New trash & recycling
carts coming to every
Dearborn household

Dearborn residents should expect to see their new trash and recycling carts delivered to their households beginning June 1, with the expectation that all households will receive the new carts by July 5.
The City of Dearborn will be delivering the carts to every household at the curbside. Residents are being asked to then store the two, 96-gallon carts in an appropriate place and not to use them before their collection day on the week of July 5.
Until the week of July 5, residents are asked to use their existing trash cans and recycling bin.
A complete packet of information will be inside the new carts. The carts are free.
Each household will also receive a post card in the next week as a reminder that the carts are on the way, and to not use the carts until their collection day the week of July 5.
Trash days will stay the same for every household.  Curbside recycling will continue to be on trash days, but residents will recycle every other week on their trash days. Each recycling cart will have information posted on them so residents will easily know which week to recycle.
Each trash and recycling cart has a hinged and attached lid, which will help to reduce blowing litter and address pest issues. The carts also have handle and wheels for easy mobility.
The trash cart is gray and the recycling cart is green.
The 96- gallon trash carts also hold about as much as three normal trash cans, and the 96-gallon recycling bin will allow residents to more easily recycle.
Note that residents do not have to bundle, tie or sort any recyclables. They can just all be put into the 96-gallon recycling container.  
The new system also allows for an automated curbside collection system.
For more information regarding the new program, contact the Dearborn Department of Public Works Information office at (313) 943-2085 or Republic Services Customer Service at 1-800-878-4626.
More details are available at  www.cityofdearborn.org.

Dearborn’s Memorial Day Parade adds a ceremonial funeral procession; event begins at 9:30 a.m., parade at 10:30 a.m.

Marking its 86th year, Dearborn’s Memorial Day Parade is Michigan’s oldest continuous tribute to America’s fallen.
The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. this year, a change from the past, to accommodate a special ceremonial funeral procession beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 31.
As always, the parade runs from Firestone, just west of Greenfield, to Schaefer eastbound along Michigan Avenue.
For the first time in Dearborn, and anywhere in Michigan, the parade will follow a special ceremonial funeral procession beginning at 9:30 a.m.  This ceremonial procession is being called a “Hero’s Mile.”
Following the “Hero’s Mile,” the traditional parade will begin—about 30 minutes later than usual.
Pre-parade event:
The funeral procession will pay respect to at least 15 veterans who died without resources and whose cremains have been left behind in Dearborn funeral homes without a proper burial.
A new state law introduced by State Rep. Gino Polidori made it possible for veteran groups to transfer their forgotten comrades to a final resting place.     Members of the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council did all the legwork and paperwork for this final demonstration of gratitude to the late servicemen.     They also raised money for and constructed a military caisson to carry the cremains along Michigan Avenue.
The funeral procession will end in front of City Hall, where there will be a ceremony to render military honors to the deceased veterans. Their cremated remains then will be transferred to a hearse and transported to a military cemetery in Holly.
The first-of-its-kind funeral procession for forgotten veterans and the parade honoring the ultimate sacrifices of America’s servicemen and women were organized by DAWVC members on the 2010 parade committee.
They include Richard Fleek, commander of the DAWVC; Craig Tillman, senior vice commander; Tom Wilson, junior vice commander; Joe Terry, adjutant; and John Ruselowski, a trustee. Ted Gagacki, a founding member of the local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter, also was an active member of the parade committee.
Grand marshals:
Leading the parade will be five grand marshals— active or former servicemen with Dearborn connections who represent the five branches of the military. They reflect the theme of “Hometown Heroes.”
They are: Col. Joseph M. Martin, commander of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team; Major Robert Seeley, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron of the Michigan Air National Guard and a U.S. Air Force veteran and a Dearborn police sergeant; Marvin Steigerwald, Marine Corps veteran; Ron Tomassi, a U.S. Navy veteran and retired Navy reservist; Matt Post, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard.
At the end of the parade, Col. Martin will speak at the annual remembrance service at the Dearborn War Memorial, located on the grounds of Dearborn City Hall.
Flyovers:
The Dearborn parade is known for its flyovers, and 2010 is no exception. At about 10:40 a.m., two A-10 jets from Selfridge Air National Guard Base will thunder across the skies of Dearborn.
Six T-6 aircraft will follow between 10:45 and 11 a.m.
T-6s were flown in World War II, and later used in the Korean War. The pilots of the T-6 aircraft have been faithful supporters of the Dearborn parade and the city’s annual Korean War Ceremony.
The “Yankee Warrior,” a restored World War II-era B-25D bomber, and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter also are tentatively scheduled to make an appearance overhead.

Police: Watch out for seasonal crimes

Dearborn enjoys a reputation as a safe community.
Residents and police officers have a positive relationship and residents look out for one another.  
But the Police Department advises that as more people are out and about to enjoy the rising temperatures, residents should keep in mind the following guidelines:

• Always keep your home’s doors and windows locked.
• Secure all lawn and gardening equipment in your garage.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Never leave your garage open and unattended.
• Always secure bicycles.
• Do not allow solicitors into your home.
• Be cautious of solicitors or contractors who offer to repair your home at a “deep discount”.  
• Do not allow mail or newspapers to build up in your mailbox or on your porch.
• If you go on vacation, register your home with the Dearborn Police Reserve Vacation House Check program at 943-2241.  
• Keep your vehicle’s doors and windows locked.
• Do not leave valuables, such as GPS units, laptops and IPods, in your parked vehicle.

Report any suspicious activity to the Dearborn Police Department’s Suspicious Activity Line at (313) 943-3030.
Become active in Neighborhood Watch.

These tips will help reduce the opportunity of becoming a victim of crime.  
Additional crime prevention tips are available at www.cityofdearborn.org. Residents can also contact the Dearborn Police Department at 943-3092 with questions or to request a crime prevention meeting.  

Homeowners should be taking care of their property,
making lawn maintenance a number one priority.

Report neighborhood problems at 943-2161

Residents must cut their grass so it’s six inches or less. Failure to keep grass cut to six inches or less can result in tickets or fines.
If the City must cut grass and weeds, the property owner will be billed for the actual cost of the cutting, plus an administrative fee of $75 each time.  
Other property maintenance guidelines to keep in mind:

• Do not to store furniture or other household items outside.
• Garage doors must be operable and painted.
• Prune or trim overgrown shrubs and trees.

All properties must have groundcover, such as grass or landscaping.
If residents have any questions about property maintenance issues, of if they need to report a neighborhood problem, they can contact Neighborhood Services at (313) 943-2161.

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