If you missed the window to sign up and have a Dearborn calendar mailed to your home, you can now pick one up at Dearborn City Hall.

The calendar, which is a year-round resource of information, including City of Dearborn phone numbers, can be picked up at the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Public Information during business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Quantities are limited and are restricted to one per household.

Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 13, calendars the calendars also will be available at the three Dearborn branch libraries and at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

In January, the 2102 Calendar will be online at www.cityofdearborn.org for reviewing or printing.

The 2012 theme of the calendar is “Dearborn Milestones” and features black and white photos from the files of the Dearborn Historical Museum dating back to the mid-1800s. The photos highlight Dearborn’s early transportation, agriculture, industrial, recreational and municipal history.

Residents who ordered a calendar for home delivery by the Nov. 7 deadline should receive their copy by Dec. 20.

Cambridge Real Estate and Fakhoury Ventures continue to push for valet parking in downtown West Dearborn but whether it will ever get approval from City Council is another matter.

In a second letter to business owners in West Dearborn, Yasir Kaskorkis, who is leading the effort, says he has received “overwhelming responses from many of you regarding the complimentary valet parking for the Downtown District.”

Kaskorkis explained the valet parking program to merchants in this note below:

“To briefly explain the program, our proposal is to have complimentary valet parking from 5 p.m. – 2 a.m. Thursday – Saturday.

There will be 4 drop off sites located at each end of the district near parking structures/lots that are able to accommodate between 20-40 spaces per site. We are determining the number of parking spaces needed for each drop-off site and hopefully with the approval of City Council, assign a flat rate fee per parking space for a 90 day period.

Currently, it is unclear whether the DDA will assist in the funding of this program. There are many businesses in the district who have formally expressed interest. The businesses are:

Bistro 222;  Crave Lounge; Ciao’s Restaurant; Double Olive; La Cigar; Pizza Papalis; The Post.

If you are interested in participating in this program, please feel free to contact me via email or cell. I will contact Republic and inform them to install the validation system at your site. Again, our goal is to enhance downtown West Dearborn to make it a viable retail destination. We look forward to a constructive working relationship with all of the parties involved.”

Kaskorkis  also provided a four page document to each business owner in downtown West Dearborn about how the valet parking would work. Below are some of those details from the document:

Downtown District Valet Parking Program

The West Dearborn Businesses have plans to introduce a 90 day pilot program for Complimentary Valet Parking in the Downtown District. The complimentary valet will be scheduled three days per week with the hopes of having the program working 7 days per week. The days of the week will be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, between the hours of 5 p.m.to 2 a.m. There will be 4 drop off sites in the district, all located at each end of the district near parking structures/lots that are able to accommodate the volume and traffic for the program. Our goal is to enhance downtown West Dearborn to make it a viable retail destination.

Cost of the Valet Parking

The cost of the valet will be absorbed by the valet parking company for the first 90 days. The cost for the parking spots will be allocated to all businesses involved. The rate provided for each spot will be multiplied by the number of spaces devoted for valet and divided by the number of participating business owners. The owners will be responsible for paying the fees to republic at the end of the every month. **The businesses are requesting, for the 90 day trial, a cost of $1.00 per day per space designated for complimentary valet parking. The $1.00 rate for the designated spots must be paid regardless, thus guaranteeing income for those specific days over 90 days. It is our hope the DDA could donate funding to mitigate the cost of the business owners.

Traffic Flow

There will be 4 Drop-off sites in the District. At each drop-off site, there will be three signs placed at different parts of the property to reduce the congestion along Michigan Avenue. Placed on the North and South side of Michigan Avenue (2 between Oakwood & Monroe, 2 between Tenny and Military) will be signs directing traffic towards the valet drop-off sites.

The three men who were caught trying to break into a Dearborn home last week were each arraigned Wednesday with one count of first degree home invasion.

See our earlier story HERE.

The three Detroit men, Lamont Williams, 24; Tyrone Beasley, 27 and David Michael McGee, 26 have a preliminary hearing set for Dec. 16, 2011 at the 19th District Court in Dearborn.

First degree home invasion is a felony that is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $5,000.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said he “would like to thank the Republic Waste employee whose keen observation and immediate call to the police led to the arrest of the suspects.”

Workers in 2005 put finishing touches on the bridge over the Rouge River that is part of the Gateway Trail.

The Dearborn Recreation Commission is seeking public input on a plan to extend the popular Rouge River Gateway Trail with a new elevated walkway behind the Andiamo restaurant on Michigan Avenue, past the Dearborn Historical Museum, to the Brady Street bike lane.

The city of Dearborn has been discussing extending the trail since early 2008, once hoping to use the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project work as a way to get matching funds for the project.

Back in 2008, Kurt Giberson, then Dearborn Public Works Director, said the city was trying to get a matching grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to help cover costs with the project. The grant request back then was to have provided the city $350,000 to cover construction costs for a portion of the extension of the path. Total costs for the project in 2008, which called for the trail to be extended to Ford Field Park, were estimated to cost as much as $1 million. This included costs for new bridgework along the Rouge.

Under this latest grant application to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), it appears the trail would only be extended to the Brady Street bike lane. The city did not indicate costs for this new project in a press release issued Monday.  However, the grant application to MDOT apparently would cover construction costs for the path extension. The Dec. 13 meeting is being held so the Recreation Commission can obtain public input on Dearborn’s grant application with MDOT.

The paved trail now begins just east of Andiamo on Michigan Avenue and travels through natural areas along the banks of the Rouge River. The meandering 2.16-mile trail crosses the Rouge River twice and runs through the campuses of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford Community College (HFCC).

From there, it connects with the bike path in Edward Hines Park, north of Ford Road, and goes on to Northville, for a total of 19 miles.

The Dearborn path, which opened in October 2005, was made possible by the city, UM-Dearborn, HFCC, Wayne County, MDOT and the Community Foundation.

Individuals with disabilities wanting to attend the Dec. 13 meeting who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or services to attend or participate in this public meeting should contact (313) 943-2350 or TTY (313) 943-2199. Advance notice is required.

A sanitation worker, mailman and basset hound all helped Dearborn police with the arrest of two men who broke into a home Friday in the area of Mohawk and Rockford in Dearborn.

We have lost track of the number of recent home robberies in Dearborn (there were five alone in one neighborhood on Thanksgiving) but if anyone needed additional proof as to why cutting the number of police we have in Dearborn as a cost-saving measure is a bad idea this is it.

The quick arrest of three suspects by Dearborn police also shows how important it is for residents to call police any time they see something or someone suspicious in their neighborhoods.

Acting on tips received from an observant Republic Waste employee, who was working Friday and notified police of a suspicious vehicle in the neighborhood, along with a U.S. Postal worker who was on break eating lunch in his vehicle, Dearborn police were able to swarm the area and catch the two suspects and their getaway driver only minutes after they fled the home they tried to rob.

“I would like to thank the Republic Waste employee whose keen observation and immediate call to the police led to the arrest of the suspects,” said Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad in a statement provided to DeepsaidWhat.com.

The break-in occurred at lunch hour when two men kicked open a locked backdoor at the two-story brick home. But what they didn’t know was that the resident was home, along with the family’s basset hound who immediately began barking after the door smashed open.

According to Dearborn police, the resident was upstairs when he heard a loud noise about 12:15 p.m.  He quickly went to investigate and heard voices stating “we gotta go!” The homeowner observed the two suspects fleeing on foot. So, too, did the postal worker, who also called police.

Dearborn police, who were already patrolling in the area, were able to quickly descend on the neighborhood and nab the bad guys.

The homeowner tells Deepsaidwhat.com that police were at his door within minutes after he placed the call to 911. He said the response time was “phenomenal”.

The outcome was a good one and shows the important role a community plays in providing tips to police so they arrest the thugs that have been preying on homeowners across our city.

Well done, Dearborn Police.

Parking restrictions lifted, except in a snow emergency

Dearborn officials are reminding residents that Public Service Days have ended for 2011 and will begin again on April 2, 2012. That means parking restrictions on Public Service Days/trash collection days are lifted for the winter.

When Public Service Days are in effect, drivers are required to keep their parked vehicles off residential streets if it is a trash collection day in that Dearborn neighborhood.

This allows for the smoother delivery of seasonal city services, such as street sweeping, as well as the curbside collection of trash, compost and recycling materials.

Although the parking restrictions are lifted until April 2012, residents are reminded that during a snow emergency, parked vehicles must be off the streets or be ticketed. This is to allow safe and efficient street plowing.

It is also a good idea to remove parked vehicles during any heavy snowfall, whether a snow emergency is declared or not.

Call the Snow Emergency Hotline at 943-2444 for details.

The Dearborn Historical Museum’s book compiling the best Dearborn stories from residents and former residents is now on sale (a book signing is Dec. 10), a perfect gift for the holidays.

The book, the first of its kind ever compiled by the museum, is titled Best Dearborn Stories: Voices From Henry Ford’s Hometown. The book will be sold at the museum’s gift shop at the McFadden-Ross House, 915 Brady.

Profits from sales of the book will go to the museum, which has begun a membership drive to help keep its doors open after city funds run out during the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.

We have been featuring excerpts from the new book over the past few weeks. This third installment is written by Joseph F. Bugeia.

Thank you, Dearborn Public Schools

By Joseph F. Bugeia

The first 10 years of my life our family lived in southwest Detroit. When I became school age I attended a parochial school. In addition to strong discipline and the teachers forcing me to write right-handed, (I was naturally left-handed) I started to stutter, and it got progressively worse each year.

Desiring to move to a nicer neighborhood in the suburbs, my parents and I moved to Dearborn the summer before I entered the sixth grade. It was my parents’ intention that I continue at a parochial school. They found out, however, that the parish line ran down the alley behind our home, and as a result I had to attend Maples Junior High School.

On my first day at Maples, the teacher asked all new students to stand up and introduce themselves to their classmates. Because of my stuttering, it was a most traumatic experience. The teacher asked me to see her after class, at which time she indicated she was going to put me in a speech therapy class.

The speech therapy teacher determined that I had difficulty with the “th” sound, and she worked with me for several months during which time my stuttering problem improved a great deal.

In the ninth grade I ran for Student Council President. The campaigning for the position involved speaking to several classes. I won the election and even gave a speech on behalf of our class when we graduated from junior high. My stuttering problem was corrected.

During my three years at Fordson High School I had no stuttering problems. After graduation I started going to night classes at Dearborn Junior College (now HFCC). While there two great things happened: one, I determined I could do college level work, and two, I met my future wife, Mary.

After completing my Associates Degree in Commerce, I transferred to the University of Michigan receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree two years later.

In 1956 I was hired by Ford Motor Company. During my Ford career I held many positions requiring speaking to a variety of employee groups up to and including senior management. While working I completed an MBA from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I had a very rewarding 38 year career with Ford in Human Resources. A major highlight of my career was meeting with Mr. Henry Ford II to handle his retirement.

When I look back at our family move to Dearborn, I wonder, “What if the parish limits had included our home,” and “What if my first teacher at Maples had not enrolled me in the speech therapy class?” AGAIN, THANK YOU-DEARBORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

The paid parking conundrum in downtown West Dearborn could be helped with the introduction of a free valet parking system for the entire downtown district, at least that is a plan being shopped by Cambridge Real Estate and Fakhoury Ventures.

In a letter to Deepsaidwhat.com, Yasir Kaskorkis, the property manager for Cambridge Real Estate, says he and Fakhoury Ventures have been working with the ECD and DDA to help support a free valet parking system. It is an interesting idea.  His letter begins below.

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Yasir Kaskorkis and I am a property manager for Cambridge Real Estate, who also oversees all Fakhoury Properties in Downtown West Dearborn. As many of you are aware, there has been a decline in patronage to the downtown district since the necessary paid parking increases took effect in July. Besides the economic conditions, a competitive project in Allen Park (with free parking) and a decrease in business population have affected us tremendously. You will all agree the businesses in the district with no paid parking are at a significant competitive advantage to those who require their patrons to pay.

Paid parking has been a controversial topic, and it looks as though it will continue to be for some time. As business people, we must learn to work within our constraints. That is why over the past several months Cambridge Real Estate and Fakhoury Ventures have been working with the ECD and DDA to help support a free valet parking system for the entire downtown district (the first of its kind in the Metro-Detroit area). We will be requesting marketing funds from the DDA to help fund this operation. The funds will serve to alleviate the burden of operating the system from the business owners and to promote the free valet parking system. These are funds we desperately need in order to make this project successful. The amount of funds put forth by the business owners will be dependent on the amount of funds approved by the DDA. As we inch closer to accomplishing our goal, we politely request your support for the district wide valet system. Your patrons will be treated to free valet and will no longer have to be concerned with parking fees. We have plans to promote the free valet system through various media outlets, in attempts to gain back the clientele that once brought prosperity to Downtown West Dearborn.

The more parking rates increase, the more difficult it will be to attract customers and retain current business. The time to act is now; we need your support more than ever. We ask that you spread the word in an attempt to bring people together to make Downtown West Dearborn a destination spot in the Metro-Detroit area. Everyone is affected by lack of business, from your managers to your employees. Our goal is to enhance downtown West Dearborn to make it a viable retail destination, and with your help we can make this happen. We look forward to a constructive working relationship with all of the parties involved. Please call and/or email your Dearborn Councilman and Woman or your DDA Board Member.

Thank you,

Yasir Kaskorkis

22022 Michigan Avenue

The City of Dearborn received the highest rating possible by the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research (iLabs) for fostering entrepreneurial growth and economic development.

Dearborn was honored as a five-star community through the program known as eCities for its efforts to promote investment and for its support of businesses pursuing innovative endeavors.

This is the first time that Dearborn has been named a five-star community by the UM-D’s iLabs, having earned a commendable four-star designation in 2010.

Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said the five-star designation reflects the city’s commitment to encouraging a dynamic and diversified economy.

“Dearborn continues to promote economic development and commercial investment. We also have a great track record of smoothing the way for innovative approaches. We appreciate this distinguished recognition of our efforts,” O’Reilly said.

“We are fortunate that there is a high level of interest among a variety of large and small companies who value the business climate in Dearborn and are investing here. This is illustrated by the 300 commercial re-occupancies we saw in the past year,” O’Reilly said.

Most notably, Severstal North America recently engaged in a $1.5 billion investment, formalizing its North American Headquarters in Dearborn. The 2010 addition of more than $700 million in steel finishing elevates this advanced manufacturing center to a global leader in steel technology.

O’Reilly said, “Severstal’s investment in their operations in Dearborn extends the life of this plant by at least 50 years and retains nearly 2,000 local jobs. This is great news for Dearborn and southeast Michigan.”

Dearborn was honored along with 43 other communities recognized by iLabs at a ceremony at UM-Dearborn on Nov. 16.

In addition to Dearborn, 20 other cities were named five-star communities, including Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Grand Haven, Farmington, Kalamazoo, Rochester Hills and Southfield.

“We are pleased to have participation from so many communities throughout the state in eCities 2011,” said Tim Davis, director of iLabs.

“The focus of this project is assisting local communities by identifying best practices and methods that they can implement, which will aid with job growth strategies, economic diversification, and development of entrepreneurs,” he said.

The annual eCities research project, which began in 2007, uses data supplied by the participants, as well as other public records, to assemble a six-factor, 32-item index of entrepreneurial activity, looking at such factors as clustering, incentives, growth, policies, community and education.

The study focuses on entrepreneurship because of its importance to expansion and diversification of Michigan’s regional economies and the impact small businesses have on job creation. To date, 138 communities across Michigan have participated in the study.

Let’s hope Dearborn can leverage this award as a way to attract other businesses to locate in our city.

It may not make Guinness World Records, but the Dearborn Historical Museum is planning what it calls the “world’s largest book signing” Dec. 10 at Henry Ford Community College.

The event is the official introduction of the museum’s new book, Best Dearborn Stories: Voices From Henry Ford’s Hometown. The book is a collection of anecdotes and reminiscences from 154 writers, most of them residents and former residents. We have been posting excerpts from the book here at Deepsaidwhat.com

The signing, expected to draw more than 100 of the writers who contributed stories to the anthology, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at HFCC’s Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services and Conference Center. The book is the latest fund-raising effort aimed at keeping the museum’s doors open.

“The largest book signing I could find online had 87 authors,” said L. Glenn O’Kray, vice chair of the Dearborn Historical Commission and coordinator on the project. “We’ve already got enough commitments from our writers to satisfy me that we’ll have well over 100 on hand. And we’re all going to be wearing T-shirts identifying each of us as a Best Dearborn Stories ‘famous author.’ ”

The book is the product of an unusually fast turn-around for a multi-author compilation – less than 10 weeks from inception to publication. O’Kray conceived the project after reading an Oct. 2 article in the Times about a “Rapid Response” strategy for setting and reaching goals in 100 days or less. He secured funds from the nonprofit Museum Guild of Dearborn for the book, located a printer and a designer, and collaborated with two other commissioners in collecting and editing the stories. Final proofs of the book went to the printer Nov. 18.

Priced at $19.95 in soft cover, the 382-page book includes stories about digging up bones in the back yard, breaking into labs to rescue animals, hiding in church after lock-up time, substituting for Ford during a portrait sitting, getting cussed out by Hubbard, and discovering that a hockey opponent who kept falling down in practice had a hat trick up his sleeve.

The historical museum consists of three public buildings, two of them associated with the former U.S. Arsenal at Dearbornville, which was built in the 1830s. It has operated with city funds since opening as a museum in 1950. However, despite voter approval of two millage increases in November, the city is proceeding with plans to continue trimming services.

After the museum’s current city subsidy runs out during the fiscal year ending in June, it will have to rely on cash reserves that previously had been earmarked for renovation of a facility to be used for exhibits and storage. Those reserves, if used for museum operation, are expected to be depleted by 2014.

The museum has raised $35,000 since it began a new membership drive in July, and it is planning to begin a major fund-raising campaign next year, including the sale of naming rights to its buildings. Book orders and donations may be sent to the museum at 915 S. Brady, Dearborn, MI 48124. Call 313-565-3000 or email lglennokray@cavtel.net for information.