Enjoy a fall evening and find a new favorite beverage at the Dearborn Historical Museum’s beer-tasting and BBQ fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 27. The event is 5-11 p.m. at the McFadden Ross House grounds, 915 Brady.

The $9 ticket includes admission, glass mug, and one free glass of beer, wine or root beer. Designated drivers receive a free non-alcoholic beverage.

Participating are Dragonmead microbrewery and Kuhnhenn Brewery Co. If you come hungry, you can buy ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, turkey and handcut french fries from the popular Detroit BBQ Company.

Live entertainment by 80s Inc. will round out the night.

Free parking is at the museum and Ford Field Park. There is a free shuttle service to and from Ford Field.

Get your tickets at the McFadden Ross House, City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, Double Olive, and at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Dearborn Historical Museum.

Business interested in sponsorships of this unique event, and anyone looking for more information, can call the Museum at 565-3000.

The City of Dearborn is not obligated to pay $1.17 million resulting from a former 19th District Court employee’s federal lawsuit against Judge Mark Somers, according to a decision issued Friday by U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson.

In June 2011, a federal court jury awarded $734,361 in compensatory and punitive damages to former 19th District Court employee Julie Hultgren (formerly Pucci) following her suit against then-Chief Judge Mark Somers of the 19th District Court for violation of her rights under the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause. With attorney’s fees and interest, the judgment entered against Judge Somers totaled $1,173,125.30.

The City has always contended that it is not responsible for paying the judgment. The decision on Friday validates the City’s position.

Mayor Jack O’Reilly said the Legal Department worked diligently to protect taxpayers’ dollars in this case.

Judge Lawson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan agreed with the City that the federal court had no jurisdiction to enforce a writ of garnishment served on the City. His decision Friday grants the City’s motion to quash the garnishment.

The City of Dearborn is the funding agent for the 19th District Court, but Judge Somers is a judicial officer of and an employee of the State of Michigan. For this reason, the State Attorney General’s office defended Judge Somers at trial.

In addition, the jury verdict was against Somers in his personal capacity, not in his official capacity as the chief judge of the district court.

Judge Lawson’s opinion notes that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that an award of damages against an individual in his personal capacity can only be executed against the individual’s personal assets.

Dearborn will be responsible for maintenance costs of the new train station being built on Michigan near Brady. The station is set to open in early 2014.

So Dearborn’s new intermodal passenger rail station, which is getting built at a record pace for its opening in early 2014, will be named after John D. Dingell, Jr., the longest-serving member of Congress.

Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. says he initiated the honor because of Congressman Dingell’s steadfast support of Dearborn and its residents. He has called Dearborn home for decades.

“He has represented Dearborn since 1964. That’s longer than any other city in his historic career,” said O’Reilly, a good friend of the Congressman.

The Dearborn City Council unanimously approved the mayor’s naming proposal.

For those of you wondering who is paying for this monster construction project, $28.2 million is being funded from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The train station is a key component for significant rail initiatives, including the proposed commuter line between Ann Arbor and Detroit, and the high speed rail line between Detroit and Chicago, currently in the works.

For those of you who have asked, the City of Dearborn will be on the hook for maintaining the property, not Amtrak.

Where those funds will come from is yet to be sorted. The city is hoping it will be able to lease space in the new building for other businesses and that rent and taxes from those tenants will cover the building’s upkeep.

It will be interesting to see how all of this sorts itself out. Nothing is ever for free  .  .  .

The Dearborn Police Department invites all residents to attend National Night Out on crime at the Dearborn Police Department on Aug. 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The free event is sponsored by Target Stores and the Dearborn Police Department and marks the 30th year of this national event that is celebrated in nearly every city, town and village in the U.S.

In addition to increasing awareness of crime prevention programs, National Night Out also strengthens neighborhood spirit and community-police partnerships, while sending a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized, working with police and are fighting back against crime.

“Dearborn is a prime example of a community that works in partnership with its police department and the private sector,” said Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad. “Together these partnerships have made real strides in crime prevention and quality of life issues.”

Haddad is requesting that in support of National Night Out, all Dearborn residents turn on their front porch lights on August 6, 2013 and make an extra effort to look out for your neighbors.

This year’s event will be held in Dearborn Police Department’s east parking lot, 16099 Michigan Ave., and will include:

• FREE hot dogs, drinks and ice cream

• A Bounce House for the children

• Free throw basketball contests with prizes

• Dearborn Fire Department’s newest Fire Truck and Rescue

In addition, the Dearborn Police Department will have crime prevention material, Neighborhood Watch information; take home Child Identification Kits and NIXLE information available at the event. Dearborn police will also display:

o Police Patrol vehicles (including the new Ford Police Interceptor, both the sedan and SUV)

o Bomb Squad

o SWAT Team

o K9 Unit

o Armored Personnel Carrier

o Mobil Command Post

Additional law enforcement agencies will also be on site, including:

o Michigan Department of Natural Resources (including a pickup truck and zodiac static display)

o Detroit Police Special Response Team

o U. S. Secret Service

o Michigan State Police Motorcycle Units

o Wayne County Down River Dive Team (including Truck and Trailer Static Display)

o Oakwood Hospital Security Police

o Fairlane Town Center Security

o University Of Michigan Police

o Helicopter landing

o U.S. Army

National Night Out, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, is a neighborhood crime and drug prevention event that occurs annually on the first Tuesday in August every year. Last year’s national campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states. This year’s event in Dearborn is sponsored by Target stores located in Dearborn and Allen Park.

This event is in line with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano’s  “If you See Something, Say Something” campaign. Chief Haddad participated in the development of this campaign and he has implemented it throughout the City of Dearborn promoting community involvement in combating crime.

Blues Traveler, the band known for its Top 40 hits with the catchy, harmonica-driven pop songs “Run-Around” and “Hook,” will take the spotlight at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 on the Main Stage at the 34th annual Dearborn Homecoming festival.

The free annual event takes place Aug. 2-4 at Ford Field Park, 22051 Cherry Hill.

The City of Dearborn is again joining with the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund in organizing the festival, which is a major fundraiser for more than two dozen Dearborn-based nonprofit groups. The presenting sponsor is once again Oakwood Healthcare.

Homecoming is known for its free, outstanding live entertainment on three stages, with a blockbuster headline act on Saturday.

In 2012, the five-man Blues Traveler, fronted by original singer/harmonica player/guitarist John Popper, released its 11th studio album, Suzie Cracks the Whip. The band gained mainstream exposure after an early 1990s appearance on David Letterman’s late-night talk show and has since made more appearances there than any musical artist. Letterman band leader Paul Shaffer has played on several Blues Traveler recordings.

The group founded the H.O.R.D.E. (Horizons o

Blues Traveler will headline this year’s Dearborn Homecoming.

f Rock Developing Everywhere) Festival in 1992 with other jam bands (groups whose live and recorded performances have roots in a fan culture that originated in the 1960s with The Grateful Dead and whose performances include extended musical improvisation), appeared at Woodstock ’94 and later became an opening act for the Rolling Stones.

Formed in 1987 in Princeton , N.J. , the band continues to play an average 250 shows a year.

Taking the Main Stage at 8p.m. Friday is metro Detroit’s own Annabelle Road, a Homecoming favorite.

Led by singer Amanda Bailey, the quartet has toured with Clint Black, played Detroit ‘s Downtown Hoedown with Zac Brown and Willie Nelson, and opened shows for Gretchen Wilson, Dierks Bentley and John Rich.

Performing Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on the Main Stage is Papa Doo Run Run, which calls itself America’s Music – California’s Band. The group focuses on Beach Boys songs and recently played at Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Formed in 1965, the band has toured with surf music icons Jan & Dean and the Beach Boys and performed for 15 years as the celebrity house band at Disneyland.

Dearborn’s free outdoor concert series is returning for the summer, beginning this Friday, June 14 on the west end of town and July 10 in east downtown Dearborn.

The West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority hosts Friday Nites in the Park in the Bryant Library’s Muirhead Plaza, 22100 Michigan Ave. The rain alternate location will be at the Henry Ford Centennial Library at 16301 Michigan Ave.

All concerts are 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Here is the schedule for downtown west Dearborn:

• June 14: Byron in Motion, 70s and 80s favorites

• June 28: Teen Angels, 50s & 60s review

• July 12: Carl Cafagna and friends, smooth jazz

• July 26: Big Will and the 360 band, rock and Latin jazz

• August 9: Big Band Memories, sounds of the Big Band era

• August 23: Beat Club, Beatles Tribute Band

For more information on the WDDDA’s concerts,  click HERE

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority’s series starts July 10 and brings back popular jazz musicians to City Hall Park at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Schaefer on Wednesdays in July and August.

Food from local restaurants will be available for purchase on site at the park again this year for your convenience.

All concerts are 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The 2013 Jazz on the Ave schedule is:

• July 10: Alexander Zonjic & Friends

• July 17: Joe McBride, pianist

• July 24: Randy Scott, saxophonist

• July 31: Matt Marshak, with Deon Yates opening

• August 7: Walter White & Small Medium@LargeBand

• August 14: Alexander Zonjic’s All-Star Jam

For more information on the EDDDA’s concerts, click HERE.

The Dearborn Recreation & Parks Department, along with the Dearborn Recreation Dolphins swim club, will host the prestigious U.S.S. Annual Swim Meet June 14-16 at Dunworth Pool. As a result, open swimming will not be offered during these three days.

The meet will feature swim teams and individual competitors from throughout the midwestern United States.

“We’re honored to work together with the Dearborn Recreation Dolphins, one of our many partnership organizations, to host up to 800 swimmers and their families from throughout the area for this annual event,” said Dearborn Recreation & Parks Director Greg Orner.

The Dearborn Police Department is advising residents of increased traffic in the area during these days and asking that they be patient with the numerous spectators expected to attend to watch more than 700 athletes compete.

Ford Woods Pool will offer open swimming June 14 from 4-7 p.m.

Beginning June 15, Ford Woods, along with the city’s other outdoor pools—Crowley, Lapeer, Summer-Stephens and Ten Eyck—will feature open swimming daily from 1-6 p.m.

Dunworth Pool will begin its summer hours of operation June 17, offering open swimming weekdays and holidays from 1-8 p.m. and weekends from noon to 8 p.m.

The 2nd Annual West Dearborn Block Party sponsored by the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority hits the streets on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 with live bands, vendors, and much more.

Friday kicks off the block party with Junction Groove and The Infatuations. The first night will feature a Food Truck Rally. Saturday features Kaleido, Kemical Punkch and Various DJs spinning tunes on a separate stage right off Michigan Avenue.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive and the Dearborn Education Foundation.

All ages are welcome. Friday and Saturday evening parties run from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. The block party is centered on Mason Street between Michigan Avenue and West Village Drive, as well as in the main parking lot behind Bailey’s Pub and Grill.

Sponsors for the block party include: Village Ford, Eastown Distributors, Westborn Market, Bailey’s Pub and Grill, Salon West, Double Olive, Yogurt Town, Iversens Bakery, Ciao, Organo Gold, The Well, Moose’s Martini and LAX Limousine.

Golfers and potential sponsors will have a chance to help the Dearborn Historical Museum with its financial “handicap” on the first Monday after Homecoming weekend this August.

The first annual Museum Guild of Dearborn golf outing is looking for foursomes to round out a $100-a-person scramble scheduled for August 5 at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course. The outing will feature 18 holes of golf with cart, a steak dinner and a two-hour wine-and-beer open bar after the round, as well as welcome gifts and prizes, a silent auction and refreshments on the course.

All profits will benefit the museum, which has been operating without support from the city’s general fund since last July.

The outing will consist of a field of only 18 teams, and the Guild is urging prospective golfers not to delay in registering. The format will be a best-ball scramble . Registration forms are available at the museum office at 915 Brady, just north of Michigan Avenue, or from Guild President Rick Danes at 313-363-3560. Businesses that would like to sponsor a hole or make a donation also are asked to contact Danes.

Any donation over the cost of the outing is tax-deductible under the Guild’s status as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Tax receipts will be available at the course during the sign-in process at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 5, followed by an 11 a.m. tee-off. In staying true to the event’s theme of Honoring Our Veterans, members of the Dearborn Allied War Council will perform a flag-raising and honor salute to signal the start of the round.

The golf outing is the latest museum fund raiser sponsored by the Guild, which has supported the museum through volunteers and donations since 1957.

The Guild this year sponsored the museum’s annual volunteer brunch, the opening of the Dearborn Sports Legends display at the museum, and the museum’s annual Pioneer Program for second-graders. The Guild is also planning its fourth annual garage sale to benefit the museum on June 20-22, and it is considering sponsoring publication of its third volume of “Dearborn’s Best Stories” later this year.

Dearborn’s outdoor pool season begins May 25 with the opening of Dunworth and Ford Woods Pools.

Dearborn’s outdoor pool season begins May 25 with the opening of Dunworth and Ford Woods Pools.

Both pools will be open weekdays from 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 12-6 p.m. through June 13.

Ford Woods will feature open swimming June 14 from 4-7 p.m.

Dunworth Pool will host the USS Swim Meet June 14-16, and consequently, will not offer opening swimming on these three days. Beginning June 17, Dunworth will feature open swimming weekdays and holidays from 1-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-8 p.m.

Ford Woods, along with Dearborn’s other four outdoor pools—Crowley, Lapeer, Summer Stephens and Ten Eyck—will offer open swimming daily from 1-6 p.m. beginning June 15.

This schedule is subject to change. Some pools or portions of pools may close earlier. Check with the specific pool for more information concerning its schedule of operation.

All swimmers must either pay a daily admission fee or purchase a seasonal pool tag.

The daily admission fee is $8 for Dearborn residents (proof of residency is required) and $12 for non-residents at Dunworth and $6 for residents and $9 for non-residents at the other pools.

Pool tags, good for admission to any of the six outdoor pools during the 2013 summer pool season, are available for purchase at the service desk of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center weekdays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Seven types of tags are available:

– Infants (under age two) are free.

– Preschool, $15. Parents must present a copy of the child’s birth certificate and proof of residency.

– Youth (ages 17 and under), $35. Must present school-issued ID card.

– Adult (ages 18-59), $45. Must present proof of residency.

– Senior Citizen (ages 60 and over), $35. Must present proof of residency.

– Family (both parents and all children under the age of 18), $100. Proof of residency for parents and birth certificate(s) for children are required.

– Non-resident, $80.

Pool tags must be sewn on the swim suits prior to admittance.

Pool tags are good for admittance to the outdoor pools only; not the indoor pools at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

For further information, call 943-2328.