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.