AHEPA District 5 - News Archives

 

Ahepa Voice:  Christmas 2002

Clifton Wins Championship

March 25, Union, NJ - The District 5 AHEPA Basketball League ended its 2003 season with a thrilling final game that ended as last year’s champion Clifton successfully defeated this year’s challenger Bergen County in an overtime se-saw battle. Clifton outlasted Bergen County 75-72 in overtime after a 66-66 tie after regulation time.
The contest started quickly for Bergen County who came out strong led by guard Nick Dimitriou who scored a game high 21 points for Bergen County. Clifton quickly responded and took command mid-way through the first half, ending the initial period with a 34-27 lead. Clifton was lead with a powerful front line of Steve Pappas who was the game high scorer with 35 points, Peter Dorizos who scored 14, and matched by Dennis Chrysanthopoulos who also poured in 14.
In the second half Bergen County stormed back to take the lead with a pesky defense. The game was tied with 7:38 in the game. In the final minutes, the lead changed hands several times before Bergen County lead by 5 with less that 3 minutes left to play. A three pointer by Steve Pappas and another basket tied the game just before time expired. During overtime Bergen County was lead by Evan Moraites who scored 5 points early in the overtime. However, with a little over 2 minutes in the game, Moraites fouled out, which took away a key offensive weapon for Bergen County. Clifton was able to take the lead by three as both teams traded foul shots. Bergen County had one last chance to tie the game but they were unable to get off a three point shot before the buzzer sounded.
 This year the League expanded to 8 teams and two divisions, a North and South. The regular season included 10 games for each team, 6 within the division and 4 inter-division games. The top two teams in each division qualified for the playoffs. The other playoff teams included New Brunswick B and Asbury Park which finished in a tie for first in the south,. Also participating was a second team from New Brunswick and teams from Union, Jersey City and Holmdel.
 The evening ended with an exhibition All-Star Game between northern and southern All-Stars. In that game the North All-Stars won 77–74 over the Southern All-Stars. The North was in command for most of the way. They were lead by Dean Stragalas of Union and Athans Vlahos of Jersey City with 17 points apiece. Luke Loucopoulos of Union also hit double figures with 11 points. The Southern All-Stars were lead by a trio of New Brunswick players each with double digits. Aldo Salonas scored 22, Bill Kokkinas netted 16 and John Abadiotakis hit 3 three pointers and a 2-point bucket for 11.  
 The AHEPA Basketball League is open to young Greek American men from the ages of 18 and older. Games are played on Tuesday nights in various sites throughout New Jersey. The League is planning to begin its 2003-2004 season in September.  For more information, please contact Basketball League President, Ted Vittas at 973-839-4609.

District Convention News 2002

 by Ted Vittas
Convention Secretary

June 23, 2002, Lakewood, NJ – The AHEPA District #5 Convention ended today with an after service brunch held at St. Barbara's Church in Toms River, NJ. Ocean County Chapter #467 was the host of a 4-day convention that started on Thursday June 20th with a District Golf Tournament. One highlight of the convention was the passing of a resolution to hold the first Tri-District Convention in 2003 between Districts 4 (Pennsylvania), 5 (New Jersey & Delaware) & 6 (New York). The event will more than likely be held at the mega hotels of  Atlantic City, NJ. Also a highlight were the elections of the new District Lodges.

The John G. Thevos District #5 will be lead by Vassos Chrysanthou of Ocean County #467 as District Governor for 2002-2003. He last served as the District's Lieutenant Governor. Brother Vasso also served as Chairman of AHEPA's Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee, a national post.
Rounding out the Lodge are:
Vassos Chysanthou, Ocean County #467,        District Governor
Andrew Zachariades, Hudson #108,            District Lieutenant Governor
Steve Xanthacos, Ocean County #467,        District Secretary
George Karatzia, Garden State #517,        District Treasurer
Ted Vittas, Ramapo #453, District Marshall
Michael Comas, Ramapo #453, District Warden

Finishing his term as District Governor of the Fighting Fifth is George Righos of Wilmington #95. Known throughout the AHEPA Domain as the originator and Administrator of the AHEPA
Communication List, George lead the District through a harmonious year of cooperation with the Past District Governor's Project Committee. With George's Leadership he was able to reactivate the Bergen Knights Chapter #285 chapter that once was a perennial powerhouse. Not returning to the District Lodge is District Treasurer John Koninis Sr. of Wilminton #95 who was elected
Chapter President of Wilmington #95.

Other highlights of the business meetings includes the overhaul and re-adoption of the District's By-Laws. Also passed was legislation to initiate a district-wide Civic Affairs Committee, for the purpose of establishing a dialog with our elected officials in Congress. The Convention Banquet was held at the adjacent Vanity Fair Restaurant. It included the awarding of 8 District Scholarships. Selected Chapter of the Year was the Alexander Hamilton Chapter #54 of Paramus, NJ, recognized for their work in fund raising for the District's Cancer Research Foundation. Ahepan of the Year was the Reverend James Chakalos of the Holmdel, NJ parish of Kimisis Tis Theotokou. The Homeric Award was bestowed upon Past District Governor and past member of the AHEPA Board of Directors, Ernie Tsaptsinos. Recognized, as Outstanding President was Steven Bojekian of Ramapo #453 who was awarded the AHEPA Medal of Freedom earlier in the year for his role in the Disaster Recovery at the World Trade Center. Also
recognized was John Betts of Alexander Hamilton #54 for Outstanding Secretary.  In a solemn presentation, Wilmington Chapter #95 presented a $1,000.00 check to Reverend Demetrios Constantelos, Chairman of the Stockton State College, Chair for Hellenic Studies. The gift was
made in memory of John Katsimatides, a young man who perished in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

Keynote speaker of the affair was the Honorable Clay Constantinou, former Ambassador to Luxembourg and now Dean at the Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy and International Affairs. Mr. Constantinou focused his remarks on the Cyprus problem and the hope that Cyprus
will soon enter the European Union. Included on the dais was the Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Vassilios Philippou. Each of the four Orders were represented. All outgoing District Governors were on the dais in addition to Grand Governor of the Daughters of
Penelope Joanne Saketis and Supreme President of the Sons of Pericles Nick Livanitis. Popular Ahepan John Barlas of Naples, Florida emceed the banquet.

The Convention was also a successful one for the other Orders of the AHEPA Family. The Daughters of Penelope elected Poly Ploussiou as District Governor. The Junior Orders, the Son of Pericles and Maids of Athena also elected officers. The Sons elected Christos Prentzas as District Governor and the Maids re-elected Ms. Eleni Thomas to lead them for a second year.

We wish the new Lodges a successful term. Congratulations to the out-going Lodges on their successful year. The District will now prepare itself for the up-coming Supreme Convention in New York City on July 17-21.

 
DISTRICT WORKSHOP
 
The District #5 Lodge will be hosting an Officer's Workshop and all Ahepans are invited.

 DATE: Saturday, September 28, 2002
TIME: 10:00am - 2:00 pm
PLACE: Pines Manor in Edison, NJ

 Each chapter should be represented.
The agenda includes:

Chapter Reports (Each chapter should prepare a 2 minute presentation)
National Governor's Conference (Sept 13-15)
Membership
District 5 Cancer Foundation
AHEPA Voice
AHEPA Housing

Clifton, NJ Takes District 5 AHEPA Hoops League Final

May 14, 2002, Union, NJ - The District 5  AHEPA Basketball League ended its 2002 season with a  thrilling final game that ended as a potential  tieing buzzer shot proved to be off the mark,  preserving the championship for the Clifton, NJ  team. The final score was Clifton 59, New Brunswick 56.
 The final, as was the entire season, was played at  the St. Demetrios Church gym in Union, NJ. Leading  the Clifton team was Steve Pappas who netted 20 points.  He led a balanced attack which featured 3 players in  double figures. Peter Dorizos scored 15 and Dennis  Chysanthakos put in 11, 10 of which were in the second  half.
 New Brunswick received all its scoring from three  players. Leading all scorers was Aldo Salonas who scored 20 points, including 6 3-point field goals.   Billy Karas put in 14 points and Johnny Kontolakonis  contributed 10 points, mostly from the perimeter.
 New Brunswick took an early lead in the first half.  Clifton called time out mid-way in the first half after a New Brunswick spurt put them ahead 23-11.  New Brunswick shooting then went cold as Clifton creped back in the game, down 28-27 at half time.  In the second half Clifton took command helped by  a tough defense and 10 second half points from  Dennis Chrysanthakos. Clifton lead for most of the  second half but New Brunswick fought back to come within one possession of taking the lead. As New  Brunswick tried fouling Clifton players to get back in the game, Clifton shot 7 out of 10 from the foul line to preserve the victory.
 This year's season began in February with 5 teams  participating, including teams from Union, Asbury Park and Tenafly. The round robin format allowed for each team to play all the other teams twice.  The regular season was used to set up for the  playoff round. Clifton and New Brunswick had tied for the regular season title, both with 5-3 records.
 The evening ended with an exhibition game of current Sons of Pericles members against Sons of Pericles Alumni. That game was also a close one as the Sons came from behind on a last minute basket to edge the  Alumni 56-55. Leading the Alumni was Dean Stragalas of Union who netted 12 points and Dean Tselepis of Wyckoff  with 10. The Sons had contributions from as many as  12 players.
 The AHEPA Basketball League is open to young Greek American men from the ages of 18 and older. Games are played on Tuesday nights in Union, NJ. The League is planning to begin its 2002-2003 season in late October. The league is looking to field 8 - 10 teams for the fall.
 For more information, please contact AHEPA District 5 Athletic Director Ted Vittas at 973-839-4609.

2002 Biennial Salute Banquet: March 25th, Washington DC

"We Honor America" is the theme for the 35th Biennial Congressional Banquet to be held March 25, 2002, Washington, DC.  We aspire to capture our country's patriotic spirit and heroism on that evening.  We also plan to commemorate the 181st anniversary of Greek Independence Day.
The Washington Hilton & Towers will be the host for the banquet weekend.  Call today to make your reservation, 800.HILTONS, or call the hotel directly, 202.483.3000.  The cut-off date is February 23, 2002.  Be sure to ask for the group rate for the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association of $169, plus tax.

Cancer Research Foundation Holds Annual Fall Gala

On Saturday, November 3, 2001, the Fifth District AHEPA Cancer Research Foundation held it's 12th Annual Fall Gala at the Pines Manor in Edison, New Jersey.  There were about 300 persons in attendance and they all had a great time, including our Supreme President, Andy T. Banis, and Grand Vice President Evellyn Tsiadis.

Forty Thousand dollars in Grants were presented to researchers from three prestigious cancer research centers in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area.  The recipients were: Reginald Halaby, Ph.D., $10,000.00 for research in breast tumors at the Dept. of Biology & Molecular Biology at Montclair University, Upper Montclair N.J.;  Rebecca Rafto Giannis, Ph.D. $15,000.00 for her research in prostate cancer performed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pa.;  Stergios Zacharoulis, M.D. for his research in pediatric acute leukemia, performed at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, N.Y.
The annual "AXIOS" award, was given to Brother Chris Sevast, our perennial treasurer, for his devotion to the Foundation and his time consuming and skillful management of the Foundation's finances.
Foundation Chairman, Sister Martina Harris, introduced the entire board of trustees and reported on the progress of the Foundation and the great success  it has had in the funding of cancer research.  Martina thanked the Gala chairpersons, Tom Pappas, Cathy Politis, their committee and all the Foundation Trustees and guests for making it a successful evening.

Mass Initiation  of 23 New members

On January 8th 2001, 23 young men were initiated into the Order of the Sons of Pericles at a mass initiation ceremony at the Alexander Hamilton AHEPA Chapter in Paramus, NJ. The initiation was conducted by Supreme Sons President Nick Livaditis with help from Past Sons Supreme President Dino Kostaridis and National Sons Advisor Andrew Zachariades.
The event marked the reactivation of two Sons Chapters in Northern NJ, Marathon #46 of Paramus, NJ and St. George #214 of Fort Lee. NJ. They will join the newly chartered Wyckoff Chapter, Patritha #317 to form a troika of 3 Sons chapters in Bergen County, NJ. Both newly reactivated Sons chapters poses a rich history of past accomplishments. This will increase the number of District 5's active Sons chapters to 7, with prospects on the horizon for one or two more by year's end.  Participating in the ceremony was also the District #5 Sons Governor Nick Tyris and his Sons Lodge. Present were AHEPA District Lodge members and numerous Ahepans from throughout the District.