Dearborn officials say sand and soil underneath the Crowley pool deck have been washed out by the pipe leak.

Pipe leaks in Dearborn’s Crowley pool appear to have caused more serious damage that originally believed and the needed repairs could keep the pool closed for the summer.

The city of Dearborn says leaks have washed away areas of the foundation under the pool deck, making the deck unsafe.

“The City must continue to determine the extent of that wash out and how best to stabilize the foundation of the deck,” according to a press release issued Friday afternoon.

This close up photo illustrates how sand and soil underneath the pool deck have been washed out by the pipe leak.

City contractors Friday identified the location of the leak in the pipe under the pool deck and made repairs to the specific site. But the scope of the repairs is more serious and goes beyond that one site, the city says.

The city says it also must address the following before it can even consider whether a re-opening can occur this season:

1. The most cost-efficient way to repair or replace sections of the pool deck in order to best cover that foundation.
2. The aging pipes of the circulatory system and the cost of replacing the pipes. Left unchecked, the pipes could leak in the future, disrupting the foundation and deck again.

The city has not yet provided details on how much repairs will cost but NSA, the company Dearborn hired earlier this year to assess the condition of all eight outdoor pools, is assessing the impact and repair costs. For more about NSA, click HERE

NSA will make recommendations to the City as soon as possible, the city says. NSA’s recommendations will likely include several approaches, from less expensive, “quick fix” repairs, the city says, to more extensive, longer lasting solutions.

Built in 1964, the problems facing Crowley pool aren’t unexpected, the city says. The hull of Crowley’s pool was replaced in the 1970s, and the city says it is now 10 years past its life expectancy. City crews repaired a leak in the pool hull in early June, fixing that problem before the pipe leak was discovered.

NSA will provide a report to the city on the condition of all pools,  including Crowley, and the associated costs to fix or maintain them now and for the long term. After receiving those recommendations, Dearborn officials say they will be in a better position to make a decision on whether to open Crowley pool this season.

The Museum Guild of Dearborn will host a fundraising garage sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, (June 17, 18 and 19) on the grounds of the McFadden Ross House, 915 Brady.

Look for the sale in the parking lot of the closed motel on the museum’s grounds.

For those wondering, no item from the Dearborn Historical Museum’s collections will be on sale. The merchandise is donated from Guild members and other Dearborn residents.

Separately, on Saturday, June 26, the Museum Guild will host its Third Annual Garden Party & Tea, also on the grounds of the McFadden Ross House.

Fine teas, delicate finger sandwiches and sweets will be served. Dearborn’s first lady, Christina O’Reilly, is the honorary chairperson. The cost is $35 ($25 is tax-deductible).

Tables may be reserved for four, six or eight and individual tickets are also available. Call 313-565-3000.

All proceeds from both events will benefit the Museum Guild of the Dearborn. The Guild benefits the Dearborn Historical Museum exclusively.

(Source: Arab American National Museum press release)

SURA Arts Academy, a free, diversity-themed digital photography instruction program for youth run by the Arab American National Museum (AANM), is accepting registrations for its 2010 Summer Camp, which begins on Monday, June 28 and concludes on Friday, July 2. Thirty slots are available at no charge to students in grades six through nine who reside in southwest Detroit, Dearborn and adjacent areas.

SURA Summer Camp registration materials and program details are available for download at www.arabamericanmuseum.org/SURA-Arts-Academy.id.438.htm or by contacting Vanita Mistry at 313.624.0210 or vmistry@accesscommunity.org. Students are loaned digital cameras; lunches are being provided free by Super Greenland Market of Dearborn. The camp is based at AANM, 13624 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn, but includes field trips.

SURA was honored in 2008 by First Lady Laura Bush in a White House ceremony with one of just 15 Coming Up Taller Awards from the President’s Council on the Arts and the Humanities, after emerging from a field of 320 applicants. Coming Up Taller singles out the best arts- and humanities-based youth after-school programs in the United States. Only one other Michigan-based organization, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, has ever received this award. Read more at www.pcah.org.

SURA is an Arabic word for photograph. In SURA Arts Academy, students are loaned new digital cameras. Photography students from the acclaimed Center for Creative Studies in Detroit then instruct the children on their operation during the five-day camp, which is based at the AANM and includes field trips. SURA also operates during the school year.

However, the camera is also a catalyst for discussion and the exploration of issues such as self-awareness, respect for others and the role of young people in their communities. Exhibitions of student photography are staged every fall at the AANM as the culmination of the previous academic year’s sessions.

“Arts education is increasingly important for youth, especially where school budgets are being cut and such programs are being eliminated from the curriculum,” says Janice Freij, curator of education at AANM. “According to the Arts and Civic Engagement report published by the National Endowment for the Arts, the decrease in arts participation for youth results in decreased exercise, volunteerism, and civic participation. But in our SURA Arts Academy, we’ve noticed increased grades and participation in both school and community activities among our participating students.”

SURA Arts Academy is funded by The Skillman Foundation, Bank of America and the Muna and Basem Hishmeh Foundation, Inc.

(Source: Taste of Dearborn press release.)

This year, East meets West with two separate events.

Taste of Dearborn West event June 16, 2010 from 6-10 pm and Taste of Dearborn East event September 15, 2010 from 6-10pm. The event is sponsored by Ameriprise Financial – Advisor Jim Thorpe. Tickets are $25 ($30 at the door) if purchased individually or $40 (save $10) if you attend both. Reservations are required by June 14, 2010 for the West event.

Participants must be at least 21 to participate and will receive a wristband during the check-in process at Bryant Branch Library starting at 5:30 p.m. The wristband is to be worn by all “tasters” so restaurant workers will be able to distinguish them from regular patrons.

Tasters sample free appetizers, purchase drink specials if they choose, then catch one of the passenger vans available for transportation to the next participating restaurant of their choice. Transportation is available to participating restaurants until 10 p.m. and is sponsored by LaFontaine Automotive Group. Menus will be distributed to each participant and are sponsored by Oakwood Healthcare System.

Dearborn is thrilled to showcase the diverse variety of flavors that our local restaurants have to offer. Come sample the best restaurants in Dearborn right at their locations.

Participating restaurants include: Andiamo, bd’s Mongolian barbeque, Bravo Cucina Italia, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cheli’s Chili Bar, PF Chang’s, Buddy’s Pizzeria, Crave, Fuddrucker’s, Giulio & Sons – Hyatt Regency, La Pita Mediterranean Cuisine, PizzaPapalis, Kiernan’s Steak House/Silky’s Martini Bar, The Post Bar, Double Olive

For more info, click HERE.

Dearborn entrepreneur Peder Blohm believes his soon-to-be-revealed website to buy and sell almost anything has what it takes to surpass the popular (and free) Craigslist.com.

Blohm's new site goes live June 23.

On June 23 we will find out. That’s when the beta version of his new website mynewmarketplace.com will officially be unveiled at a gathering of the Social Media Club of Detroit at the newly renovated Baronette Renaissance Hotel in Novi. The new site has been described as an eBay “without the auction” or a Craig’s list “without the creeps.” At the new site, visitors can now sign up to be on a mailing list. There also is a Facebook event link HERE.

“Our goal is to be more transparent than other websites that promote ‘free advertising’ because, in reality, nothing’s free,” Blohm said “Unlike Craiglist, we will charge a small fee for posting ads to help keep out the ‘riff raff’.”

Blohm says that “riff raff” includes not allowing adult personal ads on the new site. He says mynewmarketplace.com offers easy navigation and a variety of options to buy and sell products and services, promote new businesses, post and search job openings, and support the local economy.

To assist new businesses open less than 12 months and with limited marketing resources, Blohm says mynewmarketplace.com will offer a special place for these companies to promote themselves and attract new customers as well as employees and potential investors.

“We want to show that Michigan is still the birthplace of innovation,” Blohm said.

In order to build content, mynewmarketplace.com will not charge for ads during the first 30 days of launching the beta site.

“In today’s economy and with limited capital, you have to use all your creative resources to launch a new business,” said Blohm, who has previously launched new businesses in Michigan (including Laptop Design USA, LLC) and in his Swedish birthplace of Stockholm. “We’re planning for success.”

Blohm’s partner in developing the new website is Brian Surowiec, owner of Essential IT and a Michigan entrepreneur and technology consultant who has more than 15 years of experience providing IT and Internet-related services for a variety of industries.

Residents near Dearborn’s Crowley Park pool will have to find a new place to swim until further notice because of major leaks in the pool’s pipes, Dearborn officials announced Friday.

The costs to repair the pool aren’t yet known but with the city budget already stressed, repairing pool pipes might prove to be too difficult of a task this fiscal year.

City officials say the leak in the Crowley Park pool had been identified and announced earlier this year but the extent of the damage could not be determined until the city began prepping it to open for the season. Two leaks in the hull of the pool were repaired earlier this month.

Dearborn says the new leaks are in the pipes and if not repaired would cause the loss of thousands of gallons of water each day and undermine the integrity of the pool deck. The leaks are in the pipes that are connected to the filtration system, which must be operating for swimmers to use the pool.

The city’s five other outdoor neighborhood pools will open as scheduled tomorrow, June 12. (Levagood and Ford Woods park pools already opened for the season.)

A more extensive evaluation of the situation at Crowley Park pool could take place as early as the week of June 14 by NSA, the engineering firm that has been working with the city to conduct general assessments of all Dearborn city pools.

The city will review NSA’s recommendations and potential cost for repairs before determining a course of action regarding the pool. These discussions will include the timeframe of the repairs and the pool’s possible reopening.

For more information about Crowley Park pool, as well as Dearborn’s seven other public pools, call the Recreation Department at 313-943-2350.

Garage sales fans should plan to make their way over to the Dearborn Hills neighborhood today and Saturday. You will find all sorts of great bargins and all in one place. The sales begin at 9 a.m. and run until 5 p.m.

Happy garage sale shopping.

The Dearborn Hills garage sale map.

For the list of homes to date participating in the sale, you can click HERE or for a map, click the image at right.

At least 135 homeowners experienced basement flooding after heavy storms over the weekend and with more storms predicted for tonight things could get worse.

In a city press release, Dearborn says “the City’s initial analysis of the storm events show that the City’s sewers worked properly. The review is continuing.”

The city press release continues stating this:

“Following about 3 inches of rain from 8 p.m. Saturday to 2:30 a.m. Sunday, about 80 homes flooded in southeast Dearborn and another 50 in northeast Dearborn (as reported by Monday morning).

“Additionally, five homes on Nowlin in west Dearborn experienced basement flooding. Although no blockage was initially found, crews were videotaping sewers in that area on Monday as part of the further review.

“Other reports were coming in from homeowners around the City on Monday afternoon.

“As of 4 p.m. Monday, it does not appear as if the City’s sewers failed or were blocked in any areas of Dearborn.

“Affected residents should contact their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance companies to determine whether they have coverage for basement flooding claims.

“If residents with flooded basements believe that the City of Dearborn’s sewers were defective, then under state law, they have 45 days from the event to file a claim with the city’s Legal Department.

“No claim may be made after 45 days. Call the Legal Department at 313-943-2035.

You can read the entire release from the city of Dearborn by clicking the link below.

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Some residents say Dearborn's new swivel sirens aren't loud enough.

Dearborn’s early warning sirens were activated last night to warn residents of the violent storms and tornadoes in the area but it appears some homes still had trouble hearing the sirens.

We wrote about Dearborn’s new siren system in March 2009 and how extra swivel sirens were being installed to fill in the “sound” gaps in the city. Based on some of the comments sent here to Deepsaidwhat.com, it appears the sirens still may not be loud enough. 

” . . . does anybody know the story on the tornado sirens?,” asked one reader. “I was up last night and the only way I knew about the Tornado Warning was because it ran across the tv because the rain was so loud and my a/c was on. Methinks the siren should be loud enough to be heard over rain and air conditioning considering when we have bad storms resulting in tornados, people usually have on their a/c due to the humidity and heat and there is generally hard rain. How do we go about getting that fixed??”

Another reader wrote this:

” . . . i know what you mean, I opened the door last night to listen, and the new siren system sounded like it was coming from 40 miles away! I liked the old ones better, they went WOWOWOWOOOOOOWOWOWOOOOOOOOO very loud, why on earth did the city have to go and replace them? this is so stupid!”

You can read our earlier story on this subject and why some might still be having difficulty hearing the warning sirens by clicking HERE.

A former supervisor in the Dearborn Building and Safety Department, who in April pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and resigned from his city job, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail, two years of probation and $1,400 in court costs and fines.

Andrew Pizzino

Andrew Pizzino, as the Dearborn Times Herald points out, is the highest-ranking city employee yet to face jail time for “on-the-job corruption.” You can read the entire Times Herald article by clicking HERE.

Robert Deberardino, another former department supervisor, who is charged with aiding and abetting Pizzino, has yet to be sentenced. The Times Herald reports that attorneys for Deberardino are “appealing a district court decision that denied a motion to have the city’s legal department removed from the prosecution on technical grounds that city attorneys can’t prosecute fellow city employees.”

As for Pizzino, Chief Judge Mark Somers of the 19th District Court levied the maximum permitted on the penalties, except for the jail time, which could have been extended to 90 days.

Prior to his sentencing by Somers, the Times Herald reports that Pizzino apologized for his actions. Pizzino told the court he could have avoided this matter had he gone before the city’s Board of Ethics board before going through with the purchases.

“I have gone to the Ethics Board several times (on property purchases) in the past,” Pizzino is quoted in the Times Herald. “I think this time I just got lazy.”

Judge Somers apparently was skeptical of Pizzino’s remorse.

“What about the victims?” Somers is quoted in the Times Herald. “The clear intent of this scheme was to profit financially by way of fraud.”

Somers rightly pointed out to Pizzino in court that his actions were a serious violation of public trust and that his actions will raise a skeptical eye with any contractor or homeowner who deals with city building authorities in Dearborn.

As far as restitution goes, that is still unresolved and Somers is expected to hold a hearing to determine a figure when Pizzino concludes his jail sentence. Pizzino’s charges stem from two Dearborn houses he purchased under fraudulent circumstances and resold for a combined profit of $156,000, the Times Herald reports.

Times Herald writer J. Patrick Pepper rightly asks in his article “how or why city building inspectors passed inspections on the properties when Pizzino put them on the market when there were such readily apparent problems.”