Rick Snyder, Republican candidate for governor, will be the keynote speaker for the Thursday, October 7, 2010, Business Builder Breakfast sponsored by Oakwood Healthcare System.

Snyder, the self-proclaimed “One Tough Nerd,” will discuss his 10-point plan to reinvent Michigan.

To register, click HERE.

EVENT INFORMATION

– Business Builder Breakfast

Fairlane Club, 5000 Fairlane Woods Drive, Dearborn, MI 48126

Thursday, October 7, 2010: 7:30 am – 9:30 am

Cost: $30 Members; $40 Non-Members

Corporate Table of 10 with signage: $400

 AGENDA

7:30 – 8:00 am….Registration & Breakfast

8:00 – 8:10 am….Welcome & Introductions

8:10 – 9:15 am….Speaker & Discussion

9:15 – 9:30 am….Networking

Rick Snyder Bio

Richard D. (Rick) Snyder is CEO, Chair of the Board and co-founder of Ardesta LLC, a high tech venture capital firm located in Ann Arbor. He previously served as CEO and chairman of Gateway, Inc. On July 21, 2009, Snyder announced his campaign for Governor of Michigan as a Republican in the 2010 election.

Rick was born in Battle Creek in 1958 and studied at the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of General Studies with high distinction in 1977, a MBA with distinction in 1979 and a Juris Doctorate in 1982. He completed his third degree by age 23.

Snyder was employed with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) from 1982 – 1991 and was named partner in 1988. In 1989, he was named partner-in-charge of mergers and acquisitions in the Chicago office.

Snyder joined Gateway in 1991 and was named President and COO in 1996. In 1997, he returned to Ann Arbor and founded Avalon Investments Inc., a venture capital company with a $100 million fund. Under his leadership, Avalon went on to invest in 24 technology-oriented startup companies. After a successful capital raise of $103 million, Snyder co-founded Ardesta, an investment firm focused on micro and nanotechnology. Between Avalon and Ardesta, 420 jobs have been created in Michigan and 1,253 nationwide.

Synder’s 10-point plan to reinvent Michigan includes: creating more and better jobs; reformation of Michigan’s tax system; fixing broken government; restoration of cities and control of urban sprawl.

“We will celebrate success if and only if we accomplish these goals,” said Snyder at a recent town hall meeting in Grand Rapids. “The voting public must demand more from its governor and its government. We will accomplish these goals!”

A plan to create affordable space for artists, arts organizations and nonprofits in East Dearborn inched another step forward on Wednesday.

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA), in partnership with the City of Dearborn, tells us that an artist market survey will go out to artists in a 50 mile radius of Dearborn. This survey will be conducted by Artspace, the nation’s leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts. The EDDDA is working with Artspace to explore a new and creative way to a potential economic development project in East Dearborn.

“The reason they (Artspace) are contacting artists outside of Dearborn is to more fully understand how many artists are interested in space and if they would move to Dearborn if affordable space were accessible here,” said Melissa Kania of the EDDDA. “The survey will provide Artspace with statistical information including such things as: artist housing needs, affordability ranges, rental vs. ownership preferences, artist studio-only needs, location preferences, design requirements based on household sizes and arts disciplines, and arts organization space needs.”

This is where many of us can help this project. Dearborn and Artspace need our help in collecting the names and email addresses of as many artists as possible in and outside of Dearborn (50 mile radius) to actually take the survey. Artspace will be kicking off this survey phase of the study with a public meeting Nov. 9 in the Council Chambers at Dearborn City Hall. The short survey launches Nov. 9 and runs through January 14, 2011.

Some of you may recall that Artspace was in Dearborn June 22 and 23, 2010 to begin the process of building community support for the creation of affordable space for artists, entrepreneurs and arts organizations.

They explored five areas of consideration: project concept, artist market need, site suitability, potential to fund and sustain a project and local leadership. A public meeting was held to determine community support and inform the public of Artspace’s work. The Prefeasibility Visit is the first step in the process that can lead to an Artspace project.

Interested artists can visit: www.artspacedearborn.org to register for the survey.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Brian Sullivan on Monday set a hearing date of Oct. 5 to determine whether to grant a Dearborn resident’s request to temporarily block the City of Dearborn’s Civil Service Commission from replacing Commissioner Marge Powell with a new member.

We wrote about the court fight on Monday (click HERE for that story).

The court papers filed by Dearborn attorney Morris Goodman make for some interesting reading. Goodman calls into question the May 21 letter Council President Tom Tafelski issued to the City Attorney’s office concerning Powell not taking the oath within 10 days of her May 2009 appointment. According to the court documents, attached to the letter were records of oaths previously taken by Powell and notarized by the City Clerk, which “are questionable.”

“The oath for the term ending June 30, 2009 and for the term ending June 30, 2003 were apparently taken and notarized on the same day — April 22, 2004,” according to the court documents. “It does not make sense that oaths for two different terms would be administered simultaneously. Furthermore, it is also unlikely that a term ending in June 2003 would be notarized in April 2004.”

A longtime Dearborn resident is seeking a court order to prevent the City of Dearborn’s Civil Service Commission from replacing Commissioner Marge Powell with a new member until a proper hearing can be held.

Powell’s status as a commissioner – a position she has held for 17 years – was called into question by Dearborn Council President Tom Tafelski last May. Tafelski discovered Powell had not taken an oath for her most recent four-year reappointment – a violation of Dearborn’s City Charter – one day after the Civil Service Commission by a 3-2 vote tabled a request from Tafelski to re-assign/classify an employee from the City Council office to the City Clerk’s office.

Powell, a former Dearborn councilwoman, was reappointed in May 2009 and had been serving for a full year before Tafelski’s “discovery.” The City Charter requires an oath of office take place within 10 days of an appointment. The Civil Service Commission oversees the hiring and appointment of persons to various city government positions and their salaries.

Morris Goodman

Dearborn resident Joanne Arrick, the plaintiff in this matter, and her attorney, Dearborn resident Morris Goodman, are seeking a temporary restraining order against the City of Dearborn to prevent the Civil Service Commission from appointing someone to the Commission until Powell can be sworn in or pending the Dearborn City Council voting on whether it will extend the time for Powell to take the oath of office for being a Dearborn Civil Service Commissioner, according to court documents filed in Wayne County Circuit Court.

“. . . There have been a number of Commissioners in the last 5 years or so on a number of Commissions who did not take their oath of office within 10 days of their appointment and were not deemed to have voided their office and were allowed, without city council being asked to extend the time for them to do so, to take their oath more than 10 days after they were appointed, including Commissioners on the Library and Planning Commission,” Goodman states in the court documents.  “The above fact, not conjecture, shows that, in this case, there is unlawful selective enforcement of a rule that has been violated with impunity by other Dearborn officials in similar situations.”

In fact, the court documents state that Dearborn’s acting fire chief was informed in January of 2010 by the City Attorney’s office that he “should have been sworn in three years previously, but although no oath was taken at that time, he was sworn in subsequently after the omission’s discovery in January of 2010.”

Arrick said she is taking this action because she feels there is a double standard on how the Powell matter was handled by Dearborn city leaders. At least three other people have been allowed to retain appointed city positions despite missing the 10 day window to take the oath of office.

“My concern is more about the process,” Arrick tells Deepsaidwhat.com. “I am not comfortable with how things have been worked with the matter. It doesn’t seem like the proper way to work. Government ought to work more fairly than what I saw.”

The case has been assigned to Wayne County Circuit Judge Brian Sullivan who is expected to issue a hearing date on Monday (9/27).

(Source: First United Methodist Church)

The Festival of Quilts at Dearborn's First United Methodist Church.

“Festival of Quilts” takes place on Friday October 8 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday October 9, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. There is also a silent auction, salad luncheons each day and a crafters’ market.

To enter a quilt for display: click HERE.

Bring your quilt(s) to the church (enter from parking lot behind church) on Wednesday, October 7, 2010 from 1:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m.

Your quilt(s) will be numbered, displayed and listed in the show catalogue.

Quilt pick up takes place on Saturday, October 9, 2009 from 5:00pm-7:00pm

Enter a quilt in our contest ‘Celebrate’ in honor of Dearborn First United Methodist Church’s 200th Anniversary:

Contest Entry Deadline October 1, 2010.

In 2010, the Dearborn Animal Shelter celebrates the 10th Diamond Anniversary of Black Tie & Tails. We invite you to help our rescues sparkle & shine at their brilliant best. The event takes place on Friday, October 22, 2010 from 7 p.m. to Midnight at the The Dearborn Inn.

Presented byMary Ann Wright & Bob Sayles, the gala’s Honorary Co-chairs include:

Congressman John Dingell & Mrs. Debbie Dingell, Detroit Lions Quarterback Drew Stanton & Mrs. Kristin Stanton, Detroit Lions Long Snapper Don Muhlbach & Mrs. Alix Muhlbach, Paws Promenade Commentator: Dan Miller, Fox 2 Sports Director.

It is a milestone year for Black Tie & Tails—one of the most anticipated and premier fundraising events for animal welfare in Southeast Michigan.

Since its inception Black Tie has raised over $760,000, which has directly benefited 20,000 rescues. All proceeds from this “elegant evening for four-footed friends” enable us to provide innovative and quality care for the thousands of homeless animals who find refuge at our Shelter each year. The funds also support the Friends’ many community initiatives, such as Operation Feed Fido, a subsidy program for pet parents to ensure that animals remain in their homes.

The gala evening “facets” include:

• Sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, eclectic entrees, and delectable desserts all prepared by the renowned chefs of the Dearborn Inn—and, of course, flowing champagne and cocktails.

**Please check back for Dinner Menu details

• The Red Carpet Paws Promenade. Featuring our adorable, adoptable dogs and cats. Remember, our feline and canine visitors are all looking for homes. In 2009, 4 cats and 2 dogs found forever families.

• Spectacular Live Auction Items. 2009 live auction highlights included 4 tickets to a performance & results live show of American Idol + stylish accommodations provided by the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Ray.

• Four Paws Unique Boutique. Featuring one-of-kind items for you and your four-legged friends.

For more information, visit www.dearbornanimals.org

(Source: Green Brain Comics press release)

Green Brain Comics in Dearborn proudly unveils the new group art exhibit in their HEADSPACE Gallery on Saturday, September 25th with an opening reception from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The exhibit entitled “Visions of MODOK” features playful reinterpretations from thirteen local artists. They range from crazy, to even more crazy. “The inspiration for this project” says curator Dan Merritt “came from an annual project at the March MODOK Madness blog”  http://marchmodokmadness.blogspot.com/ MODOK (acronym for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 (Sep. 1967) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Contributors include HEADSPACE regulars like Jesse Hughes, Sean Bieri, Heather Hansma, Matt Feazell and many more local artists. It even features a piece from March MODOK Madness curator Pedro Delgado a native Detroiter know residing in New York.

The exhibit opens this Saturday, September 25th with an opening reception at 7 p.m., light refreshments will be served. The art will be on display until December 8th. All pieces are for sale, and will be available for pick up at the end of the show.

The HEADSPACE Gallery is inside Green Brain Comics which is located at 13210 Michigan Avenue in East Downtown Dearborn. For more information check the website at http://www.greenbrain.biz or call 313-582-9444

Take a break from the daily routine, join your neighbors, and bring your kindergarten through sixth grade student to an evening of game playing fun.

The Dearborn Public Schools K-12 Math Committee will host the 1st Annual Family Math Night on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 18700 Audette, Dearborn 48124. The fun starts at 6:30 pm.

Teachers, parents and high school honor students will host parent/student game tables at this carnival like event. Those attending will play fun and educational games that help kids learn and master critical math skills. The games are aligned to the Everyday Math Curriculum and the Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE). Families who win or purchase math games will leave knowing how to play the games so the fun and learning can continue at home.

“Gone are the days of rote memorization with flashcards and multiplication charts. The evidence is clear, games help learning soar,” commented Christine Rosbury, District Math Coordinator.

The K-12 Math Task Force is charged with preparing every Dearborn student to be successful in Algebra 2 as a graduation requirement. This goal helps to prepare tomorrow’s graduate for success in recession proof fields such as health and technology. While Dearborn teachers have been hard at work implementing strategies aimed at reaching every learner, one of the biggest mental shifts for all stakeholders is creating learning environments where students take risks, grapple with problems, and view errors as learning opportunities.

Today’s student needs computational fluency and problem solving skills. Math games represent an enjoyable way to help students master facts while thinking critically. The Everyday Math Program requires at least 15 minutes of skill practice with games daily. A 2008 study published by Carnegie Mellon University concluded that exposing children to board games produced large and lasting gains in their math skills.

A high speed rail system in Michigan and the Midwest -– with a stop in Dearborn -– will boost the economy, create nearly 58,000 jobs and reduce highway and airport congestion, according to a new report issued this week by a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization.

The new report – Connecting the Midwest – by the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM), analyzes the potential of high-speed rail to the Midwest, and looks at benefits specific to eight Midwestern states, including Michigan.

Key findings of the report include:

• A completed Midwest high-speed rail network will create nearly 58,000 permanent jobs, and support 15,200 jobs during the 10 years it would take to construct the project. Improved passenger rail service would tap Michigan’s manufacturing base to supply equipment for high-speed rail.

• Traffic congestions costs major Midwest metropolitan areas more than $10 billion annually in lost economic output. Midwest high-speed rail will reduce air travel by 1.3 million trips and car travel by 5.1 million trips per year by 2020, curbing congestion.

• A high-speed rail connection between downtown Detroit and Chicago would feature 10 trains per day, and reduce travel time between the cities to 3 hours and 46 minutes — faster than driving, and competitive with air travel (with airport waiting time taken into account).

• Improved passenger rail service in Michigan is already making an impact: Improved controls allowed Amtrak to increase speeds along parts of the Detroit-Chicago corridor in 2002 and 2005. Amtrak ridership on Michigan trains increased 24 percent between fiscal year 2004 and fiscal year 2009, despite the economic downturn.

• High-speed rail will give consumers more transportation options. Fully 69 percent of Michigan residents would live within 15 miles of a high-speed rail station, and 71 percent of the state’s workforce would be employed within 15 miles of a station. Regionally, 58 percent of Midwesterners, or 35 million people, would live within 15 miles of a high-speed rail station; 17 million would live within five miles of a station. More than one out of every four jobs in the region would be within five miles of a station.

• An Amtrak passenger uses 30 percent less energy per passenger mile than a passenger car, reducing dependence on oil. The system would prevent 188,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year by replacing less efficient car and plane travel. The amount is equal to the annual emissions of 34,000 cars.

“As the saying goes, ‘you are either part of the problem, or part of the solution,” said Meghan Hess, PIRGIM program associate. “High-speed rail is a part of the solution – boosting our economy and creating jobs, modernizing our transportation system and helping to solve our nation’s oil dependency, worsening congestion, and pollution. High-speed rail gets us moving, in the right direction.”

In January, the Obama administration announced that 31 states will receive a portion of $8 billion in funding to build and plan for high-speed rail under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Midwest received funds totaling $2.7 billion for rail projects in six states. A $244 million Recovery Act grant will pay for new rail stations in Dearborn, Troy and Battle Creek, as well as track improvements that will assist commuter lines between Ann Arbor, Detroit and Howell.

“The proposal being presented today represents a realistic program to raise passenger train speeds on the Chicago-Detroit corridor,” said John DeLora, executive committee chair of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers. “While it will not create true ‘bullet trains’ such as those running in Europe or Japan, it will create a program of incremental improvements, which will offer 100 mph train speeds over most of the route, dramatically shortening trip times.”

The report urges Congress to invest adequate resources in intercity rail and set performance standards to fully realize rail’s potential. It calls on the President and Congress to articulate a national vision for high-speed rail similar to the vision outlined by President Eisenhower for the Federal Highway system.

Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. also supports improvements in the local rail system.

“Dearborn is an integral part of multiple rail initiatives, encouraging more people to use trains for commuting to their jobs or college classes, and for attending special events and visitor attractions,” he said in a written statement. “We are also excited about our new intermodal passenger train station. We are in support of the Midwest High Speed Rail Initiative because it broadens the economic opportunities for our community and promotes even greater environmental benefits.”

The Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM) will release a new report Monday morning in Dearborn that outlines the economic and other benefits of bringing high-speed rail to Michigan and the Midwest.

PIRGIM says critics of adding a high-speed rail are ignoring the cost of inaction and the full range of benefits a new rail system could bring to Michigan and each state in the Midwest in both the short and long term.

The presentation for the new report will take place at 10:30 a.m.  Sept. 20 on the platform at the Dearborn Amtrak Station, located behind the Dearborn Police Station