from the EDITOR PUBLISHED BY The Chaldean News, LLC EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Vanessa Denha-Garmo MANAGING EDITOR Joyce Wiswell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caroline M. Bacall Konnie Binno Omar Binno Natasha Dado Crystal Kassab Jabiro Joey Jonna Jovan Kassab Jennifer T. Korail ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative Joseph Sesi PHOTOGRAPHERS Nora Bahrou Downs David Reed OPERATIONS Interlink Media DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Paul Alraihani CIRCULATION Paul Alraihani CLASSIFIEDS Joyce Wiswell SALES Interlink Media SALES REPRESENTATIVES Brenda Koza Lisy Starr MANAGERS Vanessa Denha-Garmo Martin Manna Michael Sarafa Imad M. Mansoor, M.D. Ken Marten Badee George Nassouri Mike Sarafa Mar Bawai Soro Steve Stein Susan Wunderink Seham Haddad Zoma SUBSCRIPTIONS: 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: August, 2008 SUBSCRIPTIONS: 12 months, . 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” Embrace the change In these tough economic times, I am grateful that my husband is in a recessionproof business. I have made a point to start my day thanking God for all that is good in my life. I am truly grateful that we are not hit as hard as we could be by the economy. In his business of heating, cooling and refrigeration, customers cannot go without — if it breaks they fix it. Everyone wants their systems Running Right. Of course, with the construction business almost at a halt in Michigan, his business is limited as well. In a better economy, he could be growing his company — instead he makes the necessary changes in order to sustain his business. And, like many other service contractors, people pay their bills slower than usual when the economy slows down and so you can’t catch up with your own bills. Receivables are double and triple for some businesses. It is a true domino effect. The Chaldean News, too, has been tipped off by the domino. Thank God we are in our fifth year and doing well. We are much like many of you, riding out the storm. However, there are businesses doing more than just surviving in this downturn. They are thriving. We wanted to know who they are and how they are doing it. Joyce Wiswell paid a visit to some of these businesses to find out the secret and get advice. What works? As I referenced above, there are industries that are recession-proof such as heating and cooling, grocery stores and, as we all know, gasoline stations. These industries are affected by the economic climate but they will VANESSA DENHA- GARMO EDITOR never close their doors or turn off the pumps. Let’s take a look at businesses that are not considered a necessity like hotels, check cashing businesses, gourmet food and pizza. How are they still at the top of their industries and growing while others have turned off the lights? Read about it in this month’s cover story. Due to the economy and soaring gas prices, gas station owners have been forced to reinvent themselves. Part of their re-creation into mini markets has caused some controversy — should they or should they not be granted a liquor license? Writer Ken Marten reports on the booze buzz in this issue while Mike Sarafa offers his opinion on it as a guest columnist. Beer, wine and liquor are not the only things gas stations are selling to help stay in business. We also feature two gas station owners who ventured into the restaurant business and are doing quite well slicing up pizza and flipping burgers. In our restaurant column The Chaldean Palate, Crystal Jabiro nibbled on some food to go at these establishments – one of which has graduated to a self-standing eatery. Some gas station owners are selling ethanol gas to improve business and the environment. Going green is becoming more popular among Chaldeans as people all over the country change their habits in order to protect the environment. Writer Jennifer T. Korail talked to two women who share a passion for a friendly and cleaner earth: Josephine Dabish Fermanian and Kristin Jonna. Circumstances in life sometimes nudge us into making changes — the economy and the environment are facing challenges that force us to change our lifestyles. Personally, I have never been a big spender. I would much rather be hanging out at the library or bookstore over the mall. I drive a car because it is efficient and gets me from point A to point B. Although I love the Lexus and Mercedes, in this economy I can’t justify a hefty car payment. I don’t mind the sacrifice in order to stay living within my means. I am not one who cares to keep up with the Joneses. Yes, I can appreciate a lavish home, slick car, stunning diamonds and elegant clothes. However, if it means going into debt, I would rather stay put in my modest home, drive the economy car, wear the costume jewelry, and shop from the clearance rack. All of us are being forced to do more with less, to rearrange our budget, skimp on the luxuries and wait for the economy to make that turnaround. We don’t always create the environment in which we live. However, we do have to make the needed changes in order to survive in the environment. Don’t fear the change. Embrace it. Alaha Imid Koullen (God Be With Us All) Vanessa Denha-Garmo vdenha@chaldeannews.com Letters to the editor are welcome. Please keep your letter to less than 500 words and include your name and 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 Highway, Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 10 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST2008
GUEST column your LETTERS Keep beer and wine out of gas stations BY MIKE SARAFA The state law governing which types of business can sell beer, wine and liquor off premise is once again being widely abused. The proliferation of gas stations that are getting beer and wine licenses (SDMs) — and now even liquor licenses (SDDs) — is a troubling development for traditional party stores. Michigan is a heavily regulated state when it comes to the sale of alcoholic beverages. Much of today’s liquor code still harkens back to the years and decades after the Prohibition Era. In exchange for the burdensome regulatory regime, store owners benefited from the fact that they were a licensed industry that prevented wide-open competition. For decades, Michigan law has barred gas stations from selling beer, wine and liquor. “Petroleum Dealers” are among a specific set of businesses listed in state law that are ineligible for SDD and SDM licenses. In the early 1990s, the Meijer Company and its lobbyists approached state policymakers with a problem. They were rolling out their plans to get into the gas business by building stations on the out-lots of their stores. However, because they carried beer, wine and liquor in their large-format stores, state law prevented them from also selling gas. In the early 1990s, the ‘Meijer exception’ to the state law liquor code was created. After months of negotiations, the “Meijer exception” to the state law liquor code was created. Those involved in the negotiations at that time, including my brother Joe Sarafa who was then president of the Associated Food Dealers of Michigan (AFD), believed they had carved out an exception that would allow Meijer to sell gas while protecting traditional SDM and SDD retailers. Two main criteria were developed: a business would need 0,000 in inventory, and the pumps would have to be located 50 feet away from the main building. During the years that I served as the president of the AFD, we continued to work with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to redefine the criteria and prevent wide-scale manipulation of state law. Today, gas stations are receiving these licenses at an astonishing rate while the MLCC, state policy makers and the AFD stand idly by. Maybe the time has come to amend the law. At a minimum, the law governing who can sell beer, wine and liquor needs to be clarified. If policy makers and the interest groups representing all the stakeholders think the law should be changed, so be it. But for now, the only way these stations are getting SDD and SDM licenses is because the MLCC is allowing the blatant abuse and misinterpretation of state law. The Meijer Exception was designed specifically to allow Meijer to sell gas, not to allow gas stations to sell alcohol. Any other interpretation is dishonest. Until it is changed, the law must be enforced and traditional licensees protected. Those with the authority to do it should step up to the plate and act. Mike Sarafa is president of the Bank of Michigan Correction “The Lord’s Time” (July 2008) contained misinformation. Kairos Young Adult youth retreats began at Mother of God Church. Shawn Ayar was instrumental in shaping the program. Poor Choice Isn’t it funny that we dedicate almost an entire July issue of the Chaldean News to gambling within the community but in the same breath we have advertisers like Greektown Casino in the same issue screaming out of the page, “Come play with us”? That is being a little hypocritical on your part. In one breath you are saying, “Don’t gamble, get help” and in the same breath you are saying, “But you can get rich if you go to the Greektown Giveaway.” I know that your advertisers paid you good money to be in your publication but my personal opinion is that you should have left the casino advertisers out of this issue and refunded their money for the lost issue or extended their contracts and given them a month free. I know that the advertisers help keep this publication going, but don’t forget that we all subscribe and pay for our issues as well. Valerita Asmar Saginaw Strike It Down I just wanted to make a comment that while your latest issue highlighted the justified concerns our community faces regarding gambling, right after the editorial and In Our View pages, you have “strike it rich” ads encouraging gambling at Greektown Casino. It seems like the five-year-old successful Chaldean News can do without the revenue casino ads generate. The standards of excellence you embrace for our community should be reflected in your publication, and that includes ads. Theresa Dabish Sitto Bloomfield Hills LETTERS continued on page 12 AUGUST2008 CHALDEAN NEWS 11
