Law corner: A government office’s decision is not the final word on your rights
Anyone who has run into a difficult government employee understands how frustrating it can be trying to accomplish seemingly simple tasks. For example, it should be no problem to walk into a city’s building department and obtain a permit to erect a fence around your property if you live in a city that generally allows fences....MDOT announces plans to repair about 1,300 lights by end of summer
SOUTHFIELD — An investigation by WXYZ-TV into broken highway lights in southeastern Michigan has prompted the Michigan Department of Transportation to announce a sweeping effort to repair approximately 1,300 lights by the end of the summer."We're going to spend four million dollars to address this problem in the next 6 months,” MDOT...AIPAC’s lost invincibility
The defeat of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s ill-advised push for new sanctions on Iran in the midst of successful negotiations is nothing short of historic. The powerful and hawkish pro-Israeli lobby’s defeats are rare and seldom public. But in the last year, it has suffered three major public setbacks, of which the...
Will Tunisia be a model for political reform in the Arab world?
February 14th, 20140 The sociopolitical context for political reform in the Arab world is immensely challenging. As a result, few Arab countries have an easy way to democracy. But miraculously, Tunisia has already shown the start of a genuine Arab awakening.This homogeneous North African Arab country was the first to mobilize public dissent peacefully, to...
Dating: Does it break the rules?
February 14th, 20142 DEARBORN — Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love and display affection. However, the way individuals and communities perceive and pursue romance differs among cultures and religions, and the Arab American community is no exception. Arab Americans’ views on dating are somewhat different from those of the American...Local designer’s online boutique on the path to success
DEARBORN — An online fashion boutique for women who wear the Islamic headscarf that was established by a local Arab American designer has gained thousand of followers. The website was launched in November, but it has already turned into a recognizable brand, according to its founder Malak Ouza.HijabLouvre.com offers dozens of items,...
Super Bowl coach honored at city council meeting, first garage ordinance reading approved
February 14th, 20140 DEARBORN — This week's city council meeting started out on a positive note as the city honored former Seattle Seahawks assistant coach and Dearborn native Robert Saleh for his recent Super Bowl victory. However, the atmosphere at City Hall took a bizarre turn after a local Arab American confronted the council on what he said were...
Metro Detroit’s Iraqi Christians observe three-day Ba’utha fasting celebration
February 14th, 20140 Metro Detroit is home to the largest concentration of Chaldean Americans in the entire country with more than 120,000 residing in the region. DETROIT — This week, southeast Michigan’s large Iraqi Christian community observed Ba’utha, a three-day fasting celebration centered on the repentance of sins. Ba’utha started...IHW celebrates Iran’s Islamic Revolution anniversary
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) hosted a discussion for the 35th anniversary of the victory of Islamic Revolution in Iran last Saturday, February 8.A known public speaker, Imam Mohammad Asi from Washington D.C., and Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, the founding imam of IHW, were the main speakers at the gathering.Imam...
HYPE Athletics hosts National Signing Day event
February 14th, 20140 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — HYPE Athletics hosted a National Signing Day event on Wednesday, February 5, where 22 local high school students affiliated with the recreation center signed their letters of intent to play college football.The high school football players were soon-to-be graduates from schools all over the Detroit metro area,...Law corner: The Importance of Due Diligence
As they say in carpentry, “measure twice, cut once.” In simple terms, it means that it is a good idea to do some investigation before undertaking an important task. Yet, it is a constant source of amazement for me just how many people are willing to take tremendous financial risks with only hope on their side.I often meet...
35-year-old Dearborn resident dead after accidentally shooting himself
February 14th, 20140 DEARBORN — Shady Bazzi, 35, died Friday, Feb. 7 after accidently shooting himself with a gun at his home on the city’s east side late afternoon. A source says the gunshot wound was in the head. Bazzi is survived by his father, Raouf Bazzi, mother Marianna and sister Sandy. Bazzi.A friend of the family says Bazzi was...Dearborn welcomes new residents in Habitat for Humanity homes
Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. (second from the right) was part of the dedication ceremony of two Habitat for Humanity homes on Feb. 6. New homeowners (from left) Ahmed Al-Karki and Rusul Al-Janabi and their daughter, Lamar Al-Karki, listened as Vincent Tilford, executive director of Habitat for Humanity-Detroit, welcomed them. ...College student in urgent need of kidney donor
DEARBORN — Mohammed Haidar, a 22-year-old student at Henry Ford Community College, is in serious need of a kidney donor. The donor must have type A or O blood. Haider lives in Dearborn Heights, and has been on dialysis since he was 15. Haidar.He has Alport Syndrome, an inherited disorder that damages tiny blood vessels in the...New program expands study of Islam in America’s heartland
ANN ARBOR — Islam’s complexity makes it nearly impossible for one university to offer enough courses to cover it all. To fill in the gaps, the University of Michigan is joining other Big Ten schools and the University of Chicago in establishing a distance-learning program that allows students to take courses about Islam not......
Ficano administration presents new deficit elimination plan
DETROIT—Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano on Tuesday started the discussion on a completely new deficit elimination plan to address the County’s finances. With the county’s new chief financial officer, Mark Abbo, the county has revamped the way it is approaching both the structural operating and accumulated deficits.The county...ACLU applauds Michigan Supreme Court decision striking down local medical marijuana bans
MICHIGAN — In a unanimous decision Feb. 6, the Michigan Supreme Court struck down the City of Wyoming’s ordinance that bans medical marijuana because it directly violates the state’s Medical Marijuana Act. The ordinance was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU-MI) on behalf of John Ter Beek, a......
“Raise Michigan” campaign pushing to get minimum wage increased by 2016
LANSING — On Monday, members of the “Raise Michigan” campaign submitted a request to the Board of Canvassers asking for the minimum wage to be increased to $9.50 an hour by 2016. Those earning Michigan’s current $7.40 an hour minimum wage live below the federal poverty line. "A family can't survive on $7.40 an hour," said...Council denies request to sell warehouse back to previous owner
DEARBORN — During a special city council meeting on February 4, the city denied a request to sell a property back to Sam Hamade, a former business owner of a warehouse located at 7041 Orchard Ave.The city had bought the property after the county foreclosed on it when Hamade had fallen behind on his property taxes. Mayor O'Reilly...Hotlines taking complaints over government No-Fly List and bank account closures
DEARBORN — The Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) this week reminded community members about two hotlines that were previously established to take complaints about the government No-Fly List and Watch List, in addition to the massive closures of Arab American bank accounts. If you or anyone you know is either prevented from...Henry Ford Community College recovering financially, looking to re-brand
DEARBORN — Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) is on track to end the year with a $1.2 million surplus, achieving an almost $18 million turnaround after facing a financial crisis for the last two years that nearly put its future in jeopardy. Last summer, the college began its recovery with an overhaul led by the appointment of......
“The Bomb” Middle Eastern restaurant in Eastpointe stirs controversy
EASTPOINTE — When Syrian American couple Rana and George Georgi opened a small restaurant in Eastpointe, they did not expect their new business to turn into a media destination, let alone the subject of many hateful comments on the internet. They say all they wanted was to cook for and serve diners, but "The Bomb," the name they gave...Community celebrates retirement of longtime Dearborn Public Schools educator
DEARBORN — On Friday, January 31, community leaders and local residents gathered at Byblos Banquets to celebrate the retirement of long-time Dearborn Public School educator Hassane Jaafar. Jaafar, who announced his retirement in December, has been involved with Dearborn Public Schools since 1979, when he started as a para-pro at......
Local teachers offer citizenship classes in Dearborn
DEARBORN — A group of teachers from the surrounding area are utilizing their teaching skills for immigration reform. Several area teachers have collaborated with honor students from local high schools in an initiative that aims to increase the number of citizenship applicants that pass the United States Citizenship Exam.The...
Multilingual Super Bowl Coke commercial draws mixed reaction
February 7th, 20140 DEARBORN — "I, too, sing America," African American poet Langston Hughes wrote in the mid-1940's, affirming his belonging and contributions to this nation. Seventy years later, a Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad features "America the Beautiful" being sung on national television in seven different languages. The commercial, which presents varied......
