DECEMBER 2015

from the EDITOR
PUBLISHED BY
The Chaldean News, LLC
EDITORIAL
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Vanessa Denha-Garmo
MANAGING EDITOR
Joyce Wiswell
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Iklas Bashi
Crystal Kassab Jabiro
Bishop Francis Kalabat
Jovan Kassab
Weam Namou
Halim Sheena
Eric Younan
PROOFREADER
Lisa Kalou
ART & PRODUCTION
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative
Joseph Sesi with Sesi Design Group
PHOTOGRAPHER
David Reed
OPERATIONS
Interlink Media
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Martin Manna
CIRCULATION
Barbara Somero
CLASSIFIEDS
Joyce Wiswell
SALES
Interlink Media
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
Interlink Media
Sana Navarrette
Barbara Somero
MANAGERS
Vanessa Denha-Garmo
Martin Manna
Michael Sarafa
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Clarification
Our November One on One contained
an incorrect quote from
Senator Gary Peters. Here is
the correct text in answer to the
question, “What is the long-term
solution for helping minority populations
in the Middle East?”
“… ultimately you have to
have a reconciliation, a political
coming together, and having
people live in a country that accepts
a diversity of people and
religions, to allow Christians and
Muslims, both Shia and Sunni, to
live together. In Iraq we met with
some of the NGOs and some of
the local Iraqis who are part of
the reconciliation process in figuring
how do you bring Shia and
Sunni together to live in peace.”
A time to share
Every year I struggle
with what to buy my
husband for Christmas.
Unlike my daughter, who
starts her Christmas list right
after her birthday, Ron never
asks for anything. He is the
easiest-going person I know
but the hardest to shop for —
I am not sure why.
I usually end up at the
Shirt Box on Northwestern
just because they have hip
and cool clothes in his size.
He always loves them. However, I
still want to find that fun and cool
gift just for him.
I really enjoy finding gifts specific
to the person I am shopping for – not
what I would like but something personal
and meaningful.
It is one of the reasons I truly enjoy
our annual gift guide in the Chaldean
News. However, it is not an
easy task to find that new and exciting
item. We were fortunate to have
the Chaldean American Ladies of
Charity host their annual Shopping
Extravaganza last month, which enabled
us to find a few of the items for
our gift guide.
We are sharing with our readers
gift ideas we found.
This is my favorite time of the
year. I love November and December
— Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I love the feeling of love in the air.
I look forward to the camaraderie at
the parties and the kibitzing at the
dinner table.
Christmas always starts early in
my house, the day after Halloween
on All Saints Day. It is the official
start of the Christmas season in our
house with the tree going up and the
return of the Elf on the Shelf.
This year, my daughter asked us
not to put up the tree early because
she wasn’t quite ready to start behaving
on a daily basis — the Elf on the
Shelf or, in her case, the Elves would
be watching. That is right — we
have Katie the Elf and Buddy the Elf,
a girl and a boy. She asked Santa for
two because she thought her original
elf Buddy was bored at our house all
day when we were not home.
As much as I love this season —
creating our family Christmas card,
sending out gifts to Denha Media clients,
shopping for family and decorating
my house — this year is just
VANESSA
DENHA-GARMO
EDITOR IN CHIEF
CO-PUBLISHER
not the same.
Although this issue does
not focus on the ISIS crisis,
I would be remiss if I
didn’t mention how much
the persecution of Christians
has changed the season
this year. As much as
this is a joyful time, there is
also pain and sadness with
it. I can only hope we all
continue to pray for peace
and resolve. We are dealing
with a demonic movement.
What needs to be done politically is
an entirely different topic but I do
know what we can do is pray.
There has been no other time in
our lifetime where prayer has been
needed more.
Although there are certain things
Below: Vanessa Denha Garmo addresses
the Chaldean News’ Entrepreneur Forum.
Katie and Buddy the elves keep an eye
on things.
out of our control, there is much in
our control and that sentiment was
reiterated at the Chaldean News’
first-ever Entrepreneur Forum in reference
to business.
Thanks to our panelists Saber
Ammori, John Kello, Mike Sarafa
and Ron Boji for their time and insight.
Also to RJ King from Dbusiness
for moderating the event.
I have been fortunate to interview
so many people in the community
with fascinating stories and
expertise in their respective areas.
These entrepreneurs know what it is
like to fail and what it is like to succeed.
Sometimes we live in a community
where people hold things
close to the vest. That was not the
case at this event. The panelists were
candid and helpful.
I thank them for their time and
to care enough to share with others
what they have learned about business.
During this holiday season perhaps
each of us can find time not
only to be thankful, but to share with
others our time, our knowledge and
our faith.
Alaha Imid Koullen
(God Be With Us All)
Vanessa Denha-Garmo
vdenha@chaldeannews.com
Follow her on Twitter @vanessadenha
Follow Chaldean News on Twitter @
chaldeannews
6 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2015