The State of Michigan has removed the ban on the sale and use of many types of powerful or airborne fireworks, such as bottle rockets and Roman candles.

To be in compliance with state law, the City of Dearborn revised its fireworks ordinance as well.

However, despite the change in state law, important restrictions still apply. Dearborn residents are encouraged to call 313-943-3030 to anonymously report unsafe activity in their neighborhood, or to call 9-1-1 if there is a dangerous or emergency situation.

Provisions in the new state law that all residents should be aware of:

• No one is allowed to use fireworks on public properties, including schools, churches, government buildings, city streets and parks.

• You cannot discharge fireworks while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

• It is illegal for a minor under the age of 18 to purchase or discharge consumer fireworks.

• The Police will still be enforcing the city’s noise ordinance, within the provisions of the state law, and issue violations when necessary.

• You will be held accountable for any injury or property damage caused by discharging fireworks.

Even though powerful fireworks are now legal in Michigan, their use carries the same potential dangers and liabilities as always.

Every year, thousands of dollars in property damage is reported due to fires caused by the unsafe use of fireworks.

In addition; in 2010 more than 8,000 people across the country were treated for burn injuries caused by fireworks.

In a new twist on pay-to-play, residents in Dearborn’s Hemlock Park have petitioned the city of Dearborn to allow residents to decide whether they want to pay to keep their neighborhood pool open.

Hemlock Pool is one of two pools that city officials decided to close after the 2010 summer season in an attempt to bring municipal costs in line with available revenue.

If residents wanted to keep the pool open about 2,000 homes in the area would be assessed a tax of between $60 and $70 annually for the next decade for improvements and general maintenance to the pool.

A public meeting for residents in the Hemlock Park area is being held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26 at Hemlock Cabin concerning the pool’s future.

The meeting is intended as a public forum to provide information about the proposed future of Hemlock Pool. It will be hosted by Dearborn Recreation & Parks Department Director Greg Orner and include other city officials.

The meeting could be a contentious one, particularly since the city has been talking about budget issues and being forced to close pools and library branches to make ends meet but still managed to spend nearly $4 million to purchase a vacant building that it plans to convert into a new City Hall.

Residents in the Hemlock Park area, through a petition campaign, have indicated their interest in allowing area residents to vote on whether they would like to reopen the pool—after extensive redesign and modernization—by assuming financial responsibility for the facility.

As the next step in the process, the city has created a Special Assessment District (SAD), which includes approximately 2,000 residential parcels.

This Special Assessment District (SAD) encompasses the area from Warren to Wyoming, along the Detroit Terminal Railroad to Ford Road, west to Schaefer, north to Haggerty, west to Maple and north back to Warren.

The owners of these parcels will be asked if they are willing to assume responsibility for the capital improvements, maintenance and operation of the pool for the next 10 years at an annual cost of approximately $60-70 per household.

Initial capital improvements call for the modernization and reconfiguration of the pool into an L-shaped facility with a zero-depth entry at a cost of approximately $1.3 million.

If payments are assessed through the SAD, property owners within the district would not pay an entrance fee to use Hemlock Pool or pay for seasonal pool tags for Hemlock Pool.

Dearborn Public Library is again holding Summer Reading Programs for all ages starting today, June 18.

Children of all ages can come to any Dearborn Public Library to register and pick out books for reading. In addition, children can enjoy weekly crafts, movies, storytimes and other activities at the Henry Ford Centennial Library.

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The hot dog cart is coming back to Westborn Mall.

We wrote about the dog stand being asked to move back in April but now the Westborn Mall owner and tenants have found a way to bring the cart back.

In a press release issued by Westborn Mall, the owner reports that Anna Ford, owner of the hot dog cart, and the owner of the Red Olive restaurant have worked out a way for both to operate in the mall.

Westborn Mall owner Tom Petzold took action to bring the cart back after customer complaints.

“This has really opened my eyes. I never intended to break the good will we have been striving for many decades to build in this community,” said Petzold, whose family has managed Westborn Mall for more than 40 years. Realizing that his decision was affecting shoppers and tenants including Red Olive, the new restaurant tenant unfairly taking the most criticism, Petzold said he knew he had to act.

Petzold called Pete Goulas, owner of Red Olive with 10 restaurants in the Detroit metro area, to talk about a possible solution. Both their companies had made substantial investments to bring the family restaurant to Dearborn.

To satisfy the shopping center’s customers who missed Ford’s hot dog cart, Petzold then called Ford with his idea. He knew her to be an astute business woman from their temporary rent free agreement set up two years earlier when the hot dog cart first came to the shopping center’s parking lot, the statement indicated.

“I asked Anna if she’d be willing to bring the hot dog cart back to the parking lot and pay a nominal rent that Westborn Mall would donate to local charities that she designated,” said Petzold.

Ford, a lifelong resident of Dearborn, readily agreed and designated both the Dearborn Historical Museum and the Dearborn Animal Shelter.

So if you stop by the mall today, the dog cart is open for business.

The public is invited to attend the City of Dearborn’s annual Flag Day commemoration ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 at Ford Field Park, on Cherry Hill west of Brady.

The ceremony is held in conjunction with the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council.

As usual, the June 14 Flag Day commemoration will include a dignified ceremony to burn tattered American flags, in keeping with American Legion protocols for the disposal of flags that are no longer fit for public display.

Members of the public may drop off tattered flags for burning at the ceremony site beginning at 6:30 p.m. on June 14.

June 14, 2011, will mark the 235th anniversary of the adoption of the nation’s flag by the Continental Congress in the year 1777.

We heard the rumors and now we can report it as fact.

After 60 years at the corner of Michigan and Monroe, Dearborn Music is moving into a Dearborn strip mall three blocks west of its current location.

Dearborn Music is moving to a new location after 56 years in business and 53 years at the corner of Michigan and Monroe.

That leaves another prime corner of real estate on Michigan Avenue vacant. The building directly across from Dearborn Music is also vacant. Both properties are owned by Hakim Fakhoury.

Dearborn Music will move next door to the upcoming Goodwill store in what formerly housed Pier 1. The property is owned by Norm Newman. The new location certainly won’t offer the charm of the old historic place they were in but it will offer free parking.

This is a big move for Dearborn Music and we wish them the best. Moving to a new location after 60 years in one spot wasn’t an easy decision and there is no guarantee they will have the success in a new space, particularly without the Michigan Avenue traffic.

We wish them all the best in the Norm Newman building.

Eight new cabins at Camp Dearborn will be open June 17.

Camp Dearborn is gearing up for its full activity season, and is anticipating heavy use of eight new resort cabins and WiFi at the Canteen this summer.

The cabins, designed to offer a more modern option of vacationing in the campground, will be ready for occupancy Sunday, June 17.

Just one day after announcing that the cabins would be available for rental at $660 per week, nearly half were sold out for the summer site unseen. The additional cabins are a good addition to Camp Dearborn and will certainly pay for themselves.

Greg Orner, Dearborn’s recreation chief, deserves a lot of credit for pushing this plan to install more cabins, and WiFi at the canteen. Despite what some may feel about the Camp, it continues to operate in the black and is finding new ways to further generate income to sustain and even feed back revenue to fund other recreation department needs.

One of eight new cabins at Camp Dearborn.

The cabins, custom-designed and constructed by Legendary Timberworks of Novi, are positioned in a single row overlooking one of the Camp’s lakes. Each cabin has a complete bathroom with shower and an additional stainless steel sink for dishwashing, as well as a garbage disposal.

The cabins include built-in beds to accommodate six people; two standard twin bunks and one standard full-size bed, each with a foam mattress.

The sleeping comfort of the new cabins is enhanced by five double-hung Anderson window/screen combinations and a ceiling fan.

The camper-kitchen unit stands outside the cabin, similar to the existing tents and cabins in TV1. Like other camping units, the cabins are constructed on a cement base and equipped with a picnic table, grill and firepit.

To reserve a cabin, call the Milford Camp Office at 248-684-6000. In-season fees for the cabins will be $660 for weekly rentals ($94 per night). Daily rentals will also be available at $110 per night with a minimum stay requirement.

Though the resort cabins will stand out as the most significant change to Camp Dearborn this year, other improvements have occurred. This season campers and day visitors will enjoy the convenience of WiFi at the Canteen. Patrons will be able to “connect” as they relax with their favorite menu selections at the Canteen.

The removal of the sea wall at Lake 5 in Tent Village is another noticeable improvement. Lake 5 serves campers as a swimming lake with beach. The removal of the sea wall has restored the remainder of the lake to a natural shoreline, adding beauty to the area and leaving the beach and swimming area intact.

Fishermen will continue to be welcome on the shoreline in a more natural environment.

Camp Dearborn continues to be a favorite camping destination for many families in southeast Michigan. Campsites are available May 1 through October 31, with the full activity season operating from mid-June through Labor Day each year. Camp Dearborn offers 191 temporary RV sites, 118 tents, 30 rustic cabins and now the eight resort cabins.

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.

In addition to the popular camping area, Camp Dearborn offers acres of picnic area equipped with tables and grills alongside a beautiful half-mile beach and swimming lake. The Camp is open to the public daily 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Admission at the gate is $4 per car for residents of Dearborn or Milford, $6 per car for all others and $10 per car for all on special event dates.

Season passes are available for frequent visitors at the rate of $25 for residents of Dearborn or Milford and $35 for the general public.

More information about Camp Dearborn and scheduled events can be found at www.campdearborn.com, the Camp Dearborn Official Page on Facebook, or by calling either of the Camp offices.

The Friends of the Library Dearborn (FOLD) will be holding another book and media sale on Wednesday, June 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave.

Items for sale will include books, compact discs, DVDs, and magazines.

A special clearance area in the rotunda will feature a “Mystery Sale,” where collectibles, reference and textbooks, paperbacks, and videocassettes can be purchased.

Proceeds from the FOLD sales are used to support popular library programs, so every dollar spent helps your local library.

We remain an exceptional nation because of the brave U.S. servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice or the ongoing sacrifice of service and challenges of the world at war today.

It is a fact we should keep in mind this and every Memorial Day.

The letter below appeared in Friday’s Wall Street Journal. It was written by Col. Tom Manion, USMCR (Ret.) who is on the board of the Travis Manion Foundation, which assists veterans and the families of the fallen.

By Tom Manion

I served in the military for 30 years. But it was impossible to fully understand the sacrifices of our troops and their families until April 29, 2007, the day my son, First Lt. Travis Manion, was killed in Iraq.

Travis was just 26 years old when an enemy sniper’s bullet pierced his heart after he had just helped save two wounded comrades. Even though our family knew the risks of Travis fighting on the violent streets of Fallujah, being notified of his death on a warm Sunday afternoon in Doylestown, Pa., was the worst moment of our lives.

While my son’s life was relatively short, I spend every day marveling at his courage and wisdom. Before his second and final combat deployment, Travis said he wanted to go back to Iraq in order to spare a less-experienced Marine from going in his place. His words—”If not me, then who . . . “—continue to inspire me.

My son is one of thousands to die in combat since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Because of their sacrifices, as well as the heroism of previous generations, Memorial Day 2012 should have tremendous importance to our entire nation, with an impact stretching far beyond one day on the calendar.

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Despite running a multi-million dollar deficit, Dearborn city leaders voted to purchase a new city hall.

With the city of Dearborn running a budget deficit that city officials have repeatedly said is upwards of $20 million, the decision this week by council and mayor to set aside nearly $4 million in taxpayer money to buy a new city hall has us shaking our head in disbelief.

For sure the building at 16901 Michigan Ave., which formerly housed the metro Detroit headquarters of payroll processor ADP Inc. and has been vacant since 2010, is a decent “deal” in a down real estate market. But a “good deal” shouldn’t be reason to spend when residents have been told we have money challenges.

Yes one can make the argument this purchase is for the long haul, but don’t think for a minute the new building won’t need major rework to accommodate city offices. This isn’t as simple as hanging a new city hall sign on Michigan Avenue.

City leaders know this, too, which is likely why no one was able to address the costs required to retrofit the ADP building to make it City Hall suitable. The city has set aside about $525,000 above the $3.2 million purchase price for the building. That won’t even begin to cover costs to get this building into shape.

Finance Director Jim O’Connor told the Dearborn Press & Guide that the money to cover the purchase of the building will come from either accumulated savings in the general fund, bonds, or an unspecified third source that he called “promising.”

We are told there’s a “potential buyer” lined up for City Hall, which is why this measure passed on a 5-2 council vote. City Council in March authorized a letter of intent to sell the campus to Artspace Projects Inc. for repurposing as live-work space for low-income artists.

But the nonprofit developer has not yet signed off on the agreement nor have city officials shared what price, if anything, the city will get for this prime piece of real estate.

We have heard the arguments that City Hall needs a supposed $5.7 million in repairs and that’s why Dearborn needs a new City Hall. But that is nonsense. Like classic cars, you can restore a building and indeed make it better. Even more efficient. The new building supposedly is three times less costly to operate? Says who?

Does Artspace have the funding to fix the building or is the city simply giving the building away?

If the city really is working to trim its workforce and operate with fewer people does it really need more space, which is one of the key arguments to justify the purchase of a new building. We think not. Yet, city leaders argued that the current City Hall – 95,000 square feet of it – has wasted space, such as the sweeping circle staircase in the center of the main City Hall building. Most people, including Artspace, would call that staircase a great design. So, too, about City Hall’s wide hallways.

They don’t make buildings like our City Hall any longer because it would cost too much to duplicate it. It is easier to build cheap buildings, such as one the city plans to purchase.

Just two council members opposed the purchase plan. Council President Tom Tafelksi and Councilman Brian O’Donnell.

“We’re saying we’re broke,” Tafelski said. “We can’t open up pools. Our neighborhoods have grass that’s nine and ten and twelve inches. Our legacy should not be in bricks and mortar. It should be in preserving and protecting the neighborhoods and fundamentally changing the downtown districts.”

Do our elected officials even have a plan to resuscitate our ailing city?