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$2.00 JUNE 23-29, 2011 / 21-27 SIVAN 5771

A JEWISH RENAISSANCE MEDIA PUBLICATION

» Israel Bound

Huntington Woods artist Lynne Avadenka earns coveted spot at
the first American Academy in Jerusalem. See page 11

» Robby 'n Roberts

Two honorees grace Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation
fundraiser. See page 23.

» Cookbook Corner

Lisa Lillien ups the calories in her new Hungry Girl collection
of recipes. See page 34.

>> cover story

Cool Off Wit
Good Boo

metro

School Tft-wor

Some neighbors strongly object to sale of
Farmington public school to Islamic group.

hoto by Don Co hen

metro

Artist Lynne Avadenka at work.

Our annual summer reading roundup.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 29

The crowd outside the Farmington Public Schools

administrative building

Don Cohen
Contributing Writer

nearly six-hour meeting of the Farmington
Public Schools (FPS) Board of Education ended
with board members admonishing community
members for alleged anti-Muslim prejudice before voting
unanimously to sell the closed Eagle Elementary School at
Middlebelt and 14 Mile in West Bloomfield to the Islamic
Cultural Association (ICA) of Franklin for $1.1 million.
More than 200 people, mostly Muslims and Jews, showed
up June 14 to register their opinion on the proposed sale;
but only a quarter remained as the board stuck to its agen-
da, which didn't address the sale issue until about 11 p.m.
The vote finally came at 1:20 Wednesday morning.
"We are pleased that the vote is over, and we will be occu-
pying the building soon," ICA President Dr. Firas Nashef of
Franklin wrote by email to the Jewish News following the
vote. He wrote that a small part of the building would be
used for prayer, but "the rest of the building will be used as
a community center for recreation, community programs
and holiday celebrations."
"We look forward to developing our community center,
working with our neighbors and welcoming them to our
building. We are very proud to be part of the community
and will be delighted to share our new space with everyone."

1942 - 2011

Covering and
Connecting
Jewish Detroit
Every Week

GNP

School Board's Process Questioned
Eagle Elementary was one of four Farmington Public
Schools buildings closed last year and slated for demolition.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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