John E. Sakellaris Lyndhurst Diner 540 Riverside Avenue Lyndhurst, NJ (201)

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3 The Pan Gregorian Magazine Is Published Quarterly Pan Gregorian Enterprises, Inc. Exclusive for its members and future members, featuring news and approved vendors. Board of directors Chairman Vice Chairman President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary ASST. Secretary TREASURER ASST. Treasurer DIRECTOR Director DIRECTOR John E. Sakellaris Lyndhurst Diner 540 Riverside Avenue Lyndhurst, NJ (201) ΜICHAEL ZAVOLAS All Seasons Diner 176 Wyckoff Road Eatontown, NJ (732) George Siamboulis Tom Sawyer Diner 98 E. Ridgewood Avenue Paramus, NJ (201) James E. Logothetis Candlewyck Diner 179 Paterson Avenue East Rutherford, NJ (201) ANDREAS Diakos Tommy s Diner 349 Central Avenue Jersey City, NJ (201) CHRIS KARAMANOS Kristy s Casual Dining 562 Route 9 Waretown, NJ (609) KOSTIS LOGOTHETIS The Allwood Diner 913 Allwood Road Clifton, NJ (973) Tasos Christodoulou Two Brothers Restaurant 111 Broad Street Elizabeth, NJ (908) HARRY MIHAS Oakland Diner 72 Ramapo Valley Road Oakland, NJ (201) CHRISTOS PRENTZAS Westmont Diner 317 Haddon Ave Westmont, NJ (856) ANDREAS KAIAFAS 6 Lawrence Drive Brick, NJ (908) THEODOROS ZERVOS Edison Family Restaurant 1900 Oaktree Road Edison, NJ (732) MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Αγαπητοί συνάδελφοι και φίλοι, Είναι μεγάλη ευχαρίστηση για μένα να σας καλωσορίζω και πάλι μέσα από τις σελίδες του περιοδικού μας. Το καλοκαίρι βρίσκεται προ των πυλών. Θέλω να προτρέψω όλους τους συναδέλφους, που έχουν τον χρόνο και το χρήμα για καλοκαιρινές διακοπές να επισκεφθούν την όμορφη Ελλάδα. Είναι μια ευκαιρία να έρθουμε σ επαφή με τις ρίζες μας και ακόμη μια ευκαιρία να βοηθήσουμε την πατρίδα μας που βρίσκεται σε μια πραγματικά δύσκολη οικονομική συγκυρία. Η Ελλάδα είναι η ομορφότερη χώρα στον πλανήτη και ιδανικός προορισμός διακοπών. Με τις διακοπές μας στην πατρίδα Θα δημιουργηθούν έτσι νέες θέσεις εργασίας και θα καταπολεμηθεί η ανεργία που μαστίζει την χώρα. Στις 7 Ιουνίου είχαμε την καθιερωμένη μας «Γιορτή της Αγάπης» στην Ακαδημία του Αγίου Βασιλείου, στο Garisson, NY. Είναι πραγματικά μια καλή ευκαιρία να βρεθούμε κοντά στα παιδιά της Ακαδημίας που έχουν τόσο μεγάλη ανάγκη την οικογενειακή θαλπωρή. Το Φιλανθρωπικό ίδρυμα της Εταιρείας έχει αγκαλιάσει αυτά τα παιδιά, και στέκεται πάντα δίπλα στον πνευματικό τους πατέρα, τον πάτερ Σιταρά, ο οποίος για περισσότερα από 10 χρόνια δίνει πραγματική μάχη να διατηρήσει την φλόγα της Ελληνορθόδοξης Πίστης αναμμένη στις καρδιές των παιδιών αυτών. Την Κυριακή, 29 Μαρτίου γιορτάσαμε την επέτειο της Εθνικής μας Παλιγγενεσίας με την καθιερωμένη παρέλαση στην Πέμπτη Λεωφόρο. Η Εταιρεία της Pan Gregorian έδωσε για μια ακόμη φορά το βροντερό παρών με ένα εντυπωσιακό άρμα. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο τιμήσαμε όλους αυτούς τους ήρωες που πότισαν με το αίμα τους το δέντρο της λευτεριάς, για να το βρουν οι μετέπειτα γενιές μεγαλωμένο και ανθισμένο. Υποστηρίζουμε την Εθνική μας παρέλαση στην Πέμπτη Λεωφόρο, γιατί υποστηρίζουμε την διατήρηση της Εθνικής μας ταυτότητας στην μακρινή Αμερική. Φέτος, Grand Marshall της παρέλασης ήταν ο κυβερνήτης της Νέας Υόρκης κ. Andrew M. Cuomo, ο οποίος πρωταγωνίστησε στην υπεράσπιση των Ελληνικών Εθνικών θεμάτων σε όλη την διάρκεια της πολιτικής του θητείας. Την Τρίτη 2 Ιουνίου είχαμε την ημιετήσια Συνέλευση στο Graycliff Catering. Ηταν ευκαιρία να ανταλλάξουμε απόψεις και ιδέες, και να γνωρίσουν όλα τα μέλη μας τα καινούργια προϊόντα και προγράμματα που προσφέρουν οι προμηθευτές της Εταιρείας. Με την συμμετοχή στα κοινά της Εταιρείας είμαστε όλοι κερδισμένοι. Μπορούμε σαν Εταιρεία να επιτυγχάνουμε καλύτερες συμφωνίες με τους προμηθευτές και εσείς μπορείτε να ενημερώνεστε για όλα τα προγράμματα της Εταιρείας και να εξοικονομείτε αρκετά χρήματα από τις αγορές σας. Τελειώνοντας, από τον Τσαίρμαν της Εταιρείας μας, κ. Γιάννη Σακελλάρη, από όλα τα μέλη του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου και από εμένα προσωπικά τις ευχές μας για υγεία και ευτυχία στις οικογένειες σας, και καλές δουλειές. Σας ευχαριστώ Γιώργος Σιαμπούλης Πρόεδρος Spring 2015 The Pangregorian 3

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6 B i l l ( A ) Change New Jersey Liquor Laws This bill creates a restricted restaurant license (R1) which permits the holder to sell any alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises of certain restaurants. In addition, the bill creates a restricted beer and wine license (R2) which permits the holder to sell only beer and wine by the bottle or can. These licenses would only be available for use in connection with restaurants that occupy a minimum square footage of 1,500 and a maximum square footage of 6,000 and maintain a full-service kitchen with a minimum square footage of 500. The governing board or body of a municipality may issue an unlimited number of these licenses within the municipality. Under the provisions of the bill, alcoholic beverages only may be sold in connection with the service of food at a table by an employee of the restaurant, and may begin at 12 p.m. or one hour prior to the service of food, whichever is later in time, and continue until 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. A license holder is prohibited from providing a bar area for customers of the restaurant to congregate and consume alcoholic beverages. However, the holder of a restricted restaurant license (R1) may provide a service bar at which alcoholic beverages are prepared for customers at a table. An employee of the restaurant may be stationed at the service bar to prepare drinks for customers, but may only transfer alcoholic beverages to the wait staff at the restaurant. The bill prohibits the employee stationed at the service bar from serving drinks directly to restaurant patrons. The holder of a restricted beer and wine license (R2) is prohibited from having a service bar. The license holder is required to offer a standard printed menu or menu board system or similar signage featuring a list of meals with separate prices listed adjacent to each meal. For parties of 10 restaurant patrons or greater, the bill allows a licensee to offer a full course menu with a limited number of meal choices for a Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli (D) is the sponsor of the Bill fixed price. The licensed premises of the restaurant would be limited to only one physical address. A municipality that prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages within its borders may establish by ordinance or resolution that a restricted restaurant license may be issued in that municipality. The bill establishes a fee schedule for the initial issuance and annual renewal fee for the restricted restaurant license and restricted beer and wine license based on the square footage of the restaurant. The initial fee and annual renewal fee for this for the restricted restaurant license is $3,000 for a restaurant with a square footage of 1,500 to 3,000, and $10,000 for a restaurant with a square footage of 3,001 to 6,000. The fees imposed for the restricted beer and wine license are half the amount imposed for the restricted restaurant license, and are set at $1,500 for a restaurant with a square footage of 1,500 to 3,000 and $5,000 for a restaurant with a square footage of 3,001 to 6,000. The initial fee and renewal fee are to be paid in the following manner: $2,500 of the fee for the restricted restaurant license and $1250 for the fee for the restricted beer and wine license is to be paid to the municipality where the restaurant is located 6 The Pangregorian Spring 2015

7 and if the restaurant is located within the boundaries of two or more municipalities, the fee is to be divided equally among those municipalities; the remainder of the fee is to be paid to the to the Director Division of Taxation to be used solely for the purposes of offsetting the costs associated with issuing tax credits provided under the bill. After the Division of Taxation is reimbursed for costs associated with issuing tax credits, the full fee is to be paid to the municipality. In addition, the bill requires licensees to pay to the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control any applicable renewal fees that the holder of a plenary retail consumption license is required to pay under current law. The bill imposes certain penalties on the holders of the restricted restaurant license or restricted beer and wine license who violate the law. For a first offense, a restricted restaurant licensee is required to pay a civil penalty of $5,000 and a restricted beer and wine licensee is required to pay $2,500. Both licensees are subject to a mandatory license suspension for a period of time determined by the ABC director for a first time offense. For a second offense, both licensees are subject to a permanent license revocation and are required to pay a fine that is equal to three times the amount of the fair market value of a plenary retail consumption license in that municipality. Any fine money collected is to be paid to the Director of the Division of Taxation to be used solely for the purposes of offsetting the costs associated with issuing tax credits provided under the bill. After the Division of Taxation is reimbursed for up to 75 percent of the projected estimated cost associated with issuing tax credits, the full fee is to be paid to the municipality. This bill further provides for the issuance of additional plenary retail consumption licenses by municipalities that have adopted a master plan pursuant to the provisions of section 19 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-28). These municipalities may issue the additional plenary retail consumption licenses based upon the population projections for that municipality contained in the master plan and the schedule set forth under the bill. The schedule relies upon the population projection in the master plan. If the projected peak population supports the issuance of one or more additional plenary retail consumption licenses, the municipality immediately may issue one additional license. The municipality may issue another plenary retail consumption license whenever an additional 3,000 or more persons are added to the municipality s population, until the maximum number of licenses supported by the projected peak population in the master plan has been issued. This bill also provides a tax credit against the corporation business tax and gross income tax to compensate license holders for the expected loss in value resulting from the creation of the new restricted licenses. Under the bill, the tax credit is equal to 100 percent of the fair market value of taxpayer s plenary retail consumption license prior to the date of enactment of the bill. The bill reduces the fair market value of licenses used in connection with multiple restaurants or other establishments that are located on the same licensed premises. In cases where a single license is used in connection with multiple restaurants or establishments, the fair market value is divided by the number of restaurants or establishments operating in connection with the license. The tax credit is required to be taken over a five-year period, in five annual installments, at the rate of one-fifth the total amount of the taxpayer s allowable credit. In order to claim the credit, a license holder is required to make and file an application with the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), who is responsible for certifying eligible licensees as qualified holders of a plenary retail consumption license based on certain factors related to the licensee, and the status of the license held by the licensee. In addition, the Director of the Division of A.B.C. is responsible for determining the fair market value of each license. To assist in determining fair market value, the bill allows the Director of ABC to appoint an advisory committee composed of representatives with knowledge and experience in the appraisal of alcoholic beverage licenses in this State. Upon certification, the bill requires the Director of ABC to submit the written certification to the licensee (to be used in filing a return that includes a claim for the credit) and to prepare a report regarding the administration of the certification process that will indicate the number of applications made, the number of certifications issued, and the fair market value of each license for which a certification is issued. The bill permits qualified license holders to convert allowable tax credits to tax credit transfer certificates upon application to and approval by the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The bill authorizes qualified license holders to sell any amount of the credit that is converted to a tax credit transfer certificate to another taxpayer in exchange for private financial consideration, but stipulates that the consideration received by the qualified license holder from the sale cannot be less than 75 percent of the transferred credit amount. The bill provides that a qualified license holder who is allowed a credit is permitted to maintain the plenary retail consumption license and operate a licensed premises in this State. However, the bill provides that taxpayers who sell their interest in the consumption license during the five year tax period in which they are eligible to receive annual installments of the credit, must forfeit that portion of the qualified licensee s credit that is equal to the amount of consideration received from the sale or transfer of the license. The bill provides that the forfeited amount will reduce any unused credit of the taxpayer that has not been used, sold, or assigned to another taxpayer and, if after the forfeited amount is used to reduce any allowable credit of the taxpayer, the balance of the forfeited portion remaining must be repaid to the Director of the Division of Taxation. Additionally, the bill provides that taxpayers who sell their interest in the consumption license during a fifteen-year period following the five-year tax period in which they are eligible to receive annual installments of the credit, must similarly forfeit that portion of the qualified licensee s credit that is equal to the amount of consideration received from the sale or transfer of the license. The bill provides that the forfeited amount will reduce any tax credit carryover that is allowed but has not been used by the taxpayer, and, if after the forfeited amount is used to reduce any allowable credit of the taxpayer, the balance of the forfeited portion remaining must be repaid to the Director of the Division of Taxation, at reduced amounts based upon when the sale or transfer of the license occurs. It is the sponsor s intent to foster and encourage economic development and growth in this State by creating a new less-costly restaurant license that permits the licensee to sell alcoholic beverages and to provide financial compensation to certain plenary retail consumption licensees who already have established businesses and paid market value for their licenses. Spring 2015 The Pangregorian 7

8 A Positive Point-of-View of the New Liquor Bill Newly Introduced Bill Aims to Help More NJ Restaurants Gain Liquor Licenses By Joan Verdon Staff Writer The Record A bill that would create two types of restaurant liquor licenses and make it easier for small restaurants to sell alcohol, while giving tax credits to existing license holders, was introduced in the Assembly on Wednesday. The proposal is seen as a boon for restaurant owners who are trying to obtain licenses, but it is likely to be opposed by existing license holders who worry that the suggested changes will rob them of one of their most valuable business assets. The legislation would create a new license allowing restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages with meals. Alcohol could only be served at the table where the meal is being eaten, not at a separate bar area. Another type of license would allow sales of only beer and wine with meals. Municipalities would be able to issue licenses to any restaurant that met the stipulations spelled out in the bill, and restaurant owners could renew their licenses every year, for fees ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the type of license and the size of the restaurant. «Some people obviously are looking forward to it, thinking this is going to be a good idea, and there are obviously some people who have some concerns,» said Marilou Halvorsen, president of the New Jersey Restaurant Association. «We have concerns about our existing 8 The Pangregorian Spring 2015 licensees being fairly compensated for an investment that they have put in, which in some cases can be over $1 million,» she said. Peter Loria, owner of Café Matisse, a 40-seat bring-your-ownbeverage restaurant in Rutherford, is one business owner who would benefit from the changes proposed in the bill. «It s a great idea,» he said. «Margins are getting tighter and tighter and tighter. Every year things go up. Rents go up, PSE&G goes up. There s only so far you can go with food,» he said. But Tony DelGatto, owner of Grissini in Englewood Cliffs and Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, echoed the concerns of existing license holders. «If you have a license right now, you paid plenty of money for it, and it s pretty unfair to be giving them away,» if the law is changed, he said. Even with a tax credit for the lost value, «you re not going to be getting a credit for the business you re going to lose.» Currently, New Jersey s laws allow municipalities one liquor license per 3,000 residents, a restriction that makes this one of the hardest states in which to obtain such a license. In popular restaurant towns such as Ridgewood and Montclair, liquor licenses have been sold for $1 million or more. Restaurant liquor licenses have become so valuable in New Jersey that any discussion of change draws strong opposition from restaurant owners. But backers of this bill are trying to work out a solution that

9 would address concerns. «The equity that exists in existing licenses has got to be respected,» said the bill s sponsor, Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester. «We re changing the rules of the game, and frankly I think it s time the rules changed,» he said. Burzichelli said the measure is intended to help municipalities attract restaurants to their downtowns and boost the restaurant industry in the state, while compensating existing license holders for any impact on the value of their license. «It s designed to be very mindful of the honest equity that exists in present licenses and also to help encourage the restaurant industry to flourish and to give the little guy a chance of competing,» Burzichelli said. Municipalities, Burzichelli said, like «a robust restaurant presence» in their downtowns. «And restaurants have a better chance of succeeding when they have more options and points of profit than simply entrees,» he said. Halvorsen said the restaurant association received a copy of the bill Wednesday and that Burzichelli has expressed a willingness to work with the group to address its concerns. «It s going to be a work in progress,» she said. The New Jersey Retail Merchants Association also has been working to make it easier for retail establishments such as supermarkets that sell beer, wine, and alcoholic beverages to get liquor licenses. Stores such as those are limited to two licenses per company. The association would like to see that expanded to 10 licenses, but the companies would still have to buy existing licenses to acquire them, under one such proposal. «Clearly our liquor laws are outdated,» said John Holub, president of the retailers group. He said changes in the restaurant license law could be beneficial to his group s efforts as well. «Any effort to take a fresh look at an antiquated law is always a good thing, and I think it shines a light on just how the overall liquor laws are old and need to be revised, not just for restaurants but for retail as well.» A Negative Point-of-View of the New Liquor Bill Wholesalers Group Opposes Restaurant Liquor License Change By Joan Verdon Staff Writer The Record The organization representing New Jersey s wine and liquor wholesalers opposes a proposal that would make it easier for restaurants to get liquor licenses, the group s executive director said Friday. There are many reasons why the industry opposes this legislation, but chief among them is the fact that it would add way too many licenses to the industry, said Jeffrey Warsh, executive director and general counsel for the Trenton-based New Jersey Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association. He also is the legislative agent for the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association, which represents bars and restaurants, and which also opposes the proposal. Warsh was reacting to a bill introduced Wednesday by South Jersey Democratic Assemblyman John Burzichelli that would Spring 2015 The Pangregorian 9

10 make it easier for small restaurants to obtain liquor licenses. The measure seeks to create two new types of licenses for restaurants that want to serve liquor, or beer and wine, with meals. The legislation wouldn t change the rules for wholesale distributors or liquor stores, but Warsh said the new restaurant rules would have a ripple effect on wholesalers and retail stores. 10 The Pangregorian Spring 2015 Struggles cited The amount of alcohol sold in New Jersey is remarkably constant from year to year, and more licenses won t mean that more alcohol is sold, but rather that the new licenses take business from existing license holders, Warsh said. The pie will not increase, he said. If you add 1,000 new licenses, you re not going to sell more alcohol. Each slice is just going to get smaller. This is a highly stressed industry that took a big hit during the Great Recession, Warsh said, referring to the restaurant industry and all alcoholic beverage sales. The market already can t support the existing number of licenses, he said. Warsh said that there are some 1,400 inactive licenses in the state and that 30 percent of license holders have trouble paying their bills and are on cash-ondelivery status with wholesale suppliers. Burzichelli, in introducing the bill Wednesday, said he is hoping to spark economic development and job creation by making it easier for small restaurant owners to get licenses. Current state law, enacted in the 1940s, limits the number of licenses a municipality can issue to one per 3,000 residents, a rule that has made it difficult for new restaurants in North Jersey s downtowns, such as Hackensack, or Ridgewood, to get licenses. There s an insufficient number or complete lack of available licenses in many municipalities, inflating the value of existing licenses and forcing prospective restaurateurs to buy a license at an exorbitant price, Burzichelli said in introducing his bill. The legislation (A-4267) also includes a provision for tax credits for restaurant license holders if the value of their license is diminished by the new rules. In some municipalities, restaurant liquor licenses are worth $1 million or more. Warsh said a more measured approach to the problem would be to come up with a system for relieving the high demand for licenses in certain municipalities, but not allow every town to issue an unlimited amount of licenses. The bill has not yet been assigned to committee, and supporters and opponents alike said they expect it to undergo revisions before it is put to a vote. The New Jersey Restaurant Association said Wednesday that it had received a copy of the bill and was reviewing it. The association said its main concern was making sure existing restaurant licensees would be fairly compensated for the investments they made in the past to obtain licenses, often at great cost. The bill would set up a fee system for new licenses, with annual fees ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the type of license and the size of the restaurant.

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12 Πρωτόγνωρη η Συμμετοχή του Ελληνισμού στην Παρέλαση για την Εθνική Ανεξαρτησία Η PAN GREGORIAN ΓΙΑ ΜΙΑ ΑΚΟΜΗ ΦΟΡΑ ΕΝΤΥΠΩΣΙΑΣΕ ΜΕ ΤΟ ΑΡΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΓΙΟΡΤΗ ΤΗΣ ΕΘΝΙΚΗΣ ΜΑΣ ΑΝΕΞΑΡΤΗΣΙΑΣ Η φωνή του Ελληνισμού ακούστηκε για μια ακόμη χρονιά από άτομα κάθε ηλικίας, στην 5η λεωφόρο του Μανχάταν, όπου χθες πραγματοποιήθηκε η παρέλαση για την εθνική επέτειο της 25ης Μαρτίου. Ελληνοαμερικανικά σχολεία, κοινότητες, σύλλογοι, ομοσπονδίες, φοιτητικές οργανώσεις, χορευτικά συγκροτήματα και εταιρείες συμμετείχαν στην παρέλαση με πεζοπόρα τμήματα και άρματα. Τα περισσότερα παιδιά ήταν ντυμένα με παραδοσιακές στολές διαφόρων περιοχών της Ελλάδας, ενώ πολλοί από τους παρελαύνοντες, μικροί και μεγάλοι, κρατούσαν ελληνικές σημαίες. Για μια ακόμη φορά όλα τα τμήματα της Pan Gregorian έδωσαν το παρών στην Εθνική παρέλαση με ένα εντυπωσιακό άρμα. Στην αντιπροσωπεία της Εταιρείας ήταν ο Πρόεδρος του Pan Gregorian κ. Γεώργιος Σιαμπούλης, ο Vice Chairman κ. Μιχαήλ Ζαβόλας, τα μέλη του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου κ. Ανδρέας Διάκος και κ. Ανδρέας Καϊάφας, καθώς και το μέλος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου της Pan Gregorian of Upper NY κ. Πητ Τσαγκαράκης και η υπεύθυνη του Γραφείου της Pan Gregorian Enterprises κ. Τόνι Μπλετσάκη. Το άρμα της Εταιρείας επισκέφθηκε και ο γνωστός Έλληνας δημοσιογράφος Δήμος Βερύκιος. Ο κ. Βερὐκιος, μάλιστα, μαγνητοσκόπησε την επίσκεψη αυτή στο άρμα της Εταιρείας και την μετέδωσε την επόμενη μέρα στην πρωινή εκπομπή του καναλιού ALPHA. Το άγημα Ευζώνων της Προεδρικής Φρουράς, που άνοιξε και φέτος την παρέλαση, καθώς και 180 μαθητές και φοιτητές από το Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο, το Κολέγιο Ανατόλια και το Λύκειο του Ελληνικού Κολεγίου Θεσσαλονίκης «συνέτειναν στον εμπλουτισμό» του ετήσιου αυτού θεσμού, όπως ειπώθηκε από αρκετούς ομογενείς. Στην παρέλαση, την οποία διοργανώνει η Ομοσπονδία Ελ- 12 The Pangregorian Spring 2015

13 ληνικών Σωματείων Νέας Υόρκης, την ελληνική κυβέρνηση εκπροσώπησε ο υπουργός Εθνικής Αμυνας, Πάνος Καμμένος, ο οποίος συνοδευόταν στο ταξίδι του στις ΗΠΑ από τον αρχηγό ΓΕΕΘΑ στρατηγό Μιχαήλ Κωσταράκο και τον αρχηγό ΓΕΝ αντιναύαρχο Ευάγγελο Αποστολάκη. Την κυπριακή κυβέρνηση εκπροσώπησε ο κυβερνητικός εκπρόσωπος, Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης. Ανάμεσα στους παρελαύνοντες ήταν ο κυβερνήτης της πολιτείας της Νέας Υόρκης Αντριου Κουόμο, ο οποίος ήταν τελετάρχης της φετινής παρέλασης, ο δήμαρχος της πόλης Μπιλ ντε Μπλάζιο, ο δημοκρατικός γερουσιαστής Τσαρλς Σούμερ, η δημοκρατική βουλευτής Κάρολιν Μαλόνι, ο αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Δημήτριος, δημοτικοί και πολιτειακοί αξιωματούχοι της Νέας Υόρκης, οι μόνιμοι αντιπρόσωποι της Ελλάδας και της Κύπρου στον ΟΗΕ, πρέσβεις Αικατερίνη Μπούρα και Νίκος Αιμιλίου, αντίστοιχα, ο πρεσβευτής της Κύπρου στην Ουάσιγκτον, Γιώργος Σιακαλλής, οι γενικοί πρόξενοι στη Νέα Υόρκη της Ελλάδας Γιώργος Ηλιόπουλος και της Κύπρου Βασίλης Φιλίππου, ο πρόξενος της Ελλάδας Μάνος Κουμπαράκης, οι επικεφαλής των ελληνικών υπηρεσιών στην αμερικανική μεγαλούπολη, ο δήμαρχος Αμαρουσίου και πρόεδρος της Κεντρικής Ένωσης Δήμων και Κοινοτήτων Γιώργος Πατούλης και ο πρώην υπουργός Εθνικής Αμυνας, αντιστράτηγος ε.α Φραγκούλης Φράγκος. Ο υπουργός Εθνικής Άμυνας Πάνος Καμμένος, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Δημήτριος, ο Αρχηγός ΓΕΕΘΑ Στρατηγός Μιχαήλ Κωσταράκος και ο Αρχηγός ΓΕΝ Αντιναύαρχος Ευάγγελος Αποστολάκης ΠΝ παρευρέθησαν στην τελετή μετονομασίας τμήματος της 33ης oδού στην Αστόρια, όπου βρίσκεται η ελληνορθόδοξη εκκλησία της Αγίας Αικατερίνης, σε oδό Αρχιεπισκόπου Ιακώβου το πρωί του Σαββάτου 28 Μαρτίου Spring 2015 The Pangregorian 13

14 Eίμαστε Δίπλα στην Ελλάδα μας!!! 14 The Pangregorian Spring 2015

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16 SUCCESSFUL DINNER DANCE OF THE PAN GREGORIAN FUND METRO NY &LI Members of The Board of Directors with the General Consuls of Greece and Cuprus and Mrs Manessis with the commemorative plaque Mr. Manos Koumbarakis General Counsul of Greece Mr. Vasilios Philipou General Counsul of Cyprus 16 The Pangregorian Spring 2015 The Dinner Dance of Pan Gregorian Fund of the Pangregorian Enterprises of Metro NY and LI was a great success. Chryssoula Fiotodimitrakis, Office Administrator of PGE of Metro NY and LI, was responsible for organising such an unforgettable evening. The honoree of the event was the Chairman Emeritus of the Pangregorian Enterprises of Metro NY and LI of Mr. Anastassios Manessis This beautiful evening took place on May 31st at Terrace on the Park in Corona, NY. The Terrace on the Park is a very beautiful venue, with excellent service and delicious food. Although the weather didn t cooperate, with severe thunderstorms and flooding downpours, the hall was filled with people. The President and CEO of Pan Gregorian Enterprises of Metro NY and LI Demetris Kafchitsas, in his speech, thanked all of the supporters of the event, without whose help this dinner dance could not have been such a success! He later mentioned the extensive support and promotion of the cooperative, to this special Fund which is geared towards the arts and the education. Art & Education were some of the most important intellectual commodities of our ancient Greek ancestors. He also emphasized the great contribution in the promotion of these commodities of the honoree Mr. Anastasios Manessis. Mr. Kafchitsas praised Mr. Manessis as a successful businnesman and family man altogether. He always stands on the ideal of business ethics and he believes that entrepreneurship and prosperity relies on community support and efforts that get rewarded. Mr. Manessis is a pillar of the foundation of the Greek Orthodox Church, by being an Archon of The Order of St. Andrew. He is a visionary and a mentor and it is a privilege for everyone who meets him and converses with him, Mr. Kafchitsas said. In closing his speech, Mr. Kafchitsas pointed the economical and social importance of Pan Gregorian, as well as the unification of the Greek-American independent restaurant business un-

17 Mrs Manessis on behalf of her father receives a regognition from the New York City Council from Costa Constantinides President of Pan Gregorian Enterprises Mr. Siamboulis with President of Pan Gregorian Metro NY and LI Mr. Kafchitsas The chairman of the council of the educational committee of the «Frank Sinatra School of Arts», Nan Shipley der the cooperative s umbrella. He also spoke about the objectives of Pan Gregorian Metro NY and LI that support the arts, education and reward achievements in the fields of food and hospitality industry. Due to illness, Tasos Manessis was unable to attend and the award was received by his daughter Yvette Manessi Corporon, which is a famous journalist and author. Yvette Manesi thanked the organizers for the honor to her father and she conveyed his greetings to all the participants of this evening. Greetings were sent by the Greek-American New York Assemblymember Kostas Konstantinidis, who also conveyed the greetings of State Senator Michael Giannari and fellow Assemblymember Aravella Simota. He expressed his heartfelt congratulations for the award to Mr. Anastasios Manessis and he also praised the great social and charitable contributions of Pan Gregorian, as well as the support of promoting the of the Greek language and culture. The Consul of Greece in New York Manos Koumbarakis congratulated Pan Gregorian for organizing such a nice event. He also complimented Anastasios Manessis for his contribution to promoting the Greek Orthodox ideals. He also urged the Board of Directors of the cooperative to continue its charitable work. The General Consul of Cyprus in New York Vassilis Philippou complimented the honoree of the night Anastasios Manessis stressing that he was present in all the challenges of Hellenism, such as national issues, Greek Education and Language and the Orthodox Church. The Pan Gregorian Fund of Metro NY and LI donated $10,000 to the Frank Sinatra School of Arts. The check was received by Athanasios Kamperis receives his achievement award from Mr. Kafchitsas and Ms. Fiotodimitrakis the director Donna Finn, who said that this money will help many children in the community and the school to broaden its objectives. The same amount was donated to the Food & Finance High School, the only of its kind that gives great opportunities to young people to be trained and deployed in the industries of food and hospitality. The $10,000 check was received by the chairman of the council of the educational committee, Nan Shipley. The Greek-American Chamber of Commerce, was awarded with the amount of $4,000 for the support of Greek Film Festival in New York. The check was received by the President of the Chamber, Nancy Papaioannou and by the head of the festival, James Di Measure. Ms. Papaioannou noted that the Chamber has 70 years of life, while the festival is already nine years old. She also pointed that a year ago the Festival expanded to Boston and Atlanta. Mr. Di Measure said that last year five thousand people attended the screenings in Astoria and Manhattan. Financial support amounting to the amount of $3,000 received by St. Joseph Church Food Pantry Fund. The priest Father Michelli thanked the Board of Directors for their support to the projects and he noted that the Church provides food and support to anyone who knocked on her door without any discrimination. Athanasios Kamperis is a student of the New Hyde Park public high school in Nassau County. He was the recipient of the amount of 2,500 dollars, as the first winner of the essay with the title The restaurants and their contribution to the economy of New York. It was a successfully organized event and we are all looking forward to the next one. Spring 2015 The Pangregorian 17

18 PGE of Metro NY and LI Organised a Very Successful Event 18 The Pangregorian Spring 2015

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20 Healthy Menu Hang-Ups New dietary guidelines could motivate operators to retool their menus. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recently recommended changes to what Americans should eat, including suggestions to consume less meat, sugar, and saturated fat. While many operators remain focused on the calorie-count mandate set to take effect later this year under the Affordable Care Act, consultants say, the new guidelines also present an opportunity for brands to establish a formal strategy that makes health a permanent part of their business plans. The DGAC made up of 14 top nutrition experts submitted its report in February to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS), which will jointly publish the updated Dietary Guidelines before the end of the year. Many of the proposed changes in the 571-page report reinforce what is fairly agreed upon: Americans should eat fewer overall calories, more plant-based foods, and less sugar and saturated fat. Among the report s notable firsts were suggestions to put a ceiling on total calories from sugar at 10 percent. Howland Blackiston, principal at branding and design consultancy King-Casey, based in Westport, Connecticut, says his quick-serve and fast-casual clients aren t too concerned about the updated guidelines 20 The Pangregorian Spring 2015 right now. All they seem to care about is mandatory calorie counts; that s what the focus is on right now, Blackiston says. Similarly, an expert at Chicago-based marketing and culinary consultancy CSSI says many of the firm s clients are waiting to see how consumers respond to label mandates. Consumers all approach healthy eating differently. Some want to know chains are working toward healthier menu items; others don t, says Marie Molde, registered dietitian at CSSI, which also provides brands with support on nutritional guideline compliance. Chains want to first label items how they are and see consumer response, and then move forward from there.