[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 146 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF DEMETRIS KASTANAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 7, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the extraordinary 
achievements of an important member of the Astoria, NY community, Mr. 
Demetris Kastanas.
  On February 18, 1968, Mr. Kastanas emigrated from his homeland Greece 
to the United States, looking for a better life and future in this 
country. Having worked a number of different jobs, including pumping 
gas and selling insurance, Mr. Kastanas managed to save enough money to 
open his first restaurant. A second restaurant soon followed.
  As a successful businessman in his adopted country, Mr. Kastanas felt 
that he had to serve the community that had served him so well.
  He was particularly interested in finding ways for Greek Americans to 
maintain a sense of connection to their motherland. On September 15, 
1975, Mr. Kastanas launched National Greek Television, a weekly Greek 
television program on channel 47 WNJU. This is the longest running 
Greek television program outside Greece. In July 1983, Mr. Kastanas 
expanded to the Chicago area. It now airs in Boston, Atlanta, New 
Jersey, and other markets. In late 1999, NGTV bought its own Electronic 
News Gathering van to provide live coverage of important events.
  As the expansion of cable channels created new opportunities for 
niche markets, Mr. Kastanas began to explore the possibility of an all-
Greek cable station. His dream became a reality. In 1987, the Greek 
Channel began airing on the Time-Warner Cable system in Queens and 
Brooklyn. This channel was the first Greek cable channel in the United 
States.
  Seeking new ways to cover issues of interest to Hellenes, Mr. 
Kastanas became interested in other media formats. He founded `Eseis,' 
a biweekly magazine to address the interests of the Hellenic-American 
community. Eseis is the plural form of `you' in Greek, reflecting the 
magazine's emphasis on serving the entire Hellenic community.
  Through his television programs, cable channel, and magazine, 
Demetris Kastanas has given Greek and Hellenic-Americans a voice in the 
United States that might otherwise not have been heard. His tremendous 
leadership has been evident through his ability to organize rallies and 
demonstrations on the Cyprus issue that have communicated clearly the 
Hellenic-American community's strong feelings on this subject.
  Mr. Kastanas's work has provided Hellenic-Americans with a connection 
to their homeland, through Hellenic news, folklore, music, and more. 
His programming has also helped new Hellenic immigrants assimilate into 
life in the United States.
  He and his wife, Nomiki, continue to work and instill the best of the 
Hellenic American culture in their community, but especially in the 
youngest generation of their family: Matina and George.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that my distinguished colleagues rise and pay 
tribute to a great New Yorker, Demetris Kastanas, for his 30 years of 
accomplishments. His many successes are a reflection of the vibrant and 
thriving community he so faithfully serves.

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