community the armenian reporter

Transcription

community
New York Metro
AGBU young
professionals are
shining a “HALO”
Story on page B3 m
Hovnanian School
holds manti night
Story on page B3 m
A N.J. parish honors a
member family
Story on page B6 m
Mid-Atlantic
Philadelphia Church
marks its centenary
Story on page B5 m
New England
Bring home the fruits
of the homeland
Story on page B5 m
Project SAVE issues
calendar
Story on page B9 m
California
$19.1 million verdict in
Fresno State sex bias
case
Story on page B9 m
Scientists help satellites
weather storms
Story on page B10 m
Armenian Weddings:
Ooh! Aah! Here comes
the bride!
Story on page B10 m
the armenian
reporter
Number 25
Eastern U.S. Edition
December 15, 2007
Charles Mosesian makes a million-dollar
commitment to Watertown’s St. James Church
Watertown, Mass.7 – Charles
Mosesian, a philanthropist and
lifelong member of Watertown’s
St. James Armenian Church, has
contributed a gift of one million
dollars to parish’s 75th anniversary capital campaign. To honor
Mr. Mosesian’s gift, the church’s
cultural and youth center will be rededicated as the “Charles Mosesian
Youth and Cultural Center.”
Mr. Mosesian’s contribution will
be added to the two million dollars
already pledged to the church by
St. James parishioners and friends.
The three million-dollar capital
campaign was launched two years
ago to underwrite a “strategic plan”
for the parish, which includes infrastructure improvements and
new programming and ministries.
One of the original godfathers
of the parish cultural center, Mosesian has been involved in St. James
Church for most of its history. His
devotion to the church grew out of
his belief that “after the Genocide,
it was the Armenian Church that
kept us together as Armenians.”
According to his daughter Charleen Onanian, Mr. Mosesian was
motivated to make this gift because
“he wanted to make sure that the
children, who are our future, grow
up to be caring and compassionate, and involved and dedicated to
Armenian causes.”
For Fr. Arakel Aljalian, the parish
pastor, Charles Mosesian’s contribution “will help our church realize
many of its goals. The renovation of
Fr. Arakel Aljalian, pastor of Watertown’s St. James Church, with Charleen Onanian, Charles Mosesian, and Elaine Mosesian.
the St. James cultural center – soon From frozen pizza to
in Maryland started selling the
to be renamed the Charles Mose- philanthropy
“Euphrates Crackers,” and later it
sian Youth and Cultural Center – is
was picked up by a local restaurant
a key priority for our church, as that Charles Mosesian was born in 1912 chain. There as so much interest
is where much of our ‘St. James life’ in Kharpet, where he spent the that it was packaged and soon sold
takes place. It is where our youth first 16 years of his life. His fam- in stores.
gather, our children learn, and our ily escaped the Armenian Genocide
In the late 1950s, the bakery was
parishioners come together in and arrived in Watertown in 1930. sold, but the “Euphrates Cracker”
friendship and fellowship.”
Mosesian started his first busi- – one of the first products to be
He added: “Charlie has created an ness in Watertown at 18 years of known nationally as an Armenian
incredible legacy in the St. James age. His bakery focused on making product – is still produced to this
community, which will benefit gen- Armenian bread, but over time, he day.
erations of parishioners for years created a sesame seed cracker that
to come.”
caught on elsewhere. A restaurant
Continued on page B8 m
Noubar Kouyoumdjian, an
auto mechanic who loved
to dance, dead at 77
Speakers at the Nov. 9 conference on Christian Responses to Genocide. Pictured (third from left onwards): Gregory Stanton,
Francis Deng, and Juan Mendez. Photo: Kathleen Cameron.
Major New York conference explores
Christian responses to genocide
at the Interchurch Center in New
York.
The all-day conference, titled “Reflection and Responsibility: Seeking
Christian Responses to Genocide,”
was organized by the National Council of Churches, Genocide Watch, the
Center for International Conflict
Resolution at Columbia University,
and the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason
by Florence Avakian
University. Dr. Gregory Stanton,
president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS),
New York 7 – “Reflecting on was among the scholars, inter-deman’s inhumanity to man, what nominational religious figures, and
can we, as Christian leaders and diplomats who spoke at the event.
people of faith, do in respond“For too long, humanity has sufing to genocide?” That ques- fered from unspeakable atrocities,
tion was asked by Archbishop ethnic cleansing, and mass killing,”
Vicken Aykazian in his opening said Archbishop Aykazian, who
remarks on Friday, November 9, on the previous evening had been
to set the theme for a conference installed as the new president of
In the quest to
prevent mass
killings, the world
has come up short,
speakers say
the National Council of Churches.
Reciting a list of “unimaginable
crimes,” he listed the Armenian
Genocide, the Holocaust, and the
genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda,
Bosnia, and Darfur.
“We must find the will and determination to bring about a future
without genocide,” he said.
Reflecting on the Armenian tragedy, he noted that for him as an
Armenian, the “horrors and reality
of these great crimes take on an
added dimension and significance.”
Sketching the brutal fate of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, he
referred to U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Henry Morgenthau, who at the
time called the killings “a campaign
of race extermination the likes of
which the world has never seen.”
Continued on page B4 m
Hinkley, Ohio7 – Noubar
Kouyoumdjian, of Hinckley, passed
away on August 20, at a hospice in
Medina, Ohio, where he was being
treated for Parkinson’s disease. The
cause of death was heart failure. He
was 77.
Mr. Kouyoumdjian, an auto mechanic by profession, was born on
November 10, 1929, in Amman,
Jordan. He met his future wife of
54 years, Vartouhi Khacherian, in
Jerusalem’s Old City, and the two
were married in Amman in 1953.
The following year they departed
Jordan by ship and arrived in the
U.S., living for a brief period in
Chicago, but finally settling in
Hinckley, where the couple lived
for 45 years and raised four daughters.
Noubar was active in Cleveland’s Armenian community,
serving on the board of trustees
of the Holy Cross Church of North
Royalton. Relatives recalled that Noubar and Vartouhi Kouyoumdjian
he had a special love of dancing -- in 1954.
he had performed professionally
during his years in the Middle Tanielian presided, and where a
East – and that he was an avid personal letter of condolence from
weight-lifter. His flare for mak- Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
ing people laugh and spreading Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, was
happiness was exemplified in read. Noubar Kouyoumdjian was
his annual Christmas-time im- buried at Eastlawn Cemetery in
personation of Gaghant Baba for Brunswick.
family and loved ones.
The personal tribute to Mr. KouyA funeral took place at Carlson oumdjian, which appears on page
Funeral Home in Brunswick, Ohio, B8, was written by his daughter,
over which Bishop Anoushavan Martha. f
B2 The Armenian Reporter | December 15, 2007
Community
Armenia Fund’s record-breaking telethon will help build an
“Armenian Dream”
New York7 – “What we are
trying to do” said Armenia Fund
USA chair Raffi Festekjian during
his televised address, “is to restore
confidence in our citizens, give
them the opportunity to believe in
themselves, to believe in the idea
that hard work pays off -- to believe
in the ‘Armenian Dream.’”
Mr. Festekjian made his comments as part of this year’s 10th
International Armenia Fund Telethon, which was broadcast live
from Hollywood on November 22,
Thanksgiving Day, and raised a record $15,275,000 in pledges from
Armenians around the world. (See
the Reporter’s extensive, first-hand
coverage in its December 1 edi- Pictured, from left: Armenia Fund USA chair Raffi Festekjian, Western Region
“This is a broad effort to be able to say soon that there is no poverty in Armenia,”
tion.)
chair Maria Mehranian, and Armenia Fund International executive director Vahe
said Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian (left), who is the boardThe telethon connected major Aghabegians. Photos: Arka Photography.
appointed coordinator of the Village Development Program. At right is telethon
cities and Armenian communities
host Artak Herikyan.
in support of Armenia Fund’s Village Development Program.
“With the Village Development
Program, we hope to end despair
and hopelessness in some of the
most under-served communities
throughout Armenia and Karabakh,”
said Mr. Festekjian, who heads the
New York-based affiliate, which organized a gala event at the United
Nations this fall to pay tribute to
Armenia Fund’s 15th anniversary.
“This is a task that requires pulling together all of our resources.”
Armenia Fund’s executive
director in Yerevan, Vahe AghabeL.A.’s Vartan
gians, said, “We want Armenians to
and Siranush
regain pride in their schools, hosGevorkian
pitals, sports and cultural facilities
Dance Company
that they were formerly so proud
performs during
of, but which have fallen into a sad
the telethon.
state of disrepair. We want people
to be better off than before: materiardo Eurnekian ($125,000), Armen million), Argentina ($250,000), the
ally and morally. We want a quality
Ekserdjian ($200,000), the Arme- United Kingdom ($200,000), Lebaand secure life for our citizens.”
nian community of Switzerland non ($100,000), and Toronto, CanThe 12-hour live broadcast was
($150,000), AGBU ($150,000), Joe ada ($200,000).
produced by executive producer
Yalkezian ($100,000), the New
For the past decade, funds raised
Michael Levin. Music producer
York Life Insurance Settlement during the telethon have helped viStepan Partamian arranged for
Fund ($200,000), the AXA Insur- tal projects to improved conditions
the more than 30 musical perforNagornoance Settlement Fund ($200,000), in Armenia and Karabakh, includmances which were a highlight
Karabakh
the Western Diocese of the Arme- ing the construction of roads, waof the show. The telethon aired
President Bako
nian Church ($50,000), K-Telecom ter and gas distribution networks,
coast to coast as well as on the
Sahakyan and
(Armenian Dram [AMD] 45 mil- schools and hospitals. This year’s
Internet.
telethon host
lion), Karabakh Telecom (AMD 32 beneficiary, the Village DevelopAmong the telethon guests were
Artak Herikyan.
million), Ardshininvestbank Bank ment Program, will fund projects in
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Var(AMD 15 million), Armenian Rail- agriculture and market-economics.
tan Oskanian; Nagorno-Karabakh
A significant number of con- and a special fundraising effort way CJSC (AMD 15 million), Cen“Armenia Fund is going from inPresident
Bako
Sahakyan;
Primate
tributions
came
from
Armenia
in
Argentina.
tral
Bank
(AMD
10.5
million),
the
frastructure
development to susAmerican
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Major donors to this year’s event Ministry of Defense (AMD 10 mil- tainable development,” said Maria
tirossian; Moscow philanthropist from this year’s youngest do- included Levon Hairapetian ($2.5 lion), Armenian Molybdenum Pro- Mehranian, the fund’s U.S. WestLevon Hairapetian; and L.A.-based nor, 12-year-old Janik Simonyan million), Vahe Karapetian ($1 mil- duction CJSC ($20,000), and the ern Region chair.
benefactor Vahe Karapetian.
from Yerevan. “We all have to lion), Project Cure ($700,000), Lou- Yerevan Fund (AMD 5 million).
The eastern U.S. affiliate, operatparticipate, don’t we?” he said, ise Manoogian Simone ($500,000),
Armenia Fund’s global affiliates ing east of the Mississippi, was one
This space contributed as a public service.
explaining his wish to contribute Hirair Hovnanian ($500,000), were also among the major donors, of the first of Armenia Fund’s 19
$10. The final tally included funds Varaz
Samvelyan
with service.
notable sums coming from international affiliates. It can be
This space($500,000),
contributed as a public
raised through phone-a-thons George Pagoumian ($260,000), France ($1.6 million), Armenia ($1.2 contacted on the web at www.Arin Armenia, Karabakh, Europe, Feed the Children ($280,000), Edu- million), Nagorno-Karabakh ($1 meniaFundUSA.org. f
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B3
The Armenian Reporter | December 15, 2007 Community
AGBU young professionals are shining a “HALO” over Armenia’s children
New York7 – For the sixth
consecutive year, the AGBU Young
Professionals organization of
Greater New York is sponsoring a
project that allows the public to
give a gift from the heart while
helping Armenia’s children during the Christmas season. This
season, the young professionals
group from northern California
has joined the effort.
“Helping Armenia’s Little Ones”
(HALO) raises funds for AGBU’s
three Children’s Centers in Arme-
nia, through personalized gift card ers” will create age-appropriate gift
donations made in honor of a loved cards in the name of each recipient
one, family, or friend.
on your list – delivered just in time
Through the gift cards, gift-giv- for Christmas.
ers can make donations in another
To take part in this effort is easy -person’s name. The donation will but its results can have a significant
benefit the Children’s Centers, and impact on life in Armenia.
the “honoree” will receive a card
“By giving a gift through Helping
acknowledging that such a gift has Armenia’s Little Ones, you bring
been made in his or her name.
Christmas cheer to children near
Donations in increments of as and far,” said group co-chair Natalie
little as $10 are accepted for each Gabrelian. “It’s also a great way to
offering, and an AGBU Young Pro- avoid the holiday hassle of the mall.”
fessionals group of “Santa’s helpIn a joint initiative sponsored
by AGBU, and administered by the
The students have proved highly
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, motivated and talented, as the centhree Children’s Centers were es- ters provide them with the opportutablished in 1993 in the Arapkir, nity to perform and build on their
Nork, and Malatya districts of Ye- interests. The performing arts group
revan. Today, the centers employ from AGBU’s Nork Children’s Center
an administrative staff of 300 to just concluded its second United
make a difference in the lives of States tour with great success.
more than 3,500 enrolled stuTo take part in the HALO project
dents between the ages 7 and 19, – and avoid the discomforts of holivia after-school programs in the day shopping, show a loved one you
arts, dance, gymnastics, history, care, and make a difference in the
language, music, religion, tech- life of an Armenian child – contact
nology, and crafts.
[email protected]. f
Hovnanian School proves manti is worth its weight in gold
New Milford, N.J.7 – More from the evening. Continuing the
than 250 people attended the sec- tradition established a year ago,
ond annual “Manti Dinner” on proceeds from the Manti Dinner
Saturday, December 1, in the Hov- will help support the 8th grade
nanian School gym. Families and graduation trip to Armenia in
friends gathered for an evening April.
feast built around one of the allPreparation for the Manti Dinner
time great Armenian delicacies: took two full days, and involved the
manti. The dinner also included teamwork of more than 15 parents
salad, hummus, cheese and olives, and PTO members. Even some 8th
and a lavish buffet of homemade graders’ grandparents offered their
desserts.
assistance in preparing the manti
To add to the liveliness of the and helping to serve.
event, international disc jockey
Eighth-grade students arrived
“Crazy Jack” provided music. The early on that Saturday to set up
evening concluded with a raffle of and offered continuous help
several donated items and the an- throughout the evening. During
nouncement of the “Teacher Auc- the dinner, the school extended its
tion” winners.
special thanks to Alis Uzatmaciyan
Thanks to the efforts of all in- and Karen Toufayan for coordinatvolved, over $7,000 was raised ing the event. f
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Manti
aficionados fill
the Hovnanian
School gym
for the second
annual Manti
Dinner
fundraiser.
Community
Conference explores Christian responses to genocide
m Story starts on page B1
Launching an alliance
to abolish genocide
Archbishop Aykazian mentioned
the horrific images witnessed by
missionaries and German soldiers,
and headlined in the New York Times
throughout 1915. “But the world did
not learn,” he said. Quoting Hitler’s
famous statement of 25 years later,
he speculated that the genocides
conducted in Europe in the 1930s
and ’40s “might have been prevented if the world had learned about
the Armenian atrocity.”
And so, he said, mass killings
continued throughout the 20th
century, and have continued into
the 21st century. “We, as a community of nations, still have not figured out how to prevent genocide
-- and sadly, still fight against denial
of previous genocides,” the Armenian religious leader pointed out.
Announcing that the National
Council of Churches was planning
to launch a new initiative called
the “Alliance to Abolish Genocide,”
Archbishop Aykazian said: “Together, we stand united and speak
with one voice. Together, we will
defeat the scourge of genocide and
the ongoing consequences of genocide denial. Together, we will create
a genocide-free future.”
Dr. Gregory Stanton, of the IAGS
and Genocide Watch, pointed out
that the Armenian Genocide was the
first genocide that set off humanitarian efforts, and that the United Nations in 1948 created a convention
against such crimes after Raphael
Lemkin coined the word “genocide.”
He offered the staggering statistic that since 1948, the world has
witnessed 45 genocides.
He added that since the act of
genocide, which goes back to the
beginning of human history, also
would include mass killings against
the Native Americans, the United
States “should have forged a movement against genocide. Only recently, the U.S. voted to withdraw
2,500 UN troops from Rwanda,
and has been bystanders in Darfur.
Therefore, the question of how can
we mobilize the Christian churches
to be the major force to campaign
against genocide,” is a crucial issue,
he said with emphasis.
Pictured
(third from
left onwards):
Christiane Tietz,
Milan Sturgis,
Tony Kireopoulos
Photos: Kathleen
Cameron.
Speakers Tony Kireopoulos and Anne Marshall.
Pictured
(foreground):
Andrea Bartoli.
Abp. Vicken Aykazian, Michael Kinnamon, and Clare Chapman.
Alliance to Abolish Genocide,” two Council. The purpose of this office
leaders from the United Nations is “to provide an early warning, then
reflected on the obligations of the take early action,” he explained. “But
international community to pro- what can work in one situation, may
tect and prevent genocide.
not in another,” the genocide expert
Juan Mendez, president of the stated, adding that “there has to be
International Center for Transitional expert knowledge on countries.”
Justice, founder of the U.S. office of
“The emphasis must be on preHuman Rights Watch, and himself vention, because there is doubt
a former political “prisoner of con- whether something is genocide,”
science” in Argentina, revealed that Dr. Mendez continued. First, it’s
when he was a special advisor to UN important to identify the populaSecretary-General Kofi Annan the tion at risk. Then humanitarian
world body experimented with ways assistance must be provided, folthat the UN could establish an “early lowed by accountability on crimes
warning system” on genocide.
that have occurred. Finally, peace
In 2001, Mendez said, he brought negotiations must be established
to the attention of the Security to prevent more violence.
Council the fact that if atrocities
All four stages must be acted on
were left unattended, they could simultaneously, he said. However,
A bottleneck of political lead to genocide. As a result, the “the bottleneck is the political will.”
Council created the position of SpeIn addition, Mendez said, there
will
cial Advisor in 2004, as well as an Ad- is a lingering question in the UN
Addressing the panel on “The Po- visory Committee in 2006, with the program as to who will ultimately
litical Challenge and the Goal of the authority to report to the Security decide whether genocide is taking
Dr. Christiane Tietz, from the
Center for Theological Inquiry, explaining the Lutheran reaction to
genocide in Germany during World
War II, noted that politics played
the primary role in the Holocaust,
but that ideas espoused by Martin
Luther had been used to advance
those politics of the Holocaust. In
the end, she said, “the duty of the
church is to aid all victims of state
violence. The church transcends
race and ethnicity, and is not there
for itself, but for others.”
Dr. Milan Sturgis of Boston
University focused on the Orthodox Christian position concerning
Srebrenica. He expressed the idea
that “religion is a dynamic in how a
state operates.” Detailing the atrocities in Srebrenica -- where his own
family were victims -- he suggested
that “there is a need to focus more
on forecasting and prevention,
rather than on laying the blame.”
Dr. Anne Marshall of the United Methodist Church pointed out
that one “can be both a Methodist
and an American Indian,” as she is.
In a shocking address, she detailed
the physical and cultural aspects of
genocide on the Native American,
relating that “genocide occurred
everywhere in the U.S.” Among the
atrocities she listed was the forced
sterilization of 500 young Native
American women; according to Dr.
Marshall, similar policies were still
in force as late as 1970.
She pointed to reports of sexual
abuse and misconduct in the Methodist schools, where many Native
Americans were educated, and laid
special emphasis on assaults on native culture, involving the loss of
language, children being forced out
of Indian schools, the break-up of
the family, and relocation to larger
urban areas.
According to Dr. Marshall, the
as yet unacknowledged debt of the
U.S. government to Native Americans reaches into the billions of
dollars. “There must be an admisChristian reflections on sion that the U.S. allowed all this to
happen. Only then can it have the
complicity in genocide
right to admonish other countries
Dr. Andreas Bartoli of George for perpetrating genocide,” she said
Mason University, addressing the with obvious emotion.
Roman Catholic role in Rwanda, a
The conference concluded with a
Catholic country, pointed out that startling admission from the Rev.
the Rwandan genocide occurred – Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General
was actually filmed and documented Secretary of the National Council
-- under everyone’s watch. “The able of Churches, who confessed that
were not willing,” he declared. “The the National Council of Churches
Catholic Church failed to convert had not sufficiently challenged the
hearts and minds, failed to provide horrors of genocide.
warnings and protection, and failed
“We have been too reactive, and not
to communicate properly with ex- proactive enough,” he said. “We must
ternal forces outside the state.”
be ambassadors of reconciliation.” f
place, and whether to act. He advised that multilateral, not unilateral, action needs to be the norm in
any scheme of genocide prevention,
and that suggests that the Security
Council will be the determining
agency. But, he said, there is always
a danger that powerful countries
will impose their will.
“We are very far from creating a
culture pf prevention,” Dr. Mendez
stated. “Responsibility to protect
must be made operational.”
The next speaker was Dr. Francis
Deng, a leader of the Sudan when
it was a democracy, who fled when
the military took over, and who is
currently the UN’s Special Advisor
for the Prevention of Genocide and
Mass Atrocities. Born and raised in
a traditional African family with religious values, he had the opportunity to attend Catholic, Protestant,
and Muslim schools.
The problem with identity conflicts, he said, is that “it is either
you or me.” One of the issues he
has studied is the role of religion in
shaping identities that eventually
become conflicting, and might lead
to acts of genocide. “There is much
in common among all religions, but
there is also much division,” he said.
He called genocide “the extreme
degree of identity conflict.”
According to Dr. Deng, the original 1948 UN Genocide Convention
did not define political associations
and mass killings, but has since been
expanded to include mass atrocities.
“Now, the emphasis is on the responsibility of the international community to intervene, and the potential
for intervention. [But] unless a government has collapsed, no government will allow international intervention without the state’s consent.”
However, he said, “in extreme
cases, there must be international
intervention.” Dr. Deng did admit
that the UN Genocide Convention
has not been effective in preventing genocide.
B5
Philadelphia’s Armenian Martyrs Church marks its centenary
by Andrew Kevorkian
Philadelphia7 -- Four hundred congregants, dignitaries,
friends, and guests helped the Armenian Martyrs Congregational
Church (AMCC) mark its centenary,
with a luncheon banquet on December 2.
There were a scant 120-or-so Armenians in this city when a group
of Armenian Protestants -- many
of them the most distinguished
Armenians in the city -- began
their plans for a church. Their
plans were realized in 1907. After
holding worship services in many
temporary sites, the AMCC established its home in its own building
in 1924. In 1964, it moved to its
present home in nearby Havertown.
A major portion of the celebratory luncheon, therefore, was devoted to remembering that past
and honoring the clergy and others who had served the congregation.
In his keynote speech, which im-
mediately preceded the “Honoring
of the Pastors,” former pastor Dr.
Peter Doghramji, who was later to
receive a plaque marking his service,
briefly spoke of the AMCC’s history
and legacy before he read off the
names of the 14 pastors -- seven in
the first 50 years, and seven in the
second 50 years -- who have served
the church.
The ceremony to honor the pastors was conducted by Marge Bogosian and Joan Momjian. The
three daughters of Rev. Dr. Giragos
Chopourian, who died last year at
age 92, received a plaque marking his service. Present to receive
their awards were Rev. Dr. Soghomon Nuyujukian, Rev. Dr. Eugene
Grau, Rev. Gary Schongalla-Bowman, Rev. Hovhannes Karjian, and
the current pastor, Rev. L. Nishan
Bakalian. Absent was Rev. Jirair
Sogomian.
The other keynote speaker was
Dr. Tony Campola, who delivered
a rousing Evangelical speech on the
“Outreach of the Church Universal,”
laced with humor and inspirational
messages.
Look back and say
“Thank you”
The program opened with a welcome by Dr. Eileen Stephey, moderator of the church. The invocation
was pronounced by Rev. Nuyujukian, who is now pastor emeritus.
Albert Momjian, who as a young
attorney was instrumental in the
negotiations for the present site
of the church, served as Master
of Ceremonies. After noting the
honored guests, which included
clergy and representatives of the
other Armenian churches in Philadelphia, he noted the names of
senders of letters of congratulations, introduced the members of
the anniversary committee, and
then introduced and thanked the
co-chairs of the committee, John
Devedjian and Charles DeMirjian.
Also speaking at the banquet was
Daniel Kaiserian, representing the
youth of the church who “are starting the next 100 years by building
on the last 100 years.”
Entertainment was provided by
the AMCC’s own choir, under its
director Mary Loiselle, which sang
“Sourp, sourp”; “Exultate Deo”; “Surely, the Presence”; and “Yes, Lord.”
The accompanist was Judy Large.
Miss Loiselle also acknowledged all
the choir leaders of the past, many
of whom were present.
In his closing remarks, prior to
giving the benediction, Rev. Bakalian acknowledged the need to look
back to say “Thank you.”
At the reception before the
banquet began, while the people
who defied the nasty weather
were assembling, entertainment
was provided by the Ara DerMarderosian Duo. A nostalgic feature
of the reception involved video
screens around the large room,
on which were shown hundreds
of photos of activities and individuals during the past years. The
staging and production of the
presentation was donated by Visual Sound, which was founded
by John Bogosian, a long-time
AMCC member, who died earlier
this year. The company is now
run by his widow Marge and
daughter Karen.
A word is necessary for the remarkable 118-page souvenir Commemorative Booklet what was
given to all those present. It contains a concise history of the Martyrs Church by Rev. Doghramji, including photos of the clergy of the
past; a list of the church’s young
members who served in World War
II, with a special page for the community’s sole casualty of war, John
Minassian; donors to the Centenary from 21 states and two foreign
countries, and 35 pages of photos
of church events and members in
various activities.
Copies of the book are available
for $20 from the church office (100
N. Edmunds Avenue, Havertown,
Pa. 19083), or by contacting Jeannette Bakalian at (610) 446-3330. A
DVD of the event is also available.
The Centenary luncheon banquet
was a well-planned and lavishly executed tribute to the leaders and
congregation of the past, as well as
setting a challenge to the present
generation. f
Bring home the fruits of the homeland – virtually
Framingham, Mass. 7 – With
several high-profile stories about
Armenia and Armenians making
headlines this year, the Internet
has been buzzing with information
to help people understand and appreciate the unique Armenian culture.
For Baykar Dervishian, however, the Internet-age promises to
facilitate more direct connections
with Armenia, by giving the world
easy access to Armenian music,
decorative handicrafts – and even
food.
Dervishian is the creator and
proprietor of “ArmenianVendor.
com.” An Armenian-American, he
has set out to help his countrymen
from the homeland share their talents and creativity with the rest of
Let us know what’s
on your mind.
Write to us at
letters@
reporter.am
the world, while giving the world
direct access to all that Armenians
have to offer.
“We started our venture by par-
hundreds of pictures and pieces
of jewelry.”
Since then their product listing
has grown to items ranging from
compact discs and DVDS, to home
Baykar
decor, handmade Christmas ornaDervishian,
ments, books, games for kids and
creator and
adults, apparel, concert promoproprietor
tions, and more.
of www.
Dervishian insists that “visiting
ArmenianVendor. Armenia is the best way to expecom, an online
rience all that the country and its
store specializing
people have to offer. However, for
in all manner
those who don’t have that opporof Armenian
tunity, ArmenianVendor.com aims
products.
to bring Armenia to you.”
He embarked on his own maiden
ticipating in few local Armenian voyage to Armenia in 2001, and for
bazaars, and set up tables with the first time, saw, heard, and tastour jewelry and pictures of Ar- ed the country with all its history,
menia. A year later, we had sold tradition and culture. Through his
website, he hoped to capture the
realities of modern day Armenia
and diasporan Armenian art in a
single accessible location.
Dervishian is proud of what
he calls the site’s “cozy interface”
which “feels like you just walked
into a far off middle eastern
store.” He now actively seeks out
new products to display, and says
he’s always open to new ideas
and requests. Baykar invites
people to contact him anytime
via e-mail at [email protected].
In the meantime – and especially
with Christmas around the corner – he tells web-surfers to “kick
back, log on, and get your shopping
done. Armenia is just around the
corner.” f
Community
A N.J. parish honors a member family that’s made
a difference in the lives of Armenia’s youth
Harry and Suzanne
Toufayan’s dream
to open a youth
center in Armenia
is cheered and
supported by their
hometown friends
Livingston, N.J.7 – The Divine Liturgy at St. Mary Armenian
Church was proceeding as usual
on Sunday, December 9, when Fr.
Shnork Souin turned to the congregation to announce that a special
ceremony was about to take place.
The change in routine may have
come as a surprise to the parishioners at first. But when Fr. Souin
asked Harry and Suzanne Toufayan and their family to approach
the bema, knowing glances spread
throughout the crowd.
Parish council chair Dr. Toros Kapoian also came forward, with an
envelop in hand which told the tale
that a formal presentation was in
Catholicos
the offing.
Karekin with the
“Der Hayr speaks often about how
Toufayan family.
the church is a family,” said Dr. Kapoian, “and when one of our ‘family
members’ does something to make
us all proud, it’s our pleasure to be
able to support that effort.” With
that, he presented a check to the
Toufayans on behalf of the Livingston parishioners.
The gift in the amount of $2,500
had been raised by the members
to congratulate the Toufayans and
to help support a dream-project of
theirs: the Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan Youth Center, which began
operation this summer in the Armenian city of Etchmiadzin, home
to the Mother See of the worldwide
Armenian Church.
The youth center -- which provides after school activities like
woodworking, painting, music,
needlework, and other special programs to over 600 children, and Fr. Souin and three generations of the Harry and Suzanne Toufayan family, at the The Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan Hayortats Doon, in the city of Etchmiadzin,
also serves as a soup kitchen for Livingston church.
Armenia.
the elderly – is the physical expression of the couple’s concern for the “home-away-from-home” for Armewellbeing of Armenia’s younger nian children who have few options
generation. The gift from the St. to occupy their after-school time.
Mary parishioners will go towards Like other youth centers sponsored
the endowment fund the Toufay- by the Holy See, the Toufayan coman’s have also set up in conjunction plex will offer programs to help
with the facility, to underwrite its children expand their horizons and
ongoing maintenance.
sharpen their skills.
As president of Toufayan BakerThe center officially opened its
ies, and familiarly known as the doors late this summer, in a cer“King of Pita,” Harry Toufayan emony where the Catholicos of All
conceived the youth center project Armenians, His Holiness Karekin
more than four years ago, during a II, officiated.
personal meeting he had with CaArchbishop Khajag Barsamian,
tholicos of All Armenians Karekin Primate of the Eastern Diocese of
II.
the Armenian Church of America,
And it is the Catholicos who will took part in the special occasion,
bestow yet another honor on Mr. along with over 100 family memToufayan in the coming weeks, bers and friends of the Toufayans.
when the latter serves as the “god- Among them were many friends
father” during the Blessing of Wa- from the Toufayans’ home parish
ter ceremony, to culminate the an- in Livingston, N.J., who had journual “Armenian Christmas” service neyed to Armenia as pilgrims in
at Holy Etchmiadzin on January 6, conjunction with the opening.
2008.
The highlight of the celebration
came on August 31, when Catholi“A proud moment for
cos Karekin walked into the complex alongside the Toufayans, folme and my family”
lowed by a throng of well-wishers.
Among the churches and other To the delight of the attendees, they
buildings presently under construc- were greeted by hundreds of chiltion in the city of Etchmiadzin, the dren, who played the instruments,
Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan Hay- sang songs, and danced about in
ortats Doon stands tall. The com- beautiful Armenian costumes.
plex is huge by local standards: over
Following the traditional bless- Fr. Shnork Souin, pastor of the St. Mary Church of Livingston, N.J., presides over a Dec. 9 ceremony in which the parish
60,000 square feet. Even so, its goal ing of water, bread, and salt at the made a $2,500 gift to Armenia’s Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan Youth Center. Parish council chair Dr. Toros Kapoian made
is to be a comfortable, welcoming, entrance, the Catholicos declared the presentation on behalf of fellow parishioners to the benefactors, Mr. and Mrs. Toufayan.
B7
the center officially opened, and have always wanted to give someguests made their way to one of thing to the children of Armenia.
the facility’s auditoriums where a I thank all the many people who
spectacular program was present- share this happy moment with me
ed by a performing troup from one and Suzanne.”
of Armenia’s other youth centers,
Following the program, the
nicknamed the “Armenian Cirque guests were treated to a lavish reDe Soleil.” The talent, charm, and ception, and had a chance to tour
spirit of the talented young per- the many levels of the huge comformers mesmerized and deeply plex and appreciate the enormity
touched the audience.
and the potential of the Toufayan
Following the hour-long show- Youth Center. A dinner took place
case of musical and acrobatic skill, later that evening in the grand ballArchbishop Barsamian spoke of the room of Yerevan’s Marriott Hotel,
Toufayans’ spirit of giving, stress- to honor the benefactors.
ing his pride in his friendship with
“The whole weekend of celebrathe benefactors.
tions was an unforgettable event,”
Catholicos Karekin then took the recalled Adi Abdo, a friend from
stage with Harry and Suzanne, and the Toufayans’ home parish in
extolled their humility and gener- Livingston, who had attended
osity, as a prelude to awarding them the August opening. “To see
medals for their many services to Harry and Suzanne surrounded
the Armenian Church and nation.
by family and so many friends,
A clearly moved Harry Toufayan sharing a proud moment in their
told the crowd, “This is a very proud lives, was a very uplifting experimoment for me and my family. I ence.” f
Harry Toufayan addresses the crowd following a spectacular youth performance at the youth center opening.
St. Mary Church “brings a gift
of stewardship” to local needy
families
Guests enjoy the reception that followed the Toufayan Youth Center opening.
The Catholicos awards a medal to
Suzanne Toufayan.
Pictured (l-r): Joe and Kristine Casali, Greg and Meline Toufayan, Karen and
Steve Nargizian.
Catholicos Karekin II confers a medal
on benefactor Marry Toufayan.
Livingston, N.J.7 – Fr.
Shnork Souin’s refrain that the
St. Mary parish is “the little
church that shares and cares
through prayer” was exemplified over Thanksgiving, through
a project that aimed to help
needy families in the surrounding town.
On Tuesday, November 20,
the St. Mary pastor along with
parishioners of all ages prepared
20 large boxes of food, which
Fr. Souin then personally delivered on the Wednesday before
Thanksgiving to the Town of
Livingston’s Health Center.
The charity effort – dubbed
“BAGS” by Fr. Souin, meaning
“Bringing a Gift of Stewardship” - was a symbolic gesture of goodwill and care for the needy of
the community, the priest said.
Church members collected donations and goods through the
month of October, in anticipation of the November 22 Thanksgiving holiday.
“BAGS was such a generous
outpouring in the spirit of the
season,” said Fr. Souin. “I was
Toufayan, family members, friends, and guests enter the
Hratch and Suzanne Youth Center for the first time on Aug.
31.
Guests tour one of the auditoriums of the Harry and
Suzanne Youth Center.
Armenian children exhibit their artwork at the youth center opening ceremonies.
so touched by the enthusiasm
with which our parishioners responded.”
“It was one of the best, most
heart-warming programs that I
have been involved in since beginning my pastorate at St. Mary,”
he added: “a true representation
of our ministry.”
The boxes of food – each box
containing over $75 of non-perishable food – were distributed
through the Department of
Health, Welfare, and Human
Services, to 20 needy families in
the Livingston area. The church
thanked Lauren Glassman, the
director of the town’s Division of
Welfare for helping to make the
project work.
“We pray that this small gesture of our concern and care will
not only bring blessings to [the
recipient families’] homes, but
will also make St. Mary part of
their family life this holy season,”
said Fr. Souin. “And we hope that
BAGS will become a regular part
of our parish outreach and care
for our greater community for
many years to come.” f
Community
Charles Mosesian makes a million-dollar commitment to
Watertown’s St. James Church
m Story starts on page B1
Mosesian then started a new
path by making a “Euphrates”
brand of frozen pizza. He invented machines to process the pizza
and developed a method of assembling and freezing the pizzas
so that ballparks and racetracks
could finish baking them on site.
He is credited with developing
the techniques to mass produce
and market frozen pizza. Eventually, Mosesian sold the pizza
company and went on to start
a local bank, The Coolidge Bank
and Trust.
Today, Mosesian is best known
as a real estate developer. He began
developing buildings in the 1960s
and built the first high-rise condominium in the Watertown area
in 1972. In the 1980s, he built two
luxury buildings along the Charles
River – Charles River Towers and
Horizon East. Throughout his career as a developer, he built over
700 housing units.
Philanthropy has always been
a large part of Mr. Mosesian’s life.
Through the Charles Mosesian
Family Foundation he has supported numerous schools and organizations. In 2000, Mosesian gave
one million dollars to the Arsenal
Center for the Arts in Watertown
– the center’s largest single gift – as
a result of which a 380-seat venue
was named the Charles Mosesian
Theatre.
He has also funded the Charles
Mosesian Family Foundation
Fund for Armenian Studies at the
University of Connecticut, and
the Charles Mosesian Boston
University Medical Center and
Republic of Armenian Medical
Partnership Program. Mosesian
is also a major supporter and life
member of the Armenian Assembly of America.
Mr. Mosesian lived in Watertown
with his wife of 32 years, Dorothy,
until her passing in 1976. He has
two daughters: Elaine Mosesian of
Boston, and Charleen Onanian of
Weston.
Fr. Aljalian emphasized the
Mosesians’ continued generosity: “Charlie Mosesian is, indeed,
a living embodiment of Christian
stewardship. The entire St. James
parish is grateful for his benevolence.” f
St. James Church honors Nishan Atinizian and
Gregory Adamian
Watertown, Mass.7 – On
November 30, more than 200
parishioners and friends gathered in St. James Church’s
Keljik Hall to honor two fellow
church members. Both honorees were recipients of the Ellis
Island Medal of Honor: Nishan
Atinizian received the medal in
2005, and Dr. Gregory Adamian
in 2007.
Eastern Diocesan Primate
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
presided over the evening, which
began with welcoming remarks
from Lalig Musserian, and a toast
by parish council chair Scott Kapilian.
Arthur Atinizian, son of Nishan,
recalled with pride and emotion
the day his father received the
medal, and Dr. Adamian humbly
expressed his own pride in being a
recipient, noting the rarity of having two St. James parishioners receive the distinction.
Pastor Fr. Arakel Aljalian, remarking on the service both
men have offered the St. James
parish and the greater community, said, “They did not forget
who they were, their history, or Eastern Diocese. At the Waterwhere they came from – have town church he sponsored the
made a difference in the lives of Atinizian Media Center, and he
many, both in this country and has supported the Holy Cross
abroad.”
Armenian Catholic Church in
Archbishop Barsamian acknowl- Lexington, and that town’s Aredged, “I have worked with both menian Sisters’ Academy, as
of these men for years. Both have well as numerous schools and
served the Armenian Church, Ar- organizations in Istanbul. He
menia, and the community with currently serves on the boards
love and with dedication. I am of the Fund for Armenian Reproud to call both of them my lief and the Armenian Library
friends.”
and Museum of America, is a
Also present was Archbishop lifetime trustee of the ArmeVicken Aykazian, Eastern Dioc- nian Assembly of America, and
esan Legate and the new presi- is involved in the Armenian Exdent of the National Council of ecutive group, the Essayan-GetChurches, and family members ronagan alumni, the Knights of
of the award recipients.
Vartan, and the Armenian GenNishan Atinizian, a benefactor eral Benevolent Union.
to many causes in Armenia and
Dr. Gregory Adamian, chanthe diaspora, has been awarded cellor and president emeritus of
the “St. Gregory the Illumina- Bentley College, is a career-long
tor Medal” for his support of educator and attorney, who has
Holy Etchmiadzin as well as the been a member of the Central
Above: Abp.
Barsamian, Abp.
Aykazian, Fr.
Aljalian, the
honorees and
their wives.
Right: Nishan
Atinizian (left)
and Gregory
Adamian (right)..
Board of the International AGBU, 75th anniversary Capital Caman associate trustee of the Ar- paign committee. Dr. Adamian
menian Assembly, a director has received the “St. Sahag and
of St. Nersess Armenian Semi- St. Mesrob Medal” from His
nary, and a director of NAASR. Holiness Karekin I, an honorHe also helped establish Amer- ary Doctorate of Laws from
ica’s first endowed chair in Ar- Boston University Law School,
menian Studies at Harvard. He and an honorary Doctorate of
currently serves as an honorary Commercial Science from Bentco-chair of St. James Church’s ley College. f
Noubar Kouyoumdjian, an auto mechanic who loved to dance, dead at 77
A tribute to my
father
by Martha Kouyoumdjian
Mekaelian
See obituary on page B1.
As we watched the yerakouyndraped casket of my father, Noubar Kouyoumdjian, being put into
the funeral car, I realized how precious his teachings to his daughters (Rose, Anoush, Virginia, and
myself) were, and how the things
he taught us will never die. Among
them, his unconditional love which
transcends time; his compassion
for others; his refusal to be judgmental, regardless of the action;
and his all-powerful faith.
He taught us that in order to be
happy, we must believe that God
is in everything; and to seek Him
even in our defeats and trials.
Anybody who ever entered our
home was greeted with his traditional jokes. Within 10 minutes of a
visit, one was completely comfort- was his grandchildren, Ardemis time. Some had buried their own room day and night, next to him,
able and laughing as if there were and Kevork Mareshlian, who called loved ones just two weeks prior. for him, and with him.
no problems on earth. To make an- him blessed in their moving eulo- We were not surprised to see these
My sister, Anoush, in her euother happy was my father’s hap- gies. It was his grandson, Khoogas wonderful friends, as it is their logy, gave a perfect account of my
piness.
Arsen Mekaelian, who read the nature to be so compassionate. father’s life. She said, “As children,
He taught us to forgive, to forget, scriptural reading on the day of the Their compassion gave them the my sisters and I prided ourselves in
and to never hate. He taught that funeral. It was his granddaughter, strength to set aside their own pain knowing that whenever we attendone of life’s conditions is that we Martha Vartouhi Mekaelian, who and reach out to comfort us.
ed any party, it would be dad, who,
must limit ourselves and we must sang “Amazing Grace” as tribute
In the month before my father’s when approaching the dance floor,
choose. We cannot take every pos- to my father. It was his daughters, death, his grandchildren -- Michael would generate crowds around him
sible journey, or embrace every Anoush Mareshlian and myself, Bokovitz; Kevork, Noubar, and Ar- to watch with amazement and with
type of career or lifestyle.
who delivered eulogies on behalf of demis Mareshlian; Mikhail Noubar, delight. Dad loved to dance.”
He taught us the wealth of life the family. It was his grandchildren Martha Vartouhi, Khoogas Arsen,
My father had been a profession– with which money has little to do. who escorted his coffin to its final and Dziadzan Datevig Mekaelian; al dancer in Jordan and performed
It has been said to measure wealth resting place and together, as the Christian and Paul Vasken Najar- throughout the Middle East.
not by the things you have, but by yerakouyn was being folded, sang ian – would visit him daily in his
Anoush continued: “It was in this
the things you have for which you “Verkerov li.”
hospice room. They arrived com- past month that dad would express
would not take money.
My father was the most blessed plete with a joke book to lift his himself with the following words,
Theodore Roosevelt summed it up and wealthiest person on earth. He spirits and encourage him with the ‘Took erar lav nietzek’: ‘Look after
perfectly when he wrote: “No other could not possibly have loved us gift he had given to countless oth- each other well.’”
success in life – not being President, any more, and he would not love ers: The gift of laughter.
If a response could be given, it
or being wealthy, or going to college, us any less.
They told jokes for as long as my would be this: May God bless those
or writing a book, or anything else -Even though this is a tribute to dad had the strength; and he re- words. And to our departed father,
comes up to the success of the man my father, my family could not ceived his strength to endure ev- in your passing that we find imposor woman who can feel that they overlook those who came to pay erything because of his powerful, sible to bear, as you place mom’s
have done their duty and that their their last respects. It was hum- virtuous wife, my mother, Vartouhi hand in ours and our family’s
children and grandchildren rise up bling to learn that some came in Kouyoumdjian. She stayed with hands together, along with those
and call them blessed.”
wheelchairs; some, in spite of their him until his final breath. She nev- of friends and loved ones, you will
This quote might as well have own medical conditions, found the er left his side, not even to go home always be with us. One day we will
been written for my father, for it strength to see my father one last to sleep. She stayed in his hospice all meet again. f
B9
Armenians fly the flag in the 2008 Project SAVE calendar
Watertown, Mass.7 – The freight -- and even the challenge of
Project SAVE Armenian Photograph identifying a flag’s country.
Archives’ 2008 calendar -- its 21st
Project SAVE’s flag photographs
edition – might be called a “Hye- include everything from posed stuflying” publication, which featured dio portraits to informal images of
unfurled flags of all kinds.
families, social groups, and schools.
“Armenians Fly the Flag” includes Readers will see and learn about an
25 Project SAVE photographs on a 1891 adventurer on the Euphrates
wide variety of topics, all of which River in a kelek (sheepskin raft); a
include some kind of flag, banner, ship model representing the pasor ensign.
sage to America; the United States
At first thought this seems ei- Military Mission to the Middle East
ther a tame subject (imagine kids in Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armeholding flags, picnics and parades nia, following World War I; the Raiwith flags) or a very patriotic one sin Day Parade in Fresno, Calif., in
(people saluting a flag, or military the 1920s; a 1940s church play in
fighting for a standard). However, Worcester; demonstrations in supwhen reviewing possible images to port of a free Karabakh; and more.
use, Project SAVE’s staff discovered
Project SAVE invites the public to
a subject full of emotions, symbolic order its latest calendar by mail or
in person in time for Christmas or
Armenian Christmas (the calendar
also makes an appropriate New
Year’s gift). For mail orders, call
Suzanne at Project SAVE, at (617)
923-4542; download an order form
from Project SAVE’s website, www.
projectsave.org; or e-mail a request
to [email protected].
Those in Watertown can also
come to the archives in person,
starting Thursday, December
20, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
through December 24 (until 4:00
p.m.). The Project SAVE staff will
be happy to assist in calendar purchases, and give visitors a tour of
the archives.
The cost for one calendar is $20
plus postage and handling at $4 per
calendar (with a 5 percent sales tax
for Massachusetts residents). Two
or more calendars can be bought
for $17.50 each (the Mass. sales tax
still applies), plus $4 shipping per
calendar. (A flat shipping rater of
$20 is available for for purchase of
6 to 30 calendars delivered to the
same address.) Call or e-mail with
any questions, including pricing on
purchases of 10 or more calendars,
and wholesale orders to benefit
non-profit organizations. f
An image from the 2008 Project
SAVE Calendar: Voski “Goldi” Martin,
Boston, 1911 (Photo by Suren Diran;
courtesy of Phyllis Okoomian and
Barbara and Peter Schultz)
Camp Haiastan Corporation holds its annual meeting and elections
Franklin, Mass.7 – On Octo- tion includes not only the seven Krikorian (Old Tappan, N.J.). With Pavilion,” dedicated in July to the staff accommodations, asphalt
ber 6, the Camp Haiastan Corpo- current elected sitting members of no nominations coming from the memory of the late Linda Bahtiar- basketball and play areas, the Diration held its annual meeting at the Board of Directors, but also 16 floor, the four were elected and wel- ian Demarest. The single largest kran Tzamhour Hall and Barbecue
the Armenian Youth Federation’s members-at-large representing a comed to the 2008 Camp Board of camp building project in the last Building at the Picnic Grounds, and
Camp Haiastan facility in Franklin. diverse cross-section of the Ameri- Directors.
20 years, the High Hope Pavilion several infrastructure projects.
Attendees toured the camp proper- can-Armenian community – all of
Retiring from the 2007 Board after replaced the old unused swimThe 2008 Camp Haiastan Corpoty, reviewed the recently complet- whom share an affection for the 57- more than four years of service were ming pool, and was the result of a ration members are Joshua Teveed summer camping season, and year-old Camp Haiastan.
Steve Mesrobian (of Foxborough, two-year fundraising campaign in kelian, Richard Krikorian, Levon
elected new members to the four
An overview of the past year’s Mass.) and Mesrob Odian (Kinnelon, which the Bahtiarian family was Attarian, Simone Topouzian, Miopen seats on the Camp Haiastan activities was reported by outgo- N.J.), who were both applauded for the major primary donor.
chael Shamlian, Melissa Simonian,
Board of Directors.
ing Board chair Mark Alashaian, sharing their time and resources
The Corporation also saw the Nevart Mikaelian, Michael GuzeThe Camp Board of Directors followed by the report of outgoing during their terms of office.
improvements to the Uncas Pond lian, Mark Alashaian, Lucy Essajais the hands-on operational body treasurer Richard Krikorian, preThe 2008 Camp Haiastan Board waterfront, the venerable circle of nian, Aram Adishian, Robert Avathat directly oversees the year- pared in collaboration with accoun- of Directors now consists of Mark camper cabins, the infirmary, the kian, Anthony Deese, Ani Jerikian,
round camp operation, and meets tant John Parrella, CPA. Executive Alashaian, Joshua Tevekelian, Mi- renovated bathroom and shower Aram Hovagimian, Lauren DaSilva,
monthly to carry on the business director Roy Callan spoke on the chael Guzelian, Richard Krikorian, buildings, the outdoor living and James Kzirian, Rasmig Tchaghlaof the camp and its property, staff, highlights of the year, touching on Levon Attarian, Nevart Mikaelian, overnight tent campsite, the sum- sian, Hayg Oshagan, Ivan Ardhaland programs. Chief among the the summer camp and the off-sea- and Melissa Simonian.
mer office, dining hall, and kitchen. djian, Artin Dermenjian, Onnig
latter is the eight-week residential son operations.
The improvements are the fruit of Petrossian, Garo Ketsemanian, and
children’s summer camp, and the
The nominees for the four open Camp improvements
a comprehensive plan to identify, Ned Apigian.
one-week children’s day camp.
Board of Director seats were Levon During a tour of the camp facil- raise funds for, and upgrade Camp
Camp Haiastan’s Board of DiThe Camp Haiastan Corpora- Attarian (of Pawtucket, R.I.), Me- ity, Michael Guzelian of Needham, Haiastan’s physical facilities as well rectors welcomes correspondence,
tion consists of 23 Armenian men lissa Simonian (North Providence, Mass., who directs the camp’s fa- as its programs and activities.
and can be contacted at haicamp@
and women from various regions R.I.), and incumbents Mark Alas- cilities and property, presented
The next areas earmarked for verizon.net (type “Board of Direcof the United States. The corpora- haian (Emerson, N.J.) and Richard the newly completed “High Hope extensive renovation include the tors” into the subject line). f
$19.1 million verdict in Fresno State sex bias case
Attorney credits his
Armenian roots for
his sense of justice
by Nyrie Karkazian
FRESNO, Calif.7 – Things started winding down in the Stacey
Johnson-Klein vs. Fresno State
case on December 6, as JohnsonKlein victoriously emerged from
the courtroom with her attorney,
Warren R. Paboojian, at her side.
“It was a great feeling because a
number of people said that there
was no case and that she should
have been fired,” said Paboojian. “I
just didn’t feel that was the case.”
Johnson-Klein, the former women’s basketball head coach at Fresno
State University, was fired in March
2005. At that time the university
released a statement announcing
her termination. The statement
detailed a university investigation which allegedly revealed that
Johnson-Klein had skimmed money from staff and taken painkillers
from a student.
The university initiated an investigation after Johnson-Klein
had threatened them with Title
IX complaints. This was the university’s third case in less than six
months involving similar issues
and circumstances. Title IX is a
comprehensive federal law that
prohibits discrimination on the
basis of sex in any federally funded
education program or activity. The
principal objective of Title IX is to
avoid the use of federal money to
support sexually discriminatory
practices such as sexual harass“The arrogance of the univerment and employment discrimi- sity came during the trial when
nation in education programs, their employees testified, when
and to provide individual citizens [Johnson-Klein’s] supervisor testieffective protection against those fied, and when the president of the
practices.
university testified. That arrogance
Lindy Vivas, former volleyball permeated through and the jury
coach at Fresno State, won a $5.85 picked up on it,” Paboojian said
million jury verdict in June for when asked about the university’s
gender discrimination, and in confidence in winning the trial.
September Dianne Milutinovich,
As two juries to date have found
former associate athletic director, Fresno State’s practices to be dissettled for $3.5 million in a similar criminatory, Paboojian added that
case.
he hopes the university would take
“The university had an opportuni- a hard look at the way it treats its
ty to settle this case [Johnson-Klein female employees and make approvs. Fresno State] for $950,000, but priate changes. “They need to make
a month before trial they chose not some changes or they are going to
to,” said Paboojian. “I just thought keep having these verdicts against
that was a poor decision for the them,” he stated.
community and for the university.”
“The thought was, you are either
The university was confident it going to win this thing or lose
could win against Johnson-Klein big. Why not try to settle it and
in court, but the trial led to a 12-0 mitigate your loss?” Paboojian conjury verdict in favor of the plaintiff. tinued. “That is the arrogance of
Johnson-Klein was awarded $19.1 ‘We’re going to win this one’ that
million in damages.
the university had, I’d say.”
“I thought that once the jury saw
Fresno state’s attorney, Mick
all the evidence they would also Marderosian, said on Monday durfeel that she was wrongfully and ing a campus news conference that
unjustly terminated,” Paboojian he will ask the judge to overturn
said. “I think the jury’s verdict vin- the $19.1 million verdict. Some prodicated her of that.”
fessors and students are concerned
Although Fresno State’s attorney, about the financial toll this case will
Mick Marderosian, delivered argu- take on the university. “The money
ments against what he deemed as has got to come from somewhere,”
Johnson-Klein’s unorthodox ways said English professor Lisa Weston
of coaching, including her alleged in a Fresno Bee article Monday. “It’s
practice of making players pack not the product of a leprechaun’s
and carry her bags when travel- pot of gold.”
ing and mistreating them in other
Paboojian, who has practiced
ways, the jury nonetheless sided law since 1985, credits his Armewith the former coach.
nian background for his decision
There has been speculation that to become an attorney. He says his
the defense’s demeanor, which has awareness of the persecutions sufbeen seen as arrogant by many, may fered by the Armenian people has
have ended up hurting its case.
compelled him to defend the rights
A jury of eleven
women and
one man found
that Stacey
Johnson-Klein
suffered sexual
harassment
and gender
discrimination
as Fresno
State’s women’s
basketball coach.
Photo: Fresno
State University.
of those inflicted with injustices
A board member of the Fresno
and mistreatment.
County Bar Association for the past
“My mom’s side of the family sur- three years, Paboojian will soon asvived the massacre and that was sume the presidency of the Amerisomething that was always told of can Board of Trial Advocates. He
in our house,” Paboojian said.
also served as deputy district atPaboojian, who speaks fluent torney in Fresno County between
Armenian, was born and raised in 1988 and 1990.
Fresno. As a young man, he was
Paboojian is a partner of Oren
involved in many Armenian organi- & Paboojian, considered one of
zations including AYF and Triple X. the leading law firms of Fresno.
Today he continues to attend Holy The firm, located in northwest
Trinity Armenian Church. After Fresno, specializes in handling
earning a degree in journalism from catastrophic injuries, wrongful
Fresno State in 1980, he studied law death, medical malpractice, inat San Joaquin College of Law, from surance bad faith, and employwhich he graduated in 1985.
ment law. f
Community
On Mount Aragats, scientists help satellites weather storms
Diaspora help is
essential to success
by Tamar Sarkissian
SAN FRANCISCO7 – Anahid
Yeremian has climbed some of
the world’s tallest mountains. She’s
tackled Mt. Fuji, Mt. Rainier, and
the Alps. So in 1999, it was no surprise that she decided to take on
Armenia’s highest peak, Mt. Aragats. But she didn’t know the trip
would change her life – not because
of what she saw at the top of the
mountain, but what she found
along the way.
“I noticed the buildings to the side
of where we were supposed to start
the climb, and that was at 10,500
feet, and I asked my guide, what
are those buildings? He told me it
was a physics station,” explained
Yeremian.
Mt. Aragats is home to the Cosmic
Ray Division (CRD) of the Alikhanyan Physics Institute of Armenia. It
may only look like structures along
a lonely mountainside, but the research that goes on inside those
buildings is groundbreaking to say
the least. The CRD is considered one
of the top five cosmic ray research
organizations in the world. In fact,
led by Professor Ashot Chilingarian, the CRD could change the way
telecommunication
companies
maintain their satellites.
The CRD’s biggest project helps
predict storms in space that can
cause major damages to satellites,
explains Arman Cingoz, who’s
working toward a Ph.D. in physics
at University of California, BerkeThe Armenian wedding series
First in a series on
wedding planning
Part 1: The gown
by Lory Tatoulian
Forming a new family often begins
with planning a wedding. The Armenian Reporter will take readers
through all that confronts a bride and
groom in planning everything from a
simple church service to extravagant
productions and honeymoons. We begin this series with a look at bridal
gowns.
LOS ANGELES7 – It’s that moment when the bride-to-be goes
to a bridal shop for the first time
and tries on her first wedding dress.
Her mother, sisters, aunts, and
godmother are circled around her
while she stares at herself in the
mirror and appraises the gown that
will usher her into marriage. As her
sisters and aunts watch her reflection in the mirror, they let out oohs
and ahs, and her mother tears up at
the sight of her daughter clad in a
wedding dress for the first time.
Many married women recall
this experience as their first step
toward the rite of marriage. When
girls are young and daydream about
how their future wedding will play
out, one of the first things they
imagine is how they will look in
their bridal gown. How many teenage girls have gone to a bookstore
with their girlfriends and sat at the
foot of the magazine rack, flipping
through bridal magazines, planning the dress they hope to wear,
years before they have even met
the groom?
When the actual time for choosing a dress does arrive, most brides
ley. Chilingarian “basically created
in Armenia, but good-paying jobs
an international solar weather
are scarce. Young people are often
warning system. That’s basically his
forced to leave the country or leave
goal, to be able warn people before
their career for a higher-paying job.
this happens so they can shut down
“When I was in Armenia last May, I
their satellites, and ride the storm
met a lot of physics students there
out, and then turn them back on.”
who had just graduated, who could
Yeremian, herself a physicist at
make 10 times as much money
Stanford Linear Accelerator Cenworking for a phone company, as
ter, was awestruck at the level of
opposed to staying in academia
work going on Mt. Aragats. “I was
and staying in their science.”
so impressed with their work that
Chilingarian said he’s intent to
I asked if I could help them,” said
keep Armenia’s young scientists in
Yeremian.
Armenia. It’s more than just talk.
She stayed true to her promChilingarian provides opportuniise, and one year after visiting Mt.
ties. He welcomes students from
Aragats, Yeremian, along with Joe
Yerevan State University to receive
Dagdigian, co-founded the Suptraining and work experience at
port Committee for Armenia’s
the CRD – even advising them in
Cosmic Ray Division. Today, there Professor Ashot Chilingarian and Anahid Yeremian. Photo: Tamar Sarkissian.
their thesis research. Even students
are chapters in the Bay Area, Defrom the diaspora are included in a
troit, Massachusetts, and Toronto, stand, but individuals do. Without $200,000 a year, which is minus- summer internship program.
Canada. Their goal? Help Armenia science and education, there is no cule; nothing compared to what you
For Yeremian, it has been a long
become self sufficient by boosting future.”
would need for a facility here,” said eight years since her first trek up
programs like the one on Mt. AraFounded by brothers Artem Yeremian.
Mt. Aragats, and into a scientific ingats. “We Armenians, sometimes and Abraham Alikhanyan in
The CRD’s groundbreaking work stitute dramatically different from
we rely too much on our history. I 1943, the CRD was a powerhouse has received international atten- her own career at Stanford. But her
want us Armenians to also focus in Soviet science, tackling massive tion, earning grants and even be- intent has never changed; educate
on our future,” said Yeremian. She research projects. But when Arme- ing honored by the United Nations. the diaspora about the CRD’s inbelieves science is essential for that nia became independent, the focus Despite its impressive resume, the credible discoveries, and hope every
future.
on science dwindled. “Our govern- two separate CRD facilities sit in bit of help keeps scientific research
Thousands of miles away from ment has many other priorities,” remote parts of Mt. Aragats. With alive in Armenia. As Yeremian exMt. Aragats, Chilingarian spoke be- said Chilingarian. “Science is not no roads, it takes about 12 hours plained, science programs in Armefore a crowd at St. John Armenian a priority. Armenia gives only 0.6 to get to them. Many of the insti- nia are essential to the country’s
Church in San Francisco. The crowd percent of gross domestic product tute’s 80 scientists have become development and strength. “When
was made up of the curious, mem- to science.”
accustomed to getting snowed in we say azad angakh Hayastan [free,
ber of the Support Committee, and
With almost no funds coming during the winter months. Scien- independent Armenia], it doesn’t
science buffs – everybody eager to through the government, the CRD’s tists remain because they know Mt. just mean azad angagh from anothask the professor questions about staff is forced to decide which proj- Aragats is an ideal location for the er government. It also means to be
his work. Chilingarian was enthu- ect to keep, and which to allow to study of cosmic rays. Chilingarian able to be self sustaining, self supsiastic in his answers, often gestur- slip away. “It’s an excellent facil- is just happy to keep scientists in porting. That should be our goal.”
ing wildly with his arms – man tru- ity, but keeping it up is difficult. If Armenia.
An anonymous donor has offered
ly passionate about his work. How- you let it go, it just disappears. It
Cingoz agrees. As a student and to match donations to CRD, dollar
ever, when asked about the future would take millions and millions a member of the Support Com- for dollar, for up to $10,000. f
of his program, his tone changed. and millions of dollars to rebuild it. mittee, he believes Armenia is facQuiet and serious, he responded, But Ashot (Chilingarian) right now ing a brain drain. Cingoz explains connect:
“The government doesn’t under- can run this for a budget of maybe there’s a host of scientific talent www.crdfriends.org
Ooh! Aah! Here comes the bride!
have already formed a mental image of what they should wear. Dress
choices reflect individual fashion
tastes and personalities: how each
woman wants to move and feel in
the dress, and the statement she
wants to make on her wedding day.
Some women prefer the opulence of puffy gowns. Some desire
to have a sleek and fitted mermaid
cut. Others go for big names like
Vera Wang and Reem Acra. Then
there are those who opt to wear
their mother’s vintage wedding
dress.
Hermineh Mukasian, who was
married last summer, says she was
intent on finding a dress which she
had already conceptualized in her
mind. “I went through so many
magazines but couldn’t find the
perfect gown,” she recalls. “I would
either like the upper half of a dress
but not the bottom portion, or vice
versa. It’s really about having what
you want because you’re supposed
to shine that day and you want to
look like a princess.”
Mukasian adds that a challenge
most women face when scavenging
for a wedding gown is that “both
the dress and the budget must fit.”
She explains: “Often the design
of a dress shifts as the budget decreases or increases – usually it’s
the latter.”
Bridal N Tux 4 U is a popular
bridal and tuxedo shop located in
the heart of Glendale. The store
owner, Yesai Simijian, knows the
business of weddings intimately
because he has been dressing
brides and grooms for almost 30
years. Simijian says that the process of obtaining a wedding gown is
a complex one. A bride needs to order her dress months, sometimes a
whole year, before the wedding, to
allow ample time for the making of
the gown and subsequent customfitting and alterations.
tailor. Brides like to add sleeves,
adorn their gown with more stones
and crystals, or decide to add a
petticoat so that the dress will have
more plumage.
Since most of Simijian’s customers are Armenian, he notices subtle fashion differences between
Armenians of various countries
of origin. “Lebanese-Armenians
always wear gloves; maybe they
want to be more conservative,”
Simijian notes. “Armenians from
Armenia or Iran like to decorate
their dresses with Swarovski crystals, and ‘native’ Armenian-Americans usually like to leave their
dresses plain.”
Simijian says that currently the
style in vogue with most Armenian
brides is the princess ball gown
dress.
When the bride-to-be finally
chooses her tiara and accompanying veil, signs the contract, makes
the deposit, and feels content with
the final outcome of her dress, she
still needs to plan on how to dress
her bridesmaids and the rest of
the wedding party. She needs to
make sure that the coterie of her
Seda Stepanyan, the Armenian Reporter’s assistant to the editor, at her wedding
bridesmaids collectively agree on a
in Yerevan in September.
dress. Since her bridesmaids come
in all shapes and sizes, their dress“Usually brides diet, so by the
Apart from a vast collection of es also need to be altered. The ushtime the dress comes back for al- dresses, Simijian has an array of ers and best man also need to get
teration, the bride is skinnier than stories that might give brides the fitted for their tuxedos, and then
before,” Simijian says.” He adds jitters when handing over a $1,000 there is a legion of flower girls,
that it is common to see brides deposit. “Last week a woman came ring bearers, and candleholders to
attempt extreme diets prior to in to pick up her dress. It was re- think about.
walking down the aisle. “Most of ally sad,” he recalls. “She told me
So when the time comes, a bride
the women eat like rabbits, but her fiancé had called the wedding is trying to decide between silk,
the stress involved in putting on off, so she simply planned to keep satin, taffeta, lace, or chiffon, or
a wedding is actually what helps the dress and reserve it for the next is deliberating whether she would
them lose the pounds,” he contin- man that might want to make the like a long theatrical train or a subues. “Just yesterday I had a woman commitment.”
dued tail, or an empire waistline
who came in for her dress and she
As if the process of hunting for to emphasize her bust or hide her
had lost 20 pounds, but it actually a wedding dress weren’t laborious lower body. She must feel beautiful
looked awkward because her fu- enough, brides are likely to want to and comfortable in the dress that
ture husband is fat. They used to add or delete certain parts of the marks one of the most important
match. Now they don’t.”
gown once it comes back from the rites of her life. f
B11
Basketball prodigy leads team to victory
by Shahen Hagobian
GLENDALE , Calif.7 – In recent
weeks, the Hoover High School
basketball team has had some pretty intense games, with point guard
Shara Babakhanians leading the
pack. The highlight of the games
has been Shara himself who has
managed to score up to 51 points
in one game alone. Hoover High
School Basketball coach Henrik
Sardarabegian is especially proud
of Shara and his team as they gain
victory after victory against the
league’s top teams.
“We were in the Campbell Hall
Tournament, which hosts a couple
of really high end teams, and we
started out well playing against
Canoga Park where we beat them
by 53 points, but then we played
against Palisades and lost by 8 or 9
points,” said Coach Sardarabegian.
“Even though the other teams were
double and triple teaming Shara,
he managed to score 38 points in
the first game, 26 in the second
game, and 51 points in the third
game against West Adams Prep,”
he added.
Sardarabegian, who was brought
in as an assistant coach just four
years ago, has watched an amazing
team develop under his leadership.
“We are a lot more aggressive defensively, and although we don’t
have as big of a team as we did last
year, we’re a lot quicker and have
a bunch of guards who can all play
Henrik
Sardarabegian
(l.), Shara
Babakhanians.
great defense. On the offensive me to play as well as I could,” addfront, having a player like Shara, ing, “also, having Henrik as our
who can pretty much score at will, coach is really good, because he
helps us out a lot and gets the other pushes us and trusts us on the
players really involved too,” he said. court.”
No doubt, there is something hisWhen asked about how he mantorical happening at Hoover High aged to score so many points in his
School these days, as their point most recent game, he calmly said,
guard establishes himself as the “I was feeling well at that game and The Hoover High School basketball team in action.
state’s leading scorer.
what ever shots I took were going
Shara himself, who is as shy off in. Plus my teammates were con- college kids right now have at one
This rising star basketball player
the court as he is aggressive on stantly passing me the ball and set- time or another played a major role hopes his passion will take him to
the court said, “When the games ting up shots for me which really in the AAU.”
greater heights. “Hopefully if evstart, we kind of take it easy, but helped me out.” A committed athSardarabegian, who is in his first erything works out I’ll be playing
when the games were on the line lete, Shara also participates in the year as varsity coach for the high ball in college. This is my hobby,
we would step up both offensively Amateur Athletic Union. “I’ve school has done an above average this is what I love to do and I’m
and defensively.” He had been played with The Golden Warriors job with his kids. “I think part of hoping that basketball will get me
playing basketball for 5 years with which is an AAU team and have the reason why things have been into college, so I can pursue a basHomenetmen before joining the been part of the traveling team going well is because Shara is able ketball career, but I’ll study busiHoover High team. “I tried out for that goes around the country play- to do things that most people at ness along the way and hopefully
basketball in my first year in high ing games against a bunch of differ- that age cannot do, so it makes use that in the future.”
school and actually made it to the ent teams.” Coach Sardarabegian it difficult for the other teams to
The Hoover High School team is
Varsity Team. I always tried hard added, “Most top notch high school stop him. Plus he has amazing off to a good start this season and
to be as good as I could, because players, as well as college and fu- team mates who are there when he with Shara Babakhanians leading
there were always better players ture N.B.A. players have come from gets double teamed and can easily the way, nothing will stop them
around me and they would push the AAU, and about 99 percent of knock down shots too.”
from reaching number one. f
Calendar of Events
New York
DECEMBER 31 - NEW
YEAR’S EVE – 2007 GALA
DINNER DANCE sponsored
by the ARMENIAN SOCIETY,
39-03 Little Neck Parkway,
Little Neck, New York. Music by famed ‘MOSHE” and
his “Continentals Orchestra”.
Monday, December 31, 2007
at 8 PM. Excelsior Cocktail
hour: 8 PM to 9 PM, followed by a GOURMET dinner.
Donation - Adults: One hundred and fifteen dollars per
person (all inclusive), Youth
under 17 years of age: Sixtyfive dollars. RSVP - Avedian: (718) 225-0286, Babaian:
(516) 869-8249, Grigorian:
(516) 359-8867, (516) 822-4819,
Minassian: (516) 603-5889,
Tatevossian: (718) 268-3919
or the Society.
December 31 – CLUB 27
PRESENTS RING IN THE
NEW YEAR. Featuring..Dick
Barsamian, Ara Dinkjian, Mal
Barsamian and Jason Naroian.
SUMPTUOUS MEZZA BUFFET. NOISE MAKERS. MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE. Advance reservations only: $75.00
per person. Deadline Date: December 10 Starting 9:00pm at
the St. Illuminator’s John Pashalian Hall, 221 E 27th Street 9
(between 2nd & 3rd Ave.) Mail
checks to: Alice Movsesian,
765 Anderson Ave., #5-4, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010.
January 12, 2008 - Yeraz
Dance Ensemble of St. Sarkis
Church proudly presents a full
length show at Queensborough Community College in
Bayside, New York. 7:00 pm.
For reservations. call Church
office, (718)224-2275
sponsored by St. Thomas Armenian Church. Corner of
East Clinton Ave., & Rt. 9W,
Tenafly, NJ.
Full Course Dinner with Filet Mignon/Chicken, Buffet
Appetizers, Viennese Table,
Free Champagne, Noisemakers, SANTA. Children supervised and entertained in adjacent room. Donation: Adults
$70, Children 11 & under $20,
Children under 3 FREE, Fro
reservations call Sylva Torosian at 201-894-0143, Tanya
Vartanyan at 201-941-6764 or
Rosine Hovsepian at 201-2651275. Ample FREE parking on
premises.
May 31, 2008— Celebrating 90th Anniversary of The
First Republic of Armenia
Organized by ARF DRO Gomideh of New Jersey featuring Sayat Nova Dance
Group of Boston and Nersik
Ispirian from Los Angeles
with a traditional Armenian
instrumental ensemble at
Felician College, Lodi, NJ.
Save the date. More details
to follow.
Westchester, NY
DECEMBER 31 - NEW
YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION
2007- St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church,
1131 North Street, White
Plains, NY. Lavish mezzes
and desserts, activities and
fun for children, dancing
and Live entertainment, Simulcast from Times Square,
Free Midnight Champagne
& cake. Music – Eddie Matevossian & his band. Special Guest Star –Raffi Nakashian. 8:00PM – 2:00AM.
$75.00 Adults. $30.00 ages
11-17. Free Children under
New Jersey
10. Reservations by check
only! Checks payable to St.
December 31, 2007- NEW Gregory Armenian Church.
YEAR’S EVE DINNER DANCE For inquiries, call church of-
fice:914-428-2595;Valod AvaARMENIAN
HERITAGE Hotel - From $2,430 + tax per
nessian: 203-368-1633; Nec- TOUR 2008
person based on double occutar S. Munro : 203-273-8829
pancy.
.
Finest fully escorted tours
Optional
excursion:
to Armenia flying with AIR Karabagh tour — 3 days and 2
Pennsylvania
FRANCE from Washington, nights $ 300
DC and New York with the folVisiting sites: Yerevan City
DECEMBER 30-31 - P.A.N.D. lowing itinerary:
tour, museums, Khor Virap,
(Philadelphia Armenian Nor May 23 - June 5, 2008 stay- Noravank, Areni, Haghpat,
Daree) - RADISSON VALLEY ing at Marriott Armenia Hotel Sanahin, Lake Sevan, DiliFORGE HOTEL. Call (610) 337- - From $2,530 +tax per person jan, Echmiadzin Cathedral,
2000. Must mention PAND based on double occupancy.
Sardarabad,
Tsaghkadzor,
for special room rates. For
Garni & Geghart, and many
Dinner/Dance reservations July 8 - July 22, 2008 stay- more.
call: Merle Santerian, (215) ing at Marriott Armenia Hotel
For information: Please con947-3777 or Legna Santerian, - From $2,730 + tax per person tact Maro Asatoorian, ACAA
(610) 527-1065, Zev Shakar- based on double occupancy.
representative (301) 340-1011.
jian, (856)608-0048. www.
E-mail: [email protected]
October 3 - October 16, or visit our website: WWW.
PANDEVENTS.ORG.
December 30 - EVE OF THE 2008 at Marriott Armenia AcaaArmenianTours.com
EVE DANCE - 9 P.M. - 3:00 A.M.
Armenian music by Dick Barsamian, Elias Zakar, Ara Dinkjian, & Chuck Yegian. American
music by DJ’s Nick and Jake
Terkanian.
Subscription Coupon
December 31 - NEW
YEAR’S EVE DINNER DANCE.
7:00 p.m. Dinner followed
by NYE Dance at 10:00 p.m.
Traditional & Continental
Armenian music by David
Hoplamazian, Chris Vosbikian, Steve Vosbikian, Jr., Mike
Gostanian, Aram Havagimannual rates
ian, Jake Terkanian, & Anto
Vartanian. American music
u.s.a First Class Mail: $75
by DJ’ s Nick and Jake TerCanada:
$80($us); Overseas: $110 ($us)
kanian.
MAY 31, 2008 - Save the date.
Shushi Dance Ensemble’s gala
NAME
dinner-dance in celebration of
its 15th anniversary. Details to
STREET
follow.
CITY/STATE/ZIP
the armenian
reporter
Massachussets
December 15 - Armenian
Sisters’ Academy, Christmas
Bazaar with Santa. (Kids Village ..games and activites 1PM5PM).
March 29, 2008 - Armenian
Sisters’ Academy, 25th Anniversary Gala Weston Hotel,
Waltham.
Check Enclosed OR Charge My:
Mastercard
Visa
Amex
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Exp.
Mail Coupon to: armenian reporter
p.o. box 129, paramus, nj 07652
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fax coupon to (201) 226-1660
(credit card orders only)

community the armenian reporter

Transcription

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