The Lebanese newspaper, Al Akhbar, reports in their Friday edition that the dead body of an unidentified man was found near the René Moawad Foundation Centre, Mejdlaya, Zgharta, with a bullet wound in his chest, on Wednesday, 23rd January 2008. The Lebanese Internal Security Force issued a statement that the deceased was man in his 20's and that any one with information should contact them.

The Arabic version of the article can be read here

The, As Safir, also covers the story, saying that the man was believed to have been shot in self defence by the security guard of the property owned by Boutros Nehmeh, where three men attempted a robbery. The guard was said to be in police custody pending further enquires. We do not know if he is now released.

The journalist Hasna Saadeh, who writes for the Lebanese newspaper, As Safir, seems to be rivaling journalist, Robert Frangieh, who writes for, Al Anwar, in the number of her recent reports on Ehden and Zgharta.

In today's edition she writes about Bou Mansour who for the last 50 years stays in Ehden during the winter. He says that in the past the snow acted as an antidote against illness, natures own medicine. However this year the snow has yet to fall heavily.

The article also mentions Mehsen Iskander who says that the lack of snow this year is exceptional. He puts it down to climate change.

As well she says that lovers of snow sports have not been able to use their skidoo's or ski's.

The article can be read here in Arabic.

The photograph of Bou Mansour was taken by us in February 2005.

The Rotaract Club of Zgharta Zawie has now launched its own website, www.raczz.org,

The Club, which was founded in 1989, is part of the international Rotary organisation, which set up a new tier of clubs in 1968 for young men and women between the ages of 18 to 30. There are over 7,000 Rotaract clubs in 163 countries and geographical areas, with some 145,000 members. "Rotaract" stands for "Rotary in Action".

The Club meets in the winter months at the Milad Ghazel Cultural & Sport Centre, Zgharta and in Summer at the Ehden Country Club.

The Current officers of the Club are: President: Gisele Raidy; Treasurer: Antoinette Abdallah; Secretary: Lamita Maarawi; Head of Professional Development: Habib Joukhadar: Interact Cordaniator: Tony Douaihy; Head of Youth Service Committee: P.P:Celine Saade; Head of Club Service Committee: Reina Douaihy; Head of Comunity Service Committee: Mariette Finianos; Head of international Service Committee: Nadine Khoury; Head of Fundraisng Committee: Emile Moawad.

We wish the Club all the best and look forward to reporting its activities and events in 2008.

The Lebanese newspaper, As Safir, reports today on Zgharta's new medical waste centre. The centre is built on land belonging to the Parish of Ehden Zgharta and is located near the Saydet Zgharta Hospital.

The report can be read in PDF format in:

Arabic
English (Google)

In the weekend issue of the Lebanese newspaper, Al Anwar, Zgharta journalist, Robert Frangieh wrote about students from the Collège De La Salle, Kfaryachit, who from their own pocket money helped to rebuild the roof of a house in need of replacement in the village of Sakhra near Miziara in the Caza of Zgharta.

The article can be read from here in

Arabic.
English (Google)

The Zgharta journalist, Robert Frangieh, has written an article in Saturday's edition of the Lebanese newspaper, Al Anwar, concerning a new calender which features the landmark statue of Youssef Bey Karam (1823 - 1889) and it creator Youssef Houwayek.

The calender includes a photograph of an incident at the unveiling of the statue of the Bey in 1932, when the veil got stuck, which we featured ourselves in our article, "Snapshot of Zgharta Zawie History," in March 2006. The calender is produced by Houda Karam, but it is not clear if it has yet been printed for sale. The article can be read on the Full Story page.

The newspaper article can be read (Arabic) from this link.


Full Story

The Lebanese media continues to report on Lebanon's severe weather, mentioning the ice on the roads in Zgharta and its consquences.

We put online an article from the, As Safir, in

Arabic and

Google English translation

The photograph was taken on Monday, 14th January 2008, showing ice on the road near the Zgharta Public Technical School in Akbeh, taken by Simon Moawad from his car.

The Al Akhbar also reports the ice and an incident at the village of Miriata, where some people blocked the road for some 30 minutes between Tripoli and Syr Al Dannieh, in protest of the lack of a new power junction by the Ministry of Power. Also it reported that they was an accident involving a bus with students on the road between Achach and Kfarabou, no one was injured. The article in Arabic can be read from here

The Lebanese newspaper, As Safir, on 12th January 2008, carried a report on the Zgharta paternal family home of Youssef Bey Karam (1823 - 1889) lamenting on its neglect and sorry current state.

The house was built in 1777, and is now own by Semaan Jamil Karam, who brought it in the 1970's from Mrs. Dalal Karam. At the time he wanted to restore the house but the Civil War intervened and he not now able to proceed alone with such work. He first approached the General Directorate of Archeology some 20 years ago, but they never replied at the time and he hopes they will assist now. The spokesperson for the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council, Mr. Mehesen Yammine, says that the house is a fine example of the architectural style of the 16th century. Mr.Karam still has the original stones at his home in Akbeh and says he only needs a few more to ensure the renovation keeps faith to the building's heritage.

The President of the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council, Gen Joseph Maarrawi, has had the Urbanisation Office in Zgharta undertake a survey who confirms that the main structure is still strong. He is said to have agreed that should the Directorate not agree to pay for the work the Council will underwrite the costs.

The author of the article is Hassna Saade, who comes from Zgharta, and it can be read from here. Photographs of the house taken from the Galleria can be seen on the Full Story page.

Full Story

Zgharta is in the grip of severe winter weather. On Monday morning the roads were covered by ice especially in the Moukhada area along the streets between Akbi and Tal, being near the rivers. There was a traffic jam causing delays for students and workers.

The Zgharta Ehden Municiapl Council has put down salt on the roads and will repeat the exercise at nighttime. Some are saying they have not seen such weather conditions for some 40 years.

The Lebanese newspaper, The Daily Star, reported on Monday that,Temperatures have dropped below freezing levels across the country, including the coast. Weather reports said temperatures plunged to 4-5 degrees below zero Celsius on the coast Friday, while dropping to -10 in the mountains. Local newspapers said the freezing cold brought life to a standstill in Lebanese villages, while municipalities struggled to clear snow from roads. In the Bekaa Valley temperature dropped to levels not witnessed since the 1960s, with thin layers of ice forming on roads and trees. Weather forecasters expected the temperature in Bekaa to drop further on Sunday night." The photograph is courtesy of, El Marada, website.

The Union of Zgharta Zawie Municipal Councils and the Parish of Ehden Zgharta together with the Lebanese organisation, Arceniel, held a seminar on Thursday, 10th January 2008 at the Pierre Farshakh Hall, Zgharta Municipal Theatre, concerning the planned medical waste disposal centre in Zgharta. Those attending was presented with an fait accompli, as they were told that the Centre would be open within the month. The land for the Centre has been donated by the Parish of Ehden Zgharta, although the precise location is not known to us.

Attending the meeting were Madam Iman Al Rafeai, the Ka'am Makam of the Caza; Gen. Joseph Maarrawi, President of the Union; Mehsen Yammine who spoke on behalf of the Union; Dr. Antoine Debs, the Head of the Health & Environment Committee for the Union and Dr. Joseph Boustani.

The North Lebanon newspaper, Attamaddon, has published in their new year edition an article on Zgharta's Christmas nativity grotto. The grotto built by Sayed Ghazala, has become in the last four years a feature of Zgharta's Christmas scene.

It takes some two months to construct before Christmas, with new features and models added. It contains some 2000 metres of hessian, 100 light bulbs and 240 figurines - animals and people. The maker, Sayed, hopes to have a permanent place for the grotto in Al Sahat, the old part of Zgharta, where he lives.

The article can be read from here

We are very happy to have heard from Giselle Hajj, who was one of the injured in road accident on the highway to Beirut in Batroun, Al Mousaylaha Citadelle, on Thursday, 3rd January 2007.

She says, "Thank you for your concern, but I am doing fine and I am home now. I survived the accident by a miracle."

We send our best wishes go to her.

On 22nd December 2007, the Executive Committee of the Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan) and held a Christmas Dinner at the Zgharta House, Guildford, Sydney.

Present were: Association President Sarkis Maksisi and his wife, Yvonne; Chairman Sarkis Jlailaty and his wife, Aida; President of the Zgharta Ladies Committee, Mrs. Alia Halabi; Committee members: Said Douaihy and his wife, Yola; Rymond Mawad; Sayed Halabi; George Douaihy and his wife, Nohad; Antoine Gittany; Sayed Elachi and his wife, Janette; Badawi Ndaira and his wife, Wadad; Tanous Finianos and his wife, Samira; Marcel Chalouhi and his wife, Norma.

Each member present raised a toast wishing each other a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and enjoyed a convivial evening together. Mr. Sarkis Jlailaty spoke on behalf of all the Committee members, underlining the Association’s achievements in 2007 and extending special praise for the Association’s president, Sarkis Maksisi, who he said by common consent, has worked tirelessly to raise the profile both of the Association and the Zgharta community as a whole.

President Maksisi was then presented with a wrist watch as a token of the Committee’s appreciation. The President, who was visibly moved by the Committee’s unexpected generosity and words, thanked all the members for their valuable efforts during the year and for the gift which he said he would wear with pride, as a medal, as it came from people he admired and love for their dedication in serving Zgharta abroad. He wished them and their families, the Association, Zgharta, Lebanon and Australia a very Happy New Year.

Photographs of the occasion can be seen in the Galleria

The Lebanese media has reported widely today on a massive accident on the highway to Beirut in Batroun, Al Mousaylaha Citadelle, on Thursday, where a Syrian passenger bus hit several cars, some reports talk of 10 cars being involved. It is reported that one unknown person was killed and 14 persons were injured including Giselle George Hajj of Zgharta. It is not reported the nature of her injuries.

The Lebanese website, Lebanon Links, has published their list of the Most Powerful Lebanese Woman for 2007, placing, Zgharta born, Vera Yammine, in first place. She is a member of El Marada Political Board and its Public Relations Director, and the sister of the late poet and author Georges Yammine.

The website credits her as being the major influence in the promotion of the El Marada Party and they predict she will attain a higher national position in the future. She will be a member of the party's official delegation which will visit Australia in February 2008.

The results of the poll are based on a number of factors, such as media appearances, questionnaires, polls and media expert opinions. The report can be seen on the Full Story page.


Full Story

The Antoine Order held a seminar for its new University at Mejdlaya, recently at the Antonin Sister's School Theatre, Khaldieh.

It was announced that the Unversity will begin its courses in Autumn 2008 and that registration for the academic year 2008/2009 is now open. The Mejdlaya campus will have a Faculty of Business Administration and a Faculty of Computer Engineering. Contact phone numbers are Tel. : 00 961 6 560 026 / 660 029 and Fax : 00 961 5 924 815

The Director of the Campus is Fr. Nader Nader, Father Superior of the Monastery of Sts. Sarkis and Bakhous; the Adminsitrative Director is Mr. Maroun Jneid.

Recent pictures of the construction of the Campus can be seen in the Galleria

The Union of Zgharta Zawie Municipal Councils and the Parish of Ehden Zgharta in co-junction with the Lebanese organisation, Arc en ciel, are holding on Thursday, 10th January 2008 at the Pierre Farshakh Hall, Zgharta Municipal Theatre, 6 p.m. a meeting to announce the apparent plans to build a medical waste disposal centre in Zgharta, as part of an national project for Lebanon. The project is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional, AECI). Arc en ciel (meaning rainbow) is a Lebanese non-profit, non-political and non-denominational organisation, founded in 1985 and recognized as a public utility in 1995 by Decree.

Those invited include other Municipal Unions and Councils in North Lebanon, as well as specialists in the field of medical waste disposal.

The United Nation's agency, World Health Organisation (WHO) defines medical waste as that which is, "generated by health care activities includes a broad range of materials, from used needles and syringes to soiled dressings, body parts, diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radioactive materials." and it goes onto say that, "Poor management of health care waste potentially exposes health care workers, waste handlers, patients and the community at large to infection, toxic effects and injuries, and risks polluting the environment. It is essential that all medical waste materials are segregated at the point of generation, appropriately treated and disposed of safely."

We are unaware where the Centre will be precisely located, which will be in any event, the fourth in Lebanon's planned network of medical waste disposal centres. Our view is that it should not be a case of "not on our doorstep" but a case of public consultation and assurances. Clearly the local community will be seeking such assurances regarding the Centre, especially as to emissions and emergency measures in the event of accidents. We trust that such assurances will be given before the commencement of construction.

It is not known what local employment opportunities will be created by the Centre. When we learn more we will report further. If it's for the greater good of the community then zgharta.com is behind the new Centre.

Ehden welcomed the New Year with fireworks. Revelers, young and old, braved the night air aided by braziers, "liquid refreshments" and silly hats.

Pictures of the night can be seen in the Galleria

We wish our readers a very happy New Year.

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