Hellenic News of America

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.

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.

Fate of an Island: Imvros in 2012

By Catherine Tsounis

            Imvros is a small island, lying at the gateway to the Dardanelles. It was unique among Greek islands for having a homogeneous Hellenic population. In 1978, prominent Imvrians who were members of the Transfiguration of Christ Church in Mattituck, Long Island explained the history of the island. The article was published in the Orthodox Observer, under the leadership of His Eminence, Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America. The Primate was an immigrant from Imvros, along with prominent members of his staff. Their names remain anonymous. The situation has changed in 2012. 

Stella Kokolis Honored at the 25^th Anniversary of HNA

By Catherine Tsounis

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” – Aristotle, 384 B.C.-322 B.C. Stella Kokolis has used heart in all of instruction since the late 1960’s her unique education experience from New York City, America and global community was celebrated October 14^th, 2012 at the 25^th Anniversary Celebration of the Hellenic News of America (HNA) newspaper at the Concordville Inn-Best Western Hotel & Conference Center in Concordville, Pennsylvania. A packed audience attended from states on the northeastern seaboard.

Pageant Inspires All at Rural Church

By Catherine Tsounis

          Children are the meaning of Christmas. A unique Christmas Pageant of the Kimisis Tis Theotokou (Domitian of the Virgin Mary) Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons was held on Sunday, December 21st. “This is the Sunday before Christmas Eve,” said presbyter Constantine Lazarakis. “God is with us in our hearts. Our Christmas Pageant is a commemoration of the Birth of Christ.”

Jason D. Antos Presents Whitestone Lecture at Pan Macedonian Studies Center

By Catherine Tsounis

           “Whitestone became an idyllic spot for celebrities and upper class citizens,” said Jason D. Antos, author of the book Images of America: Whitestone. “The quiet country setting by the seaside just 10 miles outside of Manhattan was the perfect combination…In the years that followed, Whitestone experienced an expanding population…Whitestone’s cultural landscape has changed since the time of the Dutch. The town consists of Irish, Greeks, Koreans and Italians. Many families have lived there for generations, since before the time of the 1939 New York World’s Fair.”

The Greek School of Plato Presented Nyfes Play

By Catherine Tsounis

                “Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion,” Aristotle. A play on honor and family ties was presented in the play “Nyfes” at thePallas Athena luncheon in honor of honor of Mrs. Erika Wilhelmine Knickmann Spyropoulos on May 19^th, at the Grand Prospect Hall, Brooklyn, New York.  The play was in Modern Greek. This was A story of the journey of the 1920’s Greek mail-order brides at Fort Hamilton Army. It was directed by the Greek School ofPlato Principal Eleftheria Ikouta.

A Modern Tourist’s View of Pergamon Museum

By Catherine Tsounis

            “Absolutely everyone on my Kontiki Tour was heading to one place in Berlin: the Pergamon Museum which is the best Ancient Greek Museum in Europe,” said Despina Siolas, MD/Ph.D. “It is amazing how all the museums of Germany are East of the Brandenburg Bridge.” Without realizing it, she stumbled on one of the reasons for the reunification of East and West Germany. East Berlin has the culture of Western civilization, acquired by Germany’s intellectuals and princes for generations. A West Germany needed the East with these important museums for a united country.

Gloria Sfiroudis Honored by UFT

Gloria Sfiroudis was honored by the United Federation of Teachers at the UFT Scholarship Dinner on April 25^th at Russo’s on the Bay. She was presented with a plaque by Rosemary Parker, UFT District 24, Representative which reads as follows, “In Recognition for Your Union Activism and Untiring Commitment to the Student at P.S.229.”

She is a teacher for fifty years, having taught all grades from K to 6^th grade. She held positions as Assistant Principal, Corrective Reading, Talented and Gifted, Educational Enrichment and Teachers College Writing and Reader’s Workshop. Presently, she is a Teacher of Library/Technology. In this capacity, she has conducted numerous workshops, staff development and curriculum writing for teachers.