Category: 2020

Environmental and Conservation groups support Ardy Kassakhian for Glendale City Council

GLENDALE—Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian earned the key endorsements of the Sierra Club Angeles chapter and Glendale Environmental Coalition in his bid for Glendale City Council. Glendale has recently been the focus of many environmental groups who were formed and responded to the City’s proposed plans to repower the Grayson Powerplant. The City rolled back plans for their gas-powered proposal after numerous residents and activists, including members of the GEC and the Sierra Club, voiced their concerns.

“The Sierra Club is glad to endorse Ardy Kassakhian for Glendale City Council in appreciation of his demonstrated commitment to protecting the environment,” Carol Henning, Los Angeles County Political Committee Member of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, said in a statement. “He has done a fine job as Glendale’s City Clerk, and, as a city councilmember, he will continue to be a strong advocate for environmental justice. We commend Mr. Kassakhian’s vision of a cleaner and greener Glendale as well as his plan to make the city a leader in sustainability.”

“I am honored to have the support and endorsement of the Sierra Club and Glendale Environmental Coalition in my campaign for Glendale City Council,” said Ardy Kassakhian. “As the son of an environmental chemist and someone who has been a member of the Sierra Club for most of my adult life, I will work hard to be a voice for sustainability, environmentally conscious practices, and policies that will restore and protect our ecosystem.”

Kassakhian said his platform specifically addresses how Glendale can and should invest in environmental protection efforts and make Glendale a leader in sustainability with the adoption of clean energy strategy.
The Sierra Club announcement was followed by Kassakhian’s endorsement by the Glendale Environmental Coalition, a grassroots organization advocating for sound environmental and climate policy in Glendale.

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters.

Ardy Kassakhian grew up and attended public schools in Glendale. He was first elected Glendale City Clerk in 2005. As Clerk, he has reduced government waste by introducing environmentally sound practices, made election information easier to access and worked to increase voter participation. Ardy graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and the Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives with his wife Courtney and their young son in Glendale.

Ardy Kassakhian is running for Glendale City Council. The election will be held on March 3. To learn more about Ardy Kassakhian, visit his website.

LOS ANGELES— Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian had a meeting with Burbank Mayor Sharon A. Springer in Southern California on Monday.

Ambassador Baibourtian presented the broad range of activities and efforts of the Armenian Consulate General, as well as various programs to be implemented during the course of the year. Baibourtian and Mayor Sharon Springer discussed ideas and plans for prospective cooperation between the Armenian Consulate General in Los Angeles and the City of Burbank, focusing on economic and cultural spheres. Upon the request of the Mayor, Baibourtian outlined factors relating to the cultural, economic, educational, and scientific life in Armenia, as well as that of the Armenian community in the West Coast of the United States. Counselor Varazdat Pahlavuni from the Consulate General also attended the meeting.

The population of the City of Burbank is 105,000, with a sizable Armenian community. Burbank is known as the “Media Capital of the World.” Numerous media and entertainment companies are headquartered or have production facilities in Burbank, including Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, The Burbank Studios, Cartoon Network Studios, and Insomniac Games.

The recent 6.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Elazığ, a city located in Turkey’s Kharpert region, has caused the archways of Diyarbakir’s Surp Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church to collapse, according to a Facebook post by Dr. Khatchig Mouradian.

Although the church is located approximately 74 miles away from the earthquake’s epicenter, Surp Sarkis’ archways were destroyed as a result of the strong magnitude of the quake.

Following the earthquake, Dr. Mouradian revealed the considerable damage to the church through a Facebook post. “The 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Elazığ (Kharpert region) that caused death and destruction did not spare Armenian cultural heritage,” wrote Dr. Mouradian. “The images below document this most recent damage to the church that has been vandalized and excavated for ‘Armenian gold’ for decades. A friend who prefers to remain anonymous took the photographs the day after the earthquake.”

St. Garabed Church of Las Vegas celebrated its name day with Episcopal Divine Liturgy, blessing of madagh, and the second annual Harissa Festival. The celebrations were held from January 25 to 26.

Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian presided over the festivities, which began on Saturday evening with the preparation of harissa and dinner at “Koujakian” Hall. Consul General Dr. Armen Baibourtian participated in the events, which were sponsored by Jack and Louise Balabanian.

The program began with opening remarks made by Board of Trustees Chair Arpi Hicks. Prelate Mardirossian delivered the invocation, after which guests enjoyed a meal prepared by the Church Ladies Auxiliary. Archpriest Vahan Gosdanian and Master of Ceremonies Hagop Havanjian gave a brief overview of the feast day, the tradition of the harissa, as well as the history of St. Garabed Monastery of Mush. The Prelate and Consul General both conveyed their congratulations and commendation to the parish family. During the celebrations, the parish honored Siran Nersessian, Manoushag Ourfalian, Lilly Sagherian, Liana Havanjian, Hovig Bayramian, and Gabriella Gueyikian for their service to the church.

Guests then headed to the courtyard where the Prelate, accompanied by the Consul general, Parish Pastor, Honorary Consul Adroushan Armenian, and sponsors began the process of churning the harissa, while members of the Armenian Dance Academy of Las Vegas performed Armenian national dances.

On Sunday morning, Prelate Mardirossian celebrated Divine Liturgy, delivered the sermon, and conducted the blessing of madagh. Homenetmen “Artsakh” chapter scouts participated in the Prelate’s procession. Parish Pastor Archpriest Vahan Gosdanian and Archpriest Avedis Torossian assisted at the altar, and Archpriest Mesrob Galstanian from the Isfahan Prelacy participated in the service. Among the faithful in attendance were Andy Armenian, representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation “Ishkhan” Gomideh, Armenian Relief Society “Shushi” chapter, and Homenetmen “Artsakh” chapter.

In his sermon, the Prelate first spoke about the feast of the birth of St. John the Baptist, which marks the name day of St. Garabed Church, referencing the writings of the Evangelists on St. John as the forerunner who prepared the way of our Lord Jesus Christ, adding that St. John was regarded as the greatest of the prophets, the prophet of the Most High, and apostle of the Son of God; yet, despite all of this acclaim, he remained humble and dutiful, deflecting attention from himself toward Jesus stating, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Prelate Mardirossian noted that St. John prepared the way for Christ and prepared the people for the coming Messiah, summoning them to repent for the kingdom of heaven. He added that the answer to how one can attain this salvation proclaimed by St. John the Baptist is found in the day’s Gospel reading from John 3:13-21, in the words of Jesus Himself, “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The Prelate stressed that as St. John drew the people to the Lord, we too must draw others to Christ and to our Church, for we too are called to be disciples, and everyone, whether clergy or laity, has a duty to become witnesses to that Light, so that through us, all might believe. “The Church – this Church – is not just a building; it is a body of believers united in Christ, and when we unite here in His name, His is present among us. Through our participation in the life of the Church, we are nurturing and maturing our faith, we are being sanctified and transformed. When you look with your physical eyes at the cross adorning the top of this Church, see also with your spiritual eyes the love, sacrifice, life-changing, and life-giving message represented through that cross. It is my wish that within this community, St. Garabed Church becomes the haven that unites the people, the lighthouse from which the unfading Light of Christ radiates and enlightens the people,” stated the Prelate.

He concluded by conveying his blessings and congratulations to the parish family, urging for the name day celebration to be a day of renewal and recommitment of our faith, belief, and trust in the Lord, our submission to Him, and to choosing goodness and light over evil and darkness so that we may be worthy of inheriting the everlasting life promised to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the conclusion of the service, the Prelate made his way to the Church courtyard in a procession to conduct the blessing of the madagh. The service closed with singing of “Cilicia” and the Armenian national anthem.

The blessed harissa was later served at the luncheon held at “Koujakian” Hall.

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, Greg Martayan Director of Public Safety and Special Assignments for Councilmember Paul Koretz presented a certificate of appreciation to the parish. Remarks were delivered by Andy Armenian and Fr. Vahan, expressing gratitude to the Prelate for presiding over the celebration and thanking all for their hard work and participation.

Spring 2020 Application Deadline: February 20th for Unique Policy, Politics, and Media Washington, D.C. Job Placement Program

WASHINGTON—Following the successful placements of Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program fellows at the White House, Congressional offices, and top Washington, D.C. consulting firms, the Armenian National Committee of America will be expanding its hallmark career advancement program with a new Spring 2020 session.

Applications for the new Spring 2020 session must be submitted by February 20. The Spring Session will run from March 30th through June 12th, after which the ANCA will be hosting its ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship class.

“We are so proud of the achievements of our Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program alumni, who, since 2003, have been exploring and advancing their careers and policy, politics, media, and Washington, D.C.’s corporate world – increasing the Armenian American community’s voice in the nation’s capital,” said ANCA Programs Director Sipan Ohannesian, an alumnus who took a hiatus from a career in the Defense field to help grow the program. “The ANCA has helped over 200 Armenian Americans begin and expand their careers in the nation’s capital and this Spring Session will help build both program capacity and the services offered.”

Launched in 2003 with a founding grant by the Cafesjian Family Foundation, the ANCA CGP has emerged as the pre-eminent Armenian American career development program in the nation’s capital. Gateway Program fellows are offered three months of free housing at the ANCA’s Aramian House, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, just blocks from the ANCA offices. Ohannesian and the Capital Gateway Program Advisory Committee coordinate a series of career placement workshops on a range of issues including resume and cover letter preparation, effective interview strategies, and networking. The CGPAC also connects fellows with mentors most closely aligned with their career goals for one-on-one advice and encouragement.

For university students interested in a quarter/semester in Washington, D.C., the ANCA CGP can assist with internship guidance and placements both at the ANCA headquarters and other public policy and government institutions. Students are offered up to three months of free housing at The Aramian House depending on space availability and along with assistance to ensure they meet their university program obligations.

Additional information about the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program is available online, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 202.775.1918.

The ANCA CGP is named after Hovig Apo Saghdejian, a beloved young community leader who lost his life in a tragic car accident and whose eternal memory continues to inspire new generations of Armenian Americans. His family generously established the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund in his memory and, over the past decade, have played a vital role in the expansion of the program. Substantial support has also been provided by longtime ANCA benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Barbara Hekimian and the Armenian American Veterans Post of Milford, Massachusetts (AAVO).

The purchase of The Aramian House was made possible through a generous donation by the family of the late community leader and philanthropist Martha Aramian of Providence, Rhode Island. The Aramian family – led by sisters Sue, the late Margo, and the late Martha – have long been among the most generous benefactors of ANCA programs as well as of charitable projects in the Armenian homeland and the Diaspora.

Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Sergey Khachadrian won First Prize in the VIII International Jean Sibelius Competition in Helsinki in 2000, becoming the youngest ever winner in the history of the competition.  In 2005 he claimed the First Prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.

Sergey has performed with orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Paris, London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, NHK Symphony, Munich Philharmonic and the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich.

Sergey plays the 1740 ‘Ysaye’ Guarneri violin on kind loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.