Wednesday, December 23, 2015

S.O.D.A. Holiday Decorating Contest Winners

Congratulations to our holiday decorating contest winners.

Winners were presented with a certificate from the association.

With so many great displays around the neighborhood it was hard to pick just a few. Thank you to our judges for their help!

Most Creative 

3546 William St.

Most Fantasy Like 

23830 Yale St.

True Meaning of Christmas

3645 Roosevelt St.

Most Colorful

2653 Geneva St.


Honorable Mentions


Most Colorful - Runner Up

23838 Princeton St.

Most Fantasy Like - Runner Up

2426 Parker St.

The True Meaning of Christmas - Runner Up

3505 Dudley St.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

City Statement - State Police Search Warrant

Hi Neighbors,

This is a statement released from the Mayor's office, it was e-mailed to me this morning by a city spokesperson. It's the official statement from the City of Dearborn regarding the Michigan State Police raid at City Hall yesterday that is part of an on-going embezzlement investigation according to media outlets.

Obviously this sort of news conjures up speculation and rumors on social media. It is very important to allow this investigation to play out and not jump to conclusions. It is also important to repsect those involved and the process at this time.

Obviously I am in no way a spokesperson for the city but as the President of S.O.D.A. I feel obligated to give the members of our group the official statement because we are all tax payers and all have a vested interest in the happenings in our city.

Regan Ford
S.O.D.A. President


News from the City of Dearborn
John B. O’Reilly, Jr., Mayor
www.cityofdearborn.org

Department of Public Information
Mary Laundroche, Director
313-943-2285
                                                    Dec. 16, 2015

City cooperating fully with State Police

DEARBORN, Mich. –  The City of Dearborn is cooperating fully with the Michigan State Police, which executed a search warrant in the office of the Dearborn City Clerk on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
City Clerk Kathy Buda is an elected official and is independent of any other elected official in Dearborn.
The City administration was alerted only moments before the State Police began executing the search warrant of the Clerk’s Office.
Laurie Ellerbrake, deputy city attorney, said the City of Dearborn is committed to ensuring that elected officials and public servants earn a high level of trust with residents and maintain that standard every day.
“The State Police are in charge of this investigation and we don’t have details at this point, but we are cooperating fully with them. If there is a problem, we want it to be addressed thoroughly. And if there isn’t an issue, we want to make sure that that news is understood as well,” said Ellerbrake.

*  *  *  *  *
MEDIA CONTACT:  Mary Laundroche at (313) 943-2285

Monday, December 14, 2015

Giveaway Winners - December Potluck Dinner

Congratulations to our December Potluck Dinner giveaway Winners!

Thank You to all the local businesses that donated items to the Potluck Dinner for prizes!
Please support these businesses as a thank you for supporting S.O.D.A.
  • On the Border, Allen Park
  • Yogurtopia, Allen Park
  • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Allen Park
  • 7-Eleven, Dearborn, Monroe St.
  • Lolly by Golly, Dearborn, Monroe St.
  • Hungry Howies, Dearborn, Monroe St.
  • Crazy Pizza, Dearborn Heights, Telegraph Rd. 
  • Gigi Nails, Dearborn Heights, Telegraph Rd. 
  • Salon Expressions, Dearborn, Monroe St.
Member Giveaway Winners
- Rayburn              - Woods             - Hall
- Barrett                - Ferry                 - Rebecca
- Featherston       - Leonard           - Struble
- Tolliver               - Harrison           - Lowe
- Nemeth              - Vaughan          - Nestico
- Hassell

Guessing Game Winner
Savanah Rayburn

Ugly Sweater Contest Winner
1st place - Dan Featherston
(All Ugly Sweater Contest participants got prizes)

50/50 Raffle Winner
Ryan Woods

Monday, December 7, 2015

December S.O.D.A. Meeting Potluck Dinner

December S.O.D.A. Meeting Potluck Dinner
Thursday Dec 10th 

6:30 pm

In the cafeteria at Whitmore-Bolles Elementary
21501 Whitmore St, Dearborn, MI 48124

S.O.D.A. will provide the main dish.

RSVP in the Form Below


Please bring a dish to pass.
Please bring a serving spoon or utensil with your food.

The Whitmore-Bolles Girl Scouts will be doing crafts with the kids.

Ugly Sweater Contest - with prizes for men & women

Guessing Game

Prize Give-A-Ways for members

Attendance Raffle

50/50 Raffle: Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.

If you would like to help with the event, there is planning committee meeting on Tuesday, November 24th @ 7:00 pm. Please submit a message to the Contact Us form for more information.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Revised Snow Removal Ordinance

With the first major snowfall of the 2015/2016 season behind us, residents should be aware of the newly revised snow removal ordinance.

Property owners have 24 hours after the snowfall has ended to remove snow accumulations of three inches or more, or any dangerous ice from public sidewalks and ramps leading to crosswalks. If multiple snowfalls add up to three inches, then the same rules apply.

Instead of just ticketing delinquent property owners, the City can now step in and remove snow or dangerous ice. Property owners would then get a bill from the City for the abatement plus at least a $75 additional fee.

The penalty to property owners will increase with each offense, with the fourth violation in a calendar year resulting in misdemeanor charges.

The City says that abatement and enforcement will be a priority in areas heavily traveled by pedestrians, such as those near businesses or schools or on walking routes to those areas.

It is yet to be seen how well this ordinance will be enforced, and if the city will clear city owned properties which were not cleared last winter.  Residents should call Neighborhood Services to report sidewalks and crosswalk ramps that have not been cleared.

Neighborhood Services at 313-943-2161

Friday, November 13, 2015

S.O.D.A. POP Revised Holiday Schedule

S.O.D.A. POP Trivia Team Revised Holiday Schedule

▸ Nov 19th - 9:00 pm
▸ Dec 10th - 9:00 pm
▸ Dec 17th - 9:00 pm

Bailey's Dearborn
22091 Michigan Ave (@ Mason)

The schedule will go back to 2nd & 4th
Thursday in January

S.O.D.A. POP Trivia Team Information

Contact Criss Tolliver for more information and to RSVP
crissandsteve@hotmail.com
(313) 304-2648

Thursday, November 12, 2015

What Is Nextdoor.com?

The Dearborn Police announced today they have partnered with Nextdoor.com; but what is Nextdoor.com? Is S.O.D.A. using Nextdoor.com? Should you sign up?

Nextdoor.com is a "free" service what allows communities to create a private social network. Anyone can create and claim an area that isn't already claimed and make a "neighborhood". Once signed up you can invite others in that neighborhood to join. This includes email invites as well as postcards mailed to addresses you invite. Only people that can prove they live in that area can join your neighborhood.

S.O.D.A. has worked with Nextdoor.com's Support to claim as much of our boundaries as possible.  The S.O.D.A. board is posting information and maintaining the Southwestern Outer Drive page on Nextdoor.com, however Nextdoor.com is NOT going to be the main source of association information.

The main information source will remain www.sodadearborn.com
Many residents do not want to be on social media sites of any kind. We want to make it as easy as possible for residents, this is why we've spent considerable time this past year creating several avenues in which to receive association information.

List of S.O.D.A. information sources and priority;
  1. http://www.sodadearborn.com
  2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/southwesternouterdrive/
  3. https://twitter.com/SodaDearborn
  4. https://southwesternouterdrive.nextdoor.com/
Should you sign up for Nextdoor.com? There are a couple things to consider.
  • The creators of Nextdoor.com have stated in articles in the New York Times and Mashable.com that one of the goals of the site is to mine the data in order to serve ads to it's users. Of course the site needs to fund it's self somehow.
  • Once registered on the site, your address is listed on your profile and your property is highlighted on a map. The address in your profile can be hidden by changing the default settings for your account, but your property will still be highlighted on the map as being apart of Nextdoor.com
  • Personal information entered into your profile is displayed to all users in your "neighborhood". Many of those people you may not personally know. The only way around that is to not fully fill out your profile.
  • Information posted to the site only reaches your neighborhood, or the immediately surrounding neighborhoods. While this is good in some cases, S.O.D.A. wants to be able to inform all city residents in other cases and this site would not allow that. This is why sodadearborn.com remains the main information source for the association.
For those that find Nextdoor.com a useful tool, you are more than welcome to use it. For those that do not wish to join Nextdoor.com, know what nothing has changed for you. All information about S.O.D.A. and our events will be posted to sodadearborn.com and copied to sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor.com

Below are a couple of screen shots of what Nextdoor.com looks like.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Veterans Day

Thank You!


To our neighbors and everyone who has served our country, Thank You for your sacrifice and everything you have done to keep us safe.

- S.O.D.A.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

November Raffle Winners

Congratulations to our November General Meeting raffle giveaway Winners!

Member Raffle
Fall Home Decor & Cranberry Caramel Crunch

Winner:  Mike Bonich

To win the member raffle you must be present at the monthly meeting.
Member names drawn but not present to win:
Kade family
Jones family
Michelis-Brown family
Cooper family

Attendance Raffle
Fall decorations

Winner: Joe Vasquez

The attendance raffle can be won by anyone in attendance at the meeting. Prizes are typically items donated by local businesses or business members.

50/50 Raffle
Winner: Michael Albano

Michael Albano donated his winnings back to the association. Thank You!!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Association T-Shirt

Show Your Neighborhood Pride!
Get your Southwestern Outer Drive Neighborhood Association T-Shirt.
Available NOW!

$10.00*    •    S, M, L, & XL
$12.00*    •    2XL & 3XL

*An $0.80 convenience fee per item is added to all online payments to cover transaction costs.



T-Shirts are available for purchase at any General Meeting.

Can't make it to a meeting, but still want a T-Shirt?
Purchase Online

November S.O.D.A. Meeting

The November S.O.D.A. Meeting
Thursday Nov 5th @ 7:00pm
in the auditorium at Whitmore-Bolles Elementary
21501 Whitmore St, Dearborn, MI 48124




Special Guest:
David Norwood
Sustainability Coordinator
City of Dearborn

Mr. Norwood will have a short presentation detailing the projects and programs he is working on for the city, and will take feedback and answer questions that our members and residents may have.

Win Prizes At The Meeting
  • Member Raffle for any paid Regular Members in attendance.
  • Attendance Raffle for ANYONE in attendance.
  • 50/50 Raffle
The only requirement for winning is attending the association meeting. For the Member Raffle we pull names from the entire member list until we pull the name of a paid regular member in attendance. For the Attendance Raffle we draw names of anyone that signed in when attending the meeting. You must be present to win.

*All prizes are donated by our supporters and business advertisers.

Facebook Event - November Meeting

Monday, November 2, 2015

Proper Disposal of Fall Decorations

From the City of Dearborn:

Be sure that you properly dispose of fall decorations.
Pumpkins, hay, straw, gourds, and corn should NOT go into your yard waste bags or containers.  These items are considered food waste by the city's contracted composting facility and they will not take them.

Pumpkins, hay, straw, gourds, and corn should be bagged and placed in your Gray trash cart.

Disposing of these items at home for personal composting should be done in a proper manor which would be in a closed or sealed container. Open composting in gardens or flower beds should NOT be done as it will attract flies and/or rodents.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Halloween Decorating Award

Happy Halloween!!

Check out the Halloween displays in the neighborhood.
Congratulations to our decorating contest winners!

Halloween Decorating Award:
Romanchuk Family
3455 Grindley Park

Honorable Mentions: 
  • 3421 Grindley Park
  • 3500 Grindley Park
  • 3260 Bennett
Notables: 
  • 21124 Carlysle
  • 3813 Katherine
  • 3533 Dudley
  • 3645 Roosevelt
  • 3421 Pardee
  • 3737 Pardee
  • 2847 Geneva
Be sure to check out these great displays tonight while Trick-or-Treating!

Award certificates and prizes will be given out this
Thursday, Nov. 5th at the S.O.D.A. general meeting.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Yes, Sally, there is a Great Pumpkin!

Yes, Sally, there is a Great Pumpkin! But don't miss out on Trick-or-Treating!
We've gotten a couple questions to the Contact Us form here on sodadearborn.com from new residents in the area asking if there will be trick-or-treating in the neighborhood or if the Track-or-Treat event was the only thing. This year's Track-or-Treat event was a huge success and possibly the largest event to ever have been done at Penn-Vassar Park with over 500 people. But Track-or-Treat is just and extra fun event to get the neighborhood and families out together.

Trick-or-Treating is definitely happening on Halloween!

Smartasset.com recently ranked the city of Dearborn 8th in the entire nation for the Best Places To Trick-Or-Treat. While some of that ranking was due to Halloween Nights at Greenfield Village, it should not be overlooked that it's also due to the many houses that give out candy, the short distances kids have to travel, and community safety.
Halloween is one of my personal favorites, and as my birthday is only 4 days before Halloween it has always felt like an extended birthday party. Although I may not dress up and go out ticking for treats anymore, I still enjoy taking my own kids around on the 31st and decorating our home for the fun frightful night. More and more residents in the neighborhood are decorating their houses for Halloween, and S.O.D.A. will be announcing awards next week at our November 5th meeting for the best Halloween decorations.

A couple things to note about Halloween Trick-or-Treaters:
  • Trick-or-Treaking Time: 5:30pm - 8:00pm or until your candy runs out
  • Turn ON your porch light to let the kids know you have candy
  • Turn OFF your porch light when you'tr done, otherwise you'll have knocking well past 8:00pm
  • Later in the evening (or even earlier) you may see a car load of kids come around. It's OK. Not every neighborhood does Trick-or-Treating, and not every neighborhood is a place where kids can feel safe. Be happy that these families are out enjoying Halloween together, and take pride in the fact that our neighborhood is a safe place for them to enjoy it.
  • The group of almost adult, half costumed, pillow case carrying teens; they know their childhood is almost over, don't make them feel worse for it. Give them a piece of candy with a smile. They will all to soon be an adult, let them have some fun while they still can.


Also the Dearborn Police have put together a list of Halloween Safety Tips:
  1. Parents should help their children pick out a costume that will be safe. The costumes should be fire resistant, masks should have eyeholes large enough to allow for good peripheral vision and the costume should allow free movement.
  2. If your child will be carrying a prop such as a pitchfork or sword make sure the tips are flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on. Of course, never carry real weapons of any kind.
  3. If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that children’s costumes will not accidentally be set on fire. Better yet, use battery operated pumpkin lights.
  4. Make sure you know the route your children will be taking for trick or treating, if you are not going with them.
  5. The best bet is to make sure that an adult is going with the children during trick or treating. If you cannot go with your child see if another parent or a teenage sibling can.
  6. Children should stay together as a group if going trick or treating without an adult.
  7. Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars. Tell your children to only cross streets at cross walks.
  8. Instruct your children never to go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.
  9. Make sure you set a time for your children to be home and stress the importance for them to be home at that time. Finally, instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.
From myself and the rest of the S.O.D.A. board,
have a safe and fun time Trick-or-Treating!
Happy Halloween!!

Timothy S. Harrison
S.O.D.A. Vice President

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Interactive Loose Leaf Collection Map

The City of Dearborn has provided an interactive schedule map for loose leaf collection. This is a great use of technology by city employees to help clarify information for our residents!

The map below provides information on the loose leaf collection schedule for 2015. To see your area's next scheduled loose leaf pickup day, click on the highlighted section surrounding your address. Sections are divided by color, with each color corresponding to a different trash day.

The schedule serves as a guideline for loose leaf pickups and is subject to change. The map will be updated regularly, so please check back frequently for changes.

Please note that there are different pickup schedules for different recycling schedules (A and B) in each trash district. Zoom in on the map to make sure you are looking at the correct information for your address.

Monday: Purple
Tuesday: Orange
Wednesday: Yellow
Thursday: Blue
Friday: Green

All residents have green recycling carts, which are stamped with either an A or B on the lid to let you know what recycling schedule you are on.




Monday, October 26, 2015

Track or Treat 2015 Success

Thank You to everyone that came out for Track or Treat!
It was great to see the community out together.
There where over 500 people in the park!!

Highlights from Track or Treat 2015

We had some great sponsors, and great people who donated candy and helped out.
Here is a list, in no particular order. Without these people, this event wouldn't have happened

  • The Dearborn Agency
  • Salon X-pressions
  • Redeemer Community Church
  • Lue Thai Café 
  • Adrian's Collision
  • The Michigan Lightning Football Team 
  • Finders Keepers Insulation 
  • Lolly by Golly Sweet Shoppe
  • Lafontaine
  • Mizudo Academy of Martial Arts
  • Yoga Shala Wellness Center 
  • Real Estate Dreams 
  • The Dearborn Farm Market 
  • Kroger
  • Susan Dabaja
  • The Girl Scouts at Whitmore-Bolles 
  • The Girl Scouts at Snow
  • Stormy Records-Windy Weber
  • HFC Graphic Novel Club
  • HFC Community Service Club
  • HFC Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Club
  • The Whitmore-Bolles PTA
  • Jeffrey and Kelli Hassell
  • Michele and Dan Featherston
  • Brian and Becky Topolski
  • Carol Lowe
  • Sylvia Hall 
  • Pamela Mayberry
  • Peggy Strachan
  • Carol, Pat and Kim
  • Judy Ann Struble
  • Shirley
  • Jay and Tammy Rayburn
  • Michelle Krause
  • Treg Moore
  • Jennifer Keblaitis
  • Jennifer Buckner
  • Ginny Russell
  • Jennifer Wilson
  • Carl and Michelle Weigand
  • Mary Williams
  • Linda Snow
  • Dawn Michelle
  • Steve and Donna Nemeth 
  • Dave and Viki Pung
  • Debra Ainsworth
  • Donna Hay
  • Michael D. Albano
  • Nathan and Michelle Leonard
  • Julie 
  • Stacey Vaughan
  • Ryan Woods
  • Michelle Rebecca
  • Nicole Schaumburger
  • Debbie Turley
  • Szewc Family
  • Michelle Franko
  • Sam Borrello 
  • Debbie Sosnowski 
  • Timothy Shawn Harrison


Sunday, October 25, 2015

S.O.D.A. Track Or Treat 2015

2nd Annual S.O.D.A. Track or Treat

Sunday,  October 25th,  5:30 pm
Penn-Vassar Park
Cost: FREE

A fun evening in the park for the whole family. Kids get to "trick or treat" around the track at Penn-Vassar park and collect candy from decorated treat stations.

All kids welcome, bring a treat bag and come dressed in your Halloween costume.
  • Prizes awarded for the best costumes.
  • Prize awarded for the best treat station!

Interested in running / sponsoring a treat station?

Contact Sarah Ford:  sford@vividclean.com
Cost to run a treat station: FREE

We're also accepting candy donations! (Individually wrapped candies)
Thank you for your support.

Photos from the 2014 Track Or Treat shared by S.O.D.A. FB Group members

Thursday, October 22, 2015

S.O.D.A. POP Tonight - 10/22/15

Tonight! S.O.D.A. POP Trivia 9:00pm

Bailey's Dearborn
22091 Michigan Ave (@ Mason)

For more info visit the S.O.D.A. POP page

Monday, October 19, 2015

Loose Leaf Pick Up

Loose Leaf Pick Up Starts Today.

Loose leaf collection Oct. 19 - Dec. 4  

Collection of leaves that are raked into the street will take place between the week of Oct. 19 and end the week of Nov. 30, with the last pick up on Friday, Dec. 4. Weather conditions may alter that timeline.

Leaves raked into the street are not picked up every week.
Crews aim for two pickups during the season in every neighborhood.
Leaves are picked up on non-recycling weeks, but not every time.

Schedule beginning Oct. 19

On Monday, Oct. 19, crews will be in neighborhoods with Monday trash collection and an “A” week recycling schedule. Note they may not finish the whole section that day.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, crews will be in neighborhoods with Tuesday trash collection and an “A” week recycling schedule. Note they may not finish the whole section that day.

The pattern will continue through Friday, Oct. 23.

On Monday, Oct. 26, crews will be in neighborhoods with Monday trash collection and a “B” week recycling schedule.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, crews will be in neighborhoods with Tuesday trash collection and a “B” week recycling schedule.

The pattern will continue through Oct. 30.

This process will be repeated through the end of the loose leaf collection program.
In addition, vehicles must be removed from the streets from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a neighborhood’s trash day/Public Service Day.

Bagged Leaves
Residents may also put their leaves in approved paper yard waste bags or approved 20-32 gallon containers labeled as yard waste.   The containers or paper bags should be put on the easement by 7 a.m. for pickup each week on residents’ trash day. That way, they will be picked up each week.

Leaves in plastic bags or in cardboard boxes will not be picked up.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Healthy Dearborn Family Bike Ride

Healthy Dearborn
Family Bike Ride

10:00 am 
Sunday, October 18th 2015
Cost: FREE

Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI

Registration begins at 9:30 am

The ride starts at 10:00 am at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, taking off from King Boring Field onto Greenfield Rd.  From there riders will follow a designated 6.5 mile route through the center of the city and end back the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

The ride will be family friendly, and will be police assisted. Riders of all ages and abilities are welcome. Before biking, participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver, available at the event or online.

Click here to download the waiver

Those who wish to participate in the event without going on the guided bike ride are invited to check out The Center free of charge on Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult for this family event.

Families with young children and other cyclists who don’t want to ride on the road are welcome to pedal the outdoor paved path that surrounds The Center.

Healthy snacks, water, and materials with safe bicycling tips and rules will also be available.

Call 313-943-2285 for more information.

This event is presented by: