Breaking Barriers, the program that serves individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, hosted the Breaking Barriers Circus in September. Acts included a tightrope walker, strongman competition, jugglers, dancers, singers, ribbon twirlers and more. The audience was treated to popcorn and cotton candy and the parents of the participants had their own private circus show.
Read MoreThe CCF has facilitated a sister city relationship between Sterling Heights, Michigan and Ankawa, a city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Sister City agreements are meant to be long-term partnerships that foster an environment in which economic and community development can be implemented and strengthened. This historic partnership aims to foster cultural exchange, economic collaboration, and mutual understanding between the two cities.
Read MoreJonathan Elias, “The Pastry Guru,” returns to the Food Network for a new season of “Halloween Wars.” The new season premiered on September 22 at 9:00 p.m. on the Food Network with host Jonathan Bennett, who takes scary to a whole new level as he celebrates the most iconic and classic Halloween characters of all time – the monsters!
Read MoreRecently purchased by Chaldean cousins Paulina Faranso and Yousif “Joe” Kakos, Màre Mediterranean in Birmingham’s lunch menu offers an array of enticing, appealingly priced offerings, including burgers, sandwiches, salads and pizzas, as well as favorites like fettuccine alfredo, grilled salmon and steak frites.
Read MoreAlina Habba, Donald Trump’s senior advisor, was in Michigan recently to spread the word that Michigan’s large Chaldean community has the voting power to flip the battleground state in the former president’s favor on November 5.
Read MoreIn Ankawa, a suburb of the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan located in the north of the country, hundreds of Christians participated in the Feast of the Cross. The joyous event was marked by high hopes given that the Christians of various traditions that came together for the celebration - Catholic, Orthodox and Assyrian - united for the first time together in celebrating the memory of the finding of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ died for the redemption of all.
Read MoreFather Amar Agag, a 38-year-old husband and father of three, was ordained as a priest in the Chaldean Catholic Church in France this past September. While this tradition is common in the Church’s countries of origin in the Middle East, the ordination of married men among Eastern Catholic communities in the diaspora was authorized by Rome only in 2014.
Read MoreThe Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has a new superstar in Austin Bashi. Bashi, a 23-year-old Chaldean from West Bloomfield Township, won his first national fight in the Dana White Contender Series this past September, earning himself a UFC contract.
Read MoreWhen I first sat down with Shamama Oram, she invited me into her home, served me chai and kulacha, and made me feel welcome without speaking a word. A series of nods and hand gestures conveyed volumes about the character of this woman who had witnessed a century. She speaks little English, and I speak no Arabic, let alone Sureth/Aramaic, but we still had a bond.
Read MoreMost people would look at a trip to Europe or any foreign country as a vacation, but when you enter into that trip to seek something deeper, that trip can become transformative. This past July, I had the privilege of embarking on a journey through Italy along with Father Matthew Zetouna and 37 other pilgrims.
Read MoreIn a move poised to reshape metro Detroit’s gas station landscape, Sheetz, a major player in the gas station and convenience store sector, has announced plans to expand into southeast Michigan, raising concerns among local business owners and community members about potential impacts on prices, service quality, safety, and economic diversity.
Read MoreThe concept of a “global village” has increasingly become a reality, reflected in various international collaborations. In this context, Sterling Heights, Michigan, and Ankawa-Erbil, Iraq, are planning a long-lasting and mutually beneficial sister city relationship. This partnership aims to offer citizens of both cities enriching international and multicultural experiences while broadening their horizons.
Read MoreAppropriately, the first October CN cover in 2004 featured the U.S. presidential election and the choice between Al Gore and George Bush. The title was “The Next Four Years.” Now here we are on the cusp of a new presidential election, one which both sides argue is the battle for democracy—although who will be responsible for the end of our “free and fair elections” differs depending on which side of the line you are on.
Read MoreHalloween is a tradition that has been celebrated by children across the United States for many years. The origins of the holiday can be traced back to the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, where people would light bonfires and dress themselves in costumes to ward off spirits.
Read MoreI was born in December 2000, in Al Ghazaliya, a small neighborhood in Baghdad, only 15 miles away from the infamous Abu Ghraib prison complex where the U.S. Army and the CIA committed torture and other human rights abuses against prisoners.
Read More“The people of ancient Mesopotamia knew how to appreciate a good beer,” writes Tate Paulette in his book, In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia (Oxford University Press). Paulette, an archaeologist and Associate Professor at North Carolina State University, has conducted extensive fieldwork across several countries, including Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus, Scotland, and the United States. But what exactly led him to write a book on the history of beer in ancient Mesopotamia?
Read MoreTwo teetotaling, longtime investment bankers transformed and revitalized an age-old brewery in an iconic Michigan town. Anmar and Haithem Sarafa, of Steward Capital Management, found themselves in a position to buy Frankenmuth Brewery in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis. When things went south for a client trying to buy the 19th century brewery, an opportunity presented itself.
Read MoreAfter a COVID-19 illness, no matter how serious, some patients are having lingering symptoms for weeks to months, and even years. This led some people to call this malady “long COVID." Medically, it has many names: post-COVID-19 syndrome, chronic COVID syndrome, post- COVID-19 condition, and long-haul COVID, to mention a few.
Read MoreBadia Mizanah Abroo was born on August 16, 1934, and earned her great reward in Heaven on June 26, 2024. Badia was the loving wife of the late Jalal Yousif Abroo and cherished daughter to the late Hannah Mizanah and late Amelda Shamaan. She was also the devoted mother of Yasar Abroo, Yassir (Daliyeh) Abroo, Hussam (Amelia) Abroo, and Bassam (Georgia) Abroo and grandmother to Rami (Kim), Reem (Nick), Samantha (Anthony), Jenna, Stephen, Nicholas, Isabella, Joseph and Emily. She was also an adored great-grandmother to four.
Read MoreOn Thursday, September 12, the Chaldean Community Foundation hosted the 6th Annual Gala at Palazzo Grande in Shelby Township. The honoree this year was Bishop Emeritus Ibrahim Ibrahim, who was awarded a Lifetime Humanitarian Award for his lifelong commitment of service to the Church and the community. This prestigious recognition highlighted not only his significant contributions to the Chaldean community but also his unwavering dedication to humanitarian efforts both locally and globally.
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