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 581 November 29, 2008 $1.25 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Rep. Niki Volunteers in Mass. Tsongas Is Deliver 1,050 Smiles to Committed Needy on Thanksgiving To Serving By Theodore Kalmoukos son, Mrs. Voula Manolis. “She does Special to The National Herald not even show me the names,” Mr. Manolis said. Wife of Late Sen. Paul BOSTON – Nicholas Manolis and Mr. Manolis has named this pro- his family passed out 1,050 smiles ject of love and philanthropy “Pro- Tsongas Talks About to less fortunate people of all ages ject Helping Hands” and it has its in order to enjoy a very humane, roots deeply in his heart. This is Issues and Memories rich and joyous Thanksgiving meal. how it started, “When we first im- For the 15th consecutive year, migrated to the U.S. in 1966 from By Evan C. Lambrou Nick Manolis, owner of the Dracut Grevena with my parents, we went Special to The National Herald House of Pizza & Seafood Restau- to New Mexico where there were rant in Dracut, Massachusetts do- no good job opportunities. I was 7 NEW YORK – “While I’m not Greek nated 1,050 festive baskets to years old and I was going to school by heritage, I like to say I’m Greek by needy fellow human beings who without knowing English at all. The osmosis, having lived with my hus- have been stricken by hard times, first day that I went to school I saw band and his family, and in the illness, loneliness, and advanced the other kids at lunch time going Greek American community in Low- age. to the cafeteria and filling up their ell for so many years,” Congress- Having at his side his wife, trays with food to eat. I also took a woman Niki Tsongas (D-Massachu- Voula, his two sons Eftymios, a tray and put on a lot of food be- setts) told the National Herald. pharmacy student at Northeastern cause I was hungry but they Rep. Tsongas was first elected to University of Boston and Elias, a stopped me and they told me that I Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional business administration student at had to pay 25 cents, but I did not District during a special election in Middlesex College in Andover, have any money and they did not 2007. She was re-elected unopposed Massachusetts, his close friend allow me to eat. In the afternoon this past November, and continues John Zaralides of Lowell and a the same thing was repeated with to occupy the same seat once held by huge army of men and women vol- ice cream. The attendants at the her husband, the late Paul Tsongas, unteers prepared and distributed cafeteria did not allow me to have a before he went onto to become a 1,050 baskets with all the necessary little ice cream because I did not U.S. Senator and eventually make a items needed for a complete have 10 cents to pay. At that very bid for the Democratic Presidential Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, bread, moment I swore to myself and said I nomination in 1992. rice, potatoes, stuffing, carrots, Senator Tsongas died on January cranberries, coffee, cake, two liters Continued on page 7 18, 1997 due to complications from TNH/COSTAS BEJ of Coca-Cola and other items. non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was Volunteers of the St. Demetrios parish in Jamaica, Queens prepare to serve the annual Thanksgiving feast Two big trucks loaded with food just 55 years of age. to the community’s senior citizens on Monday afternoon, November 24, 2008. The Jamaica Center for the items were parked outside of Mr. In an interview with the Herald, aged is among the highest rated in New York. Manolis’ store from where the de- WITH THIS ISSUE Mrs. Tsongas, the first woman elect- liveries were done under the super- ed to serve in Massachusetts’ Con- vision of Mr. Manolis who starts the gressional delegation in almost preparation process from Septem- three decades, cited her husband’s ber. commitment to public service as a Everything started 15 years ago key factor in her decision to run for Cyprus Accuses Turkey of Provocations with 30 turkeys that Mr. and Mrs. Congress ten years after he passed Monolis cooked and delivered to away, counting a life in public ser- NICOSIA (AP) – Cyprus accused sovereign rights with determina- cupied north – a breakaway state the needy because the recipients vice among the best ways to lead Turkey this past Tuesday of naval tion,” Christofias said shortly before which only Ankara recognizes – did not have ovens to cook them. one’s life, and said she and her hus- “provocations” over the island re- a new round of peace talks with since 1974, when Turkey invaded to “We never imagined that we band were both inspired by the polit- public’s offshore oil-and-gas explo- Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali exploit a failed Athens-backed coup would be in today’s position to de- ical spirit of John F. Kennedy as ration bid. Talat. of supporters of union with Greece. liver 1,050 portions. We were say- young adults. Cypriot officials said that, on Christofias and Talat restarted Cyprus began searching for oil ing in the beginning we are going to She also noted how closely her two separate occasions this month, reunification talks in September af- and gas off southern Cyprus several reach 50 then 100 and that will be life with her husband was connected a Turkish warship approached a ter a four-year stalemate between years ago. The island has signed it, but we reached 200, then 300, to her Congressional seat, and pair of chartered Norwegian survey the two sides during the presidency agreements with Lebanon and then 500. Last year we had 788 and talked about how they met, adding ships off southern Cyprus and or- of Tassos Papadopoulos. U.N. En- Egypt to mark the undersea bound- this year 1,050.” More than 50 fam- that it was his great intelligence and dered them to leave the area. voy Alexander Downer has said the aries for oil exploration. Cyprus al- ilies of Greek descent are among sense of humor which drew her to Republic of Cyprus President new talks will continue well into so wants to auction drilling rights. those who received the baskets, but him. Demetris Christofias said his gov- 2009. Greek Cypriots have not tried to nobody knows who they are. “Con- “I’ve always felt that a life of pub- ernment is lodging formal protests Cyprus has been divided be- explore the waters off northern fidentiality is strictly observed,” Mr. lic service is one of the best ways to with the United Nations and the Eu- tween a Greek Cypriot south – Cyprus, which are controlled by Manolis said. Nobody knows the lead your life. I think that was borne ropean Union. whose government is recognized names and the agencies except for from my father’s tenure in the Air “We will defend our Republic’s internationally – and a Turkish-oc- Continued on page 9 only one highly confidential per- Force. Both my parents were com- mitted to serving our country, albeit in a very different way. They did it quietly and enjoyed it, and felt it was a valuable experience. The presiden- cy of John F. Kennedy itself also Lucas and Aussie Hellenic drew many young people to politics as a way of public service, and the Penelope Tsilas Studies Center many years I shared with my hus- band when he was in public life – all of those things combined never al- Honored Closing lowed me to change my view about the great value of public service,” she said. By Demetris Tsakas By Stavros T. Stavridis “When this seat opened up, it was Special to The National Herald Special to The National Herald not something I ever planned on or anticipated trying for, but when NEW YORK – The Ladies Philopto- MELBOURNE – The National Cen- Marty Meehan resigned to become chos Benevolent Society of the ter for Hellenic Studies and Re- chancellor of the University of Mass- Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan search (NCHSR) also known by its achusetts in Lowell, there were a Cathedral of Holy Trinity in Man- Greek acronym as (EKEME) will couple of things I felt we truly need- hattan held its annual Chrysanthe- cease operations in about 6 weeks. mum Ball on Friday, November 21. Latrobe University of Australia Continued on page 5 This year’s honorees were The made a decision to close it down Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit and replace it with another Hel- Foundation – whose New York of- lenic Center. This article is a brief fice is currently in its tenth year of exposé of the history of operation – and Mrs. Penelope Tsi- NCHSR/EKEME and the review las, who was recognized for her committee’s findings and recom- HLA Holds contribution to the Philoptochos’ mendations to Latrobe University. philanthropic service. A BRIEF HISTORY OF Annual Gala The Archdiocesan Cathedral NCHSR/EKEME Philoptochos President Catherine This Center was founded in Moutoussis spoke about her organi- 1997 by the Latrobe University In New York zation’s charitable work, noting Council through the generosity of that it was among the nation’s old- TNH/COSTAS BEJ benefactor Dr. Zissis Dardalis and est women’s groups. The Philopto- From left: Mrs. Penelope Tsilas is honored by co-chair of the event Eleni Karatzas, and Ambassador Lucas the commitment and support of the By Demetris Tsakas chos has been aiding the Church in Tsilas, executive director of the Onassis Cultural Center, is honored by Archdiocesan Cathedral then University’s Vice Chancellor Special to The National Herald its benevolent work for over a cen- Philoptochos President Catherine Moutoussis at the Chrysanthemum Ball in New York on November 21.