Holy Trinity Chicago Celebrates 125 Years ... - The National Herald

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oCV ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915

The National Herald

www.thenationalherald.com

June 17-23, 2017

anniversary

1915-2017

a wEEkly grEEk-amEriCan PuBliCation

VOL. 20, ISSUE 1027

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Archon Limberakis Honored at the 82nd Cathedral Gala

Congratulations Graduates on a Successful School Year!

Holy Trinity Award presented to Defender of the Faith for his inspired work and dedication By Eleni Sakellis

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Among the many schools celebrating another successful academic year, St. Demetrios High School in Astoria held its senior graduation at the Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center. The Class of 2029 sang at the event. See the related article on page 4.

Holy Trinity Chicago Celebrates 125 Years TNH Staff CHICAGO, IL – Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago’s West Town celebrated its 125th anniversary on the weekend of June 10-11. The celebration also marks the 125th anniversary of Orthodox Christianity in Chicago. The celebration began on the 10th with a tour of the historic cathedral, located at 1121 N. Leavitt St., followed by a vigil. A Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

took place on the morning of the 11th, presided over by His Grace, Bishop Paul. A banquet at The Carlisle in Lombard concluded the anniversary celebrations for the weekend. “This is a momentous occasion, worthy of giving thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for the blessings He has bestowed on us, we well as strengthening us for the challenges we face in the 21st Century,” the Holy Trinity organizers noted on the cathedral website.

Originally established in 1892 as St. Vladimir's Church, it is believed to be the first Orthodox Christian parish in Chicago. Services were first held in a house on Noble Street and then in another home on Armitage Avenue. “The father of modern American Architecture” Louis H. Sullivan designed the present cathedral building, which was constructed in 1903 after a $4,000 donation from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. According

to the cathedral’s website, a model of the Orthodox chapel was exhibited at the Columbian Exposition in 1893, and had attracted donors from among the many wealthy Chicagoans who saw it, which allowed the parish to begin its search for an architect. Sullivan was inspired by a church in the village of Tatarskaya in Siberia, and designed the cathedral in the style of traditional country churches Continued on page 3

NEW YORK – The 82nd Archdiocesan Cathedral Gala was held on June 10 at Guastavino’s in New York City. The event honored Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis- National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, with the Holy Trinity Award. The evening began with a cocktail hour followed by the awards presentation, dinner, and dancing. Justin Bozonelis and Stephanie Pantelidis, the Cathedral Gala co-Chairs, offered their greetings to the more than 400 guests of all ages in attendance. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, gave the invocation and Cathedral Dean Fr. John Vlahos offered his remarks on the event and the honoree. Fr. Vlahos noted that Holy Trinity Cathedral is a unique parish, one of the jewels of the Orthodox Church, and congratulated Dr. Limberakis and all the Archons for their inspired work for the Patriarchate and for the community. James Gianakis, President of the Board of Trustees of Holy Trinity, thanked a number of people who made the event possible, noting the tireless efforts of the co-chairs, the fundraising chair Pauline Kotsilimbas, and the leadership and spiritual guidance of Vlahos. Gianakis said it was a blessing when Vlahos arrived three years ago, and the full church on Sundays and the church’s ministries are a credit to him. He then introduced Limberakis, observing

Archbishop Demetrios Blesses St. Michael’s New Facility in Uniondale By Theodore Kalmoukos UNIONDALE, NY – His Eminence Archbishop Geron of America Demetrios officiated on June 10 at the Agiasmos Service of the new building in Uniondale, NY that will function as an extension of the St. Michael’s Home for the Aged. The archbishop was assisted by Archdiocesan Chancellor His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, also General Director

Pancyprian Dance Div. Cyprus Night TNH Staff FLUSHING – The 41st Annual Pancyprian Dance Division “Cyprus Night” took place on June 10 at Terrace on the Park in Flushing. The event drew hundreds to experience the delightful music and dancing of Cyprus as well as the wonderful, traditional foods. Among those in attendance were Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce directors and PSEKA President Philip Christopher and Nikos Mouyiaris- founder and CEO of Mana Products, and Kyriacos Papastylianou- President of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations, and many members of the community. The highlight of the evening was the dancing performed in traditional Cypriot costume by members of the Pancyprian dancers.

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of St. Michael’s, and priests from neighboring parishes. Steve and Stamatiki Valiotis, great benefactors of the new building – they donated $10 million a few months ago – were present. The new building will be named after them. The Laconian Association of Long Island and Queens under the presidency Theodoros Langis donated $70,000 toward the building’s renovation. The 11-acre property includes a 90,000 sq. ft. building. Independent and assisted living apartments, as well as dementia and nursing care facilities are planned. The renovation began on June 12. Bishop Andonios told TNH that “with this property, we enter the most exciting chapter in the history of this wonderful Archdiocesan institution. The need to expand our facilities and services and help even more of our elderly is a sacred mission. This is an enormous undertaking, but with blessings from above and the generous support of the community, we will achieve our vision.” According to Andonios, “the property was purchased at a cost of $7,000,000, and the complex will include 27 onebedroom independent living apartments, over 50 private assisted-living bedrooms with private baths, and a unit serving clients with dementia as well as a section with nursing care beds. The Capital Fundraising Campaign will raise funds to pay off the purchase price of the property, as well as completely renovate the current building on the site. “We are especially indebted to a long-time friend of the Greek Orthodox community, Bishop Murphy of the Rockville Diocese, for his great assistance in making this purchase possible. Because there is also a chapel in the building Bishop Murphy wanted to come to the hands of the Greek-Orthodox.” The Rockville Centre Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church was the prior owner of the site. Continued on page 6

Dimitrios Panagos

Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis who was honored at the 82nd Cathedral Gala at Guastavino’s in New York City. that Archons are the defenders of our faith around the world, decade after decade. As National Commander, Limberakis advocates for Orthodox Christianity and is a defender of the faith. He is also a doctor, a practicing radiologist in Philadelphia, and Gianakis said, “an example as a father and grandfather, surrounded by his family today.” The award, a specially-commissioned icon of the Holy Trinity, was presented to Limberakis by Archbishop Demetrios, Vlahos, and Gianakis. Limberakis accepted the award on behalf of all the Archons, His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and his wife and family whom Continued on page 4

Niko Kotoulas, Gr-Amer. Piano Man By Eleni Sakellis

praised the personality and the long priestly and hierarch ministry of the departed hierarch. On June 8, Demetrios chanted a Trisagion Service at the Cathedral during the wake. On June 9, prior to the Funeral Service a Matins and Divine Liturgy was celebrated as it is the tradition of the Church for departed priests and hierarchs. Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago, officiated at both Services. The burial of Metropolitan Iakovos took place at the St. Ioannis Chrysostom Monastery in Pleasant Prairie WI, which is one of the 18 Monasteries that priest monk Ephraim, former abbot of the Philotheou Monastery of Mt. Athos has established in the United States.

NEW YORK – Niko Kotoulas, like many young Greek-Americans, works hard to further realize the American dream of his immigrant parents. The New Jersey-native graduated from Johns Hopkins University and works for a well-known global investment bank where he had interned during his sophomore and junior years, all while thousands of followers online enjoy his music every day. The “piano man” and businessman Kotoulas also played basketball at Hopkins and was captain of the Men’s Varsity team. He spoke with The National Herald about his passion for music and business, his family, and his Hellenic pride. Kotoulas told TNH, “I was always very academically motivated and motivated to be interested in business, and played basketball all through high school and college, so it was kind of difficult to put everything into music and even now, I’m still working. The thing is that I enjoy both, so business and finance, and then music are my driving passions.” He continued, “my father is from Thessaloniki, Kozani and Polykastano is our horio, and my mom is split between Mytilene, where my Yiayia on her side is from and my Pappou is from Sparta, so it’s like the Greek triangle. A little flavor of everything, some of the islander, and the northern side as well. My mom was born in Melbourne, Australia, moved to Greece, and then to the States, and my father immigrated at age 15 to the US, so both of them did not grow up with much at all, and it’s a motivating factor in anything that I do in life to really push the limit. The American dream is exactly what they did, so it makes me want to take it to the next level.” Kotoulas’ father, Tony, is an engineer and dancer with the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey,

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manolis lagoutaris/intimE nEws via aP

State of Emergency Declared on Quake-Hit Lesbos A man looks at a damaged building in the village of Vrissa on the island of Lesbos in the aftermath of an earthquake that hit on June 12. Authorities in Greece have declared a state of emergency on the island. Related story on page 9.

Metropolitan Iakovos Laid to Rest By Theodore Kalmoukos CHICAGO, IL – His Eminence Archbishop Geron of America Demetrios officiated at the Funeral Service of the late Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago on June 11, 2017 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in that city. Metropolitan Iakovos died at age 89 on June 2 after a brief illness. The archbishop was assisted by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, who is now first in rank after the Archbishop, Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, who was appointed Locum Tenens of the Metropolis of Chicago, and other hierarchs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as well as from other Orthodox jurisdictions of the United States. Also present were clergy of various ranks from other Christian groups and organiza-

tions. Archbishop Demetrios represented also His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and conveyed his paternal and patriarchal condolences to the Metropolis of Chicago and relatives of Metropolitan Iakovos. Metropolitan Methodios, who spoke on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese praised Iakovos’ achievements and ministry in Boston, MA and at the Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology (HCHC) in Brookline as well as in Chicago. Demetrios also spoke of Iakovos’ ethos and the ministry and said that they knew each other since their school years in Athens. Demetrios assigned to Metropolitan Isiah of Denver to read an official letter of Patriarch Bartholomew in which he

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THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

AHEPA Delphi Chapter #25 Hosts Family Empire District 6 Convention TNH Staff NEW YORK – The Manhattan Chapter of AHEPA, Delphi # 25 hosted the 2017 AHEPA Family Empire District 6 Convention on June 10 at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. A Greek Music & Cigar Manhattan Cruise on June 9 kicked off the convention weekend, which ended on a philanthropic note with a Blood Drive in conjunction with the New York Blood Center on June 11 at the Cathedral School Hall. The convention began with breakfast and business meetings that flanked the Daughters of Penelope (DOP) and AHEPA District 6 Scholarship Luncheon. Eight scholarships were awarded, one by the DOP and seven by District 6. District 6 Officers were elected in the afternoon, immediately followed by the presentation of District 6 Awards and the Convention’s Closing Cere-

monies. The cruise included a buffet, drinks, and dancing while the boat made its way on the East River towards the Statue of Liberty and back. Many chose to enjoy the premium cigars available on the upper deck while everyone enjoyed the conversation with their fellow Ahepans, music by International Sounds, and traditional Greek food from Taverna Under The Bridge. The views of the city skyline, the Brooklyn waterfront, the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, Lower Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty with the sun setting and the full moon rising were especially impressive. The dancing was somewhat tricky with the listing of the boat in the strong currents around Manhattan, but with determination and the indomitable Hellenic spirit, the dancers managed to stay on their feet and keep the rhythm. With a festive atmosphere,

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The Statue of Liberty at sunset from onboard the Jewel boat in New York Harbor. The cruise was one of the AHEPA Family Empire District 6 Convention events hosted by Delphi #25. the event also helped raise funds for good causes. Proceeds from the cruise went to the World Hellenic Biomedical Association and the Rebuilding Fund for the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and Shrine at the World Trade Center Ground Zero. Among those present were

AHEPA Supreme President Andrew Zachariades, Delphi Chapter President Argyris Argitakos, Ted Stamas, Petros Ragoussis, Lou Katsos, Nick Lionas, many Ahepans, and members of the community. Photographer Anastasios Mentis won the raffle. For the Sunday of All Saints,

the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Holy Trinity Cathedral followed by the coffee hour and then the Blood Drive. AHEPA’s Delphi Chapter #25 was founded in 1923 in Manhattan NYC, it was the first Chapter in New York State and one of the first in the Northeast.

The Delphi Chapter # 25 was instrumental in welcoming the early Greek immigrants to the USA as they disembarked at Ellis Island, helping them assimilate by assisting them with learning the English language, finding employment and eventually becoming citizens of the United States. The Delphi Chapter # 25 has had many notable and prominent members in its history, including many philhellenes who embraced AHEPA’s ideals and values. In 1924 Seraphim G. Canoutas joined Delphi Chapter # 25 at a time when he was the most notable historian and the primary source for the 1880 to 1920 wave of Greek immigrants. Some of the many notable members that followed in Delphi’s rich history were Past Chapter Presidents and later Past Supreme Presidents of AHEPA Dean Alfange and Dr. Kimon Doukas.

Greek Division of Ronald McDonald House NY Holds Annual Walk-A-Thon TNH Staff NEW YORK – Under beautiful blue skies, the Greek Division of Ronald McDonald House New York (RMHNY) held the 22nd Annual Niki Sideris Memorial Walk-A-Thon on June 10. The family event brought together participants of all ages to raise funds for the worthy cause. This year’s event co-chair was Taso Pardalis of the Law offices of Pardalis & Nohavicka, LLP. RMHNY, founded by Niki Sideris, helps to offer a loving “home-away-from-home” to many children from Greece and Cyprus, as well as Greek-Americans and children from across the globe and all 50 states. The Niki Sideris Annual Memorial Walka-Thon raises funds and awareness for children as they battle cancer. As noted by Maria Pardalis, “The Walk-a-Thon is a fun, family-friendly celebration of philanthropy and Greek heritage.” The event helps continue the late Sideris' service to children and families in need. The walk began at RMH and passed the

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ABOVE: Spiridoula Katechis, Michael Bapis, Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras, Taso Pardalis, and Consul of Greece Manos Koubarakis were among those at the event. RIGHT: The Greek Division of Ronald McDonald House New York held its 22nd Annual Niki Sideris Memorial Walk-a-Thon. Archdiocesan Cathedral. The Walk-a-Thon returned to Ronald McDonald House where a reception with food and drink awaited all the participants. Cathedral Dean Fr. John Vlahos gave the

blessing. The National Anthem of Greece and the Star-Spangled Banner were performed. Among those participating were Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos

Koutras, Consul of Greece Manos Koubarakis, Michael Bapis- Chairman of the Greek Division since 2014, and partner and managing director of the Bapis Group at HighTower, Executive Committee

Member Spiros Maliagros, Spiridoula Katechis, Taso and Maria Pardalis with their children, and many members of the Greek Division, family, and friends. RMHNY President and CEO

Ruth C. Browne also attended the event and opened her remarks with “Kalimera,” and then thanked the Greek Division for its efforts and Michael Bapis for his leadership.

Greece on the turning point. New Opportunities for US companies Bouncing back

During the last seven years, Greece is implementing an economic and financial program supported with the financial support of important International Institutions like the EU, the ECB, the ESM and the IMF, in order to restore public debt sustainability and increase the competitiveness of its economy. This program has already brought significant structural and fiscal reforms, while new growth priorities have been put in place. According to the latest European Commission Report, the Greek

economy has been gradually growing and brighter economic sentiment is supporting recovery in domestic demand, reflected also in labour market developments. Public finances are performing better than expected and the overall macro outlook remains positive. According to this report, projections for 2017 are encouraging as GDP growth is expected to reach 2.1%, while in 2018 GDP growth is projected to be shaped at 2.5%. Greece reached a general government surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2016 and significantly – by about

3½% of GDP – over-performed the primary surplus target of 0.5% of GDP for 2016. An additional and very important aspect of the Commission’s Report is the further increase of exports and the realization of new investments in the trading sector. Unemployment continued to decline to 23.6% in 2016 and is projected to continue in the same direction to 22.8% in 2017 and 21.6% in 2018, as employment is expected to increase. FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) inflows, according

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New Growth model

In this framework, Greece is transforming its economy, turning it from an essentially closed economy, to an economy based on Foreign Direct Investments and Export trade. Many important reforms and structural adjustments are still underway or remain to be done, but it is now evident to all that there is a strong commitment to change in Greece, enabled by: • the institutional leadership, which actively fosters relations with international investors • the business leaders, who are embracing international markets and establishing lasting partnerships • and quite importantly, the society as a whole which has embraced the narrative of change, and is supporting the changes and engaging with the global community. The Greek government has set a number of key priorities for economic growth: a) To create high value and set the conditions for inclusive growth, b) To create new jobs by capitalizing on the high caliber of human capital, c) To attract foreign direct investment, d) To promote outward looking and export oriented sectors and d) to support innovative and dynamic companies through a lean and supporting public sector and a stable environmental friendly framework for investments. Regarding investments, Greece is currently implementing a set of policy measures, which involve: • the fast absorption of the available Structural Funds for the period 20142020 (~26 bn €) • the new Investment Law that supports new investments, through a multifaceted aid scheme, • the cooperation with international financial institutions, like EIB, EIF, EBRD, IFC, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank etc., to increase liquidity and ease investment financing • the creation of the New Development Funds to support SMEs through microcredit, guarantees and loans • the effective management of Non-Performing-Loans. A relevant framework is already in place • the acceleration of the Privatization agenda • new Laws to ease licensing, with the cooperation of World Bank Additionally, the Fast Track law provides an environment of transparency and security for the implementation of investments as it serves as a tool for the acceleration of the implementation procedure of strategic investments, whether these involve investments from the private sector or public private investment partnerships.

The Fast Track procedure accelerates the licensing process for large scale projects which have positive multiplier effects on Greece’s economy. So far, 13 projects have been approved, with a budget of €3.5bn, and 7 more are in the pipeline, with a budget of more than €1.2 bn.

A unique Investment proposition

At a time when investors globally are looking back at the traditional markets of Europe, Greece offers a unique proposition, combining the advantages of a developed country, with the opportunities for growth usually associated with emerging economies. It presents a unique investment proposition, as it combines: • Timeless competitive advantages, pertaining to its location at the crossroads of three continents - a natural Gateway to Europe, along with a wealth of natural resources • Being a Developed Country, active member of all key international institutions, an established democracy with rule of law, and a highly developed infrastructure • With Great Growth Potential, as a market opening up to investment, with market consolidation, opportunities to acquire assets and run operations at highly competitive costs, and growth opportunities in all key sectors. These opportunities are supported by an exceptionally high-calibre human capital, which ensures that the operations will be run on all levels by employees of the highest quality. From technical skills to international experience, Greece offers high quality staff, required in a competitive global market. As a consequence of the crisis, this human capital can now be accessed at a cost which is significantly lower than other European competitors.

Investment Perspective

US and international investors can find numerous Investment opportunities, which are now in the core of Greece’s long-term strategy of economic growth. These opportunities are offered in different sectors of the economic activity where competitive advantages have been identified. Main sectors of interest for foreign investors are: • Tourism and Real estate: Tourism is a central pillar of the Greek economy and by many analysts it is considered to be an “export champion” for Greece. Greece in 2016, for a 4th year in a row,

broke its all time records in tourist arrivals. Arrivals reached 24.8 mn (5% y-o-y increase), and tourist receipts: 13,22 bn €. Tourism represents 18,6% of GDP & 23,4% of employment (2016). Greece is ranked 24th globally in Tourism Competitiveness (WEF), among 141 countries, and 15th in the world in number of international tourist arrivals and 7th in tourism receipts balance in the world. During the past few years and in order to promote its real estate market, Greece has launched a residence permit program for third country citizens who own real estate in the country, the minimum value of which is €250.000. A total of 1,684 residence permits have been issued since the commencement of the program for real estate owners, mainly coming from China, Russia and Arab countries. • Food and Beverage: Greek food and agriculture has been traditionally one of the major export sectors for Greece, with a strong presence in the European and a growing presence in new food markets. From olive oil to flour products, honey to processed meats and ready meals, Greek companies have leveraged the competitive advantages offered by Greek primary production in order to competitively enter and remain in global markets, making food and agriculture one of the most dynamic and highgrowth sectors in Greek manufacturing. Greece is very important today in the global food production because of its: 1) Brand value and positioning - Greek diet is regarded as a pre-eminent example of Mediterranean diet, which has been globally accepted as one of the healthiest and most nutritional. 2) Geography and climate conditions – Greek geography and climate can sustain some of the most diverse, highquality natural raw materials and produce, including such exotic ingredients as saffron and truffles 3) Traditional high-quality ingredients – Greece has a number of recognizable POP or other local ingredients and foods whose quality is recognized by some of the greatest Chefs in the world 4) Specialized know how and expertise – agriculture and food production is a traditional Greek occupation, which has led to a significant amount of food research departments, agricultural schools, trained food technologists and chemists, and skilled farmers. • ICT: Greece ranks in the 2nd position globally in the skilled labor readily avail-

to recent data by the Bank of Greece, show a very impressive increase in 2016 compared with those of 2015, as inflows reached the amount of 3.4 billion Euro last year, compared to 1.8 billion Euro in 2015. Recent data for 2017 show an FDI inflow during Q1 2017 amounting to € 1,077.8 million, while the corresponding performance in the same period in years 2016 and 2015 was € 292.8 and € 164.3 million, respectively, providing an early sign of an improved FDI performance for the current year.

able (WORLD IMD Talent report 2015) and ranked 3rd in percentage of graduates in Science (ITIF Report Jan 2016). It is no surprise that Greece has an important pool of well-educated and talented labour force with global experience and entrepreneurial drive. The ICT sector offers several opportunities of investment in high-end, value added services with a global reach. IT sector in Greece consists of a group of hard working, highly qualified professionals with global experience and entrepreneurial talent. The strength of this sector is the “versatile minds” of its people. Investors can recruit top talent at a highly competitive cost. Public and EU funds are available for cooperation and development. Many Greek start-ups are competing successfully abroad and major international players have a strong presence in the Greek market. • Life Sciences: Greece’s Life Sciences industry has been developing at a vigorous rate, with new start-up and spinoff companies increasingly pursuing international R&D collaborations for the development of competitive, technology-based products and services. Essential to this dynamic growth is the Greek R&D infrastructure, which includes internationally renowned Research Institutes, research teams and University Research Groups. There are several Greek companies already competing successfully in the international pharmaceutical markets, with a strong shift towards R&D, innovation and marketing. Greece has the potential for competing in the “middle market” of medical tourism, which is considered a fast growing sector internationally during the last decade. • Energy: Today, the Energy market in Greece provides many options for companies to participate in electricity production, the grid expansion, the transmission and distribution of natural gas and the hydrocarbons. The overall investments needed in the energy sector are estimated to 22.2 billion euro for the 2010-2020 timeframe, from which 16.5 bn. shall address new RES capacity. On fossil fuels, Greece will spend 2.1 billion euro for new «clean coal» (lignite in our case) power plants, while 3.3 billion will be invested in natural gas facilities. An additional budget of 5 billion euro will be needed for grid reinforcement and interconnections. Also, the petroleum market in Greece is evolving rapidly and the potential for Greece to develop hydrocarbon resources is promising. RES penetration has been recorded at 18% on a national level in

2016, with the relative total capacity steadily increasing over the last few years and the respective investment plans deploying accordingly, relative to the set targets. • Logistics: Greece stands on the crossroad of three continents (Europe, Asia, Africa), being a strategic node for the development of transportation in the greater region. According to a recent study the Logistics sector in Greece accounts for almost 10% of Greece’s GDP strongly supporting economic activity in and through the country, and facilitating the country’s extroverted profile, by promoting its exports. With maritime transport accounting for 80 per cent of global trade by volume, Greece’s geographical position as a gateway between East and West render it highly attractive for investments in logistics and transport to take advantage of these increasing trade flows in an efficient and costeffective manner. Privatisations in progress in this sector also provide new opportunities for investments.

US Roadshow 2017

Enterprise Greece (www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr) the official Investment and Trade Promotion Agency of Greece is widely promoting investment opportunities in Greece. In this framework, Enterprise Greece is cooperating with Athens Exchange Group and Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce to a Roadshow in the US starting on 19th June in Washington, covering New York and Boston. Minister of Economy and Development, Professor Dimitri Papadimitriou will head Enterprise Greece’s delegation and will participate in many events and B2B meetings. For further information please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Mr. Elias Athanasiou, CEO of Enterprise Greece stated earlier this week to National Herald: “European Commision’s Spring report for Greece has a self speaking title: Recovery ahead and better-than-expected fiscal performance. We strongly believe that a critical factor for this recovery is the attraction of productive FDIs in Greece. This is why we have organized this Roadshow in the US, accompanying our Minister of Economy and Development, Professor Dimitri Papadimitriou. Initial data for FDIs in Q1 2017 are really positive with FDI posting an increase of 268,1% and 556% compared to the same periods in 2016 and 2015 respectively. US investments in Greece accounted in 2015 to more than € 830 mn, bringing the US in the 7th position. We believe that this amount can be increased significantly and this is a feeling we receive from many interested investors we meet in Greece and in the US.

THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

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Gialamas Presents Book at Southern California Hellenic Library By Vasilis Papoutsis LOS ANGELES, CA – In a wellattended lecture at the Hellenic Library and Center of Southern California, in Bellflower on May 28, Dr. Stefanos Gialamas talked about his new book Leadership Propositions for Exit from the Greek Crisis. The book was released on May 20 by the Greek publishing company Papazisi, and this was the first presentation in the United States. Dr. Gialamas told TNH that "this is not a political book and we are not attempting to take political positions on the crisis. We are examining the deeper issues that have attributed to the crisis." Greece has been suffering from the lack of charismatic leaders the last twenty years and the perception is that most of them are corrupt or inadequate to resolve the ongoing crisis, and Gialamas views political corruption as a result of a cultural phenomenon. "There is a crisis in ethos and principals in the society and the politicians

Dr. Stefanos Gialamas we elect are a product of that environment. The politicians cannot be immune from the environment they grow up in" he told TNH. In order to overcome the financial crisis that has paralyzed the country the last eight years, Gialamas suggests that the nation collectively will have to

completely reverse the psychology that exists today. "Hellenes need to be educated to the principle that individual needs and desires have to be in accordance with the needs of the society as a whole. Our individual needs have to be in harmony with the needs of the majority, not in antithesis. Individuals have to be aware of their own weaknesses and not to allow them to be a liability to the common good. That is where the concept of ethos has to be ingrained into the mentality. If we are successful in doing that, then people in power will not be susceptible to corruption." Gialamas gives paramount importance to the education of the young people. "Scientific research has shown that psychological education is primarily done in the confines of the family. Research has shown that rate to be as high as 70-80 percent. If there is mental abuse in the household and all the kids are hearing is how incapable or how lazy they are, then it becomes natural. When you accept those premises, then your self-esteem

has been severely damaged and your future success impaired," he told TNH. Gialamas, who has been the President of the American Community Schools (ACS) of Athens for the past 12 years, believes that education is a shared responsibility of the student, the school and the family. He has developed an educational system that he named Global Morfosis Paradigm, guided by Ethos, a fundamental component in education. Global Morfosis aims to achieve an education where emotions, intelligence, and intellect must be harmoniously integrated. His innovative approach to education led him an invitation by the Qatar Foundation to join a team of experts to discuss the future of education at the World Innovation Summit. Gialamas is a staunch advocate of the Ancient Greek axiom "a sound mind resides in a healthy body" and the ACS Athens sports teams are some of the best in the region. Following the presentation, Gialamas said that "in intellectual education, the emphasis

has to be in encouraging analytical examination of the selected information. And the decision making has to be based on facts not assumptions or recycling of old models. If we encourage the young people to follow those principals then they will come up with new solutions to problems." After the presentation, Hellenic Library President Phillipas Trevezas opened the floor for questions and comments from the audience. The majority of the comments were rather pessimistic in regards to the future recovery from the financial crisis or the speedy altering of attitudes. Gialamas quoted the Dalai Lama who had said that " the only day we cannot change is yesterday” and that he personally feels that there is strong reason for optimism in Greece because the young people are willing to approach issues with a new perspective. Gialamas said that he was privileged to have the opportunity to first present his book at the Hellenic Library and said his definition of Ethos is "to do the

Niko Kotoulas, Greek-American Piano Man and Businessman Continued from page 1 his mother Helen manages Montessori schools. His sister, Agni, is a college sophomore who works in accounting, and plans to go to law school. “I was very motivated to go strictly into finance and then I started doing music and other side businesses while in college, it was just another thing I was interested in, and now my music is my entrepreneurial activity,” he said. Proud of his Greek heritage, Kotoulas was president of the Hellenic Students Association at Hopkins, and received a Hellenic Times scholarship. The 23year-old will visit Greece this summer and work on another music project during his vacation, “a tribute to the homeland,” he said. Kotoulas noted of his music, “You definitely get some criticism, and then the flip side is that you inspire thousands of people to play an instrument. I get emails and messages from

fans in Brazil, India, and the Philippines. With social media you can reach thousands and thousands of people. Combining all the social media platforms, I think there are over 150,000 followers and 5 million plays and views now, and I’ve been taking it very seriously since I graduated college. Music and work are my focuses right now. I also love it, but when people say ‘I used to play an instrument and when I saw your video I was inspired to play again’ or ‘My mother was sick in the hospital and I played your music for her in her last days and she was at peace,’ I mean, where do you find satisfaction like that?” Kotoulas’ favorites include Dimitris Mitropanos, Paschalis Terzis, and pianist and composer Yanni, whose work inspired Kotoulas’ own composition, Dreams which can be viewed on Youtube. He said, “when I was growing up, I was exposed to every kind of Greek music, to all of Europe basically, and Eurovision. Then,

JEssE wilDEr

Niko Kotoulas, piano man and businessman. in the church (St. Andrew in Randolph, NJ) I was active in the choir and in GOYA, we had our GOYA band… I composed Dreams on the basis of my dream of music going back to

my parents’ dream to get to the United States for a better life.” At age two, Kotoulas began “with a little tiny kid piano. “I heard something on the radio and started playing the

melody line, so my parents were convinced that I needed lessons. I had a great piano teacher up until about 16 because sports took off and by then I had the foundation to perform. “Sometimes it’s tough doing both [business and music] but at the same time it’s a great opportunity to work for a global investment bank and learn from leaders who are doing really big things in the world… so I’m just very thankful. Every day I wake up and if I’m exhausted I’ll say, you know, I’m alive, I’m healthy, there’s no problems, that’s my attitude.” One day he hopes to be an entrepreneur and also spend more time giving back. “You want to have an impact, you want to move towards something greater,” Kotoulas said. “Music is something that can have a profound impact, teaching kids how to play, or providing instruments for underprivileged kids, providing orphans with music, that impact at a young age will change a person’s life.”

right thing when no one is watching us." If we all adhere to that principle then we will excel as a society. After all, we cannot expect "our leaders to be ethical if we as citizens are not." That is why in his Global Morfosis, the definition of Aristeia is Excellence guided by Ethos.

Holy Trinity in Chicago Celebrates 125 Years Continued from page 1 in Russia. The interior includes paintings by Russian artist V.N. Vasnetoff. Its main piece, the iconostasis, the screen decorated with icons, was imported from Russia and donated in 1912. Sullivan hoped that the cathedral would be one of “the most unique and poetic buildings in the country,” as reported by DNA.info. Holy Trinity Church was consecrated in 1903 by St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Apostle to America, who was then Bishop of the North American mission of the Russian Orthodox Church. When he returned to Russia, he was elected as patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Russia and later died as a confessor to Christ. Designated a cathedral in 1922, Holy Trinity was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and designated an official City of Chicago Landmark in 1979.

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THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

Graduation Ceremonies Highlight a Successful School Year TNH Staff NEW YORK – Graduation season is upon us and this year was another successful school year for students at Greek-American community schools within the New York Metropolitan area. ST. NICHOLAS – FLUSHING The Stephen and Areti Cherpelis Greek Afternoon School of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Flushing held

very good Greek they speak and asked them not to forget the values of Hellenism and Orthodoxy. “You are,” he said, “the ideal preachers of the ideals and values of our people.” Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras said that the William Spyropoulos School is a “bright beacon and along with the whole community and the church, an example for all.” Lawyer Katerina Contaratos, the

urged the graduates not to forget the school and the community and to return to offer their services and entrust the education of their own children to St. Demetrios. The school’s college advisor Helen Karagiorgos congratulated the children, the parents, and the teachers as did Superintendent Anastasios Koularmanis who also expressed gratitude for the donations of the Stavros

ABOVE: Former Secret Service agent and St. Demetrios alumna Evy Poumpouras, keynote speaker at the St. Demetrios High School graduation, spoke about the school’s role in her life. LEFT: The Cathedral School’s 8th grade graduation ceremony at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Left to right: Consul General of Greece Konstantinos Koutras, Archbishop Demetrios, graduating student Nikiforos Papadopoulos congratulated by Dr. Miranda Kofinas, and Principal Kristine J. Cecere. BELOW: The William Spyropoulos Greek-American Day School at St. Nicholas Shrine Church in Flushing 8th grade graduation featured lawyer Katerina Contaratos as the keynote speaker.

the 8th grade graduation ceremony on June 8. As Principal George Kanellopoulos noted, the ceremony touched the hearts of the students, teachers, and parents as the speakers referred to the importance of the Greek language. Keynote speaker and the head of Educational Affairs at the Consulate General of Greece in New York, Thaleia Chatzigiannoglou, impressed the audience with her advice to the graduates. Other speakers were Fr. Paul Palesty, Stephen Cherpelis- the school’s benefactor, the vice-president of the community Lazaros Hotzoglou, and School Board President Maria Zolotas. St. Nicholas’ William Spyropoulos Greek-American Day School held its 8th grade graduation on June 9. Principal Athena Kromidas congratulated the students and wished them success in the rest of their school career. “We are extremely happy,” she said, “to announce that 100% of our 8th grade students were admitted to a high school of their choice. Some have been admitted to high school with partial or full scholarships.” Fr. Palesty congratulated the students for their excellent performance and for the

keynote speaker, pointed out the importance of maintaining the Greek language for the new generations. Finally, valedictorian Panagiota Sideratou thanked her parents for sending her to St. Nicholas and all the teachers for everything they taught her. ST. DEMETRIOS – ASTORIA The St. Demetrios High School senior graduation ceremony took place on June 9 at the Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center in Astoria with the 27 students graduating. All the speakers, including the valedictorian and salutatorian, expressed their gratitude for the school’s benefactors- the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and St. Demetrios School Board Chairman Nick Andriotis for their generous donations. This year, three of the speakers were graduates of St. Demetrios High School- keynote speaker Evy Poumpouras- the TV correspondent and former Secret Service agent; dean of St. Demetrios Cathedral Fr. Nektarios Papazafiropoulos; and the Executive Vice President of the parish council, Menelaos Belitsis. All three mentioned the role of school and the community in their professional careers, and

Niarchos Foundation and Nick Andriotis. Valedictorian Alexandros Matzoros said, “I am grateful to the Greek teachers of St. Demetrios who passionately taught me everything starting from the alphabet to Greek literature and culture. So when I go to Greece, I will feel different than I felt before, I will feel like a true Greek.” Salutatorian Maria Panikidis expressed her gratitude to her parents Kostas and Panagiota “for their choice to send me to Saint Demetrios and my grandmother, Parthena, for her wise advice.” Maria Akoumianakis awarded a prize in memory of her husband, the school’s coach, who recently passed away. Consul General Koutras reminded graduates that they are blessed to graduate from high school and noted that their peers in Greece do not have the same opportunities they do. “St. Demetrios School of Astoria is very important and we must not forget that those who have come to Greece in the last few years due to the crisis have found a home at this school,” he concluded. On June 10, the final joint graduation for the 6th and 8th

grade students of St. Demetrios Greek Afternoon School was held at the Cultural Center. Starting in the new school year, the Greek school will be compulsory through the 8th grade. Fr. Nektarios Papazafiropoulos offered a blessing, congratulations to the students, and thanked Principal Angeliki Agka and the teachers for their efforts, as well as the parents for their love and trust in the school. Head of Educational Affairs at the Consulate General of Greece in New York, Thaleia Chatzigiannoglou, and teacher and former principal Timoleon Kokkinos also congratulated the

graduates. HOLY TRINITY-ST. NICHOLAS – STATEN ISLAND On Sunday, June 11, after the Divine Liturgy, the graduation ceremony of the Holy Trinity St. Nicholas Greek School of Staten Island was held in the community cultural center. The students of all grades wrote poems, sang, and read farewells. Fr. Nicholas Petropoulakos congratulated the students, parents, and educational staff for the excellent school year and noted the importance of maintaining the Greek language among the new generations. Principal Anastasia Mantas congratulated the students on the

diligence and dedication they showed throughout the school year. “You have been provided with a great asset of inestimable value for your future. Preserve the Greek language as a great resource, promote it, and improve it continuously. Many congratulations to the parents.” Graduating student Christos Pervolarakis thanked Mantas for all that she had taught him, as well as his parents who sent him to Greek school. Another graduating student, Eleni Delacruz, said, “thanks to my parents and teachers for everything. I will always remember my Greek school with a lot of love and I will always visit it.”

Archon Limberakis Honored at the 82nd Archdiocesan Cathedral Gala Continued from page 1 he thanked warmly and invited to join him during his acceptance speech. He said “this award does not belong to me but to the 750 Archons of the United States who work ceaselessly to secure religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.” He thanked several of his fellow Archons, many of whom were present including the Honorable Theodore Bozonelis. Limberakis gave thanks for the award and said that the Archons

have a special purpose- the fight for religious freedom and the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “We will never give up our sacred mission until we hear the bells of the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George ringing the freedom of the Patriarchate.” Demetrios then expressed his thanks and congratulations to those present and to the Archons for all their achievements, and noted that the Cathedral is a bridge of the Apostolic mission. Also in attendance at the

event were the Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras, Mrs. Anthi Philippou- wife of Ambassador Vasilios Philippou Consul General of Cyprus who could not attend, and Paulette Poulos- Executive Director of the Leadership 100 Board of Trustees. Dr. Limberakis was born in 1952 in Fresno, CA, the son of the late Rev. John and Elizabeth. He has been an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1987 and a member of the Archon National Council since 1988 and National Commander

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LIFE AS A GREEK SOLDIER 1941-1945, written by JOHN NIKOLOPOULOS, a Greek veteran of battles of El Alamein, Rimini-Italy and the 1944 December Events in Athens. Reference to the political situation after the Varkiza Agreement up to 1950 events included, (ISBN: 978-1545152782), as well as the 2nd edition of Greek version titled Eλληνας στρατιώτης 1941-1945, του Ιωάννη Νικολόπουλου, (ISBN 9781541302297). 220 photographs and 7 maps, of that period, are included in the 592 pages of English version and in the 605 pages of Greek one. The sale price is US $ 15.00, considered low for this book, because the author does not expect a particular financial profit. He hopes that Greeks living abroad, particularly in English speaking nations, and especially younger generations, who speak but it is difficult to read Greek, would be interested in. The content of this book is by one third (1/3) about the battles in which the writer participated in and by two thirds (2/3) about the history of the sociopolitical events in occupied Greece, the Middle East as well as those following the Varkiza Agreement up to 1950. Phone # : +(30) 210 800 1419

Archon and honoree Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis and his family with Archbishop Demetrios. Limberakis and his wife, Dr. Maria A. (Borden), have three children and two grandchildren. since 1998. In June 2009, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem named him the Commander Cross-bearer (Stavrophoros) of the Order of the All-Holy Sepulcher Crossbearers. In November 2009, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Demetrios presented him with the Athenagoras Human Rights Award, the highest distinction of the Orthodox Church in America. Dr. Limberakis is a member of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Board of Trustees of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology and has served on the governing board of several Greek Orthodox churches in the Philadelphia area. In May 2002, Limberakis received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from Hellenic College, Brookline, MA, for his professional and community leadership. In May 2000, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He is married to Dr. Maria A. (Borden), a family practitioner, and together have three adult children, John, Anthony, and Elizabeth and two grandchildren, Dakota and Anthony.

COMMUNITY

THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

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Yvette Jarvis of Panathinaikos and Athens City Council, Speaks with TNH By Chrysoula Karametros ATHENS – Brooklyn-born Yvette Jarvis traveled to Greece in 1982 after graduating from the University of Massachusetts. An accomplished basketball player, she was recruited by Panathinaikos and became the first salaried player in the Greek Women’s Basketball League. Her celebrity status gave her the opportunity to speak about the rights of women, immigrants, and individuals with special needs. In 2002, she became the first African-American elected to the City Council of Athens. Recently, she spoke with The National Herald about her life, her connection to Greece, and her concern about human rights both in Greece and the United States. The interview follows. TNH: Yvette, what took you to Greece, how long ago was that, and what made you stay there? YJ: I was a basketball referee at the time, and the Hellenic College in Boston was on my circuit. I met a tall, dark, handsome Greek with whom I fell in love and left for Greece with in 1982. We later married and divorced but I fell in love with Greece and Greece with me! I was a professional athlete, a famous model, a TV personality, a vocalist with a band that performed all over the country, a human rights activist and politician, an Athens City Councilor! The "first" of many feats, and the first African-American elected to public office in the history of the nation. Greece for me was paradise! I met John Muller, an American in Greece from Pennsylvania, former teacher at the American Community School, a dog whisperer, owner of the LOBO Canine School, the founder of the Kennel Club of Greece, the founder of the Schutzhund Club of Greece, musician, composer, and vocalist, at Ax Maria, a famous club in Athens. It was one of my first singing jobs, he was composing songs with the guitar player there and needed a backup vocalist

everyday life there as compared to Athens? YJ: Vastly different. Americans live to work, I think, and I awoke one day and exclaimed to my husband "I hate living for Friday." I never thought about Fridays in Greece. I was constantly on the move in Athens rehearsing, TV appearances, volunteer work, etc. TNH: After being away from America for so long, did you find it as you expected it to be? YJ: I was astounded by the violence and the racism. America is a polarized nation and the current political climate is horrible. I

gal! If you know New Jersey suburban streets, most often there isn't much of a sidewalk and people often walk near the curb. Of course, his Greek mother told him to go to court and dispute the ticket. Some things never change. He did, and he won. TNH: You were the first African-American elected to public office in Greece in October, 2002. What was that experience like? YJ: It was the most amazing experience ever. Especially representing Athens here in America

had a rude awakening with the killings of unarmed black men and boys, even women! I was in disbelief. I had to constantly speak with my son about the realities of being black in America. How he needed to conduct himself if confronted by the police. He knew absolutely nothing about those things. A childhood friend of mine's husband is a retired detective from the NYPD, he gave John his card and told him to show it and tell them to call his uncle if he ever needed to. Reality set in soon enough when he was stopped twice walking home late at night in a suburb of New Jersey, where he lives. Luckily, there was no confrontation but they gave him a ticket because he was walking in the street. They told him it was ille-

in New York and LA in 2004. I was extremely honored. Everyone knew Yvette. But It wasn't all roses, when the newspaper made some off-colored (no pun intended) remarks such as “Why would we need a black to whiten Athens?” The people defended me and their attitude was “keep your hands off of Yvette, she is one of us! She is more Greek than the Greeks!” TNH: When and how did you decide to develop the Greek Language Program for Immigrant Mothers for the City of Athens? YJ: I had been close to immigrant women’s organizations for many years and language was always a barrier. As a City Councilor I wanted to do something about that. I met with the women and we discussed their needs. I sent out a questionnaire to deter-

ABOVE: Yvette Jarvis at the Herodion Theater in Athens. RIGHT: Yvette holds at the Olympic Torch Relay in 2004. without an accent. The rest is history. We married and had a son. TNH: When and why did you leave Greece? YJ: My family left in August, 2012 because, like everyone else, it became increasingly difficult for us to survive. My husband's teaching salary was reduced twice and at the end of the school year they announced there would be a third cut. My salary was greatly reduced as a performer and we were raising a 17-year-old for whose future we feared. TNH: How easy or difficult was it for you and your family to adjust to life in the United States? YJ: I went into a deep depression my first two years back in America. As much as I rejoiced at being closer to my family and friends, I missed Greece terribly! I thank God for my friends and family because they kept me whole, I don't know what I would have done without them. Adjusting to life in America wasn't difficult per se, after all, my husband and I are Americans. We love the organization and the ease with which you can conduct business with the state. Everything is done online and we certainly don't miss the chaotic bureaucracy in Greece. My son, John (Jr.), was raised

as a Greek with American parents so, miraculously, he adapted to life here in the States exceptionally well. During our long transatlantic phone calls my husband would report how much our son had changed. John continued his sports and joined the soccer team, the track team and exceled in school. Social media kept him connected to his friends in Greece and when he graduated from high school, the only thing he asked for was to go home. He received a scholarship from the Koklannis Foundation and attended the University of Colorado for a year studying business, then decided he wanted to follow his heart and become an audio engineer. He left for Phoenix, studied at the Conservatory of Arts and Sciences (CRAS), interned at Jimi Hendrix' famed studio Electric Lady, and now works in New York at Flux Studios. As for us, we found work easily enough despite all of the negativity we heard about the economy here. We are both working in very different fields than what we had known in Greece, but working and living comfortably. I work for Denver Public Schools and John in corporate America in communications. TNH: How different was

mine why they hadn’t learned Greek, the main barriers were time, childcare and hours the classes were offered. The outcome was that women became familiar with going to school, teachers, and they learned the language. The program was extremely successful and at one point was adopted nationally by prefects. TNH: What is your opinion on the immigrant situation that has been going on in Greece for the past year and a half? YJ: I think you are referring to the refugee situation which is quite different from immigration. I think what is happening in Greece is a tragedy for the refugees and a testament to the fortitude, goodwill and charity of the Greeks. I don’t think the EU has taken the appropriate measures to alleviate Greece’s burden and for sure the legal inability to send people back to countries of origin doesn’t help. However you look at what is happening in the world, the wars in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are tragedies against humanity with women and children suffering the most. TNH: Do you see any similarities between events in Greece that led to the election of Alexis Tsipras and the election of Donald Trump in the United States? YJ: Yes, of course there are many similarities. People who were just fed up with the status quo. The two parties in power that continuously disappoint. The reactionary vote against the status quo and the demand for change. TNH: What do you miss most about Greece? YJ: I miss the lifestyle, the Greek temperament, the sea, the people… Greece is my home. I miss home! TNH: If the economic situation becomes better in Greece, would you consider returning? or would you return for vacation? YJ: If I could make a sustainable living, I would return to live in Greece in a heartbeat.

Tarpon Springs Mayor Chris Alahouzos Aspires for a Bona Fide Hotel By Dr. Constantinos E. Scaros TARPON SPRINGS, FL – A little over a year after a landslide victory that rendered him the first Greek-born mayor of Tarpon Springs, FL, Chris Alahouzos is focusing on, among other things, fulfilling a proposal he often talked about on the campaign trail: seeking to attract private investors to develop, construct, and operate a bona fide hotel in this Gulf Coast town, which has highest Greek-American population, percentage-wise, in the country. Travel & Leisure magazine recently included Tarpon Springs among the “most European cities” in the United States. The list included Boston, DC, and San Francisco, but anyone who has been to Tarpon would probably acknowledge that as far as resembling some portion of Europe, it is in a class by itself.

The area was inhabited by Greeks over a hundred years ago, predominantly from the Dodecanese islands of Kalymnos, Chalki, and Symi, as the new settlers were able to ply their trade of spongediving – which they honed on the Greek islands – in the Gulf of Mexico. Tarpon’s historic and picturesque Sponge Docks feature an array of fishing and sponging boats moored at the Anclote River, with a plethora of restaurants and gift shops, most emitting Greek music from their loudspeakers all day long, situated along the Docks’ main thoroughfare, Dodecanese Boulevard. This idyllic, almost mythical community welcomes droves of tourists by day – most of them not of Greek descent – who populate the restaurants and gift shops, take tours on the boats, and walk along the Boulevard, enjoying maritime scents amid mild, tropical breezes. But

there’s one big problem: most of them are only there for the day, having discovered Tarpon via travel brochures in the hotels where they stay for a week or two, in the nearby beach towns of Clearwater, Dunedin, and St. Petersburg. A big reason they don’t stay overnight, or for a few days, Alahouzos told TNH, is the lack of a bona fide hotel. For those who would like to stay the night, there are a couple of quaint bed-and-breakfast options, a couple of low-budget, no-frills motels, and some private homes for rent via websites such as AirBnB and Homeway. But there is no actual hotel in Tarpon Springs, and certainly not one close enough to walk to the Docks, to the beaches, or to the emerging bar, restaurant, and music scene on Tarpon Avenue. And that is exactly what Alahouzos would like to change. He hopes to attract private in-

vestors to develop a good-sized parcel of property for sale at the head of Dodecanese Boulevard. “It is the gateway to our city,” he told TNH. The venture would be entirely private, he said, because “the city is not in the business of doing things like this.” But having spent many decades in the business world, Alahouzos understands the value of such a proposition. The entire community would benefit tremendously, Alahouzos believes, because the hotel would bolster tourism, encourage more businesses to open, and in turn create jobs for Tarpon residents. As he told TNH throughout his campaign, Alahouzos continues to believe that a thriving, bustling economy in Tarpon will

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Maria Psomas Studio NYC 5th Annual Showcase By Eleni Sakellis NEW YORK – Maria Psomas Studio NYC presented its 5th annual acting showcase on June 7. The 2017 Actors Showcase took place at The Grand Theater of The Producers Club in Manhattan, 358 West 44th Street. The acting studio produces an annual showcase of its students to provide them with the experience of performing live theater in New York and the exposure to industry professionals. Past attendees of the Maria Psomas Studio Showcase include ABC Primetime Casting-NY and Tribeca Film Festival award-winning director Minos Papas. ABC Casting called in and auditioned two actors after attending the Showcase. “Acting training should include the exciting and sometimes perilous experience of performing live theater,” Psomas said. “And there is nowhere like New York City to learn this skill. We endeavor for the experience to be rewarding both for the actors and the audience.” Psomas is an acting coach who studied at Yale School of Drama. Her students have worked on primetime TV, on Broadway, and in films. She heads her own studio in New York and spoke with The National Herald about the Showcase, acting, and her own life and career. Psomas noted that she is the only member of her family who works in the arts. Her father owned a diner and her mother was a homemaker in Minneapolis, MN before they retired to

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Maria Psomas. Florida. Her mother is from Crete and her father is from Eretria, a town in Euboea. Her parents met in Crete where her father was stationed when he was in the Greek Navy at Souda Bay, her mom’s hometown. They moved to the United States 4 years before Maria was born. She has a sister, too, but only Psomas caught the acting bug. She said, “I was a performer from when I was a child, dance, classical ballet, jazz and that was from age 8 through about 21 through college and then I started acting. I started working regionally in Minneapolis which at that time was a good regional market and doing a lot of commercials and print ads, small independent films, plays… a few years later I made the move to New York. And in the interim, I studied at Yale School of Drama, and I landed my first agent and she started submitting me here in New York for the Sopranos and independent films, but I started working quite a bit in theater.”

Psomas told TNH about teaching the Chubbuck technique. “In 2010, I went to Los Angeles because when I was at Yale, I was told there was a teacher [Ivana Chubbuck] in LA whose technique was so secretive that she didn’t even publicize her address. And her theory was that if students wanted to find her they would find a way. She was a very good coach and a demanding one. She also coached Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Jared Leto, Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone. I studied with her both as an actor and then a teacher in her technique and started teaching it in Florida and ended up teaching it here [in New York], but I’ve also taught it in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and a few other places.” “This technique is all about I would say psychological realism, and understanding human behavior because if you can understand human behavior and the way your character maneuvers through life it might help

you and the study of acting exposes a lot of characters and personalities that we might not be familiar with but I think it helps us understand people better. Ideally it would help us to be more empathetic, ideally it would help us to understand one another,” Psomas noted. When asked about the Showcase, she said, “Last year, we had ABC casting and they called in two of the actors and auditioned them, and that’s the goal of the Showcase to get these students-actors in front of industry who might want to represent them or get them work.” The sixteen performers who took the stage for the Showcase are from Psomas’ Wednesday night scene study class. She also teaches private lessons for working actors and does coaching on set. Psomas noted that one of her first plays in New York was at the Greek Cultural Center and she loves Greek audiences. “They let you know how you’re doing right away.” When asked about upcoming projects, Psomas said she is writing a play about Greeks in America that centers around a diner. She would love to see it developed off Broadway and for it to be embraced by the Greek community and seen by Greeks of the diaspora because the story centers around a group of Greek immigrants pursuing the American dream. Before the sold out 2017 Actors Showcase, the Invited Dress Rehearsal took place on June 5. More information is available online at mariapsomas.com.

Malliotakis Criticizes Mayor’s Congestion Plan Fiasco TNH Staff NEW YORK – Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, the Republican in the race for Mayor, blasted Bill de Blasio and his administration for passing the buck on creating a working traffic congestion plan after nearly 3 ½ years in office. Calling his excuses, “akin to a 5th grader saying the dog ate his homework” Malliotakis called on the mayor to “stop with the excuses and start working to end the traffic jams that are crippling our city.” In late January, on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show the mayor said, “we see a huge congestion problem in other parts of the city, most notoriously Midtown Manhattan. In the coming weeks we're going to come out with a bigger plan to address congestion and Staten Island will certainly be part of that plan, so I'm just going to put a bookmark on that one.” Now, nearly 18 weeks later there is no sign of a plan and on June 5, the city’s Commissioner of Transportation, Polly Trottenberg, while giving testimony to

the City Council said “the congestion plan, it turns out, is going to be kind of a rolling plan.” Assemblywoman Malliotakis said “when, after supposed months of work, the city’s Transportation Commissioner admits

Mayor Bill de Blasio “has to stop with the excuses,” Malliotakis said. that the administration’s much vaunted plan ‘is going to be a kind of rolling plan’, it’s akin to a 5th grader saying the dog ate his homework. “It’s become obvious that this is just another problem that the Mayor seems incapable of dealing with. Bill de Blasio seems intent on letting New York City motorists spend another sweltering summer in bumper-to-bumper traffic while he speeds around town in a police-escorted SUV and when traffic grinds to a halt, he commandeers an NYPD helicopter to whisk him to his destination.

“Once again Mayor de Blasio is treating outerborough motorists as second class citizens while focusing his efforts on fixing Manhattan’s infamous gridlock. This time, he also has the chutzpah to pass the buck and attempt to place the blame on the state senate in Albany. When will he understand that New Yorkers are tired of him continually blaming others for his own lack of leadership and, when will Mayor de Blasio learn that part of being an elected official is being accountable and admitting when you’ve failed to do your job. The mayor has to stop with the excuses and start working to end the traffic jams that are crippling our city. “As mayor, I will focus on upgrading our outdated, preset traffic light system to Smart Traffic Light technology that determines the sequence of traffic with realtime information, collected by sensors along the route, and conduct an analysis on outerborough Ticket-Cams to remove those that are merely revenue generators, strategically placed to be traps that nickel-and-dime motorists.

While focusing revenues derived from the remaining Ticket-Cams into a dedicated fund for congestion mitigation projects; investing in capital plan to upgrade subway signals that date to pre-World War II era, so as to mitigate delays, add frequency, and minimize crowding; scrap parts of Vision Zero that have crippled traffic flow, like reduction of speed limit to 25 mph on major boulevards and avenues; limit amount of Uber and other ridesharing vehicles allowed in the city. There were 30,000 such vehicles in 2015, today there a 55,000 adding to the city’s congestion. Increase ferry service routes to more distant points in the outer boroughs while pressing the MTA and Port Authority for more regional high speed ferries for commuters from New Jersey, Connecticut and the Hudson Valley. “On issue after issue, Bill de Blasio and his administration have failed to get the job done. If he had a record like this in the private sector he would have been handed a pink slip a longtime ago,” Malliotakis concluded.

GOINGS ON... n THRU JUNE 29 WESTON, MA – The Greek League Basketball Games presented by the Teddy Kariotis Foundation and greekboston.com. Enjoy a night out with fellow Greeks of Boston for some fun competition! Games will be hosted at the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown Street in Weston. This season will feature teams from Arlington, Boston, Roslindale, Lexington, Norwood and West Roxbury. Games are played every Wednesday night. The season will conclude on Thursday, Jun. 29 with the Championship Game! Want to join our next season? Get in touch right away as we are already preparing our summer and fall seasons! Check out our Facebook Page: @thegreekleagueboston for news, pictures, scores, and sign up information! More information is available by phone: 781-237-5561. n JUNE 15-18 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 140 Grand Avenue So. in Poughkeepsie, holds its annual Greek Festival June 15-17. Enjoy a taste of Greece with plenty of great Greek food such as gyros, Greek salads, souvlaki, baklava, galaktoboureko, and more! Plenty of parking on premises and surrounding area. Hours: Thursday, Jun. 15, Friday, Jun. 16, and Saturday, Jun. 17 from 11 AM to 9 PM, Sunday, Jun. 18 from 11 AM to 7 PM. More information is available by phone: 845-452-0772. n JUNE 16-18 MANHATTAN – 2017 Gabby Awards weekend takes place June 16-18 at various locations in Manhattan. More information on the weekend schedule is available at greekamericafoundation.org. The black tie gala Gabby Awards will be held at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, 57th Street and 7th Avenue, on Saturday, Jun. 17. The curtain will go up promptly at 7:30 PM and guests outside the hall will not be permitted inside until after the opening. Please be prompt. The Official After Party takes place at 9:30 PM at the Plaza Hotel Grand Ballroom with all of the post-awards excitement, dinner, open bar, an exciting live and silent auction, as well as live entertainment and dancing, featuring Greece’s number one pop singer, Anna Vissi and her complete orchestra from Greece. n JUNE 17 MOONACHIE, NJ – The Hellenic Federation of New Jersey invites you to its 7th Annual Awards Banquet, honoring Tony Papamarkos, Paul Kalamaras, and NJ Congressman Honorable Chris Smith, at The Graycliff, 122 Moonachie Ave. in Moonachie on Saturday, Jun. 17 at 6 PM. Please visit hellenicfederationnj.com for details.

n JUNE 18 MANHATTAN – On Sunday, Jun. 18 at 7 PM the Pancyprian Choir of New York invites you to its Annual Family Spring Concert “A Tribute to Manos Loizos" at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Ave in Manhattan. Please contact [email protected] for details. n JUNE 19 ROSLYN, NY – On Monday, Jun. 19 at 6 PM the Hellenic Lawyers Association and HANG invite you to a Networking Event at Limani, 1043 Northern Blvd. in Roslyn. RSVP to John Zervopoulos at [email protected] n JUNE 20 PHILADELPHIA, PA – Join the American Hellenic Institute at Citizens Bank Park, One Citizens Bank Way in Philadelphia, for the Phillies Greek Heritage Celebration taking place on Tuesday, Jun. 20 when the Phillies host the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:05 PM. Tickets available at mlb.com. For groups of 25 or more, please contact Vanessa Mapson in the Group Sales Office at 215-463-5000 ext. 5306. All groups of 25 or more will be welcomed on the Phillies side auxiliary message boards at the top of the 5th inning. n JUNE 21 MANHATTAN – On Wednesday, Jun. 21 at 6 PM the Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus in NY, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, the Cyprus Trade Center and the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations, under the auspices of AHEPA, invite you to the Exhibition Opening of Cypriot artists Ioanna Kythreotou, Thekla Papadopoulou & Elena Tsigaridou entitled “Sender - Receiver” at The Cyprus House, 13 East 40th Street in Manhattan. Please contact [email protected] for details. n JUNE 22 MANHATTAN – On Thursday, Jun. 22 from 6:30-9:30 PM the Hellenic Lawyers Association invites you to its Judiciary Night Cocktail Reception, honoring members of the judiciary, at Kellari Taverna, 19 West 44th Street in Manhattan. Includes networking, hors d’oeuvres, and open bar. Sponsored by Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro LLP and Rosado, Apat, Dudley, LLP. Please v i s i t www.eventbrite.com/e/2017hla-judiciary-night-tickets25032929165 for tickets. n JUNE 23 EASTCHESTER, NY – On Friday, Jun. 23 from 6-10 PM the 3rd Annual Loukoumi Dance Party & Make A Difference Awards is taking place at Mulino's at Lake Isle Country Club, 660 White Plains Road in Eastchester. The Inspiration Award will be presented to TEGNA. Please visit loukoumifoundation.org for tickets.

On Paper Exhibition Highlights Talented Greek Artists in New York City TNH Staff NEW YORK – On Paper presented by Timarete Hellenic Art Festival and Gallery d’Arte / ParisKoh Fine Arts, and curated by the distinguished artist Antonia Papatzanaki, is a group exhibition focusing solely on art that is created on paper. The exhibition is part of the Timarete Festival and runs June 1-15. The wellattended opening reception took place on June 1 at Gallery d’Arte / ParisKoh Fine Arts in Manhattan. Among those viewing the impressive works of art were Consul of Greece in New York Manos Koubarakis, Athanasia Papatriantafyllou- Head of Press & Com-

munication Office Permanent Mission of Greece to the UN, Demetra Varsami- Principal of the Academy of Hellenic Paideia which presents the Timarete Festival, Artistic Director of the festival Konstantinos Doikos, On Paper curator Papatzanaki, several of the artists with work in the exhibition, members of the press, and the Greek community. The exhibition brings together over twenty works on paper, including drawings, paintings, prints, mixed media, and photographs by known Greek and Greek-American artists residing in New York. The talented participating artists are Eozen Agopian, Angie Drakopoulos, Peter Fikaris, Dionisios Fragias, Cris

Gianakos, Morfy Gikas, Angeliki Korkou, Georgia Lale, Aristides Logothetis, Demetrius Manouselis, Eleni Mylonas, Antonia Papatzanaki, Costas Picadas, Konstantinos Stamatiou, Panayiotis Terzis, Philip Tsiaras, Xanthippe Tsalimi, Lydia Venieri, Adonis Volanakis, and Lilia Ziamou. Paper is a medium that offers an intimate and open field for creative elaboration, in which concepts and ideas can be expressed and can emerge and change with relative ease. Paper is a deceptively simple material that lends itself to weightier projects, for the beauty and simplicity of paper is directly offered in the theoretical and experimental

process. The exhibition aims to show the great diversity of artwork that can be produced on a paper surface using various media and techniques. With a brilliantly diverse range of styles and expertise, On Paper showcases the artists for their uniqueness and their approach to working with such a versatile material. Papatzanaki spoke with The National Herald at the opening, noting the wonderful turnout and expressing the hope that the unique artwork on view would attract collectors as well. Those in attendance noted the striking images and the extraordinary creativity of the artists working today. With such diverse

and dynamic works by gifted artists, On Paper is an exhibition not to be missed. Antonia Papatzanaki, born in Chania on the island of Crete is a renowned international Greek artist. She was educated in the Athens School of Fine Arts, the Vienna Hochschule für Angenwandte Kunst, and she earned her MFA at Pratt Institute in New York. Papatzanaki is the recipient of many prestigious awards in addition to winning multiple Panhellenic and international competitions held to select and fund artists for the creation of public installations. Her public light installation Agora was exhibited at Battery Park during 2000-2001 as part of the Temporary Public

Art Program of New York City. Several of Papatzanaki’s outdoor public works are permanently installed throughout Greece, including her sculpture Lighthouse in the square of the Kato Patisia Metro Station, Athens. Papatzanaki has exhibited widely— notable among her many solo exhibitions are Stratifications, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, 2016; Refractions, Ekfrasi - Υianna Grammatopoulou, Athens, 2013; Robust Matter and Image, Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete, Rethymnon, 2010; Antonia Papatzanaki: Recent Works, Tsatsis Projects/Artforum, Thessaloniki, 2008; and Visions of Light, Chashama, 112 Gallery, New York, 2007.

Archbishop Demetrios Blesses St. Michael’s New Facility in Uniondale Continued from page 1 The property is close to several parishes of the Archdiocese including St. Paul’s in Hempstead, St. Demetrios in Merrick, and the Church of the Resurrection in Glen Cove. For many years the facilities housed the St. Pius X Residence for priests, who were involved in administration and teaching at the St. Pius X Prep Seminary, a high school that closed in 1984. Afterward, they were used as a residence for senior and retired priests. Andonios said that “the renovation project will cost $30 million. Initially, we had estimated the cost to be $25 million, but that was three and a half years ago, but the building material went up. In addition they found a lot of asbestos that will require $500,000 to be removed. The facility was built in the 1960s and during those years they used a lot of asbestos.”

Left: A view of St. Michael’s Home in Uniondale, NY. Right: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios officiated at the Agiasmos Service, assisted by His Grace Andonios said the cost per resident will depend on the category. A private room with a bath, for example, costs $4000 per month. He added that no

one has been turned away for being unable to pay. There are two cases of residents living there now who have no family and nowhere else to live.

Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, chancellor of the Archdiocese and general director of St. Michael’s Home.

The Archdiocese is not contributing anything to the Home and does not plan to do so moving forward. But why not? Because “we are proud that we

have St. Michael’s for 58 years and it is self-sustained, because the Greek-American community supports it and we have never asked the Archdiocese for finan-

cial assistance. We all should support this institution because no one knows when he or she will be in need of St. Michael’s Home,” Andonios said.

FEATURE

THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

7 GREEK GASTRONOMY

OUR EVERYDAY GREEK

This Summer we Speak Greek during the Flight to Athens Father’s Day Recipes to Enjoy, Ribs and Shrimp

By Dr. Dimitra Pontoporou This summer we speak Greek. Let’s learn to say more than καλημέρα and ευχαριστώ: useful and easy dialogues in Greek for every occasion. We start speaking Greek from the flight to Athens. Here are some common phrases and words we use in everyday conversations. DIALOGUE Maria and Petros are two friends traveling from New York to Athens by plane. During the flight they decide to start a conversation with the old lady next to them (κυρία Ελένη) to practice their Greek. Greek phrase Pronunciation Translation M: Καλημέρα kaliMEra. Good morning. Είστε Ελληνίδα; EEste eliNEEda? Are you Greek ? Ε: Ναι, είμαι Ελληνίδα. NE, EEme eliNEEda. Yes, I am Greek. Εσείς; eSEEs? You ? Μ: Εγώ είμαι eYO EEme I am Ελληνοαμερικανίδα. elinoamerikaNEEda Greek-American Π: Εγώ είμαι eYO EEme I am Ελληνοαμερικανός. elinoamerikaNOS. Greek-American. Ε: Ο μπαμπάς σου O baBAS soo Is your dad είναι Έλληνας; EEne Elinas? Greek? Μ: Ο μπαμπάς μου O baBAs moo My dad είναι Έλληνας EEne Elinas is Greek και η μαμά μου ke EE maMA moo and my mom είναι Ιταλίδα. EEne itaLEEda. is Italian. Ε: Το όνομά σου; TO Onoma soo? Your name? Μ: Μαρία. maREEA. Maria. Αυτός είναι ο Πέτρος. afTOS EEne O PEtros. He is Petros. TO ONoma sas? What is your name? Π: Το όνομά σας; Ε: Το όνομά μου TO Onoma moo My name είναι Ελένη. EEne eLEni. is Eleni. Πάτε στην Αθήνα; Pate STEEN aTHEEna? Are you going to Athens? Μ: Εγώ πάω στη γιαγιά μου eYO PAo STEE yiayiA moo I am going to my grandmother στη Θεσσαλονίκη. STEE thesaloNEEki. in Thessaloniki. Ε: Πρώτη φορά πάτε PROti foRA PAte Is it your first time στην Ελλάδα; STEEN eLAda? in Greece? Π: Εγώ πάω πρώτη φορά eYO PAo PROti foRA I am going for the first time και η Μαρία πάει KE EE maREEA PAi and Maria goes κάθε καλοκαίρι. KAthe kaloKEri. every summer. Μ: Εσείς πού πάτε; eSEES POO PAte? Where do you go? Ε: Πάω στη Θεσσαλονίκη. PAo STEE thesaloNEEki. I go to Thessaloniki. Π: A, πάμε μαζί. A, PAme maZEE. A, we go together. Greek word Εγώ Εσύ Εσείς Είμαι Είσαι Είναι Είμαστε Είστε O Έλληνας

IMPORTANT VOCABULARY Pronunciation Meaning eYO I eSEE you eSEES you (polite, plural) EEme I am EEse You are EEne Is EEmaste we are EEste you are (polite, plural) Ο Elinas Greek (male)

By Eleni Sakellis This Father’s Day, surprise Dad with the following tasty recipes. Using a few key Greek ingredients adds extra flavor to these, and any, recipes. For the meat-lovers, the ribs start off in the oven but are finished on the grill for color and flavor. For seafood fans, the shrimp are marinated for just a half hour and grill up in minutes. Enjoy both recipes with a side salad.

Ribs Η Ελληνίδα Ο Ελληνοαμερικάνος Η Ελληνοαμερικανίδα Πάω Πας Πάει Πάμε Πάτε Πάνε Πού Πρώτη Φορά Κάθε Καλοκαίρι Το όνομα Μου Σου Του Σας

ΕΕ eliNEEda Greek (female) Ο elinoamerikaNOS Greek-American (male) ΕΕ elinoamerikaNEEda Greek-American (female) PAo I go PAS You go PAi He goes PAme we go PAte you go (polite, plural) PAne they go POO where PROti first foRA time KAthe every kaloKEri summer TO Onoma name MOO my SOO your TOO his SAS your (polite, plural)

• 1/4 cup Greek sea salt • 2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar • 3 tablespoons chili powder • 4 slabs pork spareribs (about 2 • 1/4 pounds each)

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder • 1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes, pureed with juice • 3/4 cup water, plus more as needed • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar • 1/4 cup ketchup • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar Add the oil to a mediumsized saucepan and heat on medium-high. Sauté the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, and cook about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, water, sugar, and ketchup and bring up to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Add more water

Note that a common ending for male adjectives is -ος and for female is -ίδα. O Έλληνας / η Ελληνίδα. Ο Αμερικανός / η Αμερικανίδα. Ο Ιταλός / η Ιταλίδα. MAIN PHRASES Try to match the phrases in English with their translation in Greek: 1. Are you Greek? 1. Πρώτη φορά πας Ελλάδα; 2. What is your name? 2. Πού πας στην Ελλάδα; 3. Where do you go in Greece? 3. Είσαι Ελληνίδα; 4. Is it your first time in Greece? 4. Ποιο είναι το όνομά σου; What would you answer to these questions in Greek? PRONUNCIATION KEY i (idiom), ee (needle), e (energy), o (organism), oo (boot), y (yes), h (helium), th (theory), d (the). The capitalized syllables are accented.

LITERARY REVIEW

Great Gift Ideas, Fascinating Books for Father’s Day By Eleni Sakellis Books make a great gift option for Father’s Day for those looking for something other than a tie for Dad. Whether he enjoys sports, fitness, history, or mysteries and thrillers, there is a book for every taste and temperament. How to Sculpt a Greek God Marble Chest with Push-ups (Bodyweight Bodybuilding Tips Book 1) by Anthony Arvanitakis and illustrated by Lela Arvanitakis is a good choice for dads interested in getting into shape. Arvanitakis is a graduate of the University of Thessaloniki where he earned a degree in Sports Science and Physical Education and is a motivational personal trainer in the Netherlands. As with any new exercise program, consult with your physician before beginning. History buffs will note that June 11 marks the centennial of the accession of King Alexander of Greece, whose short threeyear reign ended with his death at the young age of 27 from sepsis after a monkey bite. His marriage to the Athenian Aspasia Manos caused some controversy at the time because of her status as a commoner. Their compelling story is recounted in the book Alexandros kai Aspasia (Alexander and Aspasia) 19151920 by Alexandros Zaousis, a doctor and historian. Starting

• 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce (recipe follows) • Oil for brushing

with the outbreak of World War I, Zaousis traces the turbulent history as well as the romance which began in 1915 and ended so abruptly just five years later. The book is available in Greek. For those interested in literature, Modern Greek Writers: Solomos, Calvos, Matesis, Palamas, Cavafy, Kazantzakis, Seferis, Elytis (Princeton Essays in European and Comparative Literature, No. 7) edited by Edmund Keeley and Peter Bien is an excellent collection of essays. Written by ten critics and scholars on the theme of Modern Greek Literature and it European Background the book includes Zissimos Lorenzatos' discussion of the nineteenth century poet Dionysios Solomos and Peter Bien's analysis of Nikos

Kazantzakis' fervent demoticism. The essays are evidence of the creative activity of Greek writers in all genres as they turned outward to Europe and inward to Greek culture to form a unique modern literature. First published in 1972 by Princeton University Press, the 2015 Princeton Legacy Library edition is available in paperback online. Mystery fans will enjoy Che Committed Suicide by Petros Markaris, translated into English by David Connelly. An Inspector Haritos mystery, the book finds the convalescing inspector under pressure to solve the mystery that is lurking behind a series of public suicides, unveiling the secrets buried in the victims' past. First published in 1855 and widely considered Greece’s first

realistic social novel, Thanos Vlekas by Pavlos Kalligas, translated into English by Thomas Doulis, depicts life after Independence in the newly established modern Greek nation. The book recounts the story of Thanos a young farmer struggling to improve himself in spite of the derision of his mother, who prefers instead her more “heroic” son, the brigand Tassos, who seems to embody the virtues that helped Greece win independence. While Thanos farms, his brother uses robbery and murder to get ahead, exploiting his ill-gotten gains and political connections for his own personal gain. Kalligas criticized the romantic image of the brigands that was so popular in the newly independent Greece.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the salt, pepper, sugar, and chili powder. Rub the seasoning mixture over both sides of the ribs. Place the seasoning-covered ribs bone side down and overlapping slightly on 2 rimmed baking pans. Cover with parchment paper and then tightly cover with foil. Bake in the preheated oven until tender for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Reserve half of the barbecue sauce to serve with the cooked ribs. Meanwhile heat the grill to medium-high. Brush the grates of the grill with oil. Remove the baked ribs from the pans and place on the heated grill, turning occasionally and brushing with barbecue sauce, until nicely browned about 2 to 5 minutes. To serve, cut between each rib to separate and place on a platter. Serve with the remaining barbecue sauce on the side.

if needed to avoid burning. Allow to cool slightly, and then puree in a blender in batches or using an immersion blender. Add the vinegar and stir. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if needed.

Grilled Shrimp • 24 jumbo shrimp (about 2 pounds), peeled and deveined with tails intact • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 teaspoon Greek oregano • 1/4 cup Greek extra virgin olive oil • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • Greek sea salt and freshly ground pepper

• 2 tablespoons Greek extra virgin olive oil • 1 onion, finely chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 teaspoon Greek sea salt

Stir together the shrimp, garlic, oregano, oil, and lemon juice in a large baking dish or bowl. Cover, and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. While the shrimp are marinating, soak 8 wooden skewers in water for at least 20 minutes, or if preferred, metal skewers can be used without the need for soaking. Preheat grill to mediumhigh. Skewer the shrimp and season with salt and pepper. Grill until shrimp are opaque about 3 minutes on each side. Serve with salad.

Kansas has experienced 220 tornados. I mean, come on! Of course, there’s the other side to the logic about the having the younger generation take over, like if my family and I board a plane for Greece, this year, I sure don’t want to find the pilot older than me. That would mean seeing a uniformed man, staring at us from the entrance of the cockpit, wondering what th’ hell are we all doing there, announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your...ahh, I knew it a few minutes ago?” He

snaps his fingers. “Pilot! That’s right! And, my name is Capt.....ahh,.. the captain part is right. Just give me a minute.” The airline stewardess comes to his aid, whispers in his ear and he brightens. “Och, veveos! Capt Angela Figouris.” The stewardess interrupts. “No! I’m Angela Figouris. You’re Capt Yiorgos Hamenos.” He laughs and says, “Of course. I’m Capt Yiorgos Hamenos. I really am! And, in a few minutes we will be 35,000 feet up and going to....ahh...” he turns to the stewardess, again, who announces to the passengers with a comforting smile, “Greece.” You can see that it could be a real problem. I only hope we don’t see the cockpit door open during flight and we discover the pilots have placed the ‘automatic pilot’ button on while they’re napping as we head for Nairobi. Gee! I can’t go there. I don’t anyone there – I don’t think! But, growing old does have its compensations, like...ahh, give me a minute.

Barbecue Sauce

GREEK AMERICAN STORIES

Aging By Phyllis (Kiki) Sembos Special to The National Herald This is a subject I know a lot about, being a participating member. But, it’s something everyone is going to know a lot about, too, eventually. I remember when my friends, all pre baby boomers, and I used to get together; we’d talk about boys, when’s the next dance, our jobs and our Neanderthal parents. Now, we get together – when we can remember each other, and talk about eventful visits to the doctor, the dentist, calorie consumption, dietary fiber and about all the delicious foods we used to eat that we’re now told are bad for us. How did we get to this age eating bad foods? Now we’re told to eat in Technicolor: eat green, yellow and red veggies; consume those same ingredients in soups, sides, snacks and deserts. (Turnip cookies, anyone?) Once, I danced the cha-chacha, spun a hula hoop, and wore

out my skates. Now, my slippers have to be skid proof. My bathrobe has to be short so I won’t trip over it. And, my bathroom wall has handles for safety measures. In the old days at work, coffee breaks in the office cafeteria had us tossing a paper plate as a Frisbee for some fun, exchanging jokes or sittting around and reading about who Burt Reynolds is marrying this time. After all, the Constitution says that we had the inalienable right to be free, carefree. I don’t recall me ever being obsessed with material things – except, keep you paws off my bike. My grandson keeps coming to my house and checks out my new Toyota, asking if it’s paid for yet; how many miles have I put on it and why there is a scratch on the door. I’m alarmed at the new generation who we expect will be taking over where we goofed... left off. They all look so young! It’s scary to think I’d go to the

doctor and find someone with a shaved head, tattoos down the arms, a nose pierce and the receptionist wearing a bare midriff with a ruby in the navel. When I go to the doctor’s office we expect to see someone in a white jacket, stethoscope around his neck, looking like Albert Einstein, right? Not someone who looks like a member of The Grateful Dead. Hey! He’s the one I trust holding a long, sharp instrument that’s going to be pointed at me, asking, ‘where does it hurt?’

Just imagine voting for our representative in the White House who are so young and are anxious for some “action” and sends the Green Berets to invade Brooklyn because the baseball game is experiencing a late opening. Or, proclaim National Darth Vader Day in honor of all Science Fiction Writers, or vote to replace the decrepit, ancient scientists in labs today who insist on believing there’s evidence of climate change just because Houston and Missouri are under water, Ohio and

OBITUARIES/CLASSIFIEDS/GREECE

8

THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

Greek Dance Night at Athens Square Park

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE/ CITATION NOTICE PROBATE CITATION File No. 2016/71 SURROGATE’S COURT Queens COUNTY CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO Helga Gautier if living and if dead, to his/her heirs at law, next of kin and distributees whose names and whose names and places of residence are unknown and he/she died subsequent to the decedent herein, to his/her executors, administrators, legatees, devisees, assignees and successors in interest whose name and places of residence are unknown and to all other heirs at law, next of kin, and distributees of Marlene Daini The decedent herein, whose names and places of residence are unknown and cannnot be ascertained after due diligence, Helga Meier A petition having been duly filed by Linda Godek, who is domiciled at 254 East Mountain Road, Wind Gap, PA 18091 YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Queens County, at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, New York, on July 13th 2017 at 9:30 o’clock in the fore noon of the day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Marlene Daini lately domiciled at 111-26 11368 Corona Avenue, Flushing, NY admitting to probate a Will dated May 9, 2003 (a Codicil dated - ) (a Codicil dated - ) a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Marlene Daini deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that ( x) Letters Testamentaty issue to: Linda Godek .............( ) Lettes of Trusteeship issue to: .............. ( ) Letters of Adminidtration c.t.e. issue to ............... (State any further relief requested) ...............Dated, Attested and Sealed May 16th, 2017. HON. HON. PETER J. KELLY Surrogate Peter J. Kelly; Lee J. Coulman, Acting Chief Clerk; Mary E. Granfort, Goldfarb Abrandt Salzman & Kutzin LLP Attorney for Petitioner Telephone Number 212-387-8400 Address of Attorney; 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4310, New York, NY 10118 {NOTE: This Citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fell to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.} 275793/19080

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Formation of KAILA MULLADY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, LLC (DOM LLC). Articles of the Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/25/17. Office location: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: c/o United States Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. 275809/20400

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By Stephanie Nikolopoulos

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Greece Featured in 1st European Literature Night in NY

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The Timarete Hellenic Arts Festival presented traditional dances in Astoria’s Athens Square Park representing the various regions of Greece. Among those performing were the Archangel Michael Dance Troupe, the Academy of Hellenic Paideia, the Greek American Folklore Society, Pankerkyraikos Association, Kalymnos Society, and the Epirus Dance Group.

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NEW YORK – "What matters to these poets is what happens when we forget," said Karen Van Dyck, editor of Austerity Measures: The New Greek Poetry, at the first European Literature Night, presented by the Czech Center New York, EUNIC, on June 2. Greece’s inclusion as one of the 14 countries represented at the European Literature Night served as an important reminder for the need for more cross-cultural sharing through translation and highlighted the symbiotic relationship between literature, politics, and identity. Each floor of the Bohemian National Hall – as well as the rooftop – housed poets sharing literature from across Europe. Representing Greece, Van Dyck read poetry in both its original Greek and in English from Austerity Measures, published this year by the New York Review of Books. "After reading Greek poetry for thirty years I was blown away by what was happening in the last ten years," said Van Dyck, Kimon A. Doukas Profes-

sor of Modern Greek Literature in the Classics Department at Columbia University. Throughout history, art has pushed and pulled and risen above the rubble of adversity. She said that during the dictatorship emerged wonderful poets. Now, during the economic crisis, poets are once again rising to the occa-

The event included readings from Austerity Measures: The New Greek Poetry. sion. She said that austerity, restriction, brings forth new ideas. Writers aren’t just publishing in traditional, well-established venues but are crafting handmade zines and posting their work on the internet. They are finding ways to get their words to the masses at a time when major media conglomerates are folding. It is not just the method of publishing that has been changing, but also the content of Greek literature. What Van Dyck noticed was that "the peripheral have become central." Where once Odysseus was the hero of

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Continued from page 1 Metropolitan Iakovos was the senior hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. He was elected to the episcopacy in 1969 by the Patriarchate’s Holy Synod. He was consecrated Bishop of Apameia (an Auxiliary Bishop of Archbishop Iakovos) on Christmas Day 1969, and appointed to the 7th Archiepiscopal District of Detroit as Bishop. In 1971, he was appointed President of HCHC while remaining as administrative overseer of the Diocese of Detroit. He simul-

The funeral service held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. Metropolitan Iakovos, the senior hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, was 89.

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name, are both founders of the literary magazine Teflon. The collection starts with poets in Athens but then expands to expatriates and those for whom “Greek is their second language,” explained Van Dyck. Austerity Measures is divided into six parts: part 1 is Tradition and the Individual Talent: Poets in Literary Magazines; part 2 is Myth and Medicine: DIY and Small Press Poets; part 3 is Unjust Punishment: Poets Online; part 4 is Storytelling: Poets in Performance and across the Arts; part 5 is Outside Athens: Bookshops, Cafes, and Poets in the Provinces; part 6 is Border Zones: Poets between Cultures and Languages. The expansiveness of Greek identity makes the country’s artistic offerings vital to exploring European literature. On one side of the page is the Greek and on the other is the English – but even more exciting, in some, the Greek is interrupted by English words and the English by Greek words, and sometimes even other languages. "The idea was to open up the world on multilingual poems," said Van Dyck.

Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago is Laid to Rest

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The Odyssey, now, she said, contemporary poets are focusing on Homer’s more ancillary characters: Penelope, Telemachus, and the Lotus Eaters. A reader might conjecture that the harsh austerity measures currently imposed on Greek citizens have made them identify less with the hero’s journey and more with those who are left behind to fend for themselves and those who try to numb themselves against reality. During her reading, Van Dyck focused on mythology pastiche poems, reading Phoebe Giannisi’s Penelope – I Am Addicted to You, a poem written in verse that when she herself translated for the book she turned into a concrete poem, shaping it into the pool that Giannisi’s Penelope swims in every day. She also read The Lotus Eaters by Kyoko Kishida and translated by Rachel Hadas, and Re: Lotus Eaters by Jazra Khaleed and translated by Peter Constantine. Kishida, a Greekborn poet whose pen name is taken from a Japanese actress, and Khaleed, a Chechnyan-born poet who lives in Athens’ innercity and is writing under a pen

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taneously served as the Bishop of the New England/Boston area during his five-year tenure as HCHC President. Following the reorganization of the Archdiocesan Districts into Dioceses, Bishop Iakovos was enthroned by Archbishop Iakovos on May 1, 1979 as the Bishop of Chicago at the Annunciation Cathedral. In November 1997, the Holy Synod elected His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Chicago to the active

Metropolitanate of Krinis and Exarch of Ionias. In this capacity, Iakovos continued to serve the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago as its Presiding Hierarch. In December, 2002, the Synod elevated the Dioceses of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to Metropolises of the Archdiocese and elected all of the Hierarchs of the Dioceses as Metropolitans of their respective Metropolises, thus Iakovos was elected Metropolitan of Chicago.

DEATH NOTICES n GIOKAS, GEORGE HARWICH, MA (from the Cape Cod Times, published on Jun. 7) – George W. Giokas 100, died Saturday, June 3rd surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 6, 1917 in Chicopee the son of Vasilios and Eugenia (Despotopoulos) Giokas. He graduated from Chicopee High School in 1935 and remained in Chicopee where he worked. An avid musician, he played in a band and had a weekly radio show on WMAS in Springfield. He married Estelle (Fliss) in 1945 and they settled in Worcester where they lived most of their lives before retiring to the Cape in 1980. Mr. Giokas was President of the George W. Giokas Insurance Agency representing the Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Company. He also owned Bay State Fuels Oil Company in Worcester. He was well known in the Worcester business community for many years. Mr. Giokas was a Past President of Days and dates of funerals, memorials, and other events directly correspond to the original publication date, which appears at the beginning of each notice.

St. Spyridon's Greek Orthodox Church in Worcester and a member of the Masonic Service Association. He was a longtime member of the Cranberry Valley Golf Course in Harwich. Upon retirement he became a active member of St. George's Greek Orthodox Church in Centerville where he also served as a volunteer cantor faithfully every Sunday. Mr. Giokas leaves his daughter Demonda Giokas Slifer and husband Harold of Newton and their son David Slifer of Austin, Texas , daughter Paula Giokas of Watertown, many nephews, nieces and friends and his loving companion Toula his dog. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. George's Greek Orthodox Church, 1130 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632.

She is survived by her daughter Katherine (Dan) Ballas; son George (Joy) Papailias; grandchildren Diana (Robert) Magee, Martha (Jason) Anderson, Athena Palombi and Eleni Papailias; great grandchildren Helena, Katherine, Matthew, Alexander and Nicholas. In lieu of flowers please contribute in Martha's name to The Build: Annunciation Sacramento.

n PAPAILIAS, MARTHA SACRAMENTO, CA (from the Sacramento Bee, published on Jun. 7) – Martha was born on February 15, 1930 in Patras, Greece and passed away peacefully June 5, 2017 in Sacramento, CA, surrounded by her family who loved her dearly. Martha was preceded in death by her husband James G. Papailias and daughter, Tasia Papailias.

this is a service to the community. announcements of deaths may be telephoned to the Classified Department of the national Herald at (718) 784-5255, monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Est or e-mailed to: [email protected]

n PARLIARIS, CHRISTINE STASINOS MOLINO, FL (from the Pensacola News Journal, published on May 31) – Christine was born on December 17, 1928 and passed away on Monday, May 29, 2017. Christine was a resident of Molino, Florida at the time of passing. In lieu of flow-

ers, please make donations to Covenant Hospice Inpatient Palliative Care Center of West Florida Hospital or Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. n YEONAS, THEODORA Z. ARLINGTON, VA (from the Washington Post, published on May 22) – Theodora Z. Yeonas (Age 95). On May 19, 2017 in Arlington, VA. Beloved wife of the late Paul G. Yeonas. Mother to George P. Yeonas (Monica) and Dean P. Yeonas (Eleni). Loving grandmother to five grandchildren Daniele M. (Jonathon), Sonya M., Alexa P., Paul D. and Dimitri D. Yeonas. Theodora was preceded in death by her father Constantine Zacharoudis and mother Agnes Burlando (Armando). Born in Washington, DC she was a graduate of The Sacred Heart School, and later attended the Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, Greece. May her memory be blessed and eternal. Relatives and friends are invited to call at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2815 36th St. NW, Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 24 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

GREECE CYPRUS

THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

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Lesbos Earthquake Leaves 800 Homeless, Scrambling for Shelter LESBOS, GREECE – Greece’s government declared a State of Emergency in the aftermath of an earthquake on the refugeeoverrun island of Lesbos and were trying to find housing for 800 people who couldn’t return to their homes. The 6.1 magnitude undersea quake on June 12 occurred south of Lesbos but was felt as far as Istanbul, Turkey. Officials from the island’s regional government said homes in 12 villages in southern Lesvos had been seriously damaged or destroyed. The mostly elderly residents affected were being housed with relatives, in hotels or at an army-run shelter. One hundred and fifty out of the 254 houses inspected so far by civil engineer crews in the village of Vrisa and other areas of Lesvos hit by a powerful earthquake on June 12 were declared uninhabitable, Infrastructure Minister Christos Spirtzis said during a press conference. There were no reports that the quake had seriously affected thousands of refugees and migrants squeezed onto the island, abandoned there with the suspension of a European Union swap deal with Turkey, which allowed human traffickers to flood Greek islands with them. Aftershocks continued to

Eurokinissi

ABOVE: New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with locals on the island of Lesbos. RIGHT: The devastation in the earthquake-ravaged village of Vrisa. shake the island after the quake hit, leaving one woman dead and several people injured and with officials trying to assess the damage done. Hundreds of homeless were being moved from a makeshift camp set up on a soccer ground

to local hotels and other accommodation. Most of those left homeless were from the village of Vrisa, which was hit particularly hard by the quake, now finding themselves ironically in the same situation as the refugees: looking for a place to

assoCiatED PrEss

TNH Staff

sleep. Infrastructure Minister Christos Spirtzis said those left homeless would be given financial support and that a team of architects would be brought in to discuss plans to rebuild the traditional houses that collapsed

during the quake, Kathimerini said. A team of 100 civil engineers started inspections and found at least 150 structures to be unstable. Dozens more houses were destroyed, mostly in and around the village of Vrisa in the is-

land’s south. Seismologists did not rule out the possibility of a stronger earthquake following the original 6.1-Richter temblor but said it likely didn’t affect other regional fault lines, which could trigger a more powerful quake. Twelve of the 14 schools that had been slated to be used as examination centers for wouldbe university entrants were checked and found to be safe but the Education Ministry decided to postpone the exams anyway as a precaution. The Mayor of Turkey’s capital Ankara, Melih Gokcek said he believes the earthquake could have been man-made and the result of seismic testing, continuing his odd theories that they could be triggered artificially and as he called for an investigation to determine the cause. “I think that this might be an artificial earthquake. I do not say it is certain but it is a very serious possibility,” he tweeted. “I say that it should definitely be investigated. Was there any seismic research ship sailing near the epicenter? If so, which country does it belong to?” he said. In February, he hinted that an earthquake in Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, had been caused by external powers in order to undermine Turkey’s economy.

Cypriots, Turks Wrangle over Security

Tsipras Changes Course Over Debt

TNH Staff

TNH Staff

case. The Turkish side also was said to want to let Turkey have the right of military intervention in what it vaguely described as serious cases but only with the invitation of a joint Parliament if there is unity, a condition Anastasiades said was unacceptable, showing how far the negotiations have to go. Akinci also proposed an openended timeframe in which troops would be kept on the island under terms to be reviewed every few years but without any guarantees Turkey would honor it. Reports also said Turkey would agree to withdraw 80 percent of foreign troops but would keep the other 20 percent until Ankara decided they weren’t needed. The second part of the document, according to Politis, contained the views of the UN on security, which consisted of four parts; constitutional security, internal and external security and the implementation of a settlement. Another sticking point though is Turkey’s plan to send an energy research vessel into sovereign Cypriot waters where the government has licensed international firms, including an American company, to drill for oil and gas in July.

ATHENS – With prospects of debt relief talks from the Eurozone shaky, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he will demand a meeting of European Union leaders unless he gets his way – although plans could change again depending on the outcome. The Radical Left SYRIZA leader, seeing his popularity evaporate after repeated reneging on anti-austerity promises to get release of more monies from a third bailout of 86 billion euros ($96.38 billion) he said he would never seek nor accept, got support from his Parliament after he said the concessions would bring a debt break. Those hopes depended on a June 15 meeting of Eurozone finance chiefs with mixed reports on whether it would be coming, although German Chancellor Wolfgang Schaeuble, whose country is putting up the bulk of €326 billion ($365.36 billion) in three rescue packages, softened his hard line a bit and was optimistic that at least Greece would get the release of more monies. Tsipras, though, continued to press for a longer time to repay, past the 2048 benchmark now, and lower interest rates although that could pass on the costs of some 103 billion euros ($115.43

This Week in Greek History By Eraklis Diamataris JUNE 21: On this day in 1979, former Greek professional footballer Kostas Katsouranis was born in Patra. Widely regarded as one of the most gifted Greek footballers of his generation, Katsouranis primarily played as defensive midfielder. He got his beginnings in the sport in the local championship of Patra with Doxa Chalandritsas. At age 17 he got a transfer to Panachaiki, Patra’s leading football club with which he got to play in the (then named) A’ Ethniki division of Greece in the 1996-1997 season. After 123 league appearances with 15 goals and outstanding field play Katsouranis earned a transfer to AEK Athens for the 2002-2003 season where AEK beat out Panathinaikos and Olympiakos for his signature. At AEK Katsouranis quickly became indispensable and with his best personal season in terms of goals with 12 he lead AEK to a hard fought third place finish in the standings. In the summer of 2007 Katsouranis followed his coach Fernando Santos to Portuguese giants Benfica. Katsouranis stayed at Benfica for three seasons and in the process winning the Portuguese Cup in 2008-2009 as well as foreign footballer of the year in Portugal in 2008. In the summer of 2009 Katsouranis returned to play football in Greece and joined Panathinaikos, a club he has stated that he’s supported since childhood. In his first year at Panathinaikos, Katsouranis and the club won the Greek Super League and the League Cup. Katsouranis’ Panathinaikos contract was cut short in 2012 due to Panathinaikos’ deteriorating league standing. He signed on with PAOK where he stayed for one and a half years participating in 48 matches and scoring six times in the league. Katsouranis bounced around from India to Atromitos Athens to Australia before finally deciding to hang up his boots on September 29, 2015. On an international level Kostas Katsouranis is the third highest capped player in the history of the Greek National Team behind Giorgos Karagounis and Theodoris Zagorakis. He was a critical component of the European Championship winning team of 2004 and he also participated in the Confederations Cup of 2005, the World Cup in 2006, Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, EURO 2012 and finally World Cup 2014. Katsoura-

nis is currently the technical director of Panachaiki. JUNE 22: On this day in 1837 German architect Ernst Ziller was born in Serkowitz, Saxony. His main hubs of business in the latter part of the 19th century and the early 20th century were Vienna and Greece respectively. Ziller was of the most important and famous architects in the early beginnings of Modern Greece, supervising hundreds of important architectural works around the country. Ziller became an architect in Vienna in the office of Theofilos Hansen. While working at Hansen’s office in 1860 Ziller joins a competition to design a section of the building that would become the Academy of Athens. At the same time, Ziller graduated with bronze medal honors from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Ziller was a personal friend of King George I of Greece and for the monarch’s sake he did numerous design studies. In 1861 Ziller made his first trip to Greece with Theofilos Hansen where he would later return in 1868 as a freelance architect in Greece. His relationship with the king and his undoubted talent enabled Ziller to take on hundreds of orders for designs for public and private works alike. It is estimated that during his life Ziller designed and built over 500 buildings. His chief design style was Greek neo-classic building structures many of which are revered for their beauty to this day. Famous works by Ziller include: The Presidential Mansion in Athens, the Monetary Museum in Athens, The National Theatre, The National Archaeological Museum, the Stathatos Mansion, the Syggrou Mansion, the first version of the royal palace of Tatoi, Metaxa Mansion, The Apollon Theatre in Patra and was a member of Theofilos Hansen’s team that designed the Zappeion building. Ziller was married to pianist Sofia Doudou and had five children with her. He died in Athens in 1923 and is widely regarded as being an influential player in the Hellenistic revival movement in the early years of Modern Greece. JUNE 23: On this day in 1936 former Prime Minister of Greece Costas Simitis was born in Piraeus. Simitis studied at the University of Marburg in Germany and completed his studies at the London School of Economics.

In his early days in Athens in 1965 he chaired the political research group “Alexandros Papanstasiou”. The group’s mission was to research the rights and wrongs in government policies relating to social and economic issues in Greece and to see what can be done about them. In 1967 when the dictatorship came to power the organization turned into a resistance group and seven years later would partake in the founding of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). Simitis became a founding member of PASOK alongside Andreas Papandreou and held and held numerous Minister positions from 19811995 ranging from Agriculture Minister, Finance Minister to Education Minister and Energy Minister. All the while he was voted as the MP from Piraeus continuously from 1985 to 2007. On January 18, 1996 Costas Simitis was voted as leader of the PASOK Parliamentary Group following the resignation of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou due to failing health. On June 30, 1996 a few days after the death of Andreas Papandreou Simitis became the President of PASOK and lead them to victory in the September 1996 national elections thus becoming Prime Minister. Simitis would serve as Prime Minister from 1996 until March 10, 2004. He is the record holder for longest continuously serving Prime Minister in the history of the Greek Republic with 8 years and 2 months of service beating his predecessor Andreas Papandreou who served continuously as Prime Minister for 7 years and 9 months from October 1981 to July 1989. Costas Simitis brought Greece into the Eurozone and Greece changed its currency from Drachma to Euro under his watch. Years later it became known that it was done through the use of falsified Greek economical data but at the time was praised as a sign that Greece was entering an era of ProEuropean cooperation and economic growth. During Simitis’ premiership numerous large national projects were completed to help support the country during the Olympic Games namely the Athens Metro, the Tram of Athens, Attiki Odos and the Eleftherios Venizelos airport. Today Simitis is retired and doles out political advice to politicians who seek it. With his wife Daphne, who he met at the London School of Economics, they have two daughters.

billion) to taxpayers in the other 17 countries also using the euro. “If this solution is not achieved and we get the same proposal as the last Eurogroup, then my proposal is that we do not accept it …and go to the EU summit,” he told a cabinet meeting, Greek media reports said. That was a turnaround from his previous strategy of getting a deal at any cost, although he was said to be amenable to a French proposal linking debt relief to growth even though many analysts say that’s far off. Still, an agreement that wouldn’t take effect for years would still allow him to claim he got what he wanted for now. He told his ministers that the “key is in accepting a proposal for a mechanism automatically linking medium-term debt measures with growth, bridging differences between institutions,” a possible compromise that is a big comedown for him. The Eurozone will review Greece’s progress in imposing austerity that Tsipras swore he would reverse before he too surrendered to the lenders of the European Union, European Central Bank, European Stability Mechanism and International Monetary Fund while claiming he didn’t because he hung tough over the third bailout terms, a delay critics

said worsened the effect. While other senior EU officials said there wouldn’t be a breakthrough, European Commission finance chief Pierre Moscovici predicted there would at some point, even if not at the Eurozone meeting, continuing his streak of believing a deal was at hand although he hasn’t been right yet. The Eurozone chiefs were also to discuss how to reduce Greece’s debt, climbing by the thousands of euros every second, and whether the loans could ever be repaid, which Tsipras said they cannot. The main obstacle to a comprehensive agreement is the disagreement between European institutions and the IMF with regard to the sustainability of the Greek debt with one unnamed official telling the Greek newspaper Kathimerini that, “We’re not there yet.” Despite how critical it was, the Eurozone meeting wasn’t the end of Greek hopes for some kind of relief, even though the government, which includes the farright, pro-austerity, marginal, jingoistic Independent Greeks (ANEL) needs the release of more monies from the third bailout to meet a €7.2-billion ($8.06 billion) July payment, most of it right back to the lenders as little of the three rescue packages goes to help a beleaguered Greek society.

Greece Woos New Macedonia Government, Insists on Name ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece is promising Macedonia's new government closer ties but insists a decades-old name dispute should be resolved before it would back future membership of NATO and the European Union. Athens has blocked membership efforts, arguing that its neighbor's name implies a territorial threat to its own region of Macedonia. But hopes of a resolution have been raised after Social De-

mocrat Prime Minister Zoran Zaev formed a government two weeks ago, following moths of political crisis. On Wednesday, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov traveled to Athens to meet Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias. Macedonia, fearing a flare up in ethnic disputes in the region, is seeking swift NATO membership. Dimitrov described the Athens meeting as a "good start."

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With collapsed unity talks set to resume in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and TurkishCypriot leader Mustafa Akinci want a common document to state all sides and include written minutes from previous meetings, showing tension even before they sit down again. Turkey has demanded the right to keep a 35,000-strong army and the right to invade further, as it did unlawfully in 1974, splitting the island and occupying the northern third since. Dozens of diplomats, envoys, politicians and United Nations leaders have tried in vain to get the island put back together again since. Media reports in Cyprus indicated that the common text could be worked out and given to both sides in the next few days. It is being drawn up by UN Special Envoy Espen Barth Eide, who earlier had given up trying to broker a deal but has been brought back as a mediator again even though Anastasiades said he was favoring the Turkish side and didn’t trust him. The document will include what was recorded at the meetings of technocrats, the positions of each side, as well as the proposal of the UN. Politis reported the first part

would include the positions of each side – Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, and of Greece and Turkey – on security, as they had been recorded at a previous Geneva conference where Anastasiades and Akinci were working in secret, keeping Cypriots and Turks in the dark about what their future would be. UN sources said this was the first time all sides had submitted in writing their positions on the matter. The Greek Cypriot side, according to Politis, wanted an end to Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom being guarantors of security and wanted a trilateral friendship pact among Cyprus, Greece and Turkey providing protection to the island from external threats, as well as a transitional period during which a multinational police force would act as an internal security force. Greece also wants out of being a guarantor and was said to support the trilateral friendship act idea while calling for the withdrawal of all troops, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said would never happen no matter what. The Turkish Cypriots reportedly want Turkey to stay as a security guarantor on its side of the island – keeping the status quo in what Anastasiades said would be a deal breaker for him in any

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EDITORIALS LETTERS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The National Herald A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest to the Greek-American community of the United States of America.

Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris Assistant to the Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos Assistant Executive Editor Eleni Sakellis Religion Editor Theodore Kalmoukos Contributing Editor Constantinos E. Scaros Website Editor Achilleas Kouremenos Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros The National Herald (USPS 016864) is published weekly by The National Herald Inc. at 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 Tel: (718)784-5255, Fax: (718)472-0510, e-mail: [email protected] Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, e-mail: [email protected] Periodical postage paid at L.I.C., N.Y. and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send change of address to: THE NATIONAL HERALD, 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614

Greek-American Education, a Battle for the Obvious For me, there is no finer and more promising spectacle of the Greek-American community than the graduation ceremonies of children from our schools. A child’s graduation is the result of a long, difficult, and costly effort of many hundreds of people, children, parents, teachers, community members, donors, and (a few) priests. It is the continuation of a huge effort that began with the arrival of the first immigrants and the first attempts for a rudimentary school organization at that time, in order to preserve the language, religion, history, and culture as important features of the Greek identity for the children born here in the United States. Today, in the age of instant communication worldwide, this goal of our schools – the teaching of language, religion, history, culture – becomes infinitely easier, but also more valuable than ever, with the added dimension of its practical use and the empirical evidence that knowledge of another language is not an obstacle, as was once believed, but an advantage. Yet despite all this, and despite that our community has surpassed its most ambitious dreams in terms of economic success, the accomplishment of promoting our education falls far short of our potential. To some extent, it reminds one of the riddle “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” In other words, many parents do not send their children to Greek schools because they believe they are not on the same academic level as other, non-community schools. But if our schools don’t have many students – and, hence, economic resources – then how will they improve? To another extent, many feel that for some reason is it not appropriate to live in the United States and cling to a foreign culture and national identity. But it is now apparent that there is no contradiction in being a good American citizen and keeping the elements of one’s particular origins alive. In fact, I would say that realizing the value of one’s ancestry enhances the American identity. Moreover, it is clear that those who engage in such criticism are not looking around them to see what other minority groups are doing. Nonetheless, a large part of the problem, perhaps the largest, is the substandard “organization” of our schools under the Archdiocese. It is exactly the same form of organization that was created when our schools were first founded. And, perhaps it would not be a problem – as other minorities demonstrate – if there was a substantial organizational structure and, mainly, an interest in the schools on Archdiocese’s part. Unfortunately, however, there hasn’t been any essential interest for decades. However the situation has reached a dramatic point due to inaction. Thankfully, though, there are individuals who continue to fight for the awakening of parents and authorities of the value of our schools. However they would certainly be more effective if they could possibly unite in fighting this battle. A battle that would be important for the future of the children, parents, and Hellenism.

For One to be Loyal President Trump seems to have used one of the most important human qualities, loyalty to friends and benefactors, to pressure former FBI Director James Comey to end the Bureau’s investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty,” Trump allegedly told Comey during a private conversation. Given human nature, being loyal to someone, especially to one from whom we have benefited, is a difficult task and in any case unveils the character of the beneficiary. Being loyal to someone is not a matter of fulfilling emotional needs, nor is it something offered because it is “requested” from someone else. Loyalty is something that is earned, from both sides, after being tested for years. And it is achieved only when one inspires and enthuses the other with character and actions, not only regarding oneself, but also the general attitude of the other. Such a relationship is not static. It must be earned over and over again, and without any guarantee that the other will be loyal in return. Ultimately, it is a matter of character on both sides. This Trump-Comey matter, which dominates the headlines these days, automatically brought one name to my mind, without a second thought or hesitation: Manoussos. Manoussos Grillakis’ name became associated and synonymous with the loyal man. He was the friend and shadow of the late Greek statesman Constantine Mitsotakis for decades. Until the end. Manoussos is the man who, as I understand, feels the loss of the former leader as few others do. He was his friend, not (only) his bodyguard. A family man with a sharp sense of judgment, with principles and absolute discretion, who was always at Mitsotakis’ disposal. You could tell from afar that they were friends first, that they were united by a deep relationship of trust and love for one another. For Manoussos, Mitsotakis was the man he admired, esteemed, and respected immensely. There was no one else. And for Mitsotakis, Manoussos was... Manoussos, his friend, the man who kept an eagle eye on him and took care of everything. Even the occasional cigarette... Mitsotakis often joked that he became well-known thanks to Manoussos. The late leader had many loyal friends. According to him, he never lost friends. From the moment you gained his trust, that was that. He did not consider anyone to be perfect, including himself, because he was very aware of human nature. But he was not bothered by the small things, the mistakes, the shortcomings, or the petty offenses. He would offer his support to the end, except of course in extreme situations. And there were a few of those... Mitsotakis knew that life had its good and not-so-good days. And for both types, he was always there beside his friends. He wouldn’t say it; he would show it, with his incomparable politeness and kindness. His message was clear. How, then, could he not have the ever-loyal Manoussos, as well as many other loyal friends, until the end? Mitsotakis knew how to give of himself. He knew how to inspire. He knew how to make people proud to know him. He knew how to make people love him. I wonder if Donald Trump knows these things.

THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

Rep. Maloney on U.S. Investing in Greece To the Editor: As co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I can think of no more important focus for current U.S. policy toward Greece than actively supporting Greece’s efforts to turn around its economy. That is why I am so pleased that last July the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which encourages U.S. investments in countries around the world that

TO OUR READERS the national Herald welcomes letters from its readers intended for publication. they should include the writer’s name, address, and telephone number and be addressed to: the Editor, the national Herald, 37-10 30th street, long island City, ny 11101. letters can also be faxed to (718) 4720510 or e-mailed to [email protected]. we reserve the right to edit letters for publication and regret that we are unable to acknowledge or return those left unpublished.

desperately need foreign investment, agreed to a request from me and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, my Hellenic Caucus co-chair, to begin encouraging more U.S investment in Greece. For more than 45 years, OPIC has helped U.S. companies foster economic development around the world and has provided billions of dollars in assistance through public and private investment. In the process, it has advanced U.S. foreign policy and national security interests as well as American business. Foreign investment is an important component in Greece’s economy that has been largely missing in recent years. With OPIC’s involvement, Rep. Bilirakis and I hope that this could begin to change. Both Greeks and U.S. investors alike could benefit from OPIC’s resources, including business financing, political risk insurance, advocacy efforts, and partnerships with private equity investment fund managers. This will help encourage new investment in Greece as its economy rebounds from years of recession and provide investors with added confidence and security. Recently, OPIC took important actions to support more U.S. investment in Greece. On

June 16, OPIC came to New York for its Expanding Horizons Conference and hosted a special presentation on investing in Greece, where investors learned about OPIC’s resources for investment in Greece and had their questions answered as they learned more about this new opportunity. These investors will not only aid the Greek people in their re-

covery but also reap the benefits of engaging the global marketplace and deepen our country’s ties with one of our closest and most enduring allies in the world. That is the kind of U.S. foreign policy we can all be proud of. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) Washington, DC

gEorgE saraFoglou / sPECial to tHE national HEralD

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PRESS CLIPPING

On the US Cementing a Long-Term Deal with Greece By John Sitilides Since World War II, the Mediterranean Sea has been the home to the U.S. Sixth Fleet, whose mission is to conduct “the full range of Maritime Operations and Theater Security Cooperation missions to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.” It was an essentially uncontested naval force through the mid-2000s, operating with near impunity from the Strait of Gibraltar to Israel, from the Black Sea to the Suez Canal. Today, Russia and China are operating within the Eastern Mediterranean region with growing ambition and determination to challenge America’s historic naval posture and extensive power projection reach. Russia recently signed a 49year lease with Syria, to build up its once-modest facility at Tartus into a naval base that can handle Russia’s largest nuclearpowered battle cruisers, and possibly even nuclear submarines. Along with a long-term air base lease, Russia is building an unprecedented powerful military complex in Syria, making it possible for the first time for Russian land-based aircraft and naval forces to patrol the eastern Mediterranean without requiring support from distant home ports. It is also the first time in 70 years that such a base complex exists in the Mediterranean beyond the control of the United States or its allies, adding the threat of sophisticated Area Access Area Denial systems, which can thwart the free flow of U.S. and allied naval and commercial vessels. Coupled with Russia’s naval facility modernization plans in the annexed region of Crimea and its escalated diplomatic mediation between the U.N.backed Libyan government and its military rivals in eastern Libya, Moscow is positioned to significantly influence events in the Mediterranean, and the adjoining Aegean and Black Seas, for the foreseeable future. Similarly, China now looks to

the Mediterranean Sea as the western end of its multitrilliondollar “One Belt, One Road” infrastructure strategy, linking the Chinese economy with European and Middle Eastern markets through Central Asian land routes and Indian Ocean sea routes, including through the Suez Canal chokepoint, through which 80,000 vessels carried 1.5 million tons of shipping and energy resources in March 2017 alone. Two years ago, Russia and China conducted their first-ever joint Mediterranean naval exercise, with nine ships engaged in anti-submarine warfare and live-fire activities as they undertook four days of cargo transfer, replenishment and escorting missions. Further dangers emanate from Iranian proxies in Damascus, Beirut and Gaza, providing the radical Shiite state sponsor of terror with critical regional bases for malignant behavior. Islamic State retains a foothold along Libya’s eastern coast, the target of Egyptian bombardment after the most recent terror attack against Coptic Christians. Amid the geopolitical chaos of the Eastern Mediterranean region is a single bedrock platform from which the United States and its NATO allies most effectively project military power in every direction: the U.S. Navy Strategic Forward Operating Base located in Souda Bay, on the Greek island of Crete.

Just 785 miles from Syria, 570 miles from Suez and 200 miles from eastern Libya, NSA Souda Bay routinely functions as a Naval Operating Base, Naval Air Station and Naval Weapons Station, enabling U.S. Sixth Fleet and NATO counterterrorism and anti-ballistic missile defense patrols, reconnaissance missions and air-refueling support for multinational operations such as “Odyssey Lighting” to defeat Islamic State in Libya. Souda Bay offers the largest deep-water port in the entire Mediterranean Sea, the only one between Norfolk and the Indian Ocean that can accommodate a nuclear carrier pier-side to an airfield facility, allowing the Navy fleet to dock and carry out repairs, maintenance and resupply. That strategic location, reinforced by Defense Secretary James Mattis when he welcomed Greece’s Defense Minister Panagiotis Kammenos to the Pentagon in March, makes Souda Bay a vital frontline station for European, African, Central, Southern and Transportation unified commands. The Trump administration looks favorably upon Greece’s steadfast NATO commitment to defense spending exceeding 2 percent of gross domestic product, which it has maintained for more than 30 years — even in the face of the crippling economic depression of the past eight years.

The U.S. use of the Greek facilities is governed principally by the Mutual Cooperation Defense Agreement (MDCA), first signed in 1990. Since 1998, the MCDA is renewed annually. The United States would benefit significantly from a longer-term renewal agreement with Greece, especially from a longer horizon, up to 10 years, for Souda Bay infrastructure repairs, upgrades and expansions that would enhance the American and allied strategic posture in the region. But Washington and Athens both need long-term assurances when it comes to basing, to ensure more effective military budgetary and operational planning. Greece is also limiting the access it offers to U.S. military planners if the mutual defense cooperation agreement is renewed only annually, rather than on a long-term basis. The Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas are of supreme importance to U.S. interests in Southeastern Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa and the Black Sea. We now face increased regional security challenges led by the surging influences of Russia, China and Iran. Washington and Athens should begin negotiating an updated, longer-term defense agreement that fosters even stronger bilateral military-tomilitary relations, strengthens the interoperability of Greek forces for NATO, and — most importantly — bolsters regional security for U.S. and allied interests, utilizing the exceptional naval facility at Souda Bay. Such a policy would deliver to the Trump administration a more immediate and operationally effective strategic U.S. naval advantage in this increasingly dangerous corner of the globe. * John Sitilides, principal at Trilogy Advisors LLC, specializes in federal regulatory affairs and global risk analysis. This Analysis/Opinion first appeared in the Washington Times on Monday, June 5, 2017

Observations By Antonis H. Diamataris People, Media, Demagogues and Vindication of Leaders In one of my observations recently, I briefly touched on the question of mistakes made by people who fall into the trap of demagogues, which causes them to pay a great price sooner or later. This problem originated with the dawn of democracy in Ancient Athens and continues to exist worldwide. But historically, it seems that the Greek people have a particular weakness for demagogues, thus paying a high price and discovering the true leaders who could make a difference when it is too late. Recent examples include Eleftherios Venizelos, who died in Paris, and Constantine Mitsotakis. Although Mitsotakis’ vindication had almost already been achieved while he was alive, he was fully vindicated after his death; that was when he had the biggest political victory of his life. And although the vindication for a lifetime of battles is certainly a huge victory for Mitsotakis, his family, and his friends, the nation and the people are the losers, for they missed the opportunity to utilize his great potential and to have avoided,

among other things, the current crisis, to have protected the future of their children, their national dignity, and the country’s sovereignty, and to have achieved the de-Sovietization of the economy and to have finally turned it to a Western-style economy. The people, unfortunately, fell victim to the demagogues. Let us look at the main characteristics of the demagogues of our time: demagogues are people who are psychologically insecure, weak, egocentric, lacking in principles and values, and are ultimately indifferent to the consequences of their actions, as long as they serve their vulnerabilities. Demagogues are political leaders who promise everything to everyone, who plant the seeds for challenging principles, values, traditions, and religious orientation, who commend minor efforts, and who promote the equalization of all the lowest denominators. In other words, a demagogue is liked by the people by promoting anything that is easily obtained, questioning the human capacity of being an engine for human evolution, and rejecting comparison as a threat to his political clientele. A prerequisite for a demagogue to achieve the fall of society, because that is what it is, is the concurrent fall, or at least the support, of the media.

The media create political and ideological myths, and neutralize political opponents who confirm the people’s opinion of the demagogue. And, of course, the media support demagogues, i.e. the weak, morally impaired political leaders, because from them they can reap the greatest benefits. Because demagogues literally dread the revelation of truth and the removal of the protective shield offered to them by the media. Thus, a recycling of a demagogue in power is achieved, thanks to the disorientation of public opinion and the maximization of the demagogue’s siren calls, which grant him electoral victories by concealing the problems that have accumulated in the meantime. But this cannot possibly go on forever. The undermining of principles and values leads to an economic or other type of crisis, big or small, which eventually reveals to the people the extent of the deception, and leads to the demystification of the demagogues and the harsh punishment of the media outlets that imposed his acceptance. At the same time, it leads to the vindication of those people, such as Constantine Mitsotakis, who insisted on being dignified, telling the truth, and doing what was right for the nation.

THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017

Lusieri: The Cursed Artist who Ruined the Parthenon By Dimitra Pontoporou Giovanni Battista Lusieri was the man who initially had the idea of removing the Parthenon sculptures, the correct expression being looting. His idea destroyed his career as an artist. More than that his work was lost at sea. Lusieri was originally employed by Lord Elgin to make drawings of the Acropolis and to employ moulders who were to create casts of Parthenon sculptures. He was a topographical and archaeological painter born in Rome in 1754. By 1782, he moved to Naples, where he concentrated on views of Mount Vesuvius. At that time, the volcano was quite active and his paintings sold well, particularly to English visitors. The poet Lord Byron described him as "an Italian painter of the first eminence," although he may have been biased, because Byron was the good friend of Nicolo Giraud, Lusieri's brother-in-law. For art critics today he is a minor master but a technical genius. Anyway, he loved ancient monuments and created many watercolour studies of buildings and landscapes in Italy and Sicily. "It is very true that ac-

whole project. Lusieri was an ambitious artist, who wanted to become famous, but his idea was fatal for his career as a painter. He had little time for making art and most of his watercolors remained unfinished. Surprisingly enough the man who ruined Parthenon and supervised in 1801 the removal of the sculptures at a cost of £70,000, was a great lover of antiquities. His love is clearly shown in his paintings. As Edward Daniel Clarke (1769-1822), an English travel writer, observed “such was the extraordinary scale and application shown in the designs he was been completing, that every grace and beauty of the sculpture, every fair and exquisite proportion, every trace of the injuries of time had effected upon the building, every vein of marble, were visible in the drawing; and in such perfection, that even the nature and qualities of the stone itself might be recognised in the contour.” He also wrote as an eyewitness, that the Disdar, the Ottoman official on the scene, who attempted to stop the removal of the marbles, was bribed. Later on, Lusieri claimed that had he not worked for Elgin, he would have achieved fame as

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Trump’s Covfefevessence: Let Them Try Figuring it Out If someone less focused than Donald Trump were president of the United States right now, I’d be worried. My concern would be based on my imagining our nation’s enemies chuckling about the cluelessness of our people, who compared to most of the rest of the world have no actual problems – at least not enough to keep them from obsessing over the slightest thing anyone in the public eye does. In this case, the obsession is about President Trump’s late night tweet: “covfefe.” In the wee hours of the night as the date changed from May 30 to 31, the president – famously known to be a virtually sleepless night owl – dispatched yet another after-hours tweet: “Despite the constant negative press covfefe.” For one thing, “covfefe” is obviously not a word. For another, even if it were a typo for the word “coverage,” that is still an incomplete thought (“Despite the constant negative press coverage… ”) As the Twitter subculture breathlessly waited for a followup, none came. Then, the jokes started pouring in. The problem is that a late night tweet from Trump that contains the non-word “covfefe” is like a lob pass in basketball: anything less than catching it and slam dunking the ball in spectacular fashion is anticlimactic. Case in point: one of the memes I saw was Trump dressed as the late pop icon Prince, with “Little Red Covfefe” written across the bottom – a play on words in reference to Prince’s hit song “Little Red Corvette.” Now that’s clever. In stark contrast, Hillary Clinton – who still won’t go away – said: “I thought it was a hidden message to the Russians.” Yeah, not that funny. It’s like catching the lob and gently laying it in off

phone app. (And, the backboard. And by the way, I won’t Senator Al Franken unfriend him, beremarked: "A covcause I think “unfefe is a Yiddish friending” is the term for 'I got to go single rudest socito bed now,'" Even etal behavior of the less funny. In 21st century thus Hillary’s defense, far. But, I digress… no one ever paid ) So, covfefe might her to be tell jokes. just be an e-misYeesh, Senator Al, take. at least progressives Another explalike Bill Maher are by CONSTANTINOS E. nation might be funny. SCAROS that Trump To modify Mark tweeted covfefe on Twain’s famous Special to The National Herald purpose, just to quote, the reports cause the social of a president’s word affecting world events in media frenzy in the middle of an instant are greatly exagger- the night and to keep the disated. Sorry, drama queens, but cussion going in the ensuing not everything a president says days. If that were the case, I will cause world markets to rat- would think: “I knew he was tle. Not unless the words are to good, but wow – he’s really Congress, issuing a formal dec- good!” Or maybe he sleeptweets. laration of war. Those who spend their time Okay, not particularly funny. But trying to psychoanalyze why no less unremarkably funny Trump tweets, what his tweets mean, and how his tweets will affect world events have far too Maybe the covfefe much time on their hands. Far too many armchair psychiatrists explanation boils down to think they have the president one word: gadgetry. figured out. “He just wants attention,” they surmise. “He is a narcissist who cannot stand to be out of the limelight, even in than Hillary’s quip, or that of professional comedian Al the middle of the night.” Or maybe the covfefe expla- Franken. Americans need to stop treatnation boils down to one word: gadgetry. I am rather capable ing celebrities as deities – ones navigating most modern tech- they worship, fear, or loathe – nological devices, and yet I even if the celebrities in quesmake mistakes on a fairly regu- tion are presidents. But, because lar basis. Like talking to some- that will not happen anytime one and inadvertently sending soon – it is too much to expect my gibberish as a voice-recog- Americans to grow up – I say, nized text to an unintended re- keep the covfefe tweets coming, cipient, calling someone I hadn’t Mr. President. Most people, whether Trump talked to in a couple of years in the middle of the night by acci- supporters or detractors, tell me dent, and quite recently, acci- they wish he’d stop tweeting. dentally friending on Facebook His own wife, Melania, perfectly someone I don’t even know (a encapsulated in two words what friend of a friend) because I most ailed her husband’s rocky pushed the wrong button on my (though ultimately successful)

presidential campaign: “no retweet.” While I understand their point, I say the tweets don’t matter a whole lot. Consider that our last two presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, were consummate gentlemen. Straightlaced family men with a strong moral code, mostly polite and even deferential to the media, and rarely antagonistic in their words. And what did that get them? Tremendous hate by varying groups of millions of Americans, almost complete lack of support by the opposition party in Congress, and far less respect on the world stage – despite false narratives to the contrary – than one would expect regarding an American president. “But his words embolden the terrorists,” the detractors will reply. Really? Were they any less emboldened during the eight years of President Nice Guy? Since “haters gonna hate” anyway, at least Trump actually gives them something to hate. Though this closing paragraph contains a topic suitable for expansion into an entire piece, it is worth mentioning in the context of covfefe. Think of the typical Trump supporter as a rebellious teenager angry at his/her parents, who are the establishment. At times, they may cut off their nose to spite their face; do something that hurts them, just for the satisfaction of knowing it upsets their parents as well. That’s why Trumpies say: “oh, so you have a problem with covfefe? Then covfefe it shall be! In fact, we say: Trump/Covfefe 2020!” Constantinos E. Scaros' latest book, Grumpy Old Party (about the 2016 presidential election), is available for purchase on amazon.com and in bookstores nationwide.

LETTER FROM ATHENS

How Greek Pensioners Should Learn to Stop Worrying The South-east Corner of the Parthenon, Athens, a watercolor by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Lusieri. cording to present styles [romanticism] pictures are produced which are created in the main part from imagination, but this way of operating I detest [as] one should faithfully imitate nature." In Italy he met Lord Elgin, who had considered a number of possible artists for his trip to Turkey and Greece. One of them was JMW Turner, who was then not so known. Although Luisieri didn’t speak a word of English, and his contract was written in French, he was offered the post of painter in residence at a salary of £200 per year. By 1799, Lusieri was running Elgin's team of draftsmen, sculptors, and architects in Greece and Turkey. He was the one who persuaded Elgin to remove the sculptures. It is said that he told Lord Elgin that they’d better take the Parthenon marbles to Great Britain in order to protect them from local Turkish opportunists, who were breaking off bits to sell to visitors. Of course Elgin agreed. He had his own reasons. One of them is that he wanted to decorate the villa of his wife-to-be in Scotland. Lusieri’s role was instrumental in the process of removal of the marbles and sculptures from the Parthenon, as he supervised the

an artist and could have influenced the British watercolor school. The fact is that he stayed in Athens long after Lord Elgin left. In his home below the Acropolis continued to draw until his death. He ended up suffering from rheumatism and died the year the Greek Independence War began, in 1821. He didn’t live to see that, seven years later, in 1828, all of the works from this period were to be lost at sea. The “Cambria,” the ship carrying them, was wrecked off the coast of Crete. For an artist losing his creations is a curse. Was it the curse of Athena? His reputation was already diminishing at his death and – after his work was lost – never recovered. On June 2 the New Acropolis Museum celebrates eight years of operation, from its opening in 2009. In 2016, the Acropolis Museum ranked 9th in the Trip Advisor’s Travellers Choice Awards of the 25 Best Museums in the World for 2016 and counts millions of visitors. Nearly 4,000 objects are exhibited over an area of 14.000 square metres. Yet the looted Parthenon Marbles are missing. Returning the sculptures is not only moral, but it will boost tourism, a mainstay of the Greek economy.

GUEST EDITORIALS the national Herald welcomes manuscripts representing a variety of views for publication. they should include the writer’s name, address, and telephone number, and be addressed to the Editor, the national Herald, 37-10 30th st., long island City, ny 11101. they may also be e-mailed to [email protected]. we reserve the right to edit any manuscripts that we publish, and we do not return or otherwise acknowledge unpublished ones. Due to considerations of space we enforce a strict 850-word upper limit.

What’s all this fuss about Greece’s economic crisis? It’s just not that hard a problem to solve, even seven years deep into harsh austerity measures, big government spending cuts, slashed pensions, reduced salaries, worker firings, the selloff of state enterprises, cutting the minimum wage, and stripping workers of what rights they have left, including collective bargaining. Sure, Prime Minister and Looney Left SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has reneged on his 40-point plan to bring the country back from the dead, but it was for the good of workers, pensioners and the poor who were draining assets from those who are really deserving: the rich, politicians and tax cheats who are the backbone of Greece, even if they don’t have any themselves. Tsipras came to his senses and realized it’s Greece’s elderly who are the real problem anyway, those damned geriatric leeches who make up only 19 percent of the population but are sucking the blood out of the country’s vitality and making today’s workers pay for their pensions. True, today’s elderly paid for the previous generation of pensioners to have benefits because that’s the way the system works, but with a rapidly aging population - and with scores of thousands of Greece’s young having fled to other countries in search of a job, a future and a life there’s just not enough money to go around and tomorrow’s retirees won’t have enough to live on. So the government has devised a plan to save them from themselves: just keep cutting their benefits until they either can’t buy enough food and will die from starvation, thereby sacrificing themselves nobly for today’s young when they become older, or kill themselves as some already have, but not enough to suit Tsipras’ zealots Under him, many in the United Pensioners Network,

impoverished the who believed him when he said “not a veterans of the single euro more of work force. Penausterity!” (which is sions correspondtechnically true ing to revenues since he imposed withheld from a lifetime’s work more than 14.5 bilhave been turned lion euros worth) into a mere gratusaid pension cuts ity through the that will total losses bailout agreement of 70 percent for regulations.” many means they don’t have enough A tip should be by ANDY money to buy medienough for them DABILIS cines, food and pay anyway and the money cut from their bills. Special to The National Herald Well, that’s just their pensions can go to more worthy tough. Let them learn to cut something, either causes, such as letting the rich food of medicine. The govern- who stole money from banks, ment has done too much to help where pensioners put their meathem anyway including setting ger savings, can afford a second up a hotline where they can get or third summer home and anfree appointments with doctors other boat. Those are the people propin the morning at hospitals and there’s a couple available on ping up the economy during a Dec. 24. crisis so bad that successive govWe’ve heard too much whin- ernments have had to borrow 326 billion euros ($365 billion) ing from these people. The head of the network, from international lenders who Nikos Hatzopoulos, told now own the country and have Kathimerini that “the reductions the right to tell the elderly that pensioners’ incomes have (along with the poor but that’s suffered are huge. It’s not just another story, those welfare the cuts, it’s also the (social se- cases draining Greece of its curity) contribution hikes, tax money) to either like dog food hikes and all the levies that have or find another substitute in a

dumpster somewhere. The country’s lenders said Greece’s pension system has been too generous anyway, which has been true up until the last seven years, because people as young as 35 could retire. But thanks to the two-tiered double standard of pensions, sly managers in the public sector can still get all they earned by giving themselves promotions just before retiring and not have to wait for their money, unlike other retirees who won’t see a check for a year or two and are barred from working. It’s getting tedious too watching these elderly slowly shuffle through downtown Athens in protest at more pension cuts, especially since many of them voted for them when they elected Tsipras and therefore deserve what they get. They are taking up street space anarchists need to break marble off buildings and set up positions to throw Molotov Cocktails at riot police. The pensioners network said some 1.5 million retirees with annual incomes up to 4,500 euros ($5038), or about what politicians spend on lunch in a couple of months, have sunk into poverty while new cuts to current pensions will in 2019 have led to a total loss of income of 70 percent since Greece entered the bailout mechanisms in 2010. New main pensions will not exceed 655 euros ($733) monthly for average-paid workers and seven cuts to supplementary pensions have slashed benefits up to 78 percent. Of the total figure of 2.89 million pensioners, 2.15 million (or 74 percent) have to make ends meet on monthly pensions that do not exceed 1,000 euros ($1120), way too much money for them to have anyway because everyone knows they’ll blow it on food, medicines, bills and to help their children and grandchildren. Let’s get them next. [email protected]

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THE NATIONAL HERALD, JUNE 17-23, 2017