Chaldean News - February 2008

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VOL. 5 ISSUE I

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FEBRUARY 2008

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www.chaldeannews.com INSIDE A LEG UP CN CELEBRATES FIFTH YEAR THE CHRISTIANS OF NINEVEH

WEARING THE BADGE CHALDEAN COPS WALK THE BEAT

The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48302 PLEASE DELIVER BY FEBRUARY 1, 2008

PERIODICAL

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CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2008

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 5 ISSUE I

on the cover 26

WEARING THE BADGE

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO AND JOYCE WISWELL

Chaldean cops walk the beat

feature 32

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED

BY JOYCE WISWELL

26

The Chaldean News enters its fifth year

sports 36

A LEG UP

BY STEVE STEIN

Positive attitude defines high school wrestler 25

40

37

SCORING WHEN IT COUNTS

BY JOE KYRIAKOZA

CBA victory is clinched in overtime

39

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

BY STEVE STEIN

Teen hockey player logs 10,000 miles to play in tournament 36

39

departments

43

8

FROM THE EDITOR

30

9

IN OUR VIEW

40

10

YOUR LETTERS

13

NOTEWORTHY

14

NANA SAYS

16

CHAI TIME

19

BOUSHALA

ON THE COVER: SOUTHFIELD DETECTIVE NICK LOUSSIA AND MICHIGAN STATE TROOPER PAUL SHUNIA PHOTO BY DAVID REED

20

HALHOLE

25

IRAQ TODAY

ECONOMICS AND ENTERPRISE

BY KEN MARTEN

Lolly Ella: A family affair

43

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BY MERVIT BASHI

‘Iraq’s Other Frontier’ showcases Chaldeans

46

MAKING THE GRADE

BY JOYCE WISWELL

BY SAWSAN KIZY MLINARCIK

Chaldean favorites — with a healthy twist

RELIGION

48

EVENTS The Christians of Nineveh

50

CLASSIFIED LISTINGS

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CHALDEAN NEWS 7

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from the E D I T O R

Worth Mentioning overcame some major obstacles and sentation on the force. We diligently tried field, my father relished in y brother-in-law is a continued to be “one of the boys” withto locate every Chaldean police officer in Scott’s career. Yes, he worSouthfield Lathrup out complaint. the state, but some did not respond ried about him but most of the cop. His gripping stoAll of us, in one way or another, face despite numerous attempts to interview time he enjoyed his regular ries about his day are often obstacles and challenges, some more them. We also hope we were working lunches with his son-in-law. comical, especially when he significant than others. It is how we off a complete list of names. If we His conversations about his stops a Chaldean who has no handle those situations that define our missed someone, it was not intentional. daily routines enthralled my idea the Irish cop is married to character. It is only appropriate for us We encourage you to read our dad. The life of a police officer a Chaldean girl. Sometimes VANESSA at The Chaldean News to single out cover piece and familiarize yourself is dangerous and admirable. they blurt out obscenities in DENHAthese individuals whenever possible, with our men in blue. Perhaps the next They are underpaid and often Sourath (the only words he GARMO under-appreciated. probably does know) thinking EDITOR They face danger he doesn’t understand the lanAll of us, in one way or another, face obstacles and and disrespect on a guage, and then they are perchallenges, some more significant than others. regular basis, yet they do their plexed when he hands over a ticket. job with pride.

He has befriended many Chaldeans so kudos to you Gabe. time you bump into one of them, you This month we feature our over the years with his combo of It is also worth mentioning that my will be compelled to express gratitude Chaldean police officers who serve in career and wife. One time he stupefied co-publisher, Martin Manna, often efor their choice of profession. If any of various departments across the state. a Chaldean store owner, who also did mails me the latest reports on Iraq. them happen to pull you over, smile, be In our cover piece you can read about not know his relationship to our comTragically, there have recently been polite and try not to name drop. their scariest moments and the most munity, when he told the guy he had several more church bombings. It This month we also bring to you ridiculous requests made of them. eaten pacha (stuffed tripe) for seems like deja vu. What do we do someone else who deserves recogniTheir lives are not devoid of stimulus.

Christmas — definitely a conversation with this information? As I sit here writtion and praise — Gabe Sheena, a We feature them to pay tribute to starter for a blue-eyed, blond-hair guy tremendous athlete who not only wrestheir work and dedication. We apprecitalking to Chaldeans. tles with spirit and pride but with one ate the departments that recognize the While most parents do fear for the FROM THE EDITOR leg. We can all learn from this kid who importance of having Chaldean reprelives of their children who enter this Continued on page 9

M

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in our V I E W

A Call to Duty FROM THE EDITOR

Continued from page 8 ing this editorial, I receive the latest update, six churches bombed over the last two weeks, which is major news.

However, we have seemed to cover Iraq in depth and to what seems extreme exhaustion. How can we ignore this significant piece of information yet cover it without sounding redundant? We do not dismiss this tragedy. Regardless of how difficult it is to report, we give you the latest news on our homeland in our Iraq Today section.

We bring you news that can’t go unreported and stories that can’t go untold.

Alaha Imid Koullen (God Be With Us All)

Vanessa Denha-Garmo vdenha@chaldeannews.com

Some men are born for the public. Nature by fitting them for service of the human race on a broad scale has stamped them with the evidence of her destination and their duty.

— President Thomas Jefferson in a letter to future President James Monroe his month’s cover features a wonderful story on police officers of Chaldean descent. Many of you will be surprised at the numbers of young men and women aspiring to careers in law enforcement. And why not? For decades, if not centuries, law enforcement has been a respected field of work from providing security in big cities to settling disputes in remote villages around the world.

Police swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States, to their state and to their municipality.

They put their lives on the line every day for the safety and security of their communities which, in the first place, is the raison d’etre of government. In the

T

days of our founding, there was no more noble pursuit.

But today in the Chaldean community, some parents discourage their children from pursuing careers in public service. They will ask questions like, “How are you going to make a living on an entry-level government salary and how will you support a family?” “No one will marry you,” they might tell their 18year-old. But a husband who is a police officer with character and dignity should be more important than a big house and a five-carat diamond. We should ask ourselves about our priorities.

The stakes are not small. French Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau said, “As soon as public service ceases to be the chief business of the citizens, and they would rather serve with their money than with their persons, the State [or in our case, the community] is not far from its fall.”

The financial sacrifice involved is a source of honor, not shame. Many young officers are also entrepreneurs on

the side and that is good. But we ought to support these men and women in the professions they choose because we as a community owe a debt of gratitude to this country. We have a duty to give back and one way is to encourage our young people to consider public service.

Men and women who choose police careers are responding to a call. Their jobs should be held in very high regard along the lines of doctors and lawyers.

Their sacrifice is on par with that of our priests. As discussed in these pages, they represent the very best of what our community has to offer.

Correction The Chaldean Federation of America reports that erroneous information was given in the January issue (“Eyewitness Account: Christian refugees stuck in limbo”). The number of religious minority refugees admitted into the United States in December was 200-250 people, according to Executive Director Joe Kassab.

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your L E T T E R S

Both Sides Now This is in response to the “Where is the Outrage?” (December 2007) and then the “Life Cut Short” (January 2008) letters written in support of Arvin Hermiz, who was killed by Southfield Police. I would like to start by saying that I have been a trooper with the Michigan State Police for 18 years. I am not involved in the investigation, nor do I have any knowledge about the case then what I have read in the local newspapers. In no way have the state police or any other department sanctioned this letter.

This is my personal view.

After reading the letters, it was clear that some members of the Chaldean Community and the Southfield Police were unfairly attacked. The prospective I bring will be from a police officer’s point of view. Police are sometimes put in positions where there can be no winners. A life and death decision usually has to be made in a split second. I can tell you firsthand that no police officer wants to be in this position. If you are unfortunate enough to have

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been in this position, your actions will be scrutinized by supervisors, prosecutors, local government and the public. In the meantime, the police officer and his family are left in limbo for months. Who in their right mind would want to go through that?

Arvin was stopped by the police and at some point attempted to drive off. He drives in the direction of the police officer. This is where the dispute comes in. Does the police officer stand there and hope the driver doesn’t steer into him? This would be an easy decision if the police could read minds. The officer decides the only way to protect himself is to eliminate the threat. Any time a person drives away from a stop like that, the police have to assume the worst. It is very easy to blame the police, but I believe in personal responsibility for your actions. The truth is, the police did not make the decision, Arvin Hermiz did.

Where do we draw the line? At the very least, Arvin Hermiz was attempting to flee the police. As you know, police chases are very dangerous and sometimes deadly. I have seen officers and innocent people killed in

chases. Is this suddenly acceptable behavior for Chaldeans? I hope not.

In the last letter published, the writer states that Arvin was unarmed and there should have been no reason for the police to use a weapon. This baffles me since more police officers are killed by cars then gunfire. We buried two troopers within the last four years that were struck by cars when standing outside their vehicle. I wonder if the letter writer has ever seen a person struck by a car. I have, and I can tell you that a car can kill just as easily as a bullet. Speaking of bullets, there was no way the police would have known the driver and passenger were unarmed, or what they were planning when the car accelerated.

There are many Chaldean police officers today. I wonder what these same people would be saying if the circumstances were reversed and the police officer was Chaldean and the driver was white. Would you want your father, brother, or cousin put in this situation? Think about it, because it is bound to happen. Unlike most jobs, you go to work hoping that you make it through the shift alive.

Now think about this. Are we going to defend any Chaldean regardless of the situation, like many other minorities, or are we going to have a higher standard? Are we going to condone bad behavior, or continue being lawabiding citizens? These are the questions you have to ask yourself.

In closing, I would like to give my condolences to the family. This letter was not meant to hurt them in any way. After reading the letters in The Chaldean News, I felt it was my obligation to let people see why this could have happened. I hope this will help people look at both sides of the story before making a decision on how they feel.

– Paul Shunia Lake Orion Letters to the editor are welcome.

Please keep your letter to less than 500 words and include your city.

The Chaldean News reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Submit your letter via email to info@chaldeannews.com or mail to: The Chaldean News, Letters to the Editor, 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334

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PUBLISHED BY The Chaldean News LLC

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Vanessa Denha-Garmo Joyce Wiswell Mervit Bashi Joe Kyriakoza Ken Marten Sawsan Kizy Mlinarcik Steve Stein

ART & PRODUCTION Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative Joseph Sesi PHOTOGRAPHERS Nora Bahrou Downs David Reed

CREATIVE DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

OPERATIONS Interlink Media DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Paul Alraihani CIRCULATION Paul Alraihani CLASSIFIEDS Joyce Wiswell

SALES Interlink Media SALES REPRESENTATIVES Marisa Comaianni

Brenda Koza Lisy Starr MANAGERS

Vanessa Denha-Garmo Martin Manna Michael Sarafa

MICHIGAN SUBSCRIPTIONS: $20 PER YEAR • THE CHALDEAN NEWS • 30095 NORTHWESTERN HWY., STE. 102, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM • PH: 248-355-4850 PUBLICATION: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published monthly; Issue Date: February, 2008 SUBSCRIPTIONS: 12 months, $20. PUBLICATION ADDRESS: 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office" POSTMASTER: Send address changes to "The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334"

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FEBRUARY 2008

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NOTEworthy

Discrimination Case Continues A hearing is scheduled for January 30-31 (after press time) in the civil rights discrimination case of Mazyn Barash, a Chaldean man who claims he suffered derogatory treatment at his job.

Barash, of Farmington Hills, was employed as a bus mechanic with SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation). He claims that upon the start of the Iraq War in March 2003 he began being harassed on the job, including called names like “rag head” and “towel head,” being asked where his camel was, hearing “kill all Iraqis” and receiving threatening letters. He was also subjected to offensive drawings and cartoons ridiculing his ethnicity. Barash, 50, left the job in 2004.

In 2006, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MDRC) ruled in favor of Barash, finding that SMART “unlawfully discriminated against [Barash] by denying him the enjoyment of civil rights guaranteed by the constitution and laws of the State of Michigan and the United States of America.” The agency ruled that SMART owed lost wages and benefits as well as monetary compensation for “humiliation, extreme embarrassment, extreme emotional distress and mental anguish.” However, SMART ignored the ruling so the case is now being heard by the MDRC.

Chaldeans March for Life Students from Brother Rice and Catholic Central high schools, along with members of the Eastern Catholic Re-evangelization Center and other concerned Chaldeans, were among some 200,000 people who participated in the March for Life Rally in Washington, DC on January 22.

EJ Jonna, a theology professor at Brother Rice, said he brought 13 students to the rally, held to mark the 35th anniversary of Roe v.

Wade, the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. He hopes to bring 50 students next year.

Jonna said the event was inspiring. “To be surrounded by a million youth who stand up for their faith is unbelievable,” he said. “The whole message of life is really resounding.”

Local Christians marched against abortion in Washington D.C.

In the San Diego area, a CFA office has opened in conjunction with Chaldean Middle Eastern Social Services. Ghassan Shathia chairs the board. The address is: 343 E. Main, Suite 201, El Cajon, CA 92020; (619) 631-7400.

Learn more at www.chaldeanfederation.org.

Women Win Teaching Honors

Melody Arabo and Theresa Dabish Sitto have each been named Teacher of the Year for their schools in the Walled Shenandoah Names Lake Consolidated District for New Board the 2007-2008 school year.

Arabo is in her sixth year as New directors and officers have been a third-grade teacher at Keith named to the Shenandoah Country Elementary.

She holds a Club board. Neb Mekani is the new Bachelor’s in Elementary president, John Loussia is vice presiEducation and a Master’s in dent, Jason Alkamano is treasurer, and Curriculum and Teaching from Frank Konja is secretary. Rounding out the board of directors are immediate Melody Arabo and Theresa Dabish Sitto Michigan State University.

Arabo was also one of two past president Michael Sarafa, Dounia finalists for the District Senawi, Kars Zair, Ronnie Jamal and John Kello.

Elementary Teacher of the Year award.

Sitto of Pleasant Lake Elementary has been a Newspaper Extols Chaldeans Bilingual Resource Teacher in Walled Lake for the past 16 years, and has taught for almost three An estimated 12,000 Chaldeans immigrating to decades. Five years ago she was Southeast Michigan this year should be welcomed also trained as a Reading Recovery “with open arms,” said an editorial in the January 20 Teacher, so she teaches English edition of the Oakland Press.

Language Learners as well as “As a group, Chaldeans are a close-knit, hardReading Recovery. A graduate of working people. They have proved to be industrious Mercy College, Wayne State and entrepreneurs and an asset to any community in which Oakland University, she holds a they reside,” said the editorial in part. “They are known Master’s of Education and a to be very family-oriented and take care of their own.

Bilingual Endorsement in Chaldean They would be model citizens and could provide a Studies, as well as a Reading needed population shot in the arm for Southeast Recovery Certification.

Michigan and the state. The immigrants should be a welcome addition to any city in the region.”

View the complete editorial on our website, www.chaldeannews.com.

CFA Opens Western Offices The Chaldean Federation of America has opened offices in Arizona and California to provide services including immigration assistance and social services for residents in those areas.

CFA now has an office in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Amir Sitto has been chosen as board chair. The address is: 6816 E. Cactus Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254; (480) 998-2034.

Chaldean Chamber Foundation Scores Large Grant

New Rules Help Iraqis Iraqi beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions (known as I-130s) have been designated individuals who may be granted direct access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The Chaldean Federation of America lobbied for the change, which may speed up entry into the U.S. for Iraqi refugees. Those seeking to move to the U.S. can now choose immigrant visa processing, refugee processing, or both.

Learn more from the CFA at www.chaldeanfederation.org.

Daoud Receives Major Award Tarik Daoud has received one of the first-ever National Awards for Citizen Diplomacy. The award, given by the Iowa-based U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, recognizes recipients for promoting Tarik Daoud cross-cultural understanding around the world.

Daoud was recognized for his wok with the International Visitors Council of Metropolitan Detroit and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. He will be honored, along with five other recipients, at a ceremony in Washington, DC. Daoud is the chairman and owner of Al Long Ford in Warren.

Israel Named a Best Doc

Dr. Nejla Israel, M.D. was featured in Vital Magazine’s 2008 Best Thomas Roe, assistant dean of clinical education at Doctors list. She also The Chaldean Chamber Foundation WSU’s School of Medicine, congratulates Nejla Israel. recently received the has been awarded $150,000 from the prestigious 2007 Michigan Department of Community Health. The founWayne State School of Medicine Teaching Award. She dation will disperse the funds to other community groups is a clinical faculty member at the Wayne State Medical including the Chaldean Federation of America and School and an assistant professor at Wayne State Chaldean Cultural Center, expected to open its museum University’s Department of Family Medicine and Public this fall. State Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) was Health Sciences. Israel is an active member at the instrumental in helping to acquire the funds.

Mother of God Church in Southfield.

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Mom’s Turn

Christopher, Paul, Donnovan and John Shaya surround their mother and fellow UM grad, Sandy Saffar-Shaya.

Henry Ford West Bloomfield Relocates Some Services Several services currently located in Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital are re-locating to the new Henry Ford Medical Center — Columbus in Novi.

The relocation will allow patients to receive services during construction of the new hospital. Henry Ford Medical Center — Columbus is located at 39450 W. 12 Mile Road in Novi, at Haggerty.

Behavioral Health Services is now open at the Columbus location.

Patients will begin receiving additional services in the new building, according to the following tentative schedule: Opening February 4: Allergy, Colon and

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Rectal Surgery, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Medicine. Opening February 25: Occupational Therapy, Plastic Surgery and Physical Therapy. Opening March 3 is the Mohs Clinic.

Patients should confirm the location of their next appointments in advance by calling (248) 661-4100.

People Eman H. Jajonie-Daman has been named a magistrate in the 46th District Court in Southfield. She and her husband, Namir Daman, have a law firm in Southfield.

After 17 years at Sommers Schwartz, Jay G. Yasso has joined the law firm of Hertz Schram in Bloomfield

At the age of 59, Sandy Saffar-Shaya of Bloomfield Hills graduated from the University of Michigan in December with a B.A. in History. The mother of four grown sons — Donnovan, Paul, John and Christopher — achieved the feat in four years with academic honors, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA, including membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.

“Now I can go to Michigan Stadium’s Big House and cheer alongside my alumni sons as an alumna myself,” she said.

Hills. In addition to business, real estate and litigation issues, Yasso also handles entertainment law.

Matthew Yousif has been named to the Dean’s List at Albion Jay G. Yasso College for the fall semester. A sophomore majoring in chemistry, he is the son of Neal and Hana Yousif of West Bloomfield.

Randall S. Sarafa has been elected vice presi- Matthew Yousif dent of the Undergraduate Council at Harvard University.

Previously, Sarafa was the council’s Finance Committee chair. A junior majoring in social studies, he plans to

NANA says

Break an egg on a new house or kill a live turkey to take away the curses.

If you bite your nails, they’ll grow in your stomach.

If you have a dream about someone you love dying, it means he or she will live longer.

Thanks to all who shared their Nana-isms. Keep them coming to info@chaldeannews.com, or write to The Chaldean News, 30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334.

enter the legal field. He is the son of Nazar and Faten Sarafa. After winning the election, Sarafa kept a campaign promise to take an icy plunge in Boston’s Charles River in December with members of the Alaska Klub.

ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MICK

NOTEworthy

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ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MICK FEBRUARY 2008

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C H A I time

CHALDEANS CONNECTING [Friday, February 1] Valentine’s Family Fun Night: Karaoke, an obstacle course, moonwalk and other family-friendly fun at Shenandoah Country Club. Tickets are $22 adults, $15 kids. 6-9 p.m., members only. Call Michelle, (248) 454-1932.

[Tuesday, February 5] Improving Your Existing Business the Right Way the First Time: A seminar for existing businesses looking to

[Sunday, February 3] Super Bowl Party: 3rd annual party, open to those ages 14 and older, at Shenandoah Country Club runs from 5:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Cash bar and buffet dinner. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door; non-members welcome. Call Michelle, (248) 454-1932.

[Tuesday, February 5] Surviving the Michigan Economy: Networking event explores how to beat the odds locally to accelerate the state’s economic growth. Sponsored by the Detroit District Council of the Urban Land Institute. $55 non-members. 7:30 a.m., Centerpoint Marriott, Pontiac. (800) 321-5011.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT FEBRUARY 2008

[Thursday, February 7] Go Red for Women Luncheon: More than 700 Metro Detroit women come together to help fight heart disease in women. Presented by the American Heart Association. 9 a.m., Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. $150. (248) 936-5825.

[Friday, February 8 – Sunday, February 10] Motown Winter Blast: It’s the fourth year for the popular outdoor festival, which includes a giant snow slide, ice sculptures, marshmallow roasting, live music, a Michigan film festival, and more.

Downtown Detroit in the Campus Martius area (Woodward and Fort).

increase profitability, improve employee issues and find funding for growth.

Sponsored by Business Success Group LLC. 8:30 a.m., Liberty Center, 110 W. Big Beaver, Troy. $49.

(248) 434-5330.

[Thursday, February 14] Chaldean Valentine’s Night: Dinner, a cash bar and music from Ameed Asmaro and the Al-Shams Band at Shenandoah Country Club. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

$50 members, $60 non-members. Make reservations by February 11 by calling Michelle, (248) 454-1932.

[Thursday, February 21] Industry Outlook/State of the City: Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick meets with the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce to discuss a new partnership between Chaldean store owners and the City of Detroit. 7 p.m., Shenandoah Country Club. RSVP to the chamber, (248) 538-3700 or lkalou@chaldeanchamber.com.

[Sunday, February 24] Wine Tasting: Third annual event with wine, hors d’oeuvres and live music benefits Leader Dogs for the Blind. 6 p.m., Cinq, 419 S. Main Street, Royal Oak. $60. (248) 651-9011.

Please let us know what is going on in the community. Send your information to The Chaldean News, Editorial Department, 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334

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boushala

Chaldean favorites — with a healthy twist

BY SAWSAN KIZY MLINARCIK

liquid as whited rice. It can be tricky ago only brown rice existed. very Chaldean knows rizza and to get it just right, not too hard or too White rice grew in popularity maraca — it’s the food of our mushy, so bring a lot of patience. when food producers began to mill ancestors and truly the perfect Maraca is a great dish packed the grain in order to remove its bran meal, providing everything from carwith flavor and nutrition. It also conand germ, leaving only the bohydrates for energy to protein for tains really high levels of the antioxiendosperm intact. This was mainly our muscles, eyes and hair to vegdant lycopene, which has been done to extend the shelf life as the etables for vitamins and minerals. It’s shown to reduce the risk of various removed parts contain natural oils good food, but can be made in ways cancers such as prostate cancer. that can go rancid after a few that are even better for your health.

Traditionally, oil is used in making rizza — but it really Traditionally, oil is used in making rizza — doesn’t require any. Did you know that in most Asian but it really doesn’t require any. countries, where people have long been regarded as Maracas can vary greatly, however months. However, brown rice is the thinner built and quite healthy, they — not just in what they contain, but better choice because it contains don’t add any oil to their rice at all? in just how healthy they are. higher levels of nutrients, fiber and Give it a try and see how you like it.

When choosing the meat for your protein. It also encourages smaller It’s a step that can save you hunmaraca, go with a leaner cut like sirportion sizes as it allows you to feel dreds of calories per week. loin or round. Sirloin is more tender, full faster.

While on the subject of rice, have but round is cheaper so pick your There are a few things to rememyou ever tried brown or long-grain wild battle — more money or longer stewber when preparing brown rice. rice? These are whole grain in nature, ing. Either way, you have a nice, lean Because the outer shell is still on the literally meaning the “whole grain” is meat that won’t add too much satugrain, it will take twice as long to left intact. Today, most of us know rated fat to your dish. cook and require almost twice the white rice as our staple food, but years

You don’t need a lot of meat in your food to make it taste good.

Your plate should have around four to five ounces of meat and the rest should consist of carbohydrates and vegetables. Frozen or fresh vegetables both work very well because they contain high levels of nutrients.

How you flavor your food can also have a big impact on your health.

Hypertension is becoming a growing concern for our community, but many Chaldean mothers still use regular table salt in their dishes. Experts tell us that the average healthy adult should get between 1500 and 2300 mg of sodium per day. Kosher or sea salts contain more than 100 mg less sodium per serving than iodized salt.

Give them a try, but note that they are usually considered more mild in flavor so your food may not taste as salty.

Most chefs, however, prefer them.

Keep in mind, every little step we take today can lead to better tomorrows for ourselves and our families.

E

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HALHOLE!

[Births]

Logan Nather Big sisters Lauren and Brooke proudly announce the arrival of their little prince, Logan Nather Hamama. Logan was born on July 16, 2007 weighing 6 lbs. and 10 oz. Proud parents are Nate and Heather Hamama. Excited grandparents are Nadeem & Patricia Zoma and Louis & Amel Hamama.

Gabriella Grace

Logan Nather

All of God’s grace in one sweet face! God has blessed Nick and Lisa Gappy the third time around. Selma and Dominic are proud to announce the birth of their new baby sister, Gabriella Grace. She was born on July 9, 2007 at 9:15 p.m. She weighed 9 lbs., 6 oz. and measured 21 inches long.

Gabriella is the sixth grandchild for Daoud & Lamia Gappy and the fifth for Mowaffaq & Latifa Ousachi.

May God bless them with more.

Gabriella Grace

Aleena Evelyn Peter and Olivia Mona are blessed with the birth of their third child.

Big brothers Connor and Kyle are exited to announce the arrival of their baby sister, Aleena Evelyn.

She was born on August 13, 2007 weighing 8 lbs., 12 oz. and measuring 22 inches.

Aleena is the fifth grandchild for Showkat & Evelyn Mona and the sixth for Shabib & Raja Sesi. Godparents are Uncle Paul Mona and soon-to-be Aunt Hilda Murado.

Kaitlyn Marie

Aleena Evelyn

Big brother Jayden is proud to announce the birth of his beautiful baby sister, Kaitlyn Marie. She was born on June 22, 2007 weighing 7 lbs., 14 oz. and measuring 19.5 inches long. Blessed parents are Robert & Raghad Matti.

Kaitlyn is the fifth grandchild for Naim & Jolet Matti and the 19th for Hermiz & Sabria Konja. Godparents are Anthony Konja and Ashley Bahoura.

Kaitlyn Marie 20 CHALDEAN NEWS

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[Births]

Angelina and Paulina Frank and Elvia Ankawi are proud to announce the birth of their twin daughters, Paulina Rose and Angelina Alexis. The beautiful girls were born at the University of Michigan Hospital on October 19, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. (Paulina) and 9:45 a.m. (Angelina). Paulina weighed 6 lbs., 13 oz. and measured 18.5 inches long.

Angelina weighed 6 lbs., 3 oz. and measured 18 3/8 inches long. We are now blessed with three healthy daughters.

Loving grandparents are Tarik & Muna Ankawi and Leo & Ofelia Garcia. Proud godparents are Jared Ankawi and Vanessa Garcia for Paulina and Danny Ankawi and Michelle Yasso for Angelina.

Angelina and Paulina

Landon Luke Ashton and Jordan are proud to announce the birth of their beautiful baby brother, Landon Luke. He was born on July 15, 2007 at 11:50 a.m., weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz. and measuring 20 inches. Proud parents are Luke and Dawn Samona.

Landon is the 22nd grandchild for Jamila & the late Giorguis Samona and the 12th for Salman & Muntaha Yono.

Proud godfather is Travis Samona.

Drs. Purcell, Sayegh & Zimny

Landon Luke

*Board Certified Family Medicine Specialists

Marissa Marie God has blessed David and Noor Arafat with the birth of their first child, Marissa Marie, on October 10, 2007. She weighed in at 7 lbs., 2 oz. and measured 21 inches.

Marissa is the fifth grandchild of Widad & the late Sami Arafat and the first for Saad & Wafa Benny. Godparents are Lara & Joey Benny.

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Announcements for births, engagements, weddings and milestone anniversaries (50 years and above) are published free of charge for paid subscribers. All events must have occurred within one year. E-mail the text and a photo as a jpeg attachment to: info@chaldeannews.com, or mail to The Chaldean News, 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, MI 48334.

Include your name, address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit all entries. Sorry, we do not publish poems or return photos.

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FEBRUARY 2008

CHALDEAN NEWS 21

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HALHOLE!

Jaylen Junior and Jordan Jarbo are happy to announce the birth of their baby brother Jaylen.

Jaylen was born on November 29, 2007 at 2:16 p.m. weighing 7 lbs. and 5 oz., measuring 20 inches. Proud parents are Jason and Shala Jarbo.

Jaylen is the 17th grandchild of Najib and Habiba Jarbo and the ninth for Korkess and Maryam Sesi. Godparents are Devin and Hala Sesi.

Colin

Jaylen

A little bit of heaven, drifted down from above ‌ Colin Asker was born on October 3, 2007 weighing in at 6 lbs., 7 oz. and measuring 19 inches.

Loving parents are Marvin and Arlean Asker. Colin is the first grandchild of Nazar & Athmar Azzo and the third for Adil & Layla Asker. Godparents are Laura Azzo and Johnny Brikho.

[Engagement]

Danny and Melinda

Colin

Yousif & Esther Hamama are proud to announce the engagement of their son, Danny to Melinda, daughter of Muna & the late Samuel Youkhanna. The couple is planning a July 2008 wedding.

They are truly blessed to share this joyous time with all their friends and family.

[Wedding]

Sally and Joey Sally and Joey began their new life together on October 14, 2007. Joey is the son of Albert & Ikhlas Kejbou, and Sally is the daughter of Dr. Nisreen & the late Dr. Jamal Murad. The sacrament of marriage took place at Mother of God Church, followed with a reception at Penna’s of Sterling Heights. The couple honeymooned in the French Polynesian islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. Joey is a practicing attorney and Sally will graduate from medical school in May 2008. May God bless them and grant them a wonderful life together!

Danny and Melinda

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I R A Q today

Wave of Bombings Hit Churches wave of violence hit Christian churches in Iraq in January, the most recent on January 17 as of press time.

That day, a car bomb exploded outside a Chaldean church in Mosul, slightly injuring two people. The booby-trapped car was discovered parked outside the Immaculate Virgin Chaldean Church in the Al-Shiffa district of the city and detonated as security personnel evacuated the area, police chief General Abdel Karim Khalaf al-Juburi told the Australian Broadcasting Service.

A police officer and a little girl were wounded in the blast. No worshippers were in the church at the time of the explosion, although church windows, the front door and a wall around the church grounds were damaged. The attack was the second on the church, which has been closed since the first attack about two years ago.

The week before saw a chain of attacks against churches. On January 6, a bomb exploded outside St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, destroying its rear entrance. Within five minutes of the attack, militants also bombed Malkeits Orthodox Church and a Chaldean convent in the Zafaraniya area of Baghdad. Church leaders reported that six people were wounded in the blasts, which took place on Epiphany, also celebrated as Mosul. It warned Christmas Eve in the Eastern liturgi- “It’s a message Christians not to cal calendar. attend the church At the same time in Mosul, to us that and asked them to bombers struck two churches as leave Mosul. At the well as a Catholic bishops’ center so-called same church, Fr. recently converted to an orphanage.

Raghid Kanni and Inside the orphanage at the time of improved three church deathe explosion were 30 young girls, all cons were murdered under 12 years old. None were hurt security is no one year ago. but damage in the area was extenChristians living in sive. In Mosul’s Ancient Assyrian security for Mosul also received Church of the East, at least four peoindividual warning letple were wounded, one seriously, Iraq’s ters the day before the when a parked car exploded as a January 6 attacks. service was about to begin. minorities.”

Composed in rough Bombers struck again January 9, – EMANUEL YOUKHANA, script, the letters hitting a Chaldean Church and a ASSYRIAN ORTHODOX claimed to be from “Al Syriac Church, both in Kirkuk. There PRIEST Qaeda Organization in were no injuries.

Islamic State of Iraq.”

Following those attacks, Emanuel They warned “infidel Christians that if you don’t Youkhana, an Assyrian Orthodox priest in believe in Allah and his messenger Muhammad northern Iraq, told WORLD: “It’s a message son of Abdullah (Allah’s prayers and peace be to us that so-called improved security is no upon him) and if you don’t leave your places, all security for Iraq’s minorities.” of you will be slaughtered in three days.”

Christians did not have to wait long to After examining the warning letters, Fr. actually read the writing on the wall. On Youkhana said he doubted that they came January 5, a hand-painted warning appeared from larger, well-organized jihadi groups. But in Arabic on the wall of a Catholic church in

A

whoever sent the letters obviously shares the larger groups’ extremist ideology and should be taken seriously, he said, since they were able to pull off the attacks, or coordinate with those who did.

Chaldean Archbishop Faraj Rahoo told ankawa.com news service that the government must recognize that the bombings are part of a plan to drive Christians out of Iraq.

“We have been living in Iraq before Islam, but those strangers who came to the city are causing the kidnappings and bombings and trying to sow sedition in the hearts of Iraqis,” he said.

Since 2004 approximately 40 churches have been bombed, with no claims of responsibility by militant groups. Most have taken place in largely Sunni sectors, causing church leaders to suspect Al Qaeda in Iraq.

“When Christians have been the target of killings and kidnappings, we know it can also be the work of criminal gangs, but when it comes to bombs and churches, this is terrorism,” said Youkhana. “And there is no easier place to bomb than a church.”

Men inspect the damage after two car bombs exploded in Kirkuk on January 9.

The Associated Press and the Assyrian International News Agency contributed to this report.

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JASON ABRO, 33 Detective, Macomb County Sheriff’s Department Years on force: 8 Most memorable moment: Working on the homicide case of Marilou Johnson (stabbed in the summer of 2007), which is still in court proceedings. It has been a lengthy investigation and it’s still ongoing.

Hardest part: It’s a dangerous job and we put our lives on the line every day.

When I put on my coat and shoes, I don’t know whether I’m coming back.

Most rewarding part: Going home at the end of the night knowing I have helped someone, that I have somehow impacted society or the citizens I work for.

What makes a good cop: Honesty, integrity and doing the right thing all the time. We need more Chaldeans involved in police work; there are not enough for the population we have.

Most outrageous favor: “I got a ticket, is there anything you can do for me?” I direct them to get an attorney.

ANONYMOUS, 32 Undercover narcotics officer Years on force: 10 Biggest worry: Not coming home to my family at night. There are many reasons this could happen, the worst of course being shot and/or killed on the job.

Most outrageous favor: Someone asked me to give them all the weed (marijuana) I confiscate so they can smoke it instead of having to buy it.

Another person asked me to give them all the drugs I collect from raids so he can sell them and make a profit.

Of course I turned down both offers!

Favorite cop movie/TV show: First 48 because it is very realistic.

JOSEPH HADDAD, 39 Just promoted to sergeant, Troy Police Department (also a Command Sergeant Major in the Army Reserve) Years on force: 14 (10 in Troy, 4 in Hamtramck) Most memorable moment: Listening in on a conversation in Arabic where the individuals thought I did not understand, during which they planned to shoot another individual. Following a search, we discovered a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol in their possession. The homicide was thwart-

POLICE

Continued on page 28 26 CHALDEAN NEWS

FEBRUARY 2008

Chaldean cops walk the beat

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO AND JOYCE WISWELL

T

hey may wear different uni- is the most-experienced Chaldean officers are killed with their own gun.”

A 32-year-old narcotics undercovforms, patrol different neigh- cop. “I’m happy as a working serborhoods and hold various geant,” he said. “I do what I expect er police officer in a city’s vice unit is titles but they share many common- my boys to do. A lot of people want to also no stranger to danger. His focus is alities as police officers: They’re not go into law enforcement but family getting as many drug dealers off the street as possible and keeping the in it for the money, they had to con- reasons keep them out.”

After befriending police officers who streets safe. “My favorite is the thrill vince their parents to support their decision, and they love what they do. frequented his father’s liquor store in of raiding homes,” said the cop, whose The life of a cop is filled with White Lake Township, Paul Shunia identity can not be revealed. “Not uncertainty but Chaldean officers are began doing ride-alongs once a week. It knowing what’s behind the door proud to have taken an oath to didn’t take much time for him to enroll you’re breaking down, what’s going to uphold the law, fully understanding in the highly regarded Michigan State happen from one day to the next. The Police Academy in Lansing. Today, thrill of the unknown in my job is they are often in harm’s way.

There are a growing number of Shunia has 18 years as a Michigan State very exciting to me.”

For police officers, each new day Chaldean police officers in depart- Trooper. ments across the state including a state trooper, an undercover cop, several detectives and sheriff deputies.

Nick Loussia, a lieutenant for the Southfield Police Department, is the highest-ranking Chaldean cop in Michigan. He worked his way up the ranks from patrol officer and was a detective, part of the undercover unit, a member of the Special Response Team and a sergeant.

His duties entail being the department’s media spokesperson, training officers, DID YOU handling equipment, Southfield Detective Nick Loussia and Michigan State Trooper Paul Shunia KNOW? conducting the background process and “I wanted the brings a new episode. “One day I These Chaldean women are all former cops: coordinating homeland best,” said Shunia. “If might be buying drugs from drug dealsecurity initiatives.

I didn’t end up a State ers on the street, doing a raid, followNora Bahrou Downs, Keego Harbor Police “What attracted me Trooper I would prob- ing people all around, picking up to law enforcement was Sana Brihko, Detroit Police ably be running my hookers, working with informants, Jane Shallal, Detroit Police being able to make a difdad’s store.” hanging out at the bar to find out ference in the commuIn the life of a information such as who is selling nity,” said Loussia. He recognizes that police officer, there is no average day. drugs, watching for any liquor violaowning your own business is admirable Shunia patrols all of Oakland County tions,” said the undercover cop. and requires dedication and hard work and half of Macomb County and as a Despite the danger and relatively but adds, “It is good for the community state trooper, is responsible for several low pay, all insist they’d have it no at-large to see that Chaldeans have townships. “When I was younger, I felt other way. expanded into other fields.” invincible,” said Shunia. “I did not real“You really have to have a passion Entering the police force is not a ize how dangerous my job really was.” for the job because there isn’t a ton of field many parents easily embrace.

A simple traffic stop can turn dead- money in it,” said the undercover cop.

“My mom was dead set against it,” ly as officers have no idea who or what “Chaldeans like to be very wealthy. said Loussia. “She is great now; when they may be dealing with “You have to You will live good, but will never be I became a detective she was thrilled remember that anything can go from wealthy.” that I would be off the streets.” bad to worse in a split second,” Shunia With 29 years under his belt, Fred said. “You can’t hesitate to make a deci- The Chaldean News made every effort to contact every Chaldean police officer. We Yono of Van Buren Township Police sion. More than 25 percent of police apologize to anyone overlooked.

PHOTO BY DAVID REED

Favorite cop movie/TV show: The Untouchables, which shows how detectives and law enforcement used in the work in the day.

wearing the badge

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The hospital you’ve always imagined

is coming.

We’re building the new Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital The future of medicine will soon begin. As a recognized center of excellence in cancer care, orthopaedics, heart disease and more, our West Bloomfield medical center has served our community for over thirty years. During construction of the new West Bloomfield Hospital, you can trust that we’ll continue to offer the latest treatment and comprehensive care you’ve come to expect from Henry Ford.

Go to henryford.com to see our new hospital or to make an appointment.

FEBRUARY 2008

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POLICE

Continued from page 26

Most outrageous favor: Someone asked me to run a license plate to find out where someone lives. I didn’t do it.

ed and never had I felt so grateful for the second language skills taught to me by my parents.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Reno 911 is funny but obviously not realistic.

The hardest part: Not letting what you see and experience negatively affect your outlook on society as a whole. We just so happen to be in a position where we see many people at their worst.

What makes a good cop: Those who truly believe integrity cannot be compromised.

Most outrageous favor: A group of UCLA cheerleaders asked me to give them a ride in my patrol car to their hotel and join them for a night of partying. I did not partake for many reasons but it was flattering and at the same time, a good story.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Cop Land, because the good cops prevailed and the bad ones were exposed.

ZENA SAMONA DAILEY, 26 Officer, Clarkston Police Department Years on force: 4 (1 with Clarkston, 3 with Pontiac) What attracted you to law enforcement: I wanted to help people and I didn’t want to sit at a desk all day.

Most memorable moment: I was doing a Click It or Ticket detail when an older Pontiac resident flagged me down. She had an oxygen tank but the valve was turned off and she couldn’t get any. I turned it on for her and she was so happy. I’ve done more exciting things but that was the best feeling; she was so sweet.

Most rewarding part: People are so thankful when you arrive to help them.

And I like being a role model to little kids; they really look up to you.

What makes a good cop: Good intuition, being quick on your feet and being compassionate and patient.

LARRY HAILO, 47 Patrolman, Orchard Lake Police Department Years on force: 10 Why Chaldeans are attracted to law enforcement: They’re no different from any other culture. I think it’s a personal interest one develops. Another factor may be that it is different from many years of working retail.

Most rewarding: Every shift can bring a new challenge no matter how many years you have been a police officer.

Being able to capture and see criminals prosecuted, as is being there and helping someone when they are desperate, is extremely rewarding personally. I also believe I am serving the Lord while performing the duties of this profession and that is very gratifying.

What makes a good cop: I believe honesty and integrity speak volumes.

Most outrageous favor: People have told me after stopping them for a DUI, “I’ll give you anything you want if you just take me home.” I tell them, “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Cops is the closest to real police work.

BASSAM HAKIM, 39 Officer, Detroit Police Department (Currently spending one year in Iraq as an International Police Officer) Years on force: 12 Most rewarding part: Helping people every day who need it and knowing that I did something positive at work.

The hardest part: Seeing little children be victimized.

Why Chaldeans are attracted to law enforcement: The position of authority, respect and the excitement of the profession.

GHESSAN ISTEFAN, 29

Most outrageous favor: A woman called in and said, “I am a Detroit resident and I am stuck in Toledo, Ohio.

Can you send a car to pick me up?” I almost fell out of my seat from not laughing out loud. I kept it professional and explained to her that we are not a taxi service.

Years on force: 6.5

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Lethal Weapon series

JASSIN HAKIM, 29 Officer, Sterling Heights Police Department Years on force: 9 (4 with Sterling Heights and 5 with Detroit) Most memorable moment: On March 5, 2002 while working in Detroit, my partner and I responded to a “shots fired” call. A man stated he was a private investigator and was being shot at by an unknown suspect. Just as soon as we found that out, we were greeted by several shots from an AK-47. My partner and I were pinned behind our vehicle for an hour and a half and exchanged more than 100 rounds with the suspect. By the grace of God we made it out alive; unfortunately the suspect did not.

The hardest part: You see how ugly and sad the world really is. Most people are blind to what actually happens in this world.

Most rewarding thing: When you go home at night you know that you have just helped out a complete stranger when they had no one else to turn to, and that the city you work in is that much safer because a criminal may have seen you drive past and made him think twice about committing a crime. For me it’s personal because I grew up in Sterling Heights, so to help the city and residents makes me feel good.

Biggest favor asked: “Can you get my cousin out of jail?”

Favorite cop movie/TV show: The Shield

Officer, Detroit Police Department’s Southwestern Division

What attracted you to law enforcement: I love to help people and what better way to do that than to be a police officer.

Most memorable moment: In 2003, I received a life-saving medal for saving a woman trying to kill herself by jumping from a bridge onto the I-96 highway.

The hardest part: The danger of working in Detroit. It’s exciting and frightening at the same time.

Most rewarding thing: To see the happy faces of all the people we help who really need us, and the recognition we receive from people who really know how tough our job is for what little money we make.

What makes a good cop: Being a people person. If you’re not into saying hello to anyone, you’re in the wrong job.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: The Untouchables

NADER JAMIL, 30 Patrol officer and SWAT Team member, Inkster Police Department Years on force: 8 (7 in Inkster, 1 as a Wayne County Sheriff) Most memorable moment: Just recently we chased a guy who stole a car, then tracked his footprints in the snow into a condemned vacant house. It was falling apart so much we could see inside it, but he was hiding. I said, “Let me see your hands,” and he sticks his hands out — I was just bluffing! Then he fell (through the rotted floor) into the basement.

The hardest part: We have to work every holiday and no matter how cold it is out there, you’re out there. The media blows up the bad things you do and never talks about the good things. We have to make decisions within a matter of seconds. I’d rather be judged by six than carried by six.

Most rewarding: Looking at people’s faces when they see me patrol the

POLICE

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POLICE

Continued from page 28 streets, they wave and thank us for what we’re doing. It really means a lot.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Bad Boys because it’s funny.

RONNIE KARJO, 38 Officer, Inkster Police Department Years on force: 14 (6 with Inkster, also worked for Royal Oak Township and Memphis) What attracted you to law enforcement: Something my mother will never understand — it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I get a lot of joy from helping those who can’t defend or help themselves.

Most memorable moment: A few months ago I received a call of two men with guns attempting to enter a home. I got there at 1:30 a.m. and saw the homeowner shooting with an AK-47. I ordered him to drop the gun and he did, but it took a minute or two for backup to come. One victim ended up dying. I was recommended for a medal of commemoration for this incident — it could have turned out real bad.

The hardest part: Every day you go to work, you might not make it home. I’ve been shot at many times, stabbed and run over by a car.

What makes a good cop: Chaldeans approach me about this all the time. I tell them they can’t get into trouble — stay in school and have no arrests. Ninetynine percent of being a good cop is common sense — if you have that, you can get through anything.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Third Watch because it’s pretty accurate.

DERIK KASSAB, 27 Detective, West Bloomfield Police Department Years on Force: 5 Future aspirations: Making sergeant one day. I’m halfway through my master’s in criminal justice.

Most memorable moment: Making detective and being selected for the Special Response Team, which handles high-risk search warrants and hostage situations (similar to a SWAT Team).

Hardest part: Being both Chaldean and working in West Bloomfield, making sure you step back when Chaldeans are involved. Some people expect you to treat them differently because they and you are Chaldean.

RAFID MAYA, 41 Police officer, Southfield Police Department Years on force: 15 (11 with Southfield, 4 with Detroit) Most memorable moment: When my father, Ghazi, pinned my badge on me when I began with Southfield.

What makes a good cop: It’s the type of job where you’re going to get slapped in the face metaphorically — you see the worst of people and death in the worst way. You need to step out of it and not get emotionally attached.

People think it is all brawn and no brains, but your biggest tool is your mouth and how you use it.

What attracted you to police work: The majority of my friends growing up on Seven Mile weren’t doing the right thing — half got killed the other half ended up going to jail. My aspirations were higher than theirs. I felt I could benefit society by assisting against crime and helping each individual. It’s a calling from God.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Bad Boys because it’s so unrealistic, it’s entertaining.

Most rewarding part: Every day I wake up and it’s a new adventure. That one person I help out might then be able to go out and change the world.

NICK LOUSSIA, 44

What makes a good cop: My main thing is faith; you wake up with it and that’s what keeps you strong.

Lieutenant, Southfield Police Department Years on force: 17 Most memorable moment: The one that really stands out was when I had a year on the job and we happened to be in the parking lot of a mall when an armed robbery occurred. The bad guys fled in a Mustang and we were chasing them, then the passenger waved a semi-automatic and started firing shots.

It was right out of a movie. Then they jumped the embankment and went down to the freeway. They crashed and there was a foot pursuit. It was amazing that no one was hurt. We recovered the stolen property and got the guys.

Most outrageous favor: When I first became a cop, anytime a Chaldean was pulled over in Southfield he or she would say, “Hey, do you know Nick?

He’s my cousin.” It got to be so ridiculous that some officers made tee-shirts that read, “Yes, I know Nick Loussia.”

Favorite cop movie/TV show: The Untouchables

Most outrageous favor: Friends ask me for a police escort in Southfield so they don’t have to stop at the red lights.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: It’s a tossup between Lethal Weapon and Die Hard.

SCOTT SHAMOUN, 36 Detective, Farmington Hills Police Department Years on force: 9 Most memorable moment: Two years ago I responded to a car in a tree on 14 Mile Road.

When I arrived, a man frantically yelled, “I killed her.” I looked over my shoulder and there she was, an elderly woman lying there unresponsive. I called for help and began CPR, but she was dead.

When I went to her house to inform her loved ones, I noticed wedding anniversary invitations for her and her husband to be celebrated the next month.

Most rewarding part: It’s a feeling of accomplishment: helping people with a broken-down automobile, giving advice in domestic situations, saving someone’s life, stopping a speeder going 100 mph

in a school zone, delivering a baby and all the joy it brings.

Hardest part: Not letting your emotions get in the way of doing your job. You have to be strong at the moment you’re trying to help or save a life.

Most outrageous favor: I responded to an accident involving two elderly Chaldean women, who were at fault.

They were speaking Chaldean to one another and decided one of them would fake a heart attack to avoid a ticket. I explained to them I understood what they said. They were very embarrassed, but one still had the nerve to ask me to help them out because I am also Chaldean.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Serpicio

PAUL SHUNIA, 41 Trooper, Michigan State Police (Stationed at Metro North in Oak Park) Years on the force: 18 Most memorable moment: Graduating from the MSP Training Academy. They run it like a Marine boot camp. It’s extremely hard; 30 percent don’t make it.

Most rewarding part: As an accident investigator, doing a good investigation and getting good results. I’m guessing there are more than 400 fatal accidents I’ve been involved with.

Advice for aspiring cops: You’ve got to want to do it for yourself, not to impress friends of family, or you’re not going to make it. And you have to be in top, top physical shape for the academy. I worked out every day for two years before the academy and I wasn’t even close to prepared.

What makes a good cop: Patience.

Just because someone runs up and accuses someone of doing something, you have to listen to both sides of the story. You can’t rush to judgment.

Most outrageous favor: I stopped a Chaldean guy for speeding and he told me he knew Trooper Shunia. I told that I too knew Trooper Shunia. The fact is, the guy did not know me, he only knew my name. The traffic stop didn’t work out so well for him.

POLICE

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RELIGION

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

CHALDEAN CHURCHES IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT 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

ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI; (586) 254-7221 PASTOR: Rev. Emanuel Hana Isho Shaleta ASSISTANT PASTOR: Rev. Basel Yaldo MASS SCHEDULE: Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in Chaldean, 10:30 a.m. in English, noon in Chaldean, 2 p.m. in Arabic; baptisms, 3 p.m. on Sundays. Weekdays 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Beginning September 1: Saturday mass, 5 p.m.

POLICE

Continued from page 29 Favorite cop movie/TV show: Beverly Hills Cop is still funny to me.

One guy asked if I could go on the computer and erase his points.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Bad Boys

ALBERT YASSO, JAY YALDOO, 35 Deputy Sheriff, Oakland County Sheriff’s Department

Sergeant, Detroit Police Department Years on force: 13

Most memorable moment: Receiving the 2005 MADD award for arresting the most drunk drivers. I arrested more than 100 that year. I can just look at a car and say, that guy is drunk.

Most memorable moment: I was six months out of the academy when I was outside a house, guarding the door where a barricaded gunman inside had killed his ex-girlfriend. Her body was on the front lawn. He ended up surrendering.

The hardest part: Sometimes you have to make tough, tough decisions, like arresting someone when you don’t want to. Especially when there are children of drunk drivers in the back seat — how to explain why you’re taking their mom to jail?

The hardest part: A police officer is generally the first one on a scene and we see some very sad things.

Sometimes you have to say, “Lord, I don’t know why you let this happen but I have to trust in your judgment.” But good works are supposed to be hard and stressful — if it was an easy job everyone would be doing it.

Most outrageous favor: Chaldeans are always asking me to get rid of tickets.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Robocop because people think it’s funny to call me that.

40

Years on force: 8

Most rewarding part: It feels good when you go home at night and you know you made a difference, such as finding a runaway or an elderly person who wandered away. I love it every day and I’m on the motorcycle unit in the summer. I think, they pay me to ride!

going into downtown. Once a Chaldean called and asked me to open the streets for him as he drove up.

FRED YONO, 53 Sergeant in charge of the Traffic Bureau, Van Buren Township Police Department Years on force: 29 Most memorable moment: We had a call about 10 years ago about a car on fire on the I-94. We got two kids out of the car. If we didn’t get there on time, they would have never gotten out.

The hardest part: Dealing with fatal accidents with kids involved. It’s the worst thing you can see.

Most rewarding part: I arrested more than 200 drunk drivers in one year. If I save one life by giving a speeding ticket, I’ve accomplished a lot by slowing people down.

What attracted you to law enforcement: I wanted to help people. Being a religious family, my parents realized I was doing a good thing and grudgingly accepted it.

What makes a good cop: You have to have common sense. You can have all the education you want but you won’t be a good cop if you have no common sense.

Most outrageous favor: During the fireworks show, the roads are all blocked

Favorite cop movie/TV show: Cops.

It’s the real thing — exactly what we do out there.

YASSIR ZORA, 29 Deputy, Corrections Department, Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Years on force: 7 (two with OC and five with Detroit) Most memorable moment: The first week on the job while working in Detroit, they called for a Chaldean-speaking officer. A guy was stuck in his car near Seven Mile and no one could understand a word he was saying. I went to the hospital with him and called his family.

The hardest part: I had a 5-year-old child die in my arms after being hit by a car. The good thing was that his organs were donated.

Most rewarding part: Helping people out. Once a Chaldean in a clinic was having pain but didn’t speak any English, so I translated. That made my day. It’s my personal gratification if I get the chance to help one Chaldean family. Chaldeans from Iraq treat law enforcement differently; maybe I can help change it so they are not afraid of police officers.

Favorite cop movie/TV show: I used to watch Cops when I was younger.

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FEBRUARY 2004

APRIL 04

CHALDEAN NEWS THE COVERS 2004-2007 MARCH 2004

APRIL 2004

MAY 2004

The community’s newest church, St. George in Shelby Township, opened Christmas 2004. Its four masses each Sunday draw some 2,000 worshippers. A total of $6 million is owned to pay off the construction loans — a $32,000 monthly payment on $4.5 million of that amount pays little more than interest. Church officials hope to build a social hall and space for Catechism classes, but “there’s no way that will happen in the near future,” said Fr. Emanuel Shaleta.

SEPTEMBER 2004

SEPTEMBER 2004 After the August 1, 2004 coordinated bombings on five Chaldean churches in Iraq, we asked, “what now?”

Unfortunately, there’s been little good news for Iraq’s Christians in the years since. The Assyrian International News Agency says that 40 Assyrian/Chaldean/ Syriac churches have been bombed in Iraq since June 26, 2004.

Mid-January saw a wave of bombings aimed at churches and even a Chaldean orphanage.

Pre-war Iraq had 1.2 million Christians and it’s estimated that only 400,000 have fled, making an Iraq without Christians a very real possibility.

NOVEMBER 2004

2004 JUNE 2004

JULY 2004

AUGUST 2004

OCTOBER 2004

DECEMBER 2004 NOVEMBER 2004 Bucking the community trend towards secrecy in health matters, three breast cancer survivors bravely bared all about their illness. Sadly, Nedal (Kalabat) Squillace lost her battle on November 1, 2005 at the age of 46.

Happily, Rhonda (George) Lawrencelle and Venus Sadek — are doing just fine.

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JUNE 2005

JANUARY 2005

FEBRUARY 2005

MARCH 2005

JUNE 2005 Deadly Detroit was the sad focus of a cover story that highlighted the many Chaldeans who have died violently, mostly while working at their stores in the city.

The past few years have seen a drop in deadly violence, but store owners, including Clint Kassab of Luxor Liquor, still complain of poor response time from the police. Like many of his colleagues, Kassab has hired a security guard to keep the store safe during high-traffic times like weekends and the holidays.

APRIL 2005

MAY 2005

NOVEMBER 2005

JULY 2005

2005 DECEMBER 2005

AUGUST 2005

d

t

DECEMBER 2005

NOVEMBER 2005

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s efforts to improve the city’s relationship with Chaldean business owners have been mostly successful, with the mayor attending a number of Chaldean Chamber events. In fact, he’ll meet again with the chamber on February 21 at Shenandoah Country Club to discuss a new partnership between Chaldean store owners and the City of Detroit.

Kilpatrick has said the city must support and reward those businesses that invest and stay in the city — but recent scandals may overshadow that message.

Many readers asked what they could do after reading about the heartbreaking plight of Iraqi orphans, who can’t be legally adopted under a law by Saddam Hussein. No much has changed; the new Iraqi government hasn’t addressed the law and there seems to be little sense of urgency to do so.

SEPTEMBER 2005

OCTOBER 2005

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JANUARY 2006

FEBRUARY 2006

APRIL 2006

2006 MARCH 2006

JUNE 2006

JULY 2006

AUGUST 2006

MAY 2006

APRIL 2006 Diane Dickow D’Agostini, chief justice of the 48th District Court, made news when she refused to go along with a plan in which judges reduce sentences when the county jail became overcrowded. Now the matter is out of her hands — the state legislature has passed a law, effective this month, that grants early releases to inmates when a jail is 95 percent full. Detractors call it a Get Out of Jail Free card. “This change in law is disappointing to me as a resident, a mother and in my role as a judge. It sends a terrible message to people who break the law, that being — the jail is full so you can be released without paying your debt to society and the crime victim,” said D’Agostini.

“Our community deserves to have safety without compromise.”

SEPTEMBER 2006 MAY 2006 Many were upset by new rules that eliminated such traditions as the funeral procession. Community members are slowly coming to terms with the new rules, reports Southfield Funeral Home Owner Jerry Yono, but proposed guidelines on visitations have gone nowhere. “They come in and they take over,” Yono said of visitors who come to pay their respects and often stay for hours. “There are still a lot of older people who are adverse to change.”

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OCTOBER 2006

NOVEMBER 2006

DECEMBER 2006

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JANUARY 2007

FEBRUARY 2007

APRIL 2007

MARCH 2007

MAY 2007 MARCH 2007 High hopes greeted the election season but local Chaldean candidates were shut out on Election Day: Richard Sulaka for mayor of Warren, Johnny Oram for Farmington Hills City Council and Robert Kakos for Southfield City Council. And, after a strong showing in the August 2006 primary election for state representative, Mark Abbo suffered a shocking loss in that November’s general election, a victim of the “anti-Republican tsunami” that swept throughout the country.

2007 SEPTEMBER 2007

JUNE 2007

JULY 2007

AUGUST 2007

OCTOBER 2007

DECEMBER 2007

JANUARY 2008

SEPTEMBER 2007 The first Chaldean war refugees arrived in Metro Detroit on August 1, the start of what many hoped would be a large wave of Iraqi religious minorities. But, according to the Chaldean Federation of America, only 1,608 Iraqi refugees were admitted into the U.S. in fiscal year 2007 — despite promises of 7,000 by the Bush Administration. Now the CFA is advocating that the government speed up the process to meet this year’s quota of 12,000 refugees by September 30, 2008.

NOVEMBER 2007

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sports Wrestler Gabe Sheena is one of Brother Rice’s top wrestlers.

a leg up Positive attitude defines high school wrestler

BY STEVE STEIN

G

abe Sheena wrestles on one leg, but he doesn’t consider that a handicap. Neither does his Birmingham Brother Rice High School wrestling coach nor anyone else in the Brother Rice wrestling family.

“If you want to use the word ‘special’ with regards to Gabe, what’s special about him is the way he conducts himself,” said Brother Rice coach Ray Kossakowski.

“It isn’t a miracle that Gabe is able to wrestle.

God decided losing a leg was Gabe’s cross to bear in life, so Gabe uses his other God-given abilities.

Gabe is the only guy on our team who doesn’t complain about doing wind sprints.”

Brother Rice president John Birney, father of wrestler Pat Birney, can’t say enough about Sheena’s perpetually positive attitude.

“The only time I’ve seen Gabe mope is after he’s lost a match,” Birney said.

Sheena, a junior, is in his third season in the Brother Rice wrestling program. Even though he lost much of his left leg to an amputation Jan. 6, 2000 — the day before his ninth birthday — Sheena has never lost his determination 36 CHALDEAN NEWS

FEBRUARY 2008

to succeed and live life to the fullest.

Besides being one of the top wrestlers at Brother Rice, Sheena is 3.8 grade-point average student at a school that’s renowned for its tough academics.

Sheena is considering becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Last summer, he traveled to Chicago to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, a conference that introduces outstanding high school students to the medical field.

Sheena has a very personal reason for his career choice. It was osteosarcoma (bone cancer) that cost him much of his left leg on that January day eight years ago at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

“If I was an orthopedic surgeon, I’d be able to relate to kids who are facing the same thing I faced,” Sheena, 16, said. “Or maybe I’d find a cure or another way of attacking cancer.”

Sheena’s wrestling career at Brother Rice got off to a slow start. Like many freshman wrestlers, he took his lumps. Wearing his prosthetic, Sheena finished 2-14 in junior varsity matches.

Sheena wrestled without the prosthetic in prac-

tices late in the season and he seemed to wrestle better, so he decided to go without it as a sophomore. That turned out to be a great idea. Sheena finished 26-24 last season for the Brother Rice varsity team in the 125-pound weight class, including an impressive second-place finish in the Catholic League tournament.

Sheena, the No. 4 seed at 125 pounds, upset No. 1 seed Tom Cada of Riverview Gabriel Richard 18-9 in the tournament semifinals. Cada had pinned Sheena earlier in the season, so the victory gave Sheena some sweet revenge.

“The prosthetic made Gabe slower and reduced his leverage. There’s no way to compete in wrestling with those drawbacks,” said Joe Sheena, Gabe’s father. “Gabe is much lower to the mat now, which causes problems for his opponents.”

Sheena also is getting some extra coaching. For the past year, he’s been working with Matt Kluff of Sudden Victory Wrestling to develop strategies that take advantage of his physical situation.

No extra coaching is needed when it comes to Sheena’s mental attitude on the mat.

“Gabe is super competitive ... always has been,” Joe Sheena said. “He’s your typical first-born type A kid. When he wrestles, he’s nasty.”

A nasty injury — four micro-fractures in his spine — sidelined Sheena for four months last summer and fall. He began wrestling only a couple weeks before Brother Rice started practicing and he got off to a slow start this season, but he went 7-4 after he dropped from 135 to 130 pounds.

Sheena hopes to wrestle at 125 pounds again before the season ends. That would get him back on track toward his ultimate wrestling goal.

“I really want to wrestle in college,” Sheena said. “Wrestling is my passion.”

Sheena decided to give wrestling a try after talking with former University of Michigan wrestling stars Josh and Ryan Chrella and attending a wrestling camp at U-M the summer before he entered Brother Rice.

Sheena and the Chrella brothers share the same personal trainer.

“I needed to do something to stay in shape,” Sheena said. “I was getting kind of chubby back then. I think I weighed about 150 pounds.”

The Sheena family lives in Bloomfield Township. Joe and Fadia Sheena also have a son Joseph, 15, a Brother Rice sophomore, and a daughter Brooke, 12, a seventh-grader at Holy Name School in Birmingham.

“Gabe has the perfect family for dealing with what’s happened to him,” Birney said. “They have been so supportive.”

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scoring when it counts CBA victory is clinched in overtime

BY JOE KYRIAKOZA

H

aithem Sarafa’s team of wily veterans found their legs and their shot when it counted most — in overtime of the championship game of the Chaldean Basketball Association’s Fall 2007 season. Led by Safaa “Big Dog” Kasawa’s 20 points — including eight in the extra period — Sarafa’s team topped Tom Kyriakoza’s squad by a final score of 44-35 on December 17 at Shenandoah Country Club.

Sarafa’s team finished the regular season with a 5-5 record, and won all three playoff games to finish 8-5 and end their season on a five-game winning streak.

The turning point in the game occurred with about five minutes remaining, when an altercation between Ghanim Kizy and Kasawa

two free throws to tie the game and send it into overtime.

In overtime it was all Big Dog, as he hit two quick buckets in the paint, and followed it up with four free throws.

Sarafa’s team solidified the victory by holding Kyriakoza’s team scoreless in the extra period.

Following Kasawa in the scoring column was Neil Ammori and Taki each with eight, followed by Kattola with five. Kyriakoza’s team was led by Marvin Yeldo with 18 points and Zeer with 11. Kyriakoza finished with a record of 7-6.

The Winter 2008 CBA season began on January 14 at Shenandoah.

The championship team: Omar Taki (left), Al Kattola, Chris Abbo, Haithem Sarafa, Neil Ammori, Safaa Kasawa and Wasim Somo.

resulted in ejections of Kizy and Omar Taki, who came to Kasawa’s defense.

With technical free throws and the ensuing possession, Sarafa’s team went ahead by six points.

Helping Kyriakoza’s team mount a

comeback in the closing minutes were the heroics of Mike Zeer, who drilled two difficult 3-point shots to put his team up by one with 16 seconds left. On the next possession Al Kattola was fouled and made one of

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sports

to russia with love Teen hockey player logs 10,000 miles to play in tournament

BY STEVE STEIN

W

hen Justin Kammo started playing travel hockey a few years ago, he had no idea how far he’d be traveling.

The 15-year-old Utica High School sophomore and his teammates on the Macomb Mavericks Midget A travel squad journeyed to Klin, Russia, in December to compete in the inaugural Valeri Kharlamov International Memorial Tournament at Klin’s new ice rink.

Klin is 53 miles northwest of Moscow. Its history dates to 1317, but Kammo was just as excited about hockey as history during the nearly 10,000mile round trip. It was Kammo’s first trip outside North America.

“It was fun visiting a new country and learning about its culture, of course, but it also was fun experiencing a different style of hockey,” Kammo said. “The teams we faced in Russia play a more wide-open game than the North American style.”

Away from the Klin rink, Kammo got a glimpse of the simple life led by many Russian citizens, and he dealt with days when the sun set at about 3 p.m. But there was one tasty reminder of home.

“The best food in Russia was at Justin Kammo McDonald’s,” Kammo said. “In fact, their McDonald’s food is better than it Kammo can’t get enough ice time. is here.”

“I love hockey. Hockey is my life,” said Kammo, a Kammo didn’t have any problems getting time 6-foot, 170-pounder who’s been playing the game since off from school to go on the nine-day trip. He’s an he was 3 and hopes someday to play in the NHL. honor student at Utica.

Mavericks team manager Bob Stralko said “Justin took a couple of tests early, and his teach- Kammo, the Mavericks’ captain, plays hockey likes ers gave him homework to do while he was gone,” he loves it. said Holly Kammo, Justin’s mother.

“Justin is a fireball, one of the most dynamic Time was set aside each day in Russia for players on our team. He never stops when he’s on Mavericks players to do their homework. The play- the ice,” Stralko said. “There’s no question that ers also had time for sightseeing and shopping, and Justin is one of our team leaders.” they skated at a temporary ice rink constructed in The Mavericks went 3-3 in the seven-team tourMoscow’s Red Square. nament in Klin. The other teams came from Belarus,

Estonia, Russia and Ukraine. One of the Mavericks’ victories was an 8-3 thumping of the Russia Olympic Reserve Team.

“If you would have told us before we left that we’d tie for third place in the tournament we would have been happy,” Stralko said. “But after winning three of our first four games and playing incredible hockey, we lost our last two games against teams we should have beaten. I think we just ran out of gas.”

The Mavericks’ 34-person traveling party included 19 players, 13 parents (one was Justin’s father, Mike Kammo), Coach Bob Hall and interpreter/guide Sergey Petrovskiy, a former Russian figure skater who now lives in Washington Township and is a figure skating coach.

Petrovskiy was instrumental in putting the trip together. Even with his help, it wasn’t easy.

Trip preparations began in March and Petrovskiy had friends in Russia working with him, but the Mavericks didn’t obtain their mandatory sports visas from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (via the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C.) until two days before the team left Detroit for Moscow.

Cost for the trip was $1,400 per person for transportation, lodging and food. The team handled tournament fees.

Enough money was raised through a benefit golf outing and other fund-raisers so that participating families didn’t have to fork over any funds.

That was good news for Mike and Holly Kammo, who also have two daughters, Sabrena, 17, and Sesilia, 7. The family lives in Sterling Heights.

The Mavericks are one of several travel teams sponsored by the Macomb Hockey Club, which is based at Suburban Ice-Macomb in Macomb Township. The Midget A team of 15- and 16-yearolds plays in the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League.

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ECONOMICS & enterprise

Lolly Ella: A family affair

BY KEN MARTEN ibling rivalry doesn’t exist among the four Strauch sisters.

In fact, they get on well enough to run a business together.

Along with mom Janet MansoorStrauch, the sisters own Lolly Ella, a costume jewelry boutique in the West Bloomfield Plaza. Lolly Ella celebrated its two-year anniversary in November.

“We always wanted to open a family business,” said Erica, who at 33 is the oldest sister. “We get along well and have a great camaraderie. It’s a lot of teamwork and it’s not for everybody, but it’s for us.”

Erica’s other sisters and business partners are identical twins Michelle and Danielle, 30, and Pamela, 27.

“It’s totally amazing working with four daughters,” Janet said. “We all bring something different to the table.

Everyone has a creative backbone, I guess you could say.”

Lolly Ella is a family affair in more ways than one. The boutique’s name is

S

40 CHALDEAN NEWS

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a tribute to the daughters’ grandmothers, Lolly and Eleanor, and their greatgrandma, Stella. “Ella” is Eleanor and Stella combined.

All three matriarchs are deceased and honored with their photos hanging behind the store’s cash register.

Several pieces of their furniture have been incorporated into jewelry displays.

“They were very inspirational in all my daughters’ lives,” Janet said.

Lolly Ella offers a wide range of costume jewelry that stems from the memory of grandmothers, mother and daughters shopping together and being able to find age-suitable pieces for all three generations at the same store. The daughters recall their grandmas and great-grandma as “fashionistas” of their generations, ever mindful of the Great Depression’s economic lessons.

“We cherish the times when we all went out as a group and shopped together,” Erica said. “You can look

fabulous without spending a lot of money. That’s the whole concept of costume jewelry.”

Most items at Lolly Ella are priced at less than $30 — Erica, Michelle, Danielle and Pamela Strauch, with excepting a few their mom, Janet Mansoor-Strauch “evening items.”

Pamela, who has a degree in merchandising and has taught business classes at Madonna and Wayne State universities, said her sisters are her best friends.

On Saturday, February 2, “We have a special relationship,” Lolly Ella will participate in Pamela said. “I wouldn’t want to be in The Heart Truth’s Red Dress business with anyone else. We have Project, which raises awareour moments, but everyone is allowed to express their opinion.” ness and urges women to Janet’s husband, Dan, is a retired guard against heart disease. electrician who also has a hand in Lolly Part of the proceeds from Ella — he helped remodel the space sales that day will be donated before it opened and helps construct to the charity. displays.

have a

HEART

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ART & entertainment

‘Iraq’s Other Frontier’ showcases Chaldeans

BY MERVIT BASHI

The art illustrated the everyday voice hemes ranging from the horror of that resonates despite what today’s war to the simplicity of everyday news media conveys almost exclusively life were expressed in a variety of in terms of terrorism, bombings and viomedia at the first-ever Iraqi Cultural lent extremists. The exhibit portrayed Week art show at Madonna University. the thoughts of Iraqi artists amidst war “The Other Frontier of Iraq: Works by but not only focused on war.

Contemporary Iraqi Artists” ran January The event provided a sampling of 16-23 at the university campus in Livonia. contemporary Iraqi art as well as a taste The exhibit, open to all Iraqi artists but of historical art and culture from the mainly featuring the work of Chaldeans across various media, was a collaboration between Madonna The show was one aspect of University, the Iraqi Artists Association (IAA) and Iraqi Cultural Week, intended Mesopotamia Art Gallery.

The show was one aspect to increase awareness and of Iraqi Cultural Week, which was intended to increase understanding. awareness and understanding of the people, art and culture region. Traditional Iraqi music (including of Iraq through traditional music, poetthe unique and rare Baghdadian form ry and art. Contemporary Chaldean of music), poetry readings and a lecture artwork included digital media, mixed by featured artist Amer Hanna media and acrylic on canvas.

T

FEATURED ARTISTS Amer Hanna Fatuhi, USA Burhan Saleh Kirkukly, Holland Farouk Kaspaules, Canada Mazin Elia, Iraq Nadwa Qaragholi, USA Paul Batou, USA Ziad M. Haider, (1954 — 2006) Zuhair Shaaouni, USA Fatuhi rounded out the week.

Signifying the contemporary nature of his art, “I work with very different, nontraditional materials,” said Fatuhi, who owns the Mesopotamia Art Gallery in Ferndale. He describes his work specifically as postmodernism.

Sculpture by Mazin Elia, using wood to focus on the female form, exudes the maternal essence of the culture. Wood is a challenging sculpting material to work with, but as evident by his flowing figures, Elia succeeds.

Various books and writings were also on display and in some cases on sale. The books represented a cross section of plays, novels, history and much more by Chaldean authors. For Above: Memories by Zuhair Shaaoun Top right: Confession by Paul Batou 42 CHALDEAN NEWS

FEBRUARY 2008

instance, on view was Akitu, a traditional play about the Chaldean Babylonian New Year festival, by Chaldean author and playwright Marshal Garmo.

Weam Namou’s novels, including The Feminine Art, were displayed.

Describing her work as a novelist and screenwriter, “They are true life stories of Iraqis living everyday life during war,” Namou said. “When we talk to our relatives in Iraq, the war is not what we discuss each time we call.

Sometimes it may not even come up.”

Educational books such as Chaldean for Kids by Margaret Shamoun and Melody Arabo focused on preserving the ancient spoken language of Chaldeans. In this same vein is the Chaldean Reading Book by Mary Yousif, revised by Fr. Jacob Yasso and illustrated and designed by Amer Hanna Fatuhi. The text emphasizes the pride of carrying on the language.

Assyrian-Chaldean artist Paul Batou’s poetry was on display, in addition to his paintings in the exhibit.

My Last Thoughts on Iraq is an anthology of his poems, which are a compilation of his memories and experiences.

For more information visit www.iraqiartists.org or www.mesopotamiaartgallery.com.

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Above: Memories by Zuhair Shaaoun Top right: Confession by Paul Batou FEBRUARY 2008

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Foster Swift: Putting Clients First hen Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. approached Paul Asker to join the law firm, in typical fashion he did lots of homework. “Besides researching the firm, I asked other attorneys who I respect what they thought,” he said.

“Every one of them said they’re excellent attorneys — and great people too.”

Since joining Foster Swift in June 2007 as a shareholder, Asker is happy to report that he shares the same opinion. “To be respected as incredibly competent and also well-liked is rare in

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Paul Asker

concentrate on one side of an issue, he enjoys sitting on both sides of the aisle.

“I represent plaintiffs and defendants, employers and employees,” he said.

“That’s an exception to the general rule. But attorneys who only represent one side limit their understanding of a dispute. To best resolve an issue, you have to understand both sides.”

Seeing all sides of a situation is the key to Asker’s accomplishments on behalf of his clients. “The key to success is not to be reactive,” he said, “but to have a strategy first and then implement it.”

Gary Perlmuter

Asker prides himself on underthe legal community,” he said. “But that standing his clients’ businesses and describes everyone here.” problems very well. This takes time Joining forces with Foster Swift and most attorneys are too rushed to increases Asker’s competitive advanbother. But, he said, “this is necessary tage. The firm dates to 1902 and is one to reach the creative solutions that of the largest firms in Michigan. It has make the client money and end their over 200 employees and true statewide reach. Asker is in the Farmington Hills office; The firm dates to 1902 and is other locations are in Lansing, Grand Rapids and firms in Michigan. It has over Detroit. Foster Swift is organized into nine primary true state-wide reach. practice groups: Business and Corporate; Commercial costly problems as quickly as possiLitigation; Real Estate, Banking and ble.”

Finance; Trusts and Estates; Benefits A board member of the Chaldean and Employment Relations; Health American Chamber of Commerce, Care; General Litigation; Administrative Asker admires his fellow Chaldeans’ and Municipal; and Workers’ intelligence and work ethic. But, he Compensation. said, business owners could be doing Asker, an attorney for 17 years, much more to help and preserve their specializes in complex commercial litisuccess. gation. Unlike many attorneys who only

“Chaldeans are very good at creating wealth; it’s in their DNA,” he said.

“They are less focused on protecting or preserving that wealth-making machinery. That’s where good, trained professionals like accountants, financial planners and attorneys are needed.”

Many Chaldeans avoid attorneys until a problem arises. “They think attorneys are too expensive,” Asker said. “But a good attorney makes the client money. They anticipate and avoid problems and come up with creative solutions that add value.”

For example, many Chaldean family-owned businesses have no succession plan. “People always talk about personal estate plans, which is a good start, but businesses need a succession plan as well,” Asker said. “Without one, bad things can happen — the wealth-making machine ultimately goes to unintended people like competitors or disgruntled employees.”

Asker recommends plans that allow key employees or family members to buy into a business, a route that offers many advantages. Those allowed to invest will be happy to stay and grow the company rather than leave and open a competing business, he noted. “It’s win-win. And the person who built the business can maintain stability, reward valued employees and benefit financially.”

Gary Perlmuter also joined Foster Swift as a shareholder with Asker.

They had been partners at their former firm, Asker, Clos & Perlmuter, P.C., for over 10 years prior to merging their practices with Foster Swift. “Our clients now get the resources of a larger firm, with all the benefits of a smaller firm,” said Perlmuter. “There are 22

one of the largest 200 employees and

Foster Swifts’ reputation as the premier governmental regulation law firm.

“Being so well-known by the Liquor Control Commission and other state agencies benefits our clients. If you have an issue with the state government, chances are we now have an expert in the area. That’s why we joined the firm,” said Perlmuter.

Asker and Perlmuter work jointly on client matters most of the time. “We each have different strengths that compliment each other,” said Perlmuter.

They work together on how to attack a new matter. Perlmuter specializes in business transactions, such as buying and selling businesses, while Asker specializes in business litigation.

“I was very fortunate to find Gary 17 years ago and even more fortunate to have found Foster Swift,” said Asker.

Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. 32300 Northwestern Highway, Suite 230 Farmington Hills, MI 48334-1571 (248) 538-6324 PAsker@FosterSwift.com www.FosterSwift.com

WHAT IF’S FOR CHALDEAN BUSINESS OWNERS If you’re wondering the answers to any of the following, it’s time to see an attorney.

What If …

• My partner or I die? What would happen to my business and my family?

• My partner and I have fundamental disagreements about the business? Could we resolve them without destroying the business?

• My business is sued? Are my personal assets in jeopardy?

attorneys in our Farmington Hills office, the remaining 80 attorneys are in our Lansing, Grand Rapids and Detroit offices. We can provide local personal attention, with state-wide reach,” according to Perlmuter.

Foster Swift has more than twice as many attorneys in its Lansing office than any other law firm. This is key to

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• I die, how can my family reduce or eliminate estate and income taxes?

• Am I doing all I can to avoid employment claims?

• Someone I have an agreement with wants to change the terms?

Can they do that after we agreed?

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making the G R A D E

Maye Kattula: Opening minds aye Kattula has her share of Chaldean friends, but she steers away from cliques.

“Chaldeans generally just want to hang out with other Chaldeans because they feel more comfortable,” she said.

“But if you’re limited to just sticking with Chaldeans, you’re hurting yourself. When you get out of school, it’s not just going to be Chaldeans out there — you’ve got to understand everyone’s culture.”

Understanding others is a big part of Maye’s philosophy. She especially enjoys the school’s annual Challenge Day, in which students learn about one another in group settings. “You find out that everyone’s life is not what you think — it’s not perfect,” she said. “And you find out more about yourself.”

This year, the school offered a new club, Be the Change, based on Challenge Day. Despite her busy

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Fady Cholagh: Following his passion s an active member of nine of his school’s 11 organizations, Fady Cholagh often gets the same question: How do you fit it all in?

“I just find the time,” Fady said. “When you have a passion you just want to do it. And it keeps me out of trouble — not that I’m a troubled kid or anything.”

Fady, a senior at Sterling Heights High School, didn’t begin to get involved until his junior year and now seems to be making up for lost time.

Among his many activities are Class Council, Student Senate, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), the student marketing group DECA, Mentoring and the National Honor Society.

If forced to pick just one activity, Fady said it would be Leadership Class, which runs activities such a Homecoming (Fady was in charge of

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schedule, Maye signed up. “We promote better school spirit and try to bring a positive vibe throughout the school — and the community,” she said.

Other activities for the 16-year-old include Junior Class vice president, public relations officer for SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), officer for Freshman Mentors and the National Honor Society. A dancer for 11 years, Maye also loves being part of the school’s dance team.

Maye’s mother, Sue Kattula, is well known in Sterling Heights as a member of the Warren Consolidated Board of Education. “Everyone says, ‘oh, you’re Sue’s daughter,’ — but I want to be known as Maye Kattula,” she says.

VITAL STATS NAME: Maye Kattula AGE: 16 YEAR: Junior SCHOOL: Sterling Heights High School CAREER GOAL: Working with Children PARENTS: Majid and Sue Kattula

the 900-plus tickets sold), Prom and a Christmas party for the school’s mentally disabled students. His Chaldean heritage comes in handy as the person in charge of tending to the snack machine every other day — a venture that brings in some $250 a week for Leadership activities. “My uncle owns stores and that has helped me understand pricing,” Fady said.

Fady has a 3.5 grade-point average and hopes to raise that to 3.7 by year’s end. He has some good advice for his fellow Chaldean students. “Don’t try to act tough — just be happy with who you are,” he said. “You don’t have to impress anyone else.”

VITAL STATS NAME: Fady Cholagh AGE: 18 YEAR: Senior SCHOOL: Sterling Heights High

School CAREER GOAL: Computer Engineering PARENTS: Iman and Samir Cholagh

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Shimoun, Yaldo & Associates: Your CPA Firm of Today and the Future nother tax filing season is upon us! The late year Tax Code changes passed by Congress will affect certain taxpayers this upcoming season. Most taxpayers began filing their 2007 tax returns electronically on January 11, 2008. As many as 13.5 million taxpayers who use the five forms related to the Alternative Minimum Tax legislation will have to wait to file tax returns until the IRS completes the reprogramming of its systems for the new law. The IRS has targeted February 11, 2008 as the potential starting date for taxpayers to begin submitting the five related returns affected by the legislation.

Returns that include the following forms should not be filed until February 11, 2008: • Form 8863, Education Credits • Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits • Schedule 2, Form 1040A, Child and Dependent Care Expenses Form 1040A filers • Form 8396, Mortgage Interest Credit • Form 8859, District of Columbia First-Time Homebuyer Credit The February date allows the IRS enough time to update and test its systems to accommodate the changes without major disruptions to other operations related to the tax season.

The continuing changes in the Federal Tax Code and especially the new Michigan Business Tax, which became effective January 1, 2008, require many individuals and businesses to seek the professional expertise of accounting firms such as Shimoun, Yaldo & Associates to guide them through these difficult changes.

“We at Shimoun, Yaldo & Associates have put together a team of accounting professionals who are qualified to provide our clients with the most up-to-date professional advice,” said Sal Shimoun.

“We go through continuing education each year to remain current with the ongoing tax law changes,” said Al Yaldo.

Together, Sal Shimoun and Al Yaldo offer more than 40 years of professional experience in accounting and taxation. Their knowledge and expertise, along with their strong supporting professional staff, has made the firm

become very reputable amongst the many Certified Public Accounting firms in the region.

“We strive to provide the proper guidance and professional advice to assist our clients with their accounting and tax needs,” said Al Yaldo.

Shimoun, Yaldo & Associates also offers: accounting and compilation services, real estate and business investment analysis, payroll check preparation and services, financial projections and forecasts, personal financial statements, assistance with processing business loan applications, and notary public. They also provide support in Federal and State Audits for

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“We strive to provide the proper guidance and professional advice to assist our clients with their accounting and tax needs.”

– AL YALDO

businesses and individuals. The firm also prepares Anti Money Laundering Programs and handles Compliance Audits for businesses that are classified as Money Services Business.

Over the years, the firm has established relationships with many banks and financial institutions to aid their clients with their business and individual financing needs and other banking services.

Al Yaldo serves as a director on the Bank of Michigan Board of Directors.

In addition to their busy schedules, Sal and Al are active members of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and have officially overseen that group’s elections since inception. Sal has served on the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealer’s Finance Committee for the past several years.

“We pride ourselves in providing quality and professional service to our clients. We have been successful because of their continued support and we thank them for being our best source of referral,” said Sal Shimoun.

Please call (248) 851-7900 to make an appointment. Shimoun, Yaldo & Associates is located at 30101 Northwestern Highway, Suite 330, in Farmington Hills (just north of Inkster).

TAX TIPS • E-File your returns to eliminate errors and expedite your refunds.

• Make your IRA contribution by April 15, 2008 to be deducted for 2007. The maximum contribution is $4,000 for 2007. For those 50 years of age and over, the additional catch-up contribution is $1,000.

• If you need to file an extension and you owe money, you must pay the amount owed or face penalties.

An extension of time to file is NOT an extension of time to pay.

• The business mileage rate for 2007 is $ .485 per mile.

• Worker classification as Employee or Independent Contractor is made under a Common Law Test according to Treasury regulations. The IRS has developed a list of 20 factors that may be examined in determining whether an employeremployee relationship exists.

• When a shareholder-employee of an S-Corporation provides services to the S-Corporation, reasonable compensation generally needs to be paid. This compensation is subject to employment taxes (payroll taxes).

• On Monday, December 3, 2007, Public Act 145 of 2007 became law. It repealed the much-hated Use Tax on Services and made significant changes to the Michigan Business Tax, which has replaced the Michigan Single Business Tax effective January 1, 2008.

PHOTO BY NORA BAHROU-DOWNS

Al Yaldo and Sal Shimoun have more than 40 years of combined experience

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FEBRUARY 2008

CHALDEAN NEWS 47

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classified listings

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celebrate your community. subscribe today.

SUBSCRIPTIONS 12-Month subscription

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I wish to subscribe to the Chaldean News for 12 issues Please fill in your name and address below: Name _________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________________________ State _____ Zip _____________________

CLEANING SERVICE STRATHMORE SUB, FH SCHOOLS. Approx. 3000 sq.ft. , 4 bdrms, 2 full + 2 1/2 baths. Master Ste., double jetted tub & vanity.

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Complete and mail this subscription form, along with a check made payable to: The Chaldean News, Attn: Subscriptions 30095 NORTHWESTERN HWY., SUITE 102 • FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334

PHONE: 248-355-4850 www.chaldeannews.com

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PROFESSIONALS

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PROFESSIONALS

PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS

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christians of nineveh Despite dangerous conditions, Italian filmmaker Elisabetta Valgiusti has traveled to Iraq three times to report on conditions of the nation’s Christians. The filmmaker screened her documentary, Christians of Nineveh, at Shenandoah Country Club on January 4. Valgiusti, who spent several days in town meeting with community leaders, heads Salva I Monasteri, an organization devoted to bringing attention to the plight of Christians in places such as Iraq and Kosovo. She hopes to help create a coordination center for the safeguarding of Christian culture and monuments. A devout Catholic, she said she has little funds to continue her work.

“This is something I didn’t choose,” she said of her cause. “It chose me.”

PHOTOS BY DAVID REED

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Watching the film Elisabetta Valgiusti Mike Razoky and Sabah Hermiz (Summa) Dhia Babbie and Sam Kassab Catholic University professor Shawqi Talia The filmmaker with Dave Nona

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