Town halls scheduled on Dearborn schools budget

DEARBORN — The first of three town hall meetings on severe budget cuts Dearborn Public Schools have to implement was to take place Thursday evening at the Michael Berry Career Center in Dearborn Heights.

Dearborn Public Schools students and parents protest expected teacher layoffs outside the district’s administrative center on Nov. 23.                         PHOTO: Khalil AlHajal/TAAN

A second meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m. at the Dearborn Schools’ Administration Building, 18700 Audette Street. A third is to take place at Fordson High School, 13800 Ford Road on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is to moderate the three meetings.

“These mid-year changes have caused plenty of confusion and misinformation in communities through out the state,” Dearborn Schools spokespeople said.

“The meeting will cover a brief review of school funding in Michigan, recap the current year budget and the budget reduction plan, look ahead to next year, and provide time for questions, comments, and suggestions.”

The meetings are to be streamed live at dearbornschools.org, which is expected to feature chat and email functions to allow remote participation. The meetings will also be shown on the district’s cable channel — Comcast 19 or WOW 15.

Neighbors complain over plans for Northville mosque

A Northville Township Muslim community wants to turn a home into a small mosque and a front yard into a parking lot.

Some neighbors are upset.

Next-door neighbor Renee Boving, 81, told the Detroit Free Press she and her husband oppose the actions not because of religion, but because of worries over traffic and noise.

“We have no problems with diversity,” she said.

Mohammad Usman, of the Meadowbrook Islamic Center, at 41885 Eight Mile in Northville Township, said he wants the facility to provide a place for Novi and Northville Muslims to pray without having to travel to Canton or Farmington.

“We are very peaceful people. We will not do anything to do harm to the community,” he told the Detroit Free Press.

The township’s Zoning Board of Appeals has asked the center to consider a smaller parking lot than the 42-space lot it originally requested permission to build. The board has tabled action until Dec. 16.

ACC holds grand opening for new Hamtramck office

HAMTRAMCK — The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) on Monday celebrated the official opening of its relocated Hamtramck office at 9019 Jos Campau.

ACC and Hamtramck officials cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the social service group’s new office.

Community leaders and city officials attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured the expanded facility.
“ACC is committed to serving the diverse community of Hamtramck, especially during this difficult economic time,” the group said in a release. “ACC has been providing services to the city of Hamtramck since 1980.”

ACC’s previous Hamtramck office was located at 8740 Jos Campau. The new location houses programs and services including Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) Job Education and Training (JET), Women Infant and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, state social services and youth and community programs.

On Wednesday the group announced the addition of three new members to its board of directors.

Mayor for the City of Wayne Abdul “Al” Haidous, Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad, and commercial development businessman Arkan Jonna of A.F. Jonna Development each became board members.

“We are proud they joined the ACC team,” said ACC President and CEO Dr. Haifa Fakhouri. “They are strong leaders of the community and will enhance our Board immensely.”

Granholm appoints Arab American to juvenile justice advisory board

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has appointed Wassim Mahfouz, executive director of the Lebanese American Heritage Club, to the Michigan Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Advisory Board.

He is expected to serve through 2010.

“This is a great honor,” said Mahfouz. “In the last nine years of actively participating in the community… I have been able to better understand the needs of the greater community and most importantly, our youth.”

Juvenile Accountability Block Grants are offered for programs to enhance the juvenile justice system and promote accountability, including building facilities and hiring officers and advocates.

“Over the years he has dedicated his time and efforts to move the LAHC forward in a variety of aspects,” said LAHC founder Ali Jawad about Mahfouz, “working unremittingly to provide our youth with the funding necessary to continue their higher education and is committed to working on programs to benefit the younger generation.”

Arab film fest begins

The 2009 Arab Film Festival at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn began on Thursday with the screening of Palestinian short documentary “Thorns and Silk.”

The festival is featuring 10 films and runs through Saturday, ending with an 8:45 p.m. showing of Oscar-hopeful “Garbage Dreams.”

Visit www.arabamericanmuseum.org for lineup and ticket information.

Actor Mustafa Alkhani, who plays Nims in the popular Syrian drama “Bab Al Hara”

Popular Syrian actors to visit Dearborn
A group of Syrian actors from the wildly popular Ramadan-season television drama Bab Al Hara are to appear at events in Dearborn on Dec. 11 and 12.

“Layali Al Sham,” an event designed to showcase Syrian culture and music, is scheduled for Dec. 12, 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, 600 Town Center Drive.

Actors Wafik Alzaim, Mustafa Alkhani, Huda Alsharawi and Mohammed Al Shammat are expected to appear, according to organizer Laila Alhusinni, a local am radio host.

Comedian Ray Hanania and Syrian singer Gaida are to perform.

Call 313.570.2206 or visit www.arabdetroit.com for tickets, which are $60, $80 VIP.

The actors are also to appear at the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Michigan’s annual fundraising gala on Dec. 11. Visit www.adcmichigan.org or call 313.581.1201.

Local charged in alleged weapons conspiracy

Four people, including one Dearborn man, were charged on Nov. 23 with transporting stolen goods as part of an alleged weapons procurement ring.

A federal terrorism task force in Pennsylvania announced the arrests, according to a Justice Department release.

Hassan Mohamad Komeiha of Dearborn was charged with conspiring to transport stolen goods along with Douri Nemr Tarraf of Slovakia, Hussein Ali Asfour of Centerville, Ga. and Dani Nemr Tarraf of Slovakia. Dani Nemr Tarraf was also charged with conspiring to acquire antiaircraft missiles, conspiring to possess machine guns and conspiring to commit passport fraud.

A fifth man, Ali Fadel Yahfoufi of Slovakia, was also charged with conspiring to commit passport fraud.

Arab American women receive achievement awards

The YWCA of Western Wayne County on Nov. 20 presented eight local women, including four Arab Americans, with achievement awards.

The women’s group presented a Woman of the Year award to Turkia Awada Mullin, director of economic development for Wayne County.

The group also recognized Arab Americans Amal Berry-Brown, Suehaila Amen and Zahrah Fadel, with business, professional and youth leadership awards, respectively.

Other awards recipients were Margaret Blohm — Woman of Achievement for Communications/Arts, Judge Laura Mack — Woman of Achievement for Government and Law, Cynthia Berry — Woman of Achievement for Dedicated Volunteerism and Sharon Dulmage — Woman of Achievement for Leadership.

Pre-Hanukkah event to feature national JVP director

DETROIT — The local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that advocates for peace, justice and human rights in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is to hold a pre-Hanukkah dinner and talk on Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. at 1930 Balmoral Dr. in Detroit.

The group’s new national director Rebecca Vilkomerson is scheduled to attend.

Contact Barbara Barefield at barbarabarefield@aol.com or Barbara Harvey at blmharvey@sbcglobal.net for information.

Vilkomerson is also scheduled to speak at Wayne State University’s Law School Spencer Partrich Auditorium, 471 West Ferry Mall, Dec. 10 at noon. Contact Michael Merriweather, 248.229.0588 or michael.merriweather@gmail.com. Visit JVP.com for more on the group.

Kids forum to teach conflict resolution

The Healthy Kids Project, a family-centered program for metro Detroit’s Arab American community, is scheduled to host a bi-annual “Keeping Kids Healthy” forum on Tuesday, Dec. 8, noon to 3 p.m. at the Byblos Banquet Center, 7258 Chase Rd in Dearborn.

The forum, intended for adults, according to organizers, will focus on “Preventing Obesity Through Promotion of Healthy Habits and Lifestyles. The program will feature conflict resolution specialist Jacqueline Palmer-Rivait.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Elizabeth Hughes at 313.216.2244 or ehughes@accesscommunity.org.