2 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 10, 2009 Doctors Stuck Niarchos Foundation awards grant to GOINGS ON... ■ JANUARY 16 - 19 dox Christian churches in the at Egypt-Gaza MONTREAL, Que. – Del Sol and Greater Chicago area cordially in- St. Sophia Hellenic School in Utah Portokalada.com cordially invite vite the community to a prayer ser- the community to “Living It Up,” an vice marking National Sanctity of Border amazing 21 & over event for MLK Life Day at the St. George Antiochi- weekend from January 16-19, an Orthodox Church (1220 S. 60th RAFAH, Egypt (AP)- Greek anes- 2009. “We are flying in DJs from NY Court) in Cicero, Illinois on Sunday, thesiologist Dimitrios Mognie and and Chicago with special guest DJ January 25 at 6:00 PM. Believing another doctor arrived at this bor- John Grammatis!” Save some of that all human life is sacred, the der crossing loaded with medical your energy for daylight hours, be- worship service will emphasize for- supplies to help Gazans wounded in cause skiing, snowboarding and giveness and the tragedy of 50 mil- the Israeli offensive. Instead, they tubing will all be available at the lion abortions since the Roe v. Wade have waited at the border for days. heavenly resort of Mt. Tremblant. If decision in 1974. The Service will On Tuesday, a representative you just want to chill during the be sponsored by the Orthodox from a Norwegian medical aid or- day, Montreal is the place to be. Christian Clergy Association of ganization was allowed to enter the Montreal offers some of the most Greater Chicago, on behalf of the 80 Gaza Strip from Rafah. But most beautiful scenic views and architec- Orthodox Christian churches in the doctors have been denied entry by ture, amazing cafes and restau- Greater Chicago area. The homilist Egyptian authorities and spend rants, casinos, and don't forget will be Rev. Fr. Nicholas Jonas, pas- their days drinking tea and coffee shopping and the spa. So are you tor of the Ss. Constantine and Helen at a small, dusty cafe near the ready for 4 Days and 3 Nights of Liv- Greek Orthodox Church in Palos crossing's metal gates. ing It Up? The “Living It Up” pack- Hills. The service will begin at 6 "This is a shame," said Mognie, age includes: 3 nights accommoda- p.m. and will be followed by a brief who used his vacation to travel tions in Deluxe or Concierge level presentation on the sanctity of life from Greece to try to help in Gaza. rooms, open bar welcome party Fri- given by Ms. Nikolia Rallis. Ms. Ral- He thought entering through day night at exclusive downtown lis is a senior at Northwestern Uni- Egypt, which has a narrow border nightclub, exclusive VIP parties Sat- versity and has been active in the with the Hamas-ruled strip, was his urday & Sunday nights, free VIP ad- Pro-Life movement for many years. best bet. mission to over 7 nightclubs, com- Her campus involvement in the pro- "That in 2009 they have people plimentary shuttles to parties each life movement has included volun- in need of help from a doctor and night, complimentary shuttles to teering at a crisis pregnancy center, we can go to help and they won't let the beautiful “Mt. Tremblant” on bringing speakers to her college us. This is crazy," said Mognie, who From Left, Back Row: Pete Giamalakis, Vice President; Nick Varanakis, Kerri Nakamura, Elaina Simos, Saturday and Sunday, complimen- campus and she is also the co- has worked in conflict zones from Trustees; Dr. Susan Brady, Director; Vickie Folias, Secretary; Fr. Michael Kouremetis, Dean and Mary tary Shuttle to Tubing & Snowmo- founder of Orthodox Christian Iraq to Somalia. Agrapides, Treasurer. Front Row : Greg Adondakis, Trustee; Roula Siklas, Program Director for Niarchos biling, let’s make a deal Casino Youth for Life. All are invited to at- Gaza's few hospitals have been Foundation; Andrea Giamalakis, Development Coordinator; Marina Gianoulis, Trustee; Evangelia Kout- package wit $20pp Casino Chips, tend and parking is free. For more swamped by more than 2,400 sou, Consul of Education, San Francisco Consulate; Andrea Kussack, Program Director for Niarchos Foun- complimentary double music CD, information, contact St. George An- wounded in Israel's 11-day cam- dation and Elaine M. Bapis, President. breakfast & hors devours daily with tiochian Orthodox Church (708) paign to stop Hamas militants from concierge rooms. Package Price: 656-2927. launching rockets into Israel. Al- Quad Price $300 per person, Triple most 600 Palestinians have been The Stavros Niarchos Founda- Price $325 per person, Double Price ■ FEBRUARY 7 killed. Nearly half of the dead are tion has awarded a three year grant $375 per person. Conveniently lo- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Wash- civilians, according to U.N. and to Saint Sophia Hellenic Orthodox cated in the heart of downtown ington National Opera Women’s Palestinian officials. School. Andrea M. Giamalakis, De- Montreal, this hotel boasts a spa- Committee and His Excellency The Mognie and his colleague, both velopment Coordinator for the cious, elegant lobby, large well-ap- Ambassador of Greece cordially in- from the Greek organization Doc- school wrote the grant that benefit- pointed guestrooms with private vite the community to “The Mid- tors for Peace, were the last in their ted the Greek Language, the Schol- balconies and a variety of full ser- winter Gala,” at the Andrew W. Mel- group of six Greek doctors to re- arship/Financial Aid and Physical vice amenities. The hotel is the ideal lon Auditorium on Saturday, Febru- main at the Rafah border after ar- Education Programs. location for pleasure and only steps ary 7, 2009 at 6:30 PM. Rebecca riving last Friday with medical sup- Members of the Niarchos Foun- to Montreal's finest shopping, Miller and Sally Cox are the Gala plies. The others returned home af- dation visited with students and fac- restaurants, nightclubs and attrac- Co-Chairs. A not to be missed black- ter being continually rebuffed by ulty members on November 13, tions. You can book a Deluxe of tie gala – join us for dinner and the Egyptian border guards. 2008. Program Directors Argyro Concierge Room. With 94 runs ser- dancing as we celebrate Thessaloni- Israel and Egypt first closed (Roula) Siklas and Andrea Kussack viced by 13 state-of-the-art lifts, the ki through the ages! For individual their borders with Gaza after participated in the school’s morning mountain dominates a stunningly tickets, please call The Midwinter Hamas took control of the area in music class, visited the individual beautiful countryside. Those who Gala Office at 202-295-2437 or e- June 2007. The Egyptian closure classrooms and observed the Greek live for the great outdoors and love mail [email protected]. For cor- has been seen by some as abetting Language classes. Also visiting the to breathe clean air have the perfect porate sponsorships, please call Israel's siege of the crowded strip, school was special guest Evangelia playground. A paradise where ski 202-295-2431 or e-mail home to 1.4 million people. Koutsou, Education Consul from the and snowboard enthusiasts are [email protected]. Since Israel's offensive, Egypt San Francisco Consulate. The Stu- From Left: Roula Siklas, Program Director, Niarchos Foundation; An- both spoiled silly: ramps, rails and has taken in a trickle of wounded dent Parent Associate hosted a lun- drea Giamalakis, Development Coordinator and Grant Writer and Ma- jumps as well as an Olympic caliber ■ FEBRUARY 10 Palestinians through the crossing at cheon for the special visitors. rina Gianoulis, Trustee. pipe. Taste the freedom, dare the NEW YORK – The Hellenic Cham- Rafah. The Egyptian government, Nick & Elaine Bapis hosted an mountain, live Tremblant to the ber of Commerce and Norwegian- the main mediator between Israel evening reception for the visitors Mrs. Vickie Folias and Miss Margo elementary school with six grades fullest! For more information, go to American Chamber of Commerce and Hamas, has said it would only along with the Board of Trustees Sotiriou, who were also present. and 114 students, the school re- www.montrealx.com. cordially invite the community to open Rafah if moderate Palestinian and special guests. Mrs. Elaine Saint Sophia was established in mains the only one of its kind in the their Joint Shipping Conference, forces of President Mahmoud Ab- Bapis is one of the three original 1996 with a preschool and kinder- state of Utah and the Mountain ■ JANUARY 17 “How Will Shipping Survive the bas are in charge of the crossing. founders of the school along with garten. Now fully accredited as an West States. CHICAGO – The Hellenic Museum Perfect Storm?” at The New York and Cultural Center cordially in- Helmsley Hotel (212 East 42nd vites the community to a lecture en- Street) on Sunday, February 10, titled “Orthodoxy and Hellenism in 2009 at 8:15 AM. Members: $625 America” given by Paul G. Manolis, (additional from same firm: $575); author of the monumental History Non-Members: $695. Full program John Catsimatidis: Going From Supermarkets to Oil of the Greek Church of America in and speakers to be announced. Reg- Acts and Documents. This three vol- istration/coffee begins at 8:15 AM, Continued from page 1 ume work, with a fourth to come, Conclusion/Networking Reception documents the history of the Greek begin at 5:00 PM. the banks and hedge funds lured in Archdiocese of America. The work by the oil boom beat a hasty retreat has already received much critical ■ APRIL 2-6 when credit valves were shut start- acclaim as the authoritative voice ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Hellenic ing in September. on the subject of the history of the News of America and the 18th Her- Those who sold their shares in Greek American Church. The lec- mes Expo International cordially in- SemGroup for the promise of a ture will take place January 17, vite the community to The 18th stake in a revived company include 2009 at the museum at 3:00 pm and Hermes Expo from April 2-6, 2009. founder and former Chief Execu- admission is $ 10.00 for non-mem- Starting from New York and going tive Tom Kivisto, named "Tulsan of bers and $ 8 for members. Manolis to Philadelphia, The Expo will take the Year" by a local magazine in received his undergraduate degree place on the weekend of April 4-5, 2007. from the University of California 2009 with a 120 Booth Exhibits at While SemGroup over eight (Berkeley) and graduate degree the Tropicana on the Atlantic City years grew from an oil startup to from Harvard University. He was Boardwalk, New Jersey. April 2, one of the largest private compa- appointed Junior Fellow at the 2009 - A Greek Food and Wine Tast- nies in the U.S., it collapsed in a Dumbarton Oaks Institute of Byzan- ing Mixer, Reception Press Confer- matter of weeks. The company filed tine Studies during his graduate ence and B2B meetings based on for bankruptcy in July after incur- studies. Manolis was first elected to profiles at the Queens Art Museum ring a $2.4 billion loss on bad bets the Archdiocesan Council in 1965. in cooperation with the Queens on the price of oil. As a committee chairman he creat- Chamber of Commerce. April 3, SemGroup was both victim and ed the Orthodox Observer newspa- 2009 - At the Governors Mansion perpetrator of oil's meteoric rise per and raised a Patriarch Mixer, Drexel University Seminar and fall. The wrong-way futures Athenagoras statue at Hellenic Col- on Tourism and New Technology. bets were large enough to have lege/Holy Cross School of Theolo- Reception and B2B meetings based played a role in pushing oil prices gy. He is a representative to the Na- on profiles. April 4 - 5, 2009 - The to peak above $147 a barrel during tional Council of Churches of Amer- Tropicana Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ intraday trading on July 14, then to ica and a founder of the Patriarch Exhibition Conference - A major fall 15% the following week as the Athenagoras Orthodox Institute at happening for Greek Americans, company rapidly exited its posi- the Graduate Theological Union Americans interested in Greece and tions, market participants said at and UC-Berkeley. Manolis also South Eastern Europe and other the time. The bankruptcy court has serves as Adjunct Professor at the Ethnic Markets. Symposium hired a former head of the Federal ABOVE: John Catsimatidis points GTU and has served as Director and Brunch on Saturday 10AM-1 PM, Bureau of Investigation to look into to the many photos and awards President of the Institute for many Grand opening at 1 PM, 120 Booths those trades. that adorn the walls in his office years. In recognition of his service meetings B2B, Dinner Awards En- Several federal agencies have al- in New York City. BELOW: John to the church, Manolis was named a tertainment and a Sunday Brunch so examined Mr. Kivisto's trading Catsimatidis with New York “Great Archon of the Ecumenical Networking. April 6,2009 - A Grand practices, according to court docu- Senator Chuck Schumer and Patriarchate” by Patriarch Reception Mixer at the Honorable ments. President-Elect Barack Obama. Athenagoras. He was also awarded Aris Melissaratos Estate, Baltimore, Accusations that any trading the Gold Cross of Mount Athos by MD. For more information, please was done improperly are "irrespon- out of bankruptcy in 1986. In addi- the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a visit [email protected]. sible" and “incorrect,” said John tion to United Refining and Grist- Knight Commander of the Patriar- Tucker, one of Mr. Kivisto's attor- edes, Mr. Catsimatidis owns real es- chate of Jerusalem, and the Medal ■ NOTE TO OUR READERS neys. tate and a jet-leasing business. of St. Paul from the Greek Archdio- This calendar of events section is a CLEANING UP Forbes magazine estimated his net cese of America. For more informa- complimentary service to the Greek But it's a convoluted corporate worth at $2.1 billion in mid-Sep- tion contact the museum at 312- American community. All parishes, structure that's also keeping the tember, days before equities mar- 655-1234. organizations and institutions are company from getting back on its kets tanked. encouraged to e-mail their informa- feet. Some of SemGroup's best as- "Don't forget, we have a very ■ JANUARY 25 tion 3-4 weeks ahead of time, and sets -- including tanks in Cushing, good reputation in the market- CICERO, Ill. – The Orthodox Christ- no later than Monday of the week Okla., the key oil hub -- were place," Mr. Catsimatidis said. "And ian Clergy Association of Greater before the event, to english.edition placed in a publicly traded sub- it has nothing to do with a name. Chicago, on behalf of the 80 Ortho- @thenationalherald.com. sidiary, and the ties between the It's who's the head of it." two entities were severed shortly To convince creditors to sign on, before SemGroup sought bankrupt- he comes armed with $450 million LP focused on trading, while the looking for joint cooperation in or- cy protection. in cash raised in the public offering public spinoff, SemGroup Energy der to make sure everything runs Those problems can be worked of United Refining Energy Corp., a Partners LP, operated pipelines and properly." QUESTION OF THE WEEK out once the company is out of financial vehicle unrelated to the storage terminals, though nearly all The two hedge funds declined to bankruptcy court and operating refinery. He says that money could the oil and products that it handled comment. freely, said Mr. Catsimatidis in an be used to turn SemGroup around, belonged to SemGroup LP. With SemGroup's value and Vote on our website! interview at his cluttered office and will ask shareholders to unlock Shortly before filing for bank- both energy and credit markets above a car dealership in Hell's the funds once a reorganization ruptcy, SemGroup LP lost control of near their nadir, a wide variety of You have the chance to express your opinion on our website on an Kitchen, a Manhattan neighbor- plan takes form. SemGroup Energy Partners to two strategies could yield strong profits important question in the news. The results will be published in our hood removed from the city's finan- This war chest has allowed him hedge funds. Both parts of the orig- when the economy begins to re- printed edition next week along with the question for that week. cial district. to cut through the financing diffi- inal SemGroup began to wither bound, said Andrew Oram, an ana- The question this week is: Is Israel justified in its attack on Hamas? He said he plans on providing culties that have bedeviled other when the link was severed. For ei- lyst with credit-ratings firm ❏ Yes details of his reorganization plan in potential buyers, said Hugh Ray, a ther company to survive, they have Moody's Investors Service, who has ❏ No January. After that, it will be up to Houston attorney representing oil to join forces again, through a new covered both United Refining and ❏ Maybe the court whether SemGroup producers owed money by Sem- long-term contract or a merger, an- SemGroup. emerges from bankruptcy or is sold Group. alysts and industry watchers say. "If something came along, and The results for last week’s question: Is Barack Obama the correct off in parts. "He's weighed in and said 'I'm Mr. Catsimatidis declined to you knew it was a price you were choice as The National Herald's Man of the Year? While Mr. Catsimatidis, 60 years here, I've got my money, and let's comment on the prospect. never going to see again in your 33% voted "Yes" old, is better known for his gro- play,'" said Mr. Ray, who also repre- EXPENDING ENERGY lifetime, you might buy it without 57% voted "No" ceries, he is no stranger to the oil sented some United Refining Co. "We've had certain discussions knowing exactly how you would 10% voted "I don't know" sector. He acquired United Refining creditors. with them," he said, referring to operate it to get value out of it," Mr. Co., a small Pennsylvania refiner, After the 2007 split, SemGroup SemGroup Energy Partners. "We're Oram said. Please vote at: www.thenationalherald.com