News
New museum adds a bit of ancient Hellas to Detroit
Written by Michael H. Hodges
DETROIT (AP) — If everyone's a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day, then we're all part Greek the rest of the year. At least, that's what they'll tell you at Detroit's brand-new Hellenic Museum of Michigan, which will open its doors to the public Saturday. “We want to focus on the notion that all who enter the museum are descendants of ancient Hellas,'' membership secretary and board member Tony Niarhos tells The Detroit News.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)—Israeli researchers and Jewish leaders on Sunday reported a 30 percent jump in anti-Semitic violence and vandalism last year, topped by a deadly school shooting in France, and expressed alarm about the rise of far-right parties in Hungary, Greece and other countries.
On the same day that the Chicago Public Schools announced the closure of 54 schools, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) responded with a donation of $1 million in new books to benefit schoolchildren participating in after-school enrichment opportunities, mentoring and summer learning programs in the Chicago area. Bishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, also the past president of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, facilitated the gift on behalf of Orthodox Christians in Chicago.
One More Cup of Greek Coffee … For Your Heart!
Written by Maria A. Karamitsos|
The extraordinary life expectancy of Ikaria’s inhabitants may be attributed to the systematic consumption of Greek coffee, according to a study by Dr Gerasimos Siasos, lecturer at the University of Athens Medical School, published in the Vascular Medicine Journal.
  Not familiar with endothelial function? Dr Siasos explains that 'boiled coffee seems to generate antioxidant substances' that 'reduce the risk of heart attacks and arterial occlusions.'
Of course, let’s not forget the other two secrets of the Ikarian longevity: the Mediterranean diet and the famous Ikarian afternoon nap!
Greek News Agenda: Ikaria-The Island Where People Forget to Die
COURTESY: GREEK NEWS AGENDA
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WASHINGTON—The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading membership-based association for the nation's millions of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, will launch a program that will feed the needy people of Greece and benefit the local Greek economy called "The Demeter Initiative," announced Supreme President Dr. John Grossomanides.
Wheeling Trustee Argiris Running for Village President
Written by Maria A. KaramitsosCHICAGO---Dean S. Argiris is passionate about Wheeling, Ill. The 25-year resident, who has served the community for many years, is running for Village President. The election is April 9.
In Memoriam Nicholas J. Melas: 1923-2013
Written by Maria A. KaramitsosDedicated Family Man Melds his Passion for the Environment and Public Service into a Lifetime of Achievement
Hellenic Museum of Michigan Dedication and Grand Opening this April 13
Written by Maria A. KaramitsosHellenic Museum of Michigan to Focus on the Compelling Immigration Story of Greek Pioneers, History of Detroit's Greektown
DETROIT, MICHIGAN---The Hellenic Museum of Michigan will officially open its doors this April 13. A series of events will commemorate the opening.
Why A Hellenic Museum In Detroit?
The modern story begins in late 2007 when a small group of visionaries became interested in establishing a center dedicated to the mission of “sharing the richness of the Hellenic Heritage of the Greek community and conserving the contributions of Hellenic Culture in shaping our world today and in the future.”
Immigration Story, Preserving Legacies, A Setting For Hellenic Culture and Looking To A Bright Future:
The quest for information to honor those who came before us has taken committee members back into time over 100 years ago, when Detroit was in its infancy, this courageous group of Greek immigrants traveled to Michigan and established their roots firmly in the area. They left their homeland and their families to seek a better life. The stories and memorabilia are compassionate, uplifting, dramatic and compelling. Thus, the seed of an idea for a center was planted so that the dialogues of the Greeks in America can live on and be shared with the generations that follow. The Museum is intended to integrate its heritage into the Detroit Metropolitan community at large and present a formalized setting for the presentation of Hellenic Culture in the Cultural Center of Detroit. The Museum will deepen an awareness and appreciation of its rich heritage of music, art, literature, history, philosophy and language. In addition, the Museum will add another dimension to the diversity presented in the Cultural Center. It seems fitting that one of the first exhibits of the Museum will be the History of Greektown where immigrants gathered to share their days and to bring a part of their beloved Greece to the new shores. That tradition still holds true today in modern Greektown.
Grand Opening Museum Dedication, Honorees and Gala Reception at DIA
On Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 5:00 p.m., the Hellenic Museum of Michigan dedication ceremony will be presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit, along with Museum President, Ernest Zachary. They will be joined by Museum Trustees and Honorary Committee: George Reganis, 2013 Honoree and Parade Grand Marshal, benefactor Jim Papas, entrepreneur and one of the first modern developers of Greektown properties, Dr. Paul Masseron, Wayne State Board of Governors, Dr. Jim Jacobs, President Macomb Community College, Dr. Kenneth Walters, Professor Department Classics, Wayne State University, Sue Mosey, President of Midtown Detroit, Inc., Effie Weinberg, Hellenic Heritage Society, Dr. and Mrs. Steven Kalkanis, Karla Scherer, Stephanie Vlahakis, Trustee National Museum, Chicago, Honorary Dedication Committee.
A gala reception follows the dedication at 6:30 p.m. at the Detroit Institute of Arts with dinner and music, dance performances and string quartet presentation of Greek works under direction of WSU professor, Dr. Kypros Markou. The annual Hellenic Heritage Awards will be presented recognizing individuals for outstanding achievements in the Hellenic community and the greater community it serves. This year’s recipients are George Dimopoulos, Phillip Frangos, Dr. Steve Tsangalias, Dr. George Tsiatalas and posthumously, Diane Edgecomb. Special Heritage Award will also be given to Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade President and Founder, George Reganis and recognition to Kyria Anna Diamantaras. The Greektown Preservation Society will honor posthumously, Zoe and Gus Anton and Ted Gatzaros.
Wayne State University Students Assist In Preparation Of Exhibits
The grand opening exhibit will focus on the history of Greektown and the story of Greek immigrants to Michigan. Since the beginning of current semester, students of Wayne State University Associate Professor, Marilyn A. Zimmerman, Department of Art and Art History, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts,have been researching, photographing and assisting Museum Archives Committee in preparation of this outstanding exhibit. Performances and poetic presentations by area Greek School students and Hellenic organizations of Michigan will take place.
Weekend Celebration Events
The Museum Opening kicks off an entire weekend of celebration and remembrance of history and culture. On Sunday, April 14, the 13th Annual Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade will take place in Greektown at 3:00 p.m. Beginning with 10:00 a.m. church service at Annunciation Cathedral. Press preview at Compuware Lobby at
1:00 p.m. (See attached Parade Press Release).
Throughout the entire Saturday evening events, the Museum will be open for exhibit, tours and refreshments. Oneiro, Mike Malis and Achilles will provide entertainment in the tent. Michigan college students will gather in Greektown and be transported by bus to celebrate the Museum. For information, contact Sam Constantine - 248-420-3228, Tommy Simon - 313-378-8897 or Yianni Dionisopoulos – 313-405-3844.
COURTESY: HELLENIC MUSEUM OF MICHIGAN
Scientist Wins "Woman of the Year" Award
Written by Maria A. Karamitsos
Young scientist Eleni Antoniadou was one of the seven overall winners of the 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards. She won the "Woman of the Year" award at a ceremony that took place on March 19, in London. Antoniadou, co-founder and chief of science for the startup Transplants without Donors, graduated in 2009 from the University of Central Greece with a BSc in Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, carried out graduate studies in Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine at University College London (UCL). 
She is now working towards a PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois. Antoniadou has also founded a startup,Transplants Without Donors, which is the outcome of over 3 years of endeavour to produce an off-the-shelf technology of customized tissue-engineered organs and tissue-engineered bioreactors that can regulate the microenvironment in order to develop biocompatible and biofunctional organs ready for transplantation.Exploring Science at Aristotle Preschool and Kindergarten
Written by GuestNILES— Students at Aristotle Preschool and Kindergarten at Saint Haralambos Church in Niles, Ill., are exploring various simple science concepts. Some of these are easy enough that any parent can do them at home with their child.
In Science Lab, students discussed air, and learned that it is a gas we breathe. They learned he properties of gas--gas expands and takes up all the available space; gas expands when it is heated (the molecules have more energy and they move around more); gas condenses when it is cooled (the molecules lose energy and slow down).
Try some of these fun and educational experiences at home with your child.
Experiment #1
Take an empty water bottle and put a balloon over the bottle opening. Put the bottle in a bowl filled with ice and water. Observe what happens to the balloon. Next, take the balloon and bottle and place it in a pot of boiling water. Observe what happens to the balloon.
Repeat experiments over again and again. Note that the balloon deflates in the cold water and expands in the hot water.
Explain to the child that the gas in the balloon expands when placed in the hot water. The heat from the water causes the molecules in the gas to gain energy and they move around more and expand. When placed in the cold water in the molecule slow down, lose energy and condense causing the balloon to deflate.
Experiment #2
With a funnel, pour 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda into a 9 inch balloon. Next, pour a half cup of vinegar into an empty water bottle. Place the balloon over the opening and lift up balloon so baking soda falls into the vinegar.
The balloon will inflate. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide gas which inflates the balloon.
The object of this experiment is to demonstrate the presence of carbon dioxide gas in soda.
Experiment #3
Put a teaspoon of salt into a balloon. Cover the mouth of a soda bottle with the balloon. Pick up the balloon so the salt will go into the soda. Watch and observe what happens. It is a good idea to put the soda on some newspaper. This can get messy!
With this experiment, we see that salt releases carbon dioxide from the soda, making the balloon inflate. Many carbon dioxide bubbles form on each grain of salt (nucleation sites) resulting in the soda foaming up. The soda goes back down into the bottle, but the balloon stays inflated due to the carbon dioxide gas.
For more information about Aristotle Preschool and Kindergarten, please contact Director Rita Petratos, at 847.647.0991.
http://www.aristotlegreekschools.com/
