General News
Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
In these difficult times, it can be easy to lose track of healthy eating habits, especially when cooped up in the house and snacks and comfort foods beckon from the kitchen. Still, supermarkets are still well-stocked with fruits and vegetables that can help us stay healthy through this unprecedented pandemic. The vitamins and nutrients in real foods, not processed foods, can strengthen the immune system with beneficial anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutrient-dense foods and whole grains can also help you feel full longer which can prevent those cravings for snacks between meals.
Beets, for example, are full of vitamins and antioxidants. They are a rich source of folate and contain vitamin C, fiber, and essential minerals including potassium, needed for healthy nerve and muscle function, and manganese which is good for the bones, liver, kidneys, and pancreas.They can be boiled, roasted, pickled, or steamed in a variety of recipes. Beetroots add sweetness to any meal, but the stems and leaves should also not be overlooked. Beet greens are also contain vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and more iron than spinach and can help keep your bones strong and boost you immune system.
Salad with Golden Beets, Spinach and Arugula
3-4 small-medium golden beets, or red beets, if preferred
3 cups baby spinach
2 cups arugula
3 small-medium spring onions, finely chopped
5 tablespoons Greek extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Greek sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup cooked bulgur wheat, medium or coarse grind, optional
Prepare the beets by washing thoroughly in cool water. Cut off the stems from the beets and then the leaves from the stems and set aside. Cut the top and bottoms of the beets so they have two flat sides. Bring a large, deep pot of water to a boil over medium high heat, add a dash of salt and the washed and trimmed beets. Allow the beets to boil until tender. A skewer or fork should pierce them easily. Remove the beets from the boiling liquid, set aside, and add the stems to the pot and continue boiling until tender. Remove the stems and add the leaves. The leaves take just seconds to wilt in the boiling liquid, so don’t walk away from the pot at this point. If unsure about the doneness of the beet greens, taste one. Switch off the heat and use tongs to remove the beet greens from the boiling liquid and set aside. Allow the cooked beets to cool slightly before peeling. Slice the beets into one-inch pieces and place in a serving bowl. Add the cooked stems and beet greens. If preferred, cut the cooked stems and beet greens into bite-sized pieces. Wash the spinach and the arugula. Pat dry with a kitchen towel or use a salad spinner to remove the excess water. If the pieces are large, chop, and place the spinach and arugula in the serving bowl. Add the chopped spring onions. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the Greek extra virgin olive oil, the freshly squeezed lemon juice, the salt, and pepper. Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately with cooked bulgur wheat, if using.
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
CLOSTER, NJ – The well-attended Greek Independence Day Celebration in Closter, NJ, took place on March 25, beginning with the Flag Raising Ceremony at Ruckman Park in Closter.
ALBANY – New York State Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R, C-Staten Island/Brooklyn) on March 26 was joined in Albany by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to recognize Greek Independence Day and the 50th anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion and continued occupation of Cyprus.
ATHENS - Historic member of PASOK and passionate advocate of the recognition of Pontian Greek genocide Michalis Charalambidis died on Wednesday aged 73.
ATHENS - While the New Democracy government denied audio files from the 2023 head-on train crash in Tempe which killed 57 had been tampered with, five managers at the state-run OSE railways agency reportedly had access to them.
FAIRVIEW, NJ – The Greek Cypriots of New Jersey under the auspices of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations, the Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York and Consul General of Cyprus Michalis Firillas will commemorate the 69th Anniversary of the EOKA Liberation Struggle of Cyprus from British Colonial Rule 1955-1959, with a memorial service at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Ascension, 101 Anderson Avenue in Fairview, NJ, on Sunday, March 31.