We learn last year that Naeim Mouawad, age 16, a student at Saint Antonious al Khaldia School, Zgharta published his first book called “End of Discussion”.

Dar Al Ibdaa published it in English and Alexy Frangieh designed the book cover. The book contains an introduction by sister Bassima Khoury.

The publishers can be contacted at Dar Al Ibdaa, Beirut, and phone +916-1-884135.

[Editors Note: We depend on our readers to alert us of news stories we may have missed. Send them to contactus@zgharta.com]

Robert Frangieh of Zgharta, journalist and author, will be signing copies of his book Khidni Zra3ni bi arid Libnan” (Take me and let me grow in the land of Lebanon), at the invitation of the Rabitat Al Sakafi [Cultural Committee of Tripoli] ,on Saturday 27th November 2004 from 5 pm , in the Conference Room of the Committee's building at Chareih Al Sakafi [Cultural Street] Tripoli.

The book examines the subject of emigration from Zgharta Zawie to all parts of the world in particular Australia, Brazil, Mexico , Switzerland and Venezuela. The book’s title comes from a famous song of Fairouz composed by Assi and Mansour Rahbani.

The photo is that of the author at his book launch in Ehden this summer.

The Free Patriotic Movement Party of Zgharta Zawie [FPM]are holding a lecture called "To read the last Lebanese history " which will be presented by former Judge Salim Al Azar,Chairman of the Lebanese Transparency Association [LTA] and former member of Lebanon's Constitutional Council. Judge Azar is a well known lawyer and commentator on constitutional affairs in the Lebanese media.

The lecture will be held on Saturday 20th November 2004 at 4 pm at the Pierre Farshak Room, Zgharta Municipality Theatre.

The René Mouawad Foundation held a two day workshop at the Ehden Country Club on the subject of Institutional Development.

The majority of the 25 paticipants attending the Workshop were from Ardeh,Miziara, Rachiine,Toula and Zgharta with a some members coming from Beirut,Koura and Triploi.

The Workshop was led by Mr Drew Lent , the Senior Technical Director, of Management Systems International[ MSI]. Founded in 1981, MSI is located in Washington, D.C. providing management consulting services to organizations and agencies. The Workshop was also supported by the Eastern Social Association for Spanish Culture and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation.

The photo was taken during the Workshop.

The well-known Syrian actor and comedian Dureid Lahham will be appearing at the Zgharta Municipality Theatre [Pierre Farshak room] on Saturday 27th November 2004 at 4pm. He will be giving a talk on the role of art and theatre in society and education in particular.

The Zgharta branch of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party is hosting the event.

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The photo is that of Dureid Lahham
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There was a crowded meeting on Wednesday evening at the Muscade Restaurant to discuss what can be done to encourage more visitors to Ehden throughout the year, especially in the winter months.

At the meeting were Miss Roula Frangieh and Miss Amyouny, representing the Jameit al Midan [the Midan organization] and many owners and representatives of Ehden's restaurants, cafés and hotels.

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Nada Barakat Khawaja [neé Barakat, daughter of General Barakat] who was born in Zgharta has written a book titled "C'est un enfant lui aussi," or "He's also a child" recording her day-to-day life with her son Anthony. He was a “post mature baby”, due to his late delivery. The book, written in French, was launched on Saturday during the annual "Lire en Francais et en Musique" French Book Fair at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Center (BIEL) last week.

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The article [Arabic] can be read by the following PDF link

The Al Koubra last Saturday was the venue of an evening celebrating the work and life of the artist Saliba Doueihy and Lebanese culture.

There was a large and distinguished audience including Bishop Stephen Hector Youssef Doueihi Emeritus Bishop of Saint Maron of Brooklyn; Bishop Samir Mazloum, Maronite Apostolic Visitor, Europe and Vicar General Patriarchal of Zgharta; Mrs Nayla Mouawad and Mr Kaissar Mouawad, Members of Parliament for Zgharta; the President and Members of the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council; members of the Saint Anthonious monastery and other churchmen and leading members of Zgharta society. The Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament were represented.

The photo shows Minister of State Michel Moussa and Mr Joseph Raidy[centre]

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The photograph show some of the guests at the lunch held in honour of the Eblen Macari Trio at the home of Mr and Mrs Joseph Raidy on Sunday 19th September 2004

Before the Trio performed their concert in Ehden on Saturday, Robert Frangieh interviewed Eblen and Martinez at the Ehden Country Club on behalf of Al Anwar newspaper.

The article will be added online soon so that it can be read.

The photograph shows Eblen, Robert and Martinez [left to right]

On Sunday the Trio were the principal guests of Mr and Mrs Joseph Raidy, who hosted a lunch in their honour. Among the other guests were Mr Joseph Maarawi, the President of the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council, Father Estephan Frangieh, Mr Jibran Araygi and Mr Rodrigue Dahdah.

After lunch the Trio went back to their hotel, the Country Club, to prepare for their journey to their next concert, which is being held at the Notre Dame University later in the evening.

Ehden seems quiet today. Bon voyage Eblen Macari Trio

What a night. The air of Ehden was filled with music played by three men who in a short time had endeared themselves to the hearts of the people of Ehden.

The concert was opened by Mehsen Yammine, the Zgharta author, who announced to the expectant audience that the concert was being brought to them by the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council and the Mexican Embassy in collaboration with the Ehden Festival Committee, Raidy Press and Zgharta.com

To rapturous applause the Trio appeared and started to play. Their music combined contemporary, traditional Mexican and Middle Eastern rhythms and sounds.

At the end of the Concert Eblen thanked the organisers and the people of Ehden for their warm reception. In particular he said he wished to acknowledge one person who had helped him to fulfil his dream to play in the birthplace of his grandfather and that person was Rodrigue Dahdah, who he spotted in the audience.

After the concert many in the audience brought the Trio’s CD which was soon was sold out.

The evening continued for the Trio with a celebratory dinner at the Drop In where some fifteen people were the guests of the restaurant including Mr Tadeo Berjón, the Cultural Attaché of the Mexican Embassy, and members of the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council.

The Al Midan was a swirl of people late into the next day.

The Trio are the guests of the Zgharta Ehden Parish this morning. Father Estephan Frangieh will be taking them to Mar Youhana (St John) Cathedral and the cemetery at Sour. Eblen’s grandfather donated funds for the building of the Cathedral and the purchase of the land for the cemetery.

The Trio arrived in Ehden at 2.00 pm having been driven from Beirut by his Lebanese cousins who wanted the honour to bring their distant cousins “home”. They were welcomed by Roula Frangieh, who was one of the organisers of the Saturday concert.

They then went to seek out Rodrigue Dahdah at his restaurant, the Drop In, where Eblen met Rodrigue saying he had long been looking forward to meeting the person who had helped him fulfil his dream.

Afterwards they went to meet Eblen’s first cousins at the Belmont Hotel, Ehden.

Then Rodrigue drove the Trio the Koshaya Valley where they spent some two hours visiting the Monastery of Saint Anthony and the surrounding countryside.

Eblen wanted in particular to see a cedar tree so Rodrigue took them to Nibah Mar Sarkis where he saw the cedars in particular one, which is reputed to be over 1500 years old.

Driving back to Ehden they visited the home of Roula Frangieh who had invited them to see her home which is in the traditional Lebanese style. Everyone found the house to be of great interest and beauty.

Eblen thought he should do some “work” that day so he went to see the stage at the Al Midan where the Trio is to perform on Saturday.

After this “work” Roula and Rodrigue took the Trio to see the tomb of Youssef Bey Karam at St Georges Church, Ehden. On route they saw the old town of Ehden. Then the group went to see the exhibition of photographs of Doumit Zakhia Doueihy at the Priests House, Saint George, Ehden.

Finally the group arrived back at the Al Midan where the Trio met up with their cousins to who took them to meet Sheik Jawad Boulos Macari.

Later in the evening the Trio will have dinner with Eblen’s cousins and it is planned that they take them to see where Eblen’s grandfather lived.

Welcome to Ehden and sleep well, the Trio, as you have another busy day tomorrow.

To see photos of the Trio on the first day see the main site Galleria - Cultural & Civic Events - Eblen Marcari Trio

Eblen Macari and his trio consisting of his son , Martinez, and Jesús Cuevas are arriving in Ehden today.

This is the first time that father and son have come to Lebanon and it will be no doubt an emotional time for them to visit the birthplace of Eblen’s grandfather, Kabaln Tayun Macari who is still remembered for his generosity.

In addition to the concert he will have a busy schedule of social engagements, as it seems everyone wants to meet and entertain him in true Ehden traditional hospitality.

The Trio will perform an open-air concert in the Al Midan on Saturday 18th September at 10.30pm.

Eblen is pictured centre and Martinez far right in the photograph.

Rotaract Zgharta has organised a street event in "Chare3 Al Moughtaribine"[ the street of the emigrant] ,Ehden on Friday. It will be a combination of music and painting.

The photographs of Doumit Zakhia Doueihy will be exhibited at the Priests House, Saint George, Ehden “ Beit al Kahani”.

The Exhibition opens on Friday 17th September 2004 at 7:00 pm and continues until Tuesday 21st September when the exhibition is open from 5:00 pm till 10:00 pm.

The Rotaract Club of Zgharta Zawie sponsors the exhibition.

The new look Al Koubra was unveiled on Sunday when a futuristic picture was displayed on the walls of the historic building. The picture shows the plans of Mr. Joseph Abdalah, Zgharta architect for the building.

Some are saying that for such a historic landmark building there should have been be an open competition.The building belongs to the Parish of Ehden Zgharta.

The concert tour of the Eblen Macari Trio will start in Beirut on Thursday.See the main site - Forum - Entertainment & Cuture - for the details of the concerts in Lebanon

The Trio will perform in Al Midan, Ehden on Saturday at 10.30pm,and not at 9pm as was first announced.

zgharta.com was pleased to receive the thanks and recognition of Eblen for helping him and his Trio to appear in Ehden.

The Al Midan will be the setting for three cultural events on Saturday 18th September.

The Al Koubra will be the venue where Father Simon Attalah, Father Superior of Saint Anthonious and Mr Joseph al Raidy Doueihy, Book Publisher, hosts the book launch of Father John al Habib’s book, “Saliba Doueihy fi Siratouho al Zatiya" (Saliba Doueihy: His Personal Life)

The book launch coincides with an exhibition of paintings by the artist Saliba Doueihy (1912 –1994), which are in private collections. The exhibition is open from on Tuesday 14th, 7pm to Sunday 19th September. Those attending will be able to view the paintings.

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Zghartawien author Ibrahin Sassine, known among his friends as “Bob”, will be signing copies of his new book, “Al-Kenaani al-Awal” (The Kanaanite the Pioneer) on Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September between 6pm to 8pm at the Zakhia Hotel, Al Midan, Ehden.

The book’s subject is the power and legacy of the Kanaano- Phoenician civilization, which the author says was one of the greatest civilizations in the ancient world.

The author devoted many years researching the subject using the Old Testament and other historical records as his sources for the book.

The Migration Workshop held at Ehden last weekend has been reported in the Lebanese Press. As we have reported earlier the Workshop was organised by the Lebanese Research Centre [LERC] of the Notre Dame University, Beirut and the Parish and Municipality of Zgharta Ehden.

The President of the Zgharta Ehden Municipality, Mr Joseph Maarawi was reported to have announced, during the Workshop, that the Municipality had entered into a five-year partnership with the LERC. He said that for whatever reason people left “those who were born in Ehden drank its water……………and never forgot it!

Among the many people of all generations who were reported attending the three-day event were Salam Doueihi, 50, Antoine Frangieh 50 and Salim Frangieh, 36. They all related stories of their forebears who had emigrated and expressed their admiration for the Workshop.

A researcher at LERC, Guita Hourani, said, “ The main objective is to inform people that they are the writer of their history………….The village remains the focal point”.

Photos of the Workshop can be seen in the Main site: Galleria - Cultural& Civic Events - Educational Events

As part of Ehden’s Summer Festival, Cinemaiyat open on Thursday, 17th August, before a distinguished audience, including Mr. and Mrs. Sleieman Frangieh and Mr. Gazi Al Aridi, Lebanon’s Minister of Culture.

The Festival celebrates the contemporary Lebanese Film Industry and the career of Lebanese director, George Nasr.

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