How will your child’s school look 20 years, 10 years, or even five years from now? What knowledge will every child need as they move from kindergarten to graduation? How will instruction be delivered?

These questions just begin to lay the groundwork for an in-depth discussion that will take place on March 29, 2010 during the 21st Century Schools meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Dearborn School’s Administration Building, 18700 Audette.

The Dearborn Public Schools, in conjunction with the Dearborn Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, and the Dearborn Federation of School Employees, are inviting members of the community to take part in the first of many discussions that will explore how 21st century learning must look, operate, and educate.

The meeting will cover an array of topics, including what will students need to know in order to be successful graduates and how will schools utilize the tools at their disposal to properly deliver a 21st century curriculum. Changes that are driven by the educational needs of students will take the cooperation and input from all stakeholders in the community.

Registration will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. There will be two follow-up meetings in April and May. Those interested may contact the Dearborn School’s Communication Office at 827-3006.

“If you ever wanted to be part of redesigning education, concerned about state and federal requirements having too much control over local school districts, or have ideas about how to make schools better, then you will want to take part in the 21st century school discussion,” said Brian Whiston, Dearborn schools superintendent.

As a way to raise awareness about local small businesses in Dearborn, Dave Bowman, owner of networkdearborn.com, is kicking off a new promotion that he calls “Thousand Buck Thursdays.

While no one is going to win $1,000, Bowman says you can win a Dearborn T-shirt simply by shopping in Dearborn and then posting what you purchased, where you purchased it and how much you spent.

“Every third Thursday, let’s band together and shop in Dearborn on purpose,” Bowman says. “Every dollar counts as we try to get to $1,000. Simply go shopping and then post your details at http://networkdearborn.blogspot.com. Someone will win a fun Dearborn T-shirt as we work together to make a small difference for our city.”

Happy shopping.

The Relay For Life of Dearborn is holding their 6th Annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser on Sunday, March 28, from noon to 6:00 p.m. at the O’Kelley Knights of Columbus Hall, 23663 Park in Dearborn.

Tickets for the Spaghetti Dinner are $7.00 per person, or $5.00 for ages 4-10, and can be purchased through any Relay For Life of Dearborn Team, or at the door. Dinner will include all you can eat spaghetti with choice of three sauces (marinara, meat or alfredo), salad, rolls, pop and coffee. The Knights of Columbus will be cooking dinner and will provide a cash bar. Relay Teams will host a bake sale for dessert. There will also be music, dancing, silent auction items and more. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

For more details about the Spaghetti Dinner, or to donate items for the bake sale or silent auction, contact Debbie Malyn at 313-683-2573 or debbiemalyn@gmail.com For ticket information, contact Branis at 313-561-2377 or pesichb@aol.com

The 2010 Relay For Life of Dearborn will take place on May 1 through May 2, from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

To find out more about the Relay For Life of Dearborn, contact ACS Community Representative Deena Gardner at 248-663-3427, deena.gardner@cancer.org or Dearborn Event Chair Denise Abdullah at 313-336-9020, deniseabdullah@hotmail.com, or visit www.relayforlife.org/dearbornmi.

Dearborn singer-songwriter Jeff Karoub

Dearborn singer-songwriter Jeff Karoub is helping to kick off the second installment of the Guinness World Record-holding Assembly Line marathon concert.

The Assembly Line-Second Shift gets started at 5 p.m. March 19th at AJ’s Music Cafe, 240 W. Nine Mile, Ferndale. Karoub takes the stage at 7 p.m. for an hour set.

The singer, guitarist and violinist first found his way to AJ’s stage in December 2009, when he shared a bill with Maine’s finest folkie, Putnam Smith. Karoub signed up then and there for the Assembly Line sequel, and shortly thereafter heeded AJ’s call for an original song that best fits the theme of the concert designed to raise awareness for the U.S. auto worker and industry. His candidate was the direct and personal ‘Made by Motown,’ honoring the made-in-Detroit foundation built for him by his forebears.

Karoub, who got his musical start while growing up in Allen Park, also credits genetics for his musical passion: His father is a longtime local music teacher, Detroit Symphony Orchestra veteran and Motown session man sonically responsible for the killer French horn lick at the top of Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard it through the Grapevine.’ Karoub made sure that little history lesson made its way into ‘Made by Motown.’

Either solo or as part of the duo ‘jar’, he’s been writing songs and performing them for more than a decade throughout Michigan. Gigs of note have included the Flint Folk Festival, Baseline Folk Society, Manchester’s Gazebo Concert Series and Riverfolk Festival, as well as many of the region’s finer caffeinated establishments.

Karoub is a professional journalist by day who is proud to make both his living and life in Michigan. He lives in Dearborn with his wife, three daughters and dog.

To check out his songs, including ‘Made by Motown,’ and learn about upcoming gigs, go to www.reverbnation.com/jeffkaroubjar

For more on the Assembly Line concert, click on this link: www.assemblylineconcert.com

Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham

Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham says the decision by Dearborn developer Hakim Fakhoury to put the properties held by his Dearborn Village Partners (DVP) corporation up for sale may turn-out to be a “blessing” for Dearborn business owners and entrepreneurs.

The councilman in December went to bat for DVP, penning a column here and in the local papers saying he supported a one-year extension of the preferred developer agreement Dearborn had with Fakhoury’s DVP. Chief among Abraham’s decision to support an extension was that there wasn’t a list of developers banging on Dearborn’s door to rebuild downtown West Dearborn. You can click HERE for that earlier column.

Abraham says it is unfortunate the plan presented by DVP never was able to get off the ground.

“Dearborn Village Partners, LLC has failed to deliver a complete proposal for the development site in West Dearborn to the Council and the Mayor,” said Abraham in a written statement. “The Mayor and the City Council have previously extended the Preferred Developers Agreement several times to accommodate the Developer and the drastic changes to the banking industry and the economic conditions.

“The most recent extension was granted by the Council in December 2009; this would allow DVP an additional year to submit a viable development and financing plan. It is very unfortunate for Dearborn, that the economic circumstances have derailed this project before it ever really began.

“The fact that many of the privately held buildings and properties on Michigan Avenue are now for sale, may turn-out to be a blessing for new Dearborn business owners and entrepreneurs looking for affordable locations in the West Dearborn Business District.

“I remain optimistic as we bring closure to the DVP agreement, that new opportunities can be discovered; let’s hope the glass is half full, and not half empty as so many believe.”

Some of the details to what contributed to the unraveling of the development are in the Sunday edition of the Dearborn Press & Guide. You can read that story and watch a video interview with Mr. Fakhoury by clicking HERE

Faced with decreasing property tax revenues and increasing city expenditures, Dearborn city leaders will be taking a critical look at separating the “need to have” from the “nice to have” services as a way to make up for lost revenues, Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., said Wednesday in his State of the City address.

Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr.

“We’ve already lost about 5 percent in property tax revenue in the past two years,” O’Reilly said. “We expect a 10 percent drop this year. And we’re anticipating another 10-15 percent in the next two years. In total, that’s a decline of at least 25 percent . . . If we take no action, make no hard decisions now, we’ll have a $20 million gap between our revenues and expenditures in just the coming year alone.”

Exactly where the cuts will come from is being studied but O’Reilly told the audience at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Wednesday evening that “everything but the essentials is on the table – and even those essential services may have to be delivered differently.”

“Because of that, I’m not going to shy away from considering any idea regarding our programs and services, even the controversial proposals.”

To make those tough decisions, both the mayor and City Council will have to work together and accept some of the recommendations from the mayor’s recently created Task Force. The group of 28 people from across Dearborn will report their recommendations in May, helping define services and transforming them, too, O’Reilly said.

Last year, a recommendation to close some underutilized city pools as a way to save the city money was met with very vocal responses against the idea by residents. That was enough to convince city leaders — all running for reelection last year — to do nothing.

“We didn’t pursue the less costly alternative of the splash parks; and modest savings weren’t realized, meaning we’re facing even tougher financial decisions now,” O’Reilly said. “This is a process that we can no longer afford to repeat.”

O’Reilly said the city is going to need to look at whether some city services might be able to be converted into a regional operation where many communities could pool resources. Other ideas include trying to determine whether city facilities such as the Dearborn Hills Golf Course, Adray Ice Arena or even the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center could operate more efficiently with a business model, meaning each facility would cover all of their costs, including ongoing capital investments.

“We need to look at everything we do and ask: are we delivering this in the best possible way within our available resources? As tough as these questions may be, and as troubling the consequences they bring, they are relatively small ones.

“The real questions are: What do we want our community to be like in the future? What kind of Dearborn do we want for our children and our children’s children to have? I can’t answer those questions alone. That’s for us to decide together.”

Dearborn no doubt has some tough choices ahead. But as O’Reilly rightly pointed out in his speech, our city went through a similar rough time in 1983 when his late father was mayor. Dearborn emerged stronger because under his father’s direction, O’Reilly said, the city rejected the “business as usual” model; there was “political will” to make the unpopular decisions for the good of the community and because “citizens and businesses were engaged.”

Let’s hope the same is true this second time around.

Resident Hakim Fakhoury says 'dream' of developing downtown Dearborn is over.

If you’ve driven along Michigan Avenue this week you probably have seen signs hanging in the windows of some of the properties owned by developer Hakim Fakhoury with the following words: “The Dream is Over. For Sale.” Many of you have even written here asking what the signs meant.

Well, we sent a note straight to the source, Mr. Fakhoury, asking if he would pen a note explaining the meaning of the signs. He provided us this article, which begins below.

My name is Hakim Fakhoury, and I had a dream…

I had a dream… that Dearborn could become one of the most vibrant downtowns in Michigan.

I had a dream… that the city I have lived in nearly my whole life would be the place where I could invest the fruits of all my hard work.

I had a dream… that Dearborn’s leader would open their arms to a developer that is home-grown and seeks to make a better future for our city for generations to come.

I had a dream… that our mayor and city council could put aside personal and political differences, that petty political infighting would not cause the development of our city to come to a standstill. The inability of our leaders to have a vision has caused us to lag behind other cities, and make us unable to fully transition into the 21st century.

I had a dream… that our leaders would be smart to know what they don’t know, that they would hire professionals to develop master plans, that they would end corruption, the “old boys” network, an breathe new life into our community.

I had a dream… that we could redevelop our downtown into something that would appeal to everyone, attracting fresh young minds to make our city vibrant, livable, fun, and modern.

I had a dream… that I could buy buildings and then, in agreement with city officials, transform our city.

I had a dream… that the mayor and city council members would not lie, that they would be honest, that they would not manipulate each other, or play petty games, or include me in their internal feuds, and just be mature, with the city’s interests, and only the city’s interests, at the core of their decision-making.

I had a dream… but now the DREAM IS OVER for me… My hope is that another developer with come along, buy all my properties, pick up on my hard work, and move to develop the district…

(Below is a press release from the Dearborn Heights Montessori Center)

Dearborn Heights Montessori Center will host the third annual “Taste of the Town” fundraiser event from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2010.

Local restaurants will be offering a wide variety of delicious food items to sample, and area businesses have donated special prizes for a large gift basket raffle. Rain or shine, the community is welcome to attend this indoor school event which is located at 466 N. John Daly in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.

According to Shelley Boatright, communications coordinator for Dearborn Heights Montessori Center, “Taste of the Town” is expected to sell out. Providing food for this year’s event is Antonio’s Cucina Italiana, Applebee’s, BD’s Mongolian Barbeque, Dearborn Italian Bakery, Dearborn Sausage, Del Taco, La Pita, Papa Romano’s, Panera, Pizzapapalis, Rio Wraps, Subway and others.

Businesses contributing prizes for the gift basket drawings include Barnes and Noble, Creatopia Pottery, Dearborn Racquet and Health Club, English Gardens, Om Spa and many more. Baskets will include a variety of items from toys to event tickets to electronics. There will also be a special raffle for a cruise and a $500 tuition voucher.

Proceeds raised at this year’s event will be used to help fund Dearborn Heights Montessori’s upper elementary educational trips and to support the needs of the school’s classroom teachers.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students. Children under three years of age are free. Because of the anticipated large turnout, the public is encouraged to purchase tickets In advance. Ample parking is available.

For more details and to request tickets for “Taste of the Town,” call 313-359-3000 or email tasteofthetown@wowway.com

About Dearborn Heights Montessori Center

Dearborn Heights Montessori Center (DHMC) is a non-profit educational community founded in 1972. Now in its fourth decade, DHMC is the largest and longest-established Montessori school in western Wayne County. Programs include preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school as well as summer programs and academic tutoring. Day care and latchkey are also available for enrolled children. In September 2010, DHMC will introduce a Montessori toddler program for ages 18 months through three years.

DHMC has received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society, Michigan Montessori Society, and the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS). DHMC preschool and latchkey programs, along with its satellites Livonia Montessori Center and Plymouth-Canton Montessori School, are licensed by the Michigan Division of Child Care Licensing. More information is available at www.dhmontessori.org

Construction work on the CSO project near Cherry Hill and Brady has been temporarily halted to protect the roads during the spring thaw.

The City of Dearborn sent a note out yesterday to local media explaining why the work had been halted. Residents apparently raised questions on why the work had been stopped.

In a prepared statement, the city said that in order to protect the integrity of the roads during the spring thaw, work on the CSO project in the area bounded by Brady, Cherry Hill, Golf Crest and Cherry Hill Court will be temporarily halted starting March 8 until water under the roadway has evaporated, which should be approximately the first week of April.

City officials say this is necessary because as frost below the road’s surface melts, the road’s base is weakened by the water. Continuing to drive heavy trucks on roads during this time can seriously affect the road’s integrity.

State, county and local governments all mandate that during the thaw, heavy trucks reduce their loads by 35 percent.

Some contractors continue their operation with reduced truck loads in order to comply and some contractors postpone their operation until frost laws are no longer in effect.

The City’s contractor Angelo Iafrat has chosen to postpone their operation since most of it involves heavy transportation of earth and sand, Dearborn officials say.

Developer Burton-Katzman and the City of Dearborn are again at odds. This time over two crumbling concrete foundations slated for demolition, according to an article in the Dearborn Times-Herald

Burton-Katzman is already facing a court order to break ground on 12 condos and two midrise buildings between the city’s two underutilized parking decks. Wayne County Circuit Judge Michael Sapala said the company had to break ground no later than April 3.

Sapala’s order stems from Dearborn’s ongoing lawsuit against Burton-Katzman and several of the company’s executives for failing to complete its agreed-upon project on a city-owned parcel.

Now the City of Dearborn and a subsidiary of Burton-Katzman are in dispute over concrete foundation slabs.

The lawyers representing Burton-Katzman now tell the Times-Herald that if the city moves forward with demolition of the concrete slabs it would be “purposely interfering” with its ability to begin construction on April 3 as part of its court order.

The concrete slabs are to be the foundation for two six-unit condo buildings for the still unfinished West Village Commons project. The concrete pads, according to the Times-Herald, were poured more than two years ago.

Dearborn officials say the concrete foundations have now become a public safety hazard and need to be removed. If Burton-Katzman wants to stop the demolition, they need to provide an engineering report to the city to prove the concrete pads are suitable for holding the two six-unit condo buildings, the paper reports.

Trouble is the subsidiary of Burton-Katzman, on the hook to complete the engineering report and the construction, says it doesn’t have enough money to finance the necessary engineering reports, the Times-Herald says. You can read the full story by clicking HERE