Sesame Street is now 40 years old. And, in honor of the great children's program, here is a shout-out to cooperation. A bill designed to allow the Detroit and Wayne County land banks to work together was announced with bipartisan support this week.

See, we do learn things from television.

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Bills that would allow land banks operated by Detroit and Wayne County to merge into a redevelopment entity with expanded powers were announced Monday, with bipartisan support.

The legislation would provide for a Detroit/Wayne County Redevelopment Authority that would "enable the city and county to have a cohesive strategy for stabilizing and redeveloping tax-reverted properties," said Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, in a news release.

Read the entire article here.

A historic heritage and summer concerts in the park are just part of East Dearborn's concerted effort to add more pizzazz and entertainment to its downtown shopping district.


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While it's home to City Hall, the Arab American National Museum and the future site of the Dearborn Town Center, East Downtown Dearborn has long lived in the shadow of its West End counterpart.

 But local business owners and the East Downtown Dearborn Development Authority (EDDDA) say they plan to change that by offering a variety of programs this summer that highlight the district's unique history and its eclectic mix of shopping destinations.

"When people say that there's no shopping in Dearborn, I tell them to look around," said EDDDA Director Michael Boettcher. "We've got a nice mix of everything here."

The district is currently home to more than 187 businesses, according to the EDDDA's Web site, many of which are locally owned and operated.

Read the full story here.

Wait, wait, wait... Don't leave Dearborn yet. There is a possibility you haven't seen it all, especially if you spend most of your time on the west side. You may have forgotten the gem that is East Dearborn. Or you may have just passed through that little gem. Either way, you should get out and explore the businesses, the restaurants, and the sidewalks of East Dearborn.

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While there are vacant suites, as there are in any downtown today, East Downtown Dearborn is a beautiful business district. Visitors will find new sidewalks, landscaping, tucked-in on-street parking spaces and more.

Business owners there wisely decided to keep paying the special assessment district fund and due to their foresight, east downtown has free customer parking.

Boettcher and I visited the M&M CafÈ across from City Hall, owned by Maurice and Elaine Ltief. The food and service was incredible, and M&M CafÈ is a restaurant I highly recommend to anyone looking for great food and service at reasonable prices.

I also spoke with Ron Amen, director of the Arab American National Museum, across from City Hall. Many people do not realize its affiliation with the Smithsonian. It is also the first museum in the world devoted to Arab-American history and culture. What it offers Dearborn, and America, is incredible and can clear up many misconceptions pertaining to our wonderful Middle Eastern neighbors. Visit the museum's Web site at http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/ to find out more.

Read the entire article here.

A tree grows on top of a neglected building, next thing you know it could save the planet. OK, not really, but it's a start -- and the benefits of a green roof are plenty.

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Proponents of living roofs argue that they have met most, if not all, of the technical challenges involved in grafting a biological layer onto the top of buildings of almost any scale: everything from a vegetable stand or bus stop to the ten-acre roof of Ford's truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan. While the average cost of installing a green roof can run two or three times more than a conventional roof, it's likely to be cheaper in the long run, thanks largely to energy savings. Vegetation also shields the roof from ultraviolet radiation, extending its life. And it requires a different kind of care, akin to low-maintenance gardening.

Read the entire article here.

Now it's serious, folks. A movie studio is moving into Allen Park. But it's not just a win for Allen Park, it's a win for neighboring Dearborn. At least that's what city officials are saying.

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East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Michael Boettcher Thursday said the construction and subsequent opening of a movie production studio in Allen Park -- to be called "Unity Studios" and located at Southfield Road and Enterprise Drive, near I-94 -- is an outstanding idea and believes that while the studio is technically in Allen Park, the project could prove to be an economic boon for the city of Dearborn, as well.

"I think Dearborn can be a destination for people who come into the area to work at the studio," Boettcher said.

Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly shared Boettcher's sentiments, adding that with the studio being minutes away from Dearborn, the city's restaurants and hotels could see a huge increase in business.

Read the entire article here.

This editorial is about West Dearborn but the guy has a point and his sentiments can be applied to any community or city. Pulling cash from your pocket to put in the pocket of the local bakery keeps that money local. Shopping in your own community can save your community businesses. He's right.

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Nonetheless, the success of DTWD is also in the hands of loyal residents, who in sheer volume and repeat business can still make a positive difference. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves: do we want to lose more locally-owned businesses that are great meeting places and have excellent food at bargain prices, such as the Little CafÈ and Angelo's Pizzeria?

If we do not want to lose more of these businesses, it is now time for us to consider where we shop.

Rather than going to neighboring communities, people with disposable income should again choose to spend it in downtown West Dearborn or we will lose even more unique, locally-owned businesses that have been around for quite some time.

Read the entire article here.

After years of speculation and meetings, the Detroit to Ann Arbor light rail should begin in October. Some communities, like Dearborn, are hoping to get a jump on the process to expedite the ride.

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A three-year trial system of a proposed intermodal rail passenger station that would allow passengers to ride from Ann Arbor to Detroit is slated to begin next October.

Officials in the city of Dearborn are looking to get a jump on the process, as on March 2, the Dearborn City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Jack O'Reilly to execute an amendment to renew and extend a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) through Sept. 30 for site selection, environmental assessment and preliminary engineering and design of an intermodal station in Dearborn.

Read the entire article here.

Not everyone goes to Cancun for spring break. Some people don't go anywhere. And some other people stick around and volunteer their time to improving metro Detroit. It's called Alternative Spring Break. And instead of sunscreen and sand in the shorts these kids have a hammer and nails and toolbelts.

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Alternative Spring Break participants not only give up potential time in the sun relaxing, they also forego trips to volunteer in hurricane-damaged areas along the Gulf Coast. Instead, they perform service projects to help those in need elsewhere. Detroit is one of several non-disaster locations.

About 50 students are working in metro Detroit, building wheelchair ramps in Detroit and Warren and performing service projects at Vista Maria in Dearborn, the Lighthouse Path in Pontiac and Franklin Wright Settlements in Detroit.

The student volunteers are from several different states. Many were here last year for the inaugural program and are returning this year as project site leaders.

Read the entire article here.