S O C V th ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ W ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ E 10 0 ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald anniversa ry N www.thenationalherald.com A wEEkly GrEEk-AmEriCAN PuBliCATiON 1915-2015 VOL. 19, ISSUE 963 March 26 - April 1, 2016 c v $1.50 Greek-Am. Onassis Center in NY Presents: Gods & Mortals at1 Olympus Hurt in the Hundreds Fill the Olympic Tower for the Attacks in Auspicious Exhibit’s Awe-Inspiring Debut TNH Staff tive Director Amalia Cosmeta - tou, Greek Minister of Culture Brussels NEW YORK – Hundreds of peo - Nikos Filis, Minister of Culture ple filled the Atrium of the Aristides Baltas, and Archbishop Olympic Tower in Manhattan Demetrios of America took turns Victim Suffered eager to view the inaugural ex - at the ribbon cutting ceremony hibition of the renovated Onas - and the dinner that followed Burns Awaiting sis Cultural Center: “Gods and praising the vision and work of Flight Back to NY Mortals at Olympus: Ancient Pandermalis, his colleagues, and Dion, City of Zeus” curated by the Onassis foundation staff. Dr. Dimitrios Pandermalis, Pres - Cosmetatou declared “I am By Demetris Tsakas ident of the Acropolis Museum, deeply grateful to the excep - and comprised of the remark - tional team who made this ex - NEW YORK – Greek-American able finds from his 45 years of hibition possible.” Mariel Voutounou was prepar - excavations. At the dinner held in the ing to board her Delta airlines The first visitors after the rib - Rainbow Room, Papademetriou return flight to New York at the bon-cutting and reception on presented an overview of the time of the terrorist attack on March 23 who enjoyed a multi - Foundation, which he said was Brussels airport. Dr. Mariel sensory experience of sculptures established 41 years ago with Voutounou suffered burns and glowing with a heavenly light mission of supporting Culture, slight injuries and was rushed while they were immersed in education, the environment, to a Brussels hospital. The news the sounds of nature recorded health, and social solidarity. He of her injury raised the alarm in Dion told those on the long emphasized that the intention on both sides of the Atlantic and line that it is well worth the was help release the creative both her colleagues and superi - wait, and the two-month long [energy] in society. ors at the Burke Medical Re - run from March 24 through “By taking cultural initia - search Institute (BMRI) in White June 18 will be appreciated tives, especially during the last Plains, NY, where she has been both for the many opportunities few years, we ensure that the working for the past years, as offered to busy New Yorkers to values which maintain social co - well as her parents and family visit, and for those who will hesion will remain alive and a who live in Cyprus. TNH was wish to see it more than once. better future will indeed be at - unable to reach Voutounou’s im - The enthusiasm cascaded tained,” he said. mediate family for comment. from the dignitaries to the “Today’s event marks a new Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign guests of many backgrounds era in the era for the Onassis Affairs announced that Dr. TNH/COSTAS BEJ and nations in attendance – An - Cultural Center in New York,” Voutounou had traveled to With the crowd looking on, the ribbon is cut for the “Gods and Mortals” exhibition in New York. thony Papademetriou, President he continued, “which will have Nepal to visit her sister, but did Seen (L-R): Dr. Dimitrios Pandermalis, Greek Education Minister Nikos Filis, Culture Minister of the Onassis Foundation USA, not offer information as to the Aristides Baltas, Archbishop Demetrios, and Dr. Anthony Papademetriou. who was introduced by Execu - Continued on page 2 condition of her health. Dr. Eric L. Shipp, Scientific and Finan - cial Officer) of the Burke Med - ical Research Institute (BMRI) told TNH that all they know is Nia Vardalos Talks to TNH on My Big Fat Greek Wedding Pt 2 that Voutounou has been in - jured, has been sent to a Brus - sels hospital, and that her in - By Constantine Sirigos across the pond, but the movie upon us, but the immigrant ex - said. name is?” – drum roll: “Nick!” juries are not life-threatening. TNH Staff also had a strong human touch perience itself, whether we are “And I think Greek school The hilarious scenes in the Dr. Shipp went on to praise in addition to the comedic, re - Greek or Italian, Jewish of Russ - made us funny,” she said, noting movie were not so delightful Voutounou’s rare character and NEW YORK – She performed in flecting Vardalos’ deep love for ian, there is something about it that her teacher’s “sideburns like when she experienced them as a noted that she is a very promis - the Greek folk dance group and her family and passion about her that makes us funny,” she told brizoles” – lamp chops – “made child being raised by her mother ing researcher. went to Greek school. Her mom Greek roots. The National Herald. us laugh.” Doreen, a bookkeeper and home - “The entire staff, executives, was the president of the parish As for the blockbuster movie’s “We have a foot in both WHICH ONE OF YOU IS maker, and Constantine "Gus" and employees alike, are pray - Philoptochos chapter. Nia Varda - sequel, which opens in New York worlds,” she explained further, NICK? Vardalos, a land developer. ing for her speedy recovery and los has a wonderful imagination on March 25 – buckle up, Toula but not all immigrants’ children Among her three siblings are “I remember opening a con - but she did not make up every - and Ian and the Portokalos and create blockbuster movies, so two sisters, Maryanne the elder tainer of feta cheese at school Continued on page 4 thing in My Big Fat Greek Wed - Miller clans are back, and it’s go - TNH persisted about what made and Nancy the younger. “Sur - and the entire lunchroom recoil - ding – she was there, an eye wit - ing to be another bumpy but her so funny. prise, surprise,” TNH inter - ing in horror at the smell… I re - ness. A fellow survivor. funny ride. “My dad is more of a story - rupted: “You’re the middle member just being confused that When the original was re - The first movie’s classic lines teller funny, and my mom is child!” they would get a boloney sand - WITH THIS ISSUE leased in 2002 it seemed that like “O Nikos ehi ena katsiki – more wry funny – she has a keen “Right!” she responded. “Now wich and I would get a Tupper - Greeks born in America laughed Niko has a goat” reflected the eye and she’ll just observe some - does everything make sense?” just a bit more than those from ridiculousness that was foisted thing and say something,” she “And guess what my brother’s Continued on page 12 Trump Places Dr. Spireas to Greek Energy be a Grand Expert on For. Marshal in Policy Team NY Parade NEW YORK – Dr. Spiros TNH Staff Spireas, Chairman and CEO of Sigmapharm Laboratories, was NEW YORK – Republican pres - selected to serve as a Grand idential candidate Donald Marshal in the Greek Indepen - Trump revealed the names of dence Parade in New York City his top foreign policy advisors to be held on April 10, repre - on March 21 and they included senting the Greek-American attorney George Papadopoulos, business community. a global energy expert based in Spireas’ selection was an - London and raised in Chicago. nounced March 17 at the The team is chaired by Sen - Stathakion Center in Astoria, Preview of ator Jeff Sessions of Alabama and was warmly supported. and Trump said of Papadopou - The Parade will take place on los, “He’s an oil and energy con - Manhattan’s 5th Avenue with A Big Fat sultant. Excellent guy.” New Democracy leader Kyriakos Papadopoulos directs an in - Mitsotakis, Congressman John ternational energy center at the Sarbanes (MD), and National Sequel London Center of International Guardsman Alex Skarlatos, who Law Practice and holds degrees was heroic in thwarting a ter - from University College London, AP PHOTO/DArkO VOJiNOViC rorist attack on a Paris-bound By Penelope Karageorge DePaul University, and l’Univer - Greece Opens Detention Cntrs. amid Lagging EU-Turkey Migrant Deal train last year, also to serve as site Catholique de Louvain. grand marshals. The benefit preview of My From 2011 to 2015 he A migrant boy walks through a puddle in a makeshift refugee camp at the northern Greek Petros Galatoulas, president Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 on worked as a Research Associate border point of Idomeni, March 24. Conditions in Idomeni, where thousands have been stranded of the Federation of Hellenic So - March in Loew’s theater on West at the Hudson Institute, a re - since the border closed to refugees earlier this month, have steadily deteriorated, exacerbated cieties of Greater New York, 68th Street in Manhattan spected conservative think tank. by days of rain that have turned the fields into muddy swamps (see related story on page 9). stated that New York City Mayor proved a love-in, a laugh-in and In 2008 he worked as an energy Bill de Blasio has also been in - a boffo success. analyst at the American Hellenic vited to participate as a grand An enthusiastic audience of Institute (AHI) in Washington. marshal, but had not yet de - 1100 filmgoers broke into spon - The Daily Beast slammed cided whether he would accept. taneous handclapping as Greek some of the Trump team and Exarchakis: Miss Grk. Independence He also pointed out that the se - music opened the film and they noted “the remaining Trump ad - lection of the grand marshals is welcomed the original charac - visers, Page and Papadopoulos, based on the qualities of excel - ters into their hearts like old are virtual unknowns in high- TNH Staff and pretty,” he told The Na - who was attending the Greek lence, vision, leadership skills, friends and family members.