JUNE 2006

$2 

THE 

CHALDEANNEWS 

WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM 

VOL. 3 ISSUE V 

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY JUNE 2006 

INSIDE 

ACCESSING THE ACC 

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: 

REMEMBERING THE OTHERS 

THE CASE FOR NINEVEH 

TWO GOOD COPS 

the iraq 

condition 

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt 

gives insight on the war and the 

future of minorities 

The Chaldean News 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 102 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

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JUNE 2006 CHALDEAN NEWS 3

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

more than $ 102,000 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 

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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 

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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 

4 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2006


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CONTENTS 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 3 ISSUE V 

JUNE 2006 

on the cover 

31 THE IRAQ CONDITION 

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt gives insight 

on the war and the future of minorities 

features 

34 ACCESSING THE ACC 

BY JENNIFER T. KORAIL 

Opinions differ on its worth to the community 

31 

36 STILL GOING STRONG 

BY CHRISTINA GAPPY 

Active seniors share their tips for longevity 

38 RUFFLING FEATHERS 

BY KEN MARTEN 

Teacher challenges the mainstream view 

40 REMEMBERING THE OTHERS 

BY KEN MARTEN 

More than Armenians died in the infamous genocide 

28 42 

50 WORKING WOMEN 


Female entrepreneurs share their expertise 

46 52 

sports 

46 MR. PILIGIAN GOES 

TO WASHINGTON 

BY STEVE STEIN 

U-D Jesuit senior will pitch for Georgetown 

departments 

8 FROM THE EDITOR 

10 YOUR LETTERS 

12 NOTEWORTHY 

16 CHAI TIME 

18 CALC CORNER 

19 BOUSHALA 

BY SAMIRA YAKO CHOLAGH 

Dolma El Tamata (Stuffed Tomatoes) 

20 HALHOLE! 

26 RELIGION 

26 OBITUARIES 

27 THE DOCTOR IS IN 

BY JOSEPH ODEESH, D.D.S. 

Ready for a Smile Makeover? 

28 IRAQ TODAY 

42 MAKING A DIFFERENCE 

BY JOYCE WISWELL 

Outstanding in Their Field: Two 

Chaldean officers earn accolades 

44 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 

BY JOVAN KASSAB 

Hollywood Dreams: Two young men 

pursue an acting career 

48 GUEST COLUMN 

BY ROBERT W. DEKELAITA 

On the Road to Nineveh Again 

52 EVENT 

AFD Trade Show 

56 CLASSIFIED LISTINGS 

58 KIDS CORNER 


from the EDITOR 

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including Dr. Sayeg’s own minimally invasive 

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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 

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www.yournewlooks.com 

Getting the Community 

Talking 

As I began to edit the articles 

we assigned for 

this issue, I thought, 

“boy, we are really going to get 

people talking this month.” 

Some stories are a little edgy 

and somewhat controversial, 

and I am sure our readers will 

have their own opinions. 

Call me naïve, but if you 

asked me three years ago, 

when the statue of Saddam 

Hussein came tumbling down, 

if we would still be in a war and top of 

mind would be the future of Iraq, I 

would have said no. I never thought that 

Iraq could be at the brink of civil war 

and that Chaldeans in Iraq would fear 

for their lives every time they walked out 

of their house to go to church or to the 

store. The media coverage has been 

horrifying. I can’t help but wonder if we 

are getting the whole story and the truth 

about what is really going on in Iraq. I 

am sure I am not alone. 

In fact, the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce wanted to 

clarify any misconceptions people had 

and give Chaldeans the real story 

about the ground troops in Iraq, the 

government and the military. What is 

really going on? 

This month, our cover story is about 

General Mark Kimmitt, who spent a 

recent evening at Shenandoah Country 

Club in West Bloomfield giving community 

members the latest conditions 

on Iraq. He talked about the Al Qaeda 

threat, the military forces and the plight 

of Christians. Many members shared 

their concerns with the general and 

questioned whether Iraqis were better 

off four years ago under Saddam 

Hussein. Kimmitt assured the community 

that the U.S. military will not turn its 

back on Iraq. 

Iraq is not all you will be talking 

about this month. 

This war is not the first time we have 

seen the lives of Chaldeans threatened 

and a high death toll within the community. 

Last month, Ken Marten brought 

to us the story of the Armenian 

Genocide and how hundreds of 

Chaldeans were killed. He continues 

his series on the genocide — killing a 

people based solely on their ethnicity, 

their identity. 

Ethnic identity was the topic 

Deborah Alkamano addressed at a conference 

last month. She takes a stance 

on the controversial question that is certain 

to prompt a debate within the community: 

Are Chaldeans Arab? We also 

included a quick response from a few 

VANESSA 

DENHA- 

GARMO 

EDITOR 

community members who take 

the opposite view to demonstrate 

how the issue is easily 

argued. 

Another subject that will 

also spark debate at the chai 

table is the Arab Chaldean 

Council (ACC) and its role in 

the community. Now that the 

Chaldean Federation of 

America has been reorganized 

— and some say on the 

verge of being dismantled — 

how will the ACC truly represent 

Chaldeans? Do they already? Writer 

Jennifer Korail seeks out the answers 

to those questions. 

If these subjects aren’t enough to fill 

conversations for the next few weeks, 

how about discussing longevity? 

Christina Gappy sprinted along with 

some energetic 80-year-olds in our 

community who still play golf, go to 

work and drive. They may be in their 

twilight years but the light is shining 

bright in their lives. 

Giving you some lighter subjects to 

discuss, Joyce Wiswell interviewed 

two Chaldean police officers who are 

making a difference in our society. Both 

have recently been recognized for their 

work on the force and their commitment 

to their job. While Joyce learned 

some cop lingo, I was given some valuable 

lessons about business success 

from women in our own community at a 

Chaldean American Ladies of Charity 

(CALC) event. The CALC hosted a 

panel of business women who offered 

insight on creating and operating a 

profitable business. 

So, enjoy the read and we hope you 

engage in some healthy discussions. 

We believe we have given our readers 

something new to talk about this month. 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

Letters to the editor are welcome. 

Please keep your letter to less than 

500 words and include your city. 

The Chaldean News reserves the 

right to edit letters for clarity and 

length. Submit your letter via email to 

info@chaldeannews.com or mail 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 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

COPY EDITOR 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

EDITORIAL 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

OPERATIONS 

Interlink Media 

CIRCULATION 

CLASSIFIEDS 

SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE 

SALES REPRESENTATIVES 

SALES 

Interlink Media 


Joyce Wiswell 

Samira Yako Cholagh 

Robert Dekelaita 

Christina Gappy 

Jovan Kassab 

Jennifer Korail 

Ken Marten 

Joseph Odeesh, D.D.S. 

Steve Stein 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

David Reed 

Lena Yono 

Brad Ziegler 

Tammy Jonna 

Tammy Jonna 

Sandra Jolagh 

Tammy Jonna 

Lisa Kalou 

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PUBLICATION: The Chaldean News (P-6); Issue Date: June, 2006 SUBSCRIPTIONS: 12 months, $20. Outside of Michigan, 

$30. PUBLCATION ADDRESS: 30095 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; Application to Mail at 

Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office" POSTMASTER: Send address changes to "The 

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your LETTERS 

Spreading the News 

Thanks to the lead with the Chaldean 

News story, we got some national 

press on this issue [The Food Stamp 

Factor, April 2006]! 

Please read this story written by the 

Associated Press about AFPD efforts to 

change the Food Stamp Distribution Plan: 

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/business-8 

The story was on the wire and so 

far has been picked up by many newspapers 

from Los Angeles to Boston. 

— Jane Shallal, President 

Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers 

Farmington Hills 

The Beginning of the End? 

First and foremost, I would like to say 

congratulations to the Chaldean News; 

I look forward to reading it every 

month. Second, may God bless everyone 

involved with good health, faith 

and the continuation to write such 

amazing articles. 

I would like to reply to the article, 

“How We Mourn: Changing funeral traditions 

cause controversy” [May 2006]. 

My father is a very well-know, well-liked 

and well-respected man in our community. 

He has been to many funerals to 

pay his respects to the families in 

mourning. To keep him from going is, in 

a sense, keeping away from tradition. In 

saying that, I’m referring to how we as 

Chaldeans pride ourselves on traditions, 

and now we want to steer clear of 

that? My parents, and I’m sure most of 

your parents as well, have told stories of 

how their community back home came 

together for all events, funerals included, 

and we Chaldeans here in America 

do the same, so why stop it? 

I strongly disagree with the change. 

As such a close-knit community we were 

taught to stick together, and now? It 

seems we are being torn apart. This may 

not seem as such a big deal to many of 

your readers; however, this could be the 

beginning of the end of our proud culture. 

What’s next? The language? 

I agree with all of what Maher Dabish 

said. People knew his uncles and 

respected them. So, why weren’t they 

able to show that same respect for the 

families as well by attending the funerals? 

I also agree with Gloria Jarbow as 

far as having everything ready for people 

to come over. That’s where the rest 

of the family comes in. The immediate 

family mourns while the aunts and 

cousins do all the work. It’s probably not 

an ideal system to average people, but 

it is a system that works, nonetheless. 

God bless you all and may the 

deceased rest in peace. 

— Antonia Kassab 

West Bloomfield 

Welcome Changes 

Thank you, thank you, thank you 

Chaldean clergy and community leaders 

for the changes you are implementing in 

the way Chaldeans mourn. When I go to 

Chaldean funerals I'm always asking 

myself "Why are all the women wearing 

black and why are there so many cars 

going to the cemetery that several police 

escorts are necessary? Surely the police 

have more important things to do." 

When my father-in-law passed away 

we had a memorial service (tahzee) here 

in San Diego and I was criticized by 

someone because my skirt had a little 

beige in it. It didn't matter that the rest 

of me was dressed in black from head to 

toe. So much attention is paid to the 

attire, the food, the home visits that very 

often at funerals this is the topic of conversation, 

with many of us asking, "Is all 

this really necessary?" These changes 

are most welcome and I hope they will 

be practiced here in San Diego too. 

I love reading your periodical and I 

look forward to it every month. 

— Vickie Sarafa 

San Diego, California 

Correction 

• We printed the wrong website for 

author Cheryl Dickow last month. It is: 

www.AskKnockSeek.com. 

• The people pictured in the article on 

La Kabbr in the May issue were incorrectly 

identified. They are: Janna 

Mansoor (left), Farouk Mansoor and 

Rwaida Korkis. 


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NOTEworthy 

TEEN SPONSORS 

BLOOD DRIVE 

Michelle Atto, daughter of 

Richie and Delores Atto, will 

sponsor a Red Cross Blood 

Drive on July 9. Michelle’s 

efforts will make her eligible 

for a Red Cross-sponsored 

scholarship. The event takes 

place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 

St. Owen Catholic Church, 6869 Franklin Road in 

Bloomfield Hills. “Remember,” said Michelle, “each 

donated pint can save up to three lives.” Call (248) 

855-5187 to reserve a time to donate. 

The Assyrian Festival drew crowds in L.A. 

U.S. Army soldiers tour through the rebuilt ruins of Babylon. 

ARAB AMERICAN MUSEUM 

SPOTLIGHTS ATCHOO 

Nathima Habib Atchoo, MD, is the only Chaldean women 

among nine featured at a special exhibit at the Arab American 

National Museum in Dearborn. In Times of War: Her Untold 

Story tells how diverse women have experienced war. 

Atchoo, a native of Baghdad, came to the United States 

in 1960 to complete her medical training and residency. 

She returned to Iraq in the late 1960s but later secretly 

fled the country with her family and came back to the U.S. 

Following the Gulf War, she personally financed 

four humanitarian missions to Iraq during 

the 1990s, bringing medicine and supplies. 

She lived in a Baghdad hotel 

room to provide medical assistance 

to those in need and gave small gifts 

such as stuffed animals and candy 

to Iraqi children. 

The In Times of War 

exhibit runs through June 

30. The museum is located 

at 13624 Michigan Avenue 

in Dearborn. 

Nathima Atchoo poses by 

her exhibit at the Arab 

American National Museum. 

PHOTO BY JOHN MOORE)/AP 

BABYLON WORLD? 

Hopes are high that Babylon, the ancient city outside Hilla, can become a 

major tourist draw. According to The New York Times, Iraqi leaders and 

United Nationals officials are working to restore Babylon and turn it into a cultural 

center and possibly even a theme park. The fact that the area around 

Babylon — located about 60 miles south of Baghdad — is one of Iraq’s 

safest and most stable makes the project more conceivable, said the Times. 

There are large challenges, however. Signs of military occupation are 

everywhere, and many ruins are smashed beyond recognition. American 

contractors paved over ruins to make a helicopter landing pad, and Polish 

troops dug trenches through an ancient temple, said the Times article. 

Hilla’s mayor, Emad Lafta al-Bayati, has big plans for Babylon. Quotes 

the Times, “I want restaurants, gift shops, long parking lots.” 

CALIFORNIANS CELEBRATE ASSYRIANS 

Hundreds gathered in Los Angeles for the Assyrian Festival on April 22-23. 

The event included a parade, food, arts and crafts and music. St. Mary’s 

Parish Assyrian Church of the East was the sponsor of the annual event. View 

more images at www.assyrianenterprise/com/AssyFest/Food%20Fest.html. 

STREET NAMED 

FOR ASSYRIAN 

Yuma, Arizona, has a new 

street: Nineveh, named for 

Assyrian broadcaster Nineveh 

Dinha. Dinha is a reporter on 

KYMA NBC 11 News. 

Dinha said when she 

began her broadcast career, 

she was asked to think about 

changing her name. “I didn’t consider it,” she said. 

“I think it’s important that Assyrian women know 

that they can have a voice, and that anything is possible. 

I do this so that I may inspire others to follow 

the same path,” she said. “Newsrooms should be full 

of diversity, and hopefully one day, we will see more 

and more Assyrians embarking on a journey of 

becoming broadcast journalists.” 

CHAMBER TEES OFF 

FOR GOLF OUTING 

The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce 

presents its Third Annual Golf Outing on June 22 at 

Shenandoah Country Club. The event benefits the 

Chaldean Chamber Foundation. 

Some 150 golfers are expected at the event, 

which includes 18 holes of golf, lunch, cocktails and 

cigars, dinner, door prizes and hole-in-one car giveaways. 

Check-in begins at 11 a.m. 

The fee per golfer is $175, and several packages 

and sponsorship opportunities are available. Call the 

chamber at (248) 538-3700 for more information. 

PEOPLE 

Kristin Jonna has opened 

Vinology in Ann Arbor. The 

second in a series of wine 

bars, Jonna opened Vinotecca 

in downtown Royal Oak last 

year. The venues offer an 

extensive wine selection and 

an interesting menu of complementary 

small plates. 

Diane Dickow D’Agostini, 

chief justice of the 48th District 

Court, faces no challengers in 

her bid for reelection in 

November. That means six 

more years on the bench for 

D’Agostini. The 48th District 

Court covers West Bloomfield, 

Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, 

Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake 

and Orchard Lake. D’Agostini 

became a judge in 2001. 


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NOTEworthy 

JUDGE DENIES 

REDUCED SENTENCE 

FOR CHALDEAN 

ASYLUM SEEKERS 

A federal judge has denied a request 

to reconsider the jail sentences of 

three Chaldean men who were caught 

crossing into Texas to seek asylum as 

persecuted Christians. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio 

denied the men’s request on May 16, 

saying the six-month jail sentence he 

ordered earlier that month was appropriate. 

It was the maximum sentence 

for a misdemeanor illegal entry charge. 

U.S. Border Patrol agents detained 

Ammar Habib Zaya, Aamr Bahnan 

Boles and Remon Manssor Piuz in 

April near the Los Indios international 

bridge near Harlingen. 

A defense attorney asked the judge 

to reconsider the sentences because 

the men had no criminal history and 

were not a threat to national security, 

The Brownsville Herald reported. 

The men, who range in age from 20 

to 25, asked for asylum, saying they 

were persecuted as members of Iraq’s 

Chaldean Catholic Church. 

Haithem Sarafa (center, holding plaque) celebrates his Brother Rice award with his family. Back row: Vinnie Sarafa (Class of 2006), 

Maher Sarafa (Class of 1983) and Anmar Sarafa (Class of 1978). Front Row: Bernadette Sarafa, Charlotte Sarafa and Karim Sarafa. 

BROTHER RICE 

LAUDS SARAFA 

Haithem Sarafa received the 

Distinguished Alumnus Award from 

Brother Rice High School at a luncheon 

in April. 

Sarafa has stayed involved with 

Brother Rice since graduating in 1975. 

He has served as president of the 

Alumni Association and spent three 

years on the School Board. 

“I am always willing to donate my 

time to Brother Rice,” he said. “I just 

want to make sure that young men get 

the same type of education and experiences 

that I got. Brother Rice is an 

excellent preparatory school for college 

and the fact that it is Catholic and 

faith-based prepares you for life.” 

Sarafa is married to Charlotte; the 

couple’s two teenage sons attend 

Brother Rice and so someday will their 

third-grader. Sarafa and his brother, 

Anmar (Class of 1978) own Steward 

Capital Management and the Oakland 

Athletic Club. 


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CHAI time 

My Cuzin’s Comedy Show 

CHALDEANS CONNECTING 

[Friday, June 2 - Saturday, June 4] 

Greektown Arts Festival: Nearly 100 artists show off 

their wares amid live music and food. Free. Monroe 

Street, Detroit’s Greektown. (248) 932-9160. 

[Thursday, June 8] 

My Cuzin’s Comedy Show: Spotlite Entertainment 

and Wireless Toyz present this comedy show at Mark 

Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. Doors open at 

7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40-$80. 

For tickets, visit ahooooo.com. The show is also 

being presented on June 25, same time, same place. 

[Friday, June 9 - Sunday, June 11] 

Detroit Festival of the Arts: 20th annual event includes 

street theater, artists, live music, kids’ activities and 

more. Wayne State University Cultural Center, Midtown 

Detroit. Visit http://detroitfestival.com/06/index.php. 

[Saturday, June 10] 

Komen Detroit Race for the Cure: Thousands of 

breast cancer survivors and supporters gather at 

Comerica Park for fundraising races and walks. Visit 

http://www.karmanos.org/detroitraceforthecure. 

[Monday, June 12] 

Chaldean Commencement: Chaldean Federation of 

America presents the 24th annual ceremony for high 

school and college graduates at 2 p.m. at the 

Millennium Centre in Southfield. Graduation Gala Party 

takes place that evening at Shenandoah Country Club. 

Tickets are $40 to the party; call (248) 538-3700 or e- 

mail chaldeanfederation@yahoo.com to purchase. 

[Tuesday, June 13] 

Chaldean-American Bar Association: General 

membership meeting and Board of Directors elections 

begins at 6:30 p.m. at Shenandoah Country 

Club. All paid members in good standing are eligible 

to vote. www.chaldeanlawyers.org. 

Detroit Festival of the Arts 

Nabina Yesbeck to perform 

at ECRC Festival 

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT JUNE 2006 

[Wednesday, June 14] 

Chaldean Comedy Show: Nearly a dozen performers 

in this all-ages show at 7 p.m. at Shenandoah Country 

Club. For tickets ($40 and $65), call Jado Productions, 

(248) 284-5346 or visit www.jadoproductions.com. 


ECRC Spiritual Awakening Festival: The Chaldean 

Diocese in Detroit sponsors this Eastern Catholic Re- 

Evangelization Center festival, which includes skits, 

Christian rock music, lectures, masses and more. 

Doors open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on 

Saturday. Tickets, $10 for a two-day pass, are available 

at St. Thomas, Mar Addai, Mother of God and 

Sacred Heart churches. The event takes place at St. 

Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church, West Bloomfield. 


Strawberry Festival: The 30th Annual Strawberry 

Festival in Belleville includes two midways, beer tent, 

music and concerts, bingo, crafters, food, strawberry 

treats, a children’s area, Strawberry Queen, Prince 

and Princess pageants, and a water ski show on 

Saturday. http://www.nationalstrawberryfest.com. 

[Saturday, June 17 - Sunday, June 18] 

Clay and Glass Festival: Downtown Royal Oak event 

includes artists, food, music and the Taste of Royal 

Oak, (248) 547-4000. 

[Thursday, June 22] 

Golf Outing: Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce’s third annual outing begins at 11 a.m. at 

Shenandoah Country Club. Proceeds benefit the 

Chaldean Chamber Foundation. (248) 538-3700. 

[Sunday, June 25] 

Law Clinic: The Chaldean American Bar Association 

hosts a law clinic for underprivileged Chaldeans who 

cannot afford an attorney. 1-4 p.m., St. Joseph 

Chaldean Church in Troy. 

[Wednesday, June 28] 

Fireworks: Annual Detroit Fireworks, also known as the 

Freedom Festival, takes place along Detroit’s Riverfront. 

www.theparade.org/freedomfest/index.shtml. 

[Friday, June 30] 

Comerica TasteFest: Lots of food with national and 

local music performers through July 4 in Detroit’s 

New Center area. www.comericatastefest.com. 

[Sunday, July 9] 

Blood Drive: Community member Michelle Atto sponsors 

a Red Cross Blood Drive. 8 a.m.-2 p.m., St. 

Owen Catholic Church, 6869 Franklin Road, 

Bloomfield Hills. Call (248) 855-5187 to reserve a time. 

[Saturday, July 29 - Sunday, July 30] 

Arab and Chaldean Festival: 35th annual festival features 

food, Ethnic Cultural Gallery and entertainment. 

Children’s Fair takes place from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday; 

the annual Arab fashion show is on Sunday. Hart Plaza, 

downtown Detroit. www.arabandchaldeanfestival.com. 

[Saturday, August 26 – Sunday, August 27] 

Chaldean Festival: Food, music, Vegas Tent, kids’ 

activities and more in Southfield. (248) 538-3700. 

[Tuesday, September 26] 

Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: Ave Maria WDEO 

radio host and professional speaker Teresa Tomeo is the 

guest speaker at a Chaldean American Ladies of Charity 

event at Shenandoah Country Club. (248) 352-5018. 



CALC corner 

NOTE from the 

PRESIDENT 

It has been a wonderful 

two years as president 

of the CALC. I 

have always been 

proud to be part of 

this organization of 

dedicated and talented 

women and now I 

can say that being 

president is so rewarding. 

I have fully enjoyed serving our community 

and meeting so many community 

members. It has been an honor to be able 

to be a president of an organization that the 

late Bishop George Garmo, my uncle, 

founded 45 years ago. This year we celebrate 

our 45th anniversary at an event on 

September 26 at Shenandoah Country 

Club. It will be a night to remember that 

you won’t want to miss. Our board elections 

were recently held this past month and 

we will give an update in the July issue. 

— Clair Konja, President 

VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON 

Residences of St. Anthony Nursing Home in Warren 

were treated to Mother’s Day luncheon. Margret Butti 

prepared a Chaldean meal for some 15 to 20 residents, 

both men and women. Also volunteering that day were 

CLOTHING 

DRIVE 

We held a clothing drive at 

Key Elementary in Oak Park 

on May 16-18 for our families 

in that area. We would like to 

thank Principal Mrs. Snow 

and teachers Hanna Manna 

and Khaloud Naemi for their 

support. A special thank you 

to our volunteers: Fadia 

Nissan, Raghda Abbo, 

Norma Hakim, Betty Babbie, 

Alice Elia, Jalila Kainaya and 

everyone who contributed 

clothing to our drive. 

ALL TOGETHER 

CALC presented Women 

Enterprisers on April 27 at 

Shenandoah Country 

Club. The workshop was 

designed for women who 

own or manage a business, 

or are thinking of doing so. 

We took the opportunity to 

pose for a generational 

photo featuring CALC’s 

oldest and youngest member, 

and some in between. 

Justina Hickey (back left) — 

the youngest — Kristin Jonna, 

Karla Atchoo and Nancy 

Jonna, Rosemary Bannon 

(front left) — the oldest — 

and Rosemary Antone. 

Muren Dakal and Nidhal Rasam. Residents were given 

an instant picture of themselves in a pretty frame. 

“I have been going there for two years and they 

are always looking forward to seeing us,” said 

Margret. “They always look out for the Ladies of 

Charity.” 

REFLECTIONS 

CALC members reflect on the organization and what it has meant to them 

“I am a student learning from these 

energetic women of many generations 

whose purpose it is to serve children, 

seniors and families. This group educates 

and motivates the entire community 

to preserve our unique and beautiful 

heritage and I am honored to learn and 

work with them.” 

– Judge Diane Dickow 

D’Agostini 

“Membership with the Ladies of Charity 

serves as a mobilizing force of Chaldean 

women proactively addressing a diversity 

of social issues that plague our civic society. 

Sustaining a neutral platform, we 

are an active membership that is supported 

by effective partnerships within as well 

as among the broader communities we 

engage. Over the last 45 years CALC 

has evolved as a catalyst driving relevant 

societal challenges upon the premise that 

women, Chaldean women, are a positive 

force in building and sustaining our communities 

at a very grassroots level.” 

– Wendy R. Acho 

“Being a member of the Chaldean 

American Ladies of Charity has a depth 

of meaning to me: preserving history, 

creating memories and implementing 

changes which begin to define the future 

of the CALC and its future members. 

My grandmother and mother are members 

and now, through me, my daughter 

is a member: four generations of women 

working together for the future of 

Chaldean Women, Chaldean Families 

and Chaldean Culture.” 

– Joanne M. Shango 

"The Ladies of Charity is a valuable 

resources to our community and other 

communities because the women 

involved in this organization are working 

together to provide the highest level of 

services to those individuals that are in 

need.” 

– Michelle Jonna 

“In November 2004 I was searching for 

an Iraqi (Chaldean) U.S. veteran to 

come into the middle school and speak 

on Veterans Day, which is celebrated on 

November 11. With a population of 590 

students, Flynn Middle School had 380 

Chaldean students! Many were asking if 

their grandfathers, fathers or uncles can 

speak since many of them served in Iraq, 

but they needed to be American veterans, 

not Iraqi veterans. They wondered 

if we had any Chaldean U.S. veterans. 

I remembered the wonderful tribute 

CALC gave to the veterans a few years 

ago. I contacted Rosemary Antone, a 

long-time member of CALC; she made 

a few phone calls and a week later 

Rosemary and Chaldean U.S. veteran 

Don Essa, who served in World War II, 

came to school and spoke to a majority 

crowd of Chaldean students! Many 

skipped lunch period to hear more about 

his life. That day I knew I needed to be 

a part of CALC, because many other 

volunteer organizations focus so much 

on fundraising or maybe just cater to a 

certain population, but CALC members 

go up and beyond. They do so 

much and it showed me that it comes 

from the heart!” 

– Sue Kattula 

18 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2006 

ADVERTORIAL

oushala 

Dolma El Tamata 

Dolma El Tamata 

STUFFED TOMATOES 

BY SAMIRA YAKO CHOLAGH 

INGREDIENTS 

8 medium or 14 small tomatoes 

1 cup short grain rice, washed 

and drained 

1/4 cup olive oil 

1 medium onion, chopped 

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped 

2 tablespoons mint, chopped, 

or 1 tablespoon dried mint 

2 tablespoons tomato paste 

mixed with 2 cups water 

1 teaspoon baharat (mixed spices) 

Salt to taste 

SERVES FOUR 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Cut tops from tomatoes and save. 

Scoop out pulp, chop and set aside. 

2. Saute onion with some oil until soft, 

add rice, chopped tomato pulp, parsley, 

mint, 1 cup tomato sauce, spices 

and salt. Bring to boil, cover and cook 

over low heat for 10 minutes. 

3. Fill tomatoes 2/3 full. Replace tops 

and arrange in a casserole. 

4. Pour remaining tomato sauce and 

olive oil, cook covered in a 350 degree 

oven for 30 minutes or until cooked. 

Baharat 

MIXED SPICES 

INGREDIENTS 

1/2 cup black pepper 

1 tablespoon red pepper 

1 tablespoon cardamom seeds 

1 cinnamon stick 4 inches long 

1/2 cup cumin seeds 

1/2 cup coriander seeds 

1/2 cup whole all spice 

4 whole nutmegs 

MAKES 2.5 CUPS 

DIRECTIONS 

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. 

2. Place 1 cup at a time 

in a blender or coffee grinder. 

Grind into powder and store 

in an airtight jar. 

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HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

Francis Kamil 

Tristan Toma is proud to announce the arrival of his baby brother, 

Francis Kamil Toma. Francis was born on March 24, 2006, 

weighing 7 lbs., 13 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches long. Proud 

parents are Leon and Angie Toma. Francis is the third grandchild 

for Suad & the late Kamil Toma and the second for Mouayad & 

Lamaan Alraihani. 

Vincent Sami 

Robert and Cheryl Arafat are thankful to be blessed again by God 

with their first son, Vincent Sami. He was born on February 28, 

2006 at 3:49 p.m. He weighed 10 lbs, 1.9 oz. and measured 22 

inches long. Big sisters Kayla and Claudia are exited to have a little 

brother in their family. Proud grandparents are Widad & the 

late Sami Arafat and John & Linda Yaldoo. 

Matthew Wisam Yaldo 

Alexander is proud to announce the birth of his new baby brother, 

Matthew Wisam, born on February 21, 2006 at 4:17 a.m. He 

weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz, and was 20 inches long. Proud parents are 

Wisam and Joann Yaldo. Matthew is the 15th grandchild for 

Kamel & Layla Yaldo and the eighth grandchild for Louis & Lubna 

Jarjosa. Matthew’s godfather is his cousin, Louis Denha II. 

Zack Saad 

Zack Saad Attisha was born on March 23, 2006. He weighted 7 

lbs., 8 oz. Proud parents are Saad and Zeana Attisha and big 

brothers are Andrew and Simon. 

Francis Kamil 

Matthew Wisam Yaldo 

Vincent Sami 

Zack Saad 

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Tiffany Grace 

On December 5, 2005, dreams finally arrived, and so did the miracle 

baby. After many years, God has blessed Mark and Heather Sokana 

with a girl, Tiffany Grace, who weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz. Grandparents 

are Youhannan & Evelyn Sokana and Basil & Bushra Denha. 

Brooke Lourdes 

David and Mae Kouza have been blessed with the birth of their 

second child. Brooke Lourdes was born on January 13, 2006. 

She weighed 6 lbs. and was 20 inches long. Big brother James is 

very excited about his new sister. Proud grandparents are Fatin & 

the late Jamal Kouza and Hikmat & Nadira Yaldoo. 

Luke Muhannad 

Robert and Suzanne Ankawi welcomed the birth of their second 

child, Luke Muhannad Ankawi, on January 15, 2006 at 4:49 a.m. 

Luke weighed 6.15 pounds and measured 20 inches long, and is 

little brother to Natalya. Luke is the third grandchild for Samir & 

Widad Ankawi, and the second grandchild for Alfred & Shereen 

Simon. Godparents are Mouad Ankawi and Reem Simon. 

Tiffany Grace 

Brooke Lourdes 

[Engagements] 

Anne and Tom 

Sue & Sharkey Hesano would like to announce the engagement of 

their daughter, Anne Hesano, to Tom Topolski, son of George & 

Barb Topolski of Cleveland, Ohio. Anne is a manager of business 

development at Trinity Health and Tom is a pharmaceutical sales 

representative for Eli Lilly. A September wedding is planned at St. 

Mary’s of Orchard Lake with a reception at It’s a Matter of Taste. 

Luke Muhannad 

Anne and Tom 

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HALHOLE! 

Reem and Haytham 

Haytham Allos and Reem Jiddou are pleased to announce their 

engagement. The groom-to-be is the son of Mrs. Warina Allos & the 

late Mr. Issa Allos. Haytham is a graduate of the University of California 

San Diego with a degree in computer engineering. He anticipates the 

completion of his Masters in business administration in August 2006 

from the “Rady School” at the University of California San Diego. 

Haytham currently owns his own software consulting business. The 

bride-to-be is the daughter of Mrs. Ibtisam Jiddou & the late Mr. Samir 

Jiddou. Reem is a graduate of the University of Michigan in Dearborn 

with a degree in computer science and has a Masters of Science in 

software engineering from George Mason University in Fairfax, 

Virginia. Reem currently works in San Diego as a software engineering 

consultant. The couple plans a July 2006 wedding in San Diego. 

Reem and Haytham 

Lisa and Zahi 

Lisa and Zahi 

Wisam & Ibtisam Shayota are proud to announce the engagement 

of their daughter, Lisa, to Zahi Kassab, the son of Amir & Khalida 

Kassab. They celebrated their engagement on April 29, 2006, at 

St. Sharbel with friends and family. Lisa is an enrollment services 

coordinator at CAPE Health Plan, and Zahi is a firefighter/EMT in 

Novi. They are planning a September 2006 wedding. 

Venice and Marvin 

We are proud to announce the engagement of Marvin and Venice. 

Marvin is the son of Jalal Maha Kassgorgis (Petrous). Venice is 

the daughter of Raad & Thikra Asmar. The wedding will take 

place in September 2006 at St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic 

Church with the reception at Shenandoah Country Club. A 

Mediterranean cruise is planned for the honeymoon. 

Venice and Marvin 

Bridal Trunk Shows 

June 2–4 

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HALHOLE! 

Amanda and Ammar 

Ammar Kattoula, son of Victor & Sahira Kattoula, and Amanda 

Nafso, daughter of Thamir & Faiza Nafso, celebrated their 

engagement on April 28, 2006, at the Palace of Southfield. 

The couple is planning a wedding in September 2006 at St. 

Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church and a reception at 

Shenandoah Country Club. 

Nabeel and Nada 

Mr. & Mrs. Deebeh and Sami Khashan of San Jose, California, 

are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Nabeel, 

to Nada Gulli, daughter of Khalid & Samira Gulli of West 

Bloomfield. The wedding will take place in February on the 

beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia where they will celebrate 

with close family and friends. Nada is currently working with 

Wireless Toyz in Southern California and Nabeel is an automations 

engineer for Wells Fargo Bank in Phoenix, Arizona. They 

will begin their life together in Phoenix where they are in the 

process of building a home. 

[Wedding] 

Sally and Jason 

Sally Putrus and Jason Kassab were married on January 7, 

2006 at Mother of God Church. A reception followed at the 

Palace of Southfield. Sally is the daughter of Fawzi & Samira 

Putrus and Jason is the son of Raad Kassab and Sue Kassab. 

Best Man was the groom’s brother, Steven, and Maid of Honor 

was Rita Bally, the bride’s cousin. The couple honeymooned in 

Antigua. 

Amanda and Ammar 

Sally and Jason 

Nabeel and Nada 

SHARE YOUR 

JOY 

WITH 

THE 

COMMUNITY! 

Announcements are offered free of 

charge to paid subscribers. 

Please email or mail announcements 

with a photo to the Chaldean News at: 

vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

Chaldean News; c/o Editor 

Subject: Announcements 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Ste 102 


Hard copies of photos can be picked 

up after the 15th of the month. 

Photos are not mailed back. 

248-477-7022 

Evening & Saturday 

Hours Available 

Middlebelt 

Dermatology 

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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, 1 

0 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 

JUNE CALENDAR 

KEY OBSERVATION DATES 

S M T W T F S 

4 Pentecost 

9 Golden Friday 

15 Holy Eucharist 

18 Father’s Day 

23 Sacred Heart 

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 

obituaries 

Kamil Zia (Toma) Kas-Shamoun 

Kamil Zia (Toma) Kas-Shamoun, 

born on May 30, 1951 in Baghdad, 

Iraq, died on April 23, 2006. 

Kamil was a true family man, 

always finding time for his wife and 

kids whether it was konkon, dominoes, 

backgammon or anything else 

that put a smile on someone’s face. 

His other passion was exploring the 

world with his family, friends and relatives, which he 

achieved in countless journeys around the world. He 

lived each day to its potential, full of energy and 

enthusiasm to experience the world with loved ones. 

Never putting himself first, he provided his wife and 

kids the best life possible. 

Kamil was the youngest child of the late Zia and 

Naima Kas-Shamoun and the beloved sibling of 

Jamila (Salman) Kalawa, Hania (Gorial) Zetouna, 

Gorgis (Nouria) Toma, Bedria (late Mikha) Dado, 

Mary Toma, Sabah (Nawal) Toma, late Hani (Suham) 

Toma. He is also survived by his wife, Suad; children, 

Lawrence (Patricia), Leon (Angie), Monica (Steve), 

Michael and Joey; and grandchildren, Tristan, Serena, 

Francis and Lance. Although the youngest in the family, 

he was always sought for advice and counsel. 

Kamil committed himself wholeheartedly to the 

church and community. He was a community leader 

and devoted committed parish council member of St. 

Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church. Man or woman, 

rich or poor, old or young, the lonely and the sick, 

Kamil stood before them with tender care and support. 

His gentle smile and spirited laugh warmed your 

heart and touched your soul. He was a genuinely 

fearless leader whose courage carried him through 

each new experience in the business world. Loved 

by the thousands who knew him, admired by the thousands 

more who heard him, he departs from this 

earth to be with his parents and brother in the kingdom 

of heaven. 

The family invites you to light your own candle for this 

extraordinary man at: http://kamil-toma.memory-of.com. 

Albert P. Asker 

Albert P. Asker died on May 14, 

2006 after a long illness. He was 

born on October 2, 1952 in 

Baghdad, Iraq. 

Albert was known as a good 

husband, a good father and an allaround 

wonderful human being. 

His main purpose in life was to 

make his family and those he 

cared for and loved happy before himself. He was 

humble and always thankful and blessed for everything 

he had. 

Albert is survived by his wife, May; his son, 

Anthony Asker, and his daughter, Bianca. Other survivors 

are his siblings, George, Isam, Samir, Diah, 

Talal, Najat, Samira and Ahlam; his father- and mother-in-law, 

Yousif and Victoria Nafsu; and his brothersand 

sisters-in-law, Wayne, Basil, Nazar, Bassima, 

Azhar, Nidhal and Violet. He was predeceased by his 

parents, Petros and Alice. 


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IRAQ today 

PHOTO BY YAHYA AHMED/AP 

Kirkuk Christians Fear Rising Violence 

BY SAMAH SAMAD 

Relatives mourn as the coffin 

of a Christian man is taken 

from his home to a church in 

Kirkuk on January 2. The man 

died during riots in Kirkuk as 

price hikes and shortages of 

fuel led to protests in many 

cities around Iraq and riots in 

northern oil-rich Kirkuk. 

KIRKUK, Iraq/Institute for 

War & Peace Reporting 

Fadi Alyas, 13, was playing with 

three friends in front of the 

Church of the Virgin Mary in 

Kirkuk when the bomb went off. 

Inside the Chaldean Christian 

church, the ground shook as worshippers, 

including Fadi’s grandmother, 

were praying quietly. They ran outside 

to find the air filled with smoke and 

shards of metal from the exploded car 

scattered around the church. 

Fadi lay on the ground in a pool of 

blood. He died later in hospital. 

“I can’t get his voice out of my 

mind,” said his brother Nasim Alyas, 

23, his eyes welling up with tears. “I 

saw him drenched in his own blood, 

breathing his last at the hospital.” 

Fadi was one of three people killed 

in late January when five car bombs 

targeted churches and the Vatican 

embassy in Kirkuk and Baghdad. 

The anti-Christian violence shook 

this community in Kirkuk, many of 

whose members fear rising sectarianism 

and growing Islamic influence amid 

the violence that has followed the fall of 

Saddam Hussein in 2003. 

The coordinated attacks in late 

January took place during the controversy 

over cartoons run in a Danish 

newspaper that ridiculed the Prophet 

Mohammed. They were the first major 

attack against a religious group in 

2006, a year that has proven bloody for 

Iraq’s many religious groups and sects. 

Christians in the ethnically and religiously 

mixed city of Kirkuk are still 

practicing their religion, albeit more 

cautiously and quietly. While some said 

that they maintain friendships with 

Muslims, others said sectarian divisions 

and discrimination were creeping 

in even before the bombs exploded. 

The Christian community now 

accounts for an estimated 3 percent of 

Iraq’s population, down from about 5 

percent during Saddam’s regime. The 

United Nations’ High Commissioner for 

Refugees reported last year that of the 

700,000 Iraqis who took refuge in Syria 

between October 2003 and March 

2005, 36 percent were Christians. 

Kirkuk’s Christian population is estimated 

to be about 12,000 in a province 

of more than one million. There are 

eight Christian sects in Kirkuk, but 

most are Chaldean and Assyrian. 

Behra Toma, a 45-year-old housewife 

and mother of two, said coexistence 

between Muslims and Christians 

in Kirkuk has deteriorated since the fall 

of Saddam’s regime. 

“My son complains that he has 

been insulted and harassed by his 

classmates more than once because 

he is Christian and doesn’t belong to 

their ethnic group,” she said. “This has 

a huge affect on the psychology of 

children because they will grow up 

with those ideas.” 

Kirkuk archbishop Louis Sako, 56, 

said Christians, like other Iraqis, fear 

kidnappings and sectarian violence 

because of the breakdown of law and 

order. He said Christians are suffering 

as Islamic parties take power in 

Baghdad and as Iraq’s Islamic character, 

largely oppressed by the Baathist 

regime, expands. 

“The Christians don’t feel affiliated 

to [Iraq], because they live in a country 

dominated by the Islamic religion,” he 

said. 

Archbishop Sako said many 

Muslims regard Christians as “nonbelievers.” 

“Hostile feelings against 

Christians in Iraq have emerged 

recently, and now they live with threats 

to their lives,” he said. 

As a result, the archbishop said, 

many want to migrate to majority- 

Christian countries. 

Odisho Stefan, 42, a father of three 

and guitarist at the Kirkuk Legendary 

Church, said he fears Islamic rule 

could take over Iraq. He said he 

already feels restricted as a Christian 

and believes he cannot practice his 

religion openly. 

Like many other Christians in Iraq 

and other Middle Eastern countries, 

Stefan has family abroad, which could 

make it easier for him to leave. “I will be 

forced to migrate with my family if the 

situation gets worse,” he said. 

Archbishop Sako said that because 

of the bombings in Kirkuk, Christians feel 

insecure about attending church and 

have started to guard their own churches 

because police aren’t providing security. 

A source in Kirkuk’s police force 

said it is doing its best to ensure security 

and does not discriminate against 

Christians. “We do our best to provide 

security for everyone,” he said. 

While there is widespread fear of 

violence among Christians and other 

groups in Kirkuk, not everything is 

worse than it was three years ago. 

Under Saddam, churches were protected, 

but there was no freedom to 

set up Syriac schools or formally 

teach the language. ChaldoAssyrians 

were obliged to study in Arabic and 

were considered to be Arabs. 

Eva Lazar, a 29-year-old Christian 

civil servant, said fundamentalist 

Islamic groups that regard Christians 

as unbelievers have existed for 

decades, but they were held in check 

by the Baathist regime. 

She said that in some ways, life 

has improved for Kirkuk’s Christians. 

“There didn’t use to be many jobs, but 

now there are opportunities,” she 

said. “And our official language 

[Syriac] is taught in schools.” 

Even though he lost his younger 

brother, Nasim said he has faith that 

Muslims and Christians can live 

together in Kirkuk. There are tight 

bonds between the communities, he 

said. 

“Most of the people who attended 

my brother’s funeral were Muslims.” 

Reprinted courtesy of the Assyrian 

International News Agency (aina.org). 


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THE POSSIBILITY OF CIVIL WAR 

At this point, there is no major concern regarding a 

civil war from Kimmitt’s perspective. Although possible, 

he said it is not probable. “There are different 

barometers of civil war,” he said. “We are seeing 

militias, which are not helpful. We are seeing 

ethno-sectarian violence where people go after each 

other for different ethnicity and different sects.” 

Kimmitt explained that there are two measures 

used when trying to predict a civil war. One is the 

government. Although it is coming together more 

slowly than the U.S. had hoped, the government is 

forming and is committed to staying together, he said. 

“The first barometric break I would be concerned 

about is if the government falls apart, and we saw that 

almost happen in April 2004,” said Kimmitt. 

He views the second indicator as a compelling 

comment on the army. “People have criticized 

[Ambassador and Presidential Envoy to Iraq] Paul 

Bremmer for disbanding the Iraqi army,” he 

acknowledged. “They said it was the worst decision.” 

Giving a history update, Kimmitt reminded 

critics that civil wars occurred in Lebanon, 

Yugoslavia and the U.S with one of the precursors 

being that the military broke down. 

“It is a tribute to Paul Bremmer that he did dis- 

KIMMITT on page 32 

the iraq condition 

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt gives insight 

on the war and the future of minorities 


Making no attempts to paint a rosy picture 

or validate the often-negative 

reports from mainstream media, Mark 

Kimmitt, deputy director of Strategy and Plans for 

the United States Central Command, spoke 

frankly to the community on May 16 at 

Shenandoah Country Club. Witnessing the environment 

first-hand with military troops on the 

ground, Kimmitt said the truth is that the U.S. 

military has no plans on leaving the country until 

its mission is complete and Iraq is stable. 

Standing in a decorated uniform, the brigadier 

general gave a 20-minute synopsis and answered 

an array of questions at the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce event. 

Kimmitt humbly dismissed the expression of 

gratitude from several members who thanked him 

repeatedly for finding time in his hectic schedule 

to address the Chaldean Chamber; he said it was 

his duty. “We are soldiers of a democratic society,” 

explained Kimmitt to the crowd of nearly 100 people. 

“We understand that the issue of Iraq and the 

issue of our operations throughout Central 

Command are on everybody’s mind. We have a 

responsibility as a democratic society to explain 

what we are doing and how we are doing it.” 

THE LATEST NEWS 

When military personnel like Kimmitt return to the 

United States, they fill their daily calendar with visits 

to various groups to explain the conditions of 

Iraq. “We have U.S. soldiers putting their lives on 

the line every day,” he said. “We talk about the Al 

Qaeda threat. People want to know how long we 

are going to be there. What our force levels are. 

They want to know how is the mission going. What 

is the ground level like from the soldiers’ point of 

view. They tell us they don’t believe the media.” 

The questions that night at Shenandoah also 

extended beyond Iraq and included queries about the 

region, including Syria, Afghanistan and Iran. 

“Statistics show that most insurgencies are defeated not 

by foreign troops but by local troops,” Kimmitt said. 

Part of the mission of the troops from various 

countries now in Iraq is to train the Iraqi military 

“We are training a national 

army that answers to the 

people of Iraq.” 

— GENERAL MARK KIMMITT 

and to fight the insurgents. “Along with conducting 

day-to-day stability, we are training the army,” 

said the general. “We are training a national army 

that answers to the people of Iraq.” 

The military in Iraq consists mostly of an army 

with a small air force and navy. It is focused on 

conventional military army training and counterterrorist 

training. 

Out of the 18 provinces in Iraq, 14 experience 

minor incidences and are fairly secure, Kimmitt 

said. There are concerns about sectarian violence 

and growing concerns about the up-rise of militias. 

The other four provinces — Ambar, Baghdad, 

Salidin and Nineveh Province — are at the center 

of the insurgency in Iraq. 


KIMMITT from page 31 

band the military because the military he brought 

back has stayed together even with all this sectarian 

violence,” Kimmitt said. “No units have defected 

to one side. It would have broken down along 

conventional lines if it was not disbanded first.” 

The prevention of civil war depends on the 

military continuing to hold together, as well as the 

government, Kimmitt said. 

THE MILITIA FACTOR 

There is a strong militia presence in Iraq. The various 

militias were established to protect groups 

against the depravities of Saddam Hussein. Today, 

they are not a healthy aspect when trying to move 

forward in Iraq. “A future of Iraq has to have one 

security force that answers to one central government,” 

said Kimmitt. “Iraq cannot depend upon 

independent militias that do not answer to the 

central government.” 

It has been reported that some militias have firebombed 

Christian liquor stores, yet they are out on 

the streets selling liquor. They have forced Christian 

women to wear hijabs and are attacking Christians 

in Iraq. These are reports on which the members of 

the Chaldean Chamber keep a close eye. 

Oftentimes, members of the community turn 

to the Chaldean Chamber for help. Recently, a 

man called the chamber for advice, saying he has 

four daughters in Baghdad who are scared. He 


stated that dead bodies are around for days and 

police don’t respond to their cries for help. This 

issue was discussed with Kimmitt. “If we need to, 

we will put more forces into Iraq and we are prepared 

to do that,” he said. “There are entire 

brigades of forces in Kuwait and we can bring 

them in if we need them.” 

From left, Eddie Bacall, Fouad Manna, Adhid Miri, General 

Mark Kimmitt and Saad Hajjar at the community event. 

THE PLIGHT OF CHRISTIANS 

The U.S. military insists Iraq must give universal 

protection of people regardless of religion, background 

or sect. “I am concerned about the treatment 

of Chaldeans and Assyrians as I am of any 

group inside,” said Kimmitt. “It is clear that we 

have some ways to go in terms of the security system. 

We need patience and persistence to see this 

through. We don’t leave the job unfinished or 

leave before the Iraqis can handle it themselves.” 

Some people still argue that the United States 

should never have entered Iraq and that people, 

primarily Christians, were better off under Saddam 

Hussein. “I can’t argue that the situation in Iraq is 

where we want it,” Kimmitt said. “However, the 

situation four years ago was a situation where one 

lived under a dictator, one lived under oppression, 

one always had to worry about that knock on the 

door every evening to see if his family was going to 

be taken away. This is a regime that gassed its own 

people. It committed genocide against the Shi’at 

in the South. While it is a tumultuous period and 

an unstable period, the future is much brighter 

now under an elected government elected by the 

people than under Saddam.” 

While the public stays focused on Iraq and 

Afghanistan, the U.S. military is not taking its 

eyes off of Al Qaeda and its associated movements. 

Osama Bin Laden declared war on the U.S. in 

1998. He has been responsible for numerous 

attacks, including September 11, 2001, and 

remains capable to do far more. “He is not 10 feet 

tall. His organization is not 10 feet tall,” said 

Kimmitt. “However, we cannot rest easy until not 

only is he brought to justice, but his lieutenants 

are brought to justice and his ideology is destroyed. 

It remains the greatest existential threat to the 

United States and the world. Even if Iraq and 

Afghanistan were stable tomorrow, we would be 

fighting this war for years to come.” 

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accessing the ACC 

Opinions differ on its worth to the community 

BY JENNIFER T. KORAIL 

The Arab American and Chaldean 

Council (ACC) claims to be the largest 

community-based human service organization 

serving the Middle Eastern community in 

the United States. Founded in 1979, the organization 

has grown from a humble beginning of a 

few eager individuals hoping to benefit their 

community to 39 outreach offices in the tricounty 

area. However, some Chaldeans argue 

that the ACC does not benefit the community 

to the degree that it claims. 

The ACC’s role in the Chaldean community 

has been a controversial topic for quite some 

time. Some say only good things about the 

organization while others believe the ACC can 

do much more. Still others share 

mixed feelings. 

Chaldean businessman and ACC 

Vice Chairman Nabby Yono has 

served the ACC since its inception 

and addresses this issue often. “The 

Arab American and Chaldean 

Council has been in existence for 

more than 25 years and has served 

hundreds of thousands of people,” he 

said. “Our services speak for themselves. 

And we are not limited to 

serving the Arab and Chaldean communities. 

We serve all people in need 

and do not turn our backs on anyone.” 

Community activist Talal Kakos, an IT specialist 

with IBM who lives in Sterling Heights, 

sees it differently. “I have not seen, heard or read 

about any benefits that have served Chaldeans,” 

he said. “Chaldeans have different, specific 

needs and I don’t believe that this organization 

will be able to meet those needs for the 

Chaldean people.” 

ACC Board Member Salman Sesi takes the 

opposite view. “Those who say the ACC does 

not benefit the Chaldean community argue out 

of jealousy,” he said. “The ACC has served the 

Nabby Yono: 

“Our services speak 

for themselves.” 

community for years and has even employed 

many Chaldeans since its foundation.” 

But Bernadette Najor of West Bloomfield, a 

professor at Wayne State University and community 

youth leader, disagrees. “Ninety percent 

of the Chaldean community feels the ACC is 

not representing the people in our community 

the right way,” said “I am not against the ACC 

or any organization that helps the community, 

but if they can help more, they should. They 

need to get trust not by speaking, but by acting.” 

The issue of employment tends to raise eyebrows. 

None of the ACC’s executive staff is 

Chaldean, and only four of its 22 board members 

are from the Chaldean community. However, 

Haifa Fakhouri: 

“Forty-five percent 

of our staff 

is Chaldean.” 

Dave Nona: 

“While the ACC does 

benefit some of the 

community, it does 

not benefit the 

community at large.” 

ACC President Haifa Fakhouri points out that 

Chaldeans actually have the largest majority on 

the board, since it is made up of so many different 

nationalities. “It is not a matter of 

‘Chaldean’ vs. ‘Arab,’” she stressed. “The ACC 

serves and represents all people, whether they 

are Chaldean, Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian, 

Egyptian or any other nationality. The majority 

of the board consists of Chaldeans over any 

other nationality. In fact, 45 percent of our staff 

is Chaldean.” 

MANY PROGRAMS 

Social services, ESL classes, job fairs and youth 

sports are only a few services that the ACC provides. 

The organization also offers a number of 

health programs including mental health services 

and access to clinics, and many are pleased 

with the services they have received. 

However, those who speak most highly of the 

ACC seem to share the closest ties with it. In 

fact, some claim that ACC employees are the 

only Chaldeans who benefit from the organization’s 

existence. 

Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce 

Board Member Dave Nona, vice president of 

Triangle Development, shared his thoughts on 

this notion. “The name ‘Chaldean’ 

helps the organization obtain funding, 

and while the ACC does benefit some 

of the community, it does not benefit 

the community at large — not to the 

extent that the community needs,” he 

said. 

Yono disagrees. “The name of the 

association itself puts Arab and 

Chaldean hand in hand. Every time 

the council is mentioned, the 

Chaldean community is mentioned, 

and is an equal part of the council,” he 

said. “A vast number of recipients are 

Chaldeans who have benefited 

tremendously over the years.” 

Mike George, chair of the Chaldean 

Federation of America (CFA), shares a similar 

opinion. “The ACC absolutely represents the 

Chaldean community and they do a magnificent 

job,” George said. “The negative comments are 

coming from people who are asking the ACC for 

impossible tasks, or they are upset because they 

are charged for a service.” He added, “The ACC 

has a staff that they have to pay.” 

Businessman Carl Dallo, a council member of 

St. George Chaldean Catholic Church, agreed 

there has been a difference of opinion for a long 


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time, but added that on several occasions, the 

doors of the ACC have been open for those who 

wish to take advantage of them. “There are quite 

a few Chaldeans in our community. We need to 

work more closely with the ACC and benefit 

from the organization,” Dallo said. 

Chaldeans should understand that the organization 

cannot always approach the party in 

need, and that in many ways, it is the community’s 

responsibility to approach an organization 

for services, ACC advocates say. Others argue 

that as a service provider, the ACC must take 

into consideration the fact that some members of 

the community may not be able to take advantage 

of services if they do not know that they 

exist, or if they do not have the resources to 

reach the organization. 

NEW COMMUNITY CENTER 

Supporters say Chaldeans should recognize that 

the ACC has worked to provide the community 

with benefits over the years. Recently, the ACC 

has built a community center in Detroit at John 

R and Seven Mile Road, an area highly concentrated 

with Chaldeans. It holds a gym and recreation 

center, and the doors are open to all people, 

not only Chaldeans and Arab Americans. 

Known to some as Chaldean Town, this project 

was originally developed by the CFA. It has 

more recently been spearheaded by the ACC 

and is widely known as the Seven Mile Project. 

While the subject of the Chaldean Town / Seven 

Mile Project has been sensitive to some, 

Fakhouri aims to take a more positive approach 

to the issue. She encourages any interested individuals 

to take advantage of this development 

and also participate in the rejuvenation process. 

“We are concerned with the development and 

revitalization of the community and are not 

hung up over the name,” she said. “We welcome 

anyone interested in working with us to benefit 

the community with open arms. We are not taking 

over anything. We want to create open competition 

within the community to bring revitalization 

to the Seven Mile area.” 

Fakhouri ultimately agrees that satisfaction 

with ACC services is affected by individual perceptions. 

She said, “I think you can find opposition 

in every community and in every organization. 

We are pleased to help everyone, but we 

cannot always please everyone ... we are a human 

services agency and as a human services agency, 

open our doors to anyone who is in need and 

people from all over. We are concerned with the 

human element.” 

Fakhouri welcomes Chaldeans to visit the 

ACC to see first hand the work that goes into its 

everyday practice. “The ACC is more than 

happy to host any community members who 

“There are quite a few Chaldeans in our community. 

We need to work more closely with the ACC and benefit 

from the organization.” – CARL DALLO 

would like to see the activities that take place in 

our offices and to experience the different services 

we provide the community,” she said. 

Both sides tend to accentuate the positive. “I am 

proud to be associated with the council and to see 

it grow to what it is today,” Yono said. Nona 

stressed the importance of communication. “I am 

one who is a proponent of discussions and communicating,” 

he said. “I believe that there is always 

room for advocating and cooperation.” 

For more information on the Arab American and 

Chaldean Council, visit www.arabacc.org. 


still going strong 

Active seniors share their tips for longevity 

BY CHRISTINA GAPPY 

As the old phrases go, “attitude is everything” 

and “you’re as young as you feel.” A visit 

with three senior members of the Chaldean 

community shows those clichés to be true as they 

share the positive outlooks that mark their lives. 

A HOLE IN ONE 

Born on April 15, 1918 in Telkaif, Iraq, John 

Hakim has lived a “hole in one” life. Hakim came 

to America at the age of 8 and has lived as a proud 

American ever since. He was drafted into the U.S. 

military during World War II, even though he was 

not a U.S. citizen. However, Hakim was granted 

citizenship after the government discovered it had 

someone fighting for the nation who was an alien 

to the country. 

At the age of 88, Hakim still lives strong. “John 

is always on the go,” explained his sister, Julie 

Hakim. “He still plays 18 holes of golf once a week 

in the summer.” Hakim also works for the familyowned 

Central Alarm Company. “If I were to stay 

home all day, either my wife will kill me or I will 

end up killing my wife,” he laughed. 

Although Hakim has had some health trials, he 

believes that the key to living such a long life is by 

enjoying it. “Life is wonderful!” he said. “I have 

been happily married for 60 years.” Hakim looks forward 

to spending time with his son and two daughters, 

as well as his two grandsons and one granddaughter. 

“They are the pride of my life,” he said. 

“My long-learned advice to all people is to get an 

education and to treat others nicely, so they will be 

nice back to you.” 

ALL SMILES 

Amelia Karabet was born on September 24, 1920 

and grew up in Baghdad. She went to college and 

became an English language teacher in Iraq and 

Lebanon. She has been in America now for about 

15 years and lives with her daughter in Southfield. 

Although Karabet has had several health 

urgencies, she admits that “it is great to be alive!” 

Karabet enjoys spending time with her family and 

looks forward to seeing her eight grandchildren. 

She also loves to garden, read the Bible and watch 

the Christian channel on television. 

“Life is full of experiences,” Karabet said. “The 

Lord Jesus is what keeps me going strong, and without 

him, I am nothing.” 

Karabet has one major wish, and that is for her 

whole family to be together. One of her daughters 

currently lives in Iraq with her family. This has left 

Karabet worried and constantly thinking about 

them. “I do not let these problems get to me, 

though,” Karabet explained. “As long as I have 

“Praying to God is the 

medicine that will cure 

people of all things in this 

world.” – JOSEPH A. SAMAAN 

faith in God, everything will be just fine.” 

Karabet’s advice to youngsters is to obey their 

parents and to take care of the elderly. She is very 

thankful for her daughter’s care because, “I know 

no one else would ever take better care for me 

than my daughter.” 

SMOOTH LIVING 

On April 18, 1922, Joseph A. Samaan was born 

in Mosul, Iraq. He worked in Iraq for the government 

as a wireless telecommunicator. 

‘EASY’ LIVING TIPS 

Samaan eventually came to America in 1964 in 

hopes of a better future and to escape persecution 

from the Muslims who worked for him. 

Samaan is happy to be a father, grandfather 

and great-grandfather with a total of four live 

generations of the Samaan family. He likes to 

see his family happy and healthy. One of his 

greatest accomplishments in recent years has 

been his triumph over smoking, which was a 

habit for 70 years. “I wake up in the morning, 

look up to God and ask Him to be with me 

throughout the day,” Samaan saud. “Before I go 

to bed, I look up to God and thank him for 

everything in my life.” 

One particular lesson Samaan has learned is 

to be aware of one’s own friends and family. “A 

snake bit me,” Samaan said. “And I must watch 

out for getting bitten again by a snake.” 

However, Samaan repeated that it is God who 

keeps him living life so smoothly. 

Samaan believes in independence. He lives 

alone and even enjoys cooking for himself. 

Hakim also enjoys playing Tawlee, a traditional 

board game, with his neighbors at his Troy 

home. His advice for all people is to stay strong 

by keeping the Chaldean culture alive and by 

praying. “Praying to God,” he said, “is the medicine 

that will cure people of all things in this 

world.” 

1 EATING HABITS 

+ Less processed carbohydrates, refined sugars and loads of saturated fats and red meat in your diet. 

+ More fresh fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and healthy proteins in your diet. 

2 ACTIVITY 

+ Vigorous exercise reduces the risk of heart attacks and heart disease. 

+ Start early and make exercise part of your daily routine. 

3 SEE YOUR DOCTOR REGULARLY 

+ Visit for early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer or hypertension. 

+ Visits for refills of your prescribed medicine because prolonged removal of specific medications 

from your schedule may be detrimental. 

4 YOUTHFUL ATTITUDE 

+ Many researchers suggest that aging is much in the mind. 

+ Formulate positive emotional, psychological and philosophical outlooks on life. 


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uffling feathers 

Teacher challenges the mainstream view 

Deborah Alkamano knows she’s ruffling 

feathers within the Chaldean community. 

She presented a paper that questions 

how Chaldeans view and present their ethnicity at 

“Mapping Arab Diasporas: Border Crossings, Exile 

and Displacement,” an international conference 

sponsored by the Center for Arab American 

Studies in late April on the University of 

Michigan-Dearborn campus. 

Alkamano, 40, is a full-time faculty 

member of the English division at 

Henry Ford Community College in 

Dearborn. She teaches classes in 

English, research writing and Middle 

East identities. 

Alkamano described her paper, 

“Multiple Betrayals: Reflections on 

Chaldean Identity & Academic 

Constructions of Ethnicity,” as a 

performance piece — part memoir, 

part academic exploration and part 

theory. She acknowledged that her 

concept of Chaldean ethnicity often contradicts 

that of other Chaldeans. 

“I have always seen identity as multiple and 

prolific and profound and infinite and escaping 

definition,” Alkamano wrote in the conference 

abstract. 

Foremost, Alkamano challenged the notion 

that Chaldeans are non-Arabs from the Arab 

world just because Chaldeans practice 

Catholicism and speak Aramaic. She said the non- 

Arab designation is historically inaccurate and 

believes Chaldeans in general are engaging in 

“Islamophobia” by making a conscious effort to 

widen the gap between Middle Eastern Christians 

and Muslims while presenting themselves as 

model Middle Easterners. 

“I think mainstream America is afraid of immigrants, 

which is tied to racism,” she said. “In that sense, 

Chaldeans are no different than the mainstream 

American culture. American culture is Islamophobic, 

and Chaldeans have ingested that view.” 

BY KEN MARTEN 

Deborah Alkamano 

Alkamano said that while Islamophobia isn’t 

universal within the Chaldean community, it’s a 

view shared by many. Further, she believes the 

Chaldean movement to distinguish themselves 

from Arab Americans further isolates both identities, 

which in turn portrays both as feudal segregationists. 

As evidence of Islamophobia, Alkamano points 

to the Chaldean effort of tracing the ethnicity’s 

roots to Babylonia. She said it’s a relatively new 

phenomenon. 

“If it’s true that we’re from the 

ancient Babylonians, why are people 

just coming here from Iraq questioning 

that idea?” Alkamano 

asked. “They’re saying, ‘we never 

talked about that in Iraq.’ Twenty 

years ago in the 1980s we weren’t 

drumming that here in the U.S.” 

Moreover, the lineage has a dark 

side, Alkamano said. Under King 

Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC), 

who likely suffered from mental illness, Babylonia 

was in a state of near-constant war. In 586, 

Nebuchadnezzar captured and subsequently 

destroyed Jerusalem, exiling the residing Jews to 

Babylon where they remained in captivity until 

539. The Persians under Cyrus the Great conquered 

Babylon and subsequently freed the Jews. 

Alkamano said Islamophobic Chaldeans pressure 

other Chaldeans who hold more tolerant views. 

“Those people (Chaldeans) who identify with 

Arabs, or those who work with other ethnic groups 

are asked, ‘why aren’t you working within the 

community?’” she said. 

Alkamano said the prejudice expressed toward 

Arab Americans is often extended to other ethnic 

groups, notably African Americans. 

“I think sometimes our community is very 

parochial, very narrow in its views,” she said. 

“Plenty of people say that behind closed doors.” 

Alkamano said that local Chaldean church 

ALKAMANO on page 37 

THE OTHER 

VIEWPOINT 

Not surprisingly, some community 

members take great exception to 

Deborah Alkamano’s view that 

Chaldeans are Arab and engage in 

“Islamophobia.” 

“This is a very naive viewpoint. Our 

nationality is not a point of view,” said 

Amer Fatuhi, historian, visual artist 

and art critic. “As the author of eight 

books on ancient Mesopotamian history, 

I say facts. We have our own mother 

tongue, the Chaldean language, and 

it is 5,500 years older than Arabic.” 

Rosemary Antone, chairwoman of 

the Chaldean Community Cultural 

Center, calls Alkamano’s view 

“absolutely not true.” 

“We as Chaldeans came before the 

Jewish and Islamic religions. We were 

the beginning,” she said. “We’ve gone 

to different authorities; we’ve really 

gone into detail and deep research and 

feel very confident that our accuracy is 

right on the money.” 

Alkamano’s comments infuriate 

Mark Samano, bilingual coordinator 

for Hazel Park Schools, to the point 

where he believes she should be fired 

from her teaching job. “She has the 

right to free speech but this is a wrong 

statement, and she should have some 

evidence to prove that Chaldeans are 

Arab,” he said. 

“If she wants to be Arab that’s her 

personal opinion,” Samano continued 

“That’s fine, but she shouldn’t 

label everyone else. When people 

speak Arabic it doesn’t mean they are 

Arab. If I speak French, it doesn’t 

mean I am French.” 

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ALKAMANO from page 36 

leadership is a notable exception and hopes all 

parishioners will someday practice what is 

preached. She said the local clergy is “more elastic 

and open minded” than the community in general. 

Alkamano thinks Chaldean narrow-mindedness 

sometimes inappropriately delves into personal 

matters. She wishes Chaldeans would respect 

the privacy of other Chaldeans and accept 

lifestyles that meander from the perceived norm. 

“A typical Chaldean marries a Chaldean, goes 

to church and has kids,” said Alkamano, who lives 

with her husband in Bloomfield Hills. “I don’t 

have kids and I’ve been married for eight and a 

half years. Chaldeans, whether they’re close relatives 

or whatever, bring it up and ask personal 

questions. Because we’re supposedly close-knit, 

they feel they can invade my privacy. We should 

be kinder and respectful of one another.” 

Excessive emphasis on the model Middle 

Easterner image also comes at the expense of 

addressing problems with the Chaldean community, 

Alkamano contends. She noted that discussion 

about community maladies like gambling addiction, 

a high divorce rate and a tendency toward 

materialism is often stifled in favor presenting a 

perfect ethnic picture. 

Every culture has diversity as well as pluralistic 

voices that speak for the culture, Alkamano said, 

pointing to American culture and the divergent 

voices heard in ongoing national debates over the 

war in Iraq, immigration and the economy. 

Alkamano would like the Chaldean community to 

adopt America’s pluralism rather than embrace its 

Islamophobia. 

“We’re a new community and we’re trying to survive 

as a community,” Alkamano said. “But for 

some people, survival means cohesiveness, and 

cohesiveness means a unified voice. I have a problem 

with the idea of a unified voice. I don’t feel our 

community is open to a dissenting view.” 


THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: second in a series 

remembering the others 

More than Armenians died in the infamous genocide 

BY KEN MARTEN 

In fits and starts, the governments of various 

nations — namely Canada and France — are 

increasing the pressure on Turkey to officially 

acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, which 

occurred in the early 20th century 

during the last years of the Ottoman 

Empire (see box). Despite resolutions 

introduced in Congress, the 

United States has yet to follow suit. 

While scholars across the globe 

say that an estimated 1.5 million 

Armenians died during the genocide, 

which began in 1915 and lasted until 

the mid-1920s, the Turkish government 

asserts that the number is 

inflated. It also refuses to describe the incident as a 

“genocide,” preferring to call it a civil war being 

fought while the empire was engaged in fighting 

the allied powers during World War I (1914-1918). 

But what’s often forgotten amid today’s battle 

for recognition and definition are the genocide’s 

non-Armenian victims. Genocide activist Jacklin 

Bejan of San Jose, California, who is part 

Armenian and part Assyrian, prefers to call the 

incident a Christian genocide. In addition to the 

Armenian victims, an estimated 600,000-750,000 

ChaldoAssyrians and 250,000-350,000 Pontic 

Greeks were also killed outright, starved to death 

or perished during forced relocations. 

“The Armenian Genocide,” an hour-long documentary 

shown locally on Detroit Public 

Television in April, didn’t include any details 

about other Christian victims. And the failed resolution 

introduced in the U.S. Congress only 

refers to Armenians. 

Why the gap? Bejan acknowledged that the 

ChaldoAssyrian community in the United States 

is less active and less organized than the Armenian 

community. 

And internationally, Ara Sanjian, Ph.D., associate 

director of the Armenian Research Center 

on the campus of the University of Michigan- 

Dearborn, suggested that Armenians have enjoyed 

a higher degree of visibility thanks to partially 

autonomous political recognition. 

“The existence of Armenia as a union republic of 

the USSR after the First World War put Armenians 

What’s often forgotten amid today’s 

battle for recognition and definition 

are the genocide’s non-Armenian 

victims. Genocide activist Jacklin 

Bejan prefers to call the incident 

a Christian genocide. 

living anywhere in the world on another level of 

political consciousness,” Sanjian said. 

Numbers are another factor. There are approximately 

eight million Armenians around the 

THE WORLD WEIGHS IN 

Jacklin Bejan 

globe, compared to an estimated 1.5 million 

ChaldoAssyrians. 

“Size does matter,” Sanjian said. “The fewer 

people you have, the fewer number of scholars you 

have. Even the Armenians are 

small in number compared to 

other ethnicities in the world.” 

But things are changing. 

While ChaldoAssyrians are 

becoming more active, scholars 

— regardless of their ethnicity — 

are expanding their range of study. 

“While historians who have 

dealt with the Armenian 

Genocide in the past have not 

sometimes dealt with the broader picture, there is 

without doubt increasing awareness among 

Armenian and non-Armenian scholars dealing with 

this dark episode in history that the destruction of 

The genocide is receiving 

more attention around the 

globe these days, but not every 

new ray brings light to victims 

other than the estimated 1.5 

million Armenians who perished. 

Here’s a roundup of reaction 

around the world. 

Canada: A guest column by 

former Canadian diplomat 

Harry Sterling, who served in 

Turkey, appeared in the May 17 

edition of “The Windsor Star,” 

praising Prime Minister 

Stephen Harper for affirming 

April 2004 Parliament resolutions 

that described the atrocity 

as an act of genocide. Harper 

made his statement on April 19, 

2006, and the Turkish government 

responded by recalling its 

ambassador home for “consultations.” 

Sterling concluded his column 

by saying, “Turkey must 

confront the realities of the past 

if it expects to be accepted as a 

nation capable of dealing openmindedly 

with its own history, 

however disagreeable that 

might be.” 

Neither Sterling, Harper or 

the Parliament resolutions mention 

the genocide’s 

ChaldoAssyrian or Pontic 

Greek victims. But a May 16 

story in “The Age,” a 

Melbourne, Australia, daily 

newspaper, did. 

Australia: “The Age” reported 

that Jenny Mikakos, the 

Australian state of Victoria’s 

Parliamentary Secretary for 

Justice, made a speech accusing 

Turkey of ignoring the killing of 

more than 353,000 Pontic 

Greeks and forcing an additional 

1 million into exile during the 

genocide. Mikakos, who is of 

Greek descent, made her 

remarks in preparation of a 

worldwide Pontian commemoration 

of the genocide on May 

19, and asked the Turkish government 

to acknowledge the 

genocide. 

Mikakos also referred to the 

estimated 1.5 Armenians and 

“750,000 Assyrians” who also 

died during the genocide. “The 


PHOTO BY BRANIMIR KVARTUC/AP 

If you are still with SBC/AT&T or Talk America, 

that means YOU ARE paying A LOT!! 

Armenians Caspar Jibalagian, 19, left, and Razmig Denbekjian, 20, shout for the 

United States recognition of the Armenian genocide in 1915 on the commemoration 

anniversary in Irvine, California on April 24, 2006. 

Assyrian, Chaldean and other relatively 

small Christian communities 

must also be brought into the broader 

picture,” Sanjian said. 

He points to the work of 

Armenian historian Anahit 

Khosroyeva, Ph.D., who is affiliated 

with the Institute of History at the 

National Academy of Sciences of 

the Republic of Armenia in the capital 

city of Yerevan. She published a 

book in 2004 titled “The Genocide 

of the Asoris in Ottoman Turkey 

and the Neighboring Turkish- 

Inhabited Regions: End of the 19th- 

First Quarter of the 20th Century.” 

Armenians use the broad term 

“Asori” to refer to Syriacs, Assyrians 

and Chaldeans collectively. Written 

in Armenian, the Assyrian 

Academic Society has plans to 

translate the book into English. 

Khosroyeva has also lectured on 

the topic at conferences devoted to 

the genocide in Los Angeles and 

Chicago. 

Sanjian added that the Armenian 

Research Center’s collection 

includes several books about 

ChaldoAssyrian genocide victims 

and that it’s always seeking more. 

“Anything that the Chaldean 

community can provide on the subject,” 

Sanjian said, “we’ll accept it, 

catalog it and make it available to 

researchers.” 

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Age” also reported that two 

members of Victoria’s parliament, 

who are of Turkish 

descent, interjected during 

Mikakos’ speech. 

France: On October 15, 

2005, a monument to the 

ChaldoAssyrian victims of the 

genocide was unveiled in 

Sarcelles, a suburb of Paris. 

The October 18 edition of 

“Cumhuriyet,” a Turkish daily 

newspaper, printed the official 

response from the Turkish 

Foreign Ministry: “We are reacting 

to the inauguration of this 

monument, reflecting a claim, 

the historical bases of which are 

not known. Those who are 

accusing a country of the heaviest 

crime that can be committed 

against humanity, like genocide, 

with baseless claims are only 

humiliating themselves with 

their disrespectful acts.” 

In 2001, the French government 

passed a law recognizing 

the genocide. As the Chaldean 

News went to press, French lawmakers 

were weighing passage of 

a bill that would make denial of 

the Armenian Genocide a crime, 

punishable with prison time and 

fines. A similar French law forbids 

the denial of the Jewish 

Holocaust in World War II. 

The Turkish government has 

responded by threatening 

France with economic sanctions 

if the bill passes. 

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making a DIFFERENCE 

outstanding in their field 

Two Chaldean officers earn accolades 

BY JOYCE WISWELL 

Chaldeans are known for their entrepreneurial 

success. Not a lot of Chaldeans go 

into law enforcement — but judging from 

the success of two community members, more may 

start to consider it. Just this spring, Rafid Maya 

and Joe Haddad have each been named Officer of 

the Year for their respective police departments. 

HEROIC ACTIONS 

Rafid Maya loves his job as a patrol 

officer with the Southfield Police 

Department. “The City of Southfield 

is almost 28 square miles, and that’s my 

office,” he said. “I interact with so 

many people. It’s so diverse, so many 

ethnicities.” 

The job obviously loves Maya right 

back. He has been named 2005 Officer 

of the Year by the Southfield Optimist 

Club, and 2005 Officer of the Year for 

the entire state by the Police Officers 

Association of Michigan. 

An incident on July 17, 2005, 

showed off Maya’s heroism and bravery. 

While on routine patrol, he received a 

call of a woman being mauled by a 

Rottweiler. When he arrived at the 

home, an eight-foot-fence blocked his 

view; Maya could hear moaning, but 

couldn’t see what was going on. He 

kicked down the fence to discover a 

vicious attack in progress, with the dog chewing on 

the woman’s foot. She had already been bitten several 

times and had gashes on her arms, legs and neck. 

“It was stunning,” Maya said. “It looked like a shark 

bite on her right leg, and her left calf was torn to 

pieces. It seemed like she was butchered. He was 

actually eating her.” 

While her two young children cowered in the 

house, Maya managed to get between the woman 

and the dog, which weighed at least 100 pounds. 

He shot the animal but after briefly retreating, it 

resumed the attack. This went on several times 

until a total of six bullets finally killed the dog, 


Troy Officer 

Joe Haddad 

Southfield Officer 

Rafid Maya 

which belonged to the woman’s brother-in-law. 

Maya was unable to take the dog down immediately 

with several rapid shots because there were 

too many people around. “I was trying to shoot a 

moving target,” he said. “When a bullet leaves the 

gun, something has to stop it.” 

Nearly a year later the victim, Antoinette 

Anderson-Perkins, is still not able to walk, though 

she continues physical therapy towards that goal. 

She spent three weeks in the hospital and underwent 

several procedures. “It took a long time to get 

all the tissue to grow back,” she noted. 

Officer Maya “definitely” saved her life, 

Anderson-Perkins said. “It was one or two more 

minutes before the dog would have hit a main 

artery,” she said. “I would like to thank him and I 

know my children and husband would, too. Their 

life would be a whole lot different today if things 

had turned out differently.” 

The SPD has kind words for Maya as well. 

“In the finest tradition of the Southfield 

Police Department, Officer Maya exemplified 

heroism, steadfastness and presence of mind,” 

PHOTO BY LENA YONO 

said Police Chief Joseph E. Thomas, Jr. 

While that incident was more dramatic than 

most, each day on patrol brings something new, said 

Maya, who has been in law enforcement for 14 years. 

“As a police officer you see people at their worst,” he 

said. “In the beginning, everything is a shock, but 

after experience kicks in you are there to guide people 

the right way, no matter what condition they are 

in. You begin to get the stomach for it.” 

He likes the fact that everyone is treated the 

same, regardless of race or economic class. “I don’t 

care if you’re a millionaire or homeless, you’re asking 

for assistance and assistance doesn’t have a 

price on it,” he said. 

Maya is one of two Chaldeans employed at the 

SPD. “I’m very proud to be Chaldean and I let 

everyone know it,” he said. “Chaldeans are capable 

of pursuing their dreams, whatever they may 

be. Believe in yourself, have faith in God, and it 

will all come through for you.” 

FULFILLING A LIFELONG DREAM 

Joe Haddad grew up hanging around his father’s 


stores in Detroit, and what he saw made a lasting 

impression. 

“I saw some people steal, some attempt to rob 

— I got to witness firsthand my dad and the 

Detroit Police Department in action,” he recalled. 

“I always idolized their roles — putting the bad 

guy in his or her place. I liked the job they did and 

the way they carried themselves, and that’s a big 

reason for me going into police work.” 

Haddad’s been a police officer for 13 years now, 

and enjoys his work as much as ever. He was 

named 2006 Officer of the Year for the Troy Police 

Department and honored at a ceremony in May. 

“Joe Haddad epitomizes the professional, community-oriented 

police officer,” said Troy Police 

Chief Charles Craft in a statement “He’s just an 

outstanding member of the department. He cares 

about the community a great deal.” 

Haddad joined the Army Reserves upon graduating 

from Troy Athens High School in 1986. 

During his senior year of studying criminal justice at 

Wayne State University, he was shipped overseas 

for Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91. In 2002-03, 

he served at his unit’s first sergeant at Guantanamo 

Bay, Cuba, overseeing 150 soldiers. Most recently, 

he attended the Active Duty Sergeant Major’s 

Academy in Texas from 2004-05. “I hold the highest 

senior enlisted rank in the army,” he said. 

Haddad started his police career in Hamtramck, 

then joined the Troy department nine years ago. “I 

am the first and only Chaldean police officer in 

Troy,” he said. “I take great pride in coming from 

that background and helping people understand 

who the Chaldean people are, where they originated 

from. I’ve been able to enlighten a lot of people.” 

Currently, Haddad serves as an evidence technician 

and field training officer. He likes to point out that 

police officers don’t only protect, they serve as well. 

“Police work in large part is problem solving,” 

he said. “I like being able to have a firsthand direct 

effect on securing the community and taking care 

of folks in need.” 

The fact that he understands both Chaldean and 

Arabic helps, Haddad said. “I can speak to people 

and let them know there is nothing to be afraid of 

and help put them at ease. Once they figure out that 

I’m from the same Middle Eastern background, the 

barrier goes down and they’re more cooperative.” 

Haddad and his wife, Manar, have three children: 

Joseph, 10, Jade, 8, and Mark, 19 months. He credits 

his father, Tony, with not only helping guide his 

career path, but the pride he has in being Chaldean. 

“My dad’s thing,” he said, “was to always be 

proud of your heritage and never deny it.” 


ARTS & entertainment 

hollywood dreams 

Two young men pursue an acting career 

Imagine you could make or be in any movie you 

wanted to. You could pluck yourself from 

obscurity and turn into a superstar. You have 

control of an entire movie studio, competing with 

other studios to create box office hits. If this was 

your dream and you followed it, you wouldn’t have 

to imagine. People have been going to Hollywood 

to realize their passion in the entertainment industry 

since the California town first became a 

motion picture hub in the early 1900s. 

Nowadays, Chaldean seekers of fame and success 

are making their way to this suburb of Los 

Angeles with a hunger for stardom. 

At the age of 10, when nobody was home, Sam 

DeSilva would repeat movie 

lines in front of his television. 

When he was 12, he watched 

Al Pacino in The Godfather 

and that same day told his 

parents, “After high school, I 

will be going to Hollywood to 

become an actor.” They 

laughed at him and insisted 

he become an attorney. He 

ignored the negativity, started 

doing school plays and when 

he turned 18, was represented 

by the Talent Shop in 

Bingham Farms. He went on 

to land local commercials and 

short films, then started to 

study acting at repertory theaters 

around Metro Detroit. Nick Hermz 

“In 1995 my cousin and I 

started going back and forth 

between Detroit and Los Angeles to learn the business 

from our friend Nick Hermz, who moved to 

L.A. before me,” said the half-Chaldean DeSilva, 

whose mother is Claudine (Kas Numan). 

Hermz moved to L.A. from Detroit in 1991. 

While in L.A. he started to do live stunt shows and 

commercials and now has more than 100 credits in 

television and film. “I didn’t know anybody and I 

struggled like everybody else who comes out here,” 

BY JOVAN KASSAB 

he said. Hermz recently shot a pilot called Day Break, 

which will be picked up by a major network soon. 

“This is the toughest business in the world. 

There are dreamers and there are makers,” Hermz 

said. “You have to handle rejection. If you can 

handle it and have a good time out here, your 

dream will come true.” 

TAKING THE LEAP 

In 1999, DeSilva took the next step and moved to 

Los Angeles. He had to figure out how to pay for 

the extreme costs of living there, since rent for a 

one-bedroom apartment is about $1,500 and gas, 

food, insurance and all living and career expenses 

added came to about 

Sam DeSilva 

$4,000 a month — “thus the term: starving actor,” 

DeSilva said. Of the approximately 750,000 actors 

in L.A., only five percent are actually working as 

actors, he said. 

“The only places that you can work at night 

and make good, fast money are bars and restaurants,” 

DeSilva noted. “If you’re serious about 

being an actor, you can’t work days because your 

days are devoted to meetings, acting classes, 

agents and most importantly, auditions.” 

Luckily, DeSilva worked at his parent’s liquor store 

since he was young so he knew a lot about different 

liquors. He learned to bartend and started making 

good money at prestigious nightclubs in the area. 

THE ESSENTIAL SAG CARD 

If you are an entertainment nut, the Screen Actors 

Guild will sound familiar. The SAG awards come on 

after the Emmys but before the Golden Globes and 

Oscars. Ninety-nine percent of actors are in this union. 

DeSilva’s chance came when he was an extra on 

the set of 1999’s Coyote Ugly with Tyra Banks. His 

friend, the casting director, decided DeSilva would 

play a man who hits on Banks. Unfortunately the 

scene ended up on the cutting room floor in postproduction. 

“About 60 percent of captured footage 

gets edited out but I still made it into SAG,” 

DeSilva said. After that, he got himself an agent 

and started to campaign himself. “People say it’s all 

about who you know. My agent taught me the 

truth: It’s all about who knows you.” 

Time went by and DeSilva landed himself small 

parts on soap operas and small TV series and commercials. 

He would play the waiter at a 

restaurant or the guy who says, “Can I 

help you?” or opens the car door and says, 

“Have a good day sir.” Today, there are 

hundreds of channels and thousands of 

shows, so DeSilva said, “what I have 

done so far is like a blink of an eye in the 

grand scheme of things — but at least I’m 

doing it.” 

Today, DeSilva and Hermz are planning 

a future breakout — their own 

feature film similar to Crash, which 

won an Oscar for 2005 Best Picture of 

the Year. Planning to be shot in 

Detroit, it’s about the rise of an ethnic 

people escaping one war to be thrown 

into another. “A community that puts 

their lives on the line working 14 hour 

days in the inner city, chasing the 

American dream only to be struck 

down by spilled blood and tears,” DeSilva said. 

“Will the toll ever stop?” 

It’s been two years of traveling between Detroit 

and L.A. for DeSilva, who is starting a company in 

Michigan to raise the money for the film. 

“At 29, I am getting ever so close and I truly 

believe that the journey I started almost 20 years 

ago will soon reach its destination,” he said. “I will 

never ever stop.” 



sports 

mr. piligian 

goes to washington 

U-D Jesuit senior will pitch for Georgetown 

BY STEVE STEIN 

Hard-throwing right-handed 

pitcher Cary Piligian has signed 

a national letter of intent to play 

baseball at Georgetown University, and 

he can’t wait to get there. 

“I’m really excited about living and 

going to school in Washington, and joining 

an up-and-coming baseball program at 

Georgetown,” said the U-D Jesuit High 

School senior, who is Chaldean on his 

mother’s side. 

Georgetown coach Pete Wilk is 

excited about Piligian becoming a part 

of his mound staff. Wilk guided the 

Hoyas to 50 victories in 2004 and 2005, 

the most combined wins in back-toback 

seasons in 20 years. 

Georgetown was 23-30 this season in 

mid-May. “Cary’s pitches have a lot of late 

movement to them,” Wilk said. “He 

throws what we call a heavy ball. He 

should compete for a starting job as a 

freshman.” 

Piligian’s fastball has been consistently 

clocked in the 87-90 miles per hour range, 

and he’s reached 91 mph on a couple of 

occasions. But the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder 

from Troy is well aware that he needs to 

improve his changeup and slider to get batters 

out on a regular basis at the next level. 

“When Cary gets to Georgetown, 

Cary Piligian 

they’ll make him an even better pitcher,” 

U-D Jesuit coach Al Fernandez said. “Cary baseball seriously aspires to get to the big leagues, 

has a wonderful work ethic, he’s an intelligent but earning a college degree is my No. 1 goal,” he 

young man, and he’s willing to learn. I’ve enjoyed said. “Anything else would be gravy.” 

coaching him. He’s a happy kid who always has a Even though he’ll be in the nation’s capital, 

smile on his face.” 

Piligian, 18, isn’t planning a career in politics. He’s 

Piligian has a realistic view of where college more interested in the accounting or financial fields. 

baseball could take him. “Everybody who plays There’s family expertise in those areas. His mother, 

PHOTO COURTESY VISUAL SPORTS NETWORK OF MICHIGAN 

Christine Jonna Piligian, is chief financial 

officer for the Jonna Companies in 

Southfield. His father, Chris Piligian, is the 

vice president and director of property management 

for Jonna Realty Ventures. 

Cary Piligian’s sisters are outstanding 

tennis players. Katrina, 20, a junior at the 

University of Notre Dame, played for 

Birmingham Marian High School. 

Kassandra, 16, a junior at Marian, is a twotime 

All-Stater. 

Besides pitching for U-D Jesuit for four 

years, Cary Piligian has been a standout centerfielder 

for the Cubs. He was batting .442 

in mid-May with 31 hits, 24 RBI, 21 walks, 

five doubles and two home runs. Because of 

some bad luck, his pitching statistics weren’t 

impressive. He was 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA. 

Last season, he was 4-2 with a 1.31 ERA. 

Piligian dislikes the Catholic League’s 

three balls and two strikes rule. It’s the only 

high school league in the state that uses the 

system, designed so teams can play doubleheaders. 

“I hate that rule,” Piligian said. “You 

can’t waste a pitch to set up a batter.” 

Baseball isn’t Piligian’s only extracurricular 

activity at U-D Jesuit. He was the 

punter and kicker for the football team last 

fall, and he’s been a longtime member of 

the school’s Student Senate. 

Piligian has played summer travel 

baseball for the North Farmington-West 

Bloomfield Cobras for several years, facing top 

teams across the country. One of his Cobras 

teammates is Vinnie Sarafa, a Birmingham 

Brother Rice High School star who will join the 

University of Michigan baseball team as a preferred 

walk-on. 


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GUEST column 

on the road to nineveh again 

The last stand of the ChaldoAssyrian people 

BY ROBERT W. DEKELAITA 

“ 

My father was killed today,” the 

text message read. It was from 

Rita, a ChaldoAssyrian client 

who, for some time now, had tried to get 

her father out of Iraq, particularly after her 

brothers, the recent subjects of kidnapping 

in Baghdad, had escaped to Damascus. I 

called, and like so many unfortunate times 

before, got the story. Rita’s father, whom 

she had not seen for more than six years, 

and who loved his only daughter more 

than anyone on earth, had been shot several 

times. For his Islamic murderers, he was simply 

another Christian who deserved punishment. He 

joins a long line of what we should term the “new 

ChaldoAssyrian martyrs” of Iraq. 

For more than three years now, hopes for Iraq 

have been put on hold. For ChaldoAssyrians 1 

specifically, the situation has been ironic; while 

presented with seemingly boundless opportunities, 

the challenges met have overwhelmed the population 

and sent thousands of refugees fleeing from 

oppression, persecution and lawlessness. In the 

face of this, our leaders have turned away from 

reality, or created one that is comfortable for them 

and not their people. 2 

Some of those who represent ChaldoAssyrians 

have unfortunately neglected the interests of their 

people, or certainly undermined them, either for 

personal reasons or for the good of a “greater” cause, 

namely Iraq. Erroneously, they have equated the 

interests of the ChaldoAssyrians with detriment to 

Iraq. In other words, what is good for 

ChaldoAssyrians is bad for Iraq. To the contrary, the 

current plight of the Christians of Iraq, their targeting 

by various Islamic or nationalist groups and their 

large-scale fleeing, has actually been one component 

in the failure of the Iraqi democratic experiment. 

What is at issue here? The very survival of the 

ancient, Aramaic-speaking, Christian community of 

Iraq. Why is this important? Not only will the community 

lose its existence, but Iraq, as a whole, will 

have lost its historical essence. ChaldoAssyrians, in 

addition to being an important native component of 

ROBERT W. 

DEKELAITA 

GUEST 

COLUMNIST 

Iraq, are its living artifacts and attest to the 

legitimacy of its existence. Iraq, without 

Babylon and Nineveh, is illegitimate as a 

nation, and Iraq without ChaldoAssyrians 

is incomplete. 

The solution, proposed in various forms 

and by various bodies, lies in the Nineveh 

Plain. Currently, a population greater than 

50,000 lives in roughly 10 towns north 

and east of the ancient city of Nineveh. 3 

The population is an ancient one, with 

their churches and monasteries intact for 

centuries. In addition, the violence perpetrated 

against Christians in Baghdad, Mosul and Basrah 

has prompted many who migrated out of these 

towns to return and seek safety there. 

The proposal is to allow for the formation of an 

area, termed unit or province, that is economically 

supported, secured and administratively designated 

for ChaldoAssyrians. This is not a call to 

independence or autonomy, but a solution to the 

plight of Christians fleeing on the road from 

Baghdad to Damascus and Amman. Instead, let 

there be a road from Baghdad to Nineveh. 4 

The argument for the existence of the Nineveh 

Plain as a unit or province is simple. It requires a 

fundamental agreement on certain principals; 

recognition of certain historical, social, economic 

and political facts, and the possession of the will to 

challenge the status quo. 

The principals to be agreed upon are as follows: 

1. The ChaldoAssyrian people have the right to 

live as a people and to practice their culture, religion, 

language and customs without fear, intimidation 

or coercion from any governmental or nongovernmental 

body; 


strive to protect their collective entity and to guard 

it against violent destruction or assimilation into 

larger religious, ethnic or linguistic communities; 


live together and should live together to engender 

social, economic, linguistic and cultural ties. 

A community whose population lives together 

and interacts has a far greater chance of surviving 

than one whose population is dispersed. Witness 

our community’s adherence to its language and 

customs in Iraq’s northern villages in comparison 

with those of Baghdad or Basrah. Whether we call 

this plan a “safe haven” or an “administrative 

unit” is not the issue. 

One argument against the Nineveh Plain proposal 

is that it poses a safety issue. “Our people,” 

one activist stated, “will become targets, sandwiched 

in between Kurds and Arabs.” But 

Christians are being killed in every little corner of 

Iraq; they are being intimidated, coerced and kidnapped. 

Their churches in virtually every city in 

Iraq have been bombed. And most of these atrocities 

do not occur in the Nineveh Plain, but in 

Baghdad, Mosul and Basrah. 

The ChaldoAssyrian community in Iraq, 

specifically in the Nineveh Plain, is an important 

component of the worldwide ChaldoAssyrian 

community; it cannot be ignored or forgotten. It is 

the spiritual center. If it is gone, if the existence of 

the ChaldoAssyrians in Iraq is eradicated, we lose 

not only as individuals, but as a people who failed 

to take the last stand. 

FOOTNOTES: 

1. ChaldoAssyrian is used to denote Chaldeans, 

Assyrians, Syriacs and Arameans — the same people, 

language, culture and history. 

2. See the critique of Yonadim Kanna (Chaldean News, 

March 2006) and the critique in the New Republic 

(April 2006) of His Grace Mar Emmauel Delly, who is 

described as neglecting the reality of his vanishing flock 

from Iraq. 

3. The towns are: Alqush, Sharafiya, Tell Skope, 

Baqope, Batnaye, Tell Kepe, Ba’shiqa, Bartillah, 

Karimlish (or Karamalis) and Qaraqosh (or Bakhded). 

4. Shabaks and Yazidies have also been contemplated to 

be components of the Nineveh area, where they currently 

reside. All these minorities need protection. 

Robert W DeKelaita is an immigration and human rights 

attorney practicing in Illinois and California. To view the 

Nineveh Needs Assessment, visit www.aas.net. 


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event 

1 

working women 

Female entrepreneurs share their expertise 

STORY BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

PHOTOS BY DAVID REED 

Sitting at a head table atop a raised platform, five female 

entrepreneurs in the Chaldean community agreed that passion 

for your work is the key to success. The women were 

speaking at a Chaldean American Ladies of Charity (CALC) 

event held last month at Shenandoah Country Club to help give 

women some professional insight on how to start a business. 

“Customer service is important,” said Kristin Jonna, president 

of the Detroit Wine Organization and owner of two wine 

bars, Vinotecca in Royal Oak and Vinology in Ann Arbor. “If 

a customer is not 100 percent satisfied, we will take back an 

item with no questions asked. One unsatisfied customer will 

bad-mouth you all around town.” 

Jonna said consulting with other experts helps diminish any 

fears that arise when venturing into a new project. “I don’t do 

anything without consulting my lawyer, my marketing expert 

and my CPA,” she said. 

“Fear is part of my everyday life,” said panel member Karla 

Atchoo of Atchoo & Associates, a CPA firm. “You learn to 

transfer that fear into energy and you accept the fact that you 

will make mistakes.” 

Atchoo is spends much of her career as a consultant working 

with various businesses on setting up their daily accounting. 

“The biggest mistake people make is not setting up their 

office from the beginning and thinking that they can do their 

own accounting without getting help from a CPA, who can 

help set up software and get the proper forms needed when 

organizing a business,” she said. Atchoo finished her 10- 

minute talk by giving an overview of business structures and 


2 

3 

4 5 

what initial tools are needed when starting a small business. 

Wendy Acho of LaSalle Bank, who has 19 years experience 

in the banking industry, presented a list of statistics 

regarding women in the workforce and in business. She also 

explained that Chaldean females often don’t take advantage 

of contract opportunities. “Chaldean women are classified in 

many organizations as satisfying a double minority and we 

don’t know this,” she said. 

Acho explained that women business owners could apply for 

contract work with various groups and qualify based on being 

Chaldean and being female. “Mention that you are a member 

of the Chaldean American Ladies of Charity and the Chaldean 

Chamber of Commerce and if you are not a member of these 

organizations, become a member,” she advised 

Zina Abbo George of Marquis Food Services landed one of 

the biggest contracts during Super Bowl XL — the Playboy 

Party. George, who spent 10 years working for Jimmy Schmitt 

at the Rattlesnake Club in Detroit, started her own catering 

company eight years ago. The mother of three young children 

works full-time. She took the audience into her step-by-step 

business venture that entails having contracts with three jails 

for food service and doing house parties, her true forte. “I was 

nervous taking the risks that we did, which now includes a 

mortgage on a business,” said George. “But, we just did it.” 

George credits some of her success to being a member of various 

chambers, including the Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce. “I never thought I would get the Playboy Party 

contract,” she said. “In fact, when I thought I had it, I got a call 

from someone with Playboy who said I could not have the contract 

because the mayor insisted a minority get it. I said, ‘I am 

a minority and I am a member of the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce.’” 

Kristen Jonna’s talk in some part premised the speech later 

given by Renee Antoon, president of Mainly Marketing, who 

talked about the importance of savvy marketing. “When the 

economy is down the first thing companies forego is marketing,” 

said Antoon. “The truth is, it is the thing they need the 

most to brand their name and increase their business.” 

Antoon started her own company two years ago after being 

laid off from her job as a manager at a large public relations 

firm. “I had no intentions of starting my own business, but the 

summer I was off of work collecting unemployment I got a call 

from someone who needed help promoting their business,” she 

said. “By the end of the summer, I had four clients.” 

CALC member Jane Shallal organized the event. “Women 

in the Chaldean community have developed business savvy and 

strong desires to pursue their ideas by opening new businesses,” 

she said. “Through programs like ‘Women Enterprisers,’ CALC 

seeks to encourage women’s professional development by promoting 

leadership through relationships, networking and 

resource sharing among other successful and talented Chaldean- 

American business women in Michigan.” 

1. The panelists: 

Wendy Acho (left), 

Renee Antoon, Kristin 

Jonna, Zina George 

and Karla Atchoo 

2. Rosemary Bannon, 

left, Norma Hakim, 

Julia Hakim and 

Bernadette Najor 

3. Jane Shallal 

4. Bernadette Najor 

5. Christine Karmo 

(left), Michelle Shallal 

and Rita Kainaya 


event 

1 2 

1. Donna Rivard 

samples Ashby’s 

Ice Cream. 

2. Ben Nalli 

(left) from 

7Up Bottling 

Company with 

Ashish and 

Jay Patel. 

3. Intrastate 

Distributors’ 

Stephanie 

Searcy (left), 

Sarmad 

Sarkisian, 

Jennifer Garmo 

and Matt Lamb. 

3 

4. Jeff Wood of 

National Wine 

and Spirits and 

Ayman Lias of 

Shorthorn 

Market. 

5. Peter Shukri 

(left), Sam 

Shoukri, Milan 

Straka and Dr. 

Jacob Mansour. 

6. Joe Shallal 

(left), AFD 

President Jane 

Shallal and 

Amer Hakim. 

PHOTOS BY DAVID REED 

3 

AFD trade show 

Manor in Livonia was the scene of the 

Burton Associated Food Dealers’ annual trade show 

in late April. Vendors and store owners mixed 

and mingled among tasty food and drink samples. 

4 5 6 


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ONLY 1 HOME REMAINS! 

BUILDER’S 

CLOSEOUT! 

FREE! 

FREE 3-YEAR LEASE 

2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE! * 

• Outstanding Community 

- Top Ranked West 

Bloomfield Schools 

- Just Moments From 

Scores Of Lakes And 

State Parks 

• 3-Car Garage 

• FREE Landscaping 

IMMEDIATE 

OCCUPANCY! 

• FREE 

Sprinkler System 

• FREE Alarm System 

• Prestigious Entrance 

• Sidewalks 

$ 

699,900 

Maple Road, just west of 

Farmington Road. Models 

Open Daily Noon-6 PM 

Closed Thursday. 

www.hermanfrankel.com 

248-661-5353 

*See Sales Associate 

for details. 


classified listings 

HOUSES FOR SALE 



HOUSE FOR RENT 

CONDO FOR SALE/LEASE 

HOME FOR SALE 

Set on a lush and private 2+ acre 

land parcel in Bloomfield, this 

DesRosiers-designed 5 bedroom, 

4.5 bath home offers magnificent 

use of windows and lighting 

throughout. Five levels of living 

space, including a walkout lower 

level, and an updated kitchen with 

breakfast area, mechanicals and 

roof. The sprawling deck is accented 

by a Gunite spa and beautiful 

reflection pool $1,195,000. Also 

available for lease at $4500/month. 

LAK2545410 

Dee Wright 248-330-8667 

dwright@hallandhunter.com 

Ted Widlund 248-593-0702 

twidlund@hallandhunter.com 

CASS, DOW, ORCHARD LAKE! 

2.5 Acres on Dow, Cass and 

Orchard Lakes. Expand or rebuild. 

City of Orchard Lake. $899,900. 

Ask for Melanie 248-867-7800 

SPACIOUS 4 BEDROOM 

2 Bth, 3 Lav, 3300 sq. ft. 2-stry fyr 

& Fam rm w/bridge. Hrdwd flrs, fin 

bsmt w/ exercise rm, Fam rm, 3 

bdr & wet bar. 2-car attached 

garage. Farmington Hills $479,000. 

Norma Sheena @ 248-425-1330 

BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY 

RIDGE HOME 

Outstanding family home great for 

entertaining, over 4,000 sq ft. 

4/3.5, Custom kitchen with granite 

island. Large master with separate 

dressing area. Lower level walkout 

with second kitchen, Fam room 

and full bath, perfect in-law suite. 

Numerous custom extras. Move-in 

ready. www.evergreenct.net 

$499,000 Call 248-568-0425 

FABULOUS FLOOR PLAN! 

3 Bedroom, 1 bath brick ranch in 

Troy! Family Rm w/Fireplace, partially 

finished basement. $175,000 

The Currier Team RE/MAX 

Showcase Homes 248-647-4904 

COMPLETELY REMODELED 

3 bedroom brick ranch with two car 

attached garage in Sterling Heights. 

Newer kitchen, fire place, glass 

block windows, newer ceramic floor 

with a new bath, new paint, all new 

appliances including alarm system, 

with a beautiful walkout deck from 

master bedroom. Call 248-835-5400 

CONDO FOR SALE 

BEAUTIFUL MACOMB TWP 

’04 CONDO 

2 bdrm, 2 bth 1632 sq. ft. 1 car 

att gar, cath ceil, FP in GR, 2 

drwls with balc DR, snack bar, 

priv entry, comm. Pool. $159,000 

M Callahan 248-374-6873 

Remerica United Realty 

TERRIFIC WEST BLOOMFIELD 

CONDOMINIUM 

Bright & spacious 3 bdrm., 2.5 

bath unit features wooded views 

Wonderful pool, clubhouse and 

tennis courts. $179,900 or Lease 

for $1,650 AZA739 Call Merle 

Solway 248-909-1396 or 248-283- 

0328 Hannett, Wilson & 

Whitehouse Realtors 

HOME FOR SALE 

Border Frame Custom Home West 

Bloomfield. Lone Pine, MIddlebelt. 

Bloomfield Hills Schools. Builders 

custom home on half acre private 

lot. Completely updated 2004. 

Large driveway 4 bdrms, 2.5 bath 

colonial with island granite kitchen, 

large family room, finished bsmt, 

spacious park-like setting. Sale 

Price $369,900. call 248-417-8396 

A MUST SEE HOME 

Two attached 2-car garages, 

2 kitchens, 2 great rooms each 

with fireplace, 5200 sq ft on two 

attractively finished levels, 4 bedrooms 

each with walk- in closet 

and private bath. On a 1.5 acre 

wooded, landscaped lot. 

$875,000 Many amenities, minor 

exclusions call for virtual tour and 

see it yourself. Ben T. Bridwell, 

Century 21 Hallmark West, 

248-894-1931. 

chaldean news PROFESSIONALS 

PROFESSIONALS 

Stephanie Denha McKee 

AREA MANAGER 

Independent Consultant, ID#10609312 

2179 Applebrook Drive 

Commerce Twp., MI 48382 

248.431.7483 

stephindigo@comcast.net 

PURE SWISS SKIN CARE 

FORMULATED IN SWITZERLAND • MADE IN THE USA 

COLOR | NUTRITION | AROMATHERAPY 

HOME FOR SALE 

13 Mile bet. Farm. & Drake 2,950 

sq. ft. 4 bdrm 2.5 newly remodeled 

bathrooms. Finished Basement, 

neutral throughout. $349,900, Call 

248-848-1852 


CLASSIFIED ORDER FORM 

Four ways to 

place your ad! 

1. Online at www.chaldeannews.com STREET ADDRESS_________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2. Fax (248) 932-9161 

CITY _____________________________________________________________ STATE _________ ZIP __________________ 

3. Phone (248) 932-3100 

PHONE ____________________________________________________________________ 

4. Send it to: The Chaldean News, 

E-MAIL ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

30095 NW. Hwy., Ste. 102, Farm. 

Hills, MI 48334 

AMOUNT ENCLOSED____________________________________________________________________________________ 

CATEGORY (CHECK ONLY ONE): 

House for Sale 

House for Rent 

Condo for Sale 

Condo/Apartment for Rent 

Vacation Property for Sale 

RATES: $6 PER LINE; 5-LINE MINIMUM. 

NAME_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Vacation Rentals 

Office Space to Share 

Lost and Found 

Merchandise for Sale 

Automobiles for Sale 

Boats for Sale 

Tickets for Sale 

Cemetery Lots 

Wanted to Buy 

Pets 

Help Wanted 

Situations Wanted 

Other (Specify) 

PRINT THE EXACT TEXT OF YOUR AD (ATTACH A SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY): 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Rates are subject to change without notice. The Chaldean News reserves the right to reject, edit or revise any advertisement, and is not liable 

for failure to insert an advertisement. If an error is made in an ad published by The Chaldean News, notice must be made by the advertiser in 

writing no more than five business days after publication. All advertising positions are at the publisher’s discretion and in no event will refunds, 

adjustments or reinstatements be made based on position. The Chaldean News has the right to recover unpaid advertising amounts, including 

reasonable costs of collection, attorney’s fees, litigation costs and interest on the unpaid balance. 

I agree to these terms. 

SIGNATURE ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

PRINTED NAME ______________________________________________________________ DATE _________________________ 

All classifieds must be pre-paid. Call (248) 932-3100 for more information. Deadline: 20th of each month for the next month’s issue. 

BUSINESSES FOR SALE 

STORE FOR SALE 

Best Deal in Town!! Has lottery, 

beer & wine, groceries & meats. 

Everything a store needs. 6,000 

sq. ft. Located near the Airport. 

This is a deal!! Best you can find. 

Call Jimmy @ 586-703-6816 

CONEY ISLAND 

Restaurant business for sale in 

Waterford, MI. 65 seats all equipment 

fixtures and business only. 

Call 248-252-2130 

GROCERY STORE 

in Oakland County. Beer, Wine, 

Lotto, Deli. Great business opportunity 

with a lot of potential. Low rent 

with option to buy building. Serious 

inquiries, call 248-941-7877. 

LIQUOR STORE/WINE SHOP 

for sale in the Penobscot Building 

in Downtown Detroit. Lotto, beer, 

wine, liquor. Great Hours- Mon-Fri 

8am-6pm call Mona 313-961-3787 

PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

BUSINESSES FOR SALE 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 

Welding Business with 

3500 sq. ft. house Emmett MI. 

Bars/Restaurants, Chesterfield, 

St Clair, Free Standing 

money makers. 

Commercial Vacant Land 

2.5 acres on Gratiot near 25 Mile. 

Landscaping Company 

25yrs. In business. 

Fish & Poultry Store 

Open 5 days Week Money 

maker. Vacant property 21 mile 

& I-94. Call Tony Drewek at 

C-21 Market Tech 586-322-1163. 

HELP WANTED 

NECC TELECOMM, INC. 

Is in search for friendly-full time 

sales representatives who speak 

Arabic and Chaldean fluently to join 

our team in Troy. Computer knowledge 

necessary. Please contact 

Beata at 248-680-8882, EXT 488. 

Visit www.necc.us 

NANNY POSITION NEEDED 

For one 1-yr-old in Walled Lake 

home. Experience required. Must 

be honest, responsible, caring & a 

non-smoker. English a must, 

Chaldean a plus. 2-4 days/week. 

Call Vanessa @ 248-939-0790 

INVITATIONS & FAVORS 

Party Planning/Invitations/Favors 

Handcrafted and Personalized. 

Unique invitations/favors for your 

wedding, communion, birthday or 

other party at affordable prices!! 

Invitations under $2.00. Call 

313-244-4082 or 248-420-0898 

OPPORTUNITIES 

UPSCALE RESALE SHOP 

Accepting gently used designer 

clothing for consignment or cash. 

Located at 5720 Highland Rd. 

Waterford MI, between Airport and 

Crescent Lake Rd. Lots of great 

clothes on the floor! Clean out your 

closet and get cash, Closed Sun & 

Mon. 248-673-3773 

ADVERTISE 

FOR AS LITTLE AS $ 75 

IN OUR NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY SECTION! 

To place your ad, contact us today! 

THE 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

PHONE: 248-932-3100 OR FAX: 248-932-9161 

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 


ATTENTION EMPLOYERS 

Need to fill a job position? The 

Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce can help by posting your 

job position on our website. Contact 

lkalou@chaldeanchamber.com 


KIDS corner 

Hooray! School Is Out 

Yes, school is out and the summer has 

arrived. We know that many of you want 

to be out splish-splashing at the wave 

pool, jet skiing on the lakes and playing 

ball on the fields, but remember it is also 

important to challenge your mind in the 

summer. You might want to join the 

local library book club. If you want, 

just have fun. 

Here’s a list of festive summer 

activities you can do with your 

friends and family. Just ask your parents 

to... 

1. Go on a picnic 

2. Visit the zoo 

3. Organize a game of kickball 

4. Run through the sprinklers 

5. Go to the beach and make sand castles 

6. Have a neighborhood scavenger hunt 

7. Go on a walk with friends and see who can 

identify the most things in nature 

Word Search 

Summertime 

Creatures 

Butterfly 

Bumble Bee 

Birds 

Dogs 

Ducks 

Woodpecker 

Squirrel 

Raccoon 

Rabbit 

Deer 

DEERSITAMETBUMBLEBEERTYUJK 

UFERADIGEMIIPHASJUDIFCIDUN 

CVESTIAULUMRIGNISQUIRRELDF 

KLAMAUMOJPKDJTORTORINHACHA 

SITASZQCWVESHICTUMSTVIVAMU 

FHULVINARQAISQUESEMNIBHLOB 

CREATURESMMHODOATMALESUADA 

ETLORACCOONNTVITKLAENIBHDO 

NRESAETEORTALHGIGULAMORBSF 

DAIVBJGRUSHBUTTERFLYETUERA 

GRZQBCISSEEDESTASNEQUGHYHJ 

CNGUISMMYLAOREETAUGUEIPSUM 

SOLLTCITUDIGMIQUITURIFKGLI 

TGHFJDSSDAISUMMERTIMELERIS 

DSWOODPECKERRLAOXKMROSIKLR 

Make a Sun-catcher! 

By recycling old compact discs (with your parent’s 

permission), you can throw together this combination 

wind chime and sun-catcher in under an hour. 

What You’ll Need 

2 compact discs 

4 silver bells 

String, yarn or twine 

Glue 

Childproof scissors 

What to Do 

1. Determine your color scheme. If your CDs are 

bright and shiny, you may want to use matching 

colored ribbon or yarn. If you’re going for the suncatcher 

effect, you’ll probably want the labels of 

your CDs facing inward. This means you may want 

to use lots of golds or silvers. 

2. Cut your string. You can use ribbon, yarn, 

string, twine, or the like to hold your wind chime 

together. Cut a 16-inch piece. 

3. String your bells on to the string so that when 

you hold the two loose ends of string in your 

hands, the bells swing freely at the bottom. 

4. Just above where the bells are hanging, tie a 

knot. You should now have two equal, loose ends 

of string in your hand. 

5. Slide one CD through both pieces of string and 

lay it flat on a table. 

6. String one large bell on one piece of string. Pull it 

down your string until it is 3-4 inches from the bottom 

of the string. (The CDs will be just below the bell.) 

7. Spread glue on both CDs. (Remember, if you 

want a sun-catcher, this means you’ll be spreading 

the glue over the label side of the CDs.) 

8. Pull your already strung CD upward so that it 

lays tight against the last bell you strung in the center 

of your wind chime. 

9. String the second CD and pull it down against the 

first. Push the CDs together in whatever arrangement 

you desire and allow to dry thoroughly. 

10. Once dry, tie on a knot in the ends of your 

loose string and hang. 

11. Enjoy! 

Tips And Tricks 

Adults and older children can make a more elaborate 

wind chime out of used CDs by cutting the 

compact discs into pie shapes and drilling a small 

hole in the top of each piece. String with twine, 

add bells and hang. 

Use colorful spray paint to add your own design 

to CDs before stringing. Metallic silvers and golds 

attract sunlight. 

Use colored bells and give as a gift during the 

holidays. 


HOME OF THE $ 199 00 LEASE 

14505 Michigan Avenue • Dearborn, MI 48126

JUNE 2006

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