“Boater:” A term of endearment or an insult?
July 18th, 20140 A cartoon at the Ellis Island MuseumDEARBORN — In the Arab American community, "boater" is used to portray a wide range of qualities in a person, from good cooking to bad driving. It describes accented English, a sense of fashion, a way of life. It is also a deliberate insult sometimes. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines...
Wayne County executive candidates affirm commitment to diversity, transparency at AAPAC forum
July 11th, 20140 L-R: Candidates Cavanaugh, Evans, Ficano, McNamara and Wild. PHOTO: BILL CHAPMANDEARBORN — On Tuesday, July 8, the five leading candidates in the Wayne County executive race reaffirmed their commitment to diversity and presented their respective cases for why they should be elected, at a forum organized by the Arab...
Dearborn Police receive 650 fireworks-related calls; 49 tickets issued, two reported house fires
July 11th, 20140 DEARBORN — Sounds of explosions blaring through neighborhoods and the sight of smoke dominating residential streets could've easily been mistaken for a war zone over the Fourth of July weekend.Since the state has allowed the selling of consumer fireworks in 2012, usage has drastically increased and has resulted in booming business...
Hanini Outreach and Community Center fosters sense of community during Ramadan
July 11th, 20140 DEARBORN — While breaking fast at the Hanini Outreach and Community Center Monday night, one woman introduced herself to a stranger sitting at the same table. "I’m from Iraq, where are you from?" she asked. Conversations such as these take place every night at the center, where the charitable group Life for Relief and...
Palestinian Americans weigh in on homeland crisis
July 11th, 20140 Demonstrators hold placards during a protest march demanding an end to the recent Israeli-Palestinian violence, in Manhattan, New York July 9. REUTERS/Adrees Latif DEARBORN — As the war rages on Gaza, Palestinian American activists told The Arab American News about the severity of the humanitarian situation, urging...
Soccer player charged with second-degree murder for death of referee
July 11th, 20140 Saad.DEARBORN — On Wednesday, July 9, the Wayne County Prosecutor's office announced that it was amending charges against Bassel Abdul-Amir Saad to second-degree murder, in connection with the death of John Bieniewicz, a referee Saad allegedly punched during a soccer game on June 29.Saad, 36, had originally been charged with assault...
Activists urge Ann Arbor City Council to boycott Israel
July 11th, 20140 ANN ARBOR — Holding picture of Tariq Abu Khdeir, the Palestinian American boy who was beaten severely by Israeli police, activists Blaine Coleman and Mozhgan Savabieasfahani urged the Ann Arbor City Council to adopt a resolution to boycott Israel.Coleman and Savabieasfahani, who appeared before the council on Monday, July 6,...
Community loses activist and attorney Ashley Mammo
July 11th, 20140 Mammo.DETROIT—Ashley Mammo, a Chaldean American attorney and longtime community activist passed away July 9 of breast cancer. She was 45. Mammo was born Sep. 1, 1968. She was the founder of the West Bloomfield-based Ashley Mammo Law Firm and widely known as an activist who was passionate about empowering women in both the...
Snyder appoints Dearborn pharmacist to Michigan Board
July 11th, 20140 Fakih.LANSING — On Thursday, July 10, Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointments of Jonathan Pignataro, of Ceresco, and Nabil Fakih, of Dearborn, to the Michigan Board of Pharmacy.The 11-member board is responsible for regulating and inspecting the practice of pharmacy and drugs manufactured and distributed in the state."I thank...
Federal judge places travel and internet restrictions on Dearborn cleric
July 11th, 20140 DETROIT — Chief Federal Judge Gerald Rosen has limited the travel of Ahmad Jebril, 43, to southeast Michigan. Rosen also placed restraints on Jebril's usage of social media. In May, media outlets reported that Jebril, a Dearborn cleric, has a large online following of fighters from Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq...
Community leadership associate degree offered at HFC
July 11th, 20140 DEARBORN — An associate’s degree in community leadership is now being offered at Henry Ford College to prepare students in making a positive impact on their community through career opportunities in community organization, policy advocacy and economic development.The community leadership program at HFC provides students with...
Amid Detroit bankruptcy and water crisis city officials receive 5 percent pay increase
July 11th, 20140 Orr.DETROIT — Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr gave Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and city council a five percent pay increase that will begin this month. The pay increases are being given right after the city reached a tentative agreement with the Detroit Police Officers Association on a multi-year collective bargaining contract on...Dearborn area Muslims featured on NBC News with Kevin Tibbles
DEARBORN — NBC News' Kevin Tibbles visited the city recently and interviewed local Muslims for a piece entitled "Meeting America: All American Muslims in Dearborn." The segment aired July 6. Tibbles interviewed families who are fasting for the Islamic month of Ramadan. Muslims who were featured said they identified with and...ADC-MI fights for fair housing in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — ADC-Michigan is meeting with officials in Grand Rapids to investigate allegations that two condominium owners were harassed, intimidated and threatened with bodily harm for housing Arab high school exchange students in their homes. According to the complaint, the condominium owners enrolled in an educational...Deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 5 primaries is Monday, July 7
The deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 5 primary is Monday, July 7. "Registering takes just a few moments of your time, and the benefits are boundless," said Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Michigan's chief election officer. "Once you register, you are able to vote in Michigan elections and make your voice heard. I encourage......
Community reacts to soccer game tragedy, Dearborn man in jail
July 4th, 20140 Bieniewicz, 44, pictured with his two children, died on Tuesday, July 2. LIVONIA — An adult soccer game at Mies Park turned tragic on Sunday, June 29 after a Dearborn man allegedly fatally punched a referee.John Bieniewicz, 44, of Westland, was pronounced dead on Tuesday, July 1, two days after the alleged assault by player Bassel...
Arab Americans rally in solidarity with Palestinians
July 4th, 20140 DEARBORN—Palestinian activists held a demonstration outside Dearborn City Hall Thursday, July 3 to express solidarity with the people in Gaza and throughout Palestine. The demonstration took place as tensions between Palestinians and Israelis continue to intensify since the deaths of three Israeli teens whose bodies were found......
Detroit area Muslims visit Dearborn to break their fast
July 4th, 20140 DEARBORN — Restaurants in the city prepare for large crowds every night during Ramadan. Dearborn has become an attraction for Detroit area Muslims who visit it to break their fast throughout the holy month. The Arab American News spoke to people who were breaking their fast with Iftar dinner Wednesday night at restaurants in...
Iraqi American man arrested while burning Qur’an in Dearborn
July 4th, 20140 DEARBORN — On Wednesday June 25, police arrested an Iraqi American who was trying to burn the Qur'an in front of the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center on Warren Avenue. Ali Hassan Al-Asaidi.Ali Hassan Al-Asaidi, 50, of Detroit, also admitted to burning three Qur'ans at the Karbalaa Center on June 10, according to Lt. Doug...
Pregnant Arab American woman commits suicide
July 4th, 20140 Heba Serhan. DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A pregnant Arab American woman took her own life last week, according to Dearborn Heights police. Heba Serhan was married and had two children. She was expected to deliver a third child soon. The fetus also died in the tragic incident.Serhan attended Henry Ford College and Wayne State University...
Councilman Mike Sareini: “I never turn a resident down”
July 3rd, 20140 Mike Sareini, pictured right, discussing community topics with a resident of Dearborn.DEARBORN — "Busy people get things done."That’s the viewpoint of Dearborn City Council member Mike Sareini, who took office in January. He replaced his mother, Suzanne Sareini, who opted not to run again, after a 24 year tenure.Sareini, the father......
CAIR-MI welcomes zoning approvals for places of worship
July 3rd, 20140 WARREN/MACOMB COUNTY — Within the past week, the Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan has advocated on behalf of two Islamic organizations regarding zoning approvals.CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri represented the Muslim Community of Macomb before the city of Sterling Heights' Zoning Board of Appeals and was...
Immigration advocates rally for presidential action to protect families and halt deportations
July 3rd, 20140 A protester stands outside the McNamera Building.DETROIT — On Saturday, June 28, Michigan United held a spirited rally at the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Ave., calling on President Obama to halt deportations. The event, which featured faith leaders and immigrant families threatened by the broken immigration......
Businesses feel impact of Ramadan; Muslim scholars offer spiritual advice
June 26th, 20140 A typical night during Ramadan at Signature Cafe on Warren and Chase in Dearborn. DETROIT—When the Islamic holy month of Ramadan arrives, daily life is altered in Muslim communities around the world. Practicing Muslims refrain from consuming food and drinks from sunrise to sunset. The dietary, cultural and political changes leave a...
Iraqi Christians, Shia and Sunnis reject sectarianism, rally together against ISIS
June 26th, 20140 Iraqi Christians and Muslims rallying together in Dearborn against ISIS terrorism.DEARBORN — “Right now in Iraq, Shia, Sunnis and Christians share the same battle against the ISIS terrorist group,” said Zuhair Alkhalteb, one of the more than 300 protesters attending a rally entitled “NO ISIS, NO TERRORISM,” Saturday, June......
