SANTA FE, Texas (AP) — The family of Texas school shooting suspect Dmitrios Pagourtzis issued the following statement Saturday through their attorneys:
“We are saddened and dismayed by yesterday’s events at Santa Fe High School. We extend our most heartfelt prayers and condolences to all of the victims. We also wish to thank all the first responders from all over Texas that assisted in rendering aid and support.

We are as shocked and confused as anyone else by these events that occurred. We are gratified by the public comments made by other Santa Fe High School students that show Dimitri as we know him: a smart, quiet, sweet boy. While we remain mostly in the dark about the specifics of yesterday’s tragedy, what we have learned from media reports seems incompatible with the boy we love.

We share the public’s hunger for answers as to why this happened, and will await the outcome of the investigation before speaking about these events. We have been and will continue to cooperate with the authorities conducting the investigation, and ask for the public’s patience while it moves forward.

We ask the public to please extend privacy, both to the victims and to our own family, as all of us try process these events, and begin the healing process.”

The post Statement from Dmitrios Pagourtzis’ Family appeared first on The National Herald.

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – USA Today announced on May 18 that its readers selected the top-10 historic small towns in the United States, with the Florida Gulf Coast town of Tarpon Springs emerging as number one.

Twenty towns were selected for the poll by a panel of experts, and then the readers chose Tarpon Springs – which has the highest per capita Greek population in the United States, and which with its sponge boats, Greek gift shops, and tavernas, coupled with warm weather and blue sea, arguably resembles Greece more than any other place does in the United States – as the winner.

Greeks from the Dodecanese islands of Kalymnos, Symi, and Halki first settled in Tarpon Springs over a hundred years ago, plying their trade of sponge diving, which continues to this day. Those three islands’ capitals are Tarpon’s sister cities (as is Larnaca, Cyprus). While there are many other cities and towns on Florida’s Gulf Coast with thriving Greek communities, including Greek Orthodox churches, it is Tarpon’s historic Sponge Docks, along the Anclote River on Dodecanese Boulevard that give it its unique quality to be considered “America’s Greek Island.” It is commonly referred to as “Epiphany City,” given the very prominent cross dive on Epiphany Day that takes place each year at Tarpon’s Spring Bayou.

Tarpon’s Chamber of Commerce proudly announced the news of Tarpon’s first-place finish on its Facebook page, thanking “our wonderful residents and visitors for getting out those votes! Now we have earned some serious bragging rights!”

Congressman Gus Bilirakis, whose district includes Tarpon Springs, where he was raised and which his father, Mike, also represented in Congress, told The National Herald that “Tarpon Springs is a national treasure. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in such a wonderful place, a unique mixture of old and new worlds.”

Tarpon Mayor Chris Alahouzos told TNH that he is “very happy we were voted the best historic small town in the United States. We are a small city of 25,000 people, but we are very rich in history and culture.”

Tarpon’s Curator of Arts and Historical Resources Tina Bucuvalas added that despite attempts at gentrification, Tarpon’s Historic District “has fiercely persevered in its unique tangible and intangible traditional culture.”

The other nine towns that made the top 10 list, in order of finish, were: 2: Natchitoches, LA;  3. Haddonfield, NJ; 4. Williamsburg, VA; 5. Natchez, MS; 6. Dodge City, KS; 7. Cody, WI; 8. Solvang, CA; 9. Bath, ME and 10. Madison, GA.

The post Tarpon Springs Voted Best Historic Small Town in U.S. appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Emmanuel Moustakos, of the St. NIcholas Flushing Boy Scout Troop #268, celebrated his Eagle Scout Court of Honor on May 12, 2018, at Laterna Restaurant in Bayside, NY.

He was joined by Fr. Aristidis Garinis of St Nicholas, Flushing. Emmanuel and his parents are active members of the St. Nicholas Flushing community.

Emmanuel is a graduate of the St. Nicholas Flushing William Spryropoulos Day School and serves as an altar boy. Emmanuel is a Junior at Archbishop Molloy High School.

For his Eagle Scout project, he organized a drive to collect slightly used and new clothing for the mission at The Greater Allen Cathedral in Jamaica, NY.

The post Emmanuel Moustakos Celebrates His Eagle Scout Court of Honor appeared first on The National Herald.

WASHINGTON — Supreme President Carl R. Hollister has issued the following statement:

“The Order of AHEPA strongly condemns the violent attack (video clips) committed upon Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris by extremists at an event in remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of Pontian Greeks.  This assault, which left the mayor hospitalized with head, neck, and leg injuries, is an outrage and unacceptable.

“The perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to justice swiftly. The people of Thessaloniki must come together to condemn this senseless, cowardly act of violence.

“The Order of AHEPA wishes Mayor Boutaris a speedy recovery.”

US Embassy in Athens also condemned the attack. “We condemn the shocking attack of Mayor Boutaris over the weekend. Mayor Boutaris has long stood as an advocate for freedom of speech – a core democratic value. At this time, we would like to extend our best wishes to him for a speedy recovery,” US Embassy said via Twitter.

The post AHEPA Condemns Attack on Thessaloniki Mayor appeared first on The National Herald.

SANTA FE, Texas – An attorney for the 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, accused of killing 10 people at his high school, says the suspect’s family members are mystified by the shooting and there were no red flags.

Charity Killman, who lives adjacent to the property that police searched for explosive devices in connection to the attack at a Texas high school says nobody lived in the trailer but she had seen the suspect come and go all the time.

The post Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ Family “Mystified” (Video) appeared first on The National Herald.

HOUSTON – Maggie Stavrianidis, Global Human Resources Executive, presented “How to win the Interview Game” in Sewall Hall at Rice University in Houston on May 20. The event was organized by the Hellenic Professional Society of Texas Mentoring Committee. Sharing valuable career advice, tips for job interviews, and networking strategies, Stavrianidis impressed the audience with her insights.

Following the presentation, attendees had the opportunity to participate in discipline-specific breakout groups. Consul General of Greece in Houston Ioannis Stamatekos and many students and faculty attended the event which included a lively Q&A and discussion.

Maggie Stavrianidis received her law degree from Democritus University School of Law in Greece and a Master’s of Science from Rutgers University in Human Resources Management and Industrial & Labor Relations. She began her career at Johnson & Johnson where she spent 23 years in various Human Resources positions. Stavrianidis is currently the Global Head of Total Rewards for Elementis, a global chemicals manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom with headquarters in New Jersey.

The Hellenic Professional Society of Texas (HPST) is a non-profit organization. It was founded by people who wished to preserve and promote the rich culture and heritage of Greece in their new “home.” George Blytas, George Kalfoglou, Tassos Karabelas, Anthony Kouzounis, Periklis Ktonas, Gus Michalopoulos, Alkiviades Payatakes, and John Vogiatzis inspired by the spirit of Hellenism, created the Society with the following goals:

To organize and sponsor social, cultural, educational, scientific, technical, and humanitarian activities for the benefit of the Society’s members and of the public, at the local, state, and national level.

To encourage and promote the pursuit of education among people of Greek descent throughout the United States.

To facilitate cooperation between professionals of Greek descent throughout the world.

To promote Greek language and culture to interested groups at the local, state, and national level.

During the past thirty six years, the Society has pursued its goals with vigor and enthusiasm. HPST has organized and sponsored activities spanning many and diverse areas of interest such as: musical performances, film festivals, concerts, folk dancing shows, scientific lectures, archeological presentations, scholarship programs, formal and informal get-togethers, poetry evenings, etc.; it has also organized and participated in a multitude of philanthropic events and activities.

The post Maggie Stavrianidis Presents How to Win the Interview Game at Rice University appeared first on The National Herald.

In the small central Greek village where the father of Texas teen high shooter Dimitris Pagourtzis was born, and still visits annually, there was disbelief the youth had conducted a massacre of fellow students, killing nine and a teacher.

The shooting at the Santa Fe high school was the fourth deadliest mass shooting at a public school in what has become so common that this year they are happening almost monthly, each time raising new fears and with a common denominator of someone seeking vengeance for a slight.

The family were “quiet, peaceable people” who didn’t seem out of place and showed signs of a good upbringing, residents of Magoulitsa told the news agency Reuters.

Antonios Pagourtzis left the village in his mid-20’s to go to the United States but regularly returned in the summer and runs local a business selling agricultural machinery, one resident acquainted with him said.

The family were “peaceable people, focused on work, business-minded,” he said, asking not to be identified. “He never caused trouble,” he said of the father.

Dimitrios rarely visited the village – residents said they saw him either last summer or the summer before – but those who did say he was quiet and did not show signs of unusual behavior.
“In my eyes, they showed good upbringing,” another long-time resident said, also requesting anonymity. “I saw them around. They were good people.”

“We’re lost for words. We did not expect this,” said Costas Spanos, president of the Magoulitsa community, a tiny village in central Greece with just over 500 residents where his father, Antonios Pagourtzis, was born. “We’re in shock. We’re a small community and this makes us look very bad,” he told Reuters over the telephone.

Meanwhile, a picture emerged of the teen killer as a quiet loner obsessed with guns who reportedly had been snubbed by a female student he wanted to date and who reportedly belittled him in class when he got too aggressive in his advances.

Photographs posted on the Facebook page of the Greek Orthodox Church in Galveston pictured him dancing with other costumed performers in other social media and journal posts showed he was obsessed with guns.

A Facebook post on April 30 that has since been taken down showed a black T-shirt with the words “Born to Kill” printed in white.

The post Texas Shooter Family’s Greek Village Shocked by Rampage appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – AHEPA Sunday was celebrated across the country on May 20 with parishes honoring the contributions of the organization with special prayers for all the members and those who have passed away. At Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, following the Divine Liturgy, presided over by Very Rev.

Fr. Nicholas Anctil assisted by Rev. Fr. Patrick O’Rourke, the James Plevritis-Joseph C. Keane AHEPA Chapter # 405 of New Rochelle was honored for its continuing charitable efforts and promoting Hellenism, education, and faith. The National Anthems of the United States and Greece were sung, followed by a brief speech by outgoing President Joseph Keane who noted the upcoming Graduate Luncheon on June 10. He noted that the event “recognizes the graduates from high school, college and advanced degrees, and their achievements are incredible.”

“These are children who have grown up in the community,” Keane said, “and they’re going on to different schools, to advance their careers, and their achievements are just incredible, we invite you all to attend.”

The new officers of the James Plevritis-Joseph C. Keane AHEPA Chapter # 405 were sworn in- President Harry Fotiadis, Vice President John Copulas, and Secretary Jon Kohilakis. Treasurer Evan Graf was also mentioned but was not present. The Board was also sworn in. Among those present were Thomas Dushas- Supreme Governor of Region 3, Zachary Marantos, and James Zafiros.

Dushas reminded the new officers that “the office does not make the man, the man makes the office.”

Zafiros noted Joseph Keane’s impressive 30 years of service as President of the chapter and also pointed out that a testimonial will be held for Dr. Nicholas Romas on December 1 at the Westchester Country Club.

Fr. Anctil also read the encyclical from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America for this year’s AHEPA Sunday. The full text follows:

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With joy and gratitude, the parishes of our Holy Archdiocese are asked to commemorate AHEPA Sunday and to recognize the service offered by the members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association and the organizations of the AHEPA family. Each year we designate a Sunday in May for this purpose, primarily to honor the significant work and offering that is being made by AHEPA members in our parishes, communities, nation, and around the world. It is also an annual recognition of a long and cherished relationship between AHEPA and the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

For almost a century, our Church in America and AHEPA have shared a history. Guided by faith in God and the ideals of Hellenism, Greek immigrants who came to this land wanted more than opportunity. They nurtured families and built communities, and at the center of those communities were parishes and organizations that strengthened their Orthodox faith, affirmed their Hellenic identity, guided them in service to those in need, and helped them participate in the American experience while contributing to the history and identity of this great nation.

We are the heirs of this foundation, a legacy we honor in this commemoration. We also affirm our commitment to this shared ministry and fellowship, a vital work that continues to meet the needs of elderly and veterans, to provide educational scholarships and unique programs for our youth, to support hospitals and relief programs, and to advocate on critical issues around the globe.

In recognition of all that we have done and will continue to do together, may we affirm that the AHEPA family is our family as Greek Americans. May we offer our prayers and support for the members and programs of AHEPA. May we give thanks to God for the history we share through our parishes, through AHEPA and all our organizations, and through our faith in Christ, which makes all things possible!

With paternal love in Christ,

† DEMETRIOS

Archbishop of America

The post Celebrating AHEPA Sunday in New Rochelle (Video) appeared first on The National Herald.

CHICAGO – Attracting exhibitors and attendees from around the world, the windy city’s largest foodservice expo could not be complete without the Greeks. A weekend of food, beverage and dessert tastings, networking, and business dealing, the National Restaurant Association Show brought together over 67,000 foodservice professionals to observe the latest industry trends in ingredients, restaurant technology advancements, kitchen gadgets and more.

The show included celebrity chef demonstrations and specialty features such as a kitchen innovations showroom, startup alley, innovation hub and restaurant growth conference. Among Greek-affiliated companies present were Chicago Sweet Connection Bakery, Grecian Delight Foods, Devanco Foods, Zoe’s Meats and Kronos Foods.

Growing in popularity In the U.S., a healthy eating trend has brought to light the many advantages of what is known as the Mediterranean diet – inspired by the cooking habits of Greece, Southern Italy and Spain. Concentrated in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, legumes and fish, the Mediterranean diet is considered a way of living proven to boost health and prolong life.

In fact, in 2013, UNESCO added the Mediterranean diet to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, citing that the diet “involves a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions concerning crops, harvesting, fishing, animal husbandry, conservation, processing, cooking, and particularly the sharing and consumption of food.”

Additionally, according to UNESCO, “the Mediterranean diet emphasizes values of hospitality, neighborliness, intercultural dialogue and creativity, and a way of life guided by respect for diversity.”

At the NRA Show, Greek-inspired ingredients and dishes included local and imported products ranging from fast food to gourmet. Grecian Delight Foods displayed an array of spreads including Mediterranean sauces, tzatziki, hummus and more, as well as their award-winning falafel and labor saving pre-carved gyro.

“Our goal is to educate the world on Greek and Mediterranean foods one serving at a time,” said Peter Parthenis Jr., CEO at Grecian Delight Foods. “And it’s not just the food, it’s the food and the culture,” he said.

As America’s taste for Mediterranean food becomes more noticeable in supermarket aisles filled with Greek yogurt, pita and hummus, the demand for Greek street food is also on the rise. “Street foods are very popular,” Parthenis Jr. said. “People are looking for bold flavors and global flavors.”

Feeding the trend with traditional flavors, Greek and ethnic fast food product manufacturer Devanco Foods served up savory gyros and pita throughout the day.

“Devanco Foods started in 1994. It was originally a company called Central Gyros, and that company invented gyros, so we like to say we’re Chicago’s first and finest gyros,” said Regional Sales Manager George Kanavas. “We make what we think are the best products in the industry,” he said.

California-based Zoe’s Meats presented cured meat, artisan cheese, olive oil and Greek ingredients. Founder George Gavros has helped introduce other Greek brands into the market by expanding his product line, citing the market’s challenges.

“My hope is to help a lot of these folks understand the American marketplace and that it takes real investment of their time to grow here,” Gavros said.

Catering to Chicago’s sweet tooth was Chicago Sweet Connection Bakery, a manufacturer and wholesaler of freshly baked European and ethnic themed cakes and sweets. Over 30 years in the dessert industry, Chicago Sweet Connection is operated by the Giannopoulos and Kallis families.

“It’s hard to work with your dad…I guess that’s a Greek thing, but it’s fun,” said Director of Operations Peter Kallis. “Everybody likes cake. It’s supposed to make you happy. We’d like to think that we are an important part of celebrations that bring people together,” Kallis said.

The NRA Show 2018 was held at the McCormick Place May 19 – 22.

The post Greeks Promote Mediterranean Diet at National Restaurant Association Show appeared first on The National Herald.

SANTA FE, Texas (AP) — Congregations in this deeply religious community near Houston gathered Sunday for their first services since a gunman blasted his way into a high school and killed 10 people, with one pastor lamenting the grief “that none of us can comprehend.”

Just two days after the deaths of eight students and two substitute teachers, graduating seniors also marked the end of the school year with a baccalaureate service that acknowledged the pain wracking Santa Fe, a town of 13,000, while Muslim mourners remembered the life of a slain exchange student from Pakistan.

“They will never be forgotten in this community, these young people, children just going to school,” said Brad Drake, pastor of the Dayspring Church, where a service was held that included memories of a slain student who was a congregant there. “We have families today that are grieving a grief that none of us can comprehend.”

Drake read the names of the dead, including Angelique Ramirez who attended Dayspring and was a member of the church’s youth ministry. Angelique’s family was not at the service.

“She was a sweet young lady, had a style all of her own,” he recalled. “She almost always had a new hairstyle.”

Kelly Ward, a licensed counselor who runs a ministry in Springfield, Missouri, took the stage to urge congregants not to suppress emotions.

“How do we get through this? What do we do?” Ward asked. “The answer is to let everyone grieve, including yourselves.”

He said people can help mourning families or friends simply by listening “because dwelling in us is the spirit of God.”

Church leaders wore green T-shirts with gold lettering —the colors of Santa Fe High School. Inside an outline of the state of Texas, the letters spelled out a verse from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

In a nearby church kitchen, parishioners prepared plates of barbecue to be sold after the service, with all proceeds going to victims’ families.

At Arcadia First Baptist Church, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hugged parishioners as they arrived. Among them was Monica Bracknell, an 18-year-old senior who survived the shooting. She stopped to tell the governor that the attack should not be turned into a political battle over gun control.

Surrounded by television cameras, photographers and reporters, she told Abbott guns were not to blame.

“People are making this into a political issue,” she said. “This is not a political issue. It’s not a gun-law issue.”

Arcadia First Baptist also hosted the baccalaureate service Sunday evening, which was moved from the school auditorium in the wake of the shooting. Speaker and Santa Fe graduate Aaron Chenoweth gave a short testimony about the trials and tribulations this graduating class had faced.

Chenoweth called on the community’s faith in God, saying, “If you give God the glory, you will always find comfort and love.”

It was not the first time faith in Santa Fe has been tested with the whole country watching. In 2000, the city was at the center of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that banned students from leading pregame prayer over loudspeakers.

The court ruled 6-3 that the school district’s policy of allowing student-led prayers at campus events violated the constitutionally required separation of church and state. Justices said giving students a public forum for prayer was effectively sponsoring the message.

Also Sunday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for a “hardening” of the nation’s school buildings in the wake of Friday’s attack.

Patrick, a Republican, blamed a “culture of violence” and said more needs to be done to keep shooters away from students, such as restricting school entrances and arming teachers.

“When you’re facing someone who’s an active shooter, the best way to take that shooter down is with a gun. But even better than that is four to five guns to one,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

On ABC’s “The Week,” Patrick said he supports background checks for gun purchasers but stressed that “gun regulation starts at home.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of members of Houston’s Muslim community attended a service for Sabika Sheikh, a 17-year-old exchange student from Pakistan who talked about one day becoming a diplomat.

Her host mother, Joleen Cogburn, recalled asking Sheikh why she came to study in the U.S. She said she wanted to learn American culture and to share Pakistani culture with Americans.

“And I want us to come together and unite,” she told Cogburn. “I don’t know if they know us the way they should.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Sheikh continues to be a diplomat “because even in her death, she is pulling the relationships between Pakistan and the United States, specifically the Houston area, even closer.” Her body was to be returned to Karachi.

The suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, also 17, has been jailed on capital murder charges.

In their first statement since the massacre, Pagourtzis’ family said Saturday that the bloodshed “seems incompatible with the boy we love.”

“We are as shocked and confused as anyone else by these events,” said the statement, which offered prayers and condolences to the victims.

Relatives said they remained “mostly in the dark about the specifics” of the attack and shared “the public’s hunger for answers.”

The suspect’s attorney, Nicholas Poehl, said he was investigating whether his client endured any “teacher-on-student” bullying after reading reports of Pagourtzis being mistreated by football coaches.

In an online statement, the school district said it investigated the accusations and “confirmed that these reports were untrue.”

Poehl said that there was no history of mental health issues with his client, though there may be “some indications of family history.” He said it was too early to elaborate.

___

By JUAN A. LOZANO and CLAIRE GALOFARO ,  Associated Press

Associated Press writers P. Solomon Banda and Nomaan Merchant in Santa Fe and Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.

The post Texas Mourners Endure Grief that “None of Us Can Comprehend” (Vid & Pics) appeared first on The National Herald.

SANTA FE, Texas (AP) — At least two of the student victims of a mass shooting at a Texas high school tried to block the advance of a gunman and were killed when he shot through the doors.

A classmate of one of the 10 people killed at a Texas high school says Chris Stone and other students tried to barricade the door to their art classroom. Christian Riley Garcia’s pastor says the 15-year-old student used his body to keep a closet door closed within the room.

Eight of the 10 people fatally shot Friday were students: Kimberly Vaughan, Shana Fisher, Angelique Ramirez, Christian Riley Garcia, Jared Black, Sabika Sheikh, Christopher Jake Stone and Aaron Kyle McLeod. The other two, Glenda Perkins and Cynthia Tisdale, were substitute teachers.

At least 13 others were injured in the attack at the high school in Santa Fe, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Houston. A 17-year-old student, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, is being held on capital murder charges.

Here are some of the victims’ stories:

CHRISTIAN RILEY GARCIA

Garcia described himself as a history junky who wanted to join the Army.

Student Jai Gillard, a 14-year-old freshman, tells The Associated Press that Garcia always sat next to her in art class, and had asked her on a date recently.

She says he was “always happy” and “very sweet.”

Gillard says that after they heard gunshots and smelled gunpowder on Friday, she and Garcia and other students piled into a closet. She says that Garcia used his body as a “barricade” against the closet door to keep the shooter from entering.

Ashley Fonseca says her 15-year-old cousin always came to family get-togethers at a lake in Crosby, Texas, and was loved by everyone.

The church in Crosby where Garcia and his parents and younger sister are members was planning a Monday evening vigil to honor what the church describes as Garcia’s “heroic act.”

Pastor Keenan Smith said law enforcement told Garcia’s parents that Garcia was shot through the door he was guarding. He said that because of Garcia’s “sacrifice, others were saved.”

KIMBERLY VAUGHAN

Vaughan was a Girl Scout with a penchant for red hair dye.

After the shooting Friday, Vaughan’s mother, Rhonda Hart, urged people on Facebook to contact their elected representatives.

A former U.S. Army watercraft operator, Hart called for gun control, saying “we need to protect our kids.” She also invited other service members to “speak up” for her daughter.

Hart declined AP’s request for an interview. But she said Monday on Facebook that one way to honor Vaughan would be to apply some red hair dye. Hart said Vaughan “loved those colors in her hair.”

Vaughan’s grandfather, Ralph Vaughan, tells the AP he’s upset that the accused gunman will not face capital punishment. He says that he’s “upset at the prospect of him remaining alive.”

GLENDA PERKINS

Perkins for years had been a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School, where her grandchildren are students.

Student Jay Mann, a junior, tells the Houston Chronicle that Perkins always had a smile on her face, took the time to learn students’ names and became part of the fabric of the school.

Mann says she had a great attitude and “never got mad at anybody for doing something stupid.”

An all-female Galveston Mardi Gras krewe, Tutu Live Krewe, has posted on Facebook that Perkins, along with her daughter, was a member of their marching group.

ANGELIQUE RAMIREZ

The senior pastor at Dayspring Church says Ramirez was a member of the Santa Fe church’s youth ministry.

Pastor Brad Drake says she had occasionally accompanied a younger brother to the ministry at the church where her parents are among the some 150 people to attend Sunday services.

Drake on Sunday described the 15-year-old as “a sweet young lady, had a style all of her own.” He says she “almost always had a new hairstyle.”

An aunt, Sylvia Pritchett, said in a Facebook post she has “a broken heart and a soul that just can’t process all this right now.”

JARED BLACK

Black turned 17 on Wednesday and was looking forward to a party this weekend at his family’s just-purchased, above-ground swimming pool.

An older brother, Anthony, from Odessa, Texas, was planning to visit with his wife and kids. Jared also had a younger brother, Houston, 13.

The Houston Chronicle reports his family now is planning for his funeral.

His stepfather, Travis Stanich, tells the newspaper Black took daily medication for attention deficit disorder and was quiet and kind and loved art, video games and sci-fi, wrestling and wolves.

Stanich called him “a great kid” who was creative, drew cartoons and loved people.

SHANA FISHER

The mother of 16-year-old Shana Fisher believes that her daughter was intentionally targeted by Pagourtzis.

Sadie Rodriguez said Pagourtzis repeatedly made advances toward Fisher in the four months leading up to the shooting. Pagourtzis was an ex-boyfriend of Fisher’s best friend, she said.

“He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no,” said Rodriguez over Facebook Messenger. “He continued to get more aggressive.”

Rodriguez said that the week before the shooting, Fisher “stood up to him” by “embarrass(ing) him in class.” Rodriguez gave no other details.

Rodriguez described her daughter as “shy and sweet” with a passion for video games. Rodriguez shared a video of Fisher from 2015, in which the teen contemplates whether or not she’ll continue making gaming videos because her computer keeps crashing.

The day of the shooting, Rodriguez wrote in a Facebook status to “love like (you’re) getting one more day with them.”

“Anything can happen,” she wrote. “I will no longer get to see my baby my 1st born anymore.”

CHRIS STONE

Stone was among a group of students who blocked the door to try to prevent the gunman from entering their art classroom, freshman Abel San Miguel, who was in the class, told The Associated Press. The shooter fired his shotgun through the door, though, striking Stone in the chest, he said.

Stone was outgoing, “really funny” and had a lot of friends, said Branden Auzston, a 17-year-old junior at Santa Fe High. He said he knew Stone for about three years, and Stone was one of his best friends.

Auzston’s mother, Nicole Auzston, described Stone as a part of her family.

“We would have done anything for him,” she said. “He’s just a great kid.”

Robert Stone told the AP by phone Saturday that his family was grieving his nephew’s death and requested privacy.

SABIKA SHEIKH

Abdul Aziz Sheikh was expecting his daughter Sabika to return home to Pakistan in a few weeks for Eid al-Fitr, the three-day holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Instead, he learned that his oldest child was among those killed in the mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, where Sabika arrived as an exchange student last August.

Surrounded by mourning friends and family at his home in Karachi on Saturday, Abdul Aziz Sheikh fought back tears as he relived his frantic efforts to check whether his daughter was safe half a world away. She wasn’t returning his calls and neither were her friends. He eventually learned from the exchange program that she was among the dead.

“We are still in a state of denial. We can’t believe it. It’s like a nightmare,” Sheikh told The Associated Press.

He said his daughter was a hardworking and accomplished student who aspired to work in civil service, hoping one day to join Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

“One should not lose his heart by such kind of incidents,” he said. “One should not stop going for education to the U.S. or U.K., or China, or anywhere. One must go for education undeterred. But controlling such incidents is the responsibility of the respective governments.”

Her funeral took place Sunday.

CYNTHIA TISDALE

Leia Olinde said Tisdale, her aunt and a substitute teacher at the school, was like a mother to her and helped her shop for wedding dresses last year.

“She helped me put it on, she helped fix my hair,” Olinde said through tears.

“She was wonderful. She was just so loving,” said Olinde, 25. “I’ve never met a woman who loved her family so much.”

She said Tisdale was married to her husband for close to 40 years and that they had three children and eight grandchildren.

Tisdale’s house was the center of family gatherings and she loved cooking Thanksgiving dinner and decorating her house, Olinde said.

Olinde’s fiance, Eric Sanders, said of Tisdale that “words don’t explain her lust for life and the joy she got from helping people.”

AARON KYLE MCLEOD

McLeod, a freshman who went by Kyle, could always be counted on to make light of any situation, said close friend Kali Reeves, who added the 15-year-old “just always had a bright side of things.”

Reeves, also 15, said she knew McLeod for years and became close friends with him in the eighth grade. She said he always had a smile on his face and loved to hang out with his friends.

“He was never one to be a sad or down person, he always had to joke or laugh about things,” she said. “He was just outgoing and super sweet. He definitely didn’t deserve this.”

Reeves said she first heard that her friend had been shot as she was evacuating Santa Fe High School, but was unaware of the extent of his condition.

Reeves said she texted McLeod throughout the day to check up on him. She sent him one final text, saying she hopes he “gets better.” Shortly after, she checked Facebook and learned he was one of the 10 killed.

___

Associated Press writers Emily Schmall in Fort Worth, Sudhin Thanawala in San Francisco, Amanda Lee Myers in Los Angeles, Michael Graczyk in Houston, P. Solomon Banda and Juan Lozano in Santa Fe, Texas, and Sarah Zimmerman in Springfield, Illinois, contributed to this report.

The post School Shooting Victims Killed Attempting to Ward off Gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis appeared first on The National Herald.

CHICAGO – At its Annual Gala, “Connecting Generations,” Saturday, May 12, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, The National Hellenic Museum and more than 500 Greek Americans, friends and community members from across the country raised more than $800,000 during the night of auctions, live music, dancing and celebrating the legacy of Hellenism. The philanthropic support from the evening is set to benefit tens of thousands of museum visitors, with 83 cents of every dollar spent on programming.

The event was emceed by WGN’s Very Own Dean Richards with live musical stylings by the Chris Sarlas Orchestra, with George Dimas and Voula Karahaliou, and The Levendes, featuring singer Nikos Koutras.

“What a wonderful night it was with so many elegant attendees, the spectacular live music, and of course, the great generosity of our donors,” said Dr. Laura Calamos, President of theNational Hellenic Museum. Celebrity emcee Dean Richards of WGN TV and Radio, thanked the mothers in the room, recalling the importance of his own mother and yiayia to his upbringing. Cubs Legend and National League All-Star, Ryan Dempster wowed the crowd by offering signed jerseys to bidders in the live auction. One attendee exclaimed: “The dance floor was packed with 10 lines of Greek dancing circling all around! This was definitely one of the best galas to date!”

One highlight of the evening included the presentation of the inaugural Alec K. and Viena P. Gianaras Philanthropy Award, given this year to The Gianaras Family and Frank S. Kamberos, in recognition of donors who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the National Hellenic Museum and to the ideal of philanthropy. The National Hellenic Museum Philanthropy Award is named after Alec K. and Viena P. Gianaras because they exemplified all the aspects of true philanthropists. Their vision in supporting the National Hellenic Museum modeled to others the spirit of giving to great causes in the Greek American community.

Boasting a rich repository of 20,000+ artifacts, photos, historic newspapers, books and an archive of 450+ recorded histories, the NHM serves as the physical hub of Greek American history, now many generations strong and celebrates the mosaic of the Greek diaspora, immigrant journeys and the breadth of the American experience.

The Museum preserves the largest collection of artifacts and oral histories dedicated to the Greek American story anywhere in the world, serving as a central repository for researchers, teachers and students of all ages. Special events help to fund classes, field trips, tours, programs, and, as highlighted in this year’s theme, the protection of the museum archives and the important memories preserved for all. The artifacts in the NHM Collections serve as a crucial component of NHM’s educational outreach.

For more information, visit www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org.

About the National Hellenic Museum

The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) portrays and celebrates Greek heritage and the Hellenic legacy through educational classes, exhibitions and programs. With a growing repository of over 20,000 artifacts, the Museum catalogs and highlights the contributions of Greeks and Greek Americans to the American mosaic and inspires curiosity about visitors’ own family journeys through cultural expression, oral history and experiential education. Located in Chicago’s Greektown, the NHM provides lifelong learning for the whole community using artifacts and stories to spark inquiry and discussion about the broader issues in our lives.

The post National Hellenic Museum Raises $800,000 to Support Hellenic Legacy appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Gibson Dunn has strengthened its private equity and merger and acquisitions (M&A) Practices with four corporate partners including Greek-American George Stamas, co-founder of The Hellenic Initiative. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP announced that Mr. Stamas, Mark Director, Andrew Herman, and Alexander Fine have joined the firm as partners. Mr. Stamas will work in the firm’s New York and Washington, DC offices, while Messrs. Director, Herman, and Fine will be based in the Washington, DC office and also will work regularly in the New York office. They all join from Kirkland & Ellis, continuing their corporate, mergers and acquisitions and private equity practices.

“We are delighted to add this distinguished team to the firm,” said Ken Doran, Chairman and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn.  “George, Mark, Andrew, and Alex are talented, highly regarded lawyers and energetic business developers. They have strong contacts in the legal and business communities in DC, New York and internationally. Their addition will significantly strengthen our M&A, private equity and corporate practices not just on the East Coast but across the firm worldwide.”

“Many of us here at Gibson Dunn have worked opposite of this group in a number of transactions, and we have the utmost respect for them,” said Stephen Glover, a partner in the Washington, DC office and Co-Chair of the M&A Practice Group. “Our combined practice will create a DC corporate powerhouse that will firmly establish our position as a leader in high-end corporate and M&A. In addition, their private equity and public company M&A experience will complement and expand our national and international practice.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to join the firm,” said Mr. Stamas.  “We have long admired Gibson Dunn’s culture and collaborative approach to servicing clients.  We are committed to joining the team and further developing our practice together.  We wish the very best to our former colleagues, who we hold in high regard.”

George Stamas served as a senior partner in Kirkland & Ellis’ corporate practice group since 2002 and will continue to serve as a senior partner in Gibson Dunn’s New York and Washington, DC offices. He focuses on public company and private equity M&A and corporate securities transactions. He also counsels C-level executives and board of directors on corporate governance matters.

Stamas has previously served as Vice Chair of the Board of Deutsche Banc Alex Brown, Inc.; as a founding board member of FTI Consulting (NYSE); as a venture partner of international venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates; and as a member of numerous public and private corporate boards.

He is an executive board member of New York private equity firm MidOcean Partners. He also is a board member of the Shakespeare Theatre Company and on the National Advisory Council of Youth Inc. He is a co-founder of The Hellenic Initiative and a member of The Council on Foreign Relations.

Stamas is also is a partner of Monumental Partners, which controls the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, and is a partner of the Baltimore Orioles.

He graduated in 1976 from the University of Maryland Law School, where he was a member of the International Law Review, and from 1977 to 1979, he served as special counsel to Stanley Sporkin in the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The post George Stamas Joins Gibson Dunn as Partner appeared first on The National Herald.

ASTORIA – The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York on May 21 honored the outgoing Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus, Ambassador Vasilios Philippou, who takes up his new post in Ottawa, Canada on June 1. The event took place at the Stathakion Center where Amb. Philippou was presented with a plaque and warm words of appreciation for his service and best wishes for the future.

“We came here to honor a good friend, a good diplomat, and a man whom we love and is loved by the community, but we are sure he also loves the community,” said Federation President Petros Galatoulas, the coordinator of the event.

“We do not write history, you judge us, you evaluate us, you give us the power to do our mission. It is not a job, it is a daily commitment to the homeland,” Amb. Philippou said in his speech. He was visibly moved by yet another event of appreciation from the Greek-American community.

The Consul General of Greece in New York, Konstantinos Koutras, presented the plaque, noting that Amb. Philippou embodies “the vision of the Ecumenism of Hellenism.”

“I believe that Ambassador Philippou is a man whose mandate in America embraces the vision of the universalism of Hellenism. It was something he taught and communicated. Greeks and Greek Cypriots united, as a “punch” for the big goals, “said Mr. Koutras.

The ethos and contribution of Vasilios Philippos was also shown by the former President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies, Elias Tsekerides, referring to a recent article in the National Herald.

“The article said that you should be called a member of the omogeneia with all the years you spent in New York. We love you and we are confident that your term in Canada will be a great success. When you love what you do, you know you will have a success conclusion.”

Greetings were also offered by the Consular Coast Guard, Fotios Kiamos- Head of the Maritime Department for the Greek Consulate, Maria Stratakis, and Mrs. Kalyvas from the Pan-Messenian Federation.

The speeches were followed by a lunch and two cakes, contributed by Mr. Nikolopoulos, one of which was in honor of Consul General Konstantinos Koutras who was celebrating his name day.

The post Federation of Hellenic Societies Honors Amb. Vasilios Philippou appeared first on The National Herald.

SANTA FE, Texas (AP) — The father of a 17-year-old student accused of fatally shooting 10 people at a Houston-area high school says the teenager doesn’t own any guns and that perhaps his son was being bullied.

In a phone interview over the weekend with Greece’s Antenna TV, Antonios Pagourtzis said he wished he could have stopped the killing Friday at Santa Fe High School. His voice cracks as he describes how he told police to let him inside the school so his son could kill him instead.

Dimitrios Pagourtzis is being held on capital murder charges.

His father says he owns guns but that the boy doesn’t. He says he thinks someone might have hurt his son and that this could have prompted the attack. He says his son didn’t drink and never got into fights.

The post Shooting Suspect’s Father Antonios Pagourtzis Thinks His Son was Bullied (Video) appeared first on The National Herald.

BETHPAGE, NY – A large crowd attended the celebration for the Feast Day of St. Isidoros of Chios in Bethpage on May 20. St. Isidoros Greek Orthodox Church was founded in 1974 by His Eminence Metropolitan Petros of blessed memory. The traditional Orthodox parish follows the Patristic (Julian) Calendar and is growing steadily with many young families.

The celebration began with the Divine Liturgy and also featured a procession with the icon of the saint. The parish is part of the Holy Metropolis G.O.C. of America under His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius, who was among those present, along with former Metropolitan Bishop of America, Paul, Fr. Nifon Tsikrikis, and Isidoros Spanos.

St. Isidoros was born in Alexandria to pagan parents and was martyred in Chios in the year 251. He had been an officer in the Roman navy and confessed his Christianity. Unwilling to participate in the sacrifices to the Roman gods, he was tortured and eventually beheaded.

His body was then thrown into a gorge so that the Christians could not bury him. According to the legend, St. Isidoros’ martyrdom caused all the trees of southern Chios to shed tears, resulting in the famous mastic found on the island, but only in the south. A Christian woman, Myrope, found the body and with the help of two servants buried the saint. When the Roman authorities discovered the body had been buried, they demanded to know where and threatened further violence until the guilty party was found. Myrope confessed that she had buried the body, but would not reveal the location. She was tortured and martyred as well. The Christians of the island buried her near the spot where she had buried St. Isidore’s body.

A chapel, and then a church, was later built to honor the saint who is known as a protector of sailors. The Venetians took his remains to St. Mark’s Basilica in 1125. The wall sarcophagus is located in a chapel called the Cappella di Sant’Isidoro which can be visited today. The feast day of St. Isidoros is May 14.

The post Feast Day of St. Isidoros Celebrated in Bethpage (Vid & Pics) appeared first on The National Herald.

Dimitrios Pagourtzis may be considered an adult in Texas state courts, but he cannot face the death penalty, according to a 2005 federal Supreme Court ruling.

For 100 years, Texas has considered 17-year-olds to be adults when they commit crimes, according to research from The Marshall Project. And Dimitrios Pagourtzis was charged as an adult with capital murder and aggravated assault on a peace officer, USA Today wrote in a feature about his likely penalties.

The 2005 high court ruling that bans execution of criminals younger than 18 and a 2012 ruling about juveniles facing life in prison mean that Pagourtzis could be up for parole after 40 years.

“The courts ruled based on the idea that those 17 and younger don’t have the cognitive development to appreciate right from wrong,” Michael Radelet, a University of Colorado at Boulder sociology professor who has testified in more than 75 death-penalty cases told USA Today.

“Cases like this that are especially violent and an enigma make some people think they are more deserving of death, but the ruling is about the development of the juvenile brain.”
Pagourtzis sketched out plans for the grisly attack in his journal and home computer before entering Santa Fe High School in Texas where he was a student, killing 10 and wounding 13, prosecutors said.

The post Pagourtzis Won’t Face Death Penalty, Could be Paroled appeared first on The National Herald.

Antonios Pagourtzios, father of Texas high school shooter Dimitris Pagourtzis, told Greece’s TV station Antenna that his son had been bullied, making him a victim and suggesting that was one reason why he snapped.

“Something must have happened now, this last week,” he told the station. “Somebody probably came and hurt him, and since he was a solid boy, I don’t know what could have happened. I can’t say what happened. All I can say is what I suspect as a father.”

The suspect’s attorney, Nicholas Poehl, has said he is investigating whether his client endured any “teacher-on-student” bullying after reading reports of the teen being mistreated by football coaches.

The school district issued a statement saying it investigated the accusations and “confirmed that these reports were untrue.”

Pagourtzis said his son took a legally owned shotgun and handgun from his closet before leaving for school that day but didn’t say whether he knew his son had done it. The teen didn’t own firearms of his own, he also said.

“My son, to me, is not a criminal, he’s a victim,” he said. “The kid didn’t own guns. I owned guns.” There were no reports whether the guns were locked or just left in the closet or if the father would be charged under Texas’ negligent storage law for not having the weapons secured.

Pagourtzis said his son never displayed any signs that he would be capable of such violence, explaining that he didn’t fight with others, didn’t drink alcohol and seemed to enjoy healthy pursuits such as working out.

“He pulled the trigger but he is not this person,” he said. “It is like we see in the movies when someone gets into his body and does things that are not done. It’s not possible in one day for the child to have changed so much.”

He said that after the teen had been taken into custody, he and his wife were allowed to visit him for 15 to 20 minutes.

“I saw the child. I didn’t see a child who is a murderer. A pure child, a child who was ashamed to look me in the face,” he said.

“He was thinking of his sisters, how his sisters will be able to get about. He said he loves me. He told his mother he loves her, and he will try to be strong to help us cope.”

The post Father Says Texas Shooter Pagourtzis Was Victim Too appeared first on The National Herald.

BROOKLYN – Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn celebrated its Feast Day beginning with the Vespers service on May 20 presided over by V. Rev. Archimandrite Damaskinos Ganas, presiding priest of Kimisis tis Theotokou in Brooklyn, and V. Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostom Panos.

Fr. Ganas spoke with The National Herald and thanked the community of Sts. Constantine and Helen for the invitation and expressed best wishes for all those celebrating.

“It is a great joy and honor,” he said, “to serve in our Cathedral. It is the pride and the jewel of Brooklyn. Many generations of Greeks started out going to church here and spread throughout New York. I wish all the best for the community school, the associations, and for the community to quickly find a permanent priest.”

Haralambos Paloumbis- President of Sts. Constantine and Helen’s Board of Trustees, wished all the best to those celebrating their name day and invited all the Greek community to the festival which takes place June 4-10.

The Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and member of the community, Peter Vlitas, told TNH about the dissatisfaction and disappointment of all the members about the lack of a permanent priest at the Cathedral.

“The Brooklyn Cathedral,” he said, “is a historic church with 102 years in operation, but has not had a permanent priest over the last few years and has been constantly seeking help from sister communities. Every Sunday we try to find a priest to perform the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Ganas is the first to come to help and we are grateful for that, and to the whole community of Kimisis tis Theotokou.

“The situation that prevails in our church and in all of America in general is upsetting and worrying us. Unfortunately, there is no program of the Archdiocese to be able to meet the needs of the communities. I wish the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Holy Archdiocese of America would look more closely at the communities, many of which are facing major problems.”

The ladies of the Philoptochos Society, Konstantina Lambrou, a 65-year member, Voula Paloumbis, a 50-year member, and Lucy Bouna, a 40-years member, mentioned the charity and social work of the organization and invited all the Greeks to visit and pray at the Cathedral.

The principal chanter Emmanuel Georgantakis, wished the best to all those celebrating their name day.

Peter Yatrakis, a member of the community for 48 years, said that his family, four children and eight grandchildren, are parishioners of the Cathedral, who are faithfully serving in all programs.

On May 21, the Archieratic Divine Liturgy was held, with His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela. Following the Vespers service and Divine Liturgy, the Philoptochos served sweets and a luncheon in the community hall.

The post Saints Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn Celebrates its Feast Day appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America released the following statement on Santa Fe High School Shooting:

“The mass school shooting at Santa Fe High School, in the small town of Santa Fe, Texas, last Friday May 18, 2018, has once again brought shock, sorrow and anger to the whole country and the world.

“We, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, mourn the tragic loss of life of the 10 victims of this abominable murderous act, eight high-school students and two teachers and we share the deep pain and grief of their families and friends. Our fervent prayers and thoughts are with all of them, the victims, their families and their friends.

“This time, the burden is heavier and the pain is sharper because the alleged seventeen-year old perpetrator of this crime has been identified as a Greek-Orthodox, and his family as members of one of our parishes. We pray for him and his family as well.

“This unacceptable and totally unthinkable school massacre is yet another one in a series, it is an epidemic of violent crimes that has overtaken our society and country. It is the result of an explosive mix of the proliferation of the culture of violence, violent video games, bullying and victimization of our youth, desensitization to crime, devaluing of human life and easy access to readily available guns. The question arises and we have posed it last time and we now have to ask again, whether we have done all we can to stop this epidemic disease.

“How many more victims, how many more school children, how many more teenagers and teachers should die before we act?

“We turn to prayer of course, for Almighty God to intervene and avert any repetition of such heinous acts and events, but as we find ourselves, once again, in need of offering words of comfort and solace, words of solidarity and hope to those who were directly affected by the events in Santa Fe, Texas, we wholeheartedly plead with our elected officials for immediate and effective action.

“May we all heal with the assistance of the God of mercy and wisdom and may we work to achieve positive results to restore hope to our society and the world.”

The post Archdiocese Releases Statement on Santa Fe High School Shooting appeared first on The National Herald.