NEW YORK – The Concordia Summit concluded on September 19 with the continuation of the informative and vital program as well as the presentation of awards to deserving recipients. Leadership Awards were presented to David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and to Kathy Calvin President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation on Day 2 of the Summit.

Paul Bulcke- Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nestlé received the Leadership Award on the first day of the Summit.

John Koudounis Chief Executive Officer of Calamos Investments introduced Miliband, noting the wonderful work being done to help refugees around the world. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO introduced Calvin and said that we need leaders to leave no one behind in the efforts to reach the UN development goals.

Calvin thanked the co-founders of the Concordia Summit Nicholas Logothetis and Mathew Swift and said that she drew inspiration from Ted Turner and his pledge of $1 billion to the UN 20 years ago. She quoted Turner who spoke about the interconnected world and the UN is where people come together to solve the world’s problems, walking away doesn’t fix anything.

During the discussion on the Future of the Free World Order John D. Negroponte, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and U.S. Director of National Intelligence, noted that the things the Trump administration said they were going to do have not come to pass, so he is more optimistic about the future. He added that Trump gave a good speech at the UN.

In the same discussion, former Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou spoke about the “America First” idea, noting that we would all put our countries first, but it is better when we work together. Papandreou questioned whether we are living up to our own values of liberal democracy and noted that the issue of money in politics must be dealt with. He said that we need to cooperate to deal with discontent over globalization and adherence to our values is the key.

John S. Koudounis CEO of Calamos Investments and a member of the Concordia leadership council, spoke from the private sector perspective, pointing out that he is optimistic about the future for Europe and Greece especially. He noted that he and John Calamos, Founder, Chairman, and Global CIO, have put their money where their mouth is with one of the biggest recent investments in Greece. Koudounis observed that in spite of rumors about the current government, they found them very cooperative throughout the process.

In the Maximizing Global Impact: The Role of U.S. Philanthropy in International Development, David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation mentioned Sofia Kouvelaki, Executive Director at the HOME Project and the work helping refugees by reaching out to the community. The HOME Project was set up by the Libra Group in response to the global refugee crisis.

Former U.S. Representative Jane Harman, now the first female Director, President, and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson Center, spoke with her friend Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, on the topic Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women’s Leadership and Economic Empowerment as Key Drivers of Global Development.

The U.S. Department of State Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships (S/GP), Concordia, and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Institute for Business in Society (IBiS) created the P3 Impact Award to recognize public-private partnerships (P3s) that are changing our world in the most impactful of ways.

The P3 Impact Award went to the Bangladesh Sanitation Marketing Systems for their continuing efforts to improve sanitation in Bangladesh and the Audience Award went to Accenture and Upwardly Global for their work helping skilled immigrants and refugees find jobs according to their skills.

The Summit ended with thoughts and prayers going out to the people of Mexico as news of the devastating earthquake reached the attendees. Colombia singer Carlos Vives said his heart went out to Mexico. He then spoke about his foundation Tres La Perla and performed for the appreciative audience.

Many in attendance expressed their appreciation for the Concordia Summit and looked forward to next year.

The post The Concordia Summit Concludes with Optimism appeared first on The National Herald.

HOUSTON – Greek-American Houstonian Alex Triantaphyllis who is running for Congress in Texas’ 7th District sent out a statement to his supporters to join him in saying no to the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill. He said, “Though recovery and relief efforts here in Houston remain at the forefront of our minds, I wanted to call out the Republicans’ latest attempt at a repeal-and-replace healthcare bill for what it is: cynical, rushed, and just plain bad.”

Triantaphyllis asked, “Will you sign our petition to Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to tell them a vote for the Graham-Cassidy bill is a vote against Texans?”

The statement continued, “While we know very little about the bill (most importantly, its Congressional Budget Office score), what we do know is deeply concerning. Here are a few components of the bill that are especially troubling: 32 million people could lose access to coverage in the first ten years alone; people living with pre-existing conditions could see a dramatic increase in premiums or be dropped entirely from their coverage; 11 million low-income adults would lose access to healthcare with the end of the Medicaid expansion.”

Triantaphyllis concluded, “Senate Republicans only need one more vote to pass the bill and could do so as early as next week. We’ve seen versions of this bill before. Each time, you’ve spoken up and we’ve kept the pressure on Congress. I’m asking you to stand with me today to tell our Senators to do the right thing.”

The emailed statement included links to the petition against the proposed healthcare bill. https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-2177116661114992128?midqs=-1571756269952303104&ms=rrdem09212017

The devoted family man, community leader, and Houston-native hopes to be the first Democrat in 50 years to represent the 7^th District. A graduate from Rice University with a BA in political science and Hispanic studies, Triantaphyllis completed Masters in Economics coursework in Argentina. He is also a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. The son of a fourth-generation Texan mother and Greek immigrant father, he was born and raised in Houston, a city which has given so much to his family. In an interview with The National Herald, he noted the opportunity to study his father received as an 18 year-old immigrant from Greece with a scholarship to Houston’s Rice University where Triantaphyllis later attended and met his future wife Christina Lagos Triantaphyllis.

Christina has roots in Chios on her father’s side and Crete on her mother’s side, and leads public policy and strategy efforts at Collaborative for Children, a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving the quality of early childhood education and care in the Houston area. They live in Houston with their infant daughter, Mina, who, Triantaphyllis told TNH, is learning English, Greek, and Spanish.

More information about Alex Triantaphyllis and his campaign is available online at: www.alextfortexas.com.

The post Greek-American Candidate Urges No on Graham-Cassidy Healthcare Bill appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias discussed Greek education in the United States and the role and activities of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America with the Archbishop Demetrios of America, during a meeting in New York on Thursday.

After the meeting, Kotzias and the Archbishop made joint statements to the press, with the minister praising the work of the Greek Orthodox Church in both civic and educational matters.

The two officials discussed about the Greek schools in the United States and the need to boost Greek presence in prominent American universities.

The post Kotzias Discusses Greek Education in the U.S. in Meeting with Archbishop Demetrios appeared first on The National Herald.

MONTREAL – Starting on Thursday, September 21, 98% of the trade between Greece and Canada is no longer subject to to pay duties due to the “temporary” implementation of the CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, agreed to last year and signed in February of this year by the European Union and Canadian government, the final form of which will be ratified by the parliaments of the member states.

The agreement has already been ratified by the House of Representatives and by the European Parliament, followed by a long way of ratifying its final force by national parliaments, including the Greek, where the debate is bound to be overshadowed by the reactions have been raised around the issue of feta, as it will now be allowed for certain Canadian producers to use the name “feta” in their products.

However, the provisions of the agreement are not widely known in Canada. On Thursday, Canadian television reported that 56% of small and medium-sized businesses in the country do not know exactly what the agreement includes, nor have they heard about the abolition of tariffs that have an almost “integral character.”

“I know that duties will be abolished but I do not think it will be so fast,” said Asimakis Papanikolaou, an independent importer of olives, originally from Messinia operating in the northwest of Montreal. “If it does, the benefit will be great for our expatriates,” he added.

On the other hand, journalist Laurie Keza, with a long and successful career in the media field in Greece, has been writing as political editor for the newspaper “Vima” and “BHMAgazino” for years, told The National Herald that “tariffs on trade between Canada and European countries are abolished from September 21. This drops prices by 20% and can work to the benefit of both the customer and the producer. The customer will pay much cheaper and the Greek producer can increase sales volume.”

Laurie Keza has been established for a few months in Montreal, changing her professional track, and has founded the company TROFIMA Greek Goods, which specializes in the import of select and quality Greek products for the large Canadian market.

“There is demand for oil, olives, and honey. There is also interest in spoon sweets, pasta, loukoumia, herbs, and gluten-free items in general. We always talk about standardized and certified products,” she told TNH.

Christos Aggelis is 71 years old, originally from Epirus, and has been shopping in a certain supermarket in Park Avenue for years. “This 20% off the price of imported products from Greece sounds good. But will it apply in practice? Or will we… ruin it like gasoline prices in Greece? Where when international price of oil drops those remain high, if they are not increasing as well.”

Mr. Aggelis raises the issue of passing on the benefit to the consumer. This remains to be seen in practice, in the coming weeks already. If the conditions of a healthy market function, then the products imported from Europe will become more competitive in Canada.

However, the CETA is not limited to commercial transactions. As noted by the Consul General of Greece in Montreal, Nicolas Sigalas, there is provision for a package of functions that includes, among other things, occupational rights and access to public procurement.

This means, in short, that European businesses will now have access to Canadian public procurement, including those of the cities and provinces of Canada that manage a substantial part of public spending. Something confirmed on Wednesday, September 20 in Canadian media reports as well as in a comprehensive press release from the French News Agency.

So far, the agreement has been ratified by the parliaments of Spain, Malta, Latvia, Croatia, and Denmark, however, the greatest interest is directed at the decision of the Greek Parliament.

If a country votes no, it will wreak havoc on the Agreement, at least in principle. It is characteristic that the president of the Pan-Hellenic Livestock Farmers Federation Nikos Palaskas has stated that if the CETA and the predictions for Greek feta come true, then Greek livestock farming will be decimated.

However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his Twitter account noted, “As of September 21, 98% of CETA will be applied, creating more jobs for people & opportunities for businesses.”

The post CETA Implemented, Greek Products 20% Off in Canada appeared first on The National Herald.

SAN FRANCISCO – While crossing the street in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco, Konstantinos “Gus” Vardakastanis was struck and killed by a hit and run driver, authorities said as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Vardakastanis, age 57, was well-known in the community as the co-owner of Haight Street Market and Noriega Produce. He died at the scene, according to the San Francisco medical examiner, as the Chronicle reported.

A Greek immigrant from Zakynthos, Vardakastanis ran the family businesses with his wife, Georgia, since the early 1980s, and opened Gus’s Community Market in the Mission District in 2015 with their sons Dimitri and Bobby.

Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a San Francisco Police Department spokesman said, as reported in the Chronicle, police officers were dispatched to Jerrold Avenue and Toland Street about 2:15 AM after the collision was reported and they found the seriously injured Vardakastanis “near the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, where he was known to do business four days a week.”

President of the Board of Supervisors London Breed, released a statement on September 22, expressing condolences, as quoted in the Chronicle, “I am truly saddened by the death of Gus Vardakastanis, a beloved member of the Haight Ashbury community and owner of the Haight Street Market. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the employees of the markets he owned throughout the city. He kept his prices affordable and was very committed to hiring locally including those who needed a second chance. Gus was loved and he will be truly missed.”

The Chronicle reported, “Shoppers who Vardakastanis befriended over the years came in and out of his grocery stores Fridaymorning, hugging each other and staff, and dropping flowers outside.”

Robin Dick, an artist and Haight Street neighborhood resident since 1988, said she has known the well-liked grocer for many years.

“I’m still kind of in shock. He was a character, definitely a character,” Dick, 62, said. “For someone known to be a little crusty, he was such a generous, kind man,” as reported by the Chronicle.

Dick also recalled Gus’ sense of humor and personality noting that “he was always very present, very approachable. He wasn’t one of these behind-the-curtain kind of guys.”

Vardakastanis worked tirelessly in the store at all hours, frequently joked with his customers, and would treat them to bottles of wine from his personal winery.

His concern for his customers extended to asking them if there were items he should add that were currently unavailable in the store, taking note of any suggestions.

Freelance Internet technology worker Mike McCarthy, age 51, an 18-year resident of the Haight and a regular at the Haight Street Market stopped by to offer his condolences at the store and spoke about Vardakastanis’ generosity. “I came here once at 8 in the morning and got a parking ticket. Next time I was here, he gave me a $30 gift certificate. My kids grew up on Gus. He just gave us a sense of place,” as the Chronicle reported.

“He was a well-known and well-loved man,” Nathan Matson, an employee at San Francisco Wholesale Produce and acquaintance of Gus’ sons said. “Everybody [at] the market right now is crying…He was just a great, great guy,” as reported in the Chronicle.

Authorities said that investigators have learned it was a silver sedan that struck Vardakastanis and then sped from the scene, the Chronicle’s report noted.

“Police are looking for a sedan with windshield and front end damage, according to Andraychak. At 2:12 AM, the city ShotSpotter system detected gunfire at the intersection of McKinnon and Newhall avenues, which is less than a mile from where Vardakastanis was killed three minutes later. Officers only recovered shell casings at the scene and did not find any suspects or victims, said Officer Giselle Linnane, a department spokeswoman. Police could not immediately say if the gunfire had any connection to the hit and run. The department’s Traffic Collision Investigation Unit was on scene looking to interview witnesses of the incident. Anyone with information can call the department’s tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text TIP411, beginning the message with ‘SFPD’,” as reported in the San Franciso Chronicle.

The post Greek Grocer Killed by Hit-and-run Driver in San Francisco appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – In a lengthy and at times tense emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on September 19, the existence of an $8.5 million deficit, as The National Herald had previously reported, was officially announced, as was that the Archdiocese’s finances were mismanaged for years.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America and Council Vice Chair George Tsandikos did not respond to TNH’s request for comment.

The emergency meeting notwithstanding, the Archdiocese had already taken steps in the last few months to salvage the situation through the efforts of new Executive Committee officials.

Recently, the Archdiocese dismissed Jerry Dimitriou, who was Executive Director of Administration for over 18 years. His responsibilities were assumed by Archdiocesan Chancellor Bishop Andonios of Phasiane. Dimitriou also did not respond to TNH’s request for comment.

In April, the position of Chief Financial Officer was created and filled by finance and accounting expert Fr. Soterios Baroody. Almost immediately thereafter, actions were taken to reduce operating costs and to bring revenues and expenditures into alignment with the objective of eliminating the deficit. Also, controls have been implemented to ensure efficient expenditures and overall administration.

The accounting firm Grant Thornton was retained to conduct a thorough review and to provide recommendations on how to create a sound institution moving forward.

Also stated at the meeting was that a way should be found to pay off the deficit, but the difficult task is how to present the problem to the parishes and their congregants throughout the country. TNH has learned that there are already instances of parishioners having substantially reduced their annual contribution. A Texas church’s parish council president recently commented that about 200 families have yet to make their 2017 contributions.

Much of the blame was placed on Dimitriou for lack of transparency. But a hierarch of the Holy Eparchial Synod indirectly but clearly placed blame on Archbishop Demetrios about the entire problematic situation, and also on Finance Committee President George Vourvoulias and his group. The hierarch said it is unfair to place all the blame on Dimitriou, confronting Vourvoulias: “what have you done all these years?” In an attempt to defend himself, Vourvoulias, who has led the Finance Committee since 2006, said “we did whatever we could. We made the Archdiocese bigger, from a $12 million to a $30 million budget for the support of its ministries and programs.”

Regarding the recent layoffs of large numbers of employees, a hierarch protested, commenting that those people have families. Another hierarch complained about the dismissal of so many employees from the IT and digital media department.

Also discussed was “the newspapers” – meaning, this one – who “know Archdiocese matters better than we do” – and it was decided that some announcement would be made. At press time, there was no press release.

The Committee also decided that the deficit would again be discussed in the full session of the Archdiocesan Council on October 20 at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in New York.

Mention was made about the next Clergy Laity Congress, to be convened in July and probably in Boston, MA, although no official decision was made. The issue will be discussed at the October 20 meeting as well.

Demetrios briefly mentioned the election of a metropolitan to the Chicago Metropolis and said that upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s directive, the List of Candidates will be cleaned and updated. It will be submitted to the Legal Committee and then to the Patriarchate for approval. When the Patriarchate returns the List to the Archdiocese, the Holy Eparchial Synod will be convened to select a new triprosopon (three-person ballot), which will be sent to the Patriarchate for the final election.

The archbishop also said that he thanks God for completing 51 years as a hierarch and 18 years as Archbishop of America. Demetrios was elected to the bishopric rank in 1967 as auxiliary Bishop of Vresthena during the Dictatorship in Greece by a “Small” (aristindin) Synod under the then-Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos Kotsonis, who was actually imposed to the Archbishopric Throne of Greece by the Greek dictators. He was elected Archbishop of America by the Patriarchate in July,1999.

The post Facing Tense and Difficult Times, Archdiocese Holds Emergency Meeting appeared first on The National Herald.

It’s the beginning of the school year and we speak in Greek about our school. Here is basic vocabulary and common phrases we use when we want to give some information about our school and our Greek classes.

Try to match the phrases in English below with their translation in Greek.

ARE YOU A STUDENT?

1. Είμαι φοιτητής στο Πανεπιστήμιο Κολούμπια. 1. I am a Middle School student.
2. Είμαι φοιτήτρια στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Νέας Υόρκης. 2. I am a High School student.
3. Είμαι μαθήτρια στο Λύκειο. 3. I am a student at New York University.
4. Είμαι μαθητής στο Γυμνάσιο. 4. I am a student at Columbia University.

WHERE DO YOU LEARN GREEK?

1. Εγώ πηγαίνω σε Σαββατιανό σχολείο. 1. I learn Greek at an afternoon school.
2. Μαθαίνω Ελληνικά στο σχολείο μου. 2. I learn Greek from the newspaper.
3. Μαθαίνω Ελληνικά από την εφημερίδα. 3. Ι learn Greek at my school.
4. Μαθαίνω Ελληνικά σε απογευματινό σχολείο. 5. I learn Greek at home.
5. Μαθαίνω Ελληνικά στο σπίτι. 4. I learn Greek at a Saturday school.

WHICH SCHOOL DO YOUR KIDS ATTEND?

1. Η Μαρία πηγαίνει στο Γυμνάσιο. 1. Our kids go to Elementary School.
2. Η κόρη μου πηγαίνει στο Πανεπιστήμιο. 2. My son goes to College.
3. Ο γιος μου πηγαίνει στο Κολλέγιο. 3. My daughter goes to University.
4. Τα παιδιά μας πηγαίνουν στο Δημοτικό. 4. Maria goes to Middle School.

IN THE GREEK CLASS

1. Μαθαίνεις Ελληνικά; 1. I learn History and Religion.
2. Μαθαίνω γλώσσα και γραμματική. 2. I have a binder and a pen.
3. Μαθαίνω ιστορία και θρησκευτικά. 3. I learn Greek language and grammar.
4. Έχω βιβλίο και τετράδιο. 4. Do you learn Greek?
5. Έχω ντοσιέ και στυλό. 5. I have a book and a note book.

IMPORTANT VOCABULARY

Greek word    Pronunciation          Meaning

Η κόρη EE KOri daughter

Ο γιος O yiOS           son

Μου    MOO my

Μας     MAS   our

Τα παιδιά       TA pediA        kids, children

Εγώ πηγαίνω            eYO piYEno  I go

Εσύ πηγαίνεις           eSEE piYEnis          you go

Εσύ πηγαίνεις;          eSEE piGEnis          do you go?

Αυτός/αυτή πηγαίνει                        afTOS /afTEE piYEni          he /she goes

Εμείς πηγαίνουμε     eMEES piYEnoome                        we go

Εσείς πηγαίνετε        eSEES piYEnete     you go

Εσείς πηγαίνετε;       eSEES piYEnete     do you go?

Τα παιδιά πηγαίνουν TA pediA piYEnoon           the kids go

Εγώ μαθαίνω            eYO maTHEno         I learn

Εσύ μαθαίνεις;          eSEE maTHEnis?   do you learn?

Ελληνικά        elliniKA          Greek

Το σχολείο     TO shoLEEo school

Το πρωινό     TO proiNO     morning

Το απογευματινό      TO apoyeumatiNO   afternoon, evening

Το σαββατιανό          TO savatiaNO           Saturday school

Το Νηπιαγωγείο       TO nipiagoGEEO     Pre-school

Το Δημοτικό  TO dimotiKO Elementary School

Το Γυμνάσιο  TO yiMNAsio             Middle School

Το Λύκειο       TO LEEkio     High School

Το Πανεπιστήμιο      TO panepiSTEEmio            University

Το Κολλέγιο   TO koLEyio   College

Στο      STO    to, at

Το σπίτι          TO SPEEti     home, house

Ο μαθητής     O mathiTEES primary or secondary school student (male)

Η μαθήτρια    EE maTHEEtria        primary or secondary school student (female)

Ο φοιτητής     O fitiTEES College or University student (male)

Η φοιτήτρια    EE fiTEEtria  College or University student (female)

Η εφημερίδα  EE efimeREEda newspaper

Από την εφημερίδα  aPO TEEN efimeREEda from the newspaper

Η Γλώσσα     EE GLOsa     language

Η Γραμματική            EE yramatiKEE        grammar

Η Ιστορία       EE istoREEa history

Τα Θρησκευτικά        TA thriskeftiKA         religion

Έχω    Eho     I have

Το βιβλίο        TO viVLEEo  book

Το τετράδιο    TO teTRAdio note book

Το ντοσιέ        TO ntosiE binder

Ο στυλός        O stiLOS pen

PRONUNCIATION KEY

i (idiom), ee (needle), e (energy), o (organism), oo (boot), y (yes), h (helium), th (theory), d (the). The capitalized syllables are accented.

The post Our Everyday Greek: This September we Speak in Greek about School appeared first on The National Herald.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartanburg Greek Festival is held every September at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The festival helps raise money for the church’s building fund and for such local charities as the Hope Center for Children and Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Herald Journal reported.

“More than 6,000 people are estimated to have attended the three-day event this year. Some of the festival’s highlights include Greek food, music and dancing. It continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at 697 Asheville Highway, Spartanburg.

Read what festivalgoers had to say about the food and activities at the event on Saturday here.

The post Spartanburg Greek Festival Draws 6,000 People appeared first on The National Herald.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A prominent biostatistics researcher from the University at Buffalo is among a group of Greek- and Cypriot-born scholars from the U.S. and Canada who will travel to Greece to conduct academic projects with their peers at Greek universities, according to the buffalo.edu.

“Marianthi Markatou, professor and associate chair of research and health care informatics in UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions, was awarded a fellowship from the Greek Diaspora Fellowship Program to work with a researcher from the Department of Statistics at Athens University of Economics and Business on joint research challenges at the interface of statistics and machine learning.

Markatou’s selection was based on her fundamental scientific contributions as well as on a “very rarely demonstrated knowledge of the three employment sectors: academia, industry and government,” according to the Greek Diaspora Fellowship Program.

The project — titled “Big Data: Interface of Statistics and Machine Learning” — aims to open research collaborations with the graduate program in statistics and the program in information sciences at the Athens University of Economics and Business.

Discussions on developing and sustaining collaborations with UB’s programs in biostatistics and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are part of the planned activities.

The project incorporates a research component in addressing some of the foundational issues in big data analysis, based on Markatou’s previous groundbreaking work on statistical distances, their relationship with kernels and robustness aspects. It will address challenges from a perspective that incorporates statistical and machine learning aspects simultaneously.

Markatou, PhD, will collaborate with Karlis Dimitrios, professor in the Department of Statistics, Athens University of Economics and Business.

Markatou is one of 30 Greek- and Cypriot-born scholars from a cross section of 28 prominent U.S. and Canadian universities who are traveling to Greece. They will work in areas that range from medical physics to curriculum co-development in clinical neurophysiology, and from Anglo-American modernist poetry to educational psychology.”

Read the full story here.

The post UB Biostatistics Researcher Marianthi Markatou Selected for Greek Fellowship Program appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Greek-American Andrea Catsimatidis is the new chairwoman of the Manhattan GOP, as she elected to lead one of the best-funded Republican club in the country.

“So honored to be elected Chair of the Manhattan GOP,” Catsimatidis wrote on her facebook webpage.

Andrea Catsimatidis is the daughter of billionaire talk show host, businessman, and former Republican mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis.

“Congratulations to my daughter, Andrea Catsimatidis, on being elected Chair of the New York County Republican Committee,” John Catsimatidis wrote on his facebook webpage.

According to Manhattan’s GOP webpage “Andrea Catsimatidis serves as an executive at her family’s company, the Red Apple Group, with primary responsibilities in the real estate, investment, and insurance divisions. The Red Apple Group was founded by her father, John Catsimatidis, and is one of the largest privately held companies in America, worth approximately $4Bn according to Forbes. The Red Apple Group operates in oil refining, pipelines, gas stations, real estate management and development, asset management, insurance, aviation, and supermarkets.  Ms. Catsimatidis graduated from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a B.S. in Business Management and double minors in Political Science and Communications. During her years at the Stern School of Business, she was named as one of the 15 most influential students at NYU for her leadership as president of the NYU College Republicans. She serves on the board of the DoughMain Education Foundation to promote children’s financial literacy and is actively involved in other charities including the Police Athletic League and the Alzheimer’s Association.”

The post Greek-American Andrea Catsimatidis Elected Chairwoman of the Manhattan GOP appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK. The Hellenic Initiative will honor UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and the “ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with cancer” at the 5th Annual Gala which will take place on the 29th of September in New York.

Talking to The National Herald, executive director of The Hellenic Initiative, Mr. Mark Arey, welcomed the interest of the Greek-American community in the gala and programs of ΤΗΙ and stressed that their decision to honor UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and the “ELPIDA” Association of Friends of Children with cancer, has sparked the enthusiasm of the members and supporters of the organization.

As Mr. Arey pointed out, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis will be awarded for her charitable work and her leadership role in the “ELPIDA” Association. The honoree is a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and two years ago was granted the “Ripple of Hope” Award by the “Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights” Foundation.

The award ceremony will take place at the New York Hilton Midtown, which is located at 1335 6th Avenue in Manhattan and, as in previous years, is expected to be “sold out”.

Leading Greek artist Sakis Rouvas, who is the Messenger of the “ELPIDA” Association and “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Association, will be presenting the event as Master of Ceremonies and, according to the relevant announcement, will also be performing exclusively at The Hellenic Initiative 5th Annual Gala.

Archbishop Demetrios of America and other leaders of the Greek-American community, representatives of the diplomatic authorities of Greece and Cyprus in New York, as well as individuals who have been awarded at previous events of the organization, are expected to attend.

The Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award will be awarded to the Libra Group, not only for its contribution to the organization, but also for the support services it provides to start-ups.

Marianna V. Vardinoyannis

Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, founder and president of the “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation”, of the “ELPIDA Friends’ Association of Children with cancer” and of the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Association.

Inspired by motherhood, she has built up an extensive record of humanitarian work for the benefit of children and disadvantaged social groups in Greece and abroad, as well as on issues of peace, education, health and cultural heritage. She struggles against human trafficking, exploitation of children, illiteracy, climate change and other issues of today’s concern.

Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis’ work through her foundation aims to contribute to the building of a better world for the children, fighting against human trafficking, illiteracy, climate change and many other issues of today’s concern. At the same time, through the Foundation’ s Programs, she supports children and families of disadvantaged social groups, refugees and schools.

As the president of “ELPIDA Friends’ Association of Children with cancer” for more than 25 years, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is fighting against childhood cancer.

She has established the first pediatric bone marrow transplant unit in Greece, thanks to which more than 900 children from Greece and neighbour countries have been saved until today, she has founded the first oncology pediatric hospital where thousands of children receive advanced medical anticancer treatment every day and the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Registry of bone marrow donor volunteers in Greece, and undertook a number of initiatives to help sick children and their families.

Marianna V. Vardinoyannis supports many educational institutions in Greece, Europe and the USA and sponsored the creation of the Centre for Hellenistic Studies in the Library of Alexandria. Especially in USA Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and her husband, Mr. Vardis I. Vardinoyannis:

established the Chair of Hellenism Abroad and the “Ioannis P. Vardinoyannis” Library at New York University, as well as the “Konstantinos Karamanlis” Chair of Greek and European Studies at Tufts University. She also supports UNESCO’s programs on education and culture in many parts of the world, and promotes the implementation of the UN development goals.

As a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis cooperates with many organizations, foundations and non-governmental organizations at national and international level.

The work of Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is internationally recognized and she has received many awards and distinctions such as: Golden Cross of Benefaction Order the Hellenic Republic, Academy of Athens Award, Lady Patriarchate of Alexandria, Knight and Officer of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic, the Grand Prize of the Paris Charter against cancer, the “Ripple of Hope” award from «Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights» Foundation.

(All photos are the kind courtesy of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation)

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BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — A weeklong conservative free speech showcase at famously liberal University of California, Berkeley was supposed to start Sunday. But it apparently ended the same day after a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance by right-wing firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos and angry shouts from small groups of competing protesters who came to celebrate and condemn him.

Yiannopoulos blew kisses, posed for selfies and briefly addressed a few dozen supporters at the campus while a slightly larger crowd protesting him was kept separate by police. Wearing sunglasses and an American flag hoodie under a denim jacket, he spoke without amplification for a few moments on the steps of Sproul Hall. Then he led a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” before being whisked away in a car. The whole appearance lasted less than a half hour.

Jake Wall, a college student from Los Angeles in town to visit his girlfriend, described Yiannopolous’ showing as a “meet and greet.” He said Yiannapoulos couldn’t make any points without a microphone and promised his admirers he’d return to deliver a proper address.

“When you can’t speak through a mic, how effective was that?” Wall asked. University officials said a request for amplification, required under school rules, was never made.

A defiant Yiannapoulos announced Saturday that he would appear at an unsanctioned rally despite the sudden cancellation of a planned four-day conservative event dubbed Free Speech Week. The campus conservative group Berkeley Patriot, which had been organizing the gathering with Yiannopoulos, told university administrators that the group would cancel it, the university said.

Yiannopoulos said he was blindsided by the news.

Those hoping to hear him speak Sunday were herded through metal detectors, while demonstrators who came out against the appearance were held behind barricades on Sproul Plaza, the center of activity on campus during the 1960s Free Speech Movement.

Kat McLain, 26, said she considers herself a liberal but decided to come out to support conservatives’ right to be heard. “There’s no way to come to a peaceful resolution until we can stop and talk to each other,” she said.

University officials said there were no injuries and at least two arrests, including one of somebody allegedly using unpermitted amplified sound. The Berkeley Police Department said at least five people were arrested near campus, most of them for carrying a banned weapon.

UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof joked that the money spent on mobilizing police for the short appearance amounted to “probably the most expensive photo op in the university’s history.” But he defended the tactical strategy of deploying so many officers, saying they had to be prepared for the unexpected.

Campus police Chief Margo Bennett estimated that the university spent roughly $800,000 on security.

Berkeley freshman Alexandria Storm bemoaned the money spent on a huge police presence for an event that went bust. “This is a waste of resources, a waste of student dollars to militarize the police,” she said.

UC Berkeley recently shelled out $600,000 for security when conservative Ben Shapiro spoke.

Berkeley’s reputation as a liberal stronghold and the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement has made the city and campus flashpoints for the country’s political divisions since the election of Republican President Donald Trump.

Yiannopoulos’ attempt to speak at Berkeley in February was shut down by masked anarchists who rioted on campus.

“Claims that this (the cancellation of the Free Speech Week event) is somehow the outcome desired by the campus are without basis in fact,” Mogulof said in a statement Saturday. “The University was prepared to do whatever was necessary to support the First Amendment rights of the student organization.”

____
DAISY NGUYEN, Associated Press

Associated Press writer Christopher Weber contributed from Los Angeles.

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By Harry Katopodis

The Laughing Apple is Cat Stevens’ fourth album since returning to music in 2006 after a 28-year hiatus. It is a gem that sparkles.

Stevens is a Cypriot-Swedish-descended musician, born in London as Steven Georgiou, performing as Cat Stevens, and later converting to Islam and changing his name to Yusuf Islam. The Laughing Apple is the first album since his return that I can listen to over and over again with satisfaction. He has recaptured the joyous simplicity of the Tea for the Tillerman era.

Paul Samwel-Smith produced this album and Alun Davies was the lead guitar just like, when they worked together on Tillerman, Teaser and the Firecat, and Catch Bull at Four. Just like in the past, his lyrics tell a story and paint a picture. Not only does he give us some new songs, he also sings some older songs in a new way he hopes listeners will enjoy. He has drawn an illustration for each of the songs and the album cover. It was the first time he has illustrated one of his albums since the early 70s, after all he initially wanted to be a cartoonist.

It is fitting that this album was made at Decca Records, where his career started with his song “I Love My Dog” and 2017 also marks the 50^th Anniversary of his first record.

In 2014 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He now calls himself Yusuf/Cat Stevens.

“I fully appreciate now how my songs and words have brought hope to many to see life in a positive light.” More than that, he has recaptured his old sound and that will bring joy and solace to his many fans.

The Laughing Apple Track List:

1. “Blackness of the Night”
   2. “See What Love Did to Me”
   3. “The Laughing Apple”
   4. “Olive Hill”
   5. “Grandsons”
   6. “Mighty Peace”
   7. “Mary and the Little Lamb”
   8. “You Can Do (Whatever)”
   9. “Northern Wind (Death of Billy the Kid)”
   10. “Don’t Blame Them”
   11. “I’m So Sleepy”

Harry Katopodis is a freelance journalist and high school journalism teacher.

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Celebrating its 11^th year, New York City’s eagerly awaited Greek Film Festival opens September 28 at the Director’s Guild Theatre with a comedy, Perfect Strangers, a film emblematic of our digital age.

Friends at a dinner party put their cell phones on the table to share messages and calls and  chaos ensues. Thodoris Atheridis, director and lead actor, and costar Smaragda Karidi will attend the screening as well as the gala that follows at Kellari Taverna.

Says festival director James Demetro: “this year’s films are exceptionally strong and varied in their subject matter. Romantic dramas, comedies,  mysteries and documentaries explore contemporary Greece and pay homage to the past. We discovered some brilliant short films that will screen throughout the festival and have an evening of their own.”

Amerika Square, Greece’s entry for Best Foreign Film Oscar 2017,  is widely acknowledged as the best European film on the subject of immigration. A desperate father turns to a human trafficker to get himself and his daughter out of Greece. Set in a troubled Athens neighborhood,  it focuses on the lives of a hipster bar owner,  a Syrian refugee, and a xenophobic nationalist.

Son of Sofia, Tribeca Film Festival Winner for Best International Narrative Feature, dramatizes a young boy’s coming to Greece from Russia to join his mother and  new stepfather.

One of Melina Mercouri’s rarely seen films, Phaedra, the brilliant 1962 classic directed by Jules Dassin, stars Mercouri, Anthony Perkins, and Raf Vallone, and features music by Mikis Theodorakis. Set in Paris, London, and the Greek island of Hydra, the film uses an ancient story updated to a family of ultrarich shipping tycoons. A showcase for Mercouri, it captures the actress at her passionate, emotional peak in a doomed love affair.

A forbidden love also  inspires Roza of Smyrna. In The Other Me, a professor uses Pythagorean theory to track down a serial killer. A youngster finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation in The Boy on the Bridge.  Afterlov offers a quirky post-romantic comedy. Life of Significant Soil focuses on two young people struggling through a failing relationship.

Artful surprises include  the newest film from Vassilis Loules, the poetic documentarian who uses his lens to capture the  soul of Greece. Loules’ new film, In the Mountain Pastures, offers a truly beautiful trip into the mountains near Olympus to hear nomadic shepherds talk about their lives and flocks. This is an extraordinary look at a disappearing occupation that was once at the heart of Greece.

Border Souls tells the story of the Halkidiki monastery that feeds refugees. Dogs of Democracy focuses on Athenians who care for the city’s stray dogs. The Patriarch’s Room reopens the case of the first patriarch of Jerusalem in 2000 years to be relieved of his duties.

As a special bonus to film aficionados, the festival will offer four nights of free screenings at the Wells Fargo Center in Midtown Manhattan. October 2 will feature Istoria, a documentary about an expatriate with Alzheimer’s returning to Greece. On October 3, Christos Godas premieres his documentary about the island of Paros, Apocalypse Again. On October 4, Life of Significant Soil starring Alexis Mouyiaris, will have an encore presentation. And on October 5, a program of short subjects, Bread and Olives and Other Delectables, promises to be a special treat.

A note should be made of two success stories that emerged from last year’s Festival: New Yorker George Stephanopoulos’s  entertaining Swing Away will be distributed nationally opening in New York at Cinema Village on October 13. The film features a young Greek-American woman, a golf champion who goes to Greece to find inspiration and purpose. Alex and Eve, a heart-warming romantic comedy from Australia, focuses on two star-crossed lovers, a Greek and a Lebanese Muslim. It will have U.S. distribution.

The festival closes October 15. More information is available at nycgreekfilmfestival.com.

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NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Ahepans Zachary Marantis, James Zafiros, Joseph C. Keane, and Tom Dushas gathered for dinner at the Westchester Beach Club, in Rye, New York on Friday evening, September 22. The occasion was an evening of fraternal reflection celebrating their collective membership of more than 200+ years in The Order of AHEPA. The organization itself dates back to 1922.

Their memories drifted back to another era, long gone but not forgotten, the late 1950’s and the 1960’s, when Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson were Presidents. Their collective feeling was AHEPA has stood the test of time and competition from other sectors of the community, and continues to stand gallantly as the pre-eminent representative of the Hellenic Community worldwide.

Today, the four Ahepans and many others are anchors in their local chapter, New Rochelle 405. Their dream is that every Hellene and Philhellene should be an Ahepan, in tribute to their heritage and ancestors. The group is looking forward to AHEPA’s 100th Anniversary in 2022 with excitement and reverence, in what is expected to be a milestone celebration for the entire worldwide Hellenic Community.

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PORT WASHINGTON, NY – Hundreds of volunteers and over one hundred and fifty members of the Greek Orthodox Youth (GOYA) worked hard to organize and staff the three-day Greek Festival of the Archangel Michael Church in Port Washington.

The festival began on Friday, September 22 and concluded on Sunday, September 24.

It was organized for the seventh consecutive year at North Hempstead Beach Park, which is close to the community. The festival was one of the best in recent years with warm temperatures more like mid-summer rather than the start of fall and blue skies as far as the eye could see drawing Greeks from not only Long Island but across the New York tri-state area. Many commented on the beautiful weather and being at the beach was like a short trip to Greece, enjoying the traditional Greek and Cypriot foods, the rides, games, and marketplace while supporting the Archangel Michael’s community programs.

The President of the Parish Council Michael Psyllos, Fr. John Lardas- presiding priest of the community, as well as the members of the Parish Council, the Philoptochos Society, GOYA, and other community organizations, worked tirelessly along with the festival committee, and contributed to its success.

Saturday was especially busy at the festival and some attendees noted the lines were a bit long even to get into the parking lot, but they would never miss this fun event that helps the community and its important programs. Highlights of the festival, apart from the delicious foods, sweets, and loukoumades, included the spectacular fireworks display on Saturday night, the music, and the Archangel Michael community’s young people dancing in traditional costume. A memorable moment on Sunday afternoon was when Fr. John joined the dancers briefly for a few steps on the dance floor.

All the attendees look forward to next year’s festival.

The post Port Washington Greek Festival a Great Success (Pics & Vid) appeared first on The National Herald.

Greek novelist Zyranna Zateli was born in Sochos near Thessaloniki. She attended drama school 1976-79 and then worked as an actress and radio producer, before becoming a full-time writer. Her novels were awarded the Greek National Book Prize for Literature in 1994 and 2002 and have been translated into several languages.In 2010,Zateli was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Athens.The English translation of her novel At Twilight They Return: A Novel in Ten Tales was recently published by The Margellos World Republic of Letters. Translator David Connelly,an award-winning translator and former professor of translation studies in the School of English at the Aristotle University of Thessaloníki, has done a masterful job with Zateli’s compelling novel.

An ambitious, multigenerational saga, the book tells the story of Christoforos, who first weds Petroula, and then Eftha, followed, after her death, by Persa; of his sexually promiscuous son Hesychios and the many bastard children left on the doorstep following the untimely demise of many would-be daughters-in-law; and of the sisters, brothers, children, and grandchildren who inhabit the household and anexpanding history. With symbolism and magical realism, the complex family story unfolds non-sequentially in ten interrelated tales, in the new English language translation by Connolly. Considered Zateli’s masterpiece, the novel has a unique structure, style, and narrative voice, andblends classical mythology, folklore, and real historical events in a powerful way.A landmark of contemporary Greek literature, the novel was awarded the Greek State Prize for Best Novel in 1994, and is essential readingfor anyone interested in modern Greek novels. For those unfamiliar with Zateli’s work, At Twilight They Return is a great introduction to the celebrated author and her skill.

Zateli’slatest novel, Tetradio Oneiron (Notebook of Dreams),is a charming book. Available in Greek, it was released on July 11.In Notebook of Dreams, Zateli reveals the inspiration for her writing, the mythical images that create her magical universe; an enchanting journey into the world of her dreams, the primordial matter of her prose, with the enigmas from her subconscious that she chose to record, drawn from the chaos of waking life.

She writes in the book, loosely translated, “I was cuttingwood with an ax and put it in a basket. I liked this work, it pleased me to see that I handled the ax in comfort, almost like my dad, my uncles. There was a great encyclopedia with a red leather cover, and I gave it a whack! And after I cut it, not exactly in the middle, I started to browse through it. I saw pictures I had seen before and I was nostalgic, I was seeing other things. The Crucifixion (Christ’s I suppose?) Many times. The birds. The man in black. The tiny bones on a roof like in a sieve. Next needle and thread…In my sleep, for what reason?”

Also among her novels in Greek areKai me to Fos tou Lykou Epanerchontai (With the Light of the Wolf, They Return), 1993; Me to Paraxeno Onoma Ramanthis Erevous, O Thanatos Irthe Teleftaios (Under the Strange Name of Ramanthis Erevous: Death came Last), 2001;Me to Paraxeno Onoma Ramanthis Erevous, To Pathos Hiliades Fores(Under the Strange Name of Ramanthis Erevous: Passion Thousands of Times), 2009; and Idoni ston Krotafo (Pleasure on the Temple), 2011.

The post Novels by Zyranna Zateli to Add to Your Reading List appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Greek-American Arianna Huffington features alongside Freddie Mercury and Elon Musk in the inaugural list celebrating the achievements of first and second generation migrants. Huffington’s founding of the HuffPost contributed to her inclusion.

The HuffPost founder has been listed among the top 25 most influential and successful migrants of all time, according to research conducted by easyESTA.

Huffington made the prestigious list for the recognition that she received due to her media work including being named #12 on Forbes’ first list of the Most Influential Women in Media, moving up to #42 on The Guardian’s Top 100 in Media list and appearing on both television and radio as herself.

Born in Athens as Arianna Stasinopoulou, Huffington moved to the United Kingdom at age 16 and studied at Girton College, Cambridge. She moved to the United States in 1980 and became a naturalized citizen in 1990. The Huffington Post was launched in 2005. In 2012, it became the first U.S. commercially-run, digital media enterprise to receive a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. In August 2016, Huffington announced that she would be stepping down from The Huffington Post to focus on Thrive Global, her new health and wellness information startup.

With migration and its perceived effects forever at the forefront of political discussion, easyEsta wanted to show the immense impact first and second generation migrants can make to their new homes and Huffington was a standout candidate.

A spokesperson from easyESTA said, “Culture is incredibly important to us at easyESTA, we commissioned this study to better understand the significance of migration and how migration has positively impacted on different industries.

“The research surprised us with how diverse people really are. We gained insight into the migrants’ physical and metaphorical journeys. By understanding the cultures that have influenced the migrants’ lives, a new meaning has been added to their legacies.”

Greek-American Huffington is featured alongside the likes of Madeleine Albright, Sadiq Khan, Evgeny Lebedev, Chris Froome, and Anthony Joshua – all of whom have made an enormous contribution to the country either they or their parents migrated to.

The announcement of the winners comes at a time where politicians such as Tony Blair are calling for tougher immigration controls and President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has declared the end of DACA.

The complete list of the top 25 most successful and influential migrants of all time is available online at: https://www.easyesta.com.

As a third party website, easyESTA provides visa related services to people who wish to travel to the United States. Most notably, easyESTA provides assistance to travelers with their ESTA applications and allows customers to complete their application digitally.

Aiming to simplify the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) application process, easyESTA takes care of the technical aspects of ESTA applications, taking user inputted information on the ESTA application then completing everything else.

In addition to this, easyESTA tracks the progress of the application, unlike other websites, and easyESTA also emails the approved ESTA to customers. Priding themselves on their customer service and skilled and experienced team, easyESTA is on hand to provide support before, during, and after the application process has begun.

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ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA – A new eatery in Roxborough aims to serve up authentic Greek cuisine quickly while giving a subtle lesson on how to pronounce the popular Greek sandwiches called “gyros,” Roxborough Patch reported.

“Today we embark on this new journey together. With great pride, Yiro Yiro is officially OPEN! First and foremost, thank you for your patience & continued support. Our team has worked very hard for this day to come. We are truly excited for what the future of Yiro Yiro holds. Thank you, now come eat!” Yiro-Yiro owners posted on their Instangram account.

Yiro Yiro is located at 6024 Ridge Ave.

#2dayfm and #rnbfridays at belmore come get a Yiro and enjoy the fun and festivities with #yiroyiro and #bulldogs #yiroyirogreekstreetfood #belmore #greekeats #greekfood #nrlbulldogs #nrl

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη YiroYiro (@yiroyiro_belmore) στις Σεπ 8, 2016, 6:47μμ PDT

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TUCSON, Arizona – The Tucson Greek Festival has been operating at the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church for the past 41 years and continues to offer the local community traditional Greek meals, live music and handcrafted, Greek-inspired jewelry and artifacts, The Daily Wildcat reported.

The festival took place from September 21 to Sept. 24 and the attendants had the chance to enjoy “Greek/American Beverages, Divine Pastries, Greek Deli, Cooking Demo, Shopping, Greek Dancing, Kids Area, Trip to Greece and Other Prizes”, according to the festival’s website.

“We’d like to thank everyone for attending and a BIG THANK YOU to every one of our Volunteers. We wouldn’t be able to do this event without you,” Tucson Greek Festival’s organizers posted on Facebook.

“Almost time to start planning for next year and we’ve learned so much. We’ll be making adjustments to ensure that that next year will be even better. May God bless you all!” they concluded.

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