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 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25 PER YEAR THE CHALDEAN NEWS 30850 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 220 BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM PHONE: (248) 996-8360 Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published monthly; Issue Date: December <strong>2015</strong> Subscriptions: 12 months, $25. Publication Address: 30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, Michigan 48025; Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address changes to “The Chaldean News 30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025” 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 <strong>DECEMBER</strong> <strong>2015</strong>
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