ARMENIAN REPORTER
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January 26, 2007 — From the community section
To see the printed version of the newspaper, complete with photographs
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1. "A man died, but a nation awakened" (by Florence Avakian)
* Hrant Dink is remembered in New York
2. The Sarkisyans join presidential hopeful John Edwards in Los
Angeles (by Lory Tatoulian)
3. Ancient and modern sounds mix to conjure a concert of "living
memory" (by Anoush Ter Taulian)
4. The Dip: Gastronomical Learnings of French-Dipped Sandwiches for
Make Benefit Our Glorious Community (by Lucie Davidian)
5. Hye Katch Do: More than just kicking and punching (by Razmig Sarkissian)
6. A community of artists comes together to put on a show (by Adrineh Gregorian)
7. William Saroyan turns 100 (by Tania Ketenjian)
* Centennial events to be held across the globe
8. Voices screened at Ararat-Eskijian Museum
* The documentary features some of the last survivors of the Genocide
9. A Road Less Traveled: Armenian by design, humanitarian by choice
(by Mariette Tachdjian)
* Pamela Young makes it her life mission to help the needy
10. Crime Beat: Woman sentenced in "parking lot rage" incident (by Jason Kandel)
* Sentence is home confinement
11. Mary Allukian, 98, dies in Watertown
*************************************** ************************************
1. "A man died, but a nation awakened"
* Hrant Dink is remembered in New York
by Florence Avakian
NEW YORK — A huge photograph of Hrant Dink’s reflective face gazed
down on close to 500 attendees during the event held on Sunday
afternoon, January 21, in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of
the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral complex, marking the passage of one
year since the assassination of the courageous Agos editor-in-chief in
Turkey.
Following an opening prayer by Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian,
welcoming remarks were made by director of the Diocese’s Krikor and
Clara Zohrab Information Center, Rachel Goshgarian, who reminded the
audience of Dink’s unceasing efforts to bring dialogue and
reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian peoples and nations.
"He was the most vocal member of the Armenian community in Istanbul,"
she noted."
Dr. Herand Markarian, whose background includes being a scientist,
playwright, poet, community activist, and director of the Hamazkayan
Theatre, presented an audiovisual display of "Hrant Dink’s Life and
Accomplishments" titled "Sunset to Sunrise."
Not a sound was heard in the vast hall as the film unfolded the
highly emotional funeral of the slain journalist, showing hundreds of
thousands of Turks and Armenians in Istanbul marching behind the
casket, carrying signs which read, "We are all Hrant Dink. We are all
Armenian."
A powerful and prophetic moment occurred when Dink’s weeping wife,
Rakel, released a white dove which alighted on the casket and remained
there throughout the long route from the Agos offices to the Armenian
cathedral, and then the cemetery. Throughout the film were heard the
soulful strains of "Giligia," "Dele yaman," and Nerses Shnorhali’s
"Nor dzaghig."
Interspersed throughout the film were readings in Armenian and
English, detailing the injustices done to Armenians in Turkey, culled
>From Dink’s prolific writings. Participating in the presentation was a
group of young Armenians, including Sossi Essajanian, Natalie
Gabrielian, Mher Janian, Arousiag Markarian, and Arev Turbendian.
Recounting key events in Hrant Dink’s life, Dr. Markarian listed his
birth in Malatya, his emigration to Bolis at age eight, and his early
education in Bolis’ Armenian Evangelical School and the Holy Cross
Seminary. Achieving a B.A. in Zoology from Istanbul University, Dink
continued his studies in philosophy, then served in the Turkish Naval
Infantry.
Among his numerous accomplishments was being director of the Tuzla
Armenian Children’s Camp, which the Turkish authorities eventually
confiscated. Bravely, Dink then mounted an exhibit of this camp with
an accompanying book. In 1990, he began writing in the
Turkish-Armenian paper Marmara under the pen name "Chootag" (violin).
In 1996, he started his own paper: Agos (meaning furrow, the planting
of seeds). Through that paper, "He started to educate the Turks about
their history, and teach the Armenian youth about their tongue, which
is fading," Markarian declared.
In 2001, Agos had its publication suspended by the Turkish government
for acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. And at the 2002 Human Rights
Conference in Shanli Urfa, Dink declared, "I am a citizen of Turkey,
but I am not a Turk." Charged with "anti-Turkishness" he received a
six month suspended sentence, then appealed to the International Court
of Human Rights. In 2006, he was acquitted of the Urfa charges.
Shortly thereafter, he was again charged with "denigrating
Turkishness" for acknowledging the Genocide. He participated in the
diaspora conference in Yerevan, and visited the United States in
November 2006. The last issue of Agos edited by Dink was published on
January 19, 2007 — the day of his assassination.
Concluding his inspirational presentation, Dr. Markarian quoted
Sartre. "Freedom is achieved by Struggle," he declared, and
thoughtfully added: "A man died, but a nation awakened."
* A "vulnerable pigeon"
Keynote speaker Carla Garapedian, director of the acclaimed film
Screamers and a former BBC anchor, had interviewed Hrant Dink in
Istanbul for her documentary. She commented that though Dink was
courageous, he also recognized his frailty, calling himself a
"vulnerable pigeon" after he witnessed two seagulls tearing apart a
helpless pigeon.
Why didn’t Dink leave Turkey? "He thought as a newspaper editor he
had power, and thus could survive," Garapedian said. "He was
constantly testing the boundaries of his power. He stood up to the
bully."
And Dink himself had once said: "I have considered leaving this
country at times…. But leaving a ‘boiling hell’ to run to a ‘heaven’
is not for me. I wanted to turn this hell into heaven."
Calling herself a "proud American," Garapedian referred to the denial
of the Genocide by the current and previous American administrations
as an "affront," and added that the candidates running for the U.S.
presidency should honestly list their positions on the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, as well as the ongoing one in Darfur.
Closing the day of remembrance, Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian spoke on
behalf of Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. Archbishop
Gizirian stated that Hrant Dink was a man "blessed with great
attributes. He was a soldier who died in his efforts to have the
Genocide recognized. One day, he will celebrate when that resolution
is passed. His important legacy will always be in our hearts and
souls."
Earlier in the day, Archbishop Gizirian had celebrated the Divine
Liturgy in St. Vartan Cathedral, with Hasmig Meikhanedjian directing
the choir. Attending clergy included Fr. Martiros Chevian, dean of St.
Vartan Cathedral, and Fr. Arnak Kasparian.
The Hrant Dink day of remembrance was sponsored by several community
organizations, including the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the
Armenian American Support Educational Center, Constantinople Armenian
Relief Society, Diocesan Gomidas Choir, Esayan-Getronagan Alumni,
Forest Hills Armenian Cultural Center, Hamazkayin Armenian Educational
and Cultural Society (N.Y. Chapter), Knights of Vartan, Tekeyan
Cultural Association, and Tibrevank Alumni.
***************************************** **********************************
2. The Sarkisyans join presidential hopeful John Edwards in Los Angeles
by Lory Tatoulian
LOS ANGELES — The parents of the late Nataline Sarkisyan, Koko and
Hilda, and their son, Bedig, have joined presidential hopeful John
Edwards on his campaign trail to support his commitment to healthcare
reform.
Nataline, 17, a leukemia patient, died on December 20, 2007. Her
insurance company, Cigna, had denied her a liver transplant, which her
doctors believed could have saved her life.
The Sarkisyan family is now advocating for healthcare reform and has
made sharing Nataline’s story with as many Americans as possible a
personal mission.
The Sarkisyans joined John Edwards at his first campaign rally in Hew
Hampshire, and are continuing to tour with him through the primary
season.
On January 17, the Sarkisyans made an appearance with Mr. Edwards on
the rooftop of the Service Employees International Union office in
downtown Los Angeles.
During a 20-minute speech, Mr. Edwards presented a litany of issues
he seeks to address if he is elected president, including global
warming and an end to the war in Iraq. The candidate also lashed out
at Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for proposed budget cuts in
education.
Mr. Edwards advocted a universal healthcare program that would
provide coverage for all Americans. Universal healthcare, which every
other industrialized nation offers, has become the fulcrum of his
campaign.
"We are going to fight for universal healthcare, and mandate it for
every man, woman, and child in this country, because we so desperately
need it," Mr. Edwards told some one thousand supporters.
"We have 47 million people without health coverage in this country,"
he said. "And we have millions more who are terrified of losing their
coverage of health-insurance premiums. We need a change and it will
not happen unless we have a president who is willing to take on the
drug companies, the insurance companies, their lobbyists."
The former senator from North Carolina also pointed out that unlike
his rivals, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, he is proud to
announce that he is the only candidate that has "never accepted a
dime" from a Washington lobbyist or special-interest group. He
proclaimed, "I don’t want to be their president, I want to be your
president."
During the campaign rallies, the Sarkisyans have had the chance to
share the candidate’s stage and speak about the tragic loss of their
daughter with voters across the nation.
In Los Angeles, the Sarkisyans stood right behind Mr. Edwards,
holding miniature American and Armenian flags and pictures of their
daughter. Even though the family did not speak at the Los Angeles
rally, Mr. Edwards introduced them as a family that underwent the
horrible experience of having their insurance company abandon them at
the most critical time.
"Nataline’s dad had worked his entire life to support his family,"
Mr. Edwards said. "He had paid his insurance premiums exactly the way
he was supposed to, and when he needed the insurance company to do
their part and pay for the liver transplant operation, they stepped
aside and said no."
The Democratic candidate explained to the audience how the medical
and Armenian communities intervened and protested in front of Cigna
Insurance offices in Glendale, and how the communities pressured the
insurance company into endorsing a liver transplant for Nataline.
"The problem is that [Cigna] caved in when it was too late, because
she died a few hours later," Mr. Edwards told the crowd, which
listened in hushed silence.
"Anybody who says to me I’m supposed to sit at a table and negotiate
with those people, never!" Mr. Edwards said. "We are going to stand up
and we are going to fight. This is a perfect example of why we so
desperately need a president who will fight for you."
Mr. Edwards’ daughter, Catharine Edwards, was also present at the
campaign rally. As the former senator was leaving the rally and
shaking hands with supporters, Catharine, who attends Harvard Law
School and has been actively campaigning with her father, spoke to the
Armenian Reporter. "My father has been talking about healthcare from
the beginning of this campaign," she said.
Catharine mentioned that the Sarkisyan family contacted her father
when they heard him talk about expanding healthcare coverage to all
Americans. Catharine said her father wants to mandate a Patient’s Bill
of Rights, so that patients and doctors will be the sole
decision-makers when it comes to medical care.
"We are so happy to have [the Sarkisyan family] come out and tell
their story," Catharine added. "It’s very powerful, and we are very
lucky to have their support. Unfortunately, they know first-hand how
important it is to make these changes in healthcare policy. The reason
we really love having them here is because they are spreading their
message about what really can happen. It helps prevent this from
happening to another child. Hopefully there will not be more
situations like Nataline’s, until we get the policy changed."
Gary O’Brian, a John Edwards supporter who attended the rally, said
he feels that the candidate really understands the suffering of the
poor and the middle class. "John Edwards brought the [Sarkisyan]
family as evidence, because this family suffered a great loss and
their child would have been saved if their healthcare provider gave
the care they needed," Mr. O’Brian said. "And you can talk and talk
about it as a politician, but when you have parents here, standing
with a picture of their child, with something that happened so
recently, I think it really drives the message home to the people that
are listening, and you realize just how high the stakes are."
************************************** *************************************
3. Ancient and modern sounds mix to conjure a concert of "living memory"
by Anoush Ter Taulian
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The "Living Memory" concert, an evening of Armenian
and Persian music and art, played to a cheering full house at the
Brooklyn Lyceum on January 14. The concert, part of the "In a Circle"
series, was a collaborative project that featured the Brooklyn Rider
string ensemble working with fellow musician Kayhan Kalhor, master of
the Persian kamancheh, and with visual artist Kevork Mourad.
The opening group, Zulal — the award-winning a cappella trio of
Anais Tekerian, Yeraz Markarian, and Teni Apelian, who sing ancient
and contemporary Armenian folk music as well as their own compositions
— captivated the audience with songs that described romantic
escapades in rural life, such as Yaruks khorodig eh ("My sweetheart is
cute; so what if he’s short?").
Their songs also gave insight into the problems of village women.
When introducing Lachin oo manan ("Lachin and her spinning wheel")
Teni Apelian said: "This song comments on the quality of some men. It
describes how when Lachin gives birth to twins her suitor arrives at
her house empty-handed because en route to her house he has eaten the
two rolls of bread he meant as gifts." The audience enjoyed the
storytelling songs and immediately connected with Zulal’s ethereal,
intricately woven sounds.
Jay Skrob, a Korean-American attending the event, commented, "The
Armenian women’s voices had incredible harmonies and their technique
emulated drum-like vocal percussion, which I had never heard before."
The Brooklyn Rider string quartet members — Jonathan Gandelsman and
Colin Jacobsen (on violin), Nicholas Cords (on viola), and Eric
Jacobsen (on cello) — who are dedicated to making connections between
folk, world, and classical music, all have a parent who is a musician.
For instance, Jonathan’s father studied in Russia with Henrigh Talian,
a famous viola player.
Jonathan said: "I have heard Komitas’s music performed by an Armenian
choir, a little girl, and by Komitas himself [via a rare recording].
Now we are honored to play his music in which I hear some of the pain
that represents the tragedy of his people and his own personal
tragedy. In Brooklyn, our home which we love, there is a great
representation of our multicultural world, and we would like to share
this Armenian and Persian music with as many people as possible. We
also feel our art is more powerful when we work together with artists
and musicians."
Despite the obvious admiration for Komitas on display throughout the
evening, one shortcoming of the concert was the absence of information
on Komitas himself. Some mention of his gripping story, either in the
program or as a narrative, would have been helpful informing the
diverse audience, and would certainly have been a welcome addition to
the event.
Kevork Mourad, a Syrian-Armenian artist, accompanied Brooklyn
Riders’s Komitas songs with live drawings that were rehearsed but
looked improvisational. The audience saw Kevork’s hand on a large
screen on stage, spontaneously producing lyrical lines synchronized
with the music that turned into dancers and mountains, creating an
Armenian community and the landscape they lived in. Abstract splotches
and smudges of paint created fields, lakes, and whirling veils,
transforming imagination into physical reality.
To bring the songs to artistic life Mourad also used projections and
animation. For example, in the song Chinares, a tree is used as a
metaphor for the beauty of height and expansion. Before its eyes, the
audience saw the tree growing, and a group of people putting their
hands on the tree to receive its power.
* Emotionally charged music
The third part of the concert featured Kayhan Kalhor, the classical
Persian musician and composer who plays the Persian kamancheh, a spike
fiddle which is a predecessor of the Western violin. He was
accompanied by the Brooklyn Rider players and Shane Shanahan on
percussion. All of these musicians had connected through Yo-Yo Ma’s
"Silk Road Project."
During his performance, Kayhan sat cross-legged on a rug, his bow
feverishly flying over the strings, his fingers delicately plucking,
to elicit the instrument’s haunting sounds. His keynote song, "Silent
City" (also the title of his forthcoming CD) was named for a
bombed-out Kurdish city, but according to the artist, it speaks
universally to all cities destroyed by human or natural agencies.
Kayhan introduced another song, "Ascending Bird," by saying: "A bird
>From the Khorazon region of Iran tries three times to fly to the sun,
each time going higher and higher. It is a metaphor for losing the
physical body and attaining transcendence."
The diverse audience responded to the emotionally-charged music.
Datevik Hovanesian, the great Armenian jazz singer, thought the
combination of musicians and the special way they were braided
together was "fabulous."
Sarah Kamalvand, an Armenian who moved here a month ago from Tehran,
appreciated the musicians efforts to preserve ancient Armenian and
Persian sounds when so many of the traditional forms of art and
architecture are being neglected or destroyed.
The Brooklyn Rider ensemble is exploring the possibility of taking
this eclectic show on the road, to share it with other Armenian
communities — and also with people who are not (yet) familiar with
the wonders of Armenian music. The group is also launching a new
website,
************************** *************************************************
4. The Dip: Gastronomical Learnings of French-Dipped Sandwiches for
Make Benefit Our Glorious Community
by: Lucie Davidian
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — If you had asked me a couple of years ago who Ken
Davitian was I would probably answered "one of my long lost relatives
that I don’t know about." Never would I have imagined that he would be
the Armenian American actor rolling around naked on the floor with the
guy from the Ali G Show, Sacha Baron Cohen. Well, he’s not my relative
and when I walked into his Hollywood restaurant called The Dip a week
ago, thanks to his recent fame I knew exactly who he was.
Ken greeted me with a very firm handshake and a kiss to each cheek
and no sooner than I had sat down, he asked me what I wanted to eat
while motioning to the waiter to come over and take our order. Since I
couldn’t decide, he ordered several items from their menu; I kept
telling him that I wouldn’t be able to eat that much, "don’t worry,
take only one bite" he said "I want you to get a good taste of our
menu." On my drive to meet him that day I couldn’t figure out what
questions I would ask him only because I’ll admit, I was a bit more
curious about his career than the food I was going to taste.
Born in East L.A. to Armenian parents, Ken’s passion for acting began
at an early age. His mother’s family survived the Genocide of 1915 and
moved to Los Angeles where his mother was born and raised while his
father, a Russian Armenian, was a solider in the Russian army and
moved to Boston as a young man. Ken credits his ability since
childhood of making fun of his relatives accents in helping solidify
his most famous role to date, the role of Borat’s agent Azamat Bagatov
in the film Borat:Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit
Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Ken’s grandmother was an actress herself and belonged to the
Mamoulian Theatre Group, after graduating high school Ken majored in
Theatre Arts in college. His first role was in Albert Brooks’
directorial debut That’s Life, however his scene was left on the
cutting room floor; since then he has appeared in several films such
as A Man Apart, S.W.A.T., This Girl’s Life and T.V. shows such as
E.R., Six Feet Under and The Shield.
While auditioning for roles Ken took on several jobs, as many
struggling actors do to survive. He worked as a car salesman, a
telemarketer as well as taking part in his families waste management
company. He insists that everything he did was to help get his foot in
the studio doors and in that time, he married his wife of thirty years
Ellen and had two sons Robert and Aaron. As he begins to tell me about
his very interesting audition for the Borat film, the food begins to
arrive at a very rapid pace.
The first item was the Chili Cheeseburger, a delicious, juicy burger
with just enough of their homemade chili. In the time it took me to
take a couple of bites, the Lamb Sandwich arrived, followed by the
Chili Cheese Fries, the Pastrami Sandwich and The Dip’s famous Chinese
Chicken Salad. Shocked is an understatement as to how I felt, I just
wondered how my poor stomach was going to feel, and the possible
punishment I would receive for abusing it as I was about to.
I continued my "feast" by trying the Lamb sandwich next, the sandwich
is comprised of thinly sliced pieces of lamb meat squeezed between
bread and dipped into the Au Jus. Jus is a French term meaning "with
its own juice," referring to the natural juices that the beef, lamb or
any meat gives off during the cooking process. This is what The Dip is
all about, sandwiches such as Pastrami, Roast Beef, Pork and Chicken
served in a French roll and are dipped in Au Jus.
The menu has a great variety of sandwiches, there are breakfast items
like Omelet wraps and sandwiches as well as burgers, fries, salads and
some interesting items like the Chili Cheese Fritos and the fried Hot
Dog, which Ken insisted I try. The Hot Dog was good, it was the first
time I had eaten a fried hot dog, the texture was interesting, and the
crunchiness of the outside versus the soft juicy inside was unique.
The Chinese Chicken salad was delicious, it’s made with shredded
chicken, lettuce, almonds, water chestnuts, and mandarin oranges. I
took as many bites of all the food that I could, pretty soon I knew
that I had to stop, I was hoping to save room for their desserts but
unfortunately I had passed my limit of consumption. The desserts
sounded just as good, they have two that stood out, the Chocolate Hand
dipped Banana and the chocolate hand dipped Cheesecake.
Ken and his family opened The Dip in 2003, there are two locations,
first was the location in Sherman Oaks and the most recent one opened
at the Hollywood Highland Center. The idea for the restaurants was to
establish a business while taking on small roles in featured films and
television appearances. As I listened to Ken explain the fortune that
starring in Borat has brought for him, I can see in his warm face and
smile that he is where he has long dreamed to be. He has been able to
get that role that has helped him take his career to the next level;
he has starred in several T.V. shows and has completed several film
projects since, such as Get Smart, starring Steve Carell, Bill Murray
and Ann Hathaway. He is set to star in the upcoming film Not
Forgotten, as well as Soul Man, with Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac.
In his most recent film, Davitian plays the character of Xerxes in
the comedy Meet the Spartans a spoof of the film 300, set for release
on February 1st of 2008. Ken’s journey as an actor has been a long
one; his charming personality, comedic ability and absolute dedication
and love for the craft has helped his career take off and hopefully he
will have a long road ahead of him doing what he does best. His
restaurant The Dip, is a great place in Los Angeles to get a French
Dipped sandwich, the meat is tender and juicy and the some of the
unique menu items help it be the adventurous place that it is. Meeting
and hearing the experiences of individuals like Ken make me realize
how important it is for us as a community to really try and support
each other. It has to go beyond just rhetoric, it has to be a
legitimate effort on our behalves, so I encourage you to go experience
the sandwiches at The Dip and to also buy a ticket to the next movie
with Ken Davitian, he won’t be completely naked, I promise.
* * *
Locations:
Sherman Oaks: 14333 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 501-1850
Hollywood: Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 871-0888
**************************************** ***********************************
5. Hye Katch Do: More than just kicking and punching
by Razmig Sarkissian
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Five young Armenians had to push
themselves beyond their breaking points, doing push-ups, sit-ups,
jumping jacks, and squats, all in the snow-covered grounds of AYF
Camp, during the second weekend of December.
"I’ve never been so tired in my life," said 15-year-old Hrag Tarpinian.
Drills like sprinting up the steep "Suicide Hill" and doing jumping
jacks at the summit without even the chance to catch a breath had the
young Armenians digging deep inside them to find something that would
keep them motivated.
"Every muscle in my body was telling me to give up," said 15-year-old
Jack Gulesserian, "but I knew I couldn’t. I had come too far to quit."
They were hot and sweaty, but cold and shivering at the same time as
they were instructed to sprint up and down the icy, slippery stairway
leading up to the dining lodge of AYF Camp, which is nestled in
California’s Angeles National Forest. After repeated sprints, and
slips, the exhausted teenagers were told that they had to wheelbarrow
back and forth in the snow… with bare hands.
"I didn’t think it [wheelbarrowing] would be that bad because the
distance looked so short," explained 15-year-old Maral Aghvinian, "but
the moment my hands hit the snow, I saw them turn blue, and that’s
when all five of us started yelling our hearts out."
It was an impressive sight for all who were watching. The five
students from Hye Katch Do Armenian Martial Arts Academy were pushing
through the pain, and pushing through their exhaustion, all for a goal
they had been working toward for years: getting a black belt.
The students — Nareg Ashekian, Jack Gulesserian, Hrag Tarpinian,
Maral Aghvinian, and Vatche Gulesserian — had dedicated much time and
energy to Hye Katch Do and were now ready to take their black-belt
test. They were put through various trials for the duration of the
weekend to show they had the skills, the attitude, and, most
importantly, the heart to become black belts.
One of the most physically and mentally challenging tasks of the
weekend was the five-mile run. The teens had been dreading this part
of the test the most. The first two miles seemed to be the most
difficult for them because the distance of the run and the lower
amount of oxygen in the mountainous elevation of AYF Camp had them all
psyched out.
"I felt really nervous," said 13-year-old Vatche Gulesserian, "partly
because I’m one of the youngest in the group."
A caravan of cars filled with parents and other supporters constantly
followed the self-named "Future Five" throughout their almost entirely
uphill run, giving words of encouragement and blasting Armenian music.
"I don’t know what happened," said 13-year-old Nareg Ashekian, "but
when I heard that Armenian music, it just energized me and kept me
pumped up."
Others had running companions who helped keep them motivated.
Students from Hye Katch Do’s Black Belt Club ran the last mile with
the mentally and physically exhausted teens, giving them much-needed
support. In the end, Vatche Gulesserian exceeded everyone’s, including
his own, expectations by finishing third. The teens were exhausted but
overjoyed as they all stood at the finish line, relieved to finally be
done with the run.
"I just ran five miles!" exclaimed Hrag Tarpinian with a huge smile.
"I’m so happy right now!"
In between the testing, the "Future Five" were able to relax with
their friends from the Black Belt Club, who were there to encourage
them throughout the test. The time spent with their friends was a good
way to keep their minds relaxed, and their morale up.
As a final test, the "Future Five" were instructed to fight against
each other, to showcase their martial-arts skills and conditioning.
The five students took turns partnering up with each other, and fought
various forms of combat such as point fighting, continuous fighting,
and mixed martial arts. For an entire hour, the students fought each
other with all the energy they could muster, trying to impress the
judges: Renshi Mihran Aghvinian; his longtime friend and training
partner from Germany, Shihan Michael Boldt; and his first-generation
black belts Sensei Vicken Joukadarian, Sensei Vatche Markarian, Sensei
Jeanette Jawlakian, and Sensei Hovig Kaloustian.
When the students were instructed to stop fighting, the judges went
into deliberation. As they did so, the five students, along with their
parents and Black Belt Club members, anxiously waited in silence. At
last, the judges announced that all five of the students had passed.
It was an emotional moment for not only the students and their
teachers, but for everyone in the room. The passion that the five
students had exhibited in their efforts to obtain their black belts
was felt emphatically by everyone. Renshi Mihran went on to proudly
bestow the black belts on his students, and, after many tears of
happiness from all around, the judges gave the new black belts
congratulatory kicks and punches, a common tradition of Hye Katch Do.
* The birth of Hye Katch Do
Hye Katch Do, meaning "The Way of the Brave Armenian," is a school and
style of Armenian martial arts founded by Renshi Mihran Aghvinian.
Renshi (meaning "wise master" in Japanese) Mihran founded Hye Katch Do
in 1989, in an Armenian community center in Hamburg, Germany. When he
moved to America in 1999, he brought Hye Katch Do along with him, and
founded dojos (training places) in the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena,
and Montebello, California.
Renshi Mihran began his long relationship with martial arts in 1970.
Between that year and 1989, he studied a wide range of martial arts
including judo, kung fu, kickboxing, and kadgamala karate, and went on
to become an instructor. Being exposed to so many martial art
disciplines and styles helped Renshi Mihran develop a set of unique
capabilities, which he says are usually lacking in students who focus
on a single martial art. Renshi Mihran’s growth as a martial art
practitioner enabled him to diversify. "I felt motivated and confident
enough to start my own style of martial arts," he said.
Along with every style that Renshi Mihran studied, he learned of
their respective national backgrounds, cultures, and individual
heroes. When the time came to found his own style of martial arts, he
envisioned it as a distinctly Armenian system.
"We [Armenians] have a very rich culture — possibly richer than the
cultures I studied while training," said Renshi Mihran, who has always
been proud of his Armenian heritage. "I decided to establish an
Armenian style of martial art so that I could teach others about our
Armenian culture, as other styles taught me about their own cultures."
As for deciding the name of his style, Renshi Mihran chose the name
Hye Katch Do because he noticed that "we grow up learning that we’re
Armenian; that we’re brave." He added the Japanese word Do, meaning
"the way of," to show that his style focuses more on physical, mental,
and spiritual self-improvement rather than combat alone.
"In 1989, in an Armenian community in Hamburg, Germany, the community
center asked if I would be able to teach the young kids my style of
martial arts," recalled Renshi Mihran happily, "and at that moment Hye
Katch Do was born, because I had begun teaching Armenian kids."
Since Hye Katch Do’s launch, the school has grown and expanded beyond
everyone’s expectations, thanks to the hard work of Renshi Mihran and
all of the friends and family who supported him. Today Hye Katch Do
has over 200 students throughout its chapters in Southern California.
Renshi Mihran, Sensei Vicken Joukadarian, and Sensei Vatche Markarian
dedicate their time and energy to teach these students throughout the
week.
* Goals and ideology
Renshi Mihran explained why he went so hard on the five students
during their black-belt test by using the katana, a sword used by the
ancient samurai, as an example. The katana is one of the toughest and
sharpest swords in the world, mainly because during its preparation
the steel is heated repeatedly in a furnace and then pounded with a
hammer. This causes the steel to break down and become stronger and
more compact. "My goal with the future black belts," elaborated Renshi
Mihran, "was to put them under so much pressure that they would become
more resilient, and forget themselves. I wanted to make those five
people function as one, and in doing so build a strong, sharp group,
like the katana."
In addition to making the steel harder, the elaborate process of
forging the katana removes all impurities from the metal. Renshi
Mihran takes the process as a metaphor for one of his main
instructional goals. "I want to work on the character of the
Armenians," he explained. "I think we [Armenians] are a very strong
nationality, and we have only one weakness: jealousy. In our history,
we have always been held back by traitors, who have risen because of
this jealousy. However, I know that when we are under pressure and we
work together without jealousy, we can do unbelievable things."
Renshi Mihran dreams of one day spreading Hye Katch Do as an
organization all over the world, with all of his students working
toward a healthy mind, a healthy body, and a benevolent spirit.
"My students learn so much more than kicking and punching," Renshi
Mihran continued. "There are so many forms of fighting, be it physical
fighting, or fighting for something you believe in, like so many young
Armenians do for the Armenian cause. There’s so much knowledge that I
try to give to my students, and so much I learn from them as well. And
that’s what I see Hye Katch Do as: a school for life — not only for
fighting but also for knowledge."
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6. A community of artists comes together to put on a show
by Adrineh Gregorian
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. — Among the many hats Vahe Berberian wears in
the creative world is his recent feat as writer and director of Baron
Garbis. The play in Armenian opened to sold-out performances last
weekend (see Arts & Culture page C18) for a nine-week run at the
Whitefire Theater in Sherman Oaks, California.
The story, though fictionalized, is one that all Diasporan-Armenians
have experienced and can relate to.
"Aside from the fact that the opening weekend gave us a wonderful
high, it also built confidence with the group," said Berberian,
referring to the positive audience response. "Until the opening of the
play, we knew we had a powerful piece, but we had no idea how the
audience was going to react to it."
"Now we know and that gave a new strength to the company. Also, I am
very pleased that the audience was able to get the nuances of the
play, especially the humor, and laugh and cry at the same time," added
Berberian.
The play is more than a piece of entertainment for the Armenian
community. It’s a chance for the audience to step back and consider
how a simple relationship between father and son gives can be
insightful into the journey of a people.
Not only will the audience be able to relate to the relationships on
stage, they can also see the evolution of the Armenians. One thing
that remains constant is the deep-rooted bond between each other.
These bonds that have lasted decades, war, continental lines, and
transcend generational gaps are the impetus and the spirit that is
captured in the production of Baron Garbis.
Many of the cast and crew have been ‘bonded’ together since the days
when they collaborated with the Experimental Theatre Company in
Beirut. Now they bring their synergy to the stage in Southern
California.
"The experience of the cast and crew getting together and focusing on
a project and finally bringing it to the stage has been amazing," says
Berberian. "Sartre says ‘Friendship develops when people act
together.’ We have been friends for a long time, but acting together
(meaning working on a project together) has brought us even closer and
turned the group into a tight family."
"For me the process was exciting yet a bit challenging to be on stage
again after 20 years of hiatus," says Ara Madzounian, who plays Baron
Garbis’ son, Jirair. "It is hard to put into words an actor goes
through the opening night before going on stage. It is a mixture of
apprehension, uncontrolled enthusiasm, the eagerness to set foot on
stage and utter your first words… and to hope that all goes well
without any obvious glitch.
"For the following weeks, my wish as an actor is to perform in-front
of capacity audience," added Madzounian.
Assistant Director and Stage Manager, Salpi Yardemian, has been
assisting Vahe and the cast, with everything that they may have
needed. Yardemian says that Baron Garbis represents, "the generation
who struggled for the impossible, but paved the way in which we
continue to live."
"Working on Baron Garbis has been most rewarding not only for the
creativity and the camaraderie that we all share," says Yardemian.
"But also to bring Baron Garbis (the character) alive on stage whom we
all know and miss."
The production coordinator for Baron Garbis, Christina Shirinyan, has
collaborated with Berberian on many projects in the fine art world and
is making her debut in theater world with this play.
"This was my first time working in theater so I went in knowing it
would be an adventure to bring Baron Garbis to life," says Shirinyan.
"Beacuse it’s a live show, it is a continuous adventure, and this is
the beauty of the process."
As for the excitement of opening weekend Shirinyan says, "we were all
confident in the strength of play and our excitement was reaffirmed by
the overwhelming response of the audience."
Producer Hrair S. Sarkissian’s father, Sarkis Sarkissian, has
collaborated with Berberian and Madzounian back in Beirut, circa
1970s. Sarkissian’s current partnership with the latter two is a
continuation of something more that what appears on stage, it
substantiates the endless symbiotic relationship within our community.
"Initially I saw my role as the person putting the pieces outside of
the content together, but the more I hung out around the actors during
the rehearsals, the more I became emotionally vested as well," says
Sarkissian.
"From the first time when Vahe told me that he has started to write
this play, I thought this will be a hit," says Sarkissian. "And the
fact that there really is very little Armenian work out there that is
of quality doesn’t hurt. I believe our community will greatly
appreciate the solid piece of work that Baron Garbis is."
"It is very courageous of Vahe to have brought up such an issue into
the Armenian modern day consciousness. I think this is a significant
step forward for Armenian theatre and hopefully a beginning for more
open, honest and sincere depictions of our lives," added Sarkissian.
Sarkissian says it’s been a privilege to work with Berberian on this
project. "I’ve tried to get Baron Garbis to be as close to Vahe’s
vision as possible, with as little stress on Vahe as possible," he
says. "You’ll have to ask Vahe if I succeeded, on both fronts."
By opening night, Sarkissian had seen the play dozens of times and
was jealous of the audience because they were seeing it for the first
time. "With such an amazing response, all the hard work becomes
worthwhile, and we all have an opportunity to breathe, until next
weekend," Sarkissian added.
The two alternating casts allows the audience to experience the play
in a new light. Ara Baghdoyan, Ara Madzounian, and Christopher Bedian
perform on Thursdays and Saturdays. And, Maurice Kouyoumdjian, Sako
Berberian, and Roupen Karakouzian perform on Fridays and Sundays.
"Baron Garbis will be playing every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at
8pm and Sundays at 3pm through March 16.
connect:
Whitefire Theater
13500 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
818.990.2324
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7. William Saroyan turns 100
* Centennial events to be held across the globe
by Tania Ketenjian
SAN FRANCISCO — As this year marks the centennial of William
Saroyan’s birth, events are happening around the globe to mark the
importance of his legacy, not only for the Armenian community but the
literary world as a whole. From Japan and Russia to Fresno and Boston,
communities and institutions are in the planning stages of events to
commemorate the powerful work of a man who dedicated his life to the
written word.
One of the main reasons why Saroyan’s work continues to resonate is
the strength of the William Saroyan Foundation, which the author and
his siblings, Henry and Cosette, set up in 1966. When Cosette died in
1990, the house that she and Saroyan co-owned, along with all of
Saroyan’s assets, became the possessions of the foundation, in
accordance with Saroyan’s will. The author had also appointed Robert
Setrakian as the next director of the foundation, entrusting him with
the task of bringing together all of his works, which had been
scattered around the world. Setrakian did just that. In 1997, all of
Saroyan’s literary papers were placed in the Special Collections of
the Stanford University Library and designated as the William Saroyan
Archive.
Four years ago, Setrakian stepped down as president and CEO and
appointed Haig Mardikian as the new head of the William Saroyan
Foundation, which is located in San Francisco. As Mardikian states,
"It’s a wonderful foundation and I have to really take off my hat to
Robert and the early trustees. They did a tremendous job of ensuring
that the literary legacy of Saroyan would be protected and furthered.
>From the nuts and bolts side, there is a lot that needs to be done to
maintain an author’s legacy, and it’s now the duty of the foundation
to make sure that it is protected and more people are made aware of
his work."
Mardikian knew Saroyan in his childhood. Mardikian’s father had come
to San Francisco from Istanbul in 1922 and begun working at a local
speakeasy as a dishwasher. He later opened a restaurant in that very
speakeasy and called it Omar Khayyam’s (after the well-known ancient
Persian poet who was famous for the line "Eat, drink, and be merry for
tomorrow you may die.") Omar Khayyam’s became very popular and was
often frequented by Saroyan. Mardikian’s father and Saroyan quickly
became friends. The former would invite Saroyan to the family’s summer
house in the Napa Valley. Mardikian remembers a birthday party at
which Saroyan was present.
"It was the summer and I was turning about 8 or 9," Mardikian
recalls. "We were celebrating my birthday at the family’s ranch house
and one of my gifts was an Indian chief’s headdress. I have a distinct
memory of Saroyan putting that on his head, getting up on the table,
and dancing."
There was surely a celebratory side to Saroyan, and, in line with
that, this year there will be many events to bring to life his work
and spirit. According to Mardikian, "The primary activities will be at
Stanford, where they will be awarding their biennial Saroyan Literary
Prize in early September. Along with the ceremonies, they are planning
a musical concert."
Mardikian continues: "The most extensive activity will be in Fresno,
under the chairmanship of Larry Balakian. All of those events can be
found at We have been in touch with
Archbishop Barsamian in New York City and they are planning to do a
panel discussion with author Peter Balakian. The Armenian Dramatic
Arts Alliance is going to be presenting a Saroyan Prize for
Playwriting during an event in Los Angeles. Here in Berkeley, a
publishing company called Hayday Press will be producing a 600-page
book on Saroyan which will include some of his writings and will be
available for purchase in August. Finally, there will be a centennial
dinner in early Fall in San Francisco." These events are in addition
to those planned in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
There are many reasons why Saroyan’s work maintains its strength
after so many years. Some attribute it to his beautiful style, others
believe it’s the voice he offers to the voiceless. But Mardikian has
another insight. "What overlays all of it and what I think is the
foundation for his lasting appeal is his optimism," he says. "He’s not
looking at the world through rose-colored glasses and he admits that
there are hard things in life. But through that he believes that
living is a great experience and that, even with all the challenges,
life is still such a magical thing. That is Saroyan’s unique flame
that burns through all his writing. There’s real power in his
optimism."
As for Mardikian’s position at the William Saroyan Foundation, he
states, "I have always found throughout my business career that doing
community work has been extremely rewarding and it has always been an
interest of mine to do something connected to my heritage. I feel very
blessed to have been asked to be associated with the William Saroyan
Foundation and the association has been a great pleasure, a true labor
of love that I deeply appreciate. I am hopeful that we will continue
to do the good work of the people that came before us."
connect:
*** ************************************************** **********************
8. Voices screened at Ararat-Eskijian Museum
* The documentary features some of the last survivors of the Genocide
MISSION HILLS, Calif. — Voices, a 40-minute documentary that follows
the lives of four genocide survivors, was screened at the
Ararat-Eskijian Museum in Mission Hills, on Sunday, January 13.
Filmmaker Apo Torosyan has interviewed three survivors of the Armenian
Genocide and one survivor of the Greek Genocide, seeking to educate
non-Armenians and non-Greeks about early 20th-century mass killings
committed by the Turkish government.
One of the survivors featured in the film, Yeghsapet Giragosian, was
107 years when she was interviewed. She passed away three weeks before
the film was completed in 2006. "She was 15 years old during the
Genocide. She lived near Kharpert," Torosyan said." Yeghsapet survived
by hiding out in a neighbor’s house while the deportations and
massacres took place." Yeghsapet’s brother disappeared, her sister was
abducted by the Turks, and her mother died of dehydration.
The second survivor interviewed in the documentary is 107-year-old
Hovhannes Madzharyan, who now resides in Glendale.
"He lived a tortured life," Torosyan said. "There were ten people in
his family and only three survived. As a young boy, he was bought as a
slave by a band of Arabs and worked as their shepherd. One day, he saw
two women harvesting the grass in the fields where he herded his
sheep. Miraculously, he noticed they were his mother and sister. When
the three united, they ran away together."
The late Luther Eskijian, founder of the Ararat-Eskijian Museum and
the film’s third interviewee, was only six and half years old when he
survived the Genocide. He went on to help the freedom fighters who
defended the Armenian population on the streets of Aintab, by taking
food supplies to them.
With his family annihilated by the Turks, Eskijian found refuge in
the United States at the age of seven and immediately began to work.
As a young man, he developed an affinity for architecture, and when he
was in the military, he learned about design and construction while
traveling through Europe with the American corps. From France all the
way to Berlin, Eskijian built hospitals and converted buildings into
hospitals for the GIs.
"He never really talked to any of us about his experiences in the
military," said Martin Eskijian, Luther’s son. "He didn’t talk to us
about his experiences in the Genocide. You can see a bit of it in
Voices, but that’s about it. When he came to America, he worked very
hard, moved on with his life, and never looked back."
Torosyan said he felt lucky to have met survivors like Eskijian. The
most difficult part of the project, he added, was saying goodbye when
the interviews were completed. He had developed a deep bond with the
survivors, who had become to him like the grandparents he never had.
The final story of Voices belongs to Sossos Delis, whose family
members were massacred by the Turks in Smyrna (Izmir) in 1922. Delis
was able to escape, along with a number of Armenians, when the Greek
army entered the city and rescued as many survivors as possible.
Prior to making Voices, Torosyan researched the history of Aleppo,
Syria. The city was an important hub for the Turks’ genocidal project,
as thousands of Armenian deportees were first taken to Aleppo before
being shipped off to Der Zor and being massacred. Torosyan discovered
that some Armenians were able to stay in Aleppo and survive, but that
most ended up in Der Zor, where they were slaughtered or died of
starvation.
For Torosyan, the impetus to make a film about Genocide survivors
came in 2003, when one of his professors at Boston University
suggested that he makes a documentary on the subject. The assignment
led Torosyan to Western Armenia (present-day Turkey), where he
interviewed the children of witnesses of the Armenian Genocide and
filmed the surroundings where his father, Hrant Torosyan, was orphaned
at the age of 5. The result was Discovering my Father’s Village
(2003), his first film about the Genocide. Torosyan subsequently made
another documentary, Witnesses (2005), which features interviews with
a number of Armenian Genocide survivors.
A renowned installation artist, Torosyan said he feels lucky to be
able to use film as the medium in which he tells the story of the
Armenians. "Film is more mobile and accessible and can have a further
reach than any mural on a wall," he explained. "A lifetime cannot be
justly surveyed in 10-12 minutes, but I am trying to do the best job
possible," Torosyan said.
connect:
[email protected]
edu
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9. A Road Less Traveled: Armenian by design, humanitarian by choice
* Pamela Young makes it her life mission to help the needy
by Mariette Tachdjian
Few young adults these days can give so freely of their time and
energy for the sole purpose of helping the less fortunate. But Pamela
Young, an Armenian-American and self-made citizen of the world, is one
of those rare and selfless souls, having spent the past 20 years of
her life making the poor and needy her life’s work. Her unique journey
would take her from the disaster-stricken regions of Armenia to the
desolate refugee camps of Kenya and Somalia.
Born to an Armenian mother and a British father, Pamela grew up in a
tight-knit, church-based community in Boston, Massachusetts. As a
teenager, she was involved in various Armenian activities, inspired by
her own immigrant grandparents, whom she watched volunteer tirelessly
in the church kitchen and picnic booths. Her interest in serving the
Armenian community continued to grow, but it wasn’t until college that
she actually learned the Armenian language.
Pamela had set her sights on becoming a lawyer. But when the fateful
1988 earthquake shook Spitak and neighboring cities in northern
Armenia, she saw an opportunity to go help her kindred folk. She
enlisted in a program with the Armenian Church Youth Organization of
America (ACYOA), to help build a house in Stepanavan, one of the
region’s most devastated cities. "This was my second trip to Armenia,
but my first to do humanitarian work in the country," she recalls. The
experience would leave an indelible mark on the young girl.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colby
College, Pamela began to develop her own career niche by blending her
interest in global policies and international law with her newfound
passion for humanitarian work. She joined Oxfam GB, a Britain-based
international non-governmental organization (NGO), where she was
assigned to policy development, advocacy work, and campaigning to end
global poverty. "I chose this work because, with all the wealth that
there is in the world, there is no reason for people to be poor,"
Pamela says. "Yet there still are millions of children who never go to
school or see a doctor." She was stationed in all corners of the
world, including Tanzania, Indonesia, Barbados, and England, as a
project manager, working in long-term development as well as emergency
relief. She found that being involved in Armenian activities during
her youth had had an impact on the way she worked with people in
developing countries. "In some ways, having come from a family of
Genocide survivors, I find it easier to empathize with those who I
meet through my work," she explains.
But it was during graduate school at the University of Michigan that
Pamela truly rediscovered her Armenian culture and language, and went
on to nurture her Armenian roots. Her doctoral dissertation — on
Armenian education in the Ottoman Empire just before the Genocide —
required extensive research, taking her to France, Armenia, and
England. While settling in London to complete her dissertation, she,
along with a few committed friends, founded the Armenian Institute,
with a mission to make Armenian culture and history a living
experience by developing educational resources and offering various
programs such as workshops, academic events, exhibits, and musical
performances. "This remains the guiding principle of the organization,
and I really am proud of my friends and colleagues, who continue to
make it a thriving organization today," Pamela says.
* Helping fight global poverty
Currently Pamela lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where she works for CARE.
This has also allowed her to be closer to her parents and family. CARE
is a nonprofit international organization focused on fighting global
poverty, particularly by supporting women. "It is usually women who
are most affected by poverty," Pamela says. She helps create
educational programs for children and orphans, and other vulnerable
populations throughout the world, including those with HIV and AIDS.
Though most of her work takes place at the CARE headquarters, she
recently spent five weeks on assignment in Kenya, England, and India.
In Kenya, Pamela met with CARE’s senior management from East and
Central Africa, to discuss various issues ranging from climate change
to the rape of women during armed conflict. Next she was dispatched to
evaluate a program in Dadaab, a refugee town near the Kenya-Somali
border, where CARE runs an education system for 40,000 young people.
Back in Nairobi, Pamela helped plan a meeting on education and
HIV/AIDS mitigation for nine African countries. She then had meetings
with representatives of global agencies, including the UN, before
returning to England to discuss research and collaboration with
European NGOs. She subsequently traveled to India, to meet with CARE’s
education staff from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and East and
South Asia. The trip ended with a visit to education-program sites in
Lucknow, India, where she met with children, teachers, parents, and
local NGOs.
Just imagining this kind of life is exhausting enough. But Pamela’s
boundless drive seems to be fueled by a personal belief: "I have
always thought it was worth the effort to help others who are in
need," she says. Still, what may seem as an exciting lifestyle also
comes with its own set of drawbacks. "There are a lot of tough
moments, from constant earthquakes in Indonesia to missing weddings
and birthdays, to jet lag and bathing in brown water," Pamela
explains. "They are difficult but not insurmountable." Her greatest
satisfaction, she adds, is seeing people whom she has helped succeed,
or seeing a child go to school for the first time. And through it all,
she keeps family her main priority. "The most difficult moments are
being away from home when a family member is sick or your help is
needed. That is when I have dropped everything and been on the next
plane home, no matter where I was in the world," she says.
In early 2007, while working in Rwanda, Pamela visited the Genocide
Museum, which also includes a tribute to the Armenian Genocide. What
angered her most "Is that the world does not learn, and that despite
people knowing what is happening, it is difficult to get people to
act." She credits her grandparents for her own work ethic. "For them
it was never about how much money a person had but what they did to
help others" she says. In turn, she has translated that to a larger,
global vision. "As a citizen of the world, I see it as a
responsibility to help make sure that everyone has the same
opportunities, regardless of who they are and where they have come
from."
With a purpose-driven life and a giving spirit, Pamela Young is a
living example of what it is to go beyond the Armenian identity while
preserving the culture that molded her. So what does she say to young
Armenians who want to pursue their life’s passion? "My advice is to
follow your dreams, whatever they may be," Pamela states. She also
feels it is important to think about how you can contribute to society
and listen to the wisdom of others. Her graduate commencement speech
encouraged people to make a difference in whatever they did. And to
parents of young Armenians, Pamela says: "Support your children to
follow their dreams, no matter whether you agree with them or not. My
parents always have and I am grateful for it."
connect:
armenianinstitute.org.uk
www.c are.org
* * *
Mariette Tachdjian is a freelance writer living in the Los Angeles area.
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10. Crime Beat: Woman sentenced in "parking lot rage" incident
* Sentence is home confinement
by Jason Kandel
BURBANK, Calif. — Culminating months of drama in a freak "parking-lot
rage" incident in which a pregnant woman pushed down an elderly
parking attendant, causing his death, because she didn’t want to pay
the $5 fee, Hilda S. Voskanian will serve 120 days of home
confinement, attend anger management classes, and perform community
service.
During an emotional sentencing hearing Jan. 16, Ms. Voskanian, who
was 31 and eight months pregnant at the time she pushed Pedro Dorado
to the ground, expressed remorse, wiping away tears.
Ms. Voskanian was also ordered to serve 60 months of probation, and
will pay $8,500 in restitution to Mr. Dorado’s family for funeral
expenses and travel costs.
"I want you to know that I feel terrible for what happened," she
said, addressing the court, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
"Knowing that if (I) had paid the $5, Mr. Dorado would be alive and
Mr. Dorado’s family wouldn’t have to live with this trauma."
Ms. Voskanian, a Burbank resident who works in importing and
exporting, was found guilty in November of one count of involuntary
manslaughter for the June 2006 death of Mr. Dorado, who was 75.
The incident began about 7 p.m. June 30 outside the Grand Bellaj
reception hall on Olive Avenue in downtown Burbank.
Ms. Voskanian and her husband had parked their vehicle in the lot
where the Mr. Dorado worked, and on their way out, Mr. Dorado asked
the couple to pay the $5 parking fee. But Ms. Voskanian refused, and
Mr. Dorado positioned himself in front of the vehicle to photograph
its license plate.
Enraged, Ms. Voskanian got out of the vehicle and pushed Mr. Dorado
back. The force caused him to slam his head against the pavement.
He checked himself into White Memorial Hospital, where he slipped
into a coma with bleeding to the brain, was put on life support, and
died three weeks later.
He didn’t report the crime to the police.
Upon getting word of the death, Los Angeles police opened a case and
notified Burbank officers, who began piecing together details of what
happened.
Two days after Mr. Dorado died, Ms. Voskanian and her husband, Oshin
Grigorian, 35, were arrested. Charges against Mr. Grigorian, were
dropped.
In court, Ms. Voskanian’s attorney James Epstein argued that his
client was acting in self defense. Prosecutors said Ms. Voskanian was
"in a rage" and provoked the incident.
During closing arguments Nov. 28, Ms. Voskanian showed little
emotion. The jury convicted Ms. Voskanian of involuntary manslaughter,
a crime that could have given her a state prison sentence of up to
four years. The judge gave her a lighter sentence taking into
consideration the fact that she had no prior criminal record, was
pregnant, and was raising a young child.
The prosecutor suggested that Ms. Voskanian became embarrassed when
Mr. Dorado, seeking payment, followed her into a Verizon cellphone
store nearby to collect.
Epstein tried to raise reasonable doubt saying the prosecutor did not
prove her case, that Mr. Dorado likely died as a result of him taking
blood thinners for a preexisting heart condition, and that she was
acting in self defense when Mr. Dorado came after her.
Epstein said he plans to file an appeal for a new trial in the case.
Glendale man pleads not guilty in fatal hit-and-run
A man who was caught trying to flee the continent through Mexico this
summer pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges in
connection with the hit-and-run death of a 24-year-old Elizabeth
Sandoval.
Ara Grigoryan, 21, pleaded not guilty, indicating that the case will
likely move forward for a preliminary hearing in the coming months at
which a judge will determine if there is enough evidence against the
defendant for a trial.
He entered his plea Jan. 3 in a Pasadena courtroom. He also pleaded
not guilty to one count each of vehicular manslaughter and felony
hit-and-run charges involving a death.
He has been charged in a July 10 crash that left Ms. Sandoval dead at
South Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road in Glendale, police said.
Mr. Grigoryan was allegedly at the wheel of a black Mercedes-Benz
S430, driving at "highway speeds" when he hit Ms. Sandoval at 9:40
that night, police said.
Four days after the crash, police located the Mercedes at a Van Nuys
body shop through a tracking device installed on the vehicle.
But the suspect was nowhere to be found.
Police determined that the car was registered to a relative of Mr.
Grigoryan’s and kicked off an international manhunt that led them to
Tijuana.
With the help of Mexican authorities, Mr. Grigoryan was arrested July
18 in Mexico City for not having proper travel documents as he was
trying to hop on a plane to Spain, then Russia, before eventually
planning to land in his birthplace of Armenia, police said.
Mr. Grigoryan, who police say has a lengthy record of bad driving, is
at Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, awaiting his next court
hearing, set for Feb. 13.
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11. Mary Allukian, 98, dies in Watertown
NEWTON, Mass. — Mary (Nahabedian) Allukian, of Newton, a Genocide
survivor who was a member of a remarkably long-lived family, and who
very nearly saw her own centenary, died on January 3. She was 98.
She was born in Aintab on February 12, 1909, the third child of
Benjamin and Lucy (Touzjian) Nahabedian. Her older siblings were
Sarkis and Lydia (Bakerjian) Sulahian (both now deceased), and her
younger siblings were Ethel Roubian (now deceased) and Theodore
(Toros) Nahabedian, still living and 96 years old.
As Mrs. Allukian would relate, a turning point in her family’s life
came when she was about eight years old. One evening there came a
knock at the door of the family home, and Mary opened it to find the
Turkish police. They asked her where her father was, and she replied,
"In the next room." Like so many other men in the city, her father was
taken away and killed, in the events that marked the start of the
genocidal campaign against Armenian citizens.
Mary’s mother, then pregnant, with five children under the age of 12
in her care, found herself unable to feed the children and placed Mary
in an orphanage, where (Mrs. Allukian would recall) she cried
constantly. Out of pity, the orphanage returned Mary to her mother,
saying she would die if kept there, and also began giving her a gold
coin once a month to feed the children.
At age 18, living in Aleppo with her family, Mary’s mother arranged
to have the girl married to Myron Allukian, an Aintabsi visiting from
the U.S. They were married on January 28, 1928, and settled in
Watertown, Mass., for several years, where they had their first
children Doris and Myron, Jr. The family then moved to the South End
in Boston, over Myrons store, the Standard Meat Market.
The couple was married for 66 years, until Myron’s death in 1994 —
10 days short of his own 102nd birthday; Mary was 85 at the time. For
the next 10 years she lived alone. On the Thanksgiving weekend 2003,
she almost died of a heart attack; but after several months of
recuperation, she returned to her home, and lived there up until she
died, while sleeping, on January 3.
On April 20 of last year, Mary was recognized as a Genocide survivor
at a commemoration at the Massachusetts State House, and received a
proclamation from Governor Deval Patrick. A family event celebrating
her 98th birthday was also featured in an article in the April 21,
2007 edition of the Reporter.
Her loved ones recalled Mary as a woman known for her cooking and her
passion for reading. She loved dancing, music, and flowers. She
especially admired her mother — one of 13 children and a high school
graduate, who Mary regarded as quite ahead of her time. Mary herself
never finished high school, because of the Genocide; but five of her
six grandchildren are college graduates, with one still in school.
She is survived by her children, Doris Maranjian and Dr. Myron
Allukian, Jr.; and by her six grandchildren: Myron III, Kristin,
Alison, Jason, Alexandra, and Nathan; as well as by her brother
Theodore.
A funeral service was held at Watertown’s Armenian Memorial Church on
January 5, with a burial at Newton Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy
may be made in Mrs. Allukian’s memory to the Armenian Memorial Church.
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