Healthy Dearborn - Active Communities Award

As many of you might know, as President of SODA I represent the association & neighborhood on the Healthy Dearborn Coalition as well as on their steering committee. I'm honored to be representing SODA next week at the Governor's Fitness Awards Gala where The City of Dearborn is nominated for an award in the "Active Communities" category. There are lot's of positive things happening in Dearborn! Check out the video below for Michigan Fitness Foundation's video for Dearborn's nomination. If you would like to find out more about Healthy Dearborn check out the website www.healthydearborn.org and/or come to a coalition meeting on the third Tuesday of the every month at 8:00 am.

Timothy S. Harrison
SODA President

Voice Your Opinion About the Look of Downtown Dearborn

Tuesday, May 16, 2017
4 pm to 7 pm
@John Dingell Transit Center
21201 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI

The City is hosting an open house where you can drop-in to look at draft regulations, provide input and ask questions of the City and design consultants.  Maps, drawings and preliminary concepts for the downtown area will be on display. Members of the consultant team and City staff will be available throughout the evening.

Wagner Place Construction Informative Sessions

Wagner Place Construction
Informative Sessions

March 22
9:00 AM and 6:00 PM
Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce
22100 Michigan Avenue

Two blocks of Downtown West Dearborn on Michigan Avenue will transform from a once deteriorated and vacant area to a vibrant place for consumers, residents and employees thanks to the investment of the City of Dearborn, West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority, Dearborn Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Ford Motor Land Development Corporation.

Ford Land will be building two structures totaling 150,000 square feet with retail/restaurant uses on the first floor and 600 Ford employees on the upper two floors, while rehabilitating the historic Wagner Hotel with this project. West Village Drive will be designed in a way to allow for festivals and open public gathering spaces. The City will add a 373-space parking deck at the southwest corner of West Village Drive and Monroe Street to support the project and the district. Once the deck is completed, there will be 800 public spaces available to this quadrant of the downtown district. Wagner Place is expected to be complete and fully occupied in the summer of 2018.

Construction begins on Wagner Place and the parking deck the first week of April 2017. Join us for one of two informative sessions on Wednesday, March 22 at 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM located at the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, 22100 Michigan Avenue, to find out more about the construction details and what to expect during construction.

Individuals with disabilities who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids, or service to attend should contact (313) 943-2363 (TDD). Reasonable advance notice is required.

West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority
Department of Public Information
(313) 943-2285
developingdearborn@gmail.com  

Healthy Dearborn Walk & Roll

As some of you may know, I've been representing SODA as a member of the Healthy Dearborn Coalition. Healthy Dearborn is diverse group of organizations and volunteers, and is sponsored by Beaumont Health and supported by the City of Dearborn. Healthy Dearborn's goal is promote a healthier Dearborn.

In support of that goal the Healthy Dearborn Walk & Roll was created by Dearborn resident and coalition member Tracy Besek.

Each week they meet Wednesday evening at a different park around the city. Tracy plans out a 5-6 mile route that bikers take around that neighborhood which begins and ends at that week's park.  Walkers are also encouraged to participate by walking the park's track and around the neighborhood in a group.

This week, which was their eighth meeting already this summer, took place on Dearborn's Southeast side at Lapeer Park. Touring around the neighborhood, and a loop around Patton Park in Detroit as well, the 5-1/2 mile route took a leisurely pace which was easily done by young and old.

It was a great time! It was so much fun that my family plans on attending next week's ride which will take place on Dearborn's West side at Oak Park in the Golfview Oaks Neighborhood.

Here is a some information about the Healthy Dearborn Walk & Roll events:

Do you like to bike or do you like to walk while enjoying Dearborn, MI neighborhoods and parks, then this is the group for you! Join our weekly group rides/walks in and around Dearborn. We meet every Wednesday at 6:30 pm to Walk and Roll at 7:00 pm. Every week we meet at a different park so keep an eye on our group page for details.

This group is independent of the City of Dearborn. You are responsible for your own well being while participating in a roll or stroll. 

**All kids should be accompanied by an adult.

*Rollers: Be sure to do regular maintenance checks on your bikes, pump your tires, bring along an extra tube, lights, and water. Helmets are STRONGLY recommended. Routes will be approximately 5-6 miles long.

*Walkers: Bring your best walking shoes and water. Routes will be approx 1-1.5 miles long.

No walker or roller left behind! We are a no drop group that will ride/walk at a pace comfortable for all in attendance. We encourage all ages and skill levels to join us!

For more information about the Healthy Dearborn Walk & Roll visit their Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1039015682859026/

Timothy S. Harrison
SODA President

Healthy Dearborn Walk & Roll

Under the leadership of cycling enthusiast and Healthy Dearborn coalition member Tracy Besek, with help from Dave Norwood and Mohamed Ayoub from the City, we are excited to announce the new weekly Healthy Dearborn Walk & Roll!

On Wednesday of each week, Healthy Dearborn will lead a family friendly, community walk and bike ride.  They will meet at a different park each week at 6:00 p.m., alternating each week between east and west side parks.  Rides and walks leave the park at 7:00 p.m.

The first one is June 1st at Levagood Park.
The second one is planned for June 8th at Ford Woods park.

They plan to do this through October 12th.  Route maps will be available at the park meet-up site. See the flyer below and the Healthy Dearborn Walk & Roll Facebook group for more details

Healthy Dearborn is a robust coalition of more than 200 community residents, businesses, employees, elected and civic leaders. Find out more about Healthy Dearborn on the City of Dearborn website.
 http://www.cityofdearborn.org/community/healthydearborn

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

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

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.

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.

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:

• City of Dearborn
• Beaumont Health

Busy Week In Dearborn

It's going to be a busy week!
Remember to mark for calendars for these items.

Monday 7th:
* Labor Day
Enjoy a day of fun and rest.
(Thank you to all that have to
work today and for all you do)

Tuesday 8th:
* First Day of School for Dearborn Public Schools

Wednesday 9th: 
* Public Hearing for 5-Year Master Plan
7:00 p.m.  -  Ford Community & Performing Arts Center

Thursday 10th:
* September S.O.D.A. Meeting & Neighborhood Watch
7:00pm in the auditorium at Whitmore-Bolles Elementary

* S.O.D.A. POP Trivia
9:00 pm  -  Bailey's Dearborn

Friday 11th:
* Farmers & Artisans Market
9:00am - 2:00pm -  Behind the Bryant Library

Party At The Museum 2015

Support the preservation of Dearborn history and our friends at the Dearborn Historical Museum at this fun event!  The event has been a smashing success for the museum for the last two years.


Friday, September 25, 2015
5:00 -11:00 p.m.


McFadden-Ross House Grounds
915 Brady Street, Dearborn, 48124

Tickets: $10

Includes a souvenir glass mug, live entertainment and one free mug of beer, wine cooler, or root beer.
Free parking at the museum and Ford Field (free shuttle service).
Tickets available at the Museum Office, online at  www.thedhm.com, and at the door.

All proceeds will benefit the Dearborn Historical Museum educational programs.

For more information:
Call (313) 565-3000
http://thedhm.com/party-at-the-museum/

Four craft beers, a Canadian, and a domestic, flavored wine coolers, and root beer.

Sponsored by the Museum Guild of Dearborn

REMINDER: Trash & Recycling Collection Policy

REMINDER:
Back in May Dearborn instituted new collection policies.

The image shows garage and recycling carts from this week's collection.

Please remember that an overflowing cart with an open lid may not be collected.
A maximum of 4 bags of additional trash that will not fit in cart may be placed outside of the gray cart and will be collected
Also Trash in cardboard boxes will not be picked up.

Additional recycled items when recycle cart is full or items that will not fit in your recycle cart must be bundled or tied in manageable pieces so they can be collected.

Violations could cost the homeowner a minimum $75.

For addition information see our post from May.

New Dearborn Policy For Trash, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection

Public Hearing for 5-Year Master Plan

The City of Dearborn is holding a public hearing on the proposed Recreation & Parks 5-Year Master Plan.

September 9, 2015 
7:00 p.m.
Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126.

Any interested party may submit written comments to the Dearborn Recreation & Parks department concerning the Recreation & Parks 5-Year Master Plan until the public hearing on September 9th.

A complete copy of the proposed Dearborn Recreation and Parks 5-Year Master Plan is available for public inspection at the service desk of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, as well as the Henry Ford Centennial Library. 

Download an electronic version of the Master Plan here: 

More Information:

Below is a link to the Dearborn Recreation & Parks Facebook event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/967179030006230/

Dearborn Recreation & Parks Department
http://www.dearbornfordcenter.com/center-news/151-5-year-master-plan

Provide feedback to the proposed 5-Year Master Plan by taking their survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/79FJZ8G

Dearborn Homecoming 2015

Dearborn Homecoming 2015 Starts Today!!

Looks like it's going to be a beautiful weekend.
Hope to see all our neighbors and friends down at Ford Field for another great year of cars, music, food, fun, and fireworks!

Happy Homecoming Dearborn!!

For a copy of the 2015 Homecoming brochure click here

For more information about Dearborn Homecoming click here

National Night Out

 
Dearborn Police Department invites all residents to attend the 2015 National Night Out on Crime event.
This is a Free event sponsored by Target Stores and the Dearborn Police

Tuesday, August 4, 2015
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Parking lot of the Dearborn Administrative Center (DAC)
16901 Michigan Ave.

Public Service Days In Effect

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

June 15, 2015

Public Service Days in effect 

from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on trash days

Keep parked vehicles off the streets to allow

city to perform multiple necessary services

DEARBORN, Mich. – Public Service Days are underway in Dearborn, and residents are reminded that these days are important for more than just trash service.

Public Service days began April 6 and continue through Nov. 28. Residents are required to keep parked vehicles off neighborhood streets 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on their trash days/Public Service Days.

Public Service Days permit more efficient and safe collection of trash, recyclables and yard waste set at the curb. Additionally, they allow for several important services to be performed in neighborhoods, including street sweeping, tree trimming and catch basin maintenance.

Street sweeping is among the most important services delivered to Dearborn neighborhoods. To ensure that streets are cleaned from curb to curb, cars must be off the roads. Street sweeping may happen at any time from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on a neighborhood’s trash day.

“We want to make sure we give residents the services they pay for, including curb-to-curb street sweeping,” said Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. “Keeping parked cars off the streets until 4 p.m. gives us the chance to clear away accumulated dirt and debris and help neighborhoods look appealing.”

Tickets will be issued to cars parked on the street at any time between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on a neighborhood’s trash day/Public Service Day. Tickets will also be issued to vehicles parked across sidewalks, on the easement or on lawns.

Also note that trash and recycling carts should not be in the road at any time.

The City recognizes that keeping vehicles off the streets can be an inconvenience for residents, and so in the winter months suspends Public Service Days when it is less likely that maintenance could be performed.

For parking issues related to Public Service Days, call 943-2276. Parking exemption applications are available at http://www.cityofdearborn.org/city-departments/public-works/public-service-days

Exemption applications can also be picked up at the front desk of the Police Station, 16099 Michigan Avenue.

S.O.D.A. President Regan Ford Helps Cut Down Safety Hazard

Helping the Dearborn community as a whole, S.O.D.A. President Regan Ford answered the call then the grass in front of the Islamic Center of America on Ford Rd. became an eyesore and safety hazard. The grass which is on public property has not been cut by local, county, or state crews.

“Lock It or Lose It”

In an effort to reduce thefts from cars this summer and beyond, the Dearborn Police Department has launched a campaign to remind residents: If you don’t lock your car, you’re making it a target for crime.

- Don’t leave valuables in an unattended vehicle.
- If that’s not possible, lock the materials in the trunk of the car, or at least place them out of clear view.
- Always lock unattended vehicles.
- Notify police of any suspicious activity by calling the Police Non-Emergency Tip Line at 313-943-3030.

If you see an active crime taking place immediately call 911
Do not confront anyone yourself.

For more information about “Lock It or Lose It” see the City of Dearborn website:
Lock It Or Lose It campaign aims to decrease thefts from vehicles

Dale Van Dorp "The Voice of Dearborn"

Dearborn has lost a legend. It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of Dale Van Dorp "The Voice of Dearborn".  Dale died Sunday evening at 10:30 pm after a long bout with cancer.
One of our area's greatest performers Dale was a charter member of the Dearborn Theatre Hall of Fame and Dearborn Area Theatre Association.
To most Dearborn residents Dale was most recognized as "The Voice of Dearborn", Dale would MC many city events and anyone that has ever been to Dearborn Homecoming would recognize his deep welcoming voice. For 34 years Dale would inform of us about upcoming acts at Stage B, remind us kids to head to the Police Command Post if we got lost, and count down to a resounding "Happy Homecoming Dearborn!" before another amazing fireworks display. Homecoming will never be the same without Dale's voice echoing across Ford Field.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dale's family and friends.
Dale Van Dorp (1952 - 2015)