O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 12, ISSUE 582 December 6, 2008 $1.25 GREECE: 1.75 EURO John Catsimatidis: Living Olympic Tower is the “Hub of Hellenism” The American Dream The 51-Story Building Is Home to Important Through Hard Work Hellenic Organizations Eleni Kostopoulos succeed him as mayor, I would con- Special to The National Herald tinue many of his policies and By Eleni Kostopoulos plans,” he said, adding that one of Special to The National Herald NEW YORK – For some, the “Amer- his main goals would be to estab- ican dream” is an impractical, unat- lish a World Fair by 2014, similar to NEW YORK – The 51-story, 189- tainable concept. But John Catsi- the one that took place five decades meter tall Olympic Tower, situated matidis, founder and president of a ago. “But if I am unable to run for in the heart of Manhattan, is the holding company for the Gristedes mayor, we are looking at the possi- first building in New York City to supermarket chain, Red Apple bility of other political positions. mesh offices, luxurious apartments Group, traveled a long but ascend- We’ll see what happens while we’re and shops in the same space. This ing road to manifest that seemingly still exploring our options.” gleaming glass skyscraper is home far-fetched dream into a vivid reali- Like Bloomberg, Catsimatidis is to countless upscale shops like A/X ty. a Democrat-turned-Republican Armani Exchange and Versace but This year, Forbes listed 60-year who said his decision to change the more importantly, it is considered old Catsimatidis as the 215th rich- political party he was affiliated to be by many the “hub of Hel- est American (making him the sec- with was based on his idea that the lenism” in the U.S. ond richest Greek American) with a Democratic Party would have never Built in 1976 as a joint venture net worth of $2.1 billion, and with supported a businessman candi- between Arlen Realty and Develop- added aspirations to enter the po- date. ment and Aristotle Onassis, one of litical arena, there’s no stopping “Michael Bloomberg was also a the most prominent shipping mag- this philanthropic overachiever. Democrat and became a registered nates of the 20th century, with his “Money never changed the per- Republican because the Democrat- company Victory Development, the son that I am inside,” said Catsima- ic Party in New York City is too far Olympic Tower has consistently tidis, who has donated large sums to the left. There is no way the par- promoted Greek culture, educa- of money to the G&P Foundation ty would support a moderate busi- tion, history and art and this year it for Cancer Research and is deeply nessman like me for nomination. has much to celebrate: 2008 marks involved in organizations like the For the same reasons, Michael the 10th anniversary of the Alexan- Juvenile Diabetes', Alzheimer's and Bloomberg changed his party. But der S. Onassis Public Benefit Foun- Parkinson's research foundations. whether I’m a Democrat or a Re- dation in the U.S. More recently, he announced a publican, I am still the same person The place that was once home to prospective bid for a NYC mayoral and I’ll continue to hold the same Olympic Airlines, now houses of- candidacy next to other potential beliefs.” fices of prominent organizations candidates like Representative An- Catsimatidis always held an in- like Leadership 100 and the Greek thony D. Weiner (D-Brooklyn, terest in politics but became more National Tourism Organization and Queens), but with Mayor involved after meeting George since 1998, the Greek American ef- Bloomberg’s success in overturning H.W. Bush when Catsimatidis aided fort has been encouraged more the term-limits law, political plans in funding the construction of a than ever — a vision that Mr. Onas- are still in the works. chapel at Camp David. He later sis would have held to high esteem. “Mayor Michael Bloomberg did raised campaign funds for Bill Clin- Located between 51st and 52nd an amazing job at rebuilding city ton's presidential reelection, for streets on 5th Avenue, the Olympic appeal after the tragic September Hillary Clinton's run for the Senate Tower encompasses 225 apart- 11 attacks. He has done an excel- in 2000 and for her more recent ments and 23,000 square meters lent job as mayor and if I were to presidential campaign. used for offices. Originally owned “In my life, I have accomplished by Christina Onassis, daughter of a lot but more importantly, I have Aristotle Onassis, its ownership created a wonderful family,” he was handed over to the Onassis WITH THIS ISSUE said, referring to his wife Margot Foundation after her death in the who he married in 1988 and his 1980s. two children Andrea and John. Within the last decade of the “But that is not enough — there’s 20th Century, the foundation estab- always more to do. We have to fight lished the Onassis Cultural Center, to try for something even better furthering Onassis’ original vision and that’s why I want to become as by organizing events, exhibits, lec- involved as I possibly can.” tures and programs that promote For the 2008 presidential elec- Hellenic culture and provide its tions, Catsimatidis said he was dis- maintenance for generations to satisfied with the victory of Barack come. More than 30 years after its Obama over Hillary Clinton for the construction, the Olympic Tower Democratic ticket. suffices as the torch that keeps the “I chose to support John McCain Hellenic flame lit in New York City, because he is a good American,” he but also as a landmark that gives said, adding that the road to eco- Americans the opportunity to learn nomic recovery is going to be a about Greek culture and what the tough one for President-elect Oba- ideals of Hellenism stand for. The 51-story Olympic Tower, situated in the heart of Manhattan, is home to organizations like the Alexan- Continued on page 5 der S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, Leadership 100 and the Greek National Tourism Organization. Continued on page 6 Greek Studies A Grateful Nephew Remembers his Beloved Aunt Faith Fund At Michigan a By Evan C. Lambrou ficiently, succinctly and forcefully as sister. The original version of “Elis- she couldn’t read or write, readers Donates $750K Special to The National Herald any sergeant-major could. They put abeth’s Gift (To Doro tis Elisavet)” will find Aunt Elisabeth to be a very their tails between their legs and was first published in Greek in wise woman whose guidance and Great Success NEW YORK – “... a Greek Garrison went away wiser, and alive (pgs. 45- 2000. The English translation was influence created the foundations In Grants had been established at Chania. I 46).” published earlier this year. In it, a which helped Dr. Psarouthakis watched one evening as Aunt Elisa- The above is just one of a Greek grateful nephew pays tribute to his overcome and surmount many of By Mark Frangos beth did battle with two Greek sol- American’s many vivid recollec- beloved aunt, who took care of him life’s obstacles. By Theodore Kalmoukos Special to The National Herald diers… The two soldiers were drunk. tions of the remarkable woman after his parents died and played a Dr. Psarouthakis, 76, is the Special to The National Herald They pulled out swords and began to who raised him as a boy on the is- major role in his upbringing. founder of BizVida.com, an Inter- On November 9, 2008 the Foun- hack at each other, missing with land of Crete in the 1930’s and “Elisabeth’s Gift” chronicles the net research service portal. He is al- BOSTON – The Endowment Fund dation for Modern Greek Studies most thrusts and luckily parrying 1940’s. story of an orphan raised by a lov- so the founder of JP Industries, a “Faith: for Orthodoxy and Hel- held a festive dinner at the Mediter- the others… Elisabeth charged out- Dr. John Psarouthakis, an im- ing and caring woman who recog- global manufacturing and distribu- lenism,” of the Greek Orthodox rano Restaurant in Ann Arbor, side and placed herself between them mensely successful scientist and nized his talent and helped him de- tion corporation listed in the New Archdiocese of America announced Michigan, celebrating the 10 years shouting, ‘You’re supposed to be entrepreneur, wrote a book about veloped the qualities of discipline York Stock Exchange, and which at the recent annual Board Meeting of its productive collaboration with fighting the enemy, not killing each his grandaunt, Elisabeth Paleolo- and character which turned virtue of the Founding Members of the the Modern Greek Program at the other.’ She dressed them down as ef- gou, his maternal grandmother’s into accomplishment. Even though Continued on page 9 Fund that it will donate grants of University of Michigan. $750,000 towards educational and The event was attended by a ca- cultural programs. pacity gathering (100 people) in- Archbishop Demetrios of Ameri- cluding 13 students of the Program ca in a written statement said, “on and their parents. Informative pre- behalf of the Greek Orthodox Arch- sentations were given by Professor The Decline of Greek American Entertainment diocese of America, I extend the Artemis Leontis, on behalf of the profound appreciation of the Program, and George Reganis, on By William M. Mentsas halls, musicians unions, these Church for the exemplary work and behalf of the Foundation. It was an Special to The National Herald shindigs would often last into the generosity of the Founding Mem- extraordinary evening with excep- wee hours of the morning. The ma- bers of Faith. They are truly ‘Cham- tional Greek food, wine and music, There was an era, not too many jority of the music performed would pions of Faith’ as their support has the latter provided by pianist Pan- decades ago, when the Greek enter- mostly include the demotic dance enabled and strengthened the pro- telis Polychronides and soprano tainment scene in America was at its songs combined with regional fa- motion of the mission and min- Mariangela Chatzistamatiou, two peak. A trip down memory lane vorites – the standard “kalama- istries of the Church and has built young musicians from Greece who seems in order when dealing with an tiana,” “tsamika,” “syrta,” “soustes” bridges of new opportunities in presented an evening-long program era that has left a lingering sense of and the like. Sporadically, a long for- Hellenic Paideia and Culture and in of classic songs. nostalgia among many a Greek in gotten song would be featured and the promotion of Orthodoxy.” Modern Greek began at the Uni- the US. sing-a-longs were not too uncom- According to an official news ne- versity of Michigan in the Depart- The early years of Greeks in mon. To a beleaguered people look- lease issued by the Organization, at ment of Classical Studies of the Col- America were most difficult from a ing for an outlet that would help the request of Archbishop lege of Literature, Science, and Arts standpoint of survival so it is not en- them forget their problems, those Demetrios, “Faith” has funded a in September 1990. tirely surprisingly that the true Hel- very few occasions were definitely a number of programs in 2008, in- In the beginning there was a 2- lenic spirit of “Kefi” and “Glendi” was tonic. Eventually, each Greek Stores cluding the following: year language sequence, Professor extremely slow in taking flight. An stocked old 78 records many of FAITH SCHOLARSHIP Traianos Gagos's labor of love when occasional picnic or an impromptu which were Greek imports but soon AWARDS he was still an untenured lecturer. gathering was considered to be American-based Greek recordings These merit-based scholarships Today there is an endowed Profes- something out of the ordinary as firms such as “Liberty,” “Nina,” “Fies- are designated for educational pur- sorship in Modern Greek, named af- money was scarce and the burgeon- ta” to name the most prominent be- poses and underscore the commit- ter world famous poet C. P. Cavafy, ing Greek American community was gan to surface. ment to excellence in education an interdisciplinary program offer- in its infancy. It would take some Soon, Greek American communi- throughout our Archdiocese. In ing courses for undergraduate and years before more ambitious plans ties, churches, and organizations ex- 2008, Faith expanded the funding would come into view. panded considerably and budgets in- allocations for the scholarship pro- Continued on page 8 Those early years socials often creased leading to a heightened level gram to also include Greek Ortho- consisted of entertainment by small of social functions where “live” en- dox valedictorians and/or salutato- brands of amateur musicians whose tertainment was to be part and par- rians of public, private, and To subscribe call: 718.784.5255 collective knowledge of their instru- cel of the various festivities parochial schools. e-mail: ments remained rudimentary at Professional orchestras flour- FAITH ORATORICAL [email protected] best. A guitar, klarino (Clarinet) and ished performing for all sorts of FESTIVAL AWARDS a tambourine, perhaps an accordion events. The rise of the regional clubs In 2008, with an allocation of thrown it would provide the neces- and societies representing the vari- funds from Faith, the Archdiocese sary and quintessential “live” music ous regions of Greek as well as the provided college scholarship for weddings, dances, christenings, Greeks of Asia Minor, Pontus, and awards to the top three speakers of or parties. Long before the con- Greek American singers that reigned in the early 20th century like straints of time schedules, catering Continued on page 8 Sophia Manos have become a rare breed in the United States. Continued on page 4 2 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 COMMUNITY 3

From left: Laura Gaffney, Consul General of Greece Aghi Balta, Archbishop of America Demetrios, Bruno Tossi and Consul General of Italy Francesco Talo at the unveiling of a plaque honoring opera legend Maria Callas at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center in Manhattan on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. Plaque Honoring Maria Callas Unveiled at Manhattan Hospital where she was Born

On Tuesday, December 2 — the hospital plaque comes from had to pay for success was too high. which would have been her 85th Italy, and is made from the same Thirty years on, we know much birthday — a plaque honoring marble that Michelangelo used for more about her from the vast num- opera legend Maria Callas was be- sculpture. bers of biographies, sensationalist ing unveiled at the Manhattan hos- The following is from “Maria or otherwise, that have been writ- pital where she came into the Callas: The Greatest” published in ten. Her reputation as the greatest, world. The Guardian newspaper on Sep- however, remains untarnished. Her Callas was born to Greek par- tember 14, 2007. discs still sell in the millions. CD is- ents in 1923 at what was then Maria Callas died in Paris, near- sues of her live performances, Flower Hospital. The hospital ly 30 years ago, on September 16 whether authorized or otherwise, merged with other institutions over 1977. She was 53, a virtual recluse, remain central to any collection. the years and is now the Terence dependent, at the end of an unhap- Earlier this year, a poll of opera crit- Cardinal Cooke Health Care Cen- py life, on cocktails of uppers and ics, published in Gramophone mag- ter. downers to give her some sense of azine, voted her the most influen- Callas' mother took her back to emotional wellbeing. She was also tial soprano of the recording era. Greece. There, she trained and per- regarded as the greatest soprano of Though there was heated discus- formed before her professional life the 20th century, though paradoxi- sion of which other singers should took her all over the world, includ- cally - and much about Callas is be included in the list, no one ques- ing Italy and the U.S. She died in genuinely paradoxical - some have tioned that Callas should be any- Paris in 1977. wondered, and continue to won- where other than first. An organizer for the event says der, whether the personal price she Whether any one soprano could, or should, be singled out as "the greatest" is, of course, a matter of dispute. Callas had her limitations. Her international career - it ran from 1947 to 1965 - was not long by operatic standards, and towards the end of it, her appearances had become sporadic. She was bound by constraints of language: after her apprentice years in Greece, she would only sing in Italian on stage, though she included French music, most notably Carmen, in her recordings and recitals. She rarely deployed what was clearly a re- markable flair for comedy - listen to her recording of Rossini's Il Turco in Italia, if you don't believe me - and predominantly limited herself to a repertoire that was essentially trag- ic in tone. She found Mozart "dull" and rarely sang him. To consider Callas "the greatest" is consequent- ly to ignore the comparable achievements of other sopranos in music that Callas herself would never have tackled, or which she would never have considered cen- tral to her art. Yet within the boundaries of her chosen repertoire, she was - quite simply - unique and revolutionary. Her influence inevitably filtered elsewhere. It has always been said - and even she herself would never deny it - that her voice was not clas- sically beautiful. In her day, many people disliked that sometimes throttled, sometimes metallic sound, and there are some who still do. What she stood for, however, was truth rather than beauty, for expressive veracity rather than dis- play. Her technique has often been described as flawed, which it was not, though the demands she Maria Callas was born on December 2, 1923 at what was then Flower placed on herself - particularly af- Hospital in Manhattan before her mother took her to Greece. ter her famous and considerable loss of weight in the mid 1950s - in- evitably took a toll on the voice it- self. That she changed our perspec- tive on the bel canto repertoire, partly by unearthing little known works and above all by making us aware of its hitherto dismissed dra- matic potential, is beyond dispute. She possessed the greatest range of vocal color of any singer that I know and she used it to dev- astating effect. Her discography was colossal, though comparatively few of her performances were tele- vised and, to my knowledge, we possess no film of any of her oper- atic roles complete. What we expe- rience when we hear Callas, how- ever, or see some of that rare footage of her in action, is a sense of such complete immersion in her chosen character that we take away the impression of a life lived rather than artistry perfected. That her greatness was achieved through a self-lacerating perfec- tionism and a need to express emo- tion through the vicarious assump- tion of figures other than herself, was the product of the private tragedies that are also part of her myth. It makes her a difficult role model to follow, though some have tried. Callas's quest to express emo- tional truth through music has, however, influenced generations of singers and musicians way beyond her chosen field and even beyond opera itself. That is perhaps the most important aspect of her tremendous legacy and the reason Maria Callas, the most renowned opera singer of the 20th century, why she will always rank among combined a bel canto technique with great dramatic gifts. the greatest singers of all time. 4 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 Faith Endowment Fund Donates $750K in Grants GOINGS ON... ■ DECEMBER 6 Kate Blackwell, Ruder Finn Arts & Continued from page 1 tion. We are truly committed to WOODHAVEN, N.Y. – The New Communications Counselors at supporting programs which will York City Department of Parks & 212-593-6379. each of the Junior and Senior Divi- pass our Hellenic heritage and an Recreation cordially invites the sions as well as the honorable men- understanding of our Orthodox community to its Holiday Extrava- ■ DECEMBER 17 tion candidates. faith along to future generations.” ganza at the Forest Park Headquar- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Ameri- FAITH COMMUNICATION In 2007, Faith allocated ters Oak Ridge (One Forest Park) can Hellenic Institute cordially in- GRANT $500,000 to support Archdiocese on Saturday, December 6, 2008, vites the community to its annual Faith has funded a “Communi- cultural and educational ministries. from 11 AM – 2 PM. Enjoy a festive Christmas Party at the Institute cation Infrastructure Analysis” of The generous philanthropic sup- day with arts and crafts, a visit with (1220 16th Street, NW) on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of port and commitment of the en- Santa, and a live holiday show. Wednesday, December 17, 2008, America by an independent outside dowment’s twenty-six Founders Bring your cameras! $2.00 per per- from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. R.S.V.P. by public relations firm. have enabled Faith to have a monu- son. Tickets available at the door December 15, 2008. For more in- NEW GREEK mental year. The Founders are: Ms. only. For more information, please formation, please call 202-785- LANGUAGE TEXTBOOKS Maria Allwin, Hon. George Argy- call 718-235-4100. 8430. Faith will continue to support a ros, Mr. George D. Behrakis, Mr. new program which started in Nicholas J. Bouras, Mr. John P. ■ DECEMBER 7 -25 ■ DECEMBER 19 2007 to produce a series of new Calamos, Mr. John Catsimatidis, ATHENS – Come spend Christmas NEW YORK – The Hellenic Univer- books for an effective comprehen- Mr. George Coumantaros, Mr. Peter on the Athenian Riviera! For the sity Club of New York (HUC) cor- sive teaching of the Greek language Georgiopoulos, Mrs. Elaine Jaharis, second year in a row, the Attica dially invites the community to its and culture. Authored and edited Mr. Michael Jaharis, Dr. Steven Ja- Coastline welcomes The Flisvos Christmas Reunion Party at the by a select group of leading special- haris, Mr. Peter T. Kikis, Mr. George Marina Christmas Wonderland, a Town House (3 West 51st Street) ists in relevant fields under the di- M. Marcus, Mr. Dennis Mehiel, Mr. must-visit Christmas destination on Friday, December 19, 2008. rection of professor George Babini- C. Dean Metropoulos, Mr. James for young and old who live along Guests will enjoy a beautiful holi- otis, the Archdiocese expects to Moshovitis, Mr. John Pappajohn, the Athenian coastline, and not on- day setting of delightful decora- have the first books of the new se- Mr. Panicos Papanicolaou, Mr. John ly. Debuting in 2007, The Flisvos tions, music and delicious food that ries available for usage in our A. Payiavlas, Mr. & Mrs. George Marina Christmas Wonderland, includes a choice of beef, chicken schools in the course of the next Sakellaris, Mr. Alexander J. just off Poseidon Avenue in Paleo and seafood buffets, 3 hours of year. Spanos, Mr. Dean Spanos, Mr. Faliro, gives residents of all Attica open bar with wine, beer and soft FAITH TRAVEL Michael Spanos Mr. Angelo K. municipalities a unique choice to drinks topped off with coffee and FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP Tsakopoulos, Ms. Eleni Tsakopou- experience the Christmas holidays dessert. Event host Paul Sa- FOR IONIAN VILLAGE los Kounalakis, and Mr. Kyriakos in style, and, by the sea. Making pounakis calls it ‘an event you A series of merit-based and Tsakopoulos. The first fifty donors their Christmas comeback is the won't want to miss! Come and cele- need-based “Faith Scholarships” for Michael Jaharis, left, with his wife Mary and Archbishop of America will be honored and listed as marina's 300-square meter “Frozen brate the holidays with all your old young people to attend Ionian Vil- Demetrios, is one of the founding member of the Faith Endowment. “Founders.” Lake,” the southern coastline's friends and make new ones! Mar- lage. The core mission of Faith: An largest ice skating rink and 12-me- ried or single (did you meet your FAITH TECHNOLOGY an inspirational spiritual leader American leaders and philan- Endowment for Orthodoxy and ter high Christmas tree. Children mate at HUC?), you will be wel- INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT and also a brilliant scholar and true thropists representing a diversity of Hellenism is to promote Hellenism take the spotlight at The Flisvos come. It will be a gala evening The Archdiocese is going advocate for the promotion of edu- professional fields and philan- and an understanding of the Greek Marina Christmas Wonderland filled with food, drink, surprises, through the largest series of tech- cational and cultural programs thropic values, the Endowment has Orthodox faith through a series of with a roster of special Christmas and music.” The festive evening nology upgrades in its history in or- which will promote Hellenism and grown to include 26 members, each high quality educational programs activities including a holiday bak- will feature Petros Hadjopoulos at der to prepare for the next genera- Orthodoxy. On behalf of all the of whom have pledge a minimum and cultural initiatives through an ing workshop for kids hosted by the the piano performing a variety of tion of software and systems. Founders, we are especially hon- of $1 million to support this mis- endowment to the Greek Orthodox popular TV show Nistiko Arkoudi, Greek and holiday songs. Guests Faith was the vision of Mr. ored to be able to support the sion. Mr. Peter Kikis, one of the Archdiocese of America. Faith Karagiozis and his Elves shadow are strongly encouraged to make Michael Jaharis, in 2004, who be- young people of our community by Original (ten) Founding Members works to support the Archdiocese theatre, marionettes, magic shows reservations in advance at $75. came one of the Original Founding funding programs such as the Arch- and current President of Faith, stat- in creating the ministries and edu- and more. New for 2008 is "The Tickets are $85 at the door. You Members of Faith. The idea was diocese scholarships and travel fel- ed, “I am pleased that our cational programs that promote an House of Santa," "The Magic Tent," may send checks to HUC, PO Box that each member donates $1 mil- lowship programs to Ionian Vil- Founders’ Circle consists of a selec- understanding of Hellenic culture, "Mrs. Claus Story Hour," and more. 1169, GCS New York, NY 10163. lion to the Endowment. lage.” tion of successful and dedicated the Orthodox faith and the rela- Kicking off the holiday event festiv- For information call George at 914- “I strongly feel we are at a time The primary focus of Faith is to Greek Americans who are proud of tionship of the two to each other ities is the fun-filled "Official Tree- 381-5192 or Paul at 718-884-9224 and place when such an Endow- fund and encourage the develop- their Hellenic heritage and Ortho- and to America’s multicultural Lighting Ceremony." Scheduled to ment is crucial and more impor- ment of new educational and cul- dox faith and are extremely com- landscape through innovative pro- take place on Sunday, December 7 ■ JANUARY 16 - 19 tantly, its success, as one can see, is tural initiatives and opportunities mitted to promoting the Endow- grams and opportunities that will from 5pm to 7pm, the event plans MONTREAL, Que. – Del Sol and possible, evident, and tangible,” through the Archdiocese for the ment’s mission. They have been incorporate new technologies, mul- to launch the Christmas season by Portokalada.com cordially invite Mr. Jaharis stated. “We have the community and future generations. very generous not only through timedia resources, and that partner offering a holiday program com- the community to “Living It Up,” an strong support and encouragement Originally founded in 2004 by a their pledges but also through their with educational and cultural insti- plete with entertainers and a con- amazing 21 & over event for MLK of His Eminence Demetrios, who is group of ten prominent Greek time, ideas and active participa- tutions. fetti fireworks display. True to its weekend from January 16-19, waterside character, the merry ma- 2009. “We are flying in DJs from rina welcomes the first seafaring NY and Chicago with special guest Santa Claus who is scheduled to ar- DJ John Grammatis!” Save some of rive via sailboat. For more informa- your energy for daylight hours, be- tion, please contact Athina Vorillas cause skiing, snowboarding and Huffington Post Raises $25 million at athina@bluemetromediacom. tubing will all be available at the heavenly resort of Mt. Tremblant. If By Matthew Flamm cities for our local editions and a ■ DECEMBER 8 you just want to chill during the Craigsnewyorkbusiness.com fund for investigative journalism,” NEW YORK – The American Hel- day, Montreal is the place to be. co-founder Arianna Huffington lenic Institute Business Network Montreal offers some of the most Arianna Huffington’s namesake said, in a statement. and The New York Chapter of the beautiful scenic views and architec- Website, fresh from election season Before the election, Ms. Huffing- American Hellenic Institute cor- ture, amazing cafes and restau- traffic gains, plans to expand into ton talked about continuing the dially invite the community to its rants, casinos, and don't forget investigative journalism and local site’s expansion, noting that 50% of annual Christmas Party at the shopping and the spa. So are you news. The Huffington Post, which traffic was drawn to the Huff Post Lafayette Grill & Bar (54 Franklin ready for 4 Days and 3 Nights of emerged from the two-year long for its lifestyle and entertainment Street) on Monday, December 8, Living It Up? The “Living It Up” presidential campaign a media coverage, not the politics and opin- 2008 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM. Admis- package includes: 3 nights accom- winner, has scored $25 million in ion sections. sion is $30 and includes Buffet, modations in Deluxe or Concierge new financing, the left-leaning on- “That’s a very significant part of wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee and level rooms, open bar welcome par- line news and opinion Web site an- our growth, and that’s definitely dessert. Tax and gratuity included. ty Friday night at exclusive down- nounced Monday. the direction we’re going,” she said. For more information, please e- town nightclub, exclusive VIP par- The company will use the mon- The company, which is privately mail [email protected] ties Saturday & Sunday nights, free ey from Palo Alto, Calif.-based ven- held, does not discuss profitability. VIP admission to over 7 nightclubs, ture capital firm Oak Investment Chief Revenue Officer James Smith ■ DECEMBER 9 complimentary shuttles to parties Partners to launch an investigative recently said that advertising rev- NEW YORK – The Alexander S. each night, complimentary shuttles journalism unit and to roll out local enue in the third quarter had Onassis Public Benefit Foundation to the beautiful “Mt. Tremblant” on versions of the site as part of its tripled over the same period in the cordially invites the community to Saturday and Sunday, complimen- long range bid to become a general prior year, which would not be un- a breakfast reception and preview tary Shuttle to Tubing & Snowmo- interest newspaper on the Web. It usual for a startup. of the exhibition “Worshiping biling, let’s make a deal Casino will also be looking to make “select Internet advertising has slowed Women Ritual and Reality in Classi- package wit $20pp Casino Chips, and focused acquisitions,” the com- its growth recently, though it has cal Athens,” the Onassis Cultural complimentary double music CD, pany said in a statement. not suffered in the same way that Center (645 Fifth Avenue entrances breakfast & hors devours daily with The three-year-old site, which is print and local television advertis- on 51st and 52nd Streets) on Tues- concierge rooms. Package Price: headquartered in New York, has ing has. day, December 9, 2008, from 10 Quad Price $300 per person, Triple seen a surge in traffic in the last The Huff Post has an advantage AM to 12 PM. Remarks begin Price $325 per person, Double year that put it ahead of its rival over traditional newspapers in hav- promptly at 10:15 AM. Speakers to Price $375 per person. Convenient- and original model The Drudge Re- ing just 46 employees. In addition, include The Honorable Michalis Li- ly located in the heart of downtown port and made Huff Post one of the it does not pay its many bloggers. apis, Minister of Culture of Greece Montreal, this hotel boasts a spa- fastest growing news sites. Analysts are cautiously opti- Dr. Nikolaos Kaltsas, Director, Na- cious, elegant lobby, large well-ap- In October it had more than 8.1 mistic about the site’s chances for tional Archaeological Museum, pointed guestrooms with private million unique visitors, compared financial success. Athens, and co-curator of the exhi- balconies and a variety of full ser- to just 1.5 million in the same “The journalism business has bition Dr. Alan Shapiro, W.H. vice amenities. The hotel is the ide- month in 2007, according to been groping for a business model Collins Vickers Professor of Archae- al location for pleasure and only Nielsen Online. that is sustainable,” said Colby At- ology at Johns Hopkins University steps to Montreal's finest shopping, The new financing “will allow us wood, president of Borrell Associ- and co-curator of the exhibition. restaurants, nightclubs and attrac- to accelerate our growth, with ates, a media consulting firm. On view from December 10, 2008, tions. You can book a Deluxe of more verticals, more video, more “[The Huffington Post] might rep- through May 9, 2009, Worshiping Concierge Room. With 94 runs ser- citizen journalism initiatives, more Arianna Huffington resent a direction that can work.” Women: Ritual and Reality in Clas- viced by 13 state-of-the-art lifts, the sical Athens brings together 155 ex- mountain dominates a stunningly traordinary archaeological ob- beautiful countryside. Those who jects—including artistic master- live for the great outdoors and love pieces from major collections to breathe clean air have the per- Manhattan Attorney and Law throughout the world—in order to fect playground. A paradise where cast new light on the lives of ski and snowboard enthusiasts are D O N ’ T M I S S women in ancient Athens. Trans- both spoiled silly: ramps, rails and Firm Indicted for Stealing $735K forming the galleries of the Onassis jumps as well as an Olympic caliber Cultural Center into evocations of pipe. Taste the freedom, dare the Our annual ancient Greek sanctuaries filled mountain, live Tremblant to the MANHATTAN (AP) — A Manhat- ply the $735,000 to the sale price of with rare and exquisite objects, the fullest! For more information, go to tan attorney and a law firm have the apartment and has failed to re- exhibition re-examines preconcep- www.montrealx.com. been indicted for stealing a turn the funds to purchaser, district tions about the exclusion of women Christmas Special $735,000 deposit in a real estate attorney Robert Morgenthau said. from public life in ancient Athens, ■ NOTE TO OUR READERS transaction as well as a separate The investigation disclosed that Ar- showing how women’s participa- This calendar of events section is a felony complaint for the lawyer’s menakis had allegedly spent the tion in cults and festivals con- complimentary service to the Greek failure to pay withholding taxes money on personal items. tributed not only to personal fulfill- American community. All parishes, and filing his own false tax returns. Morgenthau said the investiga- ment in Classical Greece but also to organizations and institutions are James John Armenakis, 65, of tion leading to the felony complaint civic identity. Worshiping Women is encouraged to e-mail their informa- Roosevelt Island and his law firm of revealed that during the period of the first major exhibition in the tion 3-4 weeks ahead of time, and no Armenakis & Armenakis, PC, were February 2002 through October tenth anniversary season of the later than Monday of the week be- indicted on charges of grand larce- 2008, Armenakis failed to remit ap- Onassis Foundation (USA) and the fore the event, to english.edition ny and criminal possession of proximately $98,000 to the New Onassis Cultural Center. R.S.V.P. to @thenationalherald.com. stolen property. York State Department of Taxation In a separate investigation, the and Finance. This money was with- defendant was charged in a felony held from his employees’ salaries, complaint with grand larceny and and held in trust by the defendant QUESTION OF THE WEEK multiple counts of filing false in- as a fiduciary. struments. In addition, during that same The investigation leading to the time period, the defendant filed Vote on our website! indictment revealed that Arme- 2002, amended 2003, and 2004 nakis and the firm represented the through 2007 New York personal You have the chance to express your opinion on our website on an DECEMBER 20, 2008 seller of a condominium located at income tax returns claiming the en- important question in the news. The results will be published in our 285 Lafayette St., Manhattan. The tire gross payroll, including the tax- printed edition next week along with the question for that week. purchase price of the condominium es withheld but never paid over to was $7.35 million. State Tax Department as a business The question this week is: Have you ever been to the Olympic Tow- Upon the signing of the contract expense, and thereby under-report- er in New York? of sale in October 2007, the pur- ed his taxable income and tax lia- ❏ Yes chaser gave Armenakis a 10 per- bility in all six years, according to ❏ No cent deposit of $735,000 to be later Morgenthau. deducted from sale price of the Morgenthau said tax scoffers in- The results for last week’s question: Did the financial crisis affect apartment at the closing. Pursuant crease the load on an already over- your celebration of Thanksgiving? to the contract of sale, Armenakis burdened taxpaying public and will 18% voted "Yes" To advertise or to obtain rates: deposited the $735,000 into his at- not be tolerated. The theft of payroll 82% voted "No" tel: (718) 784-5255 ext. 101, torney escrow account. taxes is a huge national problem in 0% voted "Other" e-mail: [email protected] On May 2, the day of the closing, the tens of billions of dollars on the Armenakis did not appear, nor ap- federal, state and local levels. Please vote at: www.thenationalherald.com THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 COMMUNITY 5 John Catsimatidis: Living the American Dream

Continued from page 1 tional Ethnic Coalition Organiza- of graduating with a degree in En- tion (NECO). He is the co-founder gineering. ma to travel. “I believe it’s going to of the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foun- “At that time, I was working at be at least another year for our dation, the first foundation in the the supermarket and my parents economy to start recovering. I country established on behalf of a were frustrated that they spent all haven’t seen such comparable cir- public school. And for the last sev- this money for me to go to college cumstances to the depression in eral years, Catsimatidis has been and I didn’t want to go. But electri- 1929 and the early 1930s.” In appointed the chairman of the cians at that time only made $129 a terms of the $700 billion bail-out Greek Independence Day Parade in week and I was making more than plan he said: “Personally, I was New York. $500 working 100 hours at the su- against it, but I can understand that “I wish I had more time avail- permarket. there wasn’t really another option able to do more [for the Greek I decided to become an entre- because we were at the edge of the American community],” he said. “I preneur. In the first five years, we cliff.” He also noted that the $700 am Greek American. I’ve done what started with one store and worked billion loaned must be paid back I can do and I’ll continue to do all our way up to 10 and by 1974, we and should only be used to remedy that I can do for the community.” were making $25 million a year. the current problems. He also noted that although he We established the first ‘Red Apple’ “In terms of Red Apple’s stand- is unsure whether he will be asked in 1969 and I eventually ventured ing, gas has gone from $147 per again to chair the Greek American out to real estate.” gallon down to $55 per gallon,” he Parade next year, he will certainly His original, small supermarket said. “We may have lost a lot of contribute to its organization. on the Upper West Side was pur- money in oil. In the long run To ensure the recognition of the chased for $1,500. By the end of his though, this will help Americans importance of Greek Indepen- first year in business, Catsimatidis because they will be able to afford dence, Catsimatidis discussed a was grossing more than $1million. the lower prices of gas.” proposal that he mentioned to Eventually, a bigger store became He believes that neither $147 Archbishop Demetrios. available nearby, and although Cat- per gallon nor $55 per gallon is the “Greek American political lead- simatidis invested $300,000 to ideal cost of gas, but the cost will ers need to come together on open the 5,500-square-foot space, eventually fall into the proper March 25 every year, no matter it was the most profitable one with range which is between $70 and what day of the week it falls on, $4 million in annual sales. By the $100. Catsimatidis also said he be- and meet with the President of the ABOVE: The founder and president of Red Apple Group, John Catsimatidis, points to photos hanging on mid 70s, Red Apple was a chain of lieves housing prices will also dip, United States as well as members of the walls of his office which depict his work in business, philanthropy and politics. BOTTOM LEFT: John 12 NYC supermarkets. but not any lower than they were in congress, just as the Italians and Catsimatidis marching in the Greek Independence Day Parade with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D - N.Y.). Catsimatidis also opened hun- 2003. other cultures do for their celebra- BOTTOM RIGHT: John Catsimatidis, his wife Margo and his children Andrea and John Jr. with Bill Clinton. dreds of convenience stores in New He said that his successes in the supermarket division have not dwindled since the economy’s re- cent ups and downs. “When there’s a recession, su- permarkets tend to do better,” he said, adding that people are more likely to spend less on take-out as they attempt to be more savvy with money they spend on food. “In real estate, there are always going to be opportunities,” he said. “But there are two buses on the road of real estate: one is driven by fear and the other is driven by greed. At this time, fear is the dri- ver. People are too scared to spend today because tomorrow, there needs might change. “We are affiliated with one com- pany that owed $300 million and was forced into steep debt. It’s a good company and we offered them $100 million and I’m scared that they’re going to say ‘yes.’ There are always opportunities.” And with the opportunities that Catsimatidis realized and seized in 1989, he established the Hellenic Times Newspaper, a publication that features local, national and in- ternational news for the Greek tions. We need to organize some- Patriarchy in Constantinople. At Lonely Path of Integrity,” is in the A year after their marriage, Cat- York, Pennsylvania and Ohio and a American community. From then thing that we will not only be proud that time, she was planning on process of finishing writing the bi- simatidis was born and six months firm that leases corporate jets. His until now, he’s awarded more than of, but something that will give us marrying a young man from ography of his mother, Despina Em- later, with hopes of creating a bet- passion for flying planes was a 500 students more than $1 million the opportunity to express our Athens, but he wound up leaving manouilidis. ter life for their family, they moved long-standing one, and before he with the Hellenic Times Scholar- needs as a community. Altogether her and marrying another woman. Catsimatidis said perseverance to America and settled on 135th turned 30, he obtained his pilot's li- ship Foundation. Additionally, un- in unison, we need to discuss the But she was determined to find and genuine good-heartedness are Street in Harlem, NY. cense then bought his own plane, a der Archbishop Spyridon, he be- organization of the parade.” someone else and get married, qualities both he and his mother “My father worked seven days a Cessna 206. When his daughter An- came president of the Archdiocesan Catsimatidis was born in 1948 mostly because she wanted to open admired in his father. week and 20 hours a day so he drea was born, however, he com- Council of the Greek Orthodox on the island of Nisyros and emi- the idea of marriage to her “My father, Andreas Catsima- could take care of us and whatever pletely abandoned flying, he said. Archdiocese of America. Catsima- grated to America when he was six younger, unmarried siblings. So, tidis, worked his whole life to feed money he had saved was for me to “I don’t want my children to tidis has served on the Board of Di- months old with his parents. she decided to marry my father.” his family. When the war ended, he attend college at NYU. My last year ever have to suffer a tragedy like rectors of New York's Police Athletic “My mother was a very brilliant He also noted that currently, returned to Nisyros and married there, I spent a lot of time working what happened to Alexander Onas- Leagues (PAL), since the 1980s and woman, she was born in Constan- Montreal writer Justine Frangouli- my mother, who found him to be a at the supermarket and I had come sis,” he said. “In 1983, we bought as the Vice chairman of the Ellis Is- tinople,” he explained. “Her grand- Argyris, who authored a biography very honorable and hard-working to the point where I couldn’t go to Capitol Air Express, which was the land Awards Foundation of the Na- father was part of the Ecumenical of Archbishop Spyridon titled “The man.” school anymore. I was 8 credits shy 11th largest airline in the U.S.,” which in a short time went bank- rupt. Today, he notes, airlines are one of the worst investments an in- dividual can make: “How do you make $100 million by investing in airlines? You start with $1 billion.” In the mid-80s, he branched out into the oil industry and purchased United Refining, an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products in parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio (that now produces more than 70,000 barrels of oil per day) and rescued it from bankruptcy with $110 million in fi- nancing managed by J.P. Morgan & Co. “We get our oil from Canada with our own line and that’s why we advertise our oil as 100 percent American.” With the primaries less than a year away, Catsimatidis’ political future is one that will be scruti- nized by the public eye. His climb to the top and his extensive résumé as a self-made billionaire is an im- pressive one, but whether it is LEFT: Seven Eleven Supermarket was the first supermarket John Cat- enough to get him a position in pol- simatidis purchased more than four decades ago. ABOVE: John Catsi- itics, will be determined in the matidis with his father, the late-Andreas Catsimatidis. months to come.

Phanariotes Project HE ELLENIC NIVERSITY LUB The Hellenic Studies Program at California State University, Sacramento, is T H U C participating in an international research project on the Phanariotes. OF NEW YORK

Dr. Erato Paris, of the International Center for Hellenic Research, University invites you to its of Marseilles, France, has received financial support of Hellenic ministries and private foundations CHRISTMAS PARTY to write an academic study and make a documentary Come for a festive evening. Enjoy the music and view the tree. about the Phanariotes using the research amassed to date. Meet old friends and make new ones too! FRIDAY DECEMBER 19th at 7:00 PM If you might be a descendant of the Phanariotes The Town House or know of someone who is a descendant please visit at 3 West 51st Street (near Rockefeller Plaza), New York, NY 11 www.PhanariotesProject.com $85 At the door $75 Advanced Reservations or contact Dr. Katerina Lagos at (916) 278-7103 Full Buffet and Wine Bar if you are willing to offer information for the academic study. Call for advanced reservations at (914) 381-5192 for George (718) 884-9224 for Paul We hope that the completion of this project will shed light Mail Checks to HUC, P.O. Box 1169 on this influential community. Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 also: www.hucny.org 6 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 Olympic Tower Considered the “Hub of Hellenism” in the U.S.

Continued from page 1 various exhibits that educates the American community on the ALEXANDER S. ONASSIS PUBLIC wrongful ownership of such pieces. BENEFIT FOUNDATION (USA) “The new board of the Onassis In 1998, the president of the Foundation chooses to sponsor pro- Parent Alexander S. Onassis Public grams that are able to see far into Benefit Foundation, Stelio Pa- the future and that will ensure that padimitriou, signed the founding Greek culture lives for generations act of the affiliated organization of to come” said Tampakis. “It consists the same name in the U.S., launch- of people who truly honor the foun- ing the active development efforts dation and always put forward of public benefit projects abroad. their best efforts to accomplish Ten years later, the promotion of their wide goals.” humanistic ideals of Hellenic civi- Chrysanthos Petsilas, who is lization is stronger than it has ever serving his second term at GNTO, been. said he is very content with the “I’ve been a diplomat for 35 building that has housed their or- years now and it took me the last ganization since 1998. eight years working at the Onassis “The Olympic Tower is one of Foundation to sincerely realize the the most admirable and notable vast wisdom the Greek culture has buildings in New York City,” he offered to world,” said Executive said. “It’s been documented that Director of the Onassis Foundation the rent for apartments here is the Ambassador Lucas Tsilas. “In these third most expensive in the entire last eight years, I’ve seen how the city, following Rockefeller Center Olympic Towers and the Onassis and Trump Towers, respectively. It’s Foundation helped promote Onas- location in mid-town Manhattan is sis’ purpose. It is a building that excellent for both native New York- presents itself as a hub of Greek civ- PHOTOS: TNH ARCHIVES ers to visit, and for the thousands of ilization, as well as the civilization tourists who want to experience the that is lived by the Greek American wonders of New York. community.” He also noted that “Our office was established at while the foundation was estab- the same time that the Onassis lished in 1999, plans and proposals Foundation came here and in 2001, weren’t drawn out until the follow- we moved to a smaller space on the ing year and in 2000, when Mr. Tsi- 9th floor. At the time, our office las became active in the founda- was voted as the most beautiful of- tion, these plans and proposals fice of tourism in the world. But our were launched. move hasn’t hindered our progress- “We chose the Olympic Tower instead we’ve continued setting primarily because it has strong ties and accomplishing new goals. We to the great Aristotle Onassis,” he have decided to renew our lease for said. “Today, 21 of the 51 floors in the third time, ensuring our stay the building are owned by the here at Olympic Tower until 2014.” Onassis Foundation and the re- He added, the Hellenic Muse- maining 30 are apartments occu- ums Shop, the Atrium Café and pied by Greek American and non- other offices located within the Greek American tenants. Adjacent Olympic Tower are all beneficial in to the Olympic Tower, there is an- urging Greek Americans to visit other building which the Onassis their homeland, and this in effect Foundation also owns,” said Mr. aids the objectives of GNTO. Tsilas. “As you may already know, “It makes me so proud to know 40 percent of the profits are used that visitors that walk through the for community matters. It was with Olympic Tower’s doors are able to this very purpose that the founda- feel a little piece of Greece in New tion was established.” The 51-story, 189-meter tall York,” Petsilas said. “The blue and The portion of the building that Olympic Tower, situated in the white flags that wave outside this is used most frequently used for the heart of Manhattan has hosted building are a tribute to that feeling promotion of Hellenism, is the Atri- many different events, exhibi- of pride we all feel.” um of the Olympic Tower. tions and dignitaries. The build- LEADERSHIP 100 “The Atrium just shines in the ing houses offices of prominent Leadership 100, renamed The daylight and the Onassis Cultural organizations like Leadership Archbishop Iakovos Leadership Foundation is a space with a 300 100 and the Greek National 100 Endowment Fund, was found- person capacity used for various Tourism Organization. The ed in 1984 by Archbishop Iakovos educational and academic func- Alexander S. Onassis Public Ben- as an endowment of the Greek Or- tions,” said Mr. Tsilas. “The Atrium efit Foundation has held most of thodox Archdiocese and in 1998, it of the Olympic Tower is used in the events which have been at- emerged as a non-for-profit chari- many ways for the promotion of tended by high-ranking Greek table organization dedicated to Greek civilization especially to host politicians such as former Prime supporting programs that advance events, often Greek-American root- Minister Constantine Mitsotakis Greek Orthodoxy by awarding mil- ed. New York City College, for in- (left) and Greek Parliament lions of dollars in grants and gifts to stance, used the space to offer sem- speaker Dimitris Sioufas (second the ministries of the Archdiocese. inars for thousands of students.” row left). Executive Director of As one of the newest inhabitants of Earlier this month, Mr. Tsilas the Onassis Foundation Ambas- the Olympic Towers, Leadership noted, the Archaeological Institute sador Loukas Tsilas (below) has 100 opened their new offices in of America (AIA), which holds lec- been a vital component of orga- 2005 under the leadership of Arch- tures all over the U.S., hosted a lec- nizing the successful event and bishop Demetrios. ture at the Olympic Tower by Bren- exhibitions that the Foundation Former long time secretary of dan Foley of the Woods Hole is known for. Archbishop Iakovos and current Ex- Oceanographic Institute ecutive Director of Leadership 100 (McCann/Taggart Lecture) titled Paulette Poulos said the organiza- “Ancient shipwrecks in the deep tion owes homage to the Olympic Mediterranean Sea.” Towers for providing not only an “The Atrium has been visited by ideal location for the opportunity political figures such as Konstanti- to prosper, but for the ability to nos Mitsotakis, the Ecumenical Pa- maintain its benevolence despite triarch, ministers like John Papan- current hardships in the economy. toniou, Theodore Pagalos, Dimitris “We love being at Olympic Tow- Sioufas, and Apostolos Kaklamanis ers,” Poulos said. “We feel like and many other prominent individ- we’re at home here. It’s family. We uals. Thousands of leaders, politi- have a wonderful relationship with cians and other notable people Mr. Tsilas with whom we often talk have walked through our doors,” about projects with and support ex- he said. He also added that Mayor hibits. The location is very ideal be- Michael Bloomberg last year decid- cause businessmen in New York ed to use the Atrium to celebrate walk by and just decide to come in Greek Independence Day. and pay a visit. Three members, lit- “It was frequent visitor Kate D. erally off the street, recently Levin, commissioner of Cultural Af- walked in and joined the organiza- fairs in NYC, who not only praised tion. We love it here and are very the Onassis Foundation for their proud of the building.” She added, multi-faceted projects, but who although the Olympic Tower may characterized it with the term ‘the be separate from the church physi- hub of civilization’, adding that it cally, it is still very much a part of presents many significant contribu- the church. tions to the cultural and education- Poulos said, “Leadership 100 al spirit of this city,” said Mr. Tsilas. Chairman Stephen Yeonas and the “It is true that this building pro- executive board work diligently to vides one method to honor the vi- ensure that every year we are able sion Onassis entrusted within the to contribute more monetarily. Un- institution. All the profits we make GREEK NATIONAL TOURISM traveled the same, progressive road “The Olympic Tower promotes cational programs are some of the fortunately, our investments de- are not used aimlessly, but rather ORGANIZATION as the Onassis Foundation. our Hellenistic culture, our history best I’ve seen. The quality of these creased this year from $66 million for the progression of Greek culture The Greek National Tourism Or- George Tampakis, head of he and our modern society,” Tampakis programs not only appeals to our to $52 million, but we won’t let set- and to give back to the Greek Amer- ganization (GNTO), a public entity GNTO, said the Olympic Tower’s lo- said. “Onassis has had some of his Greek American community, but to backs prevent us from continuing ican community. It’s a building that supervised by the Greek Ministry of cation in the heart of Manhattan, greatest successes here and his ef- the American community as well.” to contribute to the Archdiocese. serves as the pub of Hellenistic cul- Tourism, is one of Olympic Tower’s across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral forts are still being implemented to Tampakis also noted that the Atri- We will continue to contribute ture, in addition to the civilization original tenants. The organization is ideal for the organization’s suc- this day. The Onassis Foundation’s um has showcased replicas of every way we can.” of the Greek American communi- moved from the building’s 5th floor cess, but also for bringing the support of Greek civilization, their pieces of the Parthenon captivated Leadership 100 awards grants ty.” to the 9th floor in 2001 and has essence of Greece to the U.S. academic functions and their edu- in Britain’s museum and has held from scholarship funds to those

LEFT: Located between 51st and 52nd streets on 5th Avenue, the Olympic Tower is the “Hub of Hellenism” residents of the Olympic Tower, but neighboring businesses, organizations and visitors. RIGHT: The Hel- in the U.S. MIDDLE: The Atrium Café, which functions in the atrium of the Olympic Tower, serves not only lenic Museums Shop offers a bountiful amount of Hellenic goods to all visitors. THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 COMMUNITY 7 studying for the priesthood. It also ing workers. “Although we don’t funds building an information in- have a standard catering menu like frastructure and Internet ministries other major venues may have, our Onassis Foundation’s NYC Office Celebrates 10th Year for the Archdiocese, promoting menu is very flexible and we can Home Mission and providing assis- tweak it to satisfy the desires of our By Stavros Marmarinos tance to emergencies such as Sep- customers.” Special to The National Herald tember 11, natural disasters and As an ultra-authentic touch, the medical needs. main chef, a Greek American The President of the Alexander “We not only have greater space woman, specializes in home-style S. Onassis Public Benefit Founda- here, but we feel even more impor- Greek cooking. tion Anthony S. Papademetriou sat tantly, that we are located in the HELLENIC MUSEUMS SHOP down with The National Herald for hub of the Hellenic American com- The Onassis Foundation estab- an interview and spoke about the munity. Look at the building, look lished the Hellenic Museums Shop ten-year anniversary of the estab- at the space, look at all the events in the Atrium of the Olympic Tower lishment of the Onassis Founda- that are hosted in the Atrium. to offer a bountiful amount of Hel- tion’s subsidiary office in New York, Everything speaks of Greece and lenic goods to all visitors. As the on- which is currently being celebrat- brings us even higher—it gives us ly shop of its kind in New York City, ed. Mr. Papademetriou said that more reason to be so proud of our it offers unique replicas of master- the Onassis Foundation’s office in culture.” pieces including figurines, frescoes, New York has fully met its parent Archbishop Demetrios once said sculptures and ceramics as well as a foundation’s expectations in pro- of the location: “It is one fine day rare selection of items inspired by moting Hellenic culture to the peo- today because with the sentiment Greek art and culture such as intri- ple of the United States as an inex- of the new offices here Leadership cate jewelry, books, CDS and exhi- tricable part of their own personal 100 has stood through one great lo- bition catalogues. lives, and talked about the valuable cation in the heart of Manhattan.” “Our customers from all over the experience the Onassis Foundation Father Dimitrios Antokas, Exec- U.S. can order any piece from our gained, which will prove useful in utive Director of Leadership 100, Web site its future activities. Mr. Pa- said upon completion of the move (hellenicmuseumsshop.com) and pademetriou also thanked the to the Olympic Towers in 2005: can even request a particular item Greek American Community for “While the Archdiocese has been that we can search for and order,” the valuable support it has shown our home, Leadership 100 will manager Aspa Bitis said. “Gifts are all throughout the past decade. bring an Orthodox presence into a always packaged in the finest form TNH’s interview with Mr. Pa- Hellenic environment, reflecting its and are shipped to all parts of the pademetriou follows below: purpose to serve Orthodoxy and U.S.” TNH: In the past ten years since Hellenism in America.” The high quality of these arti- the Onassis Foundation first PHOTOS: TNH ARCHIVES ATRIUM CAFÉ facts is approved by the master- opened its New York office, have its The President of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation Anthony S. Papademetriou, left, The Atrium Café, which func- craftsmen of the Greek museums. accomplishments met the Founda- spoke to TNH about the ten-year anniversary of the establishment of the Foundation’s office in New York. tions in the atrium of the Olympic “Our price range varies busy is tion’s original expectations? Tower, serves not only resi- very reasonable for the quality of A.S.P.: When the Onassis Foun- during these past ten years? Is dents of the Olympic Tow- the items,” she said, noting certain dation began operating in New there something you would like to er, but neighboring busi- gifts are available in bulk York ten years ago and expanded ask of the Greek American Commu- nesses, organizations for purpose of corporate its activities to the United States, nity? that choose to reserve giving. we had set out many lofty goals of A.S.P.: Greek Americans living the space for parties Bitas also said that promoting the timeless and ecu- in New York, and all across North clientele, which is most- menical context of Hellenic culture. and South America, understood, The Onassis ly non-Greek, is varied We put together important exhibi- evaluated, approved, and unani- Foundation, and includes collectors, tions to help us achieve this goal, mously supported the work being holds many exhi- lovers of Greek culture coupled of course with a large done by our Foundation. They have bitions of ancient and those who just hap- number of educational and infor- always praised us and had positive and modern Hel- pen to pass by the shop. mational events and programs. I things to say about our efforts. lenistic art. “We try as best we would humbly like to add that I would like to thank Greek can to accommodate these exhibitions, along with our Americans for their ongoing sup- new artists who are try- educational and informational ac- port. We promise them that our ef- ing to advance their tivities, met our program goals, forts and contribution will continue work, as long as they which were justifiably high due to along the same lines, and we will meet our standard of stick- the significance of the issue we are remain faithful to our mission, ing to the theme of Hel- promoting – Hellenic culture. Our maintaining the same intensity, lenistic culture,” said programs and events have man- generosity and diligence that we Bitis. “We are open to aged to attract attention, draw show today. I am certain that the all ideas and proposals crowds, and receive very favorable Greeks of the Diaspora will contin- that fit this require- reviews from nearly 300,000 visi- ue to support our efforts, praise our ment.” tors, 70,000 participants at our uni- work and enjoy what the Onassis The Hellenic Muse- versity seminars and educational Foundation has to offer. ums Shop operates six events, and tens of thousands of TNH: What benefits does the days a week, Monday people who attended our other re- Onassis Foundation’s financial in- through Saturday, lated events. The exhibitions and dependence offer when it comes to from 10 am to 6 other presentations we put togeth- fulfilling your mission? pm. For inquiries, er met our underlying desire and A.S.P.: Aristotle Onassis left contact the shop intent to promote Hellenism and nearly half of his vast estate to the via email at the values of the classical world. Foundation so that he could ensure info@hellenicmuse- TNH: In your opinion, what is its independence and give it an op- umsshop.com or at the greatest contribution the Onas- portunity to pursue the realization (212) 759-9271. sis Foundation’s U.S. subsidiary has Mr. Papademetriou, right, with Ambassador Loukas Tsilas, left, Exec- of its goals through initiatives “The museum is made towards non-Greeks, as well utive Director and John Ioannides, board member of the Alexander S. whose sole purpose is to promote my favorite place in as to the Greek American Commu- Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. our heritage and all the great val- the building,” Bitas said. nity and the Greek nation? ues that proceed from it. Of course, and visitors EVENTS A.S.P.: I want to emphasize the its educational and informational other opportunity to come closer to the hand-picked associates to who crave de- The Onassis Cultural Founda- fact that we try to speak to Ameri- events, we offered Americans who our common roots and appreciate whom the late Mr. Onassis entrust- lectable but rea- tion, established in fall 2000, fre- cans who are not of Greek origin are not of Greek origin a chance – our great legacy. ed his Foundation helped increase sonably-priced quently presents cultural and artis- about the classical values, the clas- and what I would like to think are TNH: During the past decade, the value of this estate and further Greek cuisine. In the tic activities regarding ancient, sical heritage, and the Hellenic cul- the means – to better familiarize can you talk about any experiences secured the Foundation’s autono- last three years, numer- Byzantine and modern Hellenistic ture, as if these are an inseparable themselves, increase their knowl- that would prove useful to the fu- my and independence, which its ous events, both social and political civilization. In the most recent part of their own lives. As we know, edge and form a better apprecia- ture operation of the Onassis Foun- founder intended for it to have in nature, have been held at the months, the Foundation featured this cultural legacy is part of a tion of this legacy, which I reiterate, dation? right from the start. café because of its convenient loca- numerous such events, including a worldwide heritage, and is includ- is also a part of life here in the Unit- A.S.P.: I would say that un- TNH: How important to acade- tion in New York City and its fine classical concert that paid tribute to ed in the American way of life. ed States. doubtedly, throughout the ten mic research are the publications reputation among patrons, most of composer George Tsontakis in “A From this standpoint, we found a In regards to the Greek Ameri- years that we have been offering and seminars that take place within whom are not Greek American. Musical Evening: The New Inspired great response, and I view the con- can Community and the Greek na- such multifaceted services to pro- the framework of the exhibitions “The food we serve at Atrium by the Classical”, a panel discussion tribution of the Onassis Foundation tion, I would like to say that besides mote Hellenic culture, our Founda- offered by the Onassis Foundation? Café is like the Greek food we eat at about Greek Mathematicians titled, to be an important one, because the contribution mentioned above, tion has gained vast experience. A.S.P.: All the publications of home,” said Aspa Bitis, the café’s “The Story of Constantin through its exhibitions, as well as we offered Greek Americans yet an- This experience has served as proof the Onassis Foundation are housed manager. “All the food is fresh and Caratheodory (Berlin 1873–1950 that our mission is a worthy one, in the libraries of universities all we always use the best ingredients Munich)” and the poetry of Yiannis and that the promotion of Hellenic throughout the United States, and in our meals. We refuse to utilize a Ritsos with the Music of Mikis culture is well received. During our the entire world. It is not I who am freezer and we only use fresh veg- Theodorakis. operation over the past decade, our saying this. The international press etables that are delivered daily by The next upcoming event will Foundation has also managed to re- and scholarly periodicals have tes- local distributors.” transform the galleries of the Onas- peatedly utilize the remarkable tal- tified to this. Our publications are The café, which operates on sis Cultural Center into evocations ents of individuals whom we have not limited to fine arts. They in- Monday through Saturday 11-7 of ancient Greek sanctuaries, en- sponsored through our scholar- clude high-quality academic litera- pm, also offers catering services for trenched with artistic masterpieces ships. Artists and academic re- ture, with noteworthy academic offices in the building and the sur- from collections from all over the searchers who received scholar- treatises, which frequently feature rounding neighborhood. world in the major exhibition “Wor- ships from our Foundation have original research. The catalogue of “We also have cocktail parties shiping Women: Ritual and Reality gone on to play leading roles in our our publications is an academic for a capacity of about 250 people in Classical Athens.” The highly an- presentations. As a result, based on contribution that has already come and sitting parties for up to 60 peo- ticipated event, which will take the experience we have gained, we to be appreciated and utilized by ple,” Bitis said. place from December 10, 2008, are surely better off and better able university professionals all over the “There’s no real secret to our through May 9, 2009, will bring to- to continue our activities in the fu- world, including, of course, the success. We always make sure our gether 155 rare archaeological ob- ture. I would also like to take this United States. But there is more to customers are satisfied and get the jects to re-examine preconceptions opportunity to remind readers that us that just our catalogues. We good, Greek food they want in a about the exclusion of women from a very important educational insti- have gone ahead with many other pleasant, Greek atmosphere. We al- public life in ancient Athens. tution – the Onassis House of Let- large-scale publications. After so serve beer and wine to accompa- Other past and future events in- ters and Fine Arts – will soon be op- every international seminar that ny the food, most of which is from clude lectures on diverse subjects erational in Athens, Greece. Our follows our exhibitions, the conclu- Greece and some of which is from by scholars and professors, theatri- experience in the United States will sions that are arrived at are re- California and we are in the process cal performances, film screenings, surely be invaluable in setting up leased in a separate publication. In of obtaining a license for hard concerts and multimedia pro- this latest project. This same expe- my opinion, our exhibitions and liquor.” She added, more appetiz- grams, international conferences, rience will also prove valuable as other related events, together with ers will be added to the menu and poetry readings and contemporary we continue and expand our activi- the important publications we have the hours of operation would in- art exhibitions. ties all around the world. circulated, have truly contributed crease upon receiving this license. For more information on events, TNH: How much did the Greek to research and raised academic Among the most frequent cus- call 212-486-4448, visit American Community – especially awareness, and our efforts are tomers, Bitis said, are tourists, onassisusa.org or email info@onas- Paulette Poulos, Interim Executive Director of Leadership 100, is one the Greeks of New York – support deeply valued by universities and neighborhood residents and build- sisusa.org. of the many Greek Americans that work in the Olympic Tower. the Onassis Foundation’s efforts research centers all over the world.

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Continued from page 1 tween the community and the uni- Michelaki to teach undergraduate tion with the local community of versity,” Prof. Lambropoulos. “It was and graduate courses and develop a Greeks,” Prof. Lambropoulos said. graduate students, and regular an continues to be a grass-roots vital program as well as a minor and “Therefore we have a synergy be- events for students, faculty, and the movement, so it is Greek Americans major concentration in Modern tween the campus and the larger broader community. inspiring each another and doing Greek. Despina Margomenou joined community.” “Cavafy was one of the five most something not just for themselves, the teaching staff in 2001. “What makes this so significant,” eminent Greeks of the 20th century,” but for the greater community.” The Foundation was incorporat- said Mr. Reganis. “Is that while other Prof. Lambropoulos said. “So we are When the Foundation met its first ed in 1997 with the mission of pro- fully endowed chairs are either fi- honoring a very great writer who de- fundraising goal, the University up- moting the study of modern Greek nanced by the Greek government or voted his life to the contemporary graded the position to an endowed language and culture by supporting one individual, this was a grass-roots Greek language. Also, he was a dias- Professorship as it broadened its educational institutions, as well as campaign in Michigan. It was some- pora figure. He was someone who commitment to modern Greek. The related efforts. It was and remains a thing that people felt the need for. It spent almost his entire life outside of endowing of the professorship grassroots effort of many dedicated was large and small donations. the metropolitan center. In that re- meant that the University committed Greeks and Philhellenes in the Some people gave $50 and $100 to gard he is a wonderful example of itself to offering modern Greek for as greater metropolitan Detroit area, as make this work.” what we are witnessing today, the long as the University survives. In well as supporters throughout the The Foundation has played a cen- Greek American fourth and fifth the Spring of 1999, it hired Profes- country. tral role in the development of Mod- AP PHOTO/THANASSIS STAVRAKIS generation which is going to thrive sors Vassilis Lambropoulos, Leontis, “It has emerged and continues to ern Greek at the University of Michi- ABOVE: Cameras and lenses are on display at collector Dimitris Pisti- in this country and promote its sense and Konstantina (Kostalena) operate with a wonderful collabora- gan by making possible the C.P. olas' museum in central Athens. Pistiolas owns the world's largest pri- Cavafy Chair, a wide range of cultur- vate collection of movie cameras - 937 vintage models and projectors. al events each year, scholarships and BELOW: Camera collector Dimitris Pistiolas checks a camera at his general student support. museum in central Athens. “It’s more than a Chair,” Mr. Re- ganis said. “It’s also like a mini-cul- tural center. Besides the lectures, there are also numerous events such as film screenings, dances and con- certs.” The Modern Greek Program at Michigan has achieved remarkable success in attracting students. Most notable has been its range of diverse courses that appeal to ever increas- ing numbers of undergraduates of all ethnic backgrounds. Starting with a couple of dozen of students in the 1990s, enrollments specifically in Modern Greek courses reached 400 this year. Some of the classes taught at the University include “An Introduction on Modern Greek Culture,” “Athens Through the Centuries” and “Greek Record Movie Camera Collection American Culture.” In addition, Professors Lam- ABOVE: From left, George Keros, bropoulos and Leontis stress that Kept in Athens Basement John Kaounas, Professor Vassilis each semester approximately one in Lambropoulos, George Reganis, ten undergraduates at Michigan ATHENS, Greece (AP)- This "When I get a new camera, I feel Associate Professor Artemis take a Greek course. This popularity month, the movie camera collec- like a little kid, like I've been given Leontis, Sam Roumanis and Gus of Greek learning is particularly im- tion of retired postman Dimitris a Christmas present," he says. "The Kaounas. BELOW: Music by pi- portant since, according to recent Pistiolas made it into the Guinness first thing I do is to restore it before anist Pantelis Polychronides and rankings in the London Times, World Records - for the eighth time. I put it into the collection." soprano Mariangela Chatzista- Michigan is the top public University Pistiolas owns the world's Ronald Grant, a director at the matiou entertained the audience in America. largest private collection of movie Cinema Museum in London, says it at the event. The synergy between the Founda- cameras - 937 vintage models and takes time and money to hunt such tion and Michigan has been excep- projectors. They are neatly cameras down at fairs and auction of Hellenism and Greek identity.” tional. First, the University matched arranged, dusted and labeled in his rooms. The University turned to the the Foundation’s funds, creating the tiny basement, where they cover "There's a lot of investment Greek community for support in cre- endowed C. P. Cavafy Chair in Mod- every inch of wall. there in time, and knowledge, and ating the Cavafy Chair. The commu- ern Greek, the cornerstone of the Pistiolas, now 78, started buying of course memory. Once you have a nity responded enthusiastically. The Program. Next, the University re- cameras at age 15 and never few hundred, then you have to re- Foundation for Modern Greek Stud- sponded to growing enrollments by stopped. The basement museum is member, 'Have I got this one?'" ies, a dynamic, progressive, grass- creating two additional, full-time padlocked and visits are by invita- Grant says. "You can't just buy these roots Greek American organization teaching positions. Overall, Michi- tion only. in a shop." established in Michigan, undertook gan is extremely pleased with its col- to raise $750,000, to be given to the laboration with the Foundation and University in three installments. the commitment of Greeks and Phil- “We have a great synergy be- hellenes to contemporary Hellenism. Karamanlis, Obama hold The Decline of Greek American Entertainment telephone conversation ATHENS, Greece (ANA-MPA)- community has contributed and is Continued from page 1 Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis continuing to contribute to Ameri- held a telephone conversation with can society. Egypt offered plenty of opportunities U.S. President-elect Barack Obama Karamanlis assured Obama that for bands to be kept very busy and on Wednesday night, congratulat- he appreciates in particular the were very much in demand. Among ing him on his election, wishing clear and steadfast positions that the most prominent of aggregations him success in tackling the chal- he has taken on issues of Greek in- were George Stratis, Papes & lenges that he will be facing in the terest and pointed out that he is Michelle, Peter Karas, Perry Voultsos, years to come and stressing that he looking forward to close coopera- Teddy James, George Miras, Gus Val- is looking forward to meeting him tion with the aim of finding solu- li, George Kent, and several others. in the near future. tions for all these issues, as well as Greek Night Clubs came into be- Karamanlis reassured Obama the deepening of Greek-U.S. rela- ing and singing “stars” direct from that Greece will provide full sup- tions in all sectors. the homeland were among the first port for the fulfillment of the great On his part, Obama thanked the to gain a strong following. Nikos hopes that his election has created. prime minister for his wishes and Gounaris and Sophia Vembo were He further said that the greatest underlined the great appreciation among the first of the popular im- challenge today is the economic cri- that he feels for the role of the ported “stars” to make it big in the sis whose handling constitutes a Greek American society which, as US. Vembo’s appearances were spo- top priority for all, since the inter- he said, he knows well, having radic but well received though national economy is being faced good friends in its ranks. Gounaris also noted for his vast girth with great and multidimensional Obama also noted that he has and legendary wit was to remain a adjustments. special appreciation for Greece's major perennial among Greek- Karamanlis also told Obama role in Europe and the wider re- American audiences till his death in that his election took place during a gion, expressing the wish that he 1965. crucial juncture in which Europe, will have the opportunity in the By the 1950s, the list of enter- the United States and other part- near future of visiting the country tainers had grown considerably and ners must jointly tackle the chal- about which he knows a great deal the plethora of singers came to ap- lenges. The prime minister went but without, however, having visit- peal to the various audience fac- on to say that the Greek American ed it so far. tions. The Night Clubs specializing in “rebetika” songs appealing to working class fans featured Rina Dalia and Jimmy Apostolou while CLASSIFIEDS Eva Styl was very effective in bridg- ing the gap between demotic, re- betika, and the lighter fare as her HELP WANTED (718) 728-8500 repertoire encompassed all the ele- Not affiliated with any ments of Greek music. JOURNALISTS WANTED other funeral home. Soon there were American-born Nation’s leading Greek American Greek singers such as Joanna newspaper needs reporters and as- APOSTOLOPOULOS Makris, Sophia Manos, and Leni Bar- Popular Greek American singers like Laoura, top left, Joanna Makris, sistant editor for English weekly Apostle Family - teri who favored a more diversified bottom left, and Tony Maroudas, Thomas Lagoumis and Nikos paper. Exceptional writing/report- Gregory, Nicholas, Andrew - repertoire by including songs of Gounaris (top right, from left) left their mark in popular culture, but ing skills and bilingual fluency a Funeral Directors of many nations. Both women also Greek American entertainers have become a rare breed as talent is must. Car a plus. Fax or e-mail clips RIVERDALE sought a glamorous appearance, ele- brought directly from Greece and homegrown singers disappear. and cover letter to 718-472-0510 FUNERAL HOME Inc. gantly dressed to the nines, and or [email protected]. 5044 Broadway added touches of smart supper club acts in addition to the dancing when albeit with changes of personnel. 111609/01 New York, NY 10034 flash to their presentation. Old Hol- budgets became plentiful and the The Morenos spanned only a few (212) 942-4000 lywood wardrobe with costly gowns cost of living relatively low. It be- short years with only Yianni Kalaitzis FUNERAL HOMES Toll Free 1-888-GAPOSTLE and stiletto heels shoes were the or- came commonplace to see comedi- of “Kyria Yioryina” fame remaining der of the day. ans, flamenco dancers, belly the sole survivor of that group. CONSTANTINIDES LITRAS FUNERAL HOME Milton Stamos stayed close to the dancers, circus clowns, choruses, With a few notable exceptions, FUNERAL PARLOR Co. ARLINGTON BENSON DOWD, Greek Demotic idiom and he became jugglers, and novelty acts along with most of these acts had a relatively 405 91st Street INC FUNERAL HOME a fixture at many a dance. Eventually the singers. Oftentimes, there would short shelf life. Many of these names Bay Ridge - Brooklyn, NY 11209 83-15 Parsons Blvd., entertainers began to combine be 2 bands and an embarrassment of disappeared as quickly as they rose (718) 745-1010 Jamaica, NY 11432 singing with some dance steps. riches. in popularity. Services in all localities - (718) 858-4434 • (800) 245-4872 Louiza and Zozo Sapountzaki were The 1960s brought yet another Assimilation, rising costs, and Low cost shipping to Greece among two that used this approach. contingent of singers. Tony waning interest ultimately brought These individuals were in de- Maroudas, who was influenced by about the closing of the nightclubs. ANTONOPOULOS TO PLACE YOUR mand at dances and nightclubs that Gounaris, also specialized in popular The few remaining spots began to FUNERAL HOME, INC. CLASSIFIED AD, CALL: burst upon the scene during this era. sentimental ballads and novelty import their talent directly from Konstantinos Antonopoulos - (718) 784-5255, EXT. 106, The Athenian Corner, Athena East, tunes though his American sojourn Greece and the homegrown singers Funeral Director E-MAIL: Molfetas’ Greek Room, Britannia, proved all too brief. Marina Greta, vanished from the scene. The 38-08 Ditmars Blvd., classifieds@ thenationalherald.com Skorpios, Zappeion Pavilion, Laoura, the aforementioned Louiza, dances dispensed with the singers Astoria, New York 11105 Mykonos, Dionysos, and other simi- Marion Siva, etc. emphasized a sul- altogether either featuring a belly lar spots attracted a steady clientele try style of performing making them dancer or merely emphasizing the throughout the New York City area very popular among the men in the accent on the dancing. Soon the or- REAL ESTATE though other US cities such as Chica- audience while performing the most chestras disbanded and the increase go and Boston established a Greek popular songs of the day and keep- of the DJ led to fewer events. nightlife around this time encom- ing current with the latest tunes With the lapse of time, most of passing various segments of Greek- from the homeland. the major names became past histo- Americans as well as recent Greek In time, there were to be singing ry and that overworked question – immigrants. groups such as the Trio Bel Canto, “whatever happened to?” was in- During this time Greek Dance Ex- Duo Acropole, and Trio Moreno creasingly being asked. travaganzas were in vogue at the stressing an ensemble approach. The Perhaps someday those happy Manhattan Center that were trans- Bel Cantos proved more enduring times will return with a fresh burst of formed into gala events with several with several decades of performing creativity and talent. THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 COMMUNITY 9 John Psarouthakis: Aunt Elisabeth Gave me Strength and Courage

Continued from page 1 pact on the State’s eventual eco- more you see an opposition whose CEO’s who need advice on how to nomic development during the sole purpose is to replace the gov- run their companies better. was included in the 1988 Fortune 1990’s and early 2000’s. ernment, and not to constructively “I’m an executive management 500 listing before merging with the He was appointed a member of participate in creating viable legisla- coach. I coach primarily CEO’s on T&N PLC of England in late 1990. the Governor’s Venture Capitalist tion and programs for the country. business model development for He then founded JPE Inc., an auto Task Force, and served as R&D advi- So it’s very hard to implement any- strategic thinking. I do it through a components manufacturing and series of 3- to 4-hour discussions. I distribution company, in 1992 (JPE LEFT: John Psarouthakis, “Dr. John,” and his wife Antigoni at their read about the company; I take into was sold to a private industrial home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. BELOW: Psarouthakis gives a presenta- consideration what the CEO wants group in early 1999). tion at MIT, his alma mater. Psarouthakis enrolled at MIT in 1951, to achieve; and I provide a plan for Dr. Psarouthakis was born in straight out of high school in Crete. He buys companies, coaches how many sessions we need, and 1932. He lost his parents to tubercu- CEO’s, advises high-level elected officials and writes books. how we’re going to operate, and losis when he was very young age. how much it will cost. I enjoy that His father Michalis died when he approach because when I leave that was only two years old. His mother session, I’m done. The CEO needs to Stamatia died a year later. Their sto- do things, not me. I’m not the one ry, part of which is recounted below, running the company, he or she is. is amazing in its own right. So whatever comes out of that ses- After Dr. Psarouthakis’ parents sion is for them to follow through,” died, Aunt Elisabeth, who had no bi- he said. ological children of her own, took Dr. Psarouthakis has written six young John and his older brother books, including “Elisabeth’s Gift,” George in, and became their adop- and is currently working on his sev- tive mother. enth book, “How to Acquire the “Aunt Elisabeth was a dynamo… Right Business,” which is coming the best word from my experience to out in January. communicate her personality. Elec- One book he wrote, “Balancing tricity and magnetism, kinetic energy in the Balkans (St. Martin’s Press, and stored voltage – all radiated from 1999),” was a joint effort with Ray- her expressive eyes… Each action was mond Tanter, a professor of Middle purposeful, yet natural. She spoke East Studies and international rela- with clarity and wasted no oxygen on tions expert at the University of unnecessary words… She could not Michigan. read or write, but her wisdom was ap- “We were on an academic panel parent to anyone who knew her (pg. burgh. me. She told me it was an opportu- sor to the Speaker of the State thing. The problem is not a thin or back when the Bosnia conflict was 32).” He began his career as an engi- nity to get a good education, so I House of Representatives. Several comfortable majority. The problem still going on. There were five of us “Aunt Elisabeth was born and neer for Boston Edison and later made the decision to come, and I’m governors have recognized his con- is a lack of constructive and cooper- discussing what was causing this raised in a well-to-do suburb of held several senior technical and happy that I did. It was difficult at tributions to their state’s economy, ative mentality,” he said. strife. Ray had the view that we Smyrna. Back in those days, women management positions at various first, but it was her strength that to include Bill Clinton and Michael “Are the proposals I made back should come in with overwhelming of her generation did not go to companies, to include Thermo Elec- helped me get through the difficult Dukakis when they were still gover- then are still valid? Yes, they are. military force to stop the killing. My school. Even though she was ex- tron Corporation, which was found- times of learning to speak English, nors of Arkansas and Massachusetts, Some details may need to change view was that, even if that’s neces- tremely bright and had a wealth of ed by another immensely successful working, and a few months later respectively. because 15 years have passed, but sary, it’s not enough. You may be wisdom, she was not educated. She Greek American, Dr. George Hat- starting my studies,” he said. Dr. Psarouthakis has also re- the essential aspects still apply. The able to force the killing to stop, but could not read or write. But she had sopoulos. “I think I’m still the first and only ceived numerous awards; among need to privatize and the impor- how are you going to address the is- a commanding presence. You could Dr. Psarouthakis then started his MIT graduate from Crete who en- them, the MIT Corporate Leadership tance of education for economic de- sues that caused the strife and eth- see she was intelligent and well in- own firm, JP Industries, in 1979, tered MIT directly from high school. Award, the Entrepreneur of the Year velopment are still there. Greece nic cleansing in the first place? We formed from her eyes. She absorbed and his entrepreneurial success cat- Other Cretan students entered MIT, Award from the Harvard Business doesn’t have universities for educa- need economic development in things like a sponge. Today, we call apulted from there. but they came through other univer- School Alumni Club of Detroit, the tional purposes. They have them place, whereby people become in- her ability to relate to people ‘net- JPI capitalized on the application sities,” he added. Distinguished Young Scientist primarily for political posturing. I’m terdependent economically. When working.’ She certainly had a very of modern management, manufac- After completing his studies at Award from the Maryland Academy not saying they don’t teach any- people become economically inter- interesting and lively network in turing and distribution techniques MIT, Dr. Psarouthakis joined Dr. of Science, the 1988 and 1995 INC thing. But as institutions, the Greek dependent, they stop killing each town. But in 1922, the Greeks were for existing product lines. Through Hatsopoulos at Thermo Electron for Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year higher education system does not other. It’s not in your interest to kill expelled from western Asia Minor, internal growth and acquisitions, four years (1958-62). He became Award-Michigan, and the 1990 serve the purpose that it should, someone you depend on for a living. so she and her sisters and my moth- JPI achieved NYSE listing as a multi- good friends with the Hatsopoulos We kept arguing about it, and some- er were forced to flee on a French industry company in the United family. Dr. Hatsopoulos’ brother, one suggested that we write a book ship with a stop at Mitilini on its way States, Great Britain, Italy, Denmark John, baptized Dr. Psarouthakis’ about it, so that’s what we did,” Dr. to Thessaloniki,” Dr. Psarouthakis and Japan. Within ten years, it be- oldest son. Psarouthakis said, adding that he told the National Herald. came a company with annual sales Dr. Psarouthakis then relocated managed to persuade Dr. Tanter “My father was with the Greek of $600 million. to Baltimore to work for Martin that perhaps both activities are nec- military and went to Smyrna with But attaining that level of success Marrieta, a company which was de- essary to solve the problem. the Greek army, where he met my was no easy task. It required a lot of veloping nuclear energy systems for Dr. Psarouthakis has lived in Ann mother. They fell in love. He asked hard work and considerable space vehicles. He was MM’s senior Arbor for the last 36 years. “It’s the my (maternal) grandfather for her courage to face many challenges scientist and research & develop- longest I lived anywhere. I lived in hand in marriage, and after they along the way. Courage, Dr. ment manager for energy conver- Crete for 19 years, and in Boston for agreed, my father continued ad- Psarouthakis said, he got from the sion in space vehicles from 1962 to 11 years,” he said. vancing east with the Greek army. woman who raised him, the woman 1966. He has two sons from his first Then you had the Greek army’s un- who was brave enough to step in be- He then joined Allis Chalmers, marriage, Michael and Peter, both of ruly retreat, and to save himself, he tween those two drunken, sword- another space vehicle-related R&D whom live in Ann Arbor. His first literally swam to Mitilini. He heard wielding soldiers and convince them firm, where he served as director of wife, Inga, passed away 15 years there was a French ship in the har- to stop fighting each other and save its technology center in Milwaukee ago. She was of Swedish origin. He bor that was full of people from their strength for the Nazis instead. for four years (1966-70). While he has since remarried. His second Menemeni, the suburb in Smyrna “Aunt Elisabeth had a lot of was in Milwaukee, Chalmers sent wife, Antigoni Kefalogiannis, is of where my mother’s family was from. courage. She never talked about the him to Carnegie-Mellon University, Greek heritage. She has two daugh- So they found each other again, af- past, certainly not in regretful terms. where he earned what was then ters from a previous marriage (her ter almost losing each other. They She was always interested in today known as a “mini MBA” from a very first husband also died). boarded another ship, and went to and tomorrow. She understood the rigorous ten-week program. In light of his entrepreneurial Crete instead of Thessaloniki. They past, but she didn’t want to waste “We worked from seven o’clock success, insight and expertise, Dr. went to my father’s village, Kalamit- time dwelling on emotions of the in the morning to almost midnight Psarouthakis was asked to render si, where they got married. After my past. And that had a great deal of in- every day, including weekends,” he his opinion on the current economic brother George was born, they fluence on me because life in Greece said. crisis. He compared it to a hot-air moved to Chania, where my father was not easy between the mid- Dr. Psarouthakis then went onto balloon which needed to deflate. worked at a bank, and where I was 1930’s and the end of the 1940’s. In become corporate vice president for “What caused this was a variety born seven years later,” he said. the 30’s, there was a dictatorship; in international operations, planning of instruments that were based pri- “After my parents died, Aunt Elis- the 40’s we had the Italians, the Ger- and technology at Masco Corpora- marily on debt, rather than equity. abeth influenced me a great deal mans and the communists,” he said. tion in Taylor, Michigan from 1970 We had a financial system that simply by watching her. She was not “Aunt Elisabeth had a strong to 1978. would leverage $1 in equity to ap- the type to tell you what to do. That presence. She wouldn’t impose her- “My jobs influenced where I was proximately $40 of debt, so it could wasn’t her way. She was more about self, but you knew she Elisabeth was and what I did. Since I had no other not be supported, and worse, it was doing things herself and showing by there – whether it was a discussion; means to pay for school, I had to escalating. The system had to re- example. She would always take me whether there was a problem to be work to put myself through school, trench itself. Some call it a melt- with her wherever she went. She solved; or whether it was two sol- so I worked at Thermo Electron with down; others refer to it as a crash. would take me shopping, and to the diers drawing swords in the street George. Before that, I worked at the But whatever you want to call it, it trying to kill each other and step- Ritz Carlton as a busboy for two The young John Psarouthakis tests a thermo-ionic energy converter had to come back to reality. The key ping in between them and telling years. It was the only job I could get for space applications at MIT. Psarouthakis is a top-notch engineer. players – not only individuals, but them off, and getting them to recon- without knowing any English. But I also government, institutions and cile and leave. I began to notice learned a lot at the Ritz Carlton. I AHEPA Achievement Award. which is to educate young people corporations – realized that this those things when I was in my early learned how to speak English, and I His accomplishments in America and train them in fields of relevance high leveraging had created an ab- teens. She was cautious in terms of learned about people,” he said. notwithstanding, Dr. Psarouthakis to their society and the economy of stract level of value which had no me relating to others on the one “Then I got an offer from Martin has never forgotten his roots. Over that society – and to be constructive, substance to it – commonly referred hand – very protective – but on the Marrieta that I couldn’t refuse. They the years, he has provided scholar- not just to have ideological views,” to as a lot of hot air. That air had to other hand, she also realized I need- doubled my salary; they paid my ex- ships to outstanding students at the he added. go away, and it’s going to take time ed to grow up and understand soci- penses to work on my doctorate at Technology University of Crete in Dr. Psarouthakis now spends his to adjust to the new context,” he ety. So she encouraged me to join my convenience; so I moved to Balti- Chania, and at the Kritiki Estia in time writing books and coaching said. boy scouts, and to try out for sports. more and headed up a department Athens, where Dr. Psarouthakis and She gave me a sense of confidence in charge of R&D for space-related his family are helping with the con- without telling me to do those energy systems. I also registered struction of a new dormitory. things. If something appealed to me, with the University of Maryland and And when Constantine Mitso- I was simply encouraged to try it,” earned my Ph.D in 28 months,” he takis was elected prime minister of he said. added. Greece, he tapped Dr. Psarouthakis Self Esteem “All that had a great deal of influ- Over the years, as he conducted for advice. Learn how your inner voice ence on me, and still does today. I his business affairs in various coun- “When Mr. Mitsotakis first went contributes to your self esteem began to feel that level of encour- tries, Dr. Psarouthakis learned to to Washington as prime minister, I Learn how to restore your self esteem agement from her as a teenager, and speak German and Italian, and ac- went to meet him for his first state- for a healthier marriage more so in Boston. When I first came quired a working knowledge of side visit, and also in New York and positive relationship to the United States, I couldn’t speak French and Swedish. where Archbishop Iakovos held a re- 567 Park Avenue, Suite 204 Marriage, Couple, Family, Child English. I had no financial re- “Through all that, I also learned ception in his honor. We talked, and Scotch Plains, NJ07090 sources. I had to find a job and begin how many other countries operate – he asked me to advise him on eco- and Individual therapy www.hellenictherapy.com to study in parallel. That’s not the about their societies and the way nomic policy for Greece,” he said. email: [email protected] MARIA SIKOUTRIS MA, Ed.S, LPC Cover of John Psarouthakis’ book easiest thing for a youngster coming they do business,” he said. “I advised him pro bono for al- (908) 322-0112 Day, Evening & Weekend Hours about his beloved Aunt Elisabeth. out of Chania to do, never having Dr. Psarouthakis is the recipient most the entire time he was prime been anywhere before,” he added. of honorary doctorates from Eastern minister. Between June 1990 and homes of families she used to help. How and why Dr. Psarouthakis Michigan University and Cleary Col- December 1992, I shuttled back and There was one lady who had a lot of ended up coming to America is a sto- lege. He was a member at the Uni- forth between Ann Arbor and books, so my aunt used to take me ry in itself. When he finished high versity of Michigan Ross School of Athens as a personal advisor to the there for that reason – to expose me school, he wanted to be an engineer, Business in Ann Arbor for almost ten Prime Minister for his privatization to books because I didn’t have any but he couldn’t afford it, so he joined years, and was also a senior lecturer policy and economic development books to read. She took me shop- the Hellenic Naval Academy, where (schedule permitting) at MIT. The and technology. I went there practi- ping to expose me to the market. he could specialize in something. “I Ross School has named a chair the cally every month,” he said. FORTUNE magazine published an loved the sea,” he said. “John Psarouthakis Professorship in “Though Mr. Mitsotakis’ econom- article a few years ago that said I buy His mother’s sister, Esther, mar- Manufacturing Management.” ic policies were a must for Greece, companies the way Aunt Elisabeth ried a Greek American from Boston. Dr. Psarouthakis has endowed he did not have the time he needed used to buy watermelons (chuck- She sent young John a packet with several scholarships which require to implement them, unfortunately,” www.GreekKitchennyc.com les). She would never buy a water- an application to MIT. He then went institutions to look for qualified stu- he added. melon unless she looked inside it. to his high school Physics teacher, dents of Greek origin. The scholar- Dr. Psarouthakis said his eco- And I’m the same way. I won’t buy a who didn’t know anything about ships are at MIT (John Psarouthakis nomic policy proposals for Greece company if an owner won’t let me MIT, “but he figured, ‘since it’s in & Elisabeth Paleologou Scholar have yet to be implemented, but are look at it in detail,” he added. Boston, it must be good.’ ” So Dr. Award); Carnegie Mellon (Esther still applicable, even though 15 Dr. Psarouthakis graduated from Psarouthakis applied. Zacharias Scholar Award); and Hel- years have passed. The political cli- high school in Chania, and moved to “Back then, there was no English lenic College/Holy Cross (Pari Pale- mate in Greece is not conducive to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1951 test requirement. I just filled out the ologou Scholar Award – Pari was cooperative and constructive policy to study at MIT, where he earned his application and sent it in. And in the Aunt Elisabeth’s sister; she was very formulation, he explained, because bachelor’s and master’s degrees in late spring of 1951, I got a letter in- Church-oriented and also played a opposition parties tend to be opposi- Mechanical Engineering. He subse- forming me that my application was pivotal role in raising Dr. tional just for the sake of opposing quently earned his doctorate in Me- accepted. And I said, ‘now what?’ I Psarouthakis). the governing party. chanical and Nuclear Engineering at was getting ready to join the Naval Dr. Psarouthakis has also been in- “Unfortunately, the parliamen- the University of Maryland, and at- Academy, and I didn’t know any- volved with government issues. He tary system in Greece is not con- tended the Executive Management thing about America except from has advised several governors and structive. The Scandinavians have Program at the Carnegie Mellon the movies. I wasn’t exactly jumping served as chairman of the Michigan parliamentary systems, too, and University Graduate School of In- for joy,” he said. Strategic Fund in the late 1980’s, those function pretty well, but the dustrial Administration in Pitts- “But Aunt Elisabeth encouraged when the Fund began to have an im- further south you go in Europe, the 10 OBITUARIES THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008

DEATHS

■ BOKIDES, MARY the Emanuel Baptist Church in 1914, the son of the late Alexander family members and countless away on Thursday, November 27, BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho States- Highland and the Bible Study Fel- and Marica Haji-Oglou Kiriakides. friends. The funeral will take place 2008, in his home in Metairie, man reported that Mary G. Bokides, lowship at the Unit ed Methodist He arrived at Ellis Island in 1921 at on Monday, December 8th, at the St. Louisiana. He was 88 years old. Ted- 79 , of Weiser passed away on Church in Yucaipa. She also served the age of seven. He graduated from George Greek Orthodox Cathedral dy was born on February 10, 1920, Thursday, November 27, 2008 in as a Sunday School Teacher at St. Greenville High School in 1933 and located at 650 Hanover Street, Man- in Kounoupitsa, Methana, Greece. Colorado. Mary was born April 6, Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox attended the Citadel for 2 years. chester, NH, at 11 am followed by In April 1940, he immigrated to the 1929 in Baker City, Ore. She was Church. During her life she touched One of the first in the vending busi- entombment in the Pine Grove United States and arrived in Eliza- married to Theodore N. Bokides and others with her deep faith of Christ, ness, he bought his first cigarette Cemetery Mausoleum next to her beth, New Jersey. He joined the U.S. was the daughter of George and love of family, strong family values machine in the 1930’s, experienced beloved husband George. Memorial Army in June 1942 in a program de- Haetho Speropulos. Mary had two and strong Greek traditions. Tula the depression era which made a donations to either St. Nicholas signed to give U.S. citizenship to im- younger brothers, Nick and Chris was preceded in death by her par- lasting impact on his work ethic and Greek Orthodox Church, 1160 migrants. Following his training, he Speropulos; all of whom preceded ents, Condilo and Gerasimous Ma- served in the U.S. Army during Bridge Street, Manchester, NH or to was sent to the Army Air Corps base her in death. Mary was raised in halas, and her brothers, Michael World War II where he trained new the elevator fund at St. George in New Orleans, where he met and Weiser, Idaho and returned there to Panos, George Panos and James recruits as a second lieutenant. Old- Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 later married the former Mary Klea- raise her own family. She spent Panos. She is survived by her hus- er Greenvillians knew him as Hanover Street, Manchester, NH. menakis. In 1944, the Army sent much of her childhood at the Sper- band, Chris Davis; and her sons, Dr. “Jocko.” He was a member of Green him to Naples, Italy, as an MP where opulos ranch near Cuprum, Idaho. Nicholas Davis (KiKi) and Lt. Jerry Valley Country Club where he ■ PAPPAS, ANTONIA he remained through the end of When she was 10 years old, her fam- Davis (Jami); daughter , Kimberly “schooled” the younger generations STROUDSBURG, Penn. – The World War II. While stationed there, ily moved back to Greece for a year Davis; 7 grandchildren, Christopher in the game of Gin Rummy. In his Pocono Record reported that Anto- he attended, supported, and assist- returning to the United States just as Davis (Kasey), Kia Wronka (Chad), early years, he was instrumental nia C. Pappas, 78, of Stroudsburg, ed in the local Greek Orthodox World War II broke out. This experi- Tara Davis, Joshua Davis, Suzanna with other young Greenvillians in passed away on Friday morning, Church. In December 1945, he re- ence shaped her sophisticated world Ascensio, Lauren Cervantez and building YMCA Camp Greenville. In November 28, at Golden Living Cen- turned to the Bumper Air Base in view and approach to life. Mary met Madison Perez; and sister, Mary the 1970’s he served on the SC State ter in East Stroudsburg. She was the New Orleans and was honorably Ted Bokides at the Greek Orthodox Ross (George) of Atlanta; and broth- Ports Authority Board. Mr. Kiri- widow of Constantine Pappas, who discharged from his military service. Church in Denver, Colo. while at- er, Spiro Mahalas (Sandy) of Flori- akides was the owner of Atlas Food died February 14, 1999. Born on Oc- In April 1946, Teddy and Mary be- tending Colorado Women's College da. The funeral was held on Decem- Systems and Service Inc. Over the tober 18, 1930, in Crete, Greece, she gan their 49-year marriage. He be- Greek American where she was studying English and ber 4 at Saint Prophet Elias Greek years, Atlas Vending employed as was a daughter of the late Frangios came active civically and in the Journalism. They were married in Orthodox Church in San Bernardi- many as four hundred people. He and Evlambia (Faradakis) Rokakis Greek Orthodox community. His 1949 and lived first in California be- no. Memorial donations to the Saint was still working up to one month of and lived in Monroe County for the contributions included serving with Teen Dies in fore settling in Weiser. Mary was a Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox his passing. He was a member of St. past three years, moving from Flori- the Honorary Consul of Greece, born leader and would take charge Church Building Fund. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. da. Prior to retirement, she worked William G. Helis, Jr., in the 1950s Thanksgiving of any project; big or small. She at- He was a loving father, a business- in the fur industry in New York City. and 1960s. During that time, he and tracted donations from throughout ■ DIMITROULAKOS, PETROS man, an entrepreneur, and inventor, She was a member of Holy Cross Mary were honored guests of King the tri-state area to expand the In- TINTON FALLS, N.J. – The Asbury and had always expressed a deep Greek Orthodox Church, Strouds- Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece Night Car Crash termountain Cultural Center and Park Press reported that Petros Dim- patriotic love for America. Surviv- burg. Surviving are a daughter, Kalli on their historic visit to New Or- Museum. She and her family were itroulakos, 17, of Tinton Falls, ing, in addition to his wife, are two Valadakis of Staten Island, N.Y.; two leans. Teddy is remembered for tire- founding members of the Greek Or- passed away on Thursday, Novem- daughters, Mary Ann Kiriakides and sons, George Pappas of Ventura, less dedication to his church com- By Demetris Tsakas thodox Church in Boise and she ber 27 in Colts Neck as a result of in- Cathy Cannon and husband Henry; Calif., and Cris Pappas of Reno, Nev.; munity. He was elected to the Board Special to The National Herald served Philoptikos, a Greek women's juries sustained from an automobile two sons, Alex Kiriakides III and seven grandchildren; eight great- of Trustees of the Holy Trinity Greek organization, in many capacities in- accident. He was born in Long wife Suzanne and Michael W. Kiri- grandchildren; a sister, Chrysoula Orthodox Cathedral and served in COLTS NECK — Police are still in- cluding President. She was an East- Branch and resided in Eatontown akides and wife Debbie; two sisters, Bakalexis of Stroudsburg; two many capacities for over 50 years, vestigating the circumstances sur- ern Star, Girl Scout leader, PTA Pres- before moving to Tinton Falls four Louise Kiriakides and Libby Sfiris; a brothers, Elias Rokakis and John including several terms as President. rounding a single car crash that ident for many years, a Red Cross years ago. Petros spent many hours brother, John Kiriakides; and seven Rokakis, both of Greece; her kind He served as the Church's chanter killed Peter Demetroulakos, 17, and March of Dimes Volunteer and helping his father at his Americana grandchildren, all of Greenville. The and generous niece and nephew, for over twelve years and helped and sent three others to the hospi- President of the Women's Golf asso- Diner Restaurant in Shrewsbury, funeral was held on Saturday, No- Irene Kallinteris and her husband, oversee construction of the Cathe- tal late Thanksgiving night. ciation. Mary was vibrant, intelli- with dreams of some day taking vember 29, 2008 at St. George Gus, and Steve Bakalexis and his dral twice - on Dourgenois Street The 17-year-old Greek Ameri- gent, hard-working, caring and ele- over the family business. He was a Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Burial wife, Joanna; and numerous kind and in its present location on Robert can boy from Tinton Falls died at gant. She had a love of life that was junior at Red Bank Catholic High was at Woodlawn Memorial Park. and caring great-nieces and great- E. Lee. As a result of his devotion, the scene after the 2002 Honda Ac- obvious to all who met her. Her vo- School and played for the Casey's Memorial donations to St. George nephews. She was preceded in the Clergy-Laity Congress in Boston cord in which he was a backseat racious appetite for knowledge Varsity Football team, wearing No. Greek Orthodox Cathedral, (406 N. death by a son, Michael Pappas, on elected him to the Archdiocesan passenger left the roadway on spanned from world politics to busi- 24. As a sports enthusiast, you could Academy Street, Greenville, SC August 3, 2005. The funeral was Mixed Council from 1962 - 1964. Cross Road and smashed into a tree ness to family and friends. She was a find Petros skate boarding, surfing, 29601). held at December 1 at Holy Cross Teddy was also a lifetime member of before nearly splitting in half and natural strategist and thinker. Her snow boarding and riding his dirt Greek Orthodox Church in Strouds- the American Hellenic Educational crashing into a fence, police said. devotion to her family and friends bike. He often looked forward to ■ NEOS, FOTENE burg. Burial was at the Holy Cross Progressive Association (AHEPA), A 16-year-old Tinton Falls boy was evident in everything she did. taking trips to Greece with his fami- MANCHESTER, N.H. – It was re- Greek Orthodox section of Strouds- an international Greek-American was critically injured in the crash She was always thinking of ways to ly. Petros could light up a room with ported that Fotene T. (Pennie) Neos burg Cemetery. Memorial donations service, philanthropic, and advocacy and was taken to Jersey Shore Uni- make the world, or even a small his beautiful eyes and priceless (89) of Manchester, NH passed to VNA Hospice of Monroe County organization. He was elected with versity Medical Center in Neptune piece of it, better. Her quick wit and smile. As a young man, he touched away on Friday, November 28, 2008 (502 Independence Road, East honor and distinction to local, dis- by medical evacuation helicopter, indomitable spirit made her the life many lives, young and old, and at Elliot Hospital of natural causes. Stroudsburg, PA 18301). trict and national level positions in- Detective Sgt. Joseph Whitehead of any gathering; and she loved brought happiness to everyone who She was born in Manchester, NH on cluding the National Supreme said. He remains in critical condi- gatherings, both big and small. She knew him. Petros was predeceased November 19, 1919 to Alexander ■ SCOMBUL, ANGELINA Board of Trustees. His civic involve- tion, according to police. He also got energy from being around peo- by his paternal grandfather, Petros and Paraskevi (Exarhouli) Tri- NORWALK, Conn. – The Hour re- ment included public election to the was a backseat passenger, police ple and gave out even more. Mary D. Dimitroulakos and his cousin, antafellow, the third of nine chil- ported that Angelina D. Scombul of Louisiana State Democratic Com- said. also loved to debate. To her, nothing Alivia Renee Dorazio. Surviving are dren. After earning a BA degree Norwalk, CT, passed away peaceful- mittee. In 1946, Teddy opened “Ted- The tragic accident left parents showed she cared quite as much as a his father, Dimitrous “Jimmy” Dim- from Notre Dame College in 1960, ly at her home in Marvin Beach sur- dy's Restaurant,” located on LaSalle Demetrios Demetroulakos and Re- freshly baked Spanikopita and a de- itroulakos of Tinton Falls; his moth- she taught math at Nashua High rounded by love on Saturday morn- Street. The restaurant became a fix- nee Santiago grieving the death of bate just as hot. More than anything, er, Renee Santiago of Neptune; his School, retiring in 1981. She re- ing, November 29, after a long peri- ture in the New Orleans medical their son Peter. They are joined in she was a devoted parent, grandpar- brother and sister, Nicholas and Bri- ceived a M.Ed. degree from Rivier od of debilitation. She was born in community. He operated “Teddy's” mourning by their other relatives ent, daughter and wife. Her children anna Santiago, both of Neptune; his College, studied mathematics at Cambridge, Massachusetts on May for 30 years and is remembered by here and in the Greek town of recall that she expected a great deal paternal grandmother, Maria Dim- UNH in Durham, NH as a NASA 31, 1924, daughter of Cleopatra Ka- many who were both customers and Mavrovouni, located in the Pelo- - yet gave them the freedom to make itroulakos of Tinton Falls; and his Scholarship recipient and in 1982 tranis Dumas and Charles George friends. After a brief retirement, he ponnesean prefecture of Laconia. their own decisions. She was an ac- maternal grandparents, William and taught math at New Hampshire Col- Dumas. She was a devout Greek Or- joined the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's The driver of the car, Matthew tive golfer, and wicked pinochle, Elaine Mauro of Long Branch. Also lege for the spring semester. She thodox Christian and member of St. Office and served as a Deputy for Gross, 18, of Tinton Falls and a bridge and poker player. She was fi- surviving are many aunts and un- loved teaching and tutored algebra George Greek Orthodox Church in over 25 years, through 2005, with front seat passenger, Justin Breaud, nancially adept and spent much of cles, Paula and George Louzakos, and geometry during her career and Norwalk. Angelina was prede- his friend Sheriff Harry Lee. Preced- 18, of Eatontown, also were taken her time following and investing in and their son Photi, his little brother, after retirement. As a cancer volun- ceased by her husband Peter George ing him in death was his beloved to Jersey Shore University Medical the stock market. Mary is survived Manny and Panagiota Dim- teer she offered encouragement to Scombulis. Angelina was employed wife Mary, who passed away in Center, where they were treated for by three children; Nicholas T. itroulakos and their children, Petros, patients and was a dedicated volun- at the Shore and Country Club for 1995. Teddy's surviving family in- their injuries and later released, Bokides of Weiser, Idaho, Heitho Maria, Alex, and Metaxia, John and teer at the Veterans Administration more than 20 years as the assistant cludes daughter Katherine Pa- Whitehead said. Bokides Reuter of Lebanon, Oregon, Vera Dimitroulakos and their chil- Nursing Home until a severe injury manager and the director of wed- padopoulos and husband Chris; son Police would not say if speed or and Dessa Bokides of Denver, Colo.; dren, Petros, and Maria, Kostantinos prevented further volunteer service. ding and special events planning. In Theodore Tzavellas and wife Penny; alcohol were factors in the crash, and twelve grandchildren T. Dimitroulakos and Stacey Herring As a member of St. George Greek her later years, she was an office as- daughter Christina Tzavellas; citing the ongoing investigation. Nicholas, Chris, Dessa, Eric and and their daughter Maria. Petros al- Orthodox Cathedral and the Ana- sistant at the St. George Greek Or- grandsons Paul Kogos and wife Jen- “Right now, we're continuing Seve Bokides; Theodore, John and so leaves behind Kiki Tzinakos, gennesis (Ladies Auxiliary), she thodox Church as well as the presi- nifer, Perry Papadopoulos, and Alex our investigation.” Whitehead said. George Reuter; David, Mitchell, Louis Tenai and many other dear taught Sunday School and sang in dent of St. George Properties. In ad- Tzavellas; granddaughters Christina “That investigation is being con- Greg and Charlie Fay: daughter-in- relatives and close friends. He will the choir. She was also a member of dition, Angelina was the creator of Kogos and Elisabeth Papadopoulos; ducted by our detective bureau and law Kathy Bokides; son-in-law, be truly missed by all who knew St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Pete''s Texas Chili, a chili sauce of and great-granddaughter Caroline Sgt. Rich Maxwell and Patrolman William Fay; as well as many nieces him. The funeral was held on De- and attended Sts. Peter and Paul such reknown Heinz offered to pur- Kogos. He also is survived by broth- Ron Breuer of the traffic unit.” and nephews. Her son-in-law cember 3 at Kisimis Tis Theotokou Russian Orthodox Church. Mrs. chase the recipe, when she was the ers George, Stamatis, and Petros Funeral services were held on Thomas Reuter, preceded her in Greek Orthodox Church in Holmdel. Neos was a retired member of the co-proprietor of Peter''s Lun- and their families; by nephew Wednesday, December 3, at the death. The funeral was held on De- Memorial donations to The Red National Education Association, the cheonette, a fixture in South Nor- George Tzavellas, his wife Fotini Church of the Dormition in Holm- cember 3. Memorial donations to Bank Catholic High School Scholar- New Hampshire Education Associa- walk from 1955-1972, which was and their sons Paul and Bobby; and dale, New Jersey. the Mary G. Bokides Memorial Fund ship Fund. tion, and a Past President of the also known as Little City Hall. Until by many relatives in Greece and At the request of the at the Weiser Memorial Hospital, Nashua Teachers’ Association as her medical condition deteriorated, Mexico. The funeral was held De- Demetroulakos family, friends and 645 E. Fifth, Weiser ID 83672 or St. ■ GIANATOS, PAT well as a member of AARP and the Angelina was an active justice of the cember 1 at the Holy Trinity Greek relatives wishing to make a dona- Constantine & Helen Greek Ortho- CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Poetry Society of New Hampshire. peace and she was an active volun- Orthodox Cathedral in New Or- tion in Peter's memory are asked to dox Church, 2618 West Bannock, Charleston Post & Courier reported Prior to pursuing her career in teer of the Norwalk Chapter of the leans. Memorial donations to the send their contribution to “The Red Boise, ID 83706. that Pat Gianatos passed away on teaching, her other occupations in- American Red Cross. Her family is Holy Trinity Cathedral, (1200 Bank Catholic High School Scholar- Wednesday, November 26, 2008, cluded: saleslady, wool spinner, fan- especially proud of Angelina''s in- Robert E. Lee Boulevard) New Or- ship Fund,” in lieu of flowers. ■ DAVIS, TULA Paraskevi Pat Giannaki Gianatos, cy stitcher of shoes, lingerie and volvement in the seminal years of leans, LA 70122. A portion of each “Peter was our family's pride SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The San widow of Nick Gianatos. Residence, coats and an office worker, as well as the Greek Orthodox community in contribution will be donated to Holy and joy. He was our angel, and the Bernardino Sun reported that Tula Charleston, SC. Pat (Paraskevi) was a toolmaker at the Springfield Ar- Norwalk where she was a founding Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in example for his younger cousins to Davis, 83, of Highland, went home born August 15, 1926 in Rizovouni mory for the M1 Garand rifle. Mrs. member of the Daughters of Pene- Massachusetts for scholarships to follow,” the deceased's cousin Elli to be with the Lord on November 25, Epirus, Greece, the daughter of Neos loved to cook and bake and lope, as well as the Philoptochos So- students pursuing clerical and laity Demetroulakos told The National 2008, with her family by her side. George Giannaki and Efstratoula Hi- had a weekly Greek pastry business ciety, a philanthropic organization ministries and studies. Herald. Born July 24, 1925, in Birmingham, topoulos Giannaki. Pat came to the during the early 80’s. As a voracious in the Greek Orthodox Church. An- Alabama, to Greek immigrant par- United States after World War II lat- reader she loved to solve puzzles, gelina was a devoted Red Sox fan, ents, Condilo and Gerasimous Ma- er bringing her two sisters and enjoyed traveling and meeting peo- who remained faithful during disap- halas, she attended Ensley High mother to live with her. They all ple of other cultures. She circum- pointing seasons only to be reward- School a nd graduated in 1943. sought the American dream and navigated the world in the northern ed with the witnessing of two world Shortly after graduation she became were proud to achieve it. She be- hemisphere as well as Australia and championships in her lifetime. As an executive secretary in Birming- came a naturalized citizen and en- New Zealand. Mrs. Neos authored she loved watching the Red Sox, she ham for a large corporation. In 1945 joyed being a Greek-American. Pat and published two books of true loved listening to opera, big band she met and married the love of her became a widow at an early age and events, two books of poetry and has jazz as well as traditional and mod- her pride and joy were her two sons a number of poems ready for a third ern music of Greece. Also, Angelina subscribePRINTED EDITION OF THE NATIONAL HERALD life, Chris Davis, remaining by his side with love and devotion for the and her church. She was a very ac- book of poetry. She was in the loved to watch the many birds that via the post-office: last 63 years. In 1955 she and her tive member of the Greek Orthodox process of writing the story of her would congregate in the trees out- ❏1 Month $11.00 ❏3 Months $22.00 family moved to Southern Califor- Church of the Holy Trinity when her parents’ lives as well as her own life side of her window. In her last days, ❏6 Months $33.00 ❏One Year $66.00 nia, where they resided in both Rial- health was good. She retired as a story. Many of her poems have been her attention was held particularly VIA HOME DELIVERY (NY, NJ & CT): to and Highland. Tula and her fami- sales clerk. She is survived by her published in ‘Poems of the World’, a rapt by the appearance of a red- ❏1 Month for $14.00 ❏3 Months for $33.00 ly became members of the Saint devoted and loving sons: George quarterly publication of selected headed woodpecker. Angelina is ❏6 Months for $48.00 ❏One Year for $88.00 Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Zafiris and John Gianatos and his works of poets from around the survived by her children, Maria P. Church and attended services week- wife Mary, all of Charleston, SC; two world. She was the National Contest Mola of Norwalk and George B. VIA HOME DELIVERY (NEW ENGLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, ly. Tula was instrumental in estab- sisters: Kiki Zecopoulos of James Is- Chairperson for the Poetry Society Scombulis of South Norwalk. She is WASHINGTON D.C., VIRGINIA & MARYLAND) lishing the “Hellenic Comedy land, SC and Alexandra Spetseris of of New Hampshire and a publishing also survived by three grandchildren ❏1 Month for $18.00 ❏3 Months for $41.00 Group” in the early 1960's, which Greece along with a special and contributor of Poems of the World. and seven great-grandchildren. The ❏6 Months for $57.00 ❏One Year for $109.00 performed comedy skits and shows loved former daughter-in-law Con- She was predeceased by: her hus- funeral was held on December 4 at ON LINE SUBSCRIPTION www.thenationalherald.com for the local community for the ben- nie Zafiris; two grandchildren: band, George; daughter, Joanna St. George Greek Orthodox Church NON SUBSCRIBERS: ❏One Year for $45.95 ❏6 Months for $29.95 efit of the church. A devoted and Jonathan Gianatos and Nick Zafiris Neos O’Brien; grandson, Michael in Norwalk. Memorial donations in ❏3 Months for $18.95 loving mother, Tula was voted both of Charleston, SC; numerous O’Brien; sister, Julie Coronis; and Angelina''s memory can may be SUBSCRIBERS: ❏One Year for $34.95 ❏6 Months for $23.95 “Mother of the Year” by the Saint nieces, nephews and cousins. The three brothers; Harry, Theodynamos made to St. George Greek Orthodox ❏3 Months for $14.95 Irene's Phioloptochos Society, a family would like to thank St. Fran- and William Triantafellow. She is Church, 238 West Rocks Rd., Nor- charitable church organization on cis ER, Roper ER and Roper Hospital survived by: son Charles Neos, walk 06851. Mothers Day 2003. In the 1980s Tu- and especially Hospice Center of Saugus, MA, daughter Paris DePer- NAME: ...... la helped operate the Chris Davis Charleston for the exceptional love ro, San Diego, CA, daughter Martha ■ TZAVELLAS, ELEFTHERIOS ADDRESS: ...... Supper Club in Rialto, where she and care shown to Pat and her fami- Sleder and son-in-law Al Sleder, Jr., NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Times- CITY:...... STATE: ...... ZIP:...... greeted all who came through the ly. The funeral was held on Novem- San Jose, CA, son-in-law Arthur Picayune reported that Eleftherios TEL.: ...... E-MAIL:...... CELL...... door with her caring nature and ber 29 at the Greek Orthodox O’Brien, E. Hartford, CT, daughter- Christ “Teddy” Tzavellas passed PLEASE SEND A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO: warm smile, until her retirement in Church of the Holy Trinity in in-law Patricia Neos, Los Angeles, NAME: ...... 1990. Also during this time Tula at- Charleston. Memorial donations to CA, one granddaughter, six grand- ADDRESS: ...... tended specialized training and vol- Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy sons, eleven great-grandsons and This is a service CITY:...... STATE: ...... ZIP:...... unteered her kind and caring nature Trinity (30 Race Street, Charleston, four great-granddaughters. In addi- to the community. TEL.: ...... E-MAIL:...... CELL...... to help others as a mediator for the SC 29403). tion she has three sisters: Pauline Announcements of deaths Please specify method of payment Superior Court in the Dispute Reso- Chaloge, Angelina Koyiades and may be telephoned to the lution Department in San Bernardi- ■ KIRIAKIDES, ALEX Dorothea Theodore, all living in the I enclose a check/money order for $ ...... made payable to: Classified Department of The National Herald, Inc., 37-10 30th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 - 2614 no. Throughout her life, Tula be- GREENVILLE, S.C. — The State re- greater Manchester, NH area and The National Herald at or please debit my ❏ Mastercard ❏ Visa ❏ American Express lieved and lived a life which was ported that Alex Sunday Kiriakides, one brother, Ted Fellows of CA. She (718) 784-5255, deep rooted in faith and commit- Jr., 94, husband of Catherine Doum- is also survived by many nieces, Monday through Friday, CARD NUMBER: ...... ment in Christ our Lord. For 30 years lele Kiriakides, passed away on nephews, cousins, grandnieces, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST EXPIRATION DATE: ...... SIGNATURE:...... Tula served as a leader, friend and Thursday, November 27, 2008, at grandnephews, great-grandnieces or e-mailed to: mentor to hundreds of Christ's fol- his residence. “Mr. Alex,” as he was and great-grandnephews, two God- [email protected] lowers with Christian Bible Study at known, was born in Asia Minor in sons, two Goddaughters, extended THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 GREECE CYPRUS 11

HIDDEN GREECE Dora Provides Greece's Perspective on Cyprus Issue Hidden Greece presents pictures of the country that tourists don't see, the main streets but also the back streets and balconies and the way of life of people outside the normal spotlight: workers, the homeless, or- In a recent interview with the EU-Turkey relations. It is a strategic there have also been claims that dinary citizens and some more celebrated, and the places they live and work and define modern Greece, Cypriot newspaper Fileleftheros, choice for stability and peace. We Athens supported Turkey. as well as its legacy. Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoy- never said that this endeavour Ms. Bakoyannis: Mr. Venizelos, anni offered a multi-dimensional would be easy. But difficulties I do not accept any insinuations, overview of the Greek Govern- should not lead us to concessions. even when they are ridiculous, as in ment's perspective on the Cyprus is- The easy solution would be to derail this case. Let’s make this clear. Let’s sue, examining the problem within to a special partnership – as it has be serious. Turkey's election to a the context of the European Unin- become known – between the EU two-year term as a non-permanent ion, United Nations and the OSCE and Turkey. Some of our partners member of the Security Council is a (Organization for Security & Coop- within the EU are in favour of such a reality. Let us not underestimate it eration in Europe). The full text of relationship. We are looking into all or undermine it. First of all, a coun- the interview follows: eventualities and we are preparing try's election to this UN body brings Journalist: The ongoing process our tactics. But we insist on the responsibilities with it. Responsibil- on the Cyprus issue is facing serious strategic goal that has been set by ities vis-a-vis the international com- problems due to the Turkish side’s the leaders of the 27 member states munity and the other Security stance. Do you think that there is a who decided in favor of Turkey’s EU Council members. Responsibilities possibility of redressing the situa- accession when all the conditions regarding respect for international tion so that the process can move and criteria provided for in the law and UN decisions. Responsibili- forward? process are met. ties for a moderate stance and keep- Ms. Bakoyannis: A new effort Journalist: Do you think that ing the balance on international is- has begun in Cyprus; an important there is a link between Ankara’s ac- sues. Turkey’s Security Council and hopeful effort for the definitive tivities in the region of Kastelorizo membership will be judged at the solution of the Cyprus issue. But and south of Pafos; very end. And I must say that those this is just the beginning. It is im- Ms. Bakoyannis: Turkey’s re- who will judge it – i.e., the 191 oth- portant that the new negotiation cent activities in Greece’s and er UN member states – are not le- process has begun on the agreed- Cyprus’ maritime zones are damag- nient. upon basis of a bi-zonal, bi-commu- ing bilateral relations and efforts for Journalist: Greece is taking over nal federation, with a single sover- a constructive climate in the ongo- the OSCE Chairmanship. What will eignty, a single citizenship, and a ing negotiating process on the be its priorities? single international personality. The Cyprus issue. They are cause for se- Ms. Bakoyannis: Precisely, yes. resolution of the Cyprus issue pre- rious concern. And obviously the Greece is taking over the Chairman- supposes mutual trust. The Cypriots timing is not insignificant. We were ship of the largest regional organi- can and must find a “Cypriot solu- given the opportunity to discuss the zation on security at a very crucial tion”. We must let them do that, matter with the Cypriot leadership juncture. Amidst the most serious Just Bags without arbitration, however long they might need. Anything else will We’re told this isn’t a good place to be at night, but if you’re looking for a cheap bag during the day you can simply not do. The Republic of find places like this right off Omonia Square at the far end of Sofokleous Street. Cyprus has shown a responsible and constructive stance. In contrast, the signs from the other side are not en- couraging. And no one can ignore the fact that Turkey has special in- terests in wanting to shape Turkish Greece Contemplates Upgrading Its Military Cypriot positions. So difficulties ex- ist. But we should not let these diffi- By Anthony L. Velocci, Jr. within the European Union to in- tion in the EU Battle Group Helbroc culties curb our determination; Aviation Week crease the openness of its procure- - which includes Bulgaria, Romania curb the joint will of Athens and ment process. and Cyprus - and that, too, requires Nicosia to change today’s unaccept- At the height of the Cold War, For example, in February, Greece Greece to maintain a modern mili- able situation of the island’s occu- Greece was an important ally of the adopted a legislative framework tary. pation and to achieve the reunifica- U.S. in helping to check the Soviet that previously did not exist for buy- Still, Larrabee questions why tion of the island. Union's potential to threaten the ing armaments, he points out. But Greece thinks it needs such a rela- Journalist: EU-Turkey accession eastern Mediterranean. Since then, Vasilakos also is quick to add that tively large defense budget, given negotiations offer important lever- the nation has remained a vital Greece will do whatever is in the the thaw between Athens and age to Athens and Nicosia. It has player in the region's security. country's best interests, including Ankara in recent years. The fact re- been argued that advantage has not Along the way, that evolution using government-to-government mains that Greece and Turkey have been taken of this leverage, and has done little to suppress Greece's purchase agreements. a very long history of troubled rela- thus Turkey is emboldened, still appetite for modern weapon sys- All the same, U.S. Army Col. tions, with Turkey spending about pursuing its maximalist policy on Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni tems, and today its shopping list Steve G. Boukedes acknowledges as much as Greece on defense. the Cyprus issue. Do you agree with may be valued at up to $12 billion that Greece has been attempting to Whatever the lingering differ- that view? within the framework of President global financial crisis and following over the next 10 years. Less clear is be more open in how it buys mili- ences between the two countries, Ms. Bakoyannis: The positions Christofias' visit. We will continue the events in the Caucasus, our the source of those new armaments tary equipment. He is chief of the "territorial dispute" is a mis-charac- of Greece and Cyprus on Turkey's to monitor Ankara’s moves carefully country is called upon to coordinate and how Athens might go about Office of Defense Cooperation- terization, according to Deputy De- accession course are based on prin- and take all the necessary action. the OSCE's role, an Organization procuring them. Greece and is the principal interface fense Minister Constantine Tas- ciples, on European prerequisites, Turkey is one of the few countries participated in by the Cold War’s The Greek government makes between U.S. defense contractors soulas. "A dispute is when I have and not on opportunistic calcula- that have not signed the Conven- former adversaries. no excuses for maintaining rela- and the Greek military. "There some rights and you have some tions. Reforms required under ac- tion on the Law of Sea. And its dis- The crisis in August altered es- tionships with all equipment seems to be less wheeling and deal- rights, and we go to court to see cession negotiations are indeed a puting actions only go to show tablished perceptions about securi- sources, including Russia. What ing," he asserts. whose rights are heavier," he says. difficult endeavour. But this offers Turkey’s “solitude”. These activities ty in Europe. Now, important play- troubles some U.S. defense con- Greece's defense spending "If somebody claims that your house no alibi for delays, retractions, or cannot call into question the sover- ers such as the French and Russian tractors is not that they have com- amounted to about 2.4% of the is his, this is not a dispute - this is an blank cheques. All the countries eign rights of the Republic of Presidents are arguing in favour of petition, but that the rules don't al- country's gross national product in illegal claim." As recently as the late that have become members of the Cyprus over its maritime resources, building a new European security ways seem fair and balanced for all 2006, the last year for which there 1990s, the two countries routinely European Union have made the nor do they constitute a precedent structure that will take into account players - a situation that has been are complete figures, according to engaged in a game of brinkman- necessary efforts, have carried out on the issue of the continental shelf. Eurasia’s geopolitical map, the Eu- exacerbated by a procurement the International Institute for ship, especially in the air. the necessary reforms in order to They are unilateral, arbitrary ac- ropean Union's enlargement, NA- process whose clarity, while im- Strategic Studies' "Military Balance" "Greece's neighborhood is not become part of the European family. tions that do not bolster security TO’s transformation and Russia’s proving, still leaves much to be de- assessment. That figure compares what one would describe as tran- There are no exceptions on that, and stability in the region. strategic role. So an open and sub- sired, they claim. with about 1.7% for all European quil," Vasilakos says. Deputy De- there are no special cases. As you Journalist: Various things have stantial dialogue is needed. Evangelos V. Vasilakos, who countries that belong to NATO. fense Minister Ioannis Plakiotakis know, 2009 is expected to be an im- been said or reported in the press The idea of an OSCE Summit oversees the purchase of all mili- There are a variety of reasons adds that the area isn't as volatile as portant year for progress on about the coordination between some time in 2009 is gaining tary equipment, bristles at any sug- why Greece wants to maintain a ro- it has been in the recent past, but it Turkey's accession course. Greece and Cyprus. What is the re- ground. Greece is prepared to orga- gestions that U.S. military contrac- bust program of defense modern- "remains fluid and therefore frag- Journalist: The idea of a special ality? nize this summit if it is given a clear tors have failed to capture their fair ization. In the Balkans, Greece ile." partnership with Turkey instead of Ms. Bakoyannis: The relations mandate by the Organization’s par- share of Greece's defense business. helps to stabilize a region that has a Nevertheless, Turkey, more than full accession is resurfacing within between Greece and Cyprus are fra- ticipating states. It is willing to work All you have to do is look at the history of turmoil, notes F. Stephen anything else, is what drives the EU. What is Greece’s approach ternal relations. We have an ongo- systematically, and in a transparent platforms Greece has bought in the Larrabee, a European security spe- Athens's desire to sustain a robust to such an eventuality? ing cooperation. A united front. manner, in order to ensure broad last decade, especially aircraft, and cialist at the Rand Corp. "You can't program of weapons moderniza- Ms. Bakoyannis: I mentioned There are no clouds and no shad- consensus among participating see that most of them came from dismiss the potential for outside tion, according to civilian and gov- earlier that the support offered by ows. It is superfluous to keep reiter- states, so that we will be able to U.S. factories, he points out. Lock- powers to use age-old minority is- ernment officials. Greece and Cyprus to Turkey's ac- ating something which is obvious. build strong foundations for future heed Martin historically has been sues as a pretext for territorial Tassoulas acknowledges that re- cession course is sincere and it is Journalist: There have been re- stability and security. the principal supplier of fighters to claims." lations with Turkey have been im- based on principles. The position ports about Greece's role with re- the Greek air force. Vasilakos ac- Greece also participates in the proving, and the Greek government “full compliance-full accession” is gard to Turkey's election as a non- Source: Interview of FM Ms. D. knowledges that some weapons global war on terrorism, as well as wants to keep that process moving not a slogan. It is a political choice permanent member in the Security Bakoyannis in the Cypriot news- were acquired in an "unorthodox peacekeeping operations in forward, including supporting in favour of change. Change within Council. There have been reports paper “O Fileleftheros, with jour- manner," but he says Greece has Afghanistan and Iraq. Moreover, Turkey's adhesion to the European Turkey, change in the triangle that Greece had committed itself nalist Kostas Venizelos (30 No- done more than any other country the country is the "framework" na- Union. Greece-Turkey-Cyprus, change in not to obstruct the election, but vember 2008) Cypriot Killed in Mumbai told of Terror Hours Before He Died

LONDON (AFP) — A British-Cypri- saying that Liveras had been ab- “We hid ourselves under the es. But nobody is eating really, peo- you hear something everybody the richest people in Britain. ot businessman has been named as ducted with a large group of other table and then they switched all the ple are frightened.” jumps. Everybody is just living on Britain's High Commissioner to one of 125 people killed in the diners and “assassinated in cold lights off. But the machine gun kept He said that as he was speaking, their nerves.” India Sir Richard Stagg earlier told Mumbai attacks, hours after he blood during the terrorist attacks.” going, and they took us into the “it's very quiet. The last bomb ex- Liveras ran a chartered yacht the BBC that seven Britons had gave an interview describing how As news filtered out from Mum- kitchen, and from there into a base- ploded about 45 minutes ago and it company in Monaco where he ad- been injured in the attacks. he was trapped in a hotel with gun- bai after the attacks, Liveras gave a ment, to come up into a salon.” shook the hotel up. Nobody comes vertised “the world's most impres- Prime Minister Gordon Brown men outside. telephone interview to the BBC He estimated there were “more in this room and nobody goes out, sive private yachts to the charter announced Britain was sending The British Foreign Office an- from the Taj Mahal hotel, one of than 1,000 people” in the room, a and we don't really know.” community.” specialist police officers to India to nounced on Thursday that one two luxury hotels targeted by gun- mixture of residents, tourists and “All we know is the bombs are In his online biography, he de- help investigators probing the at- Briton was among the dead, and men in a series of coordinated at- locals. next door and the hotel is shaking scribed how he worked as a deliv- tacks, and would do “whatever is Cypriot foreign ministry officials tacks across the city. “We're not hiding, we are locked every time a bomb goes off,” he eryman for a bakery when he first necessary” to protect its citizens later confirmed reports that the He had heard it was the best in here -- nobody tells us anything, said. arrived in London, before buying from the “horrific incident.” man was 73-year-old Andreas Liv- restaurant in Mumbai, but told the the doors are locked and we are in- The interviewer put to him that the shop and turning it into a major “We're sending police emer- eras, a yacht tycoon who emigrated British broadcaster: “As soon as we side,” Liveras said. he must be terrified, to which Liv- wholesaler. He sold it and moved gency teams that are well versed in to London in 1963. sat at the table we heard the ma- “We have got hotel staff here at eras replied: into the yachting business. dealing with terrorism,” he said, The Cyprus News Agency re- chine gun fire outside in the corri- this moment who are helping us a “Everybody is... we are just look- Liveras was ranked 265 in the adding that he was “shocked and ported his brother Theophanis as dors, everywhere. lot, providing water and sandwich- ing at each other, and every time Sunday Times newspaper's list of outraged” by the attacks.

Former Cyprus President Don’t miss our 5th biannual Papadopoulos has lung cancer By Famagusta Gazette Books It has been announced that the Special Insert former President of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos has lung cancer. He has been in hospital for the past few weeks and will remain in the Inten- sive Care Unit of Nicosia General Hospital. Theodoros Kyprianou, the head of Nicosia General Hospital's inten- Coming NEXT weekend, December 13, 2008 sive care unit said that cancer was detected on Papadopoulos’ lungs af- ter examinations by specialists. “Mr Papadopoulos is aware of the diag- nosis and is treating the whole prob- lem of his health with courage and serenity,” said Mr Kyprianou. To advertise or to obtain information and rates for our special inserts: As president between 2003-08, Tel: (718) 784-5255 ext. 101, e-mail: [email protected] Papadopoulos ushered the island in- TNH ARCHIVES to the European Union after rallying Former President of Cyprus Tas- Greek Cypriots to reject a U.N.-bro- sos Papadopoulos. kered reunification plan. 12 EDITORIALS LETTERS THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008

The National Herald LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest Let’s Praise Community her predecessor Georgia Skeadas approaches, the Philoptochos fair amount of students who were to the Greek American community of the United States of America. Volunteers This Holiday Season who happened to be her sister-in- should set the example of giving to of Greek decent. Ironically, every law, if I am not mistaken. the needy in our community start- science course, theater course or Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris I am also mindful of the huge ing with those who have lost their philosophy course (among many To The Editor, progress and achievements of the jobs. other fields of study) I took, incor- Assistant to Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos Bravo to all volunteers, especial- former president Mrs. Eve Con- Anna Archontides porated Greek culture, language Managing Editor Evan C. Lambrou ly Mr. Manolis and his family, who dakes who served with dignity and California and history. The importance of our Assistant Managing Editor Mark Frangos dedicated their time and energy to respect for quite a few years. heritage is ever-present in all fields Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros help those in need on Thanksgiv- I think that the new generation of academic studies. So why aren’t Webmaster Alexandros Tsoukias ing, especially during this time of of women of our Church and Com- Losing Any Hellenic Studies we encouraging our schools to offer The National Herald (USPS 016864) is published weekly by financial crisis. Last week, reading munity should become more ac- Center is a Blow to Hellenism Greek as a language? Why aren’t The National Herald Inc. at 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 about shoppers in Long Island who tively involved in the holy work of we demanding the expansion of Tel: (718)784-5255, Fax: (718)472-0510, trampled over and killed a Wal- philanthropy of the Philoptochos programs that already exist and e-mail: [email protected] mart worker really caused me to Organization of our Church, so that To The Editor: fighting to keep the ones that are Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece take a look at the road humanity is the torch of succession and respon- Thank you for bringing atten- on the brink of elimination? And Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, e-mail: [email protected] spiraling down. Co-workers that at- sibility is passed down to younger tion to the unnerving idea that if why aren’t we pushing our kids to tempted to help the man were also people with new ideas and goals, we don’t do all we can to preserve participate more in Hellenic pro- Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $66.00, 6 months $33.00, 3 months $22.00, 1 month $11.00 trampled and several people, in- keeping always in mind that the our Hellenic culture in our univer- grams and to launch organizations Home delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $88.00, 6 months $48.00, 3 months $33.00, 1 month $14.00 cluding a pregnant woman, were Philoptochos is the loving and car- sities, it will begin to dissipate be- in their colleges if they don’t al- Home delivery New England States, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland: 1 year $109.00, 6 months $57.00, 3 months $41.00, 1 month $18.00 taken to the hospital for injuries ing face of our Church. fore our eyes. The Hellenic Studies ready exist? On line subscription: Subscribers to the print edition: 1 year $34.95, 6 months $23.95, suffered. How utterly horrific can a If I may suggest that we should program that was banished from Maybe it’s time to reclaim own- 3 months $14.95; Non subscribers: 1 year $45.95, 6 months $29.95, 3 months $18.95 person be to place the value of su- try to be of assistance primarily to Latrobe University in Australia ership of the phrase “Greek Life” so perficial items over a man’s life? our own people in need and believe should be a wake up call to all gen- that instead of seeing our alphabet Periodical postage paid at L.I.C., N.Y. and additional mailing offices. With the holidays approaching, I there are quite a few in our Greek erations of Greek American stu- posted on frat sweaters, we can see Postmaster send change of address to: hope there are more Greek Ameri- American Community in cities and dents and educators in the U.S. it in our classrooms. THE NATIONAL HERALD, 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 cans out there are willing to devote towns of our great nation, which is What about our universities here? George Mikas anything they possibly can — going through some very difficult What is being done to ensure that Boston, Mass. whether it be in monetary form, economic times. our programs are strong enough to time, or even a shoulder to lean on The new Philoptochos presi- withstand the test of time? — to those suffering during the sea- dent, Aphrodite Skeadas can take When I attended a fairly decent- A brutal reminder son. It’s far too easy to let the mad- the organization to substantial sized university in New York sever- TO OUR READERS ness of Christmas shopping over- heights by trying to increase the al years ago, Greek was not offered The National Herald welcomes The terrorist attack in Mumbai disturbed the relatively calm waters of the whelm what matters most this time membership as she had stated in as a language, there were no Hel- Thanksgiving holiday, and once again brought the brutal reality of the ter- of year. her interview and provide leader- lenic student organizations and not letters from its readers intended rorist threat back to our forgetful minds. I want to encourage my fellow ship with confidence and results. a single course was offered relating for publication. This barbaric attack shocked the world, not only because of the indis- Greek Americans to look beyond As the holiest feast of Christmas solely to Greek studies despite the criminate cold-blooded massacre of innocent people who just happened to the sale sign, to pay attention to the be in their way, but also because the targets were not mighty symbols of cap- travesty that surrounds us and to italism and military power, as if that could ever be an excuse, – as was the lend a helping hand to those who case with New York, the Pentagon and London – but hotels, railroads and a need it. synagogue in the commercial hub of India, a country which, even though it I am confident that there are is making great progress, still has hundreds of millions of poverty-stricken more people out there like Mr. and people. Mrs. Manolis, who have been cook- It also shocked up the world because Indian authorities were unable to ing and delivering meals to the prevent the attack – even though it they had advance warning from Ameri- needy for the last 15 years. All hope can intelligence – or to stop the terrorists once they began. And so this is not lost for a more charitable fu- tragedy was allowed to go on for 60 hours drawing the eyes of the world up- ture. on it through live television. John Tolakis And so the question that almost subconsciously came to everybody’s Baltimore, Md. mind is, who and what will the next target be? What country and what places are safe in the wake of this most recent attack? Relations between India and Pakistan are historically tense. The two The Philoptochos is in Good countries have gone to war three times over the disputed area of Kashmir, so Hands with Aphrodite Skeadas the fact that the terrorists are increasingly linked to a Pakistani militant group is once again bringing Indo-Pakistani relations to a boiling point. Both countries possess nuclear weapons, and a war could very well lead To The Editor: to using these terrible weapons against each other, causing major damage I’d like to congratulate His Emi- not only to them, but also to the whole Subcontinent, if not beyond. nence Archbishop Demetrios of It is primarily for this reason that the alarm has sounded in a number of America for making such a wonder- capitals which are trying to prevent that from happening. ful appointment for the helm of the There is a very bitter taste in the mouths of many after the barbaric attack National Philoptochos Organiza- by ten extremists who slaughtered 173 people and injured hundreds more, tion of our Archdiocese, Mrs. and there is a sinking feeling about the vacuum in international authority. Aphrodite Skeadas. Which country is in now a position to impose some kind of order on this Secondly, I would like to con- Earth? How is it possible that small teams of people can be so desperate that gratulate The National Herald for they become so fanatic as to take these kinds of actions? Why are they so the exceptional interview with the filled with hatred and rage? And why do they believe that can alter the new Philoptochos president, well- course of history, that they can impose their political will upon entire na- deserved publicity for a dynamic tions? Greek American young woman of In the end, it seems that this area of Asia – India, Pakistan and our new generation. It seems to me Afghanistan – might very well be the most dangerous part of the world. Can that Mrs. Skeadas will bring a anyone put some kind of order there before they go over the edge? breath of fresh air and a new profile CHRYSANTHI LIRISTIS into the Philoptochos Society as did SPECIAL TO THE NATIONAL HERALD

New cabinet watch LETTER FROM ATHENS Most of President-Elect Barack Obama’s selections for the top positions in his cabinet, the people who will help him govern the country, are truly im- pressive – evidenced, of the high degree of self-confidence he possesses. He started by giving priority to the dire financial situation we are in, as he Will Obama now let Greece Twist in the Wind? should have, by assembling his economic team, and then he proceeded to assemble his foreign relations and national security team. It wasn’t just Greeks and Greek in disbelief, if we knew from Greece. And since former Massachusetts Gov. His selections are made up of people who are pragmatic realists; success- Americans cheering wildly when where they were, al- Turkey is the future Michael Dukakis was the Democrat- ful individuals, not ideologues, apparently capable of coming up with solu- Barack Obama became the Presi- though a good starting for trade, especially ic nominee in 1988. That, of course, tions to the problems the country faces. dent-elect of the United States, but point might be Turkey’s when it becomes the was 20 years ago, and Greece has Indicative of the positive reception these appointments received is the Americans in Greece, many of prisons. That many biggest member of been an afterthought in American fact that the day the name of the new Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, whom gathered at the Hilton Hotel Turkish Cypriots were the European Union. policy since. Obama won’t change was leaked, the stock market jumped by 400 points. in Athens for what was essentially a killed and disappeared POLITICAL MATH that, his noble intentions notwith- The decision to keep Bush appointee Robert Gates in the Defense Depart- Democratic caucus preaching to only complicates Oba- This is all about standing, even if the new president ment was wise and uniquely American, given the facts that he has proven to the choir about the foregone con- ma’s task because the political expediency can get Turkey, as he has promised, be a good Secretary of Defense and the country is fighting two wars, one of clusion he would win, which didn’t Greek resentment and and math, and to respect the religious freedom of which Mr. Obama says he will try to bring to a conclusion in the not-too-dis- stop them from exulting about not mistrust runs deep, ex- Greece can’t match the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Is- tant future. just the first half-African-American cept in Christofias’ Turkey in either, so tanbul, end its seizure of Greek Or- But no selection was received with greater interest and speculation than President, but the belief he would mind, because he’s bud- by ANDY Obama’s little pre- thodox property and re-open the that of Hillary Clinton, his sometimes-bitter rival for the Democratic Party’s reverse the usual American policy dy-buddy with his Turk- DABILIS election promises will Halki School of Theology, none of Presidential nomination, for Secretary of State. of benign neglect toward Greece. ish Cypriot counterpart, be forgotten in the which it will do. Vice-President- Most political observers find Hillary’s appointment a brilliant tactical But can he, despite promises he Mehmet Ali Talat. Be- Special to flush of taking office Elect Joe Biden has characterized move. Not only will the country get a smart, strong personality who is very was on the side of Greeks, unlike cause they are politi- The National Herald and meeting reality. Turkey’s presence in Cyprus as occu- well known around the world, but Mr. Obama also disarms her as a potential George Bush, who could care less cians first and national- The closest Greece pation, but he’s not the president. political rival in 2012. about Greece and probably could- ists second, they are cooking up a will get to Obama is the Greek Brady Kiesling, a former senior There are also those who argue her selection is risky; that she and her n’t find it on a map, if he even knew scheme to swap power and trade, columns he used to decorate his ac- US diplomat in Athens who re- husband carry a lot of baggage; that, sooner or later, the Clintons will create what that was. regardless of what residents on ei- ceptance speech as the Democratic signed several years ago in protest problems for Mr. Obama; and that he will not be able to fire her should that “He made it,” said Alexandra ther side of the divided island nominee in Denver, and Greece had over the war in Iraq, said, “The become a necessary eventuality. Bougadis, a 23-year-old student think. better not count on Obama breaking Obama administration must imple- The decision nonetheless seems to be taken out right out of Doris Kearns’ who was among hundreds in the Greek Cypriots whose homes the mold of thinking in Washington, ment a massive shift of taxpayer re- book, “Team of Rivals,” referring to the genius of Abraham Lincoln in ap- sold-out event attended by US am- were seized on the northern part of which always sides with Turkey. sources away from military-based pointing some of his main political rivals to the most important cabinet posts bassador Daniel Speckhard, which the island which Turks still occupy Greek Prime Minister Costas Kara- ‘security’ and toward economic and to provide the country with the best people, gaining his opponents’ respect lasted until the early morning can forget about ever getting them manlis hailed Obama’s election the environmental security. On the for- and even their admiration over time. hours because no one wanted to back because Turkey’s offer is to re- day after the triumph was sealed in eign policy front, this means nego- As far as the national interests of Greece are concerned, the selection of leave this party. “There needs to be turn only unoccupied properties or a walkover against Republican chal- tiating a sustainable international Hillary Clinton should be viewed as a positive development. She knows our a change and he is the one to do it,” those “not in areas of military sig- lenger John McCain, and used the economic system that includes en- issues well enough, and also counts a number of Greek Americans across the she said. “The whole world is back- nificance,” which means none. And opportunity to refer to Obama’s vironmental costs in the pricing of country among her friends and supporters. ing him.” Bill Kyritsis, executive since Cyprus is in the European stance backing Greece in its 17-year- goods and services.” Yvette Jarvis, What we have not seen so far, however, is the appointment of a Greek vice president of the Hellenic chap- Union and Turkey is not, but wants long dispute with the Former Yu- an African-American woman who American to a major post. Let’s hope that will come eventually also. ter of Democrats Abroad, said a to be even though it blocks its ports became the first in both categories record-breaking 20 percent of the to Cypriot vessels, what is Obama to win a seat on the Athens City more than 107,000 Americans liv- going to do? And what will he say The closest Greece will Council six years ago, headed the ing in Greece turned out to vote. after being sworn in and convening get to Obama is the Obama in Greece campaign and “More than 75 percent of all the any discussion about Cyprus and echoed what those who know Oba- Political stability voters in Greece are Obama sup- Greece only to be told: “Ah, Mr. Greek columns used ma believe: that he is the genuine porters - it was the biggest voter President, Greece has 11 million during his Democratic article, a man who believes what he Our brothers and sisters in Greece have not yet felt nor fully realized the turnout in years and the victory will people and a trade surplus with us nominee acceptance says and will try to do the right economic tsunami roaming around the world these days. Still, it is inevitable hopefully bring about peace and of $769 million. Turkey has 71 mil- thing, even if he finds he can’t, and that it will also reach their shores in the near future. economic stability across the lion people and we export $4.5 bil- speech in Denver. that includes his leanings toward Meanwhile, they spend their time being consumed by an alleged land ex- world,” said Kyritsis. “Even though lion there and it will be close to the Greece, so this isn’t the usual ques- change scandal between an Athonite monastery and the Greek Government he is an elected US president, Oba- top 10 economies of the world in goslavia Republic of Macedonia (FY- tion of political duplicity. which, they say, favored the monastery. The opposition and its supporters in ma will ultimately have a domino the next 15 years. Turkey is the ROM), a country which had Bush’s “I felt as though he spoke to me! the Greek media are completely fixated on it. The damage to the image of affect throughout the world,” he prime geographical point for us to backing. “I appreciate the clear and His honesty, his humility, compla- the church in general, is such , that many people have stopped going to said, anointing the new President- be close to the Caucasus and Caspi- firm positions that you have adopt- cency, strength, patience, family Church and supporting religious institutions. elect a saviour, as the word “Messi- an and Black Sea regions and we ed on issues of Greek concern,” values, incredible intelligence and We are, of course, all for transparency and the necessity to investigate ah” was seriously being kicked need Turkey more than Greece.” Karamanlis said. “We will be looking oratory skills are all qualities of a these allegations of possible corruption and severely punishing those who around as well, a bit prematurely. He will say this: “Goodbye, forward to working closely with formidable leader,” she said. He’ll are proven guilty of betraying the public trust. While the beatification of St. Greece.” The U.S. has only slight fi- your administration in solving these need them to give Greece the place But even some pro-opposition newspapers have begun to express the Barack Obama is apparently com- nancial interests in Greece in the issues and in developing and en- it deserves in US foreign policy, but view that the fixation on this issue has dragged out for far too long. plete, he will now find it hard to fields of defence, medicine, con- hancing our relations in all fields what he’ll really need is a Greek ex- Seasoned observers in Athens express the view that the actual target of live up to his words to support struction, food processing, packag- during your term in office.” That’s port that Americans identify with these attacks is Prime Minister Karamanlis, who the opposition and its sup- Greece, and especially Cyprus ing and franchising, and looking to- the kind of boilerplate language the country: worry beads. porters are trying to weaken for politically motivated and other reasons. against the 34-year-old ongoing in- ward more in energy, while thou- politicians always use, but it means And to some extent, according to public opinion polls, they are succeeding. vasion by Turkey, even though sands of US-made products are sold nothing because getting FYROM in- Mr. Dabilis was the New England Mr. Karamanlis’ government is based on a razor-thin majority of 151, just Cyprus’ Communist President Dim- in Greece. The American-Hellenic to NATO is more important to the editor for United Press Interna- one Member of Parliament more than it needs to stay in power. Most ob- itrios Christofias is ready to ratify Chamber of Commerce has more US than pacifying Greece. The US tional in Boston, and a staff servers believe that no MP would dare topple the Government. That’s prob- the occupation and share power than 1,000 members, although the already refers to FYROM as Macedo- writer and assistant metropoli- ably true. with a Turkish President, a notion US accounts for less than seven per- nia, and that’s not going to change, tan editor at the Boston Globe for There could not be a worst time for Greece to face both a financial and which would make all those Greek cent of Greek imports. But direct no matter what hybrid name is final- 17 years before relocating to political crises, however. And given the fact that there a relatively short peri- Cypriots killed by Turkish troops foreign investment is difficult be- ly forced on Greece. Greece. His column is published od of time has elapsed since the last elections, such an eventuality should be during the 1974 onslaught turn cause of the labyrinthine bureau- U.S. Congressman John P. Sar- weekly in the National Herald. avoided at all costs. over in their graves, if we could just cracy, while Turkey is rolling out banes of Maryland said Obama’s Readers interested in contacting There is another substantive reason: Costas Karamanlis is by far the best find out where those are, and the the red carpet for American compa- win was the most important politi- him can send e-mails to andyd- political leader Greece has at this time. 1,619 missing Greek Cypriots wail nies and seizing American tourists cal change for Greece-US relations [email protected]. THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 6, 2008 VIEWPOINTS 13 The Economy: Change Must Be More than a Slogan

In 1776, the year of the American all private enterprises were managed decent and capable per- In the financial sec- valid assurances that the loan will be tered the picture with a vengeance. Declaration of Independence, anoth- by their owners. The motive of the son derived from the tor, the “invisible hand” repaid under agreed conditions and Financial giants like Lehman Broth- er document of lasting significance owner/manager was profit. Today, successful outcome of a is equally merciless at an agreed rate of interest. ers collapsed within a day. saw the light of day. It was the book the majority of small enterprises are demanding effort. when managers make In the past several years in the Because overall confidence in the of Adam Smith, ”An Inquiry Into the still managed by their owners. An Fortunately, it is not bad choices. United States, this rather simple and system was weakened, those holding Nature and Causes of the Wealth of owner has a strong incentive to make uncommon to have a Financial institu- straightforward process was violat- shares of companies rushed to sell Nations.” Long titles were fashion- the right choices because his profit, good manager who tions such as banks are ed. Bank officials – loan officers – them before others did the same – in able in those days. In the years to his income, his livelihood depend on wants to succeed for the indispensable for the were rewarded with fees and bonus- this way bringing stock prices down, come, people started to use just the managing his enterprise well. pride of success. Unfor- smooth functioning of a es for giving loans even to borrowers reducing substantially the retirement title “The Wealth of Nations,” when Medium, large, and especially tunately, to have such a free market economy. who offered no reliable assurances accounts of millions of people. Fear, they were referring to the book of multinational giants are not man- manager, is still a mat- Without “money” avail- that the loans would be repaid as greed and folly combined to under- Adam Smith. Whether by the long or aged by their owners – the owners ter of chance. There are able for borrowing, a agreed. The incentive of those bank mine stability and trust. the short title, the book soon became being nowadays shareholders with no built-in mechanisms by DR. D.G. free market economy officials was to generate fees and Barack Obama promised change. the bible of the free enterprise sys- little say on the day-to-day opera- to assure proper man- KOUSOULAS would not go very far – bonuses for themselves regardless of A vital change will have to be in the tem. tions or even on the crucial strategic agement for the enter- it would be constrained the risks assumed by the bank. This area of incentives, the economic in- Smith favored a market economy decisions. Such decisions are con- prises. When managers Special to by the limited assets of was a flagrant distortion of the bank- centives of those who manage the where the individual was free to pro- trolled by hired managers whose mo- make mistakes, Smith’s The National Herald each economic partici- ing process. manufacturing or the financial enti- duce, sell, and consume and where tives differ radically from those of the “invisible hand” comes pant, be it a manufac- In other cases, borrowers were ties. Especially, in the case of the the pursuit of profit would be a prop- owner/manager. Any restaurant or into play, but not exactly the way turing company, a building company, lured to accept home loans at a low manufacturing sector, this change er and acceptable motive. Smith boutique store owner knows the dif- Smith envisioned. The unwise, the a person planning to open or expand interest rate which rate, however, will have to include the incentives of spoke of an “invisible hand” that ference. The hired managers – espe- dishonest or the incompetent are not a restaurant, a potential buyer of a was termed adjustable, meaning that the leaders of labor unions who often would regulate such an economic cially those of the large corporations personally punished for their wrong house or a car, or a farmer who needs it would be increased in the future at try to force an increase in employee process, rewarding those who acted – are paid fabulous salaries and other ways. It is the company – the to buy fertilizer. the discretion of the bank. benefits which far exceeds what a prudently by making the correct lucrative forms of compensation owners/stockholders and the em- “Money” is a rather strange com- Investment banks – not subject to company can afford. choices, and punishing those who ig- (such as stock options) regardless of ployees – who pay the penalty. modity – a piece of paper that people the regulations applying to commer- All in all, freedom of action must nored the effects of supply and de- the success or failure of the company. A glaring example of this process “trust” that has an ascribed value. Be- cial banks – went even further, devel- be tempered by responsibility. Capi- mand. And when they leave the company is the plight of the three automobile cause of that ascribed value, people oping new, sophisticated instruments talism will overcome the current cri- Why refer now to a book that was (even after a poor job), they have al- manufacturing giants in the United are willing to accept that piece of pa- such as the so called “derivatives” or sis, no doubt. But it will be best if it written more than two hundred ready contracted the receipt of a so- States. They expect government as- per for payment for their products or the “credit default swaps,” designed emerges as responsible capitalism in years ago? Because in the last two called golden parachute, an obscene- sistance to avoid bankruptcy. If, how- as payment for their labor. The key to “spread the risk” while undermin- the age of globalization. A tall order months we saw Smith’s “invisible ly large sum of severance pay. Under ever, they fail, it will not be their word is “trust.” If that “trust” is ques- ing the relationship between lender for the president-elect. hand” punishing many financial (and those conditions, they have no incen- managers that will suffer for their tioned, the whole financial edifice is and borrower. Those managing manufacturing) giants for making tive, while in charge, to pursue the bad decisions. Even in better eco- in real trouble. those “instruments” had a strong in- Dr. Kousoulas is Professor wrong decisions over a period of success of the enterprise. Their per- nomic times, companies have paid It is not surprising that banks are centive to “sell” them. They received Emeritus of Political Science at time. sonal benefits do not depend on the the price for poor management but usually well regulated. Since the time hefty fees and bonuses without risk Howard University in Washington, In Smith’s model of a market profitability of the company. If some their plight received less publicity. of Adam Smith, the motive of the to themselves since they were han- DC. He is the author of several economy, a key element was the mo- of them do a good job, they do so, not Changing the incentives should be banker is – or it is expected to be – dling “other people’s money. Their books, notably "The Life and Times tive of those participating in the eco- for economic reasons but for emo- one of the ways to shield the econom- very clear. Lend money carefully, incentive was personal enrichment. of Constantine the Great (1999)," nomic process. In his day, practically tional reasons, the satisfaction of a ic system against future meltdowns. with proper safeguards and with In the end, the “invisible hand” en- and numerous scholarly articles. I’m Not An Economist, But…

I took a couple of economics pondered the obvious question: even from their corner store right now, and that is plans will lose so much of their value. they don’t have to go out of business. courses in college, know how to bal- before Obama has taken office, have while the government genuinely sad. But a lot Well, doesn’t that affect everyone? If I Franklin D. Roosevelt, our na- ance my checkbook, and read The we not immersed ourselves in the subsidizes the ad- of other people are gun- am making $100,000 per year and all tion’s 32nd president, famously said Economist magazine fairly regularly, most aggressive display of socialism justable rate mortgage shy about buying of a sudden I’m down to $20,000 per that the only thing we have to fear is but I am certainly not an economist. since the New Deal? of the Hamptons vaca- Christmas gifts because year, it won’t really matter as long as I fear itself. Unfortunately, fear is in Nonetheless, there are a whole It is amazing to witness the CEOs tion chateau that their of all the hoopla about a can buy a brand new car for $800 abundant supply these days: whether bunch of purported economic gurus of the “big three” American automo- spendthrift neighbors “bad economy.” It is tru- and a steak dinner for 60 cents. it is because the media loves to per- talking about what’s wrong with the bile manufacturers, Chrysler, Ford, own? Most importantly, ly unfortunate that Sure, unemployment is on the petuate drama, because savvy Wall economy, but they really don’t make and General Motors, flying to Wash- what authority does those who have not felt rise, but that is due more to percep- Street tycoons want the rest of us to more sense than anyone else. ington in their private jets to ask the Congress have to do the economic sting are tion than reality: it is because em- be afraid, so that stocks will drop and Long before November 4, it be- government for money. Before we any of this, considering going to add to the con- ployers have bought into the idea they can buy them on clearance, be- came apparent that Barack Obama even try to make sense of how in the that the Constitution sumer lethargy because that we have a bad economy, and so cause the newly-elected politicians was going to win the presidential world that would be equitable, con- limits its powers to rais- by CONSTANTINOS E. of sky-falling alarms they are trying to cut costs by down- want to overemphasize how they in- election; anyone who examined the sidering the government will not bail ing an army, collecting SCAROS overhyped by Washing- sizing. Consumers, in turn, are not herited such a big mess, or maybe be- circumstances objectively realized out every other business owner in the mail, and a few oth- ton, Wall Street, and the helping matters any by being afraid cause no one really quite knows that John McCain didn’t have a America whose company is facing er specific tasks? Special to media. to buy anything. Everyone is joining what’s really going on. prayer to pull off a victory. As the los- hard times, I’m still stuck on how a Legend has it that if The National Herald Headlines in last in that crowd staring up at nothing Like I said, I’m not an economist. ing party has always done historically government bailout will entice the you walk to a busy week’s newspapers on Manhattan’s busiest streetcorner. And I am sure that there are plenty of (whether it was the Democrats, Re- consumer who rejected the Crossfire, Manhattan streetcorner, such as the warned that prices fell so sharply in Supposedly, the economy was hurt economists who would disagree with publicans, Federalists, or Whigs), it Explorer, and Suburban a few intersection of Broadway and 42nd October, and that might be bad for because of the housing industry, be- my explanations and dismiss them as mustered a last-ditch effort to snatch months ago to suddenly trade in his Street, and look up into the sky, oth- the economy. And here I thought peo- cause homeowners felt the squeeze naïve and oversimplified. And they victory from the jaws of defeat. This or her Honda, Toyota, or Mercedes- ers walking along will look up as ple worried about inflation, not de- when their mortgage rates adjusted might be right. Then again, to this time around, it was the Republicans Benz in favor of an American auto- well, and before you know it, an en- flation. Silly me. All I know is that gas upward, but haven’t interest rates point, the experts have been nothing who faced impending doom, and mobile simply because Uncle Sam tire crowd will be staring straight up has been a lot cheaper lately, the dol- come down as of late? These are not but wrong. their issue was to scare undecided donated a few billion dollars to the and will have no idea why they are lar has made a dramatic comeback the 1930s, and people are not taking voters by claiming that Obama was unappealing vehicle’s inept manufac- doing so. That reminds me of this against the Euro, and fewer illegal their money out of banks and socking Constantinos E. Scaros is a pub- a…gasp….”socialist!” I found that to turers. And how is it fair that the cou- whole economy talk – a lot of vague aliens are crossing the border into the it into their mattresses; they are tak- lished author and expert in Ameri- be incredibly ironic in the face of a ple who live within their means in statements that no one quite under- United States to look for work. So, ing money out of the stock market can presidential history, with a massive government bailout of a Corona will not be bailed out when stands but everyone is sure to repeat. how exactly is any of that so bad? and stashing it into banks. And when background in Ancient Greek his- plethora of private companies, and fewer people purchase groceries Granted, a lot of people are suffering There is talk that all of our 401K that happens, banks have money and tory.

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