DEARBORN — The Lebanese American Heritage Club’s (LAHC) Arab American Scholarship Foundation (AASF) will mark 22 years of providing assistance and encouraging the pursuit of higher education at their 22nd Annual Arab American Scholarship Foundation Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.The event will draw nearly 1,000 of Metro Detroit’s most influential community members, business professionals, and corporate executives to honor students of high academic distinction as they receive scholarships from the organization, each in the amount of $1,000.Established in1988, the AASF began with the giving of one scholarship and has expanded to provide over 1,000 students in Michigan with over $1.5 million in scholarship funds over the past 22 years.  The AASF is one of the largest ethnicity-based scholarship programs in the nation.The LAHC-AASF will host Bill Simon, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Wal-Mart U.S., who will deliver this year’s keynote address. Simon is responsible for the company’s U.S. operations, which cover more than 3,600 stores, logistics, asset protection, transportation, real estate and store innovation.The Award for Excellence and Great Achievement in the Arts will go to Mr. Ragheb Alama, internationally recognized Lebanese musical artist and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Green for the Climate Change Initiative.The Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service in Education will go to Mrs. Nawal Hamadeh, CEO and Superintendent, Hamadeh Educational Services, Star International Academy, Universal Academy and Universal Learning Academy.The Award for Innovative Film & Media Initiatives will go Mr. Wissam Bazzi, AscentTV and director of independent film “RockBottom.”Ron Savage, anchor with Fox 2 Detroit, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies while the national anthems of the United States of America and Independent Republic of Lebanon will be performed by renowned Opera soprano, Sophia Benedetti of Atlanta, Georgia.To learn more about the LAHC-AASF, visit www.lahc.org or contact Wassim Mahfouz at wmahfouz@lahc.org for tickets which are $100 per individual.Seminar offered on stress in life and marriageDEARBORN — A free seminar on “Life Stress and Marital Stress,”  will be held at the Islamic Center of America, 19500 Ford Rd. in Dearborn, on Saturday, April 24 from 1:30-3:30 pm.Learn the causes of stress and how to cope. Speakers include Hoda Amine, Ph.D., Walid Harb, M.D., Laura Berry Harris, Esq., and Kathleen Kalil, Ph.D.Imams in the Dearborn area have been invited to participate in a question and answer period following the panel. The seminar is sponsored by the Islamic Center of America, Women’s Auxillary. Coffee and sweets will be served. Delinquent tax collections up 20 percent in March 2010DETROIT — Despite an extraordinarily challenging economic climate that has resulted in thousands of Michigan residents losing their jobs, losing their home through mortgage foreclosure, and too often losing hope, the Office of the Wayne County Treasurer nevertheless managed to collect a record amount of delinquent property tax revenue during the month of March for the second year in a row. Treasurer Raymond J. Wojtowicz credits the extensive outreach efforts by his office as a primary reason for this surprising success which has occurred in the midst of Michigan’s — and the nation’s — worst economy since the Great Depression.”Quite frankly we were both surprised and gratified that so many Wayne County taxpayers were able to find the means to satisfy their property tax debts, especially given the burdens of this terrible economy. I realize it was a great sacrifice and I want them to know that Wayne County greatly appreciates their efforts,” said Wojtowicz. The amount of delinquent taxes collected in March of this year was $46,227,244.76, which is an increase of 20.09% over the (then) record-breaking amount of $38,494,010.75 collected in March, 2009. For the fiscal year (October 2008 through March 2009 vs. October 2009 through March 2010) there was an increase in collections of nearly 6 percent. There was over 7 % increase from the calendar year of January through March 2009 vs. the same period this year.Anyone still experiencing difficulties paying their delinquent taxes is encouraged to contact the Taxpayer Assistance Department at 313.224.6105. In addition to record collection activity, the Office of Wayne County Treasurer has assisted the owners of nearly 8500 parcels meet their tax liability.