Plucinsky, more than 500 beautifully designed glass pumpkins, from opaque to transparent and from reflective to metallic, will be for sale along with decorative glass leaves and large hand blown glass bowls to hold real and ornamental pumpkins and gourds.
  “These pieces are truly collectibles and one-of-a-kind heirlooms that can be passed from one generation to the next,” added Plucinsky. “With Michigan’s beautiful fall season, they also make beautiful centerpieces for your home décor.”
  In addition to the array of glass pumpkins and other glass art, guests can see glassblowing demonstrations, enjoy some Michigan cider and participate in special prize drawings for custom made glass pumpkins.
Prices for the glass pumpkins begin at $35 each and $25 each for the glass leaves. This a free, family-friendly event.
  The Furnace Design Studio is located at 25331 Trowbridge, south of Michigan Avenue and east of Gulley. Find more information at their website.

Citizen Tip Leads to Neighborhood Drug Bust

  Yesterday, the Dearborn Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, acting within 24 hours of receiving a tip from a concerned citizen, executed a search warrant at 631 N. Franklin Street. The residence abuts Levagood Park, and is only a half block from Haigh Elementary School.
  During the search of this location, officers discovered a significant outdoor marijuana growing operation. The marijuana plants were nearly ready for harvesting and were clearly visible from Levagood Park. Cocaine and several firearms were also found on the property.
  The homeowner was arrested and taken to the Dearborn Police Department and will likely face several felony charges.
  Chief Ronald Haddad thanked the Dearborn citizen for assisting police. “We value the partnerships we have with community members. Police and citizens working together to fight crime sends the strongest message that this type of behavior won’t be tolerated in our community,” he said.

Rediscover Classic Novels at HFCL

  Dearborn’s Henry Ford Centennial Library is rolling out yet another free educational program tomorrow with a book discussion series titled ‘Classics Revisited.’
  All sessions are open to the public and no registration is required. Sessions take place on the third Wednesday of each month in the third floor training room of the library.
The schedule is as follows:
• Sept. 16 Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
• Oct. 21  Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Nov. 18  Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
• Dec. 16 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
  To maximize the experience of the discussion group, the library recommends that those who want to participate complete the book to be discussed before the group’s meeting on that book (better get cracking for tomorrow). Multiple copies of each work are available for at Dearborn’s public libraries.
  To learn more about a book or its author, visit the Literature Resource Center available at www.dearbornlibrary.org. For more information about the book discussion group series, call staff members Henry Fischer at 313-943-4091 or Jeff Lelek 313-943-2017.

UPDATE: Police Look for Driver in Fatal Wreck

  Dearborn Police are searching for a man that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that left a motorcyclist dead Saturday afternoon.

  The incident occurred on Telegraph Road, south of Oxford, when the driver of a black SUV or minivan struck 56-year-old Gerald Bojanowski of Dearborn Heights as he slowed his motorcycle to enter the driveway of the American Legion Fort Dearborn Post, which was hosting its annual “Hogs Heaven” fundraiser. According to reports, the driver exited his vehicle immediately after the collision, but sped off after surveying the damage.
  Dearborn Police are on the lookout for the vehicle involved, and believe it may have been a Saturn Vue, with front end damage and a green and white license plate starting with the number 9. Witnesses say the car also had after-market chrome rims.
  The vehicle was last seen heading north-bound on Westpoint Street near Princeton Street. The driver is described as a white male, 6 feet 2 inches tall, wearing a grey shirt, red shorts and sunglasses.
  Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact the Dearborn Police Department at (313) 943-2275.
UPDATE: Police now confirm they are looking for a black 2005 Saturn Vue with Michigan license plate BWU-0523 and VIN #5GZCZ63495S852412. The Saturn has front end damage from the crash, chrome rims and a Michigan State University license plate frame.

New Program Helps District Teachers Keep Up, Students Sleep In

  Dearborn Public School students will get an extra hour of sleep on sixteen different days starting this November and running throughout the 2009-10 school year. The late start will allow district educators to keep up with new technology, new methods of teaching the curriculum, as well as any changes in state benchmarks for their grade level. The late start will be in effect for the following dates:

2009

November-11 & 18 

December-2, 9, & 16

2010

January-6, 13, & 20 

February-3 & 24 

March- 3 & 31

April-14, 21, & 28 

May-5

  All students will start school one hour later and end at the regular release time on the sixteen different late start days. Buses will run one hour later in the morning and return to the regular schedule in the afternoon. Parents who are already enrolled in Before and After School Childcare Programs, offered through the Adult and Community Education Department, will be able to pay for an extra hour of service for their children.
  “We want professional development to be sustained throughout the year so we can monitor its effectiveness, make any necessary changes and continually improve instruction at each school in the district,” said Dr. Gail Shenkman, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education.
  The new late start program will also help to keep teachers in front of students. In the past, teachers needed to be pulled from their classrooms to take part in professional development and school improvement activities. Now, instead of pulling teachers out of the classroom and replacing them with a substitute, the late start days provide the time needed to maintain a sustained program of professional development.
  A trial late start program was implemented last year at all three high schools and was very successful. Teachers were able to meet and review student data, evaluate current teaching strategies and make adjustments that resulted in improved instruction. And students, of course, enjoyed the extra hour of sleep.

CIA Director's Dearborn Visit Criticized

  In an effort to reach out to the area's considerable Muslim population, CIA Director Leon Panetta announced Tuesday he will attend an invitation-only dinner with 150 leaders of the Arab and Muslim communities in Dearborn on September 16th.
  However, the timing of Panetta's visit has been criticized by some. Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told The Detroit News that officials chose the "entirely wrong night" because it's the 27th night of Ramadan. Apparently, that's an evening when many devout Muslims and imams spend the entire night worshipping in the mosque.
  Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Dearborn, said he and other community leaders should take the blame for the unfortunate timing of the director's visit, not Panetta or the CIA.

Howard Park Neighborhood Association Revived

  A group of residents in the northwest Dearborn neighborhood of Howard Park have revived their long-dormant neighborhood association, and are looking for people who want to be involved in planning and organizing future meeting and events.

  The Howard Park Neighborhood Association is still in its early stages, but interested citizens have a number of options to contact the group. There’s a newly created website that already features pictures of some of the area’s notable homes and businesses. Also, the group boasts its own pages on both Facebook and MySpace . Or you can simply email them at howardparkneighborhood@yahoo.com.
  Officially, the Howard Park Neighborhood Association consists of the area south of Ford Road to Wilson Street, bound by Telegraph to the west and Outer Drive to the east. Howard Elementary School and the adjacent Howard Park sit in the heart of the community.
  "Like other neighborhood associations throughout Dearborn, ours can be a helpful conduit between city leaders and our unique community," the group's website reads. "Soon, we hope to have meetings to address questions regarding issues like Dearborn’s Public Service Days and Neighborhood Watch Program."
  We'll be sure to let you know when the Howard Park Neighborhood Association calls its first meeting.

Happy Labor Day

Here's hoping yours is labor-free.

Mary Ray: Thursday Night Was 'Pure Dearborn'

  Hopefully, you were all able to make it over to Ford Field last night. I do believe that the evening was a shining example of Dearborn at it's finest. The weather was perfect. The concert by 50 Amp Fuse was great and the fireworks were simply spectacular.
  Last night was "Pure Dearborn". I am, perhaps, seeing a silver lining in the fact that Homecoming's Sunday events were canceled because of the absolutely lousy weather. Thursday's party was soooo much better than Homecoming. It was totally a hometown event. Did I miss the carnival atmosphere of homecoming--NO WAY!!!! Did I miss the additional 5,000-10,000 people who make the "summer carnival/fireworks circuit"--NO WAY!!!
  Yesterday at Ford Field, Dearborn became a small town again. I could not walk more than 10 steps without seeing a friend, a neighbor or a customer of mine. The atmosphere was totally different, and better I believe, than any recent Homecoming night.
  As I sat there on the hill, I saw a very impromptu dance floor being created while the band was playing. I saw parents and grandparents dancing with young children. I saw the hill being filled up to nearly Homecoming capacity (with primarily Dearborn residents).
  As the evening progressed, I also wondered if maybe it is time to "gear back" homecoming. Maybe it is time to make Homecoming "our" party once again--and not a party for the whole metro area. I found it very refreshing not to be inundated with the hype, politicians, raffles, carnies, elephant ears, cotton candy and vendors (although there were a few there tonight).
  Last night was perfect because it was simply neighbors enjoying each other and the beautiful evening. Anyhow, that is my take on last night's concert and fireworks. I would love to hear what you thought about it.

As most of you know, Mary Ray owns Campbell's Paint and Wallpaper and is a proud booster of local businesses. 

Dearborn Student Visits D.C. for Leadership Conference

  Dearborn resident Hope Kaleto recently had the honor of attending the Congressional Youth Leadership Council’s summer 2009 Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.
  The eleven year-old Kaleto, who will begin the sixth grade at O.L. Smith Middle School next week, represented Snow Elementary at the event, which took place in mid-August.
  The Congressional Youth Leadership Council offers educational leadership conferences for young people from across the country and around the world. The Junior National Young Leaders Conference helps young people develop and sharpen leadership skills, empowering them to make a positive social impact.
  During the trip, Miss Kaleto visited such prominent sites as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Her favorite site was Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, where students were led through a re-creation of John Brown’s historic 1859 raid there.
  The most important things she learned were about the traits of leadership, “Things like goal-setting, respect, problem solving, communication, teamwork and character,” she explained.
  Kaleto was recently chosen to travel to Boston, Massachusetts, next year to participate in the 2010 Junior National Young Leaders alumni conference.
  Congratulations to this young lady and her family for representing our city in such fine fashion.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Schedules Free Dearborn Concert

  The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Leonard Slatkin will present a free concert in Dearborn later this month as part of their community series: ‘Your DSO in Your Community.’
  The free DSO performance will be at 8:00pm on Tuesday, September 15th, in the Michael A. Guido Theater at Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
  “In these difficult times, bringing music to a larger public is more important than ever,” said Mr. Slatkin. “The DSO is committed to expanding its audience and it is my hope that as we reach out to different constituencies, they in turn will come to visit us as well.”
  “Leaving Orchestra Hall to go out into the community and play for those who might not know us as well as they would like to has always been one of Leonard’s chief missions.” said Anne Parsons, President and CEO. “It’s exciting to see this first round of community concerts come to fruition and to be visiting people where they live and learn right at the start of our season.”
  For the Dearborn visit, the orchestra is scheduled to perform works by a wide range of composers, including Leonard Bernstein, Scott Joplin, Aaron Copland and Cindy McTee.
  This is a rare opportunity to see one of the world’s great orchestras right in our own backyards. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. Call 313-943-2354 to reserve your spot today.

Fordson Needs Improvements, Students May Seek Transfer

   A letter sent to parents of Fordson High School Students by Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston has outlined the progress being made at the school in regard to the Michigan Educational Assesment Program (MEAP) and the Michigan Merit Exam (MME).
   Although Fordson did achieve Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) based on the 2009 MME, the school did not reach those marks for three years prior and was specifically identified as needing improvement in the areas of math among English Language Learners, special education and educationally disadvantaged students. Also, the entire school was found lacking in English Language Arts.
   Fordson, a Title 1 funded school, must achieve AYP for two consecutive years, and Mr. Whiston cited the addition of math and literacy coordinators to help students focus on these skills. He also urged parents to become active in the Fordson community through involvement with the PTA.
   In addition, because Fordson has been designated as a school needing improvement, parents have the option of transferring out of the high school. Only Edsel Ford High School and a new school located within the Michael Berry Career Campus can accept Fordson transfers, Whiston noted. Priority will be given to the lowest-achieveing students from low-income families, according to federal law.
  The letter came with data showing Edsel Ford outperforming Fordson in all academic categories, yet still lagging behind state averages in reading and math. The Michael Berry Center school is new and has no comparative results.
   Parents must request a transfer by September 30th to have their child considered. Read the full letter here.