Vol. 15 Issue 2 | Wednesday, January 13, 2021
AHEPA E-News
Epiphany Celebration in Tarpon Springs
Supreme President George G. Horiates attended the 115th annual Epiphany celebration officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at Tarpon Springs, Fla., January 6, 2021.
Supreme President Horiates also attended an Epiphany luncheon hosted by the community in honor of Archbishop Elpidophoros.
Past Supreme President George Loucas and Executive Director Basil N. Mossaidis accompanied Supreme President Horiates.
The Epiphany Celebration in Tarpon Springs is the largest Epiphany gathering in the Western Hemisphere.
Residents at AHEPA Senior Housing Communities Begin Receiving Covid-19 Vaccine
Residents and personnel of AHEPA Section HUD 202 affordable elderly housing communities began receiving COVID-19 vaccination services administered by the CDC's Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program.
The first vaccine clinic was held at AHEPA 113 Senior Apartments, Beavercreek, Ohio, Jan. 8 (pictured top right via Dayton Daily News). A second followed on Jan. 9 at AHEPA 284-I Senior Apartments, Columbia, S.C. (pictured bottom right via The State.)
To date, 33 vaccination clinics at AMC communities located in 15 cities are scheduled in January and early February. Cities include: Albuquerque, N.M., Ankeny, Iowa; Beavercreek, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbia, S.C.; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Merrillville, Ind.; Milford, Ohio; Mishawaka, Ind.; Mobile, Ala.; North Miami, Fla.; Pensacola, Fla.; St. Louis, Mo.; and West Palm Beach, Fla.
See more images from AHEPA 78 Senior Apartments, Merrillville, Ind., clinic held Jan. 11.
Past National Board Trustee Lake Passes Away
AHEPA mourns the passing of former Board of Trustees member, and 2011 AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Harry Lake. Brother Lake passed away on Jan. 5, 2021, at the age of 100. He was an 80-year Life Member of Chapter 113, Dayton Ohio. In addition to the Board of Trustees, Brother Lake served the Order in several capacities, including as National Educational Foundation Chairman, Buckeye District 11 Governor, and as founder and chairman emeritus of the AHEPA Buckeye Scholarship Foundation.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Brother Harry Lake,” Supreme President George G. Horiates said. “He gave a lifetime of unwavering dedication and service to the Order and generations of Greek Americans benefited from his passion for advancing the "E" in AHEPA, education, through his leadership of AHEPA scholarship programs. He played an important role on the Finance Committee of our Board of Trustees for five different terms, helping us to achieve our organization's financial goals. We are also grateful for his service to our country during World War II and Korea."
"Brother Lake will be missed tremendously," Horiates said. "Our deepest condolences and sympathies are with the Lake family. May his memory be eternal.”
read obituary
AHEPA Heroes Medal Presented to PSG Baltis
During Epiphany Weekend, Past Supreme Governor Peter Baltis and AHEPA Chapter 16, Tarpon Springs. Fla., each held small, restrictive events to host Supreme President George Horiates.
Supreme President Horiates presented Brother Baltis with the AHEPA Heroes Medal for his philanthropic contributions in Greece and in the United States at an intimate luncheon held at Brother Baltis' home. In fact, AHEPA Chapter HJ-26, Larissa, Greece bears Brother Baltis's name. He is a 48-year member of AHEPA and hails originally from Albany, N.Y. Past Supreme President George Loucas and Executive Director Basil Mossaidis were present for the medal presentation.
Also, Chapter 16 facilitated events where Supreme President Horiates was able to meet with Citrus 2 District Lodge and several area chapters.
The Ahepan!
Catch the Winter 2020 edition of The Ahepan magazine that commemorates U.S.-Greece relations as Greece prepares to celebrate the bicentennial of its independence. The issue also features a preview of the 2021 Supreme Convention to be held in Athens and showcases AHEPA family chapters' community service work and affordable elderly housing program.
Greece Is the Word in 2021
Make Reservations! | Athens Supreme Convention
AHEPA is preparing for the 99th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention to be held in Athens, Greece, July 25 to 31, 2021. The official convention hotel will be the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Reservation deadline is March 31, 2021.
Greece will be celebrating the bicentennial of its independence in 2021 and the AHEPA family will be there to join in the celebration! See you there!
New! Make Reservations | more info
Don't miss out!
100th anniversary member data project underway
AHEPA recently launched a comprehensive 100th Anniversary member data verification project, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.
"We are requesting all members of AHEPA to contact us for this important project and encourage you to be a part of the Centennial celebrations," Horiates said, adding that members should have received an email with detailed instruction this week. "We've assembled the information currently listed in our member files and now need your help to confirm the accuracy of your data and fill in any information gaps."
Up-to-date member information is critical in helping AHEPA promote the ancient Hellenic ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism. That's why it's so important to call.
Please call 1-888-827-6103 (toll-free) to take care of this important matter today.
Calendar of Events & Deadlines
February
1 | Deadline: Submissions for Spring AHEPAN
March
31 | Deadline: AEF scholarship applications
Apply here
31 | Deadline: 2021 Supreme Convention
reservations
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Greek American News Digest
Editor's Note
Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.
In Greek city, segregated graves extend COVID-19 isolation
Associated Press (Jan. 12)
Even after death, COVID-19 victims endure harrowing isolation in Thessaloniki, the city in Greece most acutely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. read more
Greece, Turkey to restart talks this month
Politico Europe (Jan. 2)
Greece and Turkey will resume talks later this month aimed at resolving their differences over energy exploration and maritime borders. read more
Greeks escape lockdown for the beach as winter temperatures soar
Reuters (Jan. 10)
Greeks headed to beaches and public parks on Sunday as a rare January heat wave offered a respite from the coronavirus lockdown that has thrown life across Europe into disarray. read more
UN chief to gauge next month possible Cyprus talks restart
Associated Press (Jan. 11)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres intends to meet next month with ethnically split Cyprus’ rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to gauge whether conditions are ripe to resume dormant peace talks, the Cypriot government spokesman said on Monday. read more
Archaeologists in Turkey Unearth 2,500-Year-Old Temple of Aphrodite
Smithsonian Magazine (Jan. 6)
An inscription found at the site—dedicated to the Greek goddess of love and beauty—states, “This is the sacred area” read more
A Stranger's Act of Kindness Changed the Fate of a Greek Family-Owned Diner in Manhattan
The National Herald (Jan. 12)
Chris Panayiotou was featured in the New York Times sharing the story of the sign that led him to reopen Gee Whiz Diner, 295 Greenwich Street in Lower Manhattan, after the death of his father, Peter Panayiotou, due to COVID-19 a few weeks after the diner shut down in March during the lockdown. read more
