California state officials, ANCA-WR lead efforts to enhance Genocide education

November 21, 2015 By administrator

California State Senator Carol Liu and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson joined the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s “America We Thank You” and Education committees on Wednesday in hosting a reception, screening, and panel discussion for the launch of the organization’s new documentary titled “America We Thank You” at the Brand Library.
Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Bared Maronian, the documentary tells the story of the first congressionally sanctioned charity established in the United States, the Near East Relief, which helped saved over 1 million refugees and 132,000 orphans of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

The capacity filled room was packed with school board members, superintendents, administrators anca 171and educators from school districts all across Los Angeles. “For many, this was the first time they have heard about the NER, which is why it’s so important to talk about this historical fact in the context of United States history. It’s the first instance in history where we see the U.S. respond to an international crisis, which has today paved the way for the establishment of USAID, US Peace Corps and other humanitarian efforts,” commented Hermineh Pakhanians, co-chair of the ANCA-WR AWTY Committee.

In opening the program, ANCA-WR AWTY co-chair Vanna Kitsinian stated, “Tonight’s gathering is particularly important to our work because as educators, school board members, principals and teachers, you all are the very audience we hope to share this story with, so that you in turn teach this critical part of history to your student body.”

Kitsinian was followed by Senator Carol Liu, Chair of the Senate Education committee who spoke of historical significance of the Armenian Genocide and the story of the Near East Relief.

In her remarks she noted “As a former history teacher, same as Tom, I understand the importance of educating our youth about the past and during my tenure in the legislature I have hosted a number of events at my home to help raise funds and awareness about the Armenian Genocide. I have also strongly supported teaching of the Armenian Genocide in our public school systems. I am proud to have supported Assemblymember Nazarian’s AB1915 which was signed into law by Governor Brown in 2014 which adds Armenian Genocide survivor and witness oral testimonies into the teaching of human rights in California schools. Not only should we teach our students of past atrocities and human loss but we also should highlight the role Americans played and can play in aiding the survivors of atrocities…unfortunately, current versions of world history textbooks do not go into much depth about the Armenian Genocide. Recently I wrote a letter to some of these history publishers urging them to expand the breath and improve the quality of our textbooks in upcoming additions of world history textbooks,” stated Liu in her remarks. “I’m proud to represent the largest population of ethnic Armenians outside of Armenia and as I end my tenure here as a state legislator, one of my priorities is to make sure that by the time I end next year is to make sure that we have a genocide education curriculum for all of our students here,” she added.

Superintendent Tom Torlakson took to the stage to thank the ANCA-WR and Senator Liu in working side by side with the CA Department of Education to see that Genocide curriculum is in its rightful place, in classrooms and textbooks. Torlakson continued as he discussed the remarkable precedent the U.S. set for the rest of the world by sanctioning the work of the NER. “We note tonight in this documentary that out of the terrible tragedies, the atrocities, the suffering, emerged a bright light of humanity, of love, and of hope and that is the Near East Relief. With kids, politicians, average people, senior citizens, veterans, all lifting a hand to help. I hadn’t heard about the Golden Rule – the Sunday dinner being put aside to be a simple meal so you could put the rest of the cost of your Sunday dinner towards the Near East Relief.” Torlakson is working with the ANCA-WR to ensure that this relevant portion of untaught history is incorporated into the classroom curriculum and that instructors receive adequate training.
“We are grateful to Mr. Torlakson, Senators DeLeon and Liu, Assemblymembers Achadjian, Nazarian, and Wilk along with many others, who have been an instrumental part of this journey as we continue our work beyond recognition and ensure that future generations learn not only about the atrocities of 1915, but the role the United States and the American people in helping save the Armenian nation from annihilation. With their full-fledged and unyielding support, we are one step closer to incorporating perhaps the proudest chapter in American history into the education system and curriculum,” stated Elen Asatryan ANCA Western Region Executive Director.

California: Armenian candidates overwhelmingly win local races in U.S.

November 5, 2015 By administrator

In Montebello, current mayor and incumbent city council candidate Jack Hadjinian won his re-election bid for a second term in office, while in Rolling Hills Estates, Frank Zerounian won his re-election bid to city council, Asbarez reports.

In San Francisco, Aaron Peskin won his bit for the 3rd Supervisor District.

“The Armenian National Committee of America-San Francisco Chapter congratulates all of the candidates on running successful campaigns in the elections. We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Aaron Peskin as the new Supervisor of San Francisco’s District 3. We look forward to working with each of them on issues important to the Armenian Community and wish you all the best for your noble future endeavors,” said chairman of the ANCA-Bay Area Chapter Coordinator Arsen Markarov.

In South Pasadena, two Armenian-American candidates won elections, both endorsed by the ANCA Pasadena chapter.

Marina Khubesrian won the race for city council, while Suzie Abajian won her race for the South Pasadena Unified School District. Another ANCA Pasadena-endorsed candidate, Tom Selinske who was vying for the Pasadena Area 2 Community College Governing Board also won his race.

Over in Maine, the Armenian-American community saw one of its own win a city council seat in the town of Westbrook.

At a young age, Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, along with her family escaped the horrors of Azerbaijani pogroms of Armenians in Baku. She has since been a vocal advocate for refugee rights and has discussed the anti-Armenian pogroms in Congress and in academic circles.

On Tuesday, she became the first Armenian to win a seat in the Westbrook, Maine City Council.

Armenian youth dies in major road accident in California

October 31, 2015 By administrator

An Armenian youth died in a major road accident in the US State of California.

The 20-year-old Burbank man, whose body landed on an overhead exit ramp sign after a rollover crash near Griffith Park, was passing vehicles on the right shoulder of the 5 Freeway before veering out of control, reported KTLA television.

The collision occurred just before 7am, local time, on the southbound freeway just north of the eastbound 134 Freeway overpass.

Richard Pananian of Burbank was killed, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

A witness told the California Highway Patrol that Pananian was driving his 2004 Ford Fiesta at a high rate of speed and passing vehicles on the right shoulder.

The 45-year-old driver of a 2004 Ford F-150 was in the No. 4 lane going 50 mph when Pananian veered left from the right-hand shoulder and hit the pickup truck’s rear, according to a CHP collision report.

The Fiesta then veered right, out of control, and overturned multiple times. As the Fiesta traveled up an embankment, Pananian was ejected about 20 feet into the air, colliding with an exit ramp sign overhead, the report stated.

Pananian’s body was covered with a sheet after firefighters ascended a ladder and worked to remove the body, which remained there for several hours.

All southbound and northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway were temporarily blocked, and the two southbound right lanes were closed for an extended period.

The investigation is still in progress.

Breaking News California fires lead Gov. Brown to call state of emergency

July 31, 2015 By administrator

By Jeremy B. White

This summer fire season has been particularly intense, with a series of blazes such as the Rocky fire in Lake County and the Wragg fire near Lake Berryessa consuming thousands of acres and leaving firefighters scrambling.

“California’s severe drought and extreme weather have turned much of the state into a tinderbox,” Brown said in a Friday statement. “Our courageous firefighters are on the front lines and we’ll do everything we can to help them.”

In declaring a state of emergency, Brown mobilized the California National Guard and relaxes some regulations like environmental rules or those governing trespassing on private property.

“It eliminates a lot of the red tape or procedural hurdles you can have when multiple catastrophic incidences are colliding,” said Brad Alexander, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

It also clears California to receive assistance from other states, which Brown’s declaration called necessary because California’s “resources have been significantly committed” to containing blazes.

“It opens that door for us,” Alexander said.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article29701042.html#storylink=cpy

Lights Out at Navasartian Games in Solidarity with #ElectricYerevan

July 5, 2015 By administrator

All lights were turned off on Saturday at Birmigham High School field in Van Nuys, where the 40th annual Homenetmen Navasartian Games were underway in solidarity with the protest action that is beginning its 14th day in Armenia demanding the reversal of electrical rate hikes. The thousands gathered at the Navasartian Games immediately raised their cellphones to light up the night and began singing Mer Hairenik–the Armenian National Anthem

Orange County: Zov’s to Receive California’s ‘Small Business of the Year’ Award

June 9, 2015 By administrator

Zov (far rigfht) her family and one of her locations (left)

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—The State of California boasts some 3.3 million small businesses but only 80 of them including one from OC will be recognized as “Small Business of the Year” at a ceremony to be held on Wednesday, June 10 in the State Capitol. Zov’s, which operates restaurants in Tustin, Newport Beach, Irvine, Anaheim and 2 at John Wayne Airport, is being hailed for its longtime commitment to excellence in the dining arena and actively serving the communities in which it boasts locations.

State Senator John Moorlach of the 37th District informed the company’s president and CEO Armen Karamardian of the honor, which coincides with 2015 California Small Business Day.

“Wow. This is truly an unexpected and much appreciated honor,” said Karamardian, whose mother, Zov, started the business in 1987 and was one of the county’s pioneers of fine dining and a nationally recognized chef/restaurateur.

“As many Orange Countians know, we are a family business and we work hard to put our seal on every project we launch and every meal that finds its way out of our kitchens. We are humbled and excited to accept this honor in our State’s Capitol,” added Karamardian.

In addition to her critically acclaimed restaurants, Zov authored two best-selling, hard-cover cookbooks, “Simply Zov” and “Zov: Recipes and Memories From the Heart,” each of which have sold 50,000+ copies. She credits her mentor and dear friend, Julia Child, with guiding her hand in completing these projects.

Her passion for the culinary arts extends to hosting cooking classes at the restaurants with guest chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Carla Hall, Michael Symon, Todd English and Anne Burrell. She has been honored by the James Beard Foundation and the International Association of Culinary Professionals, among countless others. She is also a frequent guest on television programs of the Food Network, CNN and others.

Report asbarez

USA Montebello installs Jack Hadjinian as its first Armenian mayor

November 27, 2014 By administrator

By Mike Sprague, Whittier Daily News

MONTEBELLO >> Councilman Jack Hadjinian was elected mayor Tuesday, becoming the first Armenian American to be selected to that position.

Nearly 800 were present at the meeting held in Bagramian Hall at the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral.

“Today is a historic day,” said Araksya Karapetyan, a Fox 11 news anchor. “I’m so proud as an Armenian to be standing before you. This is not just a big day. It’s an important day for all Armenians living in America.”

Hadjinian, who was elected to the Montebello City Council in 2011, succeeded Bill Molinari as mayor. Councilman Art Barajas was elected mayor pro tem.

Councilwoman Vivian Romero called the evening special.

“It was truly a historic moment,” Romero said. “Here we are in 2014 and we’ve never had a Armenian mayor,” Romero said. “It also is the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. That makes it even more special.”

Many public officials from Southern California attended the meeting, including Sheriff-elect Jim McDonnell who swore in Hadjinian as mayor, and Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian.

“It’s a great moment for you and your family and a great moment for Armenian-Americans everywhere,” Krekorian said.

Also present was Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, who is prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. He delivered the invocation at the meeting.

Hadjinian said he was “humbled and grateful” to be named mayor.

“As a native resident of Montebello whose roots go back three generations, my love and commitment to the growth and prosperity of Montebello has grown even deeper,” he said.

“My inspiration comes from my family,” he said. “It was in this city that my grandfather and uncles all purchased their first homes to experience the American dream.”

As mayor, Hadjinian said he wants the council to get along.

“We don’t always agree on the issues, but we can agree that we are passionate about the good will of the city,” he said. “Next year will require some tough decisions to be made. We must work together for benefit of the city.”

The council in the next year is expected to decide on a proposed housing development in the Montebello hills, as well as how to provide relief for blockages caused by trains on four streets in south Montebello.

Azerbaijan calls California resolution on Artsakh a mere piece of paper

September 3, 2014 By administrator

By Harut Sassounian
TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry harshly condemned the California Legislature last week after the State Senate adopted resolution AJR 32 that “encourages and supports the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation” and “urges the President and Congress of the United States to support the self-determination and democratic independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.” The resolution also acknowledged that Karabakh (Artsakh) “has historically been Armenian territory… and yet was illegally severed from Armenia by the Soviet Union in 1921 and placed under the newly created Soviet Azerbaijani administration.”

Both Houses of the California Legislature overwhelmingly supported the Artsakh resolution — the State Senate by a vote of 24-0 on August 27, and the State Assembly with a vote of 72-1 on May 8. Thus, California joins Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in passing such pro-Artsakh resolutions.

The actions of the California Legislature infuriated the Government of Azerbaijan and its diplomats in the U.S. Elman Abdullayev, spokesman of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, dismissed the Artsakh resolution, calling it “nothing more than a piece of paper.” The Consul General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles blasted the local Armenian community, the State of California and AJR 32. To justify his failure to block the resolution, he alleged that California Senators received “massive financial contributions for their election campaigns” from the “Armenian lobby.” Forgetting that he represents one of the most autocratic regimes in the world, the Consul General of Azerbaijan had the audacity to lecture U.S. officials on the “serious flaw in America’s political system that needs an urgent fixing.”

Before making such baseless accusations, the Azeri Consul General should have searched the internet to see how much money, if any, the 24 Senators who voted for the Artsakh resolution had received from Armenian-Americans. Campaign contributions are a public record in the United States, unlike Azerbaijan where visiting politicians are wined and dined and sent home with stacks of cash, cans of caviar, and gold ingots!

The Consul General also credited the passage of AJR to the “inordinate amount of effort by the Armenian lobby in California, where around one million Armenians reside.” The one million number is yet another exaggeration by the Azeri diplomat who went on to falsely claim that the Armenian “ethnic lobby” resorted to “threats, blackmail and other means” against California Senators.

The Azeri Consul General then bragged about his efforts against AJR 32, claiming that he and his Consulate undertook a number of “serious measures,” including “letters of protest to all Senators [and] holding numerous meetings with them….” Despite his frantic activities, not a single Senator voted against the Artsakh bill! Incredibly, the Consul claims he scored a major victory because the final vote was 24-0 in favor of Artsakh, and not 40-0, as some Senators were either absent or abstained!

Conveniently, the Consul General forgets to mention his biggest supporters in opposing the Artsakh bill: the powerful lobbying firms that Azerbaijan has hired in Washington and Los Angeles, at great expense. One of these firms, JCI Worldwide, led by Seth Jacobson, sent to all 40 California Senators a letter signed by Rabbi Dov Newman, Chabad of Beverlywood; Rabbi Mendy Cohen, Chabad of Sacramento; and Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, Pico Shul. The three Rabbis told the Senators that they “strongly oppose AJR 32…. Azerbaijan is an important ally to Israel and Jewish people. Jews live free and protected in Azerbaijan for thousands of years…. As Rabbis and leaders of Jewish communities across California, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan and demand that you vote No on AJR 32.” These Rabbis clearly embarrassed themselves by sending such a ridiculous letter, since they failed to convince a single Senator to vote against the Artsakh resolution. Furthermore, their circulated letter was a big waste of Azerbaijan’s petrodollars, as JCI’s expensive lobbying proved to be worthless.

One wonders if President Aliyev is aware that Azerbaijan’s Consulate in Los Angeles and Embassy in Washington are wasting millions of dollars on useless lobbying firms. Do the citizens of Azerbaijan, who mostly live in abject poverty, know that their leaders are wasting their country’s resources on political activities overseas just to counter a “piece of paper”? Indeed, if the California Senate resolution was a meaningless “piece of paper,” as the Azeri foreign ministry official claims, why did Azerbaijan spend so much time, effort and money trying to block its passage?

California Senate passes Armenian Genocide Education Act

August 27, 2014 By administrator

The California Senate, with a vote of 36-0, unanimously passed the Armenian Genocide Education Act (AB 1915), which adds Armenian Genocide survivor and witness oral
testimonies into the teachings of human rights in California public schools and encourages state and local professional development activities to provide teachers with resources to teach about the Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region.

This bill, authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, builds upon the first legislation passed in 1985, AB 1273, which incorporated the Armenian Genocide in the Social Studies Curriculum.

AB 1915 received unanimous support in the California State Assembly in April and was swiftly moved on to the Senate floor under the watchful leadership and full support of incoming Senate President Pro Tem, Kevin De Leon. The bill will now be forwarded to the Governor to be signed into law.

“The ANCA WR applauds the California State Senate for their steadfast support on this critical education bill and Senators De Leon and Mark Wyland along with co-authors Assembly members Nazarian and Katcho Achadjian for their unwavering commitment and leadership,” stated Nora Hovsepian, Chair of ANCA Western Region.

“At every step, we had an unprecedented response from the grassroots on this bill. We can’t thank you enough and want you to know that our collective voice was heard loud and clear throughout the halls of the California State Capitol. We look forward to having the Governor sign the bill into law and continuing our work alongside our elected officials and our schools to ensure that future generations learn about the Armenian Genocide of 1915,” added Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of ANCA WR.

In his introductory remarks, Senator Wyland provided resounding remarks about the importance of Genocide Education in public schools, provided background information on AB 1915, and discussed the importance of the oral history component that comes with the AB 1915.

In the months, weeks, and days leading up to the vote, the ANCA Western Region worked closely with legislators to ensure they learned of the broad, enthusiastic support for the measure. Just since last week, close to 5,000 community members responded to the ANCA WR action alert, communicating their support for the bill to Senator De Leon.

Currently, California is one of 11 states, including Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia, which have the Armenian Genocide included in their curriculum.

Coauthors of AB 1915 on the Assembly side include Assembly Members Achadjian, Ammiano, Ian Calderon, Fox, Hall, Holden, Nestande, Patterson, and Wilk. Coauthors on the Senate side include Senators Berryhill, Lara, Vidak, and Yee.

“I am so glad that my colleagues in the Senate unanimously voted for AB 1915. As this bill comes back to the Assembly, and ultimately advances to Governor Brown’s desk, I look forward to its swift implementation. The teaching of human rights and more specifically, the Armenian Genocide is significant in ensuring that future generations of Californians are educated about our past, in hopes of deterring such acts in the future by being better informed,“ stated Author of AB 1915, Assemblymember Nazarian.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres, and deportations involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, the Italian Chamber of Deputies, majority of U.S. states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium and Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Chamber of Commons of Canada, Polish Sejm, Vatican, European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.

BREAKING NEWS California Governor Declares State of Emergency in Napa Earthquake

August 24, 2014 By administrator

Gov. Jerry Brown of California declared a state of emergency for southern Napa on Sunday after a strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 hit the region, causing scores of injuries and extensive damage and knocking out power to thousands of people across the region. KTLA News
The temblor struck about 10 miles northwest of American Canyon — six miles south of Napa — around 3:20 a.m., according to the United States Geological Survey. It was the most powerful earthquake to hit the Bay Area since the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, which collapsed the Bay Bridge. At least four aftershocks were reported Sunday.