Community News (V10-I37)

Wallingford mosque classified as assembly hall

WALLINGFORD, CT-In a significant development a town attorney in Wallingford had stated that a mosque would fall within the definition of an “an assembly hall.” The designation came after a local Muslim businessman unveiled plans for a 3,868 square-foot mosque in the town. As is usual the case, the move was immediately opposed by neighbors citing traffic and parking concerns.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has been considering how to classify the proposal, since mosques are not specifically listed in the town’s zoning regulations.

Farid’s application based its parking requirements on the town’s zoning standards for assembly halls with no fixed seating, which require one parking space for every 50 square feet.

The town attorney wrote that a mosque would fall within the definition of assembly hall, since Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary states that an assembly could be a group of people who worship together.

The town commission will consider the mosque plan on Sept. 8.

Dr.Salim Yusuf leads breakthrough study

TORONTO–An international study led by McMaster University  researcher Dr.Salim Yusuf has found that telmisartan, a medication used to lower blood pressure, reduced the outcome of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke in people who are unable to tolerate a widely available and effective standard treatment.
Research results were published online by The Lancet and presented at this year’s European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich, Germany on the weekend.

ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, are widely used and effective medications used to lower blood pressure. They work by helping to widen blood vessels to improve blood flow. Approximately 20 per cent of patients who could benefit from an ACE inhibitor stop taking it because of cough, kidney problems, swelling or symptomatic low blood pressure.

Telmisartan is a type of angiotensin-receptor blocker, or ARB. Like ACE inhibitors, telmisartan also lowers blood pressure, but works in a different manner. ARBs block the receptor sites in the body for angiotensin II, a naturally occurring hormone that constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

“The TRANSCEND study demonstrates the value of telmisartan in people who are unable to tolerate angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors,” said Yusuf, principal investigator and director of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University.

“Although the benefit is of moderate size, there is an impact on a range of outcomes including the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and strokes, as well as cardiovascular hospitalizations. Given the large proportion of people who are unable to tolerate an ACE inhibitor, the use of telmisartan would be clinically important.”

Ali Zarzour appointed Eclipsys VP

ATLANTA, GA-Eclipsys Corporation has announced that Ali Zarzour has been appointed to the new role of vice president and general manager of Middle East Operations. In this capacity, Mr. Zarzour will lead Eclipsys’ regional market strategy and business operations in the Middle East marketplace, including a comprehensive recruitment process for world-class professionals from throughout the region in support of the company’s business development efforts. He reports directly to John Gomez, Eclipsys’ executive vice president and chief technology officer of International Operations.

Mr. Zarzour brings to his position extensive insight and experience in managing Middle East business operations for healthcare technology suppliers. He joins Eclipsys from Microsoft Corporation, where for six years as a healthcare industry manager he served in a variety of leadership capacities in support of creating and growing the healthcare business for the company in the Middle East and Africa. In this role he contributed to the global business in the areas of strategy and major wins, while forging strategic government and partner alliances, and championing the healthcare technology modernization efforts ongoing in the Middle East.

Before joining Microsoft Corporation, Mr. Zarzour participated in the technology boom of the region by starting a number of companies, including Vertscape Inc., Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a unique provider of extended enterprise relationship management solutions based on .Net and Web services.
Previous corporate experience includes tenure with Future Technology Systems Ltd. Mr. Zarzour holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, and a bachelor of science degree in economics from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.

Vermont’s Muslim population growing

It’s estimated that more than 2,000 Muslims are living in Vermont. They represent a wide variety of traditions, from Burlington’s Somali-Bantu women with their flowing hijabs, to those whose religion isn’t necessarily visible on the outside,reports the Vermont Public Radio.

Tariq Khan Appointed Senior VP For ING

ING announced that it has hired Tariq Khan as Senior Vice President to head market development and multicultural initiatives for its U.S. Wealth Management Wholesale Distribution division. In that role, Khan will develop and implement ING’s strategy to expand growing diverse markets, especially multicultural business in its corporate, fixed and variable annuity markets.

He will report directly to Bill Lowe, President of the ING U.S. Wealth Management’s Wholesale Distribution division.

Previously, Khan served as Vice President for Market Development and Diversity at Nationwide, where he was responsible for enhancing Nationwide’s presence in the diverse markets including overseeing strategic planning, advertising and brand management, market development and recruiting efforts for all multi-channel retail distribution. Prior to Nationwide, Khan was Vice President of Marketing at MetLife where he was in charge of all multicultural segments including Hispanic, African-American and Asian markets.

“Tariq’s tremendous experience in developing the growing multicultural markets will allow ING to expand our reach to an even broader portion of the overall market,” said Lowe. “The United States is more diverse than it has ever been, and it is critical that we’re thoughtful and deliberate about tapping this fast-growing segment of the market. With the right approach, we can make it easier for individuals to save and prepare for retirement and their other financial goals.”

“I am truly excited to be joining ING, a well-respected global brand in the wealth management arena,” said Tariq Khan. “The face of America is changing and creating huge opportunities for all of us and my role will be critical in taking advantage of these opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with ING’s leadership and diverse talent to build an infrastructure that will take our business to a new level.”

Khan earned a bachelor’s degree in international marketing and advertising from Baruch College, and a master’s degree in business administration in marketing and management from St. John’s University. He is an assistant Vice Chair and Director of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, one of the largest U.S. organizations devoted to scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander American students. He is a frequent speaker at many industry conferences on marketing and diversity.

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, retirement services and life insurance to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 130,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

Imam’s cross-Canada walk reaches Alberta

CALGARY–Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy reached an emotional milestone in his cross-Canada Multi-Faith Walk Against Violence  last week.

At 7:30 a.m., Soharwardy crossed the Saskatchewan-Alberta border, setting off an impromptu celebration.

“It was absolutely the greatest feeling I’ve had during the whole walk,” said Soharwardy, 53.

I felt like I was coming home.”

Soharwardy began his walk April 20 in Halifax and has since covered more than 5,000 kilometres. He’s hoping the walk draws attention to the scourge of violence, both in domestic and international settings.

“I’m expecting a number of pastors and lay people from Christian churches in the Medicine Hat and Redcliff areas to join me walking,” he said.

The imam is targeting a Calgary arrival for next Thursday. Representatives from a number of city faith communities are expected to join him as he nears the city limits.

An interfaith rally is planned for Sept. 6 outside the Eau Claire Market.

With next week’s start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which requires fasting from sunrise to sunset, Soharwardy says he’ll alter his walking schedule to conform to the personal discipline required. He’s hoping to reach Victoria by late October or November.

New Halal slaughterhouse planned in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER,Sep.02,2008 (News Agencies)–A businessman in the state of New Hampshire is planning to build a slaughterhouse which will fulfill the requirements of Halal.  The 1500 square feet facility will be built in Goffstown pending approval from authorities.

About fifty to sixty animals will be slaughtered at the facility. The plans have run into stiff competition from neighbors who have raised noise and other environmental concerns.

New Hamspire has a tiny but growing Muslim population.

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