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Articles by Tom Vartabedian

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About Tom Vartabedian

Tom Vartabedian is a retired journalist with the Haverhill Gazette, where he spent 40 years as an award-winning writer and photographer. He has volunteered his services for the past 46 years as a columnist and correspondent with the Armenian Weekly, where his pet project was the publication of a special issue of the AYF Olympics each September. More Posts

The Armenian Kitchen Hits One Million Views

June 18, 2013 // 4 Comments

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.—What’s cooking in the Armenian Kitchen these days? You’re all invited to dinner with Robyn and Doug Kalajian inside their Armenian Kitchen online. Chief cooks Doug and Robyn Kalajian happen to be celebrating an auspicious occasion with another delectable meal and perhaps a …

Jaffarian Family Thrives on Charity

June 11, 2013 // 0 Comments

It isn’t very often I plug a business, only because it can turn into a bottomless pit. There’s no end in sight, given all the Armenians who have toed the line from one generation to the next. Such a family is the Jaffarians, who operate …

Armenian Genocide Survivors Honored by Gov. Deval Patrick

June 9, 2013 // 2 Comments

BOSTON, Mass.—The Boston terrorist bombings may have taken a tragic toll on more than 300 victims and devastated the city’s metropolis in its wake. But it did little to deter the spirit behind the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick honored …

Vartabedian: Letting a Birthday Cat out of the Bag

June 7, 2013 // 0 Comments

Sooner or later, we all want the same thing for our birthday—not to be reminded of it. I can see a child looking forward to an annual milestone, given the gifts and cake, but seniors like myself may be a tad above that stage. And …

Blazing New Trails for Armenia’s Olympic Skiing

May 30, 2013 // 0 Comments

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—The road to Sochi may be high and mighty but Arman Serebrakian is prepared to take his leaps and bounds. His passion is skiing. His intent? To bring Armenia a skiing medal in the 2014 World Olympic Games in Russia—or at the very least, …

Heritage Cruise Turns into Love Boat for Kurumlians

May 29, 2013 // 1 Comment

Guess who attended a wedding reception for newlyweds Garo and Zepure Kurumlian aboard the ACAA Heritage Cruise XVI? Newlyweds Garo and Zepure (Ajoyan) Kurumlian make their way along the stairway to paradise aboard the ACAA Heritage Cruise. (Photo by Bedo Der-Bedrosian) All 800 Armenian guests …

Lucy Daghlian Personifies Armenian Mother

May 29, 2013 // 1 Comment

WASHINGTON—In this year of the Armenian mother, as proposed by the Armenian Apostolic Church, one individual stood out among the rest during the National Representative Assembly (NRA) Convention held during the week of May 12 in our nation’s capital. Yeretskin Lucy Daghlian is surrounded by …

Homage to an Old Plate

May 24, 2013 // 2 Comments

‘Age is a funny thing, Cherished in a tree and cheese, My furniture, my clothes. Dishes and some habits, Most everything, including me.’   It held its place inside my cupboard for more than 50 years, holding on for dear life at the end when …

Vartabedian: What will it be, baseball or church?

May 16, 2013 // 0 Comments

It wasn’t so much his son’s wrestling prowess that overwhelmed the father, although winning over 50 matches in one high school season is commendable for any player. Nor was it the many football accolades his son received as a star-studded lineman, and the scholarship offers …

Camp Haiastan Founders’ Project in Full Gear

May 14, 2013 // 5 Comments

FRANKLIN, Mass.—The spark that ignited Camp Haiastan in the mid-1940’s is turning into an inferno these days, thanks to a group of aficionados determined to bring credit where it’s due. Joined in the construction phase were, from left, Vasken Toomajanian, Shant Chebookjian and Astor Guzelian. …