Hellenic News of America

On Saturday, August 11, 2012, Markos Papadatos had the pleasure to speak via phone with a world renowned windsurfer and Greek athlete, the extraordinary Nikos Kaklamanakis.  A world champion in the Mistral wind-surfing category, Kaklamanakis was the recipient of the gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the silver medal in 2004 in the Olympics in Athens, Greece.

By Catherine Tsounis

            “My first cousin is Pyrros Dimas,” said my student Anna (the former Anita Noti), in my university Modern Greek class in 2004. “We are from Himara, northern Epirus. We speak only Greek at home and are Greek Orthodox Christians. When Pyros comes to America, I will ask him to visit our class.” Anna was referring to one of the supreme Olympians of our time. Pyrros Dimas is a retired Greek weightlifter, considered one of the greatest of all time. He is a three times Olympic champion who electrified the world with his unbelievable three gold medals.  Many stayed up all night just to see the 1992, 1996 and 2000 and 2004 Olympics with Pyros Dimas. His achievements honored his homeland of Greece and every international person of Greek roots.

By Catherine Tsounis

Preserving culture and heritage played a prominent role at the Geros Tou Morea chapter of the Pan Arcadian Federation of America celebration on Sunday afternoon, May 20, 2012. The event took place at a closed street in front of the clubhouse at 27-02 39^th Ave. in Astoria. An NYPD auxiliary police presence provided a feeling of security in an urban setting. Lambs were barbecued with excellent Greek cuisine. The St. Demetrios High School dance group performed under the direction of Demetrios Valkanas. Prominent members of the community were presented its 23rd Annual Spring Festival of the. The urban festival was held overlooking the Queensboro Bridge and attracted members from New Jersey, Chicago and Illinois who met at the clubhouse of the New York chapter at 27-02 39th Ave. in Long Island City in May. Lambs were barbecued and all enjoyed excellent Greek cuisine. The St. Demetrios of Astoria Dance Group led by Demetrios Valkanas was the highlight of the event.

By Catherine Tsounis

            “One thinks of one’s own self-made walls when reading Constantine P. Cavafy’s poem ‘The Walls’,” said Dr. Constantine E. Kosmas, keynote speaker at the “Cavafy’s Clear-Cut View: Poetry & Truth” lecture. The culture event was held on Sunday afternoon, June 10^th in the church hall of the Transfiguration of Christ Cathedral in Corona. Cavafy’s philosophy ignited an audience discussion of its relevance today with the 2012 Greece economic crisis. Prominent persons in diplomatic, professional and business fields attended. A lavish reception followed.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Photos:www.parthenonuk.com/index.php/photo-gallery

GLOBAL COLLOQUY ON REUNIFICATION OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES MARKS HISTORIC ANNUAL CAMPAIGN EFFORT

(London, UK, Thursday, July 5, 2012) – Three campaigning organizations for the Parthenon Marbles, from the UK, USA and Australia, convened in London (19-20 June) to launch the international colloquy on “The Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles”, which was attended by leading representatives from four continents. Among the topics presented included the concept of the “Universal Museum”, issues of litigation, the Acropolis Museum, archaeological perspectives, and special tributes to Eleni Cubitt, founder of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, and the late journalist, Christopher Hitchens, a friend and supporter of the Committee.  

By Catherine Tsounis

“The students are excited you are coming, because are from Izmir” said NYC ESL/Foreign Language instructor Theodora Efthimiades. Sure, my grandparents from the Papantonakis and Gagas families were from Cesme province in the state of Izmir. But that was in 1914 and 1922. They spoke only Greek and formed the backbone of the middle class of the Ottoman Empire. Their land was destroyed by the Western Powers, primarily, Germany, England, France and their ally Japan who influenced the Turkish government, according to Christos Papoutsy’s scholarship. As refugees in “Mother Greece”, they were denounced as “Tourkospori” (the seeds of the Turks). My ancestors escape from a catastrophic situation in the neighborhood of the Frourio (Fortress) in Chios, by immigrating to the US as displaced persons of Turkey. I was going to tell the truth.

            The CEP (Cultural Exchange Program) of Vaughn Aeronautical College in Flushing, New York is in its first summer season with Turkey. Twenty-two students participated. It is a historical moment in New York and the United States college education field. The college administrators and staff include: Dr. John C. Fitzgerald, President; Said Lamhaouar, Associate Vice-President of Academic Support; Saralda Ortiz-Howard and Tomasita Ortiz, ESL Department Supervisors: Jason Collins and Theodora Efthimiadis, instructors, Ricardo Ortiz and Mindalia De Jesus, teacher assistants.

For further information, please contact

Randall Warner, Communications Manger

American Farm School and Perrotis College

Marinou Antipa 12, Thessaloniki 551 02 Greece

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Telephone  +30-2310-492-738

Greek Summer 2012:  The American Farm School’s

Work and Travel Odyssey for U.S. Teenagers

The American Farm School’s renowned program for U.S. teenagers, “Greek Summer,” is now in its 42^nd year of continuous operation.  This year the program was based in the small farming village of Agios Antonios on the border of the prefectures of Thessaloiniki and Halkidiki in northern Greece.

The village is famous for its Women’s Agricultural Cooperative, whose members hosted the American teenagers.   Each girl or boy lived with a different family, while as their community service project they built – with concrete and fieldstones – a small park adjacent to the Cooperative’s outdoor Coffee and Sweet Shop.  Here the teenagers enjoyed making and feasting on the perek and other Pontian flat breads and pastas that the women in the Cooperative distribute in gourmet and specialty shops throughout Greece.