Over 300 Attend Lebanese Chamber Holiday Party and Celebrate Yultide; Beirut Artist Georges Misk & Hollywood Actor Alex Safi Make Special Appearances

(BIRMINGHAM, MI)...Just hours before the entire Midwest was turned into a Winter Wonderland, mistletoe, jingle bells and eggnog with a kick were the order of the evening yesterday, as over 300 friends, associates, members and guests joined together to celebrate the season at the annual Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party at Dick O Dow's Public House in Birmingham, MI. A veritable feast awaited the festive party-goers and the halls were decked with boughs of holly, tinsel, and stockings as Chamber President & CEO John Akouri greeted each and all who entered with a hearty ho, ho, ho!

Toasting, cheering and extending Holiday wishes were City of Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Allen, Detroit Auto Dealer Tarik Daoud, St. Mary's Christian Orthodox Church Pastor Very Rev. Father George Baalbaki, Consulate of Mexico Deputy Consul Jorge Sanchez-Catano, American Druze Society Past-President Kamal Shouhayib, Lebanese American Professionals Founder Elie Naim, MBN-TV Correspondent Jennifer Isso, WNZK AM-690 Broadcaster Mike Bahry, The Journal Newspapers Publisher Aziz Harridy, Detroit BellyDance Superstars Lana & Lalena, United States Army Captain Derrick Goodwin, former Mount Clemens Chief of Police Joe Macksoud, and celebrated Birmingham attorney Norman Yatooma.

Also enjoying the frosty evening were Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce Chairman Lew Ansara, Metro East Chamber of Commerce Chairman Maroun Hakim, Esq., American Arab Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Fay Beydoun, Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce Directors Johnny Oram and Jay Yasso, International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit Director Nada Dalgamouni, Yemeni Arab American Outreach President Ibrahim Aljahim, State Department International Visitors Council of Detroit Executive Director Julie Oldani, Michigan Mortgage Brokers Association Past-President Steve Hagar, Michigan Association of Realtors President Furhad Waquad. Marriott Hotels Executive Renee Hanna, City of Dearborn Heights Community & Economic Development Director Hassane Jamal, leading the Canadian delegation, Mr. & Mrs. Tony Nader, and the delegation arriving from Ann Arbor was led by Dr. Oscar Lahoud and Dr. Myriam Afeiche.

A number of Lebanese Chamber officials joined in the merriment including: Lou Peters, and Advisory Board Members Fred Andary, Bill Kowalski, Renee Ahee, James & Danielle LaHood-Sarkis. Other members of the Lebanese Chamber's key leadership in attendance included: Gibran Nicholas, Jack Riashi, Ron Pruette, Ibrhahim Marji, Sam Attisha, and Tom Powrie.

Seen at the joyful gathering passing along tidings of good cheer were Beirut Bakery’s Catherine & Mona Hallis, Chrysler Executive Awny Fakhouri, Developers Jawad & Joe Defouni, Grosse Pointe socialites Caren & Crystel El-Khoury, and the husband and wife doctor team of Wassim & JoAnn Eid. Special guests celebrating the December splendor included: Christopher Gerges, Paul Borkosh, Roland Tohme, Jeff Abood, George Habbouche, Elie Tohme, Elias Awad, Josephine Nicholas, Andrew Agbay, Sandy Lahoud, Charbel Abi Badra, Karla & Micheline Bouchar, Hiam Khoury, Justin Macksoud, Mariam Arraf, Fadia Beiz, Malik Haddad, Jamal Choucair, Fadi Tahan, Al Mehanna, Loubna Fayz, Maha Jaber, Samira Alcodray, Nada Kerrdi, Imad Al Farrah, Maysoun Sweis, Mona Hanna, Rola Karadsheh, Fuad & Ibtisam Binno, Harry Barash, Wally Ammori, Layth Barash, Najib Attisha, Tony Dallo Nowfal Akash, Shawn Hanaee, Ed Babbie, John Oram, Arlene Kakos, Kastine Habib, Denise Arafat, Beth Saffar, Rana Sulaiman, Leeann Marougi, Debbie Kallabat, Rita Khayat, Valerie Koza, Jackie Rosenblat, Laura Roggero, Jennifer Allers, William Mazzola, Joseph Cool, Richton Appel, Joel Whitbeck, Richard Cross, and Chris Kittides.

A major highlight of the evening was a special appearance by renown Lebanese artist Georges Misk, who was in town from Beirut while on a North American tour. The internationally renowned contemporary artist's idiosyncratic and complex pictorial language known worldwide, was not the only celebrity at the affair, accomplished local Lebanese American artist and professor Stephen Deeb made a cameo appearance to the event, as did Hollywood actor Alex Safi and model Heather Afram. The Chamber is working to secure an exhibit of Deeb's works at the Paramount Bank office in Ferndale, Michigan. Safi performed to rave reviews at this summers LEBFEST! '08 in Birmingham on the MainStage, where over 10,000 people attended.

Another exciting highlight of the night took place when LACC President & CEO Akouri along with Mexican Deputy Consul Sanchez-Catano led a group of guests in one of the season's all time favorite Christmas Carols 'Feliz Navidad' by José Feliciano. Benefiting the Salvation Army, this year's yuletide extravaganza was sponsored and presented by The Community Guide and Mr. Nizar Matta.

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SANT VISITS LEBANON

Birmingham's Legendary Public House - DICK O DOW'S to Host Annual Lebanese Chamber Holiday Party

UPCOMING EVENT! - The Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) is pleased to announce its annual Holiday Party at Birmingham’s legendary Public House – DICK O DOW'S (site of the 2008 Lebanese Festival VIP Party). The Event is sponsored by Tri County Advertising & The Community Guide and will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2008 from 6:00 - 11:00 pm. EVERYONE is welcome and encouraged to attend this FREE Networking Event & Business Mixer - exchange business cards, network with corporate members, associates and friends and meet with the region's leading movers & shakers as we celebrate the season! Chamber President & Chief Executive Officer John Akouri will present a quick update on upcoming events for next year. Savor DICK O DOW'S complimentary appetizers, experience great conversation and cocktails where warmth and conviviality are legend at this public house whose theme is "A Drink Comes Before A Story." Their warm, cozy atmosphere bears witness to their commitment to a true event experience and as a special treat, DICK O DOW'S will feature a live band performing a variety of music for your listening pleasure. This surely is a socializing & networking event you won't want to miss and EVERYONE is welcome to attend the best Holiday Event of the Year!

Historic Indianwood Country Club Site of Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce December Power Lunch

(LAKE ORION, MI)...The Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) today held its monthly President’s ‘Power Lunch’ series, gathering some of the region’s top executives, entrepreneurs and fast-growing young professionals. This highly anticipated series is an extension of the Leadership Luncheon program, which was spearheaded in 2006 by LACC President John Akouri, and features leading business and civic leaders from throughout the country.

In addition to Akouri, luncheon guests included: Andary Real Estate Chairman Fred Andary, Level One Bank Chairman, President & CEO Patrick J. Fehring, Past-President of the Michigan Mortgage Brokers Assosciation & Northwood Financial Services President Steve Hagar, NAI Farbman/The Farbman Group Chief Operating Officer Michael Kalil, Former Detroit FBI Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge & Kerby, Bailey & Associates Vice-President Bill Kowalski, J-Mack Investigative & Security Solutions & Former Mount Clemens Police Chief Joe Macksoud, the LACC General Counsel, Madonna University Vice President for Academic Administration Dr. Ernest Nolan, Paramount Bank Executive Vice-President Louis J. Peters, Jr., Sweet & Associates, Risk Managers Insurance Agency Senior Vice President Tom Powrie, and Peninsula Wealth Management Group/UBS First Vice-President Ron Pruette.

The President’s Power Lunch series is an exclusive meeting designed to create new rules and new avenues for powerful impact in the region and business world. It is about bringing business leaders together to discuss current and future goals while forging tangible relationships that turn networking into substantial gains for Chamber members, associates and the business community. The goals and objectives of the Chamber’s new luncheon series are focused at achieving business objectives well beyond foremost organizations and prime individuals across the nation. These structured business goals are aggressive and participants are part of the power of working together to further deliver the mission and contribute to the overall growth and advancement of the national Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce.

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An Article of Faith for Thanksgiving Sunday: At the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art, Striking Photo of Three Maronite Nuns

(From the Boston Globe)...This photograph by Ranya Mattar, a Lebanese-American artist living in Brookline, Massachusetts is among the works now on display at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art as part of an exhibit of the work of four promising Boston artists competing for the James and Audrey Foster Prize. In last Saturday's Globe, art critic Sebastian Smee examines the photo, called "Three Nuns," as part of a review of the exhibit.

"The best is a photograph taken this year in Beirut called 'Three Nuns.' It shows three Maronite nuns in black garb standing in front of a congregation praying with eyes closed."

An excerpt of the review follows: "Mattar was born in Lebanon and took these photographs on travels back to her homeland. Her images feature many women wearing black headwear, although not all of them are Muslim; many are Christian Maronite nuns. As a collection of images, Mattar's fairly small display argues for the human richness and complexity of Lebanese society even in a context of destruction (several images show battered buildings and rubble). But there are individual images that stand apart and have a genius all their own.

The best is a photograph taken this year in Beirut called 'Three Nuns.' It shows three Maronite nuns in black garb standing in front of a congregation praying with eyes closed. All face the same way, toward Mattar's camera. The nun on the left regards the camera sourly, with pursed lips and contemptuous eyes. The middle nun looks at the camera, but with an expression of calm equilibrium, while the nun on the right has caught some of the mood of the congregation: Her tilted head suggests dreamy, divinely inspired detachment. The photograph is the result of what looks like astonishing serendipity, but Mattar obviously had to put herself in an awkward position before serendipity could strike. The photograph is the best in the room."

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Wishing All Newsroom Visitors a Blessed & Bountiful Thanksgiving Holiday!

The Pilgrims and America's First Thanksgiving

(PLYMOUTH ROCK)...The Pilgrims, who celebrated the first thanksgiving in America, were fleeing religious persecution in their native England. In 1609 a group of Pilgrims left England for the religious freedom in Holland where they lived and prospered. After a few years their children were speaking Dutch and had become attached to the dutch way of life. This worried the Pilgrims. They considered the Dutch frivolous and their ideas a threat to their children's education and morality. So they decided to leave Holland and travel to the New World. Their trip was financed by a group of English investors, the Merchant Adventurers. It was agreed that the Pilgrims would be given passage and supplies in exchange for their working for their backers for 7 years.

On Sept. 6, 1620 the Pilgrims set sail for the New World on a ship called the Mayflower. They sailed from Plymouth, England and aboard were 44 Pilgrims, who called themselves the "Saints", and 66 others ,whom the Pilgrims called the "Strangers." The long trip was cold and damp and took 65 days. Since there was the danger of fire on the wooden ship, the food had to be eaten cold. Many passengers became sick and one person died by the time land was sighted on November 10th. The long trip led to many disagreements between the "Saints" and the "Strangers". After land was sighted a meeting was held and an agreement was worked out, called the Mayflower Compact, which guaranteed equality and unified the two groups. They joined together and named themselves the "Pilgrims." Although they had first sighted land off Cape Cod they did not settle until they arrived at Plymouth, which had been named by Captain John Smith in 1614. It was there that the Pilgrims decide to settle. Plymouth offered an excellent harbor. A large brook offered a resource for fish. The Pilgrims biggest concern was attack by the local Native American Indians. But the Patuxets were a peaceful group and did not prove to be a threat.

The first winter was devastating to the Pilgrims. The cold, snow and sleet was exceptionally heavy, interfering with the workers as they tried to construct their settlement. March brought warmer weather and the health of the Pilgrims improved, but many had died during the long winter. Of the 110 Pilgrims and crew who left England, less that 50 survived the first winter. On March 16, 1621 , what was to become an important event took place, an Indian brave walked into the Plymouth settlement. The Pilgrims were frightened until the Indian called out "Welcome" (in English!). His name was Samoset and he was an Abnaki Indian. He had learned English from the captains of fishing boats that had sailed off the coast. After staying the night Samoset left the next day. He soon returned with another Indian named Squanto who spoke better English than Samoset. Squanto told the Pilgrims of his voyages across the ocean and his visits to England and Spain. It was in England where he had learned English.

Squanto's importance to the Pilgrims was enormous and it can be said that they would not have survived without his help. It was Squanto who taught the Pilgrims how to tap the maple trees for sap. He taught them which plants were poisonous and which had medicinal powers. He taught them how to plant the Indian corn by heaping the earth into low mounds with several seeds and fish in each mound. The decaying fish fertilized the corn. He also taught them to plant other crops with the corn. The harvest in October was very successful and the Pilgrims found themselves with enough food to put away for the winter. There was corn, fruits and vegetables, fish to be packed in salt, and meat to be cured over smoky fires. The Pilgrims had much to celebrate, they had built homes in the wilderness, they had raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. They had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate.

The Pilgrim Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans. They invited Squanto and the other Indians to join them in their celebration. Their chief, Massasoit, and 90 braves came to the celebration which lasted for 3 days. They played games, ran races, marched and played drums. The Indians demonstrated their skills with the bow and arrow and the Pilgrims demonstrated their musket skills. Exactly when the festival took place is uncertain, but it is believed the celebration took place in mid-October. The following year the Pilgrims harvest was not as bountiful, as they were still unused to growing the corn. During the year they had also shared their stored food with newcomers and the Pilgrims ran short of food.

The 3rd year brought a spring and summer that was hot and dry with the crops dying in the fields. Governor Bradford ordered a day of fasting and prayer, and it was soon thereafter that the rain came. To celebrate - November 29th of that year was proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. This date is believed to be the real true beginning of the present day Thanksgiving Day.The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.In 1817 New York State had adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

IN PICTURES: Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce November Power Lunch

(FARMINGTON HILLS, MI)...The Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) today held its monthly President’s ‘Power Lunch’ series, gathering some of the region’s top executives, entrepreneurs and fast-growing young professionals. This highly anticipated series is an extension of the Leadership Luncheon program, which was spearheaded in 2006 by LACC President John Akouri, and features leading business and civic leaders from throughout the country.

In addition to Akouri, luncheon guests included: Andary Real Estate Chairman Fred Andary, NAI Farbman/The Farbman Group Chief Operating Officer Michael Kalil, AXA Advisors/The Equitable Group Senior Executive Abe Karam, J-Mack Investigative & Security Solutions & Former Mount Clemens Police Chief Joe Macksoud, the LACC General Counsel, UBS First Vice-President Ron Pruette, and Bloom Asset Management Financial Advisor Jack K. Riashi, Jr.

The President’s Power Lunch series is an exclusive meeting designed to create new rules and new avenues for powerful impact in the region and business world. It is about bringing business leaders together to discuss current and future goals while forging tangible relationships that turn networking into substantial gains for Chamber members, associates and the business community. The goals and objectives of the Chamber’s new luncheon series are focused at achieving business objectives well beyond foremost organizations and prime individuals across the nation. These structured business goals are aggressive and participants are part of the power of working together to further deliver the mission and contribute to the overall growth and advancement of the Lebanese Chamber.

Tickets Now Available For Superstar Karen Newman's Annual Christmas Spectacular

Three Classic Television Scenes to Celebrate Thanksgiving Week 2008

To celebrate Thanksgiving week, The Newsroom is posting two of the funniest scenes in the history of television - the turkey dropping scene from WKRP in Cincinatti, and the food fight from Cheers, and also the classic TV treasure - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Lebanon

In 1941, General Charles de Gaulle visited Lebanon, officially ending Vichy control. Lebanese national leaders took the opportunity to ask de Gaulle to end the French Mandate and unconditionally recognize Lebanon's independence. As a result of national and international pressure, on November 26, 1941, General Georges Catroux, delegate general under de Gaulle, proclaimed the independence of Lebanon in the name of his government. The United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, the Arab states, and certain Asian countries recognized this independence, and some of them exchanged ambassadors with Beirut. However, even though the French technically recognized Lebanon's independence, they continued to exercise authority.

General elections were held, and on September 21, 1943, the new Chamber of Deputies elected Bishara al Khuri as president. He appointed Riyad as Sulh (also cited as Solh) as prime minister and asked him to form the first government of independent Lebanon. On November 8, 1943, the Chamber of Deputies amended the Constitution, abolishing the articles that referred to the Mandate and modifying those that specified the powers of the high commissioner, thus unilaterally ending the Mandate. The French authorities responded by arresting a number of prominent Lebanese politicians, including the president, the prime minister, and other cabinet members, and exiling them to the Castle of Rashayya (located about sixty-five kilometers east of Sidon). This action united the Christian and Muslim leaders in their determination to get rid of the French. France, finally yielding to mounting internal pressure and to the influence of Britain, the United States, and the Arab countries, released the prisoners at Rashayya on November 22, 1943; since then, this day has been celebrated as Independence Day.

IN PICTURES: JM Entertainment 'Battle at the Barrister' Mixed Martial Arts Motor City Caged Combat League Huge Success; Akouri Brothers Perform

Big Bad John revs up the crowd before the Main Event

Jimmy Akouri sings the US National Anthem

John Akouri with Boxing Promoters Joe & Justin Macksoud

John Akouri with Lebanese Chamber Board Members James LaHood-Sarkis (owner of the Barrister Gardens Banquet Centre) & Fred Andary

Snapped! at the Barrister Gardens - Official Ringside Medic Dr. Richard Cross, America's Thanksgiving Parade Director of Marketing Steve Abood, Neptix Co-Founder Sam Attisha. Sponsored by J-Mack Agency, Lebanese Monthly Magazine, Cellular City Verizon Wireless, Law Offices of