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. 11, ISSUE 569 September 6, 2008 $1.25 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Melina Kanakaredes Is New Orleans Parish Evacuates City Prior to Gustav Unyielding about Her Hurricane Misses New Orleans, Church Heritage: “It’s Who I Am” Avoids Heavy Damage By Evan C. Lambrou you’re not careful, you can lose By Theodore Kalmoukos Special to The National Herald yourself. You have to change to be- Special to The National Herald come the character, but you don’t NEW YORK – Some people seem to have to change who you are in real BOSTON – “We thank God the city have it all. On the surface, it might life,” the Emmy-nominated actress was spared from a new catastro- seem that things just come easy for told the Herald. phe,” Rev. Anthony Stratis, Dean of them. But when you scratch the I think that I’ve been very the Holy Trinity Cathedral of New surface a little, when you dig to blessed. I have an amazing family. Orleans told The National Herald in find what’s underneath, you realize And my love and adoration for our a telephone conversation on Mon- that it doesn’t always come easy, cultural heritage is a result of my day night, September 1. Along with not even for the most talented and upbringing in a loving family. Being his presbytera and their two sons, gifted among us. No matter how at- Greek American is extremely im- Fr. Stratis fled New Orleans on Sat- tractive and intelligent someone is, portant to me, and it’s always been urday evening and they drove all he or she still has to earn his or her something I emphasize in my life,” night to Ft. Walton Beach Florida station in life. America is a meritoc- she added. where Fr. Constantine Mersinas ex- racy, after all. Her other television credits in- tended them hospitality. With Hurri- What might make it seem easier clude “Providence,” “NYPD Blue,” cane Gustav on the way and a for some is often simply a matter of “Northern Exposure,” “Due South,” mandatory evacuation ordered by perception, however, and that per- “Oz” and the daytime drama, the city’s mayor, Fr. Anthony prayed ception is often a product of what a “Guiding Light.” Her film credits in- for the best. person radiates with his or her pos- clude “The Long Kiss Goodnight” Asked if the Holy Trinity Cathe- itive attitude. (starring Geena Davis) and “15 dral had suffered any damage, Fr. Positive attitude is probably the Minutes,” in which she played Anthony said, “I have not been in- shortest way to characterize Melina Nicolette Karas, the girlfriend of formed of anything bad yet, I hope Kanakaredes, among the most suc- Robert De Niro’s character. whatever damage has occurred to cessful actresses in Hollywood to- Though it might seem to diffi- be minimum,” and he added “thank- day. In speaking with the National cult to a casual observer that a per- fully the storm did not hit with the Herald, she was just bursting at the son in her profession could remain force we feared it was going to hit seams with it. grounded in her ethnic heritage, and thus we anticipate the damage The interview was unique. Call- Melina has clearly managed to do TNH/COSTAS BEJ is small.” Fr. Anthony made it clear ing from the set of CBS’ hit show, so. She is intensely proud of her First Day of School that “nobody has gone to see the “CSI: NY,” she had to break away Greek background. She speaks church as yet because as you know three times in between shoots. In Greek fluently. She married some- The sound of children once again echoed through the William Spyropoulos Day School in Flushing, N.Y. as the city was evacuated, but also as the process, she managed to be one Greek. She insists on raising parents brought students in for the first day of school on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. we speak now Gustav continues to generous with her time and com- her children in the Greek tradition. punch the area.” plete the interview. Production for And she stays actively involved While the storm was hitting the the show began on August 11, with the Church, despite the chal- city of the New Orleans, Fr. Anthony shortly after she returned from lenges her career presents. was in constant touch with a good Greece with her family. The studio So how does she manage to do number of his parishioners who had is presently shooting for October’s all of that in light of the demands Cypriot Leaders Upbeat after Talks evacuated the city to safe areas. He shows. There are 26 episodes her profession places on her? said, “happily everyone is well and planned this season, the show’s “It’s so hard to say that I balance By Evan C. Lambrou without tangible progress. Union in 2004. Cyprus joined the safe. My desire is to return back to fifth, and Melina will be working anything out because it’s just who I Special to The National Herald Preparatory talks, held at com- E.U. in May of that year as a divid- New Orleans as soon as possible and five days a week through next May. am. I really strongly appreciate mittee level since March, have been ed island, with Turkish Cypriots de- I will do that as soon as the electrical In spite of her hectic schedule, who we are as a people. I think NEW YORK – Cyprus’ rival Greek accompanied by confidence-build- nied the bloc’s membership bene- power is restored and the authori- she still finds time to be who she is: Greek Americans are special. We and Turkish leaders started new ing measures, notably the opening fits. ties proclaim the streets to be safe. If a Greek American girl who grew up live in an amazing country, and our peace talks this past Wednesday of a border crossing in Ledra Street Optimists are pinning their I have a chance I might go back to- to be a family-oriented woman cultural heritage provides us with and said they hoped for a new deal linking the south and Turkish-occu- hopes on the personal chemistry morrow (Tuesday) if not I will at- with a successful career, who also that much more, so we can cele- soon, one aimed at reaching a com- pied north in the symbolic heart of and shared leftwing politics of the tempt to return on Wednesday.” remains committed to her cultural brate who we are. I remember ask- prehensive solution to the thorny old Nicosia. two leaders. On Saturday, August 30, Fr. An- heritage and way of life, which she ing my pappou (grandfather), ‘Am I problem and reuniting an island di- It is the first intensive push for Republic of Cyprus President thony went to the Holy Trinity learned while growing up with a Greek or am I American?’ And he vided by war 34 years ago. peace since a U.N.-reunification Demetris Christofias met with Cathedral and communicated by close-knit family in Akron, Ohio. said, ‘You’re an American first be- The negotiation process has an plan was overwhelmingly rejected Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali phone and e-mail with the majority “When you’re in this profession, cause this is your country. But you open-ended timetable, but the by Greek Cypriots, but approved by Talat for two hours inside the U.N.- of his parishioners informing them you’re always redefining yourself United Nations has warned that the Turkish Cypriots, just a week before based on the role you play, and if Continued on page 5 talks can not go on indefinitely the island acceded to the European Continued on page 7 Continued on page 4 Greek American Makes Ancient Gold Treasure Puzzles Greek Archaeologists Breakthrough in Deciphering By Nicholas Paphitis Associated Press Cancer Causing Enzyme ATHENS – A priceless gold wreath has been unearthed in an ancient city in northern Greece, buried PHILADELPHIA - Researchers at genetic information during cell di- with human bones in a large copper The Wistar Institute have deci- vision. vase that workers initially took for phered the structure of the active When telomerase is dormant, a land mine. region of telomerase, an enzyme telomeres shorten each time a cell The University of Thessaloniki that plays a major role in the devel- divides, leading eventually to ge- said in a statement Friday that the opment of nearly all human can- netic instability and cell death. By "astonishing" discovery was made cers. The landmark achievement preserving chromosomes’ integrity, during its excavations this week in opens the door to the creation of telomerase allows cells to continue the ruins of ancient Aigai. The city new, broadly effective cancer living and dividing. The enzyme is was the first capital of ancient drugs, as well as anti-aging thera- active in cells that multiply fre- Macedonia, where King Philip II — pies. quently, such as embryonic stem father of Alexander the Great — Researchers have attempted for cells, but is switched off almost en- was assassinated. more than a decade to find drugs tirely in normal adult cells to pre- Gold wreaths are rare and were that shut down telomerase—wide- vent the dangers of runaway cell buried with ancient nobles or royal- ly considered the No. 1 target for proliferation.