ARMENIAN REPORTER
PO Box 129
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
Tel: 1-201-226-1995
Fax: 1-201-226-1660
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Email: [email protected]
August 25, 2007 — From the community section
To see the printed version of the newspaper, complete with photographs
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1. Jirair Hovnanian laid to rest (by Florence Avakian)
* Over a thousand mourners honor a life of generosity and tenderness
2. Teenager aces California science fairs (by Lory Tatoulian)
3. Despite a rained-out concert, "Armenian-American Night" still
provides a setting for pride and community spirit (by Anoush Ter
Taulian)
4. KZV school’s new principal discusses his view of identity (by Tania
Ketenjian)
5. Mer Doon provides hope and a place to go (by Sarah Soghomonian)
6. Crime Beat: Busted! Postal stamps and gift card scam lands three
behind bars (by Jason Kandel)
7. New book looks at the history of Armenians and the Anglican Church
(by Lory Tatoulian)
8. Glendale Library hosts talk about all things Armenian (by Adrineh Gregorian)
* An eager community comes together to bridge cultures
9. keeps Armenians connected (by Lory Tatoulian)
10. Assembly moves California office to Pasadena (by Lory Tatoulian)
* Will celebrate anniversary in November
11. San Diegans celebrate the Blessing of the Grapes (by Lory Tatoulian)
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1. Jirair Hovnanian laid to rest
* Over a thousand mourners honor a life of generosity and tenderness
by Florence Avakian
PHILADELPHIA — Whatever Jirair Hovnanian was involved in, he put his
whole heart and soul into it — whether it was caring for his family
(always his first priority), carrying on his real estate business with
his two sons, volunteering and donating to countless causes in America
and Armenia, lobbying members of Congress, counseling a friend, or
tending to his award-winning rose garden.
And he did it all quietly, with elegant humility, and a warm smile
that embraced the world.
Following his death on Tuesday, August 14, the dedication and love
that he showed throughout his life was acknowledged during his wake
and during the funeral and burial services that followed.
On Thursday evening, August 16, at the Bradley Funeral Home, in
Marlton, N.J., more than a thousand people waited on line for more
than an hour and a half to pay their respects to the family — wife
Elizabeth ("Lil"); sons Peter and Stephen; six grandchildren; brothers
Kevork, Hirair, and Vahakn; sisters Ano Missirian and Dido Krikorian,
and their families.
Some of the comments heard regarding the deceased were "amazing,"
"spectacular," "unforgettable," "a true leader," "one of a kind."
Attending were representatives from the Armenian Church, the housing
industry, the Armenian Sisters Academy, the Armenian Assembly, the
CANDLE project in Armenia, the Olympic Games, the United Way, the
Rotary Club, and — hundreds of friends to whom he had shown his love
and loyalty for decades.
Members of the Burlington County Boy Scouts stood as an honor guard
during the four-hour wake around the closed mahogany casket draped
with a huge arrangement of hundreds of red roses, Mr. Hovnanian’s
favorite flower. More than 50 floral bouquets lined the large room of
mourners.
On Friday, August 17, hundreds of people filled to capacity the St.
Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Philadelphia. Officiating
at the funeral service was Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Eastern Prelacy. He was assisted by Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, of
the Eastern Diocese; Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, the Prelacy’s Vicar
General; Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of the local church; Fr. Vahan
Hovhanessian, pastor of Bayside, N.Y.’s Holy Martyrs Church; and Fr.
Tateos Abdalian, pastor of Cheltenham, Pa.’s Holy Trinity Church, who
represented Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese.
* Selfless, compassionate, filled with positive energy
On behalf of the family, grandson Stepan Hovnanian — standing with
grandchildren Haig, Garo, Karinne, Janeen, and Tanya — tearfully
spoke of Jirair’s love for life. "And life loved him," he said
tearfully. "[Jirair Hovnanian] brought out the best in people. His
selflessness created the building blocks for his family," he said
tearfully. "His values, leadership, love, compassion, inspiration and
positive energy were legendary. He always wanted to do more and make
the world a better place. We are blessed. There is a little bit of
Grandpa in each of us, and in you. We love you," he said choking up.
Many in the congregation were seen wiping away their eyes.
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian read a statement from the Catholicos of
All Armenians Karekin II, in which he extended his deep sympathy to
the family and friends, and paid tribute to Mr. Hovnanian’s selfless
and dedicated service to the diaspora and Armenia. "He has made a
lasting impression," the Catholicos wrote.
Fr. Nerses Manoogian read a biography of Mr. Hovnanian (detailed in
an obituary in the August 18 edition of the Armenian Reporter).
A letter by Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian noted that Mr.
Hovnanian "was a follower of those who have served Armenia with
extraordinary devotion."
A letter from Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia was
read by Archbishop Choloyan, stressing the "greatness achieved" by Mr.
Hovnanian — an archdeacon in the St. Gregory Church — in the
diaspora, and for the Catholicate of Cilicia.
* Loss of an important branch in the family tree
In his eloquent eulogy, Archbishop Choloyan read a Bible verse which
depicted the character of Jirair Hovnanian: "And whosoever shall give
to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the
name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose
his reward," (Matthew 10:42).
Archbishop Choloyan went on: "Life is a gift. But it’s not important
to live; what’s important is how we lived. Our lives, when we give a
glass of water to a child, demonstrate the love of God to our fellow
human beings. A true Christian never wants or expects rewards in this
world. The best reward is from God."
"We are here to say good-by to a member of the Hovnanian family,
whose loss is a very important branch of their oak tree," he
continued. "Jirair came to this country, which he loved, and gave what
was and is important to this world. He was loved by all he knew, and
by those unknown to him. He was faithful to his church, his country,
and their values. His happiness was his family, friends, and all
children. The greatest joy is when we share with others. Jirair gave a
glass of cold water to everyone."
As the clergy slowly led the funeral procession through the crowded
church to the accompaniment of the heartfelt chant, "Ashkharh
amenayn," the sound of sobbing was audible throughout the sanctuary.
* Highway closed for funeral procession
More than a hundred cars marked with special flags filed into a
funeral convoy for the hour long drive to the Lakeview Memorial Park
cemetery in New Jersey. Due to special arrangements with both the
Philadelphia and New Jersey police departments, the complete highway
route from the church to the cemetery was closed except for the
funeral procession.
At Lakeview cemetery, Mr. Hovnanian’s six grandchildren carried the
casket to the gravesite. Following the brief service conducted by the
Archbishop Choloyan and Bishop Tanielian, the family members and
mourners prayed and placed red roses on the casket.
At the hokejash held at the St. Merion catering hall, son Peter
Hovnanian led the program. Letters were read expressing sympathy from
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian, Parliament President Tigran Torossian, Ambassador to the
United States Tatoul Markarian, and Ambassador to the United Nations
Armen Martirossian.
A film of Mr. Hovnanian’s exemplary life was shown, with special
details on his latest project in which his company, J.S. Hovnanian and
Sons, built a residential home in only four days for the deserving
Marerro family as part of the popular ABC television program, Extreme
Makeover: Home Edition.
Along with heartfelt remarks from members of his family and friends,
Hovnanian was remembered as a "perfectionist" by Fr. Nerses Manoogian.
"He brought grace with him when he stepped into the sanctuary," he
said, and "made meanignful things, such as the beautiful crosses he
weaved."
Jirair’s brothers said, "There was not one jealous, mean, regretful,
or vengeful bone" in his body.
And his sisters, referring to Jirair’s love of nature and his
prize-winning roses, related that "Jirair is in a beautiful garden in
heaven. He will be in our hearts forever."
On a personal note, Jirair Hovnanian’s unique compassion was shown
to this writer on many occasions, most notably when I was taking care
of my sick mother at home for several years. He called often, and
would speak at length, inquiring about her health and about how I was
holding up. Yes, many deserving tributes were paid to this great man
this week. But for me, he was a nurturing lifesaver and a true friend.
May his soul forever rest in heavenly peace.
****************************************** *********************************
2. Teenager aces California science fairs
by Lory Tatoulian
PASADENA, Calif. — Tavit Marokosian knew that if he wanted to add
another science trophy to his ever growing collection, he would have
to build something special.
So the 13 year old constructed a polarimeter to measure the reaction
rates of invertase and hydrochloric acid on sucrose.
It is his ease with scientific terminology and work with catalysts
and polarimeters that landed the 8th grader in the first place
position in both the Los Angeles County and the California State
Science Fairs this year.
And now Tavit is preparing to compete in Washington, D.C. for the
2007 National Semi-Finals Science Fair Competition.
"I’m excited that I was able to reach this level of success, I
worked very hard and I did it all on my own," Tavit said.
While attending St. Gregory A & M Hovsepian Armenian School in
Pasadena, Tavit was able to explore his interest in experiments that
involve crystals, atoms and acids.
His passion was somewhat validated in the sixth grade when he won
the first place prize at the 2005 L.A. County Science Fair. He then
repeated his winning streak for an additional two consecutive years as
the first place winner in the regional and statewide science fairs.
And Tavit isn’t shy about displaying his accomplishments and love of
science throughout his family’s Pasadena home.
Large boards of atomic geometric structures used in past projects
grace the living room wall next to the medals and awards he has won in
competitions.
Next to the awards there is a framed personal letter from State Sen.
Barbara Boxer congratulating him on his 2007 California State Science
Fair victory.
Only 40 students from the United States make it to the semi-finals
of the science competition sponsored by the Discovery Channel, and
Tavit is waiting to hear from the national panel of judges on whether
he will qualify for the final round.
The first-place winner will win a $20,000 scholarship prize.
Tavit feels that he has a good chance of winning, but he knows that
the competition can be brutal.
"I will be using the same project for the national finals that I
used for the state and county fairs, so I feel confident about my
work," he said.
It was the polarimeter project that impressed the judges last
February including professional scientists and engineers.
These judges walked around the L.A. Convention Center taking notes
and asking the young scientists about their work – to not only learn
more about the projects but to ensure the students had developed the
projects themselves.
"The judges are actually not that scary. They try not to be
intimidating. I just simply answer the questions they ask me and make
sure that they know that I fully understand what I am attempting to do
with my project," Tavit casually explained.
Shahe Mankerian, the principal of St. Gregory Hovsepian School, said
one of his students winning such a prestigious prize is quite
significant.
"Not only does it reflect the school’s high academic standards, it
also puts Armenian schools in the same league as other well-regarded
private schools in the southland," he said.
"If lucky, every school and classroom needs a Tavit in order to
challenge and elevate both teachers and fellow students to a higher
level of academic performance," Mankerian said. "However, gifted
students like Tavit need a safe environment that would nurture them
intellectually, spiritually, and socially. Our school has provided all
three…for Tavit to grow and soar. With all the accolades bestowed upon
Tavit, we naturally feel proud and triumphant as an academic
institution."
When developing his science projects, Tavit assumes the roles of
both scientist and engineer, relying on his ingenuity to build his
contraptions.
He steers clear of purchasing materials from the Internet or science
labs, opting instead to build his project from scratch.
"I studied the polimeter and all the necessary parts involved and
then I went to Home Depot and bought all the materials needed to build
one myself," he explained.
Tavit read his father’s textbooks and did some research on the
Internet and eventually devised a way to extract the base properties
and procure the enzymes necessary to measure the polarimetry and
hydrolysis of sucrose.
But Tavit’s passion for science does not keep him from pursuing
other interests. He loves sports – especially basketball – and on his
bookshelf, his science project’s paraphernalia is nestled in between
his action figurines and other toys.
And like other boys his age, he spends a lot of time playing outside
with his friends. But when it comes time to assemble his science
project, he becomes something like a tenured science professor trapped
in a young boy’s body, rambling scientific jargon to explain his
experiments.
His respect for science extends to the scientists who changed the
world with their discoveries.
In the family room, Tavit has displayed cardboard cutout pictures of
all the scientists who have inspired his project, like a shrine of
scientific demigods who have imparted their wisdom to the young
learner.
"I wanted to make sure people can see the face behind the scientific
breakthroughs," he said with a reverential tone. "If it wasn’t for
people like Louis Pasteur, famous for discovering pasteurization or
Leonor Michaelis, the scientist who did a lot of work with enzyme
kinetics, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all that I have."
While he waits to hear from the national panel of judges on whether
he’ll be able to compete in the nation’s capital, he’s planning his
semi-retirement from competitions.
"After this project is done, I would like to take a year off from
competing in the science fair. In the past three years, I have been
too involved in my projects," Tavit said. "I’m now going to be a
freshman in high school. That is the next challenge I have to meet."
************************************* **************************************
3. Despite a rained-out concert, "Armenian-American Night" still
provides a setting for pride and community spirit
by Anoush Ter Taulian
NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. — A rain-out of last week’s annual
"Armenian-American Night" at Eisenhower Park was naturally a
disappointment to the legions of people who eagerly trek out to Long
Island for the open-air concert at this time of year.
But for this reporter, the August 19 event was a welcome chance to
meet some very inspirational Armenians, who would not let the rain
dampen the spirit of pride, community solidarity, and optimism that
the concert embodies. For 18 years, the Armenian-American Night
committee has worked hard to preserve this venue as a celebration of
Armenian culture and a showcase Armenian talent, and that feeling
shined through even under the adverse circumstances. It turned out to
be delightful time.
"We are all volunteers," said Susan Markarian, who has served on the
committee for four years, doing publicity. "The concert is free
because it is funded by the Nassau County Parks Program, Cannon, and
generous donations from the Armenian community."
"It’s important to keep Armenian-American Night as part of the
ethnic program [at the park]," she said, adding that "Two years ago,
the Turks started their own night."
Chief among the organizers’ tasks is putting together a winning
program. "We’re always looking for up-and-coming new talent,"
Markarian said — and the committee certainly had found topnotch
talent for this year, including Syrian-Armenian headliner Karno, and
opera diva Maro Partamian.
Also on the bill was the Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble, directed and
choreographed by Sylva Asadourian. "We started fourteen years ago with
seven girls, and now have seventy girls ranging in age from six to
twenty-five," said Asadourian as we waited in the rain. "Ninety-nine
percent of our dancers are from families that moved here from Turkey;
this dancing teaches them culture and makes them feel like they belong
to the Armenian nation. The parents are also involved, and make all
the costumes."
With the advent of the rain, the group did not get a chance to
perform; but Asadourian was eager to describe some of the set-pieces
that have made her troupe well-known in the community. "Our dances
help teach the public about Armenian history. One dance, ‘Dove,’ is
dedicated to Hrant Dink. Another dance, ‘Zartir Lao,’ shows the
Armenians’ journey through genocide to rebirth. During our dance
‘Resurection,’ I have seen Armenians in the audience crying when we
unfurl the Armenian flag."
The educational aspect of the group has had an effect on the
dancers, as well. "Most of the girls have never been to Armenian
school," Asadourian said; "but now in their American schools they are
writing papers on Armenian issues and discussing them."
* "Roots which connect us"
Also slated for the program was Maro Partamian, the Beirut-born
operatic soprano. A longtime soloist with the St. Vartan Cathedral
choir, Maro has performed in Argentina, Australia, France, Armenia,
Lebanon, and in New York’s Carnegie Hall, and has recorded an album of
songs by composer Maria Abajian Navaro.
"Armenian music is very soulful," Partamian said. "Who cannot be
moved by the songs of Komitas or Saya Nova? Whenever I listen to our
mournful songs, I can feel the sadness of the Genocide. And we also
have the uplifting, patriotic songs. All of these songs are roots,
which connect us as Armenians."
The Armenian-American Night committee had put a great effort into
bringing the exciting romantic singer, Karno, to the U.S. from his
native Aleppo, for his first American performance. He has a hit
compact disc, You Are Different (check out his music at
) and the video of his song "My
Unforgettable Love" is frequently played on Armenian channels.
I asked Karno how he became a singer. "In Syria I learned about
Armenian music through my Armenian school, the ‘Armenian Music Hour,’
and my mother," said the thirty-year-old artist. "I joined the church
choir at twelve, and when I was twenty-two, I decided to become a
professional Armenian singer. I was encouraged by my teacher at
Armenian’s Komitas State Conservatory, Professor Araks Chekiyan."
Asked about the ups and downs of the popular music business, Karno
said: "It is not easy for an Armenian artist to get support from the
community. I appreciate the way the Armenian-American Night committee
sponsored me, and held a welcoming dinner for me at the
Armenian-Iranian Center" in Little Neck, N.Y.
Because of the rain, the crowd was invited to Bayside’s Holy Martyrs
Church, which graciously opened its doors to welcome the guests. It
was there that Karno performed — and though it was not exactly in the
venue he or anyone had anticipated, the audience was eager and
enthusiastic, and much impressed with this taste of Karno’s evident
talent.
Especially interesting to me was the fact that non-Armenians were
also drawn to Armenian-American Night. A man taking photos of the
Akh’tamar dancers approached me because he had noticed I was wearing a
Geronimo t-shirt, emblazoned with a picture of rifle-wielding Apaches
on horseback, under the slogan, "Fighting Terrorism Since 1492" — a
reference to the Native American genocide that began with the massacre
of the Arawak Indians. The photographer introduced himself as Abraham
Vasquez, a Jicarilla Apache whose ancestors had been forcibly deported
and marched on a "trail of tears" with many deaths to a reservation in
New Mexico in 1805. He had never heard of the Armenian Genocide, but
responded emotionally when I told him about the 1915 exterminations
and forcible deportations of Armenians into the Syrian desert.
Every year Nassau County gives awards acknowledging outstanding
contributors to the development of the county. At the Bayside church
these awards were presented to Tony Denalaris, Germaine Adil Tek, Garo
Sekdorian, and Janet Davidian. Peopled chatted, refreshments were
served, and the inner spirit of Armenians supporting each other shined
through, despite the external disappointments.
******************************** *******************************************
4. KZV school’s new principal discusses his view of identity
by Tania Ketenjian
SAN FRANCISCO — The Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragen Armenian Day School
in San Francisco is located on a tree lined boulevard near the
outskirts of the city. If you walk down Brotherhood Way, where the
school is located, you come to a Lake, where there are other "ethnic"
institutions–The Brandeis Hillel Jewish Day School, The Beth Israel
Temple, the Holy Trinity Orthodox School, the Greek Orthodox Church,
and the Armenian Protestant Church. It is poetic and fitting that
institutions such as these, each strong in their own identity, are
standing together on one street in a city like San Francisco known for
its diversity. Often it takes several hours for the fog to lift in
this part of the city and on the morning I went to visit, I walked out
of my house where blue skies were abound and found my way through the
low lying clouds hugging the trees along Brotherhood Way.
I had come to the Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragen Armenian Day School
(KZV) to speak with the new principal, Dr. Yeprem Mehranian, a
principal who has only been at the school since January 2007. In
essence, he has just completed his first semester at KZV and will be
starting a new semester in the fall. He is new to the school and new
to San Francisco. I had spoken briefly to Dr. Mehranian on the phone,
struggling to understand his Armenian, which was different from mine.
He was raised in Iran and my family was raised in Lebanon. I wondered
what he might look like, why he had come here and what meaning
Armenian schools offered him.
* New principal
Dr. Mehranian has had a fascinating life and my desire to learn more
about where he came from was inspired by his answer about how he
viewed his own Armenianess. "It can range from a song my father used
to sing in the car when we were driving to the Caspian Sea when I was
10 years old and the kinds of feelings those brought up for me and
still bring up for me to an idea about being a part of every other
ethnic group and national group that is struggling for its own sense
of identity and its own issues of justice."
Dr. Mehranian started his adult life as an artist. A painter, he
studied art at one of the most well respected art schools in the
United States, The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode
Island. He received a masters degree at Cornell University in
Painting, taught art at Armenian schools on the East coast and later
decided to get a teaching degree from Bank Street in New York City.
Bank Street is a unique and integral school for Education. Here you
are taught how to teach and encouraged to discover who you are as a
person, as a learner and thinker, and then how to pass these things on
to your students. Dr. Mehranian went on to teach in the public school
system in Harlem New York, a challenging environment, and after six
years there, he went to Palestine. In Ramallah, he spent a year
teaching at a Quaker School, the only one of its kind. This experience
inspired him to move to Armenia where he continued to work in
education. He came back to the States, received his doctorate in
education in Massachusetts. The last painting he produced was in 1995
whilst living in Armenia. Although he has since left painting and art
behind, I would imagine that the same quest and understanding of
identity that goes into art has also filtered into Dr. Mehranian’s
views and understanding of education, especially ethnic based ones. It
is unconventional as a reporter to list the chronology of someone’s
life, but the development and evolution of choice that Dr. Mehranian
has made serves to illustrate what he is bringing to the KZV in San
Francisco.
At KZV the majority of the student body is Armenian or at least has
Armenian roots. It is a Prelacy school, which has a traditional
curriculum of math,science, and languages. There are about 130
students ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and, as
their mission states, "KZV strives to instill a sense of pride in
every student about his Armenian heritage and a desire to perpetuate
his rich language and culture."
Above all else, the school is ethnocentric and therefore relatively
unique. Of course there are Armenian schools all over the world but
relative to the number of scholastic institutions, these schools are
few and far between. Dr. Mehranian has worked in Armenian schools in
other parts of the country and the world. In the six months he has
been at KZV, he has noticed that, "there seems to be a lot of
engagement on behalf of the members of the community who are either
directly part of the school community or are its supporters. This
engagement reveals itself through the desire to do so many things for
this small, seemingly insignificant place. Relatively speaking, this
school is just one more school amongst millions of schools in the
world but the community believes in it so much and does as many things
possible for it to continue."
It is this sort of passion on behalf of the Armenian community here
that allows a school that started with 30 students, 30 years ago, to
strive. But why an Armenian school? What is the value of such a
scholastic environment and why should it exist? Dr. Mehranian
mentioned that this very topic had been discussed amongst the parents.
"Some people said that it is certainly and clearly for the
perpetuation and maintenance of what it means to be an Armenian and in
those contexts sometimes Armenianess is defined as very clear and
specific." This clear and specific approach can be referred to as
essentialist, meaning that if one is to adhere to a certain culture
(or way of thinking or religion) one must fit within very specific
standards of action and thought. In the case of Armenians, it may mean
a very particular set of morals, values and mannerisms. This
essentialist way of being is one way of maintaining culture, but it
can also be a way of isolating oneself from other cultures. Dr.
Mehranian explores the possibilities of casting a wider net and
allowing for variations within Armenian culture.
Another reason why an Armenian school has value, according to some
of the members of the community here in San Francisco is to "question
a little more what it is to be an Armenian now, what kind of
transformations is it going through, is it essentialist, fractured,
multiple, hybrid. What do we need to do to be part of the global world
and still maintain our Armenianess."
* Cultural identity
In any culture, it is fascinating to observe the ways that culture
defines and maintains itself. But when it comes to education, that
kind of definition is beginning at a foundational level. I imagined
that the way the young students at KZV exercised their cultural
identity was through language and food but in fact, Dr. Mehranian
observed that it is the less evident factors that become ways of
defining oneself. For instance, "by resisting or by not speaking
Armenian when the students are asked to, that is a way of engaging
with your identity. That may raise some eyebrows. But isn’t that a way
of engaging?" In fact, what Dr. Mehranian is observing is that when
you are actively rejecting something, you seem to be most aware of
that thing. He also observes something interesting outside of the
classroom: "There are cultural cliques that have formed within the
school based on how certain students think about their culture, the
languages that they speak, how they do what they are doing and how
they therefore define themselves and others. By doing that, they are
defining their particular kind of Armenianess as being different from
other kinds of Armenianess." This mirrors in many ways the schisms
that play themselves out in Armenian society. To work through this at
a young age may very well set the foundation for a clearer
understanding of the differences within Armenian identity and the ways
in which to find a common ground despite those differences.
It is clear that the education of adolescents is vital on a myriad
of levels. Knowledge is surely one but understanding oneself within a
cultural and social context is the other. Dr. Mehranian’s doctorate
thesis was about identity and how cultural identity manifests itself
through Armenian schools. As he said, regardless of culture, "In our
internal worlds, we are constantly engaged in a dialogue about
identity." In light of that, there are three standards that he came to
the KZV school with, standards that are the benchmark of everything
that he does.
"One is that I am ready to work with all Armenians without
differentiating. It’s the concept of Armenianess that is very
important to me. Second is to provide the best possible educational
environment for Armenian children and young adolescents. And third is
to maintain the hope that we can develop democratic relationships
amongst ourselves. This, of course, is said within the constructs of a
well-established Armenian school. I would like to move towards a set
of clear, not too ambitious but important goals together and achieve
something together and say, ‘we did it’. Regardless of our
differences, we did it together."
* Giving back
Dr. Mehranian has brought with him a wealth of experience, an
understanding of the theories that lie behind education and identity,
and an acceptance and realization that for a school like KZV to
strive, it must be dedicated to suggesting a certain set of values. In
the case of the Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragen Armenian Day School, he
believes those values may very well be based on ideas of justice. A
quote by William Saroyan stands in the entrance of KZV:
"I should like to see any power in this world destroy this race,
this small tribe of unimportant people, whose history is ended, whose
wars have been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, whose
literature is unread, whose music is unheard and whose prayers are no
more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia, see if you can do it. Send
them from their homes into the desert, let them have neither bread nor
water. Burn their homes and churches. Then, see if they will not
laugh again, see if they will not sing and pray again. For, when two
of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a new
Armenia."
Along those lines, Dr. Mehranian revisited my question regarding the
reasoning behind the creation of an Armenian school. He suggested
that, along with the basic premise of an Armenian school existing for
the perpetuation and sustenance of Armenian culture and language, an
Armenian school also exists, "to prepare young people’s thinking or
young people’s world view in a manner to be seeking and engaging and
striving towards issues of justice. It could be justice for the
Armenian cause or it could be justice for all people. For any Armenian
school, if they fail in achieving some success with an objective like
that, then they are really undermining the meaning of their own
existence. There are pressing issues to tend to in this world both for
Armenians and for others."
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5. Mer Doon provides hope and a place to go
by Sarah Soghomonian
FRESNO, Calif. — Thousands of Armenian children live in orphanages
throughout Armenia. Many lost their families as a result of the 1988
earthquake and the war in Karabagh.
When they leave the orphanages, around the age of 18, most have
nowhere to go. No family. No school. No job. As a result some
young females have been forced to turn to prostitution and there have
been documented cases of some being trafficked. Others are left
homeless.
That’s where Our Home-Mer Doon, a nonprofit organization based in
the United States, comes in.
Mer Doon’s goal is to provide transitional housing for orphans, ages
18-24, that would normally have no where else to go. Mer Doon’s first
home, for young women, opened in Etchmiadzin in October 2006.
"The goal at Mer Doon is not just to provide housing, but to teach
the residents to live as a family," said Adrienne Krikorian, president
of Mer Doon. "There is no other program like this in Armenia."
The home, which holds 14, not only provides housing, but also
provides residents with the training they’ll need to care for
themselves throughout their lives. The women study at local upper
educational institutions and learn skills needed to become successful
in the job world.
"Mer Doon’s mission is to break the cycle of dependency," Krikorian
said. "The founders and board members of Mer Doon are working hard to
instill responsibility, education, skills training and, most
important, self-worth and importance, in each of Mer Doon’s
residents."
Mer Doon, which means "Our Home," is the brainchild of founders
Julie Ashekian of Kensington, Conn., and Tigranoohi Karapetian of
Armenia.
Ashekian and Karapetian worked together for many years in the
children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP), where Ashekian acted
as coordinator. Through their work in CASP both recognized the need
for transitional housing.
"These children often leave one of the many orphanages in Armenia
with no future, no home and no personal, social or trade skills,"
Krikorian said.
Karapetian, along with six staff members, care for the residents and
the home. Healthcare, proper nutrition and psychological support are
provided. "Mer Doon is a program that is meeting a need that is
abundant in Armenia," Krikorian said.
A generous U.S. benefactor purchased the residence in Etchmiadzin.
In the future the organization would like to purchase more homes for
young-adult orphans. While the plan is to open more transitional
housing for females, a home for young-men is also planned in the
future.
The U.S. board of ten directors is currently trying to increase
publicity about Mer Doon. "We’re trying to create awareness," said
Varoujan Altebarmakian, a board member from Fresno, Calif. "The more
people who know, the better."
Mer Doon, which also gains support from Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, is
kicking off its awareness campaign in Fresno.
Mer Doon is hosting "River Park Jam," August 27th from 4 p.m. to
9:30 p.m. at Fresno’s River Park Shopping Center.
Information about Mer Doon will be available and T-shirts and
support bracelets benefiting the organization will be for sale. Other
festivities include: a car show, live musical performance by Double
Take and a live broadcast from a local radio station. Area Armenian
churches will also sell traditional Armenian baked goods.
"We just want people to have fun and learn about Mer Doon,"
Altebarmakian said. "We want to stop the cycle of dependency."
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6. Crime Beat: Busted! Postal stamps and gift card scam lands three behind bars
by Jason Kandel
LOS ANGELES — Three area men, prosecutors allege, scanned stolen
credit cards to create counterfeit gift cards and set their sights on
a different kind of booty — hitting up Seattle area post offices
after hours and using those fraudulent cards to buy tens of thousands
of dollars in U.S. postage.
The post office hits last month were the last straw as federal
officials arrested Artem Danilov, 21, Stephan Melkonyan, 22, and
Karapet Kankanian, 42, in connection with the case. A federal
indictment filed Aug. 9 in Seattle accuses the men of 31 counts
including conspiracy, fraud, and identity theft.
Prosecutors are saying little beyond what’s contained in the court
documents, but the case highlights the continuing problem with
identity theft, which is among the fastest growing crimes and hits
millions of Americans, and causes at least $5 billion in losses each
year, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service, which
investigated this case.
The case also puts a spotlight on a Russian and Armenian crime ring,
that, investigators say, is believed to have committed similar crimes
in as many as five states up and down the West Coast and Southwest.
Although court records do not indicate just how much money the ring
may have netted, because the case is ongoing, a snapshot of alleged
activity shows that the group allegedly made as much as $62,000 off
the scam in Puget Sound in a three-week period.
"The arrests of these individuals are the direct result of quick
action and cooperation between postal inspectors and other law
enforcement agencies nationwide," said Seattle Acting Inspector in
Charge Keith J. Tyner in a statement. "We hope these arrests will
deter others from committing similar crimes and we will relentlessly
pursue anyone who chooses to attack the U. S. Postal Service or its
employees."
Attorney’s for Mr. Melkonyan and Mr. Kankanian said it was too early
to comment at length, but both said their clients planned to plead not
guilty to the charges this week. Mr. Danilov’s public defender, Brian
Tsuchida, did not return calls seeking comment.
Mr. Melkonyan, the only defendant in the case who is a legal U.S.
citizen after having been granted asylum in 2005, was out of custody
pending trial, court records show.
The federal court in Seattle deemed Mr. Danilov a flight risk and
ordered him jailed pending trial. He is an illegal alien and has no
ties to Seattle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also put him
on a hold pending the outcome of the trial.
Mr. Kankanian, who is also jailed pending trial, has has three
passports — two from Armenia and Israel where he has dual
citizenship. He has no current visa or proof of U.S. residency, and
"unstable" living conditions, court records show. Just a few days
before he was arrested he had been staying in a motel, wrote Monica J.
Benton, a U.S. magistrate judge, in her Aug. 1 detention order. He
also reportedly received mail from three different addresses in
California.
The case broke in the Northwest after investigators began noticing
suspicious transactions after a $23,000 stamp-buying spree in King
County, Wa., between July 18 and July 25. Someone was going from post
office to post office, using stolen cards to buy stamps after hours.
Postal service inspectors watched the locations for suspicious
activity, but found nothing. Then they got a tip from inspectors in
California — check the trashcans for receipts for fingerprints. They
got some off receipts of suspects operating there.
Then about 9:30 p.m. on July 25, inspectors saw a dark colored
Nissan Quest minivan driving away from the Bellevue Post Office. Later
at another post office, inspectors saw a man get out of the same dark
colored minivan, but then get back in when he spotted an inspector’s
car. The minivan took off and was lost in traffic.
The next day, inspectors followed the minivan to another post
office. This time, an inspector went inside to a workroom where he
could peek through a vent and watch activity at one of the automated
stamp machines.
He watched as the man he identified as Mr. Danilov, talking on a
cellphone and inserting several gift cards into the machine over and
over before leaving and getting back into the minivan, which had two
other men inside.
After stopping at another post office at which a video surveillance
camera recorded them buying more stamps, they were arrested near a
strip mall without incident.
A search of their van turned up dozens of gift cards that the men
had created by swiping stolen credit cards, a list of Puget Sound post
offices with over half of them crossed off and a key to a Super 8
Motel room the men had been staying in near Seatac Airport.
In the motel room, inspectors seized two laptop computers, a credit
card scanning device that was capable of applying credit card numbers
to a magnetic strip to create forged cards, a PDA device, data disks,
several cell phones, and an iPod, all equipment authorities allege was
used to store stolen information and create counterfeit documents.
In a safe, inspectors found an unsealed U.S. Express Mail envelope
containing 499 books of stamps worth $3,682. Authorities also found
credit reports, Federal Express receipts, 47 books of stamps that were
valued at $347. On top of the safe, inspectors found a plane ticket to
Russia with Mr. Danilov’s name on it.
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7. New book looks at the history of Armenians and the Anglican Church
by Lory Tatoulian
GLENDALE, Calif. — Archbishop Arsen Berberian recently published a
book that explores the presence of the Anglican Church in Armenia
during the second half of the nineteenth century. Archbishop
Berberian’s book is entitled, A History of Armenian-Anglican United
Church in 1841-1905.
"This is a forgotten piece of Armenian history that I wanted to
bring into light. There is very little written about the Anglican
Church’s presence in Cilicia during the late part of the nineteenth
century," Archbishop Berberian said.
The Archbishop was prompted to write the book when he was a
doctorate student at Kings College in London and was astonished when
he came across a trove of documents that talked about the Anglican
Church’s missionary efforts in Armenia. He decided to study the
documents further and eventually felt the need to bring these "lost’
historical records into the public arena by writing a book.
"This part of history completes a part of Armenian history,"
Berberian notes. During the mid 1800’s missionary movements surfaced
in various parts of Armenian Cilicia. Protestant Churches carried out
most of the proselytizing at this time, but in fact, there was a
period that the Anglican Church also set out to build churches in
Armenian communities.
Archbishop Berberian’s book also examines the social and political
reforms supposedly taking place in the Ottoman Empire around the year
1878. Armenia first opened relations with the Church of England
though the bishopric of Jerusalem during the years 1841-1860.
The association turned out to be socio-political rather than
religious. The Anglican Church provided reforms for those already
proselytized Armenians who wanted changes in their own religious
institutions. Certain communities in the cities of Diarbekir, Marash
and Aintab had religious institutions that saw themselves "in
communion" with the Church of England. Finally the Armenian-Anglican
alliance ceased to exist as a result of the Armenian Genocide.
Berberian not only holds the post of Archbishop in the Armenian
Orthodox Church, he has a passion for the arts, especially in
liturgical music. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and
recorded albums with Armenian ecclesiastical melodies. Archbishop
Berberian also wrote the musical notation for twenty-four unknown
hymns by Komitas. Beyond his musical and liturgical undertakings, the
Archbishop has written books that address the political dynamic
between church and state, one of which is entitled The Church under
the Soviet Union. In 1962, theArchbishop was ordained as priest and
appointed the private secretary of Catholicos Vazgen I.
On July 25, Archbishop Berberian made a presentation of his book at
the Western Diocese in Los Angeles. Grish Davitian elaborated on the
book. Paintings and CD’s were sold to raise funds for the production
of CDs containing spiritual songs by singer Gohar Gasparian.
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8. Glendale Library hosts talk about all things Armenian
* An eager community comes together to bridge cultures
by Adrineh Gregorian
GLENDALE, Calif. — A library serves as a perfect setting for
educating hungry minds. Such was the event entitled "All About
Armenians" at the Glendale Public Library this week. Sylva Manoogian
and Kay Mouradian delivered their lectures to a full audience
comprised of diverse members of the Glendale community. The event was
sponsored by the Friends of the Glendale Public Library as an
installment in their Speaker Series.
Manoogian and Mouradan discussed the history, culture, and life of
Armenia, providing insight into its people and places. The series
helps members of the Glendale community learn about their Armenian
neighbors.
Glendale has the highest concentration of Armenians in North America
and it is also a place of great tension between ethnic communities.
Events like this offer the opportunity to show unity. "All About
Armenians" offers answers to many questions non-Armenians may have
about Armenia and its traditions.
Manoogian and Mouradian, who have eclectic backgrounds, have done
fascinating research, are scholars in their respective fields, and
served as superb speakers.
Manoogian was the first to speak. Her lecture was comprised of a
comprehensive and concise panoramic view of the Armenian people from
centuries ago to modern times. She also discussed the effect Armenia’s
history has had on diasporan communities like Glendale. The audience
listened attentively as Manoogian spoke about Armenia’s language,
geography, religion, and folk wisdom.
Her slide presentation gave the viewers a visual connection to the
essentials of Armenian culture. The complexities of the alphabet and
its Indo-European origins became tangible when presented on a screen.
Just hearing about Armenia’s vivid imagery would not be the same as
seeing it’s symbols, Mount Ararat and unique stone churches as
examples.
Mouradian’s lecture focused more on the Armenian Genocide and its
impact on survivors and Armenians today. Inspired by her mother’s
life, Mouradian set out to write her first novel, A Gift in the
Sunlight: An Armenian Story, which traces her mother’s remarkable
recoveries from death’s door. She also shows how history resonates in
modern times using the phrase, "shadows of the past" – a past that
still haunts the Armenian people because their "story has been glossed
over by the modern world."
Mouradian also gave insight to the politics revolving around
legislation pertaining to the Armenian Genocide.
Mouradian was also presented with a Certificate of Recognition from
the Mayor of Glendale, Ara Najarian for her contributions to the
community.
Glendale City Clerk and member of the Friends of the Glendale Public
Library, Ardashes Kassakhian, emphasized the importance of such
events: "A library is one of the few places in the world where the
only requirement for entry is an open mind and a desire to learn. So
it’s important that events such as this one take place and help
non-Armenians better understand the Armenian culture and the rich and
prolific history and heritage of the Armenian nation."
He went on to say, "the fact that more non-Armenians were in
attendance of this event is a sign that there is a desire to learn
more about our community."
Friends of the Glendale Public Library organizes many events like
this and others that serve the people of Glendale. "The Speaker Series
features a wide range of topics that interest the community," says
Friend’s member, Anna Rundle. Previous speakers include Vartan
Gregorian, Peter Balakian, Jerry Tarkanian, and a slew of authors and
public figures including Jane Fonda and Patricia Heaton.
The Glendale population would like to see more Armenians in public
organizations like Friends. Vice President of Community events, Leon
Mayer, stressed the importance of incorporating more Armenians in
their activities: "We encourage more Armenian families to join Friends
because it’s community effort."
Mayer continued by saying that, "support from the Armenian community
will enable us to have the funds to put on more events and including
this series."
Manoogian said, "Oral tradition has provided the chain of continuity
for the long-lived Armenians from generation to generation." With
events like "All About Armenia," our history will continue to be
passed down to oncoming generations of all groups of people.
connect:
www.friendsofglendalepubliclibra ry.org
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9. keeps Armenians connected
by Lory Tatoulian
LOS ANGELES — Using cyberspace as the conduit that keeps Armenians
throughout the world connected, is the
largest on-line calendar that helps Armenians be in the know.
(or ArmenCal.com) is an all inclusive
website that displays multiple categories of events ranging from
culture, social and political to children’s events. The website is
updated everyday and users are welcome to submit their organization’s
event with an easy to use one step process.
Vahe Shahinian and Sevag Chilingurian are the founders of the
website. The two men along with their team of webmasters work to keep
Armenians informed of events by creating a shared online communal
space where Armenians are welcome to add and take information.
"When I first started I had my own personal e-mail list that would
send a notification out to people about events that were going on in
the community," Vahe said. "Ultimately I envisioned something more
progressive. I wanted to have a state of the art website that would
have a polished presentation and really give users the opportunity to
see what is going on across the globe."
ArmenCal.com offers many features that make the experience of
visiting the website easily accessible and uncomplicated when
searching for events. The website allows the user to search for
events by clicking on the country and category or by simply typing in
a keyword or selecting a date. The homepage automatically presents a
comprehensive list of updated events arranged by the most recent date.
Users are also welcome to join an e-mail list where they will
receive notices directly into their inbox. E-mailing events to friends
is yet another feature that makes the experience effortless.
ArmenCal.com also provides an RSS feed that let other websites get
calendar information directly from the ArmenCal.com server and plug
the events into their own website calendar for free.
"Our website works as a central repository of events. If an East
coast organization wants to transfer calendar listings from our
website, they can easily do so by using our RSS feed. Our goal is to
keep all listings free — organizations are also welcome to use
pictures and videos for no charge," Shahinian said.
A complimentary service of ArmenCal.com is the new ticket sales
website called It’s a complete box office system
that lets users not only purchase e-tickets online, but it offers a
seating map solution that interactively helps ticket holders choose
exactly where they want to sit it in a concert hall, stadium or
theater.
" is an excellent and easy way to purchase tickets
to any (Armenian or non-Armenian) event. It’s also a great way to
advertise an event, because visitors will see the posting of an event
that they might not have heard of," Shahinian said.
Shahinian notes that if an organization or any group is looking to
sell tickets through , its best if the webmasters are
notified early on in the planning process so can
work with the organization in advertising which helps in maximizing
ticket sales.
Another advantage if using ArmenCal.com is that an Armenian
organization can avoid overlapping with another event before setting a
date by going to the calendar and making sure another group does not
have a major event on that same day.
"In this modern age, this is the most socially effective tool to
keep people in the loop. Many times we over hear people say that they
heard about an event on ArmenCal.com. It’s amazing; with a few clicks,
the website will guide you to a variety of Armenian events anywhere in
the world," Shahinian said with satisfaction.
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10. Assembly moves California office to Pasadena
* Will celebrate anniversary in November
by Lory Tatoulian
PASADENA, Calif. — On Saturday August 11, the Armenian Assembly’s
Western Office celebrated its move into its new home. To mark the
occasion, an intimate gathering took place at the new office,
following by a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The office is a newly renovated 1930s bank building located in the
heart of Pasadena’s historic Old Town. The charming office reflects
the setback style of oak wood paneling and marble floors. The
Assembly’s new office is conveniently situated between Pasadena’s City
Hall and Rep. Adam Schiff’s district office.
Lena Kaimian, director of the Armenian Assembly’s Western Office,
expresses her joy about the move. "We are pleased to be in our new
location because this makes us more close and accessible to the
Armenian-American community."
Originally, the office was located in Beverly Hills on La Cienega
Boulevard, in the same building as the Consulate General of Armenia.
In choosing the location, Assembly officials say, they are returning
to a neighborhood that has long been an enclave for the Armenian
American community. Pasadena was one of the first California cities
that experienced an influx of Armenian immigration.
Ms. Kaimian says that this year is a big year for the Armenian
Assembly. It will be celebrating 35 years as an advocacy organization
and the 30th year of its internship program in Washington. And, "just
last night we were honoring Congressman Ed Royce," she said.
To celebrate these milestones, the Assembly will host a gala event
at the Beverly Hilton on November 3. Over the same weekend, there will
be a reunion soiree for Assembly interns.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Bryan Ardouny, executive
director of the Assembly, told supporters: "The Assembly has really
provided a voice for the community in Washington, D.C., over these
last 35 years by educating members of Congress and working with
congressional caucuses on Armenian issues. Everyone has seen that we
have reached a bipartisan majority of 224-plus cosponsors on the
Genocide bill. That is significant achievement," Mr. Ardouny said.
Mr. Ardouny suggested that over the August recess and during the
month of September, constituents need to thank members of Congress for
their support, and continue to press for more members of Congress to
cosponsor the resolution, H.Res.106. "We are at 224 cosponsors; I’d
like to see the number go to 260," he said.
Mr. Ardouny said he was concerned about attempts to isolate Armenia.
He said the Assembly has been working with Rep. Royce (R.-Calif.) to
prohibit the Export/Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation from investing in a rail project that will bypass Armenia.
(The prohibition was voted into law last year. The
Turkish-Azerbaijani-Georgian project is proceeding, however, with
funding from other investors.)
Mr. Ardouny said, "Simultaneously to the Genocide resolution, we are
fighting on that front; we are fighting to make sure that Armenia and
Karabakh get needed assistance to overcome the blockades."
A board member since the birth of the organization is Richard
Mushegian. He addressed the attendees with heartfelt thanks. "We hope
that you always feel that this is your home as well as ours. We look
forward to many more years of hard work, cooperation, and service to
the Armenian-American community as well as the Republic of Armenia."
Honored guests at the ceremony included a mix of politicians,
advocates, and former interns. Consulate General of Armenia, Gagik
Kirakosyan wished the Assembly well on their new location. "I’m sure
that this new office will enable the Armenian Assembly to work more
vigorously toward Armenian issues." Mr. Kirakosyan said.
Former Washington and Yerevan intern Levon Keushkerian commented on
the experience and knowledge he received from his experience as an
apprentice. "While working at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, I
was given scholarly journals pertaining to the geopolitical issues
that affect the southern Caucasus. My job was to summarize these
reports and oftentimes forward them to the ambassador." Mr.
Keushkerian also had the opportunity to intern in Yerevan, where he
had the chance to work on the web pages for armeniadiaspora.net, an
interactive website that broadcasts various news reports from Armenia.
Johnny J. Nalbandian of the California Trade Office of Yerevan said
he was "very much in favor" of all Armenian organization working
together. "I think our community is coming alive. We need to show a
united front and all Armenian organization should visit each other.
For me that’s very much a turn on," he said.
Offering blessings and prayers for the success of the new office was
Father Khoren Babouchian. He addressed those in attendance with words
of encouragement "The mission of this organization is for the
betterment of the Armenian community, I commend all the service you
have done and I pray for your continued success."
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11. San Diegans celebrate the Blessing of the Grapes
by Lory Tatoulian
Most San Diego locals feel that living in their city is like existing
inside of a virtual postcard, where the sky is always painted in a
cerulean blue, palm trees align the non-trafficked streets and the
tanned folk frolic in its ocean waters.
The Armenian community in San Diego has acclimated itself into this
idyllic life, but all the while they still firmly hold onto their
ancient Armenian traditions that define their collective identity.
Even though it may seem that ancient Armenian rituals juxtapose the
modern day southern Californian life, Armenians in "America’s Finest
City" seamlessly blend the two cultures together into a mélange of
California cool and Armenian antiquity.
On August 19th, St. John Armenian Church of San Diego held their
annual grape blessing picnic along the waters of Mission Bay in San
Diego. As sail boats and jet skis roared by and the Shamu flag from
Sea World waved across the bay, over 300 people gathered in the park
to sing songs of blessings while the priest chanted prayers in
Armenian to celebrate the Assumption of Mary.
"We love to have our grape blessing out here among this natural
beauty, because it reminds us of the beautiful gifts that God has
given us, it is also a picturesque place to have the community gather
and have an Armenian style picnic." Fr. Datev Tatoulian said,
Archpriest of St. John Garabed.
Among the expected customs at an Armenian picnic such as kebab,
gossip and line dancing, the San Diego picnic offered a host of other
activities that seem to be a bit different from the usual Armenian
activities.
Children had their faces painted and collected crabs from the shore
while the older men sat at a bench and competed in a tavloo
tournament. Women exchanged stories and young girls played beach
volleyball. Perhaps the bordering country that lies 20 miles to the
south from the picnic area also had a cultural influence – kids at the
picnic had a turn to swing the bat at a piñata.
Debbie Derderian has been a member of St. John Armenian Church since
1978. She can be regarded as a veteran picnic volunteer and has
witnessed the growing trend of picnics each year. "Our picnic is a
great avenue for everybody to come together and just relax and eat
good food. This year we are celebrating our 30th church anniversary
and it has been exciting to be apart of such a diverse Armenian
community." Derderian said.
Debbie noted that even though the San Diego community is small in
comparison to Los Angeles, she believes it probably has one of the
most eclectic mix of Armenians. "We have Armenians from Beirut, New
York, Tehran, Baku, Dallas, you name it, we have every type of
diasporan Armenian living in our community."
Derderian thinks the reason for this is that San Diego is a place
that many people want to live. Debbie explains that the Armenians who
end up establishing their lives in such a serene city are the
"fortunate" ones that make up the fabric of the mixed Armenian
community.
Debbie herself is not Armenian, she considers herself an A.B.C.
which to her is an acronym that means ‘Armenian By Choice.’ She
married an Armenian man and became connected to the culture through
marital osmosis. Even though Debbie speaks some Armenian and feels
completely apart of the people, she still thinks there are some
cultural idiosyncrasies that are not so typical.
"We don’t exactly fulfill the provisions of the parks and recreation
requirements. We amplify our music, hold raffles and take over the
parking spaces. This is great because it means our community is
thriving, but the Parks Officer sometimes doesn’t understand that we
can’t leave the park until the tavloo tournament is over." Derderian
said.
Aleen Jendian has been apart of the St. John family for almost 15
years. Before she moved to San Diego, she lived in Fresno. Aleen
notes the dramatic difference of going to grape blessing picnics in
Fresno to that of San Diego.
"Here at Mission Bay we get a gorgeous ocean breeze rolling in from
the Pacific. Growing up in Fresno, our picnics were in 104 degree
weather and line dancing would become somewhat of a challenge — but
Richard Hagopian’s music made us forget that." Aleen said.
No matter where Armenian find themselves on the globe, they adapt
their indelible traditions into their adopted environments.
Even though the hallmark of San Diego is a relaxed surf culture
ensconced within architectural surroundings redolent of Spanish
Colonialism, the Armenian community in this beach town makes their
mark with pilaf, ancient prayers and communal bonding.
"Families are what keep our culture rooted. This is not only a
picnic for families, but for single people who wish to create
families. For so long, Armenian picnics have been a great way for
young singles to meet each other. It makes me happy to perform
Armenian marriages and see our community grow." Fr. Datev Tatoulian
said.
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