Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States Antoine Chedid was welcomed in a private reception by the Lebanese American Heritage Club and given a token of appreciation by Dearborn City Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini on Thursday.

Ambassador of Lebanon to the U.S. Antoine Chedid, front center, with, from right, Attorney Michael Berry, Acting Consul General of Lebanon in Detroit Bashir Tawk, MBN TV & Radio owner Wally Jadan, mayor of Amsheet, Lebanon and brother of President Michel Suleiman Ghattas Suleiman and CEO of Energy International Corporation Ned Fawaz. PHOTO: Nick Meyer/TAAN

Chedid was also scheduled at a dinner for the Lebanese International Business Council on Friday, May 1, 6 p.m. at Byblos Banquet Hall, 7258 Chase Rd in Dearborn.
The ambassador is also to appear at the Arab American National Museum, 13624 13624 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn for a breakfast at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, as well the annual ACCESS dinner, which takes place at 6 p.m. that night at the Detroit Marriot at the Renaissance Center in Detroit.

Homes for sale open for viewing Sunday

Prospective homebuyers will have the opportunity to view several homes in one Sunday afternoon on May 3 during this year’s regional Big Open House event.

Detroit, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Livonia and Northville are among the cities with the most homes available for viewing that day between noon and 5 p.m., but there are listings throughout the region that real estate agents have made available.

Visit www.thebigopenhouse.com to see what homes will be open in your community.

Yousif Ghafari

Ghafari to be honored by Regional Chamber
The Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation and Detroit Regional Economic Partnership are to honor Yousif Ghafari, founder and chairman, Ghafari Associates LLC., as 2009 World Trader of the Year on May 5 during the organizations’ World Trade Month Breakfast.

The event celebrates World Trade Month each year, honoring an individual who has contributed to helping foreign businesses invest in the Detroit area.

The breakfast is scheduled for 9 p.m. at the Townsend Hotel, 100 Townsend Street in Birmingham.

Visit www.detroitchamber.com or for information, email Beverly Maddox at bmaddox@detroitchamber.com.

Michael Moore

Michael Moore to speak in Taylor
The Michigan Peace Team, a group that advocates for non-violent peacemaking initiatives primarily in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is to host award-winning documentary flimmaker Michael Moore on May 2 at the Democratic Club of Taylor, 23400 Wick Road, at 4:30 p.m.

Moore is best known for his films “Fahrenheit 9/11,” “Bowling for Columbine,” “Sicko” and “Roger and Me.”

Visit www.michiganpeaceteam.org or email Kim Redigan at kredigan@yahoo.com for information.

Samaher Mohammad

Local designer recognized among top young entrepreneurs
Crain’s Detroit Business magazine has featured Arab American fashion designer Samaher Mohammad in its “Twenty in their 20s” list.

The 27-year-old owns a Dearborn boutique.

She’s designed custom dresses and jewelry for her clothing line Zaynini Fashion International Inc., targeted mainly to conservative Arab-American women.

White House announces deadline for Fall internship program

WASHINGTON — The White House this week announced that applications for the Fall 2009 White House Internship Program are due by Tuesday, May 26.

Those selected to participate in the program will gain valuable job experience and an inside look at the life of White House staff while building leadership skills. The 2009 Fall Internship program runs from Sept. 8 to Dec. 18. For more information and application instructions, visit www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships.