WHITESTONE – The students at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Day School celebrated Easter and the Anastasi on April 10, their first day back at school after their Easter break. They sang Christos Anesti, cracked red eggs, and enjoyed tsoureki, koulourakia, and other Greek traditional Easter sweets.

Eleni Bournis, Vice President of the Holy Cross Day School PTA, told The National Herald, “All children from Nursery to Third grade participated. The principal Mr. Theodore Kusulas, school staff, PTA members and class parents/yiayias were present. It was very beautiful.”

She added, “We at Holy Cross School are very proud of our Hellenic roots, our Community of Learners, which works hard, plays hard, and values the beliefs of being an Orthodox Christian to the Greek American community, at large.”

The practice of tsougrisma (clashing) is symbolic of the breaking open of the tomb through Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. Participants try to crack each other’s egg. Whoever cracks everyone else’s eggs is the winner and is said to have good luck for the rest of the year. The eggs are dyed red for the blood of Jesus, while the egg itself represents His sealed tomb which is then cracked open through the Resurrection and symbolically through the cracking of the eggs.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced questions from Greek-American Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Maryland) on April 11 about ads which appeared on the social media website during the 2016 presidential election campaign. As Independent Journal Review (IJR) reported, “According to Sarbanes, the Trump campaign had ‘about 90 times’ more ads approved during the final stretch of time before the presidential election.”

“President Trump’s campaign had an estimated 5.9 million ads approved, and Secretary Clinton had 66,000 ads,” Sarbanes said. “So that is a delta of about 90 times as much on the Trump campaign, which raises some questions about whether the ad approval processes were maybe not processed correctly or were inappropriately bypassed in the final months and weeks of the election by the Trump campaign.”

Zuckerberg “denied that special approval rights were granted to the Trump team, noting that the company applies ‘the same standard to all campaigns,’” IJR reported.

When Sarbanes repeated his question, Zuckerberg again denied that there was any difference in the services Facebook provided to the Trump campaign.

Greek- American Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida) questioned Zuckerberg on the removal of ads for illegal pharmacies in view of the opioid epidemic. According to the transcript of the Florida Congressman’s questions during the hearing, published by the Tampa Bay Times, Rep. Bilirakis asked, “Will you begin to take them [the illegal ads] down today?”

Zuckerberg replied, “The ads that are flagged for us we will review and take down if they violate our policies, which I believe [are] the ones you’re talking about,” adding that tools need to be built for the long term so Facebook can identify “these ads for opioids before people even have to flag them for us to review.”

Bilirakis then asked about cyberbullying, recounting the experience of one of his constituents, “in District 12 of Florida, the Tampa Bay area, came to me recently with what was a clear violation of your privacy policy. In this case, a third party organization publicly posted personal information about my constituent on his Facebook page. This included his home address, voting record, degrading photos, and other information. In my opinion, this is cyberbullying. For weeks, my constituent tried reaching out to Facebook on multiple occasions through its report feature, but the offending content remained. It was only when my office got involved that the posts were removed almost immediately for violating Facebook policy. How does Facebook’s self-reporting policy work to prevent misuse, and why did it take an act of Congress — a member of Congress — to get, again, a clear policy violation removed from Facebook? If you can answer that question, I’d appreciate it, please.”

Zuckerberg replied, “Congressman, that clearly sounds like a big issue, and something that would violate our policies. I don’t have specific knowledge of that case, but what I imagine happened given what you just said is they reported it to us, and one of the people who reviews content probably made an enforcement error. And then when, when you reached out, we probably looked at it again and realized that it violated the policies and took it down. We have a number of steps that we need to take to improve the accuracy of our enforcement.”

To which Bilirakis responded, “Absolutely.”

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NEW YORK – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons announced on April 11 that it will launch a sweeping scholarship program in the coming academic year – several years ahead of schedule – that will make it the first medical school in the nation to replace student loans with scholarships for all students who qualify for financial aid.

Currently, about half of the student body in the medical school receives financial aid, including need-based scholarships and student loans, to pay tuition and living expenses. Under the new program, all student loans included in their financial aid packages will be replaced with scholarships. About 20 percent of the school’s students – those with the greatest financial need – will receive full-tuition scholarships.

The scholarship fund will be supported by an endowment that was established by Greek-Americans Dr. P. Roy and Diana Vagelos, for whom the 250-year-old medical school was renamed last December. The couple has committed more than $300 million to Columbia, $150 million of which was directed toward the scholarship fund endowment.

When the commitment was announced in December, university officials anticipated that it would be several years before the funds grew large enough to support the full scholarship program. However, funding from the Vageloses as well as from other generous alumni, faculty, and friends over the past several months increased available funds more rapidly than anticipated and enabled the medical school to launch the scholarship program this year.

“Having a scholarship fund of this magnitude puts our medical school within reach of the most talented students, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Lee Goldman, MD, the dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine and chief executive of Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “In addition, this scholarship program will allow our students to choose a medical specialty based on their true passion and highest calling, rather than on income potential. The extraordinary generosity of Roy and Diana Vagelos in establishing this endowment will change the future for generations of students in our medical school.”

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the median cost of tuition and fees at private U.S. medical schools is nearly $60,000 per year. In 2016, nearly 73 percent of students at private medical schools graduated with debt, with the median level of debt at $190,000. At Columbia, like most medical schools, students who qualify for financial aid are typically required to borrow about $30,000 or more per year to help pay for their tuition. Under the new scholarship program, students will be able to forgo that borrowing.

Letters announcing the scholarships were sent to all of the medical school’s students today and are being given to prospective students who have been accepted for the class that will begin in August. After completing his medical degree at Columbia in 1954, Dr. Vagelos conducted research at the National Institutes of Health and Washington University in St. Louis, where he served as chair of the Department of Biological Chemistry.

He joined the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. in 1975 and was named CEO ten years later. The Vageloses met on campus in 1951, while Roy Vagelos was in medical school and Diana Touliatou (BC ’55) was a student at Barnard College. They had much in common, including the fact that their parents had immigrated from Greece. They married in 1955. Diana currently serves as vice chair of the Barnard Board of Trustees.

“In the 250-year history of our College of Physicians and Surgeons, few have had the kind of profound and enduring impact of Roy and Diana Vagelos,” said University President Lee C. Bollinger. “They understand that ensuring a Columbia education is affordable and accessible to the widest diversity of students, regardless of their family’s income, is essential to our mission. We’ve all been inspired not only by their great generosity, but also by their vision and drive to improve the lives of the students who will follow in their footsteps and go on to make a difference in our society.”

“This idea of giving young people the kind of support that allowed us to pursue our own educations at Penn, Barnard and Columbia has been a driving force in our lives for some time,” said Dr. Vagelos. “The amount of loans that students are taking on in order to attend medical school is tremendous, and we’re seeing too many students lean away from less lucrative medical specialties, such as primary care, pediatrics, or medical research, simply because they are facing a mountain of student loans they have to repay. If we can change that for our students, I think we will have accomplished something important for them as individuals, and ultimately for the field of medicine.”

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NEW YORK – Trezoros: The Lost Jews of Kastoria will be airing on PBS stations across the United States this April, and in the New York area on April 12, check your local listings. The documentary chronicles life in the picturesque town of Kastoria, where Jews and Christians lived in harmony and friendship for over two thousand years. The title Trezoros is the Ladino/Judeo/Spanish term of endearment meaning “treasures.”

The film takes the audience on a journey from the joyful innocence of the pre-war years through the heartbreaking struggles of the Holocaust, to a unique place in time and history highlighting a Greek Jewish culture lost forever. Director Lawrence Russo spoke with The National Herald about the film and about his family experience.

He told TNH that he first decided to tell the story of the Kastoria Jewish community in 1996 and even recorded some initial interviews with Holocaust survivors, but it was in 2008 that the professional production came together. Both Russo’s parents were born and raised in Kastoria and their families were there from at least the 1500’s. The film is dedicated to his parents who were two members of Kastoria’s Jewish community of the 35 who survived the Holocaust. Russo’s aunt and uncle were two more survivors.

His father Maurice Russo passed away in 1988 and his mother, Lena Russo, passed away last July at age 95, shortly after the screening of Trezoros at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. “She was an indomitable woman,” Russo said, adding that “she lost all her family except one brother in the Holocaust.”

She was in Belgrade after the war and was crying constantly, Russo noted. Standing on a bridge, she realized she had to stop with the sorrow and threw her handkerchief in the river. Russo said of his mother, “She was always positive,” never wanting her children to live with the negative.

One of the most challenging aspects of making the film, Russo told TNH was that it is a personal story. Growing up without grandparents when other children had all of theirs, he knew they had passed away but not the details since his parents never spoke about the Holocaust. When he learned about what had happened, it was crushing, he said, “I felt a responsibility to tell the story on an emotional level.”

Russo is the youngest of three brothers; Albert is the eldest and Cliff, the middle brother, speaks perfect Greek.

When asked about the overwhelmingly positive response to the film, he said, “It touches on the positive aspects of life which resonates with people.”

That people of all faiths and backgrounds are learning about the Jewish community of Kastoria is one of the most rewarding aspects. Attending the 2012 screening of the film in Kastoria, Russo said he sat next to a young police officer who was perhaps 25 years old. The young cop turned to him after the film and said “I had no idea about this.”

Trezoros will be screened again in Kastoria on April 20 as part of the Center for Studies of Jewish Heritage of Kastoria annual Day of Commemorating the Jewish Community of

Kastoria- 75 Years after Holocaust. The free screening will be held at 7 PM at Aula University of Kastoria with Russo’s brother Cliff in attendance. The commemoration continues on Saturday, April 21 at 10:30 AM at Omonoia Square with the Symbolic Holocaust Walk of Remembrance, official greetings, wreath-laying ceremony, and the Choir of Jewish Community of Thessaloniki, and at 7 PM at the Community Theater Hall

Argos Orestiko “The lost innocence of Anna Frank” will be presented by the Theater club of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki Entremosotros, under the auspices of the Mayor of Argos Orestiko and the Governor of Western Macedonia.

In October 1940, the peaceful life of the community changed forever with the invasion of Greece by Axis forces. Initially occupied by Italy, the Jewish community remained, but after Mussolini fell from power, the Nazis took control of the town, eventually gathering all the residents in a single day, and sent them to concentration camps.

Using never-before-seen archival footage, Trezoros vividly brings to life just one of many Jewish communities that had existed in Greece for centuries and even millennia before the end of World War II. The film is a story told by its survivors, with interviews filmed on location in Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Athens, Tsur Moshe, Tel Aviv, Miami, and New York.

Directed by Russo, and co-directed and produced by Larry Confino, the film was widely praised on the film festival circuit with screenings in London, Cannes, Melbourne, Sydney, New York, and Los Angeles. Russo co-founded the independent studio The Shooting Gallery (Laws of Gravity, Sling Blade) and directed the Emmy-nominated PBS short film series ShortCuts. Producer/Co-Director, Confino is the Founder of Synapse Productions and Executive Director of ImageRescue, Inc. Based in New York City, Confino has produced documentaries and commercial projects on a multitude of subjects around the world.

Trezoros is an inspiring story of survival that resonates universally and is of particular interest to Jewish and Greek communities worldwide. The poignant story of one family’s experience helps honor the memory of the once vibrant community and reminds us of man’s inhumanity to man and also of the enduring spirit of the people who survived the horrors of the war. As George Santayana wrote in The Life of Reason, 1905, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Check your local listings for the PBS schedule. More information is available online at http://trezoros.com.

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NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Bill Cosby’s chief accuser is set to take the witness stand on Friday at his sexual assault retrial, making for a climactic courtroom showdown after five other women told jurors that the man once revered as “America’s Dad” is a serial rapist who harmed them too.

Greek-Canadian Andrea Constand’s appearance is her second chance to confront Cosby in court, since his first trial ended without a verdict. This time, though, she’s facing a defense team intent on portraying her as a “con artist” who framed him for money.

Constand, who turned 45 on Wednesday, says Cosby drugged and molested her at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in January 2004, when she was a women’s basketball administrator at his alma mater, Temple University.

It’s the only allegation among dozens against Cosby that has led to criminal charges. He says the encounter was consensual, but paid $3.4 million in 2006 to settle a civil lawsuit Constand filed after the district attorney at the time dropped the case.

Cosby lawyer Tom Mesereau told jurors in an opening statement on Tuesday that Constand was a pauper who stiffed roommates on bills, racked up big credit card debt and once ran a Ponzi scheme until she “hit the jackpot” when Cosby paid her.

Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt on Thursday derided the five additional accusers who testified as “distractors” and “advocates for the prosecution and Andrea Constand.” Just one other accuser was permitted to take the stand at Cosby’s first trial.

Wyatt said the women traded in “poetic licensing, better known as alternative facts” and were pawns in an “‘Ocean’s 11’-style script” cooked up by lawyers Gloria Allred and her daughter, Lisa Bloom, “to extort Mr. Cosby for $100 million.”

Allred floated a proposal that Cosby set aside a chunk of his fortune to compensate accusers, but he never agreed.

“Since this American citizen didn’t adhere to Ms. Allred’s ransom notice, she paraded in a stable of women to destroy his legacy, his career and reputation,” Wyatt said.

Constand’s lawyer, Dolores Troiani, called the attacks on her client “outrageous” and “baseless,” and ripped Cosby’s team for trashing her reputation in the courtroom — where lawyers are immune from defamation lawsuits — and in statements to the media.

“I’d love to see if he thinks he’s going to prove any of this,” Troiani told The Associated Press. “What basis does he have for any of this? So he gets to say whatever he wants and once again they go outside, they slander her outside of the courtroom and what is her recourse?”

Troiani was peeved at the defense for fighting to disclose the settlement figure to jurors in what she said was a clear violation of the confidential settlement agreement Cosby and Constand struck.

“This is the type of man Cosby is,” she said. “We had an agreement and that agreement was supposed to be for both sides. It’s not hush money, and I really resent people calling it hush money. It’s compensation for the damages done to her.”

The other women’s harrowing, sometimes tearful stories could help.

Janice Dickinson told jurors on Thursday that Cosby gave her a pill he claimed would ease her menstrual cramps but instead left her immobilized and unable to stop an assault she called “gross.”

“I didn’t consent to this. Here was ‘America’s Dad,’ on top of me. A married man, father of five kids, on top of me,” Dickinson said. “I was thinking how wrong it was. How very wrong it was.”

Dickinson, 27 at the time, testified she felt vaginal pain and, after waking up the next morning, noticed semen between her legs. She said Cosby looked at her “like I was crazy” when she confronted him about what had happened.

“I wanted to hit him. I wanted to punch him in the face,” she said.

Another accuser, taking the witness stand after Dickinson, said Cosby prodded her to drink two shots in his Las Vegas hotel suite, then had her sit between his knees and started petting her head.

Lise-Lotte Lublin told jurors she lost consciousness and doesn’t remember anything else about that night in 1989 — a time when Cosby was at the height of his fame starring as sweater-wearing father-of-five Dr. Cliff Huxtable on America’s top-rated TV show, “The Cosby Show.”

“I trusted him because he’s ‘America’s Dad,'” Lublin said. “I trusted him because he’s a figure people trusted for many years, including myself.”

The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand and the other women have done.

___
By MICHAEL R. SISAK , Associated Press

Follow Mike Sisak at www.twitter.com/mikesisak .

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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has reprimanded Church of Bulgaria Patriarch Neophyte for supporting a breakaway church in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as “Macedonian,” with Greece still trying to settle a 26-year-long dispute with that country over what its name should be.

The strongly worded statement by Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, came after the Bulgarian Church agreed to acknowledge and be the “mother church” of “Macedonia,” which is considered “schismatic” by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

“The action of the sister church of Bulgaria was wrong. It complicates matters. The mother church of all Balkan nations is that of Constantinople,” he said, adding that this is what history says and that the Bulgarian church has no right to normalize the “Macedonian” one, said Kathimerini.

Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria has repeatedly claimed that Bulgaria should support the church of “Macedonia” in its attempt for recognition and integration even though Greece and FYROM haven’t settled on an agreement for a new composite name.

But anti-nationalist Prime Minister and Radical Left SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has said he’s willing to let FYROM keep the word Macedonia – that of an ancient abutting Greek province – and remove Greek vetoes against getting into NATO and the European Union.

Tsipras said he’s willing to accept a name with a qualifier, such as Upper Macedonia, but said it’s dependent on FYROM changing its Constitution to remove irredentist claims on Greek lands.

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WASHINGTON (ANA/P. Kasfikis) The ceremony for the delivery of the victors’ wreaths for the Boston Marathon, presented to the Boston Marathon Association by the General Consulate of Greece in Boston and the Greek-American Council “Alpha Omega”, was held on Thursday evening at Massachusetts State House.

The Boston marathon, which is taking place on Monday, is considered one of the most important marathon races worldwide and underlines Boston’s common cultural bonds with Greece as the birthplace of the American Revolution, for which it is symbolically dubbed the “Athens of the USA”.

Metropolitan of Boston Methodios, as well as state senators, diplomats and many people attended the event. The Greek Consul Stratos Efthymiou presented the Boston Marathon Association with four olive wreaths, two for the winners of the men’s and women’s races and two for the winners of the special categories for athletes with disabilities.

The delivery of the wreaths started in 1984 when the governor of Massachusetts was Michael Dukakis. The wreaths are offered in honour of Greek runner Stelios Kyriakidis, winner of the 1946 Boston Marathon, who had travelled from war-ravaged Greece, still devastated in the aftermath of WWII and the Nazi occupation, to participate in the Boston Marathon and prevail over local champion John Kelly. Referring to Kyriakidis, Kelly had said: “how could I ever beat such an athlete? I was running for myself and he ran for a whole country”.

After his victory, Kyriakidis raised awareness of Greece’s plight among the Americans and Greek-Americans, who collected and sent financial and humanitarian aid to poverty-stricken and deprived Greece. He is considered the first athlete to run with the aim of raising public awareness of a specific cause.

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KATSANTONIS, PERRI

NEWPORT NEWS, VA (from the Daily Press, published on Apr. 3) –PerriKatsantonis was born on February 28 1934 in Megalopolis Greece. She was one of the first females in Greece to receive her law degree at the University of Athens in 1959. Although she had plans to practice law in Athens fate stepped in and led her to the United States in 1960 where she was reunited with her childhood love George. The two were soon wed and began their eventful life together in Cleveland Ohio. They gave birth to three beautiful girls had numerous friends and family always surrounding their home and danced their way through life. In 1971 they moved to Newport News to begin a new chapter. Perri decided to follow her father’s footsteps and go back to school for her teaching degree. Her talent for language led her to become a French teacher at Ferguson High School where she was affectionately known as Mrs. K. She shared her love of her Greek heritage as a Greek School teacher at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Newport News. Later on she enjoyed celebrating all of life’s moments with her husband children and grandchildren. Perri was a truly special woman; always a shining light she touched the hearts of those who knew her. She had a giving soul and a love for life which she approached always with a sense of humor. As a lawyer and a teacher her perseverance to always be a strong educated woman was an inspiration to her children grandchildren and students. She had a passion for philosophy that transcribed through the life lessons she taught her children and students. PerriKatsantonis is survived by her loving husband of 57 years Dr. George Katsantonis; her daughters Caroline Joanne and Vivian; her sons-in-law Tony Mike and Chris; and her grandchildren Fares Eleina Nathan and Nikki. A Trisagion Service will be held at 5:30 pm on Wednesday April 4 2018 at Weymouth Funeral Home by Rev. George Chioros. The family will receive friends following the service until 7:30 pm. Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 am on Thursday April 5 2018 at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Church or to the Saints Constantine and Helen Ladies Philoptochos Society Inc. 60 Traverse Road Newport News VA 23606. Arrangements are by Weymouth Funeral Home.

KOHILAKIS,ALEXANDER

DERRY, NH (from theUnion Leader,published on Apr. 3) – Alexander G. Kohilakis, 59, of Derry, NH passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2018. Born in Bronx, NY, he was raised and educated on Long Island, and was a longtime resident of Beaver Lake, Derry, NH and most recently Clearwater Beach, FL. Alex is the son of Helen (Pieri) Kohilakis of Hauppauge, NY and the late Steven V. Kohilakis. In addition to his mother, Alex is survived by his three daughters, Alexis Kohilakis of Gainesville, FL, Cassandra Sullivan and husband Kyle of Peterborough, NH, and Eleni Kohilakis of Manchester, NH; two brothers, Basil “Bill” Kohilakis, and Jon Kohilakis and wife Maria, all of NY; former spouse and friend, Deborah Pendergast; several beloved grandpups and grandkitties; many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and dear friends. A dedicated father, brother, uncle, and friend, Alex was quite social and active in his community. He enjoyed spending time on the lake and relishing a good cigar. He also cherished time spent in Greece with family and relaxing on the beach by the Mediterranean. A lover of music, Alex enjoyed attending the annual New Orleans Jazz Fest. He will be best remembered for his love of family and zest for life. His visitation will be held in the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St., on Wednesday, April 4 from 5:00 to 8:00P.M. with the Trisagion Service at 6:00P.M. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St., Manchester, on Thursday, April 5 at 11:00A.M. followed by Committal Service at Forest Hill Cemetery, Cemetery Road, East Derry. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Alex’s memory to the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. To view Alex’s online tribute, to send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.

MAGAFAN,SOPHIE

BOWIE, MD (from the Washington Post, published on Apr. 3) –Sophie NeziMagafan (Age 85) died of a broken heart at her home in Bowie, MD on Sunday April 1, 2018. She was born in 1933 in Meligala, Greece. She survived many things including wars in which she lost her father, an earthquake, the loss of her husband Dimitrios and finally the loss of her beloved son Angelo. Sophie was a loving and caring wife and mother and she worked hard for the family business, Alpha Foods, Inc. She is survived by her loving daughter Eugenia and son-in-law Antony Stubos, one sister PanayiotaNeziDeligiannis and many beloved nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends on Wednesday April 4, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy (Rt. 3 South), Bowie, MD. Funeral services will be held at St. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2747 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 10 a.m. Interment, St. Demetrios Cemetery, Annapolis, MD. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn, 38105. Please view and sign the family’s guestbook at: www.beallfuneral.com.

OTTOMANIELLO, CALLIOPE

INDIAN ORCHARD, MA (from The Republican, published on Apr. 5) –Calliope “Phylis” Ottomaniello, 86, passed away peacefully on Holy Thursday evening, March 29, 2018, at Agawam Health Care. Phylis is now reunited with her loving husband, Joseph and daughter, Jo-Ann in Heaven. Just as Jesus broke bread on this day and gave it to his disciples, uttering the words; “This is my body, which is given for you” Phylis’ loving daughters and family gave their mother back to God and to eternal life, her family surrounding Phylis with their love. Phylis was born on October 3, 1931 in Springfield, MA, the daughter of Peter Patrakis, an immigrant from Greece and Evelyn Casino of Springfield, MA. She grew up in Springfield and graduated from The High School of Commerce. She married Joseph F. Ottomaniello on February 3, 1952 and they settled in Springfield to raise their family. Phylis worked at Milton Bradley and at the former Zayre’s stores. She retired in 1972 and spent many years doting on her grandchildren and traveling with her husband to many USS Leedstown reunions and collecting ducks. She loved the beach and family gatherings. Her legacy will live on with her recipes for meatballs and Greek cookies. She was a devoted communicant of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Springfield. Phylis was sadly predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph Ottomaniello on August 2, 2005 and her cherished daughter, Jo-Ann on December 11, 1952. She leaves two devoted daughters; Marie E. Berthiaume and her husband Roland of Ludlow and Tina L. Frye and her husband Joseph of Springfield; her loving grandchildren, Craig Berthiaume and his wife, Dana, Carrie Berthiaume, Eric Frye and his wife Amy, Lisa Frye and her boyfriend Nick Alford and Daniel Frye and his fiancée, Kayla Brown and four cherished great-great grandchildren; Ashley & Courtney Berthiaume and Shane & Gabriel Frye as well as several nieces and nephews including Michael and his wife Jane. The family would like to thank the staff at Agawam Health Care, especially Val, as well as Beacon Hospice who treated our mother with dignity and respect as her health declined. We are grateful for their compassion showed to our family. The Family invites you to join them on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1023 Parker St., Spfld. at 11:00 A.M. to celebrate the Liturgy of Christian burial for Phylis. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. at the church. Phylis’ ashes will be interred in Gate of Heaven Cemetery following the mass. In lieu of flowers, donations in Phylis’ memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the charity of your choice.

STAMOS, MARY

GLENVIEW, IL (from the Chicago Tribune, published on Apr. 3) – Mary “Daisy” RafelStamos passed away peacefully on April 2 2018 at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her husbands John J. Stamos and Andrew C. Sotter. Adored mother of Cindy McGarrigle (Jack) Andrea Sotter and Dean Sotter (Carole). Dear aunt of Tony Rafel Cathy Edelman (Guy) and Barb Rafel (Patrick McGarrigle). Stepmother to James Stamos (Julie) Theo Stamos (Craig Esherick) Colleen Stamos and Jana DiMartino (Brian).Loving Yiayia of Neal Johnson (Libby) Alex & Lydia Fernandes Jane & Andy Sotter Jack & Mike StamosNicko& Zack Esherick.Great-Yiayia to George Johnson. She also leaves behind her devoted caregiver and friend Mari Rose Balladares. A lifelong resident of Chicago Mary worked for the American College of Surgeons during the early years of her marriage. After having her three children she realized a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. She taught first second and third grades at Crestwood and Meadowbrook schools in Northbrook for 22 years. Her students remember her fondly and continued to visit her after her retirement. Mary had the ability to energize a room with her contagious laughter. She was delighted to see her beloved Chicago Cubs win the championship in 2016. Mary loved her Greek community and church and her family’s native island of Sifnos, Greece. She was an accomplished pianist and took lessons until the age of 84. Visitation 4:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home 1104 Waukegan Rd. Glenview. Family and Friends will meet on Wednesday at Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church 1401 Wagner Rd. Glenview for funeral service at 12:00 noon. Interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the music therapy program at JourneyCare.org Hospice where Mary volunteered for many years.

VARVOURIS, ELIZABETH

ATLANTA, GA (from Waters &Hibbert Funeral Home, published online on Mar. 29) – Elizabeth “Voula” Varvouris, 87, fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Duluth, Georgia, after a lengthy illness, surrounded by her loving family. She was the eldest daughter born to Nikolaos and AngelikiSpyrou in Glossa, Skopelos, Greece on July 13, 1930. Voula and her beloved husband Nicholas came to Pensacola, FL, in May of 1971, to provide a better life for their beautiful young family. Her faith and her love for Christ guided each day of her life. She spent countless hours growing the most beautiful flowers in her garden, crocheting amazing blankets and doilies and cooking exceptional Greek dishes, all with a mother’s love. She was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Pensacola, FL and the Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia. Voula was preceded in death by her parents Nikolaos and Angeliki Spyrou, her beloved and cherished husband, Nicholas Varvouris, her adored son, Stavros Varvouris and her eldest brother Thomas Spyrou. She is survived to cherish her memory by her loving children, Maria VarvourisLadikos (Andreas) Duluth, GA, Angela VarvourisSummerlin (Mark) Ulee, FL , EvangelaVarvouris, Port Richey, FL and daughter-in-law, Tina Varvouris, Pensacola, FL. She also leaves behind the lights of her life, her adored grandchildren, Nicholas Ladikos (Rebecca), Andrew Ladikos (Katerina), Elizabeth Gilmore (Eric), Gregory Varvouris (Amanda), Mary Elizabeth Summerlin and Nicholas Stanford and seven incredible great-grandchildren, Alexa Ladikos, KostaLadikos, Stefano Ladikos, Calliope Gilmore, Angela Gilmore, Brantley Varvouris and Macy Varvouris. In addition, she leaves her beloved and devoted sisters, Phyllis Pagonis, Gulf Breeze, FL, Maria Tsiouflias, Athens, Greece, Litsa Theos, Karditsa, Greece and her brother, Dimitris Spyrou, Mytilene, Greece. She leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces and nephews both in the United States, Australia, Canada and Greece. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 11:30am at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Pensacola, FL with a Trisagion beginning at 12:00noon and Funeral service immediately following with Father Matthew Carter officiating. Interment will take place at Historic St. John’s cemetery, Pensacola, FL. Active Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Nicholas Ladikos, Andrew Ladikos, Gregory Varvouris and Nicholas Stanford. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1720 W. Garden St., Pensacola, FL 32502, or Amedisys Hospice of Lawrenceville, GA, www.amedisys.com. May her memory be eternal. Waters &Hibbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The post Obituaries in Greek-American Community appeared first on The National Herald.

APRIL 16-21

MANHATTAN – Loot: MAD About Jewelry, at the Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle in Manhattan, the annual five-day exhibition and sale of contemporary art jewelry, with all proceeds benefiting the Museum’s programs and exhibitions opens to the public Tuesday, Apr. 17- Saturday, Apr. 21 with Greek designers Katerina Anastasiou, Tassa Ganidou, and Tina Karageorgi among the international artists presenting their work. The Opening Night Benefit is Monday, Apr. 16, featuring the announcement of the Loot Acquisition Prize and presentation of Loot Awards honoring Carolee Lee, Loreen Arbus, and Michael and Karen Rotenberg. More information is available online at: http://madmuseum.org.

APRIL 19

GARFIELD, NJ – The Greek American Chamber of Commerce invites you to its Annual Awards Gala, honoring the Chamber’s Past Presidents, at The Venetian in Garfield, NJ on Thursday, Apr. 19, 6:30 PM. Honorees are: Anastasius Efstratiades, Savas Tsivicos, George Callas, Stefanos Nyktas, Mario Afram, Zenon Christodoulou, Nicholas Chingas and Stavros Antonakakis. Please visit www.greekamericanchamber.com for details.

APRIL 20

ASTORIA – The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York invites you to “Tribute to Mikis Theodorakis” Live Concert at the Stathakion Cultural Center in Astoria on Friday, Apr. 20, 7 PM. Performance by the choir of the Hellenic Voices of Long Island. Please contact 718-204-6500 for details.

MANHATTAN – On Friday, Apr. 20, 8:30 PM, Aktina Productions, Inc. celebrates its 25th anniversary with the concert “The Magic of Bouzouki” from the series Greek Music Journey 2018, with renowned bouzouki soloist Andreas Karantinis, The Manolis Androulidakis Band, and singers Vasiliki Stefanou and Aris Kampanos, at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Avenuein Manhattan. For tickets, please visit www.aktinafm.com/index.php/buy-tickets or call 718-545-1151.

APRIL 22

The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York invites you to the Greek Independence Day Parade on Fifth Avenue from 64th St to 79th St in Manhattan on Sunday, Apr. 22, 1:30 PM. Please visit www.hellenicsocieties.org for details and the many parade related events.

APRIL 21- OCTOBER 6

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – Night in the Islands returns on Saturday, Apr. 21, 6-11 PM, the City of Tarpon Springs will present Night in the Islands–a free event on the world famous Sponge Docks (Dodecanese Blvd. between Athens and Roosevelt Streets). Enjoy a Greek panagiri with music, dancing, and dining! And we will offer an hour of free Greek dance lessons by the Levendia Dance Troupe from 6-7 PM. Night in the Islands will feature the engaging music of Odyssey in April and May, and in July, August, and September we will feature Ellada in front of the Sponge Exchange. In April and May, we will also feature Neos Ihos playing Greek music on the block between Hope and Roosevelt Streets. To reserve a table for dinner, please contact participating restaurants Costa’s, Hellas, Mama’s, or Mykonos. Night in the Islands will return on May 19, July 7, August 4, and October 6 this year. This popular event is free, thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Tarpon Springs Merchants Association. For more information, contact Tina Bucuvalas at 727-916-0235 or tbucuvalas@ctsfl.us.

APRIL 22- JULY 8

NEW YORK – The Onassis Cultural Center New Yorkpresents Birds: A Festival Inspired by Aristophanes,comprising a rich array of events that consider the enduring—and, currently, pressing—central themes of Aristophanes’ ancient satire, The Birds, April 22- July 8. The festival is produced by Onassis Cultural Center New York for the American premiere of Nikos Karathanos’ uproarious and poetic adaptation of the original Aristophanes play, presented by St. Ann’s Warehouseand Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens. More information is available online at: onassisusa.org.

APRIL 27-29

AUGUSTA, GA – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 953 Telfair Street in Augusta, holds its Spring Greek Festival Friday, Apr. 27-Sunday, Apr. 29. Enjoy authentic Greek food, music, and dancing. Hours: Friday and Saturday 11 AM-10 PM and Sunday 11 AM- 6 PM. More information is available by phone: 706-724-1087 and online at: www.holytrinityaugusta.org.

APRIL 28

ASTORIA – The Hellenic Relief Foundation in cooperation with the Theatrical Group “Thespis” of the Ascension Church-Fairview, NJ present the Greek comedy Mia Treli Treli Sarantara (A Crazy Crazy 40-Year-Old Lady) at the St. Demetrios Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center, 30-11 30th Drive in Astoria, on Saturday, Apr. 28, 8 PM. Donation $35 per person. Refreshments to follow. Doors open at 7 PM. For tickets please call 201-220-7599 or 954-294-7680, make checks payable to Hellenic Relief Foundation, Inc. a Non Profit 501 c (3) Organization. The play is in Greek. All net proceeds will benefit the Easter Food Distribution to the needy families in Greece. If you are not able to attend, please mail your donation to Hellenic Relief Foundation: PO Box 735, Mineola, NY 11501.

MAY 2-13

BROOKLYN – Following its sold-out World Premiere at the open air Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and a subsequent popular engagement at the Onassis Cultural Center in Athens, Greece, the play- Aristophanes’ Birds, directed by Nikos Karathanos, will run for 12 performances at St. Ann’s Warehouse, 45 Water Street in Brooklyn, Wednesday, May 2- Sunday, March 13. More information is available online at: http://stannswarehouse.org/show/the-birds/.

MAY 4-6

PHILADELPHIA – The Greek America Foundation presents its National Innovation Conference and Forty Under 40 Awards Weekend in Philadelphia, PA with a complete weekend of receptions, speakers, workshops, and events. This event is presented in association with the National Hellenic Student Association (NHSA). Tickets for students and young professionals should be purchased through NHSA (with or without hotel accommodations at the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown) For more information visit: www.nhsaofamerica.org and www.greekamericafoundation.org.

BETHESDA, MD –St. George Greek Orthodox Church,7701 Bradley Blvd. in Bethesda, holds its annual Greek Festival May 4-6. Featuring traditional Greek cuisine, guided church tours, Greek dance performances, live Greek music, Greek “Agora” marketplace, and Kids Corner. Hours: Friday, May 4,12-10 PM; Saturday, May 5, 12-11 PM; and Sunday, May 6, 12-8 PM. More information is available by phone: 301-469-7990 and online at:https://stgeorge.org/festival/.

MAY 5-6

DURHAM, NC – The Greek Festival of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 8306 NC Highway 751 in Durham takes place Saturday, May 5-Sunday, May 6, 11 AM- 8PM. Enjoy delicious Greek food and pastries, a Greek Taverna and Café, traditional music, folk dance performances, shopping, video travelogues of Greece, church tours, and kids’ activities.More information is available online at: http://www.durhamgreekfestival.org/.

MAY 6

MANHATTAN – Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum hosts the fourth annual Greek Jewish Festival on Sunday, May 6 from 12-6 PM. The festival, a unique cross-cultural celebration, will take place in front of KKJ’s landmark historic synagogue on Broome Street between Allen Street and Eldridge Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.More information on the Greek Jewish Festival is available online at: www.GreekJewishFestival.com.

The post Going on in Our Community appeared first on The National Herald.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Greek-Canadian, Andrea Constand told a jury Friday that Bill Cosby, a man she viewed as a friend and mentor, tricked her into taking a powerful drug and then humiliated her for his own sexual gratification.

Confident and composed, Constand testified that she was visiting the “Cosby Show” star at his suburban Philadelphia mansion when he slipped her three blue pills he called “your friends.” She said she thought they were herbal supplements designed to help relieve her stress but they knocked her out. When she awoke, she said, Cosby was violating her.

Constand, 45, gave virtually the same account when she testified at Cosby’s first trial. That trial ended with a hung jury, setting the stage for this week’s courtroom showdown.

Cosby has said he gave Constand the cold medicine Benadryl and she consented to a sexual encounter.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.

Here’s a look at some of what Constand told the jury in June 2017 and what she said Friday.

ON THE PILLS HE GAVE HER

First trial: “He opened his hand and he had three blue pills in his hand. … He said, ‘These will help you relax.’ … I said, ‘What are they? Are they natural? Are they herbal? And he nodded yes with his head, and he said, ‘Put them down. They’re your friends. They’ll take the edge off.'”

Second trial: “Mr. Cosby reached his hand out and had three blue pills. … He said, ‘These are your friends. They’ll help take the edge off.'” Constand asked if she should put them under her tongue, like the herbal remedies they’d discussed. She said Cosby told her, “Put them down. They’ll help you relax. They’ll take the edge off.”

ON THEIR IMPACT

First trial: “After several more minutes of talking, I began to slur my words. … And I said, ‘I see two of you and I’m slurring my words.’ And Mr. Cosby stood up. And I stood up because he said, ‘You probably need to relax.’ And when I stood up, my legs were not strong, and I began to panic a little bit. And Mr. Cosby grabbed — helped me by my arm, and he assisted me over to a couch and said, ‘Just relax. Just lay down here. You need to relax.'”

Second trial: Constand said she started feeling woozy, seeing double and having a hard time trying to stand. “My legs just felt really rubbery.” She said Cosby reached his arm out and walked her to a sofa. He put a pillow under her head and said, “Just relax there.” Constand said she blacked out.

ON HOW SHE FELT AFTER THE ALLEGED ASSAULT

First trial: “I felt really humiliated. And I was really confused because — what I remembered before I went on that couch feeling blurry vision and what I felt. And I just wanted to go home.”

Second trial: “I was really humiliated. I was in shock. And I was really confused.”

By MICHAEL R. SISAK

The post Greek-Canadian Chief Cosby Accuser Says She Was Too Weak to ‘Fight Him Off’ (Video) appeared first on The National Herald.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The annual American Hellenic Council’s (AHC) Gala, is the paramount fundraising and social event for the Hellenic-American community of Southern California and it is a celebration of those Hellenes and Philhellenes who have made significant contributions to the Hellenic Culture.

The 44^th AHC Awards Gala honored three individuals who have been exceptional in their professional and philanthropic endeavors and are longtime contributors to Hellenic causes.

Prof. John Camp is a renowned archeologist and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Professor of Classics, Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks is the President and CEO of Earth Friendly Products, and Aris Anagnos a successful real estate developer, philanthropist and political activist.

Commissioner of the California Department of Corporations and Legal Affairs Secretary & Counsel to the Governor Demetrios Boutris served as Emcee, and musicwas provided byTakis Kokotas and his band.

AHC Chairman Menas Kafatos welcomed the attendees and encouraged the Greek youth to remember their Hellenic roots and to keep fighting for the advancement of Hellenic Ideals. Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis, who is a candidate for lieutenant governor of California, then took the stage and relayed her family story, a story familiar to many Greek immigrants who came to the United States. She talked about her grandmother who did not know how to read or write English and her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, who worked as a farm worker while attending college and later became a very successful real estate developer. And she talked about her vision for California, a vision of inclusion, fairness and economic prosperity.

Camp, who received The Theodore Saloutos Award, has been working in the Athenian Agora excavations since 1996 and has received many awards and honors among them a Fellowship of the Society of Antiquities. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the American Journal of Archeology.

Hanks was given the Aristeion Award in Business; her family’s business, Earth, is a leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly products. Before Kelly devoted herself to running Earth, she fought extensively for Hellenic Causes, became an AHC board member at age 19, and eventually its executive director. One of her significant milestones during her tenure was to “lead an international delegation to the Green Line buffer zone in Cyprus. We were one of the first to cross it” she told TNH. At the trip “we were accompanied by UCLA Professor Paul VonBlum who began teaching a class about the invasion of Cyprus. The name of the class was Art as a form of Political and Social protest and it is still taught today” she said.

Anagnos, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, is renowned for philanthropy, political activism, and genuine Hellenic patriotism. He has dedicated his life to the ideals of freedom and justice. He served in the Greek Army with the Allied Forces in the Middle East during World War Two, then returned to Greece and worked with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Association (UNRRA) as a general relief worker in war-devastated Greece.

Anagnos came to the United States and earned a BBA with a major in finance. After several years in the insurance business, he switched to real estate investments and development and achieved great success and wealth, which he used to support causes and institutions close to his heart. In 1984, Anagnos and his since-deceased wife Carolyn made a million-dollar donation to the Saint Sophia Foundation in Los Angeles

for the construction of a Senior Citizen Home. In 1989, they established the Peace Center Building in Los Angeles, which housed several peace and human rights organizations rent-free. And in 2008, Anagnos formally donated the building for this use by establishing a nonprofit foundation. In 2003 the Aris and Carolyn Anagnos Peace Center Foundation sold the building on Third Street and bought a 15,000 foot building in Culver City, CA that is currently the home of one of his most cherished institutions the America Hellenic Council. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the Anagnoses were founding members of the Save Cyprus Council that was later renamed the Hellenic American Council and it is now the American Hellenic Council,where he has served as vice president and a term as president.Dr. Kafatos, who has known Anagnos for many years said “I am proud to be the Council’s chair and serve on the Board with Aris Anagnos. His constant alertness as to the dangers that Turkey places on the nations of Eastern Mediterranean should be followed particularly in the present dangerous situation because of the Turkish aggression” he told TNH. Among the many lobbying efforts that Aris undertook for Greece and Cyprus was about the arms embargo imposed to Turkey. “The Congress had imposed an arms embargo against Turkey after their invasion of Cyprus but the Turkish lobby was able to convince President Jimmy Carter to lift the embargo. Carter recruited Democratic Senator George McGovern to help him convince the Congress to lift the embargo. McGovern was a friend of mine and I had supported him in his campaign. When I visited him in his Washington, DC office and expressed my dismay on the attempt to lift the embargo, McGovern told me that he shared my mistrust about the Turkish government but he told me that the Turkish government had given him solid assurances that they will withdraw their troops from Cyprus once the embargo was lifted. The Congress lifted the arms embargo but the Turkish government never withdrew its army, that has remained in Cyprus to this day” Anagnos told TNH.

A dedicated Democrat, Anagnos now 95 years old is still actively involved in local and national politics. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California for over 25 years, including a term as president for two years. He was also President of the Southern California Americans for Democratic Action. All the honorees received certificates at the VIP reception prior to the Gala by Rep. Brad Sherman and Rep. Judy Chu. Also in attendance were the Ambassador to Greece in the United States Haris Lalakos, who addressed the attendees, the Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles Gregory Karahalios, and Mike Manatos, President of Manatos & Manatos, the prestigious DC lobbying firm. Namie Fotion received the Van Vlahakis Scholarship and Georgia Kouros the Dr. and Mrs. Kallins Scholarship.

The post AHC Honors Aris Anagnos with its Lifetime Achievement Award appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance (HABA) held an informative and lively panel discussion on “Man vs. Machine: Who will generate the best investment returns in 2018?” on April 12 at the offices of Marsh Private Client Services in Midtown Manhattan. The discussion featured panelists Maria Vassalou- Partner & Portfolio Manager, Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP); Sophia X Liu- Fixed Income Trader, Citadel LLC; and Mike Khorrami- Managing Partner, Cayley Investment Management. HABA Vice President Robert Savage- CEO & Co-Founder, CCTrack Solutions, served as the moderator.

HABA President Fanny Trataros gave the welcoming remarks, thanking all those in attendance, and also noting that the organization’s next event is the Executive of the Year Award Dinner on June 15.

Moderator Robert Savage then thanked the organizers of the event, especially Nick Lionas for arranging the room at Marsh and Costas Kellas for helping bring the panelists. A clip from the most recent Terminator film with its imaginative view of where “man versus machine” might lead in the future, made everyone laugh.

Savage noted that the debate would be about the systematic or discretionary approach to investing rather than passive or active, adding that the panelists would argue both sides as well as a mixed approach, and perhaps change some of the audience members’ minds. He asked for a show of hands for the systematic, discretionary, or both, and then asked for the panelists to introduce themselves and then briefly make their case.

Dr. Vassalou, began her career in academia before going into the “real world,” is in favor of the systematic approach, noting the advantages, including that it is devoid of emotions and psychological biases, allows more information to be used for a rigorous portfolio and better risk management.

She is responsible for leading the PWP Global Macro business which manages volatility-targeting, multi-asset class systematic strategies on behalf of primarily institutional investors. Vassalou has more than 10 years of investment experience. She was an Associate Professor of Finance at Columbia Business School which she joined in 1995. She has received several professional awards including HABA’s Executive of the Year 2016, and was included in the 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds in 2015. Since 2016, she is a member of the Board of Directors of Tsakos Energy Navigation.

Khorrami noted that the discretionary approach when it is disciplined and forward-looking will beat the systematic approach because the data changes constantly. Liu observed that the machine wins every time and can be trained to make inferences, human emotion can cloud judgement, and the machine is immune to noise, can process faster with so much data coming in globally, “it will filter the noise.” Khorrami said that humans are better at adapting to change than machines.

Vassalou said that you have to keep doing research and evolving, and the systematic approach is not “set it and forget it.”

When the moderator asked about machine learning and artificial intelligence, Vassalou noted that machines are created by humans and cannot exist without humans, and there are advantages and disadvantages.

A Q&A session followed the panel discussion with a variety of questions and comments from the audience members.

Also in attendance at the event were HABA Officers- Manny Caravanos- Treasurer, and Sophia Prountzos- Secretary, and Directors Costas Kellas and Nick Lionas. St. John’s University Professor Manuel G. Russon was present as well as many finance professionals and interested members of the community.

The post HABA Panel Discussion on Man vs. Machine appeared first on The National Herald.

COMMON PHRASES

ΤηΜεγάληΕβδομάδανηστεύουμε.

TEEmeYAlievdoMAdaniSTEvoome.

On Holy Week we fast.

Τη Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα πηγαίνουμε στην εκκλησία.

TEE meYAlievdoMAdapiYEnoome STEEN ekliSEEa.

On Holy Week we go to church.

Τη Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα δεν τρώμε ούτε λάδι.

TEE meYAlievdoMAda den TROmeOOteLAdi.

On Holy Week we don’t eat not even olive oil.

Τη Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα βάφουμε κόκκινα αυγά.

TEE meYAlievdoMAdaVAfoomeKOkinaavYA.

On Holy Week we dye red eggs.

Τη Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα φτιάχνουμε κουλούρια.

TEE meYAlievdoMAdaftiAhnoomekooLOOria.

On Holy Week we make biscuits.

Τη Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα φτιάχνουμε τη Λαμπροκουλούρα.

TEE meYAlievdoMAdaftiAhnoome TEE lamprokooLOOra.

On Holy Week we make the Easter bread.

Τη Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα φτιάχνουμε τσουρέκια.

TEE meYAlievdoMAdaftiAhnoometsooREkia.

On Holy Week we make sweet Easter breads.

Τη Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα ψήνουμε κουλούρια και τσουρέκια.

TEE meYAlievdoMAdaPSEEnoomekooLOOria KE tsooREkia.

On Holy Week we bake biscuits and sweet breads.

Τη Μεγάλη Παρασκευή στον Επιτάφιο ανάβουμε λαμπάδες.

TEE meYAliparaskeVEE STON epiTAfioaNAvoomelaMPAdes.

On Holy Friday at the Epitafios we light up candles.

Το Μεγάλο Σάββατο τη νύχτα πηγαίνουμε στην εκκλησία.

TO meYAloSAvato TEE NEEhtapiYEnoome STEEN ekliSEEa.

On Holy Saturday at night we go to church.

Το Μεγάλο Σάββατο ο παπάς λέει το «Χριστός Ανέστη».

TO meYALoSAvato O paPASLEi TO hriSTOSaNEsti.

On Holy Saturday the priest says  the “Christ is risen” hymn.

Μετά την εκκλησία τρώμε τη μαγειρίτσα

meTA TEEN ekliSEEaTROme TEEN mayiREEtsa.

After the church we eat mayiritsa soup.

Την Κυριακή του Πάσχα ψήνουμε το αρνί στη σούβλα.

TEEN kiriaKEE TOO PAskhaPSEEnoome TO arNEE STEE SOOvla.

On Easter Sunday we roast the lamb on the spit.

Την Κυριακή του Πάσχα τσουγκρίζουμε τα κόκκινα αυγά.

TEEN kiriaKEE TOO PAskhatsooGREEzoome TA KOkinaavYA.

On Easter Sunday we crack red eggs.

Την Κυριακή του Πάσχα τρώμε όλοι μαζί.

TEEN kiriaKEE TOO PAskhaTROme Oli maZEE.

On Easter Sunday we eat all together.

IMPORTANT VOCABULARY

Greek word        Pronunciation    Meaning

ΤηΜεγάληΕβδομάδα    TEEmeYAlievdoMAda    OnHolyWeek

ΤηΜεγάληΠαρασκευή  TEEmeYAliparaskeVEE   OnHoly Friday

ΤοΜεγάλοΣάββατο        TOmeYAloSAvato            On Holy Saturday

ΤηνΚυριακήτουΠάσχα  TEEnkiriaKEETOOPaskha               On Easter Sunday

ΣτονΕπιτάφιο    STONepiTAfio    At the Epitafios

Ηεκκλησία          EEekliSEEa           church

Στηνεκκλησία    STEENekliSEEa   in, to the church

Νηστεύουμε      niSTEvoome       we fast

Πηγαίνουμε       piYEnoome         we go

Φτιάχνουμε       ftiAhnoome       we make, prepare

Ψήνουμε             PSEEnoome        we bake, roast

Βάφουμε             VAfoome            we paint, dye

Ανάβουμε           aNAvoome         we light up

Τρώμε   TROme we eat

Δεντρώμε           DEN TROme       we don’t eat

Τσουγκρίζουμε tsooGREEzoome              we crack

Λέει       LEi           he says

Ηνύχτα                 EENEEhta             night

Τηνύχτα               TEENEEhta          at night

Οπαπάς               OpaPAS                priest

Ούτε      OOte     not even

Τολάδι  TOLAdi  olive oil

Τααυγά                TAavYA eggs

Τακόκκινα          TAKOkina            red

Τακουλούρια    TAkooLOOria     biscuits

ΗΛαμπροκουλούρα       EElamprokooLOOra         Easterbread

Τατσουρέκια     TAtsooREkia       Easter sweet breads

Οιλαμπάδες       EElaMPAdes       candles

Ημαγειρίτσα      EE mayiREEtsa   Holy Saturday’s soup

Χριστόςανέστη hriSTOSaNEsti    Christ is risen

Τοαρνί  TOarNEE              lamb

Στησούβλα         STEESOOvla        on the spit

Όλοι      Oli           all

Μαζί      maZEE   together

BASIC GRAMMAR

Note that the verb’s ending in the first person plural (we) is -ουμε: φτιάχν-ουμε, πηγαίν-ουμε, ψήν-ουμε, νηστεύ-ουμε, ανάβ-ουμε.

EXERCISE

Try to answer the questions below in Greek.

Τι λέμε το Πάσχα;
Τι φτιάχνουμε το Πάσχα;
Τι ψήνουμε το Πάσχα;
Τι τρώμε το Πάσχα;

PRONUNCIATION KEY

i (i-diom), ee (n-ee-dle), e (e-nergy), o (o-rganism), oo (b-oo-t), y (y-es), h (h-elium), th (th-eory), d (th-e). The capitalized syllables are accented.

The post Our Everyday Greek: Which are the Greek Easter traditions? We talk about them in Greek appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK –St. Ann’s Warehouse and Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens present the American Premiere of Nikos Karathanos’ The Birds, a modern, feast-for-the-senses adaptation of Aristophanes’ offbeat and poetic comedy. This vibrant re-staging owes as much to Eden as it does to the Amazon, and captures the collective spirit of revolution with a company of 19 actors.

Two Athenians, Peisthetaerus and Euelpides, are fed up with their city and the gods who rule over it; they take to the woods, seeking out “birds” to build a utopia in the clouds. This place, called “Cloudcuckooland,” is a surreal theatrical cosmos that in Nikos Karanthanos’ insightful vision “embraces our inherent need to dream and offers hope for decadence,” Art Forum reported. Following its sold-out World Premiere at the open air Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and a subsequent popular engagement at the Onassis Cultural Center in Athens, Greece, the playwill run for 12 performances at St. Ann’s Warehouse, May 2-13.

“The Birds has a wild and subversive energy, that reminded me of the original production of Hair, with its hippie manifesto and mélange of colorful ragtag players and musicians as the birds and the gods, including a paralympian as Zeus. Aggelos Triantafillou’s music and the awesome sound he and the cast create for the birds stuck in my memory long after I saw this production in Athens,” said St. Ann’s Warehouse Artistic Director Susan Feldman.

Afroditi Panagiotakou, the Onassis Foundation’s Director of Culture, said, “Empowered by Nikos Karathanos’ gaze, Aristophanes’ birdsspeak of a utopian society, a society that cannot be. They set off our thoughts and emotions about democracy, freedom and equality—a vision that’s always worth fighting for.”

Aristophanes’ The Birds was first produced in 414 BCE, during the height of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, the nearly-three-decade bloodbath that left Athens depleted. Athens had been a nexus of lofty ideals: the world’s first known democratic society, teeming with intellectual and artistic excellence. But Aristophanes’ The Birds, much like Karathanos’ adaptation, was borne of turmoil and transition—a utopian escapist fantasy replete with raucous humor, dance, and music.Through the millennia, directorial interpretations have varied starkly: some lean into the play’s escapism as apolitical, while others see it as inherently political, and their takes have stirred major controversies. The famous 1959 Greek Art Theatre production by Karolos Kounwas shut down by the Greek government for its leftist politics.

In his production, for which he adapted Aristophanes’ text with Giannis Asteris, Karathanos draws on everything from ancient practices to pop culture, music hall to drag artistry, rites of passage to beach parties. He creates what he calls a “weird and outrageous experience” honoring the original while molding it to reflect on contemporary issues—at a time when the Greek debt crisis continues to put major strains on the people, and globalization and economic strife spark reactionary, isolationist politics across the world. Karathanos references human migrations across the globe—the movements of people with the gumption it takes to change their lives, venture forth, and start their worlds anew—as the core of his vision.

“Aristophanes’ heroes traveled skywards” to reimagine their world,” said Karathanos. “All these years that have gone by, people have never ceased leaving, running, going places. We come to you from the same city as the heroes of Aristophanes; we, like them, are also tired and exasperated with life there. We, like them, are migrants, always in search of our very own, and perhaps collective, ‘cloudcuckooland.’ We want to speak to you of the people who stand on one leg all the time, who feel foreign and alien in the very midst of their own city among people who fear their difference. We want to speak for those who’ve been forced, through pain and ill-treatment, to live on borders and who grow wings, every day that passes, so that they can cross the borders and jump the wall, however ‘beautiful’ that wall may be.”

The Birds is performed in Greek with English subtitles.

The cast features Amalia Bennett, Kostas Berikopoulos, Konstantinos Bibis, Maria Diakopanagiotou, Vasiliki Driva, Haris Frangoulis, Galini Hatzipaschali, Nikos Karathanos, Emily Koliandri, Ektor Liatsos, Christos Loulis, Grigoria Metheniti, Foivos Rimenas, Michalis Sarantis, Aris Servetalis, Giannis Sevdikalis, Elena Topalidou, Marisha Triantafyllidou, and Aggelos Triantafillou. The creative team includes Nikos Karathanos (Direction and Adaptation),  Giannis Asteris (Translation and Adaptation), Elli Papageorgakopoulou (Sets and Costumes), Aggelos Triantafillou (Music), Simos Sarketzis (Lighting Design), and AmaliaBennett (Movement), and Orfeas Apergis (surtitle translation).

The musicians include: Sofia Efkleidou, Michalis Katachanas,Dimitris Klonis, Vasilis Panagiotopoulos, and Dimitris Tigkas.

The post St. Ann’s Warehouse & Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens Present Aristophanes’ The Birds U.S. Premiere appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The community of Zoodohos Peghe (The Mother of God of the Life-Giving Fountain) celebrated its feast day in the Bronx, with the Great Vespers on April 12.

The church was crowded with the faithful of all ages. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over the service along with the presiding priest of the community V. Rev. Archimandrite Sylvester Berberis. Many priests from various parishes also participated. A Paschal Reception in the community center followed the service.

The Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Zoodohos Peghe took place on April 13.

Video: TNH/Costas Bej

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ASTORIA – The organizing committee during the penultimate meeting held April 12 at the Stathakion Cultural Center in Astoria noted that the April 22 Greek Independence Parade will be completely successful, with a parallel reflection on the revenue flow.

Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York President, Petros Galatoulas, welcomed the increased participation of the youth in the preparations for the parade, while the final list of the grand marshals of this year’s event was announced.

Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, Nassau County District Attorney, Madeline Singas, and the Greek businessman and philanthropist from Odessa Pantelis Boumbouras are the grand marshals.

Video: TNH/Costas Bej

At the same time, it was announced that this year’s parade will honor the town of Greece, NY for its symbolism, with the award given to Town Supervisor William Reilich, who will be, in essence, the fourth grand marshal.

There will also be a significant number of guests from Greece including government representatives such as the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the President of KEDE Giorgos Patoulis, the Mayor of Corfu Konstantinos Nikolouzos, the Mayor of Syros – Ermoupolis Giorgos Marangos, and the Mayor of Samos Michalis Angelopoulos.

The Presidential Guard is expected to be a thirty-person contingent, which will arrive in New York on April 18 and will be present at the celebration. The first time the Evzones marched in the New York parade was in 1949 and the only living Evzone from that unit, Mr. Lantzounis, resides in Pennsylvania and is 90 years old and will attend the parade.

Galatoulas also said he was looking for a student from Heraklion, who a few months ago was punished by his high school for raising the Greek flag in the courtyard since it was considered a danger.

A moment of silence was observed in the memory of Air Force Captain Giorgos Baltadoros, who lost his life on duty on April 12. In addition, it was reported that there will be three vacant posts in the official platforms, one in honor of the deceased and the other two for the soldiers detained in Adrianople.

Chairman of the Greek Independence Gala at the Hilton, Philip Christopher, said that the aim was to raise $100,000 with sponsorship of $5,000 from 20 companies. Indeed, he thanked individual businessmen like Nikos Mouyiaris and Michael Chalkias, and the three banks, Alma, Investor’s, and Atlantic.

The chairman of The Greek Independence Parade Gala at Terrace on the Park, Nikolas Mpardis, who called on the associations to support each other for both, noted that he was not happy with the sums so far. Clearly more optimistic was the chairman of the raffle committee, Vasilis Gournelos, who estimated that the community would respond and the target amount would prove realistic.

Also, it was noted that the Hellas FM radio fundraiser, raised a total of almost $16,000, so it remains to be seen whether all donors will be consistent.

For her part, the chair of the parade committee, Nancy Papaioannou, referred to the importance of the parade and reminded everyone that “we are the second economic power all over America and we must remain united. This way we will assert our rights and help our country.”

The Treasurer of the parade, Paul Kotronis, appeared stressed, but he noted that there is still time to get money into the coffers. Also present were, among others, the Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus, Vasilios Philippou, and the Consul of Greece, Lana Zochiou.

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In studying Greek-American influences on American food traditions and habits, we must make the distinction between national and regional impact. Clearly, the Detroit Coney Island hot dog, Cincinnati chilly and chili-dogs, gyros and various candies and ice cream creations are found across the nation. Others such as Comeback sauce, John’s “Angel Hair” slaw dressing, Greek-American made traditional cheeses (and yes even yogurt) are or have been principally regional in their production, distribution, and popularity.

As the tale is now told, sometime in 1936 (other sources assert it was in the 1920s), Alex Dennery (John Alexander Tounaris) created Comeback Sauce (as his house dressing) at his Rotisserie Restaurant then located on US 49 at Five Points in Jackson, MS. As Malcolm White, noted restaurateur and executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, writes in his entry on Comeback Sauce in the Mississippi Encyclopedia, “many native Jacksonians and visitors alike are fond of pouring the dressing over saltine crackers as a first course while waiting for the salad to arrive. Locals enjoy this ‘redneck hors d’oeuvre’ so much that many restaurants will not put big bottles of the sauce on the table for fear that the entire bottle will be consumed before the salad arrives.’ Today, Comeback sauce is certainly not restricted to just crackers or salads. ‘Mississippians have been known to use the tangy, orange and sometimes garlicky sauce to bring flavor to shrimp, crab cakes, fried tomatoes, fried chicken and French fries…(Clarion Ledger June 28, 2016).’

“While Dennery and his Rotisserie Restaurant are credited as the ‘origin-point’ for Comeback sauce (a recipe Dennery guarded closely) it is also acknowledged that in the late 1970s and early 1980s the only places one could find Comeback sauce in Jackson was in Greek-owned restaurants such as the Mayflower, the Elite, Crechale’s and Bill’s Greek Taverna which all spawned their own variations on this sauce treat. Gradually, this condiment was to be found in the menus of other local Jackson non-Greek restaurants such as the Cherokee, Walker’s Drive-In, Primo’s, CS’s and Hal & Mal’s. From there comeback sauce spread throughout the state to the point where now it’s almost as if you have a ‘Comeback sauce’ or you’re out of step with traditional Mississippian cuisine.

“Comeback sauce is far from a sacred tradition. Chef and restaurateur Robert St. John of Hattiesburg, MS is often quoted as describing comeback sauce as ‘the offspring of the incestuous marriage between thousand island dressing and remoulade sauce…there is no slow build up. The name itself—as in, so good you’ll ‘come back’ for more—is a promise of gratification (http://grillax.com/comeback).’
“Over the years some considerable controversy has credited others with this taste creation. Some writers have identified the Mayflower Cafe, Jackson Mississippi’s oldest restaurant with being the origin-point of this tangy delight. However, in 2017, the Mayflower’s current owner Jerry Kountouris, settled the debate by saying flatly, ‘it was The Rotisserie (where Comeback sauce originated).’ Malcolm White, carried on considerable research on this topic for his entry on Comeback sauce in the Encyclopedia of Mississippi (Ted Ownby et. al. Eds. University Press of Mississippi, 2017: 266-267).
White interviewed John Dennery, a descendant of Alex Dennery, a Rotisserie staff-cook as well as other local Jackson Greek restaurateurs. It is worth stressing that White undertook his investigation since Comeback sauce/dressing has come to be a signature recipe of Mississippi.

There are literally dozens of recipes available on the Internet for comeback sauce/dressing. Here is just one Comeback Sauce recipe from the Kitchen of Deep South Dish website to give you some real world taste to this account (www.deepsouthdish.com).

Mississippi Comeback Sauce

1/4 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup of chili sauce
1/4 cup of ketchup
1/2 to 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon of spicy mustard
1 cup of mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste
Couple dashes of hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning (like Slap Ya Mama), or to taste
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
The juice of 1/2 of a lemon

Put all of the ingredients in a blender and process until well mixed. Taste and adjust for seasonings. Store in fridge.

Cook’s Note: “Worcestershire sauce can be a strong flavor for some. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and increase up to a full tablespoon, or more, to taste. For an extra spicy kick, substitute Sriracha chili sauce for the regular chili sauce. For an extra spicy kick, substitute Sriracha chili sauce for the regular chili sauce. Storage time will depend on the freshness of the mayonnaise, but try to use this up in about a week or so generally. Be sure to store it in the fridge a tightly closed container, like a Mason jar if you have one and remember you can use it as a sandwich spread, on a salad, on hamburgers, as a dipping sauce for French fries and other fried foods, and it’ll be gone before you know it!”

There is a deeper more complex tradition going on here that we should note if only in passing. It has been asserted by researchers that Comeback Sauce (spelled in various ways) was first cited in a 1906 Kansas City, MO newspaper where African-Americans are noted as using a comeback sauce on barbecued meats. I have located a Pensacola Journal article on Florida resort hotels where “salmon salad with come-back” is mentioned as daily fare (July 22, 1906). So, clearly some version of a tangy sauce called comeback was in use from the early 1900s onward.

Dennery’s version of Comeback Sauce (as well as those versions that stay close to his version) have never disappeared. In point of fact, “what started as a humble effort by a Greek immigrant in the capital city to offer customers a distinct flavor has become a way to offer a taste of Mississippi to the world. The dressing has surfaced in the restaurants of James Beard-recognized chefs…supermarket aisles and gas stations that serve up fried offerings (http://grillax.com/comeback).”

And the tradition lives on between the Mississippi state lines. “For 70 years, Mike Kountouris operated the Mayflower Café in Jackson, Mississippi. The Mayflower is an institution in the South, a place where the locals break bread with lawyers, politicians, and celebrities. Through the ups and downs, Kountouris kept the spirit alive at the cafe with a secret ingredient: his family. Since his death in late 2005, his daughter, Dallasite Callie McDole, is keeping Kountouris’ spirit alive by bottling his famous Comeback Dressing. Her dad originally created the dressing for a Greek salad that he topped with a clump of crabmeat…’It has taken me three years to get the large batches to taste close to my dad’s,’ McDole says… ‘I want his recipe to live on.’

“McDole has bottled the dressing as Pappou’s Dressing. Locally, Flying Fish serves the sauce on its fish tacos, and bottles are available at Flavors from Afar (6712 Snider Plaza; 214-636-2327) (D Magazine (Dallas) August 2009).”

While the Rotisserie Restaurant is no longer open for business, its legacy lives on. John T. Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance at the University of Mississippi, states the case plainly: “Comeback Sauce is Greek restaurant history in a bottle. It comes from Greek tradition in Jackson. It’s uniquely Mississipi (olemiss.edu).”

The post Alex Dennery and the Creation of Mississippi Comeback Sauce appeared first on The National Herald.

KANSASVILLE, WI – Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, spiritual leader of all Greek Orthodox parishioners within Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota as well as large portions of Missouri and Indiana, visited the St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville on April 13.

The yearly visit of the Metropolitan to this part of Wisconsin was for the official opening of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center with the service of the Feast Day of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center Chapel; the Chapel of the Life-Giving Spring (Ζωοδόχος Πηγή, Zoodohos Peghe). This was the first visit by the new Metropolitan of Chicago to the Retreat Center.

The day began with Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, followed by a lunch hosted by the St. Iakovos Retreat Center Board.

The establishment of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center, which serves as the site of the Summer FANARI Youth Camp amongst other activities, was an accomplishment of Metropolitan Iakovos of Blessed Memory. The St. Iakovos Retreat Center is a 137-acre facility featuring the 11-acre Friendship Lake with over 50 acres of pinewood forest. The St. Iakovos Retreat Center is a unique facility offering a peaceful setting for overnight retreats and camps, as well as a beautiful environment for celebrations such as weddings and family reunions.

Eastern Orthodox Christians are the second largest Christian faith tradition worldwide. The Metropolis of Chicago oversees all Greek Orthodox Parishes within Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, as well as large portions of Missouri and Indiana.

You can find more information on His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago on website: www.chicago.goarch.org.

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ASTORIA – With the customers’ best wishes for success similar to the other two stores, the newest Gyro World had its grand opening in Astoria at the 30th Avenue and 36th Street. Owner, Dimitris Petridis, has been studying the market for a long time and has decided to expand the well-known chain to the “heart” of New York Hellenism, Astoria.

“It was something the people wanted. I think it will go well, we believe in the Greek community and we believe in our good food, too. To open a third store shows that the people support us, we thank them, we respect them, and we do so with appreciation. We respect the customer,” Mr. Petridis told The National Herald.

Video: TNH/Costas Bej

Gyro World is considered one of the most successful restaurants in New York. Nevertheless, it followed a “reverse” path in relation to other similar expatriate businesses.

It did not begin in Astoria to initially serve mainly Greek clients, but began in Flushing, 13 years ago. Later, it was extended to Ridgewood and only recently to Astoria. The owner himself believes his case has been different.

“We offer something different, the quality itself is different, it is not the ‘dirty’ we say in Greece. In Flushing, e.g. we do not have only Greek customers but mainly foreigners, and this opens up prospects for something bigger. The same we see today, since Astoria is now like a mini Manhattan, where, besides the permanent residents, there are many who pass through as visitors.”

At the same time, Petridis noted that the Greek gyro and the souvlaki not only do not lose their momentum due to the conscious shift of the average American to the so-called “healthy diet,” but on the contrary, they strengthen their position, since “they have nothing to do with fast food and plastic food.”

Opening for charity

The climate at the event was absolutely festive, with hundreds of young and old customers, who shared their best wish for success, accompanied by delicious mezedes, appetizers. The grand opening was also a benefit with the proceeds earmarked to support the Ronald McDonald House in New York, Greek Division which provides accommodation for children with cancer and their families from Greece and Cyprus, who are in New York for treatment.

“The move is symbolic, to remind us that with any event, the money spent, which is a lot, can be made available for a more substantial and important purpose, such as improving the lives of young children fighting cancer,” concluded Petridis.

Rev. Fr. Paul Palesty from St. Nicholas Church in Flushing and V. Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos from St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria blessed the new store. New York State Senator Michael Gianaris was also present along with family members and friends.

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NEW YORK – Every conversation, discussion, or interview with Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) co-President Andreas Dracopoulos is a unique experience. Such is the strength of his character and leadership qualifications.

And this interview (and he does not often grant interviews) is a prime example. Andreas, as everyone calls him, is not preaching, but sharing his thoughts with everyone.

And he dares to say things publicly that others only whisper in private. As, for example, to the problems affecting the construction of the St. Nicholas National Shrine.

The full interview follows:

TNH: You always refer in your speeches to your late uncle, Stavros Niarchos, with exemplary love and respect. What is the basic principle that you have learned from him that affects how you make decisions even today for SNF?

AD: We should never forget where we come from. I had a very close and special relationship with my great uncle and we worked together during the last few years of his life. His approach resonated with me, and still does today: work hard (and play hard, try to enjoy life), always give the best you can no matter what you are doing, don’t ask others to do what you yourself will not or cannot do, if you are hard on others be harder on yourself…as long as you are not trying to hurt anyone, don’t worry about what others are saying about you…philotimo, meraki, pride, respect… things that I have tried to live by every single day of my own life and values that I try to share and instill in my children.

TNH: The contributions to society of SNF, which you lead and direct, are of unprecedented value, and in the process and due to your general behavior you have become one of the most admired Greeks in the world. How do you feel about that?

AD: Honored, humbled, happy, proud, and even more responsibility. Stubbornly committed to keep on delivering.

TNH: The SNF Cultural Center has become, after the Acropolis, the focal point in Athens. But equally important are SNF’s gifts to combat poverty and the health sector crisis in Greece. To accomplish those goals, you need the close cooperation of whatever government is in power at the moment. What is it like to collaborate with them?

AD: As we have always said, each grantee is our collaborator. We believe in the positive multiplier effect of any good collaboration, we believe in public-private partnerships and in what they can offer in today’s complicated world. Once there are no hidden agendas and there is hard work, transparency, and a common vision, miracles can happen. We do not replace the state, we simply try to complement it for the common good. Governments come and go, but our intention is that our work will remain diachronic with positive effects on society at large. Governments are there to serve the people. We work with whomever will serve their mission and their people, and improve society at large. We all have responsibilities and should be accountable to our missions to serve.

TNH: We are happy to see your substantial gifts to our Greek-American community as well. From the St. Demetrios High School in Astoria to the large donation for the construction of the St. Nicholas National Shrine. What is your reaction to the situation regarding St. Nicholas and the Archdiocese overall?

AD: I am in shock though, unfortunately, not really surprised. We have worked in more than 120 countries around the world and have provided more than 4000 grants. And the only real issues we have encountered have to do with (some) grants to our Greek-American community. What more can I say? Persons in leadership positions need to reboot, to remind themselves why they are there in the first place, and should have the common sense and decency to go home when they have to go. Enough!

(Editors note: Due to a technical error the following paragraph was not included in our printed edition. Our apologies to our readers and to Mr. Andreas Dracopoulos).

And of course we all have to work together as one community to support our Church, our customs and rituals, and last but equally important, our Greek language. Without the Greek language our Hellenic roots will also be lost, with whatever repercussions this may entail…

TNH: What are the criteria upon which you base your decision to approve or reject a project?

AD: Our internal guidelines are indeed quite simple: does the proposed grant have a positive effect on society at large and are the people involved with the applying organization ethical, efficient, professional, etc.? If the answer to those two questions is “yes,” then we have to be able to “prove” to ourselves why we would ever decline such a request . We are not perfect by any means, I am sure we have made mistakes, but I would rather make a mistake in giving “too much” than declining a worthy proposal. And so that is how we proceed.

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