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Nancy Biska
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.
“Greek News”, October 22nd, 2007
New York.- A devastating Iraq War, declining economy, fire ravaged Greece is inspiring a return to oneʼs roots. The Fourth Annual Evening of Greek Culture and Cuisine at St. Johnʼs University in Council Hall on Friday, October 12th had standing room only. The Panchiaki Korais Society Dance Group under the supervision of Evangelia Klidas and Katie Markidis mesmerized an audience of 200 persons with a program of dances that exemplified the best of Greece.
The Pan Cyprian Association of America, through the assistance of President Philip Christopher, granted one thousand dollars of scholarships to outstanding students Veronica Georgiades and Christiana Pashiou. Outstanding Benefators honored included: Rev. Anastasios Diakovasilis; New York State Senator Frank Padavan; Stephen Cherpelis, Archon Dikaiophylax of the Order of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle; Journalist/Webmaster Nancy Biska and the Pan Macedonian Studies Center under the presidency of Elias Neofytides.
Award presentations were given to SJU Assistant Dean Ekaterini Georgiades, Greek Club president Diamanto Ktenas; Past Greek Club President Irene Zouroudis and Kostas Lambiris, vice-president of the Pan Macedonian Studies Center. Student moderators of the program were Haritomeni Scoufaras, Theodora Christodoulou and Marina Filippatos.
By Nancy Biska, ΚΡΗΤΗ Magazine
“Let food be thy medicine, and let thy medicine be food” — Hippocrates
Homer called olive oil the “liquid gold”. Nothing is more characteristic of Crete than the millions of olive trees that grow in valleys and mountainous areas. According to archaeological findings, Cretans have been cultivating the olive tree and have been using olive oil since 3500 B.C. during the early Minoan period.
In ancient Greece the olive tree has been the symbol of wisdom and peace. It was the sacred tree of goddess Athena and Athens, the capital of Greece. Also, at the Ancient Olympic Games, winners were presented with a simple olive tree branch which was cut with a gold-handled knife from a wild olive tree. The Greeks believed that the vitality of the sacred tree was transmitted to the recipient through the branch.
Source: United Federation of Teachers – UFT
There’s Greek dancing, Greek food, Greek myths and, most important, Greek Independence — when the country won its freedom from Turkish rule on March 25, 1829. At a precelebration on March 16 at the union’s Manhattan headquarters, the UFT Hellenic American Educators Association hosted an evening of scholarship and spanakopita.
After welcoming remarks by Deme Savoplis, association president, broadcast journalist Nancy Biska gave the keynote speech. Following, Loakim Barbalios from the Macedonia Association discussed his research on how American textbooks approach Greek issues. After a lively question-andanswer session, the group kicked back for an evening of great Greek food and traditional dance performed by the Greek American Folklore Society.
Greek News, MARCH 19TH, 2007
New York.- Journalist extraordinaire, Nancy Biska delivered a powerful speech at the Hellenic American Educators Association of the United Federation of Teachers annual Hellenic Heritage Event, on March 15th, at their Manhattan headquarters. The colorful evening provided a celebratory prelude to Greek Independence Day, commemorated world-wide, on March 25th.
Ms. Biskaʼs presentation was preceded by the opening remarks of the Hellenic American Educators Association President, Ms. Demi Savopolis, who warmly greeted those in attendance. Among the notables present was Mrs. Stella Kokkolis, who is the President of the Federation of Greek-American Educators; also the esteemed Board of Director for the Federation of Greek-American Educators, Ms. Adriana Filiotis. “The lecture by Nancy Biska was not only very informative but also very documentary and scientific” said Mrs. Kokolis. “Bravo to H.A.E.A. for the entire program. Our Federation is very pleased to see celebrations that try to perpetuate the Hellenic language and our heritage. We wish to our colleagues health and success in their endeavors”.
A delicious buffet of traditional Greek cuisine was provided, for all to enjoy. The Greek-American Folklore Society danced spiritedly to the soulful Greek music.
Part I-January 15, 2007, Greek News, Interview by: Yvonne A. Montesantos
“Ms. Biska, as a leading proponent of Hellenism, in what ways could we coordinate and interface with the many Greek-American groups more efficiently, in order to re-vitalize Hellenism world-wide?”
Nancy Biska: We Greeks are resourceful, ingenious, creative, megalomaniacs, seekers and, on top of all, we have an opinion about everything. These elements constitute our “big fat Greek ego”. Since the ancient times, Greeks brought into being and achieved great things because of these characteristics. And it was these very characteristics that led to division, to civil wars and in general to our effete position in the global process.
We Greeks abroad feel a great pride for our background and our cultural heritage, something that makes us arrogant and leads us to believe that we deserve recognition and leading positions.
Another egoistic factor for the American Hellenism is the provincialism. The structure of Omogeneia was based on associations of national-topical interest because during the days of immigration this form was subserving socially our compatriots. Nowadays that immigration is in its minimum level, this provincialism stands as an additional barrier, obstructing the cooperation and coordination of the actions of the Greek-American community.
Prominent California developer and philanthropist Angelo Tsakopoulos, former Prime Minister of Greece Constantine Mitsotakis, Nancy Biska, Pan-Cretan Association of America President Emmanuel Velivasakis and Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni during the Association’s event in honor of Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Tsakopoulos at Flushing’s Terrace On The Park last Friday, September 29.
National Herald, OCTOBER 7, 2006
By Demetris Tsakas
NEW YORK – The Pan-Cretan Association of America honored former Prime Minister of Greece Constantine Mitsotakis with the Eleftherios Venizelos Award and the Nikos Kazantzakis Award to the California real estate magnate Angelo Tsakopoulos during a special dinner in honor of the two men at Flushing’s Terrace On The Park last weekend. Almost 1,000 members of the Greek American community from the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut), as well as from Illinois and Texas and other states, attended, easily making the dinner the most well-attended Greek American event so far this season.
Greek News, March 13th 2006, By Catherine Tsounis
“Sicily was an uninhabited paradise of green forests and rivers in 1000 B.C.,” said Dr. Gaetano Cipolla on Friday evening, Feb. 24th at the Pan-Macedonian Studies Center in Whitestone, New York. “Greek navigators explored the island for several hundred years. There were few persons and Carthaginians on the island. The Greeks began the first massive colonization of the island. They were the first to settle and develop a Sicilian civilization. While other persons came as conquerors, the Greeks came to stay and gave to Sicily.” Dr. Cipolla, a St. John’s University professor at the Languages and Literatures Department, is the foremost Sicilian-American historian in the United States.
January 2004
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made a five-day visit to Cuba in January 2004, consecrating the new St. Nicholas Cathedral given to the Greek Orthodox Church by President Fidel Castro, who presented the key of the Cathedral to His All Holiness (more)
Photos by Nancy Biska