The Dearborn Education Foundation’s annual Pizza Day program is back.

For years this campaign has been successful in helping to raise awareness and dollars for the Foundation and local pizzerias. This summer the team of Foundation volunteers worked hard to bring Pizza Day back and make it even better.

This year the effort has been extended to each Wednesday throughout the month of November. This change adds value and efficiencies for the proprietor and the Foundation, said Eddie N. Fakhoury, executive director of the Foundation. A minimum donation was requested up front with many contributing more, and in return those who signed up will be promoted during the month of November throughout the entire school district.

“We understand that small business owners are hit most in these economic conditions and their time and resources should be respected. For that reason this year we made some changes that provides added value and benefits for everyone that participates,” Fakhoury said.

The Education Foundation is a licensed 501c3 non-profit organization that helps enhance the education that students receive from Dearborn Public Schools through grants to fund technology, equipment and innovative programs not funded by the school district’s budget. Since its inception the organization has funded more than $1,200,000 million in grants.

All funds raised by the Foundation go to fund teacher grants that are submitted throughout the year.

You can show your support for our schools and our community pizzerias starting on Wednesday, Nov. 3 by placing your order at one of these outstanding participating businesses:

Antonio’s, 26356 Ford Rd,  278-6000

Dearborn Italian Bakery, 24545 Ford Rd,   274-2350

DeMarco’s Pizza, 24943 Ford Rd,  562-6770

Dino’s Pizza, 2801 Monroe,  274-1750

Jet’s Pizza, 3945 S. Telegraph,  359-5387

Jet’s Pizza, 23541 Ford Rd,  274-2600

Joe & Renos, 2311 Monroe,  274-9810

Little Ceasar’s, 18500 Outer Dr.,  565-3505

Paisano’s, 5511 Schaefer, 581-4000

Pizza Papalis, 22022 Michigan Ave.,  724-7722

Pizza Hut, 2941 S. Telegraph,  562-0549

Pizza Kitchen, Michigan Ave.,  582-8500

Roman Village, 9924 Dix,  842-2100

Sarieni’s Pizza, 3313 Greenfield, 441-1500

Two of Dearborn’s high school teams are in the running for the WDIV Ch. 4 Football Frenzy Game of the Week.

Dearborn High will host Fordson in the opening round of high school football playoff action. If WDIV selects this matchup as the game of the week, both of these fine schools have a chance to be highlighted.

So this is where all of us come into play. Whether a resident, Dearborn High, Fordson High School parent, student, alumni or a fan, you need to vote early and vote often to help land this game on local TV.

Just follow the link HERE and vote!

With just over a week to go before the election, the race between Dearborn Council members George Darany and Suzanne Sareini for the 15th District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives is getting ugly.

Darany’s Democratic Party recently mailed a flyer to homes that labeled Sareini “Suzanne Chapter 7 Sareini,” claiming she had to file for personal bankruptcy twice. “And she thinks she knows how to fix Michigan’s economy?,” the flyer states.

On the other side of the ticket, Sareini’s Republican Party called out Darany for voting against a project in Dearborn (the Dearborn Town Center at Michigan and Schaefer that is nearly complete) “to keep and create over 500 jobs . . . Darany now claims that jobs are his top priority.”

It’s hard to determine just how severe damage from either flyer will be to the candidates’ respective campaigns but it’s likely the flyers will cost each candidate some votes on Nov. 2.

Separately, Sareini, who has been endorsed by the Detroit Free Press, recently picked up the endorsement of The Detroit News, as well. The News said “Republican hopeful Suzanne Sareini should succeed term-limited Democrat Gino Polidori.

The Michigan Depression Glass Society’s 38th annual show and sale will be held November 6 – 7 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn.

Depression Glass show comes to Dearborn Nov. 6-7.

Show organizers say Depression glass continues to grow in popularity because the vintage glassware can be frequently spotted on the counter and table tops of Rachel Ray, Martha Stewart, Sandra Lee and Alton Brown as they plate their delicious dishes.

While celebrity chefs have assistants scour flea markets and antique stores for these items, show organizers say nothing compares to the vast array of sparkling glassware that can be found at the Michigan Depression Glass Society (MDGS) Annual Show & Sale.

“We’ve been seeing a significant increase in 20- and 30-year-old collectors attending our annual glass show looking for the fun and funky retro glassware of the 1950s to 1960s like martini shakers, wine glasses, ice buckets and other serving pieces for hosting parties at home,” said MDGS President Barb Cruz. “We attribute much of this new found interest to television cooking programs, combined with the eco-friendly trend to go green with glassware.”

The show features nearly two-dozen glass dealers from across the country and authors of books on depression and era glassware.

“It’s hard to describe what can be found in the aisles and aisles of glassware at this event,” Cruz added. “This show is a fun weekend activity to attend with friends and to search for great finds to use at your next dinner gathering, cocktail party or cooking marathon; because in the end, it is all in the presentation.”

Hours for the Nov. 6 and 7 show are Saturday from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Admission to the event is a $5 donation; parking is free. For safety reasons, strollers are not permitted.

For more information, click HERE.

Curbside leaf pickup begins Oct. 25.

It is that time of year again for deciding how to handle loose leaves.

With the city struggling with its budget, residents should probably get into the habit this year of bagging leaves rather than raking them to the curb. If there is one service that could be cut to save dollars this might be one of them.

But until that happens, the city will offer loose leave pickup beginning Oct. 25. Crews will be neighborhoods on trash days during non-recycling weeks.

Bagged leaves can be set curbside on scheduled trash pickup days, which the city says is its preferred method of collection. Leaf pickup by this method is continuous every week from now until Saturday, Dec. 4 although weather conditions can alter this schedule.

Residents are asked to rake their leaves into the street as close to their trash day as possible during their neighborhood’s non-recycling week.

The city does say there will be limitations on loose leaf pickup. Trash sections are larger than in the past, which means city crews may not complete picking up loose leaves in your neighborhood on your trash day in one week.

City crews will not return to your neighborhood until your next non-recycling week. City crews will start in your section where they left off during the last trash day in the non-recycling week in your neighborhood.

For more information, you can call the Leaf Collection Hotline at 943-2444.

The Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Chambers is hosting an informal reception to get connected with those runnning for public office in local districts.

When: 4-6 p.m.

Where: Dearborn Chamber of Commerce Conference Room, 22100 Michigan Ave., in the Bryant Library.

Attendance confirmed by:

Suzanne Sareini

Morris Hood

Bonnie Patrick

Robert Ficano

Susan Hubbard

John Sullivan

Roxanne McDonald

James Schoolmaster

Ned Apigian

The event is presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters Dearborn/Dearborn Heights and Dearborn Heights Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber members are free;  non-members, $10.

Light appetizers provided by G Phillips Catering. Register HERE.

Margaret Blohm, an independent public relations consultant will address ways to keep the PR rolling while the budget is tight.

When: 8:30 a.m.

Where: Dearborn Chamber of Commerce Conference Room, 22100 Michigan Ave., in the Bryant Library.

Sponsored by the Dearborn Heights Chamber of Commerce.

Cost is $10 for members and $15 non-members. Registration and continental breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. Please RSVP by Oct. 18 by calling (313) 274-7480 or fax registration form to (313) 724-0757.

(Source: Rotary Club of Dearborn)

The Rotary Club of Dearborn will host a delightful evening of entertainment at the second annual “So You Think You Can Sync?” performance at Fordson HIgh School.

This hilarious lip sync event benefits the Rotary Club of Dearborn’s ongoing commitment to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Dearborn. In 2010, $22,000 in scholarships were awarded to 16 outstanding students, and over the past ten years the Rotary Club of Dearborn has awarded a total of more than $150,000 in scholarships to help students from the local community. This is just one of the many ways that Rotary seeks to fulfill its mission of “Service Above Self.”

“So You Think You Can Sync?” begins at 7 p.m.on Thursday, October 28, 2010, in the Fordson High School Auditorium at 13800 Ford Road in Dearborn.

Last year’s family-friendly performances featured a strong lineup of “celebrity” talent fronm the City of Dearborn, Dearborn Public Schools, Divine Child High School, Dearborn Chamber of Commerce and other community leaders, including Rotarians. This year’s performers include Brian Whiston, Mayor John B. (Jack) O’Reilly, Jr., Jennifer Giering, Renault Arseneau, Barbara McAuliff, Oussama Baydoun, Debbie Dingell, Mark Shooshanian, Morris Goodman, and the Snow School Staff. Advance tickets may be purchased from any Dearborn Rotarian. The cost for adults is $12 and students and seniors pay a discounted price of $10. The goal for this year’s event is to raise $10,000 toward the annual scholarship awards.

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 City of Dearborn has been recognized for its work to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development in a study by researchers at the University of Michigan Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research (iLabs.)

The city in a press release Wednesday said it was honored as a four-star community through the program known as eCities for its efforts to promote investment in the community and for its support of businesses pursuing innovative endeavors.

The eCities research surveyed more than 100 communities in the State of Michigan that are home to 128, 242 entrepreneurs, earning $3.4 billion in annual income. These communities also had $1.2 billion in commercial development last year. They account for nearly half the state’s commercial property.

Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said the four-star designation reflects Dearborn’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and diversified economy.

“Dearborn has a history of promoting economic development, and in these challenging times, we know it is even more important to continue to pursue entrepreneurs and commercial investments. We appreciate this distinguished recognition of our efforts,” O’Reilly said.

“We are pleased to have participation from so many communities throughout the state in eCities 2010,” 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 entrepreneurship.”

Dearborn and 55 other communities were honored at a ceremony at UM-D on Oct. 19.

The annual eCities research project uses date supplied by the participants, as well as other public records, to assemble a six-factor, 30-item index to encourage entrepreneurial activity. The factors are clustering, incentives, growth, policies, community and education.

The study focuses on entrepreneurships because of its importance to expansion and diversification of Michigan’s regional economies and the impact small businesses have on job creation.

If you are looking for something close to home to do today, you might want to consider stopping by the Dearborn Firefighters’ pumpkin patch at the Fire Safety House, just across the street from Dearborn High School at 19750 W. Outer Drive (next to the Fire Station 2).

The annual benefit for the Dearborn Firefighters’ Burn Drive will be held today, Sunday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24 from noon to 5 p.m.

You can pick out any size pumpkin for $5. Kids of all ages will enjoy the free coney dogs, popcorn, cider, donuts, cookies and other refreshments.