S O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news W ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of E ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek- Americans N c v A wEEkly GREEk-AmERICAN PuBlICATION www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 16, ISSUE 831 September 14-20, 2013 $1.50 Catsimatidis Comes Dukakis: Punish the Users of Chemical Weapons Close; Constantinides Ex-Pres. Candidate Talks to TNH about Wins by a Landslide Syria, Debt, Greece By Constantine S. Sirigos over this two opponents, each By Theodore Kalmoukos of who gained about 22 percent. NEW YORK – In a mixed night He is now well-positioned to be - BOSTON, MA – A quarter cen - for Greek-American candidates come the first Greek- or Cypriot- tury ago, then-Massachusetts in New York City politics, may - American – he has roots in both Governor Michael Dukakis was oral hopeful John Catsimatidis countries – to be elected to the the Democratic Party’s nominee mounted a strong challenge to City Council. for president of the United Joe Lhota, capturing approxi - The throng that filled the States. After leading his Repub - mately 41 percent of the Repub - ballroom of Manhattan’s Roo - lican opponent – George H.W. lican Primary, with Lhota win - sevelt hotel came to terms with Bush, who was Vice President ning with about 52. Although the numbers on the big screen under President Ronald Reagan Catsimatidis was endorsed by long before John and Margo at the time – in the polls the Liberal Party a few months Catsimatidis made their en - through the summer of 1988, ago, it remained unclear at press trance, but they were in an exu - Dukakis lost his lead by the fall time whether he would stay in berant mood nonetheless. Many and, ultimately, the election. the race as a candidate for that expressed hope that he would Twenty-five years later, in an party – or as an independent – run again. exclusive interview with TNH, or whether he would end his Supporters went out of their Dukakis shared his views – candidacy. way to tell the candidate and honed by decades of political In New York City’s 22nd Dis - his family how proud they were experience – on a variety of cur - trict, representing Astoria, Costa of his strong showing in his first rent issues, including Syria, the Constantinides soundly de - ever political campaign, and be - American economy, and the feated his two challengers, fel - cause his common sense, vision, overall situation in Greece. low Greek-American Gus and passion for New York are Critical of the lack of serious Prentzas, and John Ciafone, for the best guarantee that their city involvement about the United the Democratic nomination for would continue to thrive. Nations and the international City Council. Capturing over 55 The crowd was remarkably TNH/COSTAS BEJ community as a whole regard - percent of the vote, Constanti - upbeat, clearly signaling that Memorial Service for 9/11 at Site of New St. Nicholas Church ing Syria’s chemical weapons ar - nides easily coasted to victory they consider the occasion a be - senal, Dukakis recalled how Kofi ginning, not an end. They want Twelve years after the 9/11 attacks, Calliope Katsimatides receives a blessing from Archbishop Annan, whom he called a “skill - the son of the lighthouse keeper Demetrios at memorial services for the nearly 3000 people who died that fateful day, including her ful guy,” as U.N. Secretary Gen - from the tiny island of Nisyros son John and 37 other Greek–Americans. The services were held at the New St. Nicholas Church. eral had organized a 16-nation to continue to shine a spotlight conference to address chemical on the thinks that can be cor - weapons, as compared to the rected and improved and to bea - “colossal mess” today. When An - con into a better future for all nan resigned, Dukakis said, the New Yorkers. Sen. Menendez Tells TNH about Syria opportunity to resolve the issue Catsimatidis began by telling had been squandered. The his supporters on hand: “ladies United Nations should have and gentlemen, the evening did By Constantine S. Sirigos decision that he would seek the ated Senator John McCain’s been far more proactive in not go exactly the way we TNH Staff Writer use of military force, and the concerns about the situation, launching an investigation to planned it, but as I told my Senate Foreign Relations Com - and although he shares his ques - confirm whether in fact the friends upstairs, I am more dis - NEW YORK – Senator Robert mittee’s bipartisan passage of a tioning “about how sincere that regime of Syrian President appointed for my staff than for Menendez, the Chairman of the resolution to authorize the use offer is, I think the door has Bashar al-Assad is in fact the myself because I always work Senate Foreign Relations Com - of military force, has the oppor - been opened and it would be party that used chemical as a team and I want to thank mittee, accepted an invitation tunity for diplomacy,” been se - foolish to slam it shut.” weapons, Dukakis said. all of you who have worked so from TNH to share his views cured. He noted that while it is He says we will know how “The United States has to be hard and I wanted to come with the Greek- and Cypriot- tentative “because we don’t sincere it is in the next few days. absolutely uncompromising through, not just for myself, but American community about de - know the sincerity of the offer,” There will be meetings between when it comes to chemical war - for all of you,” as the crowd velopments in the Eastern to turn over the chemical Secretary of State John Kerry fare,” Dukakis said, though he burst into applause. Mediterranean, including the weapons, “and we do need to and his Russian counterpart, remains skeptical about how ef - When he said “next time I’ll Syria crisis the day after Presi - test it…It only exists because of and the combination of those fective a limited military strike work harder,” implying that his dent Barack Obama's national a recalculation by the Russians sessions and the United Nations would be. Nonetheless, the for - newly-begun political career address on September 10. and the Syrians of the conse - inspector’s report, which he be - mer governor insisted, America John Catsimatidis’ 40 percent The senator believes that quences,” of disingenuousness. doubled the polls’ predictions. Continued on page 4 “only because of the president’s He added that he appreci - Continued on page 5 Continued on page 5 St. Nicholas Cathedral President Reveals Multiple Problems Faith, Culture Classes are By Theodore Kalmoukos Ministry at NEW YORK – Dean Poll, Parish Underway Council President of the Arch - Annuncation diocesan Holy Trinity Cathedral, in an exclusive interview with By Eleni Kalogeras TNH, revealed the various issues By Constantine S. Sirigos TNH Staff Writer plaguing the Archdiocese’s flag - TNH Staff Writer ship church, based in New York FLUSHING – The courtyard of City. NEW YORK – “For unto whom - the Church of St. Nicholas in Poll addressed the looming soever much is given, of him Flushing was flooded last week problems of dwindling atten - shall be much expected (Luke by students young and old, par - dance for church services, the 12:48).” That has been heard ents, guardians, and relatives. mounting $250,000 deficit re - countless times in and out of Children's voices, laughter, sulting from a $1.9 million an - church, but it applies also to and even the awkward silence nual budget, a large chunk of parishes themselves. Expecta - of the smallest students coping which is more than $200,000 tions are high for the Church of with their first separation from toward the choir – which in - the Annunciation and the Faith home, made for a sentimental cludes expenses to hire profes - & Culture Ministry it will launch occasion in the beautiful morn - sional singers, many of which this autumn with a lecture series ing sunlight. are not Orthodox, or even Chris - presented by New York musical School officials were well- tian. luminaries. prepared to receive their Though he did not directly With the Church’s prime lo - charges, governed by the “silent link the low turnout of congre - cation on the Upper West Side, force “of the Principal, Athena gants to problems involving the one of the world’s cultural mec - Cathedral Dean and presiding cas, not far from Lincoln Center Continued on page 6 priest, Father Anastasios and Columbia University, and a Gounaris, Poll did acknowledge landmarked building crowned a relationship between Gounaris by glorious Tiffany windows For subscription: and himself that has been TNH ARCHIVES and a striking Aeolian-Skinner 718.784.5255 strained at times. One of the few positive notes struck by Dean Poll, Holy Trinity Cathedral Parish Council Presi - organ, part of the program’s aim [email protected] On a positive note, Poll said dent, is that the School is doing well. Above: Students participate in a musical program. is to make the Annunciation that the Cathedral’s School is welcoming to people who are “doing very well. We have a new year. I am very enthusiastic.” sure how many there are now. vertently left one child behind not parish members and to board that is chaired by Deme - There were 140 students regis - Two teachers that were ter - on a class trip (the child was make it part of the neighbor - tra Manos, and I think we are tered at the beginning of the minated a few months ago, due going to have a very successful summer, but Poll is not exactly to an incident when they inad - Continued on page 6 Continued on page 7 2 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 14-20, 2013 GOINGS ON..