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. 18, ISSUE 918 May 16-22 , 2015 c v $1.50 Dean Skelos Resigns Greek Woman Accused of ISIS-Inspire1d Bomb As NY Senate Majority Velentzas and Saudi Plead Not Guilty to Leader, Amid Charges Plot to use a WMD ALBANY, NY – As pressure The charges had created a TNH Staff mounted from multiple fronts significant disruption as law - including even some of his fel - makers work toward adjourn - NEW YORK – Noelle Velentzas, low Republicans, Greek-Ameri - ment next month. Several sig - a 28 year-old woman born in can Dean Skelos stepped down nificant items remain on the Florida to Greek parents and on May 11 as New York State agenda, including the renewal Asia Siddiqui (31), a U.S. citizen Senate Majority Leader. of the laws governing rent reg - who was born in Saudi Arabia, Authorities arrested Skelos a ulations and mayoral control of pled not guilty in a Brooklyn week ago on charges that he schools in New York City and a Federal court on May 7 to used his position to extort pay - tax credit for real estate devel - charges of conspiracy to use a ments for his son, Adam, who opers. Government ethics re - Weapon of Mass Destruction was also charged. Both father forms are another priority for (WMD), the Associated Press and son maintain their inno - many. (AP) reported. cence. Another Long Island Repub - The two suspects, who until The resignation followed a lican, Senator John Flanagan, recently were roommates in promise by Democrats to seek a replaced Skelos as Majority Queens, were brought into fed - vote to remove Skelos as leader. Leader. Flanagan emerged as eral court originally on April 2, At first, Skelos attempted to the new leader after a three- but did not enter a plea at the withstand the political storm, hour closed-door meeting of time. but then support faded within Senate Republicans. Sen. John The complaint brought by his own political party. DeFrancisco of Syracuse, who the prosecution alleges among Even though he stepped had also contended for the top other things that based on in - down as Majority Leader, Skelos position, was at Flanagan's side vestigations including conversa - will retain his seat as a State as he announced his victory. tions with an Undercover Offi - Senator. "We come out of this uni - cer (UC), “Velentzas espouses First elected to the Senate in fied," said Flanagan, 54, an at - EUROKINISSI violent jihadist beliefs and has 1984, Skelos, 67, said he was torney and 29-year legislative PM Tsipras Meets With AHEPA, Asks for More Diaspora Support repeatedly expressed an interest stepping down for political and veteran who had led the Senate in terrorist attacks committed personal reasons. Namely, that education committee. "There is Greek PM Alexis Tsipras met with AHEPA leaders on May 14 in Athens and asked for their con - within the United States,” and his continuing to serve as Ma - a lot of work that needs to get tinued support for Greece. Seen to his right are Phillip Frangos, Supreme President of the Order that “Velentzas expressed vio - jority Leader would cause dis - finished." of AHEPA (speaking) and Anna-Hellene Panagakos Grossomanides, Grand President of the lent jihadist ideology and an in - traction in the Senate – Assem - Just before the vote, Flana - Daughters of Penelope. The delegation also visited Cyprus and Constantinople. terest in terrorism. For example, bly Leader Sheldon Silver, a gan shook hands with DeFran - Velentzas praised the attacks of Democrat, stepped down on cisco and hugged Skelos. Flana - September 11, 2001 and stated criminal charges as well, in Jan - gan said “I want to thank that being a martyr through a uary, but kept his seat as well – Senator Skelos for decades of suicide attack guarantees en - but also because a reporter en - public service,” the New York Recession’s Return Undercuts SYRIZA trance into heaven.” According tered Adam Skelos’ backyard Times reported. “This gentle - to Velentzas,” the complaint the previous week, causing Ske - man has devoted his entire continues, “a suicide bomber los’ two year-old grandson – adult life to the service of the ATHENS – Greek Prime Minis - comes up with a credible list of kets by prohibitive interest rates does not take her life; she gives Adam’s son – to fall down and people of the state of New York. ter Alexis Tsipras’ hopes of get - reforms. and banks facing daily runs on her life in the name of Allah.” cut his lip. He’s done a fantastic job.” ting a deal with international Greece on Feb. 20 got a four- their depositors by nervous ac - Osama bin Laden is Ve - "I said, 'You know what, it's Flanagan added that Skelos’ lenders took a big hit when new month extension to what’s left count holders fearful of a de - lentzas’ hero, the complaint not worth it,'" Skelos said. life had come “full circle” as he data showed the country has of two rescue packages of 240 fault and Eurozone exit. states, and that while the UC Authorities said the legisla - was now a grandparent, the fallen back into recession, four billion euros ($260 billion) that Tsipras said his coalition, was in her apartment, “Ve - tive veteran traded his influence Times reported. He recalled months after he took office and began in 2010 but his done vir - which includes the Independent lentzas showed the UC her for more than $200,000 in pay - Skelos’ pride in showing photos rejected new bailout terms. tually nothing since to convince Greeks (ANEL) has done as phone, which included as a ments to his son from a major of his grandchildren. “It’s all Tsipras had to brief his Cabi - the troika it deserves release of much as it can to strike a deal background picture an image of real estate development firm about his family, and rightfully net twice as pressure was build - the funds. to get more bailout loans, insist - Bin Laden holding an AK-47 and an environmental technol - so,” Mr. Flanagan said, “and ing on the Radical Left SYRIZA Tsipras said he won’t cross ing the ball is now in the court gun, and played for the UC an ogy company. The money was that’s something I respect and leader to settle with the troika his self-established red lines not of the creditors. audiotape of Bin Laden speak - paid to Adam Skelos, authorities admire.” of the European Union-Interna - to touch pensions or reform la - Failure to reach an agree - ing. Additionally, Velentzas told said, with the expectation that The Times also linked Skelos’ tional Monetary Fund-European bor laws even though the coun - ment could lead Greece to de - the UC that terrorism is based Dean Skelos would use his po - devotion to his family to the Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB) try is running on empty with fault on its obligations within on Islamic writings found in the sition to support the companies' which is holding back a 7.2-bil - state coffers essentially dry, the Qur'an, and that Bin Laden's interests before the state. Continued on page 6 lion euro installment until he country locked out of the mar - Continued on page 13 ideas, as manifested in his pub - lic letters, are similar to her own.” Siddiqui told the UC that Ve - lentzas is “obsessed with pres - HMS Honors Hellenic Charter School among Top 10 in NYC sure cookers” and has been ever since the Boston Marathon Bombing two years ago. “Ve - Zervoudakis By Constantine S. Sirigos lentzas stated to the UC that she TNH Staff Writer had recently received a pressure And Hajiar PARK SLOPE – The sun was Continued on page 6 bright, but the smiles on the faces of the students were By Constantine S. Sirigos brighter still – like the future of TNH Staff Writer the Hellenic Classical Charter School (HCCS) they attend and NHM Gala NEW YORK – Dr. Ioannis Zer - which is ranked among the top voudakis was presented with a 10 in New York City. Lifetime Achievement Award Along with their parents, Celebrates and Dr. Katherine Hajjar, the teachers and friends of the keynote speaker, was aslo hon - school, they were celebrating ored at the annual Dr. George the ribbon cutting marking the Work with Papanicolaou Award Sympo - completion of the construction sium of the Hellenic Medical So - for the impressive educational ciety of New York on May 13. complex in Park Slope on May Field Mus. Dr. Spiros Mezitis, president 8. of the Federation of Hellenic HCCS was born of the efforts By Anthe Mitrakos Medical Societies, which spon - of many, but especially of sored the event, acknowledged parishioners of the Very Rev. CHICAGO, IL – Over 700 of the presence of dignitaries like Damaskinos Ganas at the Park the city’s Greek-American and Amb. George Iliopoulos, Consul Slope’s Kimisis tis Theotokou Philhellene community mem - General of Greece, and Greek Church in response to the strug - bers attended the National Hel - Consul Manos Koubarakis. gles of its Soterios Ellinas lenic Museum’s (NHM) annual Additional sponsors included parochial school, which now Gala held at the impressive Field Weill Cornell Medical College, features only nursery school and Museum Saturday May 9th. A the Panevoikos Society of Amer - Pre-K classes. The parish rents TNH/COSTAS BEJ collaboration between the two ica, and the Prometheus – Greek the building to HCCS. The Helelnic Classical Charter School in Park Slope.