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Man arrested over Easey St cold case murders identified as Perry Kouroumblis

The Greek Herald
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Man arrested over Easey St cold case murders identified as Perry Kouroumblis

Perry Kouroumblis has been named as the individual arrested at Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome on late Thursday, September 19 in connection with the infamously unsolved Easey Street murders.

The 65-year-old’s arrest comes nearly 50 years after Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, were allegedly murdered in their Easey Street home in Melbourne’s inner city suburb of Collingwood.

Armstrong’s infant son was found unharmed in his cot when police discovered the bodies on January 13, 1977.

According to the Herald Sun, it was revealed that two weeks after the women’s deaths Kouroumblis was stopped by police, who discovered a knife in the trunk of his vehicle. When questioned about the weapon, Kouroumblis claimed he had found it near some railway tracks.

In 2017, after police requested a DNA sample from him as part of their ongoing investigation into the murders, Kouroumblis left for Greece.

Suzanne Armstrong with her son Gregory.
Susan Bartlett.

Kouroumblis’ brother, Tony Kouroumblis, told Guardian Australia there was no question his brother was innocent.

“I’ve just been numb, you know what I mean,” Tony Kouroumblis said. “I’m 100% sure it’s all a big mistake. 100% sure.

“That’s my feeling … I know my brother. I don’t think he’s capable of doing anything like that.”

The Kouroumblis family lived on Bendigo Street, Collingwood, less than 300 metres away from the house where the two women were killed. Perry was 17 when the killings occurred, and Tony was a year younger.

“Every now and then you hear about it on the TV and you’d say ‘I hope they catch somebody’,” Tony added. “So it always stayed on my mind.”

Source: The Australian.

One small step: Greek Australian hiker Steve Sertis continues to inspire

Anjelica Smilovitis
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One small step: Greek Australian hiker Steve Sertis continues to inspire

Cultivating a 25-year career as an Events Manager and volunteer lead guide on one of the world’s great long distance walk trails was not something that Greek Australian Steve Sertis had meticulously planned.

Synchronicity and recognising opportunity might have played a role, but taking one small step has ultimately paved the way for his fulfiling career with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation.

Leading a hiking group on the south coast for the Bibbulmun Track 25th Anniversary completing the 1000km.

Over a few decades ago, Steve was completing a master’s degree in environmental psychology and after many years of university study, he felt the urge to venture down south of Western Australia.

A chance encounter with a book titled Bushwalks of the Southwest would pique Steve’s curiosity as he prepared for his road trip. On a whim he thought, “I’ll pick that up and see what happens. I might use it; I might not.”

Although bushwalking wasn’t a family tradition, a spirit of exploration seems to be ingrained in his lineage. In the 1920s, Steve’s grandfather immigrated to Australia paving the way for other family members to follow suit. His father was born amid World War II in Kalgoorlie, WA while his mother hailed from the Greek islands. Born in the 1950s, she later migrated from Rhodes to Perth with her parents, joining other family members who had settled in WA.

Steve grew up speaking Greek, even attending Greek language school in Perth, however, the family naturally assimilated into Australian culture, shifting away from Greek traditions, and speaking predominantly English. Family vacations were spent in Busselton and Margaret River, but that was as far as Steve had travelled into the south region of WA.

Armed with a paper map from the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in the pre-Internet era, Steve set out from Perth to Albany, taking the back roads to explore unfamiliar places.

“Off I went,” Steve says. “I was camping in a National Park… on the southwest highway. I decided to thumb through this book I picked up and saw there was a local trail not far from the campsite.

Checking out the trail, Steve came across a small marker with a little black snake symbol.

“It was a narrow trail, clearly not meant for vehicles. The words ‘Bibbulmun Track’ caught my attention as I recalled seeing the term in my book’s contents,” he says.

Delving into the book, Steve discovered this mysterious trail stretched from Perth to Walpole (at the time), covering approximately 650 kilometres. The trail today stretches 1,000km from Kalamunda, a suburb nestled in the hills on the outskirts of Perth, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast, winding through the landscapes of the southwest region of WA.

“My first thought was, ‘It would be mad to walk all the way from Perth to Walpole—no one would do that! Why is there a track?’,” Steve says.

Months later, while back in Perth visiting an outdoor store, Steve noticed a brochure on the counter featuring the Bibbulmun Track with the same snake symbol he had seen before.

The slogan read: “One small step.”

The brochures called out for volunteers to help with plans to extend the trail to Albany. Hopping on the opportunity, Steve applied and never looked back.

Shortly after starting out as a volunteer in February 1997 for the Norang Campsite section near Mount Cooke, he progressed into an Events Manager role after a conversation with the CEO at the time.

“You’ve got to be open and recognise opportunity when it comes knocking,” Steve says.

Ambition played some part, but he didn’t envision it evolving into a full-time position.

“I was along for the ride,” he explains.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of being an Events Manager and leading the walks is to see the entire journey come full circle. Part of the fun has also been watching the organisation grow since it was first established in 1997.”

Hiking the Samaria Gorge in Crete in the 90s

Leading beginner hikers who have never walked a step in the bush, Steve proudly watches as individuals progress from day hikers to overnight walkers, and eventually complete the 1,000 kilometres end to end.

“I get to watch people grow and get skilled up and watch their faces light up as they see astounding views, whether it’s the forest or ocean. Then they’ll come back and volunteer as a guide. That’s what keeps me going,” Steve says.

Part of Steve’s passion is dispelling myths about bushwalking to encourage more urbanites to enjoy the trail. People are bought up not to venture out in the bush because of potential dangers, Steve explains.

“I like to put things back into perspective by sharing my experience over 25 years,” he says.

“I’ve seen lots of snakes, but I’ve never seen anyone bitten. Also, sometimes hikers abandon their plans while trekking as they struggle with the solitude. But being in the bush really centres us and puts things into perspective.

“When I escape from what we consider first world problems and immerse myself in nature, all the burdens and worries seem to fade away. The mental well-being that comes from disconnecting from stress and connecting with the land makes everything else seem less important. Material possessions lose their significance.

“The feeling of knowing that I can survive with just what’s in my backpack and walk for a week without seeing anyone or relying on external supplies is truly empowering.”

It’s raining cats and dogs: Why American democracy is unhealthy

The Greek Herald
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It’s raining cats and dogs: Why American democracy is unhealthy

By Billy Cotsis

The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) was a party. The DNC roll call had music, fun and community spirit compared to the one undertaken by the Republican National Convention which felt like a wake.

I was mesmerised by Lebanese-born superstar NBA coach/player Steve Kerr who delivered a speech at his former home, the United Centre of the Chicago Bulls. He helped the Dems reclaim the chants of USA, USA, from Make America Great Again (MAGA) nationalists. I was captivated by speeches from Michelle Obama, Barrack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, among many coherent speakers who seemed able to use the term ‘hope’ and the English language. Even Biden seemed energised.

Hulk Hogan aside, the Republican equivalent was a yawn fest and an avenue to glorify a cult leader. Therein are some of the problems of US politics, which relies on glitz, glamour, celebrity names, and is limited in party options. The second biggest party is reliant on a man who attempted a coup.

In Brasil, the government had a similar coup attempt and immediately took action, banning former president and alleged terrorist, Bolsanaro from running for eight years. I was in Brazilia just several days before the coup attempt. I marvelled at the speedy action of authorities. The US instead seemingly rewards coup-like behaviour by allowing Trump to run. Meanwhile, January 6 coup participants went to prison in his place.

Democrats consist of moderates to lefties and the Republicans who no longer resemble Ulysses Grant, Lincoln or war hero John McCain, resemble a far-right cult. Trump gained the nomination without once debating fellow primary candidates. What is even more concerning, US elections via primaries start almost 18 months before the next president is sworn in.

What does that mean?

Elected officials spend most of their time horse-trading, fundraising billions collectively from corporate America and Super-Pac’s instead of focusing on their current jobs. It is estimated that Harris and Trump will generate two billion for their campaigns by election day. Both candidates will then have “obligations” to reward big donors with plum positions and posts, be it the fossil fuel industry, NRA, AIPAC, weapons manufacturers, billionaires etc. This alone ensures that presidents are beholden to these groups, making policy that reflects donor needs.

Thankfully the Democrats have a broader base which includes socialists such as Bernie

Sanders, kind hearts such as AOC and Pete Buttigieg who are politicians not reliant on big donors and therefore able to promote policies reflecting the community.

The US does have a third, credible party, the Libertarians. This year the party is led by a young man who has no fealty to anyone and a range of policies that appeal to people fed up with Washington.

Beyond that, some state ballots will see third party candidates, should they qualify, such as Greens led by Jill Stein and various civil rights advocates. These groups and individuals have limited bearing on results. Kanye took about half a million votes in 2020. The worm loving, bear bashing nutter RFK Jr would have taken a million votes had he not succumbed to whatever Trump promised him.

Voting is not compulsory which means that an estimated 60% of eligible voters determine the election. Biden beat Trump by 7 million votes in 2020, thanks in part to Obama and Trump’s poor handling of COVID-19. Almost 160 million voted in that election out of 239 million registered to vote. One of the great aspects of democracy in Australia is that it’s compulsory to vote. We have more parties to choose from, sometimes turning the senate paper into a tablecloth. Everyone should have a voice. In many minority areas in Red states in the USA, voting can take hours. A design flaw or a way to take civil rights from those who worked hard to gain their civil rights?

Electoral College

This is one College where no one graduates, and certainly without Honours for some such as GW Bush or Trump.

The four who came together to write the American Constitution thought it would be a clever idea to create a system that did not reward the candidate with the most votes in the nation. Many times, including 2016, the Republican candidate lost the popular vote, yet won the presidency based on the Electoral College system.

A successful candidate therefore needs 270. Hence, a small number of states, which we shall call the Swingers, will determine an election as we already know how 43 states will vote, usually Blue for Democrats such as California and the former Kingdom of Hawaii or Red ala Tennessee, Alabama. Each state is allocated a certain number of college votes based on population. At this election, states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, West Virginia, Michigan are in play. This is where the election will be decided. Michigan with a strong Palestinian leaning base is likely to fall to Trump as Arabs who vote Democrat won’t vote. It means Trump can take the White House if he wins say Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan and perhaps one other. Trump will lose the popular vote for the third straight election.

Want to hear something even more crazy? The elections are decentralised with state laws mostly used to regulate the elections. Each state’s election winner is called by the media, yes CNN to Fox News get to make the call.

Each state has an assigned number of electoral collage “voters” who theoretically cast the vote for the winner. There have been instances when that has not happened. At the last election, MAGA Republicans came up with an illegal scheme to send fake electors to Washington to cast votes for Trump – Electoral College “voters” have to declare in front of Congress who won in order to certify the winner. This process is undertaken in a session controlled by the Vice President.

Had the fake electors scheme worked, and Mike Pence as VP had overseen this fraud, Trump would have been president instead of Biden.

But there is a Supreme Court….

Yes indeed, stacked with Trump loyalists and in the case of Clarence Thomas, the whiff of corruption remains in the air as he routinely takes gifts from Republicans. Judges are allowed to accept gifts after they have decided a case! Essentially a third branch of government, unaccountable in the most part and elected by Congress, with no term limits.

To say it in French, US democracy, my ass!

Congress can invite corrupt leaders such as Netanyahu to address a joint session, spend countless days arguing over who should be speaker, and is usually controlled by the party not in the White House, creating a stalemate to pass legislation. The president has to sign off on legislation which becomes moot if they are on the opposite side. Many in Congress are beholden to big donors such as NRA, pharmaceuticals, weapons industry and fossil fuels. Annually Congress holds the budget hostage meaning federal workers become at risk of not being paid.

The US system of democracy is a mess. Unhealthy, unbalanced. Rarely is it a voice of the people as Jasmine Crockett or Jamie Raskin attempt to be. Far too many in Congress/Senate are there to stifle progress, ala Mitch McConnell who was asked in 2010 what his agenda as Senate Leader would be, answering, “to oppose every bit of the Obama Administration!”

Recently I watched a republican challenge a civilian speaker to a fist fight, while others use Congress to tell blatant lies, but supported by Fox News, it becomes a “truth” in MAGAland.

USA is no beacon of democracy and needs reform. Big money which needs to be capped from billions to a lot less, interest groups, far right media, an unelected Supreme Court, few alternatives to vote for and avenues for an election to be circumvented.

Australia is not perfect either as we have a King as head of state and Murdoch influences a lot of policies, but our democracy is superior. If we cap what donors can donate and by whom, have our own elected head of government, we will be almost as perfect as say Iceland. Until then I urge Western countries not to be influenced by the mess and the struggling democracy of the USA.

*Billy Cotsis is a writer and documentary maker who has travelled to most Western democracies

Costeen Hatzi on Nick Kyrgios, marriage and maintaining her own identity

The Greek Herald
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Costeen Hatzi on Nick Kyrgios, marriage and maintaining her own identity

Costeen Hatzi is carving out her own path as more than just the partner of Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios. At 24, she’s focused on building her own identity alongside her high-profile relationship, which began in late 2021.

In a recent interview with WHO, Hatzi said, “I think it’s super important as a woman and as a girlfriend to have your own thing going on.”

“It’s really easy to get lost and caught up in your partner’s life, especially if they’re a global athlete. It’s important for me to have my own life and my own goals, too,” she added.

Hatzi runs Style Studio Dress Hire and engages in brand collaborations. Though she had little interest in tennis before meeting Kyrgios, she now enjoys travelling with him, especially during his US Open commentary stint in New York.

“It really is amazing because I get to experience all these different countries and cities and cultures. It’s pretty cool,” she said.

Costeen Hatzi and Nick Kyrgios. Photo: instagram

Asked if a wedding proposal was imminent, she answered: “I mean, I’m still pretty young. I’m only 24.”

“He’s 30 next year, so he’s a little bit older – but there’s no rush. Still, if he did propose, I wouldn’t say no,” she added.

As they approach their three-year anniversary, Hatzi reflected on their relationship.

“It’s coming up to three years at the end of this year, which is crazy because it feels like I’ve just met him, but also like I’ve known him my whole life,” she said.

Source: WHO

To the Cappadocian ancestors

Anastasios Tamis
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To the Cappadocian ancestors

Cappadocia was, from ancient times, the place of the scouts of Hellenism and region that produced the Church Fathers, the historical site, which reconciled Ancient Greece with Christianity. Basil the Great declared in his patristic writings that it is not possible to understand the deep meaning and the values of Christianity, if we do not study ancient Greek philosophy, if we do not listen to Plato and Aristotle.

The wider area of sacred Cappadocia, colonised initially by the Mycenaeans and later by the Hellenism of Ionia and Caria, emerged as the area of historical Hellenism that gave birth to the greatest Fathers of Christendom, including John Chrysostom, Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa, Saint Savvas and other Saints and Martyrs, but also impressive figures of Hellenism of the 20th century, including Aristotle Onassis, Prodromos Bodossakis from Nigdi and others.

It is one of the most historically important regions where Hellenism flourished and promoted its culture and faith as a shield, as a patronage to protect its Greek identity, in the depths of Anatolia, Asia Minor. This area, where entire villages and towns remained with a pure Greek population, and others, where Greeks and Turks lived peacefully through time, were forced until September 1924 to uproot and return to the ancestral homes of their great-grandparents, scattered in Greece, disembarking in the great ports of Patras, Piraeus and Thessaloniki.

The historical journey of the development, contribution and creation of the Greeks of Cappadocia was studied and historically composed by historian Aikaterini Nikolaidou-Danassi, with great care, in three volumes dedicated to Caesarea and the Hellenism of Cappadocia. The Cappadocian Greeks were, along with the Greeks of Ionia and the Greeks of Pontus and South Russia, but also those of the wider Balkan area, the most crucial parts of the so-called Historical Hellenism, in terms of culture, social and economic development. With historical Hellenism we define the organised Greeks who lived as communities, in villages, cities and settlements, promoting their national, racial (homofylia) and religious (homodoxy) identity. Caesarea, Konya, Nissa and Nigde and other cities of Cappadocia, and over five hundred towns, villages and settlements, for hundreds of years maintained their ethno-religious consciousness and identity without compromise.

Of course, they also hurt. Thousands of inter-ethnic marriages (intermarriages) with Muslims and Muslim women caused myriad problems between their families, and eventually all those who entered into mixed marriages were denied the right to be exchanged in 1923. The Greek language as a medium of use and learning receded in areas where monasteries did not operate. Racism and intolerance caused serious division, causing small and large exodus flows from several villages, either to the large cities of Cappadocia or to Ionia and Pontus. However, they made an intense effort, operating in Orthodox monasteries, schools for the Greek language and culture, and ecclesiastical schools from which hundreds of seminarians graduated and many of them later became Metropolitans and Patriarchs.

Regarding the journey of uprooting thousands of Cappadocians and settling them in Greece, author Aikaterini Nikolaidou narrates: “… I ached for their lost dreams and hopes that were dashed. But all this educational venture in Caesarea was not lost, it was fruitfully transplanted to Greece and helped in the smoother integration of refugees into the national body and in the social and economic progress of Greece. The expansion of Greek territory and the large influx of refugees had created a great demand for teaching staff. With the Exchange, hundreds of teachers and many kindergarten teachers who were trained in Caesarea, fled to Greece as refugees and staffed Greek schools…”

Regarding those Cappadocians who lost the Greek language, Nicolaidou observes: “The Greeks spoke Turkish and, justifying their Turkish-speaking, attributed it to the fact that many years ago the Turks cut off their parents’ tongues, with the result that the children, having no sound of the Greek language, learned Turkish. However, they knew the particular writing of Turkish with the characters of the Greek alphabet.”

Professor Pantelis Kontogiannis provides us with a satisfactory explanation for the Turkish-speaking nature of Christians, writing the following:  “Among the Greeks of Asia Minor, those who came to the dense Turkish population lost their mother tongue and became Turkish-speaking. But through the schools they partially or completely regained Greek.”

Centers of Hellenism and the preservation of the Greek language and identity were in Cappadocia, the monasteries. The Monastery of Timios Prodromos was the pinnacle of learning and teaching, but also a religious mosque not only for Christians but also for the Ottomans, as Nikolaidou tells us: “…The Monastery has always been a sacred place and place of pilgrimage for all religious communities. for Christians, Muslims and Armenians. Every Thursday the Muslims who spent the night in the monastery came and on Friday morning they departed, after the priest read them the customary prayer. On the Sabbath, Christians came and stayed overnight. Patients often reported that they experienced the “stepping” of the saint, that is, the divine intervention for healing.  In return, gifts were presented to the monastery, usually roosters or animals. At the beginning of the 19th century, the monastery was identified by the ecumenical Patriarch Cyril VI (1813-1818) with the ancient Flavian Monastery, where Saint Savvas from Moutalaski practiced and thus the area was identified with ancient Flavian. The reorganiser of the monastery was the abbot Paisios Kepoglou from 1805-1832, from Farasa who introduced the communal system and since then order was imposed and spiritual and economic progress was made. Under his supervision, a high level of spiritual exercise was established, the number of monks who lived and at the same time studied at the School of the Monastery increased. Of the monks, 16 were later elevated to bishops and metropolitans.”

It is important to understand that the geopolitical borders of Greece, as they were formed in 1949 with the annexation of the Dodecanese, do not exhaust the borders of historical Hellenism and then the borders of global Hellenic Diaspora, as a result of constant migrations and settlements.

*Professor Anastasios M. Tamis taught at Universities in Australia and abroad, was the creator and founding director of the Dardalis Archives of the Hellenic Diaspora and is currently the President of the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AIMS).


Scientists unearth giant underwater mountain taller than Mt Olympus

The Greek Herald
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Scientists unearth giant underwater mountain taller than Mt Olympus

Climbing Greece’s Mount Olympus is an impressive feat, but an underwater equivalent could be even more astonishing.

According to popularmechanics.com, oceanographers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute recently discovered a 3,109-meter-tall seamount along the Nazca Ridge, west of Chile.

Regardless of climb-ability, the 3,109-meter seamount is a massive find. It’s one of many made during the oceanographers’ 28-day late-summer exploration in the research vessel Falkor (too), whimsically named for the famous luckdragon from The Neverending Story.

Photo: Courtesy of the Schmidt Ocean Institute

Despite the scale of this discovery, it represents only a fraction of the ocean floor; less than 30% of Earth’s oceans have been mapped in high resolution.

Along with mapping the ocean floor, the expedition revealed new marine life, including the rare Promachoteuthis squid, while studying coral gardens on the seamount’s rocky slopes.

Source: popularmechanics.com

Ambitious pedestrian and bicycle path in Attica set to be completed by late 2025

The Greek Herald
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Ambitious pedestrian and bicycle path in Attica set to be completed by late 2025

The new pedestrian-bicycle path along the Athenian Riviera is set to be completed by the end of 2025.

Αccording to an article by Giorgos Lialios in Kathimerini.com, a small section is already built in Glyfada, though it faced objections from the Municipality of Elliniko, as it runs through residential areas instead of along the beachfront due to ongoing development.

The 18-kilometre, €19.3-million path will stretch from Kallithea to Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni Town Hall, linking five municipalities and incorporating new green spaces.

“It is about an urban walk, a cycle path and a pedestrian path that connects the maritime urban landscape of five municipalities, creating a complete route, with the expansion of parking areas, regeneration and creation of new green spaces,” said Nikos Hardalias, governor of the Attica region, which has the responsibility of the project’s construction and maintenance.

Source: Kathimerni.com

Greek Australian opera singer Elena Xanthoudakis stars in ‘La Bohème’ in Melbourne

Evelyn Karatzas
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Greek Australian opera singer Elena Xanthoudakis stars in ‘La Bohème’ in Melbourne

Introducing Elena Xanthoudakis, a Greek Australian opera singer taking to the stage as part of the Melbourne Opera’s Puccini Festival.

On Sunday, September 15, Elena kicked off her first performance of the 10-day Melbourne festival dedicated to celebrating the works of the renowned Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.

Taking place at the Athenaeum Theatre, the Puccini Festival, held to honour 100 years since the death of Puccini, features a fully staged production of one of his most popular and romantic opera’s La Bohème, as well as a Puccini Gala (Suor Angelica).

La Boheme, Elena Xanthoudakis & Boyd Owen

Running until Wednesday, September 25, Elena said the performance is one not to miss, especially for lovers of Italian operas.

“We had our opening matinee show at 3 pm on Sunday which went really well,” Elena told The Greek Herald. “It totally sold out, and everyone’s been saying incredibly great things about it.”

Who is Elena Xanthoudakis?

In an interview with The Greek Herald, the opera singer opened up about her life and how she got into classical music.

Growing up in the small town of Mount Beauty in regional Victoria, Elena revealed that music was always something she was passionate about.

“My first ever performance was when I was four years old and I did calisthenics,” Elena said. “Then when I commenced high school in year seven, I started getting into more classical music.”

From early ages, she attended music lessons, played the flute and was a part of a choir too. The now award-winning, soprano singer said because she grew up with a father from Chania in Greece and a mother from Australia, music was something she was bound to love as she was always surrounded by it growing up.

“My grandfather used to play ballet music and symphonies and my elder brother (Jason Xanthoudakis) is a professional saxophonist and clarinettist,” Elena said.

“My grandmother was a church organist, and my father used to play guitar and trombone too, and so my personal saying is all Greeks love music, right? And we make great singers because we’re so expressive.”

Elena’s opera career and achievements  

Elena has been a professional opera singer for the last 20 years and has spent many years travelling the world to continue her music studies and work with other opera singers, which further inspired her to continue pursuing classical music.

In her lifetime, she has studied at the Victorian College of the Arts, the University of Melbourne, and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she received her second Masters of Music.

Elena Xanthoudakis in previous role, Lucia.

“I have been very fortunate to have a very broad exposure to music in my lifetime,” Elena said.

“I also went to a music high school which I think was a really big help for me as we got to go and see Carmen with the school for the Victorian State Opera, as well as shows with Opera Australia which I really loved.”

She claims one of her greatest achievements was making a Bel Canto album called Jewels of the Bel Canto, with Richard Boning, a Bel Canto specialist.

La Boheme, Elena Xanthoudakis & Boyd Owen

What Elena loves most about opera

Elena described opera as a “huge technical challenge” and said what she loves most about it is all the elements that are combined to put on a performance.

“You’ve got the costumes, the lights, the production, and of course, the different languages, which make it even more unique,” Elena said.

“I just love the challenge of making such incredibly, beautiful moving music with a full-size orchestra, which is something very different from a musical.  

“It is thoroughly enjoyable and the act of singing itself is like nothing else, and then the way that it touches people’s hearts is different from any other style of music.”

What can we expect from Elena as part of the Puccini Festival production?

Elena will be singing in Italian in one of two lead soprano roles as part of La Bohème.

“The production itself is a very heightened romantic production, and my character falls in love with the lead tenor, and it’s sort of like an ill-fated love affair,” Elena said.

“If you’ve never seen an opera before, this is a good one to start with. While it’s a tragic opera, a lost love kind of thing, it’s also incredibly funny, as well as deeply moving.

“Those who attend will just get to experience an incredible piece of theatre, as well as some of the most romantic, orchestral and vocal music they’re ever going to experience.”

Elena will be performing in La Bohème on the 18th, 21st and 24th September.

Michael Zervos reaches halfway in quest to visit every country in the world

The Greek Herald
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Michael Zervos reaches halfway in quest to visit every country in the world

By arriving in Coimbatore, India, Greek American filmmaker Michael Angelo Zervos has officially reached the halfway point – the 97th country out of 195 – in his voyage to every nation in the world.

Dubbing it Project Kosmos, Zervos embarked January 17th of this year on a journey to break the current Guinness World record for the fastest to travel to every country. Not content with simply breaking records, he developed a deeper purpose for the journey. In every country along the way, Zervos asks native-born locals one single question: “What is the happiest moment of your life?”

His motivation for collecting and then publishing these stories online is to promote positivity and a belief that happiness is attainable whomever you are, wherever you are in the world.

“Assuming social media can negatively influence young people, I think it just as soon can positively impact them,” Zervos proposed.

“Across the world, I’ve spoken to athletes, musicians, politicians, doctors, and influencers, not to mention meeting random strangers on the street. Each of them has shared a memorable, powerful story that I think is worth hearing. These anecdotes from halfway across the world are more relatable to your life than you may realise.”

Michael Zervos

Since embarking, he’s gathered a dedicated international audience who look forward to his daily posts.

“I receive messages all the time thanking me, encouraging me to continue, and wishing me well,” Zervos said.

“Some are cheering me on to break the record, while others are just excited to see a new story every day. Some people even want to meet me in person while in their home countries!”

As of publishing this release, Zervos is on track to break the previous record-holder’s record by a considerable margin. When asked about how geopolitics can influence his success, Zervos said he isn’t too worried.

“There’s much that can happen in the next ten months but I feel good about my pace. Everything is going according to plan. Most of the difficult countries are behind me and only a few ahead of me should pose any issue as a visitor. Ultimately, I can only control myself. What will happen will happen and I will need to adapt,” Zervos said.

He is expected to complete his record-breaking journey by summer of 2025.

For contact, email Amy (volunteer PR aid to Michael) info@theprojectkosmos.com. To follow his journey, visit his IG @theprojectkosmos or his website www.project-kosmos.com

Classical Greek architectural masterpiece in California listed for $5 million sale

The Greek Herald
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Classical Greek architectural masterpiece in California listed for $5 million sale

Fans of classical Greek and Roman architecture can experience these styles in the U.S., as they are embodied in the “Temple of Wings” estate in Berkeley, California.

According to forbes.com, Billionaire Gordon Getty and his late wife, Ann, purchased the home in 1994. Originally designed by Bernard Maybeck and completed by A. Randolph Monroe, this 1911-built residence features Corinthian columns, open-air spaces, and a grand pavilion.

Photo: Open Homes Photography

Listed for $5 million, the home blends historical significance and luxurious design, nestled in the Berkeley Hills. The home looks plucked from ancient Greece or Rome, with its classical Greek and Roman architectural styles. You access the home via a cobblestone driveway, flanked by Parisian-style lamp posts and immaculate hedges. Stone steps lead you to the open-air entry.

The front of the home has a semi-circular pavilion with 16 soaring Corinthian columns that allow for seamless indoor-outdoor access within the breezy Roman-style pavilion.

Source: forbes.com

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