APRIL 2008

VOL. 5 ISSUE III 

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY APRIL 2008 

$2 

www.chaldeannews.com 

INSIDE 

WHAT’S UP 

WITH TODAY’S 

TEENS? 

CAMP 

CHALDEAN 

SHAPING UP 

A VISIT FROM 

KWAME 

KILPATRICK 

FATAL 

BLOW 

THE SHOCKING 

DEATH OF 

ARCHBISHOP 

RAHHO 

The Chaldean News 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 102 

Farmingthon Hills, MI 48334 

PERIODICAL 

PLEASE DELIVER BY APRIL 1, 2008

APRIL 2008 CHALDEAN NEWS 3

4 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2008



ON THE COVER: 

AN IRAQI MAN MOURNS 

AS HE CARRIES A PORTRAIT 

OF ARCHBISHOP PAULOS 

FARAJ RAHHO, DURING 

HIS FUNERAL IN A VILLAGE 

OUTSIDE MOSUL IN NORTHERN 

IRAQ ON MARCH 14 

PHOTO COURTESY AP 

CONTENTS 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 5 ISSUE III 

on the cover 

30 FATAL BLOW 

The shocking death of Archbishop Rahho 

APRIL 2008 

departments 

8 FROM THE EDITOR 

9 YOUR LETTERS 

10 IN OUR VIEW 

13 NOTEWORTHY 

13 NANA SAYS 

13 YOU KNOW YOU’RE CHALDEAN IF … 

14 CHAI TIME 

16 HALHOLE 

22 RELIGION 

22 OBITUARY 

25 ECONOMICS AND ENTERPRISE 

BY JOYCE WISWELL 

Want a Slice with that Pita? 

New Pharmacy Is More than Prescriptions 

26 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 

BY JENNIFER T. KORAIL 

Opera Singer Hits the High Notes 

29 FASHION 

BY KONNIE BINNO 

The Look for Less 

50 MAKING THE GRADE 

BY NATASHA DADO 

Matthew Acho: Striving for success 

52 CLASSIFIED LISTINGS 

56 EVENTS 

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny 

Chaldean Chamber Women’s Committee 

30 

31 AN ASSAULT ON THE SOUL 

AND SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY 

BY ADHID MIRI 

32 DEATH COMES FOR 

THE ARCHBISHOP 

BY NINA SHEA 

Paulos Faraj Rahho, R.I.P. 

features 

35 TEEN TALK 


Local students share their thoughts 

36 CHALDEAN KIDS’ DAY OFF 

BY CAROLINE M. BACALL 

Skip Day is controversial 

39 LEARNING THE HARD WAY 

BY OMAR BINNO 

Two-time drunk driver shares her story 

40 SURVIVING THE UNTHINKABLE 


Dealing with the death of a child 

42 BACK TO NATURE 


Big summer in store at Camp Chaldean 

43 IT’S ALMOST CAMP TIME 


How to choose the best for your kids 

45 ‘TRULY SAD’ 

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

Syria ambassador discusses refugee situation 

47 ‘YOU HAVE GUTS’ 

BY MICHELLE NAJOR-LUTFY 

Kwame Kilpatrick touts community’s contributions 

sports 

48 CHALDEAN CHURCH 

LEAGUE SCORES 

BY STEVE STEIN 

New Inline Hockey League Coming 


from the EDITOR 

Updates on the Latest News 

People from all over the 

world are speaking out 

about the kidnapping 

and killing of Chaldean 

Catholic Archbishop Paulos 

Faraj Rahho, leader of the 

Chaldean Catholic Church in 

Mosul, who was kidnapped 

in Mosul February 29 as he 

drove home after afternoon 

mass. His body was discovered 

buried in a southeastern 

area of the city on March 13. 

Yonadam Kanna, a Christian 

member of Iraq’s Parliament, said 

that Archbishop Rahho had called for 

unity in Iraq and had stood up 

against sectarian violence. “This man 

was a victim of his opinions,” Kanna 

said. 

Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter to 

Iraqi church leaders, called the kidnapping 

“an act of inhumane violence 

that offends the dignity of human 

beings and gravely damages the 

cause of fraternal coexistence among 

VANESSA 

DENHA- 

GARMO 

EDITOR 

the blessed people of Iraq.” 

I heard from many members 

of our community that at 

churches all over Southeast 

Michigan people prayed for 

the Archbishop. I usually 

rotate my church of choice 

by my schedule. It varies 

from St. Thomas 

Chaldean Catholic 

Church in West 

Bloomfield to St. 

Mary’s of Orchard 

Lake, St. Fabian and Prince 

of Peace. On March 15, I 

attended Saturday afternoon 

mass at Prince of Peace in 

West Bloomfield and we 

prayed for him there as well. 

My friend Teresa Tomeo’s producer 

Andrew from WDEO AVE Maria 

radio called me that Thursday morning 

telling me that CNN was reporting 

him found dead. I never knew the 

Archbishop but I was quickly saddened 

— more evidence that this war 

in Iraq is nowhere near an end. 

This news was news all over the 

world, capturing headlines and lead 

stories in the international press. 

Here at The Chaldean News, this 

was one of those months that our 

planned cover story was quickly 

changed to an inside feature. I wish 

we were reporting something cheerful 

and uplifting. 

We probably don’t even realize the 

level of internal turmoil and stress this 

news adds to all of our lives. It is 

more news of hate, war and despair. 

It is more awareness of the devastation 

in our homeland. It is another 

reminder of how our lives on Earth 

are temporary. Terrorism is a fact of 

life. We are not reading stories in history 

books about tragedies that happened 

to people centuries ago. This 

is today in our lifetime. All we can do 

is pray. 

As we ask God to bestow peace 

on our brothers and sisters in Iraq, 

we continue on with other happenings 

in Michigan and around the 

country. 

I sat down with the Ambassador to 

‘An act of inhumane violence that offends the 

dignity of human beings and gravely damages 

the cause of fraternal coexistence among the 

blessed people of Iraq.’ – POPE BENEDICT XVI 

Syria with his wife and daughter for 

dinner on March 14 among a small 

group of my fellow Chaldeans. Martin 

Manna, my publishing partner and 

executive director of the Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce, 

and his wife Tamara were also there 

along with Michael George of the 


your LETTERS 

Chaldean Federation of America with 

his wife Najat; Basil and Majida Bakal 

Bakal, Saad and Rita Hajjar; and 

Wally Jaddan. The ambassador was 

also accompanied by the Consul 

General of Syria, Naji Arwashan. As 

we report, the ambassador gave us 

an update on the Iraq refugees in his 

country. 

We also report in this issue on the 

topics on the minds of our teens. 

Managing Editor Joyce Wiswell sat 

down with a group of young 

Chaldeans at our office in Farmington 

Hills and chatted over pizza and pop 

on high school life in 2008. 

Continuing on the topic of teens, 

skipping school is becoming more of 

a problem for our high school-aged 

kids. Chaldean Skip Day, which we 

reported on last year, is a growing 

concern for teachers and principals. 

First-time Chaldean News writer 

Caroline Bacall updates us in her 

story. A more recent high school 

graduate than our other writers on 

staff, Bacall is able to provide a young 

perspective on the issue. 

Joyce Wiswell gives us another 

update in this issue, catching up with 

the latest news from Camp Chaldean 

(formerly known as Camp Brighton). 

This is a place where hopefully our 

youth can be more constructive and 

find direction. 

April is an issue filled with the latest 

news regarding ongoing stories. 

You may have read or heard about all 

of this before but we are providing the 

latest developments and more facts 

as your newsmagazine of Metro 

Detroit. 

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., 

Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

From This Day Forward 

I enjoyed this recent issue of The 

Chaldean News, especially the article 

by Joyce Wiswell entitled “Some 

Decorum Please” (The Wedding 

Guide, March 2008). However, I feel 

compelled to point out some irony 

present in this issue as well. 

One is that while discussing what 

the Chaldean Catholic Church leaders 

such as Father Manuel Boji have to 

say concerning the sacrament of marriage 

and female attire, it is taken for 

granted that the Chaldean community 

is not only interested but directed by 

our clergy. I believe many Chaldeans 

would agree, yet throughout the issue 

are pictures of Chaldean brides 

dressed in provocative and revealing 

wedding gowns. Gowns that according 

to the church standards are inappropriate 

for the sacrament of marriage. 

Another irony is that in Wiswell’s 

article it is said that our clergy expects 

us to be more concerned with marriage 

in the long term as opposed to 

focusing so much on the wedding day. 

This also makes sense considering 

that we are spiritual people and the 

sacrament of marriage and the longlasting 

relationship thereafter should 

certainly be the primary concern when 

preparing to “tie the knot.” 

But again I find the issue in contradiction 

with this message as most of 

the cover theme is certainly focused 

on the wedding day even though the 

issue is entitled “The Wedding Guide.” 

Spiritual preparation is not highlighted 

much. 

When my husband and I prepared 

for the sacrament of marriage the 

church gave us a “wedding guide” as 

well as counseling classes. This was 

surely the most important part in 

preparing for our wedding day, and we 

spent the most time focusing on it. 

Wiswell’s article is the closest to that 

type of “marriage guide” in this issue, 

and it is relegated to one-half of a page 

in the whole issue. 

Perhaps a follow-up issue on the 

sacrament of marriage, spiritual preparation 

and long-term sustainment of 

marriage would be beneficial to your 

readers, who understand that the 

“wedding day” is literally only one day. 

– Phyllis Jeden 

Ferndale 


in our VIEW 

Do the Right Thing, Mayor Kilpatrick 

BY MICHAEL G. SARAFA 

This publication has remained 

silent on the whirlwind of controversy 

surrounding Mayor Kwame 

Kilpatrick and the text messaging scandal. 

Although it has been better lately, 

the relationship between the Kilpatrick 

Administration and the Chaldean business 

community has been 

tenuous at best. The 

beginning of Kilpatrick’s 

tenure as mayor was 

marked by excessive and 

indiscriminate raids on 

hundreds of Chaldeanowned 

party stores. In 

many cases, frivolous 

tickets were issued for no 

apparent reason. 

But recently, the mayor spoke to members 

of the Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce at Shenandoah Country 

Club. He pledged his ongoing support 

and said that the Chaldean community’s 

success in business, real estate and 

banking should be “modeled.” He 

expressed his gratitude for the grocers 

that have stuck with the city as another 

wave of high-profile chain stores has 

abandoned it. He seemed very in tune 

that night with the desires, challenges and 

concerns of the Chaldean community. 

That speech was during the same 

week that the Detroit City Council 

passed a nonbinding resolution by a 7- 

1 margin asking the mayor to resign. 

This fact was not on the minds of the 

attendees at the chamber event. The 

overall feeling that night from community 

members was to stay out of the 

‘For the city, region and state to have to 

endure a lengthy public trial over this issue 

could bring progress in our area to a standstill. 

We join the growing chorus of people urging 

the mayor to put the city before himself.’ 

controversy and focus on what we can 

do to improve things in the city. 

Things can change quickly. Wayne 

County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s eloquent 

and sweeping eight-charge 

indictment against Kilpatrick will be 

hard for the mayor to overcome. 

She not only threw 

the proverbial book at him, 

but the whole law library. It doesn’t 

seem anyone predicted the scope or 

gravity of the charges. Worthy’s 

somber and frustrated tone should not 

be ignored and should serve as notice 

Kwame Kilpatrick 

to the mayor’s constituency as to the 

seriousness of the charges. 

The time has come for the business 

community to do the right thing for the 

city, which is to help bring this national 

embarrassment to an end as quickly as 

possible. For the 

city, region and 

state to have to 

endure a lengthy 

public trial over this 

issue could bring 

progress in our 

area to a standstill. 

It is up to the civic, 

religious and business 

leadership of 

our region to deliver 

this message to 

the mayor in a clear 

and united way. We join the growing 

chorus of people urging the mayor to 

put the city before himself. 

The right thing is clear. The mayor 

must resign. 


PUBLISHED BY 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

MANAGING EDITOR Joyce Wiswell 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caroline M. Bacall Michelle Lutfy 

Konnie Binno Adhid Miri 

Omar Binno 

Michael G. Sarafa 

Natasha Dado Nina Shea 

Jennifer T. Korail Steve Stein 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 

CIRCULATION 

CLASSIFIEDS 

INTERN 

SALES REPRESENTATIVES 

OPERATIONS 

Interlink Media 

SALES 

Interlink Media 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Joseph Sesi 

Nora Bahrou Downs 

David Reed 

Paul Alraihani 

Paul Alraihani 

Joyce Wiswell 

Natasha Dado 

Marisa Comaianni 

Brenda Koza 

Lisy Starr 

MANAGERS 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

Martin Manna 

Michael Sarafa 

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T HE MERLE AND SHIRLEY H ARRIS BIRTHING CENTER 

AT H URON VALLEY-SINAI H OSPITAL 

To schedule a tour of the Merle and Shirley 

Harris Birthing Center at Huron Valley-Sinai 

Hospital, call (248) 937-5120. To schedule 

an appointment with one of our physicians, 

call (888) DMC-2500. 

 

 

 

 

 

special needs 

 

 

 

 

Hospital 

 

 

 

99th Percentile 

Satisfaction 

IN NATIONAL SURVEY 



ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MICK 

NOTEworthy 

France, Canada to 

accept more Iraqi 

refugees soon 

France says it plans to give refuge to 

nearly 500 Iraqi Christians, particularly 

Chaldeans. 

Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner 

confirmed the plans in a joint television 

and radio interview on March 19. He 

said he hoped the Iraqis will be in 

France within weeks. 

He said France would not refuse to 

also grant asylum to Muslims. But he 

said “no one” is taking in Iraqi 

Christians and noted that Paris has a 

community of Chaldeans. 

In related news, Canada intends to 

accept more than double the number 

of refugees from Iraq this year, said 

Citizenship and Immigration Minister 

Diane Finley. 

Finley made the announcement 

March 19, saying Canada will accept 

between 1,800 and 2,000 Iraqi 

refugees in 2008. Last year, Canada 

accepted about 900 people from Iraq. 

Finley said the Conservative government 

has also promised to invest 

$1.4 billion into resettlement programs, 

adding the money should help ease 

some of the pressure on local services. 

“What we are doing now is a very big 

step forward,” Finley said in making the 

announcement at Immigration Services 

Society of British Columbia. “We can 

NANA says 

If you sit on a wheelchair but 

you don’t need it, you will become 

paralyzed. 

If you sneeze while saying something 

it will be considered the truth. 

Doing the Sign of the Cross 

with your left hand is bad luck. 

Thanks to all who shared their Nanaisms. 

Keep them coming to 

info@chaldeannews.com, or write to 

The Chaldean News, 30095 

Northwestern Highway, Suite 102, 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334. 

Kicks for the Cure 

hold our heads proudly on the world 

stage for what we are doing now.” 

Refugee applications will be considered 

both through private sponsorships 

and referrals from the United 

Nations. 

Awards Dinner 

Selling Out Fast 

Tickets for the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce’s annul awards 

dinner on April 11 are going fast. The 

event at Shenandoah Country Club 

honors the Chaldean Federation of 

America’s Michael George, Joseph 

Kassab and Basil Bakal as 

Humanitarians of the Year for their 

efforts of highlighting the plight of and 

assisting Iraqi refugees. Jack and Joe 

Barbat, co-founders of Wireless Toyz, 

will be recognized as Businesspersons 

of the Year. Call (248) 538-3700 for info 

or visit www.chaldeanchamber.com 

Chaldean 

Graduation 

Coming Up 

The 26th Annual Chaldean High 

School & College Commencement 

takes place on June 12 at 4 p.m. 

The event is presented by the 

Chaldean Federation of America and 

this year will be coordinated by six college 

chapters of the Chaldean 

American Student Association. There 

will be a gala party at Shenandoah 

Country Club that evening. 

All students of Chaldean heritage 

graduating from any high school, technical 

center, college, university or the 

equivalent are encouraged to participate. 

As always, the CFA will award a 

number of scholarships and essay 

awards. Applications are due by April 

25. Visit www.chaldeanfederation.org 

for details. 

Chaldean Is Michigan Idol 

Carly Atto received the most votes in a February singing competition 

at the University of Michigan to be named Michigan Idol. 

Atto, a sophomore in the College of Literature, Science 

and the Arts, won the title and $500 in prize money. 

Michigan Idol is in its fifth year. It includes a three-week 

competition in which 40 singers were narrowed to a field of 12. 

“My roommates made me do it,” Atto told the Michigan 

Daily. “I always sing obnoxiously at home, and they said it 

would be worth winning $500 for it.” 

Some 125 people, including many members of 

the Chaldean community, laced up their boxing 

gloves and kickboxing shoes on March 2 to raise 

money for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer 

Institute. Kicks for the Cure, held at Powerhouse 

Gym West Bloomfield, raised more than 

$12,500. The event included a three-hour class to 

introduce the public to kickboxing and healthy 

eating habits that can help prevent cancer. 

Pictured are participants Mary Ann Yaldo of 

Bloomfield Hills and Betsy Mammo of Southfield. 

Bright Future 

In what may be a first 

for a Chaldean woman, 

Jessica Odish graduates 

this month from the 

University of Michigan 

with a BSE in nuclear 

Jessica engineering and radiological 

sciences. The 

Odish 

recipient of many 

awards and honors, Odish is now 

interviewing with a number of companies 

around the United States. 

“There are not many females in 

nuclear engineering, and I felt that 

not only being female, but being half 

Chaldean, I could hopefully show my 

fellow community and peers that we 

can step into anything we want, as 

long as we keep our goals in mind 

and dedicate our time to working on 

what is really important to us,” said 

Odish, a resident of Macomb. 

People 

Nick Najjar of Sterling Heights, sales 

executive for Century 21-Travis and 

Associates, has been appointed to 

Governor Jennifer Granholm’s 

Advisory Council on Arab and 

Chaldean American Affairs. He succeeds 

Radwan M. Khoury, whose 

term has expired. 

Sonya Kory has 

been named West 

Bloomfield Banking 

Office Manager by 

Huntington National 

Bank. She has 18 years 

Sonya Kory 

of banking experience, 

the majority with LaSalle Bank. 

Sandra Zetouna is the new secretary 

at the St. Peter the Apostle 

Chaldean Catholic Diocese in El 

Cajon, California. 

Loan Officer Nash Arabo was 

honored by Chase for superior performance 

at the company’s annual 

you know you’re 

CHALDEAN if… 

Your garage is your second 

kitchen/family room (complete 

with stove, refrigerator and couch) 

You have a statue of the Virgin 

Mary outside your house 

You have a rosary hanging 

from your car’s rearview mirror 

Share your ideas! E-mail 

info@chaldeannews.com or write to 

The Chaldean News, 30095 

Northwestern Highway, Farmington 

Hills, MI 48334. 

Jeremy Farida 

Laura Matta 

Valant Jaddou 

Brandon 

Shoukri 

AFPD Awards 

Scholarships 

Vanar Jaddou 

Christy 

Sulaiman 

Six Chaldeans are among 30 local 

students awarded college scholarships 

by the Associated Food & 

Petroleum Dealers. 

• Jeremy Farida of West Bloomfield, 

a graduate of Brother Rice High School, 

is a freshman at Wayne State University. 

• Valant Jaddou of Dearborn, a graduate 

of Dearborn High School, is currently 

a sophomore at Albion College. 

• Vanar Jaddou of Dearborn, a freshman 

at Wayne State University, is also a 

graduate of Dearborn High School. 

• Laura Matta of Dearborn is a 

freshman at Wayne State University. 

She graduated from Divine Child High 

School. 

• Brandon Shoukri of West 

Bloomfield, a freshman at Wayne State 

University, graduated from Brother 

Rice High School. 

• Christy Sulaiman of Macomb, a 

graduate of Dakota High School, is a 

sophomore at the University of Michigan. 

Leaders Club recognition event in 

March. Arabo, who works out of 

Chase’s Bloomfield Hills branch, has 

seven years of experience in the mortgage 

industry. 

George Y. Karmo of Farmington 

Hills has been appointed by Governor 

Jennifer Granholm to the Board of 

Professional Surveyors. He is the 

president of Tucker, Young, Jackson, 

Tull, Inc., and represents professional 

engineers for a term expiring March 

31, 2012. 


CHAI time 

CHALDEANS CONNECTING 

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT APRIL 2008 

[Wednesday, April 2] 

Chaldean Cigar Club: Appetizers, 

cash bar and fine cigars for members 

and their guests at Shenandoah 

Country Club. 6:30 p.m. Hosted by 

the Chaldean Cigar Club. 

[Friday, April 4] 

Steve Acho Live: Full-band concert 

featuring singer/songwriter Steve 

Acho with guests Jim Akouri and Rafat 

Ita benefits the Chaldean Federation of 

America Refugee Initiative. 7:30 p.m., 

Shenandoah Country Club’s Mixed 

Grille. Tickets are $50. (877) 763- 

7849 or www.neptix.com. 

[Saturday, April 5] 

Bowling Fundraiser: The Chaldean 

American Ladies of Charity present 

Bowling to Spare a Refugee. Bowlers 

will be placed in teams of five to aid the 

Iraqi Refugees Program. $25 donation 

per bowler, and all are asked to being 

a hygiene product, towel, sheets or 

blanket. Open to ages 12 and up. 

Country Lanes, Farmington. Advance 

ticket sales only. (248) 352-5018. 

[Monday, April 7] 

Michigan Leaders Speak: A fast-paced 

rundown on “Dysfunction in Lansing” 

presented by the Michigan Business 

Review. Registration begins at 3 p.m. at 

the Skyline Club, 2000 Town Center in 

Southfield; program starts at 3:30 followed 

by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. 

Cost is $25 per person. (248) 374-4921 

or www.regonline.com/dysfunction. 

[Thursday, April 10] 

Shopping Extravaganza: The Chaldean 

American Ladies of Charity present their 

annual event at Shenandoah Country 

Club with appetizers, unique shopping 

and more. $25 members, $30 nonmembers; 

tickets must be purchased in 

advance. (248) 352-5018. 

Truths & Myths in Plastic 

Surgery: Vigen B. Darien, 

M.D., service chief of plastic 

surgery at Henry Ford West 

Bloomfield Hospital, speaks on 

laser surgery, facelifts, liposuction, 

breast surgery and more. 

Part of the Hot Topics in 

Women’s Health series. 6:30 

p.m., Henry Ford Hospital’s 

Design Center, 2001 Dallavo 

Drive, Suite 102, in Commerce 

Township. (800) 436-7936 or 

henryford.com/hottopics. 

[Thursday, April 10 – 

Friday, April 11] 

Trunk Show: Tapper’s presents a 

Judith Ripka Trunk Show with a personal 

appearance by Brian Ripka, president 

of the company. On Thursday at 

the Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, (248) 

465-1800; and on Friday at Tapper’s in 

West Bloomfield, (248) 932-7700. 


Chaldean Chamber: The Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce’s 

Annual Awards Dinner, now in its fifth year 

at Shenandoah Country Club, is always a 

sellout. Visit www.chaldeanchamber.com 

for details, or call (248) 538-3700. 


Arabian Night: Sawsan Kizy and her 

band and DJ Imad Koki provide the 

tunes at Shenandoah Country Club. 

Doors open at 9:30 p.m. $15 members, 

$25 non-members. (248) 454-1932. 

[Sunday, April 13] 

Concert: Luxury Limousine Dearborn 

presents Super Star Walid Tawfic, 

King of Comedy Elie Ayoub, and Iraqi 

Idol Shaza Hassoun. 7:30 p.m. MGM 

Grand Ballroom. For more information 

call 866-467-7700 or visit 

www.luxurylimousinedearborn.com. 

[Thursday, April 17] 

Fashion Show: The Spring 2008 

Evening and Fall 2008 Couture 

Collections feature special guests 

Mark Badgley and James Mischka. 

This Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & 

Friends patron party at Saks Fifth 

Avenue in the Somerset Collection 

benefits the Francee & Benson Ford, 

Jr. Breast Cancer & Wellness Center 

at the Henry Ford West Bloomfield 

Hospital. Patron tickets start at $600. 

(248) 661-7194. 


Comedy Hour: Vincent Oshana and 

Damon Wayans, Jr., perform standup 

at Shenandoah Country Club. Parental 

advisory urged. Doors open at 7 p.m., 

tickets are $30. (248) 470-1167. 

[Friday, April 18 – Sunday, April 20] 

Chaldean Men’s Retreat: Join community 

members at a retreat at the 

Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in 

Bloomfield Hills. Food and lodging 

are offered at no fee. All men are welcome. 

For more information, call Dave 

Nona at (248) 932-9333, Jim Manna 

at (248) 763-2622 or Amar Toma at 

(586) 615-1050. 


Earth Day: The Detroit Zoo celebrates 

Earth Day 2008 with eco-friendly crafts, 

children’s entertainment, visits from 

Smokey the Bear and special exhibits. 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. www.detroitzoo.org. 


Open House: A freshman open house 

runs from 5-8 p.m. at Sterling Heights 

High School. All 8th-grade students 

and their families are encouraged to 

attend. Sterling Heights High School, 

12901 15 Mile Road. (586) 825-2700. 

Dinner Party: Third annual dinner for St. 

George Chaldean Catholic Church 

takes place at Penna’s of Sterling 

Heights. Proceeds go toward paying off 

the construction loan. (586) 254-7221. 

[Tuesday, April 29] 

Women & Lung Health: A panel of 

female lung health experts answers 

questions on lung cancer prevention, 

asthma and related conditions. Part of 

the Hot Topics in Women’s Health 

series. 6:30 p.m., Henry Ford 

Hospital’s Design Center, 2001 

Dallavo Drive, Suite 102, in Commerce 

Township. (800) 436-7936 or henryford.com/hottopics. 


Healthy Ways to Manage Anxiety: 

Learn how to handle the stresses of life 

from one woman to another. Part of the 

Hot Topics in Women’s Health series. 

6:30 p.m., Henry Ford Hospital’s Design 

Center, 2001 Dallavo Drive, Suite 102, 

in Commerce Township. (800) 436- 

7936 or henryford.com/hottopics. 

Please let us know what is going on in 

the community. Send your information 

to The Chaldean News, Editorial 

Department, 30095 Northwestern Hwy., 

Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 



HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

Haley Grace 

Haley Grace Matti was born 

on November 2, 2007 at 9:18 

p.m. at Beaumont Hospital. 

She weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz. and 

measured 19.5 inches. Proud 

parents are Brian and Bonita 

Matti. Haley is the third 

grandchild for George & 

Kamelia Matti and the fifth for 

Ralph & Bassima Ayar. 

Godparents are Kevin Matti 

and Crystal Ayar. 

Evelyn 

Evelyn Sawa was born on 

August 3, 2007. She weighed 

6 lbs., 15 oz. and measured 

20 inches. First-time parents 

are Mark (Muhand) and 

Ronda Sawa. Evelyn is the 

first grandchild for Dhia & 

Nidhal Hamama and the 10th 

for Yelda & Zuhara Sawa. 

Godparents are cousin Valerie 

Sawa and uncle Reno 

Hamama. 

Haley Grace 

Joseph George 

Joseph George was welcomed 

with great joy into our 

home on November 20, 2007 

filling our arms with love and 

our hearts with happiness. He 

weighed 7 lbs., 6 oz. and 

measured 19.5 inches. He is 

adored by his big sisters 

Elizabeth and Olivia. Proud 

parents are Muhanad and 

Tara Thweny. Joseph is the 

fourth grandchild for Nadira & 

the late Yousif Thweny and 

the 14th for Gorgis & Nouria 

Kas-Shamoun. Honored 

godparents are Mazin & Ban 

Thweny. 

Evelyn 

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Madison Grace 

It’s early to bed and early to 

rise since our darling little 

daughter has blessed our 

lives! First-time parents Joey 

and Tania Barash welcomed 

their daughter Madison Grace 

into the world on August 28, 

2007 at 8:57 p.m. She 

weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz. and 

measured 20.5 inches. 

Madison is the seventh grandchild 

of Hikmat & Samira 

Barash and the fifth for 

Jowanna Karmo & the late 

Fuad Karmo. She is the goddaughter 

of Ashley Rapp. 

Joseph George 

Madison Grace 



Drs. Purcell, Sayegh & Zimny 

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HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

Zachary Kevin 

Zachary Kevin Shamoun was 

born on October 2, 2007, 

weighing 8 lbs., 2 oz. and measuring 

20 inches. Proud parents 

are Kevin and Olivia Shamoun. 

Grandparents are Zuhair & 

Batoul Shamoun and Ralph & 

Bassima Ayar. Godparents are 

Alan Shamoun and Ashley Ayar. 

David Christian 

Tiny fingers, tiny toes, little itty 

bitty clothes. Teddy bears and 

smiles of joy, oh my gosh it’s 

our little boy. Dawood and Tara 

Dawood are proud to 

announce the birth of David 

Christian, their first-born, on 

February 22, 2008. David is 

the first grandchild for Najla & 

the late Ronnie Noocha and 

the seventh for Ashkan & 

Najiba Yousifian. 

Nicholas Stefan 

Sent to us from Heaven above, 

a gift from God for our family to 

love. Big sister Alyssa would 

like to introduce to you her new 

brother, Nicholas Stefan 

Jadan. Nicholas was born on 

February 6, 2008 weighing 8 

lbs., 2 oz. to proud parents 

Jimmy and Nagham Jadan. 

Nicholas is the 12th grandchild 

of Shawki & Shakria 

Paules, the second grandchild 

for Najib & Ibtissam Jadan and 

the fourth great grandchild for 

Hasena Zetouna. Nicholas 

was born eight days late but 

was well worth the wait. We 

are truly blessed to have him. 

Nicolas Anthony 

Twinkling eyes, so bright so 

new, Christian proudly 

announces his baby brother to 

you! Nicolas Anthony was born 

on August 17, 2007 at Huron 

Valley Hospital at 1:31 p.m. He 

weighed 7 lbs., 13 oz. and was 

21 inches long. Excited parents 

are Rudy and Natalie Hajji. 

Proud grandparents are 

Frederick & Ikhlas Najor and 

Raja Kinaia. Godparents are 

Brian Najor and Susan Bell. 

Every good and perfect gift is 

from above. James 1:17 

Zachary Kevin 

David Christian 

Nicholas Stefan 

Nicolas Anthony 


HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

Jacob David 

We have been blessed with a 

gift from above, a baby boy for 

us to love.David and Lina Najor 

are proud to announce the 

birth of their second baby, 

Jacob David. Born December 

3, 2007 at 1:10 p.m., he 

weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz. and was 

21 inches tall. 

[Engagements] 

Ed and Sarah 

Habeb & Margaret Babbie are 

delighted to announce the 

engagement of their eldest 

son, Ed to Sarah, daughter of 

Samia Yatooma & the late 

Yousif Shamo Yatooma. Ed is 

an engineer who owns and 

operates two information technology 

companies, and Sarah 

is a registered nurse in the 

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at 

Children’s Hospital of 

Michigan. Ed and Sarah will 

exchange vows in July 2008 at 

Mother of God Church with a 

reception following at 

Shenandoah Country Club. 

Chantel and Patrick 

Patrick Sheena and Chantel 

Rassam became engaged on 

January 7, 2008. Patrick is the 

son of Tarik & Arline Sheena. 

Chantel is the daughter of Isam 

& Nidhal Rassam. Patrick currently 

resides in San Diego 

where he is an entrepreneur. 

Chantel is a makeup artist and 

the manager of the Beauty 

Lounge in West Bloomfield. The 

couple is planning a November 

2008 wedding at St. Thomas 

Church with a reception following 

at Shenandoah Country 

Club. They will honeymoon in 

Hawaii and begin their lives 

together in San Diego. 

[Wedding] 

Elton and Christine 

Elton and Christine Jamoua 

were married on August 19, 

2007 at St. George Chaldean 

Catholic Church in Shelby 

Township, with a reception 

following at Penna’s of 

Sterling Heights. Their parents 

are Salem & the beloved 

Nidhal Jamoua and Adil & 

Badria Antwan (Bakkal). Brian 

Jamoua and Heidi Denha were 

best man and maid of honor. 

The couple honeymooned in 

Las Vegas. 

Jacob David 

Ed and Sarah 

Chantel and Patrick 

Elton and Christine 



RELIGION 

obituary 

PLACES OF PRAYER 

THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE 

IN THE UNITED STATES 

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE 

25603 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033, 248-351-0440 

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: Weekdays except Tuesday, 10 a.m.; Tuesday, 

St. Anthony prayer at 5 p.m. followed by mass at 5:30 p.m. 

Saturday, 5:15 p.m. in English; Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 

10 a.m. in English, 12 noon in Chaldean 

SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

310 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203, 

313-368-6214 

Pastor: Rev. Jacob Yasso 

Mass Schedule: Friday, 6 p.m. in Chaldean, 

Sunday 11 a.m. in Chaldean 

MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Rev. Stephen Kallabat 

Parochial Vicars: Rev. Fadi Habib Khalaf, Rev. Suleiman Denha 

Mass Schedule: Weekday masses at 12 noon. 

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 

Pastor: Rev. Emanuel Hana Isho Shaleta 

CHALDEAN CHURCHES IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT 

Assistant Pastor: Rev. Basel Yaldo 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday: 

8:30 a.m. in Chaldean, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 

1 p.m. in Chaldean. Baptisms: 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. 

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou) 

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Ayad J. Hanna (Knanjaro) 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturday, 5 p.m. 

in English and Chaldean; Sunday, 8 a.m. in Chaldean, 9:30 a.m. in 

Arabic, 11 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean 

ST. MARY HOLY APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC ASSYRIAN 

CHURCH OF THE EAST 

4320 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48092; 586-825-0290 

Rector: Fr. Benjamin Benjamin 

Mass Schedule: Sunday, 9 a.m. Assyrian; noon Assyrian and English 

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Rev. Frank Kalabat 

Rev. Emanuel Rayes (retired) 

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jirgus Abrahim 

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 

Fozia Najor 

Knezek 

Fozia Najor Knezek, born 

in Iraq on November 15, 

1942, died in California 

on March 5, 2008. She 

was the daughter of Zia 

and Shamamta Najor. 

Flo received her degree as a clinical 

nurse specialist, and over the years moved 

into nursing administration. She loved 

traveling, reading, concerts in the park, 

and truly loved her job helping others. 

She is survived by her husband, Bob 

Knezek; and her siblings, Ramzy, Fred, 

Edsel, Shirley Najor and Delores Atto. 

She will be missed, and always in 

our hearts. 

GUIDELINES FOR OBITUARIES 

Obituaries are printed free of charge for 

members of the community. Include the 

deceased’s date of birth and death, names 

of immediate survivors, and details on his or 

her life. Include a sharp photograph or highresolution 

picture as a jpeg attachment. 

Please be sure to include your phone number 

in case of questions. Please keep the 

text to 500 words or less; we reserve the 

right to edit for length and/or clarity. 

Mail the information to: Chaldean News, 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, 

MI 48334, or e-mail info@chaldeannews.com. 




ECONOMICS & enterprise 

Want a Slice With That Pita? 


You’re craving pitas but the kids insist on pizza? 

No problem if you visit one of the new co-brand 

stores of Papa Romano’s and Mr. Pita. 

Papa Romano’s, which has nearly 60 locations in 

the Metro Detroit area, purchased the 35-unit Mr. Pita 

in October. Both franchises are growing, said Casey 

Askar, chairman and CEO, and new this spring are 

stores that offer both cuisines. They will open in 

Detroit in the Compuware building as well as in 

Commerce Township and Novi. 

“You’ll start seeing more and more co-branding. 

It’s the way of the future as long as they complement 

each other,” said Askar. “You’ve got one overhead, 

one rent, one set of utilities, the same payroll – and 

double the client base.” 

But putting two brands under the same roof 

requires a lot of homework, Askar said. “You really 

have to be precise in areas where you co-brand,” he 

said. “It has to be the right fit.” 

Papa Romano’s attracts families and residential 

customers, while Mr. Pita draws a professional/business/light 

industrial crowd, Askar said. “Papa 

Romano’s does mainly nights and weekends and Mr. 

Pita is mainly days,” he noted. 

Papa Romano’s is enjoying healthy growth and 

recently signed territory development agreements for 

120 stores in Houston, 100 in Denver and 30 in North 

Carolina, some of which will be co-brands. The company 

enjoyed record sales in the first quarter of 2008, 

but such growth can present challenges in quality 

control. 

“We have to make things as simple and efficient as 

possible. Consistency is the biggest key,” Asker said. 

“We’ve really been working on that and tweaking it 

since I came on board in 2006.” 

Askar, 38, also continues to run Askar Property 

Management, which develops property and retail centers. 

It’s all a matter of assembling a good team and 

time management, he said. 

“You’d be surprised,” said Asker, “by how much or 

how little you can take on depending on how you 

schedule. 

‘You’ll start seeing more and more co-branding. It’s the way 

of the future as long as they complement each other…You’ve 

got one overhead, one rent, one set of utilities, the same 

payroll – and double the client base.’ – CASEY ASKAR 

Casey Askar runs both 

Papa Romano’s and 

Mr. Pita. 

Heather Thomas Gallozi (right) chats with customer Eva 

Shallal at her new pharmacy. 

New Pharmacy 

Is More Than 

Prescriptions 


Heather Thomas Gallozi calls her new 

pharmacy a dream come true. 

“I had a vision of what I wanted,” she said of 

Beaumont Pharmacy West Bloomfield, which just 

opened in March. “I wanted to make it as comfortable 

and homey as possible.” 

Opening a hospital-affiliated pharmacy is a complex 

and competitive operation, and Gallozi said she is the 

first Chaldean woman to do so. 

“Beaumont is the only hospital that allows independents,” 

she said. “It was a very long process, 

probably taking three years.” 

The pharmacy is located in Beaumont’s West 

Bloomfield building at 6900 Orchard Lake Road. 

Beaumont recently doubled the size of the building, 

which now totals 180,000 square feet and offers 

everything from mammograms to outpatient surgery. 

“This building really needed this,” said Eva Shallal 

of West Bloomfield as she checked out the store with 

her son, Lucas, after a doctor appointment. 

Gallozi, a registered pharmacist with a degree from 

Wayne State University, also owns Garfield Pharmacy 

in Clinton Township, which she is in the process of 

selling. She plans to stick by her policy of offering 

prices as low as can be found at superstores like 

Costco and Meijer. 

“I will not let a person leave because of a competitor’s 

price,” she pledged. “I will match their prices.” 

Gallozi’s pharmacy is a wide-open space with 

warm tones and hardwood floors where customers 

can find everything from candy to canes. A coffee bar 

dubbed “Pharmacy Café” offers fresh muffins, sandwiches 

and fruit. 

“I wanted to portray a pharmacy in a different realm 

– not just white walls and looking like a doctor’s office,” 

said Gallozi . “I take pride in my service – my patients 

will become my friends.” 


ARTS & entertainment 

Opera Singer Hits 

the High Notes 

BY JENNIFER T. KORAIL 

Since before she can remember, Ashley Bahri 

has loved performing. Now the 21-year-old 

West Bloomfield native is on a mission to 

open Chaldeans up to the passion and opportunity 

of opera. 

At just 5 years of age, Bahri felt the joys of singing 

for her grandmother, one of her most ardent fans and 

supporters. Even then, Bahri’s range was by no 

means limited, and today she can sing anything from 

pop to hip hop to musical theater. But she found herself 

naturally migrating to opera — a seemingly 

untapped genre in the community. 

“There is something so unique about opera,” Bahri 

said. “It’s not simply what it looks like. Opera is a very 

deep, interpretive art, and there is so much behind it 

that I want to show others.” 

Opera is certainly not a passive art. Not only must 

the singer understand a wide variety of pieces – which 

could mean familiarizing herself with several different 

languages – but it also involves hours of physical training 

including extensive breathing and muscle exercises. 

The Oakland University undergrad’s upcoming 

senior recital includes an hour of performance in five 

languages with just one intermission, leaving little 

room to stop and catch her breath. 

“This recital is about my testing my ability,” Bahri 

said. “The muscles and body have to be prepared to 

ensure you can withstand lengthy performances.” 

From the way she interacts with her peers and 

instructors, to the energy she gives off during her 

performances, to the passion in her voice heard simply 

by talking about the subject, Bahri hopes her 

actions help influence others, especially Chaldeans, 

to experience opera. She also teaches piano and 

voice lessons to a variety of young students. 

“I do my best to show them the power that music 

can have in their lives,” she said. 

Her efforts are not unnoticed. The award-winning 

performer is quickly approaching graduation with a 

bachelor’s degree in vocal performance; she plans to 

further her studies at graduate school. This summer, 

Bahri will participate in The Italian Operatic 

Experience in Urbania, Italy, an annual summer 

immersion program for talented singers, which this 

year culminates in a performance of La Boheme, the 

romantic tragedy by Giacomo Puccini. This is the 

second year Bahri has been invited to attend the program, 

where she looks forward to taking on a greater 

role as a recipient of the Hollingsworth Scholarship 

for studies abroad. 

The hard work pays off every time Bahri performs. 

“The ability to get up on stage and let go is amazing,” 

Ashley 

Bahri has 

been 

singing 

since 

age 5. 

she said. “The energy and emotion you feel is something 

you want to touch every single person in the 

audience with. I’m very fortunate to have this feeling, 

and I want to share it with everyone.” 

HEAR FOR YOURSELF 

Ashley Bahri performs her senior recital on Friday, 

May 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Varner Recital Hall at Oakland 

University. The event is free and open to the public. 




fashion 

The Look for Less 

BY KONNIE BINNO 

When I walk into Target for lotion and toothpaste, 

I find myself stuck in the fitting 

room trying on bathing suits for the boat, 

blazers for work and flip flops — just because! I 

usually end up leaving with items that I get tons of 

compliments on and love to brag about how I got 

everything for such a great price. 

In the past several years, we have seen retailers 

and high-end designers partnering together to create 

collections that are conducive to the shopper 

who wants to look great and be fashionable without 

maxing out their Amex or re-mortgaging their house. 

Retailers like Target, Kohl’s, and JC Penny have 

entered the fashion arena with collections that 

include Jovovich-Hawk, Simply Vera and Nicole, by 

Nicole Miller, respectively. 

Target offers shoppers a 

great selection for basics 

like tee-shirts and knit 

tops to workday suits 

and even bathing 

suit cover-ups. A 

stylish marketing 

move by Target 

involves partnering 

with new 

and upcoming 

designers to create 

simple and fun 

clothes. Target 

introduces a new designer 

to their store about every 

three months, so you can 

H&M sells this shirt 

for just $19.90 

This entire outfit 

from Simply Vera 

by Vera Wang 

costs only about 

$200. (Add the 

jewelry for 

another $300.) 

always count on Target to offer 

the savvy shopper different 

selections from time to time. 

Simply Vera by Vera Wang 

offers shoppers a fashionable 

and fun clothing option with a 

bit of couture flare. The 

Simply Vera collection 

includes clothing, accessories 

and shoes that have been 

known to fly off the racks due 

to their reasonable prices and 

stylish looks. 

About a year ago, a popular 

retail chain, H&M — well 

known to the streets of New 

York and Chicago — opened 

their doors to the Detroit 

marketplace with collections 

designed from 

Madonna to Roberto 

Cavalli. H&M, located in 

Twelve Oaks, Partridge 

Creek, Fairlane, 

Lakeside and Great 

Lakes Crossing 

malls, is a wonderful 

place to get fun, upto-the 

minute clothes 

and accessories to add 

a little flare to simple, more traditional 

looks. 

American Apparel is always one of my 

first choices when it comes to great staple 

pieces that will fit into any wardrobe. Their 

racer-back ribbed tees go great with jeans 

and flats or even as layering pieces in the fall 

and winter. Their long sleeve tees and v- 

necks will also always find a place in my 

closet, as well as their cotton dresses and 

leggings that are flattering, comfortable 

and great for traveling. 

Remember, looking great does not 

always have to come with a high price 

tag. But if you are willing to splurge on 

a few special pieces like denim, C’est 

La Vie at the Oakland, Northland and 

Fairlane malls is the place to be. 

From True Religion to Rich & Skinny 

and Robins to Frankie B, you will 

find an extensive selection of the 

hottest brands in denim today. 

Investing in great pair of denim 

can make those flip flops and 

blazer from Target look like a 

million bucks. 

The fashion trends for 

the spring season are 

A fun spring look 

from Simply Vera 

for about $250, 

including shoes 

and hat. 

SPRING MUST-HAVES: 

• The famous trench coat 

in any bright color 

• A floral or patterned print dress 

• A gemstone-colored handbag 

This dress 

from H&M 

goes for 

$59.90 

• An aviator jacket 

• Anything vintage 

• Anything yellow 

• Anything that shows off the waist 

capturing colorful 

floral prints and patterns 

as well as bold colors that pop. 

Yellows, blues, pinks and purples — 

colors familiar to a bag of Skittles — are 

fun, feminine and flirty hues that have 

been seen on the runways and can really 

update your spring wardrobe. 

Remember, don’t get caught up in 

what is always “in style” every season. 

The key to great style and looking 

appropriate for the occasion is to 

make it your own look and determining 

what looks good based on your 

body type. Don’t go for a trendy 

fashion if it’s not a flattering style for 

your body type — regardless if it 

was seen on the runway, it may not 

work best for you. 

Konnie Binno worked at Neiman 

Marcus as an assistant to the 

Chanel Ready-to-Wear specialist 

and was also the Ready-to-Wear 

Specialist for Yves Saint 

Laurent. She’s now a pharmaceutical 

health care representative 

but continues 

her love affair with 

fashion. 


During the fun 

carried down 

fatal blow 

The shocking death of Archbishop Rahho 

Associated Press 

Hope turned to despair when the body 

of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho 

was discovered buried in a shallow 

grave in Mosul on March 13, two weeks after 

being kidnapped in an attack that left three 

aides dead. 

Mourners carrying flowers and olive branches 

attended Archbishop Rahho’s funeral mass on 

March 14. Pope Benedict XVI, U.S. President 

George W. Bush and Iraq’s prime minister all 

deplored the attack. U.S. officials in Baghdad 

issued a statement calling it 

“one more savage attempt by a 

barbaric enemy to sow strife 

and discord.’’ The killing, mentioned 

in the national media 

including the New York Times, 

NBC’s Nightly News and 

CNN, helped bring the plight 

of Iraq’s Christians to light. 

During the funeral in a village 

outside Mosul, grieving 

Christians wept and wailed as 

the Archbishop’s coffin was 

carried down the streets, led 

by a church official carrying a 

wooden cross affixed with 

Archbishop Rahho’s picture. 

He was the most senior 

Catholic cleric in Iraq after Cardinal 

Emmanuel III Delly. 

During the funeral mass, Cardinal Delly 

remembered the Archbishop as a man dedicated 

to his faith. “He was a man of honesty, 

loyalty and peace,’’ he said. “He was loved by 

all Iraqi people regardless of their sectarian 

background.’’ 

It was not clear if Archbishop Rahho was 

killed or if he died of an illness while in captivity. 

He had recently undergone surgery to 

PHOTO COURTESY AP 

remove a blood clot from his leg, according to 

church officials speaking on condition of 

anonymity for security concerns. 

A Mosul morgue official, speaking on condition 

of anonymity for the same reason, said 

Archbishop Rahho’s body had no bullet 

holes. The official said police found the body 

in an early stage of decomposition under a 

thin layer of dirt just north of the city, suggesting 

that he had been dead for a few days. 

Pope Benedict celebrated a memorial Mass 

in a Vatican chapel on March 17 in honor of 

the Archbishop. He called Archbishop 

Rahho a man of peace and dialogue who paid 

particular attention to the poor and handicapped 

in his flock. 

“Let his example support all Iraqis of good 

will — Christians and Muslims — to work for 

a peaceful coexistence, founded on human 

brotherhood and reciprocal respect,’’ Pope 

Benedict said. 

A day earlier, Pope Benedict ended his Palm 

Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square with a strong 

PHOTO COURTESY L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AP 

Above: Mourners carry the coffin of 

Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, during 

his funeral in a village outside Mosul in 

northern Iraq on March 14. 

Left: Pope Benedict XVI meets with 

Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos 

Faraj Rahho, left, and Cardinal 

Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of 

Babylon for Chaldeans of Iraq, during 

their meeting at the Vatican. 

appeal: “Enough with the slaughters. Enough with 

the violence. Enough with the hatred in Iraq!’’ 

Locally, members of the Chaldean community 

jammed a memorial mass at in Southfield 

on March 18. Inside the church it was standing 

room only, and there was a large overflow 

crowd in the lobby at Mother of God 

Chaldean Catholic Church as Mar Ibrahim 

Ibrahim led the service. A mass and rally were 

also held at St. Mary’s Assyrian Church of the 

East in Warren on March 20. 


eral in a village outside Mosul, grieving Christians wept and wailed as the Archbishop’s coffin was 

the streets…He was the most senior Catholic cleric in Iraq after Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly. 

An assault on the soul and spirit of Christianity 

BY ADHID MIRI 

ADHID MIRI 

Once again the indigenous 

Christians of Mesopotamia find 

themselves in the midst of regional 

conflict, calamity and crossfire 

beyond their influence, initiation or 

imagination. Once again, Christianity 

is under attack and the faces of terror 

and fingerprints of criminals have 

claimed the precious life of an innocent and 

peace-loving man. 

The death of Archbishop Rahho is nothing 

less than an assault on the soul and spirit of 

Middle East Christianity. This tragedy is another 

dark stain in the already blackened 

face of militias, fundamentalists and 

the American-backed Iraqi government. 

This act was not simply the 

murder of a clergyman but rather an 

assault on the soul and spirit of 

Christianity — a vicious attempt to 

assassinate the citizens of love and 

break the will of the unfortunate Christians 

left in Iraq. 

Regrettably, this horrific crime against 

humanity was mildly condemned by Iraq’s leaders 

who minced their words, chewed their statements 

and issued weak, empty promises to bring 

the murderers to justice. Worst yet, most prominent 

clergymen, Iraqi security forces and 

American political partners have been inefficient 

in stopping such violent and violating 

acts, and were peculiarly indifferent in condemning 

the criminals or seriously pursuing the 

perpetrators. 

Busy with the 2008 election, American 

media virtually ignored the incident. Therefore, 

we did not see a flicker of interest or serious cov- 

CHRISTIANITY 

Continued on page 33 


Death Comes for the Archbishop 

Paulos Faraj Rahho, R.I.P. 

BY NINA SHEA 

Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho 

was found dead on March 13 in a 

shallow grave in Mosul. There could 

be no starker statement that Christians 

are targeted for their faith in a ruthlessly 

intolerant Iraq. Cardinal Emmanuel 

III Delly, the Patriarch of Babylon of 

the Chaldeans, weeps in Baghdad; he 

weeps for his martyred friend, and for the bitter 

fate of Iraq’s ancient Christian Church. 

Many other Iraqi Christians have been terrorized 

and murdered over the last four years: Fr. 

Paulos Iskander was beheaded, Fr. Mundhir al- 

Dayr assassinated in his Protestant church, Fr. 

Ragheed Ganni and three deacons gunned 

down and their car booby-trapped as they went 

about their ministries. The list includes many 

lay people; even Christian children have turned 

up dead from torture, as the U.S. Conference of 

Catholic Bishops recently documented. 

From southern Basra to northern Kirkuk, all 

across Iraq, the Christian community has suffered 

bloody reprisals for failing to conform to 

Islamic behavior — in their dress, their social 

patterns and their occupations, as well as in 

their worship. Forty churches have been 

bombed, mostly in Baghdad and Mosul. During 

the surge last summer, Sunni militants from a 

mosque in Baghdad’s religiously integrated 

Dora neighborhood issued a fatwa specifically 

commanding the 2,000 Christian families residing 

there to convert or be killed. Criminal 

gangs from the majority population have found 

NINA SHEA 

Mar Ibrahim Ibrahim 

leads a memorial mass 

at Mother of God 

Church on March 18. 

easy prey in the religious minorities, 

who, dealing with indifferent security 

forces and lacking militias of their own, 

are utterly defenseless. 

Iraqi-American Christians, who 

have joined together to form the 

Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council, 

believe that religious persecution, above 

all, has driven out most of Iraq’s Christians — 

whether Chaldean Catholic, Assyrian, Syriac 

Orthodox, Armenian or Protestant. Affirming 

this, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 

Migration & Refugee Services reported in July: 

“Especially critical is the plight of Iraq’s minority 

religious communities, including Christians and 

Mandeans (or Sabeans). These groups, whose 

home has been what is now Iraq for many centuries, 

are literally being obliterated — not 

because they are fleeing generalized violence but 

because they are being specifically and viciously 

victimized by Islamic extremists and, in some 

cases, common criminals.” 

These exiles have taken temporary refuge 

across the border in Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and 

elsewhere. The U.N. High Commissioner for 

Refugees reports that 40 percent of Iraqi 

refugees are Christian — a staggering number, 

considering that Christians accounted for only 

some 4 percent, or 1.5 million, of Iraq’s total 

pre-invasion population. Hundreds of thousands 

more have fled north to Iraq’s Nineveh 

Plains, a mostly vacant, fertile area outside 

Mosul and south of Kurdistan where many of 

PHOTO BY DAVID REED 

the ethnic Assyrian Christians had ancestral 

villages (before being forcibly uprooted during a 

prior persecution). 

Over the past 2,000 years, Iraq’s Christians suffered 

oppressions and great indignities. The ones 

who survived through the Hussein era, when 

dozens of their northern villages were obliterated, 

were reputed to be the diehards: They hung on 

out of devotion to their unique churches, culture 

and language (the dying Aramaic). Even now, 

Pascale Warda — a Chaldean women’s activist, a 

former cabinet minister in the transition government 

and a survivor of four assassination attempts 

— is an exemplar of those who remain. 

Apart from Christians, remnants of Iraq’s 

other non-Muslim communities are all rapidly 

shrinking into extinction: Jews number in the 

double digits (only seven remained in Baghdad 

as of last July); Mandeans count about 5,000 

(the Patriarch of these followers of John the 

Baptist has recently counseled the community 

to leave); Yizidis, no more than 500,000 (residing 

in Nineveh and in the north). They all suffer 

severe persecution because of their religious 

status and their numbers continually shrink as 

their members flee into exile. 

Archbishop Rahho was a dynamic 

leader, and a man of great hope. Despite 

the odds, he founded the new parish of 

St. Paul in Mosul, started a “Youth 

Week” in his diocese, and founded the 

Fraternity of Charity and Joy, with the 

aim of assisting sick people and guaranteeing 

them a dignified life. Anglican Canon 

Andrew White, who works to help Iraqi 

Christians, eloquently expressed the reaction of 

that community to the murder of the archbishop: 

“We are devastated.” Condolences have poured 

in from around the world, from Christians and 

non-Christians. It feels like a defining moment. 

The Bush administration has yet to acknowledge 

that the Christians and other defenseless 

minorities are persecuted for reasons of religion. 

No policies exist to address their specific needs 

in Iraq or facilitate their finding refuge abroad. 

No programs exist to train and support them to 

police their own villages — more critical than 

ever now that the military surge has flushed terror 

northward. No checks are in place to ensure 

that their villages in Nineveh and elsewhere in 

the north share equitably in U.S. largesse. No 

senior administration official has ever even met 

to hear the views of their American leaders as a 

group and forge solutions. 

The Archbishop knew the risks of staying 

but told his flock that he “wanted to remain in 

Iraq until the end.” Without urgent administration 

action, the end may well be near. 

Nina Shea is director of the Hudson Institute’s Center 

for Religious Freedom (http://crf.hudson.org). 

Reprinted courtesy of the National Review Online. 


CHRISTIANITY 

Continued from page 31 

erage of the murder as if the killing of a prominent 

Catholic bishop is less significant than 

covering a demonstrating monk in Tibet. 

For the Iraqi-American community, this 

deplorable act of terror was another spear in 

the heart and a dagger in the back of our historic 

co-existence and peaceful contributions 

to modern-day Iraq. Ironically, for years and 

decades America and the West have ignored 

the gathering storm and turned away from the 

emerging dangers to the Christian minorities 

in the Middle East. 

Who do we blame? What is the point of 

staying in Iraq? When will this corrupt government 

protect its citizens or deal swiftly with 

these terrible things? Ethnic cleansings are real 

and remains serious threats, but are not new in 

Iraq. Our people are facing physical and demographic 

dangers. This might be secondary to 

the Americans, but pivotal for the endangered 

species of Christians in Iraq. This is a life-ordeath 

matter for what is left of our people. Our 

co-existence or extinction is hanging with a 

thin thread. 

Our people deserve passion, protection and 

permanent solutions by the American immigration 

office, the United Nations and 

humanitarian organizations. The number of 

Iraqis fleeing to Europe to claim asylum 

almost doubled in 2007, contradicting claims 

that the country is stabilizing after five years 

of turmoil. An estimated 4.7 million Iraqis 

have lost their homes over the last five years. 

Iraqis now account for the biggest national 

group of refugees. Sweden has taken the most 

sympathetic approach to Iraqis, with 90 percent 

of those claiming refuge allowed to stay, 

compared with about one in eight in Britain. 

Iraqis now represent the largest foreign-born 

population in the Scandinavian country; by 

contrast the United States reported just 734 

applications. 

What lingers most from this important lesson 

is the consequence of the rest of the world’s 

ignorance, of its acceptance that everyone is 

bruised and brutalized in Iraq and hence it 

can’t have much impact on the fate of 

Christianity in the Middle East. The 

Archbishop’s murder exposes the corrupt, brutal 

and ruthless political climate that the U.S. 

has spent five years and trillions of dollars 

maintaining in Iraq. 

It is clear that this great nation has partnered 

with the wrong political groups and surrendered 

Iraq to the radicals and religious 

zealots who are busy making money for themselves 

and planning their own future wealth 

with total disregard to the needs of ordinary 

citizens, the lawful rights of the nation or 

building the platform of healing and national 

reconciliation. 

We are too full of grief to have any hope for 

the future of Christianity in the Middle East 

and there are many more who should face a 

court of justice. Sadly, the tragic death of 

Archbishop Rahho may prove to be the last 

station of the cross leading into an engrossing 

narrative for the Christian faith in Iraq. 

Adhid Miri is the past president of the Chaldean Iraqi 

American Association of Michigan. 

Archbishop Rahho was a dynamic leader, and a man of great hope. Despite the odds, he founded the 

new parish of St. Paul in Mosul, started a ‘Youth Week’ in his diocese, and founded the Fraternity 

of Charity and Joy, with the aim of assisting sick people and guaranteeing them a dignified life. 

Mourners jammed 

Mother of God Church 

in remembrance of 

Archbishop Rahho. 

PHOTO BY DAVID REED

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PHOTOS BY NORA BAHROU DOWNS 

teen talk 

Local students share their thoughts 

They’re everywhere – but adults 

often don’t know that much 

about them. In an effort to 

learn more about today’s Chaldean 

teens, The Chaldean News assembled 

a panel for an informal roundtable 

discussion on March 11. We 

were impressed with how well the 

teens – all previously strangers – 

related to each other and opened up 

about their lives. Here are highlights 

from that conversation. 

OUR PANEL 


Chaldean News: Do you sense a stereotype 

about Chaldeans from your school’s 

teachers and staff? 

Vania Halabou: Not me personally, but 

a lot of Chaldean kids do get stereotyped. 

That’s because they slack off and blow off, 

and never do their homework. 

Haley Jonna: It depends on the teacher, 

but if one Chaldean makes a bad name for 

themself, it hurts the whole community. 

Bianca Dado: I’m into business and they 

say, “of course you are — you’re Chaldean.” 

They think since you’re Chaldean, you’re 

rich and driving a big car. 

Haley: Students place more stereotypes, 

because Chaldeans always hang out together. 

People are fascinated by that. 

CN: Do the Chaldeans at your school 

form a clique? 

Haley: Oh yeah, Chaldeans stick together. 

Bianca: People have talked about me for 

hanging out with Americans. My best 

friend is Polish, and people judge me for it. 

But I’ve learned if people don’t like me for 

who I am, why care? 

Vania: My best friend is African- 

American and people were shocked. People 

don’t know I’m Chaldean because I’m 

friends with everyone. So they call me 

“white girl.” And once I heard about it from 

my relatives when I brought a white friend 

to a family gathering. 

Bassam Hanna: We don’t have that in 

Sterling Heights. It’s very mixed. I have 

three or four Chaldeans I hang out with, 

but it’s mostly black and white kids. My 

black friends call me “camel.” 

Lawrence Mansour: The problem with 

our community is that we are always raised 

with our kind – we don’t know how to act 

with other ethnicities, especially because 

we’re so binded by our religion. You can feel 

the separation. 

Bassam: That’s true – Chaldeans say, 

“You’re acting white” when I wear a polo shirt. 

Bianca Dado, 18 > HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL > FARMINGTON HILLS 

Vania Halabou, 15 > NORTH FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL > FARMINGTON HILLS 

Bassam Hanna, 17 > STERLING HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL > STERLING HEIGHTS 

Haley Jonna, 16 > MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL 

> BLOOMFIELD HILLS 

Lawrence Mansour, 18 > OAKLAND UNIVERSITY > ROCHESTER 

CN: Are your parents strict? 

Vania: I’m so happy my parents don’t keep 

us home until we’re married. I want to go away 

to State or UM, and my parents support it. 

Haley: I want to go to UM and my family 

is supportive. But most of my Chaldean 

friends are not even considering going away. 

Bianca: I got accepted at the Fashion 

Institute in New York City but I can’t go. 

My parents say I can go after I graduate 

from a Fashion Institute nearby. It’s like it 

would be giving your family a bad name. 

Lawrence: I hate that! 

Bianca: One of my friend’s parents are so 

strict she can’t even come over – and my 

grandmother lives with us! 

Vania: It seems the more strict the parents, 

the more things kids do behind their back. 

Bassam: I see that a lot. They say 

they’re going to study and they’re at a 

party. I hear all the time about how they 

say they are sleeping at their friend’s house 

but they sleep at the party. 

Vania: I see that a lot more with Chaldean 

girls. I see a lot more older brothers who lock 

the girls up more than the parents. 

Haley: My brother is 18 and he will tell 

me not to go places. He’ll explain why not. 

I have no choice, but it doesn’t seem like 

I’m on lockdown. 

Lawrence: I used to be really bad, just 

crazy with my sister. One thing I’ve learned 

is that you can’t always go into things with 

an aggressive role. 

Haley: There is a double standard. In 

some families the boy does whatever he 

wants and the girl is on lockdown. They 

worry about what people are going to say. 

Vania: Yes, people see a Chaldean girl out 

with a guy and they will tell everyone, but if 

they see a guy with a girl, they won’t care. 

Haley: There is so much pressure to act 

a certain way, like you’re not a teenager. 

There’s no room to grow and experience 

different things. 

TEENS 

Continued on page 40 

From left: 

Haley Jonna: 

“There is so 

much pressure 

to act a certain 

way, like you’re 

not a teenager.” 

Lawrence 

Mansour: 

“For people with 

such intense 

wealth there is 

so much more 

we can do.” 

Bianca Daddo: 

“Everyone thinks 

they have to be 

like everyone 

else and act a 

certain way.” 

Bassam Hanna: 

“Chaldeans say, 

‘You’re acting 

white’ when 

I wear a 

polo shirt.” 

Vania Halabou: 

“It seems the 

more strict the 

parents, the 

more things 

kids do behind 

their back.” 


chaldean kids’ day off 

Skip Day is controversial 

BY CAROLINE M. BACALL 

It’s getting closer to the end of the school year. 

It’s getting warmer outside, and school is getting 

hectic. Monday through Friday, same time, same 

classes and a heavy homework load. The solution? 

Chaldean Skip Day — a well-known tradition in 

which many Chaldean students from different high 

schools skip a day of school and rent a bus with 

their friends to go to Cedar Point — the Ohio 

amusement park. 

School administrators are less than thrilled with 

the tradition. What truly infuriates them is the fact 

that some Chaldean parents assist in 

organizing the event 

by renting the buses. 

Cathy Ferguson, the 

ESL (English as a Second 

Language) Coordinator of the 

Walled Lake School District said 

about 160 Chaldean students 

from Walled Lake Western 

alone skipped last year. 

“Two things concern 

me,” she said. “They’re 

missing a day of school to 

have fun … that’s the academic 

perspective.” 

Ferguson’s also said that 

the Skip Day may mislead 

the surrounding community 

to form “a negative 

stereotype that Chaldeans 

don’t care about education.” 

Nuhooth Oraha, an ESL paraeducator who 

taught for 29 years at Southfield Lathrup before 

retiring in 2007, noticed an increase of absences on 

Skip Day within her last 10 years of teaching. She 

recalled the attempts teachers would use in trying 

to prevent Chaldean Skip Day. 

“They would give exams on the same day and if 

they didn’t show up, they would get a zero on their 

test” — which worked with some students but not 

all, said Oraha. 

Chris Kajy, a senior attending Orchard Lake St. 

Mary’s, likes Skip Day. “It’s always good when all 

the Chaldeans get together,” he said. “You get to 

meet new people.” 

However, after three years, Kajy said the tradition 

is “getting old” and that he plans to skip Skip 

Day this year. 

Davena David, a 2006 graduate from Troy High 

School recalls “good memories” from Skip Day, and 

remembers the whole experience including the bus 

ride there being “fun in itself. It’s like going on a 

road trip.” 

Skip Day is also used as a way out for students 

with strict parents. “For some people, it was the 

only time their parents allowed them to be with all 

of their friends,” David said. 

Catherine Neuhoff, assistant principal of 

Warren Mott High School, indicated that Skip Day 

hasn’t become a problem; the school’s rules and regulations 

are strict enough where students comply 

with no problem. In addition to school rules, a call 

from a parent or guardian confirms the student’s 

whereabouts. “If their parents know where they are, 

then technically they’re not skipping,” said 

Neuhoff. 

Enforcement of attendance policies seems to 

play a crucial role, as Eastside and Westside district 

policies are drastically different. Attendance policies 

for some high schools on the Westside do not 

correlate a student’s absences with a student’s 

grades, Therefore, students could skip consistently 

without having to worry about their academic 

record. On the contrary, some high school districts 

ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MICK 

on the Eastside have attendance policies that 

directly coincide with their academic record; if the 

rules are not complied with, students may be 

required to take summer classes because they have 

lost credits during the school year as a result of constant 

skipping. 

Skip Day has also been noticed in middle 

schools as well. In order to set a good example, 

“high school kids should be more responsible,” 

Ferguson said. “The staff will continue to talk with 

students.” 




learning the hard way 

Two-time drunk driver shares her story 

BY OMAR BINNO 

For 31-year-old Cathy Shammaz of Rochester 

Hills, October 1, 2002 remains engraved in 

her memory as a night of life-altering lessons. 

Shammaz was having dinner at a restaurant with 

some friends and had a little too much to drink. 

“It was my birthday,” Shammaz said. “We were 

dissatisfied with the service at the restaurant and 

we didn’t like the food, but we had a couple glasses 

of wine and then began driving to another 

restaurant.” 

Shortly after leaving the restaurant, Shammaz 

and her friends were pulled over and Shammaz 

was arrested for drunk driving. As fate would 

have it, she had also been arrested three 

years before on the same date. 

“I went through some tough selfloathing 

issues because of repeating 

the same mistake,” Shammaz said. “I 

should have learned my lesson the 

first time. In fact I thought I did, but 

a couple years after the first one, I 

started just thinking that I could go out 

and have a couple like everybody else 

and I would be OK. That was me thinking I 

was invincible — there are people drinking far 

more alcohol way more often than I ever did, 

behind the wheel every weekend who have never 

been busted.” 

According to the 2006 Michigan Traffic 

Crash Facts from the Office of Highway Safety 

Patrol, October – for unknown reasons – is the 

highest month of the year in which fatalities 

occur from drunk drivers. 

“October is the highest month,” Lieutenant 

Craig Hurt of the Farmington Hills Police 

Department affirmed. “Saturday and Sunday are 

the highest days of the week in which these 

kinds of accidents take place, and the highest 

timeframes are 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Saturday and 12 

a.m.-3 a.m. Sunday.” 

Since 2003, the term “Drunk Under 

Influence” has been changed, along with the 

laws that govern these issues. 

“It’s now called Operating While Intoxicated,” 

said Judge Diane Dickow D’Agostini of the 48th 

District Court. “I’ve seen many tragic cases in 

which people’s lives were instantly altered 

because of someone else’s self-centered behavior.” 

Shammaz’s experience —coupled with the 

penalties she’s had to face as a two-time offender 

— has taught her many lessons in appreciation, 

humility and thankfulness for not having harmed 

anyone in a moment of “having a good time.” 

“I am glad I got caught because I learned a 

lesson that I needed to learn,” Shammaz said. 

“For as many days as has passed since the second 

DUI on October 1, 2002 — which is 2720 — 

that is exactly how many times I have learned 

my lesson. The police pulled me over. I did not 

get into an accident nor hurt anyone, and 

because of this I am so lucky.” 

According to the 2006 Michigan annual 

drunk driving audit, Wayne County ranked No. 

1 in the state for the highest number of arrests at 

7,341 arrests, with Oakland coming in at second 

with 6,725 arrests. Out of 1,551 drivers involved 

in fatal car crashes, 11.9 percent were under age 

21 and 21.9 percent were 25 and younger. 

“I’ve seen tragic cases where a kid was a 

straight-A student in high school and never was 

a drinker,” Hurt said. “Their life was taken away 

in an instant because of getting involved with 

alcohol for one night and deciding to drive. It’s 

an absolute heartbreaker when you talk to 

the families of these people and see the 

permanent damage they’ll undergo.” 

Since its change from “Drunk 

Under Influence” to “Operating 

While Intoxicated” in 2003, 

the levels of penalties have 

also changed. Some of the 

penalties for OWI offenders 

include a $500 fine/court 

costs, 93 days in jail, 360 hours 

of community service, six points 

on their license and license sanctions, 

D’Agostini said. 

Shammaz estimates her drunk driving arrest 

cost her $17,500, including attorney fees, court 

costs, an increase in insurance premiums and 

mandatory substance abuse counseling. 

“I have never been so sorry, so humiliated, so 

frustrated, so angry and so powerless over anything 

else in my entire life,” Shammaz said. “My freedom, 

my pride, my credibility and my dignity was 

stripped and in some ways continues to be stripped 

from me because of it. The punishment seems to be 

never ending, and I am lucky for that.” 

Learn More 

For more information on drunk driving, visit: 

http://www.legislature.mi.gov 

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1645_3501_4626-27728—,00.html 

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1593_3504—-,00.html 

http://www.alcoholalert.com 


surviving the 

unthinkable 

Dealing with the death of a child 


Muntaha Ann Hannawa couldn’t sleep in 

the months following her son Ivan’s death. 

“I just kept writing and writing,” she said. 

Eight months later, Hannawa had finished The 

Spoken Tear: The Story of Ivan, a heartfelt chronicle 

of the young man’s battle with leukemia, which 

claimed him at age 14 in 1996. 

“Ivan always wanted to invent something and 

I felt so bad that he wasn’t able to,” said his 

mother. “But he did invent something 

– I know he helped me write 

the book.” 

Self-published in 1997, The 

Spoken Tear tells about Ivan’s 

health struggles and his parents’ 

terror of losing him. Hannawa 

recounts how she completely fell 

apart when Ivan was diagnosed, 

but eventually came to terms with 

the situation through her strong 

faith in God. 

“The pain lessens and I feel it 

does because of the grace of God,” 

she said. “No parent can go 

through the death of a child alone 

– God is there to help you.” 

Hannawa, who is married to Sam and has three 

other children, said she never felt angry at God. But 

many others do have those feelings, said Firyal 

Yono of Southfield Funeral Home, a licensed social 

worker and mental health therapist. 

“You’ve raised a child and lost this child. It’s very 

Ivan Hannawa was just 

14 when he died. 

devastating,” she said. “They can feel anger with 

God or they blame themselves. But there’s no one 

to blame – death comes when it is going to come. 

It’s a part of life.” 

Hannawa said that realization helped her get 

through losing Ivan, a handsome, cheerful boy of deep 

faith who was popular with his doctors and nurses. 

“Everything I have belongs to God — God gives 

and God takes,” she said. “Death is overwhelming 

and there is no way to describe the 

pain. But death is a part of life, and 

life goes on. It’s so easy to give up, but 

with the love of other people, you 

have to go on.” 

Yono offers one-on-one counseling 

to grieving clients through 

Southfield Funeral Home and is 

launching a support group for 

mothers who have lost children. 

One common mistake, she said, is 

for friends and family of the grieving 

to avoid bringing up the subject 

of the loss. 

“It’s not necessary to go into 

details, but most people like to talk 

about it,” she said. “It’s OK to bring it up. Do not 

leave that person alone – sit with them and talk. 

Keep trying if your friend says not to come by. Call 

back in two days, don’t wait two weeks.” 

Women can be angry with their husbands for not 

openly expressing their pain, Yono said. 

“Men grieve differently from women, Yono said. 

Muntaha Ann Hannawa’s self-published book helped 

her deal with Ivan’s death. 

“Especially in the Chaldean culture they are not 

supposed to show their emotions, so they keep it 

inside. It is very important for a husband and wife to 

grieve together. This is how they help each other.” 

Doing onto others can help people cope with 

their grief, Yono said. She recently suggested that 

one particularly distraught widow “adopt” a refugee 

family in honor of her late husband. She also recommends 

volunteering with those less fortunate as 

a coping mechanism. 

Hannawa found that telling Ivan’s story in the 

uplifting manner of The Spoken Tear helped not 

only her grieving process, but others’ as well. 

Among the letters she has received is one from a 

woman whose grandchild died. 

“She told me the book brought her so much 

comfort,” she said. “God helped me and now I am 

obligated to help others.” 

To order The Spoken Tear, send $16.95 plus $2 shipping, 

to P.O. Box 725426, Berkley, MI 48072-5426. 

TEENS 

Continued from page 35 

Bassam: The No. 1 thing you 

hear when you’re out with a lot of 

Chaldeans is, “Oh no, that’s my aunt 

and I’m not supposed to be here!” 

Everyone knows everyone. 

CN: Do you see a lot of drug use 

among Chaldean teens? 

Lawrence: A lot of kids have 

money and a lot of freedom – what 

does that lead to? 

Haley: Drugs are in every high 

school and there is no way to escape it. 

But I’m sheltered a lot at Marian. My 

friends at public school see a lot more. 

Bassam: Sterling Heights is drug 

central, but there’s a new policy so 

more kids are getting kicked out. I 

could make a phone call and get drugs. 

Haley: People smoke pot at the 

hooka bars. 

Bianca: Yes, I know a lot who 

do that. 

Bassam: I hate drinking and 

smoking, but I see a lot of kids with 

pressure in school turn to weed, 

especially Chaldeans. 

CN: What do you like best – and 

least – about being a member of the 

Chaldean community? 

Vania: What I like is that we’re all 

easy to relate to and you can be friends 

with everyone. But what I hate is people 

who talk behind your back. 

Haley: My favorite thing is the 

family aspect – it’s such a big part of 

my life. The worst is the talking. 

Lawrence: I like the religion 

and the history – we’re the cradle of 

civilization. But we lack a sense of 

political activity. For people with 

such intense wealth there is so 

much more we can do. The sad 

thing about being Chaldean is that 

I know one day it will die because 

of the melting pot. 

Bianca: My favorite things are 

the strong values, culture and families. 

But everyone thinks they have 

to be like everyone else and act a 

certain way. 

Bassam: I like the family – when we 

all get together, we’re all cousins. What 

I hate the most is when Chaldeans 

talk and when they stare. 


I wish 

I could quit 

smoking. 

When you smoke 

around your kids 

it’s like they 

are smoking. 

As a matter of fact, if you 

smoke around children from 

birth, by age 5, they'll have 

inhaled over 100 packs. 

Protect your children from 

secondhand smoke. Make your 

home a smoke-free one. 

Secondhand smoke not only 

hurts lung growth but can 

permanently damage lung 

functions. It can cause 

bronchitis, pneumonia, ear 

infections and asthma 

in children. 

To learn how to quit 

and keep smoke away from 

your children, call the FREE 

Michigan Tobacco Quit Line. 

1.800.480.7848 

Secondhand Smoke - 

It’s nothing to kid about. 


ack to nature 

Big summer in store at Camp Chaldean 


Spring is in the air – and the air 

at Camp Chaldean is filled 

with the sounds of workers getting 

ready to welcome the community 

during the warm weather months. 

St. George Chaldean Camp – also 

called Camp Chaldean – is the new 

official name for the property the 

Chaldean church acquired for $3.5 

million from the City of 

Detroit in 2007. Formerly 

known as Camp Brighton, 

the property in Livingston 

County’s Genoa Township 

includes 160 acres, a private lake and 

several buildings for overnights. 

The church has wasted no time 

fixing up the site, which had not 

been used for the past seven years 

before Detroit put it on the market. 

By March, more than $250,000 was 

spent improving the camp, said 

Robert Kakos, spokesperson for the 

Camp Counsel. 

“We’re preparing for summer,” 

said Fr. Manuel Boji of Mother of 

God Church. That includes 

enlarging the lakeside trail so it 

now completely encircles the 

water, tearing down a structurally 

unsound stage building where a 

large gazebo with fire pits will be 

erected, adding a stand-alone restroom 

and shower building, and 

improving the road that runs 

through part of the property. 

“This summer we will have a lot of 

large, open community events,” said 

Kakos. “The more people who see it, 

the more feedback we’ll receive on 

what they’d like to have there.” 

Tentative plans include a 

Mother’s Day picnic in May, a twoday 

3 on 3 Chaldean Sports League 

tournament in June (which could 

attract as many as 1,000 young people), 

a father-son campout July 5-6, 

a health awareness walkathon in 

early August and a Chaldean music 

festival later that month. 

The church also hopes to offer 

camps this summer for youths with 

a variety of special topics including 

basketball, Chaldean cooking and 

catechism and communion preparation. 

‘This summer we will have a lot of large, 

open community events.’ – ROBERT KAKOS 

Plans call for opening Camp St. 

George every Sunday for community 

members to visit and picnic; and 

renting out the bunk buildings, 

which include kitchens and restrooms, 

for family reunions. People 

will also be able to camp in tents on 

the property. Down the road, an 

auditorium building and a shrine to 

St. George will be added. 

For details on activities at Camp Chaldean, 

call (248) 356-0565. 

Families can rent a barracks building (left). Fr. Manuel Boji shows off a barrack’s interior (right). 


It’s almost camp time 

It’s hard to believe, but school will be out before we know it, which means 

long, lazy days for children – maybe too long and lazy. The anecdote to 

hours in front of the TV or Play Station may just be summer camp. 

Camps have come a long way from sitting around a fire making s’mores 

(though that’s still a favorite activity). Whatever your child’s interest, there 

seems to be a camp devoted to making the most of it. 

West Bloomfield Township, for instance, offers dozens of options of day 

camps, including dance, art, sailing, science, robots, space and nature. In 

Troy, kids can perfect their skateboarding techniques or hone their arts and 

craft skills. Sterling Heights has the usual offerings, as well as special camps 

for those who are physically and mentally impaired. 

Wherever you choose, public or private, be sure the camp is accredited by 

the National Camp Association (NCA), recommends Libby White, camp 

director at Summer Impressions, a day camp in West Bloomfield. White also 

suggests that parents look to see if the camp hires certified specialty instructors 

as opposed to using high school students as counselors. 

Sleepaway camps have become increasingly popular. They generally are 

offered in one-week settings with specialty topics or just the general nature 

experience. Nonprofit camps such as those offered through the Y, are generally 

less expensive than private camps. In general, prices range from a low of 

$400 to $2,000 or more for a week, according to the NCA. Topics range 

from archery to acting, baseball to basketry. 

Sending your child away can be a frightening thought. The NCA recommends 

asking lots of questions – including staff training requirements, 

percent of returning campers each year, and camper-counselor ratio – as well 

as references of families whose children have attended the camp. 

— Joyce Wiswell 



‘truly sad’ 

Syria ambassador discusses refugee situation 

When the war in Iraq began more than 

five years ago, the first people to flee 

the country were the Christians and 

many of them ended up in Syria. 

“We have the majority of the refugees in our 

country,” said Syria’s ambassador to the United 

States, Imad Moustapha, to about 12 Chaldeans 

at a private dinner at Shenandoah Country Club 

last month. 

Accompanied by his wife and toddler-aged 

daughter, Moustapha came to Michigan not only 

to meet with members of the Syrian community 

but to engage members of the Chaldean community 

and educate them further on the plight of the 

Iraqi refugees. 

“It is truly sad that these Christians who are part 

of the historic fabric of Iraq may no longer exist in 

their homeland,” said Moustapha. “We are doing 

what we can to help them. They are our brothers 

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

and sisters and we cannot see them suffer.” 

Saad Hajjar, past chair of the Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce, thanked the 

Ambassador for the compassion and support of 

the Syrian government and community. The 

ambassador humbly replied that no thanks were 

necessary because helping other in crisis has 

always been part of what Syria has done. 

However, they can’t do it alone. “The United 

States government is spending billions of dollars 

on this war in Iraq and if they just spent one billion 

to help these displaced Iraqis they could make 

such a difference,” said Moustapha. 

Monetary support by the United States to the 

refugees is not something Basil Bakal expects to 

see. Bakal, who recently returned from a trip to 

the Middle East to witness the situation first hand, 

quickly responded to the comments made by the 

ambassador. “The U.S. cannot offer financial help 

because that will mean they admit they failed in 

Iraq,” he said. 

The Chaldean Federation of America (CFA), 

under the leadership of Michael George and with 

the volunteer efforts of Bakal, has spearheaded the 

Adopt-a-Refugee-Family program. Iraqis in the 

United States are lending their support with monetary 

donations from members of the Chaldean 

community at large. 

Bakal explained to the ambassador the dedication 

Chaldeans have for their people. “Mr. George 

was born in the United States,” Bakal pointed out. 

“Yet he spends countless hours helping this 

refugee effort. These are our people. So many of us 

are dedicated to this effort.” 

Moustapha explained briefly the critical needs. 

His fear is that if the refugees in Syria do not find 

direction and necessary help, they will end up in 

complete despair and could possibly be recruited 

by terrorists. 

“We need to educate the children,” he said. 

“That is why they are attending school in Syria. We 

cannot leave them on the streets penniless with no 

education. That is the most important thing.” 

A group of scholars from Iraq opened a university 

in Syria that is completely operated by Iraqis. 

“On one hand that is wonderful,” 

said Moustapha. 

Syria Ambassador 

Imad Moustapha and 

“But on other hand, it is 

Michael George of 

the Chaldean 

very sad that Iraq is losing 

Federation of America 

at Shenandoah its highly educated citizens. 

More than 80 per- 

Country Club. 

cent of Iraq’s medical core 

has left Iraq. That country 

used to be known for its 

elite. My own father was educated at the 

University of Baghdad. Now, those people are 

fleeing the country.” 

The refugees dispersed outside and inside of 

Iraq are also in desperate need of medical attention. 

Many are dying from the mere lack of treatment. 

“We are seeing so much death. We are see 

horrible things happening to these people” said 

Moustapha. “Iraqi women are turning to prostitution 

just to survive.” 

Hajjar asked if Chaldeans wanting to invest in 

Syria to help the refugees would be welcomed by 

Syria’s business community. “Absolutely,” replied 

Moustapha. “Come into Syria and invest. We will 

do what we can to help you.” 

The ambassador doesn’t believe the future of 

Iraq is promising. “Iraqi is losing its intellectual 

force, its educated people,” said Moustapha. “The 

prospect of a revival is unlikely.” 



‘you have guts’ 

Kwame Kilpatrick touts community’s contributions 

There was scant evidence of the scandal 

and legal troubles plaguing Detroit 

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick when he paid a 

visit to the Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce’s Industry Outlook Meeting on 

March 20 at Shenandoah Country Club. 

More than 100 chamber members came to hear 

Kilpatrick speak — less than a week before Wayne 

County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced on 

March 24 numerous felony charges, including 

obstruction of justice, misconduct in office and 

perjury, against the mayor and his former chief of 

staff, Christine Beatty, in the text messaging scandal. 

However, Kilpatrick’s woes seemed not to 

affect the mood or atmosphere of the upbeat and 

positive event with the chamber. 

In his brief opening remarks, CACC Executive 

Director Martin Manna thanked Country Fresh for 

its continued monetary support of the Chaldean 

Cultural Center, totaling $900,000 thus far. Manna 

also introduced Comcast as its 

most recent corporate member. 

But the featured topic was centered 

on the relationship between 

the city of Detroit and Chaldean 

business owners. Manna stressed a 

positive partnership, the committed 

investment the community 

has with the city, and the importance 

of the economic impact 

Chaldean-owned businesses have 

on Detroit. While introducing the mayor Manna 

proclaimed, “We would like to support you, the 

city we love, and the city that gave us so much.” 

The mayor began his comments by referencing 

the Chaldean Household Survey that 

revealed that 73 percent of Chaldean households 

own at least one business. “You are a group of 

people anyone would want to model,” Kilpatrick 

said. “Your community has spent the last 60 or 

70 years grinding and working really hard — but 

you have guts, too.” 

Throughout the evening, Kilpatrick praised the 

community for its entrepreneurial spirit. That 

BY MICHELLE NAJOR-LUTFY 

“spirit,” the mayor said, “is evident here at 

Shenandoah, in this gorgeous building. It is a sign, 

a symbol to your community. People from many 

other ethnic groups have seen your building and 

wonder how they too can achieve this. Imitation 

is flattery, so congratulations to you.” 

Careful not to steer his comments 

to the myriad legal accusations 

charged against him, 

the mayor instead focused on 

the development of his 

Economic Stimulus Package. 

He discussed two prospects of 

the package — the highly 

lucrative casino receipts and 

the sale of the Detroit-Windsor 

Tunnel. When the time came 

to answer member questions, 

Kilpatrick again pointed to the 

positive relationship his 

administration has with business owners. But when 

pressed about excessive inspections, ticketing and 

slow police response times, the mayor seemed 

rather surprised. “In light of the war and current 

politics,” Kilpatrick said, “the Chaldeans may be 

the most harassed ethnic group around, and we in 

the city certainly do not ever want to be a part of 

that harassment, we want to work with you.” 

CACC member Mike Sarafa suggested that the 

mayor could do more to encourage his constituents 

to support the Chaldean community and tout their 

contributions to the growth the city now sees. 

Kilpatrick responded that his administration has 

PHOTOS BY DAVID REED 

been sincere in championing the efforts of the 

Chaldeans and are excited to access dollars for 

Chaldean businesses. “Mayor Colman Young,” he 

added, “wasn’t the last mayor to say that there isn’t 

an ethnic community doing as much as the 

Chaldeans are doing in helping to build a diversified 

economic community. I have done it, too. And if I 

have a microphone, I’ll say it every chance I get.” 

As the mayor began to wrap up, a chamber 

member asked how the Chaldean community 

could use its goodwill to help the mayor. Seeming 

genuinely touched by the question and the general 

warmth and affection lavished upon him 

throughout the evening, the mayor responded 

intently. “We are taking a beating from the media 

— they can make you out to think, feel and act 

Above: 

Kwame Kilpatrick 

addresses the crowd. 

From left: 

Jimmy Marrogy, 

Harry Barash and 

Layth Barash 

like someone you are not. We need the people to 

see through all the clutter.” 

Kilpatrick’s final comments expressed a need for 

all people to show pride in Detroit. “Mostly, people 

see other big cities as better than ours because we 

have this problem of being mad all the time,” he 

said. “Blacks mad at whites, whites mad at blacks, 

this is going on for a hundred years, and it’s getting 

old. Everyone mad at each other, the media mad at 

me … other places don’t have this hate. In this area, 

we just got to lighten up a bit, just lighten up a bit.” 

With that, the crowd gave Kilpatrick a standing ovation, 

and the evening concluded in high spirit. 


sports 


Ramy Hakim of Mother of God 

Anita Deza of St. Joseph 

Nael Murad of St. George 

parishioners play 

Chaldean church sports league scores 

big on the basketball court 

The St. George boys 


The first season of the Chaldean 

Church Sports League was a huge success. 

The second season has turned 

out to be an even bigger success. 

Last summer, nearly 150 youths ages 13-18 

from all six Chaldean churches in the Metro 

Detroit area participated in flag football and 

sand volleyball leagues Saturday afternoons 

at the Southfield Civic Center. 

Buoyed by the higher-than-expected 

turnout, league organizers Arlene Kakos and 

Nathan Karrumi decided to form a basketball 

league this winter. The result? An estimated 

275 youths in three age divisions 

have been hooping it up every Sunday afternoon 

at the Boys & Girls Club of South 

Oakland County in Royal Oak. 

“And let’s not forget the more than 40 

volunteers who are working hard for the 

kids,” Karrumi said. “They are coaches, referees, 

scorekeepers, security, concessions 

workers …” 

Gatorade and water are sold during 

games, along with the popular Chaldean 

Church Sports League hats. 

There’s at least one team from each 

church in the ages 11-14 boys, ages 15-18 

boys and ages 15-18 girls divisions. Team 

rosters range from eight to 25, with an average 

of about 15. 

The Boys & Girls Club was chosen as the 

site for league games because it’s centrally 

located for Chaldean families and two gyms 

are available. 

“It’s quite a community gathering there 

each Sunday,” Karrumi said. “There are about 

250 people in the gyms at any one time, and 

500 to 600 total.” 

Players were charged $35 for 15 weeks. 


Riva Jidou of Mother of God 

St. George Coach Oliva Jardo 

Get In Line 

for Inline 

New inline hockey 

league gearing up 


Chaldean athletes have a new league to join. 

Tryouts for an inline hockey league will be 

held Wednesday, April 16, at the Inline Hockey 

Center inside the Jewish Community Center of 

Metropolitan Detroit, 6600 W. Maple Road in 

West Bloomfield. 

Skaters whose last name ends in A-K will try 

out at 9:30 p.m. L-Z will try out at 10:40 p.m. 

Team captains will contact the players they 

selected within a week after the tryouts. 

Everyone who tries out will be on a team. 

Minimum age to play is 16, but players ages 16- 

18 must have parental consent. 

The season (12 games plus playoffs) will begin 

at the end of April and conclude in mid-August. 

Games will consist of three 15-minute periods, 

and they’ll be held Wednesday and Sunday nights 

at the Inline Hockey Center. Each team will have 

at least eight skaters and one goalie on its roster. 

Cost to play is $200, which includes a jersey. 

The money is due at the tryouts. 

“We hope to put together at least four teams,” 

said league spokesman Mike Abbo, who was 

encouraged by the early response to phone calls, 

flyers and e-mails announcing the tryouts. 

Abbo believes many of the in-line hockey 

players will probably come from the Chaldean 

Hockey League. 

The St. Thomas girls 

The season will conclude with playoffs 

involving the top four teams in each division 

April 13 and April 20. 

It looks like flag football and sand volleyball 

leagues will be offered again this summer. 

And maybe softball and soccer will join the 

list of sports, along with adult divisions. 

Besides having fun playing sports and 

meeting youths from other churches, the 

league has other purposes for those who participate. 

“There are no winners and no losers,” 

Karrumi said. “It’s more important that the kids 

learn the life lessons that sports can teach.” 

Churches and priests have gotten behind 

the league because players must be involved 

in their church to participate. Besides attending 

mass, they must join a church group. 

“It could be Bible study, volunteering in 

the community, singing in the church choir, 

anything,” Kakos said. 

Kakos and Karrumi are coordinators of the 

popular CT Squared (Chaldean Teens 

Coming Together) middle school and high 

school youth group at Mother of God 

Church. 

For more information on the inline hockey league, 

call (248) 667-1508 or send an e-mail to 

crhl@2008@yahoo.com. 

A Good Man, 

by George 

Jim George, a special education teacher in the 

Royal Oak School District for 32 years who also 

coached baseball, football and hockey and was 

involved in Special Olympics, died January 22 at 

the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann 

Arbor. He was 62. 

Mr. George, a Beverly Hills resident, was 

born October 26, 1945 in Baghdad, Iraq. The 

family suggests that memorial tributes be sent 

to Special Olympics. 

– Steve Stein 


making the GRADE 

Matthew Acho: Striving for success 

BY NATASHA DADO 

Brother Rice senior Matthew 

Acho is on the road to success 

and working hard to 

bring along his peers for the ride. 

The 18-year-old West Bloomfield 

resident is an active member in 

Warriors for Life and a former 

Kairos retreat leader. Matthew is currently 

striving to establish CASA 

(Chaldean American Student 

Association) at Brother Rice. 

“I see a great deal of potential in 

the organization. The implementation 

of CASA would get the youth 

more heavily involved in college and 

have them thinking about what successful 

career choices they want to 

strive to pursue in a setting that 

they would enjoy,” he said. 

Matthew enjoys spending time 

with his younger cousins and has 

always shown an interest in the subjects 

of biology and medicine, which 

is why he has decided to settle on a 

career as a pediatrician. Matthew 

plans to attend the University of 

Michigan Dearborn where he will 

receive his undergraduate degree in 

biology, then attend Wayne State for 

med school afterwards. 

‘Always be who 

you feel most 

comfortable being.’ 

– MATTHEW ACHO 

Maintaining a high grade-point 

average has not always been the 

case for Matthew. He underwent 

a tough transition from public to 

Catholic school. 

“I got serious about school after 

my freshman year and managed to 

turn my grade-point average 

around from a 2.4 to a high 3.4,” 

he said. “I realized the crucial role 

education played in my future. 

Without an education so many 

things would not be possible.” 

Matthew attributes his success 

to being organized, staying 

on top of things, simply taking it 

one day at a time and praying to 

God for strength to keep it all 

together. He has some good 

advice for the Chaldean youth. 

“Always be who you feel most 

comfortable being,” he said, “and 

never try being someone you are 

not.” 

VITAL STATS 

NAME: Matthew Acho 

AGE: 18 

YEAR: Senior 

SCHOOL: Brother Rice 

High School, Bloomfield Hills 

CAREER GOAL: Pediatrician 

PARENTS: Kenneth and Saika Acho 



classified listings 

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C: 248-496-5137, 

O: 248-851-1900. 

FOR SALE BY OWNER 

2007-BUILT HOME 

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Faris, (248) 388-4488. 

BUSINESS FOR SALE 

VINEYARD/WINERY 

NORTHERN MICHIGAN, 

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w/4 acres of mature vines, 

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A 3 bedrm. ranch home. 

Contact Bob Norcross, 

Realtor, 810-648-2803. 

Looking to sell? Wanting to 

buy? The Chaldean News 

offers results! Call 

(248) 355-4850 or visit 


to place your classified ad today! 

chaldean news 

PROFESSIONALS 

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FOR AS LITTLE AS $ 75 

IN OUR NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY SECTION! 

To place your ad, contact us today! 

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

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 



PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS


Mercedes-Benz: 

Making Dreams Come True 

Every driver dreams of some day 

owning that luxury car, and the 

make that most often comes to 

the dreamer’s mind is Mercedes-Benz. 

A.J. Kreiss, a new car sale representative 

at Mercedes-Benz of 

Bloomfield Hills, specializes in making 

dreams come true. 

“Mercedes, the car itself, is by far 

the most dependable in the world,” 

said Kreiss, who has been with the 

dealership for nearly two years. “The 

way they are built and the way they are 

engineered, they are luxury cars in 

every way possible.” 

The top seller right now is the 

Mercedes-Benz 2008 E-class, available 

as a sedan or wagon. 

The new and pre-owned automobile 

sales team at Mercedes-Benz of 

Bloomfield Hills, located at 36600 N. 

Woodward Avenue south of 

Quarton/Big Beaver Road, is committed 

to assisting customers in getting 

the most value and best experience 

from their Mercedes purchases. Kreiss’ 

motto is “without you, there is no me.” 

Kreiss moved to the United States 

from Lebanon in 1983 and today lives 

in Dearborn. Kreiss is the No. 1 salesman 

in the Midwest. Most of his clients 

are of Middle Eastern descent. 

“A customer is a customer no matter 

who he is, and we do our best to 

help everybody get what they want,” 

Kreiss said. “We treat everyone with 

the same respect and dignity. Within a 

reasonable price, every deal can be 

made. We only ask that customers be 

up front and frank with us.” 

Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills 

customers receive special perks like 

personal service-check reminder calls 

to ensure they’re in tune with their 

car’s regular maintenance schedule 

and “pick up and drive” service so 

they’re never stranded. Online registration 

assistance provides access to 

ADVERTISEMENT 

the latest news and offers from 

Mercedes-Benz, as well as a host of 

online tools and up-to-the-minute information 

on Mercedes models. 

“At this point, with the location that 

we’re in and the age of the dealership, 

everybody knows who we are,” Kreiss 

said. “The dealership has been around 

for more than 32 years. That makes 

our relationship with the community all 

the more special.” 

A.J. Kreiss, in his 

office and in the The dealership’s 

showrom at The longevity is built on a 

Mercedes-Benz of reputation for honesty, 

respect for the 

Bloomfield Hills 

customer, impeccable 

service and hard work — qualities 

that are instilled in its 75-plus employees. 

Main showroom hours at Mercedes- 

Benz of Bloomfield Hills are 9 a.m.-9 

p.m. Monday and Thursday, and 9 a.m.- 

6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. 

The Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield 

Hills sales team strives to be as accessible 

to its customers as possible. Call 

Kreiss directly at the dealership at 

(248) 644-8400, extension 110, or dial 

his cell phone at (313) 377-4210. 

Don’t forget to visit the dealership 

website at www.bloomfield-hills.mercedescenter.com. 


event 

1 

2 

3 

1. Anthony Yousif 

2. Dunia Atcho 

3. Dunia Atcho 

and Celine Hana 

4. Norris Shukri 

5. Ahalm Elies and 

Pat Qabouq 

6. Rita Maizy 

7. Matthew Acho 

hides Easter eggs 

8. Jeannie Zori 

and Alana Salmu 

4 

5 

6 

7 

breakfast with the easter bunny 


8 

The members of CT2 (Chaldean Teens Coming 

Together) threw a community Easter breakfast 

on March 16 at Mother of God Church, 

complete with an egg hunt, crafts and a 

visit from the Easter Bunny. 


9 10 

12 

11 

13 

9. Zena Atcho, Brittany 

Kashat, Vonica Sallan 

and Dunia Atcho 

10. Hanain Majeed, Cartier 

Zori, Nadeen Majeed, Rita 

Maizy and Rochelle Konja 

11. Francis Stephan 

and the bunny 

12. Event Coordinator 

Arlene Kakos 

13. Connie Yalda with 

the man of the hour 

14. A packed house 

14 


event 

3 

1 

4 

5 

2 

1. Sandra Hanna, Carmen 

Maffezzoli and Sharon Hannawa 

2. Stephanie Acho Tartoni 

3. Suzan Somo and 

Lina Tato 

4. Catherine Shaughnessy 

and Lauren Acho 

5. Carmella Bonnisi 

6. The chocolate 

fountain was a hit 

chamber’s women committee 


6 

It was a sweet time on March 13 as members of 

the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s 

Women’s Committee gathered at Chocolates by 

Renee in Northville to nibble and network.

APRIL 2008

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