We’ve received numerous comments here from residents wondering why leaves they’ve raked into the street aren’t picked up each week. Well, the simple answer is that leaves in street are picked up every other week. And that ends Dec. 2.

We’re still not sure why this service continues to be offered given the city’s current budget crisis, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Dearborn's curbside yard waste collection ends Dec. 16.

To guarantee pickup, Dearborn officials are reminding residents that they can put them in 32 gallon containers marked “Yard Waste” or in paper landscape bags and set them on the curb. This curbside service ends Dec. 16.

In addition, collection of loose leaves raked into the streets in Dearborn neighborhoods is scheduled to continue until Friday, Dec. 2, depending on the weather.  For those of you who still have leaves in the street after Dec. 2, be courteous to your neighbor and bag them so they don’t end up in your neighbor’s yard the first time the snow plows come through.

Loose leaves raked into the street will be picked up on Public Service Days/trash days during non-recycling weeks.

Note that crews may not be able to pick up leaves from an entire Public Service Day district in one day and will return during the next non-recycling week to start where they left off.

For a weekly leaf collection schedule, call the Leaf Hotline at 943-2444.

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA) Board of Directors and staff Melissa Kania and Mike Bewick invite you to their 3rd annual Holiday Open House on Wednesday December 14, 2011 from 4-8pm at the EDDDA office, 13750 Michigan Ave., two blocks west of Schaefer.

Join them and casually network with district merchants and residents, business partners, stakeholders and City of Dearborn officials.

It’s a great opportunity to connect with the EDDDA and learn what they do and what they can do to help support and promote their district businesses and the East Dearborn downtown area.

As always, guests will enjoy tasting “the world in a mile” with fabulous food from several of the diverse restaurants in the neighborhood. Beverages will also be served.

No reservations necessary, and all are welcome to attend.

Speaking of the holidays, the EDDDA also paid for holiday decorations of garland, lights and red bows that are merrily strung upon streetlight poles along Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road.

For more on events and businesses in east Dearborn, visit the EDDDA website and sign up for their newsletter at www.EastDowntownDearborn.com. Also find them on Facebook –just search East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority.