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 960 March 5-11 , 2016 c v $1.50 Van Bramer Greece Becomes home, Not Transit Stop, for M1igrants Oversees Out 160K Refugees, The Astoria Only 600 Accepted he Loves By EU Countries TNH Staff By Constantine S. Sirigos TNH Staff Writer ATHENS – With the European Union relocation program hav - ASTORIA – Born and raised in ing failed, Greece’s government Astoria and attending Public said it expects the country will School 70, middle school IS 10 be home for hundreds of thou - and William Cullen Bryant High sands of migrants and refugees School – which his Greek-Amer - for whom it cannot afford to ican friends and colleagues Ar - provide care. avella Simotas and Councilman After almost a year of wran - Costas Constantinides also at - gling – and with some countries tended – guaranteed that New shutting their borders, isolating York City Councilman Jimmy Greece – only 600 of 160,000 Van Bramer had close Greek refugees and migrants who friends from a young age. were supposed to be distributed “The first Greek friend I had throughout EU countries have – we lived on 42nd Street off been accepted. Newtown Road – was named Scores of thousands of mi - Gus. I was a four- to six-year- grants are backed up in Greece old and they lived a few doors – with thousands more arriving away,” he said. each week on Greek islands So Van Bramer’s love for As - from nearby Turkey, which has toria and Western Queens had done almost nothing to stop a strong Greek dimension from them despite receiving three bil - the start, but he is also plugged lion euros in EU aid to block hu - into the diverse neighborhood’s man trafficking. strong Celtic element. The European Commission His father, William, is from has approved a 700-million euro Williamsburg and his mother ($760.76 million) humanitarian Elizabeth was born in Maspeth aid package that will see the and grew up in Corona, and the INTImE SpOrTS vIA Ap money given to NGOs instead family is mostly Irish-American. There's Pandemonium on the Playing Field, but it's not Soccer of the Greek government in a They moved to Astoria in 1972 bid to reach cold and hungry and Van Bramer is the fifth of PAOK fans clash with riot police during a Greek Cup semifinal the final minute after home fans threw flares onto the pitch migrants and refugees, thou - eight children in a practicing match between PAOK and champion Olympiacos at the and ran onto the field to clash with riot police. The first-leg sands of whom are camped out Catholic family. Toumba stadium in, March 2. The match has been stopped in match was stopped in the 90 minute as Olympiakos led 2-1. in city squares in Athens or tem - “My sister Kim and I played porary reception centers. in St. Joseph’ fife and drum At the current rate of arrival, corps. We both played drums Greece could accept a million or but not very well,” he said, but more refugees and migrants at he loves music – pop is his fa - NYC Mayor Designates National herald Way the same time it’s trying to deal vorite – and always is up danc - with a crushing economic crisis, ing at the events he sponsors. and with tourism bookings – the His public service spirit is By Constantine S. Sirigos (30th St. Between 37th and lauded – TNH was the only in - and Mayor de Blasio for an country’s biggest revenue-raiser firmly rooted in his parents’ ac - TNH Staff Writer 38th Avenues in Long Island stitution so honored and THE honor that I believe we richly – plummeting with expectations tivities. “My father was a news - City) as Έθνικός Κήρυξ – Na - ONLY GREEK/ENGLISH SIGN deserve given our history and Greek islands will be overrun paper printer – he printed the NEW YORK – As the Centennial tional Herald Way. “I am deeply honored and our services to the city and the with more arrivals from Turkey. New York Times for over 30 year of The National Herald The Mayor presented Pub - pleased that the City of New community and deeply appreci - Speaking to a group of may - years – and was active in the draws to a close, the newspaper lisher-Editor Antonis H. Dia - York, through the good office of ate.” ors, Migration Policy Minister union. continues to receive accolades mataris with a ceremonial pen Majority Leader Van Bramer, de - City Council President Yiannis Mouzalas said that ”I remember being on picket for its service to the Greek- as a keepsake for the special cided to recognize the contribu - Melissa Mark-Viverito was Greece had to assume that the lines with him, so I knew from American community and soci - event that filled the rotunda of tions that the National Herald pleased that the ceremony was border at Idomeni with FYROM an early age that I cared about ety at a whole. On February 25 the ornate Surrogate Court - has made to the community and moved to a larger space this would be closed to refugees and working people and making New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio house near City Hall that was society at large for the past 100 year and Astoria’s Councilman migrants and said they could be sure they had benefits and the signed a bill authorizing the co- filled with friends and families years,” said Diamataris. “I want Costas Constantinides was pre - struck in Greece for two to three naming of the street where of 40 individuals and one cul - to express my great appreciation years. Continued on page 6 TNH’s headquarters are located tural movement that were to Majority Leader Van Bramer Continued on page 4 Mouzalas met with the heads of local authorities to discuss other sites that could be used to house migrants in the coming weeks. Alahouzos in historic Tarpon election It is estimated that there Continued on page 11 By Constantinos E. Scaros Springs’ history – which is sig - in arguably the “Greekest” of nificant for a number of reasons. Greektowns across the country. TARPON SPRINGS, FL – On First, any time an individual GIVING BACK March 15, most of the nation’s of Hellenic descent wins an A technology expert for Ver - WiTh ThiS iSSue eyes will focus on the presiden - American election, it is a signif - izon (he recently retired from tial primary elections, particu - icant chapter in the historical that position), Alahouzos first larly in the key states of Florida annals of Greek America. Sec - ventured into formal cultural and Ohio. Will Democratic and ond, that in this case it would endeavors through his involve - Republican frontrunners Hillary be a person born in Greece, also ment in the Kalymnian Society Clinton and Donald Trump is a boost to the immigrant com - of Tarpon Springs, where he clinch their parties’ nominations munity in America as a whole, also served as president. that evening, or will their chal - further evidence that despite But “my proudest accom - lengers endure to fight another heated debates on the campaign plishment to date was my in - day? trail regarding immigration, volvement in establishing the But March 15 is significant America remains the land of op - Plato Academy,” a highly-re - to two smaller subsets of Amer - portunity and good, honest, garded charter school in Pinellas ica: the citizens of Tarpon hard work pays off – for immi - County, FL, with campuses in Springs, FL, and the Greek- grants as well as natives. Tarpon Springs as well as Clear - American community at large. Finally, a win by Alahouzos water, Largo, Palm Harbor, Because on that day, Tarpon would be significant to Tarpon Seminole, and St. Petersburg. Springs will elect its next mayor. Springs Though the Gulf Coast “We plan to expand to other ar - Chris (Chrysostomos) Ala - Florida city has more Greeks per eas of Florida, too,” he told houzos, a resident of Tarpon capita than any other place in TNH. Springs for almost 50 years, was the United States, that still only “Teaching Greek is part of born on the Greek island of Ka - means about 10% of the popu - the curriculum,” Alahouzos ex - lymnos. If he wins the election, lation is Greek – the rest are not. plained, and described the Chris Alahouzos, a native of Kalymnos, seeks to become the he would become the first Accordingly, for a Greek to win first Greek-born mayor of Tarpon Springs. Greek-born mayor in Tarpon that election is a big deal, even Continued on page 6 Symposium Restaurant: Elvis Doctor Eat, Drink, Philosophize Nichopoulos By Penelope Karageorge dam Avenue, walk down five Dies at 88 steps and you’re there. Angels There are restaurants and fly off the ceiling, painted by the restaurants, and sometimes a restaurant’s founder, artist Yanni TNH Staff restaurant is more than a restau - Posnakoff, a Greek with a Russ - rant. It’s an experience. A piece ian background who now lives Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, of living history. A place redo - in Athens. nicknamed “Dr. Feelgood” for lent with warmth where you can “We’re probably the only the various and ample drugs he dig into a luscious plate of restaurant in New York with a prescribed to music legend Elvis moussaka, savor a glass of wine, hand-painted ceiling,” says gra - Presley during the singer’s final and carry on a conversation, be - cious, energetic Christos Bin - years, died in Memphis, TN on cause the Greek music is low ioris, the current owner.