Hosted by Ariana 2011 Savalas Spend a Weekend in Greece! Experience the splendor of Greece without Yes, the Greeks are ever leaving Palm Desert. It’s the 15th Anni- throwing a party all versary Palm Desert Greek Festival, hosted by weekend long! Greek the community of St. George Greek Orthodox Music, Greek dancing! church, starting Friday, March 4th at 4:00 pm Greek Food & Drink! for our 1st ever, TAVERNA NITE and ending Live Greek music will Sunday night, March 6th at 9:00 pm. This is be performed by “The the one event not to miss this year! 3 Days in Greeks” a traditional, Greek Bouzouki Band performing from Greece, without the jet lag! noon until festival closing, both Saturday & Sunday. Award win- ning dancer troupes will present Greek Folk dancing demonstra- To begin your “Weekend in Greece” we invite tions and encourage you to grab a napkin and join the line! OPA! you to a “ Λίγο” pronounced Leego meaning a “ Little Bit” of Greece. Just EATS & DRINKS As you enter the Festival, you will be instantly transported from Friday from 4:00- Palm Desert to the allure of the simple 9:00 pm. Then expe- Greek countryside and the magic of the rience all the splen- New this year; Greek Isles. There are neither quaint, dor of Greece at our on Saturday & Sunday we’ve added Off Site coastal villages, nor the blue water of FULL Festival all day Saturday & Sun- parking and a Complimentary Shuttle the Aegean for your eyes to see. But, day 11:00-9:00pm. Try our signature from The Westfield Mall in Palm Desert as you walk about the festival, we’ll fill Greek style, Lamb Chops marinated you and your soul with the “LOVE of and grilled to perfection, served with to the Festival & back. Greek life. Greeks like no others, tend Greek seasoned fries; as always that Please, park behind Macy’s back Lot. to live life with greater zest and inten- famous Greek Chicken Souvlaki with sity in all their activities. They call it: lemon juice, olive oil and Greek oregano; piles of Gyros (thin- Kefi (“Ke-Fi” ) (n.,Greek) - Liveliness, intense LOVE of all that ly sliced lamb in a pita with a spicy Tzatziki yogurt sauce; feta is life. The expression of such a feeling “Ke-fi” is what you will cheese and Kalamata olives in a refreshing Greek Salad and back experience during the Palm Desert Greek Festival. again this year, Flaming Saganaki! A deliciously, unique dish made from Greek Kasseri cheese set ablaze with Greek Brandy The Festival offers a full weekend celebra- ( continued on page 4 ) until the top is bubbly and browned. The fire is quenched with refreshing, tart lemon juice and served with a shout of “OPA!” & Colonel Steve N. Pisanos don’t forget that delicious Baklava! Just like in the village. “The Flying Greek” Born in Athens, Greece, in the suburb In celebration of our 15th Anniversary, international performer of Kolonos, on 10 November 1919, Ariana Savalas the very talented & beautiful, daughter of the be- Spiros Nicholas “Steve” Pisanos, the loved, famous Greek American actor, Telly Savalas will be our son of a subway motorman, came guest, Celebrity Hostess. She will be on site to dazzle us with to America in April 1938, as a crew her charm, beauty & amazing voice. Ariana sings both in Greek member on a Greek Merchant ship. & English and comes to us LIVE before her upcoming appear- Arriving in Baltimore, Maryland and ance on the X-Factor Live from Greece; where she will be a guest unable to speak English, Steve found performer, for Simon Cowell’s newest show. The Savalas legend his way to New York City, where he continues… ( see Page 6) worked in bakeries and restaurants. As he earned money he started flying lessons at Floyd Bennett Field. In Au- gust 1940, he settled in Plainfield, New Jersey, his adopted home town, and continued flying lessons at West- field Airport. He earned a private pilot’s license and, although still a Greek national, in October 1941 he joined the British Royal Air Force sponsored by the Clayton Knight Committee in New York City. Steve began his military flight training at Polaris Flight Academy in Glendale, California. Upon graduation, Pilot Officer Pisanos was transferred to England where he completed RAF Officers Training School at Cosford, England and OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Old Sarum Aerodrome in Salisbury. Pilot Officer Pisanos was posted to the 268 Fighter Squadron at Snailwell Aerodrome in Newmarket flying P-51A’s. He later transferred to the 71 Eagle Squadron, one of three Eagle squadrons in the RAF, comprised of American volunteers flying Spitfires at Debden RAF Aerodrome. When the USAAF 4 Fighter Group absorbed the American members (Pisanos ~ continued on page 2 ) Palm Desert Greek Fest 2011 Page 2 of 16 “Ka-LOS EI-ltha-teh”! It’s a Greek word, which means: “It’s great to see you!” With this word comes the atmosphere of “philo-xeh-NI-a” - another Greek word, which means “treating a visitor as a friend” (“philos” = friend / “xeh-nos” = stranger). These are words that tie people together with a sense of community. In truth, we do need each other. We at St. George Greek Orthodox Church are proud to offer to our Palm Desert neighbors, as well as to the citizens of the greater Coachella Valley, the opportunity to enjoy a taste of Greece. A “taste” of Greece not only includes the delicious Greek cuisine, but also the music and life-style of the Greek people, whose Orthodox Christian Faith; ancient philosophy and rich tradi- tions all add up to a sincere appreciation of other people and of life itself. You can see, then, that the greeting, “Ka-LOS EI-ltha-teh” is much more than a simple “welcome”. It is an overwhelmingly glad welcome and an expression of appreciation for individuals and for all people from everywhere throughout the world, knowing that everyone has much to give to others, which makes us all mem- bers of a community. As such, it is an honor for all of us today to enjoy life together. Wishing you all the blessings of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, I remain, Yours in His Service. Fr. Theodore Pantels, Parish Priest NICK SANDRU cell: 510.329.5940 e-mail: [email protected] HAYWARD WAREHOUSE 23030 Kidder St. Hayward, CA 94545Tel: 800-252-2449 Fax: 510-785-2405 Six Locations to serve you LOS ANGELES • ORANGE COUNTY • BAY AREA • WEST SACRAMENTO • SAN DIEGO • PHEONIX TREMCO Silicones, sealants, Vulkem, Paraseal, & Koch CARLISLE/MIRAFI Miradrain, Miraclay, sheet & fluid applied membranes WR GRACE Bituthene, Ice & Water Shield, PermaBarrier, PrePrufe, and Procor POLYTUFF Fast-cure urethane deck coating systems GE SILICONE Silicone sealants and elastomeric wall coatings WESTCOAT Decorative acrylic polymer deck coatings SIKA Sealants, epoxies, repair mortars and coatings PROSOCO Water repellents and cleaners PECORA Polyurethane and silicone sealants, coatings VANDEX Cementitious waterproofing NEOGARD Deck, floor and Wall Coatings METZGER MCGUIRE MM-80 anti-spall floor joint sealant …and many others St. George Greek Orthodox Church 17th Annual Golf Tournament Saturday, December 10,2011 At La Quinta Resort Hotel Dunes Course Call 760-568-9901 for information www.saintgeorgegreekorthodoxchurch.org ( Pisanos~ continued from page 1 ) of the Eagle Squadrons in September and October 1942, Pilot Officer Pisanos was commissioned a lieuten- ant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. On 3 May 1943, Lt. Pisanos was naturalized as an American citizen in London, England, becoming the first individual in American history to be naturalized outside the Continental United States. Flying his first mission in his P-47 “Miss Plainfield” out of Debden Aerodrome with the 334 Fighter Squadron, 4 Fighter Group, Lt. Pisanos, “The Flying Greek,” scored his first victory on 21 May 1943, when he downed a German FW-190 over Ghent, Belgium. By 1 January 1944 he had become an ace with five confirmed victories. On 5 March 1944, he obtained his 10 victory and while returning from that B-17 escort the mis- sion to Limoges and Bordeaux, France , Steve experienced engine failure in his P-51B and crash-landed south of Le Havre. For six months he evaded the Germans and worked with the French Resistance and the American OSS sabotaging the German war machine in occupied France. Lt. Pisanos returned to England on 2 September 1944, following the liberation of Paris. Upon returning to the United States, Captain Pisanos was assigned to the Flight Test Division at Wright Field, Ohio. He attended the USAF Test Pilot School and subsequently served as a test pilot at Wright Field and Muroc Lake, California, testing the YP-80 jet air- craft. During his career in the USAF, Steve graduated from the University of Maryland, attended the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. In December 1973, after a distinguished thirty years of service in the United States Air Force, he retired with the rank of Colonel. Col. Steve Pisanos is a proud member of our AHEPA Chapter 528 and hopes to be in attendence at the Festival this year . Palm Desert Greek Fest 2011 Page 3 of 16 Dear Friends and Guests, of all ages and walks of life. On behalf of our community, a Each year St. George Greek Orthodox Church of the Des- heartfelt thanks for your continued patronage! ert sponsors the Palm Desert Greek Festival. This year we At this time we extend our thanks to all our sponsors and ad- are especially privileged and delighted to celebrate the 15th vertisers for their continued and generous support.