OCTOBER 2006

NOTEworthy
KIDNAPPED PRIEST IS FREED
The Chaldean priest who spent almost a month in captivity
in Iraq was freed on September 11.
Father Hanna Saad Sirop stressed how prayer for his
release has “united” large sectors of Iraq at a time of near
civil war, according to Zenit.org.
“I want to thank all those people who helped me with
their prayers. That really was a miracle for me,” he told
the charity Aid to the Church in Need. “From the
moment I was kidnapped, I felt God was with me. I
began to say, ‘God, you are my protector. You will be
with me in my pain.’”
Fr. Sirop expressed his willingness to forgive his captors.
“I do not hate them,” he said. “I pray for them — I
continue to pray for them.”
The priest said he has been advised against revealing
his experience during his captivity for fear of reprisals.
Whether a ransom was paid for his release has not been
revealed.
Fr. Sirop was kidnapped at gunpoint as he left mass in
Baghdad on August 15. The 34-year-old priest is director
of the Theology Department at Babel College.
FUNNY FILM EXPLORES
FAMILY LIFE
Family Chaos, touted as the first film directed by Jane B.
Dabish, a Chaldean-American woman, is now available on
DVD. The story, also written by Dabish, tells of a Chaldean
woman in Michigan who wants to make movies, despite
her family’s objections and pressures to enter the family
business.
“If you loved My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you’ll like
Family Chaos,” said Dabish.
Family Chaos is being screened periodically in Metro
Detroit. For information, contact bdcreativeproductions@yahoo.com.
STATE SENATOR HONORED
Friends and family of retired California State Senator
Wadie Deddeh gathered in Bloomfield Hills on
September 22 for a fundraiser in his honor. No, he is not
running for office — the event was held to raise money to
produce a documentary of his life. Group Indy
Productions will produce the video.
Senator
Deddeh
thanks the
audience for
helping raise
money for the
upcoming
documentary
on his life.
WAYNE COUNTY
GOES HIGH TECH
Potential vendors can now view advertisements for major
bid opportunities — defined as purchases of $20,000 or
more — on Wayne County’s public website.
Information pertaining to Request for Proposals
A Farmington Hills Police cruiser sits outside the
Bank of Michigan after the September 5 robbery.
BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
Farmington Hills Police have
arrested a suspect in the
September 5 robbery at the
Chaldean-owned Bank of
Michigan.
Joseph Jerome Smith, 30, is
accused of entering the bank
that morning and demanding
money, telling the teller he had
a gun. He fled the bank in a
white van with an undisclosed
amount of cash. Police were
quickly on his tail and a chase
ensued. It ended in Redford
Township, where Smith allegedly
crashed his van into several
other vehicles, then attempted
to carjack a woman. Police fired
shots and Smith was apprehended.
(RFP), Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Invitation for
Bids (IFB) is available by logging onto www.waynecounty.com
— then click on the “for Business” icon to view the
advertisements.
In other news, Wayne County led a seven-county
region in both residential and nonresidential development
in 2005, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of
Governments (SEMCOG) annual survey of business
investment in Southeastern Michigan.
The annual report provides a summary of newly constructed
buildings, additions/expansions, and redevelopment
of various types of projects, including industrial,
warehouse, retail, institutional and office.
Wayne County had a total development in 2005 of
10.3 million square feet, representing 31 percent of the
region’s total activity. That development was an increase
from the 9.3 million square feet of activity in 2004.
In 2005, Oakland County’s development activity
trailed Wayne County, with 9.9 million square feet.
The most active communities in Wayne County in
2005 were Detroit, 3.6 million square feet; Canton
Township, 1.4 million square feet; Romulus, 803,000
square feet; and Allen Park, 762,000 square feet.
SIX WIN ADS
Six people won free business card ads in this month’s
Chaldean News during random drawings at community
events. During the Chaldean Festival, Najwa Yono of
Direct Lending and Ralph Dallo of Art One Signs were
the winners.
During the Associated Food Dealers Holiday
Beverage Show, winners were: Sabah Ammouri of ATM
of America, Valerie Stephen of the Charles Halabu
Agency, Rico Mona of WOW Liquidation, and Arkan
“Rock” Haio of HSI News.
“Thanks to quick thinking by
the staff the police able to
immediately identify the getaway
vehicle,” said Michael
Sarafa, the bank’s CEO.
Smith was arraigned on
armed robbery and bank robbery
charges the next day. He is
being held in Oakland County
Jail in lieu of a $200,000 bond.
IT’S TIME FOR
ABSENTEE
VOTING
The general election
is on Tuesday,
November 7. Among
the issues facing voters
is the race for governor
between Jennifer Granholm, the
Democratic incumbent, and Dick
DeVos, the Republican challenger.
If you can’t make it to the polls, you
can vote by absentee ballot — as long
as you have voted in person at least
once. An absentee ballot allows you to
vote at home and then mail in your ballot.
Your request for an absentee voter
ballot must be in writing and can be
submitted to your city or township
clerk. Your request must include one
of six reasons, including being over
age 60 or being out of town on
Election Day, and your signature. You
may request an absentee voter ballot
with a letter or postcard, or you can
obtain a pre-printed application form
at your local clerk’s office.
If the ballot must be issued by mail,
the application for the ballot must
reach the clerk no later than 2 p.m. on
the Saturday prior to the election — in
this case, November 4. Absentee
voter ballots can be picked up by the
voter in person anytime up to 4 p.m.
on the day before the election. Learn
more at www.michigan.gov/sos.
10 CHALDEAN NEWS OCTOBER 2006