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. 10, ISSUE 514 August 18, 2007 $1.00 GREECE: 1.75 EURO John & Tim Drexel’s Rigas Start West Coast Serving Their Plans Pick Sentences Up Steam Father and son plan Tsakopoulos and appeal as they check partners donate 1100 in at southern prison acres for new campus By Martha Waggoner By Demetris Tsakas Associated Press Special to The National Herald RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – John and NEW YORK – Drexel University Timothy Rigas lived a high life on President Constantine Papadakis the tab of Adelphia Communica- took a three-day tour of Placer tions: more than a dozen company County, California earlier this cars, a hundred pairs of bedroom month, where he met with Sacra- slippers for Timothy, and thou- mento real estate magnate and phil- sands of acres of timberland bought anthropist Angelo Tsakopoulos and only to preserve the view outside of Mr. Tsakopoulos’ son Kyriakos, as John's home in Coudersport, Penn- well as other local representatives, sylvania. to discuss Mr. Tsakopoulos’ propos- The price for looting one of the al to donate a 1,100-acre tract of nation's largest cable television land for the construction of a new companies: years at a low-security Drexel campus on the West Coast. federal prison in North Carolina; Dr. Papadakis and Placer County living hundreds of miles from home EUROKINISSI representatives graciously accepted in a dormitory; working seven DEKAPENTAVGOUSTO – Celebrating the Dormition of the Theotokos Mr. Tsakopoulos’ offer, and the hours a day in the prison kitchen, Greek American developer was warehouse or outside as a Tens of Thousands of Orthodox faithful flocked to the island of Tinos to celebrate the annual Dormition of the Virgin Mary (Koimisis tis scheduled to pay a visit Drexel Uni- groundskeeper. Theotokou) religious holiday this past Wednesday. The Feast Day, celebrated each year on August 15, marks the miraculous assumption of versity this past Thursday, August After fighting one of the nation's Mary to Heaven after her falling asleep. The holiday also highlights the height of summer in Greece, as many Greeks begin their vacations. 16, just a few days afterwards, to largest corporate fraud cases, Adel- iron out the final details and set a phia Founder John Rigas and his timetable, which is expected to be son Tim, the company's former chief financial officer, turned them- selves in this past Monday, August 13, at the Butner Federal Correc- Greece On Track for U.S. Visa Waiver Program tional Complex, about 45 minutes northwest of Raleigh. By Dimitri Soultogiannis President Bush signed measures ports of entry in order to protect we have to wait and see.” John Rigas, 82, was sentenced Special to the National Herald for VWP expansion this past August the country from possible terrorist According to a recent story in to 15 years and Timothy Rigas, 51, 4, inviting more (mainly Eastern activities and attacks are also part USA Today (“New Measures for to 20 years for their role in the WASHINGTON, D.C. – According European) countries to participate of the President’s proposal. Visa Waiver,” August 4), the Adelphia collapse. They were con- to State Department officials, in the program, Greece among CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC changes will not be immediate for victed in 2004 on multiple charges Greece is one of the most strongest them. Basil Mossaidis, executive direc- Greeks, Czechs and others. Russ of securities fraud, conspiracy to candidates to enter the U.S. Gov- Now, the State Department, tor of AHEPA, the country’s oldest Knocke, spokesman for the Depart- commit bank fraud and bank fraud. ernment’s Visa Waiver Program, along with the Department of the and largest grassroots Hellenic her- ment of Homeland Security, says it They remained free while their which permits citizens of certain Interior, are in charge of monitor- itage organization, told the Nation- will be months before HS sets out appeals navigated the court sys- (mainly European) countries to en- ing the admission process making al Herald that AHEPA is fairly well procedures which will enable visi- tem, a repose which ended in June ter the United States for a period of sure all new candidates qualify for pleased with the President’s initia- tors to notify U.S. authorities of when U.S. District Judge Leonard less than 90 days without a visa, entrance to the program. tive, but said the process will re- their travel plans only two to three Sand gave the father and son until given that the purpose of their trip The President is proposing that quire patience. days beforehand. At the same time, August 13 to report to prison. is business or pleasure. Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, the “We are very supportive of hav- Americans are not required to get The pair had asked that they be Greece continues to fulfill all the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, ing a resolution; however, we are tourist visas beforehand to travel allowed to serve their time together requirements for smooth entry to Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, cautiously optimistic,” Mr. Mos- anywhere in the European Union. at a facility close to their homes in the Program, officials said, the is- Romania, Slovakia and South Ko- saidis said. “AHEPA has focused in- They only need to show their pass- Coudersport. Instead, the Federal suance of biometric passports and a rea will be the next set of countries tensely on the Visa Waiver Program ports. visa decline rate equal or less than to enter the Program. New security for almost a year and a half now, Continued on page 4 3 percent, for example. measures and extra screening at all but there is still a lot to be done, so Continued on page 7 Portsmouth Church Celebrates in Style TNH ARCHIVES Dr. Constantine Papadakis By Theodore Kalmoukos Greek flags flying everywhere as a close to him, looking to him as a fa- Special to The National Herald reminder to visitors that this is a ther and brother. Parish Council submitted to Drexel’s Board of Di- Greek location and a part of Greece President, Dr. Aristotle Damianos, a rectors for approval sometime this PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – The Greek – the land of culture, friendship, pious young man, faithful to Ortho- fall. festival at Saint Nicholas Church in fellowship, camaraderie and cele- dox Christianity and Hellenic Recapping how this project came Portsmouth is the cultural and so- bration of life, which the Greeks ideals, called his parish priest “the about, Dr. Papadakis told the Na- cial event of the year for this sea- certainly know how to appreciate. heart and soul of the community.” tional Herald Mr. Tsakopoulos ap- side town of 6,000 permanent resi- A huge tent welcomed the hun- Like so many other churches proached him with the idea four dents, which burgeons to 300,000 dreds of Greeks and non-Greeks and other non-profit organization years ago, before pitching it to any people in the summer because of alike, who savored tasty Greek food in the United States – a country other university, but Dr. Papadakis the beach, which attracts young and danced to live music provided built on the dreams of the genera- had to pass on the idea because the and old from throughout New Eng- by the Makridis Brothers band. tions of immigrants it welcomed – establishment and development of land like a magnet. Church Pastor Rev. Evangelos Pa- the Church of St. Nicholas in the University’s new law school was Portsmouth lies northeast of pas, who has been serving at this Portsmouth owes its existence to Drexel’s priority at the time. Boston, and is usually about one position for 15 years, rolled up his the pioneering Greek immigrants “I met with Angelo Tsakopoulos and a half hours away by car, but sleeves; put on an apron he found who founded the community. Ac- in February during the Leadership on Friday afternoons the drive can lying in front of him; and began cording to community records, 100 Conference, and I asked him if last as long as three hours because roasting chickens at one of three Panagiotis Zacharias was the first he was willing to invite Drexel of gridlock, as countless people grills. Responding to the initial sur- Greek immigrant who set foot on alumni living in California to a lun- take to the roads for a weekend get- prise we displayed over seeing him Portsmouth in 1893, while the Pa- cheon in Sacramento. away from their daily routine. in such an unfamiliar position, Rev. pas brothers set out on the high He said he would be very The first thing that visitors see Papas smiled and said, “Why not? seas at ages 10 and 12 respectively, pleased to do so. on their way to town is the Saint In this community, we do all our bound for Portsmouth to seek out He also reminded me of the pro- TNH STAFF Nicholas Church, a relatively small programs and activities together. I their older brother. Soon, a compa- posal he made four years ago, and Rev. Angelo C. Pappas (right), pastor of Saint Nicholas Church in yet imposing building. enjoy it. I like to help out this way.” ny of Greek pioneers began to said it still stands. After we had Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Dr. Aristotle Damianos, president The church courtyard was trans- Father Papas’ parishioners not form, and they all felt strongly that originally declined his offer, Mr. of the parish council, during the Portsmouth community’s recent bi- formed into a full-fledged Greek only respect and honor him; they ennial festival.