Community News, Vol. 8 Iss. 49

Denny’s top franchise operator award to Syed Ahmad

SPARTANBURG, SC– Leading restaurant chain Denny’s announced the winners of the company’s 2006 operator of the Year awards. Among the three awardees is Syed Ahmad of Portland, Oregon and owner of Dallas-based Continental Foods, Inc. He was selected from am list of the chain’s 1034 franchised restaurants.

With 13 Denny’s restaurants already in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, Continental Foods owner Syed Ahmad is looking forward to continued growth, with the addition of one new Denny’s restaurant in 2007 and preliminary plans for two more in the works. A consistently high achiever in customer satisfaction and quality, Ahmad’s restaurants routinely win the Four Diamond Award for exceeding operating standards. Ahmad has built his successful Denny’s franchise based on a commitment to customer satisfaction through vigorous employee training. Three of the franchise’s restaurants are recognized as certified training units, allowing Continental’s employees continued opportunities for recognition, growth and advancement within the company.

Fire destroys Devon Ave. businesses

CHICAGO, IL– Several popular businesses were destroyed by an extra alarm fire on Devon Ave., the hub of the South Asian community in Chicago. Fire investigators say it will be quite some time before the cause of the blaze is known. The roof collapsed as firefighters were battling the blaze, but no one has been injured in the fire. The large building houses several businesses and apartments on the second floor.

I feel very upset you know. All my income is from this building. I feel very sad,” said businessman Amjad Khan to CBS news.

Khan has had his business on this now burned-out stretch of Devon Avenue for more than a decade. He now joins a number of shop owners who have seen their livelihood go up in smoke.

Khan says the fire that ravaged the vintage, block-long building couldn’t have come at a worse time than this, the beginning of the holiday shopping season.

Hamid Mirza owns Chandni boutique. The store specializes in custom made wedding gowns.

“A lot of customers call me saying, this Sunday is my marriage but, it’s not possible I give them,” Mirza said.

Some owners say it could take as long as two to three weeks before they’re allowed back into their businesses, but they all vow to rebuild.

Pizza delivery man attacked

GREENSBORO, NC– Primos Pizza delivery driver Abdelsalam Ahmed Halal, 46, told authorities that he was assaulted by four men as he returned to his car after a delivery. The culprits were between 18 and 22 years old, according to a statement from police.

One of the men displayed a handgun and demanded money, and another hit Halal in the face with a pair of pliers, authorities said.

Investigators said Halal gave the men money, and the culprits fled on foot. Halal wasn’t injured.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crimestoppers at 336-373-1000.

Protest prayers at Seattle airport

SEATTLE, WA–Six Seattle Muslims prayed in front og a US Airways ticket counter at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to protest the removal of six Imam from a flight in Minneapolis.

“We are asserting the right of Muslims to be free of fear, free of apprehension, to take an equal seat at the table,” said Jafar Siddiqui, a member of American Muslims of Puget Sound.

There were some tense moments when a traveller accused airport terminal managers of bein “politically correct” by allowing the prayer service to block a public elevator.

The prayer lasted eight minutes and passed without any untoward incident.

Imam leads Thanksgiving prayer service

DENVER,CO–Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni led the prayer at the annual Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service held at the Mountview Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Park Hill. It was the first time the event’s hundred year history that a prayer service was led by a Muslim.

Kazerooni: “For this gathered community that welcomes us as we are from wherever we have come.”

The congregation responded: “For our religious communities that keep us human and encourage us in our quest for justice, peace and love.”

Kazerooni: “For all things which come to us as gifts of being from sources beyond ourselves.”

The congregation: “Gifts of life and love and friendship – we lift up our hearts in thanks this day.”

Eight Muslim children from the Crescent View Academy charter school sang and recited a nash’eed..

At the offering, the parishioners and congregation gave monetary donations to help the Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism, or MILA, a charity that provides services and educational programs to members of the Muslim community.

Well known community member passes away

CHICAGO, IL–Chicago’s well known community member Sr.Atiya Shafiuddin passed away on 26th November. She was in critical condition over the past few weeks after making a miraculous recovery after her surgery. Sr. Atiya Shafiuddin was well known in the community and was a long time resident of Chicago. She was the former Secretary of MCC Full time school and was loved and admired by the students, teachers, parents and community members at large. In her passing away a noble soul has been lost. She hailed from Hyderabad. She is survied by her husband Mohammed Shaifuddin, and three children Shakeel and Fareed and daughter Nausheen. (Courtesy:Mir Khan)

Muslims distribute 300 turkeys for poor

CHICAGO, IL–The American Muslims for Activism and Learning and the Sabeel Food Pantry distributed nearly 300 turkeys for needy families at the Emmett Louis Till Math and Science Academy in Chicago’s southside.

For many of the students, the donation makes their family Thanksgiving gatherings possible.

“My family wouldn’t be out buying one on our own,” said Deborah Robinson, mother of sixth-grader Brittany Garrett told the Chicago Suntimes.. “So I’m glad they do it for you.”

Charity — a core belief of the Islamic faith — is only one reason AMAL, with help from the Hyde Park Coop Market, decided to give back to the community.

“Thanksgiving is a national holiday everybody knows about,” said AMAL leader Jihad Shoshara. “You don’t have to be Christian to celebrate, so it’s one we really felt we could join in.”

Mohammed Azab, new CEO of Intradigm

Intradigm Corporation, a privately held biotechnology drug development company focused on the discovery and development of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with unmet medical needs, has achieved several significant corporate developments. These developments encompass strengthening the senior management team, completing a $16 million Series A financing, and establishing new research and drug development facilities in Palo Alto, CA.

Intradigm was formed in 2000 to develop proprietary nucleic acid delivery technology. The fundamental platform of Intradigm’s technology is a ligand-targeted nanoparticle system that is capable of systemic delivery of multiple RNAi molecules targeting different genes.

Recently, the company appointed Mohammed Azab, MD,MSc, MBA as its new President and CEO. He brings with him more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical drug development, including leadership of oncology drug development at Sanofi Pharmaceuticals (now Sanofi-Aventis) and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (now Astra Zeneca), Dr. Azab previous position was Chief Medical Officer, and executive VP of R&D at QLT Inc. He has a proven track record of shepherding therapies from early stage development to market. During his career, he led drug development programs that resulted in the approval and marketing of seven different new chemical entities in oncology and other therapeutic areas including Arimidex(R), and Visudyne(R).

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