NEW YORK – Government employees throughout New York State would have the same rights and remedies as private employees when they suffer pay discrimination, under legislation (A2425) which passed the New York State Assembly on April 16 and was sponsored by Assemblymember Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria).

“When someone’s pay is discriminatory, they should have the right go into our State courts to sue for fair pay. Currently hundreds of thousands of public employees do not have that right. That makes no sense and it’s just plain wrong,” Assemblymember Simotas said.

The Simotas bill would amend the New York State Civil Service Law to expand and clarify the meaning of equal pay for equal or equivalent work, spelling out that public employees must receive fair, non-biased compensation in which sex, race or national original is not considered either directly or indirectly. The legislation explicitly gives government employees, whether they are unionized or managerial, the right to sue in State court when they’ve experienced pay discrimination, something they currently cannot do. Only private sector employees have the right to sue in state court to enforce pay equity.

“In an ideal world government employers would set an example of righteous treatment of employees, but unfortunately we live in a world where pay inequity in the public sector is very real,” Simotas said. She noted as one example the 2015 federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finding that for many years New York City had discriminated against more than a thousand black female administrative managers by paying them substantially less than their white male counterparts in similarly situated jobs and titles. Local 1180 of the Communication Workers of America filed that complaint with the EEOC.

Under the Simotas bill, if a government employer was found in violation of the Civil Service Law’s equal pay provisions, the employee would be entitled to back pay, compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney fees and other costs. The employer would also be enjoined from continuing the discriminatory practice.

“When workers have access to the courts to fight pay inequities that is a powerful way to get closer to eliminating those inequities,” said Simotas.

The post NY Assembly Passes Simotas’ Pay Discrimination Bill appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The Greek flag-raising ceremony at Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan took place under sunny skies on April 20 as part of the many official events celebrating Greek Independence and culminating in the parade on 5^th Avenue on Sunday.

As expected, the Evzones of the Presidential Guard impressed the attendees at Bowling Green.

Among those in attendance were Consul of Greece Lana Zochiou, Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos- Dean of St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, Parade Committee Chairman Nancy Papaioannou and representatives from the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, as well as the students from local Greek schools, among many others.

The Evzones were accompanied by their Commander, Colonel Rodolfos Demetroglou, Infantry Lieutenants Nikolaos Leontaris and Georgios Andrianopoulos, as well as two female noncommissioned officers: the representative of the Military Office of the Presidency of the Republic, Konstantia Christodoulou, and of the presidential guard, Dimitra Psychogiou.

“On Sunday, we want to… break the asphalt, hear the legendary Evzones throughout New York, across America, and across the globe. Be heard up there where all our dead heroes are who gave their lives for our homeland to be free and to have Greeks so strong all over the world. I’m waiting for you on the 5th Avenue,” Mr. Demetroglou said during the final Federation meeting before the parade.

The post Greek Flag Raising Ceremony at Bowling Green in Manhattan (Vid) appeared first on The National Herald.

LOS ANGELES – Ioanna Meli is a Los Angeles based actress, born and raised in Athens, Greece. She has the female lead part in the short film Life in Color, an Official Selection at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival 2018.The story is about an aging, closeted gay man with Alzheimer’s who struggles against his strong-willed daughter to hold on to the memory of the long lost love of his life.

Ioanna holds a BA in Drama & Theatre Arts from Goldsmiths College Univeristy of London, an MFA in Acting for Film from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and a Certificate in Acting for the Camera from UCLA School of Theatre, Film & TV.

Her most notable work includes Steven Spielberg’s documentary Auschwitz where her voice is heard next to that of Meryl Streep’s and the leading part in Dwayne Johnson’s viral video Ascendance with which the famous actor announced the launch of his own YouTube channel.

The post LA Based Young Greek Actress in Competition at Cannes 2018 appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON – Archbishop Demetrios of America was severely criticized by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at its April 20 meeting, presided by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, according to exclusive information The National Herald has obtained.

Specifically, reports about Archbishop Demetrios and the Archdiocese were read, at which point Patriarch Bartholomew asked the synodic members if they wanted to ask him any questions.

First was Metropolitan Apostolos, Geron of Derkon, who wondered why there is so much delay regarding the results of the Archdiocese audits. He also asked why the cost for the marble for the St. Nicholas National Shrine is so exorbitant.

Demetrios replied that the audits will be completed within a few weeks and promised they would be available for the next Patriarchal Synod meeting in May. Regarding the marbles, he explained that Pentelic marble has been proven the most resilient to climate conditions in New York City, and that the only place that marble can be milled is Austria.

Metropolitan Athanasios, Geron of Chalkedon, was particularly hard on Demetrios, deeming his lengthy comments at the Synod misleading and accusing him of always avoiding answering the Synod’s tough questions.

Demetrios responded that due to Athanasios’ lack of collegiality and decorum, he would not reply to him.

Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey made a plea to Demetrios to expedite the audits, because the delay causes individuals such as ousted Executive Director Jerry Dimitriou (and their families) to suffer because of harm to their reputations. He told the Archbishop not to belabor the situation because things are extremely critical.

Demetrios replied that he is particularly pastorally sensitive to Dimitriou and calls him frequently, and that Evangelos should wait because the audit of the finances may reveal surprises that no one expects.

Demetrios blasted the words and actions of Leadership 100 and the Faith Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism because they refuse to pay the Archdiocese’s debts. He emphasized that “the money in their accounts is the Church’s money, and they increased during my Archbishopric ministry.” He said the money is there, “but they don’t give it to us.”

Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna proposed that Leadership 100 and Faith be dissolved with the money to go to the Archdiocese. Demetrios called that proposal “logical but difficult.”
Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria wondered why his own metropolis is so poor and “yet we never arrived at the point of not being able to pay our salaries,” so how did the Archdiocese of America, “which is the most prestigious and wealthy Ecclesiastical Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne,” end up in that situation?

Demetrios attempted to answer, but apparently no one understood what he was trying to say.
Patriarch Bartholomew then asked Demetrios if the information that the Holy Cross Theological School is in financial trouble is true. The archbishop admitted that “there is difficulty, but efforts are made to overcome it with money from the Endowment Fund,” at which point Evangelos reminded that the Fund is for a specific purpose and its use for the School’s operational expenses is prohibited.

Demetrios added that there is an issue of leadership at the School, particularly doubt about the effectiveness of Fr. Christopher Metropulos as president. He said it is necessary to support Fr. Metropulos’ continuation as president for now, and that there is a period of evaluation, which could or could not result in a search for his replacement.

Metropolitan Kirillos of Rhodes asked how under these circumstances there can be a Clergy Laity Congress convened in Boston in July, stating that there is danger that the wound will deepen and confrontations might arise. He suggested that the Congress be postponed.

Archbishop Demetrios replied that he disagrees with that assessment because recent clergy-laity congresses in metropolises went fine, and that no problems arose because the people’s questions were answered with sincerity.

The post Patriarch, Synod, Grills Demetrios at April 20 Meeting appeared first on The National Herald.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Artspace Projects announced on April 20 a $500,000 grant award from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), in support of the Pullman Artspace Lofts capital campaign. The Pullman Artspace Lofts will provide 38 affordable live/work units for artists and their families in Chicago, as well as exhibition and community space.

The landmark project has been designed into the planning of the Pullman Historic District, a working class “company town” dating to the 1880s that was proposed for partial demolition—but was instead designated a National Monument by President Obama in 2015, following a successful community campaign. Artspace’s mixed-use development is considered a significant investment to the neighborhood and will integrate new construction on vacant land with the historic preservation of two gorgeous apartment buildings, anchoring Pullman’s eastern boundary.

The generous grant award from the SNF has allowed Artspace to break ground early Summer 2018 and begin construction. It has also leveraged an additional $100,000 matching grant award from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to move the project forward.

“We are deeply grateful for the long-term partnership that has developed between Artspace and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation around our shared values,” said Kelley Lindquist, Artspace President. “This grant award will help Artspace advance the construction of the Pullman Artspace Lofts, which will have a positive, catalytic impact on the Pullman community by providing local artists and arts organizations with affordable space to live and create work.”

“The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is thrilled to partner once again with Artspace Projects,” said Sarah Needham, Program Officer at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. “The Pullman Artspace Lofts will further reinvigorate this National Monument, which holds such an important place in history both for its design and the people who have lived and worked in the District. The collaboration between Artspace, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives and PullmanArts is sure to generate a thriving creative community and SNF is proud to support this project.”

The partnership between Artspace and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation developed in 2015, when the two organizations first came together to move forward the vision for the Bell Artspace Campus in the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans. The Pullman Artspace Lofts is Artspace’s second significant project made possible in part with funding from the international philanthropic organization.

About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is one of the world’s leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. Since 1996, the Foundation has committed more than $2.5 billion, through more than 4,000 grants to nonprofit organizations in 124 nations around the world.

The SNF funds organizations and projects, worldwide, that aim to achieve a broad, lasting and positive impact, for society at large, and exhibit strong leadership and sound management. The Foundation also supports projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as an effective means for serving public welfare.

About Artspace Projects, Inc.

Artspace’s mission is to create, foster, and preserve affordable and sustainable space for artists and arts organizations. Artspace was founded in 1979 to support artists being displaced by rising costs–the unintended consequences of the positive community changes that they inspired. Through both the adaptive reuse of historic buildings and new construction projects, Artspace creates affordable places for artists, as well as moderately scaled arts organizations and other creative enterprises, and retains ownership to ensure that the buildings remain permanently affordable, mission focused, and high quality. Today, Artspace’s unique portfolio includes 50 projects nationwide, many of which are located in culturally distinct communities, representing more than $600 million invested in America’s infrastructure. Artspace properties ensure that creative communities flourish, benefitting the neighborhoods where they reside.

With headquarters in Minneapolis and offices in Denver, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, and Washington DC, Artspace is renowned as America’s leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts and arts-based community development. Artspace also leverages its expertise to support the next generation of transformative art spaces, with a robust consulting division that has worked on more than 250 projects coast to coast, including city-wide planning projects, arts districts, and more. Embracing the value that the arts bring to individual lives, Artspace champions the once-radical idea that the arts can leverage fundamental social change. More information is available online at: www.artspace.org.

The post Stavros Niarchos Foundation Grants $500K to Artspace in Chicago appeared first on The National Herald.

ATHENS – The launch of a Greek version of CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou’s riveting story about revealing torture and his imprisonment for reporting it had an audience glued to his words and an ovation when he finished.

Fylakismenos Praktoras, by Patakis Publishers is the version of Doing Time Like A Spy: How the CIA Taught Me to Survive and Thrive in Prison, an account of his two-year sentence at a high-security Federal jail near Loretto, Pennsylvania.

He was the first CIA officer to be convicted for passing classified information to a reporter, although the reporter did not publish the name of the operative. Kiriakou had been instrumental in a number of key CIA operations and working as a counter-terrorism officer in Athens out of the Embassy after November 17 had killed five Americans, including the then CIA station chief Richard Welch in 1975.
He related the pressure after he’d captured a key terrorist in the Pakistani desert before discovering the man had been waterboarded.

“President (George) Bush went on TV and said ‘We … do … not torture!” Kiriakou said he recalled while watching the presentation. Kiriakou said he was invited on a TV show to discuss that and his experiences and realized the journalist had a high-level source likely in the White House.

“I knew they were going to try to pin that on me,” he said as he and his wife, also a CIA agent, were watching, the tipping point where he said he decided to reveal what he had learned about the torture that was being done, he said, with a directive straight from the President.

Ironically, while he was cleared during Bush’s tenure it was President Barack Obama who reopened the investigation.

While Kiriakou said he hadn’t committed a crime, but was reporting one – noting that GI’s in WWII and Vietnam were prosecuted for waterboarding – he said after racking up $1.1 million in lawyers fees and up against the combined efforts of the CIA, FBI, and Obama, who wanted to make an example of him, that he had a choice.

That was to fight and face 45 years in jail if convicted – the government had a near 99 percent conviction rate in such cases, he said – or plead guilty to a lesser count and spend two years in jail and get out to see his family.

He had no choice, he said. But while doing his time – meeting mobsters, white supremacists and an array of very bad people – he wrote Letters from Loretto, a blog smuggled out through his attorney.

After earning praise, as well as scorn, ridicule and threats and being portrayed as a traitor by detractors, Kiriakou, 53, now has a radio show but has yet to find a benefactor, especially in the Greek-American community of many wealthy people, offering him a job.

In November 2013, Kiriakou was awarded the Peacemaker of the Year by the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County and a month later got the 2013 Giraffe Hero Commendation, awarded to people who stick their necks out for the common good.

In 2016, he won the PEN First Amendment Award by the PEN Center and in 2017 awarded the first Blueprint International Whistleblowing Prize for “bravery and integrity in the public interest” by the Australia-based ‘Blueprint for Free Speech’ think tank operated by University of Melbourne lecturer Suelette Dreyfus.

She was on the panel during the book launch event, a discussion entitled Whistleblowers: Heroes or Renegades? Also appearing was former Athens News Editor John Psaropoulos, who writes The New Athenian blog and is a contributor to CNN, Al Jazeera English and the Weekly Standard and Kathimerini and SKAI TV investigative reporter Tasos Telloglou and Transparency International Greece Chairwoman Anna Damaskou.

The post CIA Whistleblower Kiriakou’s Greek Book Launch, Torture Tale Grip Audience appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Professor Douglas W. Diamond, one of the world’s leading authorities on bank runs and liquidity crises, will be awarded the 2018 Onassis Prize in Finance. In the area of International Trade, Professors Jonathan Eaton and Samuel Kortum will share the relevant 2018 Onassis Prize for their collaborative efforts researching the impact of technology on global trade. The Shipping Prize will be shared between Professors Mary Brooks and Wayne Talley, maritime economists known for their work on ports and the risks of terrorism and piracy to the shipping industry, according to the Onassis Foundation press release.

The Onassis Prizes are awarded to the world’s foremost academics in the fields of finance, international trade and shipping, to honour outstanding academic achievements that have had international significance. The prizes, each worth $200,000, are sponsored by the Onassis Foundation and together with Cass Business School, its Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance and the City of London, are granted every three years. The prizes recognize the lifetime achievement of experienced academics in the fields of finance, international trade and shipping – the disciplines in which Aristotle Onassis excelled.

The Onassis Prizes’ recipients were selected by a panel of judges, two of whom are Nobel Laureates, and other distinguished academics, and were announced at The Mansion House, the official office of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, by Alderman David Graves on Friday 20th April. The 2018 prizes have been awarded to:

Onassis Prize in Finance

• Professor Douglas W. Diamond, Merton H. Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago

Onassis Prize in International Trade (shared)

• Professor Jonathan Eaton, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, The Pennsylvania State University
• Professor Samuel S. Kortum, James Burrows Moffatt Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Yale University

Onassis Prize in Shipping (shared)

• Professor Mary R. Brooks, Professor Emerita, Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University and Chair of the Marine Board of the National Academies, Washington DC.
• Professor Wayne K. Talley, Professor of Maritime and Supply Chain Management, Executive Director of the Maritime Institute and Eminent Scholar, Strome College of Business, Old Dominion University

The 2018 Onassis Prizes will be formally presented to the recipientsat a Banquet at the Guildhall in the City of London on 24^th September, following an academic conference featuring allthe recipients at Cass Business School earlier in the day.

Dr Anthony Papadimitriou, President of the Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and Chair of the judging panel said:

“Awards like these, allow us to foresee and, in a way, return from the future, where the work of the distinguished scholars of our era will have received the greatest possible recognition. Aristotle Onassis’ name is synonymous with the spheres of endeavor in which our laureates are engaged, and shipping, trade and finance are the three core areas of business activity in contemporary economies. The contributions made to the research in these fields by today’s winners is such that we can safely say they have brought us not one but many steps closer to the knowledge we will enjoy in the future. We, at the Onassis Foundation, are particularly proud to support the Onassis International Prizes for Finance, Shipping and Trade in association with the City of London and the City University/Cass Business School. The awards are already in their fourth iteration. Previous winners have continued to distinguish themselves and make outstanding contributions, with Professor Eugene Fama receiving a Nobel Prize for his work.”

Professor Costas Grammenos, Chairmanof theCostas Grammenos Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance at Cass, said:

“The Onassis Prizes are awarded for the fourth time and one can safely say that they have become the most highly respected international awards in the areas of finance, international trade and shipping. I warmly congratulate the recipients whose distinguished achievements have profoundly influenced their disciplines and continue to have an impact on academic thinking and business conduct worldwide.”

The post Five Leading Academics Named Winners of the 2018 Onassis Prizes appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – New York Philharmonic cellist Maria Kitsopoulos and pianist Maria Asteriadou will perform Beethoven Sonatas for Cello and Piano at the Church of the Ascension Fifth Avenue at Tenth Street in Manhattan on April 25, 8 PM. The concert featuring these two talented Greek-born musicians is presented by the Voices of Ascension which according to its mission statement, “seeks to enthrall its audiences through outstanding performances and exemplary interpretations of choral music” and “sustains a vibrant artistic community of professional vocal and instrumental musicians in New York City through a broad repertory, dynamic programming, and strategic collaborations across the tri-state area.”

The event’s description from the Voices of Ascension website is as follows: “From the opening phrase of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 for cello and piano, the relationship between the two instruments is established. It is a partnership of yearning and fulfillment, of balance, of energy and repose. The music etches a path that traverses familiar and unforeseen terrain before reaching its destination. Each movement reveals fresh glimpses into a world where the listener’s mind is free to dwell. The adagio is heartbreakingly poignant. The final allegro overflowing with exuberance. In these sonatas, Beethoven demonstrates an uncanny ability to distill the enormity of human experience into perfectly constructed musical phrases, exploiting every nuance of each instrument’s timbre and expressivity. The result is breathtaking.”

As noted in her biography, Kitsopoulos is from a musical family. Her mother is an opera singer, one brother is a conductor, and her other brother a composer. She was a finalist in the first Emmanuel Feuermann Cello Competition and a prizewinner in the National Society of Arts and Letters Cello Competition, and won fellowships from the Aspen and Tanglewood music festivals. Kitsopoulos received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor of musical arts degrees from The Juilliard School where, upon graduation, she was awarded the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Leadership.

Asteriadou is an acclaimed soloist and chamber musician who has performed in major halls throughout the United States and Canada as well as Austria, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, and Germany. Asteriadou holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Constance Keene. She received her Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, as a scholarship student of Jacob Lateiner. Following her undergraduate studies at the State Conservatory of Music in Thessaloniki, Greece, Maria Asteriadou was accepted at the Musik Hochschule in Freiburg, Germany as a student of Tibor Hazay and received her Graduate Soloist Diploma with high honors. She has also worked with Gyorgy Sebok, Richard Goode, Domna Evnouchidou and Vitalji Margulis.

She has also performed premieres of works by many of Greece’s most important composers including Manos Hadzidakis, Perikles Koukos, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Emilios Riadis, Christos Samaras, Yiorgos Sicilianos, Nikos Skalkottas, as well as American-born Greek composer George Tsontakis. Asteriadou is also a faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music since 2002 where she teaches piano.

More information and tickets are available online at: www.voicesofascension.org.

The post Maria Kitsopoulos & Maria Asteriadou Perform Beethoven on April 25 appeared first on The National Herald.

ASTORIA – The comedy Ta Filarakia – Bromance, directed by Lukas Skipitaris and with text adaptation by Giorgos Vouros, stars Stratos Tzortzoglou, Manos Pantelidis, and Tasos Karydis. The play opens April 27 at the Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria.

“There is no truth without passion, without error… the truth can only be achieved with passion” is just one of the themes explored in this dynamic, dramatic comedy or a drama written funny. Ta Filarakia – Bromance focuses on the issues of male friendship, devotion, the relationship difficulties between women and men, and the general value of friendship and truth.

“What is beautiful and great in this world has never been born of logical discussion,” the comedy highlights.

Anastasios (Tasos Karydis), divorced and separated from his child, has an outlet in “modern art” trying to escape from everyone and everything.

Stratos (Stratos Tzortzoglou) is married but has psychological problems and controlling tendencies. He butts heads with Anastasios to preserve the notion of “male friendship” as he sees it.

Manos (Manos Pantelidis) tries to calm the situation, but is tortured by his two mothers, his future wife, and his friends.

A wild fight in a living room ensues that almost ends in a psychodrama among three old friends. Is the “male friendship” innocent and pure, or is it governed by selfishness, eroticism, and power?

TA FILARAKIA:

Directed by Loukas Skipitaris.
Cast: Stratos Tzortzoglou, Manos Pantelidis, Tasos Karydis.

An explosive dramatic comedy or a drama funny written. Is friendship innocent and pure, or is it governed by selfishness, eroticism and power?
There is no truth without passion, without mistake … truth can only be achieved only if you have passion.

Nothing great or beautiful in the world has ever been born of rational argument.

At the Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Center,
27-09 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102-3142
Reservations – tickets :Tel: 718.626.5111,
info@hellenicculturalcenter.org
April 27, 28, 29
May 4, 5, 6,11,12,13,18,19, 20, 25, 26, 27
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm.
(With English supertitles)

Produced by Stratosphere Art Inc in association with FAMA Theatre Group NY.

The post The National Herald Sponsors the Comedy “Ta Filarakia” (Video) appeared first on The National Herald.

By Lambrini Papangelis

EVANSTON, IL– Ioanna Nikou, pianist, and Rebekah Efthimiou, harpist, are the winners of the Greek Women’s University Club National Music Competition, held April 14on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. The competition is open to musicians from the ages of 20-29, both women and men, on all instruments and voice.Composers may also apply. Applicants must be of Greek descent.

Two awards were given. The winner of the Greek Women’s University Club Award was pianist Ioanna Nikou, of Larissa, Greece. Ms. Nikou, who played music by J.S. Bach and Chopin, is a student at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH.

The winner of the Kanellos Award was harpist Rebekah Efthimiou, of Delhi, NY. Ms. Efthimiou, who played music by John Dowland and contemporary British composer Paul Patterson, is a student at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY.

The Greek Women’s University Club was founded in 1931 with the purpose of encouraging women of Greek descent to pursue higher education. It has sponsored its National Music Competition since 1989. To apply for next year’s competition, visit the Greek Women’s University Club Facebook page.

The post Nikou and Efthimiou Win Greek Women’s University Club National Music Competition appeared first on The National Herald.

LOS ANGELES, CA – To celebrate the long-anticipated opening on April 18 of the newly reinstalled galleries for its antiquities collection at the Getty Villa, an elegant grand reception took place the day before at the Villa groundsfor more than 700 guests. It was one of the premier events of the Los Angeles spring cultural season.

“The reinstallation of the Villa presents the antiquities collections in a historical sequence that allows visitors to follow the evolution of Greek and Roman art over some 6000 years” said Getty Museum Director Timothy Potts. The new installation features an increase of 3,000 square feet in gallery space from the repurposing of underutilized areas. The reinstallation also brought an upgraded lighting system, display cases for many of the objects as well as digital tools to facilitate close inspection of coins, gems, and other small items. “I am particularly pleased that the process of planning this reinstallation has led to identifying objects in storage that could be placed on view after many years, or in some cases for the very first time,” Potts added.

One of those objects is a group of newly-conserved first century frescoes from the Villa of Numerius Popidius Florus at Boscoreale, near Pompei that is now housed in a dedicated gallery. A major highlight of the reinstallation is a newly renovated gallery on the first floor dedicated to the age of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic world (336-30BC). The centerpiece is The Victorious Youth (“Getty Bronze”) that can be better appreciated now in the company of other objects of the same style and period including a marble Head of Alexander the Great and luxurious silver vessels and gold jewelry. The statue of Hercules that is displayed in a grandiose style, was one of J. Paul Getty’s most prized possessions and it was a great motivator for Getty to build a museum in the style of an ancient Roma villa. The sculpture was unearthed in 1790 near the villa of Roman emperor Hadrian. The statue of Leda and the Swan which is displayed near the statue of Hercules shows God Jupiter who has disguised himself as a swan in order to seduce Leda the mortal Queen of Sparta. Their mythical affair produced Helen whose abduction by Paris led to the Trojan War. This is the Roman version of an earlier Greek statue of Leda and was discovered in 1775 on the Palatine Hill in Rome. The new exhibit “Plato in LA: Contemporary Artists’ Visions” is highly imaginative and it is a conceptual “marriage” of the Greek philosopher’s fundamental principles and ideas with the city of Los Angeles as a laboratory of existential and institutional experimentation. Some of today’s most famous artists, such as Paul Chan, Rachel Harrison, Jeff Koons, Paul McCarthy, Adrian Piper and Michelangelo Pistoletto, have created original art just for this exhibit that is a collection of sculptures, paintings, drawings and large-scale installations.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York lent to the Plato exhibit the most important of Mike Kelley’s Plato Cave drawings. A highlight of the Plato exhibition is an original art work created by Koons, who’s life’s work estimated to worth close to $1 billion. His aluminum sculpture “Play-Doh” meant to resemble a pile of its namesake children’s toy, it is created by giant pieces of painted aluminum that are not held together by adhesive, but each piece is perfectly fitted together. Because the cracks had to be done by hand and eye, a tedious and detailed process, it took Koons 20 years to complete.

The Palmyra exhibit features some of the city’s most uniqueartwork and it pays tribute to the ancient city of Palmyra that was situated in an oasis in the Syrian Desert and flourished between the first and third centuries. Palmyra was at the crossroads of trade routes between the Roman and Pathian Persian empires and the citizens of Palmyra embellished their tombs with distinctive funerary portraits. Even though the Eastern lands that Alexander the Great had conquered gradually shrank back to Syria, the influence of Greek art remained strong in places like Mesopotamia, Persia, Pakistan, and Palmyra. The Roman Empire succeeded Alexander’s rein and the influence of Roman art is evident in the Palmyra monuments.The city of Palmyra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980 but buildings and artifacts that had survived hundreds of years were tragically destroyeddeliberately during the recent Syrian civil war. However we are fortunate that well preserved photographs of the site taken in 1864 by Louis Vignes, a French naval officer who was trained by the renowned photographer Charles Negre have survived and are the earliest photographic record of the Roman ruins. The collection was recently acquired by the Getty Research Institute and is on view at the exhibit for the first time. Another proud acquisition of the J. Paul Getty Museum that will be on display at the Villa exhibit is the Etruscan bronze Appliqué of the Sun God Usil. The bronze appliqué that probably decorated an Etruscan chariot or funeral cart is of “exceptional quality, representing the peak period of an artistic milieu in which Greek and Italic aesthetics merged to create a distinctively Etruscan style” said Potts. The appliqué represents the solar deity Usil, the equivalent of the Greek God Helios or the Roman God Sol and it is part of a selection of bronze statuettes and reliefs that are a particular strength of the Getty’s collection of Etruscan art. Athenian pottery isprominently displayed, a collection of Greek works from Southern Italy and Sicily that includes the amazing terracotta group Orpheus and Sirens. The exhibition will run until September 3.

The post Plato, Ancient Greek Heroes Celebrated in Newly Reinstalled Getty Villa appeared first on The National Herald.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The Cretan community of Utah will be hosting an eventful weekend to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the formal establishment of their local Cretan organization. This weekend of events is collectively named the “Minos Century Celebration” and will take place on Friday, June 1-Sunday, June 3, in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Tony Gianoulis- Chairman of the Minos Century Celebration, told The National Herald about the event and this remarkable community. He said, “The Cretan community in Utah has a very large presence. Many Cretans came to Utah at the turn of the 20th century to work in the copper mines. As the years went by, more and more Cretans immigrated to Utah and established their families, homes, and businesses here. Today, we are one of the largest Cretan communities in the United States. Moreover, we are proud of the fact that Utah had the first organized Cretan club in all of the U.S.A. Not only have we successfully managed to maintain a strong Cretan/Greek community for over a century, but we have done this in a state with an overwhelming Mormon population within Utah and its surrounding states.”

Dr. Gianoulis continued, “The entire Minos Century Celebration weekend will be a monumental celebration of our Cretan chapters: Minos, Daughters of Minos, and Minotavros Youth.

“The Minotavros Youth group will host a national summer conference of the Pancretan Youth of America (PYA) and will be sponsoring a ‘Welcome Night’ party for all on Friday, June 1, at the Infinity Event Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The Minos Century Celebration Gala will be a beautiful dinner and dancing fete to be held on Saturday, June 2, at the Memorial Hall of Salt Lake City’s Holy Trinity Cathedral.

The weekend celebration will culminate with an old-fashioned style Cretan ‘picnic’ on Sunday, June 3, at the Prophet Elias Church Pavilion.”

“We anticipate enthusiastic community participation,” Gianoulis said, adding that “our preparations are proceeding well and we ask you to save these dates for your attendance.”

He also noted, “We hope that through our stories and histories each Greek community anywhere in the world can inspire and be inspired by the others. We would love to get the word out about our gem of a community here in the Mountain West.”

Everyone is invited to celebrate the centennial festivities and “to enjoy beautiful Salt Lake City in June,” Gianoulis concluded.

More information about the Minos Century Celebration is available online via email: minoscenturycelebration@gmail.com.

The post Cretan Community of Utah Celebrating Centennial appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – More than 400 expatriates, and philhellenes, attended the Greek Independence Parade Gala at the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown on April 21. The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York holds the annual event on the Saturday right before the parade.

Chairman of the event was PSEKA President, Philip Christopher. The Grand Marshals of the parade, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas and businessman and philanthropist Pantelis Boumbouras who arrived from Odessa were also present. Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, however, due to commitments, could not attend.

The many officials from Greece were also present including Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura, the Central Macedonia District Director Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the Mayor of Chios Manolis Vournos, and the Mayor of Corfu Konstantinos Nikolouzos.

Even after the long flight back from Constantinople and having arrived in New York only a few hours earlier, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, attended the dinner.

All eyes were on the Evzones, the Presidential Guard, who stood guard at the entrances to the hall and by the stage, making everyone proud.

Messages on national issues

The National Anthems of the USA and Greece were sung by Miss Greek Independence, Annamaria Fazio, and Eleni Papastefanou, respectively.

Philip Christopher then thanked the Hellenic-American organizations for their efforts, noting that everyone has a duty to fight for the issues “in these dangerous times.”

AHEPA President Carl Hollister compared 1821 with the difficulties Greece is experiencing today and Turkish provocation, pointing out that “Greece faces a threat to its independence.”

Echoing the same sentiments was AHI President Nick Laryngakis, while Rep. Carolyn Maloney focused on Macedonia as well as on other Greek issues, such as the return of the Parthenon marbles.

On behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, Fotis Fotiou, Commissioner for Human Rights and Overseas Cypriots, urged attendees “not to forget Cyprus,” noting that there is an ongoing struggle for a free Cyprus.

Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura spoke of the “wonderful evening” and focused on the multi-faceted contributions of the Greek-American community and the development of tourism from the USA to Greece, thanks to Emirates Airlines, which year-round connects Athens with New York via direct flights.

Grand marshal and Nassau County DA Madeline Singas recalled her childhood and her participation in the 5th Avenue parade, from nursery school until she joined the Hellenic American Lawyers Association, and was visibly moved by the memories.

“If my father and grandfather are now watching from above, I would like to add ‘Long live Northern Epirus,’” she concluded.

The other grand marshal, Pantelis Boumbouras, acknowledged the efforts of the Greek community, sending out a message that Greece needs support, in order to gradually get out of the quagmire.

“We will overcome all the problems and I hope that the Greek diaspora community will quickly help the country to find its way,” he said.

Finally, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, compared the present day with the first year he attended the parade, back in the year 2000, advising the public to reflect on the changes brought about by a completely different world with a different approach to things in order to appreciate the situation and adopt the attitude that fits with the season.

The organizers honored the parade benefactors and, in particular, the Boumbouras Foundation, Atlantic Bank, and Emirates, who were the “Great Benefactors,” as well as the supporters, AHEPA, Alma Bank, Konstantinos Almiroudis, American Network Solutiond LLC., Savvas Konstantinidis, Michael and Alice Halkias, Stavros Haviaras, Investors Bank, Yiannis Kalafatis, Dimitris and Georgia Kaloidis, Tom Kourkoumelis, LibraGroup, Mana Products Inc., Dennis Mehiel, EOT, John and Eleni Psaras, Dr. Spiros Spireas, and Steve Zervoudis.

Everyone was ready to attend the parade on 5th Avenue the following day.

The post Greek Independence Parade Gala at the New York Hilton (Vid) appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The Greek Independence Parade in New York City drew a great crowd on April 22. Organized by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, the parade celebrated the 197th anniversary of Greek Independence.

The bright sunshine and mild temperatures gave an added incentive to attend and participate this year, one of the best in terms of weather in recent memory. Many remarked that it was “a Greek day” with blue skies and only a wisp of cloud here and there, as the blue and white flags waved all along 5th Avenue.

The parade began with the New York City Police Department Mounted Color Guard, the NYPD Ceremonial Band, the Fire Department of New York Hellenic Society, New York City Parks and Recreation Department, the Color Guard with the banner of the Federation, the Greek and American flags, followed by the Federation Board of Directors led by President Petros Galatoulas, Vice President Basile Gournelos, 2nd Vice President Cleanthis Maimaroglou, and 3rd Vice President George Kalergios.

The Grand Marshals, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas, and businessman and philanthropist Pantelis Boumbouras marched along with Honorary Parade Chairman His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, Parade Chairmen Emeritus John Catsimatides and Philip Christopher, and Parade Chairwoman Nancy Papaioannou.

Also marching, Parade Co-Chairmen Aris Kourkoumelis and Paul Kotronus, Parade Coordinator Athanasios Aronis, Parade Executive Director Georgea Kontzamanis, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Cyprus in New York Amb. Vasilios Philippou, Consul of Greece Lana Zochiou, and other representatives of Greece and Cyprus and elected officials including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Mayor of Kerkyra Konstantinos Nikolouzos, and Mayor of Chios Manolis Vournous.

New York’s Greek-American elected officials State Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblymembers Aravella Simotas and Nicole Malliotakis, and City Council Member Costa Constantinides also marched proudly in the parade.

The honorary battalion included the much-anticipated Evzones- the Presidential Guard, who impressed everyone at the parade as they do every year. Their presence always inspires pride and appreciation among all those in attendance. This year, when the Evzones reached the grandstand, and turned to face the dignitaries, there was a moment of silence for Greek Air Force pilot Giorgos Baltadoros who was tragically killed when his plane crashed in the waters off the coast of Skyros.

After the solemn moment, the National Anthems of the United States and Greece were performed. The Evzones then continued their march up 5th Avenue to the applause and shouts of “Long live Greece” from the crowd.

Consul General of Greece Konstantinos Koutras spoke with The National Herald and noted that it was wonderful day and very moving to see all ages participating in the parade.

The parade’s family atmosphere was highlighted by the many parents and children dressed in traditional costume, among them Effie Andreou and her twin daughters, Constantia and Barbara, marching with the Pancyprian Association Dance Division.

Anthoula Katsimatides and Nomiki Kastanas- General Secretary of the Federation, served as the parade emcees, announcing the various groups, associations, churches, and schools, along with facts about each.

The parade was also broadcast on My 9 with Greek- Americans Ernie Anastos- veteran anchorman, and Nicole Petallides- Fox Business Network anchor, hosting and Fox 5 meteorologist Nick Gregory conducting interviews. Mike Woods, also a Fox 5 meteorologist, conducted interviews as well, noting his love of Greece, the culture and the people. He posted on Twitter, “We had an amazing day for the #GreekIndependenceDay #parade #centralPark #spring #workfamily #fun.”

Gregory, an avid Greek dancer, changed into traditional costume to perform with his dance group at the end of the broadcast. Anastos, Petallides, and Woods joined in the dancing which continued even after the broadcast ended.

Petallides told TNH that it is wonderful to be a part of the celebration of Hellenic heritage and to see so many people and dignitaries participating in the parade.

The parade continued until late in the afternoon with thousands participating. Thanks to the mild weather, many parade-goers lingered hours longer than they have in recent years when the parade was held closer to March 25th. Many headed to their favorite Greek restaurants in Manhattan or Astoria to continue the celebration. All looked forward to next year’s parade.

The armed forces parade in Athens is also held annually to commemorate Greek Independence. The history of the parade in the U.S. could easily fill the pages of a book since it follows the rich history of the Greek community. While parades have been held in many U.S. cities over the years, some of the most popular annual parades are held in New York, Chicago, Boston, Tarpon Springs, Baltimore, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

The celebration of pride in our Greek heritage, history, faith, and language, along with the memories shared by family and friends lasts a lifetime.

Follows the 2018 Greek Independence lineup

The post Greek Independence Day Parade Draws Great Crowd in Sunny New York (Pics & Vid) appeared first on The National Herald.

CHICAGO, IL – The Hellenic American Academy invites everyone to participate in the Annual Greek Independence Day and Hellenic Heritage Parade, which will take place on Sunday, April 29, at 2:30 PM on Halsted Street, between Randolph and Van Buren Streets.

“Our meeting point will be on Randolph Street, west of Halsted Street, by the Hellenic American Academy float, our number in the order of floats and marchers is #1! Weather is forecasted to be a beautiful spring day!

“It is our obligation as Greek-Americans to participate in the parade and teach our youth the significance of paying tribute to the heroes of 1821 and maintaining our Greek heritage! We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the parade,” Academy’s press release says.

The post Greek Independence Day, Hellenic Heritage Parade in Chicago, April 29 appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) Evryklea Chapter #36 was reactivated on April 21 with an initiation ceremony for new members at Cesca Restaurant on the Upper West Side. Julia Collins, DOP District Six Governor, officiated the initiation and reactivation with DOP Grand President Eva Jean Fomalont also in attendance.

The event highlighted the historical achievements of the organization and also the importance of bringing in new members to sustain the various efforts promoting Hellenism, education, and charity well into the future. The newly initiated members are a cross-section of the community from not only the local tri-state area, but also from Greece originally. They all see the value of participating in this historic chapter which will undoubtedly contribute a great deal to the community and the family of AHEPA.

President of the Manhattan-based Chapter of AHEPA, Delphi 25, Argyris S. Argitakos said of the reactivation and the women participating that they “would be following in the footsteps and the legacy of Alexandra Apostolides who began the Daughters of Penelope in 1929, it was done with the spirit of love and sisterhood in order to help others and to promote a love of Hellenism, education, and the other goals that are so important to the AHEPA organization.”

The historic DOP Evryklea Chapter # 36 was founded in New York City in 1935 and had a storied past with many notable members and activities. However, it suffered a fate similar to AHEPA’s Delphi 25 Chapter, which had fallen into inactivity, and needed new “blood” and energy.

Argitakos noted that “we were just 16 new members when in the Fall of 2016 we started the revitalization of the AHEPA Delphi 25 Chapter (which was founded in 1923), I’m proud to state that the Delphi 25 Chapter, now with 200+ members, is currently the largest Chapter in New York State and the third largest Chapter in all of the AHEPA domain (of approximately 450+ Chapters)! I’m certain that, with our Chapter’s complete support, the Evryklea Chapter # 36 of the Daughters of Penelope will have similar success.”

Effie Streida is the interim President of the Chapter. Cesca owner Georgia Dumas also joined the membership along with a dozen more women. Many more have expressed interest and are expected to join the Chapter soon.

More information about the Daughters of Penelope is available online at: www.daughtersofpenelope.org and about District 6 at: dopempiredistrict6.com.

The post Daughters of Penelope Evryklea Chapter #36 Reactivated appeared first on The National Herald.

ATHENS – The head researcher of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the United States, Konstantinos Stratakis, will be declared an honorary doctor at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The award ceremony will be held at the premises of the University of Athens and is scheduled to take place on Thursday 26 April.

Speaking at the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Stratakis expressed his hope that he would be able to contribute from the position of an honorary doctor to the effort to further upgrade academic medicine in Greece.

“I find myself extremely fortunate that the University of Athens has the honor of presenting me with an honorary doctorate. I represent a generation of scientists whose education began in Greece but also began their research career in that country. The University of Athens was an academic place that made me what I am, supported my first research efforts, and provided me with excellent teachers,” he stressed.

Stratakis is head of the research team at the National Institute of Health of the United States that discovered the gene associated with gigantism, a rare disorder that causes excessive growth in children. This discovery has opened up new horizons to the scientific community worldwide, and it is thought to be useful for treating a range of other diseases.

The post Greek-American, NICHD’s Head Researcher to Be Made Honorary Doctor by Athens University appeared first on The National Herald.

ASTORIA – New York State Senator Michael Gianaris called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to extend bus service along 31^st Street throughout Astoria in response to ongoing subway closures. Currently, no bus service runs along 31^st Street north of 30^th Avenue.

The Senator sent a letter to Darryl Irick, the President of the MTA Bus Company that runs the Q102.

 “Our community has been waiting for an accessible station on the N/W line for decades, and the news about Astoria Boulevard was a long time coming. Still, the MTA is not doing nearly enough to cushion the blow that will come with the extended station closure during construction,” said Sen. Gianaris. “We are already dealing with closing businesses and inconvenienced riders where other stations are closed. The MTA needs to do more to help our entire community deal with yet another months-long shutdown. It is time they extend this bus route the neighborhood to provide service for the whole community.”

North-South bus routes currently run from 20^th Avenue to Queens Plaza along Steinway Street and 21^st Street, but there exists a wide gulf in bus service between these routes. Sen. Gianaris has asked the MTA to create a spur off the Q102 that would run along 31^st Street from 30^th Avenue to 20^th Avenue.

The Senator previously called for shuttle bus service to address the problems of access in that section of Astoria.

Below is the Senator’s letter to the MTA.

April 25, 2018

Darryl Irick
President, MTA Bus Company
2 Broadway
New York, New York 10004-2207

Dear Mr. Irick,

I write regarding increasing access to bus service in western Queens. With ongoing Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) construction that will result in the full closure of the N/W Astoria Boulevard station beginning in 2019, restoration work at the Ditmars Boulevard station, and continued Enhanced Station Initiative (ESI) projects at four additional stations, residents and commuters grapple with frequent delays and ever-changing service. Given the hardship faced by local businesses and residents, the least the MTA can do is mitigate the enduring damage by increasing bus service to offset the negative effects of all this construction. One possible solution to this longstanding ordeal would be to extend the Q102 bus that runs along 31^st Street so that it terminates at 20^th Avenue instead of 30^th Avenue. This would give residents and visitors in the northern section of Astoria more transportation options.
The Q102 currently turns west on 30^th Avenue and proceeds to Astoria Houses – a vital service that should continue uninterrupted while an added spur extends the route to 20^th Avenue. Other bus lines throughout Queens follow a similar approach, including the Q15 and Q15a, which have a divergent route to provide more service to more residents throughout Whitestone. This request is not unique; it is simply fair.
I repeatedly asked for shuttle bus service to compensate for disruptions to normal train service, only to be denied. The problem is so serious that a more permanent solution is now required.
I hope that Q102 service to the people of northern Astoria can begin soon. Please reach out should you have any questions. I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,
Michael Gianaris
New York State Senate

The post Sen. Gianaris Calls on MTA to Extend Q102 Bus to Compensate for Subway Construction  appeared first on The National Herald.

The Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Mr. Andreas Dracopoulos, granted a comprehensive interview to journalist Mary Adamopoulou for the magazine Days of Art in Greece, regarding the SNF’s activities and goals.

In his interview, Mr. Dracopoulos, among other things, refers to the starting point of the SNF’s grant-making activity, noting that the Foundation aims “to contribute to society as a whole and more particularly, to offer support to the fellow citizens that need our help the most”. Mr. Dracopoulos adds that “the bedrock of our philosophy is caring for people; to assist their survival and progress”.

When asked about what distinguishes the SNF from other foundations in Greece, Mr. Dracopoulos, focusing on the shared values and common goals between the philanthropic organizations, underscores that “the objective is a common one, in other words to benefit the society”, noting also that “we’re content that others also want to contribute and our foundation remains steadily open to partnerships that may have exponential benefits for the community”.

The magazine hosts also an interview with the Managing Director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Mr. Nikos Manolopoulos, as well as with the Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera, Mr. Giorgos Koumendakis.

To read the full interview of the SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos see here.

To read the full interview of the SNFCC Managing Director see here.

To read the full interview of GNO’s Artistic Director see here.

The post SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos’ Interview on Days of Art in Greece appeared first on The National Herald.

On Friday, April 27th, 2018, the Hellenic Film Society USA’s “Greek Film Expo” will open in New York City.

The Greek Film Expo is the Hellenic Film Society’s inaugural series that gives an overview of the range of current filmmaking in Greece. The Expo will run from April 27th through May 3rd, 2018.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation provides lead support for the Hellenic Film Society USA, SNF says.

More information can be found here.

The post The Hellenic Film Society USA’s “Greek Film Expo” Opens in NYC appeared first on The National Herald.