David T. Brandon, athletic director for the University of Michigan, will be the keynote speaker at the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce’s Business Builder Breakfast, Tuesday, March 8, 7:30 am at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn. The event is sponsored by Raymond James & Associates.

David T. Brandon was named director of Intercollegiate Athletics at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor in January 2010. A U-M alumnus who played football under Bo Schembechler and later served as U-M regent, Brandon, 57, was previously chairman and chief executive officer of Ann Arbor-based Domino’s Pizza.

“We are excited to host David Brandon and look forward to learning his motivational lessons in leadership,” said Chamber President Jennifer Knott Giering. “It’s important that we offer our membership access to high level key opinion leaders and we are confident his words will be inspiring.”

After joining Dominos in 1999, Brandon led the pizza giant to becoming the largest quick-service restaurant in history. In 2009, Dominos, with 9,000 franchised and company-owned stores in the US and 65 other countries, had global retail sales over $5.5 billion.

Previously, Brandon served as chairman, president and COO of Valassis Communications, Inc. of Livonia. In his 20-year tenure, the company grew from a family-owned business of 75 employees and $30 million in sales to a publicly traded industry leader with 1,300 employees and a total enterprise value of $2 billion+.

The Chamber’s Business Builders Breakfast in March is one of four such events planned for the year. Previous speakers included Ford Motor Company’s Alan Mulally and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Individual tickets are available ($30 for members; $35 for non-members) as well as corporate tables ($400) by going to www.dearbornchamber.org.

The Dearborn Chamber of Commerce provides 500+ members with the opportunities and resources to engage and network with other businesses, enhancing financial growth, professional development, and the ability to contribute to a thriving community environment.

Dearborn’s  Green Brain Comics welcomes Eagle Award nominated writer Gary Reed for a book signing in honor of the new Deadworld Omnibus. The signing will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 16th from 4-7 p.m. ​

Don’t miss this chance to get a signed copy of the book that reboots the series that’s been called the “grand-daddy” of all zombie comics. The previous collection Deadworld Classics Vol 1 will also be available, which was named by Fangoria.com as one of the top 10 Horror Comics of 2010.​ It was zombies before zombies were cool.

​What could make this event cooler? Well check these next two offers out.

Dress as a zombie and the best costume will win a page of original Deadworld art from Wayne Reid plus an autographed copy of Deadworld Chronicles where the story appeared. Or bring in your best zombie drawing and the winner gets a free Deadworld Portfolio which has 10 full color prints, all by classic Deadworld artist Vince Locke. Now you’ve got plenty of extra reasons to visit ​Green Brain Comics.​

​You can RSVP to the event on the Facebook event page.

Green Brain Comics is located at 13210 Michigan Ave. in East Downtown Dearborn. For more information check the website at www.greenbrain.biz or call 313-582-9444

The City of Dearborn’s Department of Public Works yard is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month for residents to dispose of furniture and other household materials that normally would require a special fee for curbside pickup.

The next date is Saturday, February 19. The yard is at 2951 Greenfield.

Other items accepted at the DPW Yard on the designated day are dirt, sod, sand, concrete and bricks; firewood, logs and stumps; bathtubs, sinks and toilets.

Not accepted are fuel, tires, ammunition, refrigerators, microwaves or other appliances.

Note that hazardous materials are not acceptable at the DPW yard or at the curbside.

For questions about curbside pickup or to check if materials are acceptable for disposal at the DPW Yard, call DPW at 943-2085.

The Dearborn Historical Museum is hosting a Victorian Christmas open house 1-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, at the Museum’s Commandant’s Quarters, 21950 Michigan Avenue (corner of Mason).

The free event features Christmas music, holiday decorations and refreshments. Children’s activities, including holiday crafts and a visit with Santa, take place from 4-7 p.m.

For more information, call 313.565.3000.

The Dearborn Historical Museum is hosting a free public lecture at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, titled “Detroit’s Movie Palaces.”

The presenters will be authors Michael Hauser and Marianne Weldon. Hauser is marketing manager for the historic Detroit Opera House. Weldon is curator of collections for the Detroit Historical Society.

Their book, Images of America: Detroit’s Downtown Movie Palaces, was released in 2006.

Detroit has always been at the forefront of film exhibition. This lecture will explore the history of how downtown Detroit’s movie palaces evolved. In the glory years, 10-foot crystal chandeliers dangled above eight floors of seats and a 2,500-pipe Wurlitzer organ set the mood for movies.

The lecture takes place at the McFadden-Ross House, 915 Brady Street. It promises to renew wonderful memories for generations of film buffs who enjoyed the opulence of these “Detroit Movie Palaces.”

 Santa is coming to the Dearborn Fire Department’s Fire Safety House on Dec. 3 and 4.

Children can see Santa arrive on ladder truck at 6 p.m. both nights. He will stay until 8 p.m.

The Fire Safety House is next to Fire Station No. 2 at 19750 Outer Drive, just down the street from Dearborn High School.

After seeing Santa and the display, children can visit the Fire Safety House for balloons, cookies, and hot chocolate.

All proceed will benefit the Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive and help firefighters purchase toys for children in the hospital.

(Source: Dearborn Youth Symphony Press Release)

The Dearborn Youth Symphony (DYS) will present its premier concert of the 2010-2011 season on Sunday, December 5 at 4 p.m. in Dearborn’s Michael A. Guido Theater of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

 The DYS was formed in 1975 to provide young musicians with symphonic ensemble experience and to foster interest in instrumental music. Today, with the sponsorship of the Dearborn Recreation Department, strong parental volunteer efforts, and dedicated conductors, the DYS continues to nurture and challenge young musicians with their orchestras and flute choirs.

The Season Premier concert includes performances by the Combined Flute Choirs, Concert Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra. Featuring Saint-Saen’s Bacchanale from “Samson and Delilah” and Suite #1 from “Carmen” by Bizet, the Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by DYS Artistic Director, Tim Cibor. Joining Maestro Cibor will be Assistant Conductor, Joseph Deller and the Flute Choirs’ Conductor, Donna Olkowski.

General admission tickets for the DYS December 5 concert are $10 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. To purchase tickets please visit the Center box office at 15801 Michigan Avenue at Greenfield or call (313) 943-2354. Box office hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The box office is also open one hour before show time. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted.

(Source: AMNM press release)

They originated in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Algeria and Tunisia. They have garnered honors in festivals around the world. And they won’t be popping up on the marquee at your local multiplex anytime soon.

The 2010 Arab Film Festival at the Arab American National Museum, Friday, December 3 through Sunday, December 5, presents a wide-ranging and thought-provoking selection of feature-length films paired with short films, in a variety of genres including stop-motion animation.

 Among the titles at this sixth annual festival is the crime drama Ajami, a 2010 Academy Award nominee in the Best Foreign Language Film category which also earned a Golden Camera – Special Mention at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Co-directed by a Palestinian and an Israeli, Ajami interweaves several powerful tales of residents in the melting-pot Tel Aviv neighborhood for which the film is named.

In conjunction with the 2010 Arab Film Festival, the Museum staged its first-ever national Short Film Contest, offering cash prizes to U.S. filmmakers between the ages of 18-30 whose work best represented the theme of “Trans-Ubuntu”: Trans indicating movement and Ubuntu, an African philosophy which sees individuals through their relationship with the larger community.

 First prize, including a cash award of $1,500, went to Brooklyn, New York-based filmmaker Joel Fendelman; second prize, $750, went to Los Angeles film student Michaela Wagner; third prize, $500, went to film student Pablo Torroella of Pasadena, California. All three films will be screened at 6 p.m. Friday, December 3 to open this year’s festival. Descriptions of the winning films and filmmakers appear below.

 This year, the AANM’s Arab Film Festival has also expanded to embrace and support those trying to further their film careers. Professionals from the Detroit branch of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) will present a series of free workshops on Saturday, December 4 at the AANM, culminating with an Open Casting Call for actors on Sunday, December 5. Details of the workshops appear below. The workshops and casting call are open to the public.

 “The Detroit Branch of Screen Actors Guild is pleased to work with the Arab Film Festival because we have never worked with a local museum or cultural institution before,” says Marcia Fishman, SAG Detroit Branch executive director. “It is our hope that these workshops will offer benefits to filmmakers and actors alike. We also hope to introduce Arab Americans to SAG, and SAG members to Arab Americans making films.”

 The 2010 Arab Film Festival is made possible in part by The Kresge Foundation; DoubleTree Hotel – Dearborn; Screen Actors Guild, Detroit Branch; Wayne County Film Initiative; Detroit Film Think Tank; Arab Detroit; and MFC Magazine.

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The Arab American National Museum documents, preserves, celebrates and educates the public on the history, life, culture and contributions of Arab Americans. It serves as a resource to enhance knowledge and understanding about Arab Americans and their presence in this country. The Arab American National Museum is a project of ACCESS, a Dearborn, Michigan-based nonprofit human services and cultural organization. Learn more at www.arabamericanmuseum.org and www.accesscommunity.org

 The Arab American National Museum is a proud Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Read about the Affiliations program at http://affiliations.si.edu.

 The Museum is located at 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI, 48126. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday; Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for students, seniors and children 6-12; ages 5 and under, free. Call 313.582.2266 for further information.

For the full movie schedule and prices, click on the link below to continue.

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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.