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Nikolaos Panou, PhD, installed as tsantes endowed Professor in Greek Literature and Language at Stony Brook University

The Stony Brook community came together to celebrate the formal installation of Nikolaos Panou, Ph.D., the inaugural Peter V. Tsantes Professor in Greek Literature and Language.

“It is an understatement to say that I am delighted that Nikolaos Panou has been named to this distinguished professorship,” said President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. during the ceremony. “And we are grateful to Peter V. and Despina Tsantes for endowing this professorship. It will be a lasting tribute to the Tsantes family and enable us to continue to attract and retain prominent scholars in the field of Hellenic studies.”

As Assistant Professor of Comparative Studies in Stony Brook University’s College of Arts and Sciences, Panou’s current research focuses on the ways in which power and authority were conceptualized and represented in pre-modern philosophical discourse, with particular emphasis on moral and political works written from the 16th to the 18th century.

Nikolaos Panou received his Ph.D. in comparative literature from Harvard University and has been a postdoctoral fellow at the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies at Princeton University. Before joining Stony Brook in 2014, he was a visiting assistant professor of comparative literature at Brown University.

President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. explained that it is a Hellenic tradition of rigorous investigation of the hard sciences, social sciences and humanities that Stony Brook seeks to emulate, promulgate and celebrate.

“It is not only fitting, it is important that at Stony Brook — one of the top 62 research Universities in the country known for our emphasis on the study of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine — we also educate and nurture students with the values of Hellenic civilization,” he said.

Recognized for his long history of visionary generosity in providing valuable resources and leadership among Greek communities, Long Islander Peter V. Tsantes’ passion and enthusiasm was encouraged by Stony Brook’s own educational reputation and commitment toward advancing the study of Hellenic culture. He also noted that he and his family have dedicated the professorship to the memory of his adoptive mother who sponsored his trip to the United States in 1951, Aikaterini Spanou Haralambou Batuyios. “How can you forever show your love and remembrance?” Tsantes’ said of Batuyios.

Throughout Tsantes’ life, Batuyios encouraged him to give back, which led to his involvement in the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture (AFGLC). Before long, he turned his philanthropic focus closer to home, where he formed the New York Chapter of AFGLC. He currently serves as treasurer for its executive board.

To Tsantes, the professorship was a fitting tribute to not only his adopted mother and homeland, he hopes it will spur others “toward an increased energy in philanthropy and education.” The professorship, he believes, will be the base for a plethora of Hellenic activities on campus, supported not only by his family, but also by the generosity of other members of the Long Island Hellenic community.

As holder of the professorship, Panou is invested in promoting scholarship, teaching and research in all aspects of Hellenic civilization, from Antiquity to the present.

One of Panou’s principal goals at Stony Brook is to build a stronger Center for Hellenic Studies that will serve as a forum for the study of Greek society, history and culture, and which will cultivate a comprehensive understanding of classical, post-classical and modern Greece.

“The vision is here, and so is the will, the determination and the expertise,” Panou said. “We now have to direct all of our effort — and with a great sense of urgency, I might add — to the creation of a robust, radiant, magnetic Center for Hellenic Studies that will serve as a hub for the study of Greek society, history, politics and culture that will become an indispensable point of reference within Stony Brook and beyond.”

This new professorship is yet another example of how endowed faculty build on the University’s dedication to excellence across campus. That’s why one goal of the $600 million Campaign for Stony Brook is to create a total of 100 endowed faculty positions by 2018, aimed to attract more eminent scholars and researchers and retain outstanding faculty across a wide range of disciplines.

Over the past six years, the number of endowed chairs and professorships at Stony Brook has increased more than seven-fold, to a total of 42 endowed chairs and professorships.

“At a time when the humanities are being increasingly marginalized, to say the least, the establishment of an endowed chair in Hellenic studies is an event and an opportunity of singular importance,” Panou said. “The truth is, what’s happened here at Stony Brook is the result of extraordinary actions that require inspiration, zeal, commitment, generosity and a lot of hard work.”

About Stony Brook University

Part of the State University of New York system, Stony Brook University encompasses 200 buildings on 1,450 acres. Since welcoming its first incoming class in 1957, the University has grown tremendously, now with more than 25,000 students and 2,500 faculty. Its membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) places Stony Brook among the top 62 research institutions in North America. U.S. News & World Report ranks Stony Brook among the top 100 universities in the nation and top 40 public universities, and Kiplinger names it one of the 35 best values in public colleges. One of four University Center campuses in the SUNY system, Stony Brook co-manages Brookhaven National Laboratory, putting it in an elite group of universities that run federal research and development laboratories. A global ranking by U.S. News & World Report places Stony Brook in the top 1 percent of institutions worldwide. It is one of only 10 universities nationwide recognized by the National Science Foundation for combining research with undergraduate education. As the largest single-site employer on Long Island, Stony Brook is a driving force of the regional economy, with an annual economic impact of $4.65 billion, generating nearly 60,000 jobs, and accounts for nearly 4 percent of all economic activity in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and roughly 7.5 percent of total jobs in Suffolk County.

(hellenicnews.com)

December 2, 2016
Greek Native Offering Language Lessons in Jasper: ‘I Just Want to Share my Culture’

Greek native Kostas Souliaris moved to Canada from Greece five years ago. He settled in Jasper, Alberta, where there is a healthy Greek population and decided that it was about time that Greek language lessons were offered in the town.

Although the details are yet to be finalized, so far he has put together a loose syllabus for his classes and Souliaris has organized a meeting to further discuss the classes and see if there are enough people interested in learning Greek in the community to kick-off his lessons. The meeting is taking place at the Jasper Municipal Library on November 26 at 11:00 am and is open for anyone interested in attending and learning more about the Greek language lessons.

“We’re trying to see if there are enough people and then we can start to move forward,” he said to Jasper’s Independent Newspaper, The Fitzhugh, adding, “The course will basically be free” adding that he will volunteer as the course’s instructor.

Souliaris also noted that prospective students might be asked to contribute a $10 monthly fee to help cover the cost of renting a classroom for lessons to be taught at the Habitat for the Arts.

So far, Souliaris has had inquiries about the Greek lessons from both Greeks and non-Greeks. He says that he is very pleased about the interest generated in the town. “We welcome everyone. I just want to share my culture,” he commented.

(canada.greekreporter.com)

December 2, 2016
Ancient world on view in Moscow

A bronze medal depicting a 2nd century BC bust of Athena Promachos is currently on display in the “Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greeks” exhibition at the State Historical Museum of Russia in Moscow. The exhibition, which runs to February, is part of the “Year of Greece in Russia” series of events. On view are 135 ancient artifacts including sculptures, ceramics, coins and jewelry, among others, dating from prehistoric times up to the Roman era. The objects are on loan from various Greek museums.

(www.ekathimerini.com)

December 2, 2016
Greece plays a mediator between Libya and Egypt

The Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Kotzias, said his country is trying to obtain the role of a mediator between Libya and Egypt and help in the implementation of the Skhirat-signed political agreement.

In a joint presser Monday with the Foreign Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Mohammed Sayala, Kotzias said Greece’s interest lies in the stability of the relations among all the countries of the Mediterranean, including Libya and Egypt.

“By the beginning of 2017, Greece is cherishing the reopening of the embassy in Tripoli and is looking forward to forming a joint establishment of universities.

Sayala told the Greek FM that both countries share the dilemma of illegal immigration through the Mediterranean and the economic crisis.

Greece’s Foreign Minister, Nikos Kotzias, arrived in Tripoli on Monday and met with GNA officials.

(www.libyanexpress.com)

December 1, 2016
Greek restaurant ranked amongst the world’s best

For the fourth consecutive year, Athenian restaurant Funky Gourmet has been included in the list of the world’s best fine dining restaurants according to TripAdvisor.

Based on reviews and opinions from travellers around the world, the restaurant, located in the ancient neighbourhood of Keramikos, was the only Greek fine dining business to make the prestigious list of Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2016, with 884 reviews overall from international visitors.

Funky Gourmet opened its doors in 2009 and by 2012 chefs Georgianna Hiliadaki and Nikos Roussos were awarded with their first Michelin star, followed by two Michelin stars in 2014.

Blending gourmet food with innovative presentation within a relaxed yet modern environment, Funky Gourmet gives traditional dishes a contemporary twist using alternative creative tools that turn food into edible art.

According to its two chefs, “it’s all about the taste and the visual pleasure that activates the senses, engaging the guests in a stimulating, exciting and unconventional way”.

Neos Kosmos speaks to chef and co-owner Georgianna Hiliadaki about Greek cuisine, food evolution, experimenting with textures and tastes and turning food into fine art.

How do you feel to be ranked among the best fine dining restaurants in the world?
We are very proud that our efforts have been rewarded and that Greek cuisine seems to have international appeal.

What attributes make a good restaurant, in your opinion?
A good restaurant is the one that honours its guests. In Funky Gourmet, we constantly thrive to produce a dining experience for the people that honour us with their presence. We want to provide them with top hospitality, food, ambience and service. The same effort we expend not only in Funky Gourmet, which is a two Michelin star restaurant but also in our other restaurant Opso in London, which is a more casual Greek place where one can enjoy Greek tapas − mezedes − in a more laid-back way.

Why do you think you were the only restaurant in Greece selected? What is it that you offer that makes your customers want to come back?
We offer, as the restaurant’s name suggests, a funky and gourmet experience. We want our cuisine to activate the senses and spur emotions, a type of culinary experience that is like a theatre that you can eat! Our degustation menus also reflect our own point of view of a refined Greek cuisine influenced by local ingredients.

With such a vast choice of classic Greek recipes and traditional food fare, what ideology and vision do you use to reinterpret these and how much experimentation is involved?
We get inspiration by many things, including our tradition and classic recipes, i.e. re-invention of the classic pastitsio dish or based on unique local products, such as the Greek bougatsa that we combine with white chocolate − an unusual combination that strangely enough works very well together!

Experimentation is a vital process in the creation of new dishes and the re-invention of classic ones. Sometimes experiments come successful easily but sometimes − actually most of the time − it takes a lot of effort and testing for a dish to appear on the menu.

Do you have a signature dish that you are particularly known for?
Our Greek salad is one of the signature dishes that never leaves our degustation menus. It’s the traditional taste of a Greek salad, i.e. tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, oregano, capers, but in the form of a white ‘granita’ sorbet!

How much has Greek cuisine evolved over the years?
Hopefully a lot and we would love to believe that we have contributed to this evolution even for a bit, by spreading the local cuisine and our point of view of modern Greek cooking.

There seems to be an artistic approach to each dish. Are you a ‘food artist’ and where do you get your inspiration from?
We definitely look at food as an edible form of art! Aesthetics play an essential part in making a new dish. But we draw inspiration from everywhere and everything. For example, a new dish in our menu is Funky Gourmet ‘ntolmas‘. This plate was initially inspired by the classic Greek recipe but its presentation is very much influenced from the Scandinavian naturalite and aesthetics.

What types of wines do you stock in the restaurant and do you support Greek produce in food and wine?
We really appreciate the evolving Greek wine industry. Many local producers have presented very interesting wines of unique Greek varieties, such as white assyrtiko and red mavrotragano from Santorini or xinomavro from Naoussa region, or agiorgitiko from Peloponnese. But we love wine from many different regions of the world. Who can resist a French barrel-aged good Burgundy, or a full-bodied bin from California?

(neoskosmos.com)

December 1, 2016
32nd Sister Cities Festival is on

Thessaloniki Association in Victoria ‘The White Tower’ at 27 of November held its annual conjunction this year at Federation Square, celebrating the 32-year-strong relationship uniting Melbourne and Greece’s second-largest city.

“This year we’re celebrating 32 years of Sister-City relationships, and as Melburnians from Thessaloniki we are proud of our Melbourne and at the same time never cease to remember our city of origin,” vice-president Christina Despoteris said.

“Let us again celebrate our heritage, the cultures of both port cities, the ties that keep our peoples as defenders of freedom and the democratic way of life.”

The association’s festival this year featured artists, musicians and dancers from Greece and Australia and included also many more stalls.

“The festival takes place not only to honour our beloved Thessaloniki but also to highlight the beauty of Melbourne, the city we have chosen to call home,” she added.

“These entertainers, as well as many more artistic and cultural groups, will showcase the rich culture and traditions Greece is renowned for. Then the great White Tower will be surrounded by white flowers, a project which involved the whole Greek community of Melbourne and Athens. This is something not to be missed.”

The festivities commenced in the centre of Melbourne (city square), with a parade of musicians and dancers who sang, danced and entertained the crowds along the route to Federation Square, where they performed on the main stage. Esteemed guests from both Greece and Australia spoke at the festival.

Meanwhile, the association supported Monash Uni researcher Dr Mathew Staios’ efforts to raise money for research into providing accurate treatment options for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease within the ageing Greek Australian community.

Mr Staios went from Melbourne to Canberra, starting on the day of the 32nd Sister-Cities Festival at Federation Square, over a period of eight days (approximately 750km) with his support team, to raise money for the ageing Greek Australian community on behalf of Alzheimer’s Australia.

Further to the cultural happenings, attendees took part in drawing competitions, Greek dancing lessons or sample what a variety of traders have to offer. Food was, as always, one of the main attractions. This year the festival has taken on board the most mouth-watering souvlaki masters from Trojan Greek Food, the Cypriot Greek Grill, and Royal Catering gyros. Traditional desserts with a twist were available from Honey Dee, St Gerry’s, Taki’s Balls and Loukoumades. Procal Dairy yoghurt, Tornatoes‘ twisted potatoes, Kalloni little desserts island, Red Hill Marinade marinated lamb, Choo la la nuts and Greek coffee from Evan’s Café will also be waiting by the River Terrace, down the stairs along the Yarra River.

This year’s event has been made possible with the support of the City of Melbourne, the City of Thessaloniki, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Delphi Bank was the major commercial benefactor this year, while Neos Kosmos and the Greek Media Group: Ta Nea and Radio 3XY were media sponsors.

(neoskosmos.com)

December 1, 2016
The Federation of Hellenic Communities and Societies of South Africa Announce Elected Presidium of the Federation of Hellenes

The Federation of Hellenic Communities and Societies of South Africa recently announced in a press release that following Hellenes have been elected unanimously by the Hellenes of South Africa as the Presidium of the Federation of Hellenes:

President: John Philippou
1ST Vice President: John Spyridis
2nd Vice President: Michael Scholiadis
Secretary: Costa S. Kolatsis
Treasurer: Dimitris Koutakis

The organization has pledged to serve the needs and aspirations of the Hellenes, united as one, under the banner of Hellenism, and to set the tone and strategy for the ensuing years.

Also stated in the press release is that it is the organization’s intention as custodians of the Hellenic ethos and traditions is to preserve and enhance the love and understanding of the Hellenic culture, language and religion amongs the diverse make up of the community.

(world.greekreporter.com)

December 1, 2016
Greek Food Where You Least Expect It: #DusitGreekFestival in Kenya

From November 12-19 the Greek Food Festival will be taking place at dusitD2’s Soko restaurant in Kenya.

The week-long food festival is open for all to enjoy and is sponsored by dusitD2 Nairobi and Qatar Airways. DusitD2 notes that tables tend to book up fast so if you want to take a nostalgic trip back to Greece or even just want to experience Mediterranean cuisine for the first time, be sure to reserve a table in advance.

Besides the typical Greek dishes that will be turning the Kenyan atmosphere into a mini vacation to Greece, there will also be Greek singers and a Bouzouki player to transport you to the beautiful Greek islands!

Food is a very important part of the Greek culture and much care has gone into ensuring an authentic Greek experience for those foodies wishing to check out the Greek Food Festival. Chef Giorgos Papadopoulos is one of the masterminds who will be serving up Greek treats and enjoys “showcasing the beauty of yet unexplored Greek cuisine to the world,” according to capitalfm.co.ke.

DusitD2 is inviting people to stop by and check out what all the buzz is about and enjoy authentic Greek food in Kenya as well as encouraging visitors to share their Greek experience on social media with the tag #DusitGreekFestival.

(world.greekreporter.com)

December 1, 2016
The Greek-American Principal Who Established Greek as Second Language in Bronx School

It is no minor achievement to establish Greek as second language in a Bronx school. Yet, Greek-American Penny Panagiosoulis, principal at the Kappa International High School has done just that.

The Kappa High School is a public school and offers the Greek language as the official foreign language course in the curriculum. Thanks to Penny Panagiosoulis. The vast majority of students at Kappa High are from different ethnic origins.

Panorea (Penny) Panagiosoulis was born in Guatemala, but her father is from Pylaros of Cephalonia island. Gabriel Panagiosoulis has written eight books, all in the Greek language. Before that, he was a sailor who had settled in Guatemala, where his daughter was born. In 1970, the family moved to New York.

Penny Panagiosoulis’ inspiration to add Greek in the curriculum stems from her father’s books and her love for the language. She has said that it is not just the language but all the ideas it represents, such as democracy, or ethos.

The Greek language program started about eight years ago. The courses initially focused on grammar, vocabulary and some basic knowledge of the culture. Over time, however, the courses became a vital source of knowledge to all other classes, with constant comments on Greek history, philosophy, tradition and culture.

For instance, when the math teacher speaks of the Pythagorean theorem, there is a reference to Pythagoras, the place he was born, the culture of the time and so on. Through this way of teaching, students get a rounded knowledge of things that are connected to Greece.

The program also plays an important social role; by making knowledge interesting and fun, children are kept away from the harsh reality of their surroundings, such as poverty, gangs, drugs and overall delinquent behavior.

(usa.greekreporter.com)

December 1, 2016
Australia’s Hellenic Community Celebrated at the 2016 HACCI Excellence Awards
The winners of the 2016 HACCI Excellence Awards were announced at the HACCI Excellence Awards Gala Ball at the Grand Hyatt Savoy Ballroom on November 18.

For the past 40 years, HACCI has focused on giving recognition to individuals who have demonstrated success in their own pursuits as well as acting as community leaders.

HACCI Chair Georgina Poulos told neoskosmos.com during the nomination process the she feels “The contribution of the Hellenic Australian community has had a tremendous impact in shaping the fabric of the Australia we live in today.”

The awards were handed out as follows:
- Gregory Gavrilides, Australia’s Greek community and one of the country’s most successful property developers won the Spiros Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award
- Kathy Staples, former investment banker, cancer survivor, cookbook author and owner of the Sweet Greek won the Delphi Bank Business Excellence Award
- Con Mylonas, a former neurosurgeon, and current barrister and chairman of the Spinal Research Institute shared the Professional Excellence Award with Professor Dennis Velakoulis, Head of Neuropsychiatry at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne
- Fotini Karakitsos, a geologist, microbiologist, and researcher won the Chris Saristavros Young Achievers Award
- Helen Zahos, a community nurse who traveled to the Aegean island of Lesvos to help at the migrant hotspot won the Community Service Award
- Ange Postecoglou, Australia’s national football/soccer head coach won the Sporting Excellence Award, awarded by the South Melbourne Football Club
(au.greekreporter.com)
December 1, 2016