GARCETTI, KREKORIAN HONOR ARMENIAN HERITAGE MONTH IN CITY COUNCIL
ASBAREZ
Thursday, November 1st, 2012
>From l to r: Garcetti, Pirhamzei, AFFMA (Minassian), Karoun Dairies,
Lark Musical Society, Satamian, Parseghian, Krekorian
LOS ANGELES-City Councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Paul Krekorian
commemorated Armenian Heritage Month at the October 23 meeting of
the Los Angeles City Council by honoring members of Los Angeles’s
Armenian-American community.
“I’m proud to stand with the community to celebrate Armenian Heritage
Month in Los Angeles,” said Councilmember Garcetti, whose district
includes Little Armenia. “Los Angeles is home to the largest Armenian
diaspora in the world and we are a stronger city for it. Throughout
the centuries, Armenians have left a legacy of literature, music,
art, science, architecture, and more. The same spirit and tradition
continues today in Los Angeles and I’m proud to honor some of the
Armenian Americans who are leading the way.”
The City Councilmen with the JPL Mars Rover team
“For more than a century, Armenian-Americans have helped to weave
the fabric of our city and country through the richness of their
cultural heritage,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian, the first
Armenian-American elected to the Los Angeles City Council. “Today,
I am proud to honor that heritage and the extraordinary contributions
of our honorees to the great wealth of cultural diversity that makes
Los Angeles unique. Beyond recognizing these honorees, through today’s
celebration we also offer tribute to the countless Armenian-American
Angelenos who share with all of us the depth of their ancient culture
and the vibrancy of its modern manifestations, and who contribute
so much to our city through their hard work, creativity, values,
civic pride and patriotism.”
This year’s honorees are: Parseghian Records. Celebrating its 50th
anniversary this year, Parseghian Records is Little Armenia’s oldest
operating Armenian-owned small business. The company pioneered the
production and distribution of Armenian music and film in the Diaspora
and in Los Angeles.
Arpa Foundation for Film, Music, and Art (AFFMA). Founded in 1995 by
Sylvia Minassian, AFFMA supports emerging artists and produces the
annual Arpa International Film Festival in Hollywood to showcase work
that seeks to bridge the cultural divide.
Karoun Dairies. Antranik Baghdassarian began making handmade cheese
from a small storefront in Hollywood in 1990 and quickly found a
market in ethnic stores across Southern California. Since that time,
Karoun Dairies has produced award-winning cheeses and yogurts that
are distributed in Armenian and other ethnic markets as well as large
retailers such as Costco and Ralph’s.
Krikor Satamian. Satamian is responsible for founding Armenian General
Benevolent Union (AGBU) theater companies in Boston, Detroit, New
York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. As Artistic Director of the AGBU
theater company in Los Angeles, he has directed or acted in more than
80 plays during a career that spans half a century. Satamian has been
credited for introducing the art of stand-up comedy in Armenian and
has appeared in numerous films and television shows.
Lark Musical Society. For more than 20 years, the Lark Musical
Society has educated hundreds of students who are preserving Armenian
heritage and culture through music. The Lark Musical Society offers
both a research facility and conservatory where hundreds of concerts,
lectures, and symposiums have taken place.
Vahik Pirhamzei. Vahik Pirhamzei is a writer, actor, and director
best known for creating the beloved stage character Rafael. His recent
film – My Uncle Rafael – is based on his stage character and has been
played to sold out audiences in theaters across the United States.
Armenian-American JPL Mars Rover Curiosity Team Members. The Jet
Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars Rover Curiosity Team included 16 Armenian
Americans whose work is expanding our knowledge of the red planet.