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The Armenian Weekly; Volume 74, No. 31; August 9, 2008
Community:
1. ARS Organizes Courses for Artsakh Teachers
2. Marash Armenians Hold Brunch in Watertown
3. Prelate Special Guest at Olympic Dinner
4. The Tie that Ties My Ties
By Tom Vartabedian
***
1. ARS Organizes Courses for Artsakh Teachers
On Aug. 7, the ARS Central Executive Board and the ARS Artsakh (Karabagh)
Executive officially began a one-week workshop of refresher courses in
Stepanakert for kindergarten teachers in Artsakh. Through the auspices of
the Artsakh Ministry of Education, teachers from every region of
Artsakh-particularly those from the Qashatagh region-were invited to take
part in the workshop. The number of participants reached eighty. State
officials attended the opening.
The ARS has 12 "Soseh" kindergartens-and 500 students-in various cities and
villages of Artsakh. To implement this program, the ARS invited three
experienced teachers-Irma Jerejian, Noemi Peltekian-Bedoyan, and Sosi
Geunulian-to Artsakh. The teachers are from Lebanon, and attended and
completed the two-year child education program of the Hamazkayin Educational
and Cultural Association; graduated from pedagogical departments in Lebanese
universities; and have many years of experience as educators in
Lebanese-Armenian kindergartens. Following the workshop, they will tour the
ARS kindergartens in various regions to work with local teachers on
location.
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2. Marash Armenians Hold Brunch in Watertown
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)-The youth chapter of the Union of Marash Armenians
(Watertown chapter) held its annual brunch on Sun., Aug. 3, at the Holy
Cross Armenian Catholic Church following services.
Donations received by this organization generally benefit two schools, the
St. Stephen’s Elementary School and Sister’s Academy, as well as other
worthy organizations. Marashtsis and their friends enjoyed delicious food
and an educational and cultural presentation.
Marie Bazarian presented a very thorough, well-researched talk on Armenian
lace, needlework, and crochet from different regions. She had many samples,
which she showcased to the audience along with poster-size pictures.
A cultural program of recitation by Adelaiad Balangozian and Amaia Bedrosian
preceded the talk. Twelve-year-old pianist Zachary Harutunian impressed the
audience with his performance of Rachmaninov’s "Prelude in C Sharp" as well
as a piece by Chopin. Harutunian, who is in the certificate program at the
New England Conservatory, is a student of Ellen Polansky and will be
presenting a solo recital this fall at Jordan Hall, performing the music of
Bach, Lizt, Chopin, and Rachmaninov.
-Armand Andreassian
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3. Prelate Special Guest at Olympic Dinner
His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, Eastern Region, will be the special guest at the upcoming AYF
Olympic Dinner and Program on Sat., Aug. 30, in Dearborn, Michigan.
The dinner, with Tom Vartabedian as speaker, will precede the traditional
Saturday night dance.
A concert with individual and group performances by John Berberian, Ara
Dinkjian, Onnik Dinkjian, Bruce Gigarjian, and Hachig Kazarian will follow
the program and precede the dance, which will start at 10 p.m. The group
will alternate playing dance music with Aravod and the Nigosians.
More information on the Olympics is available by visiting
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4. The Tie that Ties My Ties
By Tom Vartabedian
Truth be told, I hate neckties. Always have. Always will. The thought of
having a noose around my neck leaves me limp with discomfort.
But there are occasions when I must be sentenced to death, like weddings,
funerals, and other formal affairs.
After buttoning a tight collar, then slipping a tie knot to my neck, I
cannot survive, especially on a sweltering July day. They strangle my mind
and prevent me from thinking straight. When I go to loosen it a bit so I can
breathe, I’m accused of being a slob.
My rebellion against neckties was somewhat assuaged one day when I came
across an Armenian crafts fair selling Mount Ararat ties. They were being
offered in two different colors-red and blue.
I purchased one of each so nobody could accuse me of being mundane. Little
did I realize at the time that others also made the same purchase and six of
us would show up at church wearing the same ties with little images of
Massis being portrayed.
If nothing else, it demonstrated my ethnic pride and made the obligation of
wearing neckties a bit more tolerable. My other ties were quickly forgotten.
As to our national colors, rest assured. They’re being well documented. I’ve
come across a tricolor beret, key chains by the dozen, tee-shirts and
blazers, umbrellas, headbands and yes, even shoelaces, however hokey that
may be.
Over time, my two Ararat ties became worn with age. They would never be
replaced. They were as close to me as my heritage.
Until a partner came along to give them competition. I searched high and low
for a tricolor tie-one with the colors red, blue, and orange intertwined. I
looked in department stores, church fairs, second-hand outlets, and notion
shops.
I sent counter clerks scurrying frantically about. All they got was an
exercise in futility. I would find two of the colors but not the third.
"It’s hit or miss," a fellow told me. He found one by pure luck after
picking through a tie rack. I don’t know what the odds are but let’s say it’s
a pearl in an oyster. "I couldn’t resist it," he added. "Makes you wanna
wear a tie."
Now this is a guy who wouldn’t be caught dead with a tie, even if his wife
threatened divorce. He shows up at a cotillion in a short-sleeved shirt worn
loose with his chest hair showing. He doesn’t care what people think of it.
He lives in a comfort zone and that’s the way it is. I’ve always envied his
tenacity.
One day in church, I had on the Ararat tie and a woman complimented it. Seta
Ohannessian comes from Beirut and is a soloist in the choir. She’s also a
gifted seamstress who designs and makes clerical vestments for priests,
bishops, even a Catholicos.
I told Seta that although I like the Ararat tie, I would give my inheritance
for a tricolor tie.
"I’ve searched high and low, near and far," I told her. "I have a tricolor
camera strap, a tricolor sail for my boat. I fly the tricolor at my summer
camp. But no necktie with the three colors."
"Let’s see what tomorrow will bring," she said.
I didn’t take the woman seriously until one Sunday, a few weeks later, she
showed up with a box.
"Go ahead, open it," she said with a smile.
I tore open the contents and lo! As if some god had answered my prayer,
there it was-the tie of my dreams.
"Do you like it?" she wondered.
It was a solid color with red, blue, and orange stripes going diagonally
rather delicately. I felt like a youngster getting his first bicycle.
"How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing," she said. "Consider it a gift. Wear it proudly and if others want
one, I can sell them."
All of a sudden, I became an advertising salesman. No longer did I wear the
Ararat ties. They were relegated to the mountains. On came the replacement.
Guys began taking notice and inquired as to its origin.
"Seta’s making them. See her."
The woman from Lebanon is drumming up quite the necktie business these days
and should you drop by my church, you just might find four of five guys
wearing
the same tricolor tie.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress