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St. David Armenian Church to Host 2013 Diocesan Assembly

Last month, the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, and Michael Guglielmo, the Diocese’s Executive Director, traveled to St. David Church in Boca Raton, Florida where they met with members of the 111th Diocesan Assembly Committee to discuss plans for next year’s gathering of Diocesan clergy and delegates. The entire Florida Armenian-American community is excited to play host to the 2013 Diocesan Assembly.

Along with a very full and exciting schedule of activities for the 2013 season, St. David Armenian Church has the honor of having been selected to host the 111th Annual Diocesan Assembly taking place from April 29 through May 5, 2013. The Assembly proceedings will be held at the newly renovated Boca Center Marriott Hotel on Military Trail in Boca Raton. “This undertaking is being ably chaired by Carol Norigian, Chairman of the Parish Council, and a very enthusiastic committee,” stated Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, Pastor of St. David Armenian Church.

The Assembly will be preceded by the Annual Clergy Conference beginning Monday, April 29, 2013 at Our Lady of Florida Conference Center in Palm Beach, and ending Thursday, May 2, 2013.

The Women’s Guild will hold its 27th Annual Assembly concurrent with the Diocesan Assembly from Thursday, May 2, 2013 through Saturday, May 5, 2013. On Saturday, the Women’s Guild Central Council will sponsor the 4th Annual “WOW” (Woman of Wonder) Luncheon at the Marriott Hotel. This year’s Women’s Guild Assembly will include a new session with clergy present, exciting mini-workshops and dynamic speakers.

Parishioners and friends are invited to join the Assembly participants at the gala Banquet and program on Friday evening, May 3 in the Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel where the presentation of the “Friend of the Armenians” and “Armenian of the Year” will be announced.

The Assembly sessions will culminate on Saturday evening with a dance also held at the Marriott Hotel. On Sunday, May 6, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at St. David Armenian Church followed by a Farewell Brunch.

This undertaking is being ably chaired by Carol Norigian, Chairman of the Parish Council and an enthusiastic committee; however, with so many categories to cover, we will be depending on your kind assistance and cooperation to make this a very successful Assembly. We are anxious to share our “southern hospitality” with our friends from all over the Eastern Diocese with warm hearts, welcoming smiles and a friendly hand.

To contribute and/or volunteer please contact St. David Armenian Church at (561) 994-2335.

Compiled from multiple sources.

Posted in Armenian Church, Events, General Update, News

Samara Supermarket Arrives in South Florida

Oct 16

Posted by Florida Armenians

By Robyn and Doug Kalajian
FLArmenians Cuisine Contributors

During our two-month absence from home this summer, Doug and I returned to find new businesses popping up around us – a very good sign.

Our first discovery was that a formerly closed Winn-Dixie supermarket has been completely revamped with a fresh, appealing look. With its new carving stations, cheese store with cheese and wine experts, in-house chef, fresh sushi, free coffee and free Wi-Fi, Winn-Dixie will rival even the snazziest Whole Foods or Fresh Market.

What truly got our hearts pumping is opening of the new Samara Supermarket in Boynton Beach’s shopping corridor. FINALLY, a Middle Eastern store close enough so that we don’t have to make a day’s trip out of buying ingredients we need to operate The Armenian Kitchen.

We found Samara by accident while perusing a local advertising publication. This prompted an immediate trip to examine their wares and determine whether or not the store would meet our needs. The answer: yes, it would!

Samara is a spacious store owned by Khaled (Ken) Samara. Ken was inspired to open a Middle Eastern store in central Palm Beach County because he saw a need for one in this location.

The shelves are neatly lined with canned, jarred, and packaged products – bulgur, lentils, olives, Noyan preserves from Armenia, red pepper paste, and so much more.

The refrigerated and freezer sections contain a variety of cheeses including Armenian twisted cheese (Karoun and Gharibian brands), lahmajoun, phyllo and kadaiff dough – to name a few.

There is a small fresh produce department featuring eggplant, Persian cucumbers, pomegranates and such.

What really surprised us was the fresh (Halal) meat counter complete with a butcher. There was a lamb carcass hanging in the refrigerator, and a lamb’s head displayed in the meat case – pacha, anyone? And cow hooves – Mmmmm, khash!

Need hookah paraphernalia? Ouds? dumbegs? They’re here, too!

Ken was was quick to mention that customer satisfaction is important to them, and if we didn’t see a product we wanted, let him know and he would order it.

We liked that aspect very much.

Ken is already looking forward to the store’s expansion. He’s planning to install an oven for making freshly baked pita bread, and adding a kitchen so food can be made on-site, such as stuffed grape leaves, spinach turnovers, za’taar bread – you know the menu.