NEO magazine - March 2017

MAR 2017

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"Where Is the World?"

Daphne Matziaraki's 4.1 MILES: A Response to the Refugee Crisis

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The documentary 4.1 Miles We Are All Refugees featured in this issue gives just which was created by xenous? As a glimpse into what people are Americans we have shameful suffering who flee their episodes in our history (slavery, countries torn apart by war the Japanese internment, the because they need to save their waves of xenophonia with every children. And what a country wave of immigration, the refusal like Greece, beset by its own

by FDR to help Jewish refugees troubles, is trying to do as during World War Two, the much as humanly possible. absurdities of the McCarthy era Filmmaker Daphne Matziaraki which affected the whole world, was granted access to a Greek particularly Greece fighting for Coast Guard crew that had the its very survival) but somehow impossible task of fishing we came to our senses and unending boatloads of remembered what our values desperate families from the sea were.

- many with heartbreaking results.

“I can’t reassure them,” says the heroic We Greeks, who tout ourselves on our captain Kyriakos Papadopoulos. “When I look success, and rightfully so because we came here and worked like dogs, and deservedly into their eyes I see their memories of war.” became successful have to remember on a And yet he keeps trying, and despite his stoic larger scale just where we came from and demeanor, he never stops feeling the urgency what we suffered. We can’t let other people of saving lives: “Put the camera down and suffer an even worse fate, we can’t forget our hold this baby!” he tells Matziarakis at one humanity, and most of all we can’t let a point. country like Greece, coping with its own fate, The villagers of Lesbos also try to help with have to deal with a global emergency like this whatever resources they have, and allow the with practically no resources and only the cameras to intrude because as one villager zeal and conscience of volunteers and people said: “We’re glad the cameras are showing like Captain Kyriakos and his crew and the what’s happening to the world because we villagers of islands like Lesbos. can’t be going through this alone.”

Americans, we Greek Americans, with our Literally alone, because the world is shutting unparalleled resources should be flooding its doors to the plight of nearly 60 million islands like Lesbos and Chios on the front line people who are fleeing the carnage in their with the resources that they need (money for countries. The flight is one of the greatest food and hospitals and emergency clothing) mass migrations in world history. The need is and should be petitioning the Trump as desperate as it ever was in any time in Administration to find a solution to an world history. While the world plays global immigration crisis that won’t go away and will politics people are suffering, children are only get worse and will affect this country (as drying, families are being torn apart and we it already has) even if we shut all our windows are playing with our own domestic politics of and doors. xenophobia.

America is playing with xenophobia? America

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DELPHI AND THE DIASPORA

By Endy Zemenides

strategy στρατηγική

I had the privilege of being a participant at the second annual Delphi Economic Forum the beginning of this month. One of the panels on which I participated was titled Linking Diaspora and Homeland. This subject resulted in a very lively panel discussion – a predictable outcome given the discussions regarding new policies to govern Greece’s relations with the diaspora.

As I have discussed in these pages before, the lamentable state of relations between the Greek diaspora and Greece was largely a policy choice. The focus and resources dedicated to SAE/the World Council of Hellenes Abroad kicked off a “race to the bottom” all over the world. Hellenes worldwide competed for positions and the attention lavished by Greek officials to those holding such positions. Greek officials reveled in having yet another constituency to court and transact with. When the full history of SAE is written, it will be eerily similar to the official rousfeti that has directly led to the catastrophe that Greece is suffering today. We can quantify what resources were devoted to SAE, but can we quantify any benefits that went back to Greece or the retention of the Greek language or to links between the diaspora and the homeland?

Unfortunately, Greece seems intent on perpetuating this transactional relationship with its diaspora. Just as SAE was once the magical solution for linking Greece with its diaspora, now we have the prospect of the diaspora voting in Greek elections and being represented in the Hellenic Parliament. If one seeks evidence of how poorly conceived and studied this policy option is – and how likely it is to be as monumental failure as SAE was – one can listen to the official line on the diaspora vote as articulated (or more accurately, regurgitated) by Savvas Anastasiades, the Vice President of the Special Standing Committee on the Diaspora, at the Delphi Economic Forum.

Endy Zemenides is the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), a national advocacy organization for the Greek American community.

To learn more about HALC, visit www.hellenicleaders.com

This is the most rapidly diminishing group.

2.

Orthodox first, Greek second. This is a particularly important demographic to study, especially since the Church (i.e., Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America) has traditionally held the institutional role of safeguarding the Greek identity in America, and thus presumably keeping the diaspora close to Greece. The Church is literally shrinking, and it replenishes itself with members that are increasingly neither Greek nor Orthodox. To survive, it seems that the Church can no longer prioritize the “Greek” in “Greek Orthodox”. As such, it is time to reconsider the role it plays in the role in linking the diaspora and Greece.

3.

The children (and perhaps grandchildren) of immigrants. This is the second most likely group to retain strong ties to Greece, to speak the language, and to have common points of reference (Greek school attendance, multiple vacations to Greece, family in Greece). SAE failed spectacularly in engaging this demographic, and if the next policy doesn’t attract these people, there is no hope for a successful diaspora strategy. This demographic is capped as well, since the age of immigration is over.

4.

The unattached. This is the largest and most diverse group. Third and fourth generation Hellenes. The offspring of mixed marriages. Those who don’t speak Greek (the Census indicates that less than 25% of Greek-Americans actually speak Greek). Yet many in this demographic are at least philhellenes, and the great challenge for Greece is how to reattach them to worldwide Hellenism.

Before Greece adopt policies that are as likely to divide as it is to unite, it is time for it to recommit to the “know thyself ” when it comes to the diaspora. Without that knowledge, Greece might as well ask the Delphic oracle on how to engage One of the great Delphic maxims is “Know Thyself ”. Yet the Hellenic Republic Hellenes worldwide, and hope that it gets clearer direction than Croesus did. has suspended belief in this ancient wisdom when it comes to pursuing a diaspora policy. There is no clarity on how Greece informs itself when it comes to setting such policy, but it is painfully clear that it proceeds under false premises and incomplete information. Take, for example, the official line on the number of Greek-Americans. The web site of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad clearly states that there are approximately 3 million. The United States Census indicates that there are between 1.2 million and 1.3 million Greek Americans. I mean, I’ve heard of significant margins of error, but a 43% margin of error?

Greece is in desperate need of a new diaspora policy. The diaspora response to the Greek crisis – in terms of relief, in terms of investment, in terms of lobbying the European and American governments – pales in comparison to what the Greek diaspora offered the homeland during the Balkan Wars, during World War II, or after the invasion of Cyprus. But to get to that point, Greece has to study its diaspora and really know what it has to work with.

Kathimerini’s Katerina Sokou, the moderator of the panel on the diaspora at the Delphi Economic Forum, posed the following question: “Since we are discussing how to strengthen ties between the diaspora and the homeland, a natural starting point would be defining the target audience.

Is there a single diaspora? Can this strengthening of ties occurs via a blanket strategy that covers all of overseas Hellenism?”

For anyone who has closely observed or participated in the Greek-American community, it is clear that there is no singular manner in which to define the diaspora here in the United States. This makes it impossible – at this point – to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to Greece’s diaspora policy.

There appear to be at a minimum four distinct demographics in the diaspora: 1.

The immigrant generation. These are the Greek-Americans that are most closely linked to Greece. There are sub-groups within this demographic, depending on which phase of immigration they were part of.

8

MARCH 2017

STRATEGY

Kosmidis – Gavrilis Halvas Drapetsonas: Greece’s Legendary Delicacy

By Kelly Fanarioti

Nicholas Gavrilis

The first thing you think when you hear 'Drapetsona' -a neighborhood of Piraeus- is undoubtedly the handmade halva “Kosmidis – Gavrilis”.

It’s a traditional Greek pastry, a favorite during Lent, made from sesame paste (tahini) and sugar, that in addition to its specific taste, is closely connected with the history of the neighborhood where the artisan workshop was founded in 1924. People of all ages flock every day to Agios Dimitrios in Drapetsona to buy this popular halva—including visitors from all over Greece and literally all over the world.

In fact, the line for the halva is half a mile long every year on Clean Monday, when the Lent commences: a scene captured by TV and newspapers as a local custom.

From 2002 until today, at the helm of the business is the 64-year-old former shipbuilder, Nikos Gavrilis who by a strange twist of fate worked since 1986 at the workshop in Drapetsona’s halva.

The history of the company’s halva goes back to the Asia Minor Catastrophe when Costas Mezardasoglou came to Drapetsona as a refugee and began to produce halva in a shed. As the years passed, he left the company to his son, George, who in 1984 met Eumorphos Cosmidis, the brother-inlaw of Gavrilis, the other owner, and offered to help in the laboratory.

George at the time worked elsewhere because he could not make ends meet only by producing and selling halva. There he met Kosmidis. “So we met each other through my brother-in-law,” explains Gavrilis in a interview with NEO.

Two years later, George Mezadarsoglou retired and of quality." left the company to Kosmidis and Gavrilis. Both, with their employees, have maintained the tradition T h i s p r i n c i p l e h a s and made the product popular all over Greece and guided him through the Greek economic crisis, as beyond. well. Instead of curtailing "I had absolutely no idea how to make halva,” says the business, it has Gavrilis. “Until 1986 I worked successfully as a expanded, by offering shipbuilder. However, because of Greece’s new products, including participation at the European Union my industry sugarless halva which is suffered a huge blow, so when this opportunity much tastier than it showed up I decided to take it up and I think I made sounds. the right decision!”

Fame brought demand to Indeed, his passion to learn was so great that he sell the product to new almost immediately learned the art of making halva, v e n u e s w i t h i n a n d which may seem simple, but requires skill. "What we outside of Greece. The learned in 20 years, it took you five months to online shop also ships master. Bravo!" the original owner, Mezardasoglou directly to many places, making the product told him when he visited the place. within reach even in the remotest areas. In New York Now at 64, Gavrilis continues to work with the same City, Titan Foods carries Halva Drapetsonas and passion as he did when he started his career. "I people can order it online as well. spend more than 12 hours a day in the laboratory," he told me and his face glowed like a candle in the However, "the way our pastry is made is such that does not allow us to do massive production. There is dark. a great demand from abroad but we prefer to stick to As he pointed out, the process of making halva may our quality production instead of giving out mass seem relatively simple: however, it demands a quantity of a lower value product.” particular technical difficult to meet and for this reason all of the staff is trained exclusively by him. Speaking with a really successful businessman, I "Firstly, we make caramel with water and sugar and cannot resist asking his opinion on the difficult period we are currently then we mix it with tahini. living in Greece, the period The ingredients, the cooking of Memoranda and and the handling initially unemployment. show that this is a simple process but it is a complex He says those responsible product, which is difficult to for all these difficulties are be copied. It is like the painter the Greeks themselves. who takes over a brush and "Times are hard and things paint. How difficult it is for are happening that should someone else to copy what not be happening. When the painter does? So the tax rate in tahini and in a something similar is gold watch is the same, happening with halva".

24%, you understand that the countr y is moving When you enter the shop towards catastrophe. But there are many things to see. we are responsible for the But you can’t fail to be politicians we vote!" impressed by the liveliness of the customers who pop in to Another obstacle in buy the various handmade Greece's growth, according goodies. So I asked about the to Gavrilis, is that the “secret” of the company’s success. The answer: "My passion for creation and majority of Greek people are still dreaming of a public sector job and consider entrepreneurship an development has played a key role." enemy of their homeland. "There is generally a At a time when most producers sell products of low distorted impression of many things and this makes quality in order to make them more competitive, he it very difficult for us to develop and move forward chooses to give his customers the most natural as a country." ingredients, and judging from the demand they seem to appreciate it. "Perhaps the fact that in my He believes, however that young people can make a previous job as a shipbuilder I constructed with difference. “We can't lose our confidence in the new great accuracy and rigor, helped me as something generation. We will die as a nation. We need to similar happens with halva. I want the best product, support our young people to believe in them, but without allowing myself a mistake or deterioration they must take personal responsibility."

NEWS & NOTES

MARCH 2017

9

Making America Greek Again The Greek American story is also the great American story. It incorporates values and ideas from the ancient Greeks to the modern day.

America has inherited many things from the ancient Greeks: a system of government, an education structure, and even basic principles of medicine. Even if an American is not geographically from Greece, the value of being Greek is in their head and in their heart, and the National Hellenic Society’s (NHS) mission is to prove it.

The history of the Greek American experience in the United States is like that of other ethnic minorities who immigrated here for a better life for themselves and their families. Our forebears found opportunity but at a price; they shed vestiges of their ancient heritage and culture to assimilate and thereby advance. “What the children of immigrants wish to forget, the grandchildren choose to remember,” goes the maxim and it is borne by experience. It is a reality that resonates with George Marcus, the chairman and co-founder of the National Hellenic Society, a non-profit foundation dedicated to helping the next generation remember their heritage, values, and culture.

George Marcus’ reconnection with his past is a story shared by those finding themselves disconnected from the traditional bulwarks and torchbearers of heritage and culture; organizations that have not evolved and kept pace with modern demographic realities. The Greek American community of the baby boomer generation and before bears no resemblance to today’s community. Thus, an entire generation of highly successful individuals have lacked the mechanism that will connect them to their heritage.

The NHS is the brainchild of prominent, successful business leaders convinced that by leveraging their skills and resources, they can change this present course of complacency.

Marcus describes the impetus for establishing the NHS as follows: “Our parents and grandparents came to America, the bastion of opportunity, with the dream of a better life for their children. They were heroes. They faced unimaginable odds: uneducated, poor, nonconversant in English, disliked. Yet in a short time, they established businesses, built churches and cultural organizations, educated us, and did what they could to keep our Hellenic heritage a part of our lives. Their

values, work ethic, and philotimo were passed on to us. These hallmarks of this great legacy are what has allowed us as individuals to become successful. As stewards of this legacy, we owe it to them and to our children to honor their sacrifices by reclaiming our birthright and passing on our relevant, and inspiring heritage.”

The Society has adopted a pragmatic approach on how to develop and implement programs that advance its mission. NHS Program Committee Chair, Fanis Economidis, insists that to be successful in advancing the mission of preserving and passing on heritage requires establishing programs that “benefit our community as defined within a modern context by developing programs that celebrate and disseminate heritage to the mainstream and supporting programs that benefit posterity.”

The NHS’ signature program is the Heritage Greece Program (www.nationalhellenic society.org/program-overview), modeled after Birthright Israel. Its centerpiece is a group visit of up to 60 highly qualified Greek American

undergraduate and graduate students who preferably have rarely or never been to Greece.

The Program is hosted by The American College o f G r e e c e ( AC G ) i n A t h e n s , G r e e c e (www.acg.edu). Participants also share a twoweek cultural and educational immersion experience along with a peer group of Greek students from ACG. Heritage Greece reconnects the Greek American students with their Hellenic identity and heritage while forging life-long relationships. The Program’s success is corroborated by scientific research undertaken since its inception, which confirms the Program’s impact as a catalyst of dramatic change in the students’ connection with their Hellenic heritage, roots, and identity. This shared experience has been described by the students as life-changing.

The NHS’ commitment to the students extends beyond the actual trip; upon their return, they matriculate into the NHS’ Heritage Greece Alumni Network. The Heritage Greece program is currently in its eighth year with over 280 alumni now part of its Alumni Network. The Program’s main objective is to forge lasting bonds of Hellenic heritage, identity, and connections to Greece for exceptional students of Greek American descent even when the program is over. The Heritage Greece Alumni Network is an extension of the NHS that allows its members to follow the life trajectories of this next generation, even as they enter the workforce, and to help them along their career paths. They are then groomed to serve as ambassadors of Hellenic heritage. NHS has also developed the Hellenic Career Center (www.HellenicCareerCenter.com) to explore effective ways in which NHS can assist its alumni and others via mentorships, internships, and other opportunities, engage them in NHS programs, and help them become leaders within the Greek American community as their careers develop. NHS has also developed a social media and networking component, MyParea (www.facebook.com/ MyParea and www.MyParea.com), in order for alumni to keep in touch, network, and to allow others with Greek heritage to celebrate their Hellenic identity and roots.

The NHS, in collaboration with The American College of Greece, is also establishing a Heritage Greece Alumni Network for the peer group of Greek students. This new branch of the Alumni Network will provide career advancement assistance and serve as a liaison for alumni from Greece and the US – for instance when a Greek alum participates on a study abroad program at a US university or if an American alum returns to Greece.

One example of how the NHS celebrates and disseminates the Hellenic heritage to mainstream audiences is the Society’s partnership with the National Geographic Society. Currently, NHS and National Geographic Television are co-producing a web-based series, The Greek Guide to Greatness. The series is comprised of ten short vignettes on themes like athletics, science, democracy, and others, that convey the wisdom of the ancient Greek past set in a modern setting. It is scheduled to be distributed to over one million high school students, grades 811, as part of their history curriculum. The NHS also cosponsored the celebrated National Geographic three-part miniseries, The Greeks, featured on PBS in summer 2016.

The NHS has made significant strides in advancing its mission and objectives, especially through leveraging the know-how of its members to produce significant returns on the NHS’ investment in the next generation. Armed with a “who’s who” of accomplished members with great ideas, enthusiasm, and resources to fulfill what the NHS sets out to do, the future of Hellenic heritage in America is indeed bright.

The author, Art Dimopoulos, is the National Hellenic Society’s Executive Director.

NHS Membership Membership in the National Hellenic Society is by invitation only. The NHS’ Membership Committee considers applications from candidates who: • Are distinguished individuals of Hellenic descent • Have demonstrated commitment to Hellenic values and ideals • Are compatible and willing to work together in a spirit of consensus to advance NHS’ mission

hellenes without borders

A Letter to Deputy Foreign Minister Terence Quick Dear Readers, please forgive the digression from my normal column “Hellenes without Borders” wherein I usually discuss Greece, the larger Balkan area, and our Diaspora, but I feel that comments made

by Deputy Foreign Minister Terence Quick, during his recent junket to Tarpon Springs merit a response. Thank you in advance for your indulgence.

Deputy Foreign Minister Terence Quick Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hellenic Republic Sir:

Alexander Billinis is a writer and lawyer in Chicago, Illinois. He and his family returned to the US after nearly a decade in Greece, the UK, and Serbia. He writes prolifically on Balkan topics. His books, The Eagle has Two Faces: Journeys through Byzantine Europe, and Hidden Mosaics: An Aegean Tale, are available from Amazon.com.

speak English is ours, and it is the height of all, and you disrespect our country. arrogance to come here, on the overburdened Greek taxpayer’s account, to lecture us.

I have chosen this venue to comment on your conduct in Tarpon Springs because a letter to the Any help that we receive from Greece for Greek Ministry would doubtless fall into the Black Hole of education is overwhelmingly reciprocated by our Ottoman indifference that is Greek Bureaucracy. I transfers of money and help to the motherland. Our choose to write in a Greek American magazine based community includes many individuals at the top of in New York City, home to the largest Greek their fields and devoted to their heritage, who are American community, in order to inform my fellow willing to help Greece in spite of the insane Greek Americans of your conduct. bureaucratic obstacles in Greece. Your ignorance and arrogance could put off those very people who I expect neither understanding nor a response from you. My goal is, rather, to inform the wider Greek want to help Greece.

American community about a conduct that is unfair Your conduct also reflects a shocking lack of to our community, and damaging to the reputation knowledge of Greek history, and as a Greek citizen of our motherland. whose country is in existential shape, this upsets me more than anything else. You are representing us Alexander Billinis abroad, and you do not know your own history. You forget that, while the Greek language is a precious treasure, speaking Greek alone does not a Greek make.

I am writing to you in a dual capacity. First, as a fellow citizen of the Hellenic Republic and second, though hardly less important, as a Greek-American.

In common with most of the very diverse population that refers to itself as Greek-American, I found your comments and general behavior at the Tarpon Springs Epiphany events to be highly offensive and reflective of your clear lack of understanding of the Greek-American community and, frankly, of our country, Greece.

Are you aware that my Hydriot ancestors, First, you essentially used your position as a senior d u r i n g the Greek government official to obtain an invitation to Revolutionar y Era, Tarpon Spring’s Epiphany celebration. Rather than often spoke a most b e a g r a c i o u s g u e s t , y o u e x p r e s s y o u r cursory Greek, or the disappointment with the supposed absence of the Souliotes, or the Vlach Greek language, notwithstanding the fact that many a n d S l a v o p h o n e fluent Greek speaking Greek-Americans choose, in Makedonomachoi? their own country, to speak English to reach the Are you aware of the largest number of listeners possible. This includes Tu r k i s h s p e a k i n g many who have married into or adopted our culture. Karamanlides, whose You might also remember that, back in Greece, all Bibles were in Turkish too often business and cultural discussions occur in and Hellenism in their English; working in Greece, I often communicated hearts? When I served in English with colleagues as the international in the Greek Army language. Yet you were “disappointed” that Tarpon there were many of us, Springs did not surround you with the Greek myself included, with language.

Diaspora accents, and there were RussianMr. Minister, you clearly do not know Greek- born Greeks who in Americans. We are a sizeable and diverse community many cases could that includes people who speak only Greek to those manage only a few who speak only English, and any number of words of Greek but combinations. We live in and contribute to a diverse saluted our flag with society that continues, in spite of severe and the same pride as any growing obstacles, to value inclusiveness. Many of o t h e r G r e e k . Yo u us, like me, are fluent in Greek but our choice to disrespect us, one and

"Where Is the World?"

by Chris Salboudis Sitting in the cozy screening room of the New York Times building in the heart of Manhattan with scholars as well as film and media professionals, Nicholas Kristof, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Human Rights columnist for The New York Times, introduces Daphne Matziaraki's Oscar-nominated documentary film, 4.1 Miles. Mr. Kristof comments briefly on the historical challenges of refugee communities as witnessed in WWII, and includes a personal reference to the difficulties his own father faced as an Eastern European refugee admitted to America in a time of Cold War. Had it not been for that single action of acceptance, we may have been denied one of the greatest Human Rights journalists of the present day, which brings us to the point of 4.1 Miles and the thought that our actions in these stressful times are what count. “We as a country refuse to accept [refugees]… and now we have this wave of about 60 million people worldwide, some of the world’s most vulnerable people, and Lesbos, featured in this film, 4.1 Miles, is at the epicenter of that. Traditionally the New York Times tells stories to get people’s attention with ink on dead trees, and now we recognize that storytelling has to evolve in all kinds of forms. We still are fundamentally in the same business that Homer was in, but we know that the platforms vary. This film is very much a part of our broader referent to tell this story of refugees, to humanize the issue… to educate but also to galvanize people and help build a response.…

Images in film often move people in ways that words don’t.”

The room goes dark and within moments the viewer’s heart catches at the sight of refugees who were set off onto the sea by human traffickers without direction. Sighted by the crew manning a small Coast Guard boat along the shores of Lesbos the desperately bewildered refugees are awkwardly hauled onto the boat by the brave crew. The film begins in medias res as the Captain of the ship, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, spots and rescues yet another band of refugees. He and his crew of 10 work quickly to save refugees of all ages from drowning as a result of trying to cross cold choppy waters in flimsy rubber rafts.

Children are weeping, chilled to the bone and understandably traumatized by this experience. At one point Captain Kyriakos orders Ms. Matziaraki to “Put down the camera and hold this baby!” She complies without hesitation. Can there ever be hesitation in the face of clear human need?

Several are treated for hypothermia and pulmonary edema. Some are immediately revived by the Coast Guard with basic CPR as soon as they are safely on the ship while others need emergency care as soon as they reach the shore. Two ambulances and their EMS crews await at the port to help. Countless men women and children of all ages are rapidly treated 14

MARCH 2017

COVER STORY

and covered in foil blankets without a question, without a word. Medicine, dry clothing and blankets – anything warm that's available – is offered in the truly selfless spirit of Philotimo, and despite the Greek community ’s own financial crisis. "I can't reassure them," says Captain Kyriakos, "it's impossible.... When I look in their eyes I see their memories of war."

PHOTO: YANNA KATSAGEORGI

Daphne Matziaraki's 4.1 MILES: A Response to the Refugee Crisis

When asked “Why Lesbos?”

Ms. Matziaraki explains that the small island was at the center of the activity because of the direction the traffickers were sending the refugees. “I was reading that it is only 4.1 miles between Lesbos and the Turkish coast, that many people were drowning, and the Greek Coast Guard was at the forefront of this all, which I found incredibly At night, villagers come to interesting because I knew watch and help. Inside his that the Coast Guard is not c a b i n , C a p t a i n Ky r i a k o s actually trained to do any of compiles a journal of the sick this. Their job involved and wounded treated, praying routine border patrol that there was no one missing around the islands, which is from this group. The film a very easy job because concludes with a notation that Greece is a peaceful from 2015 to 2016 country. So they were just approximately 1000 drowned going around the island, in the attempt to cross into Captain Kyriakos Papadopoulos checking that everything is Greece. While Ms. Matziaraki okay, and then going home and her team were only in Lesbos and on that boat and having a very sweet, easy life on a beautiful for a three weeks, the film truly captures the essence island. So I found that these people are, you know, of the crew’s bravery and the island’s hospitality in not equipped; their boats don’t have enough this critical time of crisis. thermal covers, they don’t have the necessary equipment nor any kind of way to lift these people The question in the minds of many viewers? How out of their boat, so I couldn’t stop thinking about can a small island with so few resources these people and how their lives have changed and unquestioningly provide emergency care to so how they are responding…. They’re not doctors, many? The feat seems epic. It is epic, especially in a they’re not volunteers…. They’re people like you time where there are so many plans to build walls, or me who have nothing to do with this crisis and yet when so many doors and hearts seem to be closing. now they are somehow caught in the middle of this Ms. Matziaraki addresses related questions and they have to respond. So these two worlds I was moderated by her Executive Producer Ms. Kathleen describing are suddenly colliding with each other in Lingo of The New York Times in an open interview a bizarre and tragic way. So I thought I have to get on following the NYC screening of her short-but- that boat.” Ms. Matziaraki states that Captain poignant documentary.

Kyriakos is one of three Coast Guard Captains caught up in this unexpected “tour of duty” to help Ms. Matziaraki states that 4.1 Miles is not specifically save the countless refugees crossing into Greece. a call to action for its international viewers, and yet the process of documenting the crisis and revealing Ms. Lingo points out that the filming team for this its true impact to viewers is a commitment to raising project was very small and asks Ms. Matziaraki how global awareness. “The film is meant to bridge the people responded to having film crew on site to gap between these two worlds, between our document what was happening to them, how the comfort zones and the real world… it just seems so team processed the experience of being there, and detached.” In her interview she explains that she what ethical and emotional challenges they faced. was inspired by her own initial response to news Ms. Matziaraki replies that she had read up received at the peak of the refugee crisis. “I really extensively on the issues and the situation in Lesbos couldn’t help feeling detached from the whole issue before arriving to the small island and had thought and very distanced. I found that very surprising herself prepared, only to find, upon arriving, that because I am from Greece and thought I would be the reality was completely different from the more connected to it all…. You know when big expectation. “The scale was massive. I have never news happens we read about it and we feel been to war…. I have never seen people coming sympathy or empathy for it, but then we go on with from war, and that was the most striking thing for our everyday worlds and that bothered me a lot.“ me. You could really tell the trauma in these people’s eyes... so scared and in such a state of emergency….

It really changed me.”

“When I arrived and I saw the reality of the situation, that it was only four Coast Guard boats, two ambulances, one helicopter and nobody else – one hospital all the way on the other side of the island, completely overwhelmed, and very few volunteers coming from all over the world to help – it was so different from anything I had seen in the news coverage. So I thought, ‘Ok I will tell this story exactly the way it is.’” Her initial concern was to stay out of the way of the Captain and his crew since she is not trained in CPR or emergency care. “But reality is always different, and in that first

shouted to the crew. “We’re glad the cameras are showing what’s happening to the world because we can’t be going through this alone.” Ms. Matziaraki says, “This is how the people on the island really feel. When I was there I remember looking around and thinking, ‘Where are the helicopters? Where is the police?

Where are the ambulances?

Where is the world? Where is everybody to help?’… The refugees rely on smugglers who tell them, ‘Take the boat. Greece is straight ahead. Just go.’ And then the Greeks are there, completely unprepared and Director Daphne Matziaraki and bankrupt, and seeing thousands Executive Producer Kathleen Lingo of people coming. People are overwhelmed. When there is no infrastructure, people get angry.

Her initial concern was to stay out of the way of the Captain and But when I was there I saw his crew since she is not trained in CPR or emergency care. “But people go out of their way to reality is always different, and in that first scene when the help. When people are dying on Captain told me, ‘Put the camera down and hold this baby!’ there your doorstep there is no saying, was no second thought crossing my mind. The ultimate human ‘Oh no… they are the refugees thing to do is this. I didn’t think, ‘Oh no, I’m a Filmmaker, I’m not we don’t want to help them. We trained to do this kind of thing!’” don’t have the infrastructure.’

You help. There is no other way. scene when the Captain told me, ‘Put the camera It’s the visceral responsibility that the Captain is in. down and hold this baby!’ there was no second He feels this huge responsibility to respond.” thought crossing my mind. The ultimate human thing to do is this. I didn’t think, ‘Oh no, I’m a In a recent Skype interview with Captain Kyriakos Filmmaker, I’m not trained to do this kind of thing!’” the team of 4.1 Miles is informed that there is She says everyone helping was working from a currently a type of agreement between Turkey and natural human reflex to help another person in need.

Ms. Lingo also points to the more specific idea that the Greek community that is already in its own state of financial crisis, is able to help the refugees, to which Ms. Matziaraki adds that on the evening of October 28th 2015 that her crew was filming the villagers who were coming down to the shores for their face-to-face update of the crisis; that night, one of those being treated had died and a villager

Greece with regard to refugees, however there are many refugees who still come in this way and the Captain and his team, along with the villagers of Lesbos, are still dealing with this situation. There are currently refugee camps set up in an attempt to accommodate those in need, but resources are limited.

Several members of the audience took the opportunity of the film screening to congratulate Ms. Matziaraki for her diligence and skill in documenting the refugee crisis in a remarkably telling light. It is the perfect piece to feature in a Global Studies or Philosophy classroom – as this author has – to help today ’s youth and scholars understand the full impact of the refugee crisis and it’s impact on Greece. 4.1 Miles is a phenomenal call to heart, a call to reason, a call to extend our hands in friendship and basic h u m a n i t a r i a n Nicholas Kristof, two-time Pulitzer brotherhood.

Prize-winning Human Rights columnist for The New York Times,

D i r e c t o r D a p h n e introduces Daphne Matziaraki's M a t z i a r a k i , a Oscar-nominated documentary film documentary filmmaker born and raised in Athens, Greece, holds a Masters in International Relations from the University of Bristol in England as well as a Masters in Documentary Film from UC Berkley and currently resides in San Francisco, California. Executive Producer Kathleen Lingo is Commissioning Editor of Opinion Video and Executive Producer of The New York Times’ award-winning OpDoc series, which has published over 200 short interactive documentaries. For more about the team behind 4.1 Miles, visit www.daphnematziaraki.com/bio.

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Andy Manatos speaker. Reince Preibus left and Archbishop Demetrios right

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus receives his Medal of St. Paul Award from Archbishop Demetrios

Priebus, Gigicos and Bilirakis Receive Medal of St. Paul On the eve of the Presidential Inauguration, The Hellenic Initiative hosted 300 members of the Greek Diaspora for the presentation of the Medal of St. Paul, the highest honor the Greek Orthodox Arcdiocese of America bestows on a layperson, by Archbishop Demetrios of America to incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Advance George Gigicos, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R. FL).

Following the reception at the St. Regis Hotel, a dinner was held at the Metropolitan Club for 150 members of the community, again hosted by The Hellenic Initiative. THI Board Chairman Andrew N. Liveris, THI President George P. Stamas, and members of the THI Board of Directors were present a both events to honor these three outstanding Greek-Americans.

The parents of White House Director of Advance George Gigicos, one of the three honorees, accepting his award.

Father Dean Gigicos and Presbytera Elaine Gigicos

Greek Minister of Defense Panos Kammenos presents Reince Preibus with a gift

John Catsimatidis and Congressman Gus Bilirakis

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J.K. Simmons, Kathleen Turner and Christopher Papakaliatis

official foreign film distributed in the US and I hope everything will go well. I hope we are going to be able to show the good part of Greece.” Mr Papakaliatis says that he has always used his work as a means to show and promote Greece. “Even the times that I didn't know if the movie will be abroad, even in the Greek series I've made, even in the movie If that was all made in Plaka… I feel films are a ‘passport’ for my audience.” Following the Los Angeles premier American distribution companies will manage film distribution state by state based on the ongoing success of the film, as is the case for all foreign movies.

Worlds Apart in its entirety is designed from an anthropocentric perspective, which Mr. Papakaliatis is always careful to include in his films. “In the movie we see foreign citizens that visit Greece and fall in love, not only with the Greek character, but with Greece in general.” There are also several bilingual passages throughout the film. “The script was designed for a foreign audience to watch it.” The movie is mainly a combination of Greek and English, with some Arabic phrases added in parts “I wanted the languages present in a certain way and in certain doses to make sure the audience could understand To date, the film has been very well received both in and follow the film easily.”

Greece and in the US because the characters are all very relatable regardless of the viewer’s age or According to Mr. Papakaliatis, love – and the generation. “Basically the whole movie is divided language of love both spoken and silent – is the into the stories of three generations: The 20-year-old central driving force behind the movie. “Love and student, a young Greek girl in a big dead end with the anthropocentric aspects of the film have, I think, her life; the working class generation in their 40s – more power than any political message. It's the my generation – who are very stressed in their answer to any type of crisis…. The political things personal and professional lives; and of course the may hurt us, but they pass. People are ‘traveling,’ generation in their 60s. Also, the movie has a lot of dreaming, feeling… becoming more sensitive over ‘Greece’ in it, but in way that is easily decoded by a the fairytales of an artist while the fairytales of the foreign audience. It doesn’t only contain references politicians cause suffering. It’s a big difference.” that only Greeks would understand or relate to.”

When asked what the Greek characters in the film In an exclusive interview at the Greek Press Office represent, he says each of the Greek characters in shortly before the official movie release, the film have characteristics of a classical Greek Christopher Papakaliatis tells us more about the hero, especially the magical chemistry between process of producing and distributing this poignant Maria Kavoyianni and J.K. Simmons. Their film in the midst of the Greek Crisis. When asked tragicomical dialogue is a lovely display of the how challenging it was to release a movie in the US inherent values that Papakaliatis feels we, as Greeks, in the middle of the crisis Mr. Papakaliatis explained posses. As Mr. Papakaliatis explains, “Maria that there were several factors that affected Kavoyianni and J.K Simmons are a good example of distribution. First, that it has never actually been two actors who have chemistry with no cultural easy to distribute a Greek movie in the US, which ‘borders’ – a good love story is never restricted by receives such a high volume of foreign films every borders. They manage to connect with out speaking year, with no certainty that they will be successfully the same language, understanding each other received by the American public. “Every year the perfectly, which is everything I wanted conveyed process becomes a little more difficult for one through this relationship. It was my first time reason or another, regardless of the crisis…. Now working with foreign actors and it was a great that we also have the financial difficulties, creating a experience. J.K. Simmons, who is a very big movie demands more effort to fund it. But… I Hollywood actor, I have to say is one of the most believe that when we want something very much we simple, clever and perfect professionals I’ve had the will always find a way, especially we as Greeks. privilege to work with. He is a very easygoing Under the most adverse conditions we manage to person. He loved our country very much and stayed 10 days he couldn't stay more! I took him to as many tell great stories, it's in our blood and nature.” of the good places as I could!”

This is not his first attempt to distribute his work to the American public. When asked what changed At the conclusion of our exclusive interview, this from his previous efforts four years ago, Mr. author confessed to loving the philosophical Papakaliatis simply smiles and says, “I am four years complexity of this remarkable movie from start to older! Yes, something has changed a bit for finish and recommending it to all the students and everyone, but I always have the same desires and the young professionals in her network as a “must see” same agonies.” The process of formally being film. We all look forward to hearing of this film’s granted the privilege of foreign distribution is continued success and to see what Mr. Papakaliatis something that truly touched Mr. Papakaliatis, but has in mind for his international audiences in the also a source of anxiety. “Worlds Apart is my first years ahead.

Chemistry Without Borders: Director’s Insight on the Hit Film, Worlds Apart

by Chris Salboudis Worlds Apart, a film which was featured at the 2016 NYC Greek Film Festival in October, was officially premiered in New York on January 13th at the Village East Cinemas. The event was sold out on opening night and continued to have rave reviews throughout the week. Actor and director Christopher Papakaliatis, J.K. Simmons and other world-renowned celebrities, including Kathleen Turner, were present at the premier on January 13th.

At the conclusion of the film Mr. Papakaliatis and Mr. Simmons held a Q&A Session moderated by Professor James Demetro, Director of the NYC Greek Film Festival.

We had the opportunity to chat with a few members of the audience as well as Professor Demetro in the jam-packed theatre lobby on opening night. “It’s a very special movie!” he said as the audience filed into the theatre in anticipation. “People are discovering it, and I think it has good potential to be a hit with non-Greek audiences as well as Greek audiences. It’s very gratifying to see that a sold out crowd tonight on the opening night of the film! I understand that tickets have been selling briskly, and that’s good. I’m very glad that the community is coming out tonight to support it and that’s a good thing.”

Worlds Apart incorporates three separate love stories spanning across three generations – who, while close, exist worlds apart. Each of the relationships is between a Greeks and a foreigner, and each evolves in its own way. The film provides a perfect play on classical Greek traditions and contemporary social, financial and political concerns and uses the theme of relationships, love and the family unit as the keystone, locking in the significance and reality of each character’s experiences as they unfold throughout the film. As realistic and brutal as some parts of the movie do get, Mr. Papakaliatis believes that each storyline of the film projects images that are important to communicate to other countries so they can connect with the Greek experience.

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Hellenic Classical Charter School Sends Students to Greece for Educational Research Trip On Februar y 16, 2017, HCCS sent a team of five 6th grade students, three teachers and five parents to Greece for its annual National Histor y Students at The Acropolis Day Fair (NHDF) research trip. The purpose of this trip was to provide students with real world experience, an opportunity to use primary and secondary resources for their research and obtain direct evidence associated with their project. This year’s NHDF theme is “Taking a Stand in History”. HCCS’s students decided to create a performance on the stand Greece took against the Axis Forces during WWII. They have been diligently working on their research and have created a performance entitled, “The Creeping Spider” that will compete at the NYC History Day Fair this Sunday, March 5, 2017, at The Museum of The City of New York.

Natalia Vogeikoff-Brogan of The Gennadius Library of The American School of Classical Studies. Along the way, the students also visited the famous Presidential Guard of Greece and coincidentally met Jim Gianopulos, Fox News Chairman & CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment.

fundraising efforts. We thank everyone for their hard work fundraising for this worthwhile excursion and for future trips.

Our students will remember this experience for the rest Dr. John Camp and the students of their lives. For a toured the ancient Athenian Agora detailed list of donors, please contact the school”.

Special thanks to Joy Petrakos, HCCS Director of Operations, for organizing the trip, Petros Fourniotis, HCCS Dean of Theatre With Dr. Natalia Vogeikoff-Brogan of and Dance, and The Gennadius Library at The faculty members, American School of Classical Studies Maria Bonakis and Kevin Linehan for chaperoning the students and guiding them through their research.

HCCS opened its doors on September 6, 2005 and was established to provide a classics based education in the study of humanities and literature for students in Kindergarten through 8th grades.

HCCS recently celebrated its second charter renewal and continues to exceed the district, city and state averages on the New York State Examinations.

School Board Chairperson Charles Capetanakis, Esq., stated “This is another historic day in HCCS’s history as our students met a legend who, as a Visiting Manolis Glezos young boy, showed In April of 1941, the German Nazi War flag was raised Greece and the world on the Acropolis as a symbol of the Nazi occupation that it could stand up to of Greece. Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas, the Nazis and tyranny.” two college students in Athens, climbed the hill of the Acropolis on May 30, 1941 and tore down the " O u r y o u n g Nazi flag as a sign of rebellion against the researchers were able occupation. This was one of the first acts of to delve deeply into resistance during WWII and had a ripple effect in their topic. Seeing and Europe inspiring others to join them against the Axis experiencing historical sites up close makes Forces. history come alive", During their five day stay in Athens, HCCS students said the principal of had an exclusive interview with the now 94 year old H C C S , C h r i s t i n a Manolis Glezos. His detailed first-hand account of Tettonis. the events of 1941 not only inspired the students but provided them with rare, educational insight that Joy Petrakos said “This greatly elevated their project. To further enhance trip was made possible their research, the HCCS NHDF team visited The d u e t o a $ 7 5 , 0 0 0 New Acropolis Museum and interviewed the donation from The president Dr. Dimitrios Pandermalis, had a guided Agnes Varis Charitable tour of The Athenian Agora with Dr. John Camp, and T r u s t a s w e l l a s attended a research workshop with archivist Dr. numerous school based 18

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NEWS & NOTES

larger theatrical market release, so don’t miss the opportunity to see these exclusive engagements. You can also view their website swingawaymovie.com for the dates and theater locations in the participating cities.

In the interview below, George Stephanopoulos tells us more about the film and its storyline, his experience, his plans for the future, and how this film, and other films like it, along with the support of our community, can play a key role in a struggling Greek economy.

story of SWING AWAY as another meaning-focused and Greek-inspired film.

I know you have a background as an attorney.

What attracts you to the movies? How did you get started in producing and what do you love about it?

I had moved to NYC in 1991 a year after I had graduated from law school hoping to start a career as a sports attorney. Instead, I ended up working as a TV and film lawyer for Broadway Video Entertainment, an independent production and distribution company founded by Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of “Saturday Night Live”. This was my introduction to show business. While I did not set out to be a producer, my training is rooted in my entertainment transactional background in comedy and the creative arts and love of movies, in particular sports films (some my favorite films in this genre are those I remember watching as kid like BRIAN’S SONG, ROCKY, and THE BAD NEWS BEARS).

“Swing Away” had its first screening at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas.

What was the response like?

Have you had other screenings and what has the You came up with the story. How closely were reaction been like? you involved in the writing process? Have you worked with your screenwriters before?

BFF was the prefect venue for SWING AWAY to have its world I wrote the original story outline and drew from

by Athena Efter premiere. The festival was Greek history, literature (mostly from the writings of s t a r t e d b y G e e n a D a v i s Nikos Kazantzakis), other golf movies, books, and TV coverage of the Swing Away, a feature film starring Shannon (Thelma & Louise, A League of Their tour, as well as my Elizabeth, John O’Hurley and Viktoria Miller, is a Own) in an effort to showcase films that own experiences. golf-themed movie set in a small village of Greece. promote gender equality and diverse In terms of When professional Greek-American golfer, Zoe voices in media and SWING AWAY is the locations, I Papadopoulos (Shannon Elizabeth), suffers a ultimate female empowerment story. considered Corfu, meltdown brought on by the spotlight pressures of We were sold out and learned from that Crete, Rhodes, the international golf scene, which leads to her audience screening that the film had Halkidiki, suspension, she seeks refuge in her grandparent’s broad appeal as a family-oriented Peloponnese and village. While there, she befriends ten-year old comedy-drama not to mention the value Athens, which are Stella, a young Greek girl who has heart set on of Greece as a production location. the only places becoming the next golf champion. It’s a film about Other festival screenings in 2016 Mike Angeliades with wife Libby, a key passion, courage, determination, and the included the Savannah Film Festival, investor in the movie. Mr. Angeliades is also with golf courses in Greece. Cyprus inspiration behind it all. On this journey, Zoe NYC Greek Film Festival, Cyprus investing heavily in the Island of Rhodes was also an option. rediscovers her heritage, her love of golf, and her International Film Festival, and Bridges on its tourism sector own capacity to love, as she leads the townspeople International Film Festival in Naplio, Greece. In Though many details of the story changed during Cyprus the film won Best Picture in the Veteran’s the course of development, as the creator and lead to a stand-off against an American developer. category that was awarded to Director Michael producer my notes and revisions were reflected in Directed by Achilles Nickles and in Greece the film won awards the script and script rewrites. This was my first film M i c h a e l in three categories. The prizes there went to as a producer, so I had not worked with the Achilles and Shannon Elizabeth for Best Leading Actress in a screenwriters and creative team before this produced/cr Feature Film, Viktoria Miller for Best Performance by production. Still, we were all friends and had known e a t e d b y an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Feature Film, each other for many years. This is what made SWING G e o r g e a n d Yi a n n i s D a s k a l o t h a n a s i s f o r B e s t AWAY so rewarding and fun to work on. And, despite Peter Pappas is also a key investor in Stephanopo Cinematography in a Feature Film. all the starts and stops and many years in between, the movie and has taken initiatives we finally have a finished film to show for our efforts. ulos, and just to promote golf in Greece in time for Your previous movie “Golf In the Kingdom” was Greek Independence Day, Swing Away is a PG rated also centered on the sport of golf. What attracts How did you go about choosing your director, obviously the most critical creative force behind film that offers a lot of heart, a lot of laughs, and a lot you to the sport as a movie subject? a movie? of entertainment for the whole family. Several advanced public screening dates have been planned Golf is both inspirational and aspirational and these throughout March: Chicago, IL-Pickwick Theater, two elements make for great storytelling. However, Michael and I meet as teenagers at the Ionian Village Thursday, March 9 at 7pm; Boston, MA-Somerville, what interested me more than golf were the summer camp in Greece in 1982. We had both just Tuesday, March 14 at 7pm; Salt Lake City, UT- “student-teacher” relationship between MICHAEL graduated from high school. When our paths Megaplex Theaters, Sunday, March 19 at 4pm; MURPHY and SHIVAS IRONS that is the heart of the crossed again years later, with Michael having Houston, TX-Edwards Marq’E Stadium 23 & IMAX, story in GOLF IN THE KINGDOM (the movie is distinguished himself as a writer-director-producer Tuesday March 21 at 7pm; Silver Spring, MD (near based on Michael Murphy’s best-selling golf fiction and Hollywood actor, and me as an entertainment WDC)-Regal Majestic Stadium 20 & IMAX, Thursday, novel of the same name) and the “prodigy-mentor” lawyer, Michael was quick to encourage me to get March 23 at 7pm; Atlanta, GA-UA Tara Cinemas 4, relationship between STELLA and ZOE that is the involved in the creative process. So, when I had the Sunday, March 26 at 4pm; and Portland, OR-Regal heart of the story in SWING AWAY. And in this sense idea to make the movie, I immediately turned to Lloyd Center 10 & IMAX, Wednesday, March 29 at the book Golf in the Kingdom with its famous dinner Michael for his advice and direction. He explained I 7pm. These are advanced screenings, leading up to a scene, based on Plato’s Symposium, informed the did not need to necessarily write the screenplay.

SWING AWAY oon to Coming S y a Theater Your wa

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Afandou Golf Course in Rhodes, Greece

Rather, it was more important to create a good story that had a beginning, middle and end -- in no particular order - and then work with professional screenwriters to write and develop the script. I could then either look to sell the rights or produce the film myself. I eventually had Paul Robert Lingas write a first draft script based on my story outline.

Paul is another close friend and screenwriter with a unique understanding of Greece and the Greek language having spent his summers in Patras, Greece growing up. The script went through many drafts and throughout this process we received countless notes and suggested rewrites from Michael and other writers and filmmakers including talent. I soon realized that to get closer to making SWING AWAY it would be necessary to establish myself as a credited producer on other films. And not just any film but films that would serve SWING AWAY in some way – which is how I got involved with other sports films like GOLF IN THE KINGDOM and other comedies like Second City’s BUZZKILL and GOYBAND. Eventually, we closed the financing and attached Michael as director and his wife Julia Wall as co-writer, and set a start date for principle photography in Spring 2015.

What was the casting process like? How did you go about attracting your cast? You brought in some well-known names such as Shannon Elizabeth in the lead and John O’Hurley.

It was combination of things. It started with the attachments of our two lead Greek actors Renos Haralambidis (Four Black Suits, Cheap Smokes) and Manos Gavras (Back Up Plan, Little Greek Godfather) and their involvement early on, as well as that of producer Statmatios Tom Hiotis, was absolutely critical to our success in Greece in terms of credibility. I was familiar with their films and had gotten to know them personally. Same with John O’Hurley. He and I meet in New York at the Waldorf Astoria where he was the MC at a charity event to celebrate 125 years of golf in America. I am a huge Seinfeld fan and knew immediately that John was the kind of comedic actor and golfer we needed for this part. In the case of Shannon, we saw this as the perfect producer-star vehicle for her and an unexpected departure from her other films like AMERICAN PIE. Shannon who is of Lebanese descent looks Greek and was also the right age and height with the physique of a professional athlete.

Shannon committed to the film after meeting with Michael and her co-star Manos Gavras. Viktoria Miller and the other Greek cast (Christos Sougaris, Olga Damani and Alexandros Mylonas) we auditioned in Greece. British actor Karl Theobald rounds out the main cast and he was selected based his actor reel and headshot. We also cast Greek American professional golfer Nicole Dalkas Castrale (now retired) to play herself in the opening scene and to assist on-set as a golf consultant.

How many weeks did you shoot and was the From soup to nuts, how long did it take you to whole movie shot in Greece? develop the story, procure financing, go into production, shoot it, and finish it?

It was a 26-day shooting schedule – 24 in Greece and 2 in the States. The opening sequence and scenes I had the idea to get involved with golf in Greece in with the sports agent were filmed at the Stockton some way after attending the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Seaview Hotel and Golf Club near Atlantic City. This In 2005 that idea morphed into a movie project. The is the site of the ShopRite LPGA Classic and story took approximately 18 months to develop as I tournament that is featured in the film. Our had been working full-time then as a lawyer. While locations on the island of Rhodes included the the first draft script was completed in 2006, it took Afandou Golf Resort, St. Paul’s Bay and the town of another 8 years before we were able to close on the Lindos, The Church of the Archangel Michael in financing and actively commence pre-production.

Archangelos, Rhodes and The Monastery of We eventually shot the film in April-May 2015 and Filerimos. We later had to schedule an additional 3 started post-production in mid-July. The final edited days of photography for pickup shots in Rhodes and film and original music were completed in early at the golf course in Glyfada while the editing of the December. Days later the NYC Greek Film Festival, film in Athens.

The Greek National Tourism Organization, and The Dean C. and Zoe S. Pappas Center for Hellenic A l o t o f t h e k e y c r e a t i v e s , l i k e t h e Studies at Stockton University, among other cinematographer, composer, production sponsors, hosted our first private invitational designer, and editor in the film are Greek. Was it screening at the Museum of the Moving Image in important to hire many Greeks in both cast and Astoria, Queens – New York. crew?

The film seems to have a universal appeal that Absolutely. I wanted SWING AWAY to be a film made just happens to be about a Greek-American by and for the Greek community with Greeks in woman’s journey, but really it can be about any front and behind the camera. I also wanted it to woman’s journey in any culture. I would want to serve as an example of the kind of cross-boarder see it, even if I wasn’t Greek, but many of the collaboration that is possible between the Greek readers of NEO magazine are of Greek and Greek American creative communities. Except background. I want to ask what we, as a for British actor Karl Theobald and American actors community, can do to support the film?

John O’Hurley, Shannon Elizabeth, Gino Cafarelli and the US background performers, the entire The Greek American community is known to production team, are all Greek, including the support Greek cinema and other movies filmed on investors (Peter J. Pappas, Sr. and Mike Angeliades of location in Greece or about Greeks so I am hopeful New York and Paul Carkonen of Seattle, Washington SWING AWAY will be widely promoted and talked are three in particular that also have ties to golf in about within Greek circles as a “must see” film.

Greece). This is something I am especially proud of What’s most important in the short term is that and the fact SWING AWAY stands today as one of the people go to see the film when it is in theaters and few non-Greek language films to be shot, edited and help to create a demand for the movie to open in post produced within Greece is significant. more markets and on more screens through favorable word-of-mouth and social media.

Obviously, the country can use more business, and film production, as a medium, can do that to Do you have other projects down the pipeline? promote the country. Connected to the 2 What are the future plans for George questions above, was it important to showcase Stephanopoulos, the film producer?

Greece and its filmmaking talent as part of your larger goal?

I am working on two new projects – both book-tofilm adaptations. “S.O.B.E.R. (Son of a Bitch The movie is a 90-minute commercial for Greece Everything is Real)” written by Anita Baglaneas and for that reason I am hopeful it will have a Devlin and Michael Devlin Jr. is an addiction story positive impact on tourism and film production in told by a mother and her son and how faith and hope Greece not unlike MAMA MIA, SUMMER LOVERS, lead to their family and individual recovery. The SHIRLEY VALENTINE, or any of the other foreign other book is based on the underground CIA/LSD films that came before. This was a remarkable novel “Wisdom’s Maw” written by Todd Brendan experience and of course I am grateful to have Fahey. The book ties, conclusively, the CIA’s Project worked with so many talented people in Greece MK-ULTRA to the origination of what is known as thanks to our team at CL Productions and View “the Sixties” in what is otherwise a “factionalization” Master Films and those in Rhodes – from the Rodos of events. Suffice to say, neither project will have Palace Hotel to the Afandou Golf Course to all the anything to do with golf. extras and local cast - who supported our efforts to make this film and promote the island.

NEWS & NOTES

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George as a teenager, when he first started with Tylikratis

George Grapsas

Footballer George Grapsas with the Tylikratis team

George Grapsas of Tylikratis Soccer Club: Sporting Philanthropy

by Athena Efter Greeks will always be united when it comes to two things: their love of Greece and their love of soccer.

That united team spirit gives us our continued sense of pride and unwavering sense of “brotherly love”, adapted and widely understood universally as philanthropy. This time, soccer brought together Greek Americans who hail from the beautiful island of Lefkada to organize a fundraiser effort in order to support the island's major and historical team, Tylikratis, named after an ancient admiral who served Lefkada with distinction. The idea was initiated by George Grapsas, who lived and worked for many years in the US, and currently serves as the team's technical advisor. Visiting New York, as he does every year, he approached businessmen and professionals from Lefkada who live in New York, and they decided to call on their friends and partners to chip in and help raise some much needed funding for the team. NEO magazine is helping to spearhead this effort by offering publishing and ad space. The time couldn’t be better. This year marks the 90th anniversary of Tylikratis and the 40th anniversary since George Grapsas was drafted to the team, forging a longstanding relationship that exist today. “I can't believe 40 years have passed already, it seems like it was yesterday,” says George in an interview with NEO magazine. “Since then, I have seen at least two generations of players going through the team, some getting to play in even bigger clubs of Greece.”

Tylikratis is now at the 3rd National Level and George hopes that with the financial support from the US, Lefkadians and their numerous friends will make it to the 2nd National Level which opens greater doors to national level stardom. He also wants to see the academy, which serves about 150

boys and girls aged 6-15 years old, kick it up a few goals farther, to include other sports. “With the economic crisis in Greece the last seven years, our effort has been affected, but we held our ground and we managed to expand.” According to Grapsas, the Academy and the team are not just about sports but socialization. “In the Academy, kids learn discipline and commitment, skills that they will need as adults.

Also, it's the best way to take them out of the street.

After school and their homework, they know that they have to show up for training.”

“It’s not enough to tell a child this is how you become a good athlete and a good citizen. You have to physically engage them into a tactile, hands-on, full sensory experience. Yes, you have to hand them the trash bags, the gloves, and the brooms, and let them experience all the heavy lifting too,” says George. Students of the academy participate in a variety of community activities that involve volunteer work in the maintenance and clean-up of streets, beaches, parks, and recreational areas. They also offer assistance to the elderly by providing meals and visiting hospitals, and several other Children who are enrolled in the academy do not charitable activities. pay tuition and have all their expenses covered, including travel, uniform, and any medical needs. Having produced generations of athletes, Tylikratis It’s a vision for the future, where the future of Greek strives for excellency in all they do. They are youth, remains uncertain in a broken, struggling committed to hiring experienced coaches to train economy. The people of Telykratis are determined students and doctors specializing in sports medicine to keep these young boys on the right course – to to give students the best medical care and treatment keep them hopeful, to keep them inspired, to give o f i n j u r i e s . G e o r g e a n d t h e a c a d e m y ’ s them courage, and to remind them that they can rise administrative team do not get paid salaries. They do above adversity and difficulty by understanding the this out of dedication to the children and the sport value, the principles, and camaraderie of team spirit they love. For Grapsas, this commitment started a and good sportsmanship. long time ago, when he first signed up with the team and it encouraged him to be the good citizen and Apart from training them in the skill, the strategy, philanthropist he is now. He does it now for the and rules of the game, they make it a point to train children who will carry the tradition of the highly the students on how to become responsible, regarded Tylikratis team into the future. compassionate and thoughtful citizens. This idea of creating students of any discipline as good citizens Maybe one day you’ll be rooting for one, two, or first is rooted in the Ancient Greek notion of three of them in Olympiakos, Panathanaikos, AEK or “paideia”. They also invite politicians, athletes, high PAOK, even ...Real! but in the end, all Greek soccer ranking members of law enforcement, social fans will be cheering for one Greece in the World workers, and psychologists to educate children Cup. about the dangers of drugs and the importance of using their humanity for the betterment of themselves and the benefit and advancement of society.

The south coast of Lefkas is a jigsaw of long inlets and sheltered harbours and beaches nestling beneath the pine carpeted hills. To the east is Sivota, a favourite port of call for yachting flotillas and, in the west Vassiliki, host to the world windsurfing championships. Beyond Vassiliki is the wild, windswept peninsula that ends at Cape Lefkas. A good road runs down the east coat to provide easy access but the south-west resorts are more tricky as the roads get steadily worse as you head south.

Wilder and windier than the east, the west coast has the island's best beaches. Much tamer in the north-west, they get progressively wilder as you head south. The reward for those that tackle the narrow hairpins of the west coast road of Lefkas are staggering views from the cliffs and breathtaking beaches below that many rank as among some of the best in the Mediterranean.

Visit Lefkas this summer!

GREEK STAR YANNIS KOTSIRAS RETURNS TO NEW YORK ON ST APRIL 21 FOR AKTINAS GREEK MUSIC JOURNEY 2017!

PHOTO: ANASTASSIOS MENTIS

p i a n o / k e y b o a r d s , Va n g e l i s M a c h a i r a s , bouzouki/baglama/tzoura, Kostas Michalos, guitars/vocals, Yiannis Grypaios, bass and Nektarios Gavalas, drums.

Referring to this new musical performance, Elena Maroulleti, the concert’s Executive Producer stressed that, “in response to ongoing requests from our fan base to bring back to New York Yannis Kotsiras, we contacted the artist and we are extremely honored and happy that his schedule was open and he is returning for another concert that will truly fascinate once again everyone in attendance. With a career spanning some 30 years, Yannis Kotsiras has an abundance of great and everlasting hits to share with us and certainly he has so much more to share on his second visit on April 21st. We will also have the unique opportunity to enjoy live songs from his latest hit album “Pseftis Keros” which is considered another exceptional Greek leading Greek star Yannis Kotsiras who masterpiece in his personal discography.” captivated the audience in his debut personal performance in the U.S., during AKTINA’s April 2015 Yannis Kotsiras stands out for his distinct voice and GREEK MUSIC JOURNEY (GMJ) sold out concert, his ability of bringing together the different returns to New York by popular demand for yet representative styles of another memorable performance presented by Greek music, including AKTINA Productions, Inc., and produced by Elena the popular Rembetika Maroulleti. Yannis Kotsiras will perform on Friday, (Greek blues) and Laika April 21, 2017 at 8:30pm at New York’s landmark ( popular folk) with theater, The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College on E. which he launched his 68th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues in career in 1990. He also Manhattan. Tickets are sold exclusively by the excels for his high organizers and demand is unprecedented since the energy performances. concert was officially announced on December 18, H e i s a s i n g e r , 2016 on AKTINA FM when Yannis Kotsiras was a s o n g w r i t e r a n d a guest on the show. musician and his main instrument is the guitar that accompanies him in all of his performances. His amazing career is crowned with several platinum and gold records, exceptional collaborations with legendary Greek composers, lyricists and singers, with sold out concerts and thousands Yannis Kotsiras at AKTINA ‘s Greek Music Journey Concert 2015 of fans around the globe. He has released This benefit concert for public service media o v e r 2 0 p e r s o n a l AKTINA FM-WNYE 91.5FM and AKTINA TV-WNYE a l b u m s a n d h a s Channel 25, promises another magical evening at appeared as a guest star the Kaye with Yannis Kotsiras who returns with a in over 20 others which new and remarkable program featuring songs from feature disparate styles his distinct and rich personal discography of Greek music such as highlighting also songs from his latest hit album Laika, Rembetika, Folk, "Pseftis Keros" (Lying Time) released in the fall of T r a d i t i o n a l a n d 2016. He is accompanied by his band featuring the Contemporary. In the distinguished soloists, Akis Katsoupakis, fall of 2016 Kotsiras

From AKTINA’s GMJ 2015. From left Council Member Costa Constantinides, Elena Maroulleti, President AKTINA and Yannis Kotsiras

released his album “Pseftis Keros” (Lying Time). The album became an instant hit following its release further verifying the great impact of Yannis Kotsiras in Greek music.

To charge tickets call AKTINA at (718) 545-1151 or purchase online at aktinafm.com For cash purchases please visit TITAN Foods, 25-56 31st Street in Astoria.

Original PYA Group of 1948.

PYA Cretan Feast sponsored by Minos Syllogo and MP Taverna, Astoria, NY, with Christos Marangoudakis, Dean Marangoudakis and Tony Marmatakis.

United We Stand: Pancretan Youth Association Winter 2017 Conference

Winter 2017 PYA Board Meeting at Minos Syllogo, Astoria, NY, PYA President Christos Markakis cuts the vasilopita.

By Chris Salboudis The word 'community' is used to describe several contemporary sociological settings and situations.

As a teacher and mentor of twenty years it has always been my goal to reinforce our philosophies and cultural traditions among today's youth, and I'm always very proud to see Greek youth motivated to gather on their own to uphold these values and to keep them alive as they grow together from one generation to the next. This is most certainly the case with the Pancretan Youth Association (PYA), which just kicked off the new year by hosting its 82nd annual conference in New York (District II) at Omonia and Minos Organizations from January 5th to the 8th. Over 200 young people (ranging from ages 15 to 30) from Canada, Chicago, California, Detroit, Ohio, Utah, Washington and other parts of the US were in attendance. The emphasis of these activities and discussions? Unity in the celebration of their Greek and Cretan roots.

Over 200 youth from across the US and Canada gathered along with PYA Alum to discuss common interests and goals for 2017. Activities included a welcome networking reception at Republic Pizza Bar (Astoria NY ), several cultural tours and discussions, a formal Board meeting and a dinner dance in each of the two organizations, Omonia and Minos (both based in Astoria NY ), featuring live music by Stratakia and concluding with delightful dance performances by our local youth at a dinner gala event hosted by Omonia.

Several senior members of the larger PAA lent their support as needed over the cold, snowy weekend by shuttling the youth safely from their hotel to the various conference venues, assisting with event preparations and hosting the Saturday morning brunch and traditional Vasilopita cutting at the conclusion of the Board Meeting at Minos Cretan Syllogo. Local business owner, Mike Psilakis of MP Founded in 1948 with the help of Mary Vasilakis and Taverna, also pitched in by catering the evening other youth whose families were members of the Cretan feast at Minos.

Pancretan Association of America, (PAA), the PYA is the oldest national Greek American youth PYA President, Christos Markakis, presented a association. Tens of thousands of youth and young plaque to the local chapter President, Stella Nikole adults have transitioned into adulthood through the Fragioudakis, for her work in collaborating with the PYA, passing along the sacred traditions and heritage local PYA and PAA chapter members as well as the of their ancestral homeland through their annual national groups to coordinate this 4-day event. national and local events. The organization is Christos says, "I am amazed every time I attend and currently comprised of twenty chapters throughout participate in conferences held by PYA chapters. The the United States and Canada and is governed by a amount of work the youth goes through to host a national PYA Board of Directors. The group's conference is just mesmerizing and astounding purpose is to promote and develop social and knowing their payment is that they get to see their cultural relationships and mutuality among friends and practice their culture amongst their members of the Cretan Diaspora, promoting fellow peers. It shows the friendliness we Cretans education through scholarships, raising and Greeks have no matter what part of the world we philanthropic awareness through initiatives will be in. Crete will always live in our hearts and we designed to aid institutions in the United States, will always want to share that with the world."

Canada, on the island of Crete, and to help promote further community involvement in programs and PAA President, Takis Psarakis, and District 2 discussions directed by the Pancretan Association of Governor, Maria Stratoudakis, offered words of America (PAA). encouragement, support and gratitude to the youth 34

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at the conclusion of the bi-annual Board Meeting for being the backbone of the Cretan Diaspora, emphasizing that it is the organized collaboration of the youth that brings the values of the Cretan community for ward to be absorbed and incorporated into the daily lives of future generations.

“The conferences for the youth that happen twice a year are very important.” Takis Psarakis explains in an exclusive interview. “They build the unity that is the backbone not only of the PYA but of the PAA also.

They are here when they are younger, but when they are older, in their 30s and 40s, and they get married and have their families, the remember the values they learned here and now about our culture, they pass these on to their families, and they join us at the next level, the PAA. If we didn’t have this unity, this structure, the youth would learn only what they see for one day and not the values of the families who they have the opportunity to grow up with as members of the PYA. There’s a great importance to having that continuity in their lives. Look at me now, today I’m President, but once I was a youth and helped by those values. Today I work to help the youth and the PYA and PAA members to uphold and promote these values because they’re important… family, culture, religion, all of it. Also, as a parent, the PYA brings the community together so they are exposed to the traditional values and grow together at a young age, going to events and dances together.

When they all go out together, they do so with the values of our culture. These are our youth. There’s a unity there that makes these experiences very important. Their success is our success, not the other way around.” Mr. Psarakis was raised in Crete and studied for a time in Italy, coming to the US to earn his Masters Degree in New Jersey and raising his family here. His children are currently active PYA Members and young professionals in the Greek American community.

Winter 2017 PYA Board Meeting at Minos Syllogo, Astoria, NY.

Winter 2017 PYA Dinner Dance sponsored by Omonia Syllogo, Astoria, NY; Omonia Youth Dance Troupe, Advanced Level.

Winter 2017 PYA Dinner Dance sponsored by Omonia Syllogo, Astoria, NY; PYA members celebrate the conclusion of a great conference weekend.

In the follow-up interview with Mary Vasilakis, one of organizers behind the original PYA activities of 1948, we learn that two of the original PYA members, Manoli Pavlakis and Kosta Stamatakis, went on to become dedicated PAA Presidents. The photo from the 1948 PYA gathering, Mary is seated in the front row along with Pavlakis and Stamatakis.

In one of the more academic discussions of the weekend PYA Vice President Nikos Markakis, scholar and the Co-Founder of the Half Second Dance Collective in Toronto, and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy Perry Rizopoulos, St. John's University, discussed the value and importance of our basic greetings, of the process of dancing or even just sitting together and sharing a meal. The concept of unity is essentially and inseparably inherent to who we are as Greeks and how we identify with others.

PYA members and Alum share why they find the organization such an essential part of their upbringing and current lifestyles: Dean Marangoudakis, an active NYC-based PYA member since the age of 15, provides a wonderful summary of his experience from a new member through to his position as a community leader and PYA Advisor: “I was 15 years old when I first joined the dance group of ‘Omonoia’. At the time, I had very little connections to Crete, and didn’t know many people from the island. When I first joined the group I did it more as a favor to others rather than for myself. Little did I know what was waiting for me; a whole other world! Throughout the years of being part of a dedicated dance group and a local Cretan chapter in New York, ‘Labrys’, I had the opportunity to visit different parts of the US, sharing experiences and memories with people who had the common interest and love for Crete. Through this we learned together everything that being Cretan means. With the help of the PAA, the PYA, and our local chapters, I had the opportunity to learn about our rich culture,

traditions, and history.

“The Pancretan Association of America and its youth organization, the Pancretan Youth of America has been working tirelessly for the last 100 years in setting up a platform in which younger generations (2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Greek/¬CretanAmericans) have the opportunity to learn about our history, dating back to the Minoan times. Whether it was being taught the origins of all of the dances; both “known” dances and those that are considered “lost”, growing a love and appreciation for Cretan music and poetry, to learning about influential Cretan figures that played major roles in wars against the Ottoman Empire and the resistance of the Nazis in World War 2. Not a day goes by where I don’t learn something new about the beautiful island of Crete and its richness and sophistication.

For this I am more than proud to say that I am Cretan, regardless of the fact that I was born in the US. Without the efforts of the PAA and PYA, I would not have had any of this.

“For those new and upcoming members who may be hesitant to join or don’t yet understand the importance of joining your local chapter and getting involved, I advise you to think again, for I was once 15 and knew nothing or anybody, but now I consider some of these ‘strangers’, family. It’s a great opportunity to educate yourself on matters you never imagined learning, and loving some things you may have never known existed. ‘Ποτέ σου να µη λησµονείς, τους τόπους που σ' όριζαν. Δεν έχει αξία το δέντρι, άµα δεν έχει ρίζα.’”

Similar responses were offered in a separate conversation with one of the youngest new NYC members (age 15) attending her first PYA conference: "It's good to come together this way. If we are a little different in the daily world -- like at school and stuff -- it doesn't seem to matter as much because you can always come back to the syllogo

and know your friends are there. It's good to have my syllogo friends from dance, and now to hear more what the older PYA youth is doing to keep the group together for us and moving forward. I like learning the traditions but also the issues and discussions that come up. I'm glad the next one is in New Jersey so I can attend for sure." Hearing such thoughts from a younger member just reinforces the reality that beyond the feast and good cheer, PYA brings with it a deeper strength and comradery that essentially stems from each social gathering and pervades through to the personal and professional lives of each member, creating new social and professional opportunities that then take root in the more mainstream society. Mentoring -- both formal and informal -- is one of many fundamental concepts among PYA Members and Alum and have grown organically from the bi-annual PYA and PAA conferences. For more information about the remarkable youth incentives, please visit http://www.pancretan.org. You can also read about the outstanding achievements and leadership efforts of several PYA youth and young professionals on www.philo4thought.org.

And so, despite the snow and travel delays, the PYA youth warmed our hearts once again with an admirable display of commitment, spirit and unity, in true Cretan form. Bravo Paidea! We wish you an amazing year ahead and many more to come.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Many thanks to all those who contributed quotes and event details towards this article, especially PAA Archivist ERASMIA NOVOTNY and to MARY VASILAKIS (Daughters of Crete & PYA Coordinator of 1948) from Pittsburg, PA, who took the time to chat and share original photos and articles about the PYA’s origins.

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Sofia Papazoglou: “Laiko Music is” in our DNA

Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Poly Panou, Anna Chrysafi, Mary Linda. I also met the great Theodoros Derveniotis and Kostas Virvos and sang in concert-tributes in their honor while they were present. I know and have worked with Stelios Vamvakaris, the son of Markos, who is the patriarch of rebetika. I also met Michalis Menidiatis, Marinella, Tolis Voskopoulos who flattered me with compliments! Katy Gray, a favorite voice of mine, is my friend and I visit whenever I have the opportunity so I can hear stories from the past!

by Constantine N. Kolitsas Finally, I must mention my acquaintance with Mikis Theodorakis, his appreciation of my artistic In late April, Greek singer Sofia Papazoglou will persona, and the unique opportunity I had with his embark on a short tour of the northeast, performing Popular Orchestra and School, singing songs of programs of classic laika and rebetika. She will great composer of ours. appear in Norwalk CT on Sunday April 30, Floral Park NY on Friday May 5 and Roslindale MA on What does your father think of your treatment of Saturday May 6. Here the artist, whose most recent these songs? release is a brilliant fresh take on a set of bouzoukibased classic laika, talks about that beloved Very good question! He is very proud because many musical genre and her passion for songs that, while of the songs I sing are from his youth and I learned written thirty or fifty years ago, continue to be them from him. But he is very severe at the same enjoyed today. time—if he hears something foreign in my singing that he thinks doesn’t belong, he scolds me! Quite From the body of your work, it's obvious that often he is correct in his criticism. Nevertheless, he you have a love for classic laika. How did this did not want me to become a singer and when I started he said, "From me, you forget everything. appreciation develop?

Make your own way!"

I grew up in an environment where music and song were basic to living and surviving. My parents were You regularly perform with some of the best immigrants in Belgium and my father’s family has a bouzouki players in the world. Tell us about refugee background (from Asia-Minor). Laika, your relationship with them and your common Smyrna-style songs, rebetika, together with songs by mission as regards this musical form.

Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Yiannis Markopoulos, Stavros Xarhakos and other greats of The truth is that I have worked with the best the time were constantly heard in my home but laika bouzouki players and even met and been around songs always had precedence and made up the almost all of the old ones. I love puzzle of the sounds of my childhood. I sang them as them very much and we always have I grew older, learned them easily, and when friends a lot to say because of our common get together they just came out. They are songs that interest, which has to do with the run in my veins. They are my roots. They are at the laika, but they also love me because I know all the intros to the laika by center of my musical references. heart!!! With the great Manolis Is classic laika a museum piece or something Pappos, who will play on our tour, I recorded an album of his own that is alive and vibrant? songs, orchestrated and produced The old laika are particularly alive today and played by Alkinoos Ioannidis and Miltiades in the largest arenas, I mean the bouzouki joints and Papastamou, while recently I venues that focus on rebetika. Maybe they are not released my album titled "Stou played or sung as they deserve but they are part of Oneirou Tis Strofes" with songs by our entertainment and are also popular with our the bouzouki-player Panagiotis youth. Because they spring from our national angst S t e r g i o u . A n d M a n o l i s a n d and deepest hopes they concern us today and touch Panagiotis are the best. But I am glad us. In comparison to many of today’s songs, they are I met Kostas Papadopoulos, Yiannis masterpieces—truly priceless jewels. Laiko music is Stamatiou, Yiannis Karabesinis, in our DNA. As Greeks and we cannot live without Thimios Stouraitis, Iordanis them. They are part of our tradition. They make up Tsomidis, Dimitris Xionias who belong to the old guard and our most intimate musical environment. naturally Manolis Karantinis, Nikos Who are some of your favorite laika songwriters Ta t a s o p o u l o s — w i t h w h o m I collaborate regularly and other top and why? soloists beloved by our country!

My very favorite is Manolis Hiotis who composed from heavy laika to swing to mambo. He had great Which classic song have you compositional variety and of course his intros, the recorded that gives you the most way he played in conjunction with his bouzouki pride? sound and his incredible (for that era) technical All the songs on my album "O skill, still affect me and I have him first on my list.

Chtipos tis Kardias Mou (The Beat of Have you had the pleasure of knowing or My Heart)," which was released two years ago, are favorites and I am working with any individuals from that scene?

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proud of that project. Some of the best musicians in Greece played and orchestrated and the end result was beyond my expectations. Old laika as seen by new eyes without insulting the old versions.

Are there any songs that you are afraid to record?

There are some songs that I can only listen to the original version, such as, "I Zoi Mou Oli (All of My Life)," for example. I don’t believe I can give anything new to the song if I record it. I think I will do it a sacrilege if I record it. Even live I cannot sing it. I cannot do it justice...

What should your audiences expect from the shows in your upcoming tour?

Audiences who come to my concerts will hear something authentic and real, 100% mined from the heart. But also they will experience music that is carefully chosen that will give them the opportunity to be entertained, to hear and dance, to travel and be moved. It’s fascinating for us when we play for Greeks abroad. I am a child of migrants and I know all about nostalgia. The songs are beloved and the musicians of our troupe are among the "elite." The strings of Manolis Pappou will thrill and the intensity of Daso Kourti’s accordion will enchant. Vassilis Ketentzoglou is one of our greatest guitarists while the talented Nick Gyras will play bass. We are like a family and we have great love for laika. With this musical group I can promise, without shame or hesitation, an unforgettable evening!

For tickets and info please visit GreekConcertStatus.com or call 203-947-6234.

Sofia Papazoglou

At Home In Greece: An Architectural and Interior Design Office

by Aspa Papazaharia

different budgets, large and small. Thisseas Fractopoulos specializes on Energy Certification Documents, which are now required to get permits to rent or develop property in Greece.

When I was in my 20's I inherited an unfinished commercial property. I decided to develop it myself instead of giving part of it to a developer and letting them handle it, as many people in Greece do. This project taught me a lot, for example, I learned how to earthquake proof an older building, navigate changing building regulations, etc. While I was involved in this project I got engaged to my husband who is an American and found myself going back in forth between the two countries and eventually settling in New York. This experience made me realize how stressful and time consuming it can be managing a property from outside Greece.

floor plan or a document from the Building Department, we can create an initial floor plan and my partner in Greece can track the B.D. documents down. Every project is different. From this initial consultation the next step could be having our people in Athens make small cosmetic changes like painting or it could be getting documents from the local building department or filing papers for a permit. If the project is more involved the next step is to produce architectural drawings for construction or three dimensional drawings to help the client see their vision.

Aspa Papazaharia and Christina Fractopoulou of 'At Home in Greece’

The idea for my business really crystalized one summer when I took two days out of my vacation in Greece to have part of the building painted and the painter never showed up.

At that moment I wished I had someone that I could trust, who had my key and would ensure that the work was finished the way I wanted it from beginning to end. I realized that there must be other people with the same issues. While I go to Greece often and speak the language, I know many people who don’t go as often or don’t speak Greek and these situations are much harder for them. That’s I am Aspa Papazaharia an Architect who grew up in why we created this company; we felt that there was Greece and came to the United States to study. I have a group of people who was underserved and who a Master of Arts in Architecture from SUNY Buffalo would find this service useful or even invaluable. and a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural At our company ‘At Home In Greece’ I am the contact Design AAD from Columbia University. person in the United States so our clients don’t have I have worked in Architecture offices both in New to travel. They can come to our office in New York to York and Athens Greece. While working as an have the initial consultation where we talk about architect in Athens I met my business partner their needs. For example if there is an existing Christina Fractopoulou. Together we formed a property that needs to be managed such as an company to serve the needs of Greeks and apartment in Athens, or a summer house in the Americans outside of Greece who have property, Islands. With a simple floor plan we can talk about want to evaluate a property they are considering the clients’ needs by doing sketches of basic design buying, or just helping managing the day to day ideas that the client has. If the clients don’t have a when they are not there. We also do Interior Design for clients in New York or anywhere else.

Our business started with a simple idea; how can someone who owns property in Greece but lives abroad develop and manage their property as if they were a full time native. We want to cut through all the bureaucracy and complications and deliver a welldesigned space that makes you feel at home in Greece. That’s how we came up with the name for our company which is based in New York with additional office in Athens and serves clients in both countries.

Christina Fractopoulou has a degree from the Ecole d'Architecture de Grenoble, DPLG as well as one year at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. She is a licensed Architect and has been working for 20 years with her team doing commercial, residential architectural work as well as property management.

Our colleagues Alexandros Papadias and Thisseas Fractopoulos are both experienced architects with numerous architectural construction projects in their portfolio, commercial and residential with

Kitchen and dining in apartment, Trikala, Greece

The office works. Clients feel they can trust us because we are one team on both sides of the Atlantic. Christina is my counterpart and she is the only one to hold the key to the client’s property. All the workers are part of our team and accountable to our office here in New York. We have a network of construction professionals in Greece that we have worked with for many years who build our projects.

This close and long lasting experience together enables us to more accurately calculate the time and cost of a new project. The fact that the team is made up of responsible professionals who have worked together for a long time allows us to deliver high quality projects that meet our exacting standards.

Seaside home, Agia Marina, Greece NEWS & NOTES

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THE MACALLAN EDITION NO. 2:

“A collaboration of ! ” ld r o w e h t in s e t la a p t the bes

by Evangelia "Angie" Manolis

The Macallan is the number one single malt whisky sold in America by value. The Macallan can be defined by six guiding pillars: The Spiritual Home, Curiously Small Stills, the Finest Cut, Exceptional Oak Casks, Natural Color, and the Peerless Spirit. If there is one thing to distinguish the difference between The Macallan against all other single malts, it would be the exceptional oak cask management program.

Evangelia "Angie" Manolis No expenses spared, The Macallan casks are best quality and best cared for in the industry. Using European and American wood from the Ozarks and Spain, to then be cut and dried for 2-3 years, seasoned with Oloroso sherry for another 2-3 years, it takes a minimum of 6 years just to create the cask. The final steps of ageing the new make spirit happen in Scotland.

The Macallan has different ranges to appeal to different consumers; The Sherry Oak range, the Fine Oak range, Double Cask, Edition Series, and the 1824 Master Series.

The Macallan Edition Series is a limitededition series created for the Scotch whisky collector at an affordable price.

The Edition series was established to collaborate with different partners in

order to amplify the art of making whisky while creating with others. Each year, a selection of casks hand-picked by our Master Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno and his co-creators.

I like to call The Macallan Edition No. 2 “a collaboration of the best palates in the world.” Edition No. 2 was created in collaboration between Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan Master Whisky Maker and the three Roca brothers, cofounders of El Celler de Can Roca (located in Spain). El Celler de Can Roca was twice voted best restaurant in the world. Created from European and American oak casks in true Macallan tradition, this limited edition expression combines flavors chosen by these four artists to reflect their distinctive personalities in the resulting whisky. Each of the four co-creators hand-picked four different casks in Spain to harmonize these flavors.

This embodies the art of whisky making with the culinary creative geniuses of the Roca brothers.

Nosing and Tasting: When nosing Edition No. 2 you will find hints of ginger, toffee, apples, tropical fruit, and vanilla coming from the American Oak Casks. When Tasting Edition No. 2 you will get liquorice, brand snaps, spice, cloves, chocolate, nuts, and brown sugar in result of the four different casks chosen.

The Edition Series is an excellent and affordable stepping stone when beginning or adding to a whisky collection. Although Edition No. 1 is no longer in production, challenge yourself to begin your journey in searching for edition No.1 to add to your Edition No. 2, while awaiting for Edition No. 3, which will be released later this year!

Evangelia “Angie” Manolis is Market Manager – Metro New York at Edrington Americas, the Macallan US Distributor.

All Is Quiet on the Western ...Affront!

Florida weather in New York this time of the year (it was 75 degrees yesterday) feels great but also out of tune with nature.

Global warming is a fact and its consequences will be far from pleasant even in our lifetime. Those in denial could deceive themselves for a while, but reality will sooner or later check in. This is an issue beyond partisan politics, even beyond international politics. The time to do something serious about it before it's too late is about to expire. Let us all do whatever we can!

(FYROM), although they constitute only 25% of population. It seems they got the idea from Cyprus, where the 18% Turkish speaking population also demand equal status with the rest, providing Turkey who occupies almost half of the island will concede in allowing them to be left alone.

However, same way minority Albanians in FYROM are asking for their language to be official along the Slavic, minority Greeks in Albania should demand that Greek also becomes an official language there!

Moreover, in the latter's case, the treaty by which Albania became an independent state provides that Northern Epirus be an autonomous region within Albania.

Minority rights cannot be a one way street and Albanians should take that into consideration along with the Turks and other irredentism- minded fanatics in the Balkans…

From my humble part, I will replace my 12 cylinder car with one of eight and I pledge to stop ...farting! Yes, farting is a major source of carbon dioxide and disallowing my frequent emissions will definitely help!

Well, it's cow's farting that mainly contributes to the enlargement of the Ozone hole, but according to vegans we are not that different and by looking at some of them (vegans) I think they have a Closer to home now President (I know, it's point … hard to get used to) Trump said he saved the country hundreds of millions of Good thing that in a couple of days snow is dollars on the F35 project, but he predicted! I kind of enjoy these ups and announced more than 50 billion downs that make the Fahrenheit scale additional "defense" spending! If that's look like the New York Stock Exchange or not socialism for the big guys, then what is like a roller coaster and I hate roller it, Castro's or Tsipras'??? coasters! I can't say the same about cold though, I can definitely take it. Besides, In the mean time, Main ...Scream media in much more than cold weather, it's cold the US are so discredited that the more people that make me uncomfortable... they attack Trump the more support he gets from people and more solidified his Being in the giving up mood, this Lenten base becomes. It seems that loosing an season I decided to religiously stop election taught nothing the pundits and consuming bourbon! From now on only they are sticking to their game as nothing Scotch, no cheating with the ones made in had happened. So far the only sensible Japan, of all places! I also gave up opposition to this administration has been cigarettes, totally! I don't remember to ...Trump himself! have started them, but it fits with the giving up process. From now on only On the other hand, Pres. Trump should cigars and only the real ones! No more not complain about fake news because he Cohibas made in Mexico. We fought so was elected thanks to them! And Dems hard to lift the embargo so that legally we should stop portraying him as Hitler, he can enjoy what Canadians and others, might believe it! As if his German ancestry even Greeks, have enjoyed far too long. weren't enough of an alarm!

We have a right to taste socialism and taste it we will! Venceremos!

It seems we are witnessing the end of politics or the politics of the end Speaking of Cuban cigars and socialism, …Whatever you pick, you loose!

Grexit is in vogue again and I seriously have no idea what's going to happen. And none can risk predictions at this point because the peculiarities are such that any @ kind of forecast will certainty look more like a farce, as it did so many times in the recent past. It seems Greece is too big to fit in the European Union and too small to fit outside of it...

1) Honoring the International Women Day, earlier this month, I bought my wife And while Greece is in an in and out mood a new washing and drying machine! with the EU, her neighborhoold is again Because we must show our appreciation about to erupt in flames. Besides Turkey in deeds, not just words!!! who's constantly a pain in the ass to ALL her neighbors, the Albanians are up in 2) "Serghey" (pronounced sir gay) is the arms (metaphorically for the moment) Russian version of the Latin name Sergius demanding equal status in the Former NOT a title conferred by the Queen to a Yugoslav Republic of “Macedonia” gay celebrity!!!

by Demetrios Rhompotis

dondemetrio neomagazine.com P.S.

Emirates to Launch Daily Service to Newark via Athens Emirates announced it will launch a new daily service from Dubai to Newark Liberty International Airport, via the Greek capital city of Athens, starting on 12 March 2017.

York via Athens all year round. This strategic choice substantially supports our efforts at the Ministry of Tourism to enhance the already increasing flow of visitors to Greece from the United States and the UAE on a yearly basis, travelling either for leisure or The new route complements Emirates’ existing four business purposes.” daily flights between Dubai and New York’s JFK airport, by offering global travellers with another Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic convenient access point to the popular New York American Leadership Council said: “The GreekAmerican community has long been anticipating the Metropolitan area. reestablishment of year round direct travel between Emirates’ new Dubai-Athens-Newark flight will also Greece and the United States. For this moment to provide a year-round non-stop daily service between arrive thanks to Emirates - the world's top airline - is the United States and Greece – a service that does special indeed. Greece's economic comeback is not exist today and has not existed since 2012. The going to have to include year round tourism and airline will operate a wide-body Boeing 777-300ER easier business travel. The new Emirates route powered by General Electric GE90 engines on the makes this possible. The Greek-American route, offering 8 seats in First, 42 seats in Business community will be thrilled with this new itinerary, and 304 seats in Economy class, as well as 19 tonnes and we thank Emirates Airline for establishing its of belly-hold cargo capacity. route and for its Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline said: endorsement of travel to “The Greek Government and Athens International Greece.”

Airport approached Emirates some time ago to consider serving the route between Athens and New The United States and York. After careful review, Emirates concluded that G r e e c e h a v e l o n g extending one of our Dubai-Athens flights to maintained close economic Newark would be commercially and operationally relations as well as a strong feasible. We are pleased to be able to help meet a national security alliance. strong consumer need long neglected by other For decades, the United airlines, and we would like to thank the authorities States has advocated policies and our partners in both the US and Greece for their that promote and foster support of the new route.” economic growth and further opportunities for Sir Tim added: “The availability of high quality, daily U.S. investment in Greece. international air services is essential for the The United States is also development of business and cultural ties. Trade, home to the largest overseas especially in high-value and time-sensitive products, Greek community in the will be facilitated by the ample cargo capacity on w o r l d , n u m b e r i n g Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft. We also expect approximately 1.3 million, tourism to receive a major boost from the availability and the New York City metropolitan area has the of daily flights year-round.” largest community of Greek Americans in the country.

Elena Kountoura, Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic said: “Within the framework of In addition to serving the large Greek-American our excellent cooperation, and in line with our population in the New York City metropolitan area, common goal for the growth of tourism between the availability of one-stop same-plane service to our two countries as well as the expansion to long- Dubai will offer a convenient alternative to travellers haul markets, I would like to thank Emirates for headed towards the Middle East, West Asia, and having positively considered our request to launch a Africa. new Emirates itinerary connecting Dubai with New 42

MARCH 2017

NEWS & NOTES

“WORLD'S BEST AIRLINE 2016” Emirates operates one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the sky, with an average fleet age of just 61 months, compared to the industry average of 140 months. Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft serving the new Dubai-Athens-Newark route will offer high levels of comfort and high quality service with private suites in First class, lie-flat seats in Business, and ergonomically designed cabins in Economy.

Passengers in all cabin classes can enjoy the friendly service from Emirates’ international cabin crew, meals prepared by gourmet chefs, and over 2,500 channels of the latest movies, TV shows, and music hits on its award-winning ice inflight entertainment system.

FLIGHT DETAILS Emirates flight EK209 will depart Dubai at 10:50 local time, arriving in Athens at 14:25 before departing again at 16:40 and arriving into Newark at 22:00 on the same day. The return flight EK210 will depart Newark at 23:45 local time, arriving in Athens the next day at 15:05. EK210 will depart once again from Athens at 17:10 bound for Dubai where it will arrive at 23:50, facilitating convenient onward connections to over 50 Emirates destinations in India, the Far East and Australia.