Village Day
Al Yaoum Al Karawi
Musical
Evening by National Conservatory At Saydeh Church August 14
Miss
Emigrants 2008, Noor Beshara,
19,
University student from Batroune
Serene Abd el Noor and Zein el Omr enchant capacity crowd and Light up the skies
| Program, Click here + Opening Night On BB With links to Photo Albums |
Miss
Teenage "Sweet 16" Lara Dabani" |
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Thanks for Great Team: Editor, Photographer &
Team Leader: Samar Kiamé *** Writer: Rima Beshara el Rihbany
Photographers &/or photo editors: Therese Corban Kiamé, Ghinwa,
Diala, William & Nagham Moujaes, Youmna Slaybeh, Rami Shallita & Nabila
Halaby
An evening with Carol Samaha, click here
Kids
Day, August 4 - Report on BB and slide show
A Report on Emigrants Fest On BB With links to Photo
Albums
For more pictures, visit Emigrants Fest Album by Samar
A Report on Emigrants Fest On BB With links to Photo
Albums Thanks to a Great Team:
Pictures editor: Therese Corban Kiamé
*** Writer: Rima Beshara el Rihbany *** posted by: Samar
Kiamé
Photographers: William Moujaes, Youmna Slaybeh, Ghinwa Moujaes,
Samar Kiamé
A Report on Emigrants Fest On BB With links to Photo
Albums Thanks to a Great Team:
For more pictures, visit Emigrants Fest Album by Samar
Note Change in Program: Kids Program & Mini Studio Changed from Tuesday to Monday Aug 4
Dhour Shweir was First Town to Honor Army after their victory at Nahr El
Bared -
Most personnel who attended just came from battle zone - Click here to see
pictures.
Under the High Patronage Of His Excellency
The President Of The Lebanese Republic
GENERAL
EMILE LAHOUD
Dr.
Nabil Ghosn, Mayor
Emigrant Festival Committee,
Dhour Shweir-Lebanon
in Collaboration with the
Ministry of Tourism, Proudly present Emigrants Festival,
2005
August 12
through August 21, 2005
Program
Friday August 12, 2005 7:30 p.m. – Festival Grand Opening in Saha
Official Reception
Presentation of the Army Music Band
Presentation of the Shweir Music Band (Nawbet Shweir).
Presentation by Shweir Scouts – Fawj Shweir al Awal
Officials Speeches
Artistic Dances - performed by The Monlasal sports and dance club
Performance by singer Amir Yazbek
Dance performance by Al Afrah Group
Saturday August 13, 2005 -- 9:00 p.m. in Saha – Dhour
Hafli featuring singer Miriam Fares - accompanied by Carisma Troup
Sunday August 14, 2005 -- 4:00 p.m. in Shweir square
Village Night -- Al Yaoum al Karawi
Monday, August 15, 2005 -- 8:00 p.m. Hotel New Central
Music Hafli w/ Shweir Music Band
Tuesday, August 16, 2005 – 6:00 p.m. in Dhour Saha
Disney Kids Day w/ Dora & Dr. Mickey facilitated by Carnaval Restaurant
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 – 9:00 p.m.
Miss Teenager Beauty Pageant
Thursday August 18, 2005 -- 7:00 p.m. at Hotel New Central
Artistic Triage of Poetry, color and melodies w/Henry Zghaib, Wajih Nahle & Elias Rahbany
Friday August 19, 2005 – 8:00 p.m. in Dhour Saha
Hafli with singer Zayn el Omur
Saturday August 20, 2005 –9:00 p.m. in Yanabeeh
Miss Emigrant Beauty Pageant & Entertainment by singer Laura Khalil
Sunday August 21, 2005 – 7:00 p.m. in Dhour Saha
Antique Car Show
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July 31 through August 8, 2004
Many thanks to Samar Kiame for sending the program to us.
Saturday 31/7/2004 – the public square- 8:00 p.m.
The opening of the festival
A live band program accompanied by the singer Mouhamad Iskandar
With cooperation of the society “al bayrak al inmaiya”:
- Theatrical scene “irbit tinhal” at 8:30 p.m.
- a musical party with the singer Nawal al Zoughbi at 10:00 p.m.
Thursday 3/8/2004- public square- 6:00 p.m.
With cooperation of Carnaval restaurant
A theatrical scene for kids- Mini Studio
Wednesday- 4/8/2004- the evangelic center- Ain el Assis- 7:30 p.m.
With the cooperation of parents council in the official school of Dhour Shweir
A poetry evening with the students of the official school of Dhour Shweir with the poet George Chakour
The handcraft day in Shweir
Saturday- 7/8/2004- Hotel New Central- 9:00 p.m.
Elections of miss emigrants
Sunday- 8/8/2004- public square- 9:00 p.m.
A musical party
The emigrant festival will continue by these programs on the dates below:
Wednesday 11/8/2004 Odisseh with the “Rahabneh” group- Hotel New Central
Friday 13/8/2004 a party music of Shweir group
Sunday 15/8/2004 car show in the public square beginning from 7:00 p.m.
Carting day
Sport program
Below is the program in Arabic.
July 19 - August 10, 2003
Plan to attend and/or participate
Miss Emigrant Beauty Pageant at
Casino Du Liban, July 19, 2003
Emigrant Festival 2003 In Dhour Shweir,
August 2 through 10, 2003
Under the High Patronage Of His Excellency
The President Of The Lebanese Republic
GENERAL
EMILE LAHOUD
Dr.
Nabil Ghosn, Mayor
Emigrant Festival Committee,
Dhour Shweir-Lebanon
in Collaboration with the
Ministry of Tourism, Proudly present Emigrants Festival, 2003
Complete Program for the Festival will be posted soon
to see sample of past Emigrant Festival and Pageant, click on links below:
Emigrant Festival 2001 Emigrant Festival 2002 Miss Emigrants 2001, Miss Emigrants 2002
Layla Riachy, Miss Emigrants 2001 (left)
and Rima Mattar, Miss Emigrants 2002 at Casino Du Liban, August, 2002
in the meantime, plan to attend or participate in...
Emigrant Festival Committee in collaboration
with Lebanese Emigrants Committee and Ministry of Tourism
Cordially invite you to attend The Miss Emigrants Beauty
Pageant On July 19, 2003 at New Hotel Royale in Dubayyeh
Emigrant Festival Committee invites potential contestants from around the world to participate
For those interested, Application Forms below must be submitted by May 30th, 2003
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CONTESTANT DATA FORM
Miss Emigrants Beauty Pageant
Name: First ________________
Middle____________________
Last___________________________
Nickname:_________________ Date of Birth:______________
Place of Birth: City/State/Country ____________________________
If not born in Lebanon: Fathers’ (or Grandfather’s) place of birth: _________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________________________ Apt.# _______
City ____________________________________ State _____ Zip Code________ Country_____________________
Phone:__________________ Cell/Fax:____________________ e-mail _________________________
Current School/College name (if applicable)____________________________________________________
Career ambition: ______________________________________________________________________
Current Employment (if applicable) __________________________________________________________
Hobbies/Special interests: _______________________________________________________________
Achievements or Accomplishments: ________________________________________________________
Other Information: _____________________________________________________________________
Parent’s name, address and Phone # (if under 18): _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Height ______ Weigh _________ Measurements: Bust/Waist/Hips________________________________
Thank you for your interest
Please use additional blank page (s) if you need to.
Make sure you sign your application and mail it by May 30, 2003 to:
Please include at least 4 pictures of
yourself. Pictures must be both close-up and full length.
An additional picture (that is approximately 12 X 18 cm or 5x7 inches) of
headshot or face profile is required for the program book.
Shweir Municipality
Miss Emigrant’s Committee
Main Square, Dhour Shweir - Maten -Lebanon
Tel: 961 4 390019 - Fax:961 4 391469
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Pageants rules and regulations
Ø Ø Candidates must be between 17 and 27 years old, single or divorced with no children.
Ø Ø Candidates must be born in Lebanon, or father or grandfather born in Lebanon. Candidates must supply copies of passport/identification cards of themselves and/or of father/grandfather.
Ø Ø There are 3 competition segments: casual wear, swimsuit and evening wear. If nominated to compete, candidates will receive guidelines and details on what to wear.
Ø Ø After the 3 competition segments, 6 finalists will be interviewed by the judging committee. Questions for the interview are determined by the judges, Lebanese Ministry Of Tourism, Miss Emigrants Committee and Festival Committee. Answers will be one to two minutes long.
Ø Ø One winner will be crowned “Miss Emigrant”, and first and second runners up will be crowned “ First Runner up Miss Emigrant” and “Second Runner up Miss Emigrant”.
Ø Ø This pageant is endorsed by the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism and Miss Emigrant Committee-Dhour Shweir
Ø Ø No registration fee is required.
Ø Ø This form must be signed by parents if contestant is under 18.
Ø Ø The crowned Miss Emigrants will be our guest (accommodation included), during the whole period of the festival.
***************************************************
Ø Ø I understand that I must meet all of the official deadlines, or I will be excused from participating in the pageant. I agree to adhere by all Festival and Pageant Committees' guidelines and that all judges’ scores are final.
Ø Ø I agree and understand that neither the Emigrant’s Festival Committee, its agents, sponsors or volunteers will be responsible for any lost, misplaced, or otherwise claimed missing property during any pre-competition or competition.
Ø
Ø If Elected, I agree to serve my term and represent the
title bestowed upon me with dignity and honor.
Name: __________________________
Signature: _______________________
Date________________________
Parent or Guardian’s signature (if under 18) __________________________________ Date________________________
Please review, print, fill out and fax no later than May 30, 2003.
| Author | Topic: Eid El Moughtaribeen | ||
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Eid Al Mughtaribeen scheduled for August 2 - August 14, 2002
Program
Sat. 10th there will be a concert in the Saha (Town Square)
9:00 PM, many
artists including Sammy Clark...
Sunday, 11th Paper Rally all day, followed by a dance in the evening
Wednesday the 14th a dance for Teenagers
Friday 16th the Miss Emigrants pageant (9 PM)held at the
Casino de Liban.
In Jounieh (bay City 15 miles north of Beirut)
Sat 17th activities in the old town in Shweir starting around 6 PM
Sunday 18th, the festival Final in the Saha (Town square)
Program in Arabic
To See Pictures and other events of the 2002 Festival, Click here
Festival
Program
August 4 - August 19, 2001
Due to the extensive amount of photos here, Please allow extra time for download
(July 28th-August 5th: Shweir.com tennis tournament).
Arabic Festival Program
Aug 4-5, 01 |
Aug 7-9, 01 |
Aug 10-13, 01 |
Aug 14-16, 01 |
Aug 18-19, 01 |
To the
organizers,
participants &
attendees of Eid Al Mughtaribeen:
On
behalf of
our team of Shweirieh
at Shweir.com and on behalf of the
Shweirieh
bil Mahjar all over the world... from
Arabia, Australia & the Americas to Brazil to Canada
& China to Europe
to New Zealand... to the USA... and all that is
between, we send you our warmest
Alohas, Bonjours, Ciaos, Dahnkes, Hellos, Gooddays and Marhabas, wishing
you much success and good fortune.
July 28th-August 5th: See Shweir.com Tennis Tournament on Community page
*********************************
The following program and photos were sent courtesy of Issam Sawaya and Rouba Khayrallah
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August 4, 2001 Saturday 8:00 p.m. Saha
The opening celebration of the festival honored
by the minister of internal affairs.
Music of Shweir, Scouts of Shweir, Saif oo Terse, Wadih Al Safi,
Musician Noor Melah and singer lore Abas
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August 5, Sunday 9:30 p.m. Saha
Artist Osama Jabbour and Al Daraweesh Dance group, Artist Nuhad Najjar
Singer Jahida Wihbeh, Music Director: Charbel Awad
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MC (Master of Ceremony) Rita Rahbany, from Ain Sindyani, talented and beautiful, makes us proud |
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L-R: Charbel Awad, Rita Rahbany, Mehyy Din Al Ghaly, Mesbah Tamim & Salam Moulaeb |
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 w/Raif Curban of Melbourn, Australia |
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Full Moon, Fountain, Dancing in front of stage and in the audience |
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 Nabil Matar, Da Mayor Shawki Sawaya & Al Mukhtar bil Mahjar |
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Nigerian Ambassador... George & I hoped to have a word with him about those Nigerian email spammers... |
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with Alexa Kiame of Hotel Central and singer Jahida Wihbeh... |
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August 7, Tuesday 10:00 p.m. Saha
A night of song and dance... Singers Haitham Ziad, Hassan Alhashem, Emad Al
Hajj, Josline Ghali, Monologist George Khoury, Dancer Mirella, Al Zaffeh &
Al Wazeer Folklore Troupe.
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Text and more photos on the way... stay tuned...
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August 8, Wednesday, 10:00 p.m. Roi Des Frites
POP Hafli for teenagers
We missed that event... anyone with picture to share please send to webmaster
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August 9, Thursday, 10:00
Saha
An evening of songs with Maysam Nahhas, Yuri Murkadi, Shadi Ibrahim, Ayad
Saker, Emad Al Hellou and a surprise appearance... Music Director:
Charbel Awad
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Aug. 10, Friday,
6:00 p.m. near Malaab Baladi:
Al Youm Al Karawee: The
Villager's Day, Food - Drink And be Merry
 W/ May (Khoury), wife of Michael Mattar, Her Daughter Rania, wife of Naji Saadeh & grandson Joey |
May is Mona Khoury's sister Here add Salah Bou Saab & Anwar Sawaya |
Some of the homemade items at the festival |
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 Rabih & Faisal Bou Zaidan & family |
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Below is a report by Omar Khneisser v v v
The Village Day
“Tabouli,
kibeh, kawarma, kichek, ka3k, nammoura, arak, tout" were some of the
delicious dishes and drinks prepared by Shweirish mothers sisters and even
fathers on the 6th day of the festival. The festival’s committee
assigned Friday the 10th of August to be the “Village Day”(Al
Yaoum El Korawy), and with the cooperation of Shweirish ladies, they invited the
immigrants and visitors of Shweir to taste the Shweirish food. The incident took
place this year on a peace of land that belongs to the “baladieh” near the
local court. Tens of Shweirish recipes and all the traditional kinds of food
were served to all immigrants and visitors. Among those who worked to make this
day successful were Ms. Mary Sawaya, Mrs. May Jaber Moujaes, Mrs. Waddad Korban
Sawaya, Ms. Nayla Khalil Sawaya, Ms. Josline Joseph Baaklini, Ms. Ola George
Aoun, Mrs. Layla Ghanem Khneisser, Ms. Klara Remon Touma, Mr. Habib Jouka
Moujaes, Mr. Nijad Fouad Shalhoub.
A
singing party took place that evening in the Saha and lots of Shweirish singers
participated like Mr. Joe Moujaes, Mrs. Nada El Rabih, Mr. Marsel Nasr and Mr.
Adib Al Kintar, and also the 3oud player Mr. Fares Aoun.
We hope next year the “Eid” will go back to its original place. I mean in Ain El Kasis where everybody used to remember the old days of the school, the students, and the good spirit of Shweir. You are all invited next year.
Omar Riad Khneisser
Thank you Omar for your informative report
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9:00 p.m. Saha:
Song & Dance by Shweiry Artists: Joe
Moujaes, Marcel Nasr & Adib Alantar,
Nada Alrabih, Al Mouakar Dance Troupe
and Oud Player Faris Aoun.
Music Director: Charbel Awad
Aug. 11, Saturday 10:00 p.m. Hotel Central
Miss Immigrants Beauty Pageant and Gala
Miss Emigrants Beauty Pageant, 2001
To see this great event you need to go to Hotel Central by clicking on the photo below v v v
To See Pictures and other events of the 2002 Festival, Click here
Aug. 12, Sunday 7:00 p.m. Ain Al Assis
Celebration in remembrance of the Author and Educator Girges
Nijm Hammam.
Honoring the Teacher JERJES HAMMAM
Organized by Women’s Renaissance Gathering – Shweir
(Tajamo3 al Nahda al Nisa’ia )
To see this event, you need to go to Ain Al Assis by clicking on the photo below ... v v v
Aug. 13, Monday 5:00 p.m.
Children's
Day: Mini Studio, Dr. Miki, and lots of fun games and sing
along... photo on right courtesy of Studio Rim...
Can you see someone you know?
Although we attended the very begining of this program, we had to leave about 5:30 to prepare for the Shweir Foundation Second meeting in Shweir... so we were only able to take these pictures of the young audience...
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Can you see someone you know in this crowd? |
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Aug. 14, Tuesday 9:30 p.m. Hotel Dhour Choueir
To see Miss Teenage Beauty Contest you need to go to "Meet Our Youth" web page by clicking on the photo below v v v :
Congratulations to all the contestants, by your participation, YOU are all winners
Thank
you Layal Khnaisser & George Rihbany for an impressive presentation
Thank
you Lama for yet another great report.
Aug. 15, Wednesday 10:00 Shweiry Hafli - Saha
Music of Shweir in Rihbaniyat, Saif oo Terse with the Master Jamil Eid
Khonaisser with Foad Halim Sawaya with Goerge Shallita and Emile Eid Khonaisser
and co. Dance by Shweiry young ladies.
As you may have surmised by now, since we have more than a thousand pictures that we took in August 2001, it would take a very long time to feature them on one web page, as such, we have been re-assigning photos for certain events to other related web pages that do not have much photos... It is also an indirect way to introduce you to other web pages that you may not otherwise visit.
This evening we are going to take you to a new web page called
"Photos - People".
Click on the photo of Bashar Sawaya below to go there...
To view this special evening, go to
Aug. 16, Thursday 9:00 p.m. Dayr Mar
Elias
Poetry night led by the poet Shawki Amar with his gifted poets
To see Poetry and Song, you need to go to Dayr Mar Elias by clicking on photo below v v v
August 18, Saturday Morning...
To go to Alsad Restaurant for a breakfast gathering sponsored by Shweir Women's Society... click on photo of Alsad below...
Aug. 18, Saturday 9:00 p.m. Saha
A Play: Al Shakess By Rahbany Brothers performed by Bshammoun Club of
National Artists
To see this Hafli, you need to go to the "Photos People" web page by clicking on the photo below... v v v
Aug. 19, Sunday 6:00 p.m. Saha
Classic & New Car Show & Competition.
Symbolic and artistic dances and performances
To see the last event of the Festival, you need to go to the "People News" web page by clicking on the photo below v v v
| Author | Topic: Our Newest writers |
| George
Matar Administrator |
posted
10-06-2001 01:58 PM
I finally had the time to sit and read the write up of our Shweirieh, those that helped volunteered to write about one night from the festival. * Habib Halabi has proven himself to be an excellent writer as well as photographer. Now if only we can Roula Halabi (his sister) to start writing again * Lama Katoul, our youngest veteran writer, always love to hear from her. Yeah to our newest Class V.P. * Nissrine & Rawan Moujaes, The article about the night Gerjes Hamam was honored is good, It was short but to the point on the article... Welcome aboard , your brother Walid should be very proud. * Omar Khneisser, I have enjoyed the article pretty much, good starting line and discription with names that helped a lot, i like your style buddy. One day you have to write up the story about the time you mom tasted the olive oil that a certain PhD was try to sell. Ask her if she wants to release the story....Nabil knows it by heart, so do I. * Hanadi Abdel Ahad, What a talented writer this beautiful 16 year old. I thought the article about the "Night of Poetry" was extremely well written, and put me in the mood, I had to miss that night because I was under the weather. I'd give the article a 10. Hanadi, if you are reading this, thank you very much for your all you have done. I think you may have found an avenue for your talent... send us some more articles. Give my best to all your family, We really had a nice gathering at the Abdel Ahad after the town's meeting...Pictures to come. My hat's off to all of you my talented friends. You don't have to wait for a special occasion to write, just do it frequently. Thank you |
90 year Young Helena
Ataya
from New Zealand will return to Shweir August 1, 2001
Copy of e-mail response by Chaplain. Reverend Edrick Corban-Banks dated Feb 17, 2001
Dear all especially Walid and hi George, I was thinking about you about three days ago and specifically about the article about Ibiza and how like Lebanon it must be. Further to that downloaded some photos of Shweir which are pure Ibiza countryside and architecture. Do you still want an updated version.? I recently tried the local ibicenco local turron and if it wasn't halawi then it gave a pretty good impression of it. Also the local ibecinco drink hierbas ibecincas is arak through and through.
Walid thank you for all your wonderful comments. We take the family for granted in NZ but I never really thought of what it could appear to be to someone else. I thought all Lebanese were great innovators. Especially those from Shweir :-). The success of the family through to the fifth generation is astounding. but My great grandfather was a Christian and Godly man. Honor your father and mother and live long in the land is a scripture outworked in the Corban family. His and Najibes Godly influence worked through the family so that now five generations later we are still a very, very close knit family. That has got to be the Lebanese family concept. Family reunions are still happening. The last one i attended was only four years ago where I and two cousins... all clergy.... led the family service. Out of 300 people that attended the family reunion at the Hendersn winery at communion there were 180 family members all who came had a deep abiding faith and love of God. A legacy from our grandparents.
The Corban family from small village beginnings is a very widely respected name in New Zealand. they prospered by fair and honest dealings, the pioneering spirit that carried through from our great grandparents, their love of God and firm conviction that God ordered all things ordered theoir lives on a biblical basis. This has manifested in each generation and left the Corban family a highly respected in NZ. Because of this Godly heritage and the prayers each generation has surpassed itself in outstanding achievements. In law, medicine, sports, music business education. local government. Christian mission work.
My uncle Assid was mayor of Henderson for 25 years None of which could have been achieved if a an ongoing sense of family pride (in the best possible way) had not been instilled by Assid Abraham. Certainly one could take this back to what Assid Abraham had instilled in him from his way of life in Shweir. So the Corban family success is in effect a reflection and product of Shweir. I think that although few members of the later generations speak Arabic, our cultural traditions have been instilled into us and there is a driving desire for successive generations to visit the land of their Fathers....especially Shweir. Uncle David whom you mention he was a J.P a man of God a widely respected businessman ..a jazz pianist and people would regularly seek his counsel. He was for me a close and dear friend and someone I could trust always. I had the sad but joyous honour of conducting his funeral.
My great Aunt Helena is still alive, and is traveling.. at 93 back to Shweir. Her husband George died two years ago. Teijie is still alive and so is Annis. the Corbans have all lived to great ages and have remained incredibly healthy.
WE all owe a great deal to Assid Abraham his incredibly hard work. We the successive generations are reaping the benefits of his vision commitment to God. Perhaps it was as well the winery was eventually sold because it meant that the pioneering spirit could begin afresh but built on the shoulders and solid family foundation of Assid and Najibe Corban.
Blessings
Edrick,
The Anglican Chaplaincy on Ibiza and Formentera
Capellanía Anglicana en Ibiza y Formentera
Intercontinental Church Society
Sección Española de la Diocesis Anglicana en Europa
Chaplain. Reverend Edrick Corban-Banks.
C/0 Supermercado Magon, Port des Torrent 07820. San Antonio. Ibiza ESPAÑA
Tf/fx 971 343 383 e-mail corbanks@teleline.es
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Thank you Edrick for taking the
time to enlighten us about the Corban family History.
Do you know when Helena is going back to Shweir?
It would be nice for representatives from Shweir to give a special welcome to
Helena. Please keep us posted.
The Team at Shweir.com
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----- Original Message -----
From: <gataya@iprolink.co.nz>
To: <shweir@shweir.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 5:30 PM
Subject: Helena Ataya
Hello,
I was browsing through the website after my friend Ihsan Bosauder told me about
it and noticed the following few lines posted after an email by my cousin Edrick
Corban Banks. (reference to the above communication).
>
> I am Gabriel son of Michael the eldest son of George and Helena Ataya. As
you know Sitty is going to go back to Shweir, Lebanon this year. I was just
speaking to her on the phone and she told me that she will at this stage be
arriving
> in Lebanon on August 1, 2001. I believe Edrick posted that she is 93,
she actually turned only 90 in February. Her sister Annisie is 93.
>
> I think Sitty would feel greatly honored if there was a special welcome for
> her there in Shweir. I was going to be going with her, but unfortunately I
have not been able to get the money together in time and will now look at going
over next year or the year after.
>
> Regards
>
> Gabriel Michael George Ataya
*****************************************
From: <anwar@shweir.com>
To: gataya@iprolink.co.nz
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 5:30 PM
Subject: Helena Ataya
Dear Gabriel,
It is so wonderful to hear from you and to know more about when Helena Ataya is
coming to Shweir. Her timing is great because many of us Mughtaribeen plan
to be there around that time or arrive late July or early August. And that
is when Eid Al Mughtaribeen will take place shortly after she arrives.
That Festival of welcoming al Mughtaribeen is the biggest of its kind in
Lebanon.
Also, we plan to have in Dhour a Shweir.com Open House as a central place for
communication. We do not know where yet but we will post it as soon as we
know. We hope that a welcoming committee from Shweir would mobilize to and
definitely, we would love to meet Helena Ataya and do something personal that is
worthy of her visit.
Please keep us posted of where Helena would be staying and please tell Helena
that she has an open invitation to stop by the Shweir.com Open House.
For the Team at Shweir.com,
Anwar
To the Eid Al Mughtaribeen Committee:
Dear Shweirieh
I want to congratulate you on putting a successful festival this year for the town. Those of us that were unlucky and could not attend had to rely on word of mouth on all the festivities. The advertisement on the Shweir.com was good and described well what we missed. We are still waiting for some of the Shweirieh to get proactive and write a report on it so it can be shared with the less fortunate Mughtaribeen that had to stay in our adopted country.
We at www.shweir.com would have loved to help the festival become even bigger, but the page was being born in July of this year. All that we could do was to display the advertisement, and if I may add, not soon enough to have an impact on the Eid. But that is behind us, it’s History. Next year it will be different and hopefully, and if God’s willing, we should be able to promote this Event to the max. We already have started thinking of things to do for next year’s festival that will encourage not only the Shweirieh but also all the Mughtaribeen from Lebanon to attend, after all it is their festival too. The more we have the merrier and more beneficial for the town.
Eid Al Mughtaribeen is a golden vehicle to help us bring new visitors and new investors to our town. It should be a goal we should strive hard to accomplish by heavily advertising and promoting our town and activities. We can start by informing the Shweirieh overseas, and they will inform their Lebanese friends, and in turn they will inform their friends. “The Ripple effect”. With time everybody will know.
If I may suggest:
· Shweir should compile a directory of all the Shweirieh locals and abroad
· I recommend the Baladieh, issues a monthly, or quarterly, newsletter to all the Shweirieh, informing them on activities, plans, needs, social life, weddings, births, deaths, etc.. This is an inexpensive way to maintain a line of communication.
· A copy of this newsletter will be posted on the web page for all members that have internet access. However at this time I believe, hard copies of the Newsletter should be mailed. This newsletter will be a common link and will make the Shweirieh in the Mahjar feel that they are still part of the town.
· The Mughtaribeen have learned a lot from their adopted countries, they are invaluable resources that should be tapped into. When they feel they still belong, they will volunteer to help in one way or another.
Now Back to the Eid:
The Date:
For so many years, many Shweirieh, like myself, living in
the southern parts of the USA unwillingly deprived themselves from attending Eid
al Mughtaribeen because its timing conflicts with our children’s school.
For example schools in Texas starts around the 10th of August.
I talked with Mr. Nabil Ghosn, in 1995 about trying to make the festival
the last two weeks of July or at least last week in July and first week in
August. Five years later nothing
has happened. To be honest I
don’t like going anywhere without my children and I definitely will not allow
my children to miss two weeks of school to attend the festival. How many Lebanese do you think fit this description?
You can be assured plenty.
One thing for sure, diehard Lebanese, with children, will keep going home. It would be very beneficial to attract them to Dhour Shweir each time they go back. If we can attract them even for one day of festivities the rewards will be great.
The Plan:
Let us set the festival date and schedule it real early,
maybe as early as November to make sure all permits and paper work are in order.
The Activities:
Scheduling early gives us the luxury to recruit the top
artists that the budget will allow. Same
with the sport teams. In
addition to all the already wonderful activities, let us:
· Set at least a day that the Shweirieh living home and those living outside join hands on a mini project that will improve a section of the town. Example planting trees, or clean a major street, or plant flowers. We have many ideas we can recommend.
· Talent show for the Shweirieh, locals and abroad. Again we have several ideas we can share
· Games for ex athletes. example a day of volleyball for people over, 40 years old (Shabak Watee, of coarse).
· There are a lot of talented young Shweirieh bil Mahjar that would be willing to participate in the activities, we should locate them and encourage them to do so.
The promotion:
We will use our combined resources to strongly promote it.
We can start at the beginning of the year if not sooner.
· By mentioning in the news letter as early as January, and repeat it in March and June.
· By using web pages like www.shweir.com , www.dailystar.com , www.Lebanon.com and the likes of those. Will will utilize our web page the fullest on getting the commitment of many Shweirieh and their Lebanese friends to plan their family vacation to accommodate the festival’s date.
We are not asking much Just that Eid al Mughtaribeen 2001 to be the best ever.
United we will make Dhour Shweir Aaroos al Masayef and the envy of all towns in Lebanon.
George Matar
Webmasters note:
I recently spoke with the founder of the Lebanese American Association, Mr.
Fouad Maalouf, and he also agrees about the date for Eid al Mughtaribeen.
He, and many others, usually visit Lebanon in July and missed the festival because
they left Lebanon the
end of July.
Eid Al Mughtaribeen (Festival of Ex-patriots): August 3-18, 2000
A Report by Habib Halabi
During the Miss Immigrant's festival which took place
in Al-Yanabeeh restaurant in Shwaia, I was able to get those pictures
which I propose to be hosted on shweir.com under a new page related to
Mughtaribeen link.
The party was hosted by Miss Rita Rahbani from Shweir who was among the first 10
elected in Miss Lebanon early this year. There were about 14 participants,
all are from Metin and most are from Shweir.
The results of the contest were as follows:
Miss Immigrants : Tatian Merheb (18 yrs old, former Miss Teenagers last year)
1st Runner Up : Nadine Abou Zaid Dao from Jonieh ( 21 yrs old)
2nd Runner Up: Layal Shaya Khneisser (20 Yrs old)
See also last year's miss immigrants Nancy Kurban from Shweir (18 Yrs old)
<<Miss99&Miss2000.jpg>>
<<Miss_Immg1999.jpg>> <<All_in_one01.jpg>>
Beauty Contestants 2000
 Contest presenter Rita Rahbani |
 Miss Al Mughtaribeen 2000, Tatian Merheb (18 yrs old, former Miss Teenagers last year) |
Beauty Contestants |
 Festival Program 2000 |
Miss Mughtaribeen 2000 |
Two Beauties 1999 & 2000  Nancy Kurban Tatian Merheb |
Miss Mughtaribeen 1999
Nancy Kurban |
Thank you Habib Halabi for sending the photos and information
Photos courtesy of Ayman Chalhoub
(Ayman is one of our talented young students studying computer and web design at
the AUB) Thank you Ayman.
