Briana Gasorski
Author's Posts
Dearborn native runs in NYC marathon
November 19th, 20240 DEARBORN - Zahraa Boussi, a local social worker and teacher, was selected by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to be part of its Team TCS Teachers program and to run in the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Boussi, whose parents immigrated from Bint Jbeil, Lebanon in the late 1970s, took up running to lead a healthier lifestyle and...
Dearborn couple get married at Zaman’s 15th Annual Run Walk Picnic
November 19th, 20240 DEARBORN - A couple that met through Zaman’s Detroit Run Team in 2023, got married at the finish line at Zaman’s 15th Annual Run Walk Picnic. The Dearborn couple, Alia Sareini, 27, and Morteza Fradi, 25, had met in October 2023 when they were running with the run team, a running club that helps its members achieve their personal...
Crestwood Superintendent named as 2024 Superintendent of the Year
September 26th, 20241 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - During a recent gathering in California, Crestwood School District Superintendent Dr. Youssef Mosallam was named as the 2024 Superintendent of the Year. Mosallam was selected out of the 21 finalists at the National Association of School Superintendents (NASS) Annual Conference for his “transformative leadership,...
Council chairman, former police chief respond to recent news article claiming racial discrimination in Dearborn Heights
July 19th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — In a recent news article, an ongoing legal battle between members of the Dearborn Heights Police Department and the city of Dearborn Heights was cited as including “race-based sabotage and harassment.” The 74-page federal lawsuit filed on Jan. 29 by then-Police Chief Jerrod Hart and Directors Kevin Swope and...Dearborn Heights police chief resigns, cites harassment and retaliation amongst reasons for his departure
July 5th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Following an intense budget battle that almost resulted in a government shutdown, Dearborn Heights Police Chief Jerrod Hart has resigned. Hart submitted his notice of “constructive termination” to be effective immediately, stating that his departure comes as a result of, “... the continued harassment,...
City of Dearborn Heights approves budget just days before deadline
June 29th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - The city of Dearborn Heights has finally reached an agreement and approved a budget for fiscal year 2024 to 2025. As the city’s administration was preparing for a government shut down due to the budget not being approved on time, at a last minute meeting held on June 28 that lasted almost four hours long, the City...
City of Dearborn and Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit reach agreement to be voted on by the City Council
June 28th, 20240 DEARBORN — Just days before the contract between Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit and the city of Dearborn was set to expire, the two have reached a four-year agreement. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said in a Facebook post that the agreement is a win for all. “This agreement is a win for all of Dearborn, and establishes a robust...Fate of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit unclear as contract deadline looms
June 28th, 20240 DEARBORN — The Dearborn animal shelter, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, has a contract with the city ending on July 1 and currently no contract agreement. The June 26 City Council meeting ended in a stalemate over a more than 50 percent budget increase requested by the nonprofit that runs the shelter. Friends for Animals of...Dearborn Heights braces for possible government shut down
June 28th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — As the budget deadline looms, the city of Dearborn Heights has failed to approve a budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, 2025. During a nearly two and a half hour-long City Council meeting on June 25, Councilwoman Nancy Breyer was the only Council member to move for the...
Crestwood High School vandalized as part of a senior prank
June 7th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — As part of a common senior prank, several students were caught vandalizing Crestwood High School on May 24. Through a thorough investigation conducted by the Crestwood administration, multiple students were identified vandalizing the school with spray paint. “The investigation consisted of camera footage,...
Local artist presented with the Art and Culture Award by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture
March 21st, 20240 DEARBORN — During an exhibition showcasing some of his work, international artist Haroutioun “Harout” Isack Bastajian was presented with the Art and Culture Award by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture. The Lebanese artist of Armenian ethnicity decorated the interior of the Islamic Center of America prayer room and his artwork has...
Dearborn Heights appoints new director of emergency management
March 5th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi has announced the appointment of a new director of emergency management for the city. Hussein Farhat, a 29-year veteran of law enforcement, began his career as a deputy sheriff with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department before moving into a position with the Romulus Police...
Dearborn Heights appoints an internal affairs investigator
March 2nd, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Just over a month after the City Council canceled the salary and benefits of two police directors, one of them has been appointed to a “newly-formed” role of internal affairs investigator. Mayor Bill Bazzi has appointed Paul Vanderplow, Dearborn Heights Police Department director of support services, to the...
Legal battle in Dearborn Heights heats up between City Council, police and mayor
February 16th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Less than a month after the police chief and directors filed a lawsuit against the city, the City Council has voted to hire its own attorney in a federal lawsuit of its own. With a 4-1 vote on Feb. 13, the Council members approved a resolution to hire its own legal counsel, former City Attorney Gary Miotke, to...
Dearborn Heights police chief, directors file federal lawsuit against city
February 2nd, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Barely over a week after the City Council passed a resolution canceling the salary and benefits for two police department directors and the chief of police announced a leave of absence, both directors and the chief have filed a federal lawsuit against the city. Directors Kevin Swope, Paul Vanderplow and Chief......
Dearborn Heights police chief announces leave of absence due to “employment induced health concerns”
January 26th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights Police Chief Jerrod Hart announced a leave of absence due to “employment induced” health concerns and voiced frustrations over actions taken by the City Council during a recent Council meeting. During the Jan. 23 City Council meeting, the Council passed a “no confidence” resolution against...Dearborn Heights City Council’s “no confidence” resolution against mayor deepens division in city
January 25th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The City Council passed a “no confidence” resolution against Mayor Bill Bazzi, Corporation Counsel Roger Farinha and Police Chief Jerrod Hart in a 5-2 vote and unanimously voted to cancel the salary and benefits of two directors within the Police Department. The resolution passed with “yes” votes from Mo......
Dearborn Heights hosting free legal clinic for residents
January 13th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The city of Dearborn Heights will be hosting a free legal clinic for its residents at the end of the month. The first legal clinic of 2024 will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 31 from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Dearborn Heights City Hall. Volunteer attorneys who specialize in landlord/tenant disputes, wills and...
Thrive by any Means Necessary hosting second annual Friendsgiving
November 16th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A local nonprofit is working to bring the community together during a time of need for its second annual Friendsgiving event. Thrive by any Means Necessary (TMN) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022 by community activists with the goal of striving to eliminate barriers for those in need while establishing a...
Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray charged two days after being reinstated
November 2nd, 20230 DEARBORN — Just two days after being reinstated, Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray was charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated. One count is related to his blood alcohol content and one to observations made by police at the time of his arrest on Aug. 29 when he was pulled over in Dearborn Heights after allegedly going...
Dearborn Heights to host November 11 expungement fair
October 27th, 20231 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Individuals who wish to have their records cleared of certain past legal offenses can meet with attorneys for guidance at the November 11 city of Dearborn Heights Expungement Fair. The free event is offered in cooperation with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. It will be held at the Richard A. Young......
Crestwood High School and city officials respond to media miss representation of student-led peaceful walkout
October 27th, 20231 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Crestwood School District officials and city officials are responding after national media outlets misrepresented a peaceful, student-led walkout as being “pro-terrorist.” On Friday, October 20 at 9:55 a.m., a group of Crestwood High School students organized a peaceful walkout that was intended to show...
Students organize a peaceful walkout at Annapolis High School to show support for Palestine
October 27th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Two students from Annapolis High School helped organize and host a peaceful walkout in support of Palestine on October 26. Abd-alazzez Alshawaly, a 17-year-old 12th grade student, and Abdulla Allami, a 16-year-old 10th grader, worked together with a group of other students to coordinate the event. Allami told......
Dearborn Heights: Shooting at residence leaves 16-year-old in critical condition
September 18th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A shooting at a Dearborn Heights residence has left a 16-year-old boy hospitalized with critical injuries. At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 18, Dearborn Heights Police Officers were dispatched and responded to a residence on the 8400 block of Grayfield Street to investigate a reported shooting. The responding...Dearborn Heights mayor, police chief respond to “incorrect” and “misleading” reports
September 16th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mayor Bill Bazzi and Police Chief Jerrod Hart are voicing frustrations over “incorrect” and “misleading” information published recently in a local newspaper. The article was originally headlined “Dearborn Heights Police Chief (Jerrod) Hart on leave, unlikely to return”, which was later changed by the......
