Briana Gasorski
Author's Posts
Tom Wencel running for re-election to Dearborn Heights City Council
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Coming off of his first term on City Council, Councilman Tom Wencel has decided his job is not done and is running for re-election. “I decided to run for re-election because during my first term on the City Council we have made such tremendous advancements for the residents of Dearborn Heights, and we’re just...
Dearborn city clerk accepting absent voter ballot applications
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN — The city clerk’s office is now accepting absent voter ballot applications for the 2021 municipal primary and general elections. The clerk’s office mailed the applications on May 18. Clerk George Darany said that more than 14,000 absent voter (AV) ballot applications were mailed so registered voters could request...
Public hearing for city budget scheduled for May 26
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN - The public hearing on the proposed city budget for fiscal year 2022 is set for Wednesday May 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dearborn Administrative Center (DAC). The public hearing invites the public to comment on the proposed budget, which covers expenditures and revenues for the city from July 1, 2021 until June 30, 2022. The...
Bill Bazzi kicks off his campaign for Dearborn Heights mayor
May 22nd, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Friends of Mayor Bill Bazzi helped him kick off his mayoral campaign by hosting a special event fundraiser in his honor. Nasser Beydoun, chairman of the American Arab Civil Rights League (ACRL), hosted the intimate gathering at the Bellagio Banquet Center in Dearborn Heights. “When you pick an elected leader...
Local school leaders say they will not be making changes to the mask requirements in schools
May 21st, 20210 DEARBORN/DEARBORN HEIGHTS — While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the state Health Department are loosening mask requirements, local school leaders have no plans of doing so just yet. Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko said that the district will be continuing as originally planned for the remainder of...
28th annual Ecorse Creek clean-up happening this weekend
May 20th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The 28th annual Ecorse Creek and Richard A. Young Rain Garden clean-up is scheduled for this Saturday. The event will take place at the Dearborn Heights Recreation Center at 5400 McKinley at Swapka Park from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 22. “It is a community awareness get together event,”...
Gov. Whitmer to lift all restrictions by July 1
May 20th, 20210 LANSING — Governor Whitmer announced that all COVID-19 restrictions are expected to be lifted by July 1. On June 1, all outdoor capacity limits will be lifted and indoor capacity limits will be increased to 50 percent. Unvaccinated people will still be required to wear masks indoors through the month. Whitmer also said that on...
District launching Dearborn Public Virtual K-12 school in fall
May 20th, 20210 DEARBORN — With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing thousands of students to try virtual schooling, the district is launching a Dearborn Public Schools Virtual K-12 School. The new school will not have its own physical building, but will operate like a distinct school in the Dearborn Public family of schools. Children in grades K-12...
Salina Intermediate school to host student, parent COVID vaccinations
May 19th, 20210 DEARBORN — In partnership with the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Dearborn Public Schools will be offering COVID-19 vaccinations at Salina Intermediate school. Dearborn students age 12 and older and their parents are being offered the Pfizer vaccine through the district. The vaccines are being provided by the DMC at 2623 Salina...
Aspiring physician becomes first Henry Ford College student to win Goldwater Scholarship
May 19th, 20210 DEARBORN — Henry Ford Early College (HFEC)/Henry Ford College (HFC) student Yasmeen Berry has won three prestigious scholarships that will help with her tuition. Berry, an aspiring doctor, will be going to the University of Michigan this fall. The scholarships include The Barry Goldwater Scholarship, The All-USA Academic Team...
Michigan restores work search requirement for unemployment benefits
May 19th, 20210 LANSING — The state of Michigan is reinstating the work search requirement for people receiving unemployment benefits effective May 30. Residents collecting unemployment will now be required to submit their work search information weekly in order to collect their benefits. All seven of the state’s Republican U.S. House members...
Local school leaders address vaccine questions
May 15th, 20210 DEARBORN/ DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With the Pfizer vaccine now being approved for children as young as 12, local school leaders are addressing vaccine concerns. Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko said that the district cannot dictate vaccines for students. “We are just advocating for the vaccines in a positive...
Dearborn’s dust pollution ordinance amended to increase enforcement and fines
May 15th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council voted to amend the “fugitive dust” ordinance in order to increase enforcement and fines for violations. The ordinance was originally adopted last August. “Fugitive dust” refers to visible particulate emissions created through mechanical processes or natural forces and comes from a...
CDC says fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear face masks in most settings
May 13th, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. - The CDC announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face mask or stay six feet from others in most settings, indoors and outdoors. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walesky said that there are still a handful of instances where people will still need to wear masks including in a health-care setting or in...
City of Dearborn recognizes National Police Week
May 13th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Department is recognizing National Police Week by remembering officers lost in the line of duty. In a post on its Facebook page, the department said it is grateful for officers. “Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. and Chief Ronald Haddad recognize and remember police officers who have made the......
Whitmer says COVID-19 vaccine is “way out” of pandemic
May 12th, 20210 LANSING — While Governor Whitmer is encouraging continued mask use, she said that residents continuing to get vaccinated is the path out of the pandemic. During a Wednesday morning press conference, Whitmer announced that the state has crossed the first benchmark in the “Mi Vacc to Normal” challenge, with 55 percent of...
Saeid Alawathi looking to serve Dearborn as a member of City Council
May 11th, 20210 DEARBORN — As a resident of Dearborn for nearly 40 years, Saeid Alawathi has decided to put his name on the ballot for one of the seven City Council seats up for election. Alawathi is a Yemeni immigrant who grew up in the Southend of the city before graduating from Fordson High School and later completing his associate degree in......
Detroit police chief announces retirement, won’t announce candidacy for governor
May 9th, 20210 DETROIT — Detroit Police Chief James Craig announced his retirement on May 10, and while many reports speculated on his candidacy for governor, he has not yet confirmed his interest. Craig, 64, has been chief since being appointed in July 2013 by Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr. When Craig took over the department, it had been under a...
Mustapha Hammoud wants to “give back” by running for Dearborn City Council
May 8th, 20211 DEARBORN — Lifelong resident Mustapha Hammoud has entered the race for one of seven City Council seats that are up for election. Having been born and raised in Dearborn, Hammoud attended Dearborn Public Schools, Henry Ford College and the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in...
Dearborn Councilman addresses withdrawn special meeting
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN — A special City Council meeting was scheduled for May 4 and was withdrawn shortly beforehand by Councilman Bob Abraham. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the option of putting some ballot questions before voters in the August primaries. The topics scheduled for discussion were to consider and take action on the...
Mike Jaafar promoted to Wayne County undersheriff, first Arab American to hold position
May 7th, 20210 DETROIT — Dearborn native and Fordson High School alum Mike Jaafar was promoted to undersheriff of Wayne County, making him second in command and the first Arab American to be appointed to this position. In his new role, Jaafar will be overseeing both the jails and law enforcement and will be second in command under Wayne County......
D7 school bond proposal passes
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On May 4, voters passed the $6.4 million bond proposal in the city’s D7 School District to help school enhancements. The bond is a net zero tax increase to the community members, so the district says that residents will not see an increase in their taxes. The bond will be split up between three large...
Dearborn Public Schools to offer free summer learning programs
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is offering free summer academic and enrichment learning programs that will run from June 23 until August 13. Elementary and middle school students can participate in the programs that will be in-person at their school Monday through Thursday from at least 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.; and as long as there......
Dearborn Heights man accused of strangling mother to death
May 6th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A man is accused of strangling his mother to death just one month after she asked a judge to release him when he was charged with assaulting her. Aaron Samir Akel, 45, of Dearborn Heights was originally arrested on Nov. 2 and charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and misdemeanor domestic...
Dearborn City Council to return to in-person meetings effective immediately
May 6th, 20211 DEARBORN — Beginning May 6, the Dearborn City Council will be holding its meetings in person starting with its Committee of the Whole meeting. The regularly scheduled council meeting on Tuesday May 11 is also planned to be in person. Both meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Dearborn Administrative......
