S O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news W ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of E ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek- Americans N c v A wEEkly GrEEk-AmEriCAN PuBliCATiON www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 17, ISSUE 856 March 8-14, 2014 $1.50 Greek-Am. Katagas Admiral Stavridis Discusses Options in Ukraine Wins Academy Award Ex-SACEUR Head Says NATO Forces For 12 Years a Slave Need to be Ready TNH Staff see his son to see his son win By Theodore Kalmoukos one award after another.” LOS ANGELES, CA – Noted Katagas' mother was at the BOSTON, MA – Retired U.S. Greek-American film producer Oscars, along with Katagas’ wife Admiral James Stavridis, cur - Anthony Katagas, who has Brandi and their two older chil - rently Dean of the Fletcher backed more than 30 films, hit dren, Ella and Zoe were, but School of Law and Diplomacy the jackpot at the 2014 Acad - Stylianos was unable to travel at Tufts University, made state - emy Awards, winning an Oscar to Los Angeles, so he watched ments to TNH discussing the as one of the producers for the the ceremony on television. dangerous situation as develop - Civil War drama 12 Years A Katagas is known to readers ing in Ukraine. Slave that was in tight competi - of The National Herald since the “There are no good military tion with a host of other movies. autumn of 2006 when he chose options,” Admiral Stavridis said. Katagas has New York roots. Astoria for to be the backdrop However, NATO should provide His mother, Anastasia Kapsis for scenes in the 2008 film The intelligence, information, logis - was born in the United States Accidental Husband that starred tics support, financial support, and his father Stelios, who was Colin Firth and Uma Thurman. and advice to the Ukrainian gov - born in Piraeus, came to Long Katagas and his wife have ernment and its military forces.” Island in 1969 at age 31. Kata - two other children, Emily, 6, and Nonetheless, one of Stavridis’ gas’ brother, Alexander, lives in George, who is 2 ½ years old. specific recommendations is to Astoria. The two youngest children mobilize NATO forces to, at a “I don’t have the words to watched on TV with their grand - minimum, defend the Ukraine. describe the joy and happiness father. The former NATO Supreme Anthony has given us. Even as His aunt, Georgia Kapsis, Allied Commander Europe a child he told us he was going married John Bastidis of Astoria, (SACEUR), the first Naval offi - to be famous and that everyone who has two brothers, while un - AP PHOTO/THANASSiS STAvrAkiS cer to hold that distinction, was going to talk about him, we cle Thanassi operates a business Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush Arrives in Saronic Gulf Stavridis told TNH he would ad - didn’t really believe it,” his fa - in Astoria and another, Classic vise President Obama to isolate ther Stylianos Katagas told The Cleaners, on 29th St. The Eastern Mediterranean has been both a military hotspot and a popular vacation spot for Russia “both diplomatically and National Herald. “”I could never Katagas, a 1992 graduate of more than 3000 years. People train in sail boats in the waters of the Saronic Gulf, outside economically, with a focus on imagine that God would bless a Western New England Univer - Piraeus, back dropped by the United States nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS George H.W. sanctions that would weaken humble immigrant like me to sity in Springfield, Mass., began Bush, Wednesday, March 5. The 1,092 feet (333 meters) carrier which can carry 6,000 personnel, working in the business as an one of the world’s largest warships, will be deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet's area of responsibility. Continued on page 5 assistant director on indepen - dent films in 1997. Shortly thereafter he production man - aged his first film for Miramax, a low budget version of Ham - Catralava on Design of St. Nicholas Venizelos to let. In 1999 Katagas started Keep Your Head Productions which By Constantine S. Sirigos Sofia, in Greece, sailing in the whose dramatic arches framed Ukraine Grks: had in mind the producing and TNH Staff Writer Dodecanese, visiting the island the “golden games” of the 2004 supporting independent film in of Symi, the birthplace of the Olympics would pour his heart New York City. He produced NEW YORK – There is a touch three Graces, when he received and soul into the design of the You’re Safe four film for the company in - of the poetic to the story of how a phone call with the news that sanctuary that will succeed the cluding, Homework, which in the renowned architect Santiago he was invited to participate in beloved little church that was 2004 earned him a nomination Calatrava came to be the design the competition to design St. crushed on that cruel day. TNH Staff for an Independent Spirit architect for the new Church of Nicholas. He told TNY “as a young stu - Award, The Producers Award. St. Nicholas at Ground Zero, The conjunction of the call dent I took trips to see the MARIUPOL, Ukraine – "Greece “We have been in contact whose function is contribute to and the place he received it are Acropolis and Hagia Sophia. I has you completely covered and with Anthony since hearing of the renaissance of both the not a coincidence. His profound felt I had discovered the most protected,” Greek Deputy Prime this great news. We couldn’t be Downtown community and the love and appreciation for the beautiful sequence of spaces in and Foreign Minister Evangelos more proud.” said Kathy Pappas, parish, to help visitors transcend creations of Hellenism and Or - the world. To me, Hagia Sophia Venizelos told representatives of Director of Alumni Relations for the painful memories of 9/11, thodoxy must have counted for is the Parthenon of the Ortho - the populous Greek community Western New England. and to express the little church’s more than his impressive re - doxy.” in Mariupol, Ukraine, this week Greek-American film producer Byzantine heritage. sume, giving the decision mak - at the offices of the Federation Anthony Katagas. Continued on page 8 He was with his daughter, ers no doubt that the man Continued on page 9 of Greek Associations. Venizelos reassured them that “our country would use all means at its disposal, national and European, to provide you Eight Greek- CHIA Celebrates Deeper Hellenic-Jewish Ties with the protection and care you require in the difficult moments you are li living.” He said the Americans TNH Staff Ukraine must not become a bat - tlefield again. We do not want WASHINGTON, DC – Greek- another cold war that will again On Forbes’ and Jewish-American leaders divide the European continent. from The Order of AHEPA, the This must be avoided we will American Hellenic Institute avoid it." 400 Richest (AHI), and B’nai Brith Interna - "Greece , as the presiding tional who participated on a country of the European Union three-country mission to Israel, NEW YORK – Eight Greek- Cyprus, and Greece in January Continued on page 11 Americans, led by John Paul presented their findings at brief - DeJoria with a net worth of $4 ing held on Capitol Hill on Feb. billion and John Catsimatidis at 25. $3.1 billion, are on the 2014 The briefing was held in co - Forbes 400 – The Richest People operation with the Congres - The Truman in America list that is topped by sional Hellenic-Israeli Alliance, Bill Gates. AT $72 billion, Gates which celebrated its one -year reclaimed the top spot from anniversary on the following Doctrine in Mexico’s Carlos Slim. day on Capitol Hill at an event Warren Buffet, Larry Ellison, in Rayburn House Office Build - and the Koch Brothers, Charles ing which was co-hosted by the Its 67th Year and David, round out the top American Jewish Committee five positions on the list. Bill (AJC,) the Hellenic American Gates, at 58 years old, is the Leadership Council (HALC) and By Constantinos E. Scaros youngest in the top 10, and for - the Cyprus Federation of Amer - mer New York mayor Michael ica. Few people have affected Bloomberg is number 9 at $31 Two dozen members of Con - lives by the millions throughout billion. gress and their staff, including the world as did Harry Truman. The National Herald will senior House Foreign Affairs He carved a political path for publish its annual list of The 50 Committee members, attended humanity as a whole – and for Wealthiest Greek-Americans in the celebration. TNH/COSTAS BEJ Greece in particular – that its March 8-14 edition. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who co-chairs the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance (CHIA) with Rep. shaped the course of events DeJoria, 70 years old, who is Continued on page 8 Ted Deutch, address guest at the celebration of the first anniversary of the caucus. throughout the second half of also of Italian descent, is num - the 20th century and into the ber 110 on the list. He lives in 21st. Austin, TX and built his fortune March 12 marks the 67th an - selling hair products and niversary of the Truman Doc - tequila. Catsimatidis, who Tsipras: He’d Eugenides: Eat, Drink, and Be Literary trine, a vital component of why made his first foray into elec - ensuing generations of Greeks, toral politics last year by run - and their Greek-American de - ning for mayor of New York, is Reverse Sale By Constantine S. Sirigos plaining that after a number of scendants, knew about the So - 65 years old and has holdings TNH Staff Writer successful events in recent years viet Iron Curtain only from his - in oil, real estate, and supermar - they have expanded their part - tory books and documentaries kets.