For the third year in a row, the Dearborn Library is offering a Food for Fines program, which will run August 6-17, with all items donated given to the Dearborn Firefighters for distribution to needy local families through the Burn Drive program.

Library patrons may donate non-perishable, non-expired food items and receive $1 reduction in overdue library fines for every item donated.

All Dearborn libraries will be accepting canned or boxed food items in exchange for reductions in overdue library fines.

While there is no limit on the number of items donated nor to the amount of fines cleared, it can only be used for overdue items.

Patrons cannot use the donation program to pay for lost items or any damaged items.

Check at any Dearborn Public Library for further information.

Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. (right) and Fire Chief Joseph Murray (second from right) witness the swearing-in of three new Dearborn firefighters, all of whom participated in the Dearborn Fire Department’s Cadet Program. Shown here (from left) are City Clerk Kathleen Buda, and Probationary Firefighters Timothy Duda, Matthew Bajjey and Matthew Allen Ferrell. They were sworn in during a ceremony on July 18.

Three lifelong Dearborn residents were recently sworn-in as firefighters after earlier participating in the Dearborn Fire Department’s Cadet Program, which helps local students prepare for public safety careers.

The three join two other successful Cadet Program graduates hired by the Fire Department in August, 2010.

The Cadet Program was initiated six years ago by Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. and then-Fire Chief Nazih Hazime as a way to attract Dearborn youth to firefighting careers.

The local students participate to gain valuable training and experience while they pursue the necessary education and certifications at fire academies, which can take three years.

The Cadet Program is similar in concept and operation to the Police Department’s Intern Program, which also was initiated by Mayor O’Reilly, along with Police Chief Ron Haddad.

The intern program recruits young people from the Dearborn community who have an interest in public safety.

Four graduates from Fordson and Edsel Ford high schools are active in the internship program, which began in July 2010, and the police plan to have Dearborn High graduates soon. Another two local students will start as unpaid interns in the fall.

These programs support the extensive recruiting efforts pursued by the Dearborn Fire and Police departments.

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The “Food Truck Rally” comes to Dearborn Friday, July 20.

The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Dearborn and the West Dearborn Downtown Authority will host the first of three food truck rallies planned for this summer.

The first event, sponsored by Westborn Market, will take place Friday, July 20 from 5 – 9 p.m. in Lot C, just behind Pizza Papalis and west of Monroe Street.

Patrons can expect 8-10 food trucks selling gourmet fare directly from their “kitchen-on-wheels.”

Committed food trucks include Franks Anatra, Concrete Cuisine, Treat Dreams, Ned’s, Mack Shack, El Guappo, PPC, and Jacques Tacos. On average, food items are priced between $4-$7. Patrons can enjoy live music, as well.

The Dearborn Chamber says that thanks to the Michigan Mobile Food Truck Association, food truck rallies are becoming very popular in the region with events scheduled regularly in Royal Oak, downtown Detroit and Ferndale, among others. Future events will be held August 24 and September 21 from 5 – 9 p.m. in downtown West Dearborn.

Food trucks experienced a boom just as the economy started to decline in 2008. Restaurateurs who were hesitant to drop serious cash on launching a restaurant turned to mobile trucks as a less expensive way to sell food in a down economy.

While one might think these food trucks could hurt the taxpaying restaurants in the area, the Dearborn Chamber claims that existing restaurants experience an upswing in revenue by proximity to these rallies.

“We think this will be an exciting and unique way to bring families downtown on Friday evenings for food, fun and entertainment,” Jennifer Giering of the Dearborn Chamber said in a prepared statement. “These community events have a tremendous economic impact on surrounding businesses with the first event in Ferndale attracting 1,500 people, many of which patronized local bars and restaurants after the event.”

A new hookah bar is coming to Dearborn’s West Village Commons.

It has been a revolving door of businesses at Dearborn’s West Village Commons -– the Burton-Katzman development on Michigan Avenue that opened in 2005.

But one of the first tenants of the development, Le Cigar, continues to thrive in this location and now plans to open a new hookah bar next door to his current business, which will be called La Hookah.

We wrote about the new hookah bar coming to this location back in November. See earlier story HERE.

The new La Hookah, which is expected to open in two weeks, is one of two new hookah bars coming to west Dearborn.

While hookah bars aren’t our thing, they apparently are popular. Le Cigar and La Hookah owner Najib Rizk says his businesses help draw people to west Dearborn.

“We have customers that come from Northville, Novi and Royal Oak,” Rizk said. “We are a unique place. We do need to draw more tenants to this area. The more we can draw new business to this area the better.”

The second hookah bar is planned to go into the Gateway Plaza development at the corner of Michigan and Military.

This would be the first business to go into the Gateway Plaza building, which opened in 2007 offering some 11,000 square feet in retail space and lofts on the second floor.

Regular readers of DeepsaidWhat.com will recall that Gateway developer Hakim Fakhoury once touted it would be occupied with a Bora Bora Coffee Shop, Quizno’s Sub Shop, Armani store and Caliente Grille. It isn’t clear when the new hookah bar business will open. A separate restaurant also is slated to open in the Gateway Plaza, which will offer carryout to serve hookah bar patrons and others.

When both open, west Dearborn will offer at least four places for hookah fans to smoke. The marketplace will decide just who will survive.

Dearborn Police recovered this 1930 Ford Model A convertible that was stolen from the Henry Ford Museum parking lot on June 26.

Dearborn Police today announced that surveillance officers (July 11) recovered the 1930 Ford Model-A and trailer that was stolen  June 26 from the grounds of The Henry Ford Museum.

After several weeks of developing leads from concerned citizens and subsequent surveillance, the trailer containing the classic Ford roadster was found in an industrial area in Detroit near Mt. Elliot and Gratiot. The car and trailer were valued at more than $30,000

“It was a pleasure for us to be able to call the car’s owner in California to let him know that his classic piece of Ford history was recovered by our Special Operations crew,” said Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad in a statement. “Needless to say, he was elated. The hard work that our surveillance officers as well as our detectives put into this case cannot be overstated.”

Haddad also wished to thank the local and national media and H.E.A.T (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) for their help with this case. The Dearborn PD is still looking for the stolen 2001 F-250 truck with a California license plate that was used to tow the Model A.

Dearborn’s Jazz on the Ave concert series kicks off this Wednesday, July 11, at Dearborn City Hall Park, 13615 Michigan Ave. at Schaefer.

This signature East Downtown Dearborn event is made possible through the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority, Oakwood Healthcare System, Hi-Falutin’ Music, the Dearborn Community Fund, The Times-Herald, Dearborn Press & Guide and Metro Times.

The free concerts are from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and stake out a good spot for great music in the park. Neighborhood restaurants will be on site, offering some tasty food to make it a picnic dinner during the show.

Here’s the schedule to mark your calendars:

• Wednesday July 11: Alexander Zonjic & Friends
• Wednesday July 18: Four80East featuring Marcus Anderson
• Wednesday July 25: Dave McMurray
• Wednesday August 1: Phil Denny & Nate Harasim
• Wednesday August 8: Tim Bowman
• Wednesday August 15: Alexander Zonjic All Star Jam

This 1930 Ford Model A convertible was stolen from the Henry Ford Museum parking lot on June 26.

Eleven days after someone stole a classic Ford Model A convertible parked in an enclosed trailer in the parking lot of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, police decided July 6 to issue an alert requesting the help of the public.

The Ford Model A was stolen on June 26 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from the parking lot of the museum. The car was parked in an enclosed trailer, which was hitched to a 2001 Ford F-250 pickup. The truck, trailer and classic car were all stolen, Dearborn Police said in an alert issued Friday afternoon (July 6).

The owner of the Ford Model A is from California and was in Dearborn visiting the museum. The truck is white with gold lower trim, California plate 6P95642. The trailer is a 2007 Iner Carrier Road Runner. The trailer (white) has a California Plate: 4JT5217 (2-Axel Enclosed Trailer) with a small Ford Racing Sticker on rear Bumper and a 1930 Ford Model A (Yellow, with black/chrome fenders and Brown convertible top) California Plate 670RHG, VIN: A2970284.

If anyone has information on the stolen vehicles or suspects please use the HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) tip line at 1-800-242-HEAT or www.1800242HEAT.com. There is up to a $1,000 reward offered by HEAT for information leading to the arrest, recovery and prosecution and a $1,000 reward offered by the vehicle owner for the return of the Model A.

Act now and save money when purchasing all-day wrist bands for the carnival at the 2012 Homecoming at Ford Field Park in Dearborn August 3-5.

Advanced sales of all-day wrist bands are $12, plus a $1 service fee, from now until 11:59 p.m. on August 2 at www.buymycarnivaltickets.com/event.asp or www.cityofdearborn.org.

The carnival is open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-5.

Online purchasers print a receipt, and bring that, along with their I.D., to the carnival ticket booth onsite at the festival to exchange it for an all-day wrist band for that day.  Purchasers do not have to specify online which day they will be using the wrist band.

The online savings is significant. All-day wrists bands purchased onsite Aug. 3-5 are $18, still a good value for the two dozen rides at the carnival, including a popular and thrilling water ride and the giant ferris wheel.

Half-day wristbands can be purchased onsite for $13 and cover ridership from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Companion tickets, meant for adults to accompany children on certain rides, have remained at $8. Other prices apply.

There are no refunds on any carnival tickets or on wristbands.

Homecoming is an event co-organized by of the City of Dearborn and the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund. Oakwood Healthcare is the presenting sponsor.

More than 30 Dearborn-based nonprofit groups use the festival as their major fundraiser of the year, returning those dollars to the community through positive activities and scholarships.

The festival is known for its spectacular fireworks on Saturday, sponsored by Kenwal Steel Corp., and on Sunday.

Headline entertainment is WAR on Saturday, Riot House on Sunday and Dearborn’s Rhythm & Blues Blast Featuring Thornetta Davis and Laith Al-Saadi on Friday.

For information, call 313-943-2285 or visit www.cityofdearborn