Smithtown, Long Island & Marousi, Athens are Now Twin Towns!

A twinning protocol was signed by the municipality of Marousi, Athens and Smithtown, Long Island. The protocol was signed last Friday by George Patoulis and Patrick Vecchio who are supervisors of the two towns. “Our effort started a year ago and our common goal was to promote the development of cultural, educational and touristic actions”, stated mayor of Marousi Patoulis. He also added: “Our aim was to tell all Greeks living in Smithtown, that we stand by them and we support them. We would also like to inform the American people living there that the ancient town of Marousi hosted the Olympic Games in 2004 and is the birthplace of Spyros Louis, the famous athlete who won the first modern day Olympic marathon at the 1896 summer Olympics. In Marousi there is the Spathario Folk Art Museum that is dedicated to Eugenios Spatharis.  Spatharis is the most prominent shadow-theater player in Greece.  It is also includes the museum of painter Yannis Tsarouchis, the Municipal Art Gallery Spyros Louis, and Ceramics Exhibition”. Smithtown counts two Greek Orthodox communities with over 120,000 residents.