O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 12, ISSUE 590 January 31, 2009 $1.25 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Boston Scientific Long Island Investor Accused of Ponzi Scheme Founders Sell Half their Federal Authorities Allege Greek American Financier Cheated Clients Out of Tens of Millions By Evan C. Lambrou Stake in the Firm Special to The National Herald

BOSTON (Bloomberg) – The men ny statement assured investors “the HICKSVILLE, N.Y. – Federal author- who built Boston Scientific Corp. into majority” of trading was over. In- ities have charged the founder of a the world’s biggest seller of heart stead, the duo has unloaded an addi- Long Island investment firm with stents have dumped $484 million in tional 32.3 million shares since then, defrauding investors and running a shares to repay loans after other as- according to filings. nearly $400 million Ponzi scheme. sets were frozen by the Lehman “You have a lot of investors ask- Prosecutors allege that tens of mil- Brothers Holdings Inc. bankruptcy. ing, ‘How could they do this to their lions of dollars can not be accounted Peter Nicholas, 67, Boston Scien- baby? ’” UBS’s Nudell said in a tele- for. tific’s chairman and founding chief phone interview. “A lot of people feel Nicholas Cosmo, 37, has been ac- executive officer, and John Abele, 71, they were reckless.” cused of operating a Ponzi scheme a director and co-founder, have sold Nicholas, starting in 1992, bor- at least between October 2003 and almost half their stake, or 4.2 percent rowed against shares to finance a December 2008 which raised more of company stock, since Oct. 7, ac- $100 million investment credit line, than $370 million from more than cording to regulatory filings. The an aircraft lease and $900,000 in 1,500 individual investors and de- sell-off contributed to a 23 percent home renovations, according to fil- posited the money into bank ac- decline in Boston Scientific shares ings with the U.S. Securities and Ex- counts under Agape World Inc., a over that time, said Bruce Nudell, a change Commission. Neither Boston private firm in Hauppauge, accord- UBS analyst in New York. Scientific nor its founders will say ing to a 51-page affidavit submitted The sales helped pay off loans se- what the loans linked to the current by U.S. Postal Inspector Richard cured with company stock when sell-off were for, and no documents Cinnamo detailing the allegations Lehman’s Sept. 15 bankruptcy kept were available detailing Abele’s bor- against Cosmo. the men from tapping other assets, rowing history. Cosmo was arrested this past the Natick, Massachusetts-based MARGIN CALLS Monday night after he surrendered medical device maker said in Octo- The company’s filings blame the at a U.S. Postal Inspection Service ber. After the founders dumped 30.8 trades on margin calls, orders from a office in Hicksville. The FBI attempt- million shares Oct. 8 to 10, a compa- lender to either pay down a loan or ed unsuccessfully to apprehend Cos- replenish collateral that has lost val- mo earlier, before he turned himself ue. If the borrower can’t do so, a bro- in at the Long Island Railroad train ker will sell the existing collateral. station. Nicholas, paid $1.84 million by If convicted, Cosmo could be sen- the company in 2007, and Abele, tenced up to 30 years in prison and a who received $1.33 million, declined fine up to $1 million. He was ar- interview requests. Boston Scientific raigned before U.S. Magistrate fell to a 13-year low on Nov. 20. Eight Judge E. Thomas this past Tuesday days later, Nicholas and Abele began (the case is U.S. vs. Cosmo, U.S. Dis- a trading plan that allowed them to trict Court, Eastern District of New limit daily sales to about 200,000 York, Brooklyn). shares, rather than the multimillion- Defense attorneys at the Herrick share blocks they had been unload- Feinstein law firm have not returned ing, according to SEC filings. TNH/COSTAS BEJ media calls seeking comment, but a “It’s a more measured pace that’s Distinguished teacher Pepi Volikas works closely with students from the William Spyropoulos Day School letter found hanging in Cosmo’s of- eased the pressure,” said Ben Silver- in Flushing. On the occasion of the feast day of the Three Hierarchs and commemoration of Greek Letters, fice window denies there was any man, research director at Insider- TNH spoke to both students and administrators to discuss the state of Hellenic Education in America. Ponzi scheme (a Ponzi, or pyramid, Score.com, a Princeton, New Jersey, scheme promises unusually high re- share-tracking firm, in a telephone turns and pays early investors with interview. money from later investors, rather 63.1 MILLION SHARES than from actual profits). Nicholas has sold about $302.9 The Challenges for Hellenic Education Assistant U.S. Attorney Grace million in shares and Abele about Cucchissi, U.S. District Court in Cen- $181.1 million, according to the By Evan C. Lambrou formation furnished by the princi- stantine & Helen Church in Palos tral Islip, said federal agents have Boston Scientific’s chairman and Special to The National Herald pals of two schools: one in the Hills, Illinois. Tuition is currently accounted for only a fraction of the founding CEO, Peter Nicholas. Continued on page 7 Chicago area and one in Florida. $3,875 per student. $370 million, including $80 million NEW YORK – Because this week’s More information about other Mary Zaharis has been the princi- Cosmo lost playing the commodities edition revolves around the feast schools in the system will be pub- pal at Koraes for the last five years. futures market and $55 million he day of the Three Hierarchs and the lished next week. She is a daughter of Greek immi- paid in commissions to associates commemoration of Greek Letters, ILLINOIS grants – her father was from Patras over five years. celebrated each year on January Founded in 1910, Koraes Ele- and her mother from Kerkyra (Cor- Cosmo, a resident of Lake Grove, 30th, the National Herald contacted mentary School is the largest of the fu) – and said she is fluent in Greek. and his associates, who also operat- administrators of several schools in five schools in the Chicago area, Mrs. Zaharis was born and raised ed offices in Maspeth and Jackson the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese with 165 students, 18 teachers – in Omaha, Nebraska. She received Heights, concentrated on soliciting parochial school system nationwide fewer than half of whom are of her bachelor’s degree at the Univer- clients through “family ties or in an effort to investigate the state of Greek heritage – and an operating sity of Nebraska and her master’s de- friends” who already invested, ac- Hellenic education in America. budget of more than $500 thou- cording to Cucchissi. Investors were This week’s story will project in- sand. It is attached to Saints Con- Continued on page 6 promised returns of 48-80 percent on their investments. According to the Cinnamo affi- davit, Cosmo claimed he was putting investors’ money into bridge loans, but just $746,000 of the mon- 8th Graders Happy to Learn Greek ey was found in Agape World bank accounts last week (bridge loans are By Eleni Kostopoulos icans. But what differentiates the above all. small-scale business loans made to Special to The National Herald Greek American education system “The school has 467 registered companies seeking initial start-up from the New York City public students, the strong majority of capital before expanding operations NEW YORK – “Education is an or- school system? What unique ele- which are Greek American,” said into a larger business. Basically, they nament in prosperity and a refuge ments do students raised in a Greek Principal Athena Kromidas. “All are what turn someone from being a in adversity.” American schooling community subjects taught follow the core cur- guy with an idea to a guy with an Aristotle’s words and philoso- adopt and carry with them into the riculum and aside from classes like idea and little bit of infrastructure). phy on education were not only rel- real world? For a firsthand account English, math and science we also The affidavit also alleges that AP PHOTO/MARK DUNCAN evant in Ancient Greece, but are of the Greek American academic offer Greek (taught on a daily ba- Cosmo used his investors’ money to Taking Over the Cleveland Browns emphatically consistent with to- experience, The National Herald sis), Spanish, religion class, which support a lavish lifestyle; under- day’s world. The significance of spoke to the 8th grade students of is taught once a week by our [St. write a baseball league in Seaford Baltimore Ravens pro personnel director George Kokinis, 41, has learning has always been empha- William Spyropoulos School of St. Nicholas] priest, computers, art, for $300,000; repay $212,000 he been hired as the Cleveland Browns general manager, reuniting sized in Greek society, and this tra- Nicholas Orthodox Greek Church music, health as well as several ac- owed for a previous fraud convic- him with new Browns coach and close friend Eric Mangini. He be- dition has continued to flourish in Flushing, NY and found that her- gan his NFL career as a Browns intern. See related story on page 3. among generations of Greek Amer- itage, language and religion reign Continued on page 6 Continued on page 7 Ousted from Bank of America, Niarchos Foundation to Build New Cultural Center Thain Defends his Decisions By Mark Frangos Special to The National Herald

By Evan C. Lambrou a 15-minute meeting with Mr. NEW YORK – Greek Prime Minister Special to The National Herald Lewis in New York this past January Costas Karamanlis praised the 22 – because Mr. Lewis is busy try- Stavros Niarchos Foundation for NEW YORK – Just four months af- ing to cover his own tracks. initiating the building of the Stavros ter being heralded for engineering When the brewing economic cri- Niarchos Foundation Cultural Cen- a deal which prevented Merrill sis hit full-force last fall, Mr. Thain, ter (SNFCC), which will house the Lynch from going down the same then CEO of Merrill Lynch, reached National Library of Greece and the wayside path as Lehman Brothers an agreement with Mr. Lewis for Greek National Opera, both set and Bear Stearns, John Thain’s new Bank of America, the country’s within the Stavros Niarchos Park on boss at Bank of America asked him largest retail bank, to acquire Mer- the site of the old horse-race track to resign a few days after Merrill rill, the world’s biggest brokerage in Faliro, the architectural plans for disclosed an additional $15.31 bil- firm for $50 billion in stock. which were unveiled to the public lion in losses at the end of last year. At the news conference an- for the first time by the Foundation Merrill Lynch’s 2008 fourth nouncing the merger this past Sep- and the Renzo Piano Building quarter losses were touted as the tember, Mr. Lewis praised Mr. Workshop (RPBW), a world- main reason Bank of America CEO Thain, saying that, while Mr. renowned architectural firm, on Ken Lewis ousted Mr. Thain late Thain’s new role at Bank of Ameri- Saturday, January 24 in an event at last week, and Mr. Thain, formerly ca had not been decided, “That’s a the Zappion Building. CEO of now-absorbed Merrill credit to John. It usually doesn’t “It is a day of anticipation and Lynch, was roundly criticized for happen that way. But it was never pride in a monumental project,” spending $1.2 million on renovat- about him. It was always about the Karamanlis said in remarks at the ing his office suite, as well as for deal.” event and described Stavros Niar- paying out early bonuses to Merrill But things changed. Merrill’s fi- chos as a “great national benefac- employees before the merger. nancial meltdown hammered Bank tor,” whose foundation was creating But some observers have also as- of America’s stock, which spiraled a “small planet - oasis for the areas serted that Mr. Thain was jetti- downward 40 percent during the of research, technology, culture and soned from Bank of America – after first three weeks of 2009 alone, and education, a reference point for EUROKINISSI an executive shake-up came as no young and old”. Prime Minister of Greece Costas Karamanlis shakes hands with Stavros Niarchos Foundation Co-President surprise. The premier noted that fast solu- Andreas Dracopoulos during an event unveiling the Foundations plans for a cultural center. To subscribe call: 718.784.5255 The more obvious tension be- tions had been found to procedural e-mail: tween the two men began mount- issues, so that bureaucratic inflexi- will extend beyond the borders,” he now” and adding that the founda- to house Greece’s National Library [email protected] ing in mid-December, when the im- bility would not be an obstacle to added. tion will single-handedly undertake and also make its contents available plications of Merrill’s latest losses carrying out the project, and The foundation’s Co-President the cost of the project, which is over the Internet throughout the began to sink in, and Mr. Lewis, pledged that his own support for Andreas Dracopoulos addressed the scheduled to be delivered for use by world, as well as a new National who had pressed ahead with the the effort would be “permanent and crowd at the event, stating that the the Greek state after 2015. Opera theatre built to modern inter- Merrill acquisition at the urging of constant”. grant for the Stavros Niarchos He added that the foundation’s national specifications, an ‘Agora’ “This center is a watershed in the Foundation Cultural Center “will be donation - 450 million euros - will Continued on page 7 life of our country, whose radiance our largest individual grant up to be used to construct a new building Continued on page 2 2 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009 Documentary Tells the Story of Immigration GOINGS ON... ■ JANUARY 31 the golden age of fifth-century By Eleni Kostopoulos ciation (GAPA) was formed to pro- NEW YORK – An exciting evening Periklean Athens. The event will Special to The National Herald mote Greek language and customs. of Greek song comes to the Cathe- take place at the embassy (2217 Despite the crash of the 1920s, dral Center in January. “An Anthol- Massachusetts Ave.) from 7-9 PM. NEW YORK – Greek Americans to- Greek Americans decided to stay in ogy of Greek Song: the Best and The first collections of classical art day tend to possess qualities of de- their newfound home and get Most Unforgettable Greek Songs formed by wealthy Romans were termination, a sense of undivided through the tragic economic down- over the Years” takes place on Sat- brought to Italy from Greece as community and abundant pride falls that caused their struggle to be urday, January 31 at 7:00 PM, pre- booty. By the first century B.C., embedded within them from their emphasized tenfold. sented by the Cultural Committee when the great villas were being ancestors who traveled an ambi- In the post-war era of the 1950s, of the Archdiocesan Holy Trinity built around the Bay of Naples, art tious and arduous road to the U.S. government relaxed immigration Cathedral. Featuring Grigoris Man- in the archaic and classical styles with hopes of escaping poverty and limitations and stars like renowned inakis and his Microcosmos Ensem- was being made in Italy. By the first building enriched lives for them- opera singer Maria Callas and ble, the concert will be a memo- century B.C., many Greek artists selves and their children. KRIKOS, a award-winning film and theatre di- rable musical trip dedicated to well had begun to move to the Bay of cultural and scientific link with Hel- rector Elia Kazan instilled pride in known Greek songs from Smyrna Naples to fill the many orders for lenism, gave spectators a glimpse of the Greek American community. to Rembetiko, and the great com- statues, busts, and paintings pro- this enduring voyage with its In the film, the third wave of im- posers Gounaris, Tsitsanis, Mit- duced in the Greek artistic tradi- screening of the acclaimed docu- migration was titled “The Revival of sakis, Zambetas, to our classical tion. Augustus in his new empire mentary “The Journey: A Greek Ethnicity” because Greek Americans composers, Theodorakis, Hatzi- sought to revive the notion of the American Dream” on Sunday, Janu- felt accepted within American soci- dakis, Xarhakos, Loizos, and Kou- golden age of fifth-century Perik- ary 25 at The Cathedral Holy Trinity ety. Most notably, it marked the sig- gioumtzis. Composers from the 80s lean Athens. His interest in art Church in New York City. Histori- nificance of 1965, when Archbishop and 90s will also be included. “The showed the same focus. And so also ans, scholars, guests, dozens of Iakovos marched side-by-side with Anthology of Greek Song” stars did the collections of Roman villa- once-buried photographs (carefully Martin Luther King, Jr. to fight for Grigoris Maninakis and the mem- owners, who favored classical selected from more than 3,000 im- civil rights. The documentary men- bers of his Microcosmos Ensemble: styles for their statues, reliefs, mo- ages) along with filmic archival tioned author Nicholas Gage who Glafkos Kontemeniotis (keyboard), saics, paintings, and luxury arts. footage tell the story of Greek immi- wrote in a New York Times article, Kostas Psarros (bouzouki) Megan They bought portraits of Greek gration from 1890 to 1980. “It is now chic to be Greek.” It also Winter-Gould (violin) and Spiros thinkers and famous statues of ath- Director of the film, Maria Iliou, told of the growing Greek American Arnakis (drums). The musical pre- letes, and they chose Classical he- said it was a chain of coincidences KRIKOS cultural and scientific association hosted a screening of the community in the “Greek Town” of sentation promises to be a unique roes and myths to adorn their walls that led her to the idea of making “The Journey: A Greek American Dream” in New York City. New York- Astoria, Queens. musical evening where well known and tableware. Please RSVP to the documentary. “The Journey: A Greek Ameri- and unforgettable melodies, that [email protected]. “When I came to the U.S. seven lands of Greece to Ellis Island, in an Greek newspapers in the U.S.: At- can Dream” took more than three marked and left their stamp on var- years ago, I had no intention of extremely stressful and anxiety-filled lantis which was under the Vlasto years to make and cost about ious periods of Greek song, will be ■ FEBRUARY 10 ever moving here,” she said to the trip. Most that crossed the Atlantic brothers in 1894 and The National $750,000, most of which was spon- sung by the audience together with WASHINGTON, DC – The Society audience, adding that although her relied on their compatriots—family Herald founded by Petros Tatanis in sored by the generous support of Maninakis. Tickets are $60 per per- for the Preservation of the Greek father traveled to the U.S. often be- members, friends, fellow villagers— 1915. the Jaharis family, the James and son and include wine, hors d’oeu- Heritage cordially invites the com- cause he was in the tobacco busi- to help settle and find jobs as street The second part of the film fo- Theodore Pedas family, the J.F. vres, and dessert reception. Tickets munity to a lecture by H.E. Alexan- ness, the country seemed like a dis- peddlers and shoe-shiners. Greek cused on the new wave of Greek Costopoulos Foundation, the John are limited, so please call quickly dros Mallias, Ambassador of tant notion to her. “When I came women didn’t migrate until 1910 for immigration from 1920-1960, ti- and Margo Catsimatidis Founda- for reservations: 212-288-3215. Greece on “The Wisdom Of The across these photos [images of the purpose of reproduction and tled, “Becoming Americans.” It tion, the National Bank of Greece Past: Why The Greek Classics Are Greek immigration], however, it took jobs in the booming textile in- touched upon organizations estab- and the Hellenic Parliament TV ■ FEBRUARY 3 Still Relevant” on Thursday, Febru- became so emotional for me. Later dustry. The documentary displayed lished to deal with different diffi- channel. It recently made its debut NEW YORK – NEW YORK – The ary 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM at The on I met Historian [Alexander the rise from poor working condi- culties immigrants faced like the at the Athens Benaki Museum and Hellenic Business Network cordial- Carnegie Endowment for Interna- Kitroeff] who at the time was doing tions to the prevalence of small busi- American Hellenic Education Pro- has been shown at the Metropoli- ly invites the community to its Big tional Peace (1779 Massachusetts a thesis on Alexandria, and we al- nesses that came about in the early gressive Association (AHEPA), tan Museum of Art in New York. Idea Competition on Tuesday, Feb- Avenue, NW). Reception will fol- most immediately decided to col- 20th century and the unwavering which was formed to protect Greek The DVD can be purchased with ruary 3 at the New York University low. Admission: $12 (SPGH Mem- laborate on this project.” dedication that Greeks—both men Americans against discrimination a donation to the Greek non-profit Kimmel Center Eisner and Lubin bers); $15 (Non-Members); $5 “The Journey” began with and women—had to education. by KKK while promoting American- company Proteas. For more infor- Auditorium (60 Washington (students). Payment will be accept- 400,000 individuals that migrated It spoke of the Balkan Wars and ization, as its counterpart, the mation, visit www.thejourney- Square South). The Hellenic Busi- ed at the door or in advance. Join- from the impoverished, agricultural the establishment of the first two Greek American Progressive Asso- greekamericandream.org. ness Network’s Business Idea Com- ing the Greek Foreign Service in petition (HBN-BIC) is a business 1976, Ambassador Mallias has plan competition that aims to in- been at the forefront of Greece’s spire, educate and support aspiring stabilizing role in the Balkans, serv- Hellene and Philhellene entrepre- ing as Director of the Southeastern neurs in the creation and growth of Europe (Balkan Affairs) Depart- Niarchos Foundation to Construct New Cultural Center successful businesses. This process ment at the Foreign Ministry in of learning, mentorship, team- Athens in various capacities, Head Continued from page 1 for us to offer much needed support commitment, experience and imagi- ronmentally progressive, state-of- building, and networking culmi- of the first Mission in FYROM. He around the globe), passed away, is nation, his integrity, his respect for the-art facilities. nates in a final contest where the also served in Libya and at the that seeks to recreate the ancient focused on supporting the areas of the environment, and for our coun- In addition to increased expo- winning business plan is awarded a Greek Permanent Mission to the ‘agora’ where the Greeks of antiqui- the Arts and Culture, Education, try’s history, and also his belief in sure to the arts and access to green substantial sum, press coverage, United Nations in New York, as ty would gather for trade and dis- Health, and Social Welfare. During our country’s positive role in the fu- space, both physical and virtual and support potentially leading to First Counselor for Political Affairs. course and the Stavros Niarchos the last fourteen years, which hap- ture of our world, makes it a real guests will benefit from the techno- the formation of a successful start- He has also participated in many Park that will be accessible to all pen to be our first fourteen years, we pleasure to work together. We, the logically advanced library. RPBW up company. In the ancient Greek negotiating teams, such as the Greeks seeking a temporary escape have provided numerous grants ‘Stavros Niarchos Foundation’ at also paid particular attention to the tradition of inclusiveness and meri- Greek Delegation to the Charter of from the ‘concrete jungle.’ around the globe, but our focus has, large and especially our amazing accessibility for people of all ages tocracy, there are no entry restric- Paris for a New Europe (CSCE). The above will be built on the site and will always be, in our home staff and advisors in our Athens of- and special needs. tions and anyone with a good idea During his long career, Ambassador of the old racetrack, covering an country, Greece, as it is evident from fice, Renzo Piano and his team in In keeping with SNF's and can compete. Please RSVP for this Mallias has served in many other area of approximately 16 hectares. the fact that approx. 2/3ds of our to- Paris, the Greek State, are all collab- RPBW's mission to create an emis- event as it is required by NYU or positions, including the Depart- Below is Mr. Dracopoulos’ entire tal grant-making activities has taken orating in the best possible way with sions neutral facility, the project call HBN at 888-251-5568. ment of Middle East Affairs, and as speech: place in Greece itself or through not- a common mission of building for has been conceptualized with the Public Affairs Officer at the Infor- “On behalf of my colleagues on the Greek people a Cultural Center highest standards of environmental ■ FEBRUARY 7 mation Center for the European the Board of the Stavros Niarchos In addition to increased that will make us all Greeks, without sustainability. A pivotal design ele- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Wash- Community in Athens. Please mail Foundation and our staff in the exception, very proud. We hope and ment that will play a significant ington National Opera Women’s cash or checks to SPGH: 5125 Athens office, we would like to exposure to the arts plan to have the project completed role in helping achieve this aggres- Committee and His Excellency The MacArthur Blvd. NW; Suite 11B; thank you for joining us here today. and access to green by 2015, at which time we will be sive standard can be seen in Piano Ambassador of Greece cordially in- Washington, DC 20016. During these current global socio- space, guests will donating the whole Center to the and his Building Workshop's innov- vite the community to “The Mid- economic difficult times, being part Greek State which will ‘run’ it for the ative roof- a series of interconnect- winter Gala,” at the Andrew W. ■ APRIL 2-6 of a not-for-profit institution engag- benefit from the benefit of all Greeks and more. ed photovoltaic cell panels which Mellon Auditorium on Saturday, ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Hel- ing in philanthropy around the technologically Today’s event is dedicated to the will cover the structure's needs, February 7, 2009 at 6:30 PM. Re- lenic News of America and the 18th globe, gives all of us involved with advanced library. “Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cul- taking advantage of the pure becca Miller and Sally Cox are the Hermes Expo International cordial- the Stavros Niarchos Foundation a tural Center” and in particular to all "green" solar and wind energy. Gala Co-Chairs. A not to be missed ly invite the community to The sense of promise, hope and pride. for-profit organizations and causes those who are helping materialize SNFCC is also expected to receive black-tie gala – join us for dinner 18th Hermes Expo from April 2-6, More specifically, being able to help promoting Hellenism around the its dream. Today’s event is dedicat- LEED certification. LEED addresses and dancing as we celebrate Thes- 2009. Starting from New York and our home country, Greece, makes world. There is a more detailed pre- ed to our Founder Stavros Niarchos, all building types and emphasizes saloniki through the ages! For indi- going to Philadelphia, The Expo everything even more rewarding. sentation of our activities at our to our people in all our offices, and state-of-the-art strategies in five ar- vidual tickets, please call The Mid- will take place on the weekend of We, at the Stavros Niarchos Founda- web-site at www.SNF.org. to Renzo Piano and his associates. eas: sustainable site development, winter Gala Office at 202-295- April 4-5, 2009 with a 120 Booth tion, the Board, the staff, and the ad- Our grant for the Stavros Niar- We hope you like what you see and water savings, energy efficiency, 2437 or e-mail MGala@dc- Exhibits at the Tropicana on the At- visors in our various offices, feel that chos Foundation Cultural Center hear today, and more than any- materials and resources selection, opera.org. For corporate sponsor- lantic City Boardwalk, New Jersey. we can contribute to the Greek will be our largest individual grant thing, we hope, not only as the SNF, and indoor environmental quality. ships, please call 202-295-2431 or April 2, 2009 - A Greek Food and State’s efforts in providing our peo- up to now. It will include the new but as Greeks, that you will all em- ATHENS’ FIRST PORT e-mail [email protected]. Wine Tasting Mixer, Reception ple and our country with additional state of the art facilities of the Greek brace the vision of the Stavros Niar- Another fundamental attribute Press Conference and B2B meet- resources with which to strengthen National Opera, the National Li- chos Foundation as your own asset incorporated into SNFCC is the sea, ■ FEBRUARY 10 ings based on profiles at the our ability to face today’s challeng- brary of Greece, as well as approxi- and will, in any and every way you which has played an important role NEW YORK – The Hellenic Cham- Queens Art Museum in cooperation ing world. The challenges are great mately 150,000 sq m of green, the can, help make it a success in all re- in Greece's history and culture. To ber of Commerce and Norwegian- with the Queens Chamber of Com- and no one, either in the public or Stavros Niarchos Educational and spects. This Cultural Center belongs draw in the sea's sense of light, lim- American Chamber of Commerce merce. April 3, 2009 - At the Gover- private domain can solve alone all of Cultural Park (similar in size to the to all of us, and we all owe it to our itless opportunity, and exploration, cordially invite the community to nors Mansion Mixer, Drexel Univer- the issues and challenges we are fac- National Garden) all together em- children to make it an absolute suc- a canal will run parallel to the exist- their Joint Shipping Conference, sity Seminar on Tourism and New ing as individuals, as Nations, as the bracing the SNFCC. We are glad that cess!” ing Espalanade. Within the border “How Will Shipping Survive the Technology. Reception and B2B world at large. we have chosen Renzo Piano, the in- ENVIRONMENTALLY of SNFCC, the canal will provide Perfect Storm?” at The New York meetings based on profiles. April 4 Our mission, since our inception ternationally acclaimed architect PROGRESSIVE visitors a place for family gather- Helmsley Hotel (212 East 42nd - 5, 2009 - The Tropicana Hotel, At- back in 1996 when our Founder, coming from our neighboring Geno- SNFCC will be located at the Fal- ings, activity, and relaxation, while Street) on Sunday, February 10, lantic City, NJ Exhibition Confer- Stavros Niarchos (whom we thank va, and his team to design and cre- iron Delta area in Athens, Greece also fulfilling a need for flood-pro- 2009 at 8:15 AM. Members: $625 ence - A major happening for Greek for the opportunity he has provided ate the SNFCC. Piano’s professional and will include the latest in envi- tection. (additional from same firm: $575); Americans, Americans interested in Non-Members: $695. Full program Greece and South Eastern Europe and speakers to be announced. and other Ethnic Markets. Sympo- Registration/coffee begins at 8:15 sium Brunch on Saturday 10AM-1 AM, Conclusion/Networking Re- PM, Grand opening at 1 PM, 120 ception begin at 5:00 PM. Booths meetings B2B, Dinner Awards Entertainment and a Sun- WASHINGTON, DC – His Excellen- day Brunch Networking. April cy the Ambassador of Greece and 6,2009 - A Grand Reception Mixer Mrs. Alexandros P. Mallias cordially at the Honorable Aris Melissaratos invite the community to a presenta- Estate, Baltimore, MD. For more in- tion by Professor Carol Mattuch, formation, please visit Info@Her- curator of the exhibition "Pompeii mesExpo.com. and the Roman Villa" currently on view at the National Gallery of Art ■ NOTE TO OUR READERS until March 22nd. The exhibition This calendar of events section is a includes collections of Greek art complimentary service to the Greek that was commissioned by the Ro- American community. All parishes, man villa-owners in the Bay of organizations and institutions are Naples during the first century B.C. encouraged to e-mail their infor- Professor Mattuch will present the mation 3-4 weeks ahead of time, "Greek Legacy on the Roman Bay of and no later than Monday of the Naples" as Augustus in his new em- week before the event, to pire sought to revive the notion of [email protected]

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Vote on our website! You have the chance to express your opinion on our website on an important question in the news. The results will be published in our printed edition next week along with the question for that week. The question this week is: Do you think that Obama's economic stimulus plan will help the U.S. economy? ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Maybe The results for last week’s question: Now that he is no longer Presi- dent of the United States, how would you characterize George Bush's presidency? 27% voted "A success" 58% voted "A failure" 15% voted "Average"

Please vote at: www.thenationalherald.com THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009 COMMUNITY 3 Bogdanos Honored for Efforts Browns hire George Kokinis as General Manager to Recover Stolen Antiquities By Tom Withers time,” said the 41-year-old Kokinis, Mangini was hired by Lerner, in Associated Press who spent 13 years with the part, to bring more discipline to the Ravens, the past six as the club's di- team. By Eleni Kostopoulos where: three tours in Iraq, CLEVELAND (AP) — Baltimore pro rector of pro personnel. It's unclear how Kokinis and Special to The National Herald Afghanistan, Kosovo and Africa.” personnel director George Kokinis "I would like to thank Randy Mangini will divide their duties or Col. Bogdanos said that all the has been hired as Cleveland's gen- Lerner for the extraordinary oppor- who will have final say over the PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Colonel royalties from the book, which is eral manager, reuniting him with tunity," Kokinis said in a statement. Browns' 53-man roster. Matthew Bogdanos’ story of his ar- currently on its fourth printing, will new Browns coach and close friend "Cleveland is a football town and I The Browns should benefit by duous efforts to recover antiquities be donated to the Iraq museum for Eric Mangini. look forward to working alongside Kokinis' intimate knowledge of the stolen from the Iraq Museum, as security of the museum and to fund Kokinis, who began his NFL ca- Eric Mangini and the rest of the or- AFC North. He worked as an ad- documented in his book, Thieves of its recovery efforts. reer as an intern in the Browns' op- ganization." vance scout with the Ravens and Baghdad: One Marine’s Passion to “This is something I felt very erations department in 1991, was Cleveland's GM position has played a key role in their week-to- Recover the World’s Greatest Stolen strongly about,” he said. “I would- hand-picked by Mangini, who rec- been open since Lerner fired Sav- week assessment of their upcoming Treasures (2005), has brought him n’t have written the book if it wasn’t ommended him during his first in- age after the Browns concluded a opponent. much acclaim not only from the na- for that. We’ve been fortunate terview with Browns owner Randy 4-12 season. One of the first decisions facing tion he serves (President Bush enough to recover just about half of Lerner on Dec. 30. Mangini took The Savage-Crennel team pro- the Mangini-Kokinis team will be awarded him the National Human- the antiquities, from eight different over as Cleveland's coach on Jan. 7, duced a 24-40 record and no play- what do with quarterback Derek ities Medal in 2005), but from the countries, of what has been stolen, just one week after he was fired fol- off appearances in four years. Lern- Anderson, who was benched mid- Greek American Community as which means the other half is still lowing three seasons with the New er still owes the pair millions after way through the season for Brady well. The Hellenic University Club missing. The image on the hard York Jets. signing them to contract extensions Quinn. of Philadelphia has therefore decid- cover issue is “The Lioness Attack- Determined to match a coach last winter. Anderson is owed a $5 million ed to honor Col. Bogdanos with its ing a Nubian Boy”, an 8th Century and GM who can work well togeth- Kokinis' hiring has been expect- roster bonus in March. If he is Achievement Award for 2009 on piece. The reason it’s on the cover er after the Romeo Crennel-Phil ed for more than a week. He spent deemed expendable, the Browns February 7 at the Hyatt Regency at and is displayed so prominently, is Savage relationship failed, Lerner two days in meetings earlier this could trade him for draft picks. Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA. because it is still missing. Every is teaming up a pair of friends who week at the team's headquarters. Savage dealt several 2009 picks, “The Achievement Award was time I look at the cover of the book shared an apartment when they Along with Mangini and members leaving the Browns with only four established 13 years ago to honor it’s a reminder to me that the jour- first broke into the league and have of his new coaching staff, the pair selections in this April's draft. those outstanding individuals who ney has only just begun.” remained tight. evaluated Cleveland's current ros- Lerner interviewed five people have distinguished themselves in As extensive and impressive as "The Browns are excited to bring ter and began early preparations for the GM vacancy. In addition to their careers and whose achieve- Col. Bogdanos’ resume is, he said, George back to Cleveland where he for free agency, the draft, minicamp Kokinis, Lerner spoke with former ments exemplify the pursuit of edu- he still has a long way to go before began his NFL career," Lerner said and summer training camp. New England vice president of per- cation and learning, ‘Paideia’ our it’s complete. Although he doesn’t in a team release. "He is a tireless With Baltimore, Kokinis was one AP PHOTO/MARK DUNCAN sonnel Scott Pioli, who recently club mission,” said Chris Politis, plan to write another book, his re- worker that has spent his entire ca- of Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome's top New Cleveland Browns general took over as GM in Kansas City, president of the club. covery effort still remains strong. reer evaluating talent and knows aides. He was responsible for ana- manager George Kokinis talks to Browns director of player person- “Col. Bogdanos is this year's re- “We all have a list of things to do the type of player it takes to be suc- lyzing rosters, evaluating the free- reporters Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, nel T.J. McCreight, Giants director cipient. He is an attorney and in our lifetime,” he said. “For me, cessful in this league and in our di- agent market and assisting in the at the NFL football team's head- of player personnel David Gettle- one of these things on my list is to vision." negotiations of draft picks. quarters in Berea, Ohio. man and former Jacksonville vice return to the Iraqi people every sin- Terms of Kokinis' deal were not In Cleveland, Kokinis, who was- president of player personnel gle piece from the museum that immediately known. n't on Lerner's radar screen when the pressure of those expectations. James "Shack" Harris. was stolen, but I’ve just added a “For me, it was the natural his GM search began, inherits a They went 1-7 at home and were McCreight spent most of last new thing to my list and that is re- move. I’ve been afforded the oppor- team with less talent and many reduced to playing their fourth- week in Moblie, Ala., scouting the turn to Greece the Parthenon sculp- tunity to see so many facets of an more problems than in Baltimore. string quarterback down the Senior Bowl. tures that are sitting in Russell organization and to work in so The Browns had high hopes fol- stretch because of injuries. There He was reportedly fired on Fri- Square at the British museum.” many facets, I just think it was the lowing a 10-6 season in 2007, but was also a lack of needed discipline day, but the Browns have not con- Col. Bogdanos, who was re- natural move for me to make at this instead they crumbled in '08 under as players did what they pleased. firmed his ouster. called to active duty after the Sep- tember 11 attack on the World Trade Center, also said that he will continue to serve his country, and in the wake of a new administra- tion, his responsibility to the na- tion’s new leader is no different than it was to previous administra- tions he served. “One thing about the military profession, a profession which was perfected in 5th Century B.C. Athens, is that you serve the office, you serve the government,” he said. “The person in office is almost irrelevant. President Obama, Presi- dent Bush, President Clinton, Presi- dent Bush, Sr., President Regan- they have all served the same role as Commander-in-Chief, so politics to us is not something that enters on our radar screen.” President Politis said the high- light of the Philadelphia Club's so- cial calendar is the Annual Dinner Dance, and members are looking forward to honoring Col. Bog- danos. “This formal gala held the first TNH ARCHIVES Saturday of February commemo- Colonel Matthew Bogdanos was rates the anniversary of our found- honored by The Hellenic Univer- ing as we celebrate the Day of sity Club of Philadelphia with its Greek letters which honors the Achievement Award for 2009 on Three Hierarchs of the church who February 7 in Penn's Landing, PA. exemplify the Club's dedication to education,” he said. homicide prosecutor in New York “For this event we publish a City, a classics scholar, an author, commemorative journal and hold a and a Col. in the Marine Corps Re- silent auction. All proceeds benefit serve. Deployed to Afghanistan, our Scholarship Fund. From its in- then to Iraq, he has received many ception our club founders set a goal honors for his effort to recover of establishing scholarships to as- thousands of stolen treasures from sist worthy Greek American stu- the Iraq Museum. All proceeds dents. To date we have awarded from his book go to the recovery ef- over $335,000 in scholarship fort. We are honored to present grants and our Scholarship Fund this award to a true hero.” has grown to nearly $400,000. We Col. Bogdanos credited his her- offer 15 undergraduate and gradu- itage to his many successes, which ate scholarships.” he humbly recounts as minor com- Politis added that The Hellenic pared to those of other heroic fig- University Club of Philadelphia was ures. founded in 1936 by a group of “I can’t imagine having done Greek American professionals. what I’ve done without having had “At that time there were twelve my Greek heritage and back- men and two women,” he said. ground,” he said. “I was raised in “The Club was established for intel- New York and [my family] had a lectual, cultural and social purpos- Greek restaurant in Manhattan, so I es within the Greater Philadelphia was raised very Greek and raised area to celebrate our Greek culture. speaking the language. It was also The primary goal and club mission an upbringing that was very heavi- is ‘Paideia’ the pursuit of learning ly into the Greek classics, particu- or education. To this end we orga- larly Homer’s The Iliad. I was 12 nize numerous social activities, years old when I received my first musical programs, excursions and copy and its gone with me every- lectures.”

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a b Kontos.com 4 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009 Argonauts Association Holds 3rd Annual Holocaust Remembrance

By Eleni Kostopoulos remarks. Consul General of Cyprus An- day’s problems in the world.” Special to The National Herald Asher Matathias, chairman of dreas Panagiotou also spoke of the Balta also announced that the the organizing committee, said that event’s significance and noted Greek Ministry is in the process of NEW YORK – The “Argonauts” As- while resistance to the event exist- Cyprus’ role during the exodus of organizing a permanent exhibition sociation of Magnesia hosted its 3rd ed, it was imperative the Holocaust Jews in Palestine. of the Greek Jews who lost their Annual Holocaust Remembrance remembrance subsisted. “There are no words strong lives in Auschwitz. She said the on Sunday, January 18 at the Arch- “Amid controversy from certain enough to deploy the stable tragedy Ministry will release a book of pho- diocese Cultural Center in Queens, quarters given the current geopolit- which cost the lives of 6 million tos and memories of those who NY. The event, which functioned ical crises in the Middle East, the people simply because of their orig- have survived Auschwitz, with a under the auspices of the ambas- Greek American organization of inal religion,” he said. “Tonight, we launching scheduled to take place sador of Greece to the U.S. Mr. Magnesia ‘Argonauts’ has gathered are honoring those without hesita- in February. Alexandros Mallias, was attended in an apolitical fashion to commem- tion, reservations or any second Very Reverend Sevastianos Sko- by several distinguished guests in- orate our Jewish Greek brethren thoughts, who in many different rdalos attended the event in repre- cluding Consul General of Cyprus who fell under the Nazi extermina- ways have risked their lives to save sentation of Archbishop Demetrios Andreas Panagiotou, Consul Gener- tion machine,” Matathias said. “In their fellow human beings.” of America. al of Greece in New York Aghi Balta, the spirit of today’s snow, the con- Consul General of Greece Aghi “The word Adam, in Hebrew, Dr. Mary Marangos, who represent- science images of purity and inno- Balta noted the significance of re- means human being,” he said. “So ed Congresswoman Carolyn Mal- cence, and as we are proud to stand membering historical happenings we are all brothers and sisters of oney, Rabbi Moses Birnaum, imme- as Americans in the cusp of a new for the purposes of preventing simi- one father, Adam, and we come to- diate past president of the Long Is- administration, let it symbolize the lar calamities in the future and for gether with Jews, Christians, Mus- land Board of Rabbis and Patricia nature of friendship that we share solving current crises. lims and other ethnic groups to cel- Curran and James Li of the thoughtfully, offered by Louis Un- “It is a privilege for me tonight to ebrate this human life.” Catholic-Jewish Relations Council. termeyer: ‘The quality of friend- honor the memory of those who The function’s main speaker, Dr. “We are here to honor the lives ship, unlike that of mercy, is contin- perished during the Holocaust,” Steven Bowman, professor of Juda- The “Argonauts” Association of Magnesia hosted its 3rd Annual Holo- and sacrifices of our Jewish ually being strained. But it is the Balta said. “The present conjunc- ic Studies at the University of caust Remembrance on Sunday, January 18 in Queens. brethren and the most courageous essence of friendship that it can ture should not make us forget Cincinnati, started off by acknowl- of Greeks who put their own lives in stand the strain. Friendship is like what those people—the families, edging the significance of this his- Palestine, and the majority who re- pressing hope for a peaceful com- jeopardy and made it possible for love at its best; not blind but sym- the children, the mothers, the fa- torical week, marked by the cele- turned to their ‘patrida,’ Hellas.” promise. the survival of nearly 80 percent of pathetically all-seeing; a support thers—had to endure. If we remem- bration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Bowman also described the “I hope they use the opportunity the Jewish community in Volos,” which does not wait for under- ber, we become better people, and the inauguration of a new president heroism demonstrated by the Chris- of the ceasefire for a permanent said presenter of the program standing; an act of faith which does maybe, if we remember, we can and the unilateral ceasefire Israel tian church and by many Greeks peace in the Holy lands,” he said. “It Demetra Sevides during opening not need, but always has reason.’” find solutions, just solutions, to to- recently announced. who assisted and often hid Greek serves as a small boost in our mem- Bowman’s lecture gave a histori- Jews to protect them from the re- ory, why we should forgive but not cal background of the Holocaust, volting Nazi regime. forget, and we should never allow while recalling tales of the contri- “Jews were Greeks as well,” he such crime as the Holocaust to be butions of Greek Jews economical- said. “They fought for and died in repeated. At the same time every ly, politically and militarily, during the blood-soaked camps of Europe, nation that took place in such the Italo-German occupation. served as well as died in the moun- crimes, should recognize [their “Only a handful of Greek Jews tains and plains of their ‘patrida’. wrongdoings] and apologize for were left in Auschwitz to experi- That aspect should be remembered them. Turkey, for example, should ence that camp’s liberation,” he and honored as well.” immediately recognize the geno- said. “The others had been evacuat- Dr. Bowen teaches on subjects cide of 1.5 million Armenians in ed in a notorious death marches specializing in medieval and Judaic 1914-15 and the massacres and that began the previous fall. Esti- Studies and modern Israel. He also genocides of more than a million mates are that about 65,000 of the researches on Greek and Jewish re- Greeks of Asia minor.” 80,000 Jews from Greece were de- lations from the last 2,000 years. Upon the closing remarks, a mu- ported to Auschwitz in the spring He has written several books in- sical program was presented by and summers of 1943 and 1944. cluding “Jews in Byzantium, 1204- Serafeim Lazos, who movingly per- Another 4,000 Jews of Thrace were 1453” (1985) and “The Agony of formed the “Ballad of Mau- sent to Treblinka where they were Greek Jewry during WWII”, which thausen,” consisting of three poems all gassed to death upon arrival. is currently in press. He has pub- by Iakovos Kambanellis and music The tragic deaths were all recorded lished articles on Greek Jewry in by Mikis Theodorakis. A reception by a handful survivors. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzan- with the cutting of the vasilopita “Of the 65,000 reported to tium and the Dictionary of Literacy followed shortly after. Auschwitz, approximately 12,000 Themes and Motifs. Dr. Bowman During the program, the organi- young men and women were se- studied at Smith and Mount zation was presented with a certifi- lected for various kinds of forced Holyoke colleges, the Hebrew Uni- cate of congressional recognition slave labor in Auschwitz and over versity of Jerusalem and the Ameri- by Dr. Mary Marangos on behalf of 10,000 found their brutal deaths can School of Classical Studies in Carolyn Maloney for the commem- from disease, starvation, sadism Greece. oration of the Greeks who perished and suicide. Less than 2,000 Greek Apostolos E. Zoupaniotis, presi- in the Holocaust and “the heroic Jews survived the deportation and dent of “Argonauts,” concluded the courage of the Hellenic patriots Serafeim Lazos performed the musical program, “Ballad of Mauthausen,” consisting of three poems by those remnants found refuge in event by touching upon the current who saved countless lives in Iakovos Kambanellis and music by Mikis Theodorakis at the 3rd Annual Holocaust Remembrance. Sweden, France, England, U.S., crisis in the Middle East and ex- WWII.” New Yorker Wholesale Bagels still a Force after 20 years

By Demetris Tsakas George Menegatos was born Avenue in Astoria, and on February Greek restaurateurs and other food Special to The National Herald and raised in Assos, in the Western 14, 1994 they relocated their pro- service professionals of Manhattan Greek island of Cephalonia. When duction facility to 12th Street in because they have always stood by NEW YORK – Bagel lovers enjoying he came to the United States, he Long Island City. our side. I want to wish all of these the traditional New York delicacy in got a job in the restaurant industry “Everything we have accom- people a happy New Year and as- most Manhattan restaurants, ho- like many of his fellow country- plished we did with the help of sure them that we will never forget tels, coffee shops, or even from lo- men. By the early 1980s, he bought store owners who love us for our what they have offered to New cal food vendors, owe their compli- the Bagel Buffet in the lower Man- service and the quality of our prod- Yorker Bagels,” Mr. Menegatos ments to New Yorker Wholesale hattan district of the Village, and uct. We owe a great debt of grati- said. Bagels – a Greek American compa- from thereon in he began his career tude to Pete and Manolis Xenopou- Speaking to The National Her- ny located at 34-20 12th Street in in the wholesale bagel business. A los, owners of Patsy’s and Eurobar, ald about the number of different Long Island City, Queens. few years later, Mr. Menegatos and for being longtime customers and types of bagels his company pro- The company has been a staple his partner Nick Evangelinos ex- standing by us during good and bad duces, Mr. Menegatos said that in the New York bagel industry for panded their business and moved times. And let’s not forget Steve New Yorker Wholesale Bagels pro- over two decades, when it was first their headquarters from the Village Tenedis and dozens of other loyal duces 12-13 different varieties, and established by George Menegatos to Astoria. They started out on 36th customers. We are indebted to the that this year they introduced two and the late Nick Evangelinos – Mr. new flavors – the French Toast Menegatos’ partner and father of Bagel and a bagel with both black his current partner Stefanos. and green Kalamata olives. Mr. Thanks to their hard work and keen Menegatos said that Kalamata olive business sense, the business duo of bagel was created to promote Menegatos and Evangelinos man- Greek heritage. He also noted that aged to make New Yorker Whole- his business once employed 130- sale Bagels one of the largest and 140 people, but remarked that the best developed companies in the new automated machines in place industry. today have reduced the workforce Their creativity and visionary to 40-50 employees. He also point- spirit even led them to expand the ed out that his company serves selection of bagels they offer. Re- business throughout the New York cently, New Yorker Bagels has intro- City area, “especially in Manhattan duced two new flavors, which it has and Queens, and a few in the George Menegatos, owner of New Yorker Wholesale Bagels in Long Is- already incorporated into mass Bronx.” land City, watches the production of a batch of bagels. production – the French Toast “The heart of our customer base Bagel and the Kalamata Olive is located in Manhattan. We also teen years ago things were better in 2009 will bring, noting that “it is Bagel. serve other suppliers who have Manhattan because there was a going to be a year that we are going New Yorker Bagels production agreements with hotels and casinos greater sense of professionalism. to want to forget. We need God’s process is conducted chiefly with in Atlantic City. Factoring-in our lo- Storeowners had product knowl- help so that we can make it through the help of automated machines lo- cal customers alone, we serve edge and knew what they were ask- the year with as little damage as cated in the factory. The bagels are 3,000-3,500 stores. Distribution ing for. People like that have left possible. This is going to be a year continually checked and monitored begins at two in the afternoon and the business, and work has become where we will all feel the need for by computers – starting with the last until five in the morning. We more frustrating because the peo- solidarity, because no man is an is- dough, and moving all the way begin by supplying small food ven- ple who have taken their place do land. We all depend on our fellow through the entire baking process, dors in Manhattan with bagels, not know the first thing about good man. People must begin to respect which is done with steam or hot which are different from the ordi- bread. Our lives were a lot easier their fellow man.” water. Computers also routinely nary ones. They are steamed so when we used to deal with people Forecasting when an end to the check the factory’s ovens and freez- they can remain softer. We supply who knew about the job. Times worldwide economic crisis would ers – ensuring that all the regula- 85% of food vendors. The bagels were better five or ten years ago appear, Mr. Menegatos said that tions of the public health code are Steven Menegatos, left, and his father George discuss the production with which we supply restaurants too. Automation in our factory is “things will begin to change again followed to a tee. of the bagels at their company, New Yorker Wholesale Bagels. are made in boiling water,” he ex- not something we are particularly after 2012. The years 2014-2017 plained. happy about, because it comes at a will be good years, reminiscent of “New Yorker Bagel is a well- tremendous cost. When our ma- 1992, 1994, and 1995. There is no known name in the bagel industry. chines break down now it costs a magic wand that can fix the eco- Anywhere that bagels are made, lot more to fix them.” nomic crisis, but if we keep our producers try to use water from “But we always have to say hope intact we will come out of this Greek Orthodox Church Settles Sex Abuse Case New York because the chemicals lo- thank God and be satisfied with victorious.” cated here help the dough to rise what we have. I pray that God Mr. Menegatos said he wishes By Paul Pinkham tails because of the confidentiality say if an agreement is close. the right way. Even the bagels that blesses Greek Americans for what that the changing of guards in Florida Times-Union agreement, I can say that Father The plaintiff, identified in court are made in Florida use water from they have contributed to Manhat- Washington D.C. and Barack Oba- Graff did not participate in the settle- papers as John Doe, filed the lawsuit New York. It is no coincidence that tan. When you come across Greeks ma’s inauguration will raise hope A Jacksonville church has settled ment and to his knowledge, no in 2007 along with his mother and we receive orders to send ship- who own ten or twenty restaurants for change throughout the entire claims with a former parishioner monies were spent on his behalf,” grandparents. It said Graff exhibited ments of frozen dough to Florida here, you cannot help but feel a world, because whatever decisions who said he was sexually assaulted said Graff’s attorney Thomas Fallis. obsessive and inappropriate interest and other states,” Mr. Menegatos sense of pride, because these peo- are made in the United States stand by a priest who later tried to adopt The church’s lawyer didn’t return in him from the time he was a said. ple are heroes,” Mr. Menegatos as an example for nations every- him. several phone messages left at his of- teenager, showered him with gifts, He also clarified that New York- said. where. But his lawsuit continues against fice and with a representative. induced him into moving into the er Bagel serves not only restau- With regards to the generation Mr. Menegatos is married to his the archdiocese that oversees St. Attorney Robert Spohrer, who priest’s home and sexually assaulted rants, but a wide variety of cus- gap in the Greek American Com- wife Maria, and the couple has three John the Divine Greek Orthodox represents the plaintiff, said Wednes- him. tomers ranging from hospitals to munity, Mr. Menegatos said that children; Spyros, 25, who works as a Church. day his client “is pleased that one as- Graff offered the man’s mother five-star kitchens. the new generation of Greek Amer- stockbroker; Steven, 24, who works The confidential settlement be- pect of the case is resolved.” $300,000 to surrender her parental “When our truck drivers leave icans has had the benefit of being at the bagel factory and is getting tween the Atlantic Boulevard church Litigation is continuing with the rights and tried to adopt him, ac- here they take more than just handed-down everything from ready to take over the family busi- and the 23-year-old man was New York-based Greek Orthodox cording to the complaint. bagels with them. They are loaded their parents, and he noted that ness; and Joy, who works as a Math reached during mediation, accord- Archdiocese of America. The case is At the time it was filed, Fallis with all kinds of breads that we they will not have to work as hard teacher and will be receiving her ing to a report filed in court Friday by scheduled for trial June 8. called the lawsuit meritless and its have in our storehouse due to our as the older generation. “They will Master’s Degree next year. the mediator. The report also an- “We have not had discussions allegations spurious. relationship with different bakeries have their share of challenges, but In addition to his business activ- nounced a complete settlement with with them yet. There will probably Spohrer said the remaining case which produce other kinds of we are the ones who bore the brunt ities, Mr. Menegatos has shown in- the retired priest, the Very Rev. be discussions in the future,” against the archdiocese deals with breads,” Mr. Menegatos said. of the work. If there is still peace in terest in community affairs, having Nicholas T. Graff, though Graff’s Spohrer said. its role in the assignment and su- Talking to TNH about the differ- the world, life will be easier for served as President of the “Aenos” lawyer said the priest didn’t partici- The archdiocese’s attorney, pervision of Graff and its handling ent challenges New Yorker Bagels them that it was for us,” he said. Cephalonian Brotherhood and the pate in any settlement. Charles Pillans, said settlement re- and investigation of previous abuse has faced over the years, Mr. However, Mr. Menegatos was “Odysseus” Federation of Cephalo- “While I can’t talk about the de- mains a possibility but he couldn’t allegations. Menegatos said the following. “Fif- not very optimistic about what nia and Ithaca. THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009 COMMUNITY 5 One year without Archbishop Christodoulos

By Theodore Kalmoukos Cathedral to venerate his hand for December of 2007 (the only inter- strange Ecclesiological statute of Special to The National Herald the last time during the three days view he has granted to any media the Metropolises of the New Lands of his wake a year ago. outlet anywhere, including in Greece. Shamefully our own BOSTON – On Wednesday, January Archbishop Christodoulos dared Greece), that, “I know the magni- Archbishop Demetrios of America 28, the Greek American community to dream and to stand with courage tude of my situation, but I do not was part of that Synod and he marked the one year anniversary and determination in front of even despair. I hope in the love of God. signed the condemnation against since the passing of Archbishop the powers of the day ignoring for Let His will be done.” Christodoulos. What a pity. Christodoulos of Athens and All example the modernized and inter- God the Creator had gifted Christodoulos, however, was Greece. He now dwells where time nationalistic myths of the former Christodoulos with charisma and forgiving and his heart was bigger and space exist in a different form Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, talent, chief among them was his than those decisions. As he said in which is boundless and timeless, which came to add to the amoralis- humanity. He knew how to honor his interview, “Now I can prioritize which means above and beyond tic sermons of Andreas Papan- his friends even from his ailing bed. the values of life more easily and time and space as our limited mind dreou. It is not accidental that he chose put aside the small things. I more understands the material space and Christodoulos was not a vindic- The National Herald to open up his easily forgive now and extend the the material time. tive person the way some of our hi- soul and let the world see through hand of my reconciliation to those Archbishop Christodoulos in his erarchs behave, especially here. He it. who caused bitterness and pain to 10-year Archbishopric ministry, was a forgiving and forgetting per- marked the life of the Church of son. He never complained about Greece and Greece itself with his the small-minded behavior of words and deeds. Sometimes, his Kostas Stephanopoulos, the former word was interventional and sub- President of the Hellenic Republic, versive, other times comforting and who refused to attend his en- encouraging, many time prophetic, thronement ceremony citing other but always honest for Orthodoxy obligations. and Hellenism. Christodoulos never complained It seems that one year was about the unbrotherly and unac- enough for the Church of Greece to ceptable behavior of Archbishop lose its voice and visibility and be- Demetrios of America who used all come irrelevant again in a period kinds of techniques and methods to that its word and presence is so block his visit to the Greek Ortho- much needed for the life of the dox Church of America because world and the rediscovery of the es- Demetrios knew that comparisons sentials of life. It is a fact that some- would have been unavoidable and times comparisons are unavoidable that the Church and the Greek and it does not mean that they American Community would have eliminate the personalities and per- apotheosized the charismatic sonal characteristics of other peo- prelate of the Greece. ple. It is not only true that “the of- Demetrios had forgotten that if fice makes the man” but also the it wasn’t for Christodoulos issuing man makes or breaks the office. Af- his release from the Church of ter all the offices or institutions Greece where he was an auxiliary walk in time and history with the Bishop for half a century, steps of humans which can be salta- Demetrios wouldn’t have been to- tions, slow motions or even stand- Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece died one year ago, day Archbishop of America but the still. It is up to each person to either on January 28, 2008, leaving a hole in the Church that remains today. auxiliary Bishop of Vresthena as- keep an office or organization vi- signed to receive ecclesiacal lead- brant and alive or lead it to its slow than we are.” very prominent theologian and ers at the Athens airport on behalf death. Chrsitodoulos proved to be the writer and he knew well that the of the Archbishop and to perform Archbishop Christodoulos was charismatic ecclesiastical personal- Tradition of the Church is not funerals, memorials and baptisms. by all accounts and general consen- ity of our times who was able to re- something static, but it is the life of In this case it proved true the wise The late Archbishop Christodoulos, right, with Metropolitan Paisios sus the most charismatic and able ceive the signals of the times. On the Church in the Holy Spirit which saying “there is no more certain en- of Tyana, abbot of St. Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery in Astoria. ecclesiastical leader of our times. one hand remained faithful and is constantly present in the Church emy from the one who has benefit- He was loved in Greece and steadfast to the ethos and tradi- and thus its traditions are dynamic ed.” Only for the purpose of history, me in the past.” These words of abroad, because his humble, loving tions of our Greek-Orthodox faith, and not simply rituals, protocols Archbishop Christodoulos, the do we remember when Christodou- Archbishop Christodoulos are truly and joyous personality had given and on the other hand, he did not and fancy and expensive bishopric dynamic prelate and wheelman of los tasted the biggest bitterness of remarkable. happiness and good feelings to see Orthodoxy as a thing of the vestments and crowns. the Holy Church of Greece walked his time as Archbishop on April 30, Archbishop Christodoulos everyone he had reached. His love past, but as a dynamic and ever Christodoulos was the con- up the Golgotha Hill of his cancer- 2004 when his “friend” from the marked with the strength of his and care was felt first by the simple new prospect of today and of to- sciousness and the voice of the ous illness with much endurance. old days, Patriarch Bartholomew soul, all the years that God granted faithful, the people of God who in- morrow for the life of the world. He Greek Orthodox tradition, not only He did not complain about his ail- arrived to the point of convening him as “a good shepherd and stitute the pleroma of the Church, cared about the people and he was in Greece itself, but outside of its ment and his exceptional strength the “Broader Synod” and placed teacher” to the Church of Greece the Body of Christ, to the point that fully aware of the new world which borders. He proved to be the had surprised even his own doc- Christodoulos outside of the Dip- that truly made him a man of God many offered to donate their liver has been in constant making and prelate of the youth because he was tors. tychs of the Church. This meant and of the people. He let his soul for Christodoulos to live because as transition everywhere in Europe, in young at heart. Thousands upon The Archbishop was fully aware that he was cut off from every Eu- touch the very soul of the Greek they wrote to his doctors, “The America, in Asia, in Africa, “in all thousands of young men and of the seriousness of his health con- charistic and Administrative Com- people and of the people of all na- Archbishop is needed for our nations.” women were waiting for many dition and as he had said in a inter- munion with the Ecumenical Patri- tions. He was a true, loving and au- Church and country much more After all, Christodoulos was a hours in line outside of the Athens view with the National Herald in archate, the reason being that thentic pupil of Christ. Metropolitan Maximos Discusses the State of the Church

By Theodore Kalmoukos Metropolitan Maximaos was al- Holy Canons of the Church. This is Special to The National Herald so asked if he had an opinion re- what our Archdiocese has always garding the recent war between Is- done. The age-old wisdom of our BOSTON – Metropolitan Maximos rael and Palestine and why our Holy Church should at all times be of Pittsburgh emphasized that “we Church did not even say one single our guide.” should apply the Canon Law” on the word about it. Asked what his position is re- issues of the pederasty and homo- “Yes, I do have an opinion,” Met- garding homosexuality in the cler- sexual scandals by clergy which in ropolitan Maximos said. “This war gy, he said, “My position is that of the recent years have ethically trou- has only one cause, which is the ha- the Holy Scriptures and that of our bled and financially drained the tred of the Israelis for the Palestini- Holy Ecclesiastical Tradition. In my Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and ans and vice-versa. The two peo- opinion, according to them, homo- consequently the Greek American ples are related. One could hope sexuality is a very serious sin. Obvi- Community due to the monetary that the two of them will be more ously, the Church behaves as the settlements and legal fees. He also considerate of each other and more good, serious spiritual Mother that characterized homosexuality as a respectful of one another’s civil she is regarding this sin. However, “serious sin” in an exclusive inter- rights. One would hope that the it is of paramount importance for view with The National Herald. two peoples would eventually live this sin to be healed. The Church Commenting on the succession in peace and harmony. The most behaves accordingly. I am happy of Archbishop Demetrios who is impossible way to attempt a resolu- that President Barack Ombama re- walking into his 81st year of age , he tion of their differences is war. vised the list of people who were in- said, “I am certain that the Patriar- “The recent ceasefire is an en- vited to read prayers on his behalf chate is thinking about this prob- couraging sign. Let us hope that the day after his inauguration. He lem, as it is one of the most serious this is the beginning of a new era in Metropolitan Maximos did not include in this list well problems among its responsibili- the relationship of the Israeliss and known and publicly declared homo- A Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese will convene to hear the ties.” Palestinian people, who could set a sponsibility of supervising the sexuals. I was told that he only in- case of Archimandrite Gabriel Karambis on February 17-18, 2009. Concerning the Monasteries that good example for other nations to monasteries and overseeing their vited persons who were sound from former Mount Athos abbot Fr. follow in the future. Let us pray functioning.” every point of view. This was an im- Ephraim has spread all over the U.S. that this will come to pass.” Asked about his opinion regard- portant beginning in the service of said that “the Monasteries belong to Should the succession of Arch- ing the scandals of the Orthodox the President of the leading country the Archdiocese.” bishop Demetrios who, at 81, could clergy, Metropolitan Maximos said, of civilized human nations, the Special Synod Held for Asked where does the New Year be a concern to our Church and “We should at all times follow the United States of America.” find our Church, Metropolitan Max- community in America, Maximos imos said “the Church reality has its said “the answer to this question is Archimandrite Karambis own way to walk. It is a way influ- yes and no. Yes, for everything that enced by the political realities, concerns the Archdiocese should al- By Theodore Kalmoukos to any financial improprieties without being identified with them. so be their concern; and no, for this Special to The National Herald against the parish, nor to any mis- For example, it is time for the main is not their immediate responsibili- Self Esteem conduct involving minors or parish- Christian Churches to unite, as was ty. The Patriarchate, which is di- Learn how your inner voice BOSTON – Archbishop Demetrios ioners.” He also wrote that “the rea- the case during the first millennium rectly responsible for this matter, contributes to your self esteem of America is convening a special son I relieved him of his duties had of our Christian era. In the past, as may answer that it is not the busi- Learn how to restore your self esteem meeting of the Holy Eparchial Syn- to do with his own personal life and in the present, the civil authorities ness of the communities to be in- for a healthier marriage od of the Archdiocese on February how it negatively reflected on the have nothing substantial to offer to- volved with selecting the leader of and positive relationship 17-18, 2009, in order to act as holy priesthood.” ward this end.” the bishops in the Archdiocese.” 567 Park Avenue, Suite 204 Marriage, Couple, Family, Child Spiritual Court to hear the case of On Monday, December 29, the Asked how the Church feels re- Does he think that the Patriar- Scotch Plains, NJ07090 Archimandrite Gabriel Karambis, Archdiocese issued an official an- garding the financial crisis today, he chate should be dealing with this and Individual therapy www.hellenictherapy.com the suspended chief priest at the nouncement summarizing Metro- said, “today’s global financial crisis problem immediately and not wait email: [email protected] MARIA SIKOUTRIS MA, Ed.S, LPC Annunciation Cathedral of Hous- politan Isaiah’s letter. is a very serious political problem. until the last minute as was the case (908) 322-0112 Day, Evening & Weekend Hours ton, Texas. Fr. Karambis was one of closest The Greek Orthodox people and in 1999? As The National Herald reported confidants of former Archbishop their Church may be able to em- “On the one hand, I am certain on January 2, Rev. Gabriel Karam- Spyridon, and also initially of Arch- pathize with the civil authorities, that the Patriarchate is thinking bis was removed from his priestly bishop Demetrios. but they cannot take their place. about this problem, as it is one of duties, placed on suspension and Metropolitan Isaiah’s letter has The crisis is the responsibility of the the most serious problems among sent to the Spiritual Court of the created a very uneasy situation civil authorities, and has to be re- its responsibilities,” Metropolitan Denver Metropolis after a letter among the congregants of the solved by them.” Maximos said. “On the other hand, sent by Metropolitan Isaiah of Den- Cathedral parish who are trying to Asked if the Archdiocesan com- those at the Phanar have time to ver dated December 26, 2008, to guess what kind of wrong Fr. munities have a problem respond- think about and resolve this prob- the Cathedral. Karambis committed in his person- ing to the $22 million budget of the lem as well as they are able.” “I am deeply saddened to inform al life that forced Isaiah to remove Archdiocese and if the Asked if the successor should be you that your former proistamenos, him from active priesthood and Dioceses/Metropolises have a way from abroad or from the U.S. and if Father Gabriel Karambis, was re- send him to the Spiritual Court on of helping the parishes out, Metro- he sees the possibility of the Patriar- www.GreekKitchennyc.com lieved of all his priestly duties by Christmas Eve. politan Maximos told the Herald chate choosing for this high office a me on December 12, 2008. A Spiri- On February 17-18, the Spiritual that “according to my information, non-American person, Maximos tual Court of the Metropolis of Den- Court, which will hear the case in spite of the high figures of the said, “Yes, the Patriarchate has ways ver, convened on December 23, against Fr. Karambis and Metropol- Archdiocesan budget, this is not a of choosing its co-workers which 2008, concurred with this action, itan Isaiah, is obligated to present serious problem for the communi- are not familiar to us. It is possible and further recommended that the the necessary documents. Fr. ties. The communities normally re- for it to choose a non-American to case of Father Karambis be re- Karambis’ defrockment seems al- spond appropriately to the collec- lead our group of bishops in guiding viewed by the Spiritual Court of most certain according to informa- tion of monies assessed to them by our Church in the U.S.A. It depends Second Instance (Eparchial Syn- tion from the Archdiocese. Despite the Archdiocese.” on what the Patriarch considers the od),” the letter stated. many attempts by The National Asked if there any means of com- needs of the Church to be at this Metropolitan Isaiah, who was Herald, we were not able to com- fort for the communities who can- moment.” very close friends with Karambis, municate with Fr. Karambis, but not respond to the request of the Asked to whom the monasteries also wrote that “what I wish to sources close to him told the Herald Archdiocese, Maximos said, “the belong, he said, “According to the share with you is that the reason for that Karambis claims to be the “vic- answer is no. There is no exception Holy Canons, and according to the Father Karambis’ suspension had tim of a set up plot” by a former given to the communities; excep- Great Tradition of our Holy Ortho- nothing to do with the parish or the priest who had been come to the tions are not granted, for they are dox Church, the monasteries belong parishioners. Archdiocese from another Ortho- not needed, once the appropriate to the Archdiocese. The His suspension does not pertain dox Jurisdiction. assessment is made.” Diocese/Metropolises have the re- 6 EDUCATION THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009 Challenges Facing Hellenic Education in the U.S. 8th Graders Weigh in on

Continued from page 1 “Parents don’t speak it at home itage, and is originally from Albany, anymore, so they don’t know how to Georgia. Hellenic Education gree from the University of Georgia, help their kids with homework. It His academic background is in where she also earned her certificate can get very frustrating,” she said. early childhood and elementary ed- Continued from page 1 “They really know you and they of administrative leadership. Before But are the kids learning their ucation, and he is certified in brain- want to help you as much as they she was principal of Koraes, she was Greek? based education – how boys and celerated programs to help prepare can,” she said. “When they write an administrator in Georgia’s Gwin- The emphasis on teaching Greek girls learn differently. He received our students for the future.” recommendation letters, they actu- nett County for four years, a large must shift to teaching it as a second his bachelor’s at the University of Students consider learning and ally know the students they are school system with more than language, Mrs. Zaharis explained, South Florida and his master’s at practicing the Greek language as writing about. In big public 110,000 students. because kids are learning Greek on- Nova Southeastern University. He one of the most significant and ben- schools, every student is just a When Mrs. Zaharis and her fami- ly at a superficial level. They learn to also taught science at St. John’s for eficial aspects of being educated in number.” ly relocated to Chicago, she was go- read and write Greek, but they don’t six years, while he was headmaster, a Greek American environment. Other students said they feel so ing to start working on her doctor- learn how to speak it. Conversation- and still substitute teaches when “I enjoy that we get to learn the strongly about continuing their ate, but learned of the opening at ally, she said, their ability to do so necessary. language our parents were brought Greek education, that they are Koraes, and applied for the job. does not reach a desirable level, so Holding steady at 194, St. John’s up with and that we get to know a strongly considering attending “And I’ve been here ever since,” she Koraes has instituted extra periods has two more students this year little bit more than other kids do Greek American high schools in said. of conversational Greek this year. than the 192 enrolled during the about our ethnicity,” said 13-year New York City area upon gradua- When she first started at Koraes, Shifting the emphasis to teaching 2006-07 academic year. Tuition for old Georgia Linaris. “I also think it’s tion from William Spyropoulos. Mrs. Zaharis saw a need to bolster Greek as a second language could pre-K through the 5th grade is important because we get to learn a One student specified that he is the school’s academic strength, so also help, she added. $7,700 and $8,200 for grades 6-8. lot about where we come from. I interested in attending St. she decided to use standardized NATIONAL PROBLEM “We’re the only accredited Greek enjoy being able to communicate Demetrios High School, not very far tests to help determine student “I’ll be honest with you. It’s a Orthodox school in the southeastern with my parents and grandparents, from his current school in Queens. needs. challenge. We keep watering it Mary Zaharis United States,” Mr. Larkin said. because we speak a lot of Greek at The majority of the students also “We have a very rigorous curricu- down, and it’s a national problem. St. John’s has 26 teachers, 21 of home and practice Greek tradi- participate in extracurricular activi- lum. We meet, and exceed, Illinois What we need to do is work on the actually provides our textbooks, but whom are full-time, but none of tions.” ties, which they said serves as in- State requirements. I’m a public curriculum and start teaching Greek there’s no investment in the books; whom teach Greek (although three The clever 8th graders also rec- valuable source of unity while pro- school administrator at heart, so I do as a second language. Our kids can there’s no teacher’s manual; there’s are of Greek heritage). The teachers’ ognize the role the Greek language viding them with a sense of com- everything by the book. When I first no longer receive it otherwise. I’m no consistency whatsoever. So if I’m salary range is $28-45 thousand, will play in their futures. munity. came here, I tried to institute some fighting an uphill battle, and I refuse using a book this year that I like, and the school’s operating budget in “I also think its common for lan- “This year we had our first assessment and structure on things, to give up, but we’re struggling with Greece will send me a different book 2008 was $1.8 million. guage to be lost within a few gener- William Spyropoulos basketball so that we could measure where we our Greek program here. We’re next year because that’s what But St. John’s doesn’t require ations, so it’s good that our school team set up by some of our eighth were and how far we had gone, and teaching it. The kids are doing fine. they’re printing. The Archdiocese is Greek as a subject. In fact, Greek is- is helping us to continue it,” said graders and we won the champi- then look at what we do beyond But they’re not as fluent in conversa- creating a program of Greek as a n’t even taught, and hasn’t been 13-year old Samantha Koloniaris, onship,” fourteen-year old Taso that,” she said. tion as we would like them to be,” second language, but that’s coming taught there in well over a decade. who added that her favorite topic Stathopoulos said proudly. “We use the data we receive from she said. out very slowly,” she said. Only 4-5 percent of the student to learn about in Greek class is the Another student said a favorite standardized testing to guide our in- Teachers from Greece teach “The kids end up falling through body is of Greek heritage, Mr. Larkin philosophy of Socrates. “This way, activity that she has been involved struction. I use the Iowa test of basic Greek every day for one period from the cracks, so I’ve taken it upon my- said. A few are Russian Orthodox, our children can learn and teach it with for some time is Greek dance. skills, which is an achievement test, pre-K through the 5th grade, Mrs. self to ask our school board to allow “but the population right now is to their children so the Greek lan- “We dance at a Greek festival and I also use the cognitive ability Zaharis said. In junior high (grades me to work with a Ph.D from North generally non-Greek Orthodox,” he guage stays strong.” every year and it’s actually great to test every other year, so I can see 6-8), students have one period of Park University (Angelyn Balodi- said. Thirteen-year old Alex Alvonitis be able to know how to dance tradi- whether our kids are performing Greek language every day, and then mas-Bartolomei, who is of Greek “In terms of teaching the Greek said that later in his life, he will be tional Greek dances at events,” she commensurate to their abilities. Are one period of Greek history, culture origin and used to teach 1st graders language, we don’t offer that at this able to comprehend things better in said. they under-achieving or overachiev- and geography 2-3 times a week on at Koraes), to rewrite our curricu- point. There’s consideration for of- his career because he will have the Linaris mentioned her apprecia- ing? I look for learning disabilities, alternating weeks. lum this summer. It’ll cost around fering it next year as an elective. advantage of knowing Greek vo- tion for theatrical performances of- and that sort of thing,” she said. “Over the last two decades, a $10 thousand, but we’re going to And we’ve had afternoon Greek cabulary that other peers will not. fered by the school. The school’s current enrollment shift has been taking place. Statisti- spend the money because we need classes – as an option for parents – “I either want to be an ortho- “We also have Greek drama- is under the 200 students enrolled in cally, mixed marriages are the ma- to make adjustments,” she said. but it’s not part of our curriculum dontist or a lawyer,” said 14-year that’s when we perform plays,” she the 2006-07 academic year, she jority of our community’s marriages Kids also go to Koraes receive re- right now. Our Greek teacher left, old Mario Stefanidis, who acknowl- said. “Last year we did a play about said, but enrollment has dropped now. This morning, for example, I ligious instruction in the Orthodox and we haven’t re-established the due to the rough economic climate. had two parents in my office, one Christian faith, Mrs. Zaharis said. program,” he said. “We lost some kids because of the who spoke Greek and another who Mandatory religious instruction is That was 15 years ago, he said. economy. People no longer feel that offered to all students once a week, “I just really haven’t focused on it important, dying need to bring their and prayer services are held in the that hard. Enrollment is my priority kids to Greek school. They’re al- church at least once a week. right now,” he added. ready paying $10-12 thousand a “We have regular Church ser- But St. John’s does offer Ortho- year in school taxes here – property vices. At our school, all of the chil- dox Christian religious instruction. taxes are just ridiculous in the city dren must be baptized Orthodox. It Mr. Larkin said. Chicago – so when the bus stops doesn’t matter what their ethnic “When the school originally right outside your house, it’s diffi- background is, they all have to prac- opened, the parishioners (of Saint cult not to think about sending your tice the Orthodox faith. And that’s a John the Baptist Church) estab- kids to public schools. You’re paying big part of it. They’re here with the lished it as a pre-school for their taxes for it, and you don’t have to clergy. They follow the fasting rules. children. It was basically all Greek deal with the commute,” she said. We have confession at Christmas Orthodox children at that point. But “And more often than not, the and Easter. And the religion classes being a small parish, in order to fi- kids we lose are those from inter- are taught by our priests,” she said. nancially make it as a school, you faith marriages because one partner Students also attend liturgy on have to open it up to everybody, and doesn’t feel strongly enough about major feast days, like Epiphany. This as the members of the parish got it, and unfortunately, that sways the past January 6, after the liturgy, the older, the less their children were decision to pull them out,” she priests went through entire school here,” he said. added. and blessed it with holy water. “It’s still a ministry of the Church. What’s special about Koraes, “So our kids live their faith. They There’s no question about that. however, is its Greek Orthodox char- don’t just come on Sunday; do We’re under the jurisdiction of the acter and integrity, she said. Stu- something else during the week; parish council and the Archdiocese. Eighth graders from the William Spyropoulos Day School in Flushing, dents have an opportunity to learn and then come back the next Sun- We start every day with a prayer in New York, react enthusiastically to the question posed about their the Greek language – it’s required; James Larkin day. The Church becomes part of chapel. We teach the Orthodox reli- Greek language studies. study Greek history and culture; and their everyday life,” she said. gion. The middle school attends be instructed in the Greek Orthodox did not. Mom can’t help the kids Koraes also does very well in liturgy once a month. And each edged that both occupations would the Greeks of Asia Minor. It’s great faith. Most students at Koraes with their Greek homework, so terms of placing its graduates in grade must take a religion class,” he incorporate words from the Greek because we get to learn a little bit (about 98 percent) are of Greek her- we’ve got after-school Greek tutor- area high schools and prep schools said. language he studies today. about what our ancestors went itage, she said, and the remaining 2 ing to try and offset things like that. after they graduate, Mrs. Zaharis According to the school’s website All the students of the class said through.” percent are mainly of Serbian back- But Greek is no longer the primary said, and most go onto college after (www.st.johngreekorthodox.com), they speak Greek at home and Greek Orthodoxy is another sub- ground. All are baptized Orthodox – language in Greek Orthodox homes. that. “Religion at St. John is taught in all agreed that being bilingual aids ject on the curriculum and students that, too, is a requirement. Most everybody is speaking English “We have a really good track grades. The teachers in the them in many areas of their lives. said its one subject that will surely Koraes also has “excellent teach- now, so we have to focus on teach- record. Most of our kids get accept- preschool through kindergarten “We get to learn how Greeks cre- play an important role in their ers,” she said, but they are very un- ing Greek as a second language – the ed by the schools they want to go to grades teach their own material. All ated this civilization which we still lives. derpaid, with salaries ranging from same way Spanish, French and oth- after they graduate. Our kids are the other grades are taught individ- use today in politics in mathemat- “I think that going to Greek the mid-twenties to the mid-forties. er languages are taught in schools,” consistently on the honor rolls of ually by a religion teacher in a non- ics and in our sciences,” said Kolo- school will really help me in my It’s no different for the principal, she said. area high schools, and they do ex- denominational manner.” niaris. spiritual life, because we learn so but Mrs. Zaharis feels very strongly “We’ve added a period of Greek ceedingly well once they leave here. Asked who coordinates religious While most private schools tend much about our religion in school about her responsibilities, and conversation this year. We have a And most of them go onto college. instruction for St. John’s students, to be smaller in size compared to its and attend church on Sundays,” wants to see Koraes grow and suc- teacher working with the kids com- We’ve got a graduate who’s at Har- Mr. Larkin cited a Rev. John Dalrym- public counterparts, students were said one student. ceed: pletely in Greek, in addition to the vard right now,” she said. ple. asked if the lack of diversity and Koloniaris added that learning “I obviously don’t get paid what I period of Greek-language instruc- Koraes serves an area within a “Right now, we’re a high school probability of attending a much about religion doesn’t only take could get paid in a public setting, tion, because that’s where we’re 30-mile radius of Palos Hills, and the and college-prep program. Before larger high school in the near fu- place in the classroom. but the reason it’s important for me falling down on the job. Our kids Palos Hills parish still supports the they leave us, our students receive ture causes them uneasiness, but “There are also many organiza- to be here is, I feel like it’s my mis- learn how to read and write Greek school. “Whenever there is a deficit three high school credits in math, all agreed that they are not appre- tions lead by our parents, like the sion to the Church. I really feel very with pretty good efficiency, but they of any kind, the community always science and Spanish,” he said, not- hensive and in fact, feel privileged Greek Orthodox Youth Association, strongly about sharing my time and don’t speak it. The expressive lan- helps us reverse it,” she said. ing an extraordinarily high accep- to have more intimate relationships so we can all gather around and talent with our kids. Being from an guage isn’t there. When the conver- FLORIDA tance rate for St. John’s graduates. with their teachers. learn about things such as the immigrant family myself, I also feel sation starts, and it gets going too The struggles to maintain Greek “We exceed Florida State educa- “The teacher can spend a little Bible, and we can also take Greek very strongly about transmitting our fast, they can’t keep up with it,” she as a requirement and teach it more tion requirements. What’s special more time on each student and dance there and Greek drama cultural heritage and traditions to said. effectively in Illinois aside, a very about St. John’s is that we have high they take time here to help us out there,” she said. the next generation. And it keeps The other problem is that help different picture emerges from academic standards and achieve- whenever we need it, as opposed to Upon completion of the discus- getting harder and harder to do that from Greece and the Archdiocese is Florida at St. John Greek Orthodox ment, and a family atmosphere. Our a bigger school, where teachers sion, students continued to study year after year,” she said. less forthcoming than it could be, Day School in Tampa, where James children are important to us. That can’t give as much attention to each the topic of the day in their Greek With fewer and fewer kids speak- Mrs. Zaharis said, so she plans to Larkin has been the headmaster for means a lot of love and kindness. student,” said Linaris. class: Socrates’ philosophy. Student ing Greek at home, she said, some of work with an expert, who will help the last 31 years. And our kids excel when they move Another student said she be- Nikos Tzalas mentioned Socrates’ her biggest battles are waged over her revamp the curriculum in order Mr. Larkin is originally from Mia- on. We enjoy a 100-percent accep- lieved it’s important that all the enthusiasm to do good for the teaching of Greek, even though to emphasize the teaching of Greek mi Beach, and is of Irish ancestry. He tance rate in area high schools and IB teachers know the students person- mankind. This is only one of many part of the reason for going to school as a second language, this coming converted to the Orthodox faith (International Baccalaureate) pro- ally and can offer solid support to Socrates’ ideologies that Greek at Koraes is for kids to learn their summer. from Roman Catholicism 22 years grams,” he said, estimating that 98 students when they are applying American schools continue to instill Greek. “The Greek Education Ministry ago. His wife Mary is of Greek her- percent also eventually go to college. for high school and college. in their students.

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Continued from page 1 that of Lehman Brothers or Bear do,” Mr. Lewis said. Stearns, with a minimum of due TURNABOUT Of Running Ponzi Scheme federal regulators, is now fighting diligence during the fateful week- Mr. Thain’s departure from Mer- to right his troubled empire and end of September 13-14, and the rill is a turnabout for a man who, Continued from page 1 ally kept to themselves. perhaps safeguard his own job. immutable laws of Wall Street pow- not long ago, was hailed as Merrill’s In an October 2008 interview And Mr. Thain’s insistence earli- er and loyalty made it virtually in- savior. He had earned the nick- tion; and pay his associates commis- with Bloomberg News at his office in er this week that Bank of America evitable that Mr. Thain would be name, “Mr. Fix-It,” while running sions of up to $15 million. Hauppauge, Cosmo said he wasn’t knew the extent of Merrill’s condi- the one to get pushed out. the New York Stock Exchange, “MINI-MADOFFS” operating a Ponzi scheme. He tion put added pressure on Mr. Bank of America’s stock has fall- which he dragged into the modern The amount of money in ques- claimed his first investors were fam- Lewis, who has been criticized over en more than 80 percent since mid- age with two significant deals, and tion, while large, pales in compari- ily and friends, and said Agape his bank’s falling share price, and September, and has been hit with took the reins of Merrill Lynch in son to the purported $50 billion World charges no upfront fees, just a increasing speculation about his fu- several lawsuits over its apparent late 2007, after the ouster of Mr. fraud allegedly masterminded by in- “good faith” deposit which averages ture as chairman and CEO. failure to disclose Merrill losses in O’Neal, who had presided over the vestment manager Bernard Madoff. about $20 thousand per investor. Mr. Thain, whose mother is of December and talks with the U.S. firm’s disastrous push into mort- Law enforcement officials said they But Agape World was not regis- Greek heritage, has defended his Treasury Department. gage investments. expect to uncover more Ponzi tered with the U.S. Securities & Ex- decisions on several fronts since The Government injected an ad- But Merrill’s seemingly in- schemes following the sharp decline change Commission. making his exit from Bank of Amer- ditional $20 billion capital infusion tractable losses tried even Mr. of the financial industry. According to the firm’s website ica. He said the current economic into Bank of America two weeks Thain, who has a reputation for The number of other people who (www.agapeworldinc.net), Agape climate amplifies the extravagance ago, and agreed to backstop losses keeping his cool. To purge Merrill have been caught running Ponzi World made commercial bridge of the renovation, and offered to re- on about $90 billion of worrisome of its toxic assets, he ended up sell- schemes in recent weeks is adding loans, construction loans, acquisi- pay Bank of America, which offi- assets on Merrill’s books. The Gov- ing billions of dollars of soured in- cially bought Merrill on January 1, ernment also said it will help cover vestments for pennies on the dollar. for the expensive renovation of his losses on about $30 billion in assets He initially resisted suggestions office suite, to include a $35,000 at Bank of America, which is brac- from some board members that he commode, as well as an $87,000 ing for more credit card and auto sell the crippled brokerage firm, area rug and some other high- loan defaults. but reached out to Bank of America priced items, according to a CNBC John Thain Even so, a number of observers last fall as the Lehman collapse report. have noted that, by ousting Mr. threatened to engulf Merrill. In what CNBC described as a to “legacy positions (assets linked Thain, Mr. Lewis is likely trying to Merrill appeared to be safely in parting memo from Mr. Thain to to bad mortgages and credit),” safeguard his own job. Bank of America’s arms, but by the Merrill employees, Mr. Thain said which were disclosed to Bank of It is certainly not a move with- end of 2008, Merrill had lost an ad- that the $1.2 million renovation – America as soon as they were ob- out precedent. Plenty of number- ditional $5 billion in the markets, which he said was not just for his served. “We were completely trans- 1’s have axed their number-2’s, par- marking the first time since Mr. personal office, but also two con- parent with Bank of America. They ticularly when a firm’s performance Thain’s arrival that the brokerage ference rooms and a reception area learned about these losses when we is in decline. firm’s losses had moved beyond the – was “incurred over a year ago in a did,” he wrote. In this current crisis alone, Stan mortgage investments which pre- very different environment.” Another point of controversy O’Neal, the CEO of Merrill Lynch dated his tenure. “Nonetheless,” he continued, was Merrill’s decision to pay discre- before Mr. Thain, fired Dow Kim New York State Attorney Gener- “they were a mistake in the light of tionary bonuses to its employees and Osman Semerci, among oth- al Andrew Cuomo said this past the world we live in today. I will just a few days before the merger ers; and John Mack, CEO of Mor- Tuesday, January 27, that he has therefore reimburse the company with Bank of America was final- gan Stanley, served up his president subpoenaed Mr. Thain over the for all of the costs incurred.” ized, which was considerably earli- Zoe Cruz on a platter. bonuses paid out by the firm just In light of Merrill’s $56 billion in er than such bonuses were paid out At Citigroup, the practice has a before it was taken over by Bank of PHOTO COURTESY OF NEWSDAY losses from subprime loans and the in past years. long and distinguished history. America. Nicholas Cosmo, center, was arrested by federal authorities in Long credit crisis, $1.2 million spent on In the same memo, Mr. Thain Sandy Weill eliminated both John While Mr. Thain said this past Island on Monday and charged with defrauding over 1,500 investors. antiques hardly seems worth get- challenged Bank of America’s sug- Reed and Jamie Dimon (who is Monday, January 26, that Merrill ting outraged over, according to gestion that Merrill alone was re- now CEO of JP Morgan Chase, had always planned to pay out up so quickly, in fact, that they have tion loans and financing for proper- Clinton Howell, a New York dealer sponsible for the earlier-than-usual which acquired Bear Stearns and year-end bonuses, and that Bank of earned themselves a nickname: “mi- ties nationwide with capital ob- in English furniture. bonuses. He said the timing, com- Washington Mutual). And Chuck America was well aware of that, ni-Madoffs.” tained from private sources. Projects “What John Thain did with his position and size of the bonuses Prince, then CEO of Citigroup, ex- Mr. Cuomo’s investigating premise In Florida, for example, not far in New York, California, Texas and office is a little like noting that were all “determined together with tinguished co-President Tommy appears to be that Merrill accelerat- from the Palm Beach clubs where South Carolina are among those list- somebody failed to turn on his Bank of America.” Maheras (who is now a director for ed its bonus payments. Madoff wooed some of his investors, ed as recipients of its loans in the blinker before driving into a train,” Bank of America countered with Discover Financial Services) and “The fact that Merrill Lynch ap- George L. Theodule, a Haitian immi- past two years. Mr. Howell said, adding that the its version of the bonus affair: “We Todd Thomson, his onetime CFO. pears to have moved up the grant and professed “man of God,” Investors had been raising con- antiques Mr. Thain reportedly pur- never said we didn’t talk with them Now Brian Moynihan, Bank of timetable to pay bonuses before its promised churchgoers in a Haitian cerns about Agape World long be- chased will probably hold their val- about it. But, in the end, it was their America’s general counsel, passed merger with Bank of America is American community that he could fore the current financial crisis un- ue over time. decision, and they informed us of over for Mr. Thain’s job just months troubling to say the least, and war- double their money within 90 days. earthed the recent rash of Ponzi But Merrill’s much bigger-than- it. John Thain and the Merrill Lynch ago, has been put in charge as head rants further investigation,” Mr. He accepted only cash, and despite schemes, seeking advice and intelli- expected losses in the fourth quar- compensation committee made the of Bank of America’s wealth man- Cuomo said in a statement. the too-good-to-be-true sales pitch, gence on Internet investment chat ter, which required Bank of Ameri- decision on the amount and timing agement and corporate and invest- he found plenty of investors willing boards. ca to go back to the Government for of year-end compensation. We had ment banking divisions. The above incorporates informa- to turn over tens of thousands of Cosmo also has a history in yet another round of financial aid, no legal right to challenge it.” “Brian Moynihan is one of those tion from reports published by dollars. scams. He has already done time in were a much more serious issue. Ultimately, however, it was Mr. people who can effectively envision the New York Times, Wall Street According to federal regulators prison for mail fraud, and reportedly In his memo, Mr. Thain said Lewis alone who agreed to save strategy and execute. He’s excelled Journal, Boston Globe, TIME, who have accused him of operating a has a gambling problem. He was ac- those losses were almost all related Merrill Lynch from a fate similar to at everything we have asked him to FORTUNE and Bloomberg News. Ponzi scheme, Mr. Theodule bilked cused and found guilty in 1999 of thousands of investors of modest misappropriating funds while work- means out of $23 million in all, and ing as a stockbroker at Continental put $4 million in his own pocket. Broker-Dealer Corp., and was sen- Some of these schemes have tenced to serve 21 months in prison been operating for years, while oth- and pay at least $135,000 in restitu- Boston Scientific Founders Sell Half their Stake ers are more recent. But what is tion. causing them to surface now ap- While Agape World claims that it Continued from page 1 provements and renovations to his son & Johnson of New Brunswick, pears to be a combination of the de- has been a “private bridge lender” home in Boston’s Beacon Hill. The re- New Jersey; and Abbott Laboratories teriorating economy and height- since 1999, federal Bureau of Pris- Washington Service, a data provider. maining $2 million would provide of Abbott Park, Illinois. Nicholas and ened skepticism about outsized re- ons records show Cosmo was not re- Nicholas’ borrowing dates back at cash collateral required by Fleet. At Abele built Boston Scientific largely turns after the recent revelations leased from the federal penitentiary least to July 1992, when he pledged the same time, Nicholas had the right through acquisitions. With Tobin, concerning Mr. Madoff. That scares in Allenwood, Pennsylvania until the equivalent of 13.1 million Boston to borrow as much as $100 million who succeeded Nicholas as CEO in off new clients and causes longtime August 23, 2000. Scientific shares for a loan from through margin loans or other credit 1999, the strategy climaxed in the investors to demand their money Records also show his broker’s li- Goldman Sachs Group Inc., accord- from Goldman, according to the doc- 2006 Guidant purchase. back which, in turn, makes the cha- cense was revoked in 2000, and that ing to an April 1994 SEC filing. uments. The Goldman loans would The acquisition left Boston Scien- rade come tumbling down. he made restitution payments of Under a loan agreement signed in be used to build a “diversified portfo- tific with $10 billion in debt and tens “Some of the early investors $11,000. November 1993, Fleet Bank of Mass- lio of securities,” the filing says. of thousands of safety recalls linked made money, but as this scheme In an earlier case, the National achusetts N.A., of Boston, agreed to AIRCRAFT LEASE to Guidant defibrillators. Since the started to crumble, the later in- Association of Securities Dealers provide Nicholas a $17 million credit Nicholas also pledged the equiva- purchase closed April 24, 2006, vestors did not see a penny,” a law found Cosmo “inserted the name line, the SEC documents show. As lent of 1.85 million shares to back an Boston Scientific has lost two-thirds enforcement official said about Cos- Cosmo & Associates to replace a collateral, he pledged the equivalent aircraft lease with General Electric of its market value. CEO Tobin de- mo’s firm. public customer’s name” on a trans- of 14 million Boston Scientific Capital Corp. and a borrowing agree- fended the deal at a Jan. 14 investor Cosmo attended St. John’s Uni- action, according to court filings. He shares, adjusted for a 2003 stock ment with Societe Generale Securi- conference, saying Guidant’s prod- versity in Queens from 1989 was censured, fined more than split, as well as investment grade se- ties Corp., the documents said. ucts reduced his reliance on a slow- through 1994 and played on its $68,000 and barred from associat- curities and $2 million in cash. Boston Scientific still has $6.77 ing stent market. baseball team, college officials said, ing with NASD members. The Fleet documents show billion in debt from its $27.5 billion LISTED WEALTH but the college has no record of him Nicholas planned to use $12 million purchase of device maker Guidant Peter Nicholas Forbes magazine estimated graduating. He apparently lived in The above incorporates informa- from the credit line to partially repay Corp. in 2006. Two weeks before the Abele’s wealth at $1.5 billion in Wantagh at the time. Lake Grove tion from reports posted by the $16 million in Goldman debt, $2.1 founders’ sales began, the U.S. Food ed the company from selling new March, ranking him the world’s neighbors described Cosmo, his wife New York Times, Newsday, Associ- million to settle previous borrowings and Drug Administration eased a heart stents to keep pace with Min- 321st richest person. Nicholas was and their young son and daughter as ated Press, Bloomberg News, from Fleet and $900,000 for im- corporate warning that had prevent- neapolis-based Medtronic Inc.; John- 1,014th, with $1.1 billion. friendly but quiet people who gener- Reuters and RTT News.

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DEATHS Kitty Algers, 95, Ran and Owned ■ ANAGNOS, LEO role to its success. Stephanie was also Joanna Marge (River Edge, N.J.), De- Henager College. She was a lifelong LODI, Calif. – The LodiNews reported a member of the Young Adult League lores Marge (St. James, N.Y.), member of Holy Trinity Greek Ortho- Furniture Store in Atlanta that Leo Anagnos, 77, of Lodi, passed where she revived and directed the Catherine Mike and Nima Hadge dox Church, and a member of the away peacefully, surrounded by fam- several productions of "To Hreos Tis (Norwood, Mass.), Jeanette Morri- Cretan Club, Daughters of Penelope, By Holly Crenshaw Greek-American at church, she was ily at home on Friday, January 17, Chrysoula's," including the perfor- son and Mabel Card (Hayward, and the church choir. She married The Atlanta Journal-Constitution smitten. 2009. He was born on March 28, mance at the Clergy-Laity Congress Calif.); and many nieces, nephews Louis Peter Nichols on November 29, After their marriage, they oper- 1931, in Lodi to Peter and Nota Anag- held in Dallas in 1986. This produc- and cousins. Zina was predeceased 1942 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox At the downtown Atlanta furni- ated several businesses in Brooklyn nos. Leo attended local schools and tion created a lifelong bond among by her husband, Edward; her sisters, Church. He was her unwavering love ture store she owned with her hus- together before they settled in At- graduated in 1949 from Lodi Union the cast and crew. She is preceded in Olga and Anna Marge; her brothers, and companion for 66 years. During band, Kitty Algers was the behind- lanta in 1947. High School where he excelled at death by her loving husband Charles Gabriel, Elias and George Marge; and her marriage to Louis, she was a busi- the-scenes force to be reckoned They opened a liquor store on football and track. He continued his Christ and son Charlie, Jr., and her brother-in-law, George Mike. The ness partner in family enterprises with. Garnett Street and sold to black- education at the University of Califor- mother Zoe Shropulos Chatas. She family wishes to express its gratitude which included a food concession Her outgoing spouse, Andy Al- owned restaurants in the Sweet nia, Davis, where he played varsity survived by her loving father Angelos to the staff and volunteers of Com- stand at the Utah State Fair, the gers, preferred to stop in for a few Auburn district before it was stan- football and earned his Bachelor's de- Tom Chatas and her sister Katherine munity Hospice (thank you, Sandy Windsor Lounge, and Senor Pepe's hours to glad-hand the customers, dard practice to do so. At their fur- gree. He then went on to serve his Wright and family, Steve, Christo- D!) and especially to Corin Sheehan, Mexican restaurant, a downtown then leave to handle the deliveries. niture store on Mitchell Street, they country in the United States Army. In pher, and Elisabeth. She will greatly who provided Zina with superb care Salt Lake institution for 25 years. She Meanwhile, the less talkative made sure they extended credit to 1953, he married Cally D. Belenis of be missed by her children George and and compassionate kindness for is survived by her devoted husband Mrs. Algers managed the books, or- African-American customers. Davis. Leo was an electrician for Gen- Athina Christ and Tassi and Dimitri longer than three months. And our Louis Nichols; daughters Kathy Drap- dered the inventory and tallied the Before she retired in the late eral Mills for over 35 years. He also Reppas. She will never be forgotten deep appreciation to Dr. Robert S. er (Walt), Mary Boll (Steven), Keri sales at Dogwood Furniture faster 1980s, Mrs. Algers would work six spent a big part of his life farming by her grandchildren Costa, Thanasi, Busch, Dr. Brian F. Steckel and Dr. Burgess, and Dana Hock (Richard); than a calculator could. When her days a week and then cook elabo- cherries, grapes and walnuts on the Charlie, Bubba, and Maro. Her home Sandra R. Scroggins, all of whom ex- sisters Marika Nikols (John), and husband died in 1965, she re- rate Greek dishes for family and family farm in Lodi. He enjoyed hunt- was a gathering place for her favorite tended her life and its quality. The fu- Artemis Xenakis (Ted); 14 grandchil- mained in command. friends on Sunday. ing, fishing, and attending high friends, koumbari, and relatives-Basil neral was held on January 27 at St. dren, Erin, Ashley, Adrienne and Jay “She ran the store 99 percent of She baked traditional cookies to school sports. He was a devoted and Helen Shropulos, affectionately Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Al- D. Edmonds; Melissa, Andrea and the time,” said her daughter Thalia sell at her church's Greek festival, member of St. Basil's Greek Orthodox known as Uncle Billy & Thia, Dr. bany. Memorial donations to St. Nick Boll; Alex, Nick, and Zach Gerard of Charleston, S.C. “She then helped staff the annual event. Church and never missed a festival or George and Millie Shropulos, and Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, Burgess; Adrienne, Stephanie, was quite elegant and dignified, “Normally, they'd put her at the other church function. Leo was a cousins Penny Arges, Tina Shropulos, (440 Whitehall Rd., Albany, NY Richard, and Louie Hock; and five but in her own quiet way she ruled cash register because she was good member of the Lodi American Le- Sophia & Antoni Vassiliou and 12208), or to the Community Hos- great-grandchildren. She is preceded with an iron hand. with money and nothing slipped gion, St. Basil's Silver Tigers, Phi Sig- Theodore, Penny, Peter, and Basil pice Inn of Albany County, (315 in death by her parents Mary and “Daddy never knew it, or if he past her,” her daughter said. ma Kappa fraternity, and Crockett Koutsogeorgas. Also, one of the fami- South Manning Blvd., Albany, NY Gregory Halles, brother James Pap- did he pretended like he didn't,” At her assisted living communi- Striped Bass Club. Leo is survived by ly was her dedicated housekeeper, 12208). pis, twin brother John Pappis, and her daughter said. “But she ran the ty, the Atrium, she organized lively his wife of 55 years: Cally Anagnos of Faye Henderson. With all of us, brothers John and Nick Halles. The family and she ran the budget and bingo games with sister-in-law and Lodi; children: Ted (Susan) Anagnos Stephanie would want to share one ■ NIARCHOS, DEAN funeral was held on January 23 at she ran the show.” lifelong best friend, Mary Farmakis. of Keizer, Oregon, Steve Anagnos of of her favorite quotes by Eleanor PITTSFIELD, Ill. – The Berkshire Ea- Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Every morning she'd slip her Mrs. Algers never bothered to Lodi, and Katherine Anagnos of Lodi; Roosevelt, "Yesterday is history, to- gle reported that Dean Thomas Niar- (279 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, husband a roll of dollar bills so he learn to drive, having grown up in grandchildren: Jeffrey, Kristie, and morrow is a mystery, and today is a chos, 90, of Wellesley Street passed UT). could stroll around with a wad of Brooklyn. But into her 80s, she ne- Christopher Anagnos and Tony Vre- gift; that's why they call it the pre- away peacefully on Monday, January cash in his pocket. Every year she'd gotiated an elaborate network of denburg; great grandson: Steven sent." Pallbearers are the beloved cast 19, 2009 at his daughter's home in ■ VALOS, JOHN make sure he had a new car to drive MARTA buses and trains so she Anagnos; and siblings: Spiro Anag- and crew of "To Hreos Tis Wheaton, Ill., where he resided since BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Bakers- so he would feel successful. could help take care of her grand- nos of Acampo and Marica Storck of Chrysoula's": Frank Mihalopoulos, May. He was born Dec. 15, 1918, in field Californian reported that John Katherine Angel Algers, 95, of children and great-grandchildren. Montana. The funeral was held on Charles Pappas, Kim Nicolas, Dean Chicopee Falls, son of Thomas and Thomas Valos who was born on Sep- Atlanta died of complications from Her commute took her from Lenox January 22 at St. Basil's Greek Ortho- Xeros, Harry Yianitsas, and George Ellen Petras Niarchos. He graduated tember 5, 1919, in East Bakersfield to heart and kidney disease Monday, Road to beyond Stone Mountain. dox Church in Stockton. Memorial Robert Christon. Honorary Pallbear- from Pittsfield High School in 1937, one of the first Greek immigrant fam- January, 19, 2008 at Embracing The final mile, she walked. donations to St. Basil's Greek Ortho- ers are Dimitri Papathanasiou, Torey from Clark University in 1950, with a ilies to reside in Bakersfield passed Hospice House in Cumming. The “She made herself available to dox Church Memorial Fund, (920 W. Papathanasiou, Steve Wright, Tom Bachelors of Business Administration away. He was one of seven children funeral was held at the Greek Or- anybody and everybody who need- March Lane, Stockton, CA 95207) or Fox, Michael Crabtree, Jimmy and a MBA from University of Massa- born to Tom Valos, from Messenia thodox Cathedral of the Annuncia- ed her,” her daughter said. “She Hospice of San Joaquin, (3888 Pacif- Kazanas, and Jimmy Tassos. The fu- chusetts in 1976. At Clark University Greece and Irene Caotusses , from tion. constantly thought about her fami- ic Ave., Stockton 95204). neral was on January 24 at Holy Trin- he was captain of the tennis team for Leos Greece. He was educated at Lin- Mrs. Algers grew up in Brook- ly, and her Greek family at large.” ity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas. two years 1949 and 1950 winning coln School and graduated from Bak- lyn, N.Y., and fell in love with her Survivors include another ■ ANESTOS, AREADNE Memorial donations to Holy Trinity the division tennis championship ersfield High School. While in high future husband, Andrew George Al- daughter, Michele Perry of Duluth; SAVANNAH, Ga. – It was reported Greek Orthodox. both years. Mr. Niarchos was not on- school he played football and has a gers, when she was 15. The instant three grandchildren; and six great- that Areadne “Roddy” Melonas ly a tennis champion but also an avid place of honor on the wall of Luigi's she spotted the 22-year-old fellow grandchildren. Anestos, born to Christ E. and An- ■ GATSIS, ARISTIDIS ping-pong player winning the Berk- Restaurant. As one of the first tiope S. Melonas in Kershaw, SC, July WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Win- shire County championship in the draftee's from Kern County, prior to 31, 1925, passed away on Thursday, ston-Salem Journal reported that mid 1930's. He continued playing WWII, he served in the United States CLASSIFIEDS January 22, 2009 at Hospice Savan- Aristidis “Harry” Gatsis, 72, passed ping-pong, tennis and golf up until Army. One of his more enjoyable du- nah. After moving to Columbia, SC away on Friday, January 23, 2009, at this past summer where he frequent- ties as Corporal was being a chauf- she attended the University of South the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. ly beat men half his age. A World War feur to the General's wife. While sta- HELP WANTED ANTONOPOULOS Carolina before becoming employed He was born on October 30, 1936 in II hero and one of five brothers who tioned in San Francisco the Genis FUNERAL HOME, INC. with the engineering battalion at Fort Agrafa, Greece to the late Georgios saw combat overseas, Dean served family opened their home to many of Exciting opportunity for internet Konstantinos Antonopoulos - Jackson, SC; while in Columbia she and Panagiota Gatsis. He married with the 8th Air Force in England as a the Greek boys who were stationed at ASSISTANT EDITOR to work for Funeral Director attended The Holy Trinity Greek Or- Maria Nikopoulos of Viniani, Greece radio operator and aerial gunner on Fort Mason. After several home Greek American PUBLISHING 38-08 Ditmars Blvd., thodox Church and was a member of in 1971. They subsequently moved to the B17 flying fortress. He flew 35 cooked Greek meals, John met Becky COMPANY in New York. Should Astoria, New York 11105 the Maids of Athena, holding all of- the United States and resided in combat missions over Germany in- Genis, who became the love of his live and breath on-line publishing, (718) 728-8500 fices and elected District Governor Greensboro, North Carolina, where cluding his second mission where he life, and his wife for sixty-five years. be creative, and self motivated. A Not affiliated with any (Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama he worked as a chef at Anton' s survived an emergency landing after After the war he and Becky returned working knowledge of Greek com- other funeral home. and Tennessee). Roddy married Paul Restaurant. In 1985, they relocated being shot down over Brussels. He home to Bakersfield to his family and munity and Greek issues a plus. P. Anestos and they made there home to Winston-Salem, where he was a was honorably discharged at rank of the Greek Orthodox community Will report directly to publisher. E- APOSTOLOPOULOS in Savannah, GA. She was employed co-owner of Cagney' s Restaurant un- Tech sergeant and awarded the air where he had many close ties. For a mail to: publisher@thenation- Apostle Family - at Hunter Air Force Base, before til 2003. He was a member of the medal with five oak leaf clusters man who never learned to cook, it is aλherald.com Gregory, Nicholas, Andrew - transferring to the Corps of Engineers Greek Orthodox Church and The among other citations. Dean was em- interesting that he would spend his 115837/01/01/01-14 Funeral Directors of where she retired in 1986. She at- Evrytanian Association of America. ployed by the General Electric Co. for career in the food business. Valos RIVERDALE tended St. Paul's Greek Orthodox He was preceded in death by his par- 43 years as a Manufacturing Admin- Bros Poultry became an icon to the Telemarketing opportunity: Greek FUNERAL HOME Inc. Church and was a member of the ents; and his brother, Kostas Gatsis of istrator in GE's Ordnance Systems. point where he and his brother Nick American publishing company, 5044 Broadway Saint Barbara Philoptochos, Maids of Greece. Surviving are his wife, Maria After retiring in 1983, he rekindled Valos were affectionately known lo- based in L.I.C., NY, is seeking tele- New York, NY 10034 Athena and Daughters of Penelope. A. Gatsis; and his daughter, Penny A. his golf passion, joining the Berkshire cally as Bakersfield's favorite "Chick- marketing professionals for its sub- (212) 942-4000 Roddy was well known for her enter- Gatsis of the home; and his sisters, Hills Country Club where he scored a en Pluckers." Their business expand- scription based English and Greek Toll Free 1-888-GAPOSTLE taining and fabulous gourmet meals. Voula Yiaslas, Nitsa Velentzas, Alex- hole-in-one on the 17th hole in 1992. ed from Potomac Street to Union Av- language publications. Good salary, She was the proud owner of the Rex ou Milias and Loula Dinou of Greece. He was married to the late Corinne enue where they began supplying commission and flexible hours. E- LITRAS FUNERAL HOME Epicurean Restaurant along with one He is also survived by his sister-in- Elizabeth Dayton on Feb. 14, 1953, food service items to local school dis- mail bio to: advertising@ekirikas. ARLINGTON BENSON DOWD, of her dearest friends, Irene Athanas. law, Anthoula Sklapanis; and broth- whom passed away in 1987. He will tricts cafeterias and restaurants. Dur- com or fax 718-472-0510 INC FUNERAL HOME She is survived by her daughter and er-in-law, Panagiotis Sklapanis of be missed dearly by his long-time ing this course of time John, Nick 111609/01 83-15 Parsons Blvd., son-in-law, Crystal and Steve Nelson; Winston-Salem; and by his sister-in- companion Norine Branch of Long- along with George Valos opened up a Jamaica, NY 11432 a son and daughter-in-law, James P. law, Katina Nikopoulos and brother- meadow, Mass.; four sons, Gary T. restaurant and bar known as the Val- FUNERAL HOMES (718) 858-4434 • (800) 245-4872 and Ursla Anestos all of Savannah, in-law, Spiros Nikopoulos of Niarchos, and his wife Pat Truen of os Chicken House (the best crispy GA; grandchildren, Lyndsey Forster, Jamestown; as well as many beloved Lilburn, Ga., Thomas D. Niarchos, fried chicken and biscuits in town). CONSTANTINIDES Evan Forster, both of Atlanta, GA and nieces and nephews. The funeral was and his wife Natalie Meyers, of Long- Additionally, John was very instru- FUNERAL PARLOR Co. Leah Anestos of Savannah, GA;broth- held on January 27 at the Greek Or- wood, Fla., Dean P. Niarchos of Char- mental in serving the St. George 405 91st Street TO PLACE YOUR ers, George E. Melonas, Franklin thodox Church of the Annunciation lottesville, Va., and Michael D. Niar- Greek Orthodox Church. He spent Bay Ridge - Brooklyn, NY 11209 CLASSIFIED AD, CALL: Melonas and Angelo Melonas all of in Winston-Salem. The burial was at chos, and his wife Beth Webb, of most of his time in the kitchen with (718) 745-1010 (718) 784-5255, EXT. 106, Columbia, SC; a brother in-law, Forsyth Memorial Park. Memorial do- Marshfield, Mass.; two daughters, the "cooking crew" and transporting Services in all localities - E-MAIL: Ernest Pachis of Athens, Greece; sis- nations to the Kate B. Reynolds Hos- Laina N. Stilwell, and her husband chickens from the ovens of the Pyre- Low cost shipping to Greece classifieds@ thenationalherald.com ters-in-law, Lillian Melonas, Jana pice Home or to the Greek Orthodox Rob of Wheaton, Ill., and Pamela nees Bakery to the Greek Hall for the Melonas, Linnea Melonas all of Co- Church of the Annunciation, (435 Hensler, and her husband Brian of numerous weddings, baptisms, fu- lumbia, SC; and was beloved aunt to Keating Drive, Winston-Salem, NC, Wheaton, Ill.; 11 grandchildren and nerals, and annual Greek Food Festi- REAL ESTATE her 32 nieces and nephews. Roddy 27104). many nieces and nephews. He was vals. From the ice maker in the Greek was pre-deceased by her husband; predeceased by five brothers, John, Hall to the pews in the church and all sisters, Vaness Pachis of Deerfield ■ MIKE, ZINA Steven, George, Peter and Michael, repairs in-between, John was always Beach, FL, Mary E. Lewis of Colum- DELMAR, N.Y. – The Albany Times and by one sister, Lola. He was a com- there to fix anything and everything bia, SC and a brother, Veron Melonas Union reported that Zina Mary municant of St. George Greek Ortho- that needed to be repaired. He was of Columbia, SC. The funeral was (Marge) Mike, 95, passed away on dox Church, and a member of the preceded in death by his parents, sis- held on January 26 at St. Paul's Greek Thursday, January 22, 2009 at her American Legion, GE Pensioner's ters, Pearl Balasis, Fersina Bisbis, Orthodox Church in Columbia. The home of 58 years. Born in Albany, she Club, Berkshire Hills Country Club, Katherine Chicklenis, and Hazel burial was at Bonaventure Cemetery was the devoted daughter of the late and 486 Bomb Group Association 8th Pierucci and his brother, Geroge Val- in the Greenwich section following Charles and Victoria (Arwady) Air Force. Having been born two os. He is survived by his wife, Becky the service. Memorial donations to Marge. Zina's beloved husband, Ed- months after the 1918 Red Sox World Valos; his daughters, Irene Valos and the St. Barbara's Philoptochos Soci- ward, predeceased her in 1976. Zina Series championship, Dean was her husband, John Wilson, Joanne ety (14 West Anderson Street, Savan- attended Albany schools, graduating thrilled to have lived long enough to Laird and her husband, Larry; grand- nah, GA 31401). with highest honors from Albany see his team win the World Series in children, Dr. Peter Plessas, Paula Hall High School. As an employee of the 2004 and even more thrilled he made and husband, Bryan Hall, Krista Bar- ■ CHRIST, STEPHANIE NYS Department of Social Welfare it to 2007. He loved the Berkshires, ber; great-grandchildren, Eavyania DALLAS, Texas – The Dallas Morning (now Social Services), she worked in frequently saying "it's the only place and Demetria Hall; brother, Nick Val- News reported that Stephanie Maria several divisions. Zina was proficient on earth with four robust seasons." os and wife, Mary; brothers-in law Chatas Christ, "YiaYia Stephanie," in languages and on call at Immigra- His poetic wit and witticisms, the and wives, George Genis, Steve and tion and Naturalization Services as ease in which he could go into song, Priscilla Genis, Fred and Marilyn Ge- subscribePRINTED EDITION OF THE NATIONAL HERALD who was born on November 22, 1952, on her parents' first wedding interpreter at hearings. Early in his passion for golf and for life, and nis, and Perry Genis; and numerous via the post-office: anniversary, and passed away on 1976, she was asked by a prominent mostly his love and devotion for his nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will ❏1 Month $11.00 ❏3 Months $22.00 Wednesday, January 21, 2009. As a university to accompany a group of family will be missed by all who be Dr. Nicholas Valos, Thomas Valos, ❏6 Months $33.00 ❏One Year $66.00 baby, she grew up bilingual in Cara- educators on a fact finding extensive knew him. The funeral was held on George Valos, Phillip Valos, Tom VIA HOME DELIVERY (NY, NJ & CT): cas, Venezuela, then lived with her trip to several foreign countries as an January 26 at St. George Greek Or- Felactu, and Tom Drulias. Honorary ❏1 Month for $14.00 ❏3 Months for $33.00 family in Oklahoma, the Middle East, interpreter and translator. The group thodox Church in Pittsfield. Burial Pallbearers include Harry Chicklenis, ❏6 Months for $48.00 ❏One Year for $88.00 New York City, and Texas. As an met with dignitaries, visited schools, was at Pittsfield Cemetery. Memorial Gus Balasis, Frank Pierucci, Steve adult, Stephanie's life was dedicated universities and hospitals to study the donations may be made to St. George Pappas, Gerry Collis, George Daoutis, VIA HOME DELIVERY (NEW ENGLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, entirely to Holy Trinity Greek Ortho- culture, customs and needs of foreign Greek Orthodox Church in care of Lance Rodgers, Richard Lemucchi, WASHINGTON D.C., VIRGINIA & MARYLAND) dox Church, her family and her student applicants. Later, in 1980, Dery Funeral Home, (54 Bradford Judge John Jelletich, and Milo ❏1 Month for $18.00 ❏3 Months for $41.00 friends. She was a proud graduate of she earned a bachelor of science de- Street, Pittsfield). Brooks. The family would like to ❏6 Months for $57.00 ❏One Year for $109.00 the University of Texas in Austin, gree in the field of community and thank the staff at CBCC and Memori- ■ ON LINE SUBSCRIPTION www.thenationalherald.com where she earned her B.A. in drama. human services, with an emphasis in NICHOLS, ATHENA al Hospital. The family would also NON SUBSCRIBERS: ❏One Year for $45.95 ❏6 Months for $29.95 Her passion in life was the theater, gerontology from the State Universi- SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Salt like to extend their appreciation to ❏3 Months for $18.95 until she met her husband, Charles ty of New York Empire State College. Lake City Tribune reported that the special nursing staff on the third SUBSCRIBERS: ❏One Year for $34.95 ❏6 Months for $23.95 Christ, and they married on January She interned as a volunteer in the Athena Halles Nichols, born January floor at Memorial Hospital who cared ❏3 Months for $14.95 31, 1982. She lovingly embraced her SUNY Department of Social Welfare 3, 1924, passed away in her home on for John like "family" and to his new role as mother and wife, and at the Stratton VA Medical Center. Zi- Sunday, January 18, 2009 in the em- nephew Harry Chicklenis ("Chick") shortly thereafter became a very na was selected as student represen- brace of her loving husband and fam- for his devotion to Uncle John. The NAME: ...... young grandmother, which was her tative to speak at the graduation cer- ily. She was a wife, mother, sister, funeral was held on January 25 at St. ADDRESS: ...... most treasured role. Stephanie had a emony at the Empire State Plaza grandmother and great-grandmoth- George Orthodox Church in Bakers- CITY:...... STATE: ...... ZIP:...... heart of gold and selflessly dedicated Convention Center. As a volunteer at er known to all for her dedication to field. Memorial donations to St. TEL.: ...... E-MAIL:...... CELL...... her life to caring for others, always the Elsmere Elementary School Jump family, generosity, work ethic, and George Orthodox Church. PLEASE SEND A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO: placing them before herself. Her at- Start Program, she tutored first grade unrestrained spirit. Athena's home NAME: ...... tributes were so many that it is diffi- students who needed assistance. It overflowed with warmth and spec- ADDRESS: ...... cult to name them all-- strength, pas- was the highlight of her day to ob- tacular Greek food. She made sure This is a service CITY:...... STATE: ...... ZIP:...... sion and compassion, leadership, a serve the progress these children everyone was well fed and happy. to the community. TEL.: ...... E-MAIL:...... CELL...... "Director" of all sorts! Stephanie was achieved. Zina was a member for Her cooking was only matched by her Announcements of deaths Please specify method of payment the President of the Daughter's of many years of St. George Antiochian love of fun and mischief. She loved may be telephoned to the Penelope Terpsichore Chapter of Dal- Orthodox Christian Church and St. nothing more than to instigate a fam- I enclose a check/money order for $ ...... made payable to: Classified Department of The National Herald, Inc., 37-10 30th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 - 2614 las and a member for many years. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church of Al- ily water fight. She loved to travel The National Herald at or please debit my ❏ Mastercard ❏ Visa ❏ American Express She rejuvenated the organization bany. She is survived by her loving with her husband, and on their many (718) 784-5255, with her energy by inspiring new sons, Roger Mike of Clifton Park, Dr. trips to Wendover and Las Vegas de- Monday through Friday, CARD NUMBER: ...... members to join and work for the Dennis Mike of Buffalo, N.Y.; her veloped a reputation as "Golden 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST EXPIRATION DATE: ...... SIGNATURE:...... common good. She was on the Board brother, Dr. Michael Marge and his Arm" at the craps table. Athena was or e-mailed to: of the Nafpaktian Brotherhood wife Dr. Dorothy Marge, of born in Salt Lake City. She graduated [email protected] where she also played an integral Millersville, Md.; and sisters-in-law, from West High (1940) and Stevens THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009 GREECE CYPRUS 9 HIDDEN GREECE Once a Boon, Euro Now Burdens Some Nations Hidden Greece will present pictures of the country that tourists don't see, the main streets but also the back streets and balconies and the New York Times tomed to the relatively recent com- way of life of people outside the normal spotlight: workers, the home- fort of buoyant economic growth less, ordinary citizens and some more celebrated, and the places they ATHENS — “The Italians, the and a strong currency, some others, live and work and define modern Greece, as well as its legacy. Spaniards, the Greeks, we all have who lived through the country’s past been living in happy land, spending financial and political crises, say the what we did not have,” said George current shakiness is to be expected. Economou, a Greek shipping mag- “We knew this couldn’t last,” Vas- nate, contemplating his country’s silis Karatzas, a fund manager based economic troubles and others’ from in Athens, said as he sipped Greek his spacious boardroom. “It was a coffee at an outdoor cafe in the city fantasy world.” center. “There is fear about the euro In Greece, another of the euro zone, but I don’t think the commis- zone nations in trouble, stores like sion will allow its periphery to go this one in Athens are offering deep down. United we rise, divided we discounts to stay open. fall.” For some of the countries on the Yannis Stournaras, an economist periphery of the 16-member euro who was a top economic adviser to currency zone — Greece, Ireland, the previous government of the Pan- Italy, Portugal and Spain — this hellenic Socialist Movement, says debt-fired dream of endless con- that after a long period of conver- sumption has turned into the rudest gence, the recent Greek divergence of nightmares, raising the risk that a from northern Europe is to be ex- euro country may be forced to de- pected. clare bankruptcy or abandon the Adding to the pressure, surpluses currency. from countries like Germany are no The prospect, however unlikely, is mally do to ride out economic As with Greece, bond yields there longer being recycled back to Greece a humbling one. The adoption of the storms, including enormous spend- are diverging from those in Ger- and other less prosperous countries. euro just a decade ago was meant to ing. many. The apparent suicide of a Moreover, Germany, the largest ex- pull Europe together economically So Germany, France and the prominent real estate developer, porter in the world, tends not to en- and politically, ending the some- Scandinavian countries are mount- Patrick Rocca, is but the most recent courage its consumers to buy more times furious battles over who could ing billion-dollar stimulus plans and reminder of the fear and shock grip- from the rest of Europe. devalue their currency the fastest erecting fences to protect their ping the country. But Mr. Stournaras scoffed at the and beggar their neighbor. banks. But the peripheral economies But Greece’s problems are proba- prospect of a bankruptcy like those For the Continent, the currency are being left to twist in the market bly the worst. The country has been once common in Latin America. Nor signaled the potential to one day ri- winds. an easy target for the vigilantes of did he accept the idea that Greece val the United States. For its poorer With the need for stimulus to deal the European bond market, and re- might leave the euro zone and try to Business as usual countries, winning admission to the with the severe downturn, these cently it has been shaken by a wave devalue its way back to recovery. euro zone was a point of pride, countries find themselves caught in of violent protests. “Bankruptcy? No, no, no,” he said A week before, this spot outside the University of Athens was alive showing that they had tamed their an awful policy bind: credit is avail- The omnipotent hand of the with a vigorous shake of his head. with protesters and you'd have to duck rocks and Molotov cocktails to budget deficits and set their financial able, but only at punitive rates; and Greek state produced a public debt “Since the beginning of the 20th cen- get past, but the street sellers have returned, although few are buying houses in order. further borrowing not only breaks of more than 90 percent of Greece’s tury, we have never had problems these days. Now, in the middle of the worst with European Commission dictates total economic output. The relent- with our arrears.” economic downturn since the euro’s but raises broader questions about lessly rising demand of its con- But others are not prepared to birth, a new view is emerging — es- their solvency. sumers, who were able to put off the rule out such an event, though they pecially as the creditworthiness of Bond and currency speculators day of reckoning because they en- concede it is highly unlikely. Greece, Spain and Portugal, one af- have demonstrated that they intend joyed the shelter of the low-inflation One of the few politicians in Greece to Help Iraq in Cultural ter the other, has been downgraded. to punish countries with dubious euro, has created a current-account Greece who has not shied from ad- The view is that the balm of euro economic prospects, just as they deficit of 14 percent of its gross do- dressing these issues is Stefanos membership allowed these countries have punished banks. Yields are sky- mestic product — estimated to be Manos, a gregarious former econom- Reconstruction and Conservation to gloss over serious economic prob- rocketing on the debt of peripheral the highest in Europe. ic minister who in the early 1990s lems that have now roared to the European economies with growing The current account measures ushered in a drastic, and ultimately ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece and Islamic periods, fell victim to fore. deficits. The British pound has plum- the difference between a nation’s ex- successful, privatization program. pledged Tuesday to provide finan- bands of armed thieves. Up to “Membership is not a panacea for meted because of a lack of confi- ports and imports of all goods and He has founded a new party and cial and technical aid to help Iraq 7,000 pieces are still missing. a country’s social and economic dence in plans to shore up British services. is considering a return to Parliament restore and conserve its damaged Zebari welcomed the Greek of- problems,” said Simon Tilford, the banks. Last week, Standard & Poor’s in the hope of joining a new govern- archaeological sites and museums. fer of cultural assistance, which he chief economist at the Center for Eu- Few experts expect Greece or the downgraded Greek debt to A—, and ment that would heed his longstand- Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyan- said followed an Iraqi request. ropean Reform in London. other Mediterranean countries to the gap between the interest rate it ing message: Greece needs to stop nis said Greece and Iraq have also "We have great need of such as- “In fact, there has been a huge di- run out of money or leave the euro. pays on its bonds, versus what richer running deficits and address the is- agreed to build a monument honor- sistance," he said, adding that tech- vergence in competitiveness that But the widening gap between the countries like Germany pay, is nearly sue of global competitiveness. ing the Greek warrior-king Alexan- nical committees from both coun- shows up in massive trade imbal- interest rate that Greece and larger 3 percentage points, the widest in “We need money to finance our der the Great at an ancient battle- tries would meet to discuss the de- ances,” he said, comparing Greece economies like Germany have to pay the euro zone. deficits and I see difficulty in us at- field in southern Iraq. tails. with the wealthier euro countries. to borrow reveals the first cracks in Mr. Economou, the Greek ship- tracting such funds from abroad,” he She was speaking after talks in Zebari said the battlefield mon- “While Greece may have been insu- what so far has been a fairly solid ping company operator, is caught in said, as he received a string of admir- Athens with Iraqi Foreign Minister ument would underline the inter- lated from the risk of a currency cri- fortress Europe. the crossfire. The stock of his compa- ers in the Old World splendor of the Hoshyar Zebari. action of civilizations in the region. sis, there is also the risk of a credit Standard & Poor’s has also down- ny, DryShips, is down 90 percent; Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens. “I Iraqi museums and sites suf- It will be built near the city of crisis and a collapse of confidence in graded the debt of Spain, another banks in Europe that once clamored am not sure that this won’t spiral out fered extensive damage and loot- Mosul, where Alexander won a its solvency.” growth stalwart, because of the toll for his business no longer do so. of control, and that makes me sad- ing in the wake of the U.S.-led inva- crushing victory over a Persian While sharing a currency with taken by its housing crisis. “The psychology is shattered,” he dened and frustrated.” sion in 2003. The National Muse- army in 331 B.C. At the time, Iraq some of the mightiest economies in In Ireland, once the high-growth said with a rueful smile as he consid- As for the rest of Europe, particu- um of Baghdad, a treasure trove of was part of the Persian Empire, the world helped Europe’s poorer darling of the European Union, the ered the blow to his business and net larly its weaker links, he also has artifacts from the Stone Age which stretched throughout most nations share in the wealth, a boon economy continues to reel from a worth. “I have already cried — now I doubts. through the Babylonian, Assyrians of the Middle East. during boom times, in hard times the housing collapse and a defunct bank- have dried up.” “I don’t think Europe is up to it,” rules of membership are keeping ing sector with liabilities that surpass While a shock to many he said. “It expanded too rapidly them from doing what countries nor- the country’s gross domestic product. Greeks, who had become accus- without fixing its institutions.” Cyprus Takes Turkey to Court on Missing

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - Cyprus says it will file an action with the European Court of Human Rights to pressure Turkey to account for the fate of Greek Cypriots missing since it invaded the island in 1974. Turkish actor Attila Olgac said last week that while serving as a conscript during the invasion he fa- tally shot at least one prisoner on orders from a superior. He later re- tracted the claim, saying he made it EUROKINISSI up. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, left, and his Greek counterpart Turkey invaded Cyprus in re- Dora Bakoyannis, right, answer questions during a press conference sponse to a coup by Athens-backed after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. supporters of union with Greece. The Mediterranean island is still ethnically split into a Greek Cypriot south _ representing the island's in- ternationally-recognised govern- ment _ and a breakaway Turkish Australian Dream Job Website Cypriot north. Around 1,500 Greek Cypriots Gets 1 Million Hits and 500 Turkish Cypriots vanished during the invasion, and in clashes in the 1960s. SYDNEY, Australia (AP)- One will be required to perform such ar- Greek woman promised to do all of duous tasks as strolling the island's The reflection of a man on a bicy- Australia's laundry and pick up af- white sand beaches, snorkelling its cle is seen as he cycles past the ter the kangaroos. An Australian crystalline waters and exploring glass-covered photograph of a boy apparently had a tattoo advertising other islands along the reef. clutching a picture of his father her love of the Great Barrier Reef The job is part of an A$1.7 mil- who disappeared during Turkey's etched onto her arm. And a few lion campaign to publicise the 1974 invasion of Cyprus, in

people just took off their clothes. charms of northeastern Queens- Nicosia on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. KARADJIAS PHOTO/PETROS AP Desperate to snag what is being land, and the employee will be re- billed as the "Best Job in the quired to post videos and photos on World", thousands of people from a weekly blog to help promote the across the globe have submitted area. video applications to Queensland's The job's website shows many of Turkish Pilot Convicted Over Crash 25 charged Over Child Porn Downloads tourism department for its latest the 60-second video applications advertised vacancy - an A$150,000 received so far from all over the ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A court in rant an extradition request. ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greek po- A police statement issued Tues- contract to relax on Hamilton Is- world, including Brazil, Romania, Greece has convicted and sen- Ozdemir did not appoint a lawyer lice say they have charged 25 peo- day says the suspects allegedly sub- land in the Great Barrier Reef for Switzerland, the United States and tenced a Turkish fighter pilot in ab- and there was no immediate reac- ple including a priest and a neuro- scribed to Web sites that displayed six months while writing a blog to Turkey. sentia to four years in prison over a tion from Turkish authorities. surgeon for allegedly downloading pornographic pictures and videos promote the island. One Queensland woman's video fatal jet crash over the Aegean Sea Greek pilot Costas Iliakis died in child pornography from the inter- of children as young as 6 months "Oh boy," an overwhelmed An- shows her walking into a tattoo in 2006. the 2006 incident when two F-16 net. old being sexually abused by thony Hayes, chief executive of parlour and walking out with an First Lt. Halil Ibrahim Ozdemir jets collided. Police say they acted on a tip adults. Tourism Queensland, said yester- apparent tattoo on her arm that was convicted Monday of negligent NATO allies Greece and Turkey from Interpol to detain the suspects It says the 25 suspects include a day. "What have we done?" reads, "I [heart] islands of the manslaughter. He has 15 days to are at odds over airspace bound- in Athens, Thessaloniki and anoth- priest attached to a church near the Response to the job has been Great Barrier Reef." appeal the sentence or face arrest if aries and flight procedures in the er three Greek cities, as well as on southern town of Sparta, a neuro- mind-boggling, Hayes said, with A woman in Greece promises - he enters Greece. The offense is not Aegean and mock dogfights be- the islands of Mykonos and Mytili- surgeon, a gynecologist and an more than a million unique visitors via a scroll of words across the considered serious enough to war- tween fighter jets are common. ni. army officer. logging on to the website that ad- screen - to wash all of Australia's vertises the position since it was laundry and even clean up up after posted on Monday. the kangaroos. The department had to upgrade And then there had been videos from its one original server, which that were simply too - shall we say? crashed earlier in the week, to 10 to - quirky to publicise, Hayes said. Unstoppable Olympiakos Win Again, PAO Lose Ground handle the volume of visitors to the "I guess we expected there'd be a site. certain percentage of nutters and ATHENS (AP) — Luciano Galletti Athenians' chances of winning the OFI's area, but his penalty shot was had replaced Oscar in the 63rd, se- Yesterday, a team of 10 people nudies." came off the bench to score the title. saved by Malarz. cured the points with his eighth were sifting through the 2000 In May, officials will select 10 fi- winner as defending champion Olympiakos now has 48 points The visitors came close to level- goal of the season. video applications the department nalists to travel to Hamilton Island Olympiakos beat visiting OFI Crete from 19 games, 12 ahead of ing in the 28th, but Popovic's close- On the island of Crete, Panathi- had already received, with tens of for an interview process, which will 2-1 to extend its lead in the Greek Panathinaikos. range shot sailed over Antonis naikos turned in a disappointing thousands more expected be- include sailing, snorkelling and league. Olympiakos controlled play Nikopolidis' crossbar. performance, losing to Ergotelis by fore the February 22 deadline. psychological testing. Brazilian striker Diogo gave from the start, taking an early lead In one of its rare attacks in the a Diego Romano goal in the 55th. In exchange for the plush salary, An 11th finalist will be chosen Olympiakos the lead, while Zdrav- through Diogo's fifth goal of the 62nd, OFI equalized through Alek- The winner came three minutes af- free accommodation in an ocean- by the public, from a pool of 50 of co Popovic scored for OFI. season off a corner by Leto in the sandar Simic who scored from a ter Panathinaikos' striker Ante front villa and airfare from the win- the best applicants, whose videos Elsewhere, Ergotelis beat visit- seventh minute. deep pass by Nikos Kounenakis. Rukavina was sent off for hitting an ner's home country, the employee will be posted online. The job be- ing Panathinaikos 1-0, denting the In the 22nd, Diogo was fouled in Five minutes later, Galletti, who opponent. 10 EDITORIALS LETTERS THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The National Herald A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), TNH is the Best Source for News Obama has Brought the Hope; economic conditions. President long time. I hope we can keep up reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest on the Greek Orthodox Church now we wait for the Change Obama is not a celebrity - although with this sincere interest well after to the Greek American community of the United States of America. he has certainly achieved a celebri- the media frenzy has fizzled. To the Editor: To the Editor: ty-like status- he is a politician and Mike Lupakis Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris I have been following your well Thank you for your coverage of we can not say he is a truly efficient Boston, MA informed articles and commen- the Inauguration and for providing one until he establishes he can stay Assistant to Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos taries about the Church issues, and it through the eyes of a Greek true to the many promises he?s Managing Editor Evan C. Lambrou I like to thank you very much for in- American perspective (or one angle made to Americans. His campaign Assistant Managing Editor Mark Frangos forming our Greek American Com- of it). The Greek American perspec- was based on the ideas of Hope and TO OUR READERS Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros munity of what is going on. If it tive was a positive, hopeful one - Change. President Obama has defi- Webmaster Alexandros Tsoukias wasn’t for The National Herald we truly reflective of the majority of nitely achieved the Hope part. We The National Herald welcomes would be unaware of what is hap- Americans today and of the mas- now can only wait for the Change. letters from its readers intended The National Herald (USPS 016864) is published weekly by pening in the Archdiocese, the Dio- sive crowds that gathered at the In- He seems to be moving in the for publication. They should in- The National Herald Inc. at 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 Tel: (718)784-5255, Fax: (718)472-0510, ceses and the parishes. auguration. I sincerely believe our right direction, but we must hold clude the writer’s name, address, e-mail: [email protected] The Archdiocesan newspaper is efforts for Hellenism in the U.S. him accountable for all decisions, and telephone number and be only a publication of public rela- will suffice with the current admin- especially ones relating to the econ- addressed to: The Editor, The Na- Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece tions and projection, mainly of the istration, and I am hopeful the plan omy during these hard times. We tional Herald, 37-10 30th Street, Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, e-mail: [email protected] Archbishop’s activities. It seems to for Greece obtaining a spot in the must scrutinize and analyze con- Long Island City, NY 11101. me that he is trying to imitate the Visa Waiver program will finally stantly and then praise him for the Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $66.00, 6 months $33.00, 3 months $22.00, 1 month $11.00 late Archbishop Iakovos who was come about after AHEPA?s long major changes he makes. Perhaps if Letters can also be faxed to (718) Home delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $88.00, 6 months $48.00, 3 months $33.00, 1 month $14.00 collecting honorary doctorates fight on its behalf. we did that during the beginning of 472-0510 or e-mailed to Home delivery New England States, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland: english.edition@thenationalher- 1 year $109.00, 6 months $57.00, 3 months $41.00, 1 month $18.00 from everywhere. I am not saying I must caution fellow Greek Bush?s first administration, we On line subscription: Subscribers to the print edition: 1 year $34.95, 6 months $23.95, he is doing something wrong, but Americans and really all Americans wouldn?t have elected him for a ald.com. We reserve the right to 3 months $14.95; Non subscribers: 1 year $45.95, 6 months $29.95, 3 months $18.95 after a while it becomes a joke be- to not view President Obama as a second term. edit letters for publication and re- cause the Church needs serious superhero who will remedy all our On the bright side, its safe to say gret that we are unable to ac- Periodical postage paid at L.I.C., N.Y. and additional mailing offices. work and leadership. problems without any difficulty. Greek Americans and Americans knowledge or return those left Postmaster send change of address to: Please don’t misunderstand me, It?s easy to take this monumental, alike are really paying attention to unpublished. THE NATIONAL HERALD, 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 I am not saying that the Archbishop historical occasion and become their government and their politi- shouldn’t be visible and make his oblivious to the severity our current cal leaders for the first time in a presence known, but what I am saying is not to do just that. Arch- bishop Demetrios was fortunate to be one of the most educated hierar- All too human failings chs this Church of ours has ever known. Certainly there is no one Mωραίνει ο κύριος ους βούλεται απολέσει (The Lord makes fools of among the hierarchs of the Arch- those whom He wishes to destroy). diocese, who could be compared John Thain, son of a Greek American mother, could not possibly be mis- with him in terms of education and taken for a Greek even if he tried. In fact, almost nowhere in the volumi- knowledge, simply take them one nous references to him in the media is the word Greek even mentioned. by one. They might have other gifts Nonetheless, there is always hope that, given life’s uncertainties, down and personal distinctions but when the road, he might just wake up one day and realize what he is missing. It it comes to the issue of education has happened many times before with other extraordinarily successful and knowledge Archbishop Greek Americans – with full Greek names – that go through life detesting Demetrios is the intellectual one, or avoiding their Greek heritage and fellow Greeks – “What, me Greek? more the type of a theology teacher What are you talking about? I’m an American” – until the day they stumble than an Archbishop. I think he and fall, and then they realize that only their “own kind,” other Greek would be good as a professor at the Americans, truly care about them. Seminary. Thus, this is not so much a commentary about a fellow Greek Ameri- It seems to me that our hierar- can, who has suddenly become the personification of excess and moral chy is in need of renewal. Some of blindness on Wall Street, as it is about human failings. Tragic Greek play- them are very old, others seem to wrights like Euripides or Sophocles would have had a field day with hu- experience personal troubles which man shortcomings if they were around today. But someone else will even- prevent them from been effective tually pick up where they left off – if the story hasn’t been written already. and sensitive to their parishes and Last fall, when Mr. Thain struck a deal with Ken Lewis, Bank of Ameri- faithful. I do not know if the idea of ca’s CEO, he was heralded by many as a hero, including this newspaper, for a mandatory retirement of the saving his company. Bishops at a certain age is ecclesias- As almost everybody already knows by now, Mr. Thain, the former CEO tically correct, as it is in the case of of the now-absorbed Merrill Lynch, was fired from his new job at Bank of married priests. America because of pre-merger losses at Merrill amounting to $15.31 bil- I thank you for the service which lion, and for – among other things – spending more than a million dollars you are providing to our Communi- to redecorate his office suite (he is now offering to reimburse the compa- ty. ny). Steven Papastergion CHRYSANTHI LIRISTIS / SPECIAL TO THE NATIONAL HERALD He also distributed some $4 billion dollars in bonuses ahead of sched- New York, N.Y ule in December, before Merrill was officially acquired by Bank of America – “If you don’t pay your best people, you will destroy your franchise,” he said. All this has come out at a time when Bank of America is begging the COMMENTARY federal government for tens of billions of dollars to stay solvent, and when employees are being massacred by layoffs not only on Wall Street, but everywhere. The mentality which pervades high-level executives in the financial in- dustry should also be noted. After cutting a deal with Bank of America, Mr. The Birth of a Clone State Thain reportedly asked for a $10 million bonus, but was apparently turned down by the board (some recent reports say he denies ever asking for a ByGeorgios Gialtouridis France has set a standard and a In the ECHR the Association cultural identity of the Macedonian bonus). Special to The National Herald precedent for future cases involving claimed that its aims had been fully (sic) people and nationalities that Whatever the case may be, what is relevant here is not the amount of human rights violations in FYROM legitimate while its interpretation of live in the Republic of Macedonia money high-power CEO’s make – no matter how disproportionate their PART VI as the Court rendered judgment in a the history of the Slavic people in (sic), defense and security.” salaries and bonuses are compared to the average wages their people earn The term clone is derived from case where freedom of expression FYROM was markedly different to -Official Gazette of the Republic – it is that they still do not comprehend the magnitude of the damage they κλών (klon), the Greek word for and freedom of assembly regarding the official historiography of the of Macedonia (sic) 13/96 of 15 have done to their companies, employees, clients and country, without any twig or branch, referring to the an organization of FYROM citizens State and the State’s interference March 1996. genuine expression of remorse. This is what’s outrageous. process whereby a new plant can be with Bulgarian ethnic self-con- had not been justified and necessary Why is it illegal for FYROM citi- If they understood the effects of their combined actions over the years created from a twig. sciousness have been violated. In in a democratic society. In its de- zens to research their roots? – actions which made them fabulously wealthy at the expense of so many In statements to a human rights the case of Association of Citizens fense, FYROM argued that the ulti- FYROM’s Penal Code Articles others – and still continue to behave in such egocentric ways, then the activist investigating human rights Radko & Paunkovski v. the FYROM mate objective of the Association 178 and 179 provide for the prose- problem is even more serious than the public has been led to believe. abuses in the former Yugoslavia, (Appl. 74651/01), the ECHR held was to repudiate the identity of the cution, conviction and mandatory We are not referring simply to financial problems, but to the ethos (way Dimitris Petrusis, a Vlach-speaking by six votes to one FYROM in viola- people in FYROM. incarceration all at the discretion of of living) and phronema (way of thinking) of our society, which unfortu- Greek physician living in Monastiri tion of Articles 10 and 11 of the Con- In its decision, citing case-law, the authorities in order to safeguard nately breeds this type of selfish and irresponsible behavior. gave detailed accounts of how the vention. the Court stated: “Freedom of ex- the reputation of the “Republic.” Apparently, these people are so divorced from reality and the lives of Yugoslav authorities had confiscat- In 2000 the Association of Citi- pression is applicable not only to in- Offending the reputation of the ordinary people that they think of themselves as special – that they are not ed all of his family’s property and zens Radko was founded and regis- formation or ideas that are Republic of Macedonia (sic): bound by the rules and moral norms of society – and somehow see them- had forced them to change their sur- tered in the city of Ohrid by ten FY- favourably received or regarded as Article 178. “A person, who with selves as even being above the law. name to Petrushevski. All family ROM nationals. The Association’s inoffensive or as a matter of indiffer- the intention to ridicule shall pub- This is the real tragedy: greed and self-aggrandizement have become members had been educated in the objectives as stated in its Articles ence, but also to those that offend, licly make a mockery of the Republic all too frequent on Wall Street. The utter disregard for the lives and fami- French School of Nuns in Monastiri, were cultural in nature. The name shock or disturb. Such are the de- of Macedonia (sic), its flag, arm or lies of the “little people,” the employees who make the companies what including his uncle Michalis, a.k.a. ‘Radko’ is a pseudonym for a contro- mands of pluralism, tolerance and anthem, shall be punished with im- they are, who add value to it and keep it going, and the blithe indifference Mihail D. Petrushevski, who was a versial 20th century Bulgarian and broadmindedness without which prisonment of three months to three to the rest of the country makes us furious. professor and founder of the Faculty one time leader of the VMRO. In the there is no democratic society.” years.” These people haven’t thought twice about firing thousands on the one of Philosophy in Skopje. FYROM promotional leaflet at the Associa- In an interview last year, Mirjana Ridiculing the Macedonian (sic) hand, while receiving millions in bonuses for their “extraordinary talents” authorities now forbid Dimitris from tion’s official launch ceremony, Lazarova Trajkovska from FYROM people and the nationalities: on the other. Well, now we have seen the results of their talents at work. restoring his surname. which was marred by violence, it and the lone dissenting Judge to this Article 179. “A person, who with For a time, John Thain enjoyed a different image than that. He was In the same report, Sofia Anasta- read: “The Association aims to raise decision, who should have recused the intention to ridicule shall pub- compared to Clark Kent. He was not thought to harbor this mentality, or as siou stated how she was one of the and affirm the Macedonian (sic) cul- herself from this case based on po- licly make a mockery of the Mace- being part-and-parcel of this insensitive group. tens of thousands of Greek children tural space having as its priority the tential conflict of interest, noted that donian (sic) people and the nation- And to the extent that he actually meant it when he apologized for abducted by the communists fleeing cultural and historical identity of the more and more citizens of FYROM alities, shall be punished with im- spending all that money on his office suite in the midst of an economic Greece towards the end of the Greek Slavs from Macedonia (sic) who are filing suits in Strasbourg’s prisonment of three months to three downturn which led to the worst financial meltdown since the Great De- Civil War. Following her abduction have appeared as Bulgarians ECHR. According to the latest statis- years.” pression, there might be some hope for him – but only if he really meant it. she was sent to Tashkent in the for- throughout the centuries.” In other tics as of 12/31/2007, 1352 cases Imagine registering a non-profit mer USSR by the communist au- words, they were acknowledging were filed with FYROM as the re- organization at your local Secretary thorities and in 1967 she moved to their Bulgarian roots. spondent State of which 454 were of State’s office with an objective of Skopje. Yugoslav authorities forced Later that year a group of lawyers filed in 2007 alone. Why such a ris- promoting the Anglo-Saxon roots of her to change her surname to and a political party challenged the ing influx of allegations of human the United States. You are subse- Hellenic education Borovska and deny her Greek identi- Association’s legality in FYROM’s rights violations? It is FYROM’s quently threatened, taken to court, ty by declaring herself a “Macedon- Constitutional Court. In 2001 the pseudo-nationalist constitutional labeled a fascist and a terrorist and Many in our community have given up on Hellenic education in Amer- ian” in order for her to find employ- Constitutional Court declared the structure and government curtailing your organization is shut down by ica. Even the Archdiocese, which is in charge – officially, at least – of our ment and housing. FYROM authori- Association’s Articles null and void the State’s efforts towards democra- the Supreme Court. Why? Because parochial school system gave up many years, even decades, ago. And so ties now forbid Sofia from restoring and upon appeal upheld the original tic reform and its adherence to basic you are not authorized by the gov- have many priests at the parish level, even though they struggle to main- her surname. ruling and ordered the Association’s human rights. As far as FYROM’s ernment to reference or document tain Greek afternoon and Saturday schools. The Council of Europe Conven- dissolution. The Court found that history goes, no one in that country any of the country’s history unless it That makes it perplexing, even astounding, for some that, in spite of tion for the Protection of Human the Articles of the Association were is allowed to research it except for conforms to an official historiogra- everything, so many Greek schools – 29 schools in 12 states, according to Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in violation of domestic law aimed “approved” institutions. Pursuant to phy. Crazy? Certain lyrics from a the directory listed on Archdiocese website – continue to exist and operate guarantees individuals, inter alia, at inciting national hatred and intol- Article 16 of FYROM’s Law on Scien- song by the group Collide come to today. freedom of expression (Article 10) erance. It also labeled the Associa- tific Research Activity, “Approvals mind: “take away my point of view, Why is this so? There many reasons. Chief among them is because lan- and freedom of assembly and associ- tion members as fascists and terror- can be given for all areas defined as take away my dignity, take away the guage, particularly a language with the deeply-rooted and immensely rich ation (Article 11). On January 15, ists. The Association and its Chair- public interest in scientific research right to speak, the lunatics have tak- history of Greek, coupled with the existence of a dynamic community like 2009 the European Court of Human man then sought remedy through activity, except for investigative re- en over the asylum.” That, my ours, is a living organism, taking on an unstoppable vigor which continues Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, the ECHR. search in the field of historical and friends, is life in FYROM. to manifest itself, even in places where logic might dictate otherwise. And in today’s world – with instant global communications essentially reducing the world to a “village” – a world in which it used to take a month or more for a letter to reach its intended recipient, it takes only split sec- ond to communicate with a person, and even to see that person across PRESS CLIPPING oceans. Logistically, then, it should be extremely difficult, if not impossi- ble, for a language to die under these new technological conditions. If one keeps his eye fixed on the past – how life was 30-40 years ago; how difficult it was to preserve the language – then given the absence of Intolerable Tolerance someone to communicate with in Greek, when parents were at work for By Stavros Lygeros We are not just talking about politi- putting the brakes on the country’s essary in order to enforce legality. 10-14 hours a day, or the general absence of utility in learning the lan- Kathimerini cal favors aimed at luring voters. development. But not only that. It Societies, of course, are riven by guage, it would be more understandable. Over time, the situation has nur- is also corroding Greece’s social contradictions and conflict that But given today’s reality – and anticipating only what the world in the It’s clear that the country is not tured a climate of mutual tolerance values. These are, in fact, two sides sometimes cannot be contained. So area of communications will be like in the future – one has to wonder how just in a phase of decline, it’s actu- while parties, especially the main- of the same coin. If it wants to im- law and order is not always the right much more extensive the use of the Greek language would have been had ally on the verge of a complete stream ones, have been politically pose respect for the law, a political formula. But Greece’s problem is not we embrace it more fervently, instead of ignoring it or, worse, fighting it. breakdown. The global economic and morally discredited. They are system must itself be credible. But a lack of flexibility. We have reached That’s why it’s so refreshing to hear principals at these schools speaking crisis has exacerbated Greece’s indirectly trying to buy the toler- this has long been lost. People pick the other extreme. The fact that ar- so openly about their challenges and struggles to keep Hellenic education structural shortcomings which ance of society in order to survive. parties but they don’t trust them, bitrary behavior is often rewarded alive in America. themselves stem from an ailing po- This often means turning a blind which is an unmistakable sign of a has fostered an aversion to social re- We found one glaring exception, however: St. John’s Greek Orthodox litical system. But although the fish eye not only to arbitrary acts com- crisis in political representation. sponsibility, which is undermining Day School in Tampa, Florida no longer offers Greek language classes, and rots from the head, society is not mitted by segments of society but In this context, a parliamentary efforts to overcome the crisis. What hasn’t for 15 years. This is really unacceptable for an Archdiocese without blame. also to widespread corruption com- majority no longer suffices for a gov- we need are credible politicians, parochial school in a community with a sizeable Greek community, and Greek politicians are engaged in mitted by state officials. ernment to be able to claim substan- politicians who will be bold enough the Archdiocese needs to help correct this situation. give-and-take with the electorate. This two-way tolerance is tial political legitimacy which is nec- to call a spade a spade. THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009 VIEWPOINTS 11 LETTER FROM ATHENS Lower Your Expectations of “Obamakis”

Barack Obama will become one of Bidenopoulos.” Many been disastrous for wood-Randall, has a long history in the great transcendental Presidents seem to believe that the Greek American con- various Washington think-tanks as an It takes an army of in American history. Historical cir- Obama administration cerns in the past and apologist for Turkey. She wrote, in a cumstances give him the opportunity will reverse decades of could be even worse in study for the prestigious Council on to leave as indelible a mark on this pro-Turkish policies. the near future. The in- Foreign Affairs that the Annan Plan farmers to stop a country nation as did Roosevelt or a Lincoln. We should brace termediate apparatus was more favorable to Greek Cypri- His electoral campaign demonstrat- ourselves for disap- drives policy whenever ots than to the Turks and called on One sure way to get trying frantically not to ed awesome organizational skills pointment. Obama will the political leadership the US and the EU to punish the the attention of politi- call it a subsidy be- buttressed by a singularity of mind be consumed with works on larger issues. Greek Cypriots for voting against its cians, especially like cause that would vio- and self-discipline that few politi- righting an economy Obama’s expected adoption. If appointed, she will be those in Greece, where late EU rules about cians in these days can master. He capsized by the Bush appointments to key the single most influential voice on Members of Parliament propping up industries, has handled the interregnum be- Administration. Very sub-cabinet positions Greek issues in the White House. Fi- and the 24-member such as Greece did tween his election and the inaugura- few foreign policy is- by AMB. PATRICK N. are at least as damaging nally, Secretary Clinton is expected to delegation to the Euro- with Olympic Airlines tion masterfully. Almost his entire sues will stay on the THEROS as those of the previous appoint Mr. Phillip Gordon as Assis- pean Parliament are and now has to pay cabinet was ready for presentation to front burner. The new Administration. The tant Secretary of State for European paid more than back $1.2 billion in un- the Senate for confirmation weeks administration will do Special to rumored appointee as Affairs. Cypriot and Cypriot-Ameri- $110,000 a year in a lawful aid. The World before January 20. its best to fulfill its cam- The National Herald Ambassador to the can circles panicked at the news. country where veteran Trade Organization is Moreover, Obama has driven the paign promise to with- United Nations, the During his tenure in the Clinton Ad- schoolteachers earn lit- also trying to get EU economic agenda of the new Con- draw all combat troops from Iraq Dutch born academic and journalist, ministration as the Director for Euro- tle more than $20,000, by ANDY countries to stop subsi- gress well before actually taking his within 16 months. It will shift focus Ivo Daalder, openly treats the Greek pean Affairs at the National Security is to threaten to cut off DABILIS dising farmers because seat behind the desk in the Oval Of- to Afghanistan and the pursuit of al- position in the Balkans with disdain. Council (the job which Ms. Sher- their food supply. The that has crippled the fice. No other President has accom- Qaeda. George Mitchell will be He once wrote: “It is absurd … that wood-Randall expects to get), he was country’s farmers, who Special to long-stalled so-called plished so much before he actually charged with at least putting a lid on Greece claims to be concerned that regarded as unfriendly to the Repub- represent 12 percent of The National Herald Doha talks seeking to took office. Franklin Roosevelt let the Arab-Israeli problem and solving Macedonia has designs on the area in lic of Cyprus. the workforce – more give an equal playing Herbert Hoover twist in the wind for it if he can with the limited resources Greece that is also known as Macedo- In short, the Obama Administra- than twice the European Union aver- field around the world to farmers, four months, thus allowing difficult leftover. nia.” Greek Americans who hoped tion’s senior appointments promise age – did just that when an army of which won’t help Greek farmers if it economic times to degenerate into Greek American issues will rank that Obama would reverse the Bush to be inimical to Greek interests. No tractors cut Greece into three parts happens, so they are trying to get the desperate. Bill Clinton did not fill below restoring the US position in Administration’s recognition of the one expects the Cabinet-level offi- for days, blockading the national what they can now, and fast. While out his cabinet until six months after Latin America and managing nuclear name “Macedonia” for FYROM will cials of this Administration to much road from Athens to Thessaloniki and $650 million sounds like a lot of his inauguration. Obama disciplined issues with India, Pakistan and Iran be disappointed. concern themselves with the Patriar- to the Peloponnese. The border cross- money, Greece gave its banks – himself to work primarily on the one and left in the hands of lower level The leading candidate for Senior chate, Halki, Cyprus, the Aegean and ings to Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania, and which weren’t even caught in the issue essential to the well-being of appointees and the professional bu- Director for Europe in the National the “Macedonian” issue. Should they the Former Yugoslav Republic of worldwide credit crunch - $37 bil- the Republic: our collapsing econo- reaucracy. This arrangement has Security Council, Ms. Elizabeth Sher- become involved, the policy papers Macedonia were also shut down, and lion, or nearly 70 times as much, a my. Obama resisted temptation to and directives will have been written it didn’t take long for Greece to start giveaway designed to insure con- get involved in the dramatic and dan- by the Gordons, Sherwood-Randalls running low on produce and medi- sumers and businesses could get gerous events in Gaza, insisting that and Daalders. cine and other necessities. If the loans, which they can’t, because the the United States has “only one Presi- If we do not want to see such a sit- caviar and champagne were blocked, banks are hoarding the money and dent at a time” and thus evading at- uation develop, the Greek American politicians would have been on the the European Central Bank lets tempts to entangle him. The Bush lobbyists and politicians who claim to highways themselves with tow trucks banks borrow from other banks at Administration did, in fact, play one have political clout with the Obama - trying to remove the tractors. two percent interest, while charg- last dirty trick: Secretary of State Clinton team must exercise that in- When you’re caught in a 12-mile- ing consumers 10 times that much Condoleezza Rice signed an agree- fluence to mitigate the damage. So long traffic jam trying to get to work, for credit cards. ment with her Israeli counterpart far they seem to have shown little or you’re a truck driver trying to Farmers said they were especially that appeared to commit the United concern nor demonstrated that they make a living and deliver your goods upset about plummeting prices of States to participate in Israel’s block- have the influence to prevent the ap- before they spoil, there’s little sympa- cotton, corn and wheat, which are set ade of Gaza. However, Obama’s ap- pointments. If the opportunity has thy for the people blocking your way. by the EU. About $66-132 million of pointment of the esteemed and expe- been lost, they will have a hard time But after a series of scandals and po- the subsidies would go to producers rienced Senator George Mitchell as preventing further damage to Hel- litical disasters hit the government, of crops ranging from cotton, corn, the envoy responsible for sorting out lenic-American interests. and the riots of December left parts of and grain, to olives, fruit, tobacco the Palestinian-Israeli mess gives rise Athens in ruins, the farmers picked and asparagus, but as Leonard Cohen to hope that, finally, we may actually The Hon. Ambassador Theros is sang, “Everybody knows the deal is pursue “Peace” and not “Process” in president of the U.S.-Qatar Busi- rotten.” They just didn’t do anything the Middle East Peace Process. ness Council. He served in the U.S. Farmers said they were about it, until now, when farmers, in The Greek American community Foreign Service for 36 years, most- especially upset about a repeat of a 1997 blockade when the greeted Obama’s election with en- ly in the Mid-East, and was Ameri- Socialists of PASOK, who pose as de- thusiasm. In fact, a few of the more AP PHOTO/AL-ARABIYA can Ambassador to Qatar from plummeting prices of fenders of the people, sent police out exuberant went so far as to character- In an image made from a video provided by Al-Arabiya, President 1995 to 1998. He also directed the cotton, corn and wheat to deflate the tires of the tractors. But ize the new Administration as more Obama is interviewed in Washington by Dubai-based Al-Arabiya cable State Department’s Counter-Ter- which are set by the now PASOK leader George Papan- Greek than the Greeks; they nick- network Monday Jan. 26, 2009. It was the Obama's first formal tele- rorism Office, and holds numerous dreou, who walks around pretending named them “Obamakis and vision interview as president given to an Arabic cable TV network. U.S. Gov’t decorations. European Union. to be on the side of the farmers but is really King Rat, says he’s with them just the right moment to bring home because he senses new elections may the point that they – like blue-collar be called and his party is leading polls workers and pensioners – deserve by three to five percent. His problem more. When an olive oil producer – is that people still prefer New Democ- Obama is a Charismatic and Personable Intellectual those left after the fires of 2007 racy Prime Minister Costas Karaman- wiped out two million olive trees – lis to lead the country. On January 20, millions of about change. Change, the United States is the orator, and even less of an intellec- get about $2.30 per kilo and con- The government said there will Americans watched Barack Obama change, change. I closest thing to royalty. tual. sumers are paying four to five times not be “one Euro more” worth of aid, take the oath to become the forty- don’t think he’s going Sailing on the Kennedy Other than Kennedy and Obama, that, it’s not the farmer making mon- which meant that farmers ramped up fourth president of the United to change a thing, ex- Compound at Hyannis the other recent president who pos- ey, but the black marketeers of inter- the pressure with more than 70 States. Many experienced unspeak- cept to make things Port did not exactly sessed almost as large a dose of all mediaries in Greece’s food system. blockades around the country, a tac- able joy over the occasion, others worse. connect with the aver- three qualities was Bill Clinton. Money changes hands more than few tic even more effective than the late, measured optimism, and others yet FAN: I didn’t vote age American. Many people who met him, includ- times between the time a grape is great union activist leader Cesar utter devastation. Those who for him because of Lyndon Johnson ing those who opposed him, de- grown and reaches the markets, and Chavez’ grapes and lettuce boycotts viewed the inauguration as one of change. Some change had a gregarious per- scribed the experience as electrify- farmers are left holding the short end in the United States in the 1960s and the gloomiest moments in Ameri- would be nice, but I sonality and was ing. Perhaps that is why he was able of the grapevine too often. 1970s, which took years to see re- can history fall into two main cate- know a gimmicky cam- charismatic in face-to- to defeat an incumbent president Maria Sarantiti, vice-president of sults. The farmers brought Greece to gories: those who despise Obama paign slogan when I face meetings. But his and then coast to reelection four the Greek Consumer Institute (INKA) its knees with tractors quickly, as traf- because of his race, and those who hear one. by CONSTANTINOS E. speeches neither capti- years later. And why, despite per- said in an interview that there’s an fic halted, bus service was curtailed fear his brand of politics and lack of CRITIC: Well, then SCAROS vated the masses, nor sonal scandals that contributed to equilibrium that should be estab- to many prefectures and exports by experience. The attitudes about you must hate Bush so was he anything close his impeachment, he left office with lished and maintained between the truck stopped as farmers demanded race are simply not worthy of intel- much, that you voted Special to to being an intellectu- unusually high approval ratings. soil and the table, but that it’s broken tax rebates and immediate subsidies ligent discussion, but the concerns for Obama so he could The National Herald al. Richard Nixon was Many believe that had he not been by those shadowy intermediaries instead of the vague political promis- over Obama’s politics and inexperi- undo all that Bush has far more an intellectual constitutionally barred from a third reaping what the farmers sow. “They es that always vanish like a vapor. ence merit further consideration. done. than Johnson, but was utterly de- term, he would have run and won are actions of despair,” she said of the Incomes for farmers have The following hypothetical conver- FAN: No, I don’t hate Bush at all. void of personable or charismatic in 2000. tractor blockades. “If you think of the dropped nearly 25 percent in the last sation, between an Obama critic In fact, I think the criticism against qualities. Gerald Ford was a like- That brings us to Obama, who, prices they get. The intermediaries 10 years, a time in which not one and an Obama fan, mirrors many him is greatly exaggerated. Sure, able fellow, but was neither charis- among the ten, arguably possesses force them to issue an overestimated politician was reported to have real ones taking place across the he made his share of mistakes, but I matic nor intellectual. Jimmy the most formidable combination of invoice; otherwise they blackmail missed a free lunch with the food the country. never bought all the hoopla that he Carter was supremely intelligent, charisma, personality, and intellect. them not to buy their products.” She farmers supplied and grew with the FAN: Did you see that inaugura- is the worst president ever. but cerebral does not necessarily That is the main reason why he said there can be three to five inter- help of tractors. “The farmers are the tion? Obama is going to be such a CRITIC: I don’t understand: if mean intellectual. And his ability to won. Not because of Bush, not be- mediaries in the food chain. “In such ones in debt at all the banks, not the great president! you didn’t hate Bush, and you didn’t connect with people, in both large cause of the media, not because of a case the prices are increased,” she government,” said one protester. CRITIC: (Shaking head) I can’t think Obama would promote and small settings, was woefully change. That he lacked experience said, because everyone is taking a big “They have their big houses and understand it. Why Obama? How sweeping changes, and you weren’t lacking. or that some of his policies might bite. That’s the reason why food monthly salaries. Personally, I don’t did an obscure freshman senator be- influenced by the media, then why Ronald Reagan had enough per- veer to the left of the mainstream prices in Greece, where the minimum want subsidies; I just want a decent come so popular overnight? It’s all did you vote for Obama? sonality and charisma to fill ten center are largely inconsequential. salary of about $900 monthly falls in price for my produce.” If they get it, because of the liberal media – they’re FAN: I’m glad you asked, and I’ll football stadiums, and was by no The bottom line is that Americans the middle of the 27-member EU they might even have enough left the ones who got him elected. be happy to explain: Obama is a means an unintelligent man. But were so thirsty for a charismatic, countries - but only because people in over to buy a tractor. For the next FAN: The media hated George charismatic, personable intellectu- intelligence is not the same thing as personable intellectual, they elect- Latvia and Bulgaria are making time. Bush, for sure, but their choice had al. When was the last time we had intellect, either. Reagan mystified ed one. And they will continue vote about $300 as a minimum wage - are been Hillary Clinton all along, not one of those in the White House? his detractors with his extraordi- for one every chance they get. the highest. “If you buy (Greek) yo- Mr. Dabilis was the New England Obama. In fact, their ring leader, Let’s compare our ten most recent nary judgment and intuition, but in- gurt in Germany it’s cheaper than in editor for United Press Interna- the New York Times, could hardly presidents in that respect. John tellectual he was not. George H.W. Constantinos E. Scaros is a pub- Greece and you ask how this is possi- tional in Boston, and a staff writer contain its joy about her candidacy. Kennedy came very close to Obama Bush, like his son, was not a particu- lished author and expert in Amer- ble because you have to pay the and assistant metropolitan editor CRITIC: Then it was simply an in combining all three qualities. He larly good speaker. He relied on ican presidential history, with a transportation,” said Sarantiti. “The at the Boston Globe for 17 years “anybody but Bush” protest vote. was certainly charismatic, definitely competence and experience, not vi- background in Ancient Greek his- market here does not work normally, before relocating to Greece. His FAN: But Hillary is not Bush, ei- an intellectual, and he had an en- sion, charisma, or soaring intellect. tory. He teaches history, political but irrationally.” column is published weekly in the ther. Neither is John Edwards, Bill gaging personality. Where he might Those who have met the younger science, and law at New York So Greece tentatively agreed to National Herald. Readers interest- Richardson, Joe Biden, Dennis have fallen a tad short of Obama’s Bush are quite taken by his warmth University, and is the Dean of give farmers a 500-million Euro ed in contacting him can send e- Kucinich…Shall I go on? ability to connect with people was and personal appeal, but, like his fa- Criminal Justice at Katharine ($650 million) relief package, but is mails to [email protected]. CRITIC: Then it was all this hype that he grew up a Kennedy, which in ther, he is not a particularly good Gibbs College. The Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve of Greek Education in America

By Christopher Tripoulas has limited to the confines of the “croesuses” should have been an- up an education fund independent- schools does not appear to be a pri- bility of its founding parish? Special to The National Herald Archdiocesan Cathedral, or done nouncing the funding of new Greek ly? ority for these leaders. So long as the answer is yes, away with altogether. studies departments in universities Would a grass roots movement Everyone knows that the Arch- Greek Education in America will The feast day of the Three Hier- The event was not substantive. all across the country. Prototypical be more expedient, organized by a diocese is in debt. And that this continue its downward spiral, until archs coincides with the celebra- The luncheon was merely a PR programs should have been imple- figure that can muster together debt has grown vastly now that it only one or two Greek schools are tion of Greek Letters. Approximate- technique designed to draw some mented and assessed in Greek Greek Americans from all over the has been burdened with paying for left throughout the entire country. ly one week after Three Hierarchs attention to Greek Education. But American parochial schools all over United States, i.e. the Ambassador, the iniquities of the past. One If a few influential people dare Day (January 30), the Church cele- its gradual decline is indicative of a the nation. a Greek Government official, a for- would hope that the present state to challenge this outdated mentali- brates the memory of St. Photios change in attitude – and maybe pri- Most importantly, the establish- mer public servant, educator, etc.? of affairs would lead to a wake-up ty and say ‘No,’ then we’ve taken Patriarch of Constantinople, one of orities – within the Greek Orthodox ment of a Greek education fund So far, there has not been much call regarding educational policy. the first step into transforming the most learned prelates in the his- Archdiocese of America. Right or should have been announced and meaningful public discussion on What good is the Iakovos doctrine Greek Education from an unwel- tory of the Orthodox Church. The wrong, during his tenure Archbish- its top ten contributors should have the matter. (Greek education in the U.S. is the come burden into a liturgical (litur- proximity of these two holidays op Iakovos made it plainly clear been honored annually as the “pa- The Council of Hellenes Abroad business of the Church) without gy = work of the people) act. And lends itself perfectly towards the that the Archdiocese would contin- trons of Greek Letters and protec- (SAE) has hinted at its support for the means to fund it? as the study of Greek history teach- characterization of February as ue to have the final say in the Greek tors of Hellenism” in one of the charter schools, but the hands-on Even if the Archdiocese refuses es, salvation lies within liturgical, Greek Letters month. American Education system. As we Greek American Community’s most guidance it offers to interested to publicly pose these delicate not individualistic actions. Traditionally, during the frame- approach fifteen years without the important and highly publicized communities is limited. Certain questions, or candidly call upon a Pericles reminds us of our duty work of celebrations honoring sometimes larger-than-life clergy- annual events. schools, lucky enough to have the maturing Greek American Commu- “to those who perform virtuous Greek Letters, some lip service is man running the show, the time Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve… backing of major donors, have nity to assume responsibilities for deeds, we repay those deeds with paid to Greek teachers, a fundraiser may have come to reevaluate the Of course, the reality is far from solved their problems for now; but its children’s education, SAE offi- actions,” and he is supported by the is held for Holy Cross Theological state of Greek education in the this and Monday morning quarter- even their long-term future is in cials and other would be “leaders” Psalms, which admonish us to “em- School in Brookline and Saint United States. backs are of no use. The problem at doubt without the proper planning. in the Greek American Community brace learning, lest the Lord be an- Basil’s Academy in Garrison, New The month of February should hand remains, where do we go And the Archdiocese’s self-styled should put the issue on the table gry.” York. have been officially recognized as from here? Shall we continue our “leaders” (Leadership 100, etc.) now. During the Archbishop Iakovos Greek Letters month by the U.S. laissez-faire stance and let the fu- have been eerily mum on the sub- Of course, before we can hope to Christopher Tripoulas is an ad- days, a large-scale luncheon was Congress. Major symposiums dedi- ture bring what it will? Shall sever- ject. answer any of the all-important junct professor of Speech and In- held at a major New York hotel to cated to Greek Letters – with high- al of the major Greek American um- Besides maintaining the Arch- questions posed above, we must terpersonal Communications at add some luster to celebrations. In ranking guests from the academic brella organizations contact the diocese’s seminary open (an insti- first answer the following dilem- St. John's University. He also spe- the Spyridon days, the tradition and political world – should have Archdiocese and offer their help in tution whose philhellenism has ma: cializes in translation, and sever- was continued, but rolled back to a been scheduled all throughout the the education sector? Should major been questioned in the past), the Is the maintenance of a al of his translations from Greek smaller venue. Lately, the luncheon coming month. Greek American donors pool their resources and set- future of Greek American parochial parochial school the sole responsi- to English have been published. 12 TOURISM THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 31, 2009

In Greece, Among the Olive Groves and Lemon Trees

By Niki Kitsantonis equivalent of 60,000 euros fluent suburb with one of the coun- “Demand for upper-end villas in end homes sell for 1 million to 3 tise their home for rent after ac- New York Times ($80,000) for more than 8,000 try’s few courses. Lagonisi is still strong despite a pro- million euros ($1.3 million to $4 commodating the United States square meters (2 acres) of land, set They also spend a lot of time in jected drop in many other areas, in million), he said. equestrian federation’s delegation When Bob Simpson left his na- in a valley between the mountains the garden. “It’s pretty low mainte- line with the economic crisis,” said Mr. Simpson said the experience during the 2004 Olympic Games in tive Scotland, for a sleepy coastal and the coastline of the Saronic nance,” Mr. Simpson said. “We do Tim Hughes of King Hellas, an of building the villa was relatively Athens. “The Olympics got us start- suburb of Athens, he was keen to Gulf. They spent the next 10 years most of it ourselves.” Athens-based international proper- stress free. He hired an architect ed,” said Mr. Simpson, who relies trade his job in offshore oil drilling building their five-bedroom villa in The two-story house, with 400 ty consultancy. and civil engineer at the outset and on a British agency to organize the for a more relaxed life in a warmer stages. In 2000 they finally moved square meters (4,300 square feet) A key attraction is that the loca- found tradesmen for the smaller rentals. “Our guests enjoyed them- climate. in. of living space, has two wings tion is secluded, yet accessible, he jobs by word of mouth. Over all, he selves so much that we wanted to Eight years later, he says he has As for the cost of construction, “I linked by an internal bridge. Inside, said. And demand is expected to attributed the success to constant do it again.” gotten more than he ever hoped gave up counting after awhile,” Mr. there are stone floors throughout. sharpen as restaurants and bou- supervision: “We were the project The couple also has found an- for. Simpson said. Large windows let in an abundance tiques are being added to the main managers; we were here all the other way to use the property, While areas closer to the Greek Still, the investment appears to of natural light. waterfront area. time,” he said. thanks to the connections of their capital have been choked by resi- have been worth while. Similar The first-floor bedrooms have Agents estimate the cost of He advised against paying for 29-year-old daughter Julia, a fash- dential and commercial develop- properties in the area sell for balconies with sweeping views of building a luxury home in Lagonisi work in advance. “You’ll be ion stylist. The occasional splashes ment, the sparsely populated sub- around 3.5 million euros ($4.6 mil- olive groves and the sea. The villa at 1,500 to 2,000 euros per square bumped down the list of priorities,” of orange and blue paint on the vil- urb of Lagonisi remains virtually lion), according to Holystone Prop- has a studio apartment in the attic meter ($187 to $248 a square he said. la’s otherwise white interior walls unspoiled. erty Development and Manage- and a self-contained apartment and foot). The rate is similar to building Greece’s notorious bureaucracy are the work of a Greek television “We’re very lucky — we’re in the ment Consultants, a local real es- airy conservatory on the ground costs in Athens and the Aegean is- and the tendency to bend rules can production company, which will be midst of olive groves and vine- tate agency. floor. lands, but cheaper than in affluent be daunting. “It’s tough not having using the house as the set of a new yards, but we can be in central The peach-colored villa, a blend According to real estate agents, suburbs of the capital, where space reliable guidelines,” Mr. Simpson TV series, due to air in early Febru- Athens in half an hour and at the of traditional and modern Greek a steady number of foreigners and is restricted and construction is sig- said. “The truth often depends on ary. airport in 20 minutes,” said Mr. styles, is surrounded by a large gar- Greeks are expressing interest in nificantly more expensive. who you talk to.” Mr. Simpson said transforming Simpson, 57, during a recent tour den with orange, lemon and grape- building similar luxury homes in As for land prices, they “vary Still, his patience seems to have his home into a TV set had been un- of the property, 19 miles southeast fruit trees. Though they installed a Lagonisi, which, with just 400 or so wildly,” depending on the size and paid off. The house now rents for expected but most welcome. “It’s of the city. tennis court, golf has taken over. residents, remains one of the few location, Mr. Hughes said. Sale 5,500 British pounds ($8,000) a been a lot of fun,” he said, “and it’s In 1990, Mr. Simpson and his The Simpsons, both avid players, coastal suburbs of Athens with prices also vary according to the week during the peak summer peri- another way of making the most of Greek wife, Sofia, also 57, paid the practice in nearby Glyfada, an af- room for development. plot’s size and location. Most high- od. The Simpsons decided to adver- the house.”

The Kids Love to Dance in Halkidiki

By Louise Rodden joined the group: Anastasia - “call know this, because the class lets me chocolate pancakes, and my hus- much prettier the girls who work Pig. Times U.K. me Nasty” - a beautifully lithe Russ- try out the six-steps move, and it band hides behind a cold beer and here are?” queries Hugo over The gods appear to have be- ian brunette of the same age. The feels a bit like attempting to knit a book. breakfast one morning. And he is stowed the same good looks on Here I am, on a poolside reclin- boys are doing that clever thing with your legs, rather than needles. In the evenings, when the sky right. From the receptionists “Fette Moves” - the break-dancing er, reading my novel, when the with their eyes that boys of their But that's probably just me. Mind turns a calming milky blue, and a through to the waitresses, these are troupe who have come over from plump man next to me starts tot- age do; studiously ignoring Nasty you, the Sani Resort, with its nib- breeze cools the overheated Eng- extraordinarily beautiful creatures Germany to join the entertainment ting. It's becoming a bit of a habit, while simultaneously ogling her, bled layout of hotels, pools and vil- lish families and sets the boats - a veritable army of smiley Step- team. One evening we take the this. Snapping at his kids, for exam- yet also managing to listen to their las set either side of a purpose-built clinking, adorable stray cats ford-wife beauties, with huge clear shuttle to the Sani Beach Club and ple, when talking on his mobile. So teacher - Turkish-born professional marina, has plenty of other diver- emerge from the rosemary bushes, blue eyes, gleaming blonde hair, find a space in the open-air am- much so that we have already chris- break dancer, Emin. sions. The marina is very much the and graciously accept the tidbits and names like Natasha, Natasha phitheatre. It's show-time, and af- tened him Mr. Irritated Pig. Entertaining adolescents in a re- focus point of the “village”. And de- that Felix, Hugo and other children and... erm... Natasha. ter the inevitable soulful rendition But now it's my son's turn to be sort can be difficult. They are too spite its essentially ersatz nature, it wait in turn to offer. However, in terms of waiter of Mr. Bojangles, along come Fette totted at. And in a sense, I can sym- old for traditional kids' clubs yet is a pretty spot: lined with small And so the week lazily unfurls. skills, they are a bit like buses. Moves - all sharp suits and seamless pathize, because Felix and his not quite old enough to draw on shops, designer-bling boutiques, We are based in the Porto Sani Vil- When you don't want one, three ar- routine and phenomenally good friend Hugo are behaving in a their own resources. So break danc- blue-painted Greek tavernas and lage - one of three accommodation rive. And when you do, well... there dancing - shaking the audience rather distracting manner. They ing, with its street-cred hook, jolly bars. It soon becomes our fa- complexes within the resort. It is is a long wait. But they waft grace- awake, and earning every bit of the have flopped belly-down on the sounded inspired. But would the vorite meeting point for lunch, the most tranquil of the three. And fully about the place in a very calm- ensuing uproarious applause. marble paving and are squirming course help to unravel the secrets where the boys gorge themselves in an unexpected way, the most at- ing manner. It even seems to work During the night, there are away in a most unseemly fashion. of slick-limbed experts? on a sickly mix of nutella and white tractive: “Have you noticed how in a beneficent way on Mr. Irritated thumps, the odd “ouch!” and a And now Felix is spinning around Emin, although not a natural- hissed, “not like that, like this!” ema- on his bottom. Other guests raise born teacher, has broken the ice by nating from Felix and Hugo's room. sun-pinked startled faces. And then grabbing hold of their ankles and It's late to be practicing, but hey, look away. Maybe they assume it's swinging them around in an effort they can always sleep in. But ironi- food poisoning. to explain what words cannot ex- cally, Emin has a bad back, and the No matter. The boys are laugh- plain: how to defy gravity while last class is cut short. Not that Felix ing; fired up with an enthusiasm contorting your limbs. “With break and Hugo seem to mind. They hire that dissolves my son's habitual dancing you need patience,” he bikes and skedaddle around the re- cloak of cool. “This move is what tells them. “Choreography is easy; sort. They try some tennis, only to you call the worm,” he tells me. I you can learn a routine in a day. But find the intense sun too bruising. suppose it does look a bit worm- break dancing takes three months, They cool off in the surf-crested like. If you're not a worm. But who five months, one year - just to mas- waves, and snooze on cushiony cares if this “show for mum” is a bit ter a few moves.” beach-facing recliners. Would they rough around the edges? These Cue crestfallen faces. But then have enjoyed their time here with- lads are fit to bust in their despera- Hugo, whose brain works with the out the break dancing? Hard to say. I tion to demonstrate all they have logic of a fully formed adult male, doubt my son would have signed up learnt. suggests Emin demonstrate the on his own, without a mate to join The reason for the unexpected moves in slo-mo. This works beau- too. Certainly, the sessions both fo- smiles is a break-dancing camp: tifully, and the group are soon man- cused and bonded the boys. five sessions of hip-hop, freestyle aging to emulate some of the com- I also overheard two mothers and break-dancing tuition, held plicated “power moves” - working complaining that their teens were here at Halkidiki's Sani Resort. At through back spin, four steps and bored, which was a shame. For 12 years old, they just skim the age six steps, to master swap, freeze, such an excellent antidote to ado- limit for the course. Which is lucky, and the funny undulating one lescent ennui this program seemed since there are no other partici- called the worm. remarkably under-publicized. Not pants. But that's not strictly true, All the same, the scheduled two that Felix or Hugo objected: “It's because here I am, the following hours seems far too long. This is, af- cool,” they shrugged. “We get one- day, sneaking along for a quick spy ter all, a highly energetic, poten- on-one tuition. Only, can we please on the activities, and a girl has now tially tendon-snapping activity. I sign up for classes back home?”