O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans c v a wEEKLy GrEEK aMErIcaN PUbLIcaTION www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 14, ISSUE 711 May 28 - June 3, 2011 $1.50 The North Carolina Papandreou, “Leave Us in Peace,” Greeks Won’t Connection to Greek As Troika Squeezes Again, No Consensus Legacy Unites a Town From Political Rivals By Kim Hasty his two brothers were teenagers ATHENS – Undermined by a Fayetteville Observer facing the task of fitting in and leading member of his Socialist learning a new language in party who said Greece might KARPENISI, Greece- Father and America. So difficult was the have to return to the drachma, son looked out the window to - transition that from time to time a failure to get consensus from gether, high above the cobbled the subject of one family mem - rival parties, and by a surprise streets of Karpenisi, Greece. ber or another returning to rally outside Parliament of thou - They could see the solid stone Greece would arise. Bill Kalevas sands of Greeks in a social net - buildings and the town square. more than once held up an open work-organized flash mob They could see the Velouchi, the hand. Five fingers, he would say; demonstration, Prime Minister highest mountain in Evrytania. they’re all different. Then he George Papandreou has asked They could see the past. And the would make a fist. “But put them for the international community future. “Pops,’’ Greg Kalevas together,’’ he said, “You can’t to “leave us in peace,” but his said, putting an arm around the break it.’’ The family would stay own people didn’t. Papandreou shoulder of his father, Vasilio, or together. was blindsided by remarks from Bill, “I want to thank you.’’ They The stone building stands va - Greece’s representative at the were standing atop of the four- cant now along the main street European Commission, Maria story condominium complex the of Stenoma, a village about 11 Damanaki, who said discussions younger Kalevas had built on miles from Karpenisi. But 40 are taking place in the EU to land his father had given him. years ago, everyone in Stenoma prepare for Greece’s departure Bill and Greg Kalevas had come called Bill Kalevas “kapela,” or from the Eurozone, the 17 coun - a long way since 1973, when the top hat. He owned the most tries who use the euro as their family arrived in America as im - popular business in town inside currency. The so-called Troika migrants from Greece. Back that stone building. His cafenio of the European Union-Interna - then, the only work available for offered whatever anyone tional Monetary Fund-European Bill Kalevas involved long hours wanted - good food, spirited Central Bank is lending Greece of manual labor. And Greg and card games, strong coffee. $155 billion over three years to “Everyone loved that man,’’ prevent bankruptcy caused for Greg Kalevas said of his father. aP PHOTO/NIKOLaS GIaKOUMIDIS decades of profligate spending “He served everyone. If they A protester holding a Greek flag shouts slogans in front of the White Tower in the northern Greek and packing public payrolls with WITH THIS ISSUE wanted it, he made sure they port city of Thessaloniki on May 25, 2011 during a peaceful rally attended by thousands called political hires. That has spurred had it.’’ through a social networking site - modeled on protests by young people in Spain. a rising chorus of calls from crit - Bill Kalevas’ three sons helped ics who have predicted Greece in the business. One of Greg’s will have to restructure its $470 jobs was raising the cafenio’s billion debt to lower its 10.4% chickens and rabbits. “I got up deficit or default outright on to 95 rabbits; I was trying to get St. George’s, Methodios Keep Sparring loans from investors. Damanaki, him 100,’’ he said. “We’d kill who holds the EU’s Fisheries them, of course. Somebody portfolio, raised the specter it would call in and say they By Theodore Kalmoukos with it. St. George’s General As - through a Stewardship Training could happen. “The greatest wanted rabbit stew. My daddy TNH Staff Writer sembly and Parish Council sent Seminar and a Strategic Plan - achievement of postwar Greece said, ‘Boy, get you a rabbit and the Metropolitan a letter stating ning Session that would be pro - - the euro and the country’s Eu - clean it.’ ‘‘ Despite the brisk busi - LYNN, Mass. – The feud be - it would pay a $10,000 increase, vided by the Archdiocese but ropean course - are in danger,” ness, Bill Kalevas couldn’t help tween St. George’s Church in from $68,000 to $78,000 as per that the $88,000 assessment for she said in a statement. “The but heed the stories of relatives this working-class city 20 miles the terms of the compromise this year would stand and the scenario of Greece distancing it - who had gone to America. Back north of Boston and Metropoli - that had been negotiated be - 2012 assessment would be de - self from the euro is on the then, it seemed that everyone tan Methodios over a $20,000 tween representatives from St. termined through the Clergy- table. “We either agree with our who returned home to Greece to increase in its annual assess - George’s with the Metropolitan Laity Congress and that St. creditors on a program of tough visit was well-dressed, prosper - ment the church has refused to and his team. But the Archdio - George’s could appeal. The sacrifices that brings results, and ous and never shy about sharing pay became even more confused cese sent St. George’s a letter Archdiocese sent that letter to assume the responsibilities for that information with others. after another disagreement over stating that the terms were dif - the Metropolis of Boston as well. our past, or we return to the LEAVING THE HOMELAND what the terms were of a com - ferent than what the church’s The Archdiocesan version of drachma.” The Greek govern - With many family members promise deal that had been members were told, and that what transpired during negoti - ment and Luxembourg Prime already in America, the worked out on May 16 only to the $20,000 increase for 2010 ations with St. George’s Parish Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, fall apart at the last minute would be forgiven only under Continued on page 6 when he would not go along the condition that the parish go Continued on page 3 Continued on page 9 All-Day Greek Pre-School Acropolis Restoration is More Like Fine Surgery for Trenton, N.J. in the By Constantine S. Sirigos TNH Staff Writer Final Phase, Youth Served NEW YORK – Maria Ioannidou never dreamed of working on By Demetris Tsakas school will be accepting its first the restoration of the Acropolis Special to The National Herald class of three and four-year-old while she was studying to be a students. civil engineer, but the Greek NEW YORK - The St. George As previously reported by The government realized the Church in Trenton, N.J. is now National Herald, these efforts be - restoration of the national sym - in the final phase of establishing gan about a year ago when pa - bol par excellence required tech - an all-day bilingual Greek Amer - perwork was filed with the nical expertise beyond the ar - ican Pre-School program. Begin - Hamilton school district (located chaeologists who did the earlier ning this coming September, the in the suburbs of Trenton, where work, so she was recruited to the St. George Community is work on the Erectheum, and her based) and the New Jersey State mastery of the work and lead - Education Department. The ership led to her appointment Hamilton School District has al - as the Director of the Acropolis Panagiotou: ready approved the community’s Restoration Service (YSMA) in request to operate a Pre-Kinder - 2000. garten program, and all that re - “The Acropolis Restoration First Greek mains is the final approval by the Project” was her presentation in state Board of Education. St. two separate lectures about the George Parish Council President great cultural endeavor she Mayor in US Dr. Spiros Spireas and Greek oversees. The primary organizer school board chairperson Dr. of the events was the Hellenic- Georgia Triantafillou, a Professor American Technical Society. By Steve Frangos of Mathematics at Temple Uni - Structural engineer Emmanuel versity, told The National Herald Velivasakis, the new group’s Constantine Apostolos Pana - that they were pleased with the President, introduced Ioannidou giotou (1846-1909) was one of progress they have been making at Holy Trinity Cathedral and at EUrOKINISSI the very early Greek settlers in up until now and the fact that Restoration of the ancient Acropolis and Parthenon has been going on for many years and re - North America. The complicated they have met all the require - Continued on page 5 quires an army of workers and engineers skilled enough to understand the delicate work. story of Panagiotou, his ex - ments that the State of New Jer - tended family, descendants, and sey has mandated in order to the Greeks of Pensacola pro - grant them a license to operate vides an unexpected chapter in this new school. the history of Greeks in the Di - According to them, the last Atlantic Bank President Voutsinas Joins FPA aspora. Panagiotou was a certi - remaining prerequisite is to build fied captain who had received a playground. The only reason his license in Odessa, Russia. that this project has not yet been Special to TNH the Year.