Say goodbye to Dearborn’s Snow Branch Library, the first casualty of Dearborn’s budget cutting.

The last day of service to the community for Snow is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 2.

Dearborn, like many municipalities in the metro area, is faced with extremely difficult decisions in order to balance the budget.

While the closure of Snow Branch is an example of one of those decisions, the City is retaining all library services through the Henry Ford Centennial Library on Michigan Avenue as well as the Bryant Branch Library, 22100 Michigan Ave. and the Esper Branch Library at 12929 W. Warren Ave.

In addition, because of the reciprocal borrowing agreement with Dearborn Heights, Dearborn residents can use the Caroline Kennedy Library at 24590 George Street and the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Library at 24602 Van Born Road.

The return drop box at the Snow Branch Library will be open until the end of September to accommodate those patrons returning library material.

The Well bar in Dearborn.

The owners of The Well bar, which opened in Dearborn’s West Village Commons in September 2009, held their first ever golf outing for charity and raised about $3,500, all of which is being donated to the Make a Wish Foundation

“We decided to have the event to raise some money for a charity,” said Dale W. Gehringer Jr., one of the owners of The Well. “We looked at a few and we selected the Make A Wish Foundation. We just really wanted everyone to have a great time for a good cause.”

Gehringer said 88 people attended the outing, which was held at the Inkster Valley Golf Club Aug. 20.

Of course an outing like this takes the help of many sponsors to be successful. Gehringer says The Well wants to thank all who participated and/or donated, including many Dearborn restaurants and bars who donated gift cards. Even Chris Chelios donated a few autographed items for auction and some Thomas Holdstrom items, as well.

“We had many sponsors for this event that donated either Hole Sponsorships or gifts that we raffled away after the outing,” Gehringer said. “We plan on having an annual outing every year.”

The sculpture 'Internal Combustion' by Douglas Gruizenga, is located at Michigan and Brady near the Dearborn Historical Museum.

If you like those art sculptures you see while driving through Dearborn (we do) you can thank the Dearborn Community Fund, the non-profit organization that provides resources to support recreational and cultural projects in Dearborn.

Twelve new sculptures are enhancing the landscape in east and west Dearborn along Michigan Avenue.

The artwork was installed through Dearborn’s Art in Public Places project as part of the Midwest Sculpture Initiative (MSI).

The Dearborn Community Fund (DCF) project has expanded since it was first initiated in 2009 when eight sculptures were placed around the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

“Public interaction and interest in the project provided the encouragement to host a new exhibit for the third year in a row,” said EmmaJean Woodyard, executive director of the DCF.

This is the second year that the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA) and the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (WDDDA) are collaborating in the project, which has helped to expand the initiative and increase the number of sculptures from eight to 12.

Residents and visitors to Dearborn are encouraged to take a sculpture tour.

“The sculptures range from whimsical to serene, provocative to straight forward,” Woodyard noted. “Residents already have commented that the subject matter – such as pistons and horses that look like wild Mustangs – as well as the steel and aluminum materials used by the artists, are a great reflection of Dearborn and our automotive history.”

Artists whose work is exhibited in the 2011 Art in Public Places Project are from Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. All can be purchased for those interested, too.

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Steve King and the Dittilies will help campers rock ‘n roll through the last official weekend of the season at Camp Dearborn, marking the end of summer for many. The band will perform Sunday evening at the ever popular Canteen Dance.

The official camping season traditionally ends with an end of summer bash. The band will play Sunday, Sept. 4 from 8 till 11 p.m. Tent and cabin reservations are expected to be fully booked.

A favorite camping destination for many in southeast Michigan, Camp Dearborn wraps up another busy season with the Labor Day weekend crowd. Tents and cabins in Tent Village have been filled since mid-June. The camp office maintained a waiting list for much of the summer.

Camp Dearborn runs its full activity season from mid-June through Labor Day each year. Camping with limited activity is available as early as May 1 and runs through October.

In addition to the permanent camping units of Tent Village, Camp Dearborn offers 191 temporary sites for those with their own equipment. Temporary sites are either full hook-up or electric only and can be reserved by calling either of the Camp offices: Dearborn Recreation Department at 313-943-2350 or Milford Camp Office at 248-684-6000.

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Fordson: Faith, Fasting Football, the award-winning movie filmed in Dearborn that documents the Fordson High School football team during Ramadan, opens at select AMC Theatres Sept. 9.

We haven’t seen the film yet but early reviews and awards suggest it is well done.  People we have spoken to who live in Dearborn and have seen the film say it shines a more positive light on our city and its residents. For many who live outside of our city and only view us through the negative lens of the network news, the film could serve as a good educational tool.

The film will launch via the AMC Independent™ program in select AMC markets (for a minimum of one week), including Dearborn, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Orange County, Calif., Los Angeles, New York, N.Y., Brunswick, N.J., San Jose, Calif., San Francisco, and in the Greater Washington D.C. region, including Gaithersburg, Md., and Alexandria, Va.

According to the movie’s producer, the film shows all-American life in a typical high school (Fordson) that happens to be mostly Arab-American, unearthing a community desperately holding onto its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in post 9-11 America.

The film recently received the Special Grand Jury Award at the Slamdance Film Festival, Special Jury Prize at the DEADCenter Film Festival, the Audience and Founders Award at the 2011 Politics on Film Festival, the Best Documentary Award at the Detroit-Windsor Film Festival and was named Champion of the World Cup Film Awards.

You can read what Varity magazine had to say about the film after it was shown at Sundance by clicking here http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944514/

“This film offers a dynamic and delicate story from a perspective that is not often told,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, vice president, specialty and alternative content for AMC. “We are proud to play a role in sharing the story.”

North Shore Films is launching a national grass roots marketing campaign to secure volunteers to promote the film in their local markets via educational institutions, religious organizations, youth sports teams and community centers. People interested in volunteering can sign up at www.fordsonthemovie.com

Additional information about Fordson is available at its website, via Facebook and Twitter (@FordsonTheMovie).

U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell’s office issued this release today:

U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) on Friday commended the Federal Railroad Administration for obligating $28.2 million in investment funding to the Michigan Department of Transportation for the building of a new Dearborn train station. This funding will allow the City of Dearborn to consolidate its two passenger rail stations into a intermodal station in the west section of downtown Dearborn.

“This is such an exciting day for the City of Dearborn and The Henry Ford, said Dingell. “Improving passenger rail service is something I have long supported, and I look forward to helping this project succeed. Modernizing rail travel will help attract small business development, increase job growth, and enhance the livelihood of communities and business, by helping to expedite the time and efficiency of people and goods getting from point A to point B. The City of Dearborn and its economy will reap the benefits of this investment for many years.”

“This project is part of a larger strategy to increase the number of potential customers coming to Dearborn every day. Increasing the customer base sustains existing businesses and attracts new activity and investment,” said Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. “I have to personally thank our Congressional representatives, particularly Congressman John Dingell and Senator Debbie Stabenow, for their support and intervention to keep this project on track and create new employment opportunities in our area. This project would not have been possible without active participation from The Henry Ford, led by Patricia Mooradian, the State of Michigan Department of Transportation and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. With their ongoing help, Dearborn will be a vital stop on a growing and prospering transportation corridor.”

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Two years ago, when a fire destroyed the house of Dearborn City Councilman Robert Abraham, the family’s Labrador Retriever, Dublin, was killed. Abraham, his wife Mary Ann, daughter Mary Kate, and sons Brandon and Jared were not home at the time of the fire but felt the tremendous loss of their family pet. When friends and neighbors offered their assistance, they recommended donations to the Dearborn Animal Shelter

On Sept. 10, almost two years from the anniversary date of the fire and with the family’s house restorations recently completed, the Abrahams will host an “Open House for Hope’s Heroes” to benefit rescue animals with special needs. The event is being hosted together with Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter.

Councilman Robert Abraham

“You can always replace your house and your possessions, but you can’t replace a pet who has been a member of the family,” Abraham said. “We decided soon after the fire that we wanted to do something special for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, which benefits so many in our community.”

The public is invited to attend the open house which will be held on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the family’s home located at 510 Crescent Drive in Dearborn. Dinner and refreshments will be served along with entertainment and special prizes.

“We are very grateful to the Abrahams for generously opening their home to benefit animals who need extra special care,” said Kelle Sisung, development director of Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter. “In the past two weeks, dogs have been rescued with collars embedded in their necks. We’ve also had a spate of dogs who are heartworm positive. Hope’s Heroes funds truly help us provide hope.”

Reservations to attend are requested by Sept. 3 via email to rabraham.cpa@gmail.com Contributions of $50 per person are suggested with all donations welcome. If unable to attend, donations can also be made online at www.dearbornanimals.org

Dearborn’s Master Plan workshops for residents continues Wednesday at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course.

Residents are invited to guide the future development of the city through participating in these public workshops. The survey process was completed Aug. 1 and interested residents may participate in these special workshops.

Wednesday’s meeting is the third in a series and begins at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. This workshop is focused on neighborhoods in the northwest part of the city.

Input will be used in the creation of Dearborn’s new master plan, which will be a vision for the future of transportation, land use, the economy and environmental and cultural stewardship.

The master plan will help determine the physical characteristics of the city and facilitate the type of community residents want to see for the long term.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

Summation workshop: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Club Room One, 15801 Michigan Ave.

The city of Dearborn is joining with The Henry Ford and the Dearborn Area Ministerial Association (DAMA) to present a Remembrance and Unity Candlelight Vigil on the 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

The ceremony is open to the public and will be at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 on the lawn of the Henry Ford Museum. A community candlelight vigil was held in the same location in 2001.

DAMA is seeking short and heart-felt reflections from the public to be read at the ceremony. Deadline for submission is Monday, Aug. 22. See below for DAMA’s press release.

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The city of Dearborn removed the foundations that were to be used to build additional condos in West Village Square.

The city of Dearborn has ripped out the rotting foundations that were to be used to build condominiums on in West Village Square, removing an eyesore for nearby residents.

Known as the Abbey Lane condos, just off of Mason in what was the former overflow parking lot for Jacobsen’s department store, the foundations were poured sometime in 2008.

The development was part of the project by developer Burton-Katzman, who the city sued for failing to complete the West Village Commons project on Michigan Avenue. The condo development was part of the unfinished project.

While the city had to pay for the removal of the foundations, a lien will be placed on this property for the city to recoup its costs when or if the property is sold again.

The removal of the foundations is good news for the residents of the Abbey Lane condos who will now have a green space to use for the near term. However, it is an expense (however small) that some readers of Deepsaidwhat.com are questioning, particularly given the city’s financial situation.

“More mismanagement by the city!,” wrote one reader. “The neighborhood begged the city to put less density on that 1.7 acre lot! The neighborhood begged the city to consider 36 units rather than 48 units in that development and to make more green space and PARKING between the units. The city was too bullheaded and tax revenue hungry to listen. So they went with 48 units, built 36 units and stuck it up the neighborhoods’ collective arses! Now they have to pay to remove two of the units foundations to create a green space at the end of the development which makes no sense whatsoever. These same baffoons that are in office now are the same ones that wouldn’t listen to the neighborhood . . .”

Another reader had this to say: “ . . . in the city’s pursuit to be in the real estate business, they (we taxpayers) are now going to have to pay the costs to rip out all of this prepared building slabs to make way for a “green space”. Nice job once again City of Dearborn leaders!! Remember this when voting day nears.”

They are valid arguments. On the other hand, Dearborn city leaders have an obligation to properly maintain our city, even in tough economic times. No one can deny that the green space now at the corner of Michigan and Brady is far more attractive to look at than the abandoned motel that once occupied that piece of land. The city paid for that demolition, too.

There are many more vacant buildings along Michigan Avenue that need to be demolished to help clean up West Dearborn. If this city is going to attract new residents and businesses, looking the part is a good first step.