Dearborn may not have the kind of retail we’d like to see (at least not yet) but there is a good collection of restaurants.

And now some of those establishments will be featured on canvas as of a project called “Dearborn Paints – Good Food!”

Dearborn artist Janet Kondziela recently painted food at Top Dog Coney Island, 13342 Michigan.

Over the next 12 months, Dearborn artist Janet Kondziela will be bringing together art, commerce, marketing and a bit of fun. Some of you may have already bumped into Kondziela, who has been on location at several Dearborn establishments with her easel and paints, creating an original painting of each business’s signature product.

An exhibition of all the finished work is scheduled for September 2011 at the Padzieski Art Gallery in the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. The exhibit will include all the finished pieces plus additional original work by Dearborn artists.

Aided by a grant from the Dearborn Community Fund and some additional support from the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, Kondziela will be on site at more than 25 businesses. The project kicked off in May at Westborn Fruit & Flower Market. Other locations have included: Alcamo’s, 4423 Schaefer; O’Kelley’s Knights of Columbus Hall, 23663 Park; Dearborn Farmer’s Market, behind Bryant Library, Top Dog Coney Island, 13342 Michigan; Jim’s Place, 13245 Michigan and Leon’s Family Dining, 23830 Michigan.

Kondziela’s dates for August include: August 10 (10:30 a.m.), LaPita, 22681 Newman; August 13 (11 a.m.), Buddy’s Pizzeria, 222148 Michigan; August 21 (10 a.m.); Westborn Fruit & Flower Market, 21735 Michigan; August 28 (Noon), O’Sushi’s (outdoors), 22431 Michigan (Sept. 4 rain date). New sites are added as they become available. For current updates, visit Kondziela’s  website HERE or  the Dearborn Community Fund at 313-943-5478.

Dearborn estimates Homecoming weekend will draw about 150,000 people over the weekend, which means driving and trying to find a parking space could be challenging.

The good news is the city is offering free shuttle service and free parking.

Two options exist: free parking and free shuttle service from Dearborn High School, sponsored by Henry Ford Health System, and free shuttle service from the west Dearborn business district along West Village Drive, from Military to Monroe.

All shuttles take visitors to the festival grounds at Ford Field Park in Dearborn.

The Dearborn High shuttle will pick visitors up at the school parking lot, on the west side of Outer Drive, north of Michigan Avenue. It runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, and noon to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday of Homecoming weekend. Parking is free.

The shuttles are Dearborn Public Schools buses and include handicapped accessible buses and will make continuous loops between the festival grounds and the school. There is no established time schedule.

Another free shuttle is available on West Village Drive, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The City of Dearborn shuttle vans will stop along West Village Drive from Monroe to Military. Parking fees may apply, except on Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, parking is at a special festival rate of $1 in the West Parking Deck only.

The Ford Field parking lot also provides a limited number of spaces, including handicapped parking, for $5 per car.

For complete details about Homecoming, including a schedule of events, visit www.cityofdearborn.org or call 943-2285.

The matter of whether Marge Powell is able to return to her position on Dearborn’s Civil Service Commission now rests with her former colleagues on that same commission and not city council, according to Dearborn Council President Tom Tafelski.

While the Civil Service Commission will meet tonight with Dearborn City Council members at 5:30 p.m. to conduct a Study Session to discuss various items, including the “vacancy” on the Civil Service Commission, Ms. Powell will not be reinstated by Council, as that vote already occurred, Tafelski said.

“It has been voted on,” Tafelski said. “It is now up to the Civil Service Commission.”

While Powell supporters may not like to hear those words, Tafelski is correct that council voted on reinstating Powell and the measure did not pass. Councilman George Darany made the motion at a June council meeting  for the Powell reinstatement. Darany had the option of waiting until the study session today but kept his motion on the table despite knowing he did not have the full council’s support.

Morris Goodman, a Dearborn attorney and local political observer who has submitted columns on this site in the pass, wrote earlier that council could just reinstate Powell, despite her not having been properly sworn in for the position for more than a year. Tafelski said Goodman’s comments are incorrect.

“The context of Goodman’s column is wrong,” Tafelski said. “He apparently doesn’t understand how the process works. A vote was taken and it now rests with the Civil Service Commission.”

The Commission has many candidates to choose from, too. At least eight people have applied to serve on the Commission, which is a voluntary position. Worth noting is that since the Powell matter surfaced, city officials have discovered that at least two other people who serve on other city commissions were not properly sworn in but have continued to serve in their appointed positions.

Tonight’s meeting should be an interesting one.

Biggby Coffee fans now have a new place to get a jolt of caffeine each morning.

Biggby owner Steve Swinney

Dearborn’s newest coffee shop officially opened Tuesday and for the remainder of this week the new Biggby store, 22445 Michigan Ave., is offering a free cup of coffee (any size) to anyone who stops in.

Dearborn resident and owner Steve Swinney was all smiles when we stopped by on Tuesday. The place looks great and we wish him the best of luck in his new venture.

The coffee shop also will offer outdoor seating, which it will share with another new business that opened right next door, the new Cedars Coney Island & Grille

Sam Berro and his father, Ali, opened the new restaurant several weeks ago and the two have done a great job remodeling the space. The Berro family and Swinney are sharing the costs associated with building the new outdoor seating area (how is that for teamwork!). And with free, easy-in and easy-out parking, both should do well in their Norm Newman-owned building.

“We have tried to make our place feel as cozy as possible,” said Sam Berro, a Fordson High School grad.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Berro says his restaurant will be open 24 hours to cater to the local bar crowd, at least for now.

We wish both new businesses the best of luck.

If you are David Bazzy this morning, the day after the primary election, you are smiling from ear-to-ear.

Bazzy you will recall finished just 548 votes shy of landing a seat on the Dearborn City Council in the last general election.

With Dearborn Councilman George Darany besting three other Democratic challengers for the 15th District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives and Councilman Suzanne Sareini running unopposed on the Republican ticket, there will be a vacancy on the city council at year’s end after the two square off for the $80,000 a year job in November.

Bazzy who finished eight in his first run for a council seat, just behind Councilwoman Nancy Hubbard, will now fill that vacancy.

The State House race was an interesting one. Darany, endorsed by The Detroit News, finished with 2,129 votes. His closest challenger was Linda Tafelski, a retired schoolteacher, and mother of Dearborn Council President Tom Tafelski. She finished with 1,753 votes. Stephen Dobkowski Jr.,who has a colorful political history in Dearborn, finished with 592 votes. Dobkowski, interestingly enough, also was indorsed by the Detroit Free Press. Finishing in last was Alex Shami, a former Dearborn School board member, with just 334 votes.

For full election results from Dearborn, you can click HERE.

Don’t forget to vote today!

Remember in a Primary election, you must choose candidates of one party only. If you combine party choices, your ballot will be invalid.

Polls are open today until 8 p.m.

For a list of all races and a look at what is on the ballot, you can click HERE.

(Source: Dearborn Rotary press release)

The Dearborn Rotary Club will host the fifth annual Hugh Archer Golf Outing and Banquet at Dearborn Hills Golf Course on Thursday, August 26, 2010. The event helps to raise funds for the Hugh Archer Memorial Scholarship, named in memory of the longtime Rotarian and Dearborn resident who passed away in 2005 at the age of 91.

“We still have room for golfers looking for a fun outing with friends while supporting this worthwhile cause,” said Roger Miller, chairman of the golf outing committee.

Archer was a registered professional engineer whose many achievements included inventor, scientist, entrepreneur, banker, businessman, ham radio operator, sportsman, and humanitarian. He held several leadership positions in Rotary and served as president of Rotary International, the world’s largest service organization with more than 1.2 million members.

In addition to his Rotary service, Archer was active with the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, Henry Ford Hospital, the Dearborn Schools and many other organizations. He was founder and chairman of Spiratex Company, a plastics extrusion company in Romulus, Mich.

To celebrate Archer’s many achievements and commitment to community service, an annual scholarship award is presented to a high school senior attending a public or private high school within the Dearborn School District boundaries. Selection is based on the student’s academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

“Mr. Archer’s motto was always ‘Enjoy Rotary’,” added Miller. “This outing provides a great way for everyone to do that.”

A foursome package that includes lunch, golf and dinner banquet is $480 or $125 per golfer. Sponsorships start at only $100.

To sign up as a golfer or sponsor for the August 26 event or obtain more information, visit the Club’s Web site at www.dearbornrotary.org or email Rogerhmf@aol.com

About Dearborn Rotary

Established in 1923, the Dearborn Rotary Club is one of 33,000 clubs located in more than 200 countries worldwide. Rotary is the world’s first and largest international service organization, founded in 1905 by Paul P. Harris, a lawyer, in Chicago, Illinois. The Dearborn Rotary Club meets every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Fairlane Club on Hubbard Drive in Dearborn. Guests are always welcome.

The Dearborn Public Library Foundation will be hosting a Children’s Book and Author Luncheon featuring award winning Michigan author and illustrator Mark Crilley on Saturday, August 21.

The luncheon is scheduled for noon at Park Place Banquet Hall, 23400 Park St.  in Dearborn.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children, 12 and under, and can be purchased at any Dearborn Public Library and on the Library Foundation website HERE.

On August 6, the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce will host the “Cruisin’ Dearborn” Car Parade as part of this year’s Homecoming festivities.

Following registration at 6 p.m., the cars will depart from the 19th District Court on Michigan Ave., traveling through historic West Dearborn and ending at Ford Field Park.

All 150 classic cars will then be on display at the Children’s Activity Field, where cruisers can enjoy the music of Horizon and the Two & a Half Feet Deep bands. If you have a classic car you’d like to show off, it’s not too late to register online! To do so, click HERE.

(Source: Glass Academy press release)

A spectacular glassblowing beer tasting event on August 5th from 4-10pm; brought to you by Edible WOW of food samples, 5 Michigan breweries, and hand crafted glass tumblers coupled with live glassblowing. For more info, click HERE.

$45 Ticket Includes:

1 – Hand Blown Beer Tumbler

2 – Complimentary Drink tickets

Food Samples by edibleWOW sponsors

$200 VIP Ticket Includes: All of the above PLUS

Private Dining Area

Air Conditioning

An Extravagant Drinking Vessel, & more

Participating Michigan Breweries:

Arbor Brewing Co. – Ann Arbor

Motor City Brewing Works – Detroit

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. – Warren

Arbor Brewing Co. Corner Brewery – Ypsilanti

Rochester Mills Beer Co. – Rochester Hills

**Tickets must be purchased in advance, no tickets sold at the door. Must be 21 years of age to purchase, ID will be checked at the door.

Date: August 5th, 2010

Time: 4pm to 10pm

Location: 25331 Trowbridge, Dearborn 48124