From top left: Comedians Amer Zahr, Joey “The Wacky Iraqi” Nibras and Mike Batayeh

Seven Middle Eastern comics from the U.S. and Canada are scheduled to perform at Joey’s Comedy Club, 36071 Plymouth Road in Livonia on July 9.
Local comics Amer Zahr, Joey “The Wacky Iraqi” Nibras, Sarah Bazzi and Ali “Bulldog” Abdallah are set to perform along with California comedian Mike Batayeh and Canadians Ali Hassan and Eman.

The 1001 Laughs comedy show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Visit www.1001laughs.com.

ACC holds annual scholarship awards

LATHRUP VILLAGE — The Arab American and Chaldean Council’s 7th annual golf outing and scholarship award dinner will be held at the Shenandoah Country Club, 5600 Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield on Wednesday, July 8.

Registration, lunch and an open driving range will begin at 10 a.m., with golfers teeing off at 11:15 a.m. and a dinner program at 5 p.m.

The event raises funds for scholarships that go to high school students who excel in academics and are in need of financial support for college.

Students are the real winners of every golf game played at the outing, said ACC organizers. 

MSU President Lou Anna Simon

Lou Anna Simon, president of Michigan State University and General Barry R. McCaffrey, chairman of the board of directors for Global Linguist Solutions, are to serve as honorary chairpersons.
“We are proud to sponsor in this notable endeavor,” McCarthy said.

To participate in the event, call Kimberly Salem at 248.559.1990 or visit //www.myacc.org to view a brochure.

Names of the 2009 ACC scholarship recipients were released Wednesday. They are:

Randa Abdullah, Amira Abi-Haidar, Amir Alawneh, Jessica Ayoub, Mohamad Chbib, Tevon Conrad, Zein El-Zein, Hala Hachem, Rina Sadik, Vanessa Shaya and Jaleesa Wrench.

Middle Eastern film directors awarded at festival

DETROIT — Two local Arab American directors won awards for their films at the Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival last week.

Lance Kawas

Dearborn Lebanese American Lance Kawas’ full-length film “Street Boss,” which opened the festival, was awarded Best Feature.
Filmed in Jackson and Saginaw, the movie stars Vincent Pastore and Nicholas Turturro and tells the story of an FBI agent battling the biggest names in Detroit organized crime.

Sam Kadi

Syrian American local Sam Kadi’s short father-and-son film “Raised Alone” won for Best Made-in-Michigan Short.
New York Iranian American Negin Farsad’s film “Nerdcore Rising” also won an award for Best Documentary. Farsad was also named Best Documentary Director.

The annual Detroit Windsor International Film Festival began last year soon after passage of tax incentives that are drawing filmmakers to Michigan.

Nearly 40 features and shorts were screened at Wayne State University.

State Troopers laid off

LANSING — Over 100 Michigan State Police troopers ended their final shifts this past weekend.

The troopers were laid off to save Michigan money and to help address a budget deficit.

Governor Granholm said in a statement that she regretted the layoffs but had no choice but to make sweeping cuts.

The layoffs are expected to save $1.7 million and were reportedly based on seniority.

Suspect in bus stop shooting released

DETROIT — An 18-year-old suspect in a shooting that injured seven high school students at a bus stop on Tuesday was released from custody Thursday night after Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said there was a lack of enough evidence to bring charges.

A Detroit Police evidence technician puts a boot in a bag at a crime scene where two masked men shot and wounded seven teenagers standing at a bus-stop in Detroit onJune 30, 2009. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

Witnesses told police Tuesday that two men wearing masks or using t-shirts to cover their faces stepped out of a green mini-van and opened fire on a crowd of students at Warren and Southfield on Detroit’s west side.
Seven Cody Ninth Grade Academy students were shot. The academy is a block away from the shooting scene.

“There is insufficient evidence for us to issue a warrant at this time,” said Worthy about the suspect in a statement.

On Wednesday, Jamel Turner, 18, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself into police after officials identified him as a suspect.

Police spokespeople said officers were still investigating and interviewing witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit police at 313.596.5640 or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.SPEAK.UP.

A candlelight vigil and rally against violence is to be held outside of the City County Building in downtown Detroit on Monday.

Detroit Mayor David Bing met with U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg on Thursday to develop a strategy for controlling violence in the city. He expects to have a plan before fall classes start.