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Senator Padavan Honored at SJU Greek Evening for Phil-Hellenism

Greek News, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2008
New York.- Senator Frank Padavan was honored at the sixth Annual Evening of Greek Culture held Friday evening, October 17th, at Council Hall of St. Johnʼs University. Senator Frank Padavan is a defender of Hellenism in Northeastern Queens.
Mrs. Athanasia Nancy Biska, international journalist, webmaster, President of the Pan Macedonian Studies Center said “Phil-Hellenes have assisted unconnected, hardworking, intelligent persons of Greek origins for generations. Senator Frank Padavan, a Republican, whose popularity crosses all political parties, has been in power for several decades. His popularity lies in his fairness, humility and kindness to all who seek his help, without any strings. He is the only Republican representative in the Democratic stronghold of northeastern Queens, New York City.”
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Protesting Human Right Violations in FYROM

Published in National Herald
Greek Americans hold signs and Greek, Cypriot and American flags during a demonstration protesting human rights violations against Greeks in FYROM on Monday, October 27, 2008 outside of the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York.
The protesters were calm and well-behaved and spent their time chanting.
In this photo are Stella Kokkolis, Nancy Biska and Koula Moschokarfis.

Scholarships Awarded At Pan Macedonian Conference

Queens Gazzete, May 30th, 2008
As an international audience of 300 persons gathered at the Pan Macedonian Studies Center in Whitestone applauded, scholarships were conferred on three students enrolled in the Modern Greek Language and Literature program at St. John’s University. George Stamboulis and Calliope Pappas each received a 2008 Panchiaki Korais Society scholarship and Anthony Michaelides of Flushing received the 2008 Theodore Spyropoulos scholarship at the Pan-Macedonian Conference on May 30.
Panchiaki Korais Society President Kostas Kojes presented Stamboulis and Pappas with the Panchiaki Korais Society scholarship and Nancy Biska, governor of the Pan Macedonian District of Greater New York, presented the Spyropoulos scholarship to Michaelides.
The Panchiaki Korais Society scholarship program was initiated in 2000 and has awarded $9,000 in scholarships to St. John’s students.
Michaelides is an honor student at St. John’s University and a co-editor of “The Greek American Experience II” by Professor Catherine Tsounis, sponsored through a grant by the Pan Macedonian Studies Center and state Senator Frank Padavan.

From the Land of the Labyrinth: Minoan Crete, 3000-1100 B.C.

280 Artifacts and works of art that reveal the history of the luminous Minoan culture of Crete to the metropolis of USA, New York
By Nancy Biska, ΚΡΗΤΗ Magazine, April 2008
The interest of the American Press and hundreds of visitors daily is focused on the artifacts of the Minoan Civilization which are exhibited at the “Alexander Onassis” Foundation at the Olympic Tower in Manhattan, New York. The exhibition was co-organized by the “Alexander S. Onassis” Public Benefit Foundation in USA, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological museums of Crete, with the cooperation of the Pancretan Association of America. Continue Reading

Courage of Greeks and Philhellenes at SJU

March 24th, 2008
New York.- “The Greeks endured years of slavery known as the “Chronia tis Slavias”, said Dr. Christos P. Ioannides, keynote speaker at the 4th Annual St. Johnʼs University Greek Independence Day Program on Feb. 21st evening at Council Hall. “They lived as slaves for four hundred years. The Greeks did not forget FREEDOM. The American Revolution opened the way for others to rebel against foreign rule. They remembered that God gave them the right for freedom.”
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A good cause

National Herald, January 25, 2008
From left to right: George Leventis,Nancy Biska and Manolis Velivasakis hold a check from the Langan Engineering Environmental Services for $25,250 which was donated to the Plant Your Roots in Greece Foundation at Kellaris Parea on January 16 in New York.

Farewell to a Diplomat: Dr. Catherine Boura

New York. By Catherine Tsounis, Greek News, December 3rd, 2007
She is a person with a classical Greek profile. Low key, pleasant, without meanness in her soul, this diplomat was “a servant of the people”. The intellectual, who has a Ph.D. on areas focusing on Asia Minor and the Middle East, mingles with the powerful, rich, middle class, all nationalities with ease. Her warmth made her four years as consul general of Greece to the United States unforgettable. One always felt welcome at the Greek Embassy in Manhattan. This is the legacy of one of the great women of our generation: Dr. Catherine Boura.

On Tuesday evening, November 27th, an elegant dinner was held in Ms. Bouraʼs honor at Mezzo Mezzo located on 31-29 Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria, NY. Over one hundred prominent Greek-American women attended to raise a scholarship fund in the diplomatʼs name. Aphrodite Daniels, multi-talented with a unique singing voice, entertained all non-stop throughout the evening with live musical entertainment. The Mistress of Ceremonies was Nancy Biska, leading international journalist/internet webmaster, who is governor of the Pan Macedonian Association for the District of New York and New Jersey.
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Greeks rally to raise funds for “other’ wildfires in Homeland

By Clem Richardson, Monday, November 5, 2007, DAILY NEWS
The summer wildfires swept across the already sun-scorched land, consuming everything in the way and leaving ashes in their wake. The devastation was incredible – at least 67 people killed, 1,100 homes and 427,000 acres of forest and farmland destroyed. This wasn’t sunny Southern California last month, but Greece in August, when some 170 wildfires, some of them arson blazes, rampaged through Mount Taygetos and other portions of Peloponnese in Southern Greece.
Kyriakos (Charlie) Kourakos, owner of Mezzo Mezzo restaurant on Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria, Queens, spent long hours watching television reports as the flames ravaged Mount Taygetos, near Sparta, in the province where he grew up.”I used to vacation there when I was growing up, and I still take my family there,” said Kourakos. “It is such beautiful country, full of birch and pine trees. So beautiful.”Peter Alexeas, president of Progressive Designs, a Hempstead, L.I., firm that designs and builds diners, was vacationing in the region when the flames hit. He joined the fire brigade as locals tried to help overwhelmed firefighters in the battle.”There were only two fire trucks,” Alexeas said.
“I think we did more than the firemen did. I burned my hand, the fire was so close.” Now the two have joined with consultant Nancy Biska and the World Council of Hellenes Abroad in a national effort to replant Mount Taygetos and other parts of their homeland. The World Council is looking to raise more than $500,000 for the “Plant Your Roots In Greece” tree-replanting program. Biska said all the money raised will go directly toward the replanting effort. “Every dime that is donated will go into replacing lost trees,” she said. The Greek government has pledged to rebuild the destroyed homes.
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Greek Journalist Nancy Biska honored at SJU

Gazette
Nancy Biska was honored at the fifth annual Evening of Greek Culture and Cuisine sponsored by the Modern Greek Language and Literature program at St. John’s University on Friday evening, October 12 in Council Hall. More than 200 persons attended.
Biska is a journalist and editor for Greek and international newspapers and magazines. She is a public relations spokesperson, radio and television personality and Webmaster. Seirios Media and P.R. Publications, created by Biska, is a leading Modern Greek Internet newspaper. Her support of Hellenism and the Modern Greek Language and Literature program at St. John’s University is legendary.
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