The announcement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that Poros will become the next “green island” of our country within the framework of the pioneering GR-Eco Islands project marks a historic development for the island’s future.

The decision was announced in Dubai in the context of Greece's first participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), and it was the most significant decision made by the Prime Minister during the opening of the Greek pavilion on Friday 1 December 2023. The announcement was accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Environment & Energy and the UAE’s renewable energy company Masdar, for the transformation of Poros into a new GR-Eco Island, in the presence of Mr. Mitsotakis, the President of the Conference and UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change Sultan Al Jaber, the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis and other officials and businessmen of the two countries.

The GR-Eco Islands project, which has been implemented so far in Astypalaia and Halki, includes flagship energy interventions in infrastructure and services in the areas of waste management, water management, culture, information technology, communications and transport in the country’s small islands.

The progress that the island has shown in recent years in the aforementioned areas, as well as the exemplary cooperation over the past year between the island's municipal administration and the Ministry of Environment & Energy in documenting the selection and the planning of the project were decisive for choosing Poros, among dozens of small islands, to become the new GR-Eco Island. The significance of selecting Poros is even greater considering that one of the critical selection criteria previously announced was related to the inability of the candidate islands to be connected to the mainland energy system (which does not apply in the case of Poros), and that Poros was not included in the list of small and remote islands in the country previously announced as candidates for the program.

After the signing of the MoU., the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis stated:

“Today, the most important development in the history of our island is being officially established. Poros is at the heart of our country’s environmental policy and at the center of world news. This is the culmination of many months of confidential cooperation between our municipal administration and the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and it marks the recognition of all the significant work that we did in Poros over the past few years. I would like to thank Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Deputy Minister of Environment Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, the associate of the Prime Minister Mr. Christos Zografos and the sponsoring company Masdar for showing us their trust and for recognizing the potential of our island, which is given this unique opportunity to be the environmental model of our country. More details about the content and the importance of the project will be published soon”..

On Saturday 28.10.2023, the student parade for the anniversary of the 28 th of October 1940 was held in Poros with great pomp and under summer weather conditions.

Upon completion of the parade, the Municipality of Poros awarded the students of Poros who were admitted to higher education schools this year, and offered them gift vouchers worth 150 € from “SKLAVENITIS” company, which were sponsored by the Mayor of Poros, Ioannis Dimitriadis.

The children who were awarded are the following:

1. VIKOU ANTIGONI – DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND INSURANCE SCIENCE (UNIVERSITY OF PIRAEUS)
2. GKEORGKIEVA VIKTORIA - DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND AUDIOVISUAL ARTS (UNIVERSITY OF WEST ATTICA)
3. GKEORGKIEVA DESISLAVA – DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY (PANTEION UNIVERSITY)
4. GKION ELEFTHERIA MYRTIDIOTISSA - DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATICS (ATHENS UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS)
5. DOSKARI STYLIANI - DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND AUDIOVISUAL ARTS (UNIVERSITY OF WEST ATTICA)
6. KOSTELLENOU ELENI – DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE (AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS)
7. LAMA EMMANOUELA – DEPARTMENT OF PEDAGOGY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (NATIONAL AND KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS)
8. MOSTITSOGLOU OMIROS MARINOS (FREE ADMISSION TO A SCHOOL OF HIS CHOICE DUE TO INTERNATIONAL DISTINCTION IN THE CANOE-KAYAK CHAMPIONSHIP)
9. NIKOLETOPOULOS SPYRIDON – DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY (NATIONAL AND KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS)
10. PAPADOPOULOU LYDIA - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES– (DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE)
11. PAPATHYMIOPOULOU ZOI – DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM – (IONIAN UNIVERSITY)
12. PIGKARA CHRYSOULA - DEPARTMENT OF PEDAGOGY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (NATIONAL AND KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS)
13. REIZIS KONSTANTINOS - DEPARTMENT OF LAW (ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI)
14. STOURNARA EVANGELIA ELENI - DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE (UNIVERSITY OF PELOPONNESE)

The Municipal Port Organization of Poros installed at the New Western Port 35 D-type straight rubber fenders of 250 x 250 x 1500 mm and 7 straight rubber cylindrical fenders of 80 cm diameter and 1.5 m length, with a total value of 40,690 €.

The project was funded by the operational program for “FISHERIES AND SEA 2014-2020” CLLD/LEADER (24,694€) and by the resources of the Municipal Port Organization.

On the weekend of 30 September - 1 October 2023, the Municipality of Poros, in cooperation with the Hellenic Veterinary Association and Poros Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.), successfully completed the spaying/neutering program for stray cats.

In the context of the program, 105 cats were spayed/neutered, vaccinated, marked and returned to their natural environment.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank the veterinarians-members of the Hellenic Veterinary Association I. Polyzoi, Chr. Agathangelidou, El. Grevenopoulou, El. Martseki, Μ. Belivani, P. Biska, P. Pezaro, G. Trikoupi and Ath. Fragkouli; the members of P.A.W.S. Ν. Mavrou, Ε. Georgantzi, G. Zervako, Al. Kagiorgi, Ε. Palavraki, Br. & R. Evans, M. Janssen and Tr. Morton, the volunteers R. Petch-Tomson and V. Linardi, as well as the sponsors who contributed to the implementation of the program.

SPONSORS:

Hotel Pavlou
Hotel Saron
Hotel 7 brothers
Restaurant “White Cat”
Restaurant “Oasis”
Clock cafe
Unique cafe
Armando Ibrahimi
Vangelis Kaikas
Ioannis Dimitriadis, Mayor of Poros
Christina Roi, Chairman of Poros Municipal Committee for the Management of Stray Animals

On Thursday 12.10.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:30 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr  or call: 2109215000.

On 10 October at 8:00 pm, at Cine Diana open-air cinema, we invite you all to join us at the screening of the two groundbreaking documentaries “The Heart of the Island” and “Toxic Tsunami” that delve into the profound environmental and social impacts of fish farming. The screening will be followed by Q&A with the creators and members of the Leave our Waters Collective Mike Sampey and Kirsten Bacon who are joining us from Tasmania to create a powerful documentary shedding light on the environmental impact of fish farms right here on Poros. Both films will be in English with Greek subtitles. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Their documentaries “Toxic Tsunami” and “The Heart of the Island” unveil the detrimental effects of fish farming in Tasmania. Their most recent film “The Heart of the Island” was a key component of island of Flinders’ successful battle to keep fish farming out of their pristine area. Armed with their cameras, Sampey and Bacon uncover the hidden truths about fish farming and the impact on local communities. Through the exchange of our similar experiences, we become inspired by one another’s strategies, resilience and commitment to our cause.

At Katheti, we’re dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity of our beloved island, and this documentary will be a vital tool in our mission to protect our waters. As Poros is threatened by the POAY’s plans, Katheti supports our community’s joint effort thorough research and educational efforts regarding the negative impact of industrial fish farming. On World Ocean’s Day (8 June) 2023,, we screened Francesco De Augustinis’ documentary «Saving Poros», as part of our multi-faceted communication campaign. On our YouTube channel you can watch a series of international documentaries about fish farming to which we have added Greek subtitles and on Katheti’s website you can find all 'Fish Farming Information' related to Greece and similar communities worldwide.

General information:
Telephone: 2298043825
Email: info@katheti.gr
Website: www.katheti.gr
FB: @kathetiporos
Instagram: @katheti.poros

The Municipality of Poros participated once again in a very important international event, adhering to its annual tourism promotion program.

Our Municipality participated as co-exhibitor of the Region of Attica in the tourism exhibition IFTM Top Resa, which took place in Paris from 3 to 5 October 2023, at the exhibition center “Paris Expo Porte de Versailles”.

The Municipality of Poros was represented -as always- by the Vice President of the Tourism Committee, Tasos Fiakas, who made contacts with tour operators and media, providing printed and digital material and presenting the official tourism website visitporos.com.

In addition, this year was the first time that the Municipality's Trail Network was presented through printed material and the website porostrails.gr.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank the Region of Attica, the Regional Governor G. Patoulis, the Delegated Councillor for Tourism Th. Koutsogiannopoulos and the personnel of the Directorate for Tourism for their constant cooperation, as well as the Ergani weaving workshop for the beautiful woven logo that adorned our stand.

The 4th of October 2023 is a historic day for our Municipality, as at noon the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis and Mr. Nikos Stathakis, the CEO of the company Helector and representative of the contractor joint venture “Helector–Thalis”, signed the contract for the execution of the project for the reconstruction, expansion and upgrading of the Sewage Treatment Plant and of the sewage network of our Municipality.

In fact, this project is:

• The largest ever commissioned by the Municipality in its history, valued at €15,545,494.61 (plus about €0.9 million for supporting services).
• The largest ever executed in the territory of the Municipality of Poros by any organization.
• The largest among the projects funded by the Ministry of Interior through the “A. Tritsis” program concerning all the municipalities in the country.
• The one that guarantees the resolution of all the problems of the Sewage Treatment of our Municipality and is the greatest legacy of the current municipal administration.
• The one that was put out to tender and granted all the approvals by the audit authorities in record time since the final approval of its funding (19.1.2023).

For more information, watch the video of the project’s short presentation that took place during the signing of the contract:

In view of the preparation of the Municipality of Poros for the municipal elections of 8.10.2023, the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis found on 2.10.2023 that the ballot papers of his rival candidate, Mr. George Koutouzis, which were delivered to the Municipality to be placed in the polling stations, differed so significantly in size compared to the required dimensions, that according to the legislation they would be all invalid (a. 23 par. 1c of Law No. 4804/2021). Furthermore, it was found that: 1) the number of ballot papers that Mr. Koutouzis declared to have delivered was by 196 less than the number of registered voters; and 2) the name of the mayoral candidate was not written on the ballot papers in accordance with the Decision of Piraeus Court of First Instance, but in a reversed order.

It should be noted that, according to the law, only the party is responsible for the correct printing of ballot papers, and that the current Mayor is only responsible for receiving and delivering them to the electoral commissions, without having any competence to check the validity of their specifications. Nevertheless, the Mayor of Poros, finding out by chance that all the ballot papers of his rival candidate were invalid, decided to inform him immediately by urgent letter so that the latter could replace them, despite the fact that the 28 th of September was the official deadline for their delivery.

In his statement Mr. Dimitriadis mentioned:

“After I found out by chance that all the ballot papers of my rival candidate did not meet the specifications and would definitely be cancelled in Sunday’s elections, I faced the theoretical dilemma of whether I should confine myself to my responsibilities without making any reference to this fact while waiting for my electoral victory with an absolute majority (100%), or whether I should inform my opponent and point out to him the correct specifications of the ballot papers in order for him to be able to replace them in time. Without any hesitation, I decided to proceed to the second option, thus respecting all the voters of our municipality and aiming for the election contest to be determined solely by their judgment and not by the specific mistakes of my opponent. I also publicly ask him to respond immediately to the points I made in the letter I sent him.”

The Municipality of Poros, in cooperation with the Hellenic Veterinary Association and Poros Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.), will carry out a free spay/neuter program for stray cats. The program will take place on September 30 and October 1, 2023, on the first floor of the former PIKPA building, where all animal loving residents of the island may bring for neutering the stray animals that they care for in their neighborhood.

Information:
Christina Roi - 6986611122
Nektaria Mavrou - 6906630117

Wednesday 13.9.2023 was a day of amazing news, when our Municipality was pleasantly “surprised” by the Court of Auditors, which issued and sent in record time its Act No. 523/1.9.2023 approving the draft contract and the award procedure for the reconstruction and upgrade of the Sewage Treatment plant in Poros.

This Act, which is irrevocable, was issued within a surprisingly short period of time, just 14 days after the submission of the project file to the Court of Auditors (18.8.2023), whereas the time limit for its examination was 50 days and the estimated time for signing the contract was mid-October.

Therefore, our Municipality will immediately invite the contractor joint venture (Helector – Thalis) to sign the contract, and, in this way, before the October 8th elections, our municipal administration will have completed the greatest feat that it had to face in its two terms of office to date!

This feat would not have been accomplished without the assistance of the Municipality's engineers, the personnel of the Cooperation Network of Municipalities of Attica Islands that supports our Technical Department, the personnel of the Regional Development Company "Parnonas" that conducted the tender, our external partners, the Secretary-General of the Municipality, the Special Assistants to the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor of Water Supply and Sewage Tasos Papachristou, and the elected officials of the Municipality (unfortunately only those of the majority party) who voted for all the Decisions approving the successive phases of the project. Also, the engineers Mary Danopoulou and Marina Tritaki deserve special mention for their exemplary work.

Well done to all and let’s continue working on the implementation and progress of the project in the same exemplary manner!

The event for giving the name “Theophilos Rosenberg” to the multi-purpose building of the Municipality of Poros took place on Saturday 9 September 2023 in the presence of approximately 200 spectators. During the event, associates and friends of Theophilos Rosenberg, who was Professor of medicine, surgeon, humanitarian and founder of “Doctors of the World” in Greece and passed away on 18.2.2021, spoke about his personality, the strong imprint he left on humanitarian medicine, as well as his connection with Poros.

Recognizing and expressing its appreciation for his work, the Municipal Council of Poros decided by its unanimous decision No. 15/13.2.2023 to name the municipal multi-purpose building “Theophilos Rosenberg”. In addition, there was an event organized by the Municipality of Poros, which is thus the first public sector entity to honor this great man. In his opening speech, the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis, referred to the long history of the building, which was originally built to house a municipal nursing home and, after remaining unused for years, now houses the Multipurpose Regional Clinic (the problems of which the Mayor referred to in detail), the Volunteer Fire Brigade, two Kindergartens of the island, the Social Grocery and Social Pharmacy and the Municipality's Physiotherapy Center, thus being the most vibrant center for social and voluntary actions on the island.

The work and contribution of Th. Rosenberg were described in the short speeches of Professor of Surgery Ioannis Griniatsos, the biopathologist and former President of “Doctors of the World” in Greece Iro Varsami, the pediatrician and member of “Doctors of the World” Soleiman Barzani, the pediatrician, supervisor of the postgraduate program “Global Health-Disaster Medicine” and Secretary General of “Doctors of the World” in Greece Agis Terzidis, and Lieutenant General (retired) and member of the Graduates' Association of the postgraduate program Stavros Tserpes. It is noted that several other participants could not attend the event, since they travelled urgently to Thessaly in order to offer their assistance to its residents after the current disasters.

A very touching speech was given by the philologist-linguist Maro Maniadaki-Prevelaki, who referred to family memories from Megalo Neorio, as well as by Th. Rosenberg's wife, Vaso, who concluded the main part of the event. The event concluded with the screening of a video edited by Andreas Thomopoulos and Iro Varsami, including highlights of Th. Rosenberg's action in humanitarian missions around the world and in postgraduate courses in the field, in Ifacara and Tanzania. Finally, the important news announced was the commitment of “Doctors of the World” and the Postgraduate Program “Global Health-Disaster Medicine” to provide from now on their practical support to the Multipurpose Regional Clinic of Poros through sponsorships and medical actions.

Links: • Decision of the Board of Directors of Poros No. 15/13.2.2023: 6ΠΕ0ΩΞΝ-Κ46 (diavgeia.gov.gr)

• Event Videos:

• Photographs:

The 6 th event “Synoriaka” of Modern Greece, a series of anniversary events organized by the Municipality of Poros in commemoration of the conference held between Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias and the ambassadors of England, France and Russia at the port of Poros in the autumn of 1828, which resulted in the great diplomatic victory of defining the first borders of the Greek State on the Ambracian-Pagasetic line, was successfully completed.

The opening event was the presentation of the book “Ελληνισμός και ελλαδικό κράτος. Δύο αιώνες αντιμαχίας, 1821-2021” (“Hellenism and the Greek State. Two centuries of conflict, 1821-2021") by Georgios Kontogeorgis, held on Tuesday 29 August in the courtyard of K.E. Poros camp. Then, on Friday 1 September, the concert of the Navy band with the participation of the lyric artist Angeliki Marinaki took place in Heroes Square, while on Saturday morning, a doxology was held at the Church of Ag. Georgios followed by a wreath-laying at the bust of Ioannis Kapodistrias.

The celebrations concluded on Saturday evening with the concert of Natasha Theodoridou at the Russian bay. This concert was the largest event production ever held on our island, since more than 70 people were employed, special equipment brought from Athens was used, and there was an unprecedented attendance of more than 3,000 people of all ages.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank all its associates, its personnel, the Ministry of National Defense, K.E. Poros, Poros Police Department, Poros Port Authority, Troizina Fire Brigade, Poros Volunteer Fire Brigade and all event sponsors for their contribution to the success of this event.

Event Sponsors:
• Sirene Blue Resort
• Konstantinos Alexopoulos (transport of people)
• Hellenic Seaways
• Saronic Ferries
• Russian Bay
• “White Cat” Restaurant
• “Sti Rota” Restaurant
• “Mouragio” Restaurant
• “Oasis” Taverna
• Xenia - Poros Image
• Hotel Saron
• Hotel 7 brothers
• Kaikas Studios
• Villa Eirini
• Christina Perlia Studios
• Ilios Aparments
• Maria Zenteli (graphic design)
• Bampis Kanatsidis, Savvas Marotos (photography)
• George Theocharis, Armando Ibrahimi, Panos Loukopoulos, Tasos Tzanos (drone)
• Ioannis Dimitriadis (Mayor)

The largest project in the history of Poros concerning the improvement of road safety on the island, with a budget of 2,752,183€, was launched a few days ago. The project includes asphalt (and concrete) paving roads with a total length of 11 km inside and outside the island’s settlements, placing safety barriers at dangerous locations, traffic signs and road markings.

This is one of the 7 municipal projects included in the funding by the Recovery Fund approved on 23.12.2022, following the call for road safety improvement projects published on 1.7.2022. So as to benefit from this funding and begin the project in “record time” (13 months from the call), our Municipality prepared the required Technical Study in summer 2022, then announced and concluded the international tender for the project in the first months of 2023, and finally signed the contract with the contractor a few weeks ago.

During the same period, the Municipality proceeded and completed key interventions aimed at repairing potholes and defects in road surfaces within the settlement, through the procurement of asphalt material at a cost of 30,000€.

Poros’s fight for little Valeria continues! The “Piano Concert for Valeria” with Achilleas Wastor and the participation of Elisavet Mantopoulou will take place on August 19, at 9pm, at the open theater of Syggrou. The recital is part of the Poros Arts Festival, the co-organization of which for 2023 has been entrusted to Katheti by the Municipality of Poros. In all this year’s Poros Arts Festival events, money is collected to  support little Valeria .

Program:

Part A
• Johann Sebastian Bach, 4th Partita in D Major.
• Johann Sebastian Bach, 4 Preludes and Fugues arranged by Achilleas Wastor

Part B
Franz Schubert, Fantasy in F minor for 4 hands

Piano solo: Achilleas Wastor

4 hands: Achilleas Wastor / Elisavet Mantopoulou

The recital’s aim is to collect money for the financial support of little Valeria and, as in all Poros Arts Festival events, there will be a collection box for the cause. The performers and all the recital’s contributors are participating pro bono.

Communications Sponsor of Poros Arts Festival, ERT

As every year, on the first weekend of September, the Municipality of Poros organizes the event of “Synoriaka” of Modern Greece, which commemorates the anniversary of the negotiations held between Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias and the ambassadors of England, France and Russia at the port of Poros in the autumn of 1828, where the first borders of the Greek State were defined.

This year's events will begin on Tuesday 29 August with the presentation of the seminal book by Georgios Kontogeorgis “Ελληνισμός και ελλαδικό κράτος. Δύο αιώνες αντιμαχίας, 1821-2021” (“Hellenism and the Greek State. Two centuries of conflict, 1821-2021"), while on Friday 1 September there will be a concert of the Navy band with the participation of Angeliki Marinaki, and on Saturday the concert of Natasha Theodoridou will take place at the Russian bay.

The installation of three floating platforms - piers donated by Agios Kosmas Marina was completed in the past few days by the Municipal Port Organization of Poros. The platforms, following the unanimous decisions of the Board of Directors of the Municipal Port Organization in 2021 and the corresponding approvals by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs in 2022, were installed at the piers of Agkyra, the “10 th stop” in Askeli and Villa “Galini”, and will be used exclusively for embarking - disembarking auxiliary vessels and boats.

The Administration of the Municipal Port Organization of Poros would like to thank once again the Administration of Agios Kosmas Marina for its donation, as well as the former Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and current Minister of Civil Protection, Kostas Katsafados, for facilitating the licensing of the pier. This installation is the culmination of a program of major works carried out by the Municipal Port Organization over the past few months on nearly all the concrete piers in the areas of Askeli, Monastiri and Neorio, which is the most extensive program ever undertaken on our island for the maintenance of port infrastructure in these areas.

The first two months of the summer were completed with significant progress regarding the projects of the Municipality and the Municipal Port Organization of Poros. In particular:

• The tender for the project of reconstruction, restoration and expansion of the Sewage Treatment plant, with a budget of 16,473,490€, was completed. Two of the largest and most specialized construction companies in the region (Elektor and Thalis) participated as a consortium in this tender, submitting the only offer with a 0.35% discount. This avoided the phase of objections and preliminary appeals that could have delayed the start of the project by up to two years, as well as future financing gridlock that had occurred in all previous Sewage Treatment projects. To finance the project, a development loan was previously signed by the Municipality and the Consignment Deposits & Loans Fund, the repayment of which will be made through the program “A.Tritsis” of the Ministry of Interior. This is the largest municipal funding in the country under this Program as well as the largest project funding in the history of the Municipality of Poros. The project contract will be signed immediately upon approval of the Court of Audit and the project will start in 2023.

• The project for the improvement of road safety in an important part of the road network of Poros was put out to tender and the contract was signed. This is the largest asphalt paving and road marking project in the history of the island, with a budget of 2,752,183€ and funding from the Recovery Fund, and will start in the next few days.

• The project for the energy upgrade of Hatzopouleios Municipal Library was put out to tender and the contract was signed, with a budget of 112,000€ and funding from the NSRF (ROP of ATTICA), and will be completed within 2023.

• The procurement of 30 shared electric bicycles and 4 charging stations was put out to tender and the contract was signed, with a budget of 247,816€ and funding from the NSRF, and will be completed within 2023.

• The procurement of a passenger shelter at the New Western Port was put out to tender, with a budget of 130,000€ and funding from the Municipal Port Organization of Poros.

• The contract for the procurement of a new bucket truck was signed, with a budget of 115,000€ and funding from the Program “Philodemos 2” and the Municipality's own resources, and will be delivered in the next few months.

• The Program Contract between the Municipality, the Municipal Port Organization and the Municipal Cooperation Network of the Attica Islands for the architectural Study and the accompanying studies regarding the redevelopment of Pounda, which will be delivered in the next few months, was signed.

• The accompanying studies for the redevelopment of the Municipal Market were delivered by the Municipal Cooperation Network of Attica Islands, and the approval of the Ministry of Culture for the architectural study is pending.

• The asphalt paving project of the central rural roads in the areas of Mistrezi and Pergari in the Peloponnese was completed, with a budget of 1,000,000€ and funding from Attica Region.

• The study for the redevelopment of Mexi Street (formerly Demosthenous Street) was approved by the Council of Architecture, while project financing is pending.

• The Ministry of Culture approved the Study for the renovation of Ag. Kyriaki Square (formerly Christ Square) and the actuarial acts are pending.

• The Regional Council of Attica and the Municipal Council of Poros approved the Program Contract for the financing of the Study for the separation of the combined sewer systems, the replacement of sewage and water supply networks, as well as the undergrounding of the electrical lighting network in the settlement of Poros, with a budget of 575,015€ (450,000€ from Attica Region’s resources and 125,015€ from the Municipality’s resources).

On Wednesay 09.08.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:30 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

Dancing is the order of this week on our island!

In the evening of August 2nd, at 9pm, we will enjoy a “Full Moon Beach Party” at Kanali beach. During this event, we will have the chance to be taught Latin and zumba dance steps by the Poros Nautical Club dance school. It will be a magical night, with lots of dancing, under the August full moon.

From Latin dances, we move on to Greek traditional ones, on Friday, August 4 th  at 9pm, at the open theatre of Syggrou. The Cultural Association of Galatas “Friends of Tradition” will present a musical and dance journey with traditional dances from the beautiful islands of Greece: From Rhodes, Ikaria, Samos, Amorgos, Naxos and Mykonos to Crete and Kefalonia. The Association will participate with three sections, two children’s and one teenage section. Dances will also be presented by the Poros Nautical Club’s dance school.

The event is part of Poros Arts Festival, the co-organization of which this year was entrusted to Katheti by the Municipality of Poros. In all this year’s Poros Arts Festival events, money is collected to  support little Valeria .

Communications Sponsor of Poros Arts Festival, ERT.

Information:
Telephone: 2298043825
Email: info@katheti.gr
Website: www.katheti.gr
FB: @kathetiporos
Instagram: @katheti.poros

We would like to inform you that on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 August, a two-day voluntary blood donation of the Blood Bank of our municipality will take place in the event venue of Sygrou building, from 08:30 to 14:30.

It is noted that the blood donation will be carried out in compliance with all protective measures, which are indicated by the Greek National Center for Blood Donation (EKEA) and the National Public Health Organization (NPHO).

In accordance with the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network (HEDNO), we inform you that on Monday 31.7.2023 there will be a power outage throughout the island of Poros from 07:30 του 11:30 (in order to carry out network expansion works related to the desalination project). Especially on the main promenade, the power outage will take place from 07:30 to 08:00 and from 11:00 to 11:30.

The operation of the desalination unit that started on Wednesday 19 July 2023 is a breakthrough for the Municipality of Poros. Upon completion of its installation that started about a month ago, the unit, which has been leased by the Municipality for three months under the grant of the Secretariat General for the Aegean & Insular Policy, is finally operational. This means that 600m 3 water is added to the daily capacity of water supply and fire-fighting network on the island, which until now was supplied only by boreholes located in the Peloponnese. From now on, 20-30% of the daily water supply requirements of Poros during summer will be met through desalination process, a fact that also enables all water boreholes in Mistretsi area to be used exclusively in the water supply network of Lemonodasos. It is noted that the desalinated water in the main tank of the Municipality is mixed with the denitrified water from the boreholes, so that the concentration of nitrates is further reduced, and that the Municipality leased a 250kva generator for the operation of the unit, so that it can operate even in conditions of power failure.

The Municipality of Poros, in order to achieve full independence from the ever- decreasing water resources of the boreholes, has submitted funding proposals for the procurement of two desalination units with a total daily capacity of 1,600m 3 in all funding calls that have been published since 2017. Until such funding is secured, the installation and connection to the network of a leased unit, which will be carried out every year during the high season, is a breakthrough for the municipality.

However, consumers should continue to use water as wisely as possible! The Municipality of Poros would like to thank the Secretary General of the Municipality of Poros, Mr. Manolis Koutoulakis, the companies ECOTECH and TEMAK for their decisive assistance in the implementation of the project and their executives Grigoris Lykogiannis and Alexandros Mandalidis, as well as the external partners Panagiotis Dousaitis, Dimitris Bisias, Panagiotis and Yiannis Tripolitsiotis. In addition, we would like to thank the mechanical engineer Andreas Nikoletopoulos, the Secretary General of the Municipality, Manos Stefanidis, the special assistant to the Mayor, Manolis Moysiadis, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Water Supply, Tasos Papachristou, for their contribution.

On Thursday 20.7.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:30 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

Mathaios Giannoulis concert will take place on Friday 14 July 2023 at Heroes’ Square in Poros as part of Poros Arts Festival.

The concert is organized by the Municipality of Poros and Region of Attica in collaboration with “katheti”.

If, in the next few days, you see people playing music, embroidering, and painting along Poros promenade, don’t be surprised! It is the Street Arts Festival, which takes place on our island, from July 11 th  to 13 th , between 9pm and 11:30pm. The festival is part of Poros Arts Festival, which Poros Municipality has entrusted to Katheti to co-organize this year. All events raise money for little Valeria.

Who will we see?

Vassilis Panagiotidis
Greek music

Giorgos Smak
Foreign and Greek music, with guitar, flute, voice and stand-up comedy.

Katerina Chrysolie
Exhibition of small artworks (calendars, handmade hats, small paintings, etc.)

Puppet-Vamvakaris
The storytelling and puppet theatre group Glaroi presents its rebetiko puppet band with characters of persons who wrote the history of rebetiko music.

Christina Orfanidou
Embroidery and handmade creations.

Where will they be?

Specifically, the places where you will meet performers and street artists are the following:

• Kanonia (opposite Citronne Gallery)
• Promenade, across from the National Bank of Greece
• Iroon Square
• Town Hall Square
• Pounta promenade, across from Primasera restaurant

At each point we will have the opportunity to see a different artist every night.

Poros Arts Festival Media Sponsor, ERT

Information:
Telephone: 2298043825
Email: info@katheti.gr
Website: www.katheti.gr
FB: @kathetiporos
Instagram: @katheti.poros

In the context of Poros Arts Festival 2023, the Municipality of Poros and the “Association of Vourliotes of Asia Minor” organize an event in memory of the Asia Minor refugee Michalis Chatziperos, who recently passed away. The event will be held on Sunday, 9 July 2023 at 9:00 p.m., at the amphitheater of Syngrou building, under the care of the director of Chatzopoulios Municipal Library, Mr. Yiannis Maniatis, and the support of Katheti and Charalampos Mylonopoulos, and will include the following:

• Announcement of Poros Municipal Council’s decision to name the main street of Synoikismos as Michalis Hatziperos Street.
• Speeches by Mr. Yiannis Maniatis and the Chairman of Vourliotes of Asia Minor, Mr. Fotis Karalis.
• Screening of a documentary by the Association of Vourliotes, in which Michalis Hatziperos is interviewed, praising the hospitality of Poros and describing his hard struggles to get back on his feet in his new homeland.
• Presentation of the book “Ένα αηδόνι την αυγή” (A Nightingale at Dawn), in which the life of refugees from Smyrna in Poros is described; high School student Adriana Beri will read excerpts from the book.
• Presentation of Asia Minor songs by the local traditional music band SYNTONON, with Maria Maroulaki singing.

The boat services from the port of Poros to Askeli-Monastery (and Sirene) started today, Friday 7.7.2023, and will run 6 times per day until 10 September. As in previous years, the services will be operated by the boat “Τζων Νάκης” (John Nakis), the owner of which was the only one to express interest in the invitation issued by the Municipality to the Association of Boatmen of Poros-Galatas.

Timetable: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00 from the port of Poros / 10:15, 12:15, 14:15, 17:15, 18:15, 19:15 from Askeli to Monastery / 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30 from Monastery to Askeli-Poros / 10:40, 12:40, 14:40, 17:40, 18:40, 19:40 from Askeli to Poros.

It is noted that the boat service for the route Poros-Neorio will also start from next Friday, 14 July, while the boat service for the route Poros-Plaka-Alyki will start 2 weeks later.

All local public transport timetables are available in Greek and English at poros.gr Municipality of Poros | Local public transport timetables (poros.gr)

The Municipality of Poros has completed another very demanding process of awarding projects and works in the last few weeks. In particular, in the context of the extraordinary allocation of Central Own Resources (KAPs) from the Ministry of Interior to all municipalities of the country, our Municipality received on 29.3.2023 an extraordinary subsidy of 130.000€ to cover fire protection actions, while by decision of the Secretary General of the Aegean & Insular Policy on 21.4.2023, a subsidy of 148.000€ was approved for the lease of a desalination unit. At the same time, by decision of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Civil Protection on 18.4.2023, our Municipality, along with 59 more Municipalities, was declared in a State of Special Mobilization for Civil Protection, which means that it has the right to directly award works by way of derogation from the procedures for two months (until 18.6.2023).

In order to use the above funding within the deadline, our Municipality, at the end of April, changed its priorities, allocated additional own resources to support the above actions and gave priority to awarding relevant projects for which funding was already available. In order to conduct all the above- mentioned awarding procedures, within a few weeks it was necessary to draw up Studies, hold successive meetings of Collective Bodies and finally sign 6 contracts for a total cost of 537.605€, which are as follows:

1) Damage restoration on the road of Synoikismos – Ag. Nektarios: 198,030€ (funding from the Ministry of Interior 10.6.2019)
2) Leasing of desalination unit: 148,800€ (funding from Secretariat General of the Aegean and Insular Policy)
3) Firefighting infrastructure maintenance and upgrade works: 97,958€ (KAPs)
4) Works related to the desalination unit: 61,197€ (municipality’s resources)
5) Picking & removing of dead branches: 18,600€ (KAPs)
6) Maintenance of the firefighting vehicles of the Municipality and the Volunteer Fire Brigade – 13,020€ (KAPs)

It is noted that in a similar procedure in summer 2022, our Municipality had managed to use 100,000€ of extraordinary funding and an additional amount of 118,779€ from its own resources, concluding 7 contracts with a total cost of 218,779€ until 12.8.2022.

The municipal administration would like to thank the Deputy Minister of Interior, Mr. St. Petsas, the Secretary General of the Aegean & Insular Policy, Mr. Emm. Koutoulakis, as well as the Secretary General of Civil Protection, Mr. V. Papageorgiou, for responding to the needs of our Municipality, the members of Municipal Coordinating Body (the leader of the minority party, the Commander of the Training Center Κ.Ε. Poros, the Commander of Police Department, the Commander of Port Authority, the Head of the Forestry Department, the Commander of Nafplio Fire Department, the Commander of Volunteer Fire Brigade) for evaluating all the assigned actions, as well as the Municipality's officials who did their best in order to complete the necessary procedures in time.

Upon decision of the Board of Poros Municipal Port Organization, 65 umbrellas and 2 showers were placed in the central part of Askeli beach, which will be used free of charge during this summer, and 2 changing rooms will be installed very soon as well.

The Municipal Port Organization took this decision, as the tender for granting the 1,258 sqm beach announced on 23.2.2023 was not completed due to the applications for suspension and annulment submitted by the company “HOTEL BUSINESS KYRIAKOS MANESIS S.A.” to the Council of State, which issued an interim order suspending the tender procedure until the case is examined. The above-mentioned order and the applications for suspension- annulment were notified to the Municipal Port Organization at the beginning of the procedure on 23.2.2023 even though Mr. Kyriakos Manesis (the owner of the applicant company) was the only one participating in the tender representing one of his other companies under the name “AIR IN SERVICES Private Company”. It should be noted that Mr. Manesis lodged an objection (which was rejected) on behalf of “AIR IN SERVICES Private Company” asking for the completion of the tender procedure.

As the interim order of the Council of State is still in force, the Municipal Port Organization is not allowed to grant the beach either by tender or by direct award. For this reason, its Administration, in consultation with the municipal administration, decided to place free umbrellas on the beach, a fact that has satisfied people and local business owners.

It should be noted that, according to legislation, the Municipal Port Organization may grant, at its own discretion, this beach either by tender or by direct award. In addition, Yiannis Dimitriadis, even before he was elected mayor in 2014, has publicly stated his position that the beach should be awarded by tender, which should include the entire width of the beach, so that supporting infrastructure can be placed. This clear position is based on the fact that Askeli bay is the most central and crowded beach on the island, which cannot be exploited by only one company. Besides, until 2013, its award was always carried out only through a tender procedure without the neighboring hotel ever having lodged any legal action against the relevant Decisions. However, from 2013 to 2022 it was not possible to put the entire width of the beach out to tender, as in the upper section there were the typical structures, like bars, stairs, toilets, paving, etc., that in 2009 were deemed to be demolished, and since 2013 the Port Authority of Poros pointed out that their granting is prohibited.

Thus, during the period 2014-2022, the Municipal Port Organization was granting the lower section of the beach to the hotel and at the same time made all possible efforts to regularize the structures. However, it was found that, according to legislation, this could only have been made by 2013 and that now the only solution for the exploitation of the area was the demolition of the structures, which after lengthy procedures was authorized by the competent Authorities in early 2022. It should be noted that under legislation of 2017, the granting of parts of the land port zone is allowed throughout the country only with explicitly unauthorized pergolas, and this is the reason why the Municipal Port Organization managed to legally continue granting to health-regulated establishment s in other locations on the island without having to demolish them.

Apart from the approximately 2 stremmas of the beach, in Askeli there are also 5 organized sections along the beach with a total area of 912sq.m. that the Municipal Port Organization and the Hellenic Public Real Estate Agency have granted to restaurants and hotels in the area, where 105 umbrellas and 210 rented sunbeds are placed. These figures do not include the public part of the beach to the west of the pier of Aegli, which during the last few months has been illegally formed and taken over by practices similar to the case of Mykonos, resulting in repeated legal actions of self-incrimination and the drawing up of corresponding case files against the liable business owner.

The Documentary and Short Film Festival will take place on 27-30 June at Cine Diana, on Poros, with free admission, as part of the Poros Arts Festival, the organization of which the Municipality of Poros has entrusted to Katheti for 2023. The program includes documentaries and short fiction films, most of which have won awards at Greek and international festivals.

Director Flora Prisimintzi has created an interesting artistic program, with films portraying artists who have left their mark on Greek culture. Films about political figures and social events, as well as films about how changes in the natural environment can drastically change current balance on a global scale.

The Documentary and Short Film Festival starts with a documentary about the last fisherman of Sikinos. The film is indirectly linked to the problem that Poros faces with industrial fish farming and the changes that the abandonment of traditional professions can cause in society.

At the same time, the selection of documentaries produced by the Greek Broadcasting Corporation, including films by director Flora Prisimintzi, aims to emphasize the educational character that public television should have.

The films' creators will also attend the screenings, so that the audience can ask questions and share their impressions.

Film program:

Tuesday, June 27th

• 21:00 Saving Poros (9’): A short documentary that outlines the severe threat posed by the plan for the creation of industrial fish farms at Poros island, through revelatory facts and interviews. A film by independent journalist and documentarist Francesco De Augustinis.
• 21:20 No Coming Back (63’): Syrian refugees brought back memories of the refugee crisis Hellenism suffered after the Asia Minor Disaster, when thousands of Greeks from Asia Minor found refuge in Syria. Europe finds itself for the first time facing a problem of this scale –a fact that creates dangerous fear syndromes among citizens of different countries. This documentary makes use of testimonies of refugees, volunteers, and local inhabitants, in an effort to understand the historic nature of events. Written and directed by Flora Prisimintzi.
• 22:40 The Last Fisherman (12') (documentary): A Day in the Life of Kostas Divolis, the only professional fisherman of Sikinos. Directed by Bastian Fisher and Vicky Markolefa.
• 23:20 From the Balcony (12') (animation): An award-winning short story and a masterful animation about the microcosm of the popular neighborhood. A middle-aged lady, Lina, without ever leaving the balcony of her house, interferes with what happens in her... field of vision. Passers-by from her street, and her neighbors in the apartments across the street, all find that whatever they do, Lina watches them. Directed by Aris Kaplanidis.
• 23:35 Eleni Boukouri Altamura – The First Greek Woman Artist (52'): The woman who in 1848, a time when the doors of universities remain hermetically closed to women, dresses as a man so that she can study painting at the Nazarene School in Rome. Written and directed by Cleoni Flessa.
• 00:55 A Picture a Thousand Thoughts – Mandalina Psoma (25'): Painter Mandalina Psoma reveals her art and artistic influences. Directed by Flora Prisimintzi.

Wednesday, June 28th

• 21:00 Saving Poros (9’): A short documentary that outlines the severe threat posed by the plan for the creation of industrial fish farms at Poros island, through revelatory facts and interviews. A film by independent journalist and documentarist Francesco De Augustinis.
• 21:20 Lundlow - Greek Americans in the Colorado Coal War (71'): An award- winning documentary at the Thessaloniki Film Festival about the Lundlow Massacre and the contribution of the Greeks to the American labor movement. Directed by Leonidas Vardaros.
• 22:30 The Man Who Fed His Shadow (17':40''): A man intrudes into rich people’s dinners claiming that he can collect the food from their table and feed his shadow which, curiously enough, is a female figure. Directed by Marios Garefos.
• 23:20 Samothrace, the Silence of the Rocks (53'): Samothrace is an intensely mythological place where, for the first time in Greece, the Mother Goddess is worshipped. Directed by Flora Prisimintzi.
• 00:30 Lost in the Woods (50'): From 1984 to 1989, Constantinos Pittas took a solo journey across Europe and shot 30,000 black-and-white photographs with a Minox 35mm compact camera. His aim was to capture the human core of the people living on both sides of Europe’s Iron Curtain. Directed by Lefteris Fylactos.

Thursday, June 29th

• 21:00 Saving Poros (9’): A short documentary that outlines the severe threat posed by the plan for the creation of industrial fish farms at Poros island, through revelatory facts and interviews. A film by independent journalist and documentarist Francesco De Augustinis.
• 21:20 Andreas Lentakis – A Romantic Fighter (83'): The life, political actions and spiritual trajectory of Andreas Lentakis. And through them, the trajectory of the Greek Left and its political history throughout the second half of the 20th century. Direction Menos Deliotzakis.
• 23:10 A La Carte (12'): The Minister of Health in a well-staged radio interview. What could go wrong? Directed by Vassilis Tsiouvaras, Taxiarchis Deligiannis.
• 23:25 Mamangakis – The last word (63'): In this documentary, the international Greek music composer Nikos Mamangakis offers his confession for the last time a few months before he passed away in July 2013. Directed by Takis Sakellariou.

Friday, June 30th

• 21:00 Saving Poros (9’): A short documentary that outlines the severe threat posed by the plan for the creation of industrial fish farms at Poros island, through revelatory facts and interviews. A film by independent journalist and documentarist Francesco De Augustinis.
• 21:20 Mighty Afrin. In the time of floods (90'): The mighty Brahmaputra swells again, ready to swallow everything in its path. On a slowly disappearing island of mud, Afrin, a twelve-year-old orphan girl, is about to leave the only world she has known. Directed by Angelos Rallis
• 23:20 Newstria (24’): Newstria is a utopian land. A ship named “Chimera” sails off looking for it. Directed by Kostas Stamatopoulos
• 00:05 The Weavers (53'): A chronicle that offers a bittersweet look, posing key questions about the development of the Greek countryside. The award-winning documentary about the weavers of Vlastis in Kozani. Directed by Dimitris Koutsiambasakos.

With its actions, such as the theatrical performances “Ο Ραφτάκος των Λέξεων” (The Small Tailor of Words), “Πέρασμα” (Passage), and “Ιστορία ενός σκύλου που τον έλεγαν πιστό” (The Story of a Dog Called Faithful), Katheti aims to set in motion the creativity already existing in the local community as well as to support and strengthen local cultural expression.

In all the events of this year's Poros Arts Festival, money will be collected for the support of nine-year-old Valeria.

Entrance: Free
We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Information:
Telephone:: 2298043825
Email: info@katheti.gr
Website: www.katheti.gr
FB: @kathetiporos
Instagram: @katheti.poros

The two extraordinary monologues of the great Greek playwright Iakovos Kampanellis “Η Μυστική Ζωή του Γουόλτερ Μίττυ” (free adaptation of James Thurber’s short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”) and “Ο Πανηγυρικός” (The Panegyric) will be presented in a single performance, on Saturday, June 24th at 9 pm at the municipal Syggrou open theater, directed by Katerina Polychronopoulou and performed by Dimitris Fragkioglou. The theatrical performance takes place as part of Poros Arts Festival, which this year was assigned to Katheti by the Municipality of Poros.

Walter Mitty has found a way to escape the monotony and tedium of his daily life by becoming the hero of his own dreams. Reality and imagination interweave, creating an exquisite stage play.

“Ο Πανηγυρικός” (The Panegyric) is a bitter comedy. During the dictatorship period, the Mayor of a small provincial town has been appointed, not elected. On the day he considers the most important of his life, he drives himself to self- destructive behavior, to his downfall and ridicule.

A play that, even though it is about a specific period of our modern history, remains tragically relevant. With a deep sense of humanity, Iakovos Kambanellis creates another unique character, commenting on the timeless Greek pathogens.

In all the events of this year’s Poros Arts Festival, money will be collected for the support of nine-year-old Valeria.

Credits:
Playwright: Iakovos Kampanellis
Direction: Katerina Polychronopoulou
Scenery & Costumes: Aggelina Pagoni
Original Music: Maria Voumvaki
Kinesiology: Anastasia Georgala
Light Design: Christina Fylaktopoulou
Assistant Director: Eleni Kerolari
Photography: Aggelina Pagoni
Trailer: Stefanos Kosmidis
Actor: Dimitris Fragkioglou
Katerina Polychronopoulou’s voice is heard at the performance.

Katheti’s choral ensemble will open the performance with music and song lyrics by Iakovos Kampanellis from the play “Παραμύθι χωρίς όνομα” (Fairytale Without Name).

With its actions, such as the theatrical performances “Ο Ραφτάκος των Λέξεων” (The Small Tailor of Words), “Πέρασμα” (Passage), and “Ιστορία ενός σκύλου που τον έλεγαν πιστό” (The Story of a Dog Called Faithful), Katheti aims to set in motion the creativity already existing in the local community as well as to support and strengthen local cultural expression.

In all the events of this year's Poros Arts Festival, money will be collected for the support of nine-year-old Valeria.

Entrance: Free
We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Information:
Telephone:: 2298043825
Email: info@katheti.gr
Website: www.katheti.gr
FB: @kathetiporos
Instagram: @katheti.poros

On Thursday 22.6.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:30 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

Poros Arts Festival has been held continuously on Poros island since 2014. Every summer, the island fills with art events, becoming a cultural hub for the region and the Saronic Gulf. This year, the Poros Arts Festival 2023, which the Municipality of Poros has entrusted to Katheti, will be taking place from June to September, offering a broad range of cultural events at the peak of the tourist season for both the island and Greece in general.

For three months, artists from Greece and abroad will create a colorful celebration with free admission for all. The aim of the festival is to showcase the remarkable local artists, as well as renowned artists from around Greece and abroad; to introduce the new generation of Poros Island to art and culture, and to highlight the beauty of the place. Through the various events hosted in public spaces of the island, such as the seafront road, local squares, the Syggrou open theatre, and other sites of unique interest, the audience will have the opportunity to discover the hidden corners and picturesque neighborhoods of Poros. This is a unique exploration, which will travel the mind through culture.

History

The 1st Poros Arts Festival, with the slogan "One Island, One Celebration!", began in 2014 by the Citizens' and Consumers' Association, with the support of Poros Municipality. It initially relied solely on citizens volunteering, on the eagerness of organizers and artists, and on the faith of businesses and sponsors. From 2015 onwards, Poros Municipality became the organizer of the festival, supported by the Region of Attica.

In 2020 and 2021, the Municipality of Poros suspended all cultural events due to the pandemic, while in 2022, Poros Arts Festival was limited to a few, yet significant events.

In 2023, the Municipality entrusted Poros Arts Festival to Katheti. Thus, this summer, Katheti, Poros Municipality, and a team of local volunteers, in a spirit of collaboration, will dynamically revive the festival tradition of our home island.

Schedule

Here is the detailed festival schedule, which will be implemented in its entirety provided the cost of all events is met:

June

● June 17th , children's puppet theater " Γοργόνα, γοργονίτσα " (Mermaid, Little mermaid), Prassin Aloga, , Syggrou open theater
● June 24th , theatrical play "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Ο Πανηγυρικός” (The Panigyrikos), Dimitris Fragkiogoulos, along with the choral ensemble of Katheti in the musical play “Παραμύθι χωρίς όνομα” (Fairytale Without a Name). A tribute to Iakovos Kampanellis for the 2022 Literary Year of Iakovos Kambanellis, Syggrou open theater
● June 27th -30th , Documentary and Short Film Festival, Cine Diana

July

● July 1st , "Αποσταλάγματα” (Apostalagmata) concert, featuring Vaggelis Tzitzis's album, harbor pier
● July 9th, "In memory of Michalis Hatziperos", a tribute to Michalis Ηatziperos and the refugees from Vourla of Asia Minor that came to Poros, Syggrou open theater
● July 11th -13th , Street Art Festival, central seafront
● July 14th, Concert with Mattheos Giannoulis, Monument to the Fallen Heroes
● July 15th , "Θέλω να σου κρατώ το χέρι” (I Want to Hold Your Hand) theatrical play, Tasos Iordanidis, Thalia Matika, Syggrou open theatre
● July 18th , "La Petite Marguerite" bubble parade & performing, central seafront
● July 22nd -30th , Photo exhibition "Under the starry sky" by Vaggelis Kaikas, behind the City Hall

August

● August 2nd , Latin and Zumba dance lessons by the dance school of Poros Troizinia Naval Association (Ν.Ο.Π.Τ.) and “Moon Beach Party”, Kanali beach
● August 4th , folk dances by the Cultural Association of Troizinia, Syggrou open theater
● August 5th , Local book presentation for the period 2020-2023. Edited by Hatzopouleios Municipal Library, Organized by Yiannis Maniatis, Syggrou open theater
● August 13th , Classical music happening with Sofia Zarani, from the rock of Poros Clock Tower
● August 19th , “Ρεσιτάλ για τη Βαλέρια” (Concert for Valeria) piano concert with Achilleas Wastor and the participation of Elisavet Mantopoulou, Syggrou open theatre
● August 26th , “Μουσικές του κόσμου” (World music) concert with Dimos Koumaridis, Andreas Boutsikakis, and Evdokia Rapti, Askeli Beach

September

● September 1st -10th , "Μεταμορφώσεις” (Transformations) mixed media exhibition. Participants: Giorgos Gelis (painting, hagiography), Athanasia Tsoukala (ceramic), Eleni Pediaditaki (photo), Pavlou Nikos (photo). Katheti, Pounta

Media Sponsor, ERT

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Information:

Telephone: 2298043825
Email: info@katheti.gr
Website: www.katheti.gr
FB: @kathetiporos
Instagram: @katheti.poros

The public meeting against the establishment of an industrial fish farming zone in Poros was successfully held on Thursday 08.06.2023. This meeting was the largest ever held by the municipality, as approximately 250 citizens attended it and, since there was not enough space in the conference room, it was finally held in the amphitheater of Syngrou building, while at the same time it was broadcast online and attracted many viewers.

At the beginning of the meeting, the short documentary “Saving Poros” was presented for the first time, which is the highlight of the Municipality’s communication campaign and the culmination of its cooperation with the local non-profit organization Katheti and the Rauch Foundation.

In the 9-minute documentary, investigative journalist Francesco De Augustinis presents in a comprehensive way:

1. What is going to happen in Poros in a few months, if the industrial fish farming zone is established.
2. What is the stance of the residents and the local government.
3. What is the stance of the multinational company that is going to take over the management of 25% of Poros land. This is reflected: a) in the statement of the CEO of AVRAMAR, who, inter alia, stated that “we have good relations with the local government, the central government and the local communities” and and b) in the statement of the author of the Study on Poros Industrial Fish Farming Zone, who stated that “unfortunately not all of Greece is a tourist paradise; unfortunately for those people, no one wants to build there a Hilton or a large resort to support the local economy”.

Furthermore, Faii Orfanidou, the co-founder of Katheti, presented the main pillars of the global campaign coordinated by Katheti under the support of the Rauch Foundation in the field of research and communication, while the Mayor of Poros, Yiannis Dimitriadis, provided an update on this issue, and presented the overall strategy followed by the Municipality to address this threat.

* Learn more about the industrial fish farming zones in Poros HERE.

The Municipality of Poros invites the residents of our region on Thursday 8 June 2023 at 18:00, at Syngrou building, to attend a public meeting against the establishment of industrial fish farming zone in Poros. During the meeting, the municipal administration will present the latest news on the issue in question, as well as the Municipality’s campaign aimed at raising the issue at local, national and international level, while there will be a discussion on the development of collective actions in order to prevent this threat.

The main pillar of the campaign is the cooperation of the Municipality and the Committee against fish farming with the local non-profit organization Katheti and the Rauch Foundation, culminating in the production of the short documentary «Saving Poros», which will be screened for the first time at the meeting. In the 9-minute documentary, which will be distributed worldwide through an organized communication campaign, Francesco De Augustinis* outlines the extent of the threat posed to Poros island by the expansion of industrial fish farming zone and presents revealing facts, footage and interviews, some of which were given by representatives of AVRAMAR aquaculture company.

* Francesco De Augustinis is a journalist – documentarist, specializing in independent research on issues related to global food crisis and environment. In addition, he has been involved in research on the industrial fish farming in Europe, Africa and South America, while he is the founder of the global Sustainability Communication Campaign One-Earth.it.

* Learn more about fish farming in Poros HERE.

Once again, POROSEA was successfully completed on the weekend of 27 & 28 May 2022. Since the first POROSEA in 2017, it has now become an established institution not only for Poros, but also for athletes participating in triathlon, aquathlon, swimming and running all over Greece. POROSEA, which was created based on the geographic advantages of our island, now has its own audience among people outside Poros as well as among local residents, attracting over 500 athletes each year, while adding value to the local economy and the sports at a local level.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank in particular the co-organizers of the races: the Region of Attica and the company Whynot, as well as: the Saronic Outdoor Activities, K.E. Poros, the P.D., the Port Authority, the Volunteer Fire Department, the Yacht Club of Poros, the sponsors and the dozens of local volunteers who are the key to the success of POROSEA. In addition, a special reference should be made to the main supporting members of the organization: Panos Rotas (Whynot), Spyros Rois (Saronic Outdoor Activities), Alexandros Dimitriadis (Municipal Port Organization), Christos Litsas and Tasos Papachristou (Deputy Mayors), Katerina Andreadi and Katerina Reizi (associates of the Mayor), and the volunteer doctors Manos Dritsas and George Keramidas.

This year, POROSEA races were dedicated to young Valeria, who is fighting her own battle to return healthy to Poros as soon as possible. You can find more information and support her HERE: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-valeria-and-her-falmily

Local Sponsors:
• ΑPΑΝΑ (cleaning contractor)
• Association of Traders and Professionals of Poros
• Dimitriadis Ioannis (Mayor)
• Dimitriadis Alexandros (President of the Municipal Port Organization)
• Ferry Joint Venture of Poros
• Porosnews
• Saronic Ferries
• Saronic Magazine
• Hellenic Seaways

Accommodation:
• Agyra Hotel
• Villa Avra
• Drossinos Studios
• Theodora Apartments
• Evita's Resort
• Kaikas
• Panorama Apartments
• Golden View
• New Aegli
• 7 brothers

Restaurants - Tavernas - Cafes:
• Allotino
• Askeli
• White Cat
• Vassilis
• Garden
• Colona
• Mouragio
• The Sailor
• Oasis
• Panorama
• Petros
• Platanos
• Poseidon
• Sti Rota
• Sofrano
• Spiliada
• Andreas Family
• Clock
• Dimitris Family
• Porto
• Primasera
• The old platanus
• Unique

The Municipality of Poros would like to inform you that, according to the provisions of Article 90 of Law No. 5036/2023 (Government Gazette 77/A), the following cases of debts can be settled:

• All types of debts to the Municipalities and their legal entities, which have fallen due after 1.11.2021 and until 1.2.2023, under specific conditions.
• Revival of debt settlements according to Articles 110 to 117 of Law No. 4611/2019 (Government Gazette 73/A) and the Articles 165 to 172 of Law No. 4764/2020 (Government Gazette 256/A) that were considered lost or non-performing by 1.2.2023.
• Debts that cannot be subject to a statutory instalment payment or the settlement of which is prohibited by other laws, cannot be included.

Conditions:
• Minimum instalment amount: 30€.
• Application deadline: έως 30.6.2023.
• Submission method: online at info@poros.gr or via poros.gr
• Number of instalments: 36 to 72 (differentiated interest rate).
• Electronic payment of instalments: the electronic payment code shall be provided when the instalment amount is issued.

Information: 22983 20519, 22983 20526 (Revenue Department and Cash Department of the Municipality of Poros).

As every year, during the days of POROSEA races, there will be emergency traffic restrictions for ALL vehicles in order to protect the athletes and ensure the proper conduct of the races. In particular:

• SATURDAY from 17:00 to 20:00:: throughout Sferia and from the Canal to the White Cat (roads will gradually open as soon as the last athletes have passed).
• SUNDAY from 07:45 to 13:00: throughout the entire island (roads will gradually open as soon as the last athletes have passed).
• SATURDAY at 12:00 to SUNDAY at 18:00: From the taxi stand to Solomonides Square.

All residents are kindly requested to respect the measures, while in case of major emergency you should contact the Police Station of Poros (22980 22462) and the Municipality on the emergency number 15303 or your travel agency if you are going to travel.

Please note that the Municipal Transport Service will operate on:
Saturday: 10:00 to 12:00
Sunday: 19:00 to 24:00

On Thursday 25.5.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:30 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

On 19.5.2023, our Municipality carried out a voluntary clean-up in cooperation with HELMEPA, TeamSeas, APANA and Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. The action, with 40 participants, took place on the northern coast of Poros, at Tsoutsoura beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, but also the most polluted one due to marine litter.

It is noted that since 2015 the Municipality of Poros has been organizing beach and seabed clean-ups every year, and this is the third time that the action has taken place on this particular beach. Now the beach looks remarkably better, since all the large, visible litter has been removed. However, countless smaller pieces of litter (straws, caps, etc.) and shredded plastic waste are still mixed in large concentrations with pebbles, seaweed and driftwood without being able to be removed.

Dozens of beaches (except Poros) located along the northern Aegean Sea currents are in the same situation. The aim of our Municipality’s systematic actions is not only to clean up such coastal areas, but also and above all to bring the problem to light and raise awareness among citizens and the State.

On Thursday 18.5.2023, the 3rd grade students of Poros High School performed a similar action with the assistance of the Municipality, removing the litter from the beach of Vagionia on the north side of the island.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank for their participation in these actions all the associated bodies, its personnel, its partners, the volunteers, the students and their teachers, as well as “La Frianderie” for the snack sponsorship.

POROS TRAILS, the network and official website of the hiking trails in Poros, is now ready and available to the residents and visitors of our Municipality.

These two projects have been completed in the last few months with 107,500€ funding from the Program Philodemos 2 and are the culmination of the most systematic effort of the Municipality to extend the tourism season, promote alternative forms of tourism and upgrade accessibility to forest areas for fire safety purposes. The hiking trails, with a total length of 40km, consist of 6 main routes in Sferia, Kalavria and Lemon Forest, which are thoroughly waymarked and cleared, while all relevant information (distance, time, difficulty level, overall guidance) can be found on the website porostrails.gr, in an application that users can download, as well as on maps distributed by the Municipality.

The network and the website of Poros hiking trails were presented at an event held on Monday 15.5.2022 by the Municipality of Poros together with the company that designed and executed the project, Paths of Greece, and the hiking group "We all walk together", after which they walked along the narrow streets of Sferia and the path of Ag. Anargyroi.

The 19th EAST MED YACHT SHOW 2023 that returned this year to the port of Poros, the place where it was born and established, was completed on Saturday 6 May 2023. About 100 yachts were exhibited at this year's Show, including some of the world’s most exhibited catamarans. Two new innovative features of the Exhibition were the participation of Municipality of Poros with its own stand and the further extension of the Exhibition to the south side of the port at the channel Poros-Galatas, due to lack of available space in the west side of the port.

The Mayor of Poros, Yiannis Dimitriadis, in his speech at the opening of the Exhibition, referred to the efforts made by the management bodies of small island ports (Municipal Port Organizations) and by the owners of chartered yachts to develop Marine Tourism, and called on the State to support these efforts. Furthermore, he contrasted the indifferent attitude of the State towards this sector, which accounts for about 1.5% of our country’s GDP, with the preferential treatment to the bankrupt fish farming industry, to which the national coastal area has been handed over by law, and declared that Poros should be immediately excepted from the areas planned for industrialized fish farming, otherwise a local uprising will be triggered.

It is noted that one more evidence of the State's indifference towards Marine Tourism was the fact that no government official attended the Exhibition, except for the Secretary General of Tourism Policy, Mrs. Olympia Anastasopoulou, who on the occasion of her visit to Poros held a working meeting with the municipal administration.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank the co-organizer of the Exhibition, the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association, its President Antonis Stelliatos, the event coordinator Barmpara Gavriil and all their associates for their excellent cooperation, the Region of Attica for its support, the executives and associates of the Municipal Port Organization and the Municipality, Poros Port Authority and Police Department, ΑΝΤ1 and the reporter Gina Stasinopoulou for covering the event, as well as the sponsors of the Municipality: Xenia-Poros Image, Golden View, Odyssey, Aegean Villas, Pavlou and Saron hotels, Maria Zenteli (graphic design support), Eleni Moraiti, Panos Skenderis, Babis Kanatsidis, Panos Loukopoulos (photos - drone).

The Municipality of Poros and the Social Co-operative Enterprise “Paths of Greece”, together with the hiking group "We all walk together", invite you to the presentation of hiking trails network in Poros as well as the website porostrails.gr on Monday 15 May 2023 at 18:00 in the afternoon at Syngrou building.

Two projects have been completed in the last few months with 107,500€ funding from the Program Philodemos 2 and are the culmination of the most systematic effort of the Municipality to extend the tourism season, promote alternative forms of tourism and upgrade accessibility to forest areas for fire safety purposes.

Right after this short presentation, we will walk through the narrow streets of Sferia to the path of Ag. Anargyroi and back to the Clock Tower with a view to the sunset of “Sleeping Beauty”!

Two new and very important fundings for our Municipality have been approved in the past period upon requests from our Municipality.
Specifically, it concerns the funding of 148,000€ for the lease of a desalination unit, which was approved by Decision of the Secretariat General for the Aegean and Insular Policy, as well as the emergency allocation of Central Independent Funds of 130,000€ for fire protection actions, which was approved by Decision of the Deputy Interior Minister.

With the first funding, our Municipality, by using at the same time 60,000 € from its own resources, intends to operate a desalination unit starting this summer, while with the second funding, it will assign emergency fire protection actions, as it was the case in summer 2022 after receiving an emergency funding.

In addition, it is noted that, by Decision of the General Secretary of Civil Protection, our Municipality, along with 59 more Municipalities of the country, was declared in a State of Special Mobilization for Civil Protection until 18.6.2023, enabling the process of direct assignment of all necessary actions.

The municipal administration of Poros would like to thank in particular the Deputy Interior Minister, Mr. St. Petsas, the Secretary General of the Aegean and Insular Policy, Mr. Emm. Koutoulakis, and the Secretary General of Civil Protection, Mr. V. Papageorgiou, for their prompt and timely response to the above-mentioned needs of the Municipality.

On Thursday 27.4.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:30 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

On the occasion of the 82nd anniversary of the death of the Prime Minister Alexandros Koryzis, who died on 18 April 1941 and came from Poros, the Municipality of Poros held a commemoration and wreath laying ceremony to honor his memory.

Alexandros Koryzis was born in Poros in 1885, studied law in Athens and was appointed Governor of the National Bank in 1939. On 29 January 1941, after the death of Ioannis Metaxas, he was appointed Prime Minister of Greece by King George II, and on 6 April of the same year he rejected the German ultimatum calling for the British forces to withdraw from Greece, declaring the second "NO" to the conquerors. A few days later, on Good Friday 18 April, he attended the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Tatoi, asking for a military government to be established. Then, upon his conversation with the King, he returned devastated to his house, where he was subsequently found dead. Although his death is caused by two bullets to the heart, it is recorded as a suicide.

The Municipality of Poros has honored Alexandros Koryzis by giving his name to the square where his family home is located. This house was donated by his children to the Greek State, and now houses the Archaeological Museum of Poros. In recent years, the Municipality of Poros has honored the death anniversary of Alexandros Koryzis by issuing Press Releases and, from this year onwards, it has established a commemoration and the laying of wreaths at his bust in the homonymous square.

The most important local government news of the last decades for Poros is now a fact, since on Monday 10.4.2023 the tender for the rehabilitation/reconstruction of the Sewage Treatment facilities was approved by unanimous decision of the Economic Committee. This is a landmark project with a budget of 16,473,490€, which addresses all problems related to the existing network and the sewage treatment facilities, while achieving their radical upgrade. This project is the largest in the history of the Municipality of Poros and the largest project of the “A. Tritsis” program for municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants.

The works of the Sewage Treatment facilities in Poros started in 1989 and were completed in 2008, through 5 separate contracts, while the network was constructed twice due to an initial failure. However, due to serious design, construction and management failures, these works have never operated properly, and in 2011 the Environmental Verifiers confirmed that these works were not operational. By 2014 the Municipality and the Region of Attica concealed the problem and awarded 5 additional contracts, some of which even led the Municipality to serious legal troubles.

The current municipal administration, already from the period 2011-2014 during which it was in opposition, has set as top priority to admit the problems and fully address them. Thus, upon assuming the administration of the Municipality (Sept. 2014), an expert opinion was immediately commissioned, indicating that the works should be re-executed, and then all the necessary technical, environmental and economic studies were provided as well as a well-founded claim was submitted for the funding of the radical reconstruction of the project. This excessive effort not only took years of planning and patience, but also sacrifice, since the Ministry of Interior exceptionally approved for our Municipality funding 30% higher than the ceiling of 12 million euros, corresponding to its population category for the "A. Tritsis" program, preventing project funding for other sectors.

The approval of the final funding was completed by a decision of the Deputy Prime Minister, St. Petsas, on 19.1.2023, and our Municipality immediately proceeded with all the necessary actions for the tender. According to the public procurement law, a period of approximately 6 months plus any pre-trial appeals is now required for starting the project, while, according to the Project Study, the contractor is required to complete the project within 2.5 years and operate it for another 3.5 years.

Key factors guaranteeing the success of the project:
• All individual infrastructures (plant, network and pumping stations of collection system in Spheria, pumping stations of the transmission system in Kalavria) are integrated into a single project, and specific experience criteria are set to participate in the tender. Thus, only the participation of large and reliable construction companies, the simultaneous execution of the works and their study and construction consistency are ensured.
• The project includes the extension of the network to “Sirocco” and “Sirene”, the process of tertiary sewage treatment and the construction of a transmission network to Fousa for irrigation and fire protection purposes.
• The Project Study, prepared by the Municipality's engineers with the support of specialized private consultants, was prepared without repeating the failures of previous studies, but by addressing any identified problem on its operation to date (deodorization, enclosure, crossing under the canal in Kanali, etc.).
• The tendering, supervision and acceptance of the project will be carried out by private engineers, who will support the Municipality through a Program Contract signed by the Municipality with the Cooperation Network of Municipalities of Attica Islands on 31.3.2023.

Casting call for the needs of the series about the life of LEONARD COHEN, which will be filmed in Hydra from mid-April to mid-June.

The port of Poros was awarded as the best port in the country managed by a Municipal Port Organization, according to a survey carried out among the members of the Greek Sailyacht Owners Association (PA.S.ID.I). Our port received 40% of the votes among 140 ports in the country and was ranked first among the ports under municipal administration, and second among all port - destinations of the entire coastline and islands of Greece, as the port of Linaria in Skyros (which is managed by a non-municipal port fund) was first and the port of Loutra in Kythnos took third place.

The above-mentioned ports and their management bodies were awarded by PA.S.ID.I. at an event held on 19.2.2023 at the facilities of the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club in Mikrolimano. The President of the Municipal Port Organization of Poros, Alexandros Dimitriadis, received the award and expressed his gratitude to the members of PA.S.ID.I. for their trust in the port of Poros, while he mentioned the institutional problems that all Municipal Port Funds face due to the anachronistic legislation regarding the operation of small island ports and the unwillingness of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to amend it as well as to enter into consultation with their management bodies. To address these problems, there was an agreement for cooperation between the Port Funds and PA.S.ID.I., which is, based on its activity and knowledge, one of the most significant management bodies in the Greek yachting sector.

This award, as well as the record of 18,000 arrivals in 2022, further demonstrates the great progress that has been made in recent years in terms of infrastructure and service development in the port of Poros, which, with its large number of visitors for more than 6 months per year, proves to be a major pillar of the local economy.

The government MPs of Piraeus & Islands continue to show their disregard to the residents and the Municipality of Poros, since none of them attended the open discussion organized by the Municipality on Sunday 26.3.2023, aiming to seek solutions to the longstanding problems in the sectors of 1) health, 2) sports, 3) fire protection and 4) fish farming. This is the third time in the last year that the MPs have not responded to the call of the Municipality to discuss the serious issues of the island that fall under the competence of the Central Government (only Mr. Chr. Boutsikakis was present on 21.5.2022), while no response was given either regarding the Municipal Council’s Resolution dated 15.12.2022 on the above issues (Decision 108/2022) or in a series of letters sent by the Municipality to the competent Ministries.

Despite this attitude, Mayor Yiannis Dimitriades invited the MPs to a meeting again, following the public announcement by the Prime Minister on 9.3.2023 after the accident in Tempe, calling on government officials "to participate in public dialogue, not to hide themselves, to show empathy, to respond to the high expectations of citizens, to fight the dark state of anachronism, the established mindsets, petty politics and irresponsible behavior." However, once again our MPs have not shown any interest. Nevertheless, at the same time, some people do not miss the opportunity to come to the area in order to participate in events, celebrations and engage in petty politics, while others have rarely passed through the area anyway.

The municipal administration of Poros, apart from exercising the responsibilities that the Municipalities have by law, continues to fight the problems that fall exclusively under the competence of the Central Government, rather than sweep their causes under the carpet as has been the case for decades: It is the Ministry of Health that does not appoint doctors in Poros letting the local facilities operate like the railway station of the Hellenic Railways Organization; it is the Ministry of Education that keeps our school units without teachers until January; it is the Ministry of Civil Protection that does not establish a Seasonal Fire Brigade on the island (but did establish one in 80 other areas); it is the Ministry of Environment that has prepared the Presidential Decree for the conversion of Poros into an industrial fish farm zone. And the government MPs are the ones who support the government with their votes and have failed to prevent all the above!

If our MPs do not perceive it as their obligation to take actions in order to resolve the above issues, then what do they perceive as their obligations? Why are they seeking our vote and what are they promising us in order to get it?
Who among the voters that really care about the welfare of the country can reward MPs who have achieved no result and made no effort as well as give them the authority to continue in the same way?

On Thursday 30.3.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:30 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr  or call:  2109215000.

The Municipal Council of Poros, by unanimous Decision dated 21.3.2023, has asked the State to grant the use of K.E. Poros Camp through a Program Contract. According to the Decision, the Municipality also requests the modification of the boundaries of the designated "Naval Fortress" Camp, so that the contested sport grounds (east of Papadopoulou Avenue) are located outside its boundaries, and thus this request is legally feasible.

In particular, the Municipality requests that the use of the entire eastern area of the Camp, except for the residential building and the beach, should be under its management, in order to conduct studies and funding regarding the construction and/or restoration of the football field, the grandstand and changing rooms, the indoor basketball/volleyball court, the tartan track, outdoor basketball/volleyball court, the tennis court and other athletic facilities, as well as to undertake their maintenance. In addition, the Municipality requests to make the southwestern part of the above-mentioned area public for the construction of a traffic junction, to maintain the boathouse and the depot in the west side, to grant the infrastructure at Monastiri and Mikro Nerio beaches and the water tank in Vrysoula, and to agree on a "masterplan" study for the regeneration of the wider area of Kanali. In return, the Municipality will maintain the Camp's water charges at 75% of scale A of the domestic tariff for consumption up to 6,660 cubic meters per quarter, and at scale B for consumption over 6,660 cubic meters (ensuring annual savings of 100,000€ for the Camp in the future). Finally, in case the request for the granting of the facilities is rejected, the Municipality asks the Government to create sports facilities in the coastal accretions of the area of Ag. Stefanos, as provided by the Royal Decree 106/1972 (Government Gazette 29/A), which was not implemented due to the informal nature of the agreement for the use of K.E. Poros Camp by the Municipality.

Key factors in formulating and unanimously adopting the relevant proposal of Mayor Yiannis Dimitriadis, were the interventions of the political parties "Greek Solution" and "MeRA25" in the Parliament, the response of the Minister for National Defense Mr. N. Panagiotopoulos, who clarified that the modification of the boundaries of the “Naval Fortress” is a prerequisite for the approval of the granting, as well as the statement of the Attica Region's Governor, Mr. G. Patoulis, that the Attica Region can only finance the restoration and construction of these facilities if the Hellenic Navy has previously concluded a Program Contract with the Municipality. Finally, the opinion of the head of the minority party and former mayor, Mr. D. Stratigos, was decisive in achieving a unanimous agreement, as it altered the view of the three independent councilors who were opposed to the proposal up to the time of the vote.

On 14.3.2023, the Mayor of Poros Yiannis Dimitriadis, sent the following letter to the government MPs of Piraeus A & Islands, P. Dounia and K. Katsafados, N. Manolakos, I. Melas and Chr. Boutsikakis, with notification to the Prime Minister's Office:

“Honorable Members of Parliament,

Following the letters regarding your "inability" so far to respond to our Municipality’s calls to discuss the serious long-term issues, which concern our region (health, sports, civil protection, fish farming - environment - tourism) and fall under State responsibility, as well as your choice to disregard not only what the Municipal Council of Poros has addressed to you by unanimous Resolutions, but also what I have addressed to you by a series of letters, I would like to share with you the following thoughts:

I read with great interest the Prime Minister's speech to the Ministerial Council following the tragedy in Tempe, in the context of which he stated the following: “We have the duty to leave behind the system that … we want to change drastically …we cope with the high expectations that citizens have of us…it is a battle which should intensify …a war with the dark state of anachronism…which …gets …various political colors, but it remains deeply rooted, because it has been built over decades on established mindsets,, on systemic inaction, on petty politics and, unfortunately, on irresponsible behavior...It is the ailing state that I am asking you to overthrow …Now or never for the rebirth of the whole country … trying harder and with greater determination, faster, more efficiently, starting immediately …You should show empathy ...and everyone should participate in the public dialogue,some people should not hide themselves”.

I believe that no one could disagree with the above-mentioned statements and, furthermore, I would like to believe that they are sincere and express the real expectations of the Prime Minister. So, I ask you, whether you, as representatives of Poros in the Hellenic Parliament, consider putting these mandates into practice. For example, by coming to our region (those of you who actually come) only for party meetings and celebrations but not to deal with our problems, do you feel that you are fighting against the established mindsets and petty politics? Do you think that by not taking action to resolve the region’s problems (those who are aware of them) and disregarding the Municipality's calls for institutional dialogue, you meet the high expectations that citizens have of you? Is this approach in line with the responsible behavior that would overthrow the state of anachronism and rebirth the country or with the irresponsible behavior that the Prime Minister has ordered to be suppressed?

Are you proud of how our region's health infrastructure operates (conditions that do not really differ from those of the HELLENIC TRAIN stations) or of the public statement made by the Regional Commander of the Fire Department (Minutes of the Civil Protection Coordination Body on 20.4.2022) that the selection of the areas where Seasonal Fire Brigades operate, was based solely on political criteria without consulting the Fire Brigade? Do you think it is right that over three years there has been no official response to the unanimous requests of a local community to be excluded from industrialization plans, or no response to dozens of documents in which the Mayor of an island asks when and how the local public health clinic operates, or asks for sports facilities for the youth of the island?

Based on the above concerns and accepting on my part the Prime Minister’s message, I would like to invite you to a new open discussion on Sunday 26.3.2023 at 17:00 in the hall of Syngrou building, in order to mark, at the local level of the Municipality of Poros, the beginning of all that the Prime Minister requested and the citizens are demanding.

Sincerely, the Mayor of Poros Yiannis Dimitriadis”.

This year, after the pandemic interruption, the carnival events in Poros were repeated with a four-day feast. The events began on Friday morning with the carnival of the Primary Schools in Karamanou Square and, then, continued on Saturday with the upgraded "Lost Treasure Hunt", which this year included new elements, such as competitions for children in the morning and carnival events in the afternoon (masquerade parade and costume contest). At the same time, the treasure hunt was combined with the other events of the Municipality as well as with the carnival party on Saturday night with the concert of the amazing Walkman the Band. The treasure hunt continued on Sunday with puzzle solving and was completed at noon in Pounta, where in the meantime the traditional feast of the Municipality had been set up and hundreds of residents and visitors of the island enjoyed the rhythm of the violin and the songs of Nikos Chatzopoulos. The events were completed on Clean Monday with the children's masquerade party in Kapodistrias Square.

Following a methodical and consistent approach, Poros not only provides its residents with quality entertainment events during Carnival and Christmas, but is also established as a destination during these periods for specific types of visitors (holidaymakers, residents of neighboring municipalities), a fact that is now evident from the increased number of arrivals -compared to the visitors of this period- and the occupation rate of the businesses that are open.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank for their contribution to the success of the four-day event:

• The Region of Attica for bearing the cost of the concert of Walkman the Band.
• The Police Department and the Port Authority of Poros for their contribution to the needs regarding the increased traffic.
• The members of the Organizing Committee of the “Lost Treasure Hunt”: Litsas Christos, Tzanetopoulou Chrysa, Andreadi Aikaterini, Zenteli Maria, Kanatsidi Anna, Kanatsidis Bampis, Kapeta Rania, Louzi Eleni, Makri Sofia, Baikousis Petros, Papadopoulou-Beri Christina, Papathymiopoulos Vangelis and Rantou Maria, and the physical education teachers of the schools in Poros, Anastasia Gelali, Giorgos Kounios, Giorgos Beris and Vaso Trasani.
• Meria Zenteli (graphic design), Bampis Kanatsidis (photography), Eleni Moraiti (photography) and Nikos Souchlas (DJ).
• The executives of the Municipality and the cooperating contractors who supported the out-of-hours events.
• The small and big sponsors of the events.

✔ Big Sponsors
✔ Κ.Ε. Poros
✔ APANA / cleaning services company
✔ Varvarou Maria / microbiological clinic
✔ Dimitriadis Yiannis / Mayor of Poros
✔ Dimitriadis Giorgos / «Rota»
✔ Doskaris Kostas / Perlia Rooms
✔ Kaikas Andreas / “White Cat”
✔ Komninos Makis / “Mouragio”
✔ Mitsopoulos Sakis / “Oasis”
✔ Sklaveniti Mania

✔ Gold Sponsors
✔ Sofrano
✔ Grande
✔ Geia mas
✔ Signora boutique
✔ Unique
✔ Katheti
✔ Passaggio
✔ Ev. Mellos / gas station
✔ Allotino
✔ 7 Brothers
✔ anonymous

✔ Sponsors
✔ Clock
✔ Blue
✔ Perel
✔ Mastropetros Grigoris
✔ anonymous
✔ Dagklis / tradicional martzipan
✔ Kanatsidi Sissy / Pharmacy
✔ Porto
✔ Poros Beauty Center
✔ Meraki
✔ Vasilis
✔ Spiliada
✔ Prima Sera

By its unanimous Decision on 13.2.2023, the Municipal Council of Poros has approved to give the Municipality’s multipurpose building the name of the doctor and humanitarian, Theophilos Rosenberg, who passed away on 18 February 2021.

Below is the relevant proposal of the Mayor of Poros Yiannis Dimitriadis:

“Dear councilors,

Dr. Theophilos Rosenberg, who passed away on 18.2.2021 at the age of 73, was one of the most important figures internationally in the fields of humanitarianism, solidarity and international civil society. As a pioneer in surgery, through his work at the General Hospital “Laiko” and the University of Athens, introduced technological innovations in Greece, such as laparoscopic surgery. In addition, as he worked beyond the geographical boundaries of our country, he became a pioneer in humanitarian medicine, introducing it as a scientific subject in Greece. Born into a family with a long tradition in the field of medicine, he perceived medicine as a way of life. He fought for the defense of a fair and universal health care system and the protection of human rights, while, at the same time, he expanded the scope of medical care towards the emotional support of the patient.

In 1990, he founded the organization “Doctors of the World” and served as its president for many years. As part of the Organization’s missions, he traveled to war, disaster and pandemic areas in Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America, Kurdistan, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Palestine, Ethiopia, Kosovo, Darfur, Haiti, where he rescued and treated hundreds of wounded and sick people, regardless of their race, religion or political views. He performed surgeries inside tents, set up facilities in disaster areas and, before leaving, tried to ensure that facilities such as clinics and schools were in place, training the local staff to operate them. But also in Greece, in 1995, the Doctors of the World founded the Open Polyclinic to provide medical care to people who need it but do not have access to the health care system.

At the same time, T. Rosenberg turned his experience into scientific knowledge and passed it on. He created a postgraduate program at the University entitled International Medicine - Health Crisis Management, enabling students to travel to Tanzania and be trained in a tropical disease hospital treating diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. This postgraduate course introduced, for the first time, the concept of medicine of scarce resources, which refers to the way medicine is practiced in extreme conditions of lack of infrastructure and staff, while developed programs to provide medical and psychosocial support on the street (street works). Alongside his academic career, T. Rosenberg also served as president of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2016 to 2019.

One of the most significant virtues that characterized T. Rosenberg was modesty, because of which the recognition of his great contribution was mainly limited to medical, academic and humanitarian circles. For the same reason, the fact that this great man had a family residence in Poros, a place he loved and visited constantly throughout his life, is probably not widely known to the society of Poros. Or, for the same reason, those who knew T. Rosenberg as a resident of Poros may not be aware of the full extent of his remarkable work. However, there are many residents of the island to whom he provided care as a doctor or for whom he intervened in order to get the care they needed from the public health system.

In order to recognize the exemplary career and contribution of T. Rosenberg, and also to make it widely known on our island, we believe that our Municipality should associate its name with a place related to the wider ideals of contribution and assistance to the fellow human beings; such a place is the multi-purpose building of our Municipality. It is a building of 2.660sq.m., which was erected in 2006, after being granted to the Municipality in 1992 by the Hellenic Public Real Estate Corporation, in order to operate a municipal nursing home. However, the Municipality never managed to establish a nursing home and, thus, the building was mainly unused until 2014, except for the basement which was used as the Municipality's warehouse, and a part of the ground floor which was used as one of the two Kindergartens of the island. Since 2014, with successive resolutions of the Municipal Council, the building was also approved to be used as: (1) the 2 nd Kindergarten, (2) Multipurpose Regional Clinic, (3) Volunteer Fire Brigade, (4) municipal Physiotherapy Centre, (5) Social Pharmacy, (6) Social Grocery, (7) Public Services Office. Thus, today this property is one of the most critical elements of the island's urban fabric, housing the most critical services that promote public health, social welfare, civil protection and volunteerism. It should be noted that the Municipality has already informed the Hellenic Public Properties Company (HPPC) since 2016 regarding the actual change of use of the building, and has systematically sought the full granting of the property as well as the approval/settlement of its use.

Following the above, I propose to the Municipal Council to adopt a Decision approving:

1. The name 'Theophilos Rosenberg' of the multi-purpose building.
2. The organization of an event for the naming of the building, during which the life and work of Theophilos Rosenberg will be presented".

By its unanimous Decision on 13.2.2023, the Municipal Council of Poros has approved to give the event hall of the Junior High School and the 2 nd Primary School the name of the principal and philologist Vasiliki Kogioni, who passed away on 5.11.2020.

Below is the relevant proposal of the Mayor of Poros Yiannis Dimitriadis:

“Vasiliki Kogioni was born in 1963 in Nafplio and, after graduating from the Faculty of Philosophy, she worked as a teacher in schools in Argolida, Rhodes and Kythera. In 1992 she was appointed philologist at the Junior High School of Poros. As a friendly, cooperative, patient and giving person, dedicated to the needs of the children with constant concern for them, she joined the social, intellectual and cultural life of the island in a very smooth and normal way. She married George Dimitriadis, a local businessman and theology graduate, and they had three boys.

In 2006 she was appointed Deputy Principal and in 2007 Principal of our High School, a position she held until her early death. This position enabled her to bring her virtues to the highest level. Under her guidance, the High School of Poros expanded its boundaries and gained extroversion, while the school community gained unity and developed significant interactions. She attended many seminars and training workshops, while the school participated in educational and environmental programs, as well as programs on recycling and coastal clean-up, health education, nutrition and exercise, and in actions against bullying, in inter-school music events, etc. In addition, theatrical performances and cultural events were organized, twinning of High School of Poros with the School of Princes’ Islands as well as cooperation with the High School of Varvakios were established, and also the high school choir participated in the competition of Karditsa and in the international choir competition in Castellamare di Stabia, Italy, where it won the first place. At the same time, Vaso Kogioni was present through the power of her speech and the notes of her piano in significant activities of the Municipality of Poros, the Municipal Library and the Associations of our island.

The idea of honoring Vaso Kogioni for her contribution to the education and culture of our region has been for the last two years on the minds of all those who have worked with her, and I consider that the Municipal Council has an obligation to adopt the relevant decisions. In my view, there is no better way to ensure that the name of V. Kogioni will be associated forever with all positive actions in the fields of education and culture and will be an example for new generations, than to give her name to the hall of the Junior High School and the 2 nd Primary School of Poros. The same hall in which she developed significant action and which was significantly improved in 2016, mainly through her own determination and personal interest.

Finally, I would like to thank the teacher Mr. Bampis Andrianopoulos for his contribution to the completion of the proposal and the preparation of the above text.

Following the above, I propose to the Municipal Council to adopt a Decision approving:

1. The name "Vasiliki Kogioni Event Hall" of the event hall of the Junior High School and the 2 nd Primary School of Poros.
2. The organization of an event for the naming of the hall, during which the life and work of Vasiliki Kogioni will be presented".

The Municipality of Poros, within its capacity to develop educational and cultural activities, is starting creative activities sections and courses for adults and children. The courses will be free of charge and will be conducted by citizens who teach within their areas of expertise, while the exact days and hours of the courses will be determined after all applications for participation have been submitted.

The sections that are going to begin are the following:

Only for adults:
• Dance (Greek) – Christos Litsas, Maria Rantou
• Piano – Evelina Papadopoulou
• Cooking & pastry – Chrysa Tzanetopoulou
• Art workshops - Mara Dimopoulou

Section for children:
• Storytelling / theatrical events – Maira Drougka, Maria Zenteli, Kelly Karystinou, Maria Maroulaki, Matoula Panou and Maria Rantou.

Those who are interested in attending one or more of the above courses, can submit their participation to Deputy Mayor Mrs. Evelina Papadopoulou (mob.: 698 8215520), by e-mail: info@poros.gr or by calling the Municipality at 2298320512 (10:00-14:00).

The Municipality of Poros, in cooperation with the Region of Attica, the Regional Union of Attica Municipalities, the Medical Association of Athens and "Oloi Mazi Boroume" (“Together we can”-Skai), organizes humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims of Turkey and Syria, on Monday 13 February 2023 from 10:00 to 16:00 at Syngrou building.

The Municipality calls on the residents of our region to offer essential items from those listed below, which will be transferred from our Municipality to storage facilities of the Peace and Friendship Stadium, and then sent immediately to the earthquake-stricken regions, according to the instructions of the embassies of Turkey and Syria.

List of Items:
• Winter clothes for adults & children: coats, jackets, raincoat, blouses, shirts, trousers, boots, rainboots, gloves, scarves, caps, socks, underwear.
• Long-life food, canned food and baby food.
• Equipment: tents, beds, sleeping bags, tent mattresses, new blankets, gas heaters, heaters, vacuum flasks, hand-lamps, powerbanks, generators.
• Hygiene items, diapers, sanitary napkins.
• Medical supplies: medical gauzes and bandages, elastic bandages, IV cannula, syringes with needles, heated blankets, painkillers.

*Photo source: ATHENS-MACEDONIAN NEWS AGENCY

On Thursday 9.2.2023, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

On Tuesday 31.1.2023, the Mayor of Poros Yiannis Dimitriadis and the Regional Governor of Attica Giorgos Patoulis signed the Program Contract for the Study of the map-making and correction of the planning for the traditional Settlement of Poros, funded by the Region of Attica.

With this funding of 500,000€, requested by the Municipality of Poros on 12.12.2017 and included by the Region in its 2020 Budget, the Municipality of Poros will launch a tender regarding the preparation of a Study of map- making on a modern topographic base and correction of the current Settlement planning. This Study paves the way for addressing a number of problems caused by the inaccurate topographic base, on which the settlement planning was applied in 1997, and, furthermore, enables the Municipality to proceed with the flagship project planned for the arrangement of all underground networks (separation of combined sewers, replacement of water supply and sewerage networks, undergrounding of power and telecommunication cables) and the development - regeneration of all public spaces of the Settlement.

This is the first Program Contract between the Municipality and the Region signed under the present local government, while there is a pending funding for three more Studies (arrangement of underground networks – 575,015 €, elimination of the danger of the slopes at Stavros – 65,000 €, reconstruction of Sygrou building – 30,000€), for which Mr. Patoulis assured that the Program Contracts will be signed in the near future.

During the meeting, which was also attended by the new Vice-Governor of the Islands Stavros Voidonikolas, the Regional Governor also informed the Mayor of Poros that within this year the claim of the municipalities of Attica Islands, under the guidance of the Municipality of Poros, regarding major reductions in the landfill fee at Fili Landfil, will be satisfied, in return for the huge transport costs they are obliged to cover under the Regional Waste Management Plan (daily transport to Attica). Finally, Mr. Patoulis reiterated, both privately and in a public statement, that the Region fully supports the Municipality against the establishment of an Area of Organized Aquaculture Development in Poros.

For his part, Yiannis Dimitriadis, reiterated that the above assurances of Mr. Patoulis fully satisfy the Municipality of Poros and that their implementation will be the one to mark the successful cooperation between the Municipality and the Region for the period 2019-2023.

On 26.1.2023, the Municipal Council of Poros approved the Municipality's budget for 2023 (1st mandatory budget revision), which reaches a record amount of 30,732,023.73€. This is the 9th consecutive year that the municipal budget has increased (from 24.3€ million in 2022), achieving high records every year (starting from 4.6€ million in 2014). The budget includes the landmark project for the rehabilitation of Sewage Treatment facilities (16,473,490€), the integration of new fundings, such as funding for the improvement of road safety (2,752,183€) and Settlement planning (499,963€), and a list of executed and tendered projects, such as the asphalt-paving in Pergari and Mistretsi (remaining budget of 616,264€), the installation of telemetry hydrometers (remaining budget of 591,745€) and the landscaping of the plot in front of Poros High School (225,000€).

In total, the budget includes 16 projects, 4 studies and 50 services and supplies of high importance, while in the context of the approval of Technical Program 2023, there has been a presentation of the additional programming of 25 major projects, for which a funding request has been submitted, 18 projects, for which funding is sought, and the report of 26 projects and important actions completed in the three-year period 2020-2022 at a total cost of 2.1€ million.

It should be noted that only the members of the majority and minority parties voted on the Technical Program and the Budget, while the three independent councilors voted 'No' to approve the first (which is, by law, an invalid vote if not accompanied by an alternative proposal) and 'Present' to approve the second.

See the meeting here:
Συνεδρίαση Δημοτικού Συμβουλίου Δήμου Πόρου - 26 Ιανουαρίου 2023 - YouTube

*Video recordings of the Municipal Council meetings are posted on the Municipality's YouTube page and poros.gr

The Municipalities of Poros, Aegina and Troizinia-Methana are trying to put an end to all these years of injustice due to the financial burden caused by their obligation to transport their waste daily to Fili, by appealing against the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica (E.D.S.N.A.) to the Council of State. The above-mentioned Municipalities submitted appeals to the Council of State against EDSNA's Pricing Policy for 2022 upon its refusal to take on this unbearable cost, while the Municipalities of Agistri and Spetses also consider acting in a similar way.

As it is known, since 2010 the municipalities of Islands in Attica Region are obliged by the Regional Waste Management Plan (PESDA) of Attica to transport their waste daily to Fili Landfill, taking a financial burden much higher than the other municipalities of the Region (but also of the country). The same provisions are also reflected in the forthcoming 3rd revision of the PESDA,, according to which the disposal site for the islands’ waste will be even further (Schisto). According thereto, the 5 Municipalities mentioned above will be the only ones among 66 Municipalities of Attica to remain obliged to deliver their waste at such a long distance from their territory.

Obviously, the huge cost to these municipalities caused by this obligation eliminates every opportunity for them to develop "modern" cleaning actions (separation of waste at source, separate recycling and biowaste flows, recycling points, green points, etc.), as all the available resources from municipal taxes are being exhausted, thus making paid cleaning services deficient. Of course, this practice is in direct conflict with the constitutional principle of equality, as well as with the principles governing waste management (waste management hierarchy, self-sufficiency and proximity of recovery of waste, "polluter pays", etc.).

For the reasons mentioned above, the municipalities of Attica Islands have been consistently addressing in recent years to the Region (to which EDSNA belongs), the Ministry of Environment and local MPs, demanding fair treatment and proportional exemption from the landfill fee, without getting any response to date. For all the above reasons, none of the Municipal Councils of the municipalities in question has given a positive opinion on the 3rd revision of the PEDSPA, which was recently discussed in the Regional Council of Attica, while the Municipal Council of Poros sent a detailed negative opinion..

Upon completion of significant developments in 2022, a new year begins for the Municipality of Poros. In particular:

• On 5.1.2023 the competent Committee of the Ministry of Interior approved the request of our Municipality to increase the already approved funding for the rehabilitation project of the Wastewater Treatment facility from 13,286,350€ to 16,473,490€ due to the energy crisis. At the same time, our Municipality approved the Program Contract with the Cooperation Network of Municipalities of Attica Islands for the tendering and supervision of the project, and the approval of the Court of Auditors is now expected so that the tender regarding the largest and most critical project in its history can begin.

• The funding from the Recovery Fund for the project of asphalt-paving and road safety improvements of the island with a budget of 2,752,183€ was approved by Joint Decision of the Ministers of Interior and Finance published on 23.12.2022.

• The project for the landscaping of the plot in front of Poros High School with a budget of 225,000€ was awarded through negotiation and its execution is starting, with a funding of 163,194€ from the Green Fund and 61,805€ from the Municipality's financial resources.

• The three-party Program Contract between the Municipality of Poros, the Municipal Port Fund of Poros and the Cooperation Network of Municipalities of Attica Islands was signed to finalize the architectural Study on the regeneration of Pounda, with a budget of 124,605€,, funded by the Municipal Port Fund of Poros.

• The tender for the purchase of one aerial platform truck with a budget of 115,000€ was conducted, with a funding of 62,600€ from Philodemos Program and 52,400€ from the Municipality's financial resources.

• The tender for the energy upgrade of Chatzopouleios Library with a budget of 112,000€ was conducted, with a funding of 100,000€ from Attica Regional Operational Program (NSRF) and 12,000€ from the Municipality's financial resources.

• The tender for the procurement of electric mopeds with a budget of 247,816€ was conducted, funded by NSRF.

• The project of cleaning, improvement and marking of the hiking trails in Poros with a budget of 92,400€ was completed, and the promotional service (website, maps) with a budget of 13,500€ was awarded, funded by Philodemos 2 Program.

• The restoration project of the Cemetery building with a budget of 31,840€ was completed, which was executed with the Municipality's financial resources, while the contract for the cleaning and restoration of the Cemetery is about to begin.

• On 23.12.2022 and 27.12.2022 the Deputy Minister of Interior approved by Decision two fundings for our Municipality of a total amount of 8,000€ for management actions relating to stray animals..

We would like to inform you that on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, a two-day voluntary blood donation of the Blood Bank of our municipality will take place in the event venue of Sygrou building, from 08:30 to 14:30.

It is noted that the blood donation will be carried out in compliance with all protective measures, which are indicated by the Greek National Center for Blood Donation (EKEA) and the National Public Health Organization (NPHO).

On Sunday 8.1.2023, the Mayor Yiannis Dimitriadis announced to the Municipal Council of Poros the latest changes in the duties of the members of the municipal authority during the current period. In particular, Dina Moschogianni - Karamani, is appointed as the new Deputy Mayor, responsible for supervising the Directorates of Financial and Administrative Services of the Municipality, while the Deputy Mayor Evelina Papadopoulou takes over the supervision of the Social Services (Help at Home, Physiotherapy Centre, Kindergarten, Child Creativity Centre) and the Tourism Sector. Christina Roi,, who has been Deputy Mayor from February 2020 to date, is appointed as a delegated councilor, responsible for supervising the Social Grocery and the Social Pharmacy, blood donation and health promotion actions, as well as the Sector for Stray Animals, while Eleni Kanatsidi was elected Secretary of the Municipal Council. Finally, Tasos Papachristou,, who is responsible for the Technical Works and Water Supply - Sewerage sectors, and Christos Litsas, who is responsible for the Cleaning sector, are still Deputy Mayors of Technical Services.

On Thursday 12.1.2023, the first of the year visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr  or call:  2109215000.

Attica Group (Hellenic Seaways), in response to the request of the Municipality of Poros, announced that every Tuesday throughout 2023 (except Holy Tuesday and Easter Tuesday), as well as every Thursday from 1.1.2023 to 30.6.2023 (except Holy Thursday) and from 1.9.2023 to 31.12.2023, will issue tickets with a 50% discount to all residents of the Municipalities of Poros and Troizinia-Methana for the first morning route from Poros to Piraeus and for the last route from Piraeus to Poros.

The discount will be provided:
· If the transport equivalent is not used.
· If permanent residence is proven by a certificate issued by the Municipality or Taxisnet (demonstrated when issuing tickets and before boarding).
· If the reservation is made 3 days in advance.
· Only by the travel agency in Piraeus (Gelasakis Shipping & Travel Center, tel. 210 4222440) and the agency of Poros (Marinos Tours, tel. 22980 22297 - 22980 22977).

The Municipality of Poros expresses its gratitude to ATTICA GROUP for its significant contribution and its response to our request.

As every year, during the Christmas season, the Municipality of Poros distributes food and essentials to our fellow citizens in need. In particular, through the Social Grocery, food packages were distributed to 80 families of our fellow citizens, while through the Social Services more packages were distributed to 93 more families. In addition to the expenses of the Municipality to provide these items, as well as the sponsorships of the members of the municipal authority, the provision of these rich food packages to so many of our fellow citizens is also due to the following sponsors, to whom we are very grateful:

• Super Market ANEDIK KRITIKOS S.A.
• Avgerinos – Citrus fruit
• Georgousis Group - Colona Βakery
• Galountzis - Bakery
• Church St. George
• Κανατσίδης Νικόλαος – Ζαχαροπλαστείο «Γλύκισμα»
• Mavrokordatos Athanasios & Konstantinou Zoumpoulia
• Skai – «Together we can» (Oloi Mazi Boroume)
• Sklavenitis Group
• Charity Fund of Church St. George
• Coca Cola 3E
• Lidl Hellas
• McCallum Dennis & Frances

In accordance with the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network (HEDNO), we inform you that on Wednesday 21.12.2022 there will be a power outage throughout the island of Poros from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning, while in the areas from the Cemetery to Askeli, Monastery and the Temple of Poseidon the outage will last until 15:00 at noon.

Upon recommendation of the mayor of Poros, Yiannis Dimitriadis, the Municipal Council of Poros, at its meeting on 15.12.2022, approved the following Resolution regarding the long-standing deficiencies of our region in key areas of the Central Government competence:

1. Claims and demands that the Central Government and the Government in power treat the residents of Poros equally and respect the constitutional requirements of equality of citizens (a.4) and concern for the development of islands (a.101), which are severely violated with regard to the provision of basic goods in health, education and security sectors.

2. Expresses the following demands to the Government and its local MPs, as well as to all parties that will seek the vote of the residents of Poros in the upcoming national elections:
a) Provision of minimum primary health benefits by ensuring the proper and transparent operation of the Multipurpose Regional Medical Center of Poros and in particular: i) Informing the citizens and the local authorities about the Medical Center’s operation; its transparent operation (operating hours, personnel, telephones and e-mails), ii) its independent operation (prohibition on assigning its staff shifts to the Health Center of Galata), iii) 24-hour on-call service in emergency cases notified by the local authorities, iv) use of the Municipality’s ambulances by the doctors of Medical and Health Center in case of emergencies, v) notice of 5 vacant posts at the Regional Medical Center. The Municipality undertakes to provide residence/meal allowance to the recruited staff of the Multipurpose Medical Center, provided that no vacancy is to be filled in Galatas Health Center.
b) Provision of Sports Facilities and in particular provision of KE Poros Camp sports facilities by a Programme Contract to the Municipality, in order to undertake the responsibility for their restoration, maintenance and management, or, otherwise, permitting and financing the construction of sports facilities provided for in R.D. 106/1972 (GG 29 A) on the seashore area of Ag. Stefanos.
c) Immediate establishment of a Seasonal Fire Brigade on the island of Poros.
d) Immediate filling of vacant posts at the Junior High School of Poros companied by institutional safeguards that there will be no vacancies in the island’s schools after the start of the school year.
e) Immediate filling of vacant posts in the Police Department of Poros.
f) Immediate exemption of Poros from the areas where industrial zones will be created – fish farms.

3. Invites local government MPs to have an open discussion on the above issues with the members of the Municipal Council and the citizens of Poros, as well as to commit themselves to their actions and the actions of the Government. More specifically, he invites them to inform the Municipality of the date and time when each of them may come to Poros to participate in such a meeting and stresses that their regular presence in our area is necessary in order to be informed, discuss and commit themselves to the issues that concern the Municipality and the society. But, if they fail to meet their obligations, they are no longer welcome to come to our region only for etiquette and election purposes.

4. Especially on the issue of fish farms, it is stated that if the exemption of Poros from the areas where fish farms are to be established has not been announced by the announcement of the national elections, the Municipal Council will take a new decision calling on residents to abstain from voting, and will conduct a communication campaign indicating their dissatisfaction and indignation to all parties that have governed in the last decades and have been responsible for this planning.

It is noted that, despite the gravity of the above issues, the meeting was attended only by members of the majority party, the independent municipal councilor K. Gkion, and the head of the minority party D. Stratigos, who voted against the Resolution stating that he disagrees with its content.

See the Decision HERE: 6ΧΖΚΩΞΝ-ΥΩ4 (diavgeia.gov.gr)

Tomorrow, Thursday 8.12.2022, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

Not even one of the 5 government MPs responded to the invitation of the Municipality of Poros to discuss the issues of health, sports, fire protection and fish farming at the meeting held -eventually only in the presence of the citizens- on Saturday 3 December at the Syngrou building in Poros.

This is the second time that the government MPs of the region do not respond to the call of the Municipality in order to discuss the serious issues regarding the island, which fall under the competence of the Government (in a similar open discussion on 21.5.2022 on the issue of fish farming, Mr. Boutsikakis was the only one who was present). In addition, Mayor Yiannis Dimitriadis sent a letter to the government MPs on 12.5.2022, referring to the same crucial problems and asking for their intervention, as well as two letters dated 25.5.2022 and 30.5.2022, requesting for their support on the issue of fish farming. As the MPs did not reply to any of these letters, the Mayor organized this meeting, to which he invited them a month earlier, setting its agenda and exact time (16:00 to enable them to go to the island on the same day). It is noted that on both occasions, Mr. Katsafados and Mr. Manolakos sent letters, notifying us that they could not attend the meeting due to commitments and expressed their support for the Municipality’s views.

It is clear that being unable to attend a meeting due to commitments could be accepted and respected. However, a repeated and mass coincidence is no longer a coincidence. It is obvious that the choice of municipal authority not to sweep under the carpet the long-standing problems that afflict the island, and the constant pressure on the Government and its MPs to solve these problems, puts them in such a difficult position that they would rather be exposed by hiding themselves than be exposed by facing their responsibilities. By the end of the year, the municipal authority of Poros will present to the Municipal Council specific proposals on how the Municipality and the residents of Poros should react to these facts.

The Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association (HPYOA), as well as the Municipality and the Municipal Port Organization of Poros, invite you to a press conference on Monday 28 November 2022 at 12:00, at the event hall of Syngrou building in Poros, where it will be announced that the Exhibition of Professional Yachts "East Med Yacht Show" will take place for the next four years (2023-2026) in the port of Poros.

The Municipality of Poros, in cooperation with Poros Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and the non-profit association “Greek Action of Volunteer Vets” (GAVV) is carrying out a free spay/neuter program for cats. The program will take place on 3 and 4 December 2022 on the ground floor of the former PIKPA building, where every animal loving resident of the island may bring for neutering any domestic and stray animal that they care for in their neighborhood.

Information:
Christina Roi - 6986611122
Evi Georgantzi - 6945486069
Nektaria Mavrou - 6906630117

On 7.11.2022, the Mayor of Poros sent a letter to the government MPs of Piraeus A’ & Islands, inviting them to an open discussion in Poros on Saturday 3 December at 16:00, at Syngrou building, in order to discuss the serious issues that concern the residents of our Municipality with the municipal authority, in the presence of citizens and via webcast. Below is the text of the letter:

«“Dear all,
I invite you to an open discussion in Poros, on Saturday December 3 at 16:00, at Syngrou building, in order to discuss, in the presence of citizens and via webcast, the serious issues that concern the residents of our Municipality, which I had mentioned in my letter of 12.5.2022, and I note once again below::

1. Health: Poros is probably the only island with a population of this size, where the public health care facilities (Multipurpose Regional Clinic) do not provide ambulance service, have neither the daily nor the usual opening hours, and do not operate in shifts except in the morning (not even on call), while there is only one doctor.

2. Young People-Athletics: The Municipality of Poros is probably the only one in the country that does not have a single sports facility. On the contrary, on the island there are dilapidated sports facilities belonging to the Hellenic Navy, which uses them only for the sailor’s swearing-in, and although it unofficially allows access to the residents of Poros, it refuses -so far- to grant those facilities through a Programme Contract to the Municipality, so that the latter can take on responsibility for their restoration, maintenance and management.

3. Civil Protection:: While in many regions and islands of the country, where there is less or no forest, seasonal Fire Brigades are being established, the State has chosen to leave our entirely forested island at God’s mercy, by reducing the patrols of the Troizina Fire Station by 50% since the summer of 2021, and hypocritically assigning the responsibility of the island protection to the Volunteer Fire Department, which is unable to cover the required shifts. It is noted that at the same time a seasonal Fire Brigade has been established in the Municipality of Troizinia-Methana and supervises the part of the Municipality of Poros in the Peloponnese, where there is no forest. In fact, as our Municipality was officially informed by the competent Fire Coronel of the Prefecture of Argolida, the above choices are based on political decisions and not on service suggestions.

4. Environment – Tourism – Fish Farming:: Poros is the only island of the Saronic Gulf where, against the will of society and Municipality, the State, by its illegal Decisions, established fish farms since the early 1990s, depriving residents and visitors of a large part of its coastline. In 2011, under the adoption of the "Spatial Planning of Aquaculture", Poros was designated as an area intended for the creation of an industrial fish farming zone, and currently it is about to be adopted by means of a PD, which will violently change the development orientation of the island, its natural environment and our way of life, reducing the land area of the Municipality's administration by a quarter and causing a local revolt. It is clear that as long as the withdrawal of the relevant plans is not announced, Poros is in conflict with the central Government.

As I mentioned in my previous letter, the residents of Poros can only feel outraged by the State's treatment to date, which is the same despite the changes of governments, MPs and regional authorities. As all the above problems still exist, and as I have not received any reply from you to my previous letter, I believe that your presence at the open discussion on 3 December is necessary.

Yours sincerely, The Mayor of Poros, Yannis Dimitriadis”

As every year, the Municipality of Poros participated in the International Tourism Exhibition Philoxenia, which took place at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center, from 18 to 20 November. The Exhibition, in which our Municipality participated as co-exhibitor of the Region of Attica, was attended by a total of 335 exhibitors from 18 countries and 115 hosted buyers from 35 countries, while about 3,500 appointments and a number of events were scheduled.

Our Municipality was represented at the Exhibition by the Vice President of the Tourism Committee, Tasos Fiakas, who met with hosted buyers from various countries and international media, informing them about our island and its businesses through the official tourism website ( visitporos.com ) and printed promotional material of our Municipality.

Our Municipality would like to thank the Region of Attica, the Regional Governor George Patoulis, the Delegate Councilor for Tourism Thodoris Koutsogiannopoulos and the personnel of the Directorate for Tourism for their constant cooperation in all the major exhibitions.

On 14.11.2022 the Economic Committee of the Municipality of Poros approved the Study on the replacement of the central water supply network in Lemonodasos and the valve station in Megali Skala, as well as the submission of a funding proposal for the project to the Ministry of the Interior (Call "Execution of works by the local and regional authorities in the country to address the phenomenon of water scarcity"). With this project, which has a budget of 249,780 €, the Municipality of Poros aims to address the water supply problems in Lemonodasos and the wider area, as the network is old and water consumption is constantly increasing.

In addition, the Economic Committee, under its Decision of 29.9.2022, approved studies on the supply of two desalination units with a daily production of 1,600 m² in total and creation of a photovoltaic power plant for their operation, as well as the submission of a funding proposal for these projects to the Ministry of Environment (Call "Sustainable use of resources, climate resilience and biodiversity conservation"). With these projects, which have a budget of 3,207,741 €, the Municipality of Poros aims to ensure the sufficiency of drinking water during the summer, reducing at the same time the quantities pumped from the aquifer of Troizinia.

It is noted that the above Studies were prepared by the Technical Service of the Municipality with the contribution of external technical consultants, while the Decisions of the Economic Committee were taken unanimously by the members of the majority party, as the representatives of the minority party did not attend these meetings.

Today, Thursday 13.10.2022, the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

The Municipality of Poros participates again this year, for 8th time, in the International Tourism Expo WORLD TRAVEL MARKET - LONDON 2022, which takes place on 7 - 9 November 2022 at the Excel Exhibition Centre in London.

World Travel Market is the most important event in the tourism sector worldwide, primarily aimed at UK tourism market, with over 50,000 trade visitors, influencers and media exhibitors from all around the world.

Our Municipality, which participates as co-exhibitor of the Region of Attica, is represented as always by the Vice President of the Tourism Committee Tasos Fiakas, making a presentation regarding the destination of Poros through the official tourism website visitporos.com and the English promotional brochures of the Municipality.

We would like to thank the Region of Attica, the Delegate Councilor for Tourism Mr. Thodoris Koutsogiannopoulos, the Regional Governor Mr. George Patoulis and the personnel of the Directorate for Tourism for their constant cooperation and hospitality.

In his letter submitted to the Municipal Council on Friday 4.11.2022, Mr. Konstantinos Gkion, who had been sworn in as runner up municipal councilor of the majority party four days earlier, announced his independence.

Mayor Yannis Dimitriadis made the following statement regarding the attitude of Mr. Gkion:

“On Monday November 1 st , on the occasion of swearing-in of Mr. Gkion, I asked him to clarify his positions regarding his support to the municipal authority, given that in May 2019 upon his resignation as municipal councilor three months before the end of the administrative period due to his bitterness over his non-reelection, he had made it clear to me that he would not be involved in public affairs again, nor would he accept a position as a municipal councilor in the future if ever called as a runner-up. Moreover, over the last few months it is known that he is judgmental to the municipal authority in various ways. In reply, Mr. Gkion explained to me the reasons for his dissatisfaction, and informed me that his intention was to remain in the party and vote on issues according to his conscience. These reasons were not political, while those that were political were totally pretextual. Of course, I made it clear that I could not allow him to act “fraudulently and dangerously” within the party and asked him to resolve any misunderstandings and stand as a candidate in the elections of 2023. Mr. Gkion reserved his right to reply until Friday when he announced his independence. This choice, which cost a seat from the party to which the people of Poros gave 58% of the votes in 2019, is considered to be politically dishonest and it is certainly similar to the choice of Mr. Koutouzis, who did exactly the same a year and a half ago”.

According to an e-mail sent to our Municipality by the Medical Center of Galata, we inform the residents of our Municipality that during the following dates of November and December 2022, doctors of various specialties will be present at the Medical Center of Galata:

For more information and appointments, those interested can contact the Secretariat of the Medical Centre of Galata: 2298320300

By decision of Mayor Yannis Dimitriadis published on November 1, 2022, Evelina Papadopoulou was appointed the new Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Poros until 31.12.2023, with supervisory powers for the Directorate for Administrative Services, the Tourism Sector as well as the "Social Grocery" and "Social Pharmacy". By the same decision, Deputy Mayor Christina Roi, in addition to her financial powers, will also assume the supervisory powers for the Health and Social Welfare sector until the end of 2022.

Also, on 31.10.2022, the first runner-up of the majority party Konstantinos Gkion was sworn in as a councilor of the Municipality of Poros in place of the resigned councilor Kaiti Bitrou-Roidi. Mr. Gkion had served as a majority councilor from 2014 to 2019 and was responsible for Education and Sports, as well as Chairman of the Municipal Council from March 2017 to May 2019, when he resigned upon the municipal elections.

The student parade for the celebration of the anniversary of October 28, 1940, was held once again this year in Poros with great pomp. The two Primary Schools, the Junior High School, the Senior High School, and the Municipality's Philharmonic Orchestra participated in the parade, while many people encouraged due to weather conditions to attend the celebrations and support the local market.

At the end of the parade, the Municipality of Poros awarded in Heroes' Square the local students who were admitted this year to higher education schools. Along with the honorary commendations, Mayor Yannis Dimitriadis gave the children the book "Poros in 1821" published this year by the Municipality, as well as vouchers of 150€ sponsored by him and "SKLAVENITIS" company with a 20% discount. The Mayor congratulated the teachers, parents and students, and expressed his wishes for their success in life, with the hope that they will return to the island in order to offer the scientific knowledge they will acquire. He also mentioned that in recent years the Municipality of Poros, by constantly increasing the works it undertakes, directly and indirectly creates new job opportunities for the graduates of the region. Also, upon unanimous decisions of the Municipal Council, the Mayor presented honorary plaques to the priest Fr. Georgios Stokos, who retired this year after 40 years of service, and to the young champions Omiros Mostitsoglou (canoe-kayak) and Antonis Lafis (triathlon) for their significant distinctions in the international competitions they recently participated in.

Finally, Yannis Dimitriadis referred to the major problem of the fish farming industrial zone, pointing out that the residents and the Municipality of Poros are saying NO to the invasion of fish farms in their land, inspired by the very same ideals of freedom, independence and democracy that are highlighted in this national day, and that the State should realize that this NO is fair and non- negotiable.

The children who were awarded are the following:

1. ALIFERIS GEORGIOS – Department of Business Organization & Operation (University of Piraeus)
2. VOLIOTI THEOFANIA – Department of Nursing (University of Patras)
3. GARDIKI SPYRIDOULA-CHARALAMPIA - Department of Product & Systems Design Engineering (University of the Aegean)
4. GKION THEMISTOKLIS-IOANNIS – Department of Digital Industry Technologies (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
5. DANOPOULOS STYLIANOS – Department of Naval Mechanical Engineering (National [Metsovian] Technical University of Athens)
6. KOUVARA NIOVI – Department of Business Administration (University of Patras)
7. LEVEIDIOTI GEORGIA-KYRIAKI – Department of Civil Engineering (National [Metsovian] Technical University of Athens)
8. LEVEIDIOTIS ANTONIOS – Department of Informatics (University of Piraeus)
9. LESIOTI ZOI – Department of Chemistry (University of Ioannina)
10. LIOSIS GEORGIOS – Navy Petty-Officers School (Hellenic Navy)
11. BALI JESSICA – Department of Business Administration (University of Patras)
12. BISTINA MARIA – Cadet Ensigns School of the Port Authority-Hellenic Coast Guard (Port Authority-HCG)
13. PAPADOPOULOU EFROSYNI – Department of Nursing (University of Patras)
14. RADITSAS-WHITE IOANNIS – Department of Informatics & Telecommunications (University of Thessaly)
15. SOUCHLA ALEXANDRA-KOSTANTINA – Department of Economics & Sustainable Development (Harokopio University)
16. TYLIGADIS GEORGIOS – Department of Informatics & Telecommunications (University of Peloponnese)

On 19.10.2022 the Municipality of Poros together with the students and teachers of the senior high school of Poros cleaned up a quite polluted beach at the north of our region. The students saw up close the dramatic condition of many southern shores of the Saronic Gulf, where large amounts of rubbish end up daily through the northern sea currents, and within 2 hours they managed to change how this beach looked by removing all the large and visible rubbish. However, a lot of smaller pieces of rubbish, especially plastic debris, straws, lids, etc. are impossible to collect and will remain in the area for many decades, by getting even smaller. Moreover, in a short time new rubbish will end up on the same beach and its condition will be again as dramatic as we found it today. And this is just one of the dozens of northern - inaccessible coasts of the wider area of Poros and Troizinia under the same situation.

The clean ups, which are regularly organized by the Municipality of Poros, are mainly aimed at raising awareness among citizens and central authorities, who should have had a specific plan for dealing with the problem. It is also quite clear that all children who participate in such an action today, gain experiences that shape the environmental awareness of their future lives as adults, bearing the responsibility to contribute to the solution of major global and local environmental problems.

The action was organized by the Municipality of Poros in cooperation with HELMEPA and the American NGO Ocean Conservancy , which covered the cost of transport for the students and distributed T-shirts with environmental logos. Sandwiches and water were also distributed to the children, sponsored by the personnel of the Municipality and the coffee shop La Frianderie.

The Government has extended the deadline for the establishment of industrial fish farming zones by two (2) more years, through a law provision adopted unexpectedly on July 28, 2022. In particular, while on 22.12.2021 the extension of the relevant deadline until 4.11.2022 had been approved by law provision, (triggering protests from residents and municipalities in the areas where the creation of fish farms is foreseen) and despite the fact that this deadline had not yet expired, the Ministry of Environment introduced unexpectedly in Law 4964/2022, which was adopted by the government majority on 28.7.2022, a new provision (article 63) adding fish farming companies two years (i.e. until 4.11.2024) to establish their fish farms.

This move, while it has caused public satisfaction of the fish farming industry before the elections, completely contradicts the disregard with which the State has been treating the municipalities, for which specific “investments” are planned, as well as the Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) that requested a review of the planning and the exclusion of specific areas (Poros, the coastal front of Mytikas, Aitoloakarnania etc.).

It should be noted that the above extension is the 4th in line approved for this case after the adoption of the “Spatial Planning of Aquaculture” on 4.11.2011 (PASOK Government). More specifically, although the initial deadline set by the Spatial Planning was until 4.11.2016, the SYRIZA-ANEL Government approved the first extension for 3 additional years, (until 4.11.2019) and then the current Government extended the above deadline three more times by provisions of laws, firstly until 4.11.2021, secondly until 4.11.2022 and now until 4.11.2024.

The Municipality of Poros, the Saronic Triathlon Club and the company whynot organize on 27 & 28 May 2023, the 6th multisport event POROSEA (triathlon, aquathlon, swimming and running) on the beautiful island of Poros.

The natural beauty of Poros, with its impressive routes and the unique enclosed sea, the experience of organizers and the hospitality of local businesses are the absolute guarantees for another amazing sports weekend.

On Thursday 13.10.2022 the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website  www.thegreencity.gr  or call:  2109215000.

As we know, the Social Grocery of the Municipality of Poros has been distributing food, clothing, personal hygiene and cleaning items since 2018 to about 100 beneficiaries registered in it based on income and social criteria. Similarly, the Social Pharmacy has been distributing to its own beneficiaries parapharmaceutical and pharmaceutical material (closed packs before the expiry date) since 2019. The items are provided to the beneficiaries free of charge and come exclusively from donations and sponsorships.

The Social Grocery distributes mixed packs every two months and this year every one month relying on the constant support of Sklavenitis Group and SKAI campaign “All Together We Can”, which secure items with a total value of €2,500 per year, as well as on individual sponsorships from businesses and individuals. As surging prices in recent months have reduced the purchasing power of these key sponsorships, the Social Grocery needs everyone's support now more than ever. For this reason, the Municipality calls on all business owners and residents of the Municipality to actively support its operation. In this context, on Monday 10.10.2022 and Tuesday 11.10.2022 at 09:00-20:00, a collection of items for the two programs will be held at Syngrou building. In these very difficult times, the contribution and support of all of us is necessary!

Contact us: Tel. 22980 22596 Mail: koinpant@yahoo.com / koinpharm.poros@gmail.com

A meeting with the Minister of Interior Makis Voridis was held by the executives of the Municipal Cooperation Network of Attica Islands on Wednesday 28.9.2022, at the Network’s offices in Piraeus. The meeting included a detailed presentation of the Network's innovative activity in the fields of technical support to its member-municipalities and use of Community funds, as well as a discussion on issues related to strengthening the development role of municipalities and development entities.

The highlight of the Network's activity to date is the conclusion of a Programme Contract with the Municipality of Poros for the multi-annual support of its current and future projects by providing qualified personnel of 6 people assisting the 3 permanent engineers of the Municipality, which, after the approval of the Court of Auditors, is the first in the country to fully use the possibilities offered by the modern legal framework (ά.12&44 of L.4412/2016, ά.4 of L.4674/2020, ά.9 of L.4782/2021). Furthermore, the Network has shown remarkable activity in the management of the CLLD/LEADER Program, through which in recent years €13.5 million have been raised and 84 private and 41 public projects have been implemented in the 8 municipalities that are members of the Network.

The meeting was attended by the President of the Network Mayor of Kythera Stratos Charchalakis, the Mayor of Poros Yiannis Dimitriadis, the Mayor of Aegina Yiannis Zorbas, the MP of Kozani Giorgos Amanatidis, the Network Manager Marinis Beretsos, the technical advisor Dimitris Bogiatzis and other members of the Network.

The Municipality of Poros participated in another important international event for its tourism promotion, in view of the next tourist year.

Our Municipality participated, as co-exhibitor of the Region of Attica, in the tourism exhibition IFTM Top Resa which took place in Paris from 20 to 23 September 2022, at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center.

The Municipality of Poros was represented, as always, by the Vice President of the Tourism Committee Tasos Fiakas, who made contacts with tour operators, influencers and media, through printed and digital material and through the official tourism website visitporos.com .

We are particularly grateful for the productive and stable cooperation of the Region of Attica, the Regional Governor G. Patoulis, the Delegated Councillor for Tourism Th. Koutsogiannopoulos and the personnel of the Directorate for Tourism.

The Mayor of Poros I. Dimitriadis, met with the Regional Governor G. Patoulis, and the Regional Vice Governor of Islands V. Theodorakopoulou- Bogri, on Thursday 17.9.2022 at the offices of the Region in Athens. The main issue that the Mayor of Poros raised to Mr. Patoulis was the urgent need to sign Programme Contracts between the Municipality and the Region, in order to activate the financing of four actions for the Municipality which cost a total of €1.17 million and have long been included in the budget of the Region. Mr. Patoulis admitted that there is a delay in supporting the actions of the Municipality of Poros and committed that this will be immediately remedied, while Mr. Dimitriadis replied that compliance with this commitment will be a progress that will fully satisfy the Municipality, considering that during the current election cycle not a single Programme Contract has been signed with the Region.

In addition, Mr. Dimitriadis presented to Mr. Patoulis the financial deadlock caused since 2010 to the Municipalities of Poros, Spetses, Trizinia-Methana, Agkistri and Aegina the obligation to transport their waste to mainland Attica, because of which the cost of depositing at the Fili Landfill is twice as much for them as compared to the rest of the Municipalities of Attica. The Mayor of Poros pointed out that this is an unfair and illegal treatment and highlighted that the 5 Municipalities are asking for the full subsidy of transport costs and are now turning to the Council of State and the civil Courts against EDSNA [Special Interdivisional Association of the Prefecture of Attica] (which is under the Region’s control). Finally, during the meeting the intention of the Region to finance the restoration of K.E. Poros sports field was extensively discussed and there was full agreement that this can only be achieved if the Navy agrees to grant the use of the field to the Municipality. On this matter, there was also agreement to issue a joint press release and send a joint letter to the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff (H.N.G.S).

We inform you that on Tuesday 13.9.2022 at 08:00-12:00 a scheduled water supply interruption shall take place throughout the land area of the Municipality of Poros in order to carry out network maintenance-improvement works.

On Thursday 8.9.2022 the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website  www.thegreencity.gr  or call:  2109215000.

The fifth event of “Synoriaka” of Modern Greece was successfully held on 1-3 September 2022, after a two-year mandatory interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. The events, which have been designated as a local holiday since 2018, commemorate the anniversary of the conference held in the autumn of 1828 at the port of Poros between Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias and the ambassadors of England, France and Russia, during which the great diplomatic victory of defining the first borders of the Greek State on the Amvrakikos-Pagasitikos line was achieved.

The events began on Thursday 1 September with the presentation of the book “Poros in 1821” by Bampis Andrianopoulos, Bampis Kanatsidis, Spyros Manesis, Yiannis Maniatis and the Mayor Yiannis Dimitriadis and, then, on Friday with the concert of the Hellenic Naval band and the local artist of the Greek National Opera Angeliki Marinakis in Heroes Square. The celebrations were completed on Saturday; in the morning there was a praise ceremony at the Church of St. George and a wreath laying ceremony at the bust of Ioannis Kapodistrias, while in the evening the Locomondo concert took place at the Russian bay, where more than 2,000 spectators enjoyed themselves and danced to the rhythms of the band.

During his speech at the main event on Friday, the Mayor Ioannis Dimitriadis highlighted that the event of “Synoriaka” is an opportunity for the Municipality to express its dissatisfaction with the long-standing neglect of the island in key sectors of responsibility of the central government, such as health, education, sports and security. The last straw in this situation is the imminent signing of the Presidential Decree for the creation of an industrial zone for fish farms on the island. As the Mayor pointed out, the message that the Municipality is sending to the State on the occasion of “Synoriaka” is that the residents of Poros should be treated immediately as equal Greek citizens, so that their current dissatisfaction turns into gratitude to those who resolve those issues and not into anger.

The Deputy Minister of Labor Domna Michaelidou, the Members of Parliament for Piraeus and Islands Noni Dounia and Nikos Manolakos, the Mayor of Hydra Giorgos Koukoudakis, the Commander of K.E. Poros, representatives of the local security forces and representatives of local authorities honored the events with their presence.

Sponsors of the events were::
• Hellenic Navy
• Κ.Ε. Poros (Training Center)
• Hellenic Seaways
• Saronic Ferries
• White Cat
• Aspros Gatos by Kouzino-Therapy
• Hotel Agyra
• Hotel Manessi
• Hotel Pavlou
• Hotel Christina – Perlia
• Russian Bay
• «Lemonodasos» (Dimitris Vlachos)
• Τζων Νάκης boat (John Nakis)
• Maria Zenteli (graphic design)
• Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis

The Municipality of Poros provides information on public access to LOCOMONDO concert to be held at the bay of Russian Naval Base on Saturday 3 September:

✔ Boat routes from the port (departure point of Neorio boat) to the Russian bay from 19:45 with immediate departure after the end of the concert (ticket price 2€).

✔ Constant municipal bus services to/ from Russian bay from 19:30, for the transport of disabled people, people over 65 years old, children and their companions. Free boarding – departure when seats are full.

✔ Instructions for vehicle access:
- Getting off/on and parking only on the main road.
- All vehicles should be parked in the direction of Neorio.
- It is not allowed to park on the road turn before the Russian bay (villa Leontopoulos), so that the vehicles can turn and stop.
- Exceptionally, taxis, disabled vehicles and motorcycles may enter the concert venue from the back dirt road. These vehicles shall be parked behind the monument and not beside it.

✔ There will be no municipal transport services in Sfairia on the evening of Friday 2 and Saturday 3 September.

The Municipality of Poros continues its important steps of extroversion by launching the English version of the website poros.gr , as well as publishing the Municipality's press releases in English.

The website poros.gr , which was launched in 2015 and updated in 2019, is the official website of the Municipality of Poros where all the information about the area and the operation of the Municipality is provided. At the same time, since 2020 there is also the bilingual official tourist website of the Municipality visitporos.com , an evolution of the «Poros Island my Guide» application which was launched for the first time in 2015 and provides visitors with all the necessary information about the local market. Finally, since the middle of 2022, there is the bilingual official website of the Municipal Port Organization portofporos.gr that includes all the information regarding the operation of the port of Poros.

The launch of the English version of poros.gr , as well as the publication of all press releases issued by the Municipality of Poros in English, which has started in the last few months, aims to inform foreign residents of our island about all issues concerning our region and the operation of our Municipality.

After placing signs for the municipal transport of Sferia, our Municipality has now placed the same nice wooden signs for the local sea transport, informing people about the departure points and timetables of the boats.

The signs were placed at the docks of Neorio, Askeli and Monastery where the subsidized municipal boats are moored, as well as at the port, specifically at the departure point to Galata. Additionally, at the departure points to Neorio, Askeli and Aliki, portable signs were placed so that it is easier to understand exactly which boat is operating the route.

Finally, special signs, provided by the Municipality, were placed on the three boats (Τάκης-Κωνσταντίνος, Τζων Νάκης and Σωκράτης) that operate the routes to Neorio, Askeli and Aliki.

The new updated site of Poros Municipal Port Organization is now running at www.portofporos.gr .

Detailed information concerning the operation of the port can be consulted on its webpages. In particular, there is information regarding mooring and provision of service, presentation of the central port, the Land Port Zone and the wider area of Poros including extracts from the Navigator «Greece, Sea Guide» provided by the Commodore (HELLENIC NAVY) and publisher N. Elias, while at the bottom of the webpage users can view live data from the Marine Traffic website as well as the weather forecast at windyty.com .

Users can also submit online applications and link to the website of Diavgeia. The site was created by New Tech Advs company.

The Municipality of Poros has placed barrier gates and roadblock signs on its forest roads, which will ensure the implementation of the Vice-Regional Governor’s decision prohibiting access to these areas during the days of fire risk levels 3, 4 and 5 (i.e. almost all summer days).

The same prohibition has already been in force “on paper” before 2014 for all the forest areas on the islands of Islands Regional Unit, but its implementation is not ensured (the police is supposed to patrol the blocked roads but is understaffed). For this reason, in the last few years our Municipality had proposed to Poros Forestry Department to place barrier gates, which was recently approved for 5 sites by decision of the Secretary General of Forests Mr. K. Aravosis, upon positive recommendation of the Forestry Department.

The barrier gates, which lock with a padlock that can only be opened by the local authorities, were placed on:
1) the paved roads from the sewage treatment plant to the area of Fusa,
2) the gravel road from the area of Vrysoyla to the sewage treatment plant,
3) the gravel road to Prophet Elias (from Agios Nektarios and from the camp).

Last but not least, it is noted that, according to a provision adopted this year by the Government, those working in forest areas, who in this case are the fish farm workers of Poros, are excluded from the prohibition. For this reason, the Municipality's request to place a barrier gate on the forest road to the areas of Bisti and Pyrkali was not approved. In short, the need for unhindered operation of the fish farm facilities in the forest of Poros is regarded by the State as superior to the need for forest protection. However, anyone can easily understand that any fish farm facility as well as the increase of the fish farming company's transports through the forest at times when the State itself considers any activity to be an imminent fire threat, can cause great danger.

In a ceremony held on the occasion of the opening of the painting exhibition “In The Same Waters” in the event hall of Syngrou building, the Municipality of Poros honored the local artist Christos Papadopoulos for his contribution to the culture of Poros. As stated by the Mayor Ioannis Dimitriadis: “Christos Papadopoulos’s work has transcended the boundaries not only of Poros, but also of Greece, adorning important buildings all over the world. Moreover, his artistic contribution to Poros is constant and multidimensional, as for years he has passed on his art to new generations by teaching at Poros Creative Activity Center, has designed the logo of the Municipality and has contributed to the upgrading of the island’s public spaces by painting signs for numerous local shops. For all these reasons, the Municipality and the Municipal Council had the duty to honor him for his long- standing contribution to the local culture”.

The artist, visibly moved, received the award and the medal from the Mayor, recounting some characteristic moments of his artistic career.

The opening of the exhibition, in which Christos Papadopoulos presents his works along with those of his daughter Gina until August 16, was attended by many friends of both artists, while the presence of the Regional Governor of Attica George Patoulis, the former Mayor of Poros and CEO of E.E.T.A [Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government] Spyros Spyridon as well as the deputy Mayors of the Municipality was a great honor.

Dear parents,
We would like to inform you that the submission of voucher applications for the Kindergarten and the Centre of Creative Activities for Children in the Municipality of Poros has started.
Those parents who would like to submit an application to receive this voucher and register their children in the Social Structures of the Municipality of Poros, could come either to the Children’s Creative Center, or to the offices of Social Services (former building of DIKEP, 2 nd floor) on the following days and hours, in order to complete their application with the assistance of the personnel.

Children’s Creative Center of Poros: Submission of application until Friday, August 12 from 10:00 to 14:00.
Social Services Office: Submission of application until Friday, August 12 from 09:30 to 13:30 by appointment.

• Both married parents should have their taxisnet codes.
• Divorced or separated parents should have the taxisnet codes of the parent who has the custody of the child/children.
• It is mandatory for all parents to have submitted the tax return for the current year.
• Foreign parents should present a Certificate of Family Status issued in their country after 1.6.2021 AND its official translation.
• If there is a person with a disability in the family (parent or child), they will have to present the relevant certificate proving the disability (certificate of Disability Certification Center -KEPA-, etc.).
• Divorced or separated parents should provide a copy of the court judgment for the child’s custody or a copy of the joint custody judgment if joint custody has been appointed.

More information:
Social Services Office of Poros, tel. 2298029099.
Children’s Creative Center of Poros, tel. 2298022760.

A highly demanding and urgent process of contracting projects and works was completed by the Municipality of Poros in the past few days. In particular, on 22.6.2022 our Municipality (and 15 more Municipalities in the Region of Attica) was declared by the Secretary General for Civil Protection in “Emergency Readiness State of Civil Protection” and received a subsidy of 100,000€ under the decision of the Deputy Minister of Interior in order to implement fire protection measures (the same as in 47 other Municipalities). According to the above Decisions, these actions could be contracted under urgent procedures until 1.8.2022 and completed by 12.8.2022. Given these tight deadlines and unexpected Decisions, since the beginning of July our Municipality has reversed its priorities so as to take advantage of the emergency funding in addition to its already available resources. For these actions, within 3 weeks it was necessary -among other steps- to hold 13 emergency meetings of the Collective Bodies, to sign 2 Program Contracts with the Secretary General of Forests and, at last, to contract the following 7 actions with a total budget of 218,779€:

1) Cleaning up, improving accessibility and marking of forest hiking trails of 48.7 km - 94,000€ (funding from Philodimos Program 2)
2) Maintenance of tanks and fire-fighting assemblies and addition of fire hydrants – 36,828€
3) Maintenance of fire breaks – 25,726€
4) Maintenance of the firefighting system – 23,934€
5) Maintenance of boreholes – 12,948€
6) Upgrading works of the water main for fire protection in Lemon Grove (Lemonodasos) – 17,279€ (Municipality’s resources).
7) Barrier gates and signs supply for blocking the forest areas on high fire danger days – 7,500€ (Municipality’s resources).

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank the following for their cooperation: the Deputy Minister of Interior Mr. Petsas, the State Secretary for Environment & Energy Mr. G. Amiras, the Secretary General for Forests Mr. K. Aravosis and the competent officials of the Ministry, the Head of Forestry Department of Poros Mrs. Ath. Koutsoumpa and the forestry scientist Mr. P. Vourtsas, the forester of Piraeus Forestry Directorate Mr. Th. Kolovos, the members of Poros Local Coordination Body and, finally, the Municipality’s personnel who tried their best in order to complete the necessary procedures on time, without even causing any delay to other projects of the Municipality.

Please find attached the information regarding the scheduled events of our Municipality in the following days:

• Friday 5.8.2022, at 21:00 in the amphitheater of Syngrou building: Presentation of the book of the local historian Anastasios Karampampas, entitled "In the footsteps of the Jews of Greece".
• Saturday 6.8.2022, at 20:30 in the event hall of Syngrou building: Opening of the exhibition of paintings by Christos and Gina Papadopoulou. At the event, Christos Papadopoulos will be honored for his contribution to the culture of Poros. The exhibition will last until 16.8.2022.

Find attachment the relevant press release for the painting exhibition here.

On Thursday 4.8.2022 the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website  www.thegreencity.gr  or call:  2109215000.

The Municipality of Poros, due to the peak of the tourist season, appeals to residents, business owners and visitors to save as much water as possible, since the excessive water consumption that is already taking place threatens the adequacy of the water supply capacity of the boreholes, the proper operation of the denitrification system and the firefighting in case of fire.

Like every summer, avoiding any unnecessary water use (washing vehicles and yards, filling water tanks, etc.), minimizing watering and using bottled water for drinking are some of the suggested measures. The recommendation against drinking the water from the supply network, especially in the island, is also made for health reasons, because the Municipality’s denitrification system cannot operate properly when the water tanks are empty.

These guidelines are valid until the beginning of September, as the daily water consumption is already reaching its highest levels (up to 2,500 cubic meters per day).

Particularly for the area of our Municipality in the Peloponnese, it is mentioned that one of the boreholes, from which water is supplied has completely dried up, and as a result the remaining boreholes in the area have been diverted exclusively to the Lemon Grove (Lemonodasos) and the surrounding areas. This adjustment restores the water shortage, but the water supply network is getting overloaded, causing more damage to its weak points. It is noted that additional works will be completed within the month to further enhance the water capacity of the network.

Finally, it is highlighted that, in the medium term period the above problems can only be solved by the implementation of the desalination project planned by the Municipality, for which, although the environmental permit has been secured, no funding has so far been approved by the Ministry of Interior.

We are attaching information regarding the events scheduled in our Municipality today and tomorrow:

• Saturday 30.7.2022, at 21:00 in the amphitheater of the Syngrou building: Theatrical performance "The story of a dog who was called faithful".
• Sunday 31.7.2022, at 21:30 at Heroes Square: Concert of Nikos Portokaloglos.

The voluntary blood donation of our Municipality's blood bank, which took place on 22, 23 and 24 July, has been completed. A total number of 102 blood donors came, 101 of which were approved to donate blood. This number was satisfactory given the current health situation, while the procedure complied with EKEA (Greek National Centre of Blood Donation) and NPHO (National Public Health Organization) health protection measures.

The Municipality of Poros thanks all the blood donors for their attendance, the Hippocratio Hospital and its staff for their constant cooperation, as well as the sponsors: "Kava Bitounis", "The salt of the earth" - Rania Kapeta and the Deputy Mayor Kaiti Roidi.

The Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece - National Historical Museum, the Public Benefit Foundation “Maria Tsakos”– International Centre for Maritime Research & Tradition and Piraeus Bank, organize the Floating Exhibition “REVOLUTION ’21 REFRAMED”, which, on Friday 29 July 2022 will sail to the port of Poros with the training sailboat “MANIA”, as part of its tour of 20 Greek ports.

The sailboat will be at Kanari Coast (dock of the former Agricultural Bank) and the Exhibition will be open to the public from 12:00 to 19:00, while at 20:00 there will be an event including a speech by the staff officer of the Naval History Service of the Hellenic Navy Lieutenant Commander Athanasios Papadimitropoulos, and a greeting by the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis.

The exhibition is part of the commemorative activities for the 200 th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

The Municipality of Poros placed 50 new benches in appropriate places of municipal areas, as well as in port area. In these places, either there were few or no benches until now, or the benches were so old that had to be replaced for reasons of modernization and uniformity.

The expenditure for the purchase of the benches, amounting to 17,500€, was funded by the European Program CLLD/LEADER 2014 - 2020 "Culture & Environment at Sea" (LEADER), through which our Municipality upgrades its public spaces by enriching them with new urban equipment.

Starting today, ten thousand (10,000) multi-purpose fabric bags with the logo of the Municipality of Poros are distributed free of charge to residents and visitors of Poros spreading the message of reducing single-use plastic bags. The bags were given, as a donation, to the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis by the Indian Bollywood producer Mr. Ravindar Dariya, who has chosen our island for the shooting of the new film of his company “Big Bat Films”, which is going to start in September.

The bags will be distributed at the Town Hall (Mayor's Office) and the offices of the Municipal Port Fund.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank Mr. Ravindar Dariya for his significant donation, as well as the diplomat Demosthenes Korallis (who is from Poros) for his mediation.

We would like to inform you that on Friday 22, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July, a three-day voluntary blood donation of the Blood Bank of our municipality will take place in the event venue of Sygrou building, from 08:30 to 14:30.

It is noted that the blood donation will be carried out in compliance with all protective measures, which are indicated by the Greek National Center for Blood Donation (EKEA) and the National Public Health Organization (NPHO).

Boat routes from the port of Poros to Neorio and Plaka/Aliki start today Friday, 15 July 2022, with the funding of the Municipality of Poros. These routes will be valid until Sunday 4 September 2022. The routes to Neorio will be the same as in previous years, while a significant change is the revival of the route to/from Plaka and Aliki, which was active in 2015 and 2017 but there was no interest in being activated again by any boatman in the following years.

The detailed timetables will be the following:

1. Poros – Neorio (boat «ΤΑΚΗΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ»)
9 daily routes: departure from the port at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 18:00, 19:00 and 21:00, and departure from Neorio at 10:10, 11:10, 12:10, 13:10, 14:10, 15:10, 18:10, 19:10 and 21:10. The starting point at the port will be at the taxi stand and the starting point in Neorio will be at the dock in front of the restaurant "Vassilis" (Mourtzoukos), while there will be a stop at the Poros Image Hotel. Ticket price: 2€.

2. Poros – Plaka/Aliki (boat «ΣΩΚΡΑΤΗΣ»)
5 daily routes: departure from the port at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00, and departure from Aliki at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00. The starting point at the port will be in front of the Mitsopolos kiosk and the stop in Plaka will be about 15 minutes after departure from the port and 10 minutes after departure from Aliki. Ticket price: 2€.

All the timetables of boat routes to Neorio, Plaka/Aliki and Askeli/Monastery will be available in Greek and English at www.poros.gr (Section: «Local Transportation»).

The Municipality of Poros announces the expansion of the services of the social structure “Help at Home” to the part of the Municipality in the Peloponnese, that is from the area of Bougia to Karapoliti. “Help at Home” Program provides home services to elderly, people with disabilities and convalescents, who live alone and cannot adequately look after themselves or experience situations of isolation or family crisis. Under the Program, primary health care services are provided by a nurse, such as home visits to measure blood pressure, prescribing medicines, accompanying patients to hospitals for examinations, etc., as well as by a family assistant who takes care of outdoor chores, cleaning the house and providing companionship. The Program is implemented by the Municipality of Poros with funding from the Ministry of Interior which is paid through EETA (Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government) and is addressed to any interested person who meets the registration criteria laid down by law.

Any interested person from the mainland of the Municipality or from the island of Poros, who would like to register in the Program, can contact 2298029099 and 6940693069 every day except Saturday & Sunday from 09:00 to 13:00.

In previous days, all the major TV channels of the country presented Poros, as part of a press trip organized by the municipality on the occasion of the 4 th Handicraft Festival. In particular, live links and reports from our island were broadcasted on morning programs and newscasts of ERT, SKAI, ALFA, MEGA, OPEN, showing beautiful images of the island and giving useful travel information about Poros.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank the above channels for providing so much valuable television time in their program, the journalists Eleni Lazarou and Christos Nezos for their detailed reports, as well as the following businesses and bodies that supported -at the request of the municipal authority- the needs of this press trip:

• Sirene Blue Resort
• Odyssey Apartments
• Oasis
• Andreas’ Family
• White Cat
• Colona Sea Side
• Ergani & Ef zin
• Ν.Ο.Π.Τ. (Nautical Club of Poros Troizinia)

On Thursday 14.7.2022 the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:00.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

The Municipality of Poros informs that starting today, Friday 8 July 2022, the daily boat routes from the port of Poros to Askeli and Monastiri will start, while on Friday 15 July the boat routes to Neorio and Aliki will start. This schedule will be valid until Sunday 4 September.

The hours of the routes to Askeli, which will be done again this year with the boat 'ΤΖΩΝ ΝΑΚΗΣ', will be the following: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 17:00, 18:00 and departure from the port (opposite the Tyropoulos cafe), arrival at Askeli (central dock "10 th stop"), departure from Askeli at 10:15, 12:15, 14:15, 17:15, 18:15 and 19:15 arrival at Monastery around 10:25, 12:25, 14:25, 17:25, 18:25 and 19:25. The return routes will depart from Monastery at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 17:30, 18:30 and 19:30 and from Askeli at 10:40, 12:40, 14:40, 17:40, 18:40 and 19:40, and in both directions there will be a stop at the Sirene Blue Resort. Ticket price: 2€.

It is noted that the routes are carried out with the financial support of the Municipality of Poros and that the boatmen to whom the relevant assignments were made, were the only ones who responded to the invitation issued by the Municipality to the Association of Boatmen on 14.6.2022 for the assumption of the routes to Askeli, Neorio, Aliki and Pounda, with a start date at 1.7.2022.

The Μunicipality of Poros is once again making an innovation by starting today the distribution of environmental responsibility communication material to residents, business owners and visitors.

In particular, the material to be distributed is the following:

• 4,000 two-page leaflets summarizing the issue of fish farms and the Municipality’s opposition to the creation of an Industrial Area of Organized Aquaculture Development (ΠΟΑΥ).
• 1,000 small paper stands placed on the tables of restaurants and cafes informing visitors of the issue of fish farms and refer them via QR code to the Municipality’s website for more information.
• 2,000 doorhangers on the accommodation’s bathroom doors, asking guests to save and use water wisely and informing them of the towel change policy.
• 2,000 oval labels on the accommodation’s beds informing guests of the bed linen change policy.

All the above material, which is written in Greek and English and is going to be presented in more detail in future publications, will be distributed to all tourist businesses on the island next Monday. Also, it is already available starting today at the Mayor's Office for those who want to get it directly from there (tel. 22980 20512).

The expenditure for the purchase of the material, costing 2,529€, was sponsored by the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis and its graphic editing was done -free of charge- by Maria Zenteli.

On Wednesday 22.6.2022 another underwater clean up of the port of Poros was carried out by the Aegean Rebreath team and our Municipality. This time 40 famous German visitors, who sailed to Poros for this purpose on 10 sail catamarans, participated in the action, while there was TV coverage by major German news channels.

As in previous times, hundreds of objects, such as glasses, ropes, irons, etc., were recovered from the seabed, being accumulated there over decades -as in every port- due to weather conditions (wind, rain) but also due to irresponsible behavior.

As part of the action, underwater photographs were also taken by a special robot on the seabed of fish farm areas, recording the absolute absence of life (algae, fish) and the dominance of a vast veil of sediment caused by the diffusion of fish farming waste.

The Mayor of Poros, Ioannis Dimitriadis, publicly thanks the Lieutenant Fire General of the Fire Department, Mr. Al. Rapanos, and the Minister of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection, Mr. Chr. Stylianidis, for their response to his request to strengthen the fire protection of Poros island with the addition of 5 professional firefighters in the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Poros for the fire season of 2022.

The Volunteer Fire Brigade, which was established in 2018 on the initiative of the Municipality of Poros, is staffed by 13 volunteers and 3 professional firefighters, while the Municipality provides the premises, the vehicles and covers the costs for its operation. In 2020 the State established 80 professional Seasonal Fire Brigades in various regions of the country, but unfortunately not in Poros. Additionally, another unfortunate decision for our region was that in the fire season of 2021 the patrols of the Troizinia Fire Station on our island were halved (from 2 to 1 per day).

When the above information came to light, the municipal authority of Poros required, through a series of documents, the leadership of the Fire Department to strengthen the fire protection of the island. The request was approved, and as a result, a few days ago the 5 new firefighters have settled in our island, whom we welcome.

Finally, every published article referring to the civil protection of the island is also a chance to reiterate a great "thank you" to the 13 local volunteer firefighters, who give countless hours of their lives to protect the life and property of their fellow citizens and the natural environment of the island, as well as to the 3 permanent firefighters of the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Poros.

These days, the Municipality of Poros distributes to all residents and business owners in the Municipality the Local Disaster Response Plan, which lists all the actions to be taken by citizens and authorities for the prevention and response to natural or other disasters. This Plan has been drafted by the Mayor Ioannis Dimitriadis and is in force as a local regulatory act since the end of 2021. Establishing such a plan with reference to all local peculiarities and recording of different disaster scenarios is a pioneering practice, especially for a small island municipality, and aims to ensure maximum preparedness and response in any undesirable event of fire, flooding and other natural or technological disasters.

The functionality of the Plan was tested on Friday 10.6.2022 in the context of an innovative simulation exercise of fire response. The exercise scenario was about a fire in the northeastern part of the island of Poros that hypothetically threatened the settlements of Askeli and Synoikismos and the area had to be evacuated. The exercise was organized by the Municipality of Poros in cooperation with the Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Police Department, the Port Authority and K.E. Poros and was conducted with the participation of the personnel of the above-mentioned services, as well as the representatives of the Forestry Department, the Municipal Port Fund and the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO).

Finally, it is noted that the cost of printing and distributing the Plan through the Hellenic Post (ELTA) was covered by the Mayor Ioannis Dimitriadis.

On Wednesday 22.6.2022 the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:30.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

The Mayors of Greek islands with a population of up to 5,000 inhabitants, including Poros, met with the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion to discuss the issues that concern them.

As part of his statement, the Mayor of Poros Ioannis Dimitriadis mentioned the following to the Prime Minister:

• He pointed out the positive effects of the provisions adopted by the Government regarding the possibility of concluding Program Contracts between Municipalities and Local Government Development Networks, which were fully implemented by the Municipality of Poros, as it is the first and the only municipality that has strengthened its Technical Service personnel with 5 more persons through this program.

• He emphasized that the islands of Attica face a severe lack of institutional representation, as their inclusion in the Region of Attica and the electoral district of Piraeus A & Islands deprives them of the opportunity to be adequately represented in the higher levels of Administration, unlike the rest of the country's islands. Therefore, he expressed his opinion supporting the establishment of an autonomous electoral district for the islands of the Islands Regional Unit from Aegina to the south.

• He reiterated the long-standing request of the Municipalities of Poros, Kythera, Milos, Skopelos and Spetses for an increase in the population threshold classified an island municipality as “small”, from 3,500 to 5,000 inhabitants. Thus, the provisions applied to “small” municipalities (3 rd Deputy Mayor with salary, 3 rd Special Assistant to the Mayor, annual special funding), will now apply permanently to these 5 municipalities, and not only exceptionally as they were given by the current Government during this period.

• He asked for a legislative response to the injustice against several island municipalities which are obliged by the Regional Waste Management Plan to incur unbearable costs of transporting their waste (e.g., the waste of the Municipalities of Argo-Saronic gulf are daily transported to Fili) without receiving any financial compensation.

• He suggested that legislation should provide the possibility for Municipal Port Funds to redefine the terrestrial zone of ports of their authority, with financial assistance from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and within a specific deadline for the approval of the relevant procedures.

• He highlighted that the problems raised by many of his colleagues from the border islands regarding the local health structures apply in Poros as well, where the Regional Clinic is understaffed with only one doctor available during the mornings, and he requested the immediate support of the Prime Minister.

• Last but not least, he mentioned the major issue of the creation of fish farms industrial zone and he highlighted that Poros is the only small island municipality in which the creation of fish farms is foreseen. This fact indicates that this is a huge mistake in the planning which undoubtedly needs to be corrected. In conclusion, he stressed that this mistake could only be rectified by the Prime Minister himself and invited him to Poros in order to make an announcement about the cancellation of this destructive plan.

Regarding the Holy Spirit three-day holiday, when full occupancy of the island is expected, the Municipality of Poros invites the business owners and residents to ensure compliance with all measures in force in public spaces, so that our island presents an appropriate image and functionality throughout the tourist season. In particular, the fields on which everyone should pay special attention are the following:

• TRAFFIC REGULATIONS: compliance with all local traffic regulations and the general rules of the Traffic Code. The local regulations in Poros center are already known to everyone and there are markings everywhere, while in other areas of the island special attention should be paid to speed limits (up to 30 km) and parking restrictions due to narrowness of the streets (e.g. streets to Askeli and Neorio, inner streets of Askeli).

• CLEANLINESS: following the obvious instructions written on all bins (no waste outside the bins, closing bin lids), no pruning waste and bulky waste on the streets and cooperation with the program of direct waste collection from stores in the center.

• PUBLIC SPACES: compliance with the limits of the additional licensed spaces, compliance with the prescribed number of tables and use the additional licensed spaces in order to keep a greater distance between them and not to place more illegally. Also, the tables should be 0.5m. from the yellow pavement markings and no signs or other promotional items should be placed out of the licensed spaces.

At a meeting held by the municipality authority of Poros with the Chief of Police and the Commander of Port Authority of Poros, all the problems encountered so far were discussed in detail, regarding the non-compliance with the traffic regulations, concluded that there is a need to tighten traffic controls. As the Mayor of Poros pointed out, and the two competent Commanders agreed, there can no longer be any grace period for those who continue to violate and disregard the measures, as our island will henceforth welcome thousands of visitors and everything should function perfectly.

We inform you that on Friday 10 June at 11:00 a.m. a fire simulation exercise will be conducted on the north of Askeli. The exercise is organized by the Municipality of Poros in cooperation with the Fire Brigade, the Police, the Port Authority, the Forestry Department and K.E. Poros, while in this exercise the innovative Local Natural Disaster Response Action Plan, which has been established by the Municipality since the end of 2021, will be implemented.

Only the personnel of the above-mentioned Municipal Services will participate in this exercise and the only purpose of this announcement to residents and visitors is so that they will not be alarmed and worried by the mobilization of the Municipal Services.

We, also, inform you that due to the exercise (and its preparation that will precede), the Municipal Services will operate only with their security personnel until 12:30pm.

The Municipality of Poros invites parents who are interested in registering their children in the Municipality’s Kindergarten and Centre of Creative Activities for Children (KDAP) for the new school year 2022-2023, to contact the executives of the centers as soon as possible, in order to receive detailed and personalized information about the application and registration process.

Contact details:

Kindergarten: tel. 2298023102, Monday to Friday 11:00-14:00, Executive of the Centre Nosi Vasiliki.

KDAP: tel. 2298022760, Monday to Friday 17:00-21:00, Executive of the Centre Mpardaka Maria.

The choral seminar String Theory with the conductor George Paterakis is organized for the first time in Poros, under the auspices of the Municipality, at the Syngrou building from 9 to 13 June 2022. The seminar, which consists of 6 two- hour sessions and an open concert, is open to any resident or visitor of the island interested in participating.

The String Theory Choir was founded in 2015 by George Paterakis and today it is one of the most active and original choirs of its kind, with a repertoire covering a wide range of musical genres (renaissance- baroque, classical-romantic, traditional, Greek music, ethnic, serenades, pop, etc.). In addition to its artistic activity, the Choir's two training sections (preparatory and repertoire sections) provide a unique opportunity for music amateurs and music lovers to participate and train in high quality polyphonic musical practice.

Information – participation: 6945 632941, stringtheorychoirs@gmail.com

Once again POROSEA was successfully completed on the weekend of 28 & 29 May 2022. The races (triathlon, aquathlon, swimming, running) were held at the bay of the Russian Naval Base and K.E. Poros as well as in the Settlement and on the core road network of Sferia and Kalavria, attracting this year more than 500 athletes.

The Municipality of Poros would like to thank the co-organizers for their contribution to the success of the event, the Region of Attica and the Regional Vice-Governor Vasso Theodorakopoulou-Bogri, the organizing company Whynot and its head Panos Rotas, the Saronic Triathlon Club and its head Spyros Rois. The Municipality would like also to thank K.E. Poros, the P.D., the Port Authority, the Volunteer Fire Department, the Yacht Club of Poros, the volunteer doctors Manos Dritsas and George Keramidas, the sponsors and the dozens of local volunteers of all ages who once again were the key to the success of POROSEA. On behalf of the Municipality, responsible for the preparation and coordination of the event were the Deputy Mayors Christos Litsas and Tasos Papachristou, the President of the Municipal Port Fund Alexandros Dimitriadis, and the associates of the Mayor Katerina Andreadi and Katerina Reizi.

Local Sponsors:
• ΑPΑΝΑ (cleaning contractor)
• Association of Traders and Professionals of Poros
• Dimitriadis Alexandros (President of the Municipal Port Fund)
• Dimitriadis Giannis (the Mayor)
• Papachristou Tasos (the Deputy Mayor)
• Ferry Joint Venture of Poros
• Porosnews
• Saron Oil / Iliadis Vangelis (fuels)
• Saronic Ferries
• Saronic Magazine
• Saronic Outdoor Activities
• Hellenic Seaways

Accommodation:
• Dionysos Hotel
• Theodora Apartments
• Kaikas Nikos Studios & Apartments
• Kalimera Hotel
• Pavlou Hotel
• Golden View Hotel
• New Aegli Hotel
• Ninetta’s Studios
• Odyssey Apartments
• Saron Hotel
• Sirene Blue Resort
• Xenia Poros Image
• 7 Brothers Hotel

Restaurants - Tavernas - Cafes:
• Allotino
• Apagio
• Askeli
• White Cat
• Vassilis
• Gia Mas
• Theano
• Mouragio
• Oasis
• Petros
• Platanos
• Sti Rota
• Clock
• Colona
• Porto
• Unique

Like every year, during the days that the event of POROSEA is held, there will be emergency traffic restrictions for ALL vehicles in order to protect the athletes and ensure the proper conduct of the races.

• SATURDAY, from 17:00 to 20:00: throughout Sferia and from the Canal to the White Cat.
• SUNDAY, from 8:00 to 14:00: throughout the whole island (the roads will gradually open after the last athletes have passed).
• SATURDAY at 11:00 to SUNDAY at 18:00: From the taxi stand to Solomonides Square.

All residents are kindly requested to respect the measures, while in case of great necessity you should contact the Police Station of Poros (22980 22462) and the Municipality on the emergency number 15303 or their travel agency if they are going to travel.

Please note that the Municipal Transport Service will not operate on both days.

Our Municipality has submitted a proposal to the Green Fund for funding the project for the redevelopment of the Clock Tower’s surrounding area, under the program entitled "Environmental Balance Actions" (2021b - priority axis 2).The project budget is 240,000€, of which, once the proposal is accepted, 163,000€ will be covered by the Green Fund and the rest 77,000€ by the Municipality's own resources.

The architectural study of the project is part of the "Study for the Upgrading of Castelli neighborhood and its access routes" approved by the Ministry of Culture, which was funded by the Operational Program "Environment" in the early 2000s and had remained unused in the drawers of the Municipality since 2005.

A meeting on the issue of preventing the creation of Industrial Areas of Organized Aquaculture Development in the Saronic Gulf was held on Saturday 21.5.2022 in Poros, on the initiative of the Mayor of Poros, Giannis Dimitriadis. All Mayors and members of parliament (MP) of the Saronic islands and coasts, from west and south of Salamina to Hydra, as well as the Regional Governors and local Regional Vice - Governors of Attica and Peloponnese were invited to the meeting. However, the only ones that came were the Mayor of Epidaurus T. Chronis and the Mayor of Xeromeros G. Triandafyllakis (coordinator of the Panhellenic Coordinating Committee of fish farmingareas), the Regional Vice - Governor of Islands V. Bogri-Theodorakopoulou and MPs G. Giolas (Argolida/SYRIZA), Th. Dritsas (A'Piraeus/SYRIZA) and Chr. Boutsikakis (A' Piraeus/ND).In addition, the Mayor of Agistri G. Athanasiou, the Mayor of Aegina G. Zorbas andthe Mayor of Salamina G. Panagopoulos as well as the MP (A' Piraeus/ND) K. Katsafados, N. Manolakos and G. Mela informed that they could not attend the meeting due to unavoidable commitments. It is noted that Giannis Dimitriadis had initially invited the Regional Governor of Attica, G. Patoulis, to convene this meeting in Athens and as the Regional Governor did not do so, the Mayor of Poros took the initiative to convene it himself.

The following conclusions were reached:

1. The limited interest of the elected representatives of the regions of West & South Saronic Gulf on this issue, leads to the conclusion that there is no background and legitimacy for a jointfight with a common demand for the cancellation of the fish-industrialization plan of the Saronic Gulf.

2. The limited interest of the elected representatives of the coastal regions of the whole country, leads also to a similar conclusion regarding the fight for the amendment of Spatial Planning of Aquaculture.

3. The complete indifference of all Regions of the country, the Association of Greek Regions and the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece on this issue, reinforces the above conclusions and causes frustration regarding their role and the acceptance of their institutional marginalization.

4. No party has stated that it intends to amend this plan and no MP has put forward in public (not even during the meeting) specific proposals to address the issue.

5. Regarding its own region, the Municipality of Poros requests the complete cancellation of the plan for the creation of P.O.A.Y. and declares that the non-acceptance of the request is a casus belli for the local community and cannot be accepted. In case the government does not withdraw the plan immediately (before the national elections), our Municipality has declared that it will proceed to dynamic actions and total conflict in order to protect the island. In this context, the Municipal Council will first of all take a Decision to abstain from the national elections and declare all representatives of the Government, the Region and the Parliament as institutionally undesirable in our region. Also, the Municipality has already started a campaign (leaflets, banners, social media) to make its positions known.

6. In terms of joint actions, the Municipality of Poros reiterates its call to those municipalities that may wish to fight for preventing the creation of P.O.A.Y. in their own regions or for other "red lines" that they may identify (e.g.about the size of P.O.A.Y. or specific zones):
- Holding a meeting with the Prime Minister in June, in which any Municipalities participating will put forward their requests regarding their regions and ask for a clear answer as to whether these are acceptable. During the meeting in Poros, the MP of A’ Piraeus, Mr. Chr. Boutsikakis undertook to arrange this meeting and those MPs and Regional Governors who are interested in the issue are invited to support this effort and participate in the meeting.
- Any Municipality wishing to participate in th emeeting, should immediately inform the Municipality of Poros and specify in view of the meeting its demands.

Given theseriousness of this issue, the treatment of which should not be affected by the objective inability of some people to attend the meeting in Poros, the Municipality of Poros invites any Municipality and MP who may be interested in following, supporting and reinforcing the above actions, to inform the Municipality of Poros within two weeks.

It is noted that in the Saronic Gulf, the establishment of 5 P.O.A.Y is imminent (Salamina-Diaporia, Megara, Korfos-Epidaurus, Methana, Poros), through which the area of fish farming will increaseby 32 times and its production will be released after 5 years. Thus, the already polluted sea of the country, which is also an escape for 4 million inhabitants of the capital, will be transformed into a single industrial fish farming zone that will be the 1st fish producing area in Greece (whereas today it was 7th). This increase will result in a daily discharge of fish effluent into the sea corresponding to a human population of over 1.7 million people and tons of formalin, chemicals, foodwaste, etc. In fact, the above numbers do not include the data of individual fish farms, such as those in Agistri and Trikeri in Hydra. The above maritime areas, along with similar sized land areas, will be managed by the multinational company that now controls the Greek fish farming sector. Additionally, in these areas, packing plants, warehouses, private roads, port facilities and many more are about to be built in forests, coastal areas and beaches as well as in private sites that will no longer have other permitted uses.

On 16.5.2022, the competent department of the Ministry of Development & Investments approved a funding of 255,816 € for our Municipality for the development of micromobility action through the creation and operation of shared electric bicycle stations. Making use of such action, our Municipality intends to operate from 2023 three mixed stations for free use of both conventional and electric bicycles. These stations will be located in the New Western Port (already existing), and in the center, namely in the area of the Municipal Market (new) and in Solomonides Square in Punta (new).

The action is co-funding by the Cohesion Fund and by the Operational Programme "Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development" (Priority axis 14, call for proposal "Sustainable Urban Mobility, Micromobility, Integrated Urban Mobility Management") and will be implemented in cooperation with the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving.

On Wednesday 25.5.2022 the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:30.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while the citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

The tender for the formulation of the privately owned municipal plot located in front of the entrance of Poros High School (building block 382) was announced on 11.5.2022. According to the architectural study of the project, the plot will be redeveloped and urban equipment will be placed, aiming to create a recreation and relaxation place for students and parents, but also to attract residents of the wider area. The study was prepared by the Technical Services of the Municipality in 2018 and approved by the Ministry of Culture on 8.2.2021, with a budget of 225,000€, of which 163,000€ comes from funding approved by the Green Fund on 21.4.2021 and 72,000€ from the Municipality's own resources.

On Thursday 5 May the Municipality of Poros participates in the action of 50 Municipalities of Attica, the Region of Attica and “Oloi Mazi Boroume” ("Together We Can"-Skai) for the collection of items for Ukraine refugees.

We are collecting medicines, medical supplies, blankets, sleeping bags, personal hygiene products, baby food, milk, diapers, long-life food, kitchenware (such as plates, glasses, cutlery, pots, pans, microwaves, small ovens) and clothes.

The collection point is the Social Grocery of the Municipality (former KAPI building) from 10:00 to 18:00.

The Municipality of Poros has now its first Bicycle-Sharing Station, with 11 bicycles available to those who want to go from the "New West Port" to the center of Poros.

Using these bicycles, which have electronic gears, is free of charge for 3 hours, with a charge of 2€/hour for 3 additional hours of use and 5€/hour for use over 6 hours. It is noted that the bicycles must be returned within 24 hours of receipt, while their use outside the Settlement of Poros is not allowed.

System registration is a simple process by using a credit card (1€ charge) at the automatic machine located in the station. Upon the registration, the user receives a message with codes, which can be used to the System as many times as the user wants.

The Municipality of Poros has already taken steps to create two more stations (in Heroes Square and Pounta) where conventional and electric shared bicycles will be installed, so that their number will soon exceed the needs of residents and visitors.

The project was funded by the Fisheries OP (Leader) following a proposal submitted by the Municipality of Poros in November 2020.

As every year, during the Easter holidays, the Municipality of Poros, as well as the municipal Social Grocery, distributed food and essentials to our fellow citizens in need. In particular, following a unanimous decision of the Municipal Council, the Municipality granted, based on income criteria, food packages to 103 families of our fellow citizens, while the Social Grocery distributed packages to 146 beneficiaries of its program.

The cost of purchasing the items distributed by the Municipality was covered by the Municipality's budget, while all the items distributed by the Social Grocery were sponsorships collected from small and large sponsors. All the packages were enriched with items purchased at the private expense of the mayor and all other elected members of the Municipality who receive a remuneration, with additional sponsorships from businessmen of Poros, and with candles made by the staff of the social structures of the Municipality.

The sponsors of the actions, whom our Municipality thanks warmly, are the following:

• Skai – «Together we can» (Oloi Mazi Boroume)
• Super Market «Sklavenitis»
• Super Market ANEDIK KRITIKOS S.A.
• 1st Primary School of Poros
• Georgousis Group - Colona bakery
• Kanatsidis Nicholaos – Patisserie
• Karagiannis I. - Bakery
• Pharmacy Dimitris Roidis
• Kouneli Maria

The mayor, the members of the Municipal Council and the personnel of the Municipality of Poros wish everyone a Happy Easter!!!!

After two years when Easter celebrations were cancelled or held under strict health measures, this year we can celebrate together again and participate in our Church celebrations! The Municipality of Poros, in consultation with the priests of the Churches and with a view to ensuring maximum public participation under conditions of health safety and comfort, informs about the schedule of the Epitaphios processions of our Churches on Good Friday 22.4.2022, which is the following:

• Church of St. George: Exit from the church at 21:00, march through Mitropoleos Street to the Heroes Square (prayer at 21:15) and return to the Church via the coastal road to the building of high school and Chr. Meksis Street (before Demosthenous Street).

• Church of St. Constantine and Helen: Exit from the church at 21:00 and march through Chr. Meksi Street to the coastal road and then right to return to the Church via Roethlaouf Street (Sabani's house) and I. Michael Street.

• Church of Evangelismos: Exit from the church at 21:15 and march through the coastal road to the Heroes Square (prayer at 21:30), boarding the fishing boat "Chrysoula" and procession to Punta (the Epitaphios procession will move by sea and the citizens will follow by land or by boarding the boats) and then disembarking in Punta and returning to the Church.

• Church of St. Nicholas: Exit from the church at 21:00 and procession within the Camp of Poros Training Center (K.E. Poros).

It is noted that the traditional meeting of all the Epitaphios in Heroes Square will not take place in order to avoid extreme overcrowding.

The Municipality of Poros informs about the traffic and other regulations that will be in effect from Lazarus Saturday 16.4.2022 in the center of the island:

1. The pedestrianization of the center takes effect exactly as it was in force during the tourist seasons of 2020 and 2021. In particular:

✔ Pedestrianization from taxi stand to Pounta with seating areas on the roadway.
✔ Permitted transit hours for vehicles for access to the market: 06:30 – 14:00 and 17:00 – 19:00.
✔ No stopping/parking for cars from the cinema to Solomonides Square (exception: the Parking of Municipal Market only during the permitted transit hours and for vehicles with a permit in designated spaces).
✔ Extra permitted parking zone for motorcycles: from Karra House to the taxi stand.
✔ Prohibition of transit for heavy vehicles on the entire coastal road (coaches, buses, trucks, vehicles over 1 axle and 16tones gross weight).
✔ Store catering: a) Private vehicles: 06:30 to 14:00 & 17:00 to 19:00, b) Larger vehicles: 06:30 to 08:30 & 16:00 to 17:30.
✔ The validity of all special permits issued in 2021 is extended until the end of May 2022 (until new applications are submitted and examined).
✔ Prohibition of transit for vehicles from New Western Port to taxi stand from 20:00 to 01:00 on Good Friday and Holy Saturday and exceptionally in case of heavy traffic and good weather conditions.

2. New timetables of Municipal Transport:

✔ 10:00-15:00 and 19:00-24:00

3. Launch of the waste collection program directly from the stores in the center:

✔ Mixed waste: 05:30 and 17:00
✔ Recycling: 07:30 and 11:30

4. Launch of the Bicycle Sharing System (see details on poros.gr)

Residents, businesses and visitors are kindly requested to support the implementation of the measures, contributing to the effort of the Municipality to maintain the order on our island during this period when huge number of visitors is expected.

The Municipality also kindly requests the Police Station and the Port Authority, depending on their territorial jurisdiction, to ensure the policing of the above rules.

For any emergency, citizens can contact the emergency number of the Municipality 15303.

In a later announcement, the Municipality will provide information on the schedule of Epitaphios for Good Friday.

We wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Announcement - Registration of Volunteers Porosea 2022

Announcement - Registration Porosea 2022

Form - Volunteer Porosea 2022

On Thursday 14.4.2022 the monthly visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:30.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while the citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information about the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.

This year's first voluntary blood donation of our Municipality's blood bank was successfully held on 22 and 23 March. A total number of 102 blood donors came, 101 of which were approved to donate blood. This number was satisfactory given the current health situation, while the procedure complied with EKEA (Greek National Centre of Blood Donation) and EODY (NPHO- National Public Health Organization) health protection measures.

The Municipality of Poros thanks all the blood donors for their attendance, the Hippocratio Hospital and its staff for their constant cooperation, as well as the sponsors: "Cava Bitounis", "To alati tis gis" - Rania Kapeta and the Deputy Mayor Kaiti Roidi.

On Tuesday 29.3.2022 the third visit of the Green Mobile Point THE GREEN CITY will take place at the New Western Port of Poros, opposite the ferry ticket offices from 09:00 to 16:30.

THE GREEN CITY program is conducted in cooperation with the Region of Attica, ESDNA (the Special Intergraded Association of the Prefecture of Attica) and Citipost company, while the citizens bring to the Green Mobile Point segregated recyclable materials, which are converted into points that are redeemed through large businesses collaborating with the program.

For further information regarding the program visit the website www.thegreencity.gr or call: 2109215000.