The local chapter of the leading membership-based association for the nation’s three million American citizens of Greek heritage, and Philhellenes, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), has joined in the AHEPA’s national campaign to request the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to resume negotiations with the representatives of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in an effort to rebuild the church destroyed at Ground Zero on September 11, announced Hudson Chapter No.108 President Christos M. Genes. “The Greek American community is displeased and angered that Port Authority officials have declared that a deal to rebuild Saint Nicholas is dead,” Genes said. “We view the church to be of national significance given the circumstances of its fate; a fate that has all but been forgotten by officials. We urge the Port Authority to honor its commitment to the congregation of Saint Nicholas and resume negotiations to rebuild the church at its rightful place at Ground Zero.” The chapter is circulating a petition that rallies support for the resumption of negotiations that will be given to AHEPA National President Nicholas Karacostas. Karacostas, a New York native, aims to deliver it to Mr. Christopher Ward, executive director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, to protect individuals from the evils of bigotry and discrimination, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 350 chapters across the United States, Canada, Greece and Cyprus. The mission of AHEPA is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism. For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org