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4 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2006


CONTENTS 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 3 ISSUE III 

APRIL 2006 

on the cover 

30 TAKING A STAND 

BY JOYCE WISWELL 

Judge Diane Dickow D’ Agostini fights 

early release of prisoners 

30 

features 

32 CHANGES IN STORE FOR CFA 

BY KEN MARTEN 

Umbrella organization seeks relevancy 

34 MERGING ASSOCIATIONS 

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

Food dealers, petroleum retailers 

find strength in numbers 

24 42 

36 STEERING SHENANDOAH 


Hopes are high for new general manager 

39 GUEST EDITORIAL 

BY MICHAEL SARAFA 

Shenandoah Country Club is moving forward 

40 FRIENDS INDEED 

BY JENNIFER KORAIL 

Buddy system helps new immigrants learn 

34 36 

42 THE FOOD STAMP FACTOR 


One small change has caused a 

domino effect with grocers 

42 

sports 

44 RUNNING ON EXCELLENCE 

BY STEVE STEIN 

Teresa Semann impresses on and off the track 

departments 

8 FROM THE EDITOR 

10 YOUR LETTERS 

12 NOTEWORTHY 

14 CHAI TIME 

16 HALHOLE 

23 RELIGION 

24 IRAQ TODAY 

26 CALC CORNER 

28 ECONOMICS AND ENTERPRISE 

BY JOVAN KASSAB 

A Kinder, Gentler Cleaner 

46 EVENTS 

“ Cousins” Screening 

A Night of Chaldean Stars 

52 CLASSIFIED LISTINGS 

54 KIDS’ CORNER 


DORIS PANOS 

Personal Appearance 

and Trunk Show 

An exciting opportunity to meet Doris Panos 

and see her exquisite collection for Spring 

Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 

Please join us for a cocktail reception on 

Thursday, April 20th from 6pm - 9pm. 

Mark the Moment 

R 

ORCHARD MALL WEST BLOOMFIELD 248.932.7700 WWW.TAPPERS.COM

from the EDITOR 

WOW! 

There’s lots of excitement at 

Sayeg Plastic Surgery Center! 

Now you can achieve your dreams 

with Your New Looks! 

Sayeg Plastic Surgery Center offers a wide range of 

plastic surgery procedures and cosmetic treatments 

including Dr. Sayeg’s own minimally invasive 

PEBAM breast augmentation. 

Some of the procedures performed by Dr. Sayeg: 

PEBAM Breast Augmentation, Trans-umbilical PEBAM, 

SPAIR, Breast Reduction, Breast Lift, Breast Reconstruction, 

Male Breast Reduction, Liposuction, Body Sculpturing, 

Tummy Tuck, Post-Bariatric, Reconstruction, Thigh Lift Upper 

Arm Lift, Facelift and Brow lift, Cheek Implant, Surgery and 

Chin Implant Surgery, Nose Surgery, Eyelid Surgery, Scar 

Revision, BOTOX ® Restylane Radiesse 

Ayoub Sayeg, M.D. 

1120 E. Long Lake Road, Suite 150 

Troy, MI 48085 Tel: 248-526-9090 

Toll Free: 877-PEBAM-11 (877-732-2611) 

www.yournewlooks.com 

Standing up for your beliefs 

and doing the right thing 

Ilearned a long time ago to 

pick my battles wisely. Some 

things are just not worth the 

argument. I like to believe that 

I measure each situation and 

take on those issues absolutely 

necessary, the ones I have 

passion about, and the issues 

that force me to stand up for 

what is right and just. 

This April issue of The 

Chaldean News features various 

people in our community 

standing up and speaking out for 

issues in which they truly believe. 

Although their battles are quite different, 

they share a commonality — doing 

what they view as the right thing. 

In this month’ s cover story, Joyce 

Wiswell sat down with Judge Diane 

Dickow D’ Agostini to talk about a topic 

making headlines in Oakland County 

— overcrowded jails. Although her 

stance on the issue is not the popular 

one, Judge D’ Agostini is not 

backing down. 

Also fighting for what is 

right are members of the 

Associated Food Dealers 

(AFD), and on board with 

them are retailers and 

wholesalers who say the 

method of distributing food 

stamps is antiquated and 

that the system needs to 

change in order to benefit 

the customers, retailers and 

wholesalers. 

They are standing up for the customers 

who run out of money for food 

after the first 10 days of the month. 

They are standing up for wholesalers 

who can’ t provide the proper amount of 

stock for a store and they are standing 

up for the retailer who has a tough time 

keeping enough fresh produce, meat 

and dairy in stock all month long, and is 

also challenged with adequate staffing 

during the beginning of the month. 

In another article regarding the 

AFD, we cover their recent merger 

with the Great Lakes Petroleum 

Retailers and Allied Trades Association 

and talk to members of both boards on 

what that means for the industries and 

the new combined group. The associations 

exist now as one in order to stand 

up for the independent retailers and 

gas stations as they go up against corporate 

America and sometimes laws 

that only protect the big corporations. 

They exist because they want to give 

the independents a fair chance to succeed. 

Also believing that something 

VANESSA 

DENHA- 

GARMO 

EDITOR 

needs to change are those 

people behind the facelift of 

the Chaldean Federation of 

America (CFA). Writer Ken 

Marten did some research 

and discovered the latest 

happenings and restructuring 

of the CFA. Members of 

the Chaldean community 

took a stance against the 

direction of the CFA and 

urged those involved to refocus 

their energy and agenda 

to programs that best support the 

Chaldean community. 

Writer Jovan Kassab tells our readers 

about a Chaldean woman fighting 

germs in our environment and what she 

believes are unhealthy ways of ridding 

our homes and work spaces of germs. 

Josephine Elizabeth Fermanian has created 

an organic cleaner called Germs 

BeGone, and you can read more it in 

our Economics and Enterprise section. 

Sometimes it’s easier just 

to keep quiet … but it is 

those individuals who 

stand up for what they 

believe in and do the right 

thing who benefit us all. 

In life we are faced with all types of 

trials and tribulations — when you 

reach a certain age it is expected. It is 

how we react, deal with and cope with 

those situations that make us strong 

and make a difference in the world. 

Sometimes it’ s easier just to keep quiet 

and accept the decisions of the majority 

and status quo, even if it is wrong, 

but it is those individuals who stand up 

for what they believe in and do the right 

thing who benefit us all. 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

Letters to the editor can be sent via 

email to info@chaldeannews.com or 

to: The Chaldean News, Letters to 

the Editor, 30095 Northwestern Hwy., 

Ste. 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 


THE CHALDEAN NEWS 

PUBLISHED BY 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

Tony Antone 


Martin Manna 

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your LETTERS 

Bible Study 

I enjoyed reading the article on 

“ Chaldeans yesterday, today and 

tomorrow” [February 2006]. You had 

many interesting facts and interviewed 

many interesting people. I 

appreciate the outlook you gave on 

Chaldeans leaving the Catholic 

Church. 

I am amazed to think back to the 

generations of our ancestors from the 

ancient Assyrians to where we stand 

today that led to where our community 

is now. And also the great leap of 

faith it took for the great elders of our 

community to come to the foreign 

land of America in order to provide a 

better life for the younger generation 

Chaldeans. The question now 

unfolds is if we can better understand 

the faith and principles that this country 

was founded on, which was based 

off of Biblical Christianity. In the article 

you spoke of Chaldeans leaving 

the Catholic Church to Orthodox 

Christianity, which was very interesting 

to me because my family is a part 

of the Christian Church. 

The question then comes to what 

are the major differences between 

Biblical Christianity and partaking of 

the Roman Catholic Church? For 

myself I have found to agree with one 

of the people you interviewed that 

has left the Catholic Church, Danny 

Mikhail. His main reasoning is that he 

wanted to follow what God had given 

us in the Bible rather then certain traditions 

that the Church have given us 

that may not fall in line with Biblical 

teachings. 

Although the community may not 

fully understand this, it is the teachings 

that America was founded on 

and what the teachings of the early 

settlers followed; the Bible. All religious 

teachings must be tested by 

God’ s word. This was shown when 

St. Paul gave the message of the 

Gospel to the Berean Church and the 

Scriptures say what they did to see 

whether his teachings were of God or 

not, “ Now the Bereans were of more 

noble character than the 

Thessalonians, for they received the 

message with great eagerness and 

examined the Scriptures every day to 

see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 

17:11). 

We must do the same when we 

examine the faith we hold to and in 

order to do this we must study the 

Bible. On judgment day we will all be 

held accountable for what we 

believed as individuals, not on a corporate 

basis. So let us as a community 

be able to come together and 

study what God has preciously given 

us and see if we hold to the teachings 

of His Word. 

Chris Rassam 

Commerce Township 

Leaving Catholicism 

I’ m writing this letter with much love 

and no intention to attack any individual(s) 

but to just give my brief declaration 

as to why I left the Roman 

Catholic Church. I believe there are 

people in the Roman Catholic Church 

who are redeemed by Jesus and who 

have a personal relationship with him 

but are afraid to speak out against the 

system. Then there are others who 

just make public professions and outward 

expressions of so-called piety 

but in reality need to be told the true 

message of the Gospel. 

My whole life I’ ve been taught that 

the Roman Catholic Church was the 

only true church on Earth and never 

thought of leaving the system. I 

thought my departure from the 

Roman Catholic Church would jeopardize 

my salvation (go to Heaven), 

and upset my family and friends. 

According to Pope Boniface VIII in 

his Unam Sanctum, “ We declare, say, 

define, and pronounce that it is 

absolutely necessary for the salvation 

of every human creature to be subject 

to the Roman Pontiff.” 

When I was a Roman Catholic, I 

never thought to verify if statements 

like these were in the Bible since I 

thought the Bible can only be interpreted 

by the bishops or priests 

(Catechism of the Catholic Church 

par. 85,100). I never read the Bible 

as a Roman Catholic; after God put 

much in my life I soon came to him as 

a guilty sinner, confessed what things 

I’ ve done against him (asked for forgiveness) 

and asked Jesus to come in 

my life with full belief in my heart that 

He can help me. Mostly everything at 

our Chaldean Catholic Church was 

tradition and unbiblical. We never 

need to ask another man to forgive 

us, God alone is the one that forgives 


sin. Even the verses the Roman 

Catholic Church uses to back up this 

type of claim(s) are completely taken 

out of context to justify their traditions. 

Most Roman Catholics were born 

into the religion, as I myself was; 

there was no choice to be made. Just 

because a person is born into a religion, 

does not make that religion true; 

Indians are born into the Hinduism 

religion, but they worship over 300 

million gods. Ask any Indian who is a 

Hindu if they have the right religion 

and they will tell you that they do 

since they have been taught that it’ s 

right all their lives. However, the Bible 

says, “ There is a way which seems 

right unto a man, but the end thereof 

are the ways of death” (Proverbs 

14:12). 

Brian Thweni 

Oak Park 

A Second Home 

The Chaldean Catholic Church is the 

way, the truth, and the light to every 

wanted believer. It is the only truth 

because Jesus is there waiting for 

you. I am extremely proud to be a 

Chaldean Catholic believer. The Bible 

is present in the Chaldean Church, it 

is presented and elevated in the 

priest’ s hands during the reading. 

The words of the Bible are put into 

action through our various committees 

that help the needy. 

The Chaldean Church is doing a 

superb job in taking the faith into a 

higher level by offering theology and 

apologetics courses to our community. 

May God bless every Chaldean that is 

truly committed to the Chaldean 

Catholic faith. The Chaldean Church is 

my second home. 

Ibtihal Atisha 

Stand And Defend 

I read the article on “ Changing Faces” 

and there was a section that deeply 

offended me, about the Chaldean kid 

who converted to Protestant. It had 

many false facts about the Catholic 

faith, about not having Bibles in the 

church and so on. Those are very 

untrue facts. 

It saddens me that The Chaldean 

News went that far to print an article 

on a faith, which is unlike the majority 

of the Chaldeans. How could you go 

that far to print an article like that, not 

one section there was to defend our 

faith. How sad is that? We are 

Catholics and not Protestant! And I 

speak for all our people, which are the 

majority Catholic. There wasn’ t anything 

that spoke about the Catholics 

and defending them against this wave 

of new religion. 

We must stand and defend our 

faith and this must be an issue that 

The Chaldean News needs to take a 

concern about. In your eyes it might 

not matter, but to many it could make 

them think twice about their faith, and 

that is wrong! 

We have the true faith and we are 

blessed to have it. God blessed us 

from the time our families came over 

here from Iraq, and we must not 

come here to America and leave our 

faith. This issue needs to be 

addressed, and not in a minor way, 

but in a major way! 

We as Catholics were attacked by 

another religion and that is very 

appalling! You as The Chaldeans 

News should be more observant in 

what is printed! We as Catholics read 

the Bible, pray the rosary, honor the 

saints, have the true Eucharist, have a 

priesthood, and go to mass! This is our 

faith and our faith defines our culture! 

Amanda Foumia 

West Bloomfield 

More Than One 

I would like to remind everyone that Mr. 

[Yonadam] Kanna is not our only representative 

in Iraq as stated in your article 

“ Iraq’ s Kanna comes calling” 

[March 2006] when you claimed 

Kanna is the only Christian in Iraq’ s 

newly elected 275-member National 

Assembly. There are also two other 

Chaldeans elected in as being part of 

the Kurdistna Alliance List. They are 

Mr. Fawzi Franso Toma and Mr. 

Ablahad Afram Sawa, and they have 

worked hard for our people in the Arbil 

province. Their results can be seen in 

places like Ankawa, where the economy 

has flourished. 

Noor Matti 

Warren 

Every Tuesday 

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Private parties up to 

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Carry-out Service at our 

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Phone: 248-539-8300 • Fax: 248-539-8303 


NOTEworthy 

PHOTO COURTESY ZINDA MAGAZINE 

MISTER CHAIRMAN 

Kevin Jappaya has been elected 

chair of the Livingston County 

Convention & Visitors Bureau. He is 

seen above accepting the gavel 

from past chair Kimberly Dane. 

Jappaya is the manager of the 

Kensington Inn in Howell. “ Kevin is 

wholeheartedly embracing this leadership 

opportunity and his enthusiasm 

is certain to invigorate his fellow 

board members,” said Barbara 

Barden, executive director for the 

LCCVB, in a statement. 

Stuart 

Benyamin 

Michael 

Sarafa 

Connie 

Johnson 

PEOPLE 

Assyrian Stuart Benyamin recently 

appeared on “ American Idol” in full 

traditional clothing. He talked about 

being Assyrian and sang an Assyrian 

folk song in Aramaic — but did not 

make the cut to go to go further in the 

competition. Nonetheless, his performance 

sparked many positive 

comments on the TV show’ s website. 

Michael Sarafa has been appointed 

to Farmington Hill’ s Economic 

Development Corporation for a term 

that expires in 2009. Sarafa is the executive 

chairman of the Bank of Michigan. 

Connie Shallal Johnston 

received the Outstanding Adjunct 

Teacher of the Year Award for 2006 

at the Auburn Hills campus of 

Oakland Community College at a 

dinner on March 24. She has taught 

mathematics there for nine years. 

STORE MURDERS SHOCK 

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY 

Two Chaldeans working in a liquor store in El Cajon, California, 

were killed in a robbery gone bad on March 1. 

A cousin of one of the victims discovered the man and 

woman face-down and bleeding inside Granada Liquor. 

Both had been shot at least once in the back of the 

head. 

Killed were Firas Waahid Eiso, 23, and Heather 

Mattia, 22, the store’ s co-owner. Eiso had moved to 

the United States six months ago, reportedly to escape 

war-torn Iraq. He was working two jobs and saving to 

bring his family over. Eiso’ s parents, who live in Iraq, 

were not at the burial because they were denied temporary 

visas into the United States by the American 

Embassy in Jordan. The reasons for the denial have not 

been made public. 

Mattia’ s funeral drew some 2,000 members of the 

San Diego-area Chaldean community. She was buried 

in a white wedding dress. 

The Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores 

Association is offering a $100,000 reward for information 

leading to the conviction of the killers. At press time, there 

had been no arrests. 

REWARD OFFERED 

IN LOCAL STORE SHOOTING 

Farmington Hills Police (FHP) are seeking two men in an 

attempted robbery and shooting at the Orchard Market 

Place on 13 Mile and Orchard Lake Road in Farmington 

Hills on February 22. A $10,000 reward is being offered by 

the FHP and the Waad Murad Advocacy Fund for information 

leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. 

The suspects, described as African-American males, 

one in a mask, entered the store at about 10:10 p.m., produced 

a gun and demanded money of the clerk, Jeffrey 

Ammouri. According to police, one asked Ammouri if he 

had activated an alarm. He said no, but was shot several 

times anyway. Ammouri underwent surgery and is expected 

to make a complete recovery. 

“ This was an unprovoked vicious assault that caused serious 

injury to an innocent victim,” said FHP Chief William J. Dwyer. 

The Waad Murad Advocacy Fund is part of the 

Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. Helping bring 

perpetrators of violent crime to justice is one of its key missions. 

Anyone with information on the suspects is encouraged 

to call Farmington Hills Police at (248) 871-2610. 

CHAMBER DINNER 

NEARLY SOLD OUT 

Nearly all 850 tickets for the Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce’ s Third Annual Awards Dinner on April 7 have 

been sold. 

The event, which takes place at Shenandoah Country 

Club, features cocktails, dinner, Chaldean classical music 

and a varied program. Receiving awards are James Jonna 

as Business Person of the Year and the Chaldean American 

Ladies of Charity (CALC) as Humanitarians of the Year. A 

special tribute will honor U.S. Congressman Joe 

Knollenberg for his legislative work on behalf of the 

Chaldean community. 

Tickets to the dinner are $125 and will not be sold at the 

door. Call (248) 538-3700 for details. 

Norman 

Yatooma 

ATTORNEY WINS IN 

KINKADE GALLERY CASE 

Norman Yatooma of Norman Yatooma & Associates, P.C. 

in Birmingham, is reportedly the first attorney to successfully 

arbitrate against Thomas Kinkade’ s Media Arts, Inc., over 

the artist’ s failed galleries. 

Kinkade is known for his mass-produced, 

Christian-themed paintings featuring cottages, 

bridges and country landscapes. Though critics 

deride his work, many consumers have 

embraced it, leading to a growing number of 

Thomas Kinkade Signature Galleries. Last 

month, a three-member panel of the American 

Arbitration Association ruled against Media Arts 

Group, Inc. and one of its key executives, awarding 

Jeff Spinello and Karen Hazlewood damages 

in an amount which, when costs, fees, and interest 

are calculated, will exceed $3.5 million. 

Yatooma represents 23 allegedly ruined 

Signature Gallery franchisees from seven states in pending 

arbitration. Though several other Signature Gallery franchisees 

had sued Kinkade and Media Arts on the same 

legal theories (fraud, bad faith, and state franchise statutory 

violations among others), Yatooma is reportedly the first to 

declare victory. 

In March, the Thomas Kinkade Company filed a lawsuit 

in Oakland County Circuit Court accusing Yatooma and an 

associate of illegally eavesdropping during arbitration hearings 

last year. The suit alleges that the two improperly transmitted 

over the Internet a live feed of testimony to a witness 

in the case. Yatooma calls the suit a “ simply reflexive retaliation 

from a desperate man and his desperate counsel.” 

WIRELESS TOYZ 

MAKES THE LIST 

Entrepreneur Magazine has ranked Wireless Toyz as one of 

the top new franchises of 2006 for those companies that 

are five years old or less. Wireless Toyz ranked 19th out of 

50 new franchises and also earned the No. 79 spot in the 

magazine’ s list of the year’ s fastest-growing franchises. 

The Chaldean-owned Wireless Toyz opened 65 new 

stores last year, expanded from 12 states to 19, awarded 97 

new franchise licenses, and added seven new territory 

developers to the 13 previously participating in its master 

franchise program. The company already has signed franchise 

agreements for all of the 125 new locations scheduled 

to open in 2006, and is currently on track to have 1,000 

stores open by 2011. Randall A. Denha is the firm’ s chief 

general counsel/vice president of real estate development. 

AUTHOR RECALLS 

ANCIENT GREECE 

Chaldean Ren A. Hakim has published 

Xerxes. The book tells the tale 

of Xerxes (known as Khashayarshah 

to the Persians and Ahasuerus to the 

Hebrews), who in 480 B.C., led an 

unprecedented army of nations on a 

retributive attack against Athens in 

what would come to be known as the 

second Greco-Persian War. 

Hakim’ s “ novelized” screenplay tells the tale of the most 

feared and revered figure of his time. Learn more and order 

the book at www.renahakim.com. 


NOW SERVING 

Nathan Kalasho stands outside his new 

restaurant, Falafel House, on 6540 

Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield. 

The eatery offers a wide variety of 

Middle-Eastern cuisine and raw juices. 

Kalasho was the manager of Mushwar 

for four years. 

STUDENTS WIN SCIENCE FAIR AWARDS 

Four Chaldean children are among 12 students from Our Lady of 

Refuge School who entered the Detroit Metropolitan Science and 

Engineering Fair held recently at Cobo Hall. 

Monica Nona took a second-place award, while Kyle Acho, 

Sean Koza and Matt Nona were fifth-place winners. In addition, 

Nona received professional monetary awards from DTE Energy and 

Kyle Acho was recognized with a professional and monetary award 

from the Detroit Water Department. 

BANK OF MICHIGAN 

OFFERS COURIER SERVICE 

The Bank of Michigan has begun offering a complimentary courier service 

to its clients. 

A courier will pick up deposits from all non-cash business clients, doctor’ 

s offices, law offices, accounting firms and the like. Courier service will 

be available to businesses up to three times a week or as needed, dependent 

on the volume, at no charge. 

“ We’ re going the extra mile to offer convenience to our customers,” 

said Michael Sarafa, the bank’ s executive chairman. 

The Bank of Michigan is located at 30095 Northwestern Highway in 

Farmington Hills. Call (248) 865-1300. 

YOU’LL SAVE MONEY. BRING BOTH TO ALLSTATE, AND SAVE UP TO 25% 

ON HOME INSURANCE AND 17% ON AUTO INSURANCE. 

OTHA WILLIAMS 

5640 WEST MAPLE, 202 

WEST BLOOMFIELD 

(248) 626 6300 

a002952@allstate.com 

ACC FIGHTING HEPATITIS 

The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) has been awarded a 

grant to help combat hepatitis C. 

Roche Laboratories awarded the $15,000 grant to ACC’ s Public 

Health Division. The aim of the Hepatitis C Public Health Awareness 

and Education Project is to educate the adult high-risk 

Arab/Chaldean population with information about the disease, risk 

factors, impact in other ethnic minority populations, and detection 

measures available through appropriate screenings. 

According to ACC, the Chaldean and Arab population has been identified 

as a community that suffers from and is at continued risk for all 

health disease disparities. This is due to a lack of health education and 

screening services specifically targeted toward the population. Hepatitis 

C often goes undiagnosed. 

For more information on this and other ACC public health projects, 

contact the Public Health Team, Monty Fakhouri, Hikmet Jamil and 

Evone Barkho, at (248) 559-1990. 

P.S. Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce 

Discount and insurance offered only with select companies and subject to availability and qualifications. Discount 

amount may be lower. Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Allstate 

Indemnity Company; Northbrook, IL © 2003 Allstate Insurance Company. 


CHAI time 

CHALDEANS CONNECTING 

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT APRIL 2006 

[Sunday, April 2] 

Southfield Hockey Club Alumni Day: Open to all 

who ever played, coached or sponsored SHC, which 

is celebrating 36 years. Southfield Civic Center Arena. 

(248) 356-0022 or www.southfieldhockeyclub.net. 

5th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade: Begins 

at 3 p.m. at Woodward Avenue and marches through 

Monroe Street. A post-parade ceremony and dance 

performance is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. at Monroe and 

St. Antoine. Http://detroit.greekparades.com. 

[Wednesday, April 5 - Sunday, April 9] 

Barbie Live in Fairytopia: Kid-friendly show plays the Fox 

Theatre. Tickets are $19.50-$42.50. (313) 471-3200. 

[Friday, April 7] 

Chaldean Chamber Dinner: Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce’ s Third Annual Awards Dinner. 

6 p.m., Shenandoah Country Club. Tickets must be 

purchased in advance and will not be available at the 

door. (248) 538-3700. (See page 12 for more details). 

Empty Bowls: Dinner, raffle and silent auction of decorative 

bowls benefit American Red Cross and 

Gleaners Community Food Bank. $5 per person or 

$20 per family. Oakley Park Elementary School, 2015 

Oakley Park Road, Walled Lake. 

[Friday, April 7 - Sunday, April 9] 

Design Weekend: Designer Kayla Kennington offers 

a trunk show, lectures and workshops. Haberman 

Fabrics, 905 S. Main Street, Royal Oak. For a schedule 

and fees, visit www.habermanfabrics.com or call 

(248) 541-0010. 

[Wednesday, April 19] 

St. George Fundraiser: The event begins at 5:30 

p.m. with a mass at the Shelby Township church conducted 

by Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, then continues 

with dinner and dancing at 7 p.m. at Penna’ s of 

Sterling Heights. Tickets are $100, to purchase, call 

St. George at (586) 254-7221 or Carl Dallo at (586) 

295-5555. 

[Thursday, April 20 - Friday, April 21] 

Doris Panos: The award-winning jewelry designer 

makes a special appearance at Tapper’ s, 6337 

Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield. Five percent 

of sales from her merchandise Thursday evening 

through Friday will be donated to the Chaldean 

American Ladies of Charity. (248) 865-6347. 

[Friday, April 21] 

Jerry Seinfeld: The comic does two shows at the Fox 

Theatre. Tickets are $48-$78. (313) 471-3200. 

[Saturday, April 22] 

ImaginAide: Benefit for the Coalition on Temporary 

Shelter includes food, entertainment and silent auction of 

clock-themed pieces. $125 per person. 6 p.m., Marriott 

Renaissance Center, Detroit. (313) 881-3777 ext. 285. 

[Tuesday, April 25] 

Hot Topics in Women’s Health: Final session from 

Henry Ford Health System addresses “ In a Heart 

Beat: Discovering ways to improve your cardiovascular 

well-being.” $10. JCC-Handleman Hall, Jewish 

Community Campus, 6600 W. Maple Road, West 

Bloomfield. (313) 874-2182. 

[Thursday, April 27] 

Women Enterprisers: Workshop designed for 

women who own and manage a business or are 

thinking of starting a new business. Presented by 

the Chaldean American Ladies of Charity at 

Shenandoah Country Club, 7 p.m. RSVP by April 

25, (248) 352-5018. 

Please let us know what is going on in the community. 

Fax your information to The Chaldean 

News Editorial Department. Subject: Chai Time 

Fax: 248-932-9161 


Don’t let gambling get the best of you. 

Please gamble responsibly. 

Michigan Department of Community Health 

Get the best of gambling by gambling responsibly. 

That means having a plan, setting a budget and a 

time limit. There are lots of tips to help you get the 

most enjoyment out of gambling. There are also 20 

signs that gambling is becoming a problem too. 

If you think you or someone you know needs more 

information just call 1.800.270.7117 for help. 


HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

Brooklynn Vera 

We prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted us what 

we asked of Him (1 Samuel 1:27). Danny and Amy (Yousif) 

VanLacken are proud to announce the arrival of Brooklynn 

Vera. Brooklynn was born on February 17, 2006, weighing 

6 lbs., 11 oz. and measuring 19 inches long. Grandparents 

are Wadia Yousif and Annette & Daniel VanLacken. 

Nicholas Daniel 

Lena (Foumia) and Daniel Tauro are proud to announce the 

birth of their little Boston Red Socks fan. Nicholas Daniel 

Tauro was born on February 5, 2006, weighing 7 lbs., 4 oz. 

and measuring 21 inches long. The proud grandparents are 

Fahmi & Jalila Foumia and Debora & Benny Tauro. The new 

family resides in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Hannah Jamila 

The Lord has blessed Mark and Crystal Jabiro with their first 

child, Hannah Jamila. She was born on February 16, 2006, at 

10:42 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz., and was almost 21 inches 

long. Hannah is the 10th grandchild for Farid & Azhar Jabiro, 

and the fourth for Amir & Khalida Kassab. Hannah’ s godparents 

are her aunt Zeina Sharak and her uncle Marvin Jabiro. 

Nina 

On March 15, 2006, Mona and Elliott Attisha celebrated the birth 

of their daughter, Nina. Nina is the first grandchild for Talia & David 

Hanna and the fifth grandchild for Najeba & Hikmat Attisha. 

Brooklynn Vera 

Hannah Jamila 

Nicholas Daniel 

Nina 

When you wish 

upon a 

"Star"... 

Michael Stars 

has arrived ! 

maternity 

Gift Certificates Available • Hours: M-F: 10-6 • SAT: 10-5 

6718 Orchard Lake West Bloomfield Plaza • 248.855.2688 


[Births] 

Pierson Evan 

Hi! I’ m Pierson! I made my debut on December 24, 2005! I 

weighed 8.5 lbs. and measured 22 inches tall. I’ m the first 

born to my parents, Evan & Vanessa Bahoura. They are 

ecstatic to have me! On this day, I met four special people 

who will never tell me “ no,” my grandparents, Naji & Khalida 

Bahoura and Wadi & Hana Yono. I’ m already a part of the 

“ in-crowd” with my hip cousins Blake, Annabel and Nina! 

I’ m so excited to be here and enjoy life with my new family! 

Hooray for me! 

Lourdes Rose 

Noah Qonja is proud to announce the arrival of his baby sister, 

Lourdes Rose. Lourdes was born on September 18, 

2005 at 8:04 a.m., weighing 5 lbs., 11 oz. and measuring 

18.5 inches long. Proud parents are Karl & Crystal Qonja. 

Grandparents are Zuher & Haifa Qonja, Naela Asmaro and 

Tariq Zetouna. Godmother is Sabrina Saco. 

Lauren Therese 

God has blessed Robert and Heather Kas-Shamoun 

with a beautiful baby girl, Lauren Therese. She was 

born on December 22, 2005 at 2:32 pm. She weighed 

7lbs., 9 oz. and measured 20 inches long. Big brother 

Alex loves her very much. Lauren is the fifth grandchild 

of Habib & Nasreen Kas-Shamoun and the sixth for 

George & Ikram Abbo. 

Pierson Evan 

Lauren Therese 

Lourdes Rose 

SHARE YOUR 

JOY 

COMMUNITY! 

WITH 

THE 

Announcements are offered free of 

charge to paid subscribers. 

Please email or mail announcements 

with a photo to the Chaldean News at: 


Chaldean News; c/o Editor 

Subject: Announcements 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Ste 102 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

(hard copy of photos can be 

picked up after the 15th of the month) 

©2006 Marshall Field’s 

A beautiful reception... 

A stunning dress... 

Close friends and family anticipating the big day... 

It all starts with the invitation 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS 

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Invitations for all your occasions & more... 

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Bridal Trunk Shows 

April 7–9 

Toni Federici Accessories Trunk Show 

April 28–30 

Bridal Gown Sample Sale 

50–75% off designer bridal gowns and veils. 

Special-occasion and bridesmaid dresses for $49.97. 

Somerset Bridal Salon, 1st floor 

To schedule an appointment, please call 248-816-4270. 

fields.com ® /bridalsalon 

Grand 

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Nails Today 

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halhole! 

[Births] 

Sagel Marie 

Sagel Marie Yono was born on January 2, 2006 at 3:32 p.m. 

at Huron Valley Hospital in Commerce weighing 6 lbs. 1 oz. 

and 20.5 inches. She is the first child for Randy and Dunia 

Yono. Sager is the 11th grandchild for Salman & Muntaha 

Yono and the first grandchild for Alfred & Neeran Allos. 

Anthony George 

George Jr. and Rhana Dabish have been gifted with their 

first child, Anthony George Dabish. He was born on 

February 21, 2006 at 6:54 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs., 10 oz. 

and was 22 inches long. Grandparents are George & 

Carmela Dabish and Raja Dalal. 

Ava Marie 

Mark and Sathab Ousachi are happy to announce the birth 

of their second daughter, Ava Marie, born on May 6, 2005. 

She weighed 8 lbs. and was 21 inches long. Ava’ s older 

sister is Maya. Ava is the fourth grandchild for Mowaffaq & 

Latifa Ousachi and the second for Kamal & Bushra Abbo. 

Ronnie Joseph 

Ronnie Joseph Yaldoo III was born on January 19, 2006 at 

6:50 p.m. at Huron Valley Hospital in Commerce. He 

weighed 5 lbs., 10 oz. and was 17.75 inches long. Proud 

parents are Ronnie and Lisa Yaldoo. Ronnie’ s grandparents 

are Frank & Faye Awdish, Ronnie Yaldoo and Jeanette 

Shouneyia. Godparents are Clark Jabiro & Olivia Kashat. 

Sagel Marie 

Ava Marie 

Anthony George 

Ronnie Joseph 

What a delicious complement 

to your holiday table! 

Easter is 

Sunday, April 16 th 

Delicious Fruit Design® 

with Chocolate Covered 

Apple Wedges 

To order, please call or visit: 

248-879-9300 

Troy Corners Shopping Center 

52 W. Square Lake Road • Troy, MI 48098 

©2005 

NEW LOCATION 

700 N. OLD WOODWARD • BIRMINGHAM, MI 

(248) 723 -9975 

MON - FRI 10-5:30 • THURS 10-7 • SAT 10-5 

Copyright © 2006 Edible Arrangements®, LLC • Franchises Available.Call (203) 407-8777 

Edible Arrangements ® – www.ediblearrangements.com 


[Engagements] 

Gina and Francis 

Jalal & Nedhal Farida are proud to announce the engagement 

of their daughter, Gina Farida, to Francis Semma, son 

of Sobhi & Nawal Semma. The couple was engaged on 

November 11, 2005 and will wed in August 2006 at Mother 

of God Church with a reception at Shenandoah Country 

Club. A Mediterranean cruise is planned for the honeymoon. 

Gina is in the elementary education program at 

Oakland University and Francis is the owner of Coffee Time 

Café in Commerce. 

Jeff and Angela 

Jeff Zeer and Angela Karmo celebrated their engagement 

on October 15, 2005. Jeff is the son of Husnni & Suad Zeer 

and Angela’ s parents are Jalal & Nadia Karmo. The wedding 

will take place in May 2006 at St. Thomas Chaldean 

Church with a reception at Shenandoah Country Club. 

Minna and Brian 

Andre & Frieda Hindo are pleased to announce the engagement 

of their daughter, Minna Hindo, to Brian Sharrak, son 

of Alaa & Clair Sharrak. Brian proposed on July 22, 2005. 

Brian is a partner in the family business and Minna works 

for an IT consulting firm. The couple plans a September 

2006 wedding at Mother of God Church with the reception 

at Shenandoah Country Club. 

Gina and Francis 

Minna and Brian 

Jeff and Angela 

SHARE YOUR 

JOY 

COMMUNITY! 

WITH 

THE 












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HALHOLE! 

[Weddings] 

Wesam and Silvana 

Wesam and Silvana Petros were married on December 17, 

2005 at Mother of God Church, followed by a reception at 

Penna’ s of Sterling Heights. Wesam is the son of Baderya 

Toma and the late Binyamin Petros. Silvana’ s parents are 

Yousif & Mary Patto. The best man was Robert Barash and 

maid of honor was Silvana’ s cousin, Zina Patros. The couple 

honeymooned in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 

Jennifer and Peter 

Jennifer Kasco and Peter Shunyia were married July 10, 2005 at 

St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church, West Bloomfield. The 

reception was held at the Marriott in Troy. The bride is the daughter 

of Nancy Holmes and Kenneth Kasco. She is employed by 

Hall & Hunter, Realtors, Birmingham. The groom is the son of 

Sallim & Wafaa Shunyia. He is employed by Morgan Stanley, 

Birmingham. Jessica Holmes, sister of the bride, served as the 

maid of honor. Sinan Albanna was the best man. The couple 

honeymooned in Tahiti and Bora Bora in French Polynesia. 

JR and Claudine 

Claudine Attallah and Salim (JR) George Jr. were married 

on October 8, 2005, at Mother of God Church, with a 

reception following at Shenandoah Country Club. Claudine 

is the daughter of Selim & Nadera Attallah and JR’ s parents 

are Salim & Jalila George. Mark George was the best man 

and Diane Attallah was the matron of honor. The couple 

honeymooned in Hawaii and Las Vegas. 

Wesam and Silvana 

JR and Claudine 

Jennifer and Peter 

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evening 

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gets rid of discoloration, for younger healthier looking skin. 

Ask for Kelly. Must present ad. 

for your first European facial! 

1 hour facial to help re-hydrate skin, reduce the appearance 

of blackheads, and control acne prone skin. Ask for Anna 

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for facial hair, white or grey, and clients who could 

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laser hair removal 

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Upcoming 

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-Cymbeline Paris ........January 20th & 21st 

-Yolanda Couture .......February 17th & 18th 

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by Elma Reis .........February 24th & 25th 

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GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!! 

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halhole! 

Dahlia and Jason 

Dahlia Ousachi and Jason Abro were married on 

September 6, 2005, at St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic 

Church, with a reception following at Penna’ s of Sterling 

Heights. Dahlia is the daughter of Mowaffaq & Latifa 

Ousachi and Jason’ s parents are Ghanim & Batoul Abro. 

Dahlia is a dental hygienist for Dr. Shakeel Niazi and Jason 

has recently been promoted to detective at the Macomb 

County Sheriff’ s Office. The couple honeymooned in the 

Rivera Maya and Las Vegas. 

Jenny and Ziyad 

Jenny Bata and Ziyad Ankawi were married on November 

30, 2005 at Mother of God Church. The reception was held 

at Penna’ s of Sterling Heights. Jenny is the daughter of the 

late Karim & Naehma Bata and Ziyad is the son of Tarik & 

Mona Ankawi. The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii. 

Samah and Baha 

Baha Najib Foumia fled the persecution in Iraq and Samah 

Pota also fled the country with her family. They both found 

love in Germany, where they were married on January 7, 

2006. The bride’ s parents are Mr. & Mrs. Samir Pota and 

the parents of the groom are Samira Foumia & the late Najib 

Foumia. Maid of honor was the bride’ s sister, Sally Pota, 

and the groom’ s brother, Safa Foumia, was the best man. 

A small Chaldean community resides in Germany. 

Dahlia and Jason 

Samah and Baha 

Jenny and Ziyad 

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WITH 

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RELIGION 

PLACES OF PRAYER 

CHALDEAN CHURCHES IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT 

THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE IN THE UNITED STATES 

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE 

Mar (Bishop) Ibrahim N. Ibrahim 

www.chaldeandiocese.org 

MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48034; 248-356-0565 

RECTOR: Rev. Manuel Boji 

PAROCHIAL VICAR: Rev. Wisam Matti 

MASS SCHEDULE: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. in Sourath 

(Aramaic) and Arabic, Tuesday 5:50 p.m. in Sourath and Arabic, Saturday 5:30 p.m. in 

English, Sunday 8:30 a.m. in Arabic and Sourath, 10 a.m. in English, 12 p.m. in Sourath 

SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

310 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203, 313-368-6214 

PASTOR: Rev. Jacob Yasso 

MASS SCHEDULE: Monday - Saturday 5 p.m. in Sourath, Sunday 8:30 a.m. in Arabic 

and Sourath, 10 a.m. in English, 12 p.m. in Sourath 

MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

24010 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park, MI 48237, 248-547-4648 

PASTOR: Rev. Stephen Kallabat 

PAROCHIAL VICAR: Rev. Shlaman Denha 

MASS SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday 10 a.m in Sourath, Sunday 

10 a.m. in Sourath and Arabic, 12:30 p.m. in Sourath 

ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI; (586) 254-7221 

MASS SCHEDULE: Sunday: 10 a.m. in Sourath, 12 p.m. in English and Sourath, 

2 p.m. in Sourath and Arabic; Baptisms: 3:30 p.m. Sundays 

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

2442 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083, 248-528-3676 

PASTOR: Rev. Emanuel Shaleta 

PAROCHIAL VICAR: Rev. Jirjis Abrahim, Rev. Andrew Younan 

MASS SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday 10 a.m in Sourath, Saturday 5 p.m. in Soureth, 

Sunday 8 a.m. in Soureth,10 a.m. in English, 

12 p.m. Soureth, 2 p.m. in Soureth and Arabic 

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

6900 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, 248-788-2460 

PASTOR: Rev. Frank Kalabat 

Rev. Emanuel Rayes (retired) 

MASS SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. in Sourath, Saturday 

5 p.m. in English, Sunday 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in 

English, 12:30 p.m. in Sourath 

ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH 

2560 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48335, 248-478-0835 

PASTOR: Rev. Toma Behnama 

MASS SCHEDULE: Sunday 12 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6 p.m. 

All masses are in Syriac, Arabic and English 

APRIL CALENDAR 

KEY OBSERVATION DATES 

S M T W T F S 


1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 

30 

7 Lazarus Friday 

9 Palm Sunday 

13 Holy Thursday 

14 Good Friday 

15 Holy Saturday 

16 Easter Sunday 

17 Easter Monday 

21 Feast of All Martyrs 

23 Feast of Mar Auraha 

24 St. George the Martyr 


IRAQ today 

PHOTO BY KHALID MOHAMMED/AP 

Saddam calls on Iraqis 

to fight Americans 

BY BASSEM MROUE 

BAGHDAD, Iraq/AP 

The judge shouted that he was no longer Iraq’ s 

president, but Saddam Hussein wasn’ t listening. 

He kept addressing the Iraqi people as if he 

were still their leader, calling on them in a rambling 

speech to fight the Americans. 

Finally, chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman in frustration 

ordered journalists out of the courtroom in March 

15’ s stormy session of Saddam’ s trial and turned off 

the cameras for 90 minutes. 

Saddam was called into court to testify for the first 

time and undergo questioning on charges he ordered 

the killing of 148 Shiites and the imprisonment and 

torture of others during a crackdown in the 1980s. 

Instead, Saddam, dressed in a black suit and 

wearing large reading glasses, read from a prepared 

text, addressing the “ great Iraqi people’ ’ — a phrase 

he often used in his presidential speeches — and said 

he was “ pained’ ’ by the wave of Sunni-Shiite violence 

tearing Iraq apart in recent weeks. 

“ Let the people unite and resist the invaders and 

their backers. Don’ t fight among yourselves,’ ’ he said, 

praising the insurgency. 

“ In your resistance to the invasion by the 

Americans and Zionists and their allies, you were 

great. You were great in my eyes and you remain so. 

... It’ s only a matter of time until the sun rises and 

you’ ll be victorious,’ ’ he said. 

When Abdel-Rahman told him to discuss his role 

in the crackdown in the Shiite town of Dujail “ as head 

of state at the time,’ ’ Saddam retorted, “ I am the head 

of state.’ ’ 

“ You used to be a head of state. You are a defendant 

now,’ ’ Abdel-Rahman barked. 

Saddam Hussein 

argues with the chief 

judge while testifying 

during his trial in 

Baghdad on March 15. 

The stormy exchanges were a stark contrast to the 

past few sessions, when each of Saddam’ s seven codefendants 

took the stand, one by one, and were 

questioned by the judge and prosecutor about the 

Dujail crackdown, launched after a 1982 assassination 

attempt on Saddam. 

Even Saddam’ s half brother, former intelligence 

chief Barzan Ibrahim — who has frequently caused an 

uproar in the court in the past — submitted to more 

than three hours of questioning earlier that day. He 

denied any role in the crackdown, and as prosecutors 

presented a series of intelligence memos on the 

arrests allegedly with his signatures, he insisted each 

was a forgery. 

Prosecutors will have another chance to try to 

question Saddam on the charges when the trial next 

convenes on April 5. 

In the March 15 session, Saddam sought to project 

the image of a man still in power addressing his 

people in troubled times, even as Abdel-Rahman 

repeatedly stabbed a button on his desk to shut off 

Saddam’ s microphone. 

At one point, Abdel-Rahman screamed at him, 

“ Respect yourself!’ ’ Saddam shouted back, “ You 

respect yourself!’ ’ 

“ You are a defendant in a major criminal case, concerning 

the killing of innocents. You have to respond 

to this charge,’ ’ Abdel-Rahman told him. 

“ What about those who are dying in Baghdad? 

Are they not innocents?’ ’ Saddam replied. “ I am talking 

to the Iraqi people.’ ’ 

Saddam began his speech by declaring he was 

the elected president, telling Iraqis “ of all religions and 

sects ... I do not discriminate among you.’ ’ 

PHOTO BY JACOB SILBERBERG, POOL/AP 

Iraqi Catholics 

donate to 

rebuild Samarra 

Mosque 

KIRKUK, Iraq/Zenit 

Iraqi Catholics are taking up a collection for 

the reconstruction of the destroyed 

Samarra mosque, said Archbishop Louis 

Sako of Kirkuk. 

The gesture of solidarity comes in the wake of 

the January 29 attacks against two churches in 

Kirkuk, which claimed the lives of a 13-year-old 

acolyte, Fadi Raad Elias, and other Catholics. 

Those attacks were linked to the Western publication 

of cartoons depicting Mohammed. 

“ We are not facing civil war; it would be the 

end of Iraq and no one wants this,” said 

Archbishop Sako. 

“ Iraqis are aware that 

Above: 

An Iraqi soldier 

Saddam Hussein abused 

stands guard on 

them,” the Chaldean archbishop 

added. “ In particular, a Shiite Mosque 

the broken wall of 

his regime killed many damaged by 

Shiites and these people insurgents, 

outside Samarra, 

are now seeking vengeance 60 miles north 

for the injustices suffered up of Baghdad. 

to a few years ago.” 

Archbishop Sako told the Italian bishops’ 

SIR news service that another goal of Shiite 

violence, since the attack on the Shiite mosque 

in Samarra, “ is to obtain by force more posts in 

the government.” 

The archbishop said he believes that “ it is 

necessary to be at the side of our faithful to 

give them all possible support. I try to 

encourage them so that they will not be discouraged. 

If someone wants us to abandon 

the country, we will show that we are not 

afraid, that we are strong and that we are 

profoundly tied to our country.” 

He said that he has visited “ the Muslim 

leaders to express to them my total solidarity 

over the destruction of the mosque of 

Samarra.” 

“ I have confirmed once again that we 

Christians repudiate the attacks against the people 

of Islam, as we consider abominable every 

crime against any place of worship,” Archbishop 

Sako said. “ In our community we are collecting 

money which we will contribute toward the 

mosque’ s reconstruction.” 

Reprinted courtesy of the Assyrian 

International News Agency (aina.org). 


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CALC corner 

NOTE from the 

PRESIDENT 

Each year, I see the 

CALC do so much for 

the community. I can 

see why it meant and 

continues to mean so 

much to the women who 

started this organization 

45 years ago. That is 

right, we are celebrating Clair Konja 

45 years of service. Not 

only service to the Chaldean Community, 

but to the community at large. 

I hope to impress upon you the importance 

of being a member of the CALC 

and why your support is vital to keep this 

organization going. Our yearly dues are 

only $35, and with that money and your 

commitment, we are able to make a difference 

in the lives of so many people. I 

hope you renew your commitment to be a 

part of our charitable mission by sending 

in your membership. It is truly marvelous 

that the CALC will be celebrating 

45 years of history. This group truly 

should be proud of its accomplishments. 

— Clair Konja, President 

MEETING AND 

ELECTIONS 

The Chaldean American Ladies of 

Charity cordially invites you to the 45th 

Annual Meeting and Elections being 

held on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 

6:30 p.m. at Shenandoah Country 

Club, 5600 Walnut Lake Road in West 

Bloomfield. Guest speaker is Ava Maria 

radio (WDEO AM 990) host and professional 

speaker Teresa Tomeo. She 

will speak on “ facing change, and turning 

obstacles into opportunities.” 

CELEBRATING 

45 YEARS 

By now you should have received 

your formal invitation to the CALC 

45th Annual Meeting and Elections. 

Please RSVP on the form sent to you 

or call the CALC office to RSVP no 

later than May 22, 2006. 

If you are interested in being elected 

to the Executive Board or Reserve 

Board, please complete the 

Nomination Form sent to you and 

return no later than May 15, 2006. 

You must be a current CALC member 

and have served as a Reserve Board 

Member for the past two years or be 

a former Officer of the CALC to be 

eligible to be elected to an Officer 

position. You must be a current 

member of the CALC to be eligible to 

serve as a Reserve Board Member. 

All terms are for a two-year period. 

Board Members and Reserves are 

REQUIRED to attend monthly meetings 

and serve on CALC 

Committees. If you have any questions, 

please contact Clair Konja at 

(248) 352-5018. 

– WOMEN ENTERPRISERS – 

April 27, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. 

Shenandoah Country Club 

More women than ever are choosing to become entrepreneurs by starting their own business. 

Today, there are close to 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. who 

employ 27.5 million people and contribute $3.6 trillion to the economy. 

Are you starting or growing a business? Do you have a dream to start your own business? 

If so, in this session you’ll draw inspiration from a group of highly motivated women entrepreneurs 

who will tell their personal stories and give advice about the risks and challenges they 

experienced to reach their goals for business success. 

Strategies for Success will include discussion on the following topics: 

• Choosing and Finding a Business, Starting new or buying an existing business 

• Legal Structures, Business Licenses, and DBAs 

• Determining cash requirements; Sources of and Access to Capital & Financing 

• Marketing, Advertising, Publicity 

• Business Plans 

Women Enterprisers workshop is a dynamic workshop designed specifically for women who own 

and manage a business or are thinking of starting a new business. This workshop will provide you 

with good networking opportunities and practical advice on acquiring or enhancing business skills. 

Speakers Include: Kristin Jonna (Merchants Fine Wine) and Zina Abbo George (Marquis 

Foodservice, Inc.) — Choosing and Finding a Business, Starting New or Buying an Existing 

Business; Karla Atchoo (Karla Atchoo & Assoc., Inc.) — Legal Structures, Business 

Licenses, and DBAs; Wendy Acho (LaSalle Bank) — Determining Cash Requirements; 

Sources of and Access to Capital & Financing; and Renee Antoon (Mainly Marketing) — 

Marketing, Advertising, Publicity; Business Plans. 

Please RSVP no later than April 25 by calling the CALC office at (248) 352-5018. 

HELPING HANDS 

SHOW AT PROJECT 

VENTURE 

Youth from the CALC Project Venture 

helped clean out the interior of the 

Sacred Heart Church Hall (Chaldean 

Center) in Detroit this past month. 

Working diligently and wonderfully 

together, 30 youths showed to dust, 

vacuum, polish, wax and shine the 

church hall from top to bottom. It’ s 

good for the soul as well as the floor! 

We thank them for the spirit of hope 

they exemplify! 

Many hands lightened the load 

at Sacred Heart 

2006 C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S 

APRIL 

Seniors Bingo & Easter Lunch 


Chaldean Manor 

Project Venture 

Detroit: Weekly - Wed & Thurs 

Sacred Heart Chaldean Church 

Troy: Weekly - Mon & Thurs 

St. Joseph Chaldean Church 

Empowered Voices 

Mondays 6:00-8:00 p.m. 

Orchard Lake Middle School 

Nursing Home Easter Lunch 

April 2006 

St. Anthony Nursing Home 

Women in Business 

Strategies for Success 



MAY 

Seniors Bingo 

May 1, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. 








Mondays 6:00-8:00 p.m. 


Seniors Mothers Day Luncheon 

May 2006 at Noon 


Nursing Home 

Mothers Day Luncheon 

May 2006 at Noon 


Clothing Drive 

May 17, 2006-Set up 

May 18, 19, Clothing Drive 

Oak Park 

Annual Meeting & Elections 

May 25, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. 


JUNE 

Seniors Bingo 

June 5, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. 








Mondays 6:00-8:00 p.m. 


Theatre Night-Wicked 

June 9, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. 


Women’s Wellness Walkathon 

June 17, 2006 at 10 a.m. 

Location to be determined 

Planting Flowers with Seniors 

June 24, 2006 at 10 a.m. 

JULY 

Seniors Bingo 

July 10, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. 



Detroit: Weekly-Wed & Thurs 





Mondays 6-8 p.m. 


Osteoporosis Prevention 

July 18, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. 


AUGUST 

Seniors Bingo 

August 7, 2006 at 1:00 pm 








Mondays 6:00-8:00 p.m. 


Get Organized 

August 22, 2006 at 6:30pm 


SEPTEMBER 

Seniors Bingo 

September 11, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. 









45th Anniversary Dinner 

September 16, 2006 at 7 p.m. 


OCTOBER 

Seniors Bingo 

October 2, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. 


Make A Difference Day 

Every Saturday of the Month 

(tentative dates) 

Soup Kitchen: 10/07 

Gleaners Food Bank: 10/14 

Haven Shelter: 10/21 

Crossroads: 10/28 

Clothing Drive 

October 18, 2006-Set up 

October 19 & 20 Clothing Drive 

Detroit 

NOVEMBER 

Holiday Boutique Shopping 

November 2, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. 


Seniors Bingo 



Adopt a Family (assignments) 

November 6-December 10, 2006 

Detroit and Oak Park 

Thanksgiving Lunch For Seniors 



Thanksgiving Lunch At Nursing 

Home 



DECEMBER 

Seniors Bingo 

December 4, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. 


Christmas Storytime 


December 2, 2006 

from 2- 4:00 p.m. 

Seniors Christmas Lunch 



Advent by Candlelight 


Farmington Hills Manor 

Christmas Dinner At Nursing Home 



Adopt a Family (gift deliveries) 

December 16, 2006 


26 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2006 

ADVERTORIAL

Thanks to the support and sales of Dean Food products at the following stores, 

more than $69,000 has been donated to the Chaldean Community Cultural Center: 

7 STAR FOOD CENTER 

8 MILE FOODLAND 

A & C SUPERMARKET 

ABBEY WINE SHOP 

ALPHA SUPERMARKET 

AMERICANA FOOD STORE 

APOLLO SUPERMARKET 

ATLAS MARKET 

BANNER SUPER STORE 

BEECH MARKET 

BI-RITE SUPERMARKET 

BLUE DIAMOND MARKET 

CANTON MINI MART 

CHECKER SAV MOR PHARMACY 

CHECKER WESTLAND SAV MOR 

COUNTRY ACRES 

COUNTRY FARMS 

DEAN'S PARTY STORE 

DIANNE'S PARTY STORE 

ETON SQUARE MARKET 

ETON STREET MARKET 

FAIRLINE FOOD CENTER 

FAIRWAY MARKET 

FAMILY FAIR FOOD CENTER 

FAMILY FAIR MARKET 

FAMILY FOOD SUPERMARKET 

FAMILY FOODS MARKETPLACE 

FARMER JOHN 

FERNDALE FOODS 

FOOD 4 LESS 

FOOD GIANT FOODS 

FOOD MART 

FOOD PRIDE SUPERMARKET 

FOODMAX SUPERMARKET 

FOODTOWN MARKET, MONROE 

FOODTOWN MARKET, ROCKWOOD 

FOODTOWN TEMPERANCE 

FRUITASIA FARMERS MARKET 

GIGANTE PRINCE VALLEY 

GLORY SUPERMARKET 

GLORY SUPERMARKET, #5022 

GLORY SUPERMARKET, #5024 

GOLDEN STAR FOOD CENTER 

GOLDEN VALLEY FOODS 

GRAND PRICE 

GRATIOT MAYFIELD MARKET 

GREENFIELD SUPERMARKET 

HARBORTOWN MARKET 

HURON SUPER MARKET 

IMPERIAL SUPER STORE 

JONNA'S COUNTRY CORNER 

JOY THRIFTY SCOT 

KING COLE FOODS, (299100) 

KING COLE FOODS II 

KROWN SUPERMARKET 

LA FIESTA SUPERMARKET 

LAKEVIEW MARKET, NOVI 

LAKEWAY SUPERMARKET 

LIVERNOIS MARKET 

MAJESTIC MARKET 

MARKET SQUARE, BIRMINGHAM 

MARKET SQUARE, W BLOOMFIELD 

MAYFAIR MARKET 

MAZEN FOODS EAST 

MERCHANT FOOD CENTER 

MID SIBLEY MARKET 

MIKES PARTY STORE 

MIRAGE LIQUOR SHOPPE 

MORANG MARKET 

MR. C'S DELI, CLINTON TWP 

MR. C'S DELI, GROSSE POINTE WOODS 

MR. C'S DELI, GROSSE POINTE WOODS 

MR. C'S FOOD CENTER 

MR. S'S PARTYSTORE 

NEW CENTER MARKET 

NEW HUDSON FOOD MARKET 

OAKLAND EXPRESS PARTY STORE 

OAKLAND FOOD CENTER 

OAKWOOD FOOD CENTER 

OBRIENS IGA 

PAIRS FOOD STORE 

PALACE SUPERMARKET 

PARKWAY FOODS SUPER 

PARTY STOP MARKET 

PAYLESS MARKET 

PENNY LAKE GROCERY 

PICK & SAVE 

PINE KNOB WINE SHOP 

POINTE LIQUOR 

PONTIAC SCOTT MOBIL 

PUBLIC FOODS 

QUICK PAC FOOD STORE 

RIVIERA MARKET 

ROMULUS MARKETPLACE 

RUDYS QUALITY MARKET 

RYANS FOODS 

SAM'S MARKET 

SAV A LOT, DETROIT 

SAV A LOT, DETROIT 

SAV A LOT, WESTLAND 

SAV MART 

SAVE A LOT 

SAVEWAY EAST POINTE 

SAVEWAY SUPERMARKET 

SAVON FOODS SEVEN MILE 

SAVON FOODS SUPER STORE 

SCHOENHERR SUPERMARKET 

SCOTIA FOOD STORE 

SEAWAY MARKETPLACE 

SHEENA'S MARKETPLACE #2 

SHOPPERS MARKET I 

SHOPPERS MARKET II 

SHOPPERS MARKET III 

SPARTAN FOODS 

SPECIAL WAY MARKET 

SPOTLITE MARKET 

STERLING FOOD CENTER 

SUPER GIANT #2 

SUPER SIX MARKET 

SUPERLAND MARKET 

THE CORDIAL SHOPPE 

TIP TOP LIQOUR & WINE SHOP 

TOMBOY SUPER MARKET 

TRADEMARK LIQUOR 

TWIN LAKES PARTY STORE 

UNCLE JOES MARKET 

UNIVERSITY FOODS INC 

UPTOWN MARKET 

US QUALITY FOODS 

VALUE CENTER #2 

VALUE CENTER MARKET 

VALUE CENTER MARKETPLACE 

VALUE SAVE FOOD CENTER 

VEGAS SUPERMARKET 

VERNOR FOOD CENTER 

VILLAGE FOOD MARKET 

VON'S SUPERMARKET 

VREELAND MARKET 

WALTHAM FOOD & DRUGS 

WINE CELLAR FINE WINE 

WIXOM FOOD MARKET 

To be a part of this program supporting our Cultural Center, please call: 800-968-7980 


ECONOMICS & enterprise 

A Kinder, Gentler Cleaner 

BY JOVAN KASSAB 

Josephine 

Elizabeth 

Fermanian 

Shows off, 

Germs 

BeGone 

PHOTO BY BRAD ZIEGLER 

Today’ s modern home is loaded 

with toxic and polluting substances 

designed to make 

domestic life easier. The cost of these 

commercial, chemical-based products 

can be high — long-term health concerns 

for the family, and environmental 

pollution caused by their manufacture 

and disposal. Josephine Elizabeth 

Fermanian of Commerce Township 

hated cleaning with commercial products, 

but rather than suffer silently, she 

set about developing an alternative. 

“ I had a hard time breathing from all 

the cleaning chemicals so I started 

looking for different alternatives,” said 

the wife and mother of a toddler. After 

stumbling upon old Victorian recipes 

for getting rid of germs without chemicals, 

she did her research and three 

years later Germs Begone was born. “ I 

got it tested [at the University of 

Michigan, Dearborn] and it did as well 

as Clorox and Lysol,” Fermanian said. 

The U.S. National Center for Health 

Statistics says in the United States, 

one in three people suffer from allergies, 

asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis. 

Treatment for these conditions should 

include reducing synthetic chemicals in 

the home environment. “ We are cleaning 

constantly,” Fermanian said. “ We 

are taking in toxic fumes ... people 

often forget they go into our lungs.” 

Many people don’ t realize that 

household cleaners fall under the 

Hazardous Products Act, which dates 

back to the mid-1960s. The Consumer 

Chemicals and Containers Regulations 

regulate them and labels are required 

to provide hazard symbols like “ poison” 

and “ flammable.” 

Dr. Virginia Salares is an indoor air 

quality expert featured in a CBC 

Marketplace article on household 

cleaners. She was asked what is in 

some of the products being marketed 

to young families. One product looked 

at — Lysol Anti-bacterial Action Spray, 

which lists ethanol 79 percent. “ Not 

just any ethanol,” Salares said. “ It’ s 

denatured ethanol” — meaning poisoned 

to make it undrinkable. 

Fermanian, the president and CEO of 

Germs Begone, said the product is a 

safe and friendly alternative to most commercial 

household cleaners. It is made 

with only natural essential oils and aromatherapy 

lavender. The product, which 

comes in an 8- or 24-ounce sprayer or 

gallon, can be used on countertops, 

doorknobs, faucets, most appliances, 

toys, highchairs, infant-toddler car seats, 

diaper changing stations and the like. 

“ My mother-in-law uses it on her 

granite countertops and swears it beats 

the alternative. It is so safe that you can 

use it on your hands or your child’ s as a 

sanitizer,” Fermanian said, adding that 

many customers have come to find the 

product also works well at taking out 

tough stains. Germs Begone has a sibling 

— Odors Begone. 

“ The feedback is phenomenal. 

People always come back to buy 

more,” Fermanian said. She noted that 

many consumers and retailers aren’ t 

used to all-natural products. “ We need 

to be healthier,” she said. “ That is the 

most important.” 

Germs Begone is sold at Hiller’ s 

Market of Ann Arbor, Long Lake 

Market of Bloomfield Hills, Zerbos 

Health Foods of Livonia and Water 

to Go of Commerce Township. 

It can also be ordered at 

www.germsbegone.com. 

BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THE 

chaldean community 

THE 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

Please mail the subscription form, 

along with a check made payable to: 

The Chaldean News 

Attn: Subscriptions 

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102 


SUBSCRIPTIONS 

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Phone: 248-932-3100 or FAX: 248-932-9161 



““ Since when are judges 

given the authority to give 

an order that’s in conflict 

with a state statute? …… 

If I start worrying about 

overcrowding, I’m not 

doing my job.” 

– JUDGE DIANE DICKOW D’AGOSTINI 


PHOTO BY ALEX LUMELSKY 

taking a stand 

Judge Diane Dickow D’ Agostini fights the early release of prisoners 

Diane Dickow D’Agostini wasn’t fishing around 

for attention. But her stance against a proposed 

plan to reduce jail overcrowding has given her 

the limelight, whether she likes it or not. 

The plan, a joint local administrative order from 

Oakland County Chief Circuit Judge Wendy Potts, would 

give local judges more control over which prisoners are 

released early when the Oakland County Jail is overcrowded. 

The Bloomfield Hills-based 48th District Court, of 

which D’Agostini is chief justice, is the only district or circuit 

court in the county that has refused to participate. 

Under the current state statue, when overcrowding occurs 

at the jail it is up to the chief circuit judge — currently Potts 

— to decide whose sentences should be reduced, and thus 

released early. Under the proposed change, Potts would send 

a list of prisoners proposed for early release to Oakland 

County’s 55 judges, who would have veto power. The proposal 

is now before the state Supreme Court, which will 

decide if it is enacted. 

“Crisis” overcrowding occurred last summer and fall, 

which meant that about 200 prisoners were released early 

each time, Potts said. 

“I got some calls from judges saying, ‘I wish you wouldn’t 

have let so-and-so out,’” said Potts. “This gives the 

judges more control and poses less of a risk to the public.” 

DIFFERENT VIEW 

D’Agostini sees it differently. For one thing, she believes 

judges do not and should not have a say in jail matters. 

Administrative orders are not meant to supersede laws, she 

said. “Since when are judges given the authority to give an 

order that’s in conflict with a state statute? If I start changing 

decisions I made a week or two ago, that is compromising 

my duty to the public,” she said. “Once we agree to this, 

there will never be a solution to jail overcrowding.” 

D’Agostini compares the plan to telling police officers to 

stop making arrests or prosecutors to dismiss criminal cases 

when the jail is overcrowded. She offers no opinion of what 

should be done to alleviate overcrowding, saying that is the 


job of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. “If I 

start worrying about overcrowding, I’m not doing my job,” 

she said. 

The judge also takes issue with the proposal’s plan for 

bonds. Inmates with bonds of less than $500 would be given 

personal bonds (no fee) and bonds would be cut in half for 

those whose offenses are not violent, a felony or involve 

drunk driving. 

“I set the bond for a reason, including a criminal record 

and flight risk,” D’Agostini said. 

D’Agostini was an assistant prosecutor before becoming 

a judge in 2001. Her duties included arguing against the 

parole of numerous prisoners. “I know the reality — people 

do re-offend,” she said. 

NOT ALONE 

Though hers is the only court refusing to participate in the 

plan, D’Agostini is not the only judge who opposes it. (The 

48th District’s three judges voted 2-1 to not participate; 

D’Agostini said she doesn’t know what she would have done 

had the vote gone the other way.) Five of the 11 judges in 

the Troy-based 52nd District Court also voted against the 

plan, said Chief Justice William Bolle, who has gone along 

with the majority’s wishes. Though he declined to say how 

he voted, it is clear that Bolle has some issues with the plan. 

“She makes some pretty valid points,” he said of D’Agostini. 

“This is an attempt to provide a solution to a very bad, 

serious problem that will not go away,” Bolle said. “We need 

more jail space and the reality is we aren’t going to get it 

because of the county’s economic situation.” 

D’Agostini said store owners will be greatly affected by 

the new plan. “Merchants will be very much impacted 

because those persons [such as who commit theft] are considered 

low-risk,” she said. 

The judge seems a bit surprised over the reaction to the 

stand she has taken. “I did not expect that this would 

receive this much attention,” D’Agostini said. “But it 

should — it’s about public safety and the law. I will stand up 

for what I believe in.” 

A CHALDEAN- 

AMERICAN 

JUDGE 

Diane Dickow D’ Agostini was 

named chief justice of the 

48th District Court in 

December 2005. She plans 

to run for reelection to the 

bench in November, and said 

she loves her work. 

“ It is so rewarding when 

people give you their vote, trusting 

your judgment,” she said. 

She keeps a thick file stuffed 

with letters from defendants she 

has convicted and sentenced, in 

which they thank her for treating 

them with respect and dignity. 

“ This is a rewarding position 

because you can really help 

people,” she said. “ You can 

address their problems, place 

them into an alcohol or drug 

program — even order them to 

go back to school.” 

D’ Agostini spends a lot of 

time in the schools of the 

cities the court serves — 

West Bloomfield, Bloomfield 

Hills, Birmingham, Keego 

Harbor, Sylvan Lake and 

Orchard Lake — speaking to 

students on laws and their 

penalties. She sometimes 

metes out sentences to drug, 

drunk-driving or theft offenders 

right in the middle and 

high schools so students can 

see the consequences. 

“ I really advocate teaching 

kids about the law at an early 

age, she said. “ I see a rooted 

lack of respect for the law, especially 

with underage drinking.” 

She also has created Order 

in the Court, a program where 

fourth-grades classes watch 

actual cases, then hold their 

own mock trials. 

Remembering those victimized 

by crime is important to 

D’ Agostini, whose father, Salim 

Dickow, was murdered at his 

store when she was 7 years 

old. “ I don’ t think my father’ s 

death shaped my judicial philosophy,” 

she said, “ but my 

personal experience opened a 

window for me to look into a 

victim’ s life and know what 

they are feeling.” 


changes in store 

for CFA 

Umbrella organization seeks relevancy 

While celebrating its 25th anniversary, 

the Chaldean Federation of America 

(CFA) is in the midst of change. 

Bishop Ibrahim M. Ibrahim appointed West 

Bloomfield resident and Farmington Hills businessman 

Michael George as interim chairman in 

mid-2005, after the CFA’s General Assembly 

voted last June to ask His Excellency to assist in 

overhauling the federation. 

Founded in 1981, the non-profit CFA is a 

national umbrella organization of Chaldean entities 

that supports its members in meeting the 

needs of the Chaldean community. Once considered 

a dominant force, the CFA has been dormant 

in recent years. Former CFA Vice 

Chairwoman Rosemary Antone offered a candid 

explanation. 

“I have to be blunt,” said Antone, who is now 

vice president of the Chaldean American Ladies 

of Charity and chair of the Chaldean Community 

Cultural Center. “I think different leadership 

started turning the [CFA] objectives to 

BY KEN MARTEN 

scope of a revamped CFA. “I’ve met with many 

people in the community, including former [federation] 

presidents and chairs,” George said. “I 

don’t want to duplicate the efforts of other organizations. 

That doesn’t make any sense.” 

GEORGE’ S VISION 

George has identified six objectives for the CFA, 

but acknowledges that they’re his personal interpretations 

and that they could change once a board 

of directors is appointed. They are: 

• Public relations: “We want to make sure people 

outside of our community understand us in the 

right light,” George said. “With anything that 

involves the Chaldean community, we want to be 

able to communicate.” 

• Civil rights: Chaldeans are not a minority as 

recognized by the U.S. government. But George 

wants the CFA to represent Chaldeans and ensure 

that they’re afforded equal rights according to the 

U.S. Constitution. 

their own needs, and it started going downhill. 

It was not as effective as it used to be. 

EXECUTIVE SEARCH 

The Chaldean Federation of America is seeking to 

It doesn’t have the full strength and power 

hire an executive director and a secretary. Both are 

as it once did.” 

paid positions with benefits. Those applying for the 

Jane Shallal, a former CFA president, executive directorship must speak English and 

said the federation was spread too thin. Chaldean. Those applying for the secretarial position 

must speak English, Chaldean and Arabic. 

“In the past, I think it tried to undertake 

Send resumes to Michael J. George, 30777 

too many goals,” said Shallal, now the president 

of the Associated Food Dealers of Hills, MI 48334. 

Northwestern Highway, Suite 300, Farmington 

Michigan. “I think they were trying to do 

way too much. I don’t think the support was 

there for such an expansive range of services.” 

George, 73, owns George Enterprises, primarily 

a food distribution and meat manufacturing 

company. He and several family members are the 

former owners of Melody Farms, a well-known 

dairy company. Housekeeping chores have included 

moving the CFA headquarters to the George 

Enterprises office in Farmington Hills to save 

funds. George is also seeking to hire a CFA executive 

director and a secretary, and to appoint a 

volunteer board of directors. 

He’s analyzed the objectives of other 

Chaldean organizations in order to narrow the 

• Advocacy: George thinks the CFA should 

promote issues important to the Chaldean community 

and make sure the general public knows not 

only that Chaldeans exist, but that it has the correct 

understanding of Chaldean ethnicity. “This is 

something I’m continuously doing,” he said. 

• Government lobbying: “This is important 

especially in the areas of immigration and 

human rights,” George said. “We have a lot of 

people here from Iraq that don’t want to leave.” 

George also believes the CFA should promote 

the Chaldean point of view on events in Iraq. 

• Act as a referral agency: George thinks the 

CFA should be able to help members of the 

community by directing their concerns to the 

proper organization, entity or professional service. 

Again, he stressed that the CFA shouldn’t 

duplicate the efforts of other Chaldean organizations. 

For example, he said, it’s pointless to 

have two groups that maintain referral lists of 

Chaldean professionals like doctors, attorneys or 

accountants. 

• Continue the scholarship program: The 

CFA has awarded scholarships to college-bound 

Chaldeans for the past 20 years. George wants to 

continue the program under co-sponsorship with 

the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. 

Antone said George is on the proper path, but 

for the CFA to again prosper, those selected for 

leadership positions will have to share his views. 

“He’s being very objective, very honest,” Antone 

said. “He can’t do it all by himself. Unless we get 

some new people included, we just cannot make 

it go. He’s searching for the right people to bring 

it about and I think it can happen. It can’t get 

worse. Let’s face it.” 

Shallal is also optimistic about George’s efforts 

thus far. “I think it’s a good vision,” she said. “The 

federation will be the voice of the Chaldean community, 

and the focal point for referrals and services. 

I think that’s an excellent way to develop it.” 

7 Mile and 

Woodward, 

known as 

Chaldean Town, 

was a CFA 

project whose 

future is 

uncertain 

PHOTO BY LENA YONO 


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merging 

associations 

Food dealers, petroleum retailers 

find strength in numbers 


Gas station 

owner Amar 

Dalou is all for 

the merger: 

“ It is so 

competitive 

today.” 

Small business owners have a stronger voice 

and better buying power now that the 

boards of directors of the Associated Food 

Dealers of Michigan (AFD) and the Great Lakes 

Petroleum Retailers and Allied Trades Association 

have voted to merge the two trade groups into a 

single association. The merged association, now 

known as Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers, 

represents more than 3,900 small business locations 

in Michigan and Ohio. 

“Today, the retail food and beverage 

business is increasingly cutting across 

many categories. Service stations, 

liquor stores and independent supermarkets 

are all a part of our industry,” 

said Jane Shallal, AFD president. 

“Anyone who has run into a gas station 

food mart or a neighborhood gro- 

Jane Shallal 

cery store for a gallon of milk can see just how 

much the two kinds of businesses have in common.” 

Ed Weglarz, president of the Great Lakes 

Petroleum Retailers, also lauded the move. “The 

new strength in our numbers will bring better buying 

power and a more powerful voice in speaking 

to the Michigan and Ohio legislatures,” he said. 

“Small retail businesses play an important role in 

the economic health of our two Midwestern states, 

and they deserve recognition for it.” 

With both associations currently overlap in certain 

administrative functions and supplier relationships, 

the merger made sense. “We will enjoy 

economies of numbers by merging. Many of our 

gasoline retailers evolved into convenience store 

offerings over the years without proper and adequate 

experience and training,” said Weglarz, adding that 

the same happened with convenience store owners 

getting into the retail gas business. “This merger 

enables the two rather similar, but nevertheless different, 

business models to feed off the others’ experience 

and history.” 

The Associated Food and 

Petroleum Dealers, with Shallal acting 

as its president, will have its primary 

offices in Farmington Hills, with additional 

offices in Lansing. The new 

association will continue to provide 

vendor discounts, industry news, training 

programs and political advocacy 

for its members, but on a more substantial and powerful 

scale. Additionally, the organization’s 

increased membership will assist it in more forcefully 

tackling predatory pricing by merchandisers and 

other businesses. 

“I see my job as the president to protect the 

small business owner,” said Shallal. “We are competing 

with the chain stores and sometimes it is 

unfair competition.” 

Compared to an independent merchant, chain 

stores are able to buy larger quantities of products to sell 

at a reduced price. Shallal said that some companies 

won’t even distribute product to the independents. 

PHOTO BY DAVID REED 

The Associated Food Dealers of Michigan was 

founded in 1916 and represents more than 3,000 

grocery stores, supermarkets and liquor licenses 

throughout the state. The Great Lakes Petroleum 

Retailers and Allied Trades Association has roots 

going back to 1929, when it was formed as the 

Service Station Dealers of Michigan. The group 

merged with the Ohio Petroleum Retailers and 

Repair Association in 2004 to become the Great 

Lakes Petroleum Retailers and Allied Trades 

Association. It represents more than 900 service stations 

and convenience stores in Michigan and Ohio. 

“The combination and expanded interests of the 

new association will enable us to expand the offerings 

to the membership base, and expand membership 

by having more varied programs available to the 

members. It doesn’t cost to be a member — it pays,” 

said Weglarz. “We will be a larger, more effective 

force when dealing with the governmental bureaus 

and the legislators in Lansing and Washington, D.C. 

We will be able to provide educational and training 

seminars for our members. Hopefully we will bring 

value to the members’ business, which will provide 

generational longevity, along with real and measurable 

value to being a member of the Associated Food 

and Petroleum Dealers.” 

Amar Dalou owns three gas stations and convenience 

stores, a Mobil in Clinton Township, a Shell 

in St. Clair Shores and a Marathon in Mount 

Clemens. He has been in the gas station and convenience 

store business for the past 13 years and says 

the merger will only help his business. “We give gas 

away today because the profit margins are so slim,” 

said Dalou. “The gas station today is more like a convenience 

store. You have to have a fast food, car 

wash or convenience store to make money today.” 

The 35-year-old married man with two children 

said that the Food and Petroleum Association 

gives owners like him a voice in Lansing and 

against bigger corporations trying to put the small 

businessman out of business. “It is so competitive 

today,” said Dalou. “The big corporations claim 

that they employ people but the truth is the 

biggest employers are the small businesses.” 

Over the years, the profit margins for gas station 

owners on gas have decreased and with payat-the-pump 

convenience, their profits have 

shrunk even more. Where they once may have 

made 10 percent on gas sales, that figure is now 

less than 7 percent — and they have to pay 2 1/2 

to 3 percent on credit card use. So often the gas 

station owner does not make a profit on gas sales. 

The only way for the owner to make money is to 

offer other products for sale. 

“Being a member of the association gives us 

more buying power,” said Dalou. “The merger 

makes sense. They can only help us become 

stronger.” 

For additional background on the two groups, visit 

http://www.afdom.org/page.cfm/2/ and 

http://www.oprra.com/. 


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Kamel Kassem 

on Shenandoah’s 

outdoor terrace. 

PHOTO BY KRISTA HUSA 

steering shenandoah 

Kamel Kassem wants the 

members of the Chaldean 

Iraqi American Association 

of Michigan (CIAAM) to have optimism, 

and also patience, as he works 

to get the Shenandoah Country Club 

on the right path. With a background 

in opening and troubleshooting country 

clubs, he brings some unique qualifications 

to his new position as 

Shenandoah’s general manager and 

chief operating officer. 

“My specialty is opening and fixing 

troubled properties,” he said 

from his office overlooking the golf 

course. “I’m a turnaround guy.” 

Few would argue that 

Shenandoah is ready for a new path. 

Hopes are high for new general manager 


The $25-million club, which opened 

in January 2005, has had a rocky 

start marked by slower than anticipated 

ballroom bookings and frequent 

changes in management. 

Kassem, who started in February, is 

the third person to run the club in 

13 months. 

Kassem, a native of Egypt, has 

enjoyed a remarkably varied career. 

He has a degree in mining engineering, 

but before he could pursue that 

career path he discovered a love and 

affinity for cooking, so became a chef 

instead. (He is a Certified Executive 

Chef and a member of the American 

Academy of Chefs, and has won 18 

gold medals in food competitions.) 

He has opened nearly 50 country 

clubs, resorts and similar facilities; 

spent 14 years booking PGA tours at 

Forest Hills; speaks Arabic and 

Italian; and is a former body builder 

who was crowned Mr. Egypt several 

times. 

But don’t expect to see Kassem 

working out in Shenandoah’s members-only 

gym. He doesn’t want staff 

in there using the facilities, which 

means he’ll stay out himself. 

“I am,” he said, “a firm believer in 

managing by example.” 

The plan for Shenandoah is simple 

— build revenues and cut 

expenses. “Those are the two giants I 

am tackling right now,” Kassem said. 

IN GOOD COMPANY 

Getting word out about the ballroom 

— one of the area’s largest at 11,336 

square feet — is a top priority. While 

the ballroom is virtually sold out on 

the weekends, there are still many 

weekdays when it sits empty. 

Michigan sees some 1,200 weddings 

each month, Kassem said, so there is 

no end to prospective customers. He 

also wants to reach out to other ethnic 

groups, in particular the Jewish community, 

and book corporate events. 

“The banquet hall will be the 

bloodline of financial success,” he 

said. “The key is to be competitive 

and not under-price ourselves — we 

are up there with the Ritz-Carlton 

and the Hyatt with the facility and 

atmosphere.” 

Michael Sarara, the new president 

of CIAAM, said he and the board 

aggressively pursued getting Kassem 

to turn Shenandoah around. “He is 

perfectly willing to prove himself to 

us,” Sarafa said, noting that unlike 

SHENANDOAH continued on 39 


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SHENANDOAH continued from 36 

his predecessors, Kassem has no contract. 

“That demonstrates unbelievable 

confidence to get the job done.” 

CIAAM treasurer Jason Alkamano 

is also optimistic. “Shenandoah will 

be more efficient, definitely more profitable 

and more organized under his 

leadership,” he said of Kassem. 

“Everyone needed direction, and he is 

perfect for the job.” 

GUEST editorial 


is moving forward 

GETTING THE WORD OUT 

Another challenge for Kassem is 

fighting the perception that 

Shenandoah is a private club. While 

some of its facilities are indeed only 

open to members, much is available 

to the public. “We need to change 

the mindset of the golfers — they are 

still under the impression that they 

can’t go to the Mixed Grille,” he said 

of Shenandoah’s casual restaurant. 

It is incumbent upon Shenandoah’s 

members to support their club, Kassem 

said, adding that those who opt to save 

a few dollars per person by booking 

their wedding or special event elsewhere 

are missing the point. 

“Whatever they pay to this club is 

supporting success for a new generation 

who will really flourish with the 

club,” he said. 

“The plan is for Shenandoah to 

be the banquet heaven of all groups,” 

Kassem continued. “It will take some 

hard work — planning, training, 

marketing. We are building the 

blocks right now, doing everything 

from scratch.” That includes some 

key personnel changes. 

Kassam’s smooth style should go 

over well with Shenandoah members. 

“He is very disarming,” Sarafa said. 

“He’s firm but gentle. And his strength 

is in not being a glad-hander.” 

Alkamano said members need to 

look at the big picture. “Every new business 

starts off rocky, and this is a new 

business,” he said. “The members should 

definitely hang in there, and look forward 

to enjoying a beautiful facility.” 

Kassam is confident he will put 

Shenandoah on the right path. 

“Progress will be slow and slightly 

noticeable,” he said, “but very 

noticeable in six to 12 months.” 

Sarafa is “100 percent” confident 

that things will turn around. “We 

will,” he predicted, “be at a breakeven 

or profitable point by the end of 

‘06, beginning of ‘07.” 

MICHAEL 

SARAFA 

SPECIAL 

TO THE 

CHALDEAN 

NEWS 

Shenandoah Country Club (SCC) is poised 

to become one of the premier venues for 

banquets, dining and golf in the Detroit 

Metropolitan region. For the Chaldean community, 

it is the source and great pride and the place 

that will foster and promote opportunities for 

families to socialize, recreate and share experiences. 

The Chaldean Community Cultural 

Center (CCCC), housed at SCC, will be a 

tremendous educational tool for schoolchildren, 

our neighboring communities and all who want 

or need to know more about the history of the 

Chaldean people. For our community, programs created 

by the CCCC will be instrumental in the preservation of 

our language, culture and history. 

Shenandoah is a one-of-a-kind destination. With a 

public golf course, 850-person banquet hall, unique dining 

room dé cor and menu, indoor gymnasium, outdoor 

pool, cultural center, meeting rooms, activity rooms, pro 

shop, locker rooms and more, there is not a comparable 

facility anywhere in the country. While we have built 

the jewel of the community, the size and the scope of 

the project have also created a unique set of challenges. 

Shenandoah opened in January of 2005 with much 

fanfare and great expectations. These expectations were 

quickly overwhelmed by a very difficult transition to a 

new, much larger, more complicated and more expensive 

building than we planned for or what we were used to at 

the Southfield Manor. The business plan that was created 

for the new property was not realized and the financial 

and operational strain of such a large project created 

a hardship for the board, staff and membership. 

As we celebrate our first anniversary at the new 

Shenandoah, these challenges persist. They are, however, 

manageable and solvable with hard work, commitment 

and the support of the entire community. At our 

Anniversary Mass celebrated by his Excellency Mar 

Ibrahim Ibrahim at SCC on March 9, the Bishop called 

for more unity surrounding the issues of the club. He 

acknowledged the financial difficulties but aptly pointed 

out that they paled in comparison to the ability, wherewithal 

and prosperity of the Chaldean community. His 

Excellency challenged the community to look to the 

opportunity that this facility creates for future generations. 

The new Board of Directors has moved quickly to 

reorganize the staff and trim overhead. This past 

February, Mr. Kamel Kassem joined us as our new 

General Manager. He brings a wealth of food and beverage 

management experience. He is leading a turnaround 

at this property that is already bearing 

fruit and has reorganized the banquet department, 

main office, accounting function, kitchen, 

maintenance staff and wait staff. More positive 

changes and additions are coming. 

A very active Operation Committee is leading 

the charge to improve every aspect of club operations 

from proper controls to staff etiquette. The 

Social Committee has planned numerous successful 

activities that, with the banquets and other 

events, have helped book the club for most of 

2006. A “Magic of the East” Chaldean Nightclub 

held every other Saturday regularly sells out. This summer, 

the opening of the pool and golf course promises to 

bring an entirely new level of activity at the club, which 

is already at an all-time high in terms of programs and 

activities for all ages. 

It is time to keep our eyes 

on the windshield and not 

on the rearview mirror. 

Operationally, the property is forecasted to break 

even by late this year and or early next year. Into 2007 

and 2008, we are hopeful that Shenandoah will be generating 

positive gross margins. However along with the 

building of our “jewel” comes a price tag and there is no 

doubt that addressing the long-term finances remains 

our number one priority and goal. The board and 

Finance Committee are actively working to meet the 

challenges associated with the debt and the substantial 

monthly payment to the bank. This issue is not insurmountable 

and will be addressed so that we will have 

positive cash flow in the future while keeping the club 

as affordable as possible. 

There should not be any doubt about the future of 

Shenandoah. It remains as strong and viable as ever. In 

terms of our success, the question is not “if” but rather 

“how” and “when.” It is time to keep our eyes on the 

windshield and not on the rearview mirror because 

progress is synonymous with moving forward. Moving 

forward with focus, determination and unity, our success 

will be inevitable. 

Michael Sarafa is president of the Board of Directors of the 

Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan, which owns 

Shenandoah Country Club. 


friends indeed 

Buddy system helps new immigrants learn 

BY JENNIFER KORAIL 

Think back to your first day of school. 

Remember the excited feeling you had 

while getting dressed and eating breakfast. 

How many new friends would you make this year? 

What new and exciting things would you learn 

about? You would dread the homework assignments 

and the exams, but look forward to field 

trips and other fun activities. 

However, with that excitement came the tiniest 

nervous feeling. Might classes be too difficult? 

Would the other students be friendly? Now imagine 

how worried you’d feel if you knew nothing about 

your new school. Imagine speaking a different language 

than all of the other kids, and wondering what 

they will think of you because you are different. 

These are feelings that many young Chaldean 

immigrants face every day. Newly immigrated students 

can have a very difficult time finding their 

place in American classrooms. A major challenge 

is the language barrier. Some Chaldeans might feel 

embarrassed or even scared to speak their native 

language in front of others, causing the barrier to 

only widen. 

IN THEIR SHOES 

Warren Consolidated Schools is doing something 

to tear down the barriers. Hatherly Elementary 

School has a buddy program that pairs older bilingual 

kids with younger students who are not yet 

comfortable with English. Bilingual teacher Mary 

Ward, who is Chaldean, knows exactly what it 

feels like to start a new life in a new world. She 

came to America when she was just 9 and remembers 

what it was like to be the new student. “I didn’t 

have anybody,” Ward recalled. “I know that 

when these kids start school, they are frightened. 

They need friends. They need someone to guide 

them and help them feel at home.” 

The buddies at Hatherly, a Blue Ribbon School, 

do an incredible job of welcoming and caring for 

new students. In fact, a number of current buddies 

were once new kids themselves. Ward said she can 

never forget one student who became a motherly 

Layla Aboosh (left), Lema Aboosh, Mary Ward, Raquel Shikwana and Farrah Jego buddy up. 

figure for two young girls who did not speak 

English. This student was once in the same situation 

and told Ward, “Don’t worry Mrs. Mary. I will 

be here for them.” 

Sarrah Jego, a fifth-grade bilingual student, is a 

buddy to Samar. Sarrah gives Samar directions, 

makes sure that she understands her assignments, 

and translates Arabic and English with her. “Samar 

feels very comfortable with me,” Sarah said eagerly. 

“I like her to be like a little sister to me.” 

SMOOTHING THE TRANSITION 

Buddies also help the new kids assimilate into the 

culture. They translate words into Chaldean and 

English, help them read and write, and point out 

new words and phrases. Some buddies even share 

their snacks and supplies with the new students 

and stick up for them. As fifth graders, buddies are 

not only helping prepare others to speak English, 

they are helping them reach their goals along the 

way. “This is our culture. This is how we are raised, 

to do whatever we can to help,” Ward proudly said 

of her students and culture. 

Ward has been a staff member at Warren 

Consolidated for 27 years and is extremely proud 

of the many students she has seen blossom before 

her eyes. She gives much credit to the teachers and 

staff at Warren, including the principals, aides and 

custodians for helping make Hatherly a safe, fulfilling 

learning environment for all. 

“Every child is special. Every teacher is special,” 

Ward said. “Everyone works really hard for the students.” 

However, she firmly believes that parents 

must actively participate in their children’s lives. 

She encourages parents to come to conferences 

and to visit frequently, even if they themselves 

have difficulties with English. 

“It’s okay to ask questions, to say, ‘What’s going 

on?’” Ward said. “We are going to have to work 

together for the children to succeed. My mother 

always said, ‘One hand cannot clap by itself. We 

clap together to make something happen.’” 

The buddies and community at Hatherly are 

doing a great job of clapping together, teaching 

each other to forget about the worries that come 

with learning new things. 

PHOTO BY LENA YONO 


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the food stamp 

factor 

One small change has caused a domino effect with grocers 

Many Chaldean retailers know the first of 

the month means all employees will be 

needed and shelves must be stocked 

because business will be booming — customers 

just got their food stamps. 

This way of distributing government dollars to 

purchase food has a domino effect on the food 

industry and the players on the food chain want 

the method to change. 

The Food Stamp Program payment method 

comes once a month. A food stamp recipient 

receives a plastic card called a Michigan Bridge 

Card, which is credited within the first 10 days of 

the month. This card allows withdrawals for food 

purchases at grocery stores and supermarkets. The 

store simply uses the EBT Bridge Card to “electronically” 

subtract purchases from the food stamp 

account. The recipient can only spend the 

amount that is in the account. 

SOLUTION PROPOSED 

The Associated Food Dealers of Michigan (AFD) 

is asking the Department of Human Services in 

Michigan for twice-monthly payments. The AFD 

represents 3,000 independent retailer locations 

throughout the State of Michigan, many of them 

among the 5,870 food stamp licensees in 

Michigan. This month the AFD merged with the 

Great Lakes Petroleum Retailers and Allied Trades 

Association (see story on page 32). 

“The AFD is urging that the Michigan 

Department of Human Services implement a 

twice-monthly electronic transfer of food stamp 

benefits, which would make one half of food stamp 

benefits available to a recipient in the first part of 

the month and the balance of the monthly benefit 

posted in the second half of each month,” said 

Jane Shallal, president of the AFD. 

The reason is actually simple. AFD members 

who serve in high food stamp program areas report 

that they have a number of customers who are 

largely dependent on food stamps. Many retailers 

and suppliers are doing 80 percent of food stamprelated 

sales in the first 10 days of the month, as a 

result of the current system. This has created an 

enormous problem for in-store staffing, cash flow, 

supplier delivery, and inventory and quality control, 

especially with respect to perishable items. 


Additionally, employers (both retailers and suppliers) 

are being forced to ask their employees to 

work 50 or more hours a week for the first two weeks 

of the month because of the heavy volume, with 

limited work hours left available to employees in 

the last two weeks of the month. This recommended 

change is touted as helping retailers, suppliers, 

wholesalers and manufacturers across the state by 

easing the burden of financial and management 

problems that result from the current system. 

“Wholesalers and retailers see a big surge in our 

business around that first of the month issuance of 

food stamps, which requires everyone to ramp up 

on staffing to handle the sales,” said Mary Dechow 

of Spartan Stores. “After that surge, sales drop to a 

level that will usually hold until the first of the 

next month. It causes a real staffing issue for retailers 

and wholesalers, and can also be an issue for 

associates who end up working more hours early in 

the month, but are short on hours later in the 

month. It’s not only difficult for us to budget our 

time needs, but it’s hard for employees to budget 

their personal finances when their work 

hours are reduced later in the month. 

Changing the way foods stamps are 

distributed would help immensely, 

as it would level off the product 

and staffing needs.” 

At the end of the 

month when the 

money is gone, 

some customers on 

government assistance live 

on what people say are gravy 

and bread. Gary Davis, board 

member of the AFD and general sales 

manager for Prairie Farms Dairy, has 

recalled countless stories of customers suffering 

as a result of the food stamp distribution. “I 

was at a store in Detroit, it is the end of the month 

and these people walked up to the owner and 

explained that they ran out of money and couldn’t 

buy any food,” said Davis. “So, he grabbed some 

bread and meat and gave it them. There are so 

many retailers who are generous because of the 

inadequacies in our system. Most people get paid 

twice a month or every week. Very few people get 

paid once a month. The system needs to change.” 

CRIME FIGHTER? 

The AFD is also receiving numerous reports of an 

increase in crime against retailers in the second 

half of the month, which Shallal said retailers 

attribute to lack of funds for food purchases. “It 

would appear that from a statistical standpoint, 

most, and in some cases all, of the funds in a recipient’s 

EBT account are used or depleted during the 

first half of the month, leaving a small balance or 

no monies at the end of the month for necessary 

food purchases for the family,” she said. “The current 

payment method imposes a hardship on recipients 

who may have difficulty or lack savvy in 

money management of a once-a-month payment.” 

Fred Dally, chair of the AFD and owner of two 

Detroit-based convenience stores, said the food 

stamp situation has gotten worse in the past year. 

“There are more people without work in Detroit 

due to the economy and that means more people 

are on food stamps,” he said. 

Dally said when food stamps were distributed 

twice a month in the form of books of paper 

stamps, retailers didn’t report the problems they 

have today with crime and the inability to staff 

their stores properly. 

“For example, it is difficult to keep fresh produce 

in a store when customers are only spending money 

in the first 10 days of the month,” said Dally. 

“Because customers spend all their food stamp dollars 

at that time, business decreases the last 20 days 

of the month and we are unable to keep the store 

stocked with fresh food.” 

Davis agrees. “It is a challenge to stock a 

store with our dairy products for the first 10 

days of the month and have our trucks 

jammed up, then business slows 

down dramatically at the end of 

the month and you can’t 

keep fresh dairy in the 

store,” he said. 

The proposed 

FOOD 

STAMPS 

continued 

on 47 



sports 

Theresa Semann (left) 

poses with Channel 7 

personalities (above) 

after being named 

Athlete of the Week. 

named to the All-State All-Academic Team. 

This wasn’t the first time Semann made waves 

in her first season in a running sport. She went out 

for the L’Anse Creuse girls track team last spring. 

Besides scoring the most points at meets, she was 

named the squad’s MVP. 

L’Anse Creuse girls track coach Joyce 

Christmann, Gary Christmann’s wife, says 

Semann has a shot at breaking the school records 

in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs this season. 

“Plus, Teresa is one of our captains,” Joyce 

Christmann said. “She’s always upbeat, a great 

teammate, and she sets a wonderful example for 

the other girls.” 

running on excellence 

Teresa Semann impresses on and off the track 

Teresa Semann loves to run. It’s not just a 

passion, but part of her lifestyle. 

So it wasn’t too surprising when the 

Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse High senior 

decided to join the school’s girls cross country 

team last fall after three successful years of playing 

tennis for the Lancers. 

What did open a lot of eyes were Semann’s 

accomplishments. She earned All-Macomb County 

honors for her performance at the county meet. She 

won the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division 

dual meet and league meet championships. She 

qualified for the Division 1 state meet by finishing 

13th in the regionals, then placed 73rd of 238 runners 

at the state race. Her 19:18.9 clocking at 

Michigan International Speedway broke Kathy 

Shacklett’s 23-year-old school record of 19:20. 

BY STEVE STEIN 

“Teresa didn’t want to just go to the state meet. 

Because she’s so focused and goal-oriented, she wanted 

to have a goal there,” said L’Anse Creuse girls cross 

country coach Gary Christmann. “I told her that if 

she went after the school record, she’d place pretty 

high, too, so she set her sights on doing that.” 

Semann was determined to break the record. 

“Teresa finished strong. She wiped out runner 

after runner as she neared the finish line,” 

Christmann said. 

“I knew I was close to the record, so I gave it 

everything I had,” Semann said. 

Owning the L’Anse Creuse girls cross country 

record is quite an accomplishment because the team 

hasn’t had a losing season since it was formed in 1979. 

Thanks to her state meet finish and 4.119 grade 

point average — tops in her class — Semann was 

TOPS IN HER CLASS 

Semann also sets a good example for high school 

students across the metropolitan area. She was a 

recent Channel 7 McDonald’s Scholar Athlete of 

the Week, with the segment airing February 11. 

The 18-year-old Harrison Township resident 

has maintained her perfect GPA despite participating 

in five sports during her four years at L’Anse 

Creuse. She played soccer and volleyball as a freshman 

and sophomore, earning all-county honors in 

soccer as a sophomore. 

“I’ve always been able to manage my time well,” 

she said. “I get done what has to get done.” 

Semann’s mother Pam is a physical therapist. 

Her father George is a pharmaceutical sales representative. 

Her sister Angela, 20, a sophomore at 

U-M who also wants to be a nurse, ran track for 

L’Anse Creuse in her senior year. She also played 

tennis for the school. 

Semann was recently accepted to the 

University of Michigan, where she’ll study to be a 

nurse. “There will always be a job for me in nursing, 

and I like caring for people and talking to people,” 

she said. “I want to make a difference in people’s 

lives.” 

Morin Yousif contributed to this article. 


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event 

4 

3 

2 

1 

PHOTOS BY DAVID REED 

a night of chaldean stars 

The Royal Oak Music Theatre was the place to be on February 25 for this talent show presented 

by Jado Productions. The event included comedy, dancing, singing, acting and live music. 

1. Maye Kattula 

2. Caldin Konja 

3. Ashley Franso 

4. Sonya Kiryakoza 

5. Maryann Shango (left) 

and Noor Atisha 

6. Rafah Dawood (left) 

and Shams Jaboro 

7. Eileen Danial and 

George Kakos 

8. Hosts Johnny Kenaya 

and Lauren Bacall 

9. Patrice Konja (left), 

Jason Sinawi, Domonic 

Bakal, Sasha Yousif 

and Caldin Konja 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 


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FOOD STAMPS continued from 42 

payment method would allow for more 

financially sound budgeting and management 

of monies by those who 

receive benefits, advocates say. It 

would also align food stamp payments 

to the payment methods of other 

employed consumers and many 

salaried employees who are paid 

biweekly or twice-monthly. 

These recommendations do not 

alter the amount of food stamp benefits 

that an eligible household will 

receive. It simply modifies the regular 

payment day schedule. As the state no 

longer issues paper food stamps, modifying 

posting of EBT payments would 

not require a significant change in the 

process, advocates say. Additional 

costs, if any, of administering the recommended 

program can be assumed 

by the money interest the state derives 

from placing the yet un-posted funds 

in an interest-bearing account. 

Federal regulations do not prohibit 

varying payment distribution in 

this fashion. The Food Stamp Act of 

1977 does not prescribe a specific distribution 

payment method. Each 

state is left to administer the federal 

money for food benefits as it sees fit, 

subject to approval by the Food and 

Nutrition Service. The Food Stamp 

The proposed payment method would allow 

for more financially sound budgeting and 

management of monies by those who receive 

benefits, advocates say. 

Act of 1977, as amended (Public Law 

95-113), only requires each state 

agency to “submit to the Food and 

Nutrition Service for approval a plan 

of operation specifying the manner 

in which the Food Stamp Program 

will be conducted in every political 

subdivision within the state.” 

Calls to Governor Jennifer 

Granholm’s office for comment were 

not returned by press time. 

Spartan’s Deckow and other advocates 

are hopeful the system will change. 

“We realize that the change will 

take some programming on the part 

of the state, but we hope that it can 

be set into a future goal with a timeline 

for implementation,” said 

Deckow. “Ultimately, we think that 

issuing food stamps twice a month 

will also help clients as they, too, 

work to budget their dollars over a 

30-day time period.” 


2 

1 

3 

1. Khairy Boudagh 

(left), Saher Yaldo, 

Raad Kizy and 

Dhia Babbie 

2. Zuhair Karmo 

(left), Martin 

Khoshaba, Bassim 

Shallal and 

Jibran Manna 

3. Sophia Najjar 

(left), Kalasho 

Augeen, Khalid Yono 

and Khairy Boudagh 

4. Christian Abro 

(left), Michelle Denha 

and Heather Denha 

5. Charles Tamou 

and Lawrence 

Mansour 

6. Martin Khoshaba, 

the movie’s director 

7. Sue Kizy (left), 

Ibtisam Mansour, 

Laurita Mansour, 

Hellen Mansour and 

Allen Mansour 

8. Zuhair Karmo 

PHOTOS BY 

4 

5 

8 

WILSON SARKIS 

‘cousins’ 

6 

Hundreds of people turned out to watch the 

ChaldoAssyrian feature film “Cousins” at 

Bella Banquet Hall in Warren on March 4. 

The movie was also screened at Shenandoah 

Country Club the day before. 

7 


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(248) 457-7000 • Fax (248) 457-7001 • www.chglaw.com 


chaldean news REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL 


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Must speak English and understand 

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kids’ CORNER 

HOW TO MAKE 

EASTER EGG MOSAICS 

Christ has Risen! 

Spring is in the air. That means the holiest day of the year for 

Christians everywhere is fast approaching. Easter Sunday is on 

April 16 this year. With a little research, we found some interesting facts 

about Easter. 

Did you know that Easter never occurs before March 22 or after April 25? 

Christians celebrate Easter as the festival commemorating the resurrection 

of Christ. Prior to A.D. 325, Easter was variously celebrated on 

different days of the week, including Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

The Easter Egg predates the actual holiday of Easter. The 

exchange of eggs in the springtime was a custom centuries 

old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians. 

From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth 

in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, 

if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with 

the leaves or petals of certain flowers. 

Today, children hunt colored eggs and place them in 

Easter baskets along with the modern version of real 

Easter eggs — those made of plastic or chocolate candy. 

CAN YOU FIND THESE WORDS ABOUT SPRING? 

Jesus 

Easter 

Sunday 

WORD SEARCH 

Mass 

Cross 

Basket 

Eggs 

Spring 

Flowers 

April 

Showers 

DOLORSITAMETCONSECTETUERAD 

IPISCINMEMITPHASHOWERSCIDU 

NTVESTIAULUMDIGNISSIMFRING 

ILLAMAUSUNDAYTORTORINHACHA 

BITASJESUSEADICTUMSTVIVAMU 

SPULVINARQAISQUESEMNIBHLOB 

ORTISEGETCSMMODOATMALESUAD 

AETLOREMPRTESENTVITKLAENIB 

HDONRESUETEORTALHGIGULAMOR 

BIVHJGRUSHRKCROSSTETUERAGR 

SPRINGISSEEGESTASNEQUGHYHJ 

CNGUNSMMYLAOREETAUGUEIPSUM 

SOLLICITUDINMIQUIFLOWERSLI 

TAPRILSISODIONULLASCELERIS 

QUEPULVINFDARLBASKETOSIKLR 

CHALDEAN 

WORDS 

AND 

PHRASES 

OF THE 

MONTH 

Save all those peeled Easter Egg shells 

to make a mosaic picture. 

YOU WILL NEED: 

Easter Egg shells 

Glue 

Cardboard or heavy 

construction paper 

Crush all the Easter 

Egg shells into small 

pieces (not tiny!). 

Glue the egg shells 

down on cardboard 

or paper to create a 

mosaic picture. 

ENGLISH ARAMAIC 

spring ............bah-har 

eggs ..............bee-ih 

church ...........ea-tah 

Jesus .............ee-shaht 

Happy 

Easter ............Etha 

Rabah 

Brikha 


HOME OF THE $ 199 00 LEASE 

14505 Michigan Avenue • Dearborn, MI 48126

APRIL 2006

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