By Georgia Vavas

Greek food and Greek-American music and conversation were abound the evening of Saturday, September 20th within Aris Melissaratos’ Greenmount Farm Estate, as the Baltimore-Piraeus Sister City Committee hosted their second annual “Aegean Evening” benefitting Cooley’s Anemia Research at Johns Hopkins Children Center, the World War II-era Liberty Ship, SS John W. Brown and other philanthropic works of the Committee.

Hazelwood Inn catered a fabulous assortment of Greek mezzedes and delicacies as guests were entertained by the fabulous Greek-American band “Bouzouki Nights.” Live and silent auctions made available a variety of gifts, trips, art, clothing, specialty goods and wines to bidders. Top live auction items included a one week stay at a Napa Valley Resort for up to eight people and a one week stay in a private home on the Greek island of Lefkada.

Among the notables attending Aegean Evening II were former Senator Paul Sarbanes, Maryland Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes, Rhode Island State Senator Lou Raptakis, Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Gadis and Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The Committee and guests were honored by the presence of Margarita Vartholomeou from the Island of Andros, who represented Greek shipping interests and the local newspapers Andriaki and Kykladikon Fos.

The Baltimore-Piraeus Sister City is a volunteer program under the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs. This and the other nine Sister City programs are operated in cooperation with Sister Cities International, an organization that was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after World War II to promote good will, economic development, cultural understanding and respect among U.S. and international cities around the world.

Congratulations to the Baltimore-Piraeus Sister City Committee for their hard work and leadership in making this event successful and a big thank to Mr. Aris Melissaratos and his family for graciously hosting the event at their home.