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Alfred Boulos R.I.P.

Wed Dec 26 2007

The Parish of Ehden Zgharta has announced the death of the Former President of Zgharta - Ehden Municipality, Sheikh Alfred Boulos Makary, age 72, on Tuesday, 25th December 2007.

The Funeral will take place on Wednesday, 26th December 2007 at 4:00 p.m. St John’s Church, Zgharta. The family will receive condolences on Wednesday and Thursday at the Church Hall.

This Christmas, a number of Zgharta businesses have joined the increasing global E-Commerce explosion, by creating their own websites and selling online.

At no cost to them, well its the season of goodwill isn't, "Bah! Humbug!" as Dickens's Ebenezer Scrooge, would say, we feature those we have found .

Verty Gift Shop
Tajara Confectionary
Fouad Jer Doueihy Sweets

You can support zgharta.com by making a donation. The site receives no financial support from local, regional, or central government; NGO's; community organisations and relies solely on the backing of its co-founders, advertisers and a few individual supporters. Needless to say, without the continuous support and work of its team and contributors, who give their time and skills for free, there would be no zgharta.com

Christmas Village

Wed Dec 19 2007

The, René Moawad Foundation, has created a Christmas Village at Mejdlaya, where you can visit Santa's house and workshop, Mrs. Claus's Art Shop, Granny Claus, the reindeer's barn and a Christmas market.

Each day has a special events - circus, puppetry, magician show, clowns and choirs. Daily activities include the opportunity to be photographed with Santa and face painting.

The Christmas Village is open between 4.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. from Wednesday 19th December to Sunday, 23rd December 2007.

The posters for the Christmas Village and photographs of the first day can be seen on the Full Story page
Full Story

Save our heritage

Wed Dec 19 2007

It has always been the contention of zgharta.com that within the collective memory of our community there is much that is still not recorded on the internet and therefore, in these modern times, not easily accessible. There is also the added danger that unless it is online it will be lost forever. There are centuries of "hard copy" which is forgotten, misplaced, neglected or in need of restoration. Much also is only recorded in the memories of our grandparents generation, which is lost as they pass away. In our small way, zgharta.com, has over the years endeavored to record such information.

On a bigger scale the premier search engine, Google, announced on 13th December 2007, that it has created an online open encyclopedia, Knol, to record and put online such information. In its press release it says, "....not everything is written nor is everything well organized to make it easily discoverable. There are millions of people who possess useful knowledge that they would love to share, and there are billions of people who can benefit from it...."

The idea is that articles are written by a single author, without the ability of other users to add or edit the article, unless the author agrees. At the moment the site is being "beta" tested before being made available online to all users. We hope to contribute articles to the new site, based on our existing articles and research, we have undertaken over the years. In the meantime we have joined the forum, www.KnolStuff.com a community site for online authors and websites, which has been set to discuss and learn about Knol. We have created the group, zghartacom and we invite you to join.

The full press release for the new site can be read on the Full Story page.

News Digest Archive You can read past News Digest articles (over 1200) - local & community news; local & general elections; Ehden festivals; sport; interviews; Special reports - by going to the Archive: 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007

Full Story

Welcome home Charlie

Sat Dec 15 2007

We welcome our music and video editor, Charlie Frangieh, on his Christmas visit to Zgharta from USA.

He hopes to take videos and post them while he is here, but his first report to us does not auger well, "so far the connections are kinda slow, I'll attempt to upload something today, it looks kinda slow though." What do you expect Mr.Ultra Fast Broadband, its North Lebanon, Middle East not North Lebanon, USA !

He is so bashful there is no known photograph of him on the web, so it you see a guy pointing a camera at you, it could be him. A prize for the first person to photograph him with his camera.

Brigadier General Francois El Hajj R.I.P.

Thu Dec 13 2007

Rest In Peace

Brigadier General Francois El Hajj

1953 - 2007

and those who died with him.

"My son is a hero and heroes never die, he will remain alive in our hearts,"
the words of the General's mother.

Monsignor Boutros Barakat (1927-2006)

Mon Dec 10 2007

Today marks the first annivesary of the death of Monsignor Boutros Barakat.

The Monsignor was born in 1927, Zgharta . He was ordained on 30th May 1954 and made an Monsignor on 16th September 2000. He held many posts in the Ehden Zgharta Parish, including Custodian of the Parish. He died on Sunday, 10th December 2006. His death was marked throughout the worldwide Zgharta Zawie community by special church services.

On Sunday, 16th December 2007, the Parish of Ehden Zgharta will hold a Requiem Mass for the Monsignor at the St. John the Baptist Church, Zgharta.

Ehden Municipal Hospital Free Breast Cancer Screening

Fri Nov 30 2007

The Ehden Municipal Hospital has announced that it is undertaking free breast cancer screenings for women between the ages of 40 to 70. This is part of Lebanon's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and is being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

The announcement by the Chairman of the Hospital Board, Dr. Joseph Frangieh, says that breast cancer is the number one cause of death among woman in the world.

The screenings are planned to the end of 2007 and participants are asked to bring official identification papers with them.

The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that mammography screening for breast cancer reduces mortality. The IARC working group, comprising 24 experts from 11 countries, evaluated all the available evidence on breast screening and determined that there is a 35 per cent reduction in mortality from breast cancer among screened women aged 50-69 years old. This means that out of every 500 women screened, one life will be saved

So get your grandmother, mother, wife, daughter, aunt, cousin, girlfriend checked out!

The Ministry has issued a fact sheet on breast canceer which can be downloaded from this link

The free screenings was reported in Saturday's edition of the Lebanese newspaper, As Safir.

Ministerial Announcements

Fri Nov 30 2007

On, Thursday, 29th November 2007, two Lebanese ministries published announcements.

The Ministry of Health, launched a Hepatitis A awareness campaign in Lebanon. There has been an outbreak in the Caza of Hasbaya, Mount Lebanon, where polluted water from two springs is believed to have been the cause.

The Ministry advised people to wash their hands before preparing food or eating and after using the toilet. It also emphasized the importance of avoiding tainted water. It has called upon on municipalities to post notices near public springs saying if the water is 'drinkable' or 'undrinkable.'

The Ministry of Telecommunications announced that land-line subscribers can now pay their phone bills through LibanPost. The charge for doing so is LL 1,000. There is also the option for LibanPost to collect payment at homes and offices for a charge of LL 1,500.

This new arrangement arises from complaints from customers about long queues at OGERO offices to pay the monthly bills customers now received, previously bills were quarterly. It is estimated that there are 650,000 land-line subscribers in Lebanon.

OGERO recently reduced the cost of international phone calls to $0.40 a minute from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and $0.20 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Caritas Zgharta-Ehden Christmas Tree Appeal

Sun Nov 25 2007

Caritas of Zgharta-Ehden, part of Caritas Liban, has launched its annual Christmas Tree Appeal to help those children in less fortunate circumstances. The image of the Christmas tree is a potent one, conjuring up images of wellbeing - presents, food and warmth, but for some families it is the opposite, a painful reminder, especially for parents, of what they lack.

The Christmas Tree Appeal is a timely reminder that we should think of others at this time of the year. The Charity, with the active support of the Parish of Ehden Zgharta, has designated four Zgharta churches - Saydet Zgharta, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph and St. Maroun - to be collection points for gifts and donations for children in need.

The organisers have asked that gifts and donations should be left during the following times:- Saydet Zgharta, St Joseph, St. Maroun, (during Masses); St John the Baptist (the Library near Saydet Al Hara - during 9 a.m. to 4 p.m)

Singer of Ehden song dies

Sun Nov 18 2007

The Lebanese singer, A3zar Habib, who recorded George Yammine's song, "Ehden Jamal w'layl w'gharbiyeh," died on Saturday 17th November 2007.

The song can be heard from the ZBox

The Sunday issue of the Lebanese newspaper, An Nahar, features the life of A3zar Habib, which can be read from this link

Joseph Girgis Masri R.I.P.

Thu Nov 15 2007

The Parish of Ehden Zgharta announce the death of Joseph Girgis Masri, Former President of Zgharta - Zawieh Merchants' Association, age 68 , on Wednesday, 14th November 2007.

The Funeral will take place on Thursday, 15th November 2007 at 3.30 p.m. St. Joseph's Church, Zgharta. The family will receive condolences on Thursday and Friday at the Church Hall.

New phone tariffs

Thu Nov 01 2007

ET does not now have to "ring home" as the folks at home, if in Lebanon, can phone themselves as it's cheaper to do so since 1st November 2007, with the the introduction of the new international tariffs from fixed telephone lines.

To make it easier to phone from Lebanon, International Direct Access, is now available from fixed telephone lines for free. If this is to much of a temptation for the kids, the service can be deactivated.

The new standard rates are: (Zgharta Time)

7 a.m. - 10 p.m. - LL 600 per minute
10 p.m. - 7 a.m. - LL 400 per minute

Mobile phone rates are on average per minute: LL 796 - day; LL 596 evening, such rates being fixed by the Lebanese Government.

The Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports today that, "The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is holding a press conference on Friday to set the date for applications to take over ownership of the country’s GSM* network, with a January 2008 deadline for applications.

The GSM network, with about 1.1 million mobile phone lines in operation, is owned by the state and currently operated by Kuwait’s MTC Touch and Lebanon’s Alfa whose contracts expire in mid-2008.

Under the privatisation plan, three operators will own and run the network by the first half of next year, TRA president Kamal Shehadi told AFP".

*The Global System for Mobile communications (originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile) is an open, digital cellular technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services.

Brazilian Lebanese Census

Sun Oct 21 2007

The Maronite Diocese of Brazil is promoting a census of Brazlians with Lebanese descendent under the banner of "'I am Lebanese."

Part of the census project is to help those who wish to take Lebanese citizenship. It is estiminated that there are between seven and eight million people of Lebanese descendent living in Brazil, the largest community in the world.

The Brazil - Arab News Agency (ANBA) report on the census appears on the Full Story page. The photograph is of Archbishop Edgard, Maronite Archbishop of Brazil. Many descendents from Zgharta Zawie live in São Paulo and it is estimated that those from Zgharta number up to sixty families comprising of first, second and third generations.
Full Story

Annual Zgharta Australia Gala 2007

Thu Oct 18 2007

This year's Annual Zgharta Gala held by the Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan) Australia, will take place on Saturday, 10th November 2007 at the Grand Westella, Western Sydney.

The evening will start at 7.30 p.m. and tickets are Aus $60 which includes meze, dinner and drink. The Master of Ceremonies is Jack Haklani and singers Antoinette Douaihy and Youssef Karam and the M.I.B. band will perform.

For further details and reservations call 1300 13 88 47 or 0413377841.

Proceeds of the Gala will go towards the Zgharta House loan and the Association's other activities.

The current Association is the successor of the first association formed in 1951 by Mr Semaan Mikhail Bou-Semaan Mowad, known as Simon Symond. He is considered by many as the Father of the Zgharta community in Australia. The association called itself, The Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan).The association's aims were to keep the then small Zgharta community together and assist each other. Especially, it saw as one of its major roles, helping new arrivals from Zgharta to settle and assimilate themselves in Australia. The current Association was the result of the merger in 1962 of the above association and "The Zgharta Union Club in Australia", which was formed in 1957. The new association agreed to retain the name, The Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan). In 1963 it was officially registered as an charity.

New Australian Book on Patriarch Estefan Douaihy

Thu Oct 18 2007

The Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan) Australia have commissioned a book on Patriarch Estefan Douaihy by the authors Jamil Douaihy & Rouba Douaihy. It will be in English and will be launched in Sydney on 25th November 2007 and in Melbourne on 2nd December 2007. It will consist of 220 pages with a preface by the Maronite Bishop of Australia, Bishop Ad Abikaram. The book is being printed in Lebanon.

The Sydney launch will be at the Our Lady of Lebanon Church, Harris Park, Sydney, following Mass celebrated by the Bishop.

As part of the promotion for the book, the Association's President, Sarkis Maksisi, gave an interview to the Arabic channel of Australia's public funded radio channel, Special Broadcasting Service, SBS Radio. The interview can be heard from here

The Parish of Ehden Zgharta Winter Masses

Tue Oct 16 2007

The Parish of Ehden Zgharta have announced the Mass times for the Winter, starting from Sunday, 14th October 2007.

Saydet Zgharta's Church
Week days & Saturday: 5.30 a.m. 7.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.
Sunday: 5.30 a.m. 7 a.m. 9.00 a.m. 10.30 a.m.

St. John the Baptish's Church
Week days & Saturday: 7.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
Sunday: 7.00 a.m. 9.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.

St. Joseph's Church
Week days & Saturday: 7.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.
Sunday: 7.00 a.m. 9.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.

St. Maron's Church
Week days & Saturday: 5.00 p.m.
Sunday: 7.00 a.m. 10.00 a.m.

Saydet Zgharta Hospital
Week days & Saturday: 7.00 am.
Sunday: No Mass

St. George's Church, Ehden
Week days & Saturday: No Mass
Sunday: 11.30 a.m.

Special services for Christmas and the New Year will be announced nearer to the time.

The Association of Zgharta 2008 Calendar

Wed Oct 10 2007

The ever resourceful, Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan) Australia, have published a 2008 calendar.

The calendar consists of thirteen pages printed on high quality glossy paper with high resolution images. The front cover features a striking picture of a Lebanese soldier raising the Lebanese national flag; the Lebanese Armed Forces Emblem and the Association’s Christmas and New Year greetings. The Association’s President, Sarkis Maksisi, says that the cover was designed to honour the sacrifices of the Lebanese Army.

Each month has its own page, featuring photographs of Ehden and Zgharta through the seasons. Each day of the month has its own box, with particular feast days, public holidays, both in Lebanon and Australia, marked, with space for people’s own reminders. The pages also contain advertisements and news and photographs of the Association’s events for 2006/2007.

The Association thanks all who have helped in the production of the calendar, especially those companies and organizations who have placed advertisements.

The calendar is being distributed among the Zgharta community in Australia by the Association for free. Recipients are however asked that they make a contribution towards the remaining loan for the purchase and renovation of the Zgharta House, which the Association hopes will be paid in full by the year end.

A PDF version (2.70 MB) of the Calendar can be seen from here (Now online)

To request a copy phone/fax the Association on 1300 13 88 47

René Moawad Foundation, USA,

Wed Oct 10 2007

The René Moawad Foundation, USA, are holding two funding raising gala's on the next two consequentive Saturdays.

The first will be a double first as the Foundation is holding its first Houston Benefit Gala on Saturday, 13th October 2007 at the Hotel Zaza. The evening will honour two Lebanese Americans, Congressman Darrell E. Issa, a member of the U.S House of Representatives from California's 49th District. and Mr. Mounzer Hourani, CEO of Medistar Corp.

The following Saturday, 20th October 2007, the Foundation will hold its 14th Annual Benefit Gala at the Ritz Carlton Hotel , Pentagon City , VA. the US especially for this occasion. The Foundation will be honouring at the Gala, Mr. Fuad El-Hibri, Chairman & CEO of Emergent BioSolutions and the Partnership for Lebanon. The latter organization was established in September 2006 by U.S. business leaders, including the the CEOs of Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Intel Corporation, Ghafari Inc., and Occidental Petroleum, to assist the reconstruction efforts in Lebanon.

Both evenings will feature a fashion show by the well known Lebanese designer Jean Fares, who will showcasing his latest collection.

The Foundation's Honorary President, Mrs. Nayla René Moawad, Minister of Social Affairs and Member of Parliament for Zgharta Zawie, will be travelling to the USA for the second Gala.

The proceeds of both evenings are dedicated to the Foundation's Educational Projects in Lebanon.

For further details or to reserve a table, contact - 713 622 4800 for Houston Gala and 202 338 3535 for Washington Gala.

Antoine Tawfik Ghanem and others R.I.P.

Wed Sep 19 2007

R.I.P.

Antoine Tawfik Ghanem

and

those who died with him today

19th September 2007

Monthly Phone Bills

Thu Aug 23 2007

The Ministry of Telecommunications has introduced a new billing system for fixed phone lines. From 15th August 2007 subscribers will now receive a monthly invoice, sent out at the middle of the month. It will be in an easier to read format and will include the monthly rental fees for telephone and internet services (including DSL) and national and international calls. There is a grace period of one month to pay the invoice which can be paid at a bank, with an administrative charge of 2000 LL.

For further information visit the website of the operators, OGERO (Organisme de Gestion et d'Exploitation de l'ex Radio Orient) who manage the fixed phone lines in Lebanon on behalf of the Ministry - www.ogero.gov.lb

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The News Digest

Tue May 22 2007

Yesterday saw our 1000th News Digest article.

Unfortunately the article, Tripoli News, was not of great joy to the Zgharta Zawie community, reporting some of the immediate consequences of the fighting in Lebanon's second city.

The News Digest started in February 2004 with the aim of bringing the local news of the Zgharta Zawie community to our readers, on daily or weekly basis. That remains still our aim. The emphasis being on the local as oppose to the national or global arena. We have sought to keep to our mantra of being neutral and independent; reporting the facts without editorial. Acknowledging and respecting that our community is made up of different opinions and allegiances and it is not for us promote or criticise one view point or another. We report the news; we do not make the news.

Over the three years of its existence the News Digest has reported as they relate to Zgharta Zawie: both the Lebanese Local and General Elections; the 34 days conflict of the Summer of 2006; cultural events; individual achievements and honours; issues concerning the community and the like. The News Digest Archive contains all of the past articles; a record for future generations.

For a community of our size it sometimes feels remarkable that almost every day there is something to report. But yet, should we be surprised. Our community is remarkable and long may it remain so.

Got Your Paperwork In Order ?

Thu May 10 2007

A note of warning, especially for our overseas cousins coming to Ehden this year.

The Lebanese Armed Forces, who publish monthly notices, report that for the period 4th April to 4th May 2007, they arrested people, inter alia, for the following offences, "driving vehicles and motorcycles without legal papers, violating the residency laws, failing to comply with the military service obligations, travelling without identification papers....."

We advise you to check your papers and if in doubt speak to your local Lebanese embassy or get someone in Lebanon to check for you.

At the time of the abolition of compulsory military service, the Lebanese Armed Forces issued the following statement.

1- The final cancellation of the military service starting from 10/2/2007 according to the law 6650/2005.

2- All the Lebanese citizens who were called to execute their military service and who applied for a final acquittal application are asked to submit themselves to the mobilization department as far as 1/6/2007 maximum to receive the acquittal card.

3- Those who postponed their service until 10/2/2007 and those who possess military service cards or travelling authorizations or other documents are not obliged to submit themselves to the mobilization department or its sections in the regions after the date of the postponement and are requested to keep these documents and they are considered responsible of these documents.

Don't spend your vacation behind bars!

Being online for 9 years

Tue May 08 2007

Tuesday, 8th May 2007, zgharta.com marks being online for nine years.

The site is a celebration of the worldwide community of Zgharta Zawie, reporting its news, bringing it together from all corners of the world, a source of knowledge. On average 16,000 individual readers per month visit the site.

In addition to the popular Galleria, which has over 7000 photographs, and the News Digest, which since its start in 2004 has over 900 articles - past articles can be read from its Archive (2005;2006;2007), the site has many pages of reference and information, see the Site Map.

Never complacent zgharta.com always seeks to provide new features using the latest technology. Today on our anniversary we launch:

> ZMail the new zgharta.com email service which features spam filters. Members who have already signed up can access their accounts from the ZMail portal on the home page. Readers who wish to open a new account can do so from the same location.

> ZTv We have created our own video library featuring videos with a Zgharta Zawie flavour. It is open to our members to contribute their videos. ZTv is located in the Galleria.

> A satellite photograph of Zgharta.

zgharta.com thanks its contributors and readers for making it the number one site in the community.