14 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>MARCH</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
NOTEworthy PHOTO BY DAVID REED Left: Fred Delly passes the hammer of AFPD chairmanship to Chris Zebari at the association’s annual dinner in January. NANA says ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MICK Hanna Named to Women’s Board Zebari new AFPD Chair Chris Zebari has been elected the new chairman of the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers. Zebari, 46, is currently employed at Lipari Foods in Warren. He has worked in family-owned stores since he was a child and was previously the first Chaldean in a management role at the Pepsi Bottling Group. He has been involved with the AFPD since 1988 and has served as membership director, board member, secretary, treasurer and vice chairman. “Being chairman is all about the membership of this great organization,” Zebari said. “It is about being heard.” New Scholarship Honors Bernadette Sarafa The North Farmington/West Bloomfield (NFWB) Baseball/Softball League for Youth has launched the NFWB/ Bernadette Sarafa Memorial Scholarship. Sarafa was tragically killed in an accident in June 2006 when a car hit her while she was picking grape leaves on the side of the road. The mother of five children and 13 grandchildren, she was married for nearly 50 years to Karim Sarafa. She was involved in various Bernadette Sarafa charity work and was well known for her Middle Eastern cooking skills. “The scholarship is named for her because of the volunteer work that her son, Haithem K. Sarafa, has contributed to NFWB Baseball/Softball over the past 10 years,” said Bernie Rubenstein, NFWB president. NFWB is contributing $1,000 per year for the scholarships and the Sarafa family is matching every year’s contribution. Funds will be used to award scholarships of no less than $500 to eligible high school seniors entering a four-year college or vocational school and who have participated in the NFWB Baseball/Softball League for a minimum of four years. High School seniors can go to http://www.nfwb.com for eligibility and application requirements, or call League Secretary/Administrator Janet Warsh at (248) 865-6392 for more information on the scholarship. Completed applications must be postmarked by May 15, <strong>2008</strong>. Yatooma Making News in Kilpatrick Saga Birmingham attorney Norman Yatooma is making news these days in relation to the text messaging scandal plaguing Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Yatooma represents Jonathan Bond, the teenage son of exotic dancer Tamara “Strawberry” Greene, who was shot to death in April 2003. Greene is said to have performed at a long-rumored, but never proven wild party at the mayor’s Manoogian Mansion in 2002. The lawsuit alleges that the police investigation into the homicide was derailed for political purposes and that Bond was denied his constitutional right to access the courts. Yatooma has subpoenaed a variety of documents, including satellite positioning records from SkyTel, Detroit’s pager company, that show where city employees were at the time of Greene’s death. She was shot with a .40-caliber Glock, the handgun used by Detroit police officers. Yatooma’s lawsuit, first filed in 2005, gained little attention until the recent text scandal that showed that Kilpatrick and his chief of staff, Christine Beatty, had a long-denied romantic affair. The controversy has raised concerns about how long text messages – a favorite form of communication in the Chaldean community – last. In general, text messages are not stored, though experts advise to never text or e-mail something you wouldn’t want to see made public. In the mayor’s case, the SkyTel messages were stored because they were issued on cityowned devices. Sandra Hanna has been appointed to the new Women’s Commission of Oakland County. She represents District 17, which consists of Beverly Hills, Franklin, Bingham Farms, sections of West Bloomfield, Bloomfield and Southfield. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners created the Women’s Commission, which met for the first time on January 30. Its purpose is to survey the status of women in Sandra Hanna Oakland County, assess their special needs and suggest ways and methods to meet those needs. Hanna, a chemist with NSF International, serves as secretary on the board of directors of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. Second Helpings for Popular Cookbook Samira Yako Cholagh’s popular cookbook, “Treasured Middle Eastern Cookbook” is back by popular demand. The book sold out after 3,000 copies were bought, but a reprint has just been completed. Cholagh is also at work on a third book, which should be complete in a year. The Treasured Middle Eastern Cookbook, first released 10 years ago, has some 400 recipes. The new edition includes minor revisions and touchups. It is available for $29.95 via www.treasuredmiddleeasterncookbook.com. Iraqi Translators ‘Betrayed’ “Betrayed,” a play by George Packer about Iraqi interpreters who risked their lives to help the U.S. military, is playing in New York City through March 16. The play is based on Packer’s interviews in Baghdad with interpreters who feel abandoned by the U.S. after risking their lives as translators. It tells the story of three young Iraqis who interpret for the U.S. government but receive little protection in return. The New York Times give the play a favorable review, lauding its “sharp dramatic impact and a plain-spoken beauty.” “Betrayed” is playing at the Culture Project in SoHo. Call (212) 925-1900 for tickets and information. Never wear a ring on your ring finger if you’re not married — you can jinx it and have an awful marriage (or none at all). Do the sign of the cross when you hear an ambulance or pass a church or cemetery. It’s good luck when a bird poops on your car. Thanks to all who shared their Nana-isms. Keep them coming to info@chaldeannews.com, or write to The Chaldean News, 30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. Walking for Breast Cancer Samantha Garmo of Waterford is putting together a team called “Chaldeans for a Cure” for a breast cancer walk in September. The Susan G. Komen For the Cure three-day walk takes place September 26-28 and encompasses a 60-mile walk in Southeast Michigan. Each walker must be at least 16 years old and have medical insurance. Walkers less than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Each walker must raise a minimum of $2,200. “I have high hopes for this and anticipate raising money above and beyond the minimum amounts,” said Garmo. “With such a supportive and close-knit community, I truly believe our possibilities are endless.” Learn more by calling Garmo at (248) 755-0247 or writing samanthagarmo@aol.com. Brochure Helps with Tax Prep A new brochure, “Top 10 Questions to Ask a Tax Preparer,” is available from the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), along with the Accounting Aid Society (AAS), Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting and State Representative Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit). The brochure is designed as a guide to assist taxpayers in finding the NOTEWORTHY Continued on page 16 <strong>MARCH</strong> <strong>2008</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 15