By David Bjorkgren
From far and wide they came, representing different backgrounds and experiences—all to pay homage to one newspaper and its impact on the Hellenic community.
This was the 29th-anniversary celebration of the Hellenic News of America, a gala event Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Concordville Inn in Concordville, Pa.  Guests were treated to a lavish reception and dinner and the evening was peppered with speakers and an awards presentation honoring six outstanding Greeks and Greek Americans. Music and Greek dancing rounded out the evening.
Aphrodite Kotrotsios, Eugenia Pashalis, Demi Kollias, Giovanna, Anastasia Pashalis, and Alexia Tsikouras
Aphrodite Kotrotsios, Eugenia Pashalis, Demi Kollias, Giovanna, Anastasia Pashalis, and Alexia Tsikouras
There was warm praise from all corners—the medical society, politicians, business owners and community leaders– about the bi-lingual newspaper’s successful role over the years in uniting, informing and promoting the Greek American community.
“I feel the newspaper connects the American culture with the culture I came from as well as the history,” said the newspaper’s cultural affairs correspondent, Lilli Bita. The Greek-born author and actress has been covering cultural events and interviewing celebrities for Hellenic News since meeting the newspaper’s founder, Paul Kotrotsios, 30 years ago after moving from Miami to Philadelphia. Part of her role, she said, is to connect women in Greece and women in America.