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 818 June 15-21, 2013 $1.50 Met. Demetrios Pomp and Circumstance at Greek-American Schools PM Takes of Sevasteia Greece’s Has Forthright Talk with TNH ERT TV Off the Air By Theodore Kalmoukos TNH Staff Writer

BOSTON, MA – Metropolitan Samaras Calls it Demetrios of Sevasteia, among the more erudite hierarchs of Wasteful, Will Lay the Ecumenical Patriarchate, fa - miliar to the Greek community Off Public Workers in America through his many, visits and commissions here, By Andy Dabilis spoke openheartedly to TNH TNH Staff Writer about the Greek community, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and ATHENS – The instant closure the Greeks in Constantinople, as on June 11 of Greece’s national well as about the succession of broadcaster ERT – which stayed Demetrios and Bartholomew. on the air during World War II He also spoke about the late and through the 1967-74 junta Patriarch Dimitrios and admit - years – has broken the country’s ted that “he is missing from the already uneasy power-sharing Phanar today,” while comment - government and sparked fears it ing about his discharge by Pa - could lead to early elections. triarch Bartholomew some years Prime Minister and New ago from his position as director Democracy Conservative leader of the personal Patriarchal Of - Antonis Samaras, in a high-stakes fice after 18 years of devoted political gamble, said that ERT and qualitative contribution. was a wasteful patronage haven The interview is as follows: and needed to be closed to meet TNH: Your Eminence, how do demands from international you see our Greek community? lenders to shed 2,500 jobs by the What do we mean to you? end of June. MD: For us, namely for the The government fired all Ecumenical Patriarchate, you are 2,656 workers at the station, like the youngest members of an which went dark but continued elderly family. The Throne, in its broadcasting on the Internet and protective supervision, bestows TNH/COSTAS BEJ the Communist channel as defi - on you an historical honor, some - ABOVE : At the St. ant employees stayed on the air, thing also recognized and hon - Demetrios High School accusing Samaras of packing ERT ored in various ways by all Amer - graduation ceremony: with highly-paid consultants who ican political authorities, and in (L-R) Nick Andriotis, never showed up, and forcing the turn it receives your love and all chairman of the school station to give a program to the possible supportive intervention board; Parish Council daughter of a government min - of your dynamic world, which it President Gary Sideris; ister at three times the pay of a needs. Past Valedictorian top editor. TNH: Explain to the Greek- Evangelia Podaras; ERT has also been viewed as American of the first, second, 2013 Valedictorian a favorite spot to place political Christina Tsangouri; favorites by alternating adminis - Continued on page 5 Past Salutatorian trations of New Democracy and Konstantinos Belesis; its rival, the PASOK Socialists, Father Nektarios over the last 40 years amid Papazafiropoulos, charges not a single person was Cathedral Dean; and hired on merit or in a transparent Calatrava is Anastasios way. Koularmanis, Principal. ERT employee Kaity Potha, St. Demetrios, located 55, said the government was Unconfirmed in Astoria, is the only blaming the broadcaster’s staff Greek high school in for its own incompetence “Our the United States. salaries have been cut 45 percent As Architect LEFT : The sanctuary of in the past three years,” she told the Church of St. the Associated Press. “Every Nicholas in Flushing clown who governed Greece in TNH Staff was filled with the recent decades dumped us not friends, families, only with their own governing NEW YORK – As one of the final graduates, and staff of board but also with 200-300 new components of the Ground Zero The William staff - their salaries have not been rebuilding, the Church of St. Spyropoulos Greek- cut.” Nicholas naturally attracts at - American School. tention outside the community. Continued on page 9 TNH reprints a June 11 article, It’s All Greek To Calatrava, from New York Post columnist Steve Cuozzo, who reports on build - ing activity in New York. Big Fat Greek Book: Vardalos Writes Instant Mom AstraZeneca TNH was previously in - formed that ground breaking is not expected until 2014 but the By Eleni Kalogeras Buying Pearl, project is on track for the St. TNH Staff Writer Nicholas community’s 2016 cen - tennial. Whomever is chosen to NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Award- Jaharis Led be the design architect, it is ex - winning screenwriter, actress, pected that parishioners and the and writer Nia Vardalos pre - Greek-American community will sented her new book Instant Negotiations be able to review and comment Mom at the community center on the final design options. of the Church of the Holy Trinity Cuozzo’s piece as follows: Church in New Rochelle, NY. New York billionaire busi - Now, this couldn’t possibly She evoked side-splitting nessman Michael Jaharis’ Vatera laughter and feelings of joy, Healthcare Partners led negoti - Continued on page 3 hope, and love in the many ations that helped complete the Greek-American parishioners acquisition of Pearl Therapeutics and visitors who came out early of Redwood City, California by to make sure they had a seat. British drugmaker Astra Zeneca, Her eight year-old daughter said to be worth $560 million. Chairman of has filled her with happiness Vatera is the largest share - ever since Vardalos adopted her holder in Pearl, a company in - Piraeus Bank five years ago, but with Instant volved in therapies for asthma Mom, published by HarperOne, and chronic obstructive pul - number one on the New York monary disease (COPD), one of Reaches Top Times bestseller list, she has the leading causes of death again experienced the success around the world. By Landon Thomas, Jr. that came her way through the The deal – which could in - The New York Times hilarious film My Big Fat Greek volve further payments of up to Wedding. TNH/COSTAS BEJ $590 million if sales and drug ATHENS – Not long ago, Nia Vardalos’ charismatic presence filled the packed Community Center of Holy Trinity of New development targets are met – Michalis G. Sallas, the chairman Continued on page 3 Rochelle. The beloved actress and author is on her Instant Mom book tour. gives AstraZeneca access to new of Piraeus Bank in Greece, had treatments for respiratory dis - a dream: to make his bank too eases. big to fail. Savvas Neophytou, an ana - But now that he has man - lyst with Panmure Gordon & Co, aged to turn his bank into Congressman Michael Grimm Commends Greeks told the Associated Press that Greece’s largest, ensuring that the acquisition could give As - Piraeus will be eligible for a traZeneca access to “the Holy bailout from the European By Lena Argiri of the situation in Greece but Greece back on track. So what I helped by the United States in Grail” of respiratory medicine: Union, Mr. Sallas runs the risk TNH Staff Writer not to the extent that they am hoping is that the tremen - order to overcome the prob - triple agent therapy for respira - that some of the steps he has should, they don’t know exactly dous energy findings in Cyprus lems, is through investments. tory disease. taken along the way may come [The following is a TNH how bad the situation is, be - will certainly help boost the Tourism is a big factor as well, Pearl’s lead product is PT003 back to haunt him. Those moves interview conducted with Michael cause there are so many prob - economies of both Greece and how can we persuade Ameri - and is used in treating COPD, a include borrowing more than Grimm, who is serving his second lems here in the United States Cyprus, especially if they can be cans to visit our country? progressive disease associated 100 million euros ($132 mil - term in the U.S. House of Repre - as well. So many economic exported throughout Europe. MG: I think that the energy mainly with tobacco smoking, lion) from a friendly banker in sentatives, representing New York problems, we have been We know that there are Ameri - findings is a huge opportunity air pollution or occupational ex - a bid to prop up the falling State’s 11th Congres sional dis - through very difficult economic can companies involved there. not only for both Greece and posure. It can cause debilitating trict (which comprises Staten times. In my district, for exam - The other thing that will happen Cyprus but for the whole region bouts of breathlessness. Continued on page 8 Island and parts of Brooklyn), ple, there was recently the su - is that investments from the as well. I see it as a unique op - This transaction is one of the and is a member of the Congres- perstorm Sandy, people lost United States will go to Greece, portunity for American dollars largest venture-backed private sional Caucus on Hellenic Issues.] their homes. So, I think that something that Greece desper - to flow to Greece and invest - biotech deals in the history of when there are difficult times, ately needs. Although I think ments to be attracted. The other the industry and represents a For subscription: TNH: Congressman, Greece people tend to focus on their that members of Congress here thing is that Greeks are resilient major milestone for Vatera, 718.784.5255 has suffered a lot the last years own problems. But they are cer - are aware of the situation in people, they are strong, they founded by Jaharis, who previ - [email protected] because of the economic crisis. tainly aware of the situation. Greece, because of the problems have a beautiful country that ously built and sold Key Phar - I would like you to tell me Greece and Cyprus are in a way that we have here in this coun - most of the world wants to visit. maceuticals (merged with whether Congress is truly aware interconnected. And the tremen - try, I don’t think that they focus I think that the tourism will pick Schering-Plough in 1986) and of the difficult situation in dous amount of energy resource as much as they should. up tremendously and that the Kos Pharmaceuticals (acquired Greece. in the coast of Cyprus is going TNH: So you think that the MG: People here are aware to be a big factor in getting best way that Greece can be Continued on page 5 Continued on page 3 2 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013 Plethon: Great Mind of Byzantium, Renaissance GOINGS ON... n THRU JUNE 22 MANHATTAN – The Hellenic- By Constantine S. Sirigos tion with the Sultan as the TARPON SPRINGS, FL – The City American Cultural Foundation is TNH Staff Writer lesser of the two evils. He be - of Tarpon Springs/Center for proud to announce a lecture by came the patriarch of Constan - Gulf Coast Folklife is proud to Ambassador John Negroponte ASTORIA – There were flashes tinople after Mehmet II con - host Journey Stories. This Mu - on “Life in Public Service” on of brilliance in the last days of quered the City. seum on Main Street (MoMS) Tuesday, Jun. 18 at The Univer - Byzantium even as the Ottoman Although Plethon’s message exhibition was created by the sity Club, One West 54th Street. walls closed in and internal of reform was heard, especially Smithsonian Institution Travel - The event is the second annual wounds festered. One of the fi - in Byzantine Peloponnese, said ing Exhibition Service (SITES). lecture in the Peter T. Kourides nal flickers was the mind of Evangeliou, it was too little too The Smithsonian Institution has Lecture Series on public service. George Gemistos Plethon, the late. But his ideas found fertile made the exhibition available to A reception will follow. Ambas - idiosyncratic philosopher whose soil in Italy. Although Plethon a limited number of communities sador Negroponte has been the efforts to revive the glories and could care less about the plan statewide. Journey Stories will quintessential public servant for ideas of pagan Greece failed to to reunite the Orthodox and be featured at the City of Tarpon over four decades. He has served stem the Turkish tide, but in - Catholic churches – which led Springs’ Cultural Center from at eight different Foreign Service stead sparked the Italian renais - to a union that was rejected by Apr. 11 through Jul. 5. Hours posts and as the US Ambassador sance. the majority of Orthodox clergy are Monday through Friday, 9 to five countries. He was also Hellenic Council Y.S.E.E. of and laity – as the Emperor’s AM to 4 PM. Admission to the held important positions at the America sponsored a lecture at friend he agreed to accompany exhibit is free. Saturday, Jun. 22 State Department and the White Astoria’s Stathakion Center by the Orthodox theologians to –Journey Films. Many documen - House, including: Deputy Secre - Dr. Christos Evangeliou, Profes - Italy. tary and fictional films have ef - tary of Sates, the first Director sor of Philosophy, Towson Uni - There he was perhaps the fectively examined the immi - of National Intelligence Ambas - versity about the remarkable most important of the sparks of grant or migrant journey. We sador to the UN, and Deputy Na - man and Hellene Giorgios ancient Greek learning that con - will present, interpret, and dis - tional Security Advisor. George Gemistos of Constantinople, Dr. Christos Evangeliou, Prof. of Philosophy, Towson University, tributed to the Renaissance. cuss films that deal with locally Liebmann write about his life who later took the surname spoke about one of the most remarkable Byzantines. Some of Florence’s humanists significant groups. What’s your and career in his book “The Last Plethon. invited him to lecture on the dif - journey story? For further infor - American Diplomat,” and Bob Nikolaos Petratos welcomed larger set of radical reforms – through a reunion of the Ortho - ference between Plato and Aris - mation, please call Helene Mac - Woodward observed “there is al - the audience and introduced the including ending the state’s re - dox and Catholic church, led by totle. Neil at 727-942-5605 or Tina Bu - most nobody like him anymore.” featured speaker, and the sub - liance on unreliable foreign Bessarion, the brilliant student Because few of Plato's works cuvalas at 727-937-1130. Learn more about the HACF at ject. He noted few Greeks walk - mercenaries – that he proposed of Plethon who later became a were available to Westerners, hacfoundation.org. ing the streets of Astoria would to save his fellow Hellenes from Catholic Cardinal an almost be - his temporary school reintro - n JUNE 15 recognize this great historical Ottoman conquest. came Pope, and the group led duced Plato to the Western SEATTLE, WA – “Constantinople n JUNE 21-24 figure who was born a Christian His dramatic cultural turn by Gennadios Scholarios, who world. to Canada at Chorus America.” MANHATTAN – With the bless - around 1355 and ended up ad - was a third way among Byzan - feared that Orthodoxy would The great Florentine politi - A choral music concert featuring ings of His Eminence Archbishop vocating a return to the tine elites divided between seek - drown in a union with Rome cian and patron of the arts Cappella Romana, Coastal Sound Demetrios of America, Fr. Anas - Olympian gods as part of a ing help from western Christians and preferred an accommoda - Cosimo de' Medici attended the Youth Choir and Elektra tasios Gounaris and the Council lectures and was inspired to ask Women’s Choir. Τhree award- of the Archdiocesan Cathedral the Italian Philosopher Marsiglio winning choirs join together to of the Holy Trinity invite you to Ficino to establish the Academia present Constantinople to “Summer Soiree 2013” celebrat - Platonica. Canada at the invitation of Cho - ing the service of the honorable The heady mix of ideas about rus America for its prestigious Koula Sophianou, Consul Gen - metaphysics and math fired the national conference in Seattle. eral of Cyprus in New York. Sun - artistic and scientific imagina - Portland’s Cappella Romana day, Jun. 23 at the Tribeca tions of men like Da Vinci and joins with Vancouver’s Coastal Rooftop, 2 Debrosses Street in Michaelangelo. Sound Youth Choir and Elektra Manhattan. Cocktail reception The Byzantine scholars stim - Women’s Choir for one perfor - 6:30PM; dinner at 7:30PM. Do - ulated a hunger for the original mance only starting at 2PM on nation $300. There will be a re - texts of the Ancient Greeks and Saturday, Jun. 15. An eclectic un - lated affair especially for Young Latin’s in the west, because men usual program, from ancient Professionals with open bar, buf - like Plethon made the superior - Byzantine chants to new Cana - fet and dancing at 8 PM. Dona - ity of the civilization of the an - dian partsongs, to arrangements tion $150. For reservations con - cients clear to them. As Byzan - of tunes by U2: exploring cul - tact Effie Doscas-Butler at tine books flowed west, the light tures near and far through the 917-836-0149. of the Renaissance shone human voice, appropriate for all brighter and brighter. ages. The afternoon begins with MANHATTAN –The Greek Amer - Plethon’s passionate defense the resonant, a cappella voices ican Sciences Behavioral Sci - of Plato over Aristotle as the of Cappella Romana taking the ences Institute hosts their An - greatest of the philosophers was audience on a 500-year musical nual Networking and Social at not a mere academic exercise journey from the Byzantine Em - Rafina restaurant, 630 First Av - for him. His purpose was to pire to Greece and to Greek enue (between 36th and 37th knock out the props that he be - America and back again. Next, Streets). GABSI invites everyone lieved philosophy illegitimately Canada’s renowned Elektra to celebrate the summer solstice provided Moslem and Christian Women’s Choir performs an ap - – longest day and Friday of the theology. pealing set of its most recent year -- meet old friends and Plethon actually loved Aris - Canadian repertoire, from One make new ones. 5:30 to 8:30 totle also – he adhered to Neo- Voice and Changed Forever by PM. Admission Free. Cash Bar. Brookville’s Church of the Resurrection Hosts 2013 Festival Platonism, the result of a then singers/songwriters Ruth Moody Complimentary hors d’oeuvres. 1000 year old harmonization of and Shari Ulrich to a 2013 a cap - The enthusiastic volunteers, posing with their pastor, Fr. John Vlahos, at the Festival of the the ideas of the two great pella commissioned work, Con - TROY, MI – The Church of St. Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, are ready to serve thousands. thinkers that dominated Christ - sider the Lilies by Stephen Smith Nicholas hosts the 20th anniver - ian, Moslem and Jewish thought and Joy by Kathleen Allan. Wrap - sary Opa! Fest, the largest on - as a kind of Standard Model for ping up the afternoon, the going Greek festival in the Metro the nature of reality. Coastal Sound Youth Choir per - Detroit area, Jun. 21-23 on The school is illustrated by forms an energetic and eclectic church grounds at 760 Wattles Raphael’s famous painting “The program including music by An - Road, Troy, MI/ for information School of Athens,” where Plato ton Bruckner, Pärt Uusberg, Arvo call 248-362-9575 or visit points above to a world that Pärt, Canadian composers Diane www.opafest.com. Saturday will transcends the earthly and ma - Loomer and Sarah Quartel, and feature Greek cooking demon - terial, while Aristotle displays the music of U2 and Sesame strations by the famed Three HE WILL MAKE US ALL PROUD the earth and its phenomena Street. First Presbyterian Church Greek Sisters from Toronto. that govern our everyday life. (1013 – 18th Ave.) in Seattle. Neo-Platonist, including Two hour performance with two FLINT, MI – The Assumption Plethon, acknowledged the intermissions. First Presbyterian Greek Orthodox Church hosts its truths of each in his proper Church, 1013 – 18th Ave., Seat - Greek festival on June 22-24. sphere – and Aristotle’s superla - tle. $25 adults | $20 seniors; $10 Visit www.flintgreekfestival.com. tive logic, but believed Plato was students (at the door) superior both in his presentation https://www.boxofficetickets.co n JULY 13 – NOVEMBER 2 and in his emphasis on the m/go/event?id=227945. TARPON SPRINGS, FL – The spritual-intellectual realm. City of Tarpon Springs presents Plethon laid out ten areas FLORAL PARK – The Pancyprian Night in the Islands – a free where they differed, and at - Association, Inc. Dance Division event on the Sponge Docks. En - tempted demonstrate, sometimes – New York, cordially invites you joy Greek music, dancing, and successfully, sometimes not, to a Cypriot Night” on Saturday, dining offered on Saturdays, Plato’s superiority – but he did Jun. 15 at Towers on the Green, Jul.13, Aug. 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, not wish to demolish the thought 272-48 Grand Central Parkway and Nov. 2. of Aristotle. The exercise also in Floral Park. There will be Live served to separate the superior Music and Traditional Folk Danc - ROSLYN, NY – The fourth Hel - original Aristotle from the Chris - ing from our Dance Groups. lenic American Networking tianized and Arabized version, Group (HANG) gathering will be which he deemed illegitimate, as n JUNE 15 (DEADLINE) held on Monday, Jun. 17. This he would have said regarding the NEW YORK - Kyrenia Opera is is the core mission of the group Christian and Moslem versions of proud to announce the first an - is to help its participants estab - Neoplatonism. nual Cyprus Vocal Scholarship lish beneficial entrepreneurial Evangeliou began his talk Competition. The organization contacts to bolster their busi - with a description of ancient offers a one-time no-fee appli - nesses and to foster the expan - Hellenism, citing Herodotus’ cation until Jun. 15. Visit the sion of business connections four characteristics: common website at within the Hellenic community. blood – we would now say DNA, www.kyreniaopera.org. Please RSVP to this e-mail in ad - the Greek language, the religion vance to confirm your atten - of the Olympian deities, and ac - n JUNE 18 dance at: m.drakos@thejohn - tivities, especially the Olympic MANHATTAN – The Hellenic michaelgroup.com. Time: 6- games. Relief Foundation presents a 8PM. At Limani Restaurant, Evangeliou believes the benefit concert with the 1043 Northern Boulevard in Christian-Pagan rivalry is still renowned concert pianist to Roslyn. There will be a cash bar relevant, suggesting that current Stavros Xarhakos Achilleas and Limani will provide scrump - events are indicators that the Wastor with selections from our tuous appetizers. founding of the modern Greek most beloved Greek composers state after the 1821 on the twin such as Xatzidakis, Theodorakis, n NOTE TO OUR READERS pillars of Ancient Greece Xarhakos, and more. Guest Vo - This calendar of events section thought and Christian Byzantine cals: Gregoris Maninakis and is a complimentary service to principles was doomed to fail as Aphrodite Daniel. Tuesday Jun. the Greek American community. they are incompatible. 18, 7 PM in the Cathedral Center All parishes, organizations and The principles and values Ballroom, 337 East 74th Street institutions are encouraged to stemming from the Jewish roots in Manhattan. For information e-mail their information regard - A NEW YORKER FOR ALL NEW YORKERS of Christianity are incompatible and ticket reservations: ing the event 3-4 weeks ahead with the mind of the Hellenes, (347)201-1821 or (646) 623- of time, and no later than Mon - he said, and called the Byzan - 0270 [email protected] or day of the week before the tine synthesis a “forced harmo - online www.hellenicrelief.org. event, to english.edition@then - nization.” ationalherald.com Evangeliou believes that JOHN CATSIMATIDIS Christianity is fundamentally in - tolerant of other religions, while the pagans, at least in their Neo - QUESTION OF THE WEEK For Mayor of New York, 2013 platonist guise, represent toler - ation because they honor The Vote on our website! One - the idea of Divine Unity which is at the heart of what he You have the chance to express your opinion on our website A proud member of the Omogeneia calls uncompromising monothe - on an important question in the news. The results will be pub - and the FIRST Greek-American to ever run for ism - they also recognize the ex - lished in our printed edition next week along with the question istence of multiple gods and lev - for that week. New York City’s mayoral seat. els of reality that Christians and The question this week is: Should the Greek government Moslems deny. enact a law forbidding labor strikes during tourist season? Together, we can make it happen! The evening concluded on a o Yes poetic note. Evangeliou read a o No beautiful epigram by Bessarion o Maybe to honor the passing of Plethon, The results for last week’s question: Are you planning to his beloved teacher, and then visit Greece this summer? read two of his own poems, one 41 % voted "Yes" www.cats2013.com devoted to Plethon and the 56 % voted "No" other to the two incarnations of 4% voted "Maybe" Plato’s academy. Please vote at: www.thenationalherald.com THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013 COMMUNITY 3 Nia Vardalos Goes from My Big Fat Greek Wedding to Instant Mom Author

Continued from page 1 soris to the podium, the Chair - down Hollywood barriers. man of the Hellenic Times But above all, she said, she “In my book," Vardalos said, Scholarship Fund, who had the owes who she is to her parents. “I write about life before, dur - idea of for the event in New She also owes them a debit be - ing, and after My Big Fat Greek Rochelle. cause they taught her the Greek Wedding. My life in Hollywood, Katsoris said he was very language, without which "I with and without Rita Wilson happy because he has been try - would still be waiting to make and Tom Hanks, about my life ing to meet Vardalos ever since my movie My Life in Ruins on with my husband, actor Ian My Big Fat Greek Wedding. the Acropolis. She said only be - Gomez,” and the joy that fol - "Kalispera,” the ebullient cause of her ability to commu - lowed the deep disappointment Vardalos said to the thrilled nicate in Greek could she deal of being unable to conceive or crowd. At one point she urged with the bureaucrats. adopt a child, after the unex - the guests to spread the word During the Q&A period the pected adoption of her daughter about and support the institu - audience heard testimonies Ilaria Isadora, “this strange gift tion of adoption, saying, about adoption corresponding of God" whose first name Varda - through the powerful commu - with Vardalos’ experience. los picked and whose middle nication mediums of and "tele - Since April 2, she has already name was inspired by the name phone, telegram...and tell a made 30 appearances on the of her mother, Theodora. Greek.” book tour for Instant Mom. For more than ten years we She invited them to buy her The Holy Trinity event was tried to have a child through all book and to make donations to organized in just eleven days by the known ways, including the American Foster Care Cen - the Philoptochos Society led by adoption,” but it didn’t happen, ter. Indeed, the last chapter of its new president, Marina Sirras, she said. the book is a handbook on the Dino Yotides, and Kostas Pa - “Until life brought me to the adoption process and what a padimitriou. American Foster Care Center. I woman can do to make herself Vardalos was deeply moved owe my daughter to them! To Nia Vardalos’ stories about agony and ecstasy in Hollywood and the pains and joys of adoptive a good candidate. when the community and Father the social worker who one day motherhood moved the standing room only crowd at Holy Trinity of New Rochelle. Vardalos expressed deep ap - Anctil honored her with an icon was holding a three year old lit - preciation for the people who of the Theotokos and hand- tle girl in her lap, as soon as she daughter, and she knew I was the hall. ering and welcomed Vardalos helped her become a success, made jewelry created by a turned her head to me I imme - her mom," said Vardalos, send - Holy Trinity’s pastor Farther Oscar announcer-style. including Rita Wilson and Tom Greek woman that was pre - diately saw that she was ... my ing a wave of emotion through Nicholas Anctil hosted the gath - He invited attorney Nick Kat - Hanks, who helped her break sented by Papadimitriou. Jaharis’ Vatera: Instrumental Role in AstraZeneca’s Acquisition of Pearl

Continued from page 1 for COPD products was worth ners, Pearl’s lead investor, added: tors. In those positions, Jaharis $9 billion in 2011 and is ex - “We have been impressed with was involved in the develop - by Abbott Laboratories in 2006). pected to be valued at $13.4 bil - AstraZeneca’s expertise, focus ment of business strategy and Pearl is Jaharis’ third significant lion by 2021. and speed of execution and are in critical implementation deci - pharmaceutical success. AstraZeneca already has a delighted to be joining the group, sions. The Wall Street Journal said COPD drug called Symbicort, a global leader in respiratory dis - From 1972 until 1986, he that AstraZeneca wanted to which generated $3.2 billion in ease, as we believe that Pearl will served as the President and strengthen its respiratory drug sales in 2012, but the company be an excellent fit for its respira - Chief Executive Officer of Key portfolio and restock a dwin - is positioning itself for the next tory portfolio. Pharmaceuticals and developed dling drug pipeline and that the generation of treatments. Vatera’s other portfolio com - and grew the company from deal is the latest acquisition this AstraZeneca has seen its rev - panies are developing programs only a few non-distinguished year by the Anglo-Swedish drug enue and profit fall for five con - and technologies in a number pharmaceutical products into a company. secutive quarters, mainly be - of areas (antibiotics, cardiovas - producer of some of the best- Pearl Therapeutics’ key drug cause of the growth of generic cular, CNS, immunology and on - selling asthma and cardiovascu - in late-stage development is a competition to blockbuster cology), with the goal creating lar products in the United States so-called LABA/LAMA combina - drugs such as antipsychotic novel therapies that dramati - at that time, which he turned tion drug, part of a new class of Seroquel and cholesterol-lower - cally improve patients’ lives. around, revamped its product treatments for COPD. The in - ing drug Crestor, whose patents Soriot said: “Chronic obstruc - line and merged it with Scher - haled drugs combine two medi - are expiring or have expired, the tive pulmonary disease contin - ing-Plough in 1986. cines that work in opposing Journal said. ues to increase worldwide and He worked his way to suc - ways to open up the patient’s It recently agreed to acquire there is a growing need for the cess. After serving in the Korean airwaves. Omthera Pharmaceuticals next generation of inhaled com - War, Jaharis became a sales rep - AstraZeneca will initially pay OMTH +0.30% and AlphaCore bination products. Pearl’s novel resentative for Miles Laborato - $560 million for Pearl, and a Pharma, two cardiovascular-fo - formulation technology, to - ries. He has been a Director of further $450 million if certain cused companies. gether with its development Arisaph Pharmaceuticals since development and regulatory AstraZeneca said the Pearl products and specialist expertise Michael Jaharis with his wife Mary. 2005. He serves as a Director of milestones are achieved. An - acquisition would likely close by are a great complement to As - Alexander S. Onassis Public other $140 million could be the third quarter of 2013. It isn’t traZeneca’s long established piratory drug in Symbicort but Pharmaceuticals in 1999 and Benefit Foundation (USA) and paid if certain sales targets are expected to affect the company’s capabilities in respiratory dis - had risked losing out in the long has been Chairman Emeritus of as a Trustee at Tufts University. reached. 2013 financial guidance. ease, one of our core therapy term by not having the Kos Pharmaceuticals since Jan. He earned a B. A. from Carroll AstraZeneca Chief Executive “Pearl has extraordinary re - areas. Combined with our LABA/LAMA inhaler. 1, 2002 and was previously College and a J.D. from DePaul Pascal Soriot said the acquisition search and clinical development onmarket portfolio, including Jaharis co-founded Arisaph Chairman of the Board of Direc - University. of Pearl would help the com - teams that have successfully Symbicort, and our strong pany meet a growing need. As - completed 10 clinical trials for pipeline, the agreement will en - traZeneca estimates 210 million our lead program,” said Chuck able us to offer further distinc - people world-wide have COPD, Bramlage, chief executive officer tive treatment options across the which is expected to be the for Pearl Therapeutics. “We look full spectrum of COPD and third-biggest cause of death by forward to combining our skills asthma to patients, physicians 2020. and the global regulatory and and payers.” SCOURGE OF COPD commercial expertise at As - AstraZeneca's sales and prof - “Chronic obstructive pul - traZeneca to move PT003 and its are falling as older medicines monary disease continues to in - our other candidates towards lose patent protection and the crease world-wide and there is market where they can reach company badly needs new prod - a growing need for the next gen - millions of patients suffering ucts to replace former big sellers eration of inhaled combination from COPD.” like the antipsychotic Seroquel, products,” Soriot said. Kevin Ferro, chairman of the which lost exclusivity last year. According to research firm Board of Pearl Therapeutics and AstraZeneca already has a Decision Resources, the market CEO of Vatera Healthcare Part - successful existing inhaled res - Archdiocese Disputes that Calatrava Has Been Confirmed as Ground Zero Architect

Continued from page 1 A PA rep did not get back to us and those from the Port Author - by deadline. ity of New York and New Jersey be true, could it? According to THE FAVORITE who had jurisdiction over the the Greek-American newspaper, TNH had reported earlier land and process. The National Herald, architect that Calatrava, one of the While Calatrava, 61, has of - Santiago Calatrava is “report - world’s leading architects, had fices in Zurich, Paris, and edly the leading candidate” to the inside track to design the Valenica, he works from his New design the new Church of St. new St. Nicholas Church at York branch and lives in the city Nicholas just south of the World Ground Zero. It was the only and is familiar with the envi - Trade Center. house of worship destroyed in rons. That’s right, the same Cala - New York in the Sept. 11, 2011 Calatrava is already a source trava whose cyclopean WTC terrorist attacks. of contention for the plans to Transportation Hub is seven The renowned architect from rebuild the site destroyed in the years late, more than $2 billion Spain is already involved at the attack. Architecture News Daily over budget and has tied other World Trade Center site as the reported that the World Trade site construction into knots. The designer of the iconic but con - Center Complex in Lower Man - original St. Nicholas was de - troversial PATH transportation hattan is slowly progressing. stroyed on 9/11. terminal. The Memorial was unveiled on Ever since, its replacement He is known to the Hellenic the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, on Port Authority-owned land – World through the magnificent while the Freedom Tower is well exactly where it would go and roof he created for the 2004 on its way to completion, how big it would be – has been Greek Olympics Stadium in proudly displaying the spire that a political hot potato tossed Athens that is both visually strik - was mounted just a few weeks among three different gover - ing and necessary to shade the ago. nors, several Port Authority spectators from the brutal sum - “The site still is – and will be chiefs and the Greek Orthodox mer sun. for many years to come – a mad - Archdiocese. The committee headed by ar - dening array of construction The Archdiocese’s Father chitect Nicholas Koutsomitis equipment, scaffolding and Mark Arey told us: “Mr. Cala - didn’t comment on the compet - cranes that are working busily trava has certainly been among itive bidding for the commission at the various components of the 12 or 13 architects who to build what could become one WTC’s rebuilding. Yet while all were pre-selected to offer de - of the most famous Orthodox this development is moving for - signs. “But we have not made churches in the world. ward, the cost of the construc - an announcement. It’s unfortu - Plans to rebuild it were tion is ballooning,” it reported. nate someone spoke pre-emp - stymied for years in disputes be - According to an article in The tively to the National Herald.” tween church and city officials Observer, the site now boasts one of the most expensive office buildings in the world – the Freedom Tower – and one of the most expensive parking garages in history – the Vehicle Security Center. Calatrava’s Transit Hub – Port Authority’s PATH station to New Jersey – has become the center of controversy because of its cost, now reported at $3.47 billion still two years away from completion. “This may be one of the most expensive transportation hubs in the world, considering that its passenger volume does not justify this expense as much as its location might,” the Archi - Architect Santiago Calatrava tectural Digest added. 4 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ A choir angels: The class of 2025 delights at the St. Demetrios high school graduation. The Konstantinos Belesis was the salutatorian of the Class of 2003. He returned ten years later, and parish’s school system includes facilities at the Church of St. Katherine. described himself as Odysseus returning home to his own Ithaka. Astoria’s St. Demetrios, Only Greek H.S. in U.S., Celebrates Graduation

By Eleni Kalogeras lated the graduates and their ful chapter in my life at the TNH Staff Writer parents and emphasized the role school of St. Katherine. Having of the community and especially arrived from Greece when I was ASTORIA – The Petros G. Pa - the school in their lives. nine years old and entered the tridis Cultural Center of the The principal, Anastasios St. Demetrios school system Greek-American community of Koularmanis, applauded the [the two sanctuaries form one St. Demetrios of Astoria was achievements and highlighted parish and share school facili - flooded with parents, teachers, the school’s pioneering pro - ties] the teachers and principals and parishioners that defied the grams. The school’s assistant stood by me contributed to my weather forecast and came with Principal, Helen Karagiorgos, successes down to today. With joy to celebrate the graduation who was responsible for the co- deep gratitude I thank all of you of 32 students from the only ordination of the ceremony, because you were with me Greek high school in the United cited the academic performance whenever I needed help, be - States. of the graduates and stressed cause of the excellent education The June 7th ceremony for with special pride are headed I received about my Greek roots, the school that has graduated for the best colleges and univer - and which you helped me to multitude of students who ben - sities in America. maintain.” efited from instruction in math, Unlike previous years, the Calliope Prassinos, who cel - science, economics, and arts and ceremony featured not a ebrated her nameday the fol - culture, included presentations keynote speaker, but speeches lowing day, said “this is the by its high-achieving graduates, by past graduates. Konstantinos school where I learned Greek such as New York State Assem - Belesis, who was the salutato - language, and the history and blywoman Aravella Simotas. rian in 2003, described himself religion of Greece. I gained un - She will never forget her school as Odysseus returning home to derstanding of the religious and and the Astoria community in his own Ithaka, and Evangelia historical holidays.” which she was raised. Podaras, the valedictorian in She added that she likes The Petros G. Patridis Cultural Center of the Cathedral of St. Demetrios of Astoria is a showcase Outside thunder and light - 2006 who is a law student at math, and thanked her teachers of the for the future Greek-American community on graduation day. ning dominated the night and Fordham University. because they not only taught it was raining buckets, but a real Christina Tsangouri, in her her to love math, but inspired reality, and City Councilman Pe - Dr. Nicholas Mezitis, presented proud to be Greek and reach for springtime prevailed inside the valedictory address, was emo - her to continue her studies in ter F. Vallone, Jr. addressed the a check in support of the the stars. Take Evangelia Po - cultural center, where the sun - tional when she said “it is really that field. guests and there were greetings school’s science programs. daras’ example: achieve great - shine was provided by smiles of is difficult for someone to be - The president of the parish from the consuls general of Maria Makedon, the director of ness and give back to your com - the graduates. lieve that the years can pass by council, Gary Sideris, School Greece respectively, George Il - the Direct Archdiocesan District munity.” She said to the parents The Dean of St. Demetrios so quickly. If feels like it was yes - Board Chairman Nick Andriotis, iopoulos and Koula Sophianou. Office of Education, congratu - that, “as a new mom, I see your Cathedral, the Very Rev. Nektar - terday, but it was eight years who was one of the prime The president of the Hellenic lated the children and parents. children, who have exceled, and ios Papazafiropoulos, congratu - ago when I opened this wonder - movers that made the school a Medical Society in New York, Simotas told the graduates “be I admire them.”

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ A commemorative photo of students, officials, and guests including Maria Makedon. Athena St. Nicholas, one of the biggest parishes in the Archdiocese, is justly proud of its educational Kromidas, Mary Tzallas, and Frs. Paul Palesty, Aristidis Garinis, and Joakim Valasiadis. programs, whose students and families fill the sanctuary on graduation day. Graduation Cemerony at St. Nicholas in Flushing Glowing with Pride and Joy

By Dimitrios Tsakas with dignity, with confidence, personal good, and that of your TNH Staff Writer respect and love,” and urged family and community…Re - graduates to continue their member that the school will al - FLUSHING – The Graduation march forward and to always ways be her for you. We are Ceremony of The William Spy - pursue excellence, and not to waiting for you,” she added be - ropoulos Greek-American neglect their Greek language fore presenting the awards and School of the Church of St. and religion. diplomas. Nicholas in Flushing on June 7 The second Vice President of GREEK AFTERNOON send optimistic messages out to the Parish Council, James SCHOOL STUDENTS SHINE, the community about the future Rosvoglou, conveyed the greet - TOO of Greek-American education ings of its president, Nicholas On Saturday morning June and culture. On the following Karacostas, who was unable to 8, Fr. Palesty led the afternoon day, the parish’s Stephen and attend and shared that it will be school graduation with featured Areti Cherpelis Greek Afternoon the last ceremony he will attend moving presentations by the School held its graduation. as the parent of one of the grad - school’s benefactor Stephen The day school’s graduates uate. Cherpelis, Philoptochos presi - included 14 girls and 29 boys Maria Makedon, the director dent Gloria Sfiroudis and past who were honored for their aca - of the Direct. Archdiocesan Dis - valedictorians Eraklis A. Dia - demic performance and for the trict Office of Education, said the mataris and Constantine having been accepted by the joy shining from the graduates Koutoumbis, who attended his finest public and private high permeated everything that day. first class 35 years ago. George schools in New York City. She then addressed the parents B. Kanellopoulos, the school’s As is previous years, was held The Stephen and Areti Cherpelis Greek Afternoon School of St. Nicholas invited past valedicto - and said: "We share in your joy principal, also addressed the au - in the Church sanctuary the pas - rians Eraklis A. Diamataris (c) and Constantine Koutoumbis (R) to address the 2013 class. because your children are our dience tor, Paul Palesty, once more took Benefactor and community leader Stephen Cherpelis, told the story of how a handful of immi - children and you made the best Cherpelis said told the story the lead in its coordination. grants from Evrytania established the parish and its first schools in 1955. choice by sending them to the of how a handful of immigrants The keynote speaker was William Spyropoulos school.” from Evrytania, Greece estab - Dean Skelos, the Majority pated in her first graduation as tunities that are opening up be - York of Cyprus, Koula Sophi - Father Palesty presented lished the parish and its first Leader of the New York State School Board Chairman, urged fore them. anou, told the graduates they plaques to five parents and the schools in 1955 and noted with Senate and the state’s top Re - the children to seize the oppor - The Consul General in New arrived on that day “with pride, Pastor’s Award for excellence to pride that its thousands of stu - publican. He spoke on the im - Art Teacher Antigone Vla - dents through the years have ex - portant roles their Greek her - choyiannis, who said she was celled in all fields of endeavor, itage and the community’s “deeply moved,” adding that citing as examples two brothers, schools and play in the lives of “through art we are trying to George Tenet, the former Direc - the graduates and urged them teach our culture children and tor of the CIA, and distinguished to aim high, to work hard, and convey timely messages.” cardiologist William Tenet. to excel. He told them that Nicholas Tzallas, who grad - Haralambos Georgiou and wherever they go in life, to re - uated in 2009 from the same Kimon Balais were this year’s member the school and commu - school, declared that the school co-valedictorians and Theodora nity of St. Nicholas. has a special place in his heart. Papantoniou was the salutato - Eleni Papageorgiou, the PTA Valedictorian Nikolas Ziozis rian. President, congratulated the thrilled the audience with his The graduates were offered graduates and stressed the role flawless presentation in Greek perspective on their future by of the parents in the education and his thoughts about virtue Diamataris, who just completed of their children. Mary Tzallas, and science. Salutatorian his first year of college. He de - the Assistant Principal, who George Moustakos shared some clared that “I now understand teaches English Literature memories of his ten years spent how important it is to be a Hel - pointed out that the two gradu - at the school. lene and to feel one’s Hellenism. ating classes are the best ever. The principal, Athena Kromi - For me, Hellenism is a grand She said that “Graduation is the das, addressed a touching idea, something great, it encom - end of one era and the begin - speech to the graduates, saying passes the whole world.” ning of a new one,” for the stu - “today you spread your wings With additional reporting by dents. Fr. Paul Palesty addresses the 2013 graduating class of the Stephen and Areti Cherpelis Greek in pursuit of new horizons. We Eleni Kalogeras on the after - Elaine Mallios, who partici - Afternoon School in Flushing. Past graduates include George and Dr. William Tenet. pray for you to fight for your noon Greek school graduation. THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013 COMMUNITY 5 Congressman Michael Grimm, in TNH Interview, Gives Praise to Greeks

Continued from page 1 mired and I still admire. People MG: I’ve been to Cyprus and lyn, and other areas in Staten with unique entrepreneurial I am very much looking forward Island you can’t help but see and natural resources of a country spirit and incredible work to travel to Greece soon. admire the Greek contribution of unique beauty that everybody ethics. The Greek-American TNH: In your district as you whether is in the dinners or the wants to visit will always be community is a big part of the already mentioned live many other successful business they there. So, tourism will be American success story. You Greek-Americans. So you have own, the construction compa - boosted as we become more and can’t help but admire these peo - the chance to meet them and be - nies, the buildings owned by more confident about Greece’s ple and their contribution to the come familiar with our culture, Greeks, and most importantly potentials. Ironically the biggest American society. And we must our civilization, our mentality. the way they value the commu - problem for Greece is the same not forget Greece’s contribution How do you evaluate the contri - nity. And that is another thing, problem that we have here in to the whole world. As a New bution of Greek-American com - they never forgot where they the States as well. Greece has Yorker I have experienced all munity to the American society. came from in the sense that they an unsustainable entitlement these people coming to the MG: I meet Greek-Americans are always giving back to the system that is crippling and that States with nothing, with empty on a daily basis not because I society, to the community. Many is a really wake up call for the hands. And you see how they am a member of Congress and I of them who became very suc - United States. So we learn from adapted and what they have see it as a part of my job, but cessful although they started what Greece is being through made. They build successful because I grew up with them, from the very beginning build - and from what other European businesses, today they own they are a part of my life. Living ing their lives in a new land, countries are being through, so huge buildings and companies. in New York city I have spent they constantly give back, we will not make the same mis - And at the same time they never many nights eating avgole - whether to church, to the com - takes. We should act together to forgot the importance of family. mono, and haloumi and munity, to local fundraisers. face these problems. Obviously All these values to me as an Ital - saganaki, and I can talk for How can you not admire that? it is going to be a painful proce - Congressman Michael Grimm ian are of major importance. I hours about that. Growing up These contributions are valuable dure and Greece has to face see Greeks as a family, as the with them, I have experienced to my district, to my community. more difficulties on the way to tough. And this is something national interest. What makes closest friends. That is why I their values. They are really My district wouldn’t have been recovery but I would like to re - that I see in my district. you so supportive? think I am and I will be in the hard-working, family-oriented, the same without the Greek- peat once again, that I have TNH: Since your first day in MG: I think growing up in future so supportive. religious. We have so many sim - Americans that helped build it. faith in Greek people because Congress, Greece sees in you a New York City with so many TNH: Have you ever visited ilarities. For example in New Today they keep it such a vi - they are resilient, they are really supporter regarding issues of Greek friends. Friends that I ad - Greece or Cyprus? York city, in Bay Ridge in Brook - brant community. Metropolitan Demetrios of Sevasteia Speaks Candidly in TNH Interview

Continued from page 1 surely wish to meet. As for your curiosity. Those concerned with position to know. However, I phrase “living secretly” with re - the life of the Great Church are would like to believe that Ortho - third, or fourth generation why gard to the rest, I would say that familiar with the unpleasant sur - doxy, our nation and the world the Archdiocese of America it is in many ways inappropriate. prises of most Patriarchal elec - have always known and know should continue to belong to the I would further add that, in the tions of the 20th century, and no people with rare spiritual quali - Ecumenical Patriarchate instead spiritual life, silence and invisi - one knows what the 21st century ties. of becoming autocephalous? bility have their proper place and holds. Let us, therefore, proceed TNH: How much do we sus - MD: I am not sure that the significance, just as speech also prudently during these early pect today with regard to what Greek-Americans of the third and has its place, provided it is truth - years of the new century, which the Church is or isn’t? fourth generations are preoccu - ful and constructive. coincide with our own brief pas - MD: This depends on the pied with matters related to Au - TNH: Don’t you think that, sage through life. level of our faith and the experi - tocephaly – they have enough after so many years have passed, And d) as far as the stability ence throughout our life of this challenges that concern their you owe an explanation to the of the institution, we must pray mystery and gift of God. Other - minds – and I do not believe as Greeks in America, whom know that God will add many years to wise, if we remain regular and well that they feel stifled as they you well and who honor and re - the life of the Patriarch and ren - rational believers, then no matter move within the context of their spect you, but also to people der peaceful the life of the how may degrees we may ac - local church, which in practice more broadly about what exactly Throne’s see. quire we will see the Church as functions unhindered. This is happened for you to leave your TNH: You served as Archdea - an institution that preserves cus - why I believe from experience HOly mETrOPOliS Of lANGAdA position as director of the Per - con of the late Patriarch Dim - toms or even as the ground of that these matters arise from Metropolitan Demetrios of Sevasteia seen on Mt. Athos with sonal Patriarchal Office? itrios. What was it that he pos - inconsolable promotion. time to time. They do not con - Metropolitan Ioannis of Langada to his left and other clerics MD: Speaking about the sessed, which drew people like TNH: What message can the stitute the actual expectation of from the monastic community of Mt. Athos. Church and the affairs of the a magnet most often with his si - Orthodox Faith today offer to a our people. In any case, if you Church are my right and obliga - lence? young man or woman of the explore the history of Auto - tivize it. The inscrutable and in - stitutions have expired through tion, especially when addressing MD: It is precisely what the computer and Facebook age? cephalous Churches, you will comprehensible God often also the centuries, the Church re - friendly and honorable people, life of the Church characterizes MD: That these achieve - readily discern the various im - acts through our weaknesses. mains eternal because, in our tra - such as I feel the Greeks in Amer - as a Patriarchate of love, peace ments, even if sometimes dan - pulses that essentially harmed You should know that His will ditional faith, “Someone else ica to be inasmuch as I have ex - and unity in action. Allow me to gerous, clearly serve, inform, en - our Nation spiritually, together always ultimately prevails, governs it”! Nevertheless, our perienced their ecclesiastical con - remind you on this point that, tertain, and promote. with other causes later contribut - whether by providence or con - Greek community is exception - cerns on many occasions during on the occasion of the tenth an - Nonetheless, they cannot love or ing unevenly to the isolated life cession. ally diminished. This is clearly my ministry both in America and and development of nations. In TNH: Why should the Greeks apparent from the minimal num - at the Phanar. However, speak - this tragic development, then, in America trust the Patriarchate ber of faithful that we now ob - ing ipso jure about my own af - the only institution that held with the selection of their Arch - serve, thankfully, among the fairs reveals a sense of weakness these nations together in many bishop, when there are bad large number of pilgrims from and is not right. My conviction ways, despite its own vast prob - precedents? Greece, who with their almost in this regard is greatly strength - lems at the time, was the Ecu - MD: We cannot speak of bad daily presence and regularly or - ened firstly by the deeper mean - menical Patriarchate. So, it precedents, but only of an un - ganized participation in our ing of trials always allowed by would be good for the young fortunate precedent, which has school and community activities God, but also by the wider ap - generations in America to be in - fortunately been resolved. What rejuvenate our patience and preciation and attention of peo - formed of these things in order can we do, Mr. Kalmoukos? “er - hope for a better tomorrow. I ple that I have experienced in re - to avoid disorientation and es - rare humanum est,” it is human would like to believe that, at cent years, which make me feel trangement. to err. least on a human level, this “to - that people judge not so much TNH: How do you respond to TNH: Can you share with us morrow” will largely depend on from the manner in which we those who ask what you know some thoughts about the devel - stable and amicable political cli - speak but from the manner with at the Phanar about America? opment of the Ecumenical Patri - mate that will permit the expan - which we keep silent. Moreover, since you demand to archate in relation to the eco - sion and facilitation of perma - TNH: If Patriarch administer the Archdiocese, why nomic and political crisis nent residence and employment Bartholomew dies tomorrow, do you not intervene dynami - experienced in Greece and how for our fellow Greeks. Beyond what will happen at the Phanar? cally when communities are dis - this influences its daily life, since this, however, in the present sit - Do you as hierarchy discuss his solved and schools close? What we know that it basically de - uation, our Greek community succession? HOly mETrOPOliS Of lANGAdA are you waiting for? pends on Greece for its preser - continues to experience a decline MD: Commenting hypotheti - Metropolitan Demetrios of Sevasteia during a holy litany on TNH: I am sorry if some indi - vation and financial support? with regard to its historical pres - cally on non-existing institutional Mt. Athos where he spent Holy Week and Easter this year. viduals think like this about the MD: I expressed publicly, ence in Constantinople. I cannot matters never results in anything Patriarchate, which established many months ago as well, that surmise as to what exactly will beneficial when it comes to in - niversary (2001) since his death, comfort. A simple electrical fail - the Archdiocese of America in the conditions of life for the see be its transformation in the fu - stitutions, and especially spiritual I published an extensive personal ure, disaster or war can render difficult times that were difficult of the Ecumenical Patriarchate ture. I pray that it will not un - ones like the Church. In this re - article, where I revealed as much them useless. It is with the same for the Greeks scattered abroad are better than in the distant and dergo such changes that would gard: a) We have a Patriarch, as possible many unknown as - delight then, that our young peo - at the time, whom as I men - even the recent past; indeed, our no longer justify its name. who is at the peak of his pects of the life and beautiful ple use the various technological tioned earlier it united with its expectation and perspective is TNH: Do you discuss these strength, and so any preoccupa - soul of the late Patriarch, which means that they should also unceasing concern. I am afraid, that these conditions will further matters as a Hierarchy and as a tion with his future or the future unfortunately cannot be con - practice their Orthodox faith. For then, that such people who as improve, which is of course very community? of the sacred institution of the densed in a brief response here. it never betrays and is never ren - you say impute to us some sup - crucial for us. Let us see. As for MD: Whenever necessary, of Patriarchate would be indiscreet TNH: Could you tell us some dered useless. This has been posed unfamiliarity with regard the crisis that Greece, and indeed course we also discuss them in and unprofitable. of the advice he would offer you? proven over centuries. to America are the same people the world, is facing, there is al - Synod. b) I repeat that the future of MD: His basic advice was his TNH: What attracted you to who in the turmoil of life’s var - ready so much that is being TNH: Why is it that we rarely the Church lies in the hands of silent teaching about modesty the priesthood? iegated circumstances are igno - stated and particularly about hear or see any hierarch from God alone, as the Church teaches and patience, features that MD: The profound faith of rant of church life and the wit - matters related to the political the Phanar except the Patriarch? us in its own way through its his - flowed from his heart and daily my mother Zoe, who is today 96 ness of the Throne. While I am life of the country and who is re - Is there some protocol about this torical journey. Those who en - life. years of age, and the kindness in no position to know the num - sponsible, subjects which are dis - or some unwritten directive that deavor skillfully to plan it, out - TNH: Is Patriarch Dimitrios of my spiritual elder, Patriarch bers of these individuals, whom cussed exhaustively, but these only he should appear and all side of prayer, are disappointed. missed at the Phanar today, in Demetrios. I do not believe comprise a ma - are not for us to comment on. the rest of you should live se - c) Let us not forget that every the Orthodox Church, and gen - TNH: If you were to recom - jority, in general I retain the con - As far as the particular interest cretly? Patriarchal election is a test for erally in the world? mence your life today, would you viction that, for a young Greek- on the part of Greece, where a MD: The Phanar is the See of the Church and our Nation; so it MD: He is missed at the Pha - become a clergyman again? American today, this existential large portion of the Throne’s the Patriarch, whom alone the should not be motivated super - nar. As for Orthodoxy and the MD: If I had the same incen - matter of maintaining an expe - flock lives, this is of course nat - pilgrims and various visitors ficially by human thought and world, I am not of course in a tives in my life and soul, yes. riential – and not romantic – con - ural. nection to History and the insti - TNH: Why is it that, all these tutions of his or her origins years, it has not been possible demands a combination of in - for the Patriarchate to become tense efforts primarily of family self-sufficient by means of a Per - upbringing, pastoral care, and manent Investment Account, in systematic education. In multi - accordance with the “Leadership POCKET-LESS cultural societies, unfortunately, 100” model in the Archdiocese we observe a lack of harmony of America? PITA BREAD with regard to making such ef - MD: The conditions of life at forts, with rather unpleasant re - the See of the Ecumenical Patri - sults, for which nonetheless archate are historically known Kontos Foods many are responsible. I am un - and I think speak for themselves able to comment extemporane - about the continuous financial www.GreekKitchennyc.com The Leading Company in Flat Breads ously about the situation of the difficulties. Such investment ac - communities and schools that counts primarily demand an at - Well known for the Pocket-Less Pita you raise without specificity. mosphere of peace, justice, and TNH: What will happen if financial growth. This kind of at - manufacturers of Authentic Ethnic Archbishop Demetrios dies to - mosphere has never in our times Hand Stretched flat bread. morrow? Is there any basic plan been experienced by the Patriar - kontos the first family in fillo dough and fillo products. at all as to who might succeed chate, with the exclusion some - him, above and beyond the usu - what of more recent years, from fillO kATAifi, BAklAVA, SPANAkOPiTA, TyrOPiTA ally stated generalities about the which however a stable imme - NuT rOll, mElOmAkArONA descent of the Holy Spirit? diate is still lacking. and the TrAdiTiONAl mEdiTErrANEAN dESSErTS. MD: I have stated on other TNH; How much are you con - Excellent quality and service. occasions as well and you are cerned about the future of the also aware of it, that my personal Patriarchate and the Greek com - We distribute in USA and Canada. acquaintance and spiritual rela - munity in Constantinople, espe - Special prices for communities, schools, churches tionship with Archbishop cially in light of the reduction of festivals and other events Demetrios goes back many years its numbers to around 2500, and and my devoted appreciation for what do you think could possibly his venerable person is well and be done? widely known. I pray, then, that MD: We should all pray for he will live many more years and the future of the Patriarchate but when the time of his calling we should not be concerned Kontos Foods, Inc b

comes from God, that it will find about it because it is in the hands Follow us on Facebook: Box 628, Paterson, NJ 07544 him in the position to which God of God, who “controls all mea - Tel.: (973) 278-2800 fax: (973) 278-7943 led him unexpectedly 14 years sures and times.” We should be Eθνικός Κήρυξ / The National Herald kontos.com ago. As for the descent of the encouraged by the fact that, a Holy Spirit, it is best not to rela - while innumerable powerful in - 6 OBITUARIES CLASSIFIEDS THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS

HELP WANTED LEGAL NOTICE FUNERAL HOMES APOSTOLOPOULOS REAL ESTATE Apostle Family - Notice of formation of 212 PARK SLOPE LITRAS FUNERAL HOME LLC. Articles of Organization (DOM LL) Gregory, Nicholas, Andrew - ARLINGTON SALES DIRECTOR filed with the Secretary of State of New Funeral Directors of Eleni Malliaros, SFR York (SSNY) on 01/14/2013. Office location: BENSON DOWD, INC Realtor Lic. VA & WV Large Greek Company in the food sector and market leader in Kings County. SSNY has been designated for ser - RIVERDALE FUNERAL HOME Greece is seeking for immediate hiring of a Sales Executive for vice of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any FUNERAL HOME Inc. process served against the LLC to: THE LLC, 83-15 Parsons Blvd., Cell: 703 -999 -3253 its newly established branch in New York City. 5044 Broadway Office:571-271-6246 2532 85th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11214. Pur - Jamaica, NY 11432 The right candidate should be a professional with proven pose: any lawyful activity. New York, NY 10034 (718) 858-4434 experience in sales and distribution in retail and food service 272718/18596 (212) 942-4000 • (800) 245-4872 sector of a national level in the USA market. Toll Free 1-888-GAPOSTLE Communication and negotiation skills are also very important LEGAL NOTICE CONSTANTINIDES ANTONOPOULOS for the successful candidate. FUNERAL PARLOR Co. FUNERAL HOME, INC. The Company offers a competitive salary and career Notice of formation of TRACETABLE, LLC, (718) 745-1010 a domestic LLC, Articles of Organization Konstantinos Antonopoulos - development opportunity with an established and very filed with the SSNY on 05/08/2013. Services in all localities - Funeral Director ambitious organization. Office location: Kings County. SSNY is Low cost shipping to Greece designated as agent upon whom process 38-08 Ditmars Blvd., Please send your C.V. by e-mail to: [email protected] against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: THE LLC, 666 Union Astoria, New York 11105 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. General Pur - poses. (718) 728-8500 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE 272791/18643 Not affiliated with any other funeral home. Contact us Today! Maple & Day Properties LLC Arts of Org Notice of formation of MUSCLE MAIDS , LLC LEGAL NOTICE And let us guide you with expert filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on a domestic LLC, Articles of Organization REAL ESTATE Real Estate advise for FREE 4/12/13. Office: Kings County. SSNY des - filed with the SSNY on 3/29/13. Office lo - ignated as agent of LLC upon whom cation: Kings County. SSNY is designated as MIKO USA, LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Malliaros Family Team process may be served. SSNY shall mail agent upon whom process against the LLC Org. filed with the SSNY on 4/5/12. Office You're not just another client... process to: 306 Gold St, #11A, Brooklyn, may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: location: Kings County. SSNY is designated NAPLES FLORIDA REAL ESTATE you are Family! NY 11201. General Purposes. Darcel Green, 463 Lincoln Pl #218, Brook - as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY lyn, NY 11238. General Purposes . to: The LLC, 1654-44th St., Brooklyn, NY 50 Catoctin Circle NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 272769/18351 272779/18633 11204. General Purposes. Office: 703-669-0099 • Fax : 703-669-4104 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE 272793/10709 www. loudounhousesforsale .com Vicky Lewis Email : [email protected] D. EMMA RHOADS LLC, a domestic LLC, FINGER FORTUNES LLC. Certificate of LLC filed LEGAL NOTICE 222556/18484/09-07 Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on with the Secy. of State (SSNY) on 10/17/11. Office realtor 3/22/13. Office location: Kings County. location: Nassau Co., SSNY designated as Agent 885 Development LLC Articles of Org. filed SSNY is designated as agent upon whom of LLC upon whom process against it may be NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/23/13. Office in process against the LLC may be served. served. SSNY shall mail process to LLC at 360-A West Kings Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon SSNY shall mail process to: Daisy Emma Merrick Rd, Suite 177, Valley Stream, NY 11580. whom process may be served. SSNY shall Rhoads, 90 8th Ave., Apt. 8E, Brooklyn, Name and address of each Manager/Member mail copy of process to 885 Grand St., NY 11215. General Purposes. is available from SSNY. The latest date LLC will Brooklyn, NY 11211, which is also the prin -

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SITU FABRICATION LLC, a domestic 2 Notice of Formation of Adelphi Builders, LLC. Arts. Notice of formation of GOLDLAND today... LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY DOWNING-FRYE REALTY, INC. of Org. filed w/Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on BORO PARK REALTY LLC filed with the Secy. Μιλώ Ελληνικά on 5/2/13. Office location: Kings 4/26/13. Office Loc.: Nassau County. SSNY of State (SSNY) on 5/6/13. Office loc.: Kings County. SSNY is designated as agent designated as LLC’s agent upon whom process may County. SSNY is designated as agent of the upon whom process against the LLC be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 26 Piper LLC upon whom process against it may be may be served. SSNY shall mail process Drive, Searingtown, NY 11507. Purpose: Any lawful served. The address SSNY shall mail copy of The National Herald to: The LLC, 20 Jay St., Ste. 218, Brook - activity. process to: P.O. Box 204, Brooklyn, NY 11211. Mgmt. shall be by one or more (718) 784-5255 lyn, NY 11201. General Purposes. 272715/18592/06-15 TO PlACE yOur ClASSifiEd Ad, CAll: (718) 784-5255, members. Purpose: Any lawful activity. [email protected] 272777/10709/07-13 272784/18635 ExT. 106, E-mAil: classifieds@ thenationalherald.com

DEATH NOTICES n SIOKOS, JAMES during the summer months (and Kotsatos of Tallmadge; and years. In addition to her devoted antafillou (Yia Yia) Our beloved Arlington Heights, and Elizabeth HOUSTON, TX (From Houston all friends were welcome!). A many nieces, and nephews. The husband, Michael, she will be mother, grandmother, great Vasilogambros of Arlington Chronicle, published on May 21) typical day started with Yiayia's family would like to thank sadly missed by her two daugh - grandmother, great great grand - Heights; sister, Vasio Pap - – James Siokos, 98 (two months wonderful breakfast, then the Summa at Home Hospice for ters, Constance Tracey and her mother and aunt passed away athopoulos of Greece; and many shy of 99), born in Kato Diminio, beach, a delicious lunch featur - their kind and loving care. Fu - husband, Robert of Danbury, peacefully on, May 9. She was nieces and nephews. She was a seaside village near Corinth, ing fish that Papou had gotten neral service will be 11 AM and Michelle Stavros-Keenan born May 10, 1913 in Krokelio preceded in death by her parents Greece, passed away peacefully from the fisherman that morn - Wednesday, May 15, at Annun - and her husband, James of Dan - Dorithos, Greece, the daughter and three brothers, Kosta, An - in his sleep on May 18 in Hous - ing, fresh fruit from his garden, ciation Greek Orthodox Church, bury; her three grandchildren, of the late George and Panayiota dreas and Panteli. ton. As is common for the patri - more beach, a nap, into town 129 S. Union St., Akron, with Michael Keenan, Reena Tracey, (Zographou) Sakarellou. She The funeral service will be held arch of a Greek family, he was for dinner, and then to another Father Andrew Lentz officiating. and Augustus Keenan; her two married Efthemios C. Triantafil - at noon Saturday, May 11, at St. known as "Papou" (grandfather). town for dessert, a movie, or Interment will be held at Mount sisters, Toula Sotiropoulos of lou, May 9 1937. He preceded George Greek Orthodox Church, When Papou's father told him even the disco. They also had Peace Cemetery. Visitation will Florida, and Georgia Karambat - her in death May 16, 1984. Efro - 320 South Second Street, that, because of the dowries re - the energy to take the kids all be 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday at the sos of Danbury; her nephew, Pe - sine was a founding and life- DeKalb, with Fr. John A. quired to marry off his three sis - over the country, including the Donovan Funeral Home, 17 ter Sotiropoulos and his wife, long member of St. Demetrios Artemas officiating. Burial will ters, there would be no money islands. To each of these chil - Southwest Ave. (on the Historic Lena; and her niece, Roula Pro - Greek Orthodox Church and the follow at Fairview Park Ceme - for college, Papou enrolled in the dren, time spent with Papou and Tallmadge Circle), where the fetto and her husband, Peter. A Philoptochos Society. She loved tery, DeKalb. Visitation will be Merchant Marine Academy of Yiayia in Greece was some of the Trisagion Service will be con - Mass of Christian Burial will be her garden, cooking Greek food, from 9 AM to 11:30 AM. Satur - Greece, where tuition was free best times of their lives. Pre - ducted at 7:30 p.m. by Father celebrated on Monday, May 13th crocheting and sewing, interact - day at Anderson Funeral Home, to students who maintained the ceded in death by Yiayia, Papou Jerry Hall and Father Andrew at 11:00 AM at Assumption ing with the public in the family DeKalb. In lieu of flowers, two highest grade point aver - is survived by his daughters Lentz. Greek Orthodox Church in Dan - businesses, but most of all, her memorials can be made to St. ages. Papou never paid a dime Paula Newton (Geoff) and Cyn - bury with Father Peter Karlout - family. Surviving are a daughter, George Greek Orthodox Church of tuition, and graduated from thia Foley (Richard); grandchil - n STATHOPOULOS, sos officiating. Burial will follow two sons and their spouses, in Angie Vasilogambros’ name, the Academy speaking four lan - dren Nicole Schrader (Greg), EVANGELIA in Wooster Cemetery. The family Mary (Kennedy) App; Gust sent in care of Anderson Funeral guages. He was even first chair Basil Nichols (Melissa), George WILMINGTON, DE (From The will receive friends at the Cornell (Martha) Triantafillou; George Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South mandolin in the Academy's or - Nikopoulos (Millie), Pamela Pap - News Journal, published on May Memorial Home, 247 White (Jean Farrington) Triantafillou; Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115. chestra after teaching himself to pas (Gus), Julieana Nichols 7) – Evangelia Stathopoulos, age Street, Danbury, on Sunday be - her grandchildren, Andrew (De - For information, visit www.An - play. After graduation Papou (Michael Lawson), Alyssa Foley 65, died on May 5, Easter Sun - tween the hours of 3:00 and bra) Kennedy; Robert (Mary Pat) dersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or continued to serve with the Mer - (Jason Findley), Summer Magee day in the Christian Orthodox 5:00 PM Trisagion Prayer will be Kennedy; Glen (Roxanne) call 815-756-1022. chant Marines, seeing the world, (Mark), and Jordan Foley; and Faith. Evangelia was born in at 4:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, Kennedy; Daniel Triantafillou; and becoming the youngest first great-grandchildren Hannah, Kalamata, Greece, and moved to memorial contributions may be Nicholas Triantafillou; her great n VERGOS, NTINA officer in the service's history. Elena, Xanthea, Jonathan, Athens where she lived until she made to Assumption Greek Or - grandchildren; Paul (Jennifer), FLINT, MI (From the Flint Jour - When his ship docked in the Port Christina, Alexis, Marika, was 21 when she immigrated to thodox Church, the American Mary Grace, Sean, Elizabeth, nal, published on May 4) – Ntina of Houston in 1938, the entire Amalia, Audrey, Demetra, the U.S. Along with her husband Cancer Society or to the Na - Maclaine, Jackson, Emmett and A. Vergos, loving and devoted crew except for Papou and one Athena, Calliope, Steven, Paula, George, Evangelia operated Sil - tional Parkinsons Foundation. To Scout Kennedy; her great great mother and grandmother, of crewmate jumped ship (includ - Beau, Sylvia, Dashiell, and Vi - view Pizza in Newport for over light a candle please visit granddaughter, Lillian Kennedy; Flint, age 81, died Saturday, May ing the captain). Papou took vian. Visitation will be held at 25 years. Evangelia's greatest joy www.CornellMemorial.com many nieces and nephews. She 4 at the Sugarbush Assisted Liv - command and hired another Brookside Funeral Home Cham - in life was spending time with was predeceased by her parents, ing. Visitation 4-9 PM Monday crew, but the second crew de - pions, 3410 FM 1960 West, her family. Evangelia was pre - n STERGIOU, EVANGELIA two brothers, Thanasis and at the Swartz Funeral Home, parted before the ship could Houston, Texas 77068, on ceded in death by her parents, LOWELL, MA (From the Lowell Mitcho Sakarellou; two sisters, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint. A make it out of the Gulf of Mex - Thursday, May 23rd, from 9:00 Panagiotis and Nicoleta Gi - Sun, published on May 16) – Maria Sakarellou Varso and Leta Trisagion Service will be held ico. Knowing that there were to 11:00 AM, with a service to anopoulos; and brother, Evangelia Stergiou was born on Sakarellou Asiki. The funeral 7pm Monday evening at the fu - Greeks within a few degrees of follow at 11:00 AM. The family Demetrios Gianopoulos. She is August 25th, 1930 in Yianaika, service will take place at 10:30 neral home. Funeral service will separation in Chicago, he went suggests that in lieu of flowers a survived by her husband of 46 Arkadia to Vasili and Eleni Blet - AM Thursday, May 16, at St. be held 11am Tuesday, May 7 at there. Fortunately, also living in donation be made to the North - years, George; 2 daughters, sis. At the age of 24, she moved Demetrios Greek Orthodox Assumption Greek Orthodox Chicago was a stunningly beau - west Assistance Ministries, Kathy Kehagias (John) and to Athens, Greece to work. Church, 4970 Mackinaw Rd. Church, 2245 East Baldwin tiful blue-eyed Greek girl, Tula 15555 Kuykendahl Road, Hous - Peggy Saxton (Lee); 4 grandchil - Shortly after moving to Athens, Saginaw. Rev. Irenaeus Cox will Road, Grand Blanc, Father An - Demetrakakes (Yiayia, grand - ton, TX 77090; http://www.na - dren, John, George, Lia, and she married Petros Stergiou of officiate with burial in Forest gelo Maggos officiating. Burial mother), whom Papou would monline.org. Tiffany. A viewing will be held Penteli. Evangelia and Petros Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call in Evergreen Cemetery. Contri - marry on January 4, 1940. They on Thursday, May 9th from 10- have two children, Christos and at the W. L. Case and Co. Funeral butions may be made to As - would have two daughters, n SKERIOTIS, JOHN 11 am at Holy Trinity Greek Or - Anastasia. After living in Penteli Chapel, 4480 Mackinaw Rd. sumption Greek Orthodox Paula and Cynthia, and would TALLMADGE, OH (From the thodox Church, 808 N. Broom for ten years, the family immi - Saginaw from 3:00-8:00 PM. Church. Ntina was born in remain devoted to their children Akron Beacon Journal, pub - St., Wilmington, DE 19806. Fu - grated to Lowell on August 18, Wednesday where a Trisagion Greece on February 23, 1931. and other progeny for the re - lished on May 13) – John N. neral service will be held at 11 1969. Evangelia is a devout service will be held at 7:00 p.m. On May 15, 1960, she married mainder of their lives. Trying to Skeriotis, 84, of Tallmadge, am. Entombment will take place Greek Orthodox Christian and Friends may also call at the Angelo Vergos in Greece. She find his way, Papou even owned passed away Sunday afternoon at All Saints Cemetery. The fam - created a welcoming home at 14 Church from 9:30 PM. Thursday was a member of Assumption a tavern, and despite the tavern's in his home, surrounded by his ily would like to thank Dr. Tza - Butterfield Street. Putting those until the time of the funeral ser - Greek Orthodox Church and the success, he concluded that his loving family. John was born in kis, Dr. Kehagias, Dr. Lewiski, Dr. around her first always, her ac - vice. Those planning an expres - Philoptochos Society. Surviving long-term health prospects were Halandra, Chios, Greece in 1928 Moutsatos, and Dr. Gilibert and complishment to guide and love sion of sympathy may wish to are daughters, Elaine and hus - better served by not owning a and came to this country in their staffs for their exceptional those who she touched will re - consider memorials to St. band Dean Pappas of Flint and tavern in Chicago. He then 1955, where he soon met his care as well as the anonymous main her lasting legacy. Evan - Demetrios Greek Orthodox Georgia and husband Greg De - started selling cars, and like wife and began his family in organ donor who gave Evangelia gelia is survived by her husband, Church or the charity of their mopoulos of Canton; grandchil - everything he set his mind to, Akron, Ohio. He worked hard 17 more years of life. In lieu of Petros, her son, Christos and his choosing. Mrs. Triantafillou's dren, Evan, Nina, George and he did it well - well enough to for 35 years at Lerkis Asphalt as flowers, the family suggests do - wife Ana Maria, her daughter family wish to thank the staff at Anastasia; brother, John and become the top Mercury sales - plant operator. He was an active nations in Evangelia's name to Anastasia and her husband Edgewood Assisted Living Cen - wife Popi Karageorgeos of man in the U.S. and one of the member of Annunciation Greek the American Diabetes Associa - Christos, and her six grandchil - ter, Covenant Health Care, Boston; sisters, Efthemia Papa - most sought-after car dealership Orthodox Church in which he tion 100 West 10TH ST. Suite dren Evangelia 27, Petros 24, Cartwright Care Center, and all georgiou, Paraskevoula Tsamat - managers in Chicago. His suc - volunteered as a cantor for many 1002 Wilm, DE 19801. Katerina 20, Nikoletta 19, Spyry - the church members and neigh - soulis, both of Greece; brothers- cess in the car business allowed years and participated as a don 19, Evagelia 17, her siblings bors who befriended Efrosine in-law, Gus and wife Nitsa him to retire at the age of 64, at board member. He was also a n STAVROS, VASILIKI Stella, Christos, Giorgios, and and assisted her throughout her Vergos of Flint, Tom and wife which point he returned to member of AHEPA. John's sharp DANBURY, CT (From the News Konstantina, and many nieces, life.www.casefuneralhome.com Kiki Vergos of Rochester, Nick Greece to act as general contrac - wit and humor is what drew so Times, published May 10) – nephews, and cousins. Evan - Vergos of Greece; sisters-in-law, tor in the construction of a beau - many people to him. He was a Vasiliki Stavros, lovingly known gelia, believed in the goodness n VASILOGAMBROS, ANGIE Dialeta and husband Tony Gian - tiful retirement home in his loving and committed husband, as "Kiki," age 74, beloved wife of humanity and lived every day DEKALB, IL (From the Flint Jour - nakopoulos and Lambrini birthplace Kato Diminio. Papou father, grandfather and brother. of Michael Stavros, passed away of her life selflessly with uncon - nal, published May 4) – Angie Hrisanthopoulos both of Greece; also built an apartment in Hous - John enjoyed the warm weather, peacefully in the presence of her ditional love for everyone. Visi - Vasilogambros, 84, of DeKalb, several nieces and nephews. She ton to be close to his daughters fishing in Florida, camping, and family on Wednesday, May 8th tation was held at the Blake Fu - Illinois, died Wednesday, May was preceded in death by her and their families. gardening.He was preceded in at Danbury Hospital. She was neral Home, 24 Worthen Street, 8, at Kishwaukee Community husband, Angelo. Your condo - For the next 20 years Papou and death by his parents, Nicholas born in Megalopoli Arcadia CHELMSFORD. Her Funeral Ser - Hospital, DeKalb. Born Septem - lences may be shared with the Yiayia would spend half the year and Margarita Skeriotis; sister- Greece on January 13, 1939, vice will be held on Friday at 11 ber 10, 1928, in Greece, the family at swartzfuneralhome - in Greece, and half the year in in-law, Anastasia Skeriotis. He is daughter of the late Lambros AM at St. George's Greek Ortho - daughter of Vasilos and Kristina inc.com Houston, which Papou contin - survived by his wife, Angie (Ler - and Anastasia (Georgis) Karam - dox Church, 44 Princeton Blvd., (Striglos) Papageorge, Angie ued after Yiayia's passing. Their akis) Skeriotis with whom he batsos. While living in Montreal, Lowell. Interment in Westlawn married Tasso Vasilogambros on greatest passion during these celebrated 58 years of marriage; Canada she met her cherished II Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of January 6, 1957, in Greece. This is a service years was entertaining their daughter and son-in-law, Anna husband of 54 years, Michael. flowers, the family requests do - Angie was a very active member to the community. grandchildren and eventually and George Karvounides of Tall - The two worked together, own - nations to St. George's Greek Or - of St. George Greek Orthodox Announcements of deaths great-grandchildren in Greece madge; son and daughter-in- ing and operating Michael's thodox Church, 44 Princeton Church, DeKalb, and served as may be telephoned to the law, Niko and Pam Skeriotis; Beauty Salon for 43 years in Blvd., Lowell. Funeral Director, a member of the Philoptochos Classified department of grandchildren, Angela, Dina, Danbury. Paul A. Hardy, Jr. Society. She is survived by her The National Herald at days and dates of funerals, and Yianni, Niko and Jordan; Kiki was a longtime parishioner husband, Tasso; children, Bill (718) 784-5255, memorials, and other events di - brothers, Kosta (Stamatia) Ske - of Assumption Greek Orthodox n TRIANTAFILLOU, (Susan) Vasilogambros and monday through friday, rectly correspond to the original riotis of Akron, Theodore Church. She was an active mem - EFROSINE Dean Vasilogambros, both of Ar - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST publication date, which appears (Katina) Skeriotis of Tallmadge ber who loved her church and SAGINAW, MI (From the Sagi - lington Heights; grandchildren, or e-mailed to: at the beginning of each notice. and Modesto (Stella) Skeriotis volunteered as a 2nd Grade Sun - naw News on MLive.com pub - Matthew T. Vasilogambros of [email protected] of Green; sister, Maria (George) day School Teacher for many lished on May 12) – Efrosini Tri - Washington, D.C., formerly of THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013 COMMUNITY 7

ALL HISTORY Snapshot of Greek-American Vacationers, Beachcombers, and Snowbirds

By Steve Frangos In time the scattered collec - reeks_of_Berren_County_Michi - TNH Staff Writer tions of Greeks picnicking about gan.html). the area changed into ever- Moving ever westward any - larger gatherings. Unlike the one familiar with internation - CHICAGO- Greek immigrants’ Americans around them, the ally-recognized author, Harry entertaining themselves as Greeks did not summer in the Mark Petrakis’ writings, about tourists is another one of those Lexington Heights area to “get his father and family will recall unexplored areas involving their away from it all.” They vaca - his descriptions of vacationing new social life on American soil. tioned there specifically to be in cabins scattered about Lake The evidence of Greeks relaxing with other Greeks. Eventually County, IL which is due north and enjoying life can be found some land was secured along of the city of Chicago. Petrakis’ very easily all around the coun - Cedar Road not more than half father was a priest, which brings try. The following is not a com - a mile west of Lake Huron. to mind the fact that all these plete list, but we must begin There the Greeks raised first a Greek “getaway spots” were not somewhere, so that future re - small sheltered area where they simply limited to the average searchers will be able to carry could sit, talk, eat and even immigrant. on this line of investigation. dance. Sometime in the late It would be interesting to The current presentation of 1950s, a wooden chapel was learn more one day about the Greeks in America, in most his - built so that the regular Greek Byron Hot Springs property, torical accounts, is one that un - summer crowd could attend which was purchased in early derstands them only as hard - church. Priests would come up 1946 by the Archdiocese. It ap - working; one could almost say from Detroit and elsewhere and pears that this hot springs was dour folk. Happy, laughing hold Saturday services. intended to be developed into Greeks, do appear now and then Soon the celebration for St. both a spiritual retreat and as a in written accounts, but Greeks Panteleimon’s Day became an center for the activities of the in North America just sitting anticipated annual event. I am Greek Orthodox Church in the around relaxing is not really in told that today busloads of Western United States. Regret - the generally-held stereotypic Greeks from Detroit regularly tably, none of that was to see image. But as they say, truth can cars. As it has been described to parent’s generation, that sleep - town of Lexington. In between attend the event. Starting the fruition. be stranger than fiction. me the summer vacation trip ing outside in the fresh air was these two towns is a place, now coals at 4AM or 5AM the Greeks While certainly other such Let us move in an east to was usually more women and the best thing for one’s overall called, Lexington Heights, roast lambs for this panegyri Greek vacation spots exist west fashion and see what can children than men although health. which is due west from the which is marked by dancing, around the country without be gleaned. Most East Coast some men were certainly always Picnicking was also a big as - shores of Lake Huron. There the feasting and spending time with question, the town that has Greeks, certainly those from the present. The rented cabins were pect of these Greek cabin areas Greeks from Detroit, small friends and family. The original gathered the largest number of New York City area, have heard little more than shacks. But you where they could all gather out - towns along the eastern edge of chapel, which was a wooden Greek American tourists is Tar - if they have not directly experi - were not supposed to stay inside doors to visit, relax and eat. I Michigan, and even Canada structure, burned in a fire some - pon Springs, FL. Home of Greek enced Greeks vacationing at all day and watching television. should also point out that rent - have gathered for many years. time in 1984. So, the Greeks sponge divers, the St Nicholas Greek-owned resorts in the The cabins were primarily for ing the cabins (although most At first it was simply a loca - were forced to build another in Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, is Catskill Mountains. So much is sleeping, cooking and storing eventually owned them) and tion where Greek families rented its place. Today, the St. Pantelei - now surrounded by some six available on this resort area and things. eating in this informal manner summer cottages. A man now mon Chapel, now made out of new Greek Orthodox parishes, the exclusively Greek resorts Most of the time was spent was overall an inexpensive form recalled simply as Mr. Tsanaka brick, is cited as a monastery in found in the counties immedi - (and entertainments) we need at the beach, lounging in the of recreation. had a small general store just on the Archdiocesan yearbook. ately around this fabled city. do no more that make mention woods or visiting other Greeks. In Port Huron, MI (which is the West Side of Lake Shore This same pattern of vaca - Greek snowbirds, as the sea - of it and move on. In discussions Even cooking and sleeping were due north of Detroit) summer - Road/US25 near what was to tioning Greeks eventually estab - sonal vacationers are known with New York City Greeks over not always done inside the tiny time Greeks would come and become Lexington Heights. lishing a small chapel can be among native Floridians, date the years, I have been surprised cabins. Stoves as in the sense of vacation in cabins around this There the venerable Mr. Tsanaka seen in Berrien County, MI Port - back well into the early 1900s. how often I have been told that wooden cook stoves were often rural lakeside town. There have would carry, along with his usual land, OR and Gulf Breeze, FL. Evidence abounds that Greek early Greek immigrants fre - on the porch or under an over - always been a few Greeks in items for the surrounding com - While not exclusively dealing immigrants were not simply dull quently went camping in rural hanging attached roof. Part of Port Huron and surrounding munity, Greek cheeses, olives, with the vacationing Greeks, working clods but fully-realized areas of New York State and the reason for this was not to communities. They go to Detroit wines and all else needed by the Elaine Thomopoulos’ ongoing human beings who enjoyed life other areas of New England. get the cabins hot in the middle for church or over into Sarnia, Greek summer crowd. Mr. work with the Greeks of Berrien and each other’s company. Now Accounts are easily located of July or August. Sleeping was Ontario, which is the Sister City Tsanaka could also be called County Michigan certainly con - if we could only get the histori - attesting to Greeks, usually in often outside on mattresses, of Port Huron, to attend the St. upon to locate cottages, cabins, siders that element of the com - cal record to reflect this reality! small groups, traveling to vaca - pads and blankets. It was always Demetrios Church. Around 15 and even set up summer rentals munity’s overall development tion areas via trains, boats, and said and believed, by my grand - miles north of Port Huron is the for the visiting Greeks. (www.swmidirectory.org/The_G [email protected]

GREEK AMERICAN STORIES Horse Feathers

By Phylis (Kiki) Sembos “Nicky!” irritation obvious in uring. That’s how I hit it! That’s the photos taken at the finishing Special to The National Herald my tone. “There are matters that earning it.” He spoke as if he line. Got it, Miss Downer?” don’t matter. Horse races are had a college degree in physics. “Is it accurate?” My brother, Nicky, was so one of them. Employment is “How many times have you “I won, didn’t I?” his eyes wrapped up with his reading more important.” ‘hit it’ Nicky?” widened, his hand fanning the matter he hadn’t heard me an - “You kiddin’? I just won five “Aw, come on! Last night’s ‘BIG ones in the air. nounce that dinner was ready. hundred BIG ones and I earned nag was a long shot – ready for “What would happen if the But, he finally looked up. it, too.” the glue factory and he came in results weren’t in your favor? “What’s so interesting that you “Earned? You mean ‘won’. on a photo finish.” Suppose the judges wanted the don’t hear me telling you din - Chance – not skill got you those “Photo finish? They took his race to go their way so that they ner’s ready, Nicky?” I asked, ‘BIG ones’.” picture, too?” batting my lashes could collect a better haul?” hoping it was the want ads. “I don’t think so, O.K.? I gotta in sarcasm. Exasperation “Ahh, that doesn’t happen. “Gotta check something out study these figures – think about steamed out of him as he looked You don’t get a kick out of any - a minute.” His eyes scanned the the odds, the weight of the up at me, wondering if it was thing – just like Papa.” paper that I noticed with exas - jockey, the age of the horse. I worth his time to explain. Just then, Ma sauntered in peration that is was the racing figured it out and got the five “Photo finish means…that we all smiles, counting a fan of dol - sheet. hundred. That took a lotta fig - wait for the results of a race by lars - fives and twenties –obvi - ously, a peace offering from her wonderful son. “Oh, leave him alone. Tomorrow’s another day,” a sure winner. That’s why I tomorrow’s big race winner, I said she, pocketing her windfall, placed a hundred Big ones on can safely tell him it’s Feathers? Greek Writer’s Guild Celebrates 30th Year Nicky’s unemployment, momen - him. Hey! I got it from the horse Hmmm! Horse Feathers, of tarily forgotten and forgiven. owner’s mouth.” Nicky an - course.” He ignored my sarcasm. “Another day – for what,” I nounced with firm conviction. Next day, Nicky, who had no TNH Staff clear that his passion transcended plans and also made literary pre - asked, placing bread on the “Really! What’s the wonder appetite, sat at dinner in dead Greek nationalism and the love sentations. table – bread Papa worked to horse’s name?” I asked, expect - silence; Ma patting his hand in ASTORIA – The Greek Writers of the Greek language, which The discussions that will take put there. ing to hear a name like, Thun - sympathy as Nicky pushed his Guild of America celebrated its was palpable. place in the coming weeks will “The really BIG one, that’s der Hoofs or Pegasus or Liquid food around in his plate. Papa 30th anniversary at the Lemnian He paid tribute to literature include amendments to the or - what! Tomorrow’s the biggest Lighting. winked at me. I nodded my re - House in Astoria on May 26 with as one of the pinnacles of human ganization’s constitution, includ - race. The owner of that race’s “Feathers!” said Nicky with sponse. In our silent communi - readings, food, and wine – and a expression and achievement and ing adding provisions for opening winner already ordered the vic - the gravity of a scientist in pos - cation we knew that the only renewed commitment to the pro - added “I want us to be devoted up membership to English lan - tory cake and invited 200 peo - session of a miraculous formula. BIG ones with feathers were motion of Greek literary activity to the Truth,” he said. Some guage writers of Hellenic descent ple to the party. So, the horse is “Oh! So, if anyone asks if I know Nicky’s hundred dollars. in America. guests thought of the opening and interests. That will further Tasos Mouzakis, who served lines of John Keats’ sublime poem the aim of attracting and inspir - as the event’s Emcee, welcomed Endymion: “Beauty is truth , ing the community’s youth. the guests and shared the dream truth is beauty. That is all ye Among the presenters were of the revival of a distinguished know on Earth, and all ye need Stella Zambourou Follender, who organization. The plan is for to know.” read her moving poem about the there to be monthly literary That Keats was inspired by Greek language, Anna Neofotis - 3 events, and the reception the or - Hellenism in heart and mind tos, Dennis Kontarinis, Maria 01 ganizers encountered is grounds needed no mention to that audi - Micheles Sirigos, Aspa Papakon - , 2 for optimism. ence, but it was good that Panos stantinou Trigonis, Vangelis Di - 9 The guests that packed Lem - Adamopoulos, President of the akogiannis, Dimitris Moustakis, 2 nos House were angry when it Athenians’ Society, reminded the Sevasti Boutos, and one of the ne was announced that the literary non-artists among the Hellenes guests read the poem “Sunset” Ju program would yield to the serv - who gathered there “writers give by Hariklia Michailides. ing of the food. their best to us, and we are ob - Volunteers from the co-spon - It was a good kind of anger – ligated to support them.” soring organizations helped no insult to the food that was Indeed, along with the kings make the events possible and served, which was delicious. The and warriors, it is the names were responsible for different audience enjoyed the readings of artists and writers of great civi - functions, including the Ionian poems and excerpts from the lizations, in addition that are re - Cultural Federation of America works of Greek-American writers membered through the millennia. led by its president Nicholas so much that the food, which is Other representatives of the Bardis, and the Federation of usually the draw for events in As - Guild, including its president Cephalonian and Ithakian Soci - toria, was a secondary affair. MakisTzailianos, Vana Kon - eties, Odysseus. Sylvia Mouzakis’ enthusiasm in - tomerkou, and Gabriel Pana - Adamopoulos was a driving force spired the guests, but he made it giosoulis spoke about the group’s behind the support of the Athe - nians’ Society, which helped pro - mote the event. The Panlemnian Philanthropic Association Hephaestos donated the venue and provided the food 50 Best Greek restaurants οn the East Coast: and refreshments and the inim - itable Lazos Seraphim sang and A Special issue accompanied himself on guitar. More than 250 souvlakia were grilled, which was part of the cal - culation that yielded the number in tribute to the Greek culinary experience, The National Herald 150 as an estimate of the number is proud to present the third Edition of the Fifty Finest Greek Restaurants. of people who turned out on a late Sunday afternoon. Constantine Alexander Mor - For more information contact: fopoulos, a young Greek-Ameri - can professional and lover of [email protected] or call: 718-784-5255, ext. 101 Greek literature was among them. He is a member of the Athenians’ Society and he was impressed that so many people The National Herald TNH/COSTAS BEJ were present, and like all of www.thenationalherald.com Greek literature lovers filled Lemnian House to mark the 30th them, is looking forward to the anniversary of the Greek Writers Guild of America. next literary event. 8 GREECE THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013 Greece is Ousted from Developed Status, Demoted to Emerging Market

By Erin McCarthy Greece now has more in com - kets tend to have large stock of this year, but shares have sold market before. MSCI had Greece South Korea and Taiwan, Wall Street Journal mon with Hungary than France. markets and rules that encour - off in recent weeks as investors categorized as an emerging however, will maintain their sta - MSCI, which estimates that age foreign investment, while have moved away from riskier market until May 2001, when it tus as emerging markets, MSCI The decision, announced late almost $7 trillion of investments the opposite is often true for assets globally. The FTSE Greece was reclassified as a developed said. The firm has kept South Tuesday, is the first time the in - track its indexes, said Greece emerging markets. index has slipped almost 5% in market shortly after adopting Korea under review for a poten - dex provider demoted a country failed to qualify as a developed "Greece is not qualifying in the past month, according to the euro. tial upgrade to developed-mar - from its "developed" to its market based on several criteria, terms of the size of the market," FactSet. Other countries saw promo - ket status since June 2008, "emerging-market" category including the ease with which Remy Briand, managing director The government continues to tions on Tuesday. Qatar and while Taiwan has been under since the launch of its flagship money managers can trade and global head of MSCI index struggle with debt payments. It United Arab Emirates were review since June 2009. emerging-markets index in shares on the country's stock research, said in a conference also is under pressure to raise moved to emerging-market sta - MSCI classified Morocco as 1987. market. About $1.4 trillion call. money through asset sales, tus from the frontier category. a frontier market, a step down It affirms what investors tracks the MSCI Emerging Mar - When it officially joins the which are off to a weak start. Tuesday's moves by MSCI are from emerging market. MSCI have believed for years. Multiple kets Index. MSCI Emerging Markets Index On Monday, Greece didn't re - "a reminder of the continued said it may begin consultations bailouts by the European Union While there is some debate in November, Greece will have ceive any bids in the auction of shift of economic power from with investors over whether and the International Monetary as to how certain countries a 0.3% weighting, Mr. Briand its natural-gas monopoly, dark - the West to the East," Thomas Egypt should be excluded from Fund, a sharp contraction in should be labeled, MSCI empha - said. ening the country's financial Costerg, an economist at Stan - its emerging-markets index be - gross domestic product and a sizes size and accessibility of Greece's stock market staged outlook. dard Chartered Bank, wrote in cause of foreign-exchange short - still-large debt burden mean stock markets. Developed mar - a rally last year and at the start Greece has been an emerging an email. ages in the country. Michalis Sallas, Wily Chairman of Piraeus Bank, Has Reached the Top

Continued from page 1 that island’s three biggest finan - about 200 billion euros of tax - between Vgenopoulos and Sal - cial institutions, Bank of Cyprus, payer money on keeping Greece las or as quid pro quo for the shares of his own bank and Laiki Bank and Hellenic Bank. in the euro zone and eventually loans made to buy Piraeus making risky loans to people His supporters say that Mr. restoring its economy to health. stock,” the investigators wrote and entities with ties to Piraeus. Sallas should be hailed for his To justify this commitment, Eu - in their final report last August. Europe is preparing to close entrepreneurial expertise and rope has subjected Greece’s A spokesman for the Marfin the books on perhaps the most robust appetite for risk. Seeing largest banks to a root-and- Investment Group said the com - ambitious aspect of its plan to an opportunity to reinvent his branch investigation, focusing pany had no knowledge of the keep Greece afloat: a cash in - bank, they say, he has stolen a in particular on related-party transactions referred to by the jection of about 50 billion euros march on his more sclerotic lending, or loans to entities in investigators. into the country’s four largest counterparts. which the bank may have a fi - The spokesman for Piraeus banks. “He is someone who can re - nancial interest, and has con - said the claim was “totally un - And bank governance has ally navigate the system in cluded that they have finally true.” emerged as a critical issue, with Greece,” said John P. Rigas, a cleaned up their acts. Neither the Bank of Greece the country’s creditors, who ar - Greek-American hedge fund op - With regard to Piraeus, how - nor the Hellenic Financial Sta - rived in Athens this week to erator and client of the bank ever, this assessment clashes bility Fund, the entity oversee - carry out their latest audit, in - who owns an Athens-based in - with the conclusions reached by ing the recapitalization effort of sisting that continued aid is con - vestment company in which Pi - a team of auditors at Laiki Bank the Greek banks, would com - ditional on banks’ demonstrat - raeus holds the largest share. in Cyprus, one of the banks ment on the relationship be - ing that their conduct is above “This bank has gone from a tee - whose Greek unit Piraeus ac - tween the two men. A reproach. tering No. 4 to a solid No. 1 in quired in March. spokesman for Greece’s credi - Still, Greece’s overseers from just a year.” Under new management in tors said that it was up to the European Union and the In - But others say that Mr. Sallas 2012, the bank’s board autho - Greece’s central bank to take ac - ternational Monetary Fund may has pushed the boundaries of rized a full-scale audit and un - tion on any governance or lend - proper banking too far and that covered loans of 113 million eu - ing matters. his maneuvering in the murky ros made to three offshore Mr. Rigas, the Greek-Ameri - world of Greek finance, where investment vehicles controlled can hedge fund executive, says the interests of bankers, the me - by Mr. Sallas and his son George he believes that there is nothing dia and politicians often com - and daughter Myrto. wrong with lending to related mingle, should be more closely According to the Laiki audit parties and that that is the way scrutinized. reports, copies of which were business is done in an economy “Piraeus has long used prob - made available to The New York dominated by banks. lematic methods that call for in - Times, these loans were used to Citing his own experience, he vestigation,” said Costas La - buy Piraeus shares in the open says he borrowed 84 million eu - pavitsas, a political economist market and participate in a ros from Piraeus to buy a small at the University of London who rights issue in 2011. investment company in hopes follows banking and politics in Despite repeated requests of attracting foreign investors to Greece. “What concerns me is from Laiki, auditors say, Mr. Sal - Greece. With the onset of the that Piraeus has emerged as the las did not post additional col - Piraeus Bank, Greece’s largest, is ready to receive big bailout crisis in Greece, Mr. Rigas’s com - leading bank in Greece not be - lateral as the shares rapidly lost money from the EU, but bank governance and past practices pany, Sciens International, suf - cause it improved these meth - value; eventually the debt, mea - of its chairman, Michalis Sallas, are under scrutiny. fered significant losses, jeopar - ods. The old regime is just sured by the gap between the dizing its ability to make good adapting to the new conditions, size of the loan and the Piraeus When the Cyprus transaction or knowledge of these alleged on its loans. and for me that is a sign of sick - stock that backed it, reached was announced in March, it was and totally spurious transac - Piraeus, which still had a 28 ness and not health.” 107 million euros, according to seen as the masterstroke of Mr. tions.” percent stake in the company, Anthimos Thomopoulos, the reports. Sallas’s deal-making career, cap - A lawyer turned entrepre - eventually repackaged these deputy chief executive of the In a separate report by Price - ping an extraordinary run in neur, Mr. Vgenopoulos built the loans into a corporate bond of - bank, said all aspects of Pi - waterhouseCoopers, Laiki was which he purchased the healthy Marfin Investment Group, then fering. Instead of syndicating raeus’s business “have been ex - advised to set aside 93 million portions of four midsize banks the parent company of Laiki, the loan to other investors to haustively examined by inde - euros against the Sallas family for nominal sums. In roughly a into one of Greece’s larger hold - spread the risk, Piraeus bought pendent auditors and loans. And last month, in a letter year, the bank doubled in size, ing companies during a boom up the entire deal. Michalis Sallas, regulators, inside and outside to Parliament, the central bank going from a laggard trailing its that followed Greece’s entry into Complicating matters fur - famous banker Greece, with no adverse find - of Cyprus said that it had three peers to, by Greek stan - the euro zone and that lasted ther, the largest holding in the ings.” warned as far back as 2011 that dards, a behemoth, with 100 bil - until about 2006. company’s investment portfolio well find that even with in - A trained economist, Mr. Sal - the loans required provisions. lion euros in assets and a coun - The two men have known was a 30 percent stake in Club creased oversight, changing the las, who is 62, made his first ca - In mid-February, just a try-leading network of 1,306 each other since 2001, when Mr. Loutraki, a struggling casino op - freewheeling business culture reer strides working under An - month before the bank was branches. Vgenopoulos bought a small in - erator that owes Piraeus 39 mil - that long defined the Greek fi - dreas Papandreou, the Socialist bought by Piraeus, the loans The transaction also put Mr. vestment bank from Piraeus that lion euros. nancial system will be easier premier who led Greece in the were transferred to Laiki’s re - Sallas in charge of the bank that became Laiki. According to regulatory fil - said than done. 1980s. In the years since taking covery department, according to a month earlier had deemed From the outset, examiners ings by Loutraki’s parent com - The rapid rise of Mr. Sallas over Piraeus his influence has people briefed on Mr. Sallas’s loans owed by his family’s in - focused on a troubled convert - pany, Queenco, submitted to the exemplifies that culture. A continued to expand. He is close credit history. This is the area of vestment vehicles as uncollec - ible bond offering by the Marfin London Stock Exchange, the Pi - tough, charismatic banker who to the governor of the central the bank where legal proceed - table. Investment Group in March raeus loan to Loutraki is unse - seized control of Piraeus in 1991 bank, George Provopoulos, who ings and other forceful remedies Although highly unusual, 2010. cured, meaning it is not backed and built it up by dint of more until 2008 was vice chairman at for seeking repayment of delin - there is nothing illegal about When it became clear that in - by any collateral. Queenco also than 15 mergers and acquisi - Piraeus. And the bank is one of quent loans are deployed. one bank absorbing another vestors were not interested in says in its filing that Piraeus is a tions, Mr. Sallas reached the the largest advertisers in the A spokesman for Piraeus says where its top executive has a the deal, the original target of related party to Loutraki. pinnacle of the Greek banking Greek media. that Mr. Sallas, via an outside large outstanding debt. 403 million euros was scaled Piraeus contends that the world in March when he capi - Altogether, European govern - company, only borrowed 44 mil - But the Laiki examiners, in down to 252 million euros. On Loutraki credit is secured and is talized on Cyprus’s banking dis - ments and the International lion euros from Laiki and that their audit reports, argue not March 22, Marfin thanked in - not a related party transaction. aster, buying the Greek units of Monetary Fund have staked this loan is in good standing. only that the loans made no fi - vestors for their participation The bank declined to elaborate nancial sense and were not suf - and hailed it as “a great success on why it believed the regula - ficiently collateralized or guar - and a strong vote of confidence” tors’ filing was incorrect. The anteed but also that they were in the group. bank also said that its related part of a quid pro quo that re - But Laiki investigators re - party loans were insignificant flected a “broader cooperation” ported that of the 252 million and fully disclosed. between Laiki’s former chair - euros, only 25 million euros Mr. Rigas argues that Piraeus THE NATIONAL HERALD BOOKSTORE man, Andreas Vgenopoulos, came from outside investors. has merely helped out a trou - who auditors say signed off on The rest, they said, came from bled client, as other banks have Exercise your mind with the latest books from The National Herald Collection the loans, and Mr. Sallas. either investment entities tied done during Greece’s economic With regard to the Sallas to Mr. Vgenopoulos or from Mr. crisis. If anything, he says, it is loans, a spokesman for Mr. Sallas’s Piraeus Bank. Mr. Sallas’s willingness to go the DEMETRIOS PROTOPSALTIS Vgenopoulos, said in an e-mail “At least 70 million euros for extra mile that makes him in - holds a doctor of education (EdD) degree from Nova that at the time “Mr. Vgenopou - this bond issue came from lend - dispensable. University of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was born in Chalkis, los was vice chairman of the ing by Piraeus Bank either as “In Greece,” Mr. Rigas said, Euboea, Greece. After graduating from the 3rd Gymnasium bank and had no involvement part of the broader ‘cooperation’ “it’s all about the banks.” of Athens, he migrated to Canada and re-ceived his bachelor of arts at the University of Winnipeg, Mani-toba. He taught both English and history at the Whitemouth and Silver Heights collegiates for a number of years. He acquired Amazing Athens is a Free Mobile Application his residency in the United States in 1966 and continued teaching both English and history in the Livermore and Newark School systems. By Beverley MacDougall does not cost the Greek state The “Amazing Athens” app is After receiving his doctorate in 1985, he also served as a Special to The National Herald anything. not only geared for traditional principal of the language school in Oakland and acted as an The initiative is a partnership tourist markets such as the UK, An Encyclopedic Chronology educational consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a Facing a dire economic situ - includes the Stavros Niarchos North America and Germany of Greece and its History frequent visitor to the Mediterranean, where firsthand ation and slashed budgets for Foundation Centre for Hellenic but is also targets emerging tourism promotion, the Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser Univer - strategic markets for Greece with Synoptic Presentation experiences in his native land deepened his interest and Ministry of Tourism, under the sity, the Ted and Erica Spy - such as China, Latin America Author: D. PROTOPSALTIS enthusiasm for the ancient Greek world and Hellenic culture. leadership of Olga Kefalogianni, ropoulos Foundation and corpo - and Russia. It delivers an excel - He now resides with his wife in Hayward, California. has sought innovative ways to rate sponsors such as Nestea lent service to the modern-day Price: $27.00 promote Greece as the tourist (Coca-Cola Hellas), all under tourist that increasingly relies destination to an expanding in - the auspices of the Hellenic Min - upon mobile technology. Fur - ternational market. Minister Ke - istry of Tourism. The minister thermore, this technology helps falogianni, one of the youngest has stepped outside the tradi - the Ministry of Tourism in and progressive members of the tional marketing avenues and is Greece to better understand the cabinet, is determined to use mobilizing not only the business new generation of tourists visit - tourism to address the high un - community but also Diaspora ing Greece. employment and poverty that organizations and foundations. Amazing Athens" is the first the austerity measures have had Although tourism is up on in a series of mobile applications ORDER FORM on Athens. One of her many popular destinations such as the that assist Greece in the promo - initiatives, on how to market Greek Islands and the Pelopon - tion of its cultural heritage and Please return this form with your check or money order payable to: The National Herald, 37-10 30 th street , Long Island City , NY 11101-2614 Greece, came in the form of a nese, the city of Athens has seen natural treasures to strategic Or charge your credit card : o American Express o master Card o Visa o discover clever application (“app”) for a staggering drop in tourists as tourist markets. Next to come is mobile devices called: “Amazing a result of unsavory media cov - the "Parthenon" app; which is αCCOUNT : ΕxPIR ATION DATE : Athens.” erage in 2011 and 2012. To being developed under the artis - ναΜΕ : Developed under the aus - counteract this imbalance the tic vision of legendary Greek di - αDDRESS : pices of the Ministry of Tourism, “Amazing Athens” app initiative rector Costa Gavras. Using his CITY : STATE : zIP CODE : that app is a good example of was devised. It is your personal eponymously named film, the PHONE / CELL : FAx : E-MAIL : cooperation amongst govern - guide to the splendors of an - Parthenon app will be an inter - # BOOKS : ment, educational, philan - cient and modern Athens. The active experience of the history thropic and business organiza - mobile app promotes Athens as of one of the world's most im -

SIGNATURE tions working together to much more than a stopover to portant buildings. This free provide state-of-the-art technol - the islands but rather a world- iPhone app may be downloaded ogy. The best part is this app class destination. on the App Store. THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013 GREECE CYPRUS 9 Cypriot President Blasts the Bailout and Seeks Collaboration from France

NICOSIA - Cypriot President Thousands of depositors lost “The heavy burden placed on mit “about our goals which are Nicos Anastasiades, who cam - their savings, and subsequent Cyprus by the restructuring of growth, the banking union, the paigned against the idea of con - capital controls were imposed Greek debt was not taken into EU economic governance and fiscating private bank deposits to prevent a drain on remaining consideration when it was the employment of young peo - to save his country’s economy – deposits. Those controls are Cyprus’ turn to seek help,” Anas - ple. The same issues that I had but then relented to it – now largely still in place. tasiades said. He said despite his discussed with (German Chan - says the plan ordered by inter - “It is my humble submission objections during negotiations cellor) Angela Merkel a few national lenders was unfair. that the bail-in was imple - on the bail-in that he had no days ago,” he added. That came not long before mented without careful prepa - choice but to accept it because Referring to the Cyprus prob - he traveled to Paris where he ration,” Anastasiades said in the he said the ECB would have lem, a country divided since the met with French President Fran - letter, reported by Cypriot finan - shut off liquidity to the country’s Turkish invasion and occupation cois Hollande, whose country is cial website Stockwatch and banks which would have failed, of the northern third of the is - a major contributor to the Greek other local media outlets. taking the economy with them. land in 1974 , Hollande said and Cypriot bailouts. Hollande Cypriot Finance Minister Bank of Cyprus, which is as - that “Cyprus is a friendly coun - accepted an invitation to visit Haris Georgiades, who Anastasi - suming some of Laiki’s assets, try and France will stand by it Cyprus at some point and the ades said had already alerted was also forced to assume for the settlement of the Cyprus pair discussed French participa - lenders to potential pitfalls with - Laiki’s emergency liquidity as - problem. We want to find a vi - tion in energy exploration off out receiving a response, de - sistance (ELA) liability, a fund - able settlement of the Cyprus the island. clined comment on the matter. ing lifeline provided from the problem on the basis of the in - They didn’t discuss Anastasi - As part of the aid package, European Central Bank. ternational law,” he noted. ades’ criticism of the aid plan Laiki and Bank of Cyprus were THE FRENCH CONNECTION With regard to the relations that France, as one of the forced to sell their Greek In Paris, Anastasiades and between Cyprus and France, biggest members of the Euro - branches, while deposits the Hollande met for about an hour. Hollande said that “our bilateral zone backed and for which it is Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades is greeted by French Pres - banks had in that country were According to an official press re - relations are excellent” and that putting up a sizeable part of a ident Francois Hollande during his recent trip to Paris. exempt from the bail-in, to lease issued in statements to the giant French energy com - 10 billion euros ($13 billion) avoid contagion to Greece. journalists after the meeting, pany TOTAL will participate in loan. economies in the Eurozone, was tasiades expressed concern over “As understandable as ring- said that Cyprus is going explorations for natural gas re - The bailout from the Troika forced to wind down one bank, what he called onerous condi - fencing may be, this was absent through some very difficult serves in Cyprus’ Exclusive Eco - of the European Union-Interna - and seize savings in a second to tions for aid he said were a at the time of deciding the times, and said there is a need nomic Zone (EEZ) the Fama - tional Monetary Fund-European qualify for the bailout in March stranglehold over an economy Greek PSI (Private Sector In - for solidarity “which we have to gusta Gazette reported. Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB) re - that prompted angry protests facing deep recession, with volvement) in relation to Greek show with Cyprus, a country He also expressed his grati - quired Cyprus to come up with and led the government to limit legacy debt from the wound- government bonds which cost which is going through recession tude to Cyprus for the help it 13 billion euros ($17 billion) in bank withdrawals to prevent a down bank adding to the vul - Cyprus 25 percent of its GDP,” and faces liquidity problems.” provides to French soldiers who savings, leading the government run on the institutions. nerability of the banking system. Anastasiades wrote. Without referring to the crit - went through Cyprus on their to seize up to 80 percent of de - While the confiscation has To prevent financial collapse He was referring to a Greek icism that Anastastiades di - way back home from posits over 100,000 euros largely hit rich foreign deposi - and be eligible for aid, Cyprus sovereign debt restructuring rected at the Eurozone leaders Afghanistan and Mali. ($130,000). tors, particularly Russians, a is closing down Popular Bank, which imposed 874 percent – which includes France – Hol - Anastasiades thanked Hol - Anastasiades said the deal number of Cypriots have had also known as Laiki, and con - losses on holders of Greek lande said that, “President Anas - lande for the chance to talk didn’t provide the same kind of much of their life savings and verting sizeable deposits in Bank bonds. Along with bad loans to tasiades assured me that they about important issues, al - support the Troika gave Greece, accounts earmarked to pay for of Cyprus into equity to help re - Greek businesses who went will comply with all the com - though the bailout criticism which it is lending $325 billion college tuitions and provide a capitalize that bank. belly-up, the Cypriot state banks mitments that Cyprus has un - wasn’t one of them. The Cypriot in two bailouts to prop up that retirement nest egg seized by The process, known as a lost 4.5 billion euros ($6 billion) dertaken a few weeks ago.” leader said France has been a country’s foundering economy. the government for its own use. “bail-in,” was a first in the his - nearly half the country’s Gross He said that they talked longstanding supporter of Cyprus, one of the smallest In a letter to lenders, Anas - tory of the Eurozone debt crisis. Domestic Product (GDP). about the forthcoming EU Sum - Cyprus. ERT Shutdown Splits Uneasy Greek Coalition

Continued from page 1 forms demanded by lenders. dom although the government Several thousand protesters “If the country is led to elec - said it would create a new broad - gathered for days outside the Employees were particularly tions, Mr. Samaras will be re - caster, to be called NERIT, and Athens’ offices of ERT in a north - riled that the closure was an - sponsible,” DIMAR spokesman rehire 1000-1200 employees and ern neighborhood to protest the nounced by government Andreas Papadopoulos told AP. be back on the air by the end of decision. A general strike was spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, a Following an emergency August. The closing left Greece held on June 13 with workers former ERT journalist, who as the meeting, Venizelos and Kouvelis with only four major private from the country’s largest public government’s most senior media offered Samaras an olive branch, channels and the loss of the BBC, and private unions walking off official has been responsible for saying they were committed to Deutsche Welle and CNN, which the job in sympathy, although ERT for the past year. “He took keeping the coalition alive but in - were carried through the national hundreds of similar demonstra - the decisions, how can he tell us sisted on top-level talks with him broadcaster. tions have failed to deter succes - he wasn’t aware of what was go - aimed at keeping ERT going. TAKING IT TO THE STREETS sive governments from continu - ing on?” Potha said. Kedikoglou “Mr. Kouvelis and Mr. Venize - The move also shocked a ing austerity measures demanded blasted what he said was mis - los offered a way out - but Mr. country used to ERT, although by international lenders. management at ERT, although he Samaras, in effect, did not re - critics said its mix of program - The move by Samaras was didn’t report on it while he was spond,” Papadopoulos said. DI - ming, that included quality doc - seen in some quarters as a way working there. MAR has already submitted leg - umentaries and coverage of im - to show his credibility with the Samaras’ partners, the PASOK islation in Parliament to cancel portant world events and the Troika of the European Union-In - AP PHOTO/PETrOS GiANNAkOuriS Socialists under Evangelos ERT’s demise. likes of the Olympics, also in - ternational Monetary Fund-Eu - Thousands of protesters take part in a rally outside the Greek Venizelos and the tiny Democra - Only a year after winning a cluded fluff and propaganda and ropean Central Bank (EU-IMF- state television ERT headquarters during a 24-hour general tic Left (DIMAR) of Fotis Kou - second round of elections and that the agency, which includes ECB) that is putting up $325 strike in Athens, on Thursday, June 13. velis, whose support the Prime forming a shaky coalition, the a number of national TV and ra - billion in two bailouts to keep the Minister needs to keep a govern - closing of ERT created the biggest dio stations, carried. economy alive but has insisted slashed pensions that Samaras mid-1960’s. ment, said they would not give test for Samaras, with PASOK and Giorgos Toulas, a veteran ra - on a reduction in the public pay - initially opposed but then sup - It is largely state-funded, with their party’s votes when the de - DIMAR already edgy he had used dio producer at ERT, wrote in an roll of 25,000 workers by the end ported as he shared power in a Greek households paying a fee cision to close ERT – taken by de - civil mobilization orders to break article for the magazine Parallaxi: of 2014, and 150,000 overall. brief temporary coalition last year through its electricity bills - cree without consultation – goes and prevent strikes, and that he “This morning, the alarm clock AUSTERITY’S AFTERMATH and then came to power, have whether they have a TV set or to the Parliament, which must opposed an anti-racism bill aimed woke me up as it has always Samaras had earlier said there worsened a six-year recession not. happen within 90 days. at the rising far right extremist done for 25 years. I went to work, was no need for firings because and created a record 26.8 percent Athens journalists’ union Pres - Samaras defended the deci - Golden Dawn Party that the Left - but ERT was no longer there. The attrition through retirement and unemployment rate. ident Dimitris Trimis said ERT’s sion. “Greece had become a true ists backed. building was locked, the Internet shedding the public sector of dis - He has tried to counter that closure would lower the quality Jurassic Park, a unique country Samaras derided ERT TV and access suspended, telephones ciplinary cases could meet the with a drive to lure more foreign of news coverage. “Who will be in the world that saw the survival radio as “a true symbol of privi - dead. target. The irony is that even investors and pushing tourism, left to speak the truth when the of dinosaurs with antiquated ide - lege and lack of transparency.” In “ERT’s radio had been on the those who have committed the biggest revenue-producer for state broadcasters are gone?” he ological obsessions that have be - a speech to business leaders, air since 1938. It was not silenced felonies or don’t show up to work the country, but at the same time said. “Private broadcasters are come extinct everywhere else.” Samaras said that “the sinful ERT during the German occupation at jobs in other public entities are more austerity measures are be - bankrupt and have slashed their His wording left little chance is finished.” or the military junta. But it was not being fired and it takes years ing implemented to cut into a workforces, and in order to sur - for an agreement with PASOK The move also sparked in - last night,” he wrote, referring to to dismiss them because of ap - still-staggering $390 billion debt. vive they are clinging ever closer and DIMAR, whose support he tense protests from critics who when the airways went dark for peals. ERT started radio program - to business and political inter - needs to keep implementing re - said it was a blow to media free - ERT. Pay cuts, tax hikes, and ming in the 1930’s and TV in the ests.” Hail, Hail the Outbreak of Honesty! Sincere Analysis of Greek Bailout

By Wolfgang Münchau Moreover, it was not an error knowledged a hole of 4 per cent, own money. A figure in the credit and reduce interest rates. ated the bailout for Cyprus. Its Financial Times of bad luck. The severe eco - which has yet to be plugged. range of 60-80 per cent would This is a form of concealed debt prediction last month that the nomic consequences of the The increased estimate does not be more realistic. relief, but it is hard to see how country would return to growth The IMF’s admission is wel - agreed Greek adjustment were sound much but it, too, is based Second, any further debt sus - it can be accomplished on a in 2015 was ludicrous – espe - come but the hard part will be not merely visible; they were ac - on positive assumptions. And it tainability analysis should rely large scale. Without a realistic cially in view of what happened acting on it tually foreseen by many critics, is, as ever, a minimal number. on more cautious assumptions prospect of eventual debt relief, in Greece. It is hard to escape It was the most honest and as the IMF openly admits. My own expectation is that about future growth and the however, Greece will have a ra - the impression that the IMF may clear-headed analysis by an of - The other big regret ex - Greece will remain stuck in a vi - speed of reforms. The combina - tional economic motive to leave not be speaking with one voice ficial body on the eurozone cri - pressed in this paper concerns cious circle of recession and tion of a more realistic debt tar - the eurozone once it has here. sis yet. In just 50 pages, the In - the excessively long time it took debt deflation until it either get and adjustment path is logi - achieved a primary surplus and When Poul Thomsen, mis - ternational Monetary Fund to agree a debt restructuring for leaves the eurozone and de - cally inconsistent with solvency. undertaken labour market re - sion chief in Greece, said the produced a concise and sober Greece. When the agreement faults unilaterally or there is a With not enough private in - forms that enable it to benefit IMF would do it again if faced analysis of what went wrong in came, most private sector in - fundamental shift in policy. The vestors left to be bailed in, this from a devaluation and a de - with the same information, one the Greek rescue programme. vestors had already pulled out. latter would require two adjust - leaves official sector involve - fault. This moment has not ar - did not get the impression that This month’s report is also an The consequences of these ments to the existing pro - ment as the only way out. Yet rived but is coming closer. he endorsed the message of this outcry against the European pol - accumulated errors are grave. gramme. this is, and has remained, a The IMF’s critical analysis is paper. While Washington sent icy consensus. More importantly, they make it The first would be a redefin - taboo subject because it would also clear-headed in the descrip - its mea culpa, Mr. Thomsen re - Commentators – including impossible to solve the crisis ition of debt sustainability. The be an admission that this crisis tion of the political problems it torted: je ne regrette rien. me – have been attacking this within the present parameters. target of 124 per cent of GDP is is going to cost northern Euro - faced as a member of the troika Judging from the furious re - consensus for more than three In a separate analysis, the IMF both arbitrary and illusionary. It peans a lot of money. – which also includes the Euro - action of Olli Rehn, European years. It is the first time an offi - concluded that the debt sustain - is arbitrary because there is no This is not a message the pean Central Bank and the com - commissioner in charge of eco - cial institution has joined in. ability analysis underpinning economic reason for this num - German government is keen to mission. The fund is clearly not nomic policy, my best guess is According to the IMF, the the 2012 Greek bailout is al - ber. It is illusionary because in - sell three months before the comfortable with its relegation to that eurozone policy makers will fundamental error was exces - ready for the birds. It concluded vestors no longer regard Greek general election. I suspect it is the position of a junior partner, ignore the recommendations. sive optimism about economic that there has to be more debt debt as sovereign, but as sub- not going to be a sellable propo - considering that it is the only or - The German government will al - growth. The error was funda - relief than envisaged – some 7 sovereign. Subsovereign enti - sition afterwards either. The ganisation in the troika with any most certainly not accept these mental in the sense that it per cent of gross domestic prod - ties, such as US states or Ger - only limited form of official sec - knowhow in crisis resolution. findings either. If the IMF is se - caused other misjudgments – uct – to meet the debt sustain - man Länder, cannot sustain the tor involvement I can see is What effect on policy will the rious about its own analysis – about deficit reduction, financial ability target of 124 per cent in same debt-to-GDP ratios as sov - through debt forbearance, by IMF’s analysis have? The fund and it should be – it should ei - sector stress, the speed of re - 2020, and of 110 per cent in ereign countries because they which creditors and debtors certainly did not apply this level ther force a policy change, or be forms and debt sustainability. 2022. The 2012 agreement ac - lack the ability to print their agree to extend the maturity of of new thinking when it negoti - ready to leave the troika. 10 EDITORIALS LETTERS THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013

The National Herald LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. An Inspiring Greek: Gianna AHEPA Past President (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), tention and recognition. The in its current state of political reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest Daskalaki Angelopoulos world remembers Ms. An - turmoil, and suggests there is Praises TNH’s Journalism to the Greek-American community of the United States of America. gelopoulos as the person who much work to be done before To the Editor: brought the 2004 Olympics to the nation begins to recover. It To the Editor: Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris A few weeks ago, a group of Greece in 1997 and was ap - is about a very proud, engaging, Ahepans and I from Westchester pointed a few years later as the and charismatic Greek lady that Too belatedly, but most sin - Assistant to the Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos County attended AHEPA's 40th Chairman of the 2004 Olympic took advantage of an opportu - cerely, my deepest gratitude to Ass ociate Editor Constantinos E. Scaros anniversary Biennial Congres - Organizing Committee; and in nity and with innovative lead - you for quoting from and laud - Senior Writer Constantine S. Sirigos sional Banquet in Washington, spite of enormous internal po - ership, achieved the impossible, ing my article and using it to On Line Managing Editor Andy Dabilis DC. The occasion was an oppor - litical opposition by the Greek and inspired a nation. This is disclose the deleterious tactics Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros tunity for the nation’s preemi - government, saved the what’s missing today in Greece: and misleading propaganda poi - Webmaster Alexandros Tsoukias nent Hellenic organization to Olympics and performed bril - engaging, creative leadership to son of the Golden Dawn. honor a number of distin - liantly on the world stage and lift a nation. Your always on-point articles The National Herald (USPS 016864) is published weekly by guished Hellenic-Americans and inspired a nation. Ms. An - The Daughters of Penelope about conditions in Greece are The National Herald Inc. at 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 one very prominent Lady from gelopoulos recently published Civic Responsibility award is a an antidote to those that prefer Tel: (718)784-5255, Fax: (718)472-0510, Greece, Gianna Daskalaki An - her book, My Greek Drama. It well-earned recognition of Gi - to sugarcoat the truth. e-mail: [email protected] gelopoulos, in front of Congres - was number six on last week’s anna Daskalaki Angelopoulos' You are a magnificent credit Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece sional leaders and Ahepans New York Times bestseller list. contribution and exceptional and tribute to journalism. Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, e-mail: worldwide. The book details her journey performance to Greece. Her [email protected] It was a remarkable evening from her early years in Crete, book is recommended reading Sincerely, and AHEPA should be congrat - through the exciting yet turbu - for everyone interested in a Jim Scofield Subscriptions by mail : 1 year $66.00, 6 months $33.00, 3 months $22.00, 1 month $11.00 ulated for hosting the event. lent Olympic years and gives us truly inspiring journey. AHEPA Past Home delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $88.00, 6 months $48.00, However, the very special an insider’s perspective on her James B. Zafiros Supreme President 3 months $33.00, 1 month $14.00 AHEPA Family Daughters of magnificent journey. Former Vice President, St. Petersburg, FL Home delivery New England States : 1 year $109.00, 6 months $57.00, 3 months $41.00, 1 month $18.00 Penelope Civic Responsibility She is candid about Greece NBC Television On line subscription : Subscribers to the print edition: 1 year $34.95, 6 months $23.95, Award, presented to Ms. An - 3 months $14.95; Non subscribers : 1 year $45.95, 6 months $29.95, 3 months $18.95 gelopoulos deserves special at -

Periodical postage paid at L.I.C., N.Y. and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send change of address to: TO OUR READERS THE NATIONAL HERALD, 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 The National Herald welcomes letters from its readers in - tended for publication. They should include the writer’s Samaras Clears the Air name, address, and telephone number and be addressed to: For the past four years, all of us embraced what to some sounded The Editor, The National Her - like a … strange idea: that Greece had to shrink its bloated public ald, 37-10 30th Street, long service sector. island City, Ny 11101. letters Up until June 11, however, not a single worker was fired in the can also be faxed to (718) 472- battle to stave off bankruptcy. Even those caught soliciting bribes 0510 or e-mailed to have been able to hold onto their jobs. english.edition@thenational - And many of us, including this paper, were criticizing a succession herald.com. we reserve the of governments for not doing the obvious. right to edit letters for publi - Suddenly the government announced that it would shut down cation and regret that we are ERT, the public radio and TV channel, to cleanse it from its “lack of unable to acknowledge or re - transparency and corruption,” in the words of the government turn those left unpublished. GEOrGE SArAfOGlOu / SPECiAl TO THE NATiONAl HErAld spokesman, and reopen it later under a different structure. If this brings to mind what the Israelis did with El Al, their national airline, or what Ronald Reagan did with the air traffic controllers you are not alone. And yet, we see the spectacle of the hypocritical eruption of anger AGORA – THE ORIGINAL MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS and opposition by not only those who work there, but of the political parties that comprise the government who had agreed to the decision but changed their minds in the face of the strong opposition. By Dan Georgakas and the Agora, the original marketplace of ideas, Rest assured, anything we write here are This a first-rate decision taken by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras Constantinos E. Scaros and we, their modern-day descendants, aspire our sincere, heartfelt thoughts. that will both do good for the country and strengthen him as he to continue that tradition. We will share them with you every two moves forward. He deserves our support. From time to time, an issue emerges and We respect one another’s opinion very much, weeks. We hope you enjoy them, and we look inspires various minds to converge, often at but often times we will disagree on particular forward to your taking part in the discussion odds with one another, to discuss it. Hopefully, issues. We would never fabricate a difference as well – by contributing letters to the editor in Journalism in Greece collective enlightenment will result from such of opinion for the sake of writing an interesting response, and/or commenting on our website: conversations. The Ancient Greeks did that in column. www.thenationalherald.com

Because Greece’s remaining media outlets are on strike, consumers of news may have missed an important piece of information: “Greece Ousted from Index of 'Developed' Countries,” screamed a headline Has the Time Come to Do Away with the IRS Altogether? from the Wall Street Journal. “It is the first time the index provider [MSCI] demoted a country from its "developed" to its "emerging-market" category since the 1. CONSTANTINOS E. SCAROS plotting to obliterate capitalism imposing higher taxes on certain distribution of the wealth. In fact, launch of its flagship emerging-markets index in 1987. It affirms SHARES HIS POINT OF VIEW as we know it and turn this great items. For instance: tax milk and such a tax recognizes public fund - what investors have believed for years…Greece now has more in Dan, I for one am absolutely land of ours into some sort of so - bread at 5%, but yachts and dia - ing is often at the base of appar - common with Hungary than France.” thrilled that the Internal Revenue cialist utopia. mond necklaces at 30%. And ently privately-created wealth, So in response to this calamity, here comes the Athens News Service (IRS) is experiencing so Nonetheless, I am wary of big even if we tax “shoes” at a fixed and it allows for a public share in Agency offering ... another perspective : many problems: neither because government. But I don’t think it’s rate, say, 20%, folks with lower the profits generate. "Some financial analysts who spoke to the ANA commented that I want any of this to hamper Big Brother, I think it’s Dumb incomes may buy the pair of A striking example is the In - the demotion Greece is expected to attract more foreign investors. Obama’s presidency, nor because Brother. Or, to put it less harshly, shoes at Walmart for $30 and pay ternet revolution which has gen - They remind us that the MSCI’s upgrade 12 years ago, in fact, caused I have any personal axe to grind Incompetent Brother. When I $6 in taxes, whereas the wealthy erated the wealthiest man in the Greece to lose investors because its 0.13 percent share in the MSCI against that agency. Rather, it is think of big government, I think will pay $320 in taxes on a $1600 world and companies like Apple, developed markets index was much lower than the 5 percent share because the slew of IRS scandals of a program designed to provide pair of Brunello Cucinelli shoes Facebook, and Netflix. The tech - Greece had when it was considered an emerging market. This suggests has rejuvenated much-needed free turkeys to the poor on at Bergdorf Goodman. nology that launched this indus - that a return to the status of emerging markets could bring more in - discussion about American tax re - Thanksgiving Day, which results I remain flexible about a solu - try was created by the Depart - vestors to the market. " form. in such a gross mismanagement tion, Dan, but insistent that there ment of Defense with public Therefore “Long live the demotion.” And here’s to another one First things first: my aversion of details, resulting in too many is a problem: we need tax reform, funds and then virtually given soon. The more the better! to expressing any joy about folks being sent away hungry, and and we need it now. What do you free to private enterprise. Getting Which brings us to the ERT affair, and more generally, to the topic Obama becoming politically dam - too many frozen birds are tossed think? revenue back from such corpora - of the media: aged by this has nothing to do into the trash heap because they 2. DAN GEORGAKAS RE - tions and their executives is like Greece does not lack educated men and women in the media. with the type of job I think that weren’t shipped to the right place. SPONDS receiving payments for a copy - Nor is it short of good editors. he is doing as president (over the I think about Washington, DC Dino, we differ on what kind right or patent. The problem is the wrong mindset. A mindset that allows for the last four years, I have given him sending a king-sized snowplow of taxation is best for a viable so - Even more obvious examples development of trade unionism in a way that blinds people to the a grade somewhere between a B to clear the snow from a tiny ciety. I believe a genuine, gradu - of profits based on public assis - immediate concerns and interests of the industry. A mindset that Minus and a C Plus), but rather small-town street, only to dis - ated income tax is the best option tance are corporations such as considers morally reprehensible the evaluation of journalists and because I do not want to see any cover that the street is too narrow for economic and social growth, Boeing and the entire defense in - comparisons among them. president maligned, most partic - for the plow to pass through. For while you favor a national sales dustry. Much (sometimes all) of That is a main reason why we do not see big exclusive stories in ularly while still in office, as that those and many other reasons, I tax. I strongly object to a national their profits come from govern - the Greek media. hurts the nation as a whole most think the IRS is too big and too sales tax because it handicaps low ment contracts which means they That is why they ignore distorted reporting in order to help them of all. Our 11th chief executive, bloated, and should not be in wage earners, younger wage are funded by the public. Consid - keep their jobs, without regard to the fact the gradual degradation of James Knox Polk, is one of the charge of our taxes. earners, and all individuals on erable public funds also go into the industry makes it necessary for owners to delaying the payment most underrated presidents of all, I know that a flat tax is a pop - fixed incomes. The later includes the various diplomatic and mili - of wages, or cutting them, or shutting down the entire operation. and one of the reasons he had ular solution, but if we implement seniors, the disabled, workers at tary activities that it make it pos - This is what – in the midst of the great crisis – journalists should been so successful was because that, I would favor no deductions the highest pay tier open to them, sible for a Starbucks to operate be thinking about. from day one he announced that whatsoever. Perhaps a basic-ne - and others whose disposable in - in Vietnam and a McDonalds in he would absolutely not run for cessities stipend equal to the come is relatively static. China. They should pay more for reelection. That resulted in his amount just above the poverty A national sales tax of 10% services rendered to them by the Bankers’ Beautiful World political opponents – and most of level, but no deductions for mort - means that ambitious younger tax payer. The same can be said them are obsessive and vindictive gages or charitable deductions. people, low-wage earners, and for highly subsidized agribusiness sore losers, no matter what party Why favor those two activities? would-be entrepreneurs have and the ethanol industry. Michalis Sallas, the founder of Piraeus Bank, now the largest bank or what election year we’re talk - Where would it end? Deductions fewer funds to put into savings, Your broader concern about in Greece, "graced" a large part of the first page of the Business Day ing about – to leave him alone for professions in great demand? education, and investments. Se - how government spends is an - insert of the New York Times this week, and two thirds of the fourth and plot the demise of his likely For having more or fewer chil - niors would have to stretch cur - other matter. I totally agree that page of the section. successor. But, I digress… dren? I say no deductions at all, rent budgets ever thinner, a de spending is bloated. Just as im - We are talking about an unusually extensive journalistic treatment Moreover, I have no personal lest we wind up where we are facto lowering of their standard portant is an obscene tax code of the ways and means used by Sallas to reach the heights he has at - problem with the IRS. I have right now. A flat tax should be of living. The net effect is that a that allows highly profitable cor - tained. For a Greek, it is not pleasant reading. turned over my tax information truly flat – and we can figure out sales tax contracts rather than porations such as General Electric In short, this article sheds light on the dirty secrets of a large part to a professional every year since what the percentage rate ought grows the economy, and it to pay zero income taxes. Strip - of the Greek banking system. And when a large part of the banking I started earning income way to be later on. thwarts those seeking to better ping the code of corporative loop - system is dirty, we can only imagine that other sectors of the economy back when: a small fee well-spent Even better than a flat tax, their economic position. The holes and special deductions will be also affected. This is not the first time Sallas’ methods of en - for the peace of mind that at least however, would be a national same tax would have almost no would immediately reduce the richment and empowerment have come under the scrutiny of the in - from my end, I am forthright sales tax, but only on the condi - effect on the spending of the tax load of the general public. ternational media. about what I have earned, and tion that it completely replaces wealthy. I would favor dropping all in - On April 3, 2012, Reuters opened the door by publishing extensive leave it up to the professional to the income tax, rather than exist Your suggestion of a higher tax dividual deductions except those reports from its investigative journalists, which revealed most of the find any tax perk within the alongside it. The biggest criticism on luxury goods is not workable. for primary residence, health elements contained in the Times piece. bounds of the law or apprise me against that sort of tax is that it The sales tax code would soon care, and education. Each of these The surprising thing (really?) was that no newspaper in Athens of any obligation that I might would favor the rich. My answer become as complex as the current fosters a higher standard of living, published the Reuters report, except Kathimerini, which printed a have overlooked. to that is twofold: first, no matter income tax code. A vacation enriches the nation’s talent pool, small item on page 1. I am also not one of those “not what the plan, the rich are going home, a second car, an exotic and serves the noble vision of the We were the only newspaper that published it in its entirety, in in my backyard” types that rails to be at some sort of advantage. food, and who knows what would Declaration of Independence both its Greek and English editions, giving it the prominence it de - against taxes and yet balks at the Period. That’s the way life works. soon be deemed luxuries. The ac - which celebrated government served. idea of cutting from the budget Money equals power and influ - counting for small businesses that promotes “life, liberty, and A second article by Reuters received the very same treatment in anything near and dear to me. ence. We need to get over it, and would be a new nightmare. the pursuit of happiness.” Greece. (Visit www.thenationalherald.com to read the Times’ current Nor do I harbor some ridiculous move on. Second, we can mini - The graduated income tax is article.) paranoid delusion that Obama is mize the advantage to the risk by often derided as an artificial re - 3. WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? Particularly problematic, according to the report, is the relationship of general cooperation between Sallas and Andreas Vgenopoulos, the founder of Laiki Bank. Among others, Laiki gave Sallas a 113 million euro loan, which • Mail Delivery service is available from • Classified services available with a wide he used to buy shares of Piraeus Bank. Eventually, Piraeus bought Services to our readers: coast to coast. Delivery is dependent on category selection and well read world - Laiki when the financial crisis hit in Cyprus. Post Office and region. Any unforeseen de - wide. It’s the go to paper in the Greek The report also contains extensive statements from Greek-Ameri - lays please contact us at 718-784-5255. Community. To get results call our profes - can hedge fund manager John P. Rigas, who was supportive of Sal - Call us for any information pertaining sionals at 718-784-5255. las. to the paper or anything else at 718-784- • Newsstands carry our papers in NY, NJ. Now please note: The Eurozone is ready to provide 50 billion 5255. CT & MA. Cannot find us on newsstands? • Display advertising available to promote euros for the recapitalization of Greek banks. The Times’ report will Please call us at 718-784-5255 and we will your business to the Greek American Com - make them much more reluctant to move forward with something • Home Delivery service is available in the make arrangements to get it there munity. Want to reach the movers and like that, unless they manage within a short period of time either to majority of the East coast. We start it any - promptly. shakers of the community advertise with heal the banking sector, or to expel many bankers from the country’s time and stop it anytime. Call us three us. Call our advertising experts at 718- financial bodies. days in advance at 718-784-5255. Going • Online websites to our subscribers to be 784-5255. Whichever happens, the reality remains that the road that Greece on vacation, call to discontinue and we accessed online anytime of the day or night has to pass through in order to be able to breathe freely again is long will easily renew upon your return. with up-to-date information. Read us on • 20% off your subscription by enrolling a and the forces opposing its recovery strong. line at www.thenationalherald.com. friend or family member. That however, is what its future depends on. THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013 VIEWPOINTS 11 Firsthand View of Golden Did Anyone Really Think This Had Not Been Going on?

Dawn’s Thuggery in U.S. Didn’t you see Enemy of the telligence Surveil - Dianne Feinstein den, the whistleblower, one of State with Will Smith and Gene lance Act of 1978 (D-CA), defending tens of thousands employed by Hackman? Or watched any of a (FISA) lays out the program, said contractors, had full access to By Spyros D. Orfanos going to be a serious and violent half-dozen TV series that how the U.S. gov - that NSA analysts the data. The problem is the se - Special to The National Herald disruption and that I was likely demonstrate the ability of even ernment can collect may not search the crecy, not the program. Running to wind up needing a dentist. small-to-middling local govern - information on for - records without it through regular courts offers A few weeks ago I attended During such moments I have the ments, let alone the National Se - eign intelligence “reasonable, artic - accountability and transparency. the Astoria screening of the new illusion that I can handle myself curity Agency, to identify where services and on ulable suspicion” Legal process does not guaran - documentary Greek American with men half my age. But the you stood when took the call on American citizens that the data are tee the absence of abuse but de - Radicals: The Untold Story. The film ended without incident and your Smart Phone? In fact, we suspected of help - related to a specific ters it through the greater like - film is a unique historical docu - the thugs got up and moved to live a massive invasion of pri - ing them. terrorism case. lihood that the abuse will be ment meant to cure amnesia the back of the auditorium. I felt vacy every hour of our lives and With the same However, federal discovered and punished. over Greek-American workers, great sadness at their existence don’t really seem to care. A sig - legislation, Con - by AMB. PATRICK N. agents have the ac - The government counters union activists, and communists given what I know about the nificant majority of the Ameri - gress also created THEROS cess to everyone’s that if we tell people what we during the early 20th century Nazi atrocities in Greece during can people has enthusiastically the Foreign Intelli - phone records and are doing the terrorists will find and up to the early 1950s. This World War II. I know about embraced a voluntary revelation gence Surveillance Special to secrecy gives them out and get around it? Well, we first-rate documentary counter - these from family and friends of our private lives; in fact, we Court (FISC), with The National Herald cover, for example, have been doing it for years balances the dominant stereo - traumatized by such history. I flaunt all our underwear, dirty judges appointed to pass information and, at most, we have one un - type of the successful Greek en - have also read the official hu - and clean, for anyone with ac - secretly by the Justice Depart - unrelated to terrorism to col - supported statement by one trepreneur – the rags to riches man rights reports documenting cess to the Internet to see. We ment, to decide on requests for leagues tracking other crimes – congressman that it prevented mythology of America. The rad - the increase in racist and other have Facebook, we have warrants by the same Justice say, insider trading. Once a terrorist incident. Organized icals in this film have human hate crimes in Greece. I was YouTube, we have Twitter, and Department. FISA states “Pro - alerted, the Feds can investigate terrorists are too well educated faces, and like most radicals hoping that supporters of we have the ubiquitous uploads ceedings before the FISA court independently and a defense at - and too smart not know that the were after reforming an unfair Golden Dawn were not on this to porn sites that collectively are ex parte and non-adversar - torney may never discover that U.S. government has the capa - system. In this case, the reforms side of the Atlantic. represent 90 percent of the con - ial.” In other words, only the the initial alert came from FISA. bility to do this and are already that they sought were in the As a second-generation im - tent on the World Wide Internet. Justice Department requests the Or, suppose your husband work around it. The only ones context of devastating social, migrant in America, I am deeply Recently, gun rights advo - warrant from the FISC and no thinks you have been cheating who might get caught are the economic, and political ills of offended knowing that the neo- cates ranted against even the third party can contest the evi - on him? He asks a friend who very dumb terrorists. On the American capitalism. Nazi political party Golden most minor gun control mea - dence presented. The law has works at NSA to give him a other hand, the NSA didn’t have The facts are obvious: rapid Dawn has 7 percent of the vote sures. Now, they are strangely been repeatedly amended since readout of your phone calls and a clue about the Boston industrialization and urbaniza - in the Greek Parliament. Their silent when we discover that the the September 11 attacks. One text messages. The possibilities bombers, the poster children for tion, the Great Depression, and “Heil Hitler” salutes and Nazi- government has amassed a na - of the most significant amend - are endless. dumb terrorists. the two world wars left little like symbols only add fuel to tional “everything” registry. Get ments lowered the standard of Let me make the point that I The president said that we room for the survival and dig - their systematic attacks on mi - a life, my friends, you have al - evidence for requesting a war - believe that federal employees cannot have both 100% privacy nity of millions of Americans in grants, minorities, and their eth - ready voluntarily revealed the rant from “probable cause” to a are no less honest than those in and 100% security. We don’t the first half of the last century. nic cleansing rhetoric. I recall most intimate details of your “reasonable suspicion.” Justices the private sector, but does that have 100% security but we have The director Kostas Vakkas and that Hitler was voted into office. private life and you don’t seem apparently asked for every reassure you? Tens of thousands lost almost all our privacy. Mas - the scriptwriter Kostis Karpozi - The progressive Weimar Repub - to care much. record of everyone, a request of federal employees and pri - sive access to our communica - los have helped us reclaim a for - lic was eventually controlled by Yet, you should care. The rev - that any other court would have vate contractors have access to tions, unhappily, is inevitable. gotten piece of history. The conservative elites that handed elations about the massive har - rejected as absurd. FISC appar - the enormous power inherent in However, government should at wounds of history never really over the country to the Nazis vesting of the “metadata” – all ently granted it. this secret program. We all least retain legal process heal when we deny them. They during economic crisis and mass the details of all your telephone According to the law, the in - know that “power corrupts and through “probable cause” peti - return and haunt us like ghosts. unemployment. calls, your emails and your post - formation collected can only be absolute power (to keep track tions made in an accountable At the start of the discussion ings – are more than a little used against foreign intelligence of everyone’s communications) court. The Founding Fathers with Vakkas, the film director, creepy. The creepiness does not and terrorist activities. Senator corrupts absolutely.” Mr. Snow - fought the American Revolution one of the standing thugs pulled stem from the fact that the U.S. against secret courts and wrote out a small megaphone and government collected the infor - a Constitution that banned started to disrupt the proceed - mation; a decent amateur them. We appear to have for - ings by shouting over the speak - hacker could get most of it with - gotten. ers. As I rushed to the back, two out half-trying. With some tens then three, older men with gray of thousands of well-equipped The Hon. Ambassador Theros is hair and moustaches bolted professional hackers at its dis - president of the U.S.-Qatar upon and shoved the thugs out posal, the NSA just gets the Business Council. He served in the auditorium door. I was same information faster and the U.S. Foreign Service for 36 stunned by the speed and brav - more thoroughly. The creepiness years, mostly in the Middle ery of these older Greeks. I felt oozes out of the secrecy. East, and was American Ambas - proud of them and the audi - Let’s review the facts, as we sador to Qatar from 1995 to ence. As the thugs were being know them so far. (Given the 1998. He also directed the State pushed out they shouted, “Com - speed with which leaks leak, we Department’s Counter- mies, you will die!” will probably have a ton more Terrorism Office, and holds nu - Following a brief delay, the information by the time this ar - merous U.S. Government deco - discussion resumed. The disrup - ticle sees print.) The Foreign In - rations. tion was acknowledged and the right to assemble was rein - stated. I could not help but think that what the thugs were doing LETTER FROM ATHENS echoed the disruptions, some - Documentary: Greek American times violent, of meetings, as - Radicals: The Untold Story. semblies, and marches of the Greek-American radicals de - A Mosque for Athens, Alhough No Church for Istanbul I was surprised that the sec - picted in the film. History was ond floor of Astoria’s Stathakion repeating itself before my eyes. Cultural Center was packed The shocking freefall of the There is no separation of Olympic Games, the march in opposi - Athens Mayor George with what seemed like over 200 Greek economy has brought to Church and State in Greece and late King Fahd of tion to renovating Kaminis has said that the gov - people. Many of those in atten - the surface painful social and the lines are fuzzy when it Saudi Arabia of - a building in a ernment's launching of a tender dance looked familiar to me. It political ills. It should come as comes to religion impeding on fered to finance a grimy neighbor - for the creation of the capital's was a diverse group of Greek no surprise that fear and shame official policy. Greek Prime Min - mega-mosque in Pa - hood of Athens, first state-sponsored mosque immigrants and American-born on a large scale bring about “us ister Antonis Samaras doesn’t iania, a suburb Votanikos, for the paves the way for the creation Greeks. I recognized restaurant versus them” thinking and ac - have to listen to anything that about 20 kilometers “official” mosque. of one or two Muslim prayer owners, college students, retired tions. But global humiliation the leader of the Church, Arch - (12 miles) east of Muslims have a sites in every municipal district. electricians, professors, waiters, and loss of pride are not suffi - bishop Ieronymos says, which downtown Athens, right to have a Who’s going to pay for those? mothers, and their children. A cient to create thugs, tribalism, hasn’t been tested since the near the interna - mosque in Greece. Kaminis hailed the creation photojournalist friend in a back and idolatrous fixations. Obvi - Archbishop never says anything. tional airport. But They don’t have of a central mosque in Athens row motioned to me and I sat ously, hatred varies from indi - The Church is leaving it up that plan was aban - the right to make “for obvious reasons of political next to him in one of the few vidual to individual and from to the likes of the neo-Nazi doned in the face of by ANDY the government, equality and defense of the right remaining empty chairs. culture to culture, but in the fi - Golden Dawn Party to oppose opposition from the DABILIS i.e. taxpayers to freely exercise one's faith" but “Golden Dawn. Next to you,” nal analysis what may matter the government’s plans to spend Greek Orthodox buried under pay also “for practical reasons, in or - he whispered. Inconspicuously, most are our chosen values. $1.25 million during a crushing Church. Special to cuts, tax hikes and der to bring some order to the I looked and saw five clean Writing about Golden Dawn, economic crisis to build an offi - In 2006, the gov - The National Herald slashed pensions unchecked establishment of in - shaven young men with caps the legendary composer and ac - cial mosque for Muslims living ernment promised being imposed by formal sites." pulled down tightly, drab tivist Mikis Theodorakis states, in Athens, which has been re - to spend €15 million ($20 mil - Samaras on the orders of inter - He added that the move clothes, and harsh preoccupied “especially for us Greeks, it is ported to be as high as 200,000, lion) for an Athens mosque by national lenders, to pay for it. "paves the way for the proce - faces. Unlike the rest of the au - the values that have enabled us although the figures are blurrier 2009. But that plan was also Let them take up a collection. dure of issuing licenses for dience which was riveted by the to face victoriously throughout than press releases from politi - abandoned. If there’s 200,000 of them, venues that meet certain speci - film, these men were restless the centuries major and danger - cians. Now, after a few more years then 4.73 euros or $6.25 apiece fications, venues that are today and constantly texting. The one ous ordeals, while remaining As a democracy with free - of being set aside while Muslims in donations ought to cover it. operating as unofficial prayer to my immediate left was also true to the basic principles of dom of religion, Greece respects railed, it will be Samaras who The government said the sites, so that one or two can op - checking his pockets pulling out Hellenism.” Putting aside the the wishes of Muslims – and will bear the legacy as the Greek money was authorized to pay erate legally in every municipal slips of paper with writing on question of our continuity with Buddhists, Shintoists, Catholics, Who Built The Mosque in for work after a bidding process, district." them. He kept on glancing over the ancients, the values of Hel - Protestants, Jews, and other ac - Athens, tarnishing the stand he unusual in that the money was Meanwhile, the Greek gov - at another man who was stand - lenism always opposed totalitar - tual religions – to have a place properly took two decades ago put up before the estimates for ernment has said nothing about ing to the right of the audito - ianism and fundamentalism. of worship. But that doesn’t in becoming The Greek Who the work were sought, and said plans by Turkey to turn the an - rium. The thug sitting next to The Greeks were the first to mean the government has to Tried To Stop The Name Mace - the structure will not include a cient Greek church of Aghia me had a creepy look in his eyes deeply valued the human being build a mosque, or Catholic or donia being allowed by the gov - minaret, but that hasn’t satisfied Sophia in Istanbul into a but the truth is, I did not try to and place that value at the cen - Protestant Church or Jewish ernment for Greece’s northern opponents who don’t want the mosque. It’s already surrounded make eye contact with him. At ter of their worldview. Greek- temple. neighbor. government sponsoring or pay - by concrete minarets in an at - one point, I fantasized that he American radicals demonstrated No one has really asked dur - While there are no school ing for it. tempt to minimize its beauty would pull out a gun. I felt great similar values in the face of the ing years of debate over lunch programs in Greece, and The mosque will be created and importance as a sacred des - tension but I tried to appear re - thugs they encountered. A few whether Greece should finance the poor have been left without at an existing, unused structure tination. laxed. I remembered something weeks ago, some Greek-Ameri - a mosque why that question has health care and to stand in soup not far from the city’s center and Aghia Sophia draws millions I witnessed last year in Syn - can men in Astoria also demon - really been needed. Muslims in lines run by the Church and a nearby area populated with of visitors a year, marveling at tagma Square. I had seen strated similar values in the face Greece have been left to pray in NGO’s and the City of Athens, many cafes and tavernas and a one the greatest surviving ex - Golden Dawn in one of their so of the Golden Dawn thugs. makeshift mosques, such as the government has somehow night-life attraction. amples of Byzantine architec - called “patriotic” acts. I remem - Pretty good Greek values I basements and garages, but if found $1.25 million to build a The outer shell of the build - ture, rich with mosaics and mar - bered the menacing looks of the would say. Not everyone suffers they want a mosque (and why house of worship. ing will be kept but enhanced ble pillars and coverings. See it thugs who circled their leaders from amnesia. does it have to be “official,” That has given fuel to Golden with steel girders and insula - while you can, because one day as sack of potatoes were being which means sanctioned by a Dawn, which began with pagan tion, while gardens and areas soon it will be a mosque, just freely distributed to hundreds Spyros D. Orfanos, PhD, is a Se - government in a country where thoughts and now has suddenly for praying will also be created like the one Greece is building of passively queued Athenians nior Research Fellow at the 97 percent of Greeks declare found itself to be ultra-religious outside the mosque. About 350 in Athens. with Greek identity cards. Center for Byzantine and themselves Orthodox) here’s a and wants to burn blasphemers people will be able to pray in That evening in Astoria, my Modern Greek Studies, Queens good idea: build it yourself. at the stake, to gain further the mosque, Kathimerini re - [email protected] thoughts were that there was College, CUNY. Ahead of the 2004 Athens ground and plan a massive ported. Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens: Once Bustling, Now Like a Desolate Greek Isle

Βy C.S. Delta axed winter flights to New on narrow-bodies and turbo - To cement these links, the nounced plans to launch a new some extent, the plan has The Economist York last year, leaving Greece props to domestic destinations. government wants Athens to daily service between Athens worked: Delta has resumed sea - without a direct connection to Greece’s cash-strapped gov - have direct flights to Beijing. and New York, possibly bringing sonal services to New York this ATHENS – Eleftherios Venizelos America for the first time in ernment is desperate to prevent “We will be your gateway to Eu - the A380 to Greece for the first summer, and Air Canada will international airport in Athens nearly 70 years. United Airlines, its oversized airport from be - rope,” said Mr Samaras. time. But Qatar dropped its serve Athens using its new low- opened to much fanfare 12 Thai Airways, Gulf Air, and coming a white elephant. It Spare capacity leaves Chi - plans in April. Many voters cost outfit, Air Canada Rouge, years ago. But it already looks Czech Airlines have also left. thinks Chinese money will help. nese and south-east Asian air - openly question whether rather than dropping flights al - like it has seen better days. Built Last year Singapore Airlines On a visit to Beijing in May, lines with plenty of room for on - Greece, about to embark on a together. to serve 21m passengers a year, moved its regional operation to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras ward connections to other fire-sale of state assets, includ - As Gulliver reluctantly de - it has suffered a steep decline Istanbul. Olympic Air’s brush promised to unravel the red car - European destinations, he says. ing regional airports and hotels, parted the Greek sunshine this in traffic since the onset of the with bankruptcy deprived it of pet for Chinese investors, who The government has submitted can trust non-European partners week, there were fewer than a financial crisis. It now handles its entire long-haul network, in - already run part of the port of route development proposals to to deliver on their promises. dozen planes on the tarmac, and just 12m passengers a year— cluding routes to Dubai, New Piraeus and who plan to rede - several Chinese airlines, though In reality, beggars can’t be no queue for take-off. 25% fewer than in 2007. That York and Johannesburg. Inter - velop a large, disused airport in Greece’s Kathimerini newspaper choosers. Greece’s tourist indus - It will take a determined ef - number is likely to fall again in continental connectivity is far the centre of Athens. Chinese claims that Air China and try—which makes up a quarter fort by the government to en - 2013. Paint flakes from the air - worse than at other southern tourists are also becoming fa - Hainan Airlines are uninter - of its GDP—desperately needs sure that Athens’s airport port’s 24 jet bridges, of which European airports like Madrid miliar in popular resorts like ested. support from foreign airlines doesn’t meet the same fate as perhaps only 10 are now in reg - and Rome. Although both the Santorini and Mykonos. Their In fact, relying on foreign air - and investors. the city’s nearby Olympic Park, ular use. To save money, the air airport’s full-sized runways are numbers have doubled in three lines’ fickle business plans is So the government has also which was completed in 2004 conditioning stays off until capable of handling the Airbus years and a new advertising rarely a smart move. The gov - abandoned a long tradition of but now looks almost as ruined June. A380 superjumbo, 59% of the campaign on Chinese television ernment was delighted last No - protecting domestic carriers as the Parthenon. Foreign airlines have fled. airport’s traffic is now carried aims to attract more. vember when Qatar Airways an - from foreign competition. To 12 THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 15-21, 2013

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