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VoL. iSSuE i<br />
mEtro DEtroit CHALDEAN CommuNity FEbruAry 200<br />
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2 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS
CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 5
CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
CONTENTS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 6 ISSUE I<br />
27 33<br />
41 42<br />
on the cover<br />
24 clouded by debt<br />
By Joyce Wiswell<br />
Will Shenandoah weather the storm?<br />
features<br />
22 connect. click. community.<br />
The Chaldean News is proud to introduce<br />
our redesigned website<br />
28 Obama’s Community<br />
Connection<br />
By Joyce Wiswell<br />
Peter Dagher key part of transitional team<br />
30 Chaldeans and the City<br />
By Joyce Wiswell<br />
Detroit mayoral hopefuls answer our questions<br />
33 Celebrating the Epiphany<br />
By Joyce Wiswell<br />
Dozens of babies baptized in annual rite<br />
sports<br />
27 Sports Roundup<br />
By Steve Stein<br />
departments<br />
8 From the Editor<br />
10 YOUR Letters<br />
11 guest column<br />
By Neb Mekani and Mike Sarafa<br />
The truth about Shenandoah<br />
12 Noteworthy<br />
14 Chai Time<br />
16 Halhole<br />
21 Religion<br />
21 Obituaries<br />
35 Chaldean Palate<br />
By Crystal Kassab Jabiro<br />
Larco’s of Troy<br />
36 One on one<br />
By Crystal Kassab Jabiro<br />
Chaldean ‘Momma’ makes<br />
her mark on reality TV<br />
37 Chaldean For Kids<br />
By Melody Arabo and Margaret Shamoun<br />
Happy Valentine’s Day!<br />
38 High School Highlight<br />
By Caroline M. Bacall<br />
West Bloomfield High School: Laker Pride<br />
40 Classified Listings<br />
41 Events<br />
Friends and Family Hockey Night<br />
New Year’s with St. George<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS
from the EDitor<br />
History in the making<br />
pubLiSHED by<br />
The Chaldean News, LLC<br />
EDitoriAL<br />
EDitor iN CHiEF<br />
Vanessa Denha-Garmo<br />
mANAgiNg EDitor<br />
Joyce Wiswell<br />
CoNtributiNg WritErS<br />
Caroline Bacall<br />
Crystal Kassab Jabiro<br />
Steve Stein<br />
Art & proDuCtioN<br />
CrEAtiVE DirECtor<br />
Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative<br />
grApHiC DESigNErS<br />
Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative<br />
Joseph Sesi<br />
pHotogrApHErS<br />
David Reed<br />
Wilson Sarkis<br />
opErAtioNS<br />
Interlink Media<br />
DirECtor oF opErAtioNS<br />
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CirCuLAtioN<br />
Brenda Koza<br />
CLASSiFiEDS<br />
Brenda Koza<br />
SALES<br />
Interlink Media<br />
SALES rEprESENtAtiVES<br />
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Lisy Starr<br />
mANAgErS<br />
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Michael Sarafa<br />
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It is a rare moment when<br />
you are part of history in<br />
the making and even more<br />
of a rarity to say you have witnessed<br />
it. Some of you still<br />
talk about where you were<br />
when President Kennedy was<br />
shot. More of us alive today<br />
still live with the anxiety and<br />
fear that was brought on by<br />
the attacks of 9-11. Never did<br />
we think airplanes would be<br />
used as weapons to kill thousands of<br />
people on our own soil. Now another<br />
generation has witnessed history as<br />
the majority gives a minority an opportunity.<br />
So many people never believed that<br />
they would be alive to see the fi rst black<br />
man sworn into offi ce as President of<br />
the United States. But they<br />
witnessed history in the<br />
making just last month.<br />
Whether you voted for<br />
Barack Obama or not, this<br />
time will be reminisced<br />
about in years to come,<br />
written in text books and<br />
taught in classes. Whether<br />
he proves to be the right<br />
choice or bad choice as<br />
this country’s leader, history<br />
was made.<br />
And like many stories – big or small<br />
– we bring you the Chaldean angle to it.<br />
There is one here as well. Joyce Wiswell<br />
features a community man who worked<br />
closely on the Obama campaign, and<br />
in her story he shares his insight about<br />
the 44th president.<br />
Here in Michigan are Christian refugees<br />
who have also lived through history,<br />
recently as victims of the war in<br />
Iraq. We saw the capture of Saddam<br />
Hussein as well as his execution on<br />
vanessa<br />
denha-garMo<br />
editoR in chieF<br />
television but these people<br />
lived through the destruction<br />
and demise.<br />
It was history in the making<br />
for Christian Iraqis.<br />
We also witnessed history<br />
in the making when, for<br />
the fi rst time, a seated Detroit<br />
mayor was behind bars on<br />
the day Barack Obama won<br />
the presidency. One African-<br />
American man, who should<br />
have been at the forefront during this<br />
historical moment, sits behind bars.<br />
One African-American leader is locked<br />
up while another African-American is<br />
elected to lead this country. One would<br />
say, in some way, he missed history being<br />
part of history in the making.<br />
Also in this issue, we cover the lead<br />
candidates in the race for Detroit mayor.<br />
The question we want to know is not<br />
only who is the best to lead Detroit, but<br />
who will work best with the Chaldean<br />
community, especially the business<br />
owners in the city?<br />
On a smaller scale, many of us witnessed<br />
a dream in the making, and that<br />
was the construction of Shenandoah<br />
Country Club in West Bloomfi eld. Since<br />
its inception, the club has faced some<br />
challenges and setbacks. In this issue<br />
Joyce Wiswell reports on Shenandoah’s<br />
fi nancial troubles, and Neb Mekani<br />
and Mike Sarafa offer an op-ed piece<br />
about the future of the club.<br />
One could even say that the launch<br />
of The Chaldean News in 2004 was a<br />
historical moment for us as a community.<br />
It is a publication that not only brings the<br />
news on a regular basis but it will serve<br />
as a document for future generations.<br />
History is being made on a regular<br />
basis in a small way and we document<br />
it every month in our issues.<br />
Now we launch the new Chaldean<br />
News website that will bring more<br />
up-to-date and current news with a<br />
click of the computer. It will serve to<br />
enhance our monthly publication and<br />
constantly keep you abreast of the<br />
happenings in our community and how<br />
mainstream stories have affected us<br />
Whether you voted for barack obama or not, this<br />
time will be reminisced about in years to come,<br />
written in text books and taught in classes. Whether<br />
he proves to be the right choice or bad choice as<br />
this country’s leader, history was made.<br />
as Chaldeans.<br />
We are a historical people – ancient<br />
in fact – living in modern times.<br />
We have been written about in books<br />
over centuries, including the fi rst chapter<br />
of the Bible. In one way or another<br />
all of us are a part of the world’s history,<br />
whether we were alive to witness<br />
events or not.<br />
May we learn from our past and<br />
plan for the future and always be proud<br />
of who we are as a people — a historical<br />
people!<br />
8 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS
your LEttErS<br />
it’s obvious:<br />
Buy american<br />
I am an Engineering<br />
Senior Manager<br />
at Chrysler LLC<br />
and have been proudly<br />
employed there for more<br />
than 17 years. I and many of<br />
our recent Chaldean generation<br />
engineering professionals are<br />
employed by the Domestic Big<br />
Three or suppliers and depend on them<br />
for our livelihood. In my case alone, I<br />
have fi ve family members tied to the<br />
U.S. auto industry.<br />
It saddens me to read the “Car<br />
Trouble — Industry Blues Spread<br />
Throughout Community” article [January<br />
<strong>2009</strong>] and the secondary economic<br />
impact it’s having on our community<br />
outside the auto business (liquor<br />
stores, doctor’s offi ces, banks, hotels,<br />
restaurants, etc.).<br />
Our community’s wealth and prosperity<br />
was built by the U.S. auto industry<br />
and all that it has provided to us<br />
when our grandparents fi rst stepped<br />
foot on this great country in the early<br />
1900s. No one can deny that the U.S.<br />
auto industry built the foundation for the<br />
pillars that our Chaldean community<br />
stands for today.<br />
We all need to step back and ask<br />
ourselves, “what would happen to my or<br />
my parents’ or brothers’ or sisters’ business<br />
or job if the Big Three no longer<br />
existed?” The answer is not pretty nor<br />
do we want to imagine the potential devastation<br />
it will have to the Detroit Metro<br />
area, let alone the U.S. economy.<br />
When you put the “credit crunch”<br />
issue that is plaguing the industry as a<br />
whole to the side, the rest is up to us as<br />
consumers. The fact is our community<br />
has as much blame as the rest of the<br />
car consumers in this country with purchase<br />
of foreign-built cars over those<br />
made in the U.S. If you want to confi rm<br />
my statement just observe the ratio of<br />
foreign versus U.S. cars next time you<br />
attend a Chaldean function or when<br />
you go to one of our churches for Sunday<br />
mass.<br />
There are also those in our community<br />
who own foreign cars and will<br />
take the hypocrite approach and criticize<br />
the U.S. automakers and quality of<br />
their products. We quickly forget how<br />
dependent our liquor stores or gas<br />
stations are on the customer base<br />
that is employed by the Big Three and<br />
extended enterprise. I have personally<br />
witnessed these conversations and<br />
quite honestly it upsets me knowing it’s<br />
not true. The U.S. auto worker, its salaried<br />
leadership and suppliers are some<br />
of the hardest-working and dedicated<br />
people you will ever know. Those<br />
reading this letter who are engineering<br />
professionals employed by the Big<br />
Three or suppliers appreciate the passion<br />
and emotion in my voice, because<br />
outside of family we devote our life to<br />
our job and career.<br />
The perception that today’s foreignengineered<br />
and -built cars are better<br />
than U.S. for quality and safety is simply<br />
not true. U.S.-built cars have come<br />
a long way the past fi ve to seven years<br />
and are just as reliable and safe as foreign.<br />
How can our community help the<br />
U.S. auto industry and the economy<br />
that it relies so heavily on for its livelihood?<br />
The answer is simple and<br />
obvious. For those in our community<br />
who have always supported the Big<br />
Three, we sincerely thank you for your<br />
continued support. And for those who<br />
have purchased foreign cars in the<br />
past, please buy cars that are proudly<br />
engineered and manufactured by the<br />
Big Three when making your next purchase.<br />
I ask our community to rally behind<br />
the Big Three and make a <strong>2009</strong> new<br />
year’s resolution: If you are in the market<br />
for a new car, purchase one from<br />
the Big Three!<br />
– Hadeer Konja<br />
Farmington Hills<br />
Biting the hand that feeds<br />
I loved your cover story of “Car Trouble.”<br />
Kind of funny how many Chaldeans<br />
in the Detroit area drive tons<br />
of foreign cars, and when a Chaldean<br />
worker at Ford, like myself, and my father<br />
(a Ford retiree) who have told them<br />
for at least 10 years to drive American,<br />
we get strange looks or other responses<br />
that indicate our people still prefer<br />
foreign cars.<br />
Well, all I have to say is if you bite the<br />
hand that feeds you then you do not get<br />
fed, as is the case nowadays. Thank you<br />
for this article. A bumper sticker quote is<br />
beginning to surface in this area and it<br />
says, “Lost your job? Then sleep in your<br />
foreign car.” Same is also true for your<br />
business or store, etc.<br />
– Christian Yousif<br />
West Bloomfi eld<br />
‘horrific consequences’<br />
I’m a Chaldean American and I’m ecstatic<br />
to see our people living the socalled<br />
American Dream. However, I<br />
believe we have compromised our principles<br />
as well as tradition and culture<br />
to live this dream, thus disallowing us<br />
to foresee the horrifi c consequences of<br />
adopting this westernized mindset to<br />
obtain this dream.<br />
When we view our Eastern heritage<br />
that our ancestors govern their lives<br />
from, our principles were intact, our<br />
tradition practiced, and we lived within<br />
our culture that assured us we would<br />
develop from that culture men, women<br />
and children who would be fi lled with<br />
wisdom, morality and obedience to<br />
God, that we could strive for a destiny<br />
that held “greatness.”<br />
Our children and grandchildren<br />
must not have their future destroyed<br />
by remaining asleep to this western<br />
culture that has people living in it acting<br />
other than themselves. No matter<br />
where we are on God’s earth, we must<br />
be the people that God intended for us<br />
to be, righteous!<br />
Remember last year when Governor<br />
Jennifer Granholm gave acknowledgment<br />
to the Chaldean people for<br />
providing employment for the citizens<br />
of Michigan? Why then are we struggling<br />
to survive, losing our homes, behind<br />
on our bills and putting material<br />
things before family? Money – the root<br />
of all evils!<br />
Let’s end the war in Iraq by telling<br />
our people the truth, and getting the<br />
American forces and their allies out of<br />
Iraq as soon as possible.<br />
May God bless our country and<br />
our people to unite as One Family, with<br />
One Common Objective, and give our<br />
Submission to The One God.<br />
I pray that I haven’t offended any<br />
readers, but if I have please forgive me<br />
for it wasn’t my intent.<br />
Remember, “Don’t nothing come to<br />
a sleeper but a dream.” Peace!<br />
– Jeremiah Suleiman<br />
Kincheloe<br />
Letters to the editor are welcome.<br />
Please keep your letter to less than<br />
500 words and include your city.<br />
The Chaldean News reserves the right<br />
to edit letters for clarity and length.<br />
Submit your letter via email to<br />
info@chaldeannews.com or mail to:<br />
The Chaldean News, Letters to the<br />
Editor, 30095 Northwestern Highway,<br />
Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334<br />
10 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
GUEST column<br />
The truth about Shenandoah<br />
By Neb Mekani and Mike Sarafa<br />
The truth is that, today,<br />
Shenandoah Country Club<br />
stands as a testament to<br />
the vision of our forefathers; it<br />
remains one of the main centers<br />
of activity in the community; and it<br />
thrives as one of the premier destination<br />
banquet halls and public<br />
golf courses in the metropolitan<br />
Detroit area. It is also true that it is<br />
overloaded with a debt structure<br />
that is not viable in the long term.<br />
neb mekani<br />
Special to the<br />
chaldean news<br />
Many clubs and community centers around the<br />
country suffered badly as the wheels came off the<br />
economic bus in 2008. The Detroit area has been<br />
hit especially hard as declining real estate values and<br />
high unemployment were exacerbated by a floundering<br />
auto industry. These events severely impacted<br />
consumer spending across the board<br />
which has taken a toll on the retail sector.<br />
A recent national study by the National<br />
Golf Foundation found that golf rounds<br />
are down by 22 percent and nearly 60<br />
percent of clubs operate at a loss. Amazingly,<br />
Shenandoah had its best year ever<br />
in terms of gross revenues in 2008. Also,<br />
most clubs have a waiting list to get out,<br />
meaning that their members cannot resign<br />
until someone is available to take<br />
their place; a provision that Shenandoah<br />
does not have but should.<br />
Even while picking up dozens of new<br />
members over the last couple years, overall<br />
membership numbers are on the decline.<br />
There were three main periods of attrition.<br />
The first occurred in late 2004 when<br />
Southfield Manor closed. Many members<br />
left due to the lack of proximity of Shenandoah<br />
to their homes or lack of interest in<br />
the new amenities being offered around<br />
the sports complex, swimming pool and<br />
proposed cultural center. The fact is that many simply<br />
wanted a coffee shop and weren’t willing to share the<br />
financial burden of a larger complex.<br />
The first year of operation of the new facility in<br />
2005 was a bust. Gross revenues missed projections<br />
by 40 percent. The club was top heavy with excessive<br />
management. An attempt was made to quickly<br />
and dramatically change the culture, habits and traditions<br />
of the club which, even though they were being<br />
implemented with the best of intentions, ended up<br />
backfiring. It was a difficult year. Members were approached<br />
for temporary loans that came due this past<br />
year but were not repaid. These events caused the<br />
board to have to raise dues causing another round of<br />
resignations.<br />
The third round came over the course of 2008<br />
as individual member’s businesses suffered, the<br />
stock market plummeted and commercial and real<br />
estate values declined. There can be no question<br />
Mike Sarafa<br />
Special to the<br />
chaldean news<br />
Times are tough — but Shenandoah is here to stay.<br />
that the economy has taken a toll<br />
on the community.<br />
We are not alone, however.<br />
The most prestigious clubs in the<br />
area are hurting as the “walk-away<br />
risk” of their membership becomes<br />
greater and greater. Golf courses<br />
are closing or being put up for sale<br />
all around us. (This actually helped<br />
Shenandoah as golf rounds in<br />
2008 slightly surpassed those in<br />
2007, reaching close to full capacity<br />
for Michigan golf courses.) Sources say two very<br />
prestigious Jewish clubs are talking about merging.<br />
Nonetheless, operations at Shenandoah are now<br />
stabilized under the leadership of Kamel Kassem.<br />
Since he joined us in 2006, the respective boards and<br />
he have been able to cut $1.5 million out of the operational<br />
costs. We know that service issues arise<br />
from time to time. We continue to try to improve in this<br />
area. It is an ongoing process made more difficult by<br />
the tough financial circumstances. On a positive note,<br />
the quality of food and consistency have never been<br />
better. Much of this is due to efforts of our head chef,<br />
Lee Sharkis. It remains true that there is not a better<br />
place to enjoy great Middle Eastern and continental<br />
cuisine in the area.<br />
Programs and activities are constantly in full swing<br />
whether it is children or adult basketball, soccer, indoor<br />
volleyball, pilates classes, kick-boxing classes, swimming<br />
lessons and more. On the social front, the New<br />
Year’s Eve Party was a huge success and Arabic Nights<br />
continue to be very popular. During the slow season,<br />
there is much to do from the Super Bowl Party, Valentine’s<br />
Dance, poker tournaments and other events.<br />
The point is that Shenandoah remains very vibrant.<br />
It is also true that it is not just a coffee house any more,<br />
and, if that is what one is looking for, Shenandoah is<br />
probably not for you. It is a true family club and community<br />
center. That was the vison, that is what was<br />
built and that is what exists.<br />
Of course, more could always be done in all these<br />
areas — membership, service, programs, etc. More<br />
could be done to drive revenues. And more is being<br />
done to cut costs such as the decision to move dining<br />
to the lower level for January and February. None of<br />
these things or even all of them together would help<br />
us dig out of this hole. We have just one problem:<br />
an unmanageable debt load for the existing operations<br />
and membership to support.<br />
We have hired a firm that specializes in turnaround<br />
and workout situations to advise us and negotiate with<br />
the banks. To date, all indications are that the banks<br />
want to work with us through this difficult period. What<br />
is still not clear is the final solution to the debt load. We<br />
know it has to be reduced and that there<br />
are only a couple of ways to get there. Everything<br />
remains on the table.<br />
There is no doubt that Shenandoah<br />
is struggling. As the membership goes,<br />
so goes it. If we could do it over again<br />
knowing what we know now, it would<br />
have been built smaller, less expensively<br />
and with greater care taken to avoid cost<br />
overruns and excessive change orders.<br />
The decision to redo and expand the<br />
lower level after it was already completed<br />
proved to be a huge financial detriment.<br />
This is water under the bridge. It has<br />
been four years. We need to move on and<br />
deal with the situation as it presents itself.<br />
We have lowered dues to make it more<br />
affordable for new members to join and<br />
current members to stay. We have an aggressive<br />
social membership program. We<br />
have gone to monthly payments to ease<br />
the burden on families that would like to be<br />
involved. You can now be a member for a<br />
mere $200 a month — absolutely one of the best deals<br />
in town and not much more than that family membership<br />
at Lifetime that you may or may not use.<br />
The current board and Finance Committee are<br />
working diligently towards a solution. It will take time.<br />
We’ve tapped some of the sharpest business people<br />
in our community for help and we are being guided by<br />
very knowledgeable consultants. While the truth is<br />
not pretty, it is not nearly as bad as some of the rumors<br />
out there. It is not very likely that those naysayers,<br />
who think the club will or want it to close, will get their<br />
way. It is more likely that future generations will be<br />
able to enjoy an even better place.<br />
But one way or another, Shenandoah will survive.<br />
Rest assured.<br />
That is the truth.<br />
Neb Mekani is president of Shenandoah and Mike<br />
Sarafa is a past president of the club.<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 11
noteworthy<br />
Courtesy of the Detroit Jewish News<br />
lem of Christians fleeing the Middle East,<br />
paying Christian witnesses in a predominantly<br />
Muslim world, relations with Muslims,<br />
the role of Christians in civil and<br />
political life, lack of full religious freedom<br />
and Christians’ prospects for the future.<br />
Syrian Archbishop Basile Casmoussa<br />
of Mosul agreed that church<br />
leaders need to forge a concrete and<br />
clear plan for the future.<br />
“Otherwise we will always just<br />
be following our parishioners, and<br />
sooner or later we will be following<br />
them abroad as our churches and<br />
communities disappear from Iraq and<br />
transfer out of the country,” he said.<br />
Chaldeans Lend<br />
Support to Israel<br />
Area Chaldeans joined a pro-Israel<br />
demonstration on January 4 in West<br />
Bloomfield. “We all have to stand as<br />
one right now,” Lena Dabich told the<br />
Detroit Jewish News. “The world is<br />
fighting against these people – not just<br />
Jews. We have to support each other.”<br />
The event was in reaction to an anti-Israel<br />
protest the day before by Palestinian<br />
supporters of the Gaza conflict.<br />
Wear It with Pride<br />
A new bracelet lets people show their<br />
support of the Adopt-A-Refugee Family<br />
program.<br />
The blue plastic bracelet gives the<br />
website for the Chaldean Federation<br />
of America charity – www.adoptarefugeefamily.org.<br />
The bracelets are being sold on a<br />
donation basis at the CFA and at community<br />
events.<br />
Al Zara is co-owner of Ink Apparel,<br />
which donated the bracelets. “We<br />
chose blue because it’s similar to the<br />
color of the CFA logo,” he said. “We<br />
want people to see the bracelet and<br />
know right away that that is a person<br />
who supports the Adopt-A-Refugee<br />
program.”<br />
The company manufactured 1,000<br />
bracelets and hopes to make more as<br />
demand warrants.<br />
More Money Raised<br />
for Refugees<br />
More than 2,900 refugees were assisted<br />
in January by the Adopt-A-Refugee<br />
Family program from the Chaldean<br />
Federation of America. More than<br />
$45,000 was sent overseas in January.<br />
To date, $665,000 has been raised<br />
by the program, which supplies funds<br />
directly to Iraqi refugee families. Learn<br />
more at www.adoptarefugee.org, or<br />
call (248) 851-3023.<br />
Iraqi Bishops<br />
Seek Synod<br />
Iraqi Catholic bishops called on Pope<br />
Benedict XVI to convene a synod to<br />
address the mass exodus of Christians<br />
from the Middle East and the lack of full<br />
religious freedom there, Catholic News<br />
Service reports.<br />
The Bishops, in Rome for their “ad<br />
limina” visits to report on the status of<br />
their dioceses, spoke during a January<br />
22 press conference at Vatican Radio.<br />
Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako of<br />
Kirkuk said a general synod dedicated<br />
to the challenges Christians face in<br />
the Middle East would help the church<br />
Chaldeans<br />
show solidarity<br />
with their<br />
Jewish<br />
neighbors.<br />
forge a clear plan of action for the present<br />
and future.<br />
“We can’t do anything by ourselves<br />
that would be as well-researched, -prepared<br />
and -analyzed” as it would be<br />
during a two- or three-week synod, he<br />
said. “We have no vision [so] a general<br />
synod would help us — all the Bishops<br />
— to better see and study [the issues]<br />
together with the help of experts and<br />
the Holy See.”<br />
A synod also would help the Bishops<br />
come up with ways to tackle those<br />
problems and prepare for the future, he<br />
added.<br />
“If there is no clear position or vision<br />
then Christians will no longer be present<br />
in the Middle East. Slowly they will leave<br />
this land that we call blessed but is now<br />
damned,” Archbishop Sako said.<br />
He said topics of top priority for a<br />
potential synod would include the prob-<br />
Christian<br />
Killed in Mosul<br />
The Christian owner of a car repair<br />
shop was killed execution-style in Mosul,<br />
police said on January 17, raising<br />
concern about the possibility of new<br />
attacks against the religious minority in<br />
the northern Iraqi city.<br />
The body of the 36-year-old man<br />
who was shot in the head was found<br />
on January 15, according to police and<br />
hospital officials, speaking to the Associated<br />
Press on condition of anonymity<br />
because they were not authorized to<br />
talk to the media.<br />
Another Christian man, an engineer<br />
in the city’s water department, was<br />
kidnapped in early January but was<br />
released four days later after his family<br />
paid a $50,000 ransom.<br />
Nobody claimed responsibility for the<br />
killing or the kidnapping, but they followed<br />
a pattern of violence and intimidation that<br />
sent thousands of Christians fleeing from<br />
their homes in Mosul in the fall.<br />
Bassem Balu, an official with<br />
the Democratic Assyrian Movement,<br />
sought to maintain calm, saying the<br />
motives for this week’s killing were not<br />
yet known. The movement is the largest<br />
Christian party.<br />
“For the time being, I do not think that<br />
this will slow the return of the Christians<br />
to Mosul,” he said. “I hope that this murder<br />
won’t signal the start of a new campaign<br />
against the Christians in Mosul.”<br />
Some Mosul residents have filtered<br />
back since the fall exodus, but others remain<br />
with relatives in the safer countryside<br />
or have sought refuge in neighboring<br />
Syria despite government pledges of<br />
financial support and protection.<br />
Reflecting the continued fear, Christian<br />
candidates running for the January<br />
31 provincial elections have not been<br />
campaigning in Mosul but were limiting<br />
their activities to Christian areas outside<br />
the city.<br />
12 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Saad Tanyous, one of the candidates<br />
seeking a seat on the provincial<br />
council, said Christians were not even<br />
putting posters on the walls in Mosul.<br />
Silvana Gorial<br />
Auday Arabo<br />
Jibran “Jim” Manna<br />
Nancy Attisha<br />
Marten Brikho<br />
Nicole Hakim Yohn<br />
People<br />
Silvana Gorial has joined the Chaldean<br />
News as a sales representative. She<br />
most recently sold advertising space<br />
in Chaldean Commerce, the Chaldean<br />
Chamber’s annual directory; and before<br />
that was a mortgage consultant.<br />
Auday Arabo has been named to the<br />
newly created position of chief operating<br />
offi cer at the Associated Food and Petroleum<br />
Dealers. Arabo was previously president<br />
and CEO of the California-based<br />
Neighborhood Market Association.<br />
Janice Kizy has joined the Chaldean<br />
Chamber Foundation as a Tri-Lingual<br />
Therapist/Translator. Her previous<br />
employment with Hospice Advantage<br />
consisted of assisting terminally ill patients<br />
and their families. Her new role<br />
with the Foundation, made possible<br />
thanks to a state grant, is to provide<br />
mental health services to Iraqi refugees<br />
who have settled in the Metro Detroit<br />
area within the last two years.<br />
Jibran “Jim” Manna has been appointed<br />
a commissioner on the West<br />
Bloomfi eld Planning Commission. His<br />
term runs through 2010. Manna, a 21-<br />
year Realtor, is an Associate Broker at<br />
Keller Williams Realty and serves as an<br />
ambassador for the Chaldean American<br />
Chamber of Commerce in Membership<br />
Recruitment.<br />
Nancy Attisha has been named a<br />
Teacher of the Year by Walled Lake<br />
Schools. She teaches at Central High<br />
School.<br />
Marten Brikho has joined Troybased<br />
Colonial Life Insurance Company<br />
as employee benefi ts coordinator, assisting<br />
small business owners in fi nding<br />
low-cost healthcare coverage. He has<br />
been in the insurance business since<br />
2004.<br />
Sam Kas-Mikha has been indicted in<br />
the Martial Arts Hall of Fame by the World<br />
Council of Professional Martial Artists.<br />
Sam Kas-Mikha<br />
The honor places him in the ranks of the<br />
greatest of all martial arts masters.<br />
Actress Nicole Hakim Yohn has<br />
been named vice president of the<br />
Screen Actors Guild, Detroit Branch.<br />
She has served as the committee chair<br />
for the Detroit Branch’s Membership<br />
and Conservatory Committees, as well<br />
as the Screen Actors Guild’s 75th Anniversary<br />
Celebration Committee. She<br />
has performed in productions around<br />
the United States and in England, Ger-<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 13
CHAI time<br />
chaldeans conNecting<br />
community events in and around metro detroit february <strong>2009</strong><br />
[Sunday, February 1]<br />
Super Bowl: Super Bowl party with<br />
buffet dinner and cash bar begins at<br />
5 p.m. at Shenandoah Country Club.<br />
Tickets are $50. (248) 454-1932.<br />
[Wednesday, February 4]<br />
Cigars: Smokandoah Chaldean Cigar<br />
Club meets at Shenandoah Country<br />
Club at 6:30 p.m. Non-members are<br />
welcome with a member.<br />
[Monday, February 9]<br />
Bible and Brew: Informal Bible study<br />
at Dick O’Dow’s in downtown Birmingham.<br />
8-10 p.m. Patrice@ecrc.us.<br />
[Saturday, February 14]<br />
Valentine’s Party: Ameed Asmaro &<br />
the Al-Shams Band and DJ Wiz provide<br />
entertainment. Party also includes<br />
dinner and super-premium bar. Tickets<br />
are $75 in advance, $85 at the door. 8<br />
p.m., Shenandoah Country Club; nonmembers<br />
welcome. (248) 454-1932.<br />
[Thursday, February 19]<br />
Industry Outlook: Chaldean Chamber<br />
of Commerce presents a look at<br />
the franchising business with networking<br />
and a panel discussion. 6-9 p.m.,<br />
Shenandoah Country Club. Free for<br />
members, $20 for non-members.<br />
(248) 538-3700 or lakou@chaldeanchamber.com.<br />
[Monday, February 23]<br />
Bible and Brew: Informal Bible study<br />
at Dick O’Dow’s in downtown Birmingham.<br />
8-10 p.m. Patrice@ecrc.us.<br />
[Saturday, February 28]<br />
Arabian Night: Themed event takes<br />
place at Shenandoah Country Club in<br />
the Mixed Grille. (248) 538-3700.<br />
Bowling: Fundraiser for Adopt-a-Refugee<br />
Family includes bowling, auctions,<br />
raffles, pizza and soft drinks. 1-4 p.m.,<br />
Country Lanes, Farmington Hills.<br />
(248) 851-3023.<br />
14 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 15
HALHOLE!<br />
[Births]<br />
Alana Rose<br />
Alana Rose Armenti was the first<br />
baby of the <strong>2009</strong> New Year in<br />
Summerville, South Carolina. She<br />
was born at 8:13 a.m. weighing 7<br />
lbs., 15 oz. and stretching out at<br />
19 inches. She is the first child<br />
of Chris & Jennifer Armenti and<br />
the ninth grandchild to Sabah &<br />
Maryann Garmo. Alana received<br />
a big write-up as a New Year’s<br />
baby in her local newspaper, the<br />
Summerville Journal Scene.<br />
Alana Rose<br />
Hailey Rita<br />
Big brother Luke is so excited to<br />
announce the arrival of his sweet,<br />
lovable and precious sister Hailey<br />
Rita. Hailey Rita was born on<br />
August 12, 2008. She weighed<br />
in at 6 lbs., 15 oz. and was 19<br />
inches long. She is the proud<br />
daughter of Raki & Nora Faouna.<br />
Our precious angel’s grandparents<br />
are Sabah & Amira Faouna<br />
and Akram & May Shaouni. Her<br />
godmother is Nillian Shaouni.<br />
Hailey Rita<br />
www.AdamandEveMI.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Brooklyn Heather<br />
Timothy & Avita Nafso are so<br />
happy and blessed to announce<br />
the birth of their angel Brooklyn<br />
Heather Nafso. Brooklyn was<br />
born on June 9, 2008 at 7:44<br />
p.m. at Beaumont Hospital in<br />
Royal Oak. She weighed 7 lbs.<br />
and was 21 inches in length.<br />
She is the eighth grandchild for<br />
Thamir & Faiza Nafso and the<br />
first for Thamir & Ikhlas Kashat.<br />
Godparents are Jada Nafso and<br />
Tommy Nafso.<br />
Cameron Jamil<br />
Cameron Jamil Atcho was born<br />
on November 1, 2008 to firsttime<br />
parents Neena & Jimmy<br />
Atcho. Grandparents are Ghazi<br />
& Pauline Kalasho and Hashim &<br />
Faten Atcho.<br />
Brooklyn Heather<br />
7421 Orchard Lake Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322<br />
(Just North Of 14 Mile Road)<br />
248-562-7555<br />
Violet Ann<br />
A sister is a friend forever. Sophia<br />
is so excited to have a sister<br />
to teach her things and to always<br />
be there for her. Violet Ann Kainaya<br />
was born on September 17,<br />
2008 at 11:39 p.m. at Beaumont<br />
Hospital in Troy. Violet weighed 5<br />
lbs., 5 oz. and measured 18 inches<br />
long. Happy parents are Robert<br />
& Nora Kainaya. Violet is the<br />
fifth grandchild of Jalila Kainaya &<br />
the late Nashat Kainaya and the<br />
sixth for Moayad & Bernadette<br />
George. The proud and excited<br />
godmother is Natalie Shallal.<br />
Cameron Jamil<br />
Violet Ann<br />
16 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Gia Marie<br />
We thank the Lord who has<br />
blessed us with a girl from above,<br />
a darling daughter for us to love.<br />
Big brother Preston is happy to<br />
announce the birth of his sister<br />
Gia Marie, born on September<br />
15, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. weighing<br />
7 lbs., 1 oz. and measuring<br />
21 inches. Joy-fi lled parents are<br />
Jason & Angela Brikho. Gia’s<br />
grandparents are Basim & Najiba<br />
Brikho and Saadi & Faiza Manjo.<br />
David Joseph<br />
God has blessed us with this bundle<br />
of joy. Proud parents David &<br />
Laura Mona are pleased to announce<br />
the birth of their fi rst-born<br />
child, David Joseph Mona Jr.,<br />
on June 12, 2008. He weighed<br />
5 lbs., 8 oz. and was 18 inches<br />
long. David is the fi rst grandchild<br />
for Jamal & Thikra Nafso and the<br />
fi fth for Agoubi Mona and Basma<br />
Balou. Godparents are Renee<br />
Antoun and Steve Mona.<br />
Carly Ann<br />
We are proud to announce the<br />
arrival of our beautiful baby girl,<br />
Carly Ann. She was born to Andrew<br />
& Vanessa (Yaldoo) Manning<br />
on August 24, 2008 at 6:52<br />
a.m., weighing 7 lbs., 6 oz. and<br />
measuring 20 inches. Carly was<br />
born at Gulf Coast Hospital in Ft.<br />
Meyers, Florida, where her family<br />
now lives. Carly is the second<br />
grandchild for Gary & Ilen Manning<br />
and the third for George &<br />
Basima Yaldoo. Carly was baptized<br />
at St. Thomas Church by<br />
her proud aunt, Valerie Nagara.<br />
Jonah Joseph<br />
God has blessed us from Heaven<br />
above with a bundle of joy, a new<br />
baby boy! Noah and Lourdes are<br />
excited to announce the birth of<br />
their baby brother, Jonah Joseph<br />
Qonja. He was born on March 13,<br />
2008 at 2:39 p.m. He weighed 6<br />
lbs., 11 oz. and was 19.75 inches<br />
long. Proud parents are Karl &<br />
Crystal Qonja. Jonah is the third<br />
grandchild for both Zuher & Haifa<br />
Qonja and Naela Asmaro and<br />
Tariq Zetouna. Godfather is cousin<br />
and best friend Harry Bahri.<br />
Gia Marie<br />
David Joseph<br />
Carly Ann<br />
Jonah Joseph<br />
[Engagements]<br />
Molly and James<br />
Gary & Doris Jonna are pleased<br />
to announce the engagement of<br />
their son, James George Jonna<br />
II (grandson of James & Selma<br />
Jonna), to Molly Mae Moore,<br />
daughter of Keith & Jill Moore of<br />
Cheboygan, Michigan. A summer<br />
wedding is planned. The couple<br />
will reside in Ann Arbor where they<br />
will continue their pre-med studies<br />
at the University of Michigan.<br />
Molly and James<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 17
HALHOLE!<br />
Christina and Randy<br />
Majad & Bahira Kasmikha are<br />
proud to announce the engagement<br />
of their daughter, Christina,<br />
to Randy, son of Ameer & Angel<br />
Thomas. The couple celebrated<br />
their engagement with family and<br />
friends on November 29, 2008. The<br />
wedding is set to take place in July<br />
<strong>2009</strong> at Mother of God Church followed<br />
by a reception at Farmington<br />
Hills Manor.<br />
Christina and Randy<br />
[Weddings]<br />
Furat and Rawaa<br />
Ibrahim & Batoul Kassab are proud<br />
to announce the marriage of their<br />
son, Furat Kassab, to Rawaa Razouki,<br />
the daughter of Fouad & Amira<br />
Razouki. The wedding took place in<br />
San Diego, California on August 10,<br />
2008 in St. Peter Chaldean Catholic<br />
Cathedral with a reception at St. Peter<br />
Hall. The best man was Furat’s<br />
cousin, Jon Kassab, and the maid of<br />
honor was Rawaa’s sister, Raneen<br />
Razouki. The couple enjoyed their<br />
honeymoon in Hawaii.<br />
Jamie and Scott<br />
On August 26, 2008 Scott Hakim,<br />
son of Zouhair & Amira Hakim, and<br />
Jamie Orow, daughter of Hamid &<br />
Mesouda Orow & the late Naziha<br />
Orow, made a promise for life to continue<br />
their joy as husband and wife.<br />
They began their new life-long journey<br />
together in South Beach, Florida;<br />
Costa Rica, and Las Vegas.<br />
Stephanie and Jimmy<br />
Stephanie Jarbo, daughter of the<br />
late Anahid Jarbo, became the wife<br />
of Jimmy Jundy, son of Zahaa Jundy<br />
and Dhikra Thuwany, on August 20,<br />
2008. The wedding was held at St.<br />
Thomas Church and the reception at<br />
Penna’s of Sterling Heights. The best<br />
man was Justin Jundy and the maid of<br />
honor was Shivon Jarbo. The couple<br />
enjoyed a honeymoon in Hawaii.<br />
Melanie and Justin<br />
A life of caring, sharing a love of endless<br />
giving together … making their<br />
friendship so true, two hearts joined<br />
in love and united forever in love.<br />
With joy and happiness Nohada Yono<br />
& the late Yousif Yono are honored to<br />
announce the marriage of their son<br />
Justin, to Melanie, daughter of Nazar<br />
& Salama Nafsu. Their wedding ceremony<br />
took place on November 2,<br />
2008 at Mother of God Church and<br />
was followed by a reception at Penna’s<br />
of Sterling Heights. Justin and<br />
Melanie started their journey with a<br />
Hawaiian honeymoon.<br />
Furat and Rawaa<br />
Jamie and Scott<br />
Stephanie and Jimmy<br />
Melanie and Justin<br />
18 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 19
S U B S C R I B E !<br />
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20 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
RELIGION<br />
obituaries<br />
places of prayer<br />
chaldean churches in and around metro detroit<br />
THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE IN THE UNITED STATES<br />
St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese<br />
25603 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033; (248) 351-0440<br />
Mar (Bishop) Ibrahim N. Ibrahim<br />
www.chaldeandiocese.org<br />
MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48034; (248) 356-0565<br />
Rector: Rev. Manuel Boji<br />
Parochial Vicar: Rev. Wisam Matti<br />
Mass Schedule: Weekdays except Tuesday, 10 a.m.;<br />
Tuesday, St. Anthony prayer at 5 p.m. followed by mass at 5:30 p.m. Saturday,<br />
5:15 p.m.<br />
in English; Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 10 a.m. in English, 12 noon in Chaldean<br />
SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
310 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203; (313) 368-6214<br />
Pastor: Rev. Jacob Yasso<br />
Mass Schedule: Friday, 6 p.m. in Chaldean, Sunday 11 a.m. in Chaldean<br />
MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
24010 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park, MI 48237; (248) 547-4648<br />
Pastor: Rev. Stephen Kallabat<br />
Parochial Vicars: Rev. Fadi Habib Khalaf, Rev. Suleiman Denha<br />
Mass Schedule: Weekday masses at 12 noon.<br />
Sunday 10 a.m. in Sourath and Arabic; 12:30 p.m. in Sourath<br />
ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317; (586) 254-7221<br />
Pastor: Rev. Emanuel Hana Isho Shaleta<br />
Assistant Pastor: Rev. Basel Yaldo<br />
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in<br />
Chaldean, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 1 p.m. in Chaldean. Baptisms:<br />
2:30 p.m. on Sundays.<br />
ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
2442 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083; (248) 528-3676<br />
Pastor: Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou)<br />
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Sameem Balius<br />
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturday, 5 p.m. in English and<br />
Chaldean; Sunday, 8 a.m. in Chaldean, 9:30 a.m. in Arabic, 11 a.m. in English,<br />
12:30 p.m. in Chaldean. Baptisms: 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.<br />
ST. MARY HOLY APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC<br />
ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST<br />
4320 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48092; (586) 825-0290<br />
Rector: Fr. Benjamin Benjamin<br />
Mass Schedule: Sunday, 9 a.m. Assyrian; noon Assyrian and English<br />
ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
6900 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 788-2460<br />
Pastor: Rev. Frank Kalabat<br />
Rev. Emanuel Rayes (retired)<br />
Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jirgus Abrahim<br />
Mass Schedule: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. in Sourath, Saturday 5 p.m. in English,<br />
Sunday 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Sourath<br />
ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
2560 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 478-0835<br />
Pastor: Rev. Toma Behnama<br />
Mass Schedule: Sunday 12 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6 p.m.<br />
All masses are in Syriac, Arabic and English<br />
Margo Sitto<br />
Margo Sitto<br />
Margo Sitto was a truly loving woman. She was the<br />
second-oldest daughter born on November 1, 1928<br />
in Telkaif, Iraq, to Namu and Narmi Sitto. She was a<br />
sister to six, an aunt to 18 and their spouses and a<br />
great-aunt to 21.<br />
She never married and was THE aunt — the one<br />
who does everything she can for you and all her family.<br />
She always gave you the attention you wanted or needed,<br />
and she didn’t judge any of her family, but she always<br />
prayed for them so that God’s help would find us all.<br />
Margo traveled around the world. Many of her travels<br />
were religiously motivated, some were for fun. She<br />
went to Alaska, Greece, Portugal, Russia and Yugoslavia<br />
to visit the sites of the Virgin Mary. Also Rome,<br />
where she was invited to participate in mass by Pope<br />
John Paul — not just once, but twice! To celebrate<br />
her 80th birthday, she and her sisters-in-law with adult<br />
daughters traveled to Las Vegas.<br />
Margo was an amazingly energetic person with a<br />
happy vibe. And she truly enjoyed her life, not just for<br />
herself but for all the many nieces and nephews. She<br />
lived and cared for her mother and died due to a long<br />
fight with cancer. She also had the most impressive<br />
fruit garden, and she could cook — even better than<br />
her own mother. When a few of her family members<br />
became vegetarian, she always made sure there was<br />
a dish waiting for them; this was on a day-to-day basis,<br />
not only on special occasions, because there were always<br />
families at her house. She made sure that all her<br />
family felt welcomed and connected.<br />
Margo was definitely a fighter. She was first diagnosed<br />
20 years ago and was actually told she had five<br />
years to live and she fought it. She was a woman who<br />
also didn’t worry about herself and made herself and<br />
everyone around her happy.<br />
Her family will truly miss her as she was a true<br />
inspiration to live your life not for yourself, but for the<br />
people you love.<br />
Other<br />
Recent<br />
Community<br />
Deaths<br />
Mikha Y. Gorguis<br />
January 19, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Aziz Khamo Goriel<br />
January 19, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Aziz Yousif Meshena<br />
January 19, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Evleen P. Shamon<br />
January 19, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Nassir Esho<br />
January 17, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Yousif H. Nafsu<br />
January 16, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Jamila Hermiz<br />
Hakim<br />
January 8, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Philip Rayes<br />
January 6, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Pius S. Shoraji<br />
January 6, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Gourgia Jonna<br />
Odish<br />
January 4, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Naima Behnam<br />
Franso<br />
December 29, 2008<br />
Stephen J. Kalabat<br />
December 29, 2008<br />
Abed Jarjis Bashi<br />
December 28, 2008<br />
Jamila Yaldo<br />
December 25, 2008<br />
Edward Shamon<br />
December 24, 2008<br />
Shooshi Garmo<br />
December 23, 2008<br />
Kamila Mezi Kattola<br />
December 23, 2008<br />
Shammamta Manni<br />
Sitto<br />
December 22, 2008<br />
Sabri Savany Attisha<br />
December 20, 2008<br />
John J. Kas-Mikha<br />
December 20, 2008<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 21
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<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 23
some complained that the downstairs<br />
was not opulent enough, so the building<br />
committee decided to add the<br />
marble, fine woods and other features<br />
that mark the upstairs public areas.<br />
“They gutted a finished product,”<br />
Sarafa said, calling it “absolutely the<br />
wrong decision.”<br />
Rough Start<br />
Despite the gorgeous finished product,<br />
the club fell $3 million short of<br />
Left: Despite<br />
budget woes,<br />
the ballroom<br />
continues to be<br />
a popular spot<br />
for community<br />
weddings.<br />
Below: Will selling<br />
the golf course be<br />
in Shenandoah’s<br />
future?<br />
projected earnings in<br />
its first year of operation.<br />
Some believe it<br />
opened to the public<br />
before it was ready,<br />
with the result of<br />
inconsistent food<br />
and service and inefficient<br />
valet parking.<br />
clouded by debt<br />
Will Shenandoah weather the storm?<br />
By Joyce Wiswell<br />
Shenandoah board members say<br />
rumors of the country club’s<br />
death are greatly exaggerated<br />
– but there’s no doubt the West<br />
Bloomfield facility is facing serious<br />
difficulties.<br />
Shenandoah has defaulted on<br />
its two loans and membership has<br />
dropped to 660 (with about 550<br />
who actually pay dues) – a dramatic<br />
dip from the total of 1,018 when<br />
Shenandoah opened in February<br />
2005. Michael George, president of<br />
the Chaldean Federation of America,<br />
insists there is hope.<br />
“We will turn Shenandoah<br />
around,” he said. “We are not going<br />
to lose it under any circumstance.<br />
We’re going through a crisis like<br />
everyone else, but the members are<br />
very proud of the facility and will<br />
continue to participate.”<br />
Negotiations are currently ongoing<br />
with Charter One and Comerica<br />
banks, which hold two-thirds and<br />
one-third of the $20.5 million loan,<br />
respectively. Former board member<br />
Mike Sarafa said it looks favorable<br />
that the banks will allow Shenandoah<br />
to pay what it can afford over<br />
the next few years, rather than seize<br />
the property.<br />
Shenandoah, which is owned by<br />
the Chaldean Iraqi American Association<br />
of Michigan (CIAAM), has had<br />
problems from its construction days.<br />
“The plan kept getting bigger<br />
and bigger,” Sarafa said. “They tried<br />
to please everybody and the budget<br />
kept increasing.”<br />
The original construction contract<br />
was $17.5 million, said Jacob<br />
Bacall, past president and treasurer<br />
and a self-described “die-hard member<br />
by all means.” The final tally for<br />
construction was $21 or $22 million,<br />
he said.<br />
Meanwhile, the club incurred<br />
a few more million in debt by borrowing<br />
$600,000 from the Bank of<br />
Michigan and $500,000 from the<br />
Chaldean Church, and $30,000 each<br />
from 42 members in what essentially<br />
became a scheme of borrowing from<br />
Peter to pay Paul. The original loan<br />
agreement also required the personal<br />
guarantees of 23 members limited to<br />
$125,000 each. Today, Shenandoah<br />
owes close to $24 million in total<br />
debt, Bacall said.<br />
Cost overruns are to blame, as well<br />
as what many considered to be an unnecessary<br />
last-minute overhaul of the<br />
members-only areas that added $1.5-<br />
$1.8 million to the final tally. When<br />
members first viewed their facility,<br />
That led to poor word of mouth for<br />
a facility counting on lots of public<br />
bookings for weddings and other special<br />
events.<br />
Things started to turn around in<br />
2006, when a new board fired the original<br />
general manager and replaced him<br />
with Kamel Kassem, who is credited<br />
with bringing much-needed experience<br />
and professionalism to the club.<br />
Meanwhile, Shenandoah kept<br />
raising its dues each year, a trend that<br />
not only angered members but drove<br />
many to quit the club altogether. Another<br />
increase was planned for this<br />
year, but the board has instead dropped<br />
dues about 20 percent. They are now<br />
$2,400 per year for those older than 35<br />
and $1,800 per year for people under<br />
35 or 70 and older. (Rates were lower<br />
if the entire fee was paid up front rath-<br />
shenandoah continued on page 26<br />
A Brief History of CIAAM<br />
1961<br />
A group of<br />
Chaldeans decide<br />
to form a club<br />
1965<br />
Constitution and<br />
by-laws formally<br />
approved<br />
1979<br />
Ground broken<br />
for the Southfield<br />
Manor<br />
1981<br />
Southfield Manor<br />
opens<br />
2002<br />
Ground broken for<br />
Shenandoah<br />
2004<br />
Southfield Manor<br />
sold<br />
February<br />
2005<br />
Shenandoah<br />
opens<br />
24 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 25
shenandoah continued from page 24<br />
er than monthly.) This year’s food and<br />
beverage spending minimum is $900,<br />
a decline of $300.<br />
Most dramatic is the drop in buyin<br />
for equity in Shenandoah. In 2004,<br />
members paid $12,000 to buy in; that<br />
rate has steadily decreased since. Today,<br />
it costs just $3,000 for an equity<br />
share and there is no cost beyond<br />
dues to join as a social member.<br />
Those who bought in at higher<br />
rates are “obviously disappointed,” said<br />
CPA Jason Alkamano, past board treasurer<br />
and co-chair of the Finance Committee.<br />
“I bought in for $6,000 in 1998<br />
or 1999,” he said. “But you get in when<br />
you get in. There are no rebates.”<br />
Shenandoah cut costs by closing<br />
the member-only dining room<br />
in January and February, and, in a<br />
bid to grow membership, is offering<br />
social memberships in which people<br />
pay annual dues but not the buy-in<br />
sum, giving them use of the club but<br />
no equity or voting rights.<br />
‘Hard Feelings’<br />
Developer Hikmat Zeer is one of the<br />
original 100 members of CIAAM,<br />
the club formed in the 1960s. He<br />
said he’s resigned from Shenandoah<br />
“but they haven’t accepted my resignation.”<br />
Nevertheless, Zeer said he is<br />
no longer paying dues.<br />
“I resigned because I was frustrated,”<br />
he said. “The club is in such a<br />
deep hole I don’t know if they can<br />
come out of it. I feel bad for what is<br />
happening to the club – this is hurting<br />
all of us and there are a lot of hard<br />
feelings with people dropping out.”<br />
Zeer believes Shenandoah does<br />
not offer its members enough in the<br />
way of amenities such as exercise facilities.<br />
“They should have made it a<br />
complete health club so the whole<br />
family can go there and enjoy,” he<br />
said. “Fifty percent of the money<br />
they spent is a waste.”<br />
Mike George said he understands<br />
why some members have left in these<br />
tough economic times, but said those<br />
who can afford the dues are making a<br />
big mistake by quitting.<br />
“Those who feel there is no value<br />
should go on the Internet and look<br />
at what other country clubs do and<br />
the services they offer,” George said.<br />
“Our rates and our requirements are<br />
so minimal that even a public golf<br />
course is more expensive than we<br />
are. Membership is 20 times more<br />
and dues are at least double, if not<br />
more, at other country clubs.”<br />
Alkamano said that while mistakes<br />
have been made, it’s important<br />
for people to put Shenandoah<br />
in the context of its times. “Maybe<br />
it should have been built in stages,”<br />
he said, “but when it was built the<br />
economy was good, membership was<br />
What’s<br />
Happening<br />
with the CCC?<br />
More than Shenandoah has<br />
people buzzing. What, many<br />
wonder, is holding up the opening<br />
of the Chaldean Cultural Center<br />
(CCC)?<br />
The state-of-the-art museum,<br />
which is housed in Shenandoah,<br />
was first expected to open in November<br />
2005. There have been<br />
numerous delays and for now, no<br />
tentative opening date will be set<br />
until all funds are in place, said<br />
CCC Director Mary Romaya.<br />
Thus far, $3.2 million has been<br />
raised or committed to the project<br />
through donations, fundraisers<br />
and grants. Romaya said another<br />
$1 million is needed and that a<br />
bank loan may be sought.<br />
strong and everyone was doing well.”<br />
Bacall said a “Rolls Royce”<br />
mentality is to blame for many of<br />
Shenandoah’s problems, with power<br />
brokers believing they deserve only<br />
the best facility – and wanting to<br />
show such a facility off to the world<br />
— despite the fact the funds are not<br />
there to back it up.<br />
“Egos made the club too big –<br />
much bigger than they could afford,”<br />
Bacall said. “By all means we needed<br />
to upscale our operation [from Southfield<br />
Manor] but not by that high. We<br />
were always profitable at Southfield<br />
Manor; we could learn a lot from it.”<br />
Dramatic changes are needed, Bacall<br />
said. He advocates selling the golf<br />
course to West Bloomfield Township,<br />
which he said has expressed interest.<br />
Less than 40 members are active golfers<br />
who play at least three times a week,<br />
he said. Selling the course would save<br />
as much as $500,000 a year in taxes,<br />
maintenance, upkeep and personnel<br />
costs, he said. Many golf courses in the<br />
state are suffering economic hardship<br />
these days, he said.<br />
“I would much rather lose my<br />
hand than my whole body,” Bacall<br />
said of the idea to sell the course.<br />
“All options are on the table,”<br />
said Current CIAAM President Neb<br />
Mekani, “but I don’t see a viable<br />
market for selling the course with<br />
the economic climate we’re going<br />
through. A few years ago that was in<br />
discussion with a few companies but<br />
nothing came to fruition.”<br />
Mekani believes Shenandoah will<br />
weather this storm.<br />
“With the community holding<br />
together I think we can get through<br />
this,” he said. “There is a strong<br />
enough core of dedicated individuals<br />
who are the glue that hold the community<br />
together.”<br />
26 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
SPORTS roundup<br />
‘ Dr. Crazy Legs’ gets physical<br />
By Steve Stein<br />
Medical student Nolan Karrumi<br />
wants to be an emergency<br />
room doctor someday. In the<br />
meantime, he wouldn’t mind putting<br />
some of his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)<br />
opponents in the hospital.<br />
Well, not really. Karrumi says MMA<br />
fighters respect their opponent.<br />
“That’s the mark of a warrior,” he said.<br />
But Karrumi says he doesn’t mind inflicting<br />
some pain if it means getting his<br />
hand raised in victory after a match.<br />
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Southfield<br />
resident, who competes in MMA as a<br />
lightweight, split his two amateur fights<br />
and has won his lone professional fight in<br />
his brief career. He beat Bruce Coulson<br />
by a decision in his pro debut May 15 at<br />
King’s Sport Centre in Grand Cayman.<br />
Karrumi, 29, is fighting in the Proving<br />
Grounds promotion and he’s training<br />
with UFC fighter James Lee in the<br />
Mash Gym in Redford.<br />
“Crazy Legs” (Karrumi’s MMA nickname,<br />
bestowed on him because he<br />
likes to kick) knows how to win. He was<br />
a sweeper on Madison Heights Bishop<br />
Foley High School’s 1997 Division III<br />
state champion soccer team, and he’s a<br />
two-time Chy Cup champion in the<br />
Chaldean Football League. “Dr.<br />
Daiwanna” (his CFL nickname) is a<br />
receiver in the flag football league.<br />
Karrumi’s soccer career didn’t<br />
end at Bishop Foley. He played<br />
left back for Orchard Lake St.<br />
Mary’s College, serving as captain<br />
for four years and earning<br />
All-American honors.<br />
Karrumi said competing in MMA<br />
hasn’t required a major transformation<br />
of his sports personality.<br />
“I’ve always been a physical player.<br />
That’s my nature. That’s why MMA is a<br />
good fit for me,” he said.<br />
He also believes his training as a soccer<br />
player helps him in MMA because he<br />
had to learn how to use his feet.<br />
While MMA fights are brutal — and<br />
often bloody — Karrumi compares<br />
them to a chess match. That’s another<br />
of his favorite sports, by the way.<br />
“We’re not a bunch of barbarians<br />
Nolan Karrumi emerges victorious.<br />
using each other as punching bags,” he<br />
said. “A match is all about strategy and<br />
tactics, being methodical. If your opponent<br />
is going crazy, all you need to do is<br />
let him tire himself out, and you’ve got<br />
him. You have to keep trying moves, and<br />
be thinking three or four moves ahead.<br />
And for every offensive move you make,<br />
you’d better have two defensive moves.”<br />
Karrumi said he could see his training<br />
as an ER doctor helping him in the<br />
MMA octagon someday.<br />
“There’s a lot of pressure during a<br />
match. You have to make split-second<br />
decisions, just like you need to do with<br />
a patient,” he said.<br />
Why is MMA so popular with fans?<br />
Karrumi points to several reasons.<br />
“There’s more to it than, say, boxing,”<br />
he said. “There are battles on the mat,<br />
lots of knockouts because of light gloves,<br />
and, I guess, the blood and gore.”<br />
Karrumi became involved in MMA<br />
while he was studying at the St.<br />
Matthew’s University medical school<br />
in Grand Cayman for about a year<br />
and a half. He’s been back home for<br />
about six months.<br />
“I decided to give MMA a try, to see<br />
what I was made of, so I went to an<br />
MMA gym,” he said.<br />
After beating some professional<br />
fighters who outweighed him by 20 to<br />
30 pounds, Karrumi said, he thought he<br />
was ready for sanctioned matches.<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 27
obama’s community connection<br />
Peter Dagher key part of transitional team<br />
By Joyce Wiswell<br />
When Peter Dagher heard<br />
that Barack Obama was<br />
going to run for president,<br />
he knew he had to be part of<br />
the quest.<br />
Although he had worked on Bill<br />
Clinton’s campaign and served on<br />
his first White House transition<br />
committee, Dagher passed on an<br />
offer to campaign for Hillary Clinton.<br />
“I didn’t think Hillary could<br />
win,” said Dagher, a firstgeneration<br />
American whose<br />
mother is Chaldean and father<br />
is Lebanese. “But I knew<br />
if we put our heads down and<br />
stuck to our message, we<br />
were going to win it with<br />
Obama.”<br />
Dagher was named manager<br />
of Obama’s national<br />
campaign headquarters in<br />
Chicago in February 2007.<br />
“I thought about it for a<br />
day — do I really want to get<br />
back into this? — but I knew<br />
it was yes,” recalled the veteran<br />
of both of Bill Clinton’s<br />
presidential elections. “It was 90-<br />
hour weeks for the first eight weeks,<br />
then 55 to 60 hours. It’s never been<br />
below 55 hours.”<br />
When Obama was elected last<br />
November, Dagher became operations<br />
manager of the Presidential<br />
Transition Team. Now, he’s running<br />
for U.S. Congress to fill the<br />
spot left vacant by Rahm Emanuel,<br />
who is now Obama’s chief of staff.<br />
This will be Dagher’s second shot<br />
at the seat; he came in third in<br />
an eight-person race in 2002 that<br />
Emanuel won.<br />
The primary is on March 3 and<br />
the general election on April 7.<br />
Dagher was offered a post in the<br />
Obama administration but said he<br />
prefers holding elected office.<br />
“I would do a lot more good<br />
for our people than I could in the<br />
administration, and I do not just<br />
mean Chaldeans or Assyrians or<br />
Lebanese Christians, but the taxpayers,”<br />
he said. “I’ve already been<br />
told that if I don’t win I’m in with<br />
the Obama Administration, but I<br />
like working without a net and I<br />
don’t want to play with that.”<br />
In the Beginning<br />
Dagher said he liked Obama from<br />
the start when the then-candidate<br />
for U.S. Senate spoke to the Assyrian<br />
National Council of Illinois,<br />
about a month before the Iraq War<br />
started in March 2003.<br />
“This was before anyone knew<br />
who Obama was – there were only<br />
30 or 40 people in the audience,”<br />
Dagher said. “He said, ‘I’m not<br />
against all wars but I’m against this<br />
war,’ and everyone booed him. He<br />
said, ‘who is going to suffer the most<br />
once Saddam is removed? Who are<br />
the people in the weakest position?<br />
The weakest are the Christians.’”<br />
Obama went on to question the<br />
United States’ plan for Iraq once<br />
Saddam was removed from power, a<br />
plan that apparently never existed.<br />
“Here’s someone who did not have<br />
the same access to the intelligence<br />
as Hillary Clinton, but [she and<br />
the rest of Congress] all voted for<br />
this war thinking it was the politically<br />
expedient thing to do,” Dagher<br />
said.<br />
A Varied Career<br />
Dagher, 43, has had an eclectic career.<br />
In late 2004, he became an election<br />
coordinator and media liaison<br />
with the International Organization<br />
for Migration (IOM), a United Nations-sponsored<br />
group that assisted<br />
the Iraqi Interim Government with<br />
the country’s first-ever democratic<br />
election after Saddam fell. He has<br />
also been a special projects manager<br />
in the White House, where he<br />
implemented the 2000 Presidential<br />
Transition Act; a special assistant<br />
to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation;<br />
and a one-time operations director<br />
for the Democratic National<br />
Committee.<br />
Before joining the Obama campaign,<br />
Dagher was vice president<br />
for business development of National<br />
Source Energy Systems (now<br />
Seraph), which specialized in solar<br />
power and biofuels, where he managed<br />
marketing operations for several<br />
companies.<br />
To make an impact in Washington,<br />
fundraising is essential for any<br />
cause said Dagher, who believes the<br />
Chaldean community needs to pony<br />
up more when it comes to political<br />
campaigns.<br />
“With the amount of money our<br />
community has we should be able to<br />
place candidates in the major markets<br />
– New York; Chicago; Detroit;<br />
Modesto, California,” he said.<br />
The community also needs to put<br />
a common face before the world, he<br />
believes. Instead of political infighting<br />
among Christian groups and arguments<br />
over the terms “Chaldean,”<br />
“I would do a lot more good for our people than I<br />
could in the administration, and I do not just mean<br />
Chaldeans or Assyrians or Lebanese Christians,<br />
but the taxpayers…I’ve already been told that if I<br />
don’t win I’m in with the Obama Administration,<br />
but I like working without a net and I don’t want to<br />
play with that.” – peter Dagher<br />
“Assyrian” and “Syriac,” Iraqi Christians<br />
(the term Dagher prefers) could<br />
learn a lot from the Jewish community,<br />
he said.<br />
“At the end of World War II Jews<br />
had their differences between the<br />
Orthodox, Reform and Conservative<br />
movements,” Dagher said, but<br />
they banded together on key issues<br />
— establishing Israel as a homeland,<br />
creating the powerful lobbying group<br />
AIPAC (Israeli American Public Affairs<br />
Committee) and actively supporting<br />
candidates sympathetic to<br />
their causes. “They said, we’ll fight<br />
about the rest internally,” Dagher<br />
said. “On those issues, they pushed it<br />
and they got it done.<br />
“The Jews have laid out a plan<br />
for us; they are 50-60 years ahead<br />
of us,” Dagher added. “Assyrians already<br />
invented the wheel, why are<br />
we trying to reinvent it? We need to<br />
pick three, four, five things we agree<br />
on and then fund them. If we build a<br />
base in Congress, a powerhouse lobbying<br />
level, we will never have to<br />
worry about our people again.”<br />
Creating awareness starts with<br />
defining Iraqi Christians to the<br />
rest of the population, Dagher said.<br />
“Christians are lumped in with Arabs<br />
and that’s a problem,” he said.<br />
“We have not done a good-enough<br />
job in identifying ourselves.”<br />
Another page from the Jewish<br />
playbook that Dagher admires<br />
involves sending young people to<br />
28 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
work with key candidates around<br />
the country. When he worked for<br />
Clinton’s campaign in 1992, Dagher<br />
met a group of Jewish men<br />
from New York who routinely set up<br />
young college graduates with a salary,<br />
car and health insurance so they<br />
could volunteer with a presidential<br />
campaign.<br />
“The idea,” he said, “is to work<br />
your tail off and get hired by the<br />
campaign.”<br />
As the race progresses, candidates<br />
drop off and the volunteers go on<br />
to join the front-runner’s campaign.<br />
This worked with the Clinton campaign,<br />
Dagher said. “They started<br />
with one person but ended up getting<br />
a total of three — and two of<br />
them ended up working in the White<br />
House where they would get meetings<br />
for their people,” Dagher said. “Imagine<br />
what we could do if some of our<br />
organizations would put up $10,000<br />
or $20,000 each election cycle.”<br />
Raising such an amount could<br />
be done “in a minute” in Metro<br />
Detroit’s Chaldean community, Dagher<br />
maintains. He plans to come to<br />
Detroit and meet with community<br />
leaders with the goal of getting 100<br />
people to each contribute $2,300 to<br />
a campaign, the maximum allowed<br />
by federal law.<br />
“No matter what happens I will put<br />
them in a room and lock the door and<br />
they will kill me or I will kill them,”<br />
he said. “I am sick of hearing about big<br />
houses and new Ferraris. Write that<br />
check and you’ve taken the initiative<br />
to say, ‘we are politically active and we<br />
can help members of Congress.’”<br />
The candidate, in turn, will remember<br />
Chaldeans, Dagher said.<br />
“They will think, ‘I never had dolma<br />
in my life but when that vote comes<br />
up [that benefits the community] I’m<br />
going to remember them.’”<br />
More than money stands in the<br />
way of his plan, however. “So many<br />
in our community want their kids to<br />
become doctors or lawyers,” he said.<br />
“How about a three-month stint in<br />
Washington to do an internship on<br />
the Hill?”<br />
Getting out the vote is also essential.<br />
“This is not the country for citizens<br />
– this is the country for those<br />
who vote,” Dagher said. “Why get involved<br />
with people who don’t vote?”<br />
A Ready List<br />
If the community were to advocate<br />
key issues, Dagher has a list at the<br />
ready: “The protection of minority<br />
rights for people back home; asking<br />
for a homeland or autonomous region<br />
in Nineveh; educating the federal<br />
government about who we are and<br />
not letting the Arab American Institute<br />
define us; and educating ourselves<br />
about the American process of<br />
having a voice in government.”<br />
He also believes the community<br />
needs to take a good look at its tendency<br />
to be clannish.<br />
“We are not preserving our heritage,<br />
we’re crushing it because we’re<br />
not defining ourselves. We’re becoming<br />
too insular,” Dagher said. “We<br />
need to open up. There is strength in<br />
intermarriage. You’re not ruining the<br />
culture, you’re teaching others about<br />
your culture like the Irish and the<br />
Italians did. By joining the melting<br />
pot you lose a few things but you gain<br />
that much more.”<br />
While Barack Obama seems more<br />
aware of the Chaldean community’s<br />
issues than his former rivals, there is<br />
still work to be done, Dagher said.<br />
Regarding the U.S. accepting more<br />
refugees and the issue of establishing<br />
an autonomous region for Iraqi<br />
Christians in the Nineveh Plain,<br />
“Obama has no position,” Dagher<br />
said. “We have the opportunity in<br />
the next year to educate him and his<br />
team.”<br />
But as the nation’s first African-<br />
American president, Obama is sure<br />
to be sensitive to ethnic groups,<br />
Dagher said. “He himself has been a<br />
minority at many times in his life,”<br />
Dagher said. “He understands what<br />
it’s like to be the weakest one in the<br />
room, so to speak.”<br />
Obama was a controversial candidate<br />
among many Chaldeans because<br />
he supports a woman’s right<br />
to choose abortion. “As a Catholic<br />
I have my problems with that too,”<br />
Dagher admitted. “People are saying<br />
he’s for gay rights, he’s for abortion<br />
– but he has also talked about the<br />
minority rights of Christians. Has<br />
Hillary Clinton? Has John McCain?<br />
Obama has said we have to lower the<br />
rate of abortions but do not make it<br />
illegal because it’s still going to happen.<br />
Killing people, driving drunk,<br />
buying pot – they are all illegal but<br />
they are still done.”<br />
People who shun the new president<br />
based on his liberal views are<br />
being short-sighted, Dagher said.<br />
“Obama will be the president for<br />
the next four years, maybe eight,” he<br />
noted. “If you have nothing to do<br />
with him, you are cutting yourself off<br />
from all he can do.”<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 29
chaldeans and the city<br />
Detroit mayoral hopefuls answer our questions<br />
Barack Obama is the new president,<br />
but election season is not<br />
yet over – this month marks<br />
an important primary for mayor of<br />
Detroit to replace Kwame Kilpatrick.<br />
The top two vote-getters of the February<br />
24 primary will square off in a<br />
May 5 election – but the winner only<br />
gets to keep the seat until December<br />
31, <strong>2009</strong>, when Kilpatrick’s term expires.<br />
Meanwhile, another primary<br />
will take place in August for the full<br />
four-year term.<br />
The Chaldean News asked leading<br />
mayoral candidates to answer<br />
some questions of importance to the<br />
community. Candidates were given<br />
a strict 75-word limit per answer.<br />
Answers that exceed that limit are<br />
marked by a … .<br />
Dave Bing<br />
Dave Bing, 64, is president of the Bing<br />
Group auto supply company and a Detroit<br />
Pistons Hall of Famer.<br />
1. Given Detroit’s many difficulties,<br />
why do you want to be the person<br />
in charge?<br />
Most of the problems facing our<br />
city were not developed overnight.<br />
They were caused by poor decisions<br />
made by career politicians. I am not<br />
a career politician.<br />
I have been not only a survivor,<br />
but a leader in the automobile supplier<br />
industry. I want to take those<br />
skills and apply them to the city. I<br />
am the only candidate with experience<br />
in creating jobs in the City of<br />
Detroit.<br />
2. What is your perception of<br />
the Chaldean community, and how<br />
do you feel they have contributed<br />
to the city?<br />
The Chaldean community in Detroit<br />
is one of our fastest-growing and<br />
important constituencies from both<br />
a civic perspective as well as a business<br />
perspective. Beyond the cultural<br />
diversity, this community’s contributions<br />
are countless, including numerous<br />
charitable contributions, as well<br />
as being the principal local retailers<br />
for Detroiters.<br />
3. Many Chaldeans had a tumultuous<br />
relationship with former<br />
mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, particularly<br />
store owners. How will you<br />
better this relationship?<br />
The Chaldean Community, particularly<br />
the “store owners and retailers,”<br />
have issues that are distinct to<br />
your community and as such know<br />
that I will provide special opportunities<br />
to receive your feedback. I will<br />
also assign one of my appointees as<br />
liaison to the Chaldean community<br />
who will report directly to me to assure<br />
that issues impacting your community<br />
are heard and addressed.<br />
4. Is it important to you to have<br />
Chaldeans appointed to your administration?<br />
Yes. My administration would definitely<br />
seek to have qualified Chaldean<br />
employees at the appointee and<br />
civil service levels. The Chaldean<br />
population in Detroit is one of the<br />
fastest-growing segments in the city.<br />
I need everyone’s best and brightest<br />
to move us forward.<br />
5. What are your specific plans<br />
to improve police response times,<br />
especially emergency calls from<br />
store owners?<br />
I will order the police to identify<br />
areas of the city that are the most<br />
vulnerable to specific types of crime<br />
and their occurrence. After the identification<br />
of crime “hot spots,” officers<br />
would be deployed in these specified<br />
areas during precise areas to quell<br />
crime before it happens. This plan<br />
would be to stop crime at its source;<br />
akin to a doctor who identified a cancerous<br />
spot on the body and removes<br />
it before it spreads.<br />
6. What are your top three priorities<br />
for the City of Detroit?<br />
I will concentrate on crime, jobs<br />
and restoring integrity to city government.<br />
The first priority will be<br />
getting a handle of the city’s budget<br />
situation, which is out of control. I<br />
will prioritize getting more officers<br />
on the streets to improve dismal response<br />
times. Additionally, I will<br />
utilize my job-creating experience to<br />
grow the city’s job base. Finally, I will<br />
have a zero tolerance for anyone who<br />
is ethically challenged in my administration.<br />
Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr.<br />
Kenneth Cockrel Jr., 42, is currently<br />
Detroit’s interim mayor. He has been<br />
a council member since 1997 and was<br />
elected its president in 2005.<br />
1. Given Detroit’s many difficulties,<br />
why do you want to be the person<br />
in charge?<br />
As the current acting Mayor of<br />
the City of Detroit, I am already the<br />
person in charge. I want to stay in<br />
that position because I believe my<br />
experience as a County Commissioner,<br />
City Councilmember, and<br />
more recently current Mayor qualifies<br />
me to lead this city during these<br />
tough times. I have a proven track<br />
record of leadership and a vision for<br />
where this city must go.<br />
2. What is your perception of<br />
the Chaldean community, and how<br />
do you feel they have contributed<br />
to the city?<br />
I have always had a good relationship<br />
with members of the Chaldean<br />
community and believe they<br />
contribute richly to the lifeblood of<br />
Detroit by providing quality shopping<br />
options for groceries and other<br />
services.<br />
3. Many Chaldeans had a tumultuous<br />
relationship with former<br />
mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, particularly<br />
store owners. How will you<br />
better this relationship?<br />
I have already taken strides to improve<br />
this relationship by introducing<br />
my choice for Chief of Police to<br />
key business leaders in the Chaldean<br />
community and having him attend a<br />
meeting of the Chaldean Chamber<br />
with me in the fall of last year.<br />
4. Is it important to you to have<br />
Chaldeans appointed to your administration?<br />
Yes. I am currently looking for<br />
members of the Chaldean community<br />
to serve in my administration.<br />
5. What are your specific plans<br />
to improve police response times,<br />
especially emergency calls from<br />
store owners?<br />
The priority must be on improving<br />
police response time in general,<br />
not for one specific segment of the<br />
community. However, I have directed<br />
the Chief of Police to prepare<br />
a plan for improving police response<br />
time through thorough analysis of<br />
crime data that can be used to make<br />
deployment decisions.<br />
6. What are your top three priorities<br />
for the City of Detroit?<br />
A) Addressing our budget deficit;<br />
B) Crime and Public Safety; C) Economic<br />
Development.<br />
Warren Evans<br />
Warren Evans, 59, has been sheriff of<br />
Wayne County since 2003. He is a former<br />
Wayne County administrator.<br />
1. Given Detroit’s many difficul-<br />
30 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
ties, why do you want to be the person<br />
in charge?<br />
I am a lifelong, third-generation<br />
Detroiter and have committed my<br />
adult life to making our city safer and<br />
more livable. I see becoming mayor<br />
as the next logical step in my service<br />
to my hometown. I want to take my<br />
life’s experience to fundamentally<br />
change how city government works,<br />
just as I have changed the Sheriff’s<br />
Office and juvenile justice in Wayne<br />
County. I am ready to lead our city<br />
out its current crisis.<br />
2. What is your perception of<br />
the Chaldean community, and how<br />
do you feel they have contributed<br />
to the city?<br />
My perception of the Chaldean<br />
community is that it is not unlike<br />
many other ethnic groups in the City<br />
of Detroit; it is hard working, a vital<br />
part of the fabric of our community,<br />
and, at times misunderstood. The<br />
Chaldean community has become a<br />
very critical presence in the business<br />
community, but also has contributed<br />
greatly to the city’s social dynamic.<br />
3. Many Chaldeans had a tumultuous<br />
relationship with former<br />
mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, particularly<br />
store owners. How will you<br />
better this relationship?<br />
Chaldean storeowners are a great<br />
asset to our community. They have<br />
invested in Detroit when many others<br />
have not, particularly in areas<br />
like the Seven Mile road strip east<br />
of Woodward, which continues to<br />
flourish. We need more such districts<br />
in our city if we are to have walkable<br />
communities. As mayor I will make<br />
it a point to support Chaldean businesses<br />
and personally visit them as<br />
often as my schedule will allow.<br />
4. Is it important to you to have<br />
Chaldeans appointed to your administration?<br />
I believe that it is vital for any<br />
healthy community to have a city<br />
administration that reflects the community,<br />
and the Chaldean population<br />
is an important part of our city.<br />
So, yes, I feel it is important to have<br />
Chaldean Americans play a role in<br />
my administration and to hold some<br />
high-level appointed positions.<br />
5. What are your specific plans<br />
to improve police response times,<br />
especially emergency calls from<br />
storeowners?<br />
Upon taking the oath of office,<br />
there are two things I will do immediately<br />
that should cause a significant<br />
reduction in response times for<br />
emergency calls. First, I would assign<br />
a team of 100 officers to the full-time<br />
task of rounding up the city’s most<br />
violent offenders, including armed<br />
robbers who prey on Chaldeanowned<br />
businesses. Second, I would<br />
make greater use of our reserve officers,<br />
who can provide added police<br />
presence in retail areas.<br />
6. What are your top three priorities<br />
for the City of Detroit?<br />
My top priority is public safety.<br />
I firmly believe all other key issues,<br />
such as education and economic development,<br />
don’t stand a chance if<br />
people don’t first feel safe in our city.<br />
My other two priorities are, in fact,<br />
economic development/job creation<br />
and education, again, both of which<br />
hinge on public safety. This week I<br />
have laid out my plans for each of<br />
these areas, which are available in<br />
their entirety at warrenevansformayor.com.<br />
Freman Hendrix<br />
Freman Hendrix, 58, is former deputy<br />
mayor and an administrator at Eastern<br />
Michigan University. He lost to Kwame<br />
Kilpatrick in 2005.<br />
1. Given Detroit’s many difficulties,<br />
why do you want to be the<br />
person in charge?<br />
I care deeply about this city in<br />
which I have resided and worked in<br />
for the last 30 years – this city where<br />
I have raised my family.<br />
The crisis in leadership that has<br />
brought us to where we are today<br />
needs a mayor who has the right kind<br />
of experience and who has a vision<br />
and a specific set of plans that he can<br />
carry out to begin the long march<br />
back to prosperity. I …<br />
2. What is your perception of<br />
the Chaldean community, and how<br />
do you feel they have contributed<br />
to the city?<br />
Thirty years ago, when the city<br />
was experiencing some of its most<br />
difficult economic times and major<br />
franchise retailers were leaving the<br />
city of Detroit, the independent<br />
grocer, represented primarily by the<br />
Chaldean community, stayed, invested<br />
in Detroit and became an integral<br />
part of the Detroit community.<br />
It is a decades-long relationship that<br />
I value and greatly appreciate.<br />
3. Many Chaldeans had a tumultuous<br />
relationship with former<br />
mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, particularly<br />
store owners. How will you<br />
better this relationship?<br />
By opening the lines of communications<br />
between the Mayor’s Office<br />
and the Chaldean business community<br />
and having regular dialogues<br />
and meetings to address issues before<br />
they find their way into the media<br />
and become too difficult to resolve.<br />
4. Is it important to you to have<br />
Chaldeans appointed to your administration?<br />
Yes. To accomplish this, I would<br />
consult with the leaders of the Chaldean<br />
community to establish a pool of<br />
talent, from which I could hire qualified<br />
individuals not just for positions<br />
on the mayor’s executive staff, but also<br />
jobs throughout city government.<br />
5. What are your specific plans<br />
to improve police response times,<br />
especially emergency calls from<br />
store owners?<br />
I believe that every Detroit<br />
neighborhood deserves police protection<br />
and regular police patrols,<br />
and I know that some don’t get the<br />
attention they deserve because the<br />
Detroit police force has shrunk from<br />
3,000 officers on the payroll a decade<br />
ago to only 1,900 today.<br />
And, although the city’s population<br />
is smaller, our borders haven’t<br />
changed. We must do everything<br />
possible to put more officers on the<br />
street and use them more effectively.<br />
In short …<br />
6. What are your top three priorities<br />
for the City of Detroit?<br />
My top three priorities as mayor<br />
of the city of Detroit are:<br />
1) Reducing crime through community<br />
policing; 2) Stabilizing<br />
neighborhoods by supporting community<br />
development and fighting<br />
blight; and 3) Establishing a business-friendly<br />
environment by reducing<br />
bureaucracy, fraud, corruption<br />
and regulatory processes.<br />
Nicholas Hood<br />
Nicholas Hood III, 56, is minister of<br />
Plymouth United Church of Christ and<br />
a two-term council member. He ran for<br />
mayor in 2001.<br />
1. Given Detroit’s many difficulties,<br />
why do you want to be the<br />
person in charge?<br />
I am running for mayor because I<br />
am deeply concerned about the direction<br />
of the city I was raised and educated<br />
is headed. Our school system is<br />
in shambles. The city lacks the basic<br />
amenities that most progressive cities<br />
take for granted such as a combination<br />
of national franchise restaurants,<br />
retail and independent commercial<br />
establishments. The crime rate in<br />
Detroit is still unacceptable. As a<br />
two-term city councilman I have the<br />
experience to lead the ...<br />
2. What is your perception of<br />
the Chaldean community, and how<br />
do you feel they have contributed<br />
to the city?<br />
The Chaldean community plays<br />
an important and vital role in the<br />
City of Detroit – particularly with<br />
regard to grocery stores and other retail<br />
establishments and philanthropy.<br />
The Chaldean community also adds<br />
to the rich diversity of our community<br />
and has helped Detroit to be<br />
much more sensitive to racial and<br />
ethnic minorities than most American<br />
communities.<br />
3. Many Chaldeans had a tumultuous<br />
relationship with former<br />
mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, particularly<br />
store owners. How will you<br />
better this relationship?<br />
I will treat every person and business<br />
fairly and equally. As mayor I<br />
will lower the cost of doing business in<br />
Detroit and direct city departments to<br />
be fair with code enforcement. I will<br />
direct the Economic Growth Corporation<br />
to make its resources available<br />
to the Chaldean community and other<br />
minority communities in Detroit so<br />
that business can grow.<br />
4. Is it important to you to<br />
have Chaldeans appointed to your<br />
administration?<br />
Yes, it is important to have the<br />
Chaldean community and the widest<br />
cross-section of our diverse community<br />
represented in my administration.<br />
My administration will be inclusive<br />
of minorities and others who<br />
have traditionally been excluded<br />
from the government. My adminstration<br />
will resemble a rainbow of<br />
races and ethnic groups.<br />
5. What are your specific plans<br />
to improve police response times,<br />
especially emergency calls from<br />
store owners?<br />
I support a redeployment of the<br />
police to be more proactive against<br />
neighborhood crime. I understand<br />
how devastating crime can be on businesses<br />
and individuals. I will direct the<br />
police chief to make emergency calls<br />
from citizens and businesses a priority.<br />
I will reduce the mayor’s security by<br />
at least one third. I will work to put<br />
more officers on the streets through<br />
grants and redeployment.<br />
6. What are your top three priorities<br />
for the City of Detroit?<br />
1) Make the city safe, clean and<br />
well lit; 2) Make the city well educated;<br />
and 3) Balance the city budget.<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 31
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32 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
celebrating<br />
the epiphany<br />
Dozens of babies baptized<br />
in annual rite<br />
By Joyce Wiswell<br />
Photos by Wilson Sarkis<br />
Msgr. Zouhair Toma<br />
(Kejbou) of St. Joseph<br />
in Troy has a<br />
way with babies. His touch<br />
instantly calmed the little<br />
squirming tykes growing impatient<br />
with their baptism ceremony,<br />
and they fully cooperated<br />
as he rubbed their heads<br />
with holy water.<br />
January 6 was a busy day for<br />
Msgr. Toma as it was for all the<br />
priests in the Chaldean Diocese.<br />
Scores of local Chaldean<br />
families chose the Epiphany<br />
– the day Jesus was baptized in<br />
the Jordan River by John the<br />
Baptist – as the day for their<br />
baby’s christening. More than<br />
100 babies were baptized that<br />
day in Metro Detroit’s Chaldean<br />
churches, said Fr. Manuel<br />
Boji of Mother of God in<br />
Southfield.<br />
“Today Jesus was baptized<br />
and I like for my son to have<br />
the same day,” said Sara Kakos<br />
of Sterling Heights. “It’s more<br />
blessed for him.”<br />
Five-month-old Joseph,<br />
resplendent in a white satin<br />
suit, seemed to enjoy being the<br />
center of attention from his<br />
grandparents, godparents and<br />
dad Maher.<br />
Joseph’s cousin, sevenmonth-old<br />
Channelle, looked<br />
like a tiny bride in her elaborate<br />
christening gown, darling<br />
cap and frilly socks. Proud parents<br />
Eddie and Linda Hana of<br />
Macomb beamed with pride<br />
during the ceremony.<br />
“We thought it would be<br />
special to have the baptism<br />
today since it is the day of Jesus’<br />
baptism,” explained godmother<br />
Amanda Hana.<br />
Photographers and videographers<br />
were busy recording<br />
the event in the manner<br />
of Hollywood paparazzi. They<br />
occasionally crowded the altar<br />
for the perfect shot, only to be<br />
shooed back by Msgr. Toma.<br />
At the ceremony’s conclusion,<br />
applause and halholes<br />
filled the air.<br />
“January 6 is a feast day<br />
that sums up all the other<br />
feasts related to the birth of<br />
Christ,” Msgr. Toma explained<br />
afterwards. “On January 6 God<br />
returned his son to humanity,<br />
so this day is the highlight.”<br />
Msgr. Toma reminded the<br />
new godparents that their duties<br />
go well beyond the christening<br />
and said they should<br />
spend time with the child each<br />
January 6.<br />
“Even if you are on the<br />
moon you must come back to<br />
spend the day with the child<br />
to remind them of the promises<br />
given,” he said. “Bring a<br />
worthwhile present to remind<br />
them of the day they were reborn<br />
in Christ and started the<br />
journey of faith.”<br />
Fr. Boji said the Epiphany<br />
used to be considered more<br />
important than Jesus’ birth.<br />
“According to our liturgy,<br />
this day was celebrated with<br />
four or five hours of prayers a<br />
century ago or more,” he said.<br />
“We are trying to revive the<br />
meaning of the baptism with<br />
our families.”<br />
To this end, on January 6<br />
Mother of God also held its<br />
third annual mass for babies<br />
baptized during the prior year,<br />
an event that drew some 100<br />
children and their families.<br />
1. The scene at the 5 p.m. Baptism at St. Joseph.<br />
2. Godfather Rony Shamoun and baby Tony Shamoun<br />
3. Elena Alrais and godmother Elena Alrais<br />
4. Godfather Rany Daniel with baby Leonardo Daniel<br />
5. Ayden Jacob Dickow is christened as godfather Revon Dabish<br />
(left) and parents Ayad and Najla Dickow look on.<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 33
34 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
chaldean PALATE<br />
Larco’s<br />
of Troy:<br />
Worth a<br />
Splurge<br />
By Crystal Jabiro Kassab<br />
This month, my hubby Mark and I<br />
trekked out to Troy to check out<br />
Larco’s Italian Chophouse. It<br />
was just a boring Tuesday night, and<br />
Mark was actually home from work so<br />
we got a babysitter.<br />
Larco’s looks nice from the outside<br />
on Big Beaver Road but the inside<br />
décor is bland — lots of grainy wood<br />
furnishings (like my ugly kitchen cabinets)<br />
and not much opulence. The little<br />
snowflakes hanging from the ceiling reminded<br />
me of an elementary classroom<br />
in winter, but I cared more about the<br />
food because I was starving.<br />
Our server brought us a bread basket<br />
as well as a plate full of humongous<br />
green San Marino olives and black Kalamata<br />
olives, with crumbles of fresh<br />
parmesan cheese to nibble on. Mark<br />
ordered his ordinary Grey Goose and<br />
tonic with a lime and I opted for a Velvet<br />
Kiss, which is basically a pomegranate<br />
martini. It was pretty strong so I sipped<br />
it slowly and didn’t order another.<br />
We ordered Grilled Portobellos for<br />
an appetizer. These big mushrooms were<br />
deliciously topped with roasted red peppers,<br />
gorgonzola and sauteed onions,<br />
and covered with a zip sauce. We didn’t<br />
think there was enough zip sauce and I<br />
thought they could have used more salt,<br />
but when I looked around for a shaker<br />
there wasn’t one … anywhere. I thought<br />
it would be a great insult to ask for one<br />
so I didn’t. Nonetheless, we would definitely<br />
order this unique portabello app<br />
again; it was amazing.<br />
Mark and I perused the two parts of<br />
the menu — Innovations and Legends.<br />
Larco’s has been in business since 1920,<br />
and their “legendary” fare has been on<br />
the menu from the beginning. Since then,<br />
fourth-generation Executive Chef Peter A.<br />
Larco has concocted “innovative” dishes<br />
with unique twists. It was no surprise that<br />
Mark and I ordered from the two different<br />
parts — he from the legendary “old-fashioned”<br />
menu and I from the contemporary<br />
and “new wave” list. Like oil and water.<br />
I remembered that Bree on “Desperate<br />
Housewives” once made Ossobuco<br />
for dinner so when I saw it on the menu,<br />
it tickled my fancy. Veal shank? Okay, I<br />
thought, I’ve had veal before and I liked<br />
it. It came with risotto, one of my favorite<br />
sides. Mark ordered the 14-ounce<br />
Grilled Ribeye Steak with vegetables.<br />
No fancy name or ingredients.<br />
Of course, it’s an Italian restaurant, so<br />
you know there are at least two courses<br />
before the main entree. I had the fresh<br />
and hearty Minestrone Soup, perfectly<br />
seasoned with just a dash of spice. Mark<br />
had the Mediterranean Salad and I’ve<br />
been imitating it ever since. It was pretty<br />
much a Greek salad, but no feta — gorgonzola<br />
or bleu cheese instead. All the<br />
ingredients — the lettuce, cucumbers,<br />
onions and so on — were very finely<br />
chopped with a perfect ting of vinegar.<br />
Then our waiter served us each a<br />
little plate of spaghetti. Larco’s pasta<br />
is homemade, which impressed me.<br />
It was an average meat sauce, yet it<br />
tasted really good.<br />
My Ossobuco was beautifully presented<br />
on a white plate, with a tiny little<br />
shrimp fork in the shank and little bits of<br />
carrots toppled over it. I didn’t know what<br />
the tiny utensil was for. Was I supposed<br />
to scrape out the “shikhta” in the shank?<br />
Was it even edible? Anyway, the veal,<br />
braised in a wine sauce, was so succulent<br />
it practically melted when I cut into it. The<br />
aftertaste was kind of unusual, but it was<br />
not enough to make me not finish it. (That<br />
Larco’s is an attractive sight on<br />
Big Beaver Road in Troy<br />
and the fact that it cost $35.) The risotto<br />
was fair, but nothing exceptional.<br />
Mark really liked his ribeye. It was<br />
medium-well and juicy, just how he<br />
likes it. The steak came with a plate<br />
of healthy steamed vegetables, but he<br />
was so full he hardly touched them. I<br />
tried a piece of his steak and it really<br />
was tender and tasty.<br />
We left no room for dessert so we<br />
just asked for the bill to make our journey<br />
home. It was a very costly meal, as<br />
in a Benjamin and a Grant, but it was<br />
kind of nice to have dinner alone without<br />
wiping noses or pulling crayons out<br />
of water.<br />
Larco’s Italian Chophouse is located at<br />
645 E. Big Beaver Road in Troy. Call<br />
(248) 680-0066 for reservations or log<br />
onto www.larcositalian.com. There is<br />
also another location in West Bloomfield<br />
at 6480 Orchard Lake Road.<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 35
ONE-on-ONE<br />
‘momma’ says she’s misunderstood by millions<br />
By Crystal KassaB JaBiro<br />
For six weeks, NBC aired the<br />
mother of all reality shows. Literally.<br />
Khalood Bojanowski, 50, talked to<br />
The Chaldean News about her recent<br />
controversial appearance on “Momma’s<br />
Boys.”<br />
CN: What made you decide to go on<br />
this reality show venture with your son?<br />
KB: Jojo saw it online and we didn’t<br />
actually think we would get selected.<br />
After two days we got a call, and after<br />
two weeks we were gone. We didn’t<br />
really know what was ahead.<br />
CN: Do you think you were portrayed<br />
positively?<br />
KB: Absolutely not, it was negative.<br />
The producers Ryan Seacrest<br />
and Andrew Glassman set everything<br />
up and edited what they wanted to.<br />
They made me the star of the show.<br />
They would do stuff to rile me up.<br />
For example, the episode where the<br />
girls chose not to make cutlase or<br />
dolma was actually because Ryan and<br />
Andrew hid my recipes to make me mad.<br />
CN: You insisted that your son meet<br />
a Catholic girl. Was going on a reality<br />
show to fi nd a match for your son a<br />
“Catholic” thing to do?<br />
KB: No it wasn’t. None of those<br />
girls were there to fi nd love, they were<br />
all sleazes. I didn’t like any of those girls<br />
for my son. When it comes to my son,<br />
I’m going to be a sneak and fi nd out everything<br />
about the girl. And every mom<br />
thinks the same way, I just said it on TV.<br />
CN: In the introductory video, you<br />
said, “I can’t have a Jewish girl because<br />
I’m Catholic. I just can’t see that<br />
white and black thing. It has to be a<br />
white girl. I just want a nice Catholic<br />
girl who is not from a divorced family. I<br />
want her to cook, I want her to clean,<br />
be petite and pretty, and she does what<br />
I tell her to.” How do you respond to<br />
viewers who thought you were racist<br />
and shallow?<br />
KB: I’m not racist. It’s just from my<br />
experiences. I don’t like the average<br />
Khalood and Jojo Bojanowski<br />
back in Michigan<br />
American culture. It seems like Americans<br />
don’t care if their kids get pregnant<br />
or don’t go to church. And if that’s how<br />
they want to be, that’s fi ne. I respect it,<br />
but I don’t like it. I want my son to fi nd<br />
someone like us. Even Esther, the Jewish<br />
mom, didn’t want her son to be with<br />
a non-Jew, but lots of that nonsense got<br />
edited out. I’m very comfortable with<br />
who I am and I’ll tell you whatever you<br />
want to hear to your face.<br />
CN: You come from a mixed culture,<br />
right?<br />
KB: Yes, but we’re Catholic people.<br />
My father is Chaldean and my mother<br />
is German. I grew up in Iraq, and then<br />
moved to Highland Park when I was<br />
15. My husband Jerry is half-Italian<br />
and half-Polish. These groups are very<br />
similar, very family-oriented.<br />
CN: How do you respond to other<br />
Chaldean mothers who found your behavior<br />
embarrassing?<br />
KB: I’ve only been getting a bad rap<br />
from the Chaldean community. How<br />
dare they do that to me? We should<br />
stick together. It pisses me off to say<br />
I’m a disgrace because I’m very proud<br />
of my heritage. I’m very nice and I’m<br />
very approachable. I’ll never stab you in<br />
the back. You’ll see the knife coming.<br />
So whatever happened to Jojo? He<br />
is in Boston studying International Business<br />
and playing hockey on a $40,000-<br />
a-year scholarship at Nicholas College.<br />
And he’s single.<br />
36 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
chaldean for KIDS<br />
SWEETHEART:<br />
ha-bib-tee (feminine)<br />
ha-bee-bee (masculine)<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> MEANS<br />
Valentine’s<br />
cn_1208_0160 1/22/09 3:12 PM Page 53<br />
chaldean for KIDS<br />
Day<br />
By MeloDy araBo anD MarGaret shaMoUn<br />
MERRY CHRISTMAS!<br />
What better way to celebrate Christmas than learning some<br />
Chaldean words pertaining to the holiday?<br />
HEART:<br />
BY MELODY ARABO AND MARGARET SHAMOUN<br />
lloo-ba<br />
Snow:<br />
tell-ga<br />
WINTER:<br />
sit-wa<br />
CANDY:<br />
ha-lloy-a<br />
ANGEL<br />
OF LOVE:<br />
Chaldean for Kids is a series of books designed to teach the<br />
Chaldean language through English. Available titles include<br />
Volume 1 - Numbers, Colors, Parts of the Body, Prayers;<br />
and Volume 2 - Animals, Clothing, Food, Nursery<br />
Rhymes. All books are hardcover and include an audio CD<br />
to ensure correct pronunciation. hoo-ba<br />
Visit www.chaldeanforkids.com.<br />
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.<br />
meh-llah-kha d’<br />
PRONUNCIATION KEY<br />
h =<br />
s =<br />
t =<br />
th =<br />
th =<br />
hard h sound,<br />
no English<br />
equivalent<br />
hard s sound,<br />
no English<br />
equivalent<br />
hard t sound,<br />
no English<br />
equivalent<br />
hard th sound<br />
as pronounced<br />
in THE<br />
soft th sound as<br />
pronounced<br />
in THING<br />
gh =<br />
kh =<br />
rr =<br />
ll =<br />
gurgling sound,<br />
no English<br />
equivalent<br />
clearing of the<br />
throat, no English<br />
equivalent<br />
rolling r sound,<br />
similar to a cat<br />
purring<br />
soft l sound<br />
often found in the<br />
French language,<br />
no English<br />
equivalent<br />
All other letters follow traditional sounds and patterns found<br />
in the English language. All words were formulated by<br />
breaking sounds apart into syllables and choosing the most<br />
effective pattern for each to ensure accurate pronunciation.<br />
Chaldean for Kids is a series<br />
of books designed to teach the<br />
Chaldean language through English.<br />
Available titles include Volume 1<br />
- Numbers, Colors, Parts of the<br />
Body, Prayers; and Volume 2 -<br />
Animals, Clothing, Food, Nursery<br />
Rhymes. All books are hardcover<br />
and include an audio CD to ensure<br />
correct pronunciation. Visit www.<br />
chaldeanforkids.com. Copyright 2007.<br />
All rights reserved.<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 37
HIGH SCHOOL highlight<br />
West Bloomfield High School: Laker pride<br />
By Caroline M. Bacall<br />
Past and present Chaldean students<br />
are able to live what their<br />
parents view as the American<br />
Dream — being in a place of social<br />
order in which every individual has an<br />
opportunity of success and is recognized<br />
for who they are, despite their<br />
background or position.<br />
Having access to America’s abundant<br />
resources is a big part of that<br />
dream. West Bloomfield High School<br />
was recognized by Newsweek/MS-<br />
NBC as being in the top 4 percent<br />
of U.S. Public High Schools for the<br />
2005-2006 school year.<br />
This year, some 50 new students<br />
are Iraqi refugees. Junior Ashley Jonna<br />
made the newcomers feel comfortable<br />
in their new environment by translating<br />
when needed and making sure<br />
they could find their way around the<br />
school. She said she’s impressed by<br />
how quickly the refugees learned to<br />
speak English.<br />
“They pick up so fast,” she said.<br />
“Within two months, they go from<br />
knowing a few words to being fluent.”<br />
To embrace diversity is to create<br />
unity, so WBHS has launched the<br />
Challenge Day workshop to unite students<br />
from every culture category and<br />
grade level through various activities.<br />
Crystal Kassab Jabiro, a seven-year<br />
English and Social Studies teacher,<br />
described the first-time program held<br />
this past December.<br />
“One example is<br />
‘crossing the line,’ where<br />
students are asked questions.<br />
One question asked<br />
was, ‘Who has never met<br />
their mom before?’ By<br />
Photo by Wilson Sarkis<br />
crossing the line, students<br />
find out things they never<br />
knew about each other.<br />
There was some hard,<br />
hard crying,” she said.<br />
Jabiro mentioned student<br />
Jamie Kakos as being<br />
instrumental in Challenge<br />
Day, adding, “She sets<br />
a nice example to Chaldean<br />
and non-Chaldean<br />
students.” Jabiro also spoke of 2006<br />
graduate Ronnie Kashat’s efforts in a<br />
past English course. “One of his papers<br />
was a reflection on the narrative<br />
of Frederick Douglass, and he did a<br />
marvelous job comparing his experiences<br />
as a Christian in Iraq to the<br />
author’s experiences as a slave.”<br />
Working hard and playing hard are<br />
part of the school spirit. WBHS Chaldeans<br />
have shown achievements in<br />
both extra-curricular activities in and<br />
WEST BLOOMFIELD HIGH SCHOOL<br />
4925 Orchard Lake Road<br />
West Bloomfield, MI 48323<br />
(248) 865-6720<br />
TOTAL POPULATION: 1,959 students<br />
CHALDEAN PERCENTAGE: 15 percent<br />
NOTEWORTHY CHALDEANS: Michael Nafso,<br />
Ashley Jonna, Stephanie Stephan, Jonathan<br />
Zora, Noor Naimi, Jamie Kakos, Jonathan<br />
Nafso, Aryanna Sharrak, Savine Zora,<br />
Bronte Savaya, Lauren Sitto, and Ryan Yono<br />
out of school, with a heavy involvement<br />
in sports.<br />
In addition to playing soccer as a<br />
freshman and sophomore and being<br />
the OAA-MASC (Oakland Activities<br />
Association — Michigan Association of<br />
Student Council) representative for student<br />
government, junior Michael Nafso<br />
participated in DECA, an organization<br />
that enhances marketing and management<br />
skills. Tests and role-playing in<br />
front of judges determine whether one<br />
qualifies at the state level. “I was in the<br />
quick-serve restaurant category,” Nafso<br />
said. “We had to find effective ways<br />
to market our business.”<br />
Anthony Samona spoke on behalf<br />
of his three brothers, all WBHS alumni.<br />
Randy Samona, a 2002 graduate,<br />
made it to the nationals and was one<br />
of the few on the WB DECA Wall of<br />
Fame his senior year. Andy, a 2004<br />
graduate, was also in DECA and in student<br />
leadership. Eldest brother Danny,<br />
a 2000 graduate, was class president<br />
his sophomore and junior year and<br />
played varsity football.<br />
Many former graduates installed<br />
the idea of Chaldeans being able to<br />
West Bloomfield High Chaldeans include: Jon Zora (top left), Anthony Hwier, Bronte<br />
Savaya, Michael Nafso, Lauren Etta, Andrew Samona, Birttany Savaya, Jomana Shayota<br />
(bottom left), Renee Jabero and Bianca Dabish.<br />
truly make a difference as a minority.<br />
The Kinaya brothers and Sean Jonna,<br />
WBHS alumni and advocates of Laker<br />
pride, individually participated in<br />
the wrestling, football and basketball<br />
teams. And it’s not just boys on the playing<br />
field: Former student Valerie Nafso<br />
played soccer all four years and senior<br />
Lauren Sitto is repeating that feat.<br />
Two out of the four class presidents<br />
are Chaldean — sophomore Jonathan<br />
Zora and freshman Aryanna Sharrak.<br />
Savine Zora is secretary of the freshman<br />
class, junior Ryan Yono was a part of the<br />
DECA program, and Bronte Savaya,<br />
also a junior, is in the National Honors<br />
Society for her exceptional grades.<br />
Senior Stephanie Stephan described<br />
her familiarity of WBHS as “a plus” when<br />
transferring from another high school.<br />
“With [epilepsy], I needed a good environment,”<br />
she said. “I met so many people<br />
and everyone was very friendly.”<br />
38 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Shimoun, Yaldo, Kashat & Associates, P.C.<br />
A firm with knowledge and expertise<br />
During 2008, the Certified Public<br />
Accounting firm of Shimoun, Yaldo,<br />
Kashat & Associates promoted<br />
Tony Kashat, CPA, to junior partner and<br />
moved to its new offices at the Paramount<br />
Bank Building located at the corner of 13<br />
Mile Road and Northwestern Highway in<br />
Farmington Hills.<br />
The knowledge and expertise at the firm<br />
has been elevated by the makeup of the<br />
three partners and their supporting staff to<br />
a new level that is able to provide outstanding<br />
service to various businesses and individuals.<br />
The firm provides the most current<br />
and up-to-date business and tax advice in<br />
this volatile business environment, which<br />
has not been experienced since the days<br />
of the Great Depression.<br />
The new challenges for this upcoming<br />
tax season started when the new Michigan<br />
Business Tax was enacted to replace the<br />
old Single Business Tax. The new tax was<br />
created by Public Act 36 of 2007 with a<br />
January 1, 2008 date of enactment. It applies<br />
to all business activity after December<br />
31, 2007 for all companies doing business<br />
in Michigan. The new Michigan Business<br />
Tax is a combination of a gross receipts tax<br />
at a rate of .8 percent and a business income<br />
tax at a rate of 4.95 percent. There<br />
is also a surcharge of 21.99 percent that<br />
was added on at a later date to replace the<br />
services tax. This tax was enacted with<br />
credits that reward businesses who hire<br />
employees in Michigan, acquire assets in<br />
Michigan and spend money on research<br />
and development in Michigan.<br />
We have attended several seminars<br />
throughout the year in order to gain an<br />
understanding of the new tax. We have<br />
faced many challenges along the way. The<br />
forms were not available until January <strong>2009</strong><br />
and the law has had several revisions since<br />
the date of enactment. The major challenge<br />
was in calculating 2008 estimated<br />
payments for our clients without having<br />
any forms or instructions available to us.<br />
We were forced to use estimator programs<br />
provided by the State of Michigan on its<br />
website while making several assumptions.<br />
Some tax practitioners were advising their<br />
clients to pay their estimates based on the<br />
old SBT and its rules. Use of this analogy<br />
can be very costly in that the components<br />
of the Michigan Business Tax are different<br />
from the old Single Business Tax.<br />
We have found that some businesses<br />
are paying a great deal more while other<br />
businesses are paying about the same or<br />
less. The industries that were greatly affected<br />
by the new MBT are in the service<br />
industry with gross receipts greater than<br />
$350,000 such as doctors, lawyers, CPAs,<br />
etc. Also affected are high-income rental<br />
real estate entities. Another important aspect<br />
of the new MBT is the Unitary Business<br />
Group (UBG) filing, which requires<br />
businesses with common control to follow<br />
certain guidelines and file one unitary business<br />
group return.<br />
Shimoun, Yaldo, Kashat & Associates<br />
also offers: accounting and compilation<br />
services, real estate and business investment<br />
analysis, payroll check preparation<br />
and services, financial projections and<br />
forecasts, personal financial statements,<br />
assistance with processing business loan<br />
applications, and notary public. The firm<br />
also provides support in Federal, State<br />
and Local Audits for businesses and individuals.<br />
The firm also prepares Anti Money<br />
Partners<br />
Tony Kashat,<br />
Sal Shimoun and<br />
Al Yaldo offer<br />
unparalleled<br />
CPA services.<br />
Laundering Programs and handles Compliance<br />
Audits for businesses that are classified<br />
as Money Services Business (MSB),<br />
which have become very common.<br />
Over the years, the firm has established<br />
relationships with many banks and financial<br />
institutions to aid clients with their business<br />
and individual financing needs and other<br />
banking services. Al Yaldo continues to<br />
serve as a director on the Bank of Michigan<br />
Board of Directors.<br />
In addition to their busy schedules, Sal<br />
and Al are active members of the Chaldean<br />
Chamber of Commerce and have officially<br />
overseen the group’s elections since inception.<br />
Sal continues to serve on the<br />
Associated Food and Petroleum Dealer’s<br />
Finance Committee.<br />
Please call (248) 851-7900 to make an<br />
appointment. The firm of Shimoun, Yaldo,<br />
Kashat & Associates is located at 31000<br />
Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Farmington<br />
Hills, MI 48331(at the corner of 13<br />
Mile Road and Northwestern Highway).<br />
Tax Tips<br />
• E-file your returns<br />
to eliminate errors<br />
and expedite your<br />
refunds through<br />
direct deposit.<br />
• Make your IRA<br />
contribution by<br />
April 15, <strong>2009</strong> to<br />
be deducted for<br />
2008. The maximum<br />
contribution has<br />
increased to $5,000<br />
for 2008. For those<br />
50 years of age and<br />
over, the additional<br />
catch-up contribution<br />
is $1,000.<br />
• If you need to file<br />
an extension and<br />
you owe money, you<br />
must pay the amount<br />
owed or face penalties.<br />
An extension<br />
of time to file is not<br />
an extension of time<br />
to pay.<br />
• The business mileage<br />
rate for 2008<br />
is $.505 for 1/1/08<br />
to 6/30/08 and<br />
$.585 for 7/1/08 to<br />
12/31/08.<br />
• You may be able<br />
to receive a stimulus<br />
rebate recovery on<br />
your 2008 Federal<br />
Tax Return if you did<br />
not receive the<br />
rebate last year.<br />
• A first-time homebuyer<br />
credit of up to<br />
$7,500 is available<br />
to qualified individuals<br />
who purchased a<br />
principal residence<br />
after April 8, 2008,<br />
and before July 1,<br />
<strong>2009</strong>.<br />
• Standard deduction<br />
filers may be<br />
eligible for a deduction<br />
up to $1,000 for<br />
property taxes paid.<br />
• It is very important<br />
to seek a tax<br />
professional during<br />
these tough economic<br />
times when<br />
household incomes<br />
are lower in order<br />
to maximize your<br />
available credits and<br />
refunds that may not<br />
have been available<br />
to you in past years.<br />
advertisement<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 39
CLASSIFIED listings<br />
CONDO FOR SALE<br />
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HOUSE FOR SALE<br />
BUSINESS FOR SALE<br />
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Pleasant Lake. Detached Ranch.<br />
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new furnaces. Marble surround<br />
fireplace. Formal Dining Room.<br />
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Large WIC & Jacuzzi in Master.<br />
Screened Porch off of Breakfast<br />
room. 2 Bedrooms & 3 full bath in<br />
WO. Lower Level with large 2nd<br />
family room and small kitchen.<br />
Wood floors and carpet. Great<br />
for growing family or out of town<br />
guests. Lake access. Home<br />
Warranty. Owner will help toward<br />
association dues. Small private<br />
complex, $459,000. Call Audrie<br />
Friedman, Max Broock Realtors<br />
(248) 644-4700<br />
(248) 417-0786 (cell).<br />
ATTN: REAL ESTATE<br />
INVESTORS<br />
2004 Florida rental condo<br />
reduced to SHORT SALE. 3<br />
miles from ocean, 5 colleges/<br />
universities within 20 minutes.<br />
Motivated seller. $84,900. Call<br />
586-557-7472.<br />
HOUSE FOR SALE<br />
LAKEFRONT ON<br />
ORCHARD LAKE<br />
4 bedroom Ranch, 3.5 baths<br />
on 1.4 acres premium lot. (248)<br />
335-0104.<br />
www.5081.commerce.com<br />
EXPECT TO BE IMPRESSED<br />
3 Bedroom, 1.5 baths, 2,100 sq ft<br />
On All Sport Lake Front.<br />
Immediate Occupancy! $1,400 a<br />
month. For more information call<br />
Lisa at (248) 310-6677 or Connie<br />
at (248) 752-4444.<br />
RELAX IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL<br />
sunroom or patio overlooking<br />
a pond and play area with this<br />
lovely 4 bedroom home with<br />
office, formal living and dining<br />
rooms, 2.5 baths, granite<br />
countertops in kitchen, family<br />
room has cathedral ceilings<br />
and fireplace, 1st floor laundry,<br />
finished basements with<br />
garden windows. In Commerce<br />
Township, Walled Lake Schools.<br />
Asking price $279,900. Call<br />
Monty or Vicki at (248) 960-9380.<br />
BUSINESS FOR SALE<br />
MUST SEE!!<br />
3,000 sq. ft liquor store.<br />
Great Location, Newly remodeled<br />
Corner store. Short hours.<br />
For all inquiries call Ron<br />
(248) 931-1065.<br />
FRANCHISE INSURANCE<br />
OFFICE<br />
Located in Waterford with room<br />
for a second business. Prime<br />
location, corner of a major<br />
intersection. Call for details,<br />
(248)420-7844.<br />
PRICE REDUCED!<br />
Bakery & Pizza store since 1961.<br />
High traffic area in St. Clair<br />
Shores. Building and business<br />
included. A must see. Call Paul<br />
Melier at (586) 212- 3138.<br />
Equipment for Sale<br />
LIKE NEW<br />
Middleby Marshall P360<br />
Conveyor<br />
Pizza Oven. Digitally-controlled<br />
bake time. Natural gas. Dough<br />
Sheeter & Slurpee machine for<br />
sale. All in mint condition. All<br />
priced to sell. Call Ron at<br />
(248) 931-1065.<br />
A COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND<br />
three rental homes on 4 ½ acre<br />
+/-, 20,000 traffic count. Prime<br />
location for gas station, plaza<br />
and etc. Excellent development<br />
potential. Willing to split<br />
buildings from houses. For more<br />
information, call (248) 640-2517<br />
or (517) 431-2477.<br />
office space<br />
BEAUTIFUL<br />
FURNISHED OFFICE<br />
In Troy. Reception area with<br />
hardwood/fireplace, 2 conf.<br />
rooms, 3 separate offices, 8<br />
cubicles, approx 2 K sq feet. Call<br />
Steve at, 586-504-4455.<br />
PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS
events<br />
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friends and family<br />
hockey night<br />
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9<br />
Photos by David Reed<br />
The bitter cold was no match for the dozens of people who<br />
showed up to cheer on the Chaldean Hockey League at a<br />
special fundraiser on January 11 at St. Mary’s Ice Arena in<br />
Orchard Lake. Proceeds from the Friends and Family Night<br />
raised $4,800 for the Chaldean Federation of America’s<br />
Adopt-a-Refugee Family program.<br />
1. Alden and Zina Kajy 2. Joey Sheena 3. Wilson Kassab with daughters Julia and<br />
Scarlette and niece Willow Kassab 4. David Sarafa and Brian Najor 5. Mae Kouza,<br />
Michelle Laissia, Evit Sara, Carol Loussia and Niram Shina. 6. Carl Hakim and Denise<br />
Farida 7. John Petrous 8. Amanda and Tony Kassab with their children, Lucas and<br />
Charlotte 9. Robert Esshaki and Lawrence Kuza<br />
<strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 41
events<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3 4<br />
5 6<br />
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1. Sami Herfy and Amani Alkhafaji draw raffle tickets 2. Dancing in the new year 3. Sunny Kada, Rita Ishak and Stephanie Habbo<br />
4. Vance Istifo, Vinsin Istifo, Christopher Batth, Michael Mansoor, Robert Badelalla, Ray Gabbara and Demere Asmar<br />
5. Nahida Bidawid with Frs. Basel Yaldo, Emanuel Shaleta and Ayad Khanjaro 6. Dhia Babbie 7. Lamia Sitto won this picture<br />
in the raffle 8. Karim and Naja Kenaya 9. Heba and Odai Bettroza 10. Angelina Kallo<br />
new year’s with st. george<br />
Photos by David Reed<br />
Spirits were high on December 31 at St. George’s New Year’s Eve at Penna’s of<br />
Sterling Heights. The party, attended by 380 people, was a fundraiser to pay off<br />
the church loan. “Spending New Year’s Eve with my close friends while simultaneously<br />
helping raise money for my church was indeed a rewarding way to kick off<br />
the New Year,” said Ray Gabbara of Sterling Heights. “The Parish Council<br />
members devoted countless hours preparing for this fabulous, formal party.”<br />
42 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>FEBRUARY</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
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