Armenian Americans

Refund due because of shift dealings In response to the question "What do you think of the ordinance that would refund zone-change application fees in very specific cases?" Yes, the zoning fees should be refunded, although the council action on July 11 seems to have been a set-up concocted by certain council members to not lose face and to also set up a rationale to allow for a refund, because they knew that two council members would most likely vote to deny the rezoning as it should have been.

I have read the commentary written by Arnie Leib ("Why so much crime among Armenians?" Community Commentary, March 13) and I must strongly disagree with his unsubstantiated conclusions. I came to this great country in 1979 with my entire family looking for the "American Dream." I could not speak a word of English as a young Armenian American, and my father worked 10 hours a day making a living for his family. I went to Glendale High School and Glendale Community College. I was able to earn a law degree and currently maintain a successful law practice.

Armenian Americans, many of whom originate from Lebanon, Iraq, Russia and other countries, are linked by a common denominator of Armenian traditions. But as Armenian Americans in the United States struggle to hold onto these traditions, a new study has found the demographic is changing -- Armenian youth are not attending church services regularly, Armenian Americans trust American politicians more than those of their own ethnicity and while Armenians take interest in the general welfare of Armenia, a majority would rather stay in the United States than move back.

city Some in the community have attacked Councilman Bob Yousefian because of comments he made about treatment of Armenian-American businesses in the community. First, I must say that I do not support using discrimination and prejudice to further personal agendas. I believe that prejudice and discrimination are too often used improperly. As such, we must use the word very carefully. I must also add that as Armenian Americans, we must be more involved with our communities.

I am outraged and disgusted about the racism the Glendale News-Press has supported with the publication of a degrading, ignorant and hateful letter ("U.S. will never recognize genocide.") I am very saddened and distraught by this and demand that your staff write an apologetic letter to the thousands of Armenian Americans that are subscribers of your newspaper and have been disgraced by such malicious comments. Armenian Americans are proud of our country.

Anne Louise Bannon, Enjoy! GLENDALE -- For an ethnic group that has been in this country since the early 1900s, little information has been available on the history of Armenians and their experiences of blending into American society. So when producers Terrel Cass and Roy Hammond were considering the next subject for their documentary series about the ethnic groups that make up the nation's population, they thought Armenians would be a good choice.

I am outraged at the prejudicial comments contained in Paul Carney's letter of Jan. 16. I have been following the exchange of views in your newspaper regarding the Armenian Genocide and quite frankly am surprised at the ignorance of those writing as well as the brazen racism they are unashamed to project. For the record, Armenian Americans have contributed thousands to the ranks of the United States armed services. Notwithstanding Mr. Carney's venom, the many contributions of Armenian Americans are recognized throughout the country.

The issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide is hardly an old issue. The U.S. has yet to join other nations in recognizing that it occurred. But we all know that anything and everything is possible, and with the Armenians there is no limit to hope. As for thinking we own Glendale, it is a stilted opinion not based on any facts. Armenian-Americans do make up a very large portion of the Glendale population, but we have dignity and grace to share the community with the other diverse population in Glendale.

After reading Paul Carney's Jan. 16 letter, it seems clear that he has some ill feelings toward Armenian Americans, but he expresses these feelings by invoking a tragedy of monumental proportions -- the Genocide of 1915. To claim that if a war were to break out, the Armenian community would flee the United States in an attempt to escape such a war is silly. If a war breaks out, the armed forces of the United States (in which many Armenian Americans serve)

Thousands of Armenian Americans celebrated their native land's independence during a festival at Verdugo Park on Sunday that featured dancing, music and, of course, food. The 14th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival has gained in popularity over the years, attracting more than 5,000 people throughout the daylong event, organizers said. “We enjoy our dancing, our artists, our famous Armenian kebab and our Armenian ice cream and our famous Armenian pastries,” said Garry Sinanian, a member of the Nor Serount Cultural Assn., which puts on the event each year.

Thousands of Armenian Americans celebrated their native land's independence during a festival at Verdugo Park on Sunday that featured dancing, music and, of course, food. The 14th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival has gained in popularity over the years, attracting more than 5,000 people throughout the daylong event, organizers said. “We enjoy our dancing, our artists, our famous Armenian kebab and our Armenian ice cream and our famous Armenian pastries,” said Garry Sinanian, a member of the Nor Serount Cultural Assn., which puts on the event each year.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- With hundreds of delegates and alternates in attendance, the California delegation to the Democratic National Convention takes up a big piece of real estate inside Time Warner Cable Arena. Sitting enthusiastically among them Wednesday night was delegate Juliet Minassian of Glendale, attending her first political convention. “The convention is very educational,” said Minassian, who came to Glendale from Iran about 15 years ago. “You can learn very much, and I have been thrilled to see all these people in here.

A group of voters who claim Armenian Americans have become so “politically sophisticated and well-financed” that they've monopolized the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees has filed a lawsuit seeking a change in how elections are carried out. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 15, alleges that the district is in violation of the California Voting Rights Act. It comes after months of discourse about altering the...

The YMCA of the Foothills is reaching across the world to boost the organization's message of fellowship and community. The local Y, which has facilities in La Cañada Flintridge and Tujunga, recently provided $20,000 for a YMCA in Spitak, Armenia. YMCA of the Foothills President Tyler Wright went to Spitak to consult with YMCA leaders there. Noting that local Armenian Americans make up the fasting growing groups of people that the YMCA serves in the region, Wright said in a statement that the organization's goal is to connect with “our global friends.” “Our desire is to be a diverse and inclusive voice in this community, making life-changing impact while also bridging any ethnic divides that may still exist,” he added.

Neighborhood Legal Services has named a new liaison to the Armenian community who will focus on low-income residents, the nonprofit announced this week. Nareenah Sohbatian will be the group's second fellow tasked with assisting Glendale's Armenian community. Her predecessor, Alina Azizian, finished her two-year fellowship last month. “While the needs of low¿income Armenian Americans aren't all that different from those of other low-income Los Angeles residents, there is very little information about available resources among people who qualify for them in the Armenian community,” Sohbatian said.

After a year and a half of work, the California Armenian American Democrats has received provisional ratification as the first organization chartered by the executive board of the state Democratic Party. Caro Avanessian, interim chairman of the new group, said he started trying to form an Armenian American caucus after he went to the California Democratic convention a few years ago and saw so many groups represented by caucuses, ranging from Filipinos to senior citizens. Avanessian is also president of the Glendale Democratic Club.

Attorneys who have won tens of millions of dollars for descendants of Armenian Genocide victims are accusing one another in court of misusing funds or stalling payments to thousands of their clients. Mark Geragos and Brian Kabateck, two of the lead attorneys in class-action cases Armenian Americans have filed in federal court against insurers, accuse Glendale-based co-counsel Vartkes Yeghiayan and his wife, attorney Rita Mahdessian, of setting up sham charities and misusing nearly $1 million over the last six years.

The last few weeks have been filled with a larger-than-usual amount of death, violence and general mayhem. On April 29, a woman was shot, her body dumped on the Foothill (210) Freeway. Her companion suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The day before, two men were arrested for allegedly robbing and beating a prostitute. The woman fought back, police said, dousing one of her assailants with pepper spray, and the pair fled in an orange Kia. This week, two men were arrested on suspicion of stealing more than $10,000 in utilities from Glendale Water & Power.

On the heels of the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, more than 1,000 members of the Armenian Diaspora gathered Sunday at St. Mary's Apostolic Church to commemorate their community's historic struggles, and celebrate their cultural successes. The event, titled “One Voice, One Cause,” was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation and featured Harout Pamboujkian — one of the most celebrated musicians in the Armenian community — as well as DJ Bei Ru, whose vintage vinyl sampling fused with hip-hop, funk and soul have earned him widespread recognition.

The Armenian government is teaming up with Stevie Wonder and a roster of international performers to bring a higher profile to genocide recognition efforts. On Tuesday night, Armenian dignitaries and music promoters in Glendale unveiled plans for a five-year series of concerts, dubbed “Never Again,” to keep the Armenian genocide and other human rights atrocities in the public eye. The series is scheduled to culminate with performances in 2015, the 100-year anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks.