2014 Valentine`s Edition

Valentine’s Edition
February 2014
THE CEDAR CONNECTION
Published by the Lebanese-American Club of Michigan (LACOM)
www.lacom.org
Happy Valentine’s Day from LACOM!
We are thrilled to bring you the Valentine’s Edition of the Cedar
Connection. We hope this message of love, affection, and
friendship spreads to our beloved Lebanon.
LEBANESE SOLIDARITY
CONCERT UNITES ALL SECTS
Musicians from across Lebanon's religious and political fault lines rallied for
an end to civil strife with a massive solidarity concert, attracting more than
3,000 people.
More than 20 Lebanese artists joined forces on stage for the "One Lebanon United for Tomorrow" concert in Beirut on February 1st. The new
movement is designed to inspire a sense of national unity, in a country still
haunted by decades of civil war.
Community Events
Feb 15 OLOR Valentine’s Day
Party. Call 248-247-9087
for tickets.
Tom Fletcher, the British ambassador to Lebanon, said the concert sought to
help unite the country's youth around the sense of being Lebanese citizens
and not as members of a political or religious faction.
Feb 22 Fares Karam Live in
Concert at the Fillmore
Detroit. For tickets, visit
luxuryentertainment.net.
"I look back at Live Aid, and its 2005 successor Live 8, as extraordinary
moments where politics and culture came together with breathtaking power,"
Fletcher wrote in his blog, explaining the inspiration for One Lebanon.
Feb 28
Celebrated by flashing lights and colorful LED screens in the background, the
artists mixed Arabic tunes, with well-known English songs - all based on the
themes of peace and unity.
Continued on Page 4
St. Sharbel Ladies Altar
Society Spaghetti Dinner.
Call 586-826-9688 for
details.
Submit your event for next month’s
edition! info@lacom.org
 Singer Aline Lahoud soars to success (Page 2)
 Detroit students rally to restore Lebanese library (Page 3)
 How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day? (Page 5)
Valentine’s Edition
February 2014
Singer Aline Lahoud soars
to success
Lebanese singer Aline Lahoud literally turned heads at
The Voice France auditions as all four judges spun their
chairs to claim her before she decided to join French
Musician Florent Pagny’s team.
The daughter of Salwa al Katrib, Aline Lahoud took a
tremendous leap of faith by singing her mother’s song,
“Khedni Maak." She tripled her lists of fans and stole
the hearts of all four judges, regardless of their inability to understand the language.
Lahoud, 32, studied singing and dramatic arts. In 2002, she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication
Arts, majoring in Screenplay and Directing Studies. She supplemented her singing career by acting in plays
and directing short films.
Originally from Amchit, Lahoud began her singing career in 2004. She has received the Charles Trenet
International Trophy and two Murex d’Or awards.
A RISING STAR….
Storyteller Fida Mikdashi
Fida Mikdashi is a senior Journalism student at the
Lebanese American University. Growing up, she was
affected by the assassination of Lebanese journalists she
idolized. The latter inspired her to start her journey as a
writer. Mikdashi considers herself a patriotic citizen. She
has delivered the keynote address during her high school
graduation ceremony, and today serves as a student
assistant at the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab
World. She is interested in the Internet and social media
as techniques to sharpen her journalistic skills. As an up
and coming journalist, Mikdashi is the co-editor of the
Arts and Culture page of the LAU Tribune.
We would like to congratulate Fida on these remarkable
accomplishments and wish her the best in her journey as
a professional writer!
2
Check out Fida’s
articles in the
LAU
ribune!
tribunelau.com
Valentine’s Edition
February 2014
Detroit students rally to help restore
Lebanese library
Lebanese-Americans from across the country have rallied together to restore the Al Saeh
Library in Tripoli, Lebanon, which was tragically destroyed by extremists on January 3rd.
After hearing about the devastating
attack, hundreds of people took to
Facebook and Twitter expressing anger.
Student Michelle Makhoul was one of
them.
“This was Lebanon’s second largest
library. I was just so frustrated when I
saw a photo of the books lit in flames,”
she said. Father Ibrahim Sarrouj, 72, is
the caretaker of the 500-square meter
bookstore.
Opened in 1972, Father Sarrouj has
collected thousands of encyclopedias,
books, and magazines that are near and
dear to his heart. The library contained
more than 80,000 English, French, and
Arabic books.
Although some of the book’s values
may be irreplaceable, Makhoul wanted
to take action.
“At that moment, I knew I wanted to
do something. I started making some
calls and suddenly, this turned into a massive project.”
A few hours later, Lebanese celebrities and national news media began spreading the news
on Facebook and Twitter. Drop-boxes to collect new or slightly used books were quickly
established in Southeastern Michigan, Miami, and Lebanon.
Makhoul’s group, which is being dubbed “Youth for a Better Lebanon,” are accepting
donations of new or slightly used books for the rest of this month. If you'd like to donate,
email Makhoul at alsaehbookdrive@gmail.com.
3
Valentine’s Edition
February 2014
Continued from page 1
More than 20 Lebanese celebrities from different artistic styles &
backgrounds shared the same stage for the first time. The artists include
Aline Lahoud, Anthony Touma, Carlos Azar, Fadi el Khatib, Georges
Khabbaz, Michel Abou Sleiman, Nemr Abou Nassar, Nicolas Mouawad,
Tanias Kassis, and Tony Abou Jaoude.
"We realized we needed this now," said Josyane Bulos, one of the
organizers. "Our main aim is to unite the young generation around
Lebanon and not around politics or religion."
Video of the concert will now be shown as part of the curriculum in every
state school in Lebanon, part of an education campaign that instills
patriotism and anti-sectarianism in youth.
Funds raised from the sales of tickets were channeled for the
implementation of civic outreach programs in public and private schools
as well as in other educational institutions.
Lebanese-American
of the Month
Actress Marlo Thomas was
born on November 21, 1937, to
parents Danny Thomas and Rose
Marie Cassaniti. She is the daughter
of the well-known comedian and
founder of St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital.
Thomas is an actress, producer, and
social activist known for her starring
role on the TV series That Girl
(1966–1971) and her award-winning
feminist children's franchise, Free to
Be, You and Me.
She has received four Emmys, a
Golden Globe, the George Foster
Peabody Award, and has been
inducted into the Broadcasting and
Cable Hall of Fame. She also
received a Grammy award for her
children’s album Thanks & Giving All
Year Long.
Ms. Thomas serves as National
Outreach Director for St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital, which
was founded by her father in 1962.
She created the Thanks & Giving
campaign in 2004 to support the
hospital.
4
Valentine’s Edition
TOP
OF THE MONTH

@MouawadNicolas:
@LACOMNews Thank
you Cedar Connection!
Love the name! All my
love all the way to the
United States!

@LSAWayneState:
@LACOMNews Thank
you for all the support!
We greatly appreciate it!

@LACOMNews: Aline
Lahoud’s talents are
endless. What a wonderful
story and image for
#Lebanon.
Also, a special thanks to TV
Host Mona Abou Hamze,
Arab University Beirut,
Actor Nicolas Mouawad,
Actor Camille Matta, The
Lebanese Collegiate
Network, Author Jasmina
Najjar, One Lebanon
Official, and Comedian
Georges Khabbaz for
tweeting with us.
Join the Conversation!
@LACOMNews
#LebanesePride
February 2014
YOUR RESPONSE: How will you
celebrate Valentine’s Day?
A social media data analysis conducted by MediaBiz
Beirut shows us what Lebanon is saying about
Valentine’s Day.
How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day?
If you’re still looking for something to do to celebrate Valentine’s Day,
check out Our Lady of Redemption’s Annual Valentine’s Day Party.
 $45 Open Bar
 February 15, 2014 – 7PM/Dinner at 8PM
 The Royalty House – 8201 E. Thirteen Mile Rd. Warren, MI
 Call 248-247-9087 for tickets.
5
Valentine’s Edition
February 2014
RECIPE CORNER
Grilled Halloumi Cheese with Zaa’tar & Red Bell Pepper Coulis
Ingredients
 750g halloumi cheese, sliced
lengthwise into 12 slices
 6 red bell peppers
 1.5 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
 3 garlic cloves, crushed
 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
 3 tablespoons zaa’tar
 6 tablespoons olive oil
 Pita bread, cut into small
triangles
Instructions
1.) Halve and seed the bell peppers and place them skin side up under a hot grill until they
start to char and blacken. Once they are fairly evenly charred, remove from the oven
and place them in a ziplock bag and seal tightly. Set aside for about 5 minutes to cool.
When they are cool enough to handle, peel them and slice into strips.
2.) Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Place the bell pepper strips, garlic, lemon juice and cayenne
pepper in a food processor and blitz until you have a smooth puree. Allow cooling to
room temperature.
3.) Place the pita triangles on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or
till crispy. In the mean time, mix the zaa’tar well with olive oil till it is well
incorporated.
4.) Heat a heavy bottomed pan and lightly wipe the base with some olive oil. Place the
halloumi cheese slices in the pan and cook for about 2 minutes, then over and repeat on
the other side.
5.) To assemble, plate the hot halloumi cheese on the bell pepper coulis, drizzle liberally
with the zaa’tar mixture and then top with the crispy pita crisps. Use any leftover coulis
to decorate the plate or store it in the fridge to use as on pizzas or pasta.
6
Valentine’s Edition
February 2014
NEWS IN PHOTOS
Congratulations to the Lebanese American Student Associations on a successful
nd
2 Annual Unified Gala
(Photos courtesy of Bill Chapman Photography)
Lebanese Collegiate Network Michigan Luncheon
(Photos courtesy of LSA University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
7
Valentine’s Edition
February 2014
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Write for us!
Send your article or editorial to
thecedarconnection@lacom.org
on or before the 1st of the month!
Thank you!
The Lebanese-American
Club of Michigan
P.O. Box 1452
Warren, MI 48090
info@lacom.org
PRESS RELEASES:
thecedarconnection@lacom.org
248-924-4854
313-744-3498
Cedar Connection
Published by LACOM
Dr. Wissam Shaya – President
Elias Yammine – Vice President
Maurice Farah – Secretary
Tom Sokol – Treasurer
Naji Chidiac – Board Member
Wissam B. Malouf – Board Member
Pierre Rechdan – Board Member
Charlie Kadado – Editor